WEBVTT

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 Again, our worship now, we're singing, first of all, today in Psalm 100, in the Scottish Psalter, Psalm 100, on page 362 of the Psalm books.

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 All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.

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 Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell.

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 Come ye before him and rejoice.

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 We're singing to the tune, Old 100, that's on page 362, All People That On Earth Do Dwell.

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 If you're able to stand, please stand.

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 If not, don't worry about that.

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 All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.

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 And the Lord with cheerful voice.

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 Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell.

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 Come ye before him and rejoice.

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 Oh, that the Lord is God in thee.

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 With our glory, he dare not speak.

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 We are his hope, he doth us be.

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 And for his sheep, he doth us take.

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 Oh, enter them his case with grace.

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 Have cross with joyous force unto you.

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 Praise God and bless his name always.

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 For it is simply so to you.

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 For by the Lord our God is good.

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 His mercy is forever true.

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 His truth at all times firmly stood.

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 And shall come to his treasure.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Now we're going to pray especially for the children and for the Sunday school just now.

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 Let's join together in prayer.

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 Almighty God, we thank you today that we can gather of all ages and all families to gather

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 here with each other to worship the Lord.

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 And we thank you for these great words that you have given us to sing that we have finished

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 singing in your presence when you call upon all people to praise and to magnify the Lord.

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 And we thank you for reminding us of your goodness.

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 For we receive from your goodness each day we live those things which make our life so blessed.

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 Bless the children we pray today as they come together in this way.

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 We thank you for them.

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 And we thank you for every family, for every child who belongs to this congregation.

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 We pray for them today, Lord, as they learn more from your word.

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 And we pray that these words that you have given us in the Bible may be impressed upon their hearts.

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 That they may grow up to value and treasure them and live by them.

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 And we ask today that you bless those who teach them.

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 And we pray that you bless them too in their time of helping out with the Sunday school and Bible class.

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 And we thank you for other offers of service that have come in the past few weeks to help with that work.

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 We pray, O Lord, that you would continue to bless us and our young people.

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 Hear us now, we pray, and go before us into what remains of the service,

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 pardoning our many sins and receiving us graciously for Jesus' sake.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Anybody know what these are?

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 Maybe you can't see them from away in the back, but maybe near the front you can see them.

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 Anybody know what they are?

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 What are they?

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 Party rings?

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 They're party rings.

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 Why have I got party rings today?

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 I'm not going to eat them here in the pulpit.

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 I'd love to, but I'm not going to eat them.

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 I'm using them today because they are actually Roscoe's favorite treat.

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 Okay.

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 I haven't had a Roscoe story for a while, and probably this might be the last Roscoe story I'll have while I'm here as your minister.

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 So this is Roscoe's favorite treat.

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 He gets other treats as well, the ones that have meat flavor, pork flavor, bacon flavor, and he'll eat them.

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 But these are his favorite, and he'll go for these before he will go for the other ones that you can buy in the shops as well.

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 These are really just, of course, biscuits.

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 But his favorite treat is party rings, and that really reminded me of how important it is to have Jesus as our favorite.

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 Because we'll have many other people suggested to us as the most important people in our lives,

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 and maybe even other people that we would follow instead of Jesus, and trust instead of Jesus.

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 But just like Roscoe prefers the party rings to any other treat,

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 so we have to believe and trust in Jesus as the best person there is.

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 He should be the favorite of each one of us here, whether we're young, middle-aged, or old.

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 And he has to be number one.

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 He says in his word that we have to place him number one in our lives.

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 There are so many people in our lives that are important, really important.

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 Our parents are important, our grandparents are important, people in the church are important.

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 Maybe for some people even the ministers are important.

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 But number one, Jesus.

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 Always Jesus.

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 The second thing about party rings, I actually looked up just to see what they were made of.

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 And when I Googled them, of course it came up on Google.

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 Maybe I should just have looked at the packet, but I didn't.

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 But I noticed there's so many ingredients that go into the party rings biscuits.

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 There's, for example, flour, sugar, two types of oil, salt, bicarbonate of soda.

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 There are a few other things I didn't have enough room to list on my notes.

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 But there's a lot of stuff goes into them.

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 And there wasn't anything there that seemed to be bad for you, except perhaps too much sugar.

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 But these are the ingredients that go into each of these party rings.

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 So each of these party rings has all of these ingredients in them.

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 And again, that reminded me of something important,

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 that there are so many things that go into our salvation that God has given us in Jesus.

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 For example, there's God's own love providing us with that salvation.

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 That's gone into providing salvation from our sins for us.

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 There's also God's own power that changes our lives.

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 There's God's forgiveness where he forgives our sins,

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 and where he covers them so that we're no longer held as guilty in his presence.

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 And there's other things from our side.

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 In salvation, we use and exercise faith.

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 God enables us to believe in him.

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 We love the Lord.

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 We have repentance, confession of sin.

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 All the things really that make up a Christian life

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 are part of what goes towards our enjoyment of the salvation that God has given.

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 So all of these ingredients that made up these party rings,

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 each one of those party rings has all these ingredients.

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 And everybody who comes to know the Lord as their Savior

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 knows each of these things about God,

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 having gone towards making salvation possible for them.

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 Now, you can see from these two,

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 something else that makes them different.

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 What is it?

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 Something that makes them different.

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 They've all got the same ingredients in them,

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 same stuff that's gone into making them,

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 but they don't look the same.

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 There's one thing especially that distinguishes them.

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 What is it?

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 Well, it's the colors.

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 And one is white, one is yellow.

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 There are also pink ones.

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 Various colors in a packet of party rings.

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 And that reminded me of something else that's important.

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 We are all different in many ways.

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 Even as children, we don't have the same likes.

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 We don't have the same personalities.

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 We all behave differently.

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 We all have different likes of food, for example.

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 And we all have different preferences in life.

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 But for Christians,

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 although we're all different in many ways

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 from our background,

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 from what we prefer to have in our life,

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 we are all the same in that we all trust in Jesus,

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 that Jesus is the Savior of each one

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 who comes to him and follows him.

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 So although we're all different today,

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 I'm sure if I asked all the children here

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 what their preferences were in life,

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 they'd all come up with something different.

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 But I hope they would all say,

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 but we are all the same in this way,

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 in this way,

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 that we all want Jesus as our Savior,

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 that we all need him

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 and want to worship him as our Savior.

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 So, next time you have party rings,

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 try and think of how the Roscoe's favorite,

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 how Jesus should be our favorite,

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 how though they have many, many ingredients in them,

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 they all form the same.

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 Each and every biscuit is the same.

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 And how although there's different colors

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 and they're different in that way,

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 they're actually the same.

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 Each one of them is a party ring.

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 Okay, so let's now say the Lord's Prayer together.

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 Our Father which art in heaven,

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 hallowed be thy name.

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 Thy kingdom come.

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 Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

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 Give us this day our daily bread

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 and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

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 Lead us not into temptation,

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 but deliver us from evil.

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 For thine is the kingdom,

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 the power,

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 and the glory forever.

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 Amen.

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 That's great.

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 I could hear all the children

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 saying the Lord's Prayer there,

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 which is wonderful.

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 We're going to sing again.

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 Psalm 62 this time on page 80.

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 Page 80, Psalm 62,

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 verses 5 to 10.

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 Sorry, verses 5 to 12.

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 And the tune is Heron Gate.

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 Find rest, my soul,

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 in God alone.

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 In him my hope is ever sure.

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 My safety, fortress,

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 sheltering rock.

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 In him alone I am secure.

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 Verses 5 to 12.

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 To God's praise.

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 verse 6 to 12.

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 I settle for thee,

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 in Lord's Prayer.

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 I am not alone, in name I hope is ever sure.

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 My safety fortress kept in all, in name alone I am secure.

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 My honor and salvation rest, on God my God and mighty Lord.

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 O people, trust in Him always, to Him alone, for our pure heart.

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 The low or man is but alive, the high or man is but alive.

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 They did not bow and slide my side, they come to nothing but the sky.

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 Do not seek out their well and my poor,

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 For triumphant, illoged gain,

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 And even though your innocent peace,

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 Set not your heart on what is vain.

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 Thy God has told in my hour,

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 That you are strong and loving Lord,

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 Each one according to his peace,

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 Who will assure any reward.

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 One thing I am certainly going to miss,

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 Is that stream of children coming through that door,

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 Walking down here, on through to their classes.

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 It is a wonderful, God-praising sight, isn't it?

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 So let's read God's word.

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 We are reading today from Matthew's Gospel,

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 Matthew's Gospel and chapter 14.

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 We are beginning our reading at verse 13.

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 We are picking up the reading here at a time when Jesus had heard about the way in which John the Baptist had been put to death.

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 So at verse 13 of Matthew 14,

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 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself.

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 But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.

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 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

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 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said,

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 This is a desolate place, and the day is now over.

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 Send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.

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 But Jesus said, They need not go away. You give them something to eat.

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 They said to him, We have only five loaves here and two fish.

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 And he said, Bring them here to me.

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 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass,

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 and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing.

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 Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples,

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 and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

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 And they all ate and were satisfied.

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 And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.

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 And those who ate were about five thousand men besides women and children.

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 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side,

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 while he dismissed the crowds.

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 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.

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 When evening came, he was there alone.

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 But the boat by this time was a long way from the land,

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 beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.

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 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.

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 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said,

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 It is a ghost.

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 And they cried out in fear.

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 But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying,

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 Take heart.

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 It is I.

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 Do not be afraid.

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 And Peter answered him,

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 Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.

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 He said, Come.

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 So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

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 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink.

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 He cried out, Lord, save me.

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 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him,

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 O you of little faith, why did you doubt?

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 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

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 And those in the boat worshipped him, saying,

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 Truly, you are the Son of God.

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 And may God bless that reading of his word to us.

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 Let's again pray and call upon his name.

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 Lord, our God, we thank you that your word brings to us so many accounts of your own power and presence with your people.

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 And we thank you that this is real to your people even today.

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 And we bless you for the way that you showed yourself on that occasion to the disciples in a way that caused them to begin with to be afraid.

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 And yet you came and pacified their minds by assuring that it was you yourself who had come to them.

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 May we know that today, O Lord.

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 May we know that you have come into this building and into our hearts.

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 May we know your assurance that you are the Lord who presides over all the events of life.

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 And may we know that you are especially here to bless your word to us.

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 Assure us, we pray, that our life is truly safe in your hands.

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 And help us to deliver ourselves by faith into your hands.

00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:49.839
 We read there in your word, O Lord, how you took the loaves and the fish,

00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:55.839
 after having blessed them, distributed them to your disciples.

00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:58.839
 But you initially said to them, bring them here to me.

00:19:58.839 --> 00:20:04.839
 We give thanks that all that we place in your hands is in your blessing.

00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:12.839
 And that it comes to be laid upon yourself so that you carry your people and their burdens with them.

00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:18.839
 And you are able, O Lord, even to make what we regard as small and insignificant.

00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:26.839
 Even if we should say this of ourselves, you are able to multiply this and prove your blessing through us.

00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:28.839
 Bless us then, we pray here today.

00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:33.839
 Bless each of us individually and bless us collectively as a congregation.

00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:38.839
 Remember us, Lord, in all the ways in which we seek to serve you throughout each week

00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:45.839
 and the different activities that we find, both for our children and young people and for adults alike.

00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:49.839
 We pray your blessing to be upon each gathering, Lord willing, this week.

00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:53.839
 And we ask, Lord, as we prepare for another communion time,

00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:57.839
 when we will remember the Lord's death in the Lord's Supper.

00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:00.839
 Lord, we pray for your blessing in advance of this.

00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:06.839
 We pray that you would encourage us and bring us together in the power of your Holy Spirit and your truth.

00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:11.839
 And make this communion to us, Lord, a time of rich experience.

00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:14.839
 Help us to be confirmed in our faith.

00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:19.839
 Help us, Lord, to know that as you direct your people through life,

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:23.839
 so you will continue to direct them on into eternity itself.

00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:31.839
 And that not even death itself can separate them from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, O Lord.

00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:38.839
 Encourage any especially, O Lord, who may feel weak at this time in their own spiritual life,

00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:41.839
 who may have struggles for different reasons,

00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:46.839
 and who may have issues affecting their exercise of faith and of love.

00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:49.839
 Lord, be pleased, we pray, to draw near to them.

00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:55.839
 We pray that you bless any who have thoughts of coming to take communion for the first time.

00:21:55.839 --> 00:22:00.839
 We thank you that there are some in our midst who undoubtedly have this in their mind.

00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:02.839
 We pray that you would encourage them.

00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:07.839
 We pray that you would grant them, Lord, to look to yourself and to reach out by faith

00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:14.839
 and know that as they are held by you, so they are held in every eventuality and every circumstance,

00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:16.839
 so that they are safe with you.

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:20.839
 And so we pray that your blessing will be with us during this week

00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:23.839
 and during these activities and these services.

00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:30.839
 Bless us, we pray, in all the other aspects of our life, in our homes, our families, in our places of work.

00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:33.839
 We pray that you'd continue to bless us there.

00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:40.839
 We ask your blessing, Lord, to be with the congregation as a vacancy is on the horizon.

00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:44.839
 We ask that you would continue, Lord, to bless your word here.

00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:48.839
 And we pray that you'd bless all who come faithfully week by week

00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:51.839
 to gather here as those who worship you in your holy name.

00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:56.839
 O Lord, continue, we pray, to let your favour rest upon us

00:22:56.839 --> 00:23:01.839
 and grant that we may know that you are our God and that you take us as your people.

00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:07.839
 Bless the world in which we live, our own locality, all those who have different responsibilities there.

00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:12.839
 Bless us in our own nation, we pray, as we look towards another election.

00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:15.839
 Bless, we pray, those who are standing for election.

00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:19.839
 We ask that you would help us as a people to choose wisely

00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:24.839
 and enable us, O Lord, to benefit as a people from the choices we make.

00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:29.839
 Help us especially to be true to the principles of your word as we do so.

00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:32.839
 And enable us to accept whatever the outcome may be.

00:23:32.839 --> 00:23:37.839
 For we know that it is by you that kings rule and princes decree justice.

00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:43.839
 And that as you tell us in your word that the powers that be are ordained of God.

00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:45.839
 You preside over all things.

00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:48.839
 You are the sovereign master of the universe.

00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:56.839
 And help us, Lord, to exercise that faith and trust that would accept whatever the eventualities of this election will be.

00:23:56.839 --> 00:23:59.839
 Grant, we pray, your blessing to us now.

00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:02.839
 Hear us in our prayer and cleanse us from all our sin.

00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:06.839
 For Jesus' sake. Amen.

00:24:06.839 --> 00:24:09.839
 Before we turn to God's word, we'll sing once again.

00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:14.839
 And we'll sing this time in Psalm 146 to the tune Stuttgart.

00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:20.839
 That's on page 191, beginning at verse 5 to the end of the psalm.

00:24:20.839 --> 00:24:24.839
 Blessed is the one who truly looks for help to Jacob's God.

00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:28.839
 Blessed is the one who places all his hope upon the Lord.

00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:32.839
 He who made the earth and heaven and the seas with all their store.

00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:34.839
 He who keeps his every promise.

00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:37.839
 Who is faithful evermore.

00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:40.839
 Verses 5 to 10 of Psalm 146.

00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:56.839
 Blessed is the one who truly looks for help to Jacob's God.

00:24:56.839 --> 00:25:00.839
 Blessed is the one who truly looks for help to Jacob's God.

00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:02.839
 Blessed is the one who truly looks for help to Jacob's God.

00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:09.839
 Blessed is the one who places all his hope upon the Lord.

00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:13.839
 Blessed is the one who closes all his hope upon the Lord.

00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:24.839
 He who made the earth and heaven and the seas with all their store.

00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:38.839
 He who keeps his every promise, lives with forevermore.

00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:52.539
 He delivers from oppression and relieves the heart of his mind.

00:25:52.939 --> 00:26:05.759
 He releases those in prison to the blind the Lord gives sight.

00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:18.480
 Those who harm the down he races, God delights in righteousness.

00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:31.299
 He protects and cares for strangers, widows and the fathers.

00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:45.299
 He puts face the wicked purpose, so the Lord through endless days.

00:26:46.639 --> 00:26:59.299
 Rings to every generation, praise your God, O Zion, praise.

00:26:59.299 --> 00:26:59.500
 Amen.

00:27:02.119 --> 00:27:06.220
 Well, let's turn together to the passage we read in Matthew chapter 14.

00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:09.480
 Matthew chapter 14.

00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:13.799
 And looking especially at verses 28 to 33.

00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:22.339
 Peter answered him, Lord, if it is you command me to come to you on the water, he said, come.

00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:27.319
 So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

00:27:27.879 --> 00:27:29.799
 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid.

00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:33.159
 And beginning to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me.

00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:40.600
 And immediately Jesus reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?

00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:43.660
 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:50.600
 And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, truly, you are the Son of God.

00:27:50.599 --> 00:28:07.980
 Well, as you read here from verse 22 especially, and indeed the same is true before that as well, but especially from verse 22, you find how obviously Jesus is in total charge of these events.

00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:12.140
 It is Jesus who sent them away to the other side in the boat.

00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:17.940
 It is Jesus who saw them as they were struggling against the wind and against the tide.

00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:23.019
 It is Jesus who saw and came to them walking on the water, as we'll see.

00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:25.660
 And it is Jesus who reassured them.

00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:31.940
 It's all about Jesus and his control and his ordering of these events.

00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:36.940
 And we'll see how important that is in the passage as we look at it.

00:28:36.940 --> 00:28:40.900
 His eye and his concern is for them.

00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:43.660
 And it's important that his eye is on them all.

00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:45.759
 They're all together in that boat anyway.

00:28:46.340 --> 00:28:53.420
 But he is concerned for all of them together as they occupy that little boat among the waves.

00:28:54.160 --> 00:29:05.000
 As you come there to verse 27, you'll find that that really remains the basis of what assures and reassures God's people right through to this day.

00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:06.980
 What is it in verse 27?

00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:11.920
 He said, immediately he spoke to them saying, take heart.

00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:13.200
 It is I.

00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:15.220
 Do not be afraid.

00:29:16.180 --> 00:29:25.059
 Thousands, millions of Christians throughout history have been thankful to God for the way that they have experienced the truth of these words.

00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:35.519
 In the middle of some crisis or other, or during some crisis, whatever it is they've been going through that causes alarm and concern and despondency or whatever.

00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:41.899
 How wonderful it is and how powerful it is that you hear the voice of Jesus coming through the scriptures.

00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:47.019
 That you know the presence of Jesus through the Holy Spirit saying, don't be afraid.

00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.519
 Take heart.

00:29:48.919 --> 00:29:49.740
 It is I.

00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:52.380
 I am in charge here.

00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:54.500
 I have ordered this.

00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:56.380
 I am going to deal with it.

00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.059
 Take heart.

00:29:58.819 --> 00:29:59.779
 Don't be afraid.

00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:01.359
 It is I.

00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:13.559
 The circumstances of our life are no barrier whatsoever to Jesus coming to make himself present with us.

00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:28.419
 And the miracle that is recorded here for us is a miracle that tells us that the Lord is present with his people as the Lord of creation and of salvation and of circumstance.

00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:35.139
 He's showing by the miracle the control that he has even over the elements of the sea.

00:30:35.140 --> 00:30:37.560
 He created them after all.

00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:50.440
 And when they come to be threatening towards his disciples, he comes into the situation and shows himself as the Lord, the creator, the master, the controller of that situation.

00:30:50.440 --> 00:31:03.080
 And isn't that something for which we're thankful here today, that whatever takes place in our situation together or individually, we can say that Christ is in charge.

00:31:04.340 --> 00:31:06.200
 Nothing has slipped out of his control.

00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:10.620
 He is there to see us safely through.

00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:14.620
 And so the attention then turns to Peter.

00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:16.940
 The focus moves to Peter.

00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:20.059
 And that again is an important point.

00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:22.480
 Yes, he cared for all of them.

00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:26.799
 He was concerned for all of them so as to come to them on the waves.

00:31:27.640 --> 00:31:31.380
 But the attention in the passage turns to Peter individually.

00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:40.820
 And for all that Jesus is concerned about, all of his people, all of the time, none of them is lost as individuals in that crowd.

00:31:40.819 --> 00:31:50.599
 He is as much committed to your individual life as a Christian as he is to the whole body of his people.

00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:55.159
 And that too is a precious truth for us today.

00:31:55.919 --> 00:32:07.399
 We matter to Jesus personally, individually, just as much as we matter to him as a congregation or as part of his whole church.

00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:11.120
 So what are we looking at in this passage?

00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:15.460
 First of all, we're going to look at Peter's request and the way that Jesus replied.

00:32:16.820 --> 00:32:19.700
 Peter's request and the way that Jesus replied.

00:32:20.580 --> 00:32:26.080
 And then we're going to look secondly at Peter's sinking and the way that Jesus responded.

00:32:27.620 --> 00:32:31.060
 Peter's sinking and the way that Jesus responded.

00:32:31.360 --> 00:32:34.960
 Here's Peter's request, first of all, and Christ's reply.

00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:40.700
 Peter answered him, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.

00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:43.660
 You might say, that's a bit strange.

00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:45.980
 Perhaps even it's a bit foolish.

00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:54.779
 In other words, if there, if it is you, it's probably better translated as since rather than you.

00:32:55.299 --> 00:32:59.240
 It follows on immediately from what we've seen in verse 27.

00:32:59.380 --> 00:33:02.460
 Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid.

00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:08.000
 And then if you translated, since it is you, Lord, command me to come to you.

00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:14.440
 And even then you might think this is a rather strange request, rather strange thing to ask for.

00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:16.079
 After all, Jesus is at a distance.

00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:17.759
 He's on the top of the waves.

00:33:17.860 --> 00:33:20.000
 He's walked on the top of the waves towards them.

00:33:20.660 --> 00:33:26.480
 And here is Peter saying, why is he saying, Lord, since it is you, saying you assure me it's yourself.

00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:29.440
 Command me to come to you.

00:33:31.019 --> 00:33:35.519
 Well, for one thing, this man, Peter, loves to be with the Lord.

00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:39.059
 He loves to be in his presence.

00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:45.500
 If you go to John chapter 21 and verse 7, the Lord is standing on the shore.

00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:47.700
 This, of course, is after the Lord's resurrection.

00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:50.359
 Peter, again, is in the boat with some others.

00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:52.759
 And the Lord is at a distance on the shore.

00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:57.919
 And when Peter realizes that it is, in fact, the Lord, what does he do?

00:33:58.240 --> 00:33:59.839
 He throws himself overboard.

00:34:00.339 --> 00:34:05.720
 He girds himself with his outer garment, throws himself overboard to go to Jesus.

00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:09.480
 For this man, being with Jesus is so important.

00:34:09.740 --> 00:34:11.079
 Yes, we can criticize so much.

00:34:11.179 --> 00:34:20.420
 The Bible itself doesn't hide from us the fault even of people like Christians, like Peter and apostles and others in the Old Testament as well, David and so on.

00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:24.699
 It doesn't hide the faults of these men from us and these women from us.

00:34:26.260 --> 00:34:27.199
 And that's important.

00:34:27.320 --> 00:34:32.820
 This is not a biography written by some individual without any input from God.

00:34:32.820 --> 00:34:36.280
 It gives us things as they are.

00:34:36.660 --> 00:34:39.260
 It tells us about people as they are.

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:42.140
 And here is this man, Peter.

00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:46.380
 So often we might say he's at fault, and indeed he was.

00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:48.400
 So impetuous.

00:34:48.940 --> 00:34:52.620
 So prone to acting really before thinking things through.

00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:56.280
 And then sometimes regretting what he said or what he did.

00:34:56.280 --> 00:35:02.840
 But the one thing you can never say about him is that he doesn't love the Lord and doesn't love to be with him.

00:35:04.120 --> 00:35:06.060
 And there's a point there for ourselves today.

00:35:06.760 --> 00:35:08.000
 Is that how we are?

00:35:08.220 --> 00:35:11.640
 Is that a feature of your life and my life today?

00:35:12.160 --> 00:35:20.620
 That the one thing above all, the company, above all company, that you actually want to experience and to go on to experience is the company of Jesus himself.

00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:23.100
 Do you love to be in the presence of Jesus?

00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:24.860
 Do you love to be alone with Jesus?

00:35:24.860 --> 00:35:26.539
 Do you love to speak with Jesus?

00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:28.120
 Do you love to pray to him?

00:35:28.360 --> 00:35:30.160
 Do you love to find him in his word?

00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:37.400
 And even you could say, do I and do you make times of crisis?

00:35:38.220 --> 00:35:39.559
 Times of challenge?

00:35:40.660 --> 00:35:45.000
 Do we make these tests means by which we get to reach Jesus?

00:35:46.140 --> 00:35:51.059
 Do we reach out from them and say, Lord, since it is you, help me to come to you.

00:35:52.039 --> 00:35:53.539
 Command me to come beside you.

00:35:53.539 --> 00:35:55.320
 Come into this with me.

00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:58.639
 Let me unburden myself to you.

00:35:59.779 --> 00:36:00.739
 Here's this man.

00:36:01.699 --> 00:36:02.860
 And this is what he's like.

00:36:03.719 --> 00:36:07.820
 Lord, since it is you, command me to come to you.

00:36:08.900 --> 00:36:13.619
 And the reply is instant because Jesus gives him what is effectively a command.

00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:15.460
 That's what Peter had asked for.

00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:16.659
 Command me to come to you.

00:36:16.759 --> 00:36:17.739
 He said, come.

00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:17.819
 Come.

00:36:19.339 --> 00:36:22.539
 It would have been different, perhaps, if it wasn't a command.

00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:28.539
 If he hadn't actually come to know that Jesus was actually commanding or instructing him to come,

00:36:28.819 --> 00:36:32.879
 you might conclude that Peter would have been acting on his own initiative as at other times.

00:36:32.880 --> 00:36:35.220
 But no, he said, command me to come.

00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:39.220
 And when the command comes as it came, this is what the command said.

00:36:39.660 --> 00:36:40.440
 Come then.

00:36:41.340 --> 00:36:42.619
 Come as you desire.

00:36:43.500 --> 00:36:44.400
 Come to me.

00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:58.059
 And Christ's call or command like that always requires us to face some test or other in order to comply with it.

00:36:58.820 --> 00:36:59.519
 Doesn't it?

00:36:59.519 --> 00:37:09.759
 Very seldom do you find the command of Christ for you and I do do something without there being some sort of challenge as you see it in the way of doing it.

00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:19.039
 And sometimes that may prove enough to just put you off from doing what you know God and Christ is requiring and commanding you to do.

00:37:19.039 --> 00:37:27.340
 Christ's command always requires some testing element or some testing step on our part.

00:37:28.179 --> 00:37:34.239
 A step of obedience at a time of testing in order to actually comply with his command.

00:37:34.360 --> 00:37:39.199
 Maybe you're here today and you're thinking of the Lord's Supper next Lord's Day.

00:37:40.960 --> 00:37:43.519
 You've not been to the Lord's Supper before.

00:37:44.659 --> 00:37:46.539
 It's in your heart to do this.

00:37:46.539 --> 00:37:58.039
 But as you're thinking about it and as you look around you as it were, there may be some things that you find so challenging, so many fears.

00:37:58.960 --> 00:38:00.480
 Things that you're afraid of.

00:38:01.840 --> 00:38:02.860
 A challenge is there.

00:38:02.940 --> 00:38:08.440
 You need to take that step as Peter here took the step in compliance with the Lord's word come.

00:38:08.940 --> 00:38:11.000
 He needed then to step out of the boat.

00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:15.760
 Maybe you're here today and there are some fears in your heart of it.

00:38:15.800 --> 00:38:20.139
 Whether it's going to the Lord's table or something else you know the Lord is calling you to do.

00:38:21.199 --> 00:38:22.599
 Well, listen to what he's saying.

00:38:23.420 --> 00:38:24.440
 It is I.

00:38:25.880 --> 00:38:27.079
 Do not be afraid.

00:38:28.139 --> 00:38:31.980
 Whatever waves are surrounding you today in the providence of God.

00:38:31.980 --> 00:38:35.840
 Whatever difficulties, challenges you're facing.

00:38:36.360 --> 00:38:47.099
 If your trust is in Christ, if your hand is in his, if you know him as your Savior today, even if you've never professed that publicly before, be assured of this.

00:38:48.980 --> 00:38:50.260
 You need not be afraid.

00:38:51.420 --> 00:38:53.840
 You need not be afraid to take that step.

00:38:53.840 --> 00:38:58.000
 Because he assures you, don't be afraid, it is I.

00:38:59.420 --> 00:39:01.000
 Take encouragement from that.

00:39:02.079 --> 00:39:05.720
 And so the response of Jesus, the response of Jesus is come.

00:39:06.120 --> 00:39:13.260
 But then the response of Peter is, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

00:39:16.180 --> 00:39:17.579
 Now, we believe in miracles.

00:39:18.420 --> 00:39:21.700
 We believe that the miracles of Jesus were, in fact, real miracles.

00:39:21.699 --> 00:39:24.519
 The miracles that God performed through history.

00:39:25.359 --> 00:39:28.699
 We don't come to this passage and say this is just symbolic.

00:39:29.819 --> 00:39:35.079
 This is just something that never actually happened, but it sounds great and there's a real story in it.

00:39:35.239 --> 00:39:39.159
 When you make it into a symbol, then you can apply that in your life.

00:39:39.239 --> 00:39:40.359
 This is no mere symbol.

00:39:40.599 --> 00:39:43.000
 This is actually an event that took place.

00:39:43.419 --> 00:39:46.119
 And if you believe in God, you believe in the miraculous.

00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:49.079
 If you believe in Jesus, you believe in the supernatural.

00:39:49.079 --> 00:39:52.420
 If you believe in Christ, this is who you're dealing with.

00:39:53.759 --> 00:39:55.579
 Not some ordinary mortal.

00:39:56.799 --> 00:40:01.059
 Not somebody who couldn't walk on the waves that he in the beginning created anyway.

00:40:01.980 --> 00:40:07.779
 The one who can create the waves is perfectly capable of standing over them and walking on them.

00:40:07.780 --> 00:40:12.820
 So, he said to Peter, come.

00:40:13.060 --> 00:40:17.519
 And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

00:40:18.560 --> 00:40:24.440
 If it's Christ that's commanding us to do something, it will never be wrong for us to do it.

00:40:25.220 --> 00:40:28.260
 However much we might fear stepping out of that boat.

00:40:28.260 --> 00:40:30.660
 If he has said, you come.

00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:32.580
 If this is your desire, you come.

00:40:32.660 --> 00:40:33.880
 I'm commanding you to come.

00:40:34.780 --> 00:40:35.780
 Then we come to him.

00:40:36.300 --> 00:40:40.520
 And we come to him confident that if it's his command we're complying with,

00:40:40.960 --> 00:40:45.920
 he's going to give us the ability, the grace, the wherewithal to do it.

00:40:45.920 --> 00:40:51.940
 There are times in life when we need to step out.

00:40:53.720 --> 00:40:57.680
 We need to step out of situations that make us feel secure.

00:40:59.159 --> 00:41:03.980
 That remaining within, from our own perspective, from our own point of view,

00:41:04.340 --> 00:41:07.260
 might feel more secure to just stay where we are.

00:41:08.400 --> 00:41:09.340
 There's less risk.

00:41:10.780 --> 00:41:13.880
 There's less likelihood that we would let him down, we would fail.

00:41:13.880 --> 00:41:20.820
 But if Jesus is saying, come, then we have to step out of the boat like Peter did.

00:41:21.220 --> 00:41:23.079
 Step out of our comfort zone.

00:41:23.940 --> 00:41:26.780
 However much we describe it, different ways of describing it.

00:41:27.360 --> 00:41:31.539
 But stepping out of what makes us feel secure.

00:41:31.640 --> 00:41:34.380
 You know, it's very difficult really for us as human beings.

00:41:34.860 --> 00:41:36.559
 Especially as sinful human beings.

00:41:36.920 --> 00:41:40.640
 It's very difficult to hand over control of your life to someone else.

00:41:40.639 --> 00:41:46.500
 To hand over control of your life to somebody else.

00:41:46.980 --> 00:41:52.420
 Because it feels more secure if you retain some measure of control yourself.

00:41:52.799 --> 00:41:56.900
 I don't mean by that, that when you come to the Lord and give your life to the Lord,

00:41:57.199 --> 00:42:01.779
 that he takes out of your hand all responsibility for making decisions and all of that.

00:42:01.900 --> 00:42:03.420
 That remains with us, of course.

00:42:03.420 --> 00:42:11.539
 But it's difficult to begin with just to accept the fact that our whole life needs to be handed over to Jesus.

00:42:14.079 --> 00:42:16.480
 But that's what Peter is doing effectively here.

00:42:17.380 --> 00:42:18.519
 Bid me to come to you, Lord.

00:42:18.619 --> 00:42:19.460
 Command me to come.

00:42:19.559 --> 00:42:20.480
 And Jesus said, come.

00:42:20.760 --> 00:42:25.059
 So he stepped out of the boat and came to Jesus.

00:42:25.200 --> 00:42:26.900
 It says that very deliberately.

00:42:27.260 --> 00:42:28.900
 He actually came to Jesus.

00:42:28.900 --> 00:42:33.519
 He didn't step out of the boat and walked a couple of paces without coming to Jesus.

00:42:33.680 --> 00:42:35.400
 He actually reached Jesus.

00:42:37.300 --> 00:42:38.880
 That itself makes a point.

00:42:40.360 --> 00:42:46.099
 He actually achieved what he had set out to do by the power of Christ given to him.

00:42:46.099 --> 00:42:54.480
 You know, sometimes when you hear about lifeguards, some people hear maybe lifeguards, I don't know.

00:42:55.259 --> 00:43:02.400
 But lifeguards that you find on the beach, for example, where there's many people coming to swim in the water.

00:43:02.960 --> 00:43:10.900
 If somebody gets in trouble, especially if they're a good distance offshore and the lifeguard goes swimming out to them or however makes his way out to them,

00:43:10.900 --> 00:43:15.619
 one of the first things the lifeguard will try to do is to stop that person struggling.

00:43:17.059 --> 00:43:24.579
 Because that person struggling to actually stay alive and not drown, the struggling is actually making things worse for them.

00:43:25.340 --> 00:43:31.039
 It's making it more likely that they will in fact drown if they just keep struggling as they are.

00:43:31.300 --> 00:43:34.920
 And as the lifeguard takes hold of them, you'll still find them trying to struggle.

00:43:35.260 --> 00:43:38.840
 And the lifeguard will actually do everything possible to say, look, stop struggling.

00:43:38.980 --> 00:43:39.940
 Just hang on to me.

00:43:39.940 --> 00:43:41.539
 Just let me take control.

00:43:43.000 --> 00:43:46.260
 And then they're led, usually safely, to shore.

00:43:49.099 --> 00:43:51.420
 Sometimes we struggle on ourselves, don't we?

00:43:52.539 --> 00:43:57.720
 We just try to cope with life and cope with the things that come our way as challenges.

00:43:58.599 --> 00:44:00.720
 We hear the voice of the Lord saying, come.

00:44:01.480 --> 00:44:02.720
 And we step out of the boat.

00:44:03.400 --> 00:44:06.039
 But then we start struggling.

00:44:06.420 --> 00:44:08.159
 As Peter did, then he started sinking.

00:44:09.940 --> 00:44:15.760
 So today, if you haven't yet come to give your life over to Jesus,

00:44:17.000 --> 00:44:20.659
 to place your whole life in the hand of Christ,

00:44:21.099 --> 00:44:26.700
 if you're still keeping back something from him that he requires you to give to him,

00:44:27.159 --> 00:44:28.559
 in controlling your life,

00:44:29.099 --> 00:44:33.019
 your struggles are not going to be saving struggles for yourself.

00:44:33.019 --> 00:44:36.019
 If your struggles are only going to make things worse, friend,

00:44:36.019 --> 00:44:38.719
 give it to him.

00:44:39.920 --> 00:44:41.280
 Let him take the weight.

00:44:43.679 --> 00:44:45.079
 Let him take control.

00:44:45.079 --> 00:44:50.420
 Because he's best suited to do that for you.

00:44:52.139 --> 00:44:53.159
 Here's his request.

00:44:54.239 --> 00:44:55.480
 Here's Jesus' reply.

00:44:56.380 --> 00:44:58.219
 Here's Peter's response.

00:44:59.739 --> 00:45:01.900
 Peter's request and Christ's reply.

00:45:01.900 --> 00:45:07.200
 Well, there's how we find there so much for ourselves,

00:45:07.720 --> 00:45:09.420
 spiritually and morally as well,

00:45:10.139 --> 00:45:12.420
 that are so important for us in life.

00:45:13.599 --> 00:45:17.460
 Secondly, Peter's sinking and Christ's response.

00:45:18.800 --> 00:45:21.200
 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid.

00:45:21.300 --> 00:45:22.880
 When it says that he saw the wind,

00:45:22.880 --> 00:45:26.780
 that's just a way of saying when he became aware of the wind.

00:45:27.000 --> 00:45:29.420
 It's quite a stormy time, it looks like.

00:45:30.420 --> 00:45:32.640
 As you read the earlier part of the passage,

00:45:33.099 --> 00:45:34.900
 the ship was beaten by the waves

00:45:34.900 --> 00:45:36.660
 and was a long way from the land.

00:45:36.760 --> 00:45:38.119
 So it was a crisis moment.

00:45:38.480 --> 00:45:39.640
 It was a difficult moment.

00:45:40.619 --> 00:45:42.280
 And a dangerous moment.

00:45:43.400 --> 00:45:47.360
 And when Peter actually realized,

00:45:48.400 --> 00:45:50.079
 hey, I'm actually on top of the waves here.

00:45:50.320 --> 00:45:51.360
 I'm standing here.

00:45:51.420 --> 00:45:52.300
 I'm on top of the sea.

00:45:53.660 --> 00:45:57.000
 And he realized the wind around him was stronger than himself.

00:45:57.619 --> 00:45:59.740
 He realized outwardly what that meant.

00:45:59.820 --> 00:46:00.340
 So what happened?

00:46:00.420 --> 00:46:01.300
 He began to sink.

00:46:02.119 --> 00:46:04.200
 You see, there's a change of focus.

00:46:05.700 --> 00:46:08.280
 The focus that Peter had to begin with there was,

00:46:08.420 --> 00:46:10.160
 Lord, since it is you,

00:46:11.039 --> 00:46:12.559
 command me to come to you.

00:46:13.000 --> 00:46:14.140
 And Jesus said, come.

00:46:14.140 --> 00:46:15.640
 And so Peter came.

00:46:16.820 --> 00:46:19.420
 And as long as his focus was on this Jesus

00:46:19.420 --> 00:46:21.780
 and on the ability of this Jesus,

00:46:21.780 --> 00:46:23.300
 on the power of this Jesus,

00:46:23.460 --> 00:46:25.019
 on the control of this Jesus,

00:46:25.160 --> 00:46:25.840
 he was fine.

00:46:25.900 --> 00:46:26.620
 He was safe.

00:46:26.619 --> 00:46:29.400
 But as soon as his eye went to something else,

00:46:30.019 --> 00:46:31.019
 he began to sink.

00:46:32.179 --> 00:46:36.599
 He took his eye of the Jesus who controlled the whole situation.

00:46:36.980 --> 00:46:37.980
 And as soon as he did that,

00:46:38.019 --> 00:46:39.079
 he got into difficulties.

00:46:40.079 --> 00:46:41.440
 He began to sink.

00:46:41.440 --> 00:46:44.500
 And that's how life is,

00:46:44.599 --> 00:46:45.159
 friends, isn't it?

00:46:45.220 --> 00:46:49.420
 We live amongst so many distractions,

00:46:50.099 --> 00:46:54.220
 so many things that are liable to take your eye off what's important,

00:46:54.220 --> 00:46:56.340
 to take your eye off Jesus,

00:46:56.340 --> 00:47:00.260
 to actually lose your focus in looking to him

00:47:00.260 --> 00:47:02.940
 and how he is as the master of life,

00:47:03.440 --> 00:47:05.019
 the master of the situation,

00:47:05.440 --> 00:47:06.660
 the Lord of creation,

00:47:07.000 --> 00:47:08.000
 the Lord of salvation,

00:47:08.280 --> 00:47:09.720
 the Lord of your life.

00:47:11.620 --> 00:47:12.940
 And when you do that,

00:47:13.940 --> 00:47:15.760
 and you see your difficulties then,

00:47:16.340 --> 00:47:18.000
 having taken your eye off Jesus,

00:47:18.800 --> 00:47:21.140
 the difficulties then are magnified.

00:47:21.139 --> 00:47:24.139
 Sometimes they'll appear huge

00:47:24.139 --> 00:47:27.420
 compared to what they are when your eye is on Christ.

00:47:28.579 --> 00:47:31.259
 The moment you take your eyes away from Jesus,

00:47:31.639 --> 00:47:32.599
 from his ability,

00:47:33.379 --> 00:47:35.079
 from his control of your life,

00:47:35.079 --> 00:47:37.339
 the moment you look around to the difficulties,

00:47:37.619 --> 00:47:39.619
 to the weakness that you find in yourself,

00:47:39.719 --> 00:47:41.480
 whatever it is you look to instead of him,

00:47:42.339 --> 00:47:44.279
 the challenge then becomes so enormous,

00:47:45.079 --> 00:47:46.079
 you begin to sink.

00:47:47.719 --> 00:47:49.339
 You begin to really lose

00:47:49.340 --> 00:47:51.240
 where you're at.

00:47:52.640 --> 00:47:55.120
 And fear then sets in.

00:47:55.740 --> 00:47:57.200
 He was afraid, you see,

00:47:57.539 --> 00:47:59.160
 and he began to sink.

00:47:59.559 --> 00:48:01.280
 When he saw the wind, he was afraid.

00:48:01.780 --> 00:48:03.760
 And beginning to sink, he cried out.

00:48:04.579 --> 00:48:05.900
 Why did he begin to sink?

00:48:06.340 --> 00:48:07.480
 Because he was afraid.

00:48:07.820 --> 00:48:08.680
 Why was he afraid?

00:48:08.880 --> 00:48:10.120
 Because he looked and saw

00:48:10.120 --> 00:48:11.940
 the conditions around him.

00:48:12.180 --> 00:48:13.880
 Why did he see the conditions around him?

00:48:14.000 --> 00:48:15.860
 Because he took his eye off the Lord.

00:48:17.220 --> 00:48:18.180
 And when he did so,

00:48:18.179 --> 00:48:20.099
 he began to sink,

00:48:20.579 --> 00:48:21.239
 became afraid.

00:48:21.379 --> 00:48:23.399
 Now, I'm going to just refer to

00:48:23.399 --> 00:48:25.779
 an incident in the Old Testament,

00:48:26.500 --> 00:48:28.799
 which I think fits in well with this.

00:48:28.879 --> 00:48:29.899
 It's an incident in Numbers,

00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:31.699
 chapter 14.

00:48:32.539 --> 00:48:33.539
 And you remember the incident,

00:48:33.639 --> 00:48:34.440
 I'm sure, very well,

00:48:35.000 --> 00:48:36.899
 where Moses had sent spies in

00:48:36.899 --> 00:48:38.559
 to spy out the land

00:48:38.559 --> 00:48:39.819
 to see what it was like

00:48:39.819 --> 00:48:41.480
 and bring back a report to the people

00:48:41.480 --> 00:48:42.879
 as they were traveling on

00:48:42.879 --> 00:48:45.199
 towards the land of Canaan.

00:48:45.199 --> 00:48:49.139
 And when Moses actually sent,

00:48:49.460 --> 00:48:50.199
 in Numbers 14,

00:48:50.319 --> 00:48:50.839
 these people,

00:48:51.599 --> 00:48:52.059
 the spies,

00:48:52.259 --> 00:48:53.039
 into the land,

00:48:53.299 --> 00:48:55.500
 they came back with a certain report.

00:48:56.579 --> 00:48:58.079
 And the report was that

00:48:58.079 --> 00:49:00.439
 the land actually was a good land,

00:49:01.119 --> 00:49:05.000
 but as they came back

00:49:05.000 --> 00:49:06.759
 and brought that report,

00:49:06.839 --> 00:49:08.500
 the report really focused mainly

00:49:08.500 --> 00:49:11.039
 upon the giants that were in that land.

00:49:11.039 --> 00:49:12.380
 Yes, they said,

00:49:12.659 --> 00:49:15.119
 the land is a very good land.

00:49:15.699 --> 00:49:16.759
 The land has certainly got

00:49:16.759 --> 00:49:18.739
 all the things that we were promised

00:49:18.739 --> 00:49:20.759
 according to the way that

00:49:20.759 --> 00:49:21.880
 it's spoken of a land

00:49:21.880 --> 00:49:24.279
 that flows with milk and honey.

00:49:26.059 --> 00:49:27.559
 But they're saying,

00:49:27.940 --> 00:49:30.679
 there are some giants there.

00:49:31.940 --> 00:49:33.759
 There are some big people there.

00:49:34.500 --> 00:49:34.920
 Caleb,

00:49:35.519 --> 00:49:38.619
 he tried to still their hearts

00:49:38.619 --> 00:49:40.339
 and to gather their minds together

00:49:40.339 --> 00:49:40.659
 to say,

00:49:40.880 --> 00:49:41.539
 no, let's go up.

00:49:41.559 --> 00:49:42.139
 We can do it.

00:49:42.179 --> 00:49:43.059
 We're sufficient to do it.

00:49:43.059 --> 00:49:44.019
 The Lord is with us.

00:49:44.960 --> 00:49:45.799
 But they said,

00:49:45.880 --> 00:49:46.639
 no, we can't.

00:49:46.659 --> 00:49:47.960
 The sons of Anak are there.

00:49:48.299 --> 00:49:50.299
 And we appeared like grasshoppers

00:49:50.299 --> 00:49:51.000
 beside them.

00:49:51.579 --> 00:49:52.359
 They're gigantic.

00:49:52.719 --> 00:49:53.400
 They're formidable.

00:49:53.759 --> 00:49:54.920
 We just can't do it.

00:49:56.440 --> 00:49:57.719
 They took their eye off the Lord.

00:49:58.759 --> 00:49:59.659
 They took their eye off

00:49:59.659 --> 00:50:01.059
 the promise of God.

00:50:02.059 --> 00:50:03.099
 They took their eye off

00:50:03.099 --> 00:50:04.279
 the ability of God

00:50:04.279 --> 00:50:05.500
 to keep them

00:50:05.500 --> 00:50:06.559
 and to give them the victory.

00:50:06.639 --> 00:50:07.219
 And what happened?

00:50:07.219 --> 00:50:09.639
 They just didn't go through with it.

00:50:10.779 --> 00:50:11.859
 They became afraid.

00:50:13.899 --> 00:50:14.939
 And so it is for Peter.

00:50:15.459 --> 00:50:16.659
 As he began to sink,

00:50:16.719 --> 00:50:17.179
 he did it

00:50:17.179 --> 00:50:19.480
 because he took his eye off Jesus

00:50:19.480 --> 00:50:20.439
 and became afraid.

00:50:21.819 --> 00:50:23.739
 Don't take your eye off the Lord today.

00:50:25.399 --> 00:50:27.339
 Whatever it is you're facing in life,

00:50:28.219 --> 00:50:30.139
 you're not going to manage it on your own.

00:50:31.139 --> 00:50:32.379
 You're not going to manage it

00:50:32.379 --> 00:50:34.639
 even with the support of other people,

00:50:34.739 --> 00:50:35.699
 even other Christians,

00:50:35.699 --> 00:50:37.659
 other experienced Christians,

00:50:37.859 --> 00:50:39.119
 if that is all we have.

00:50:40.460 --> 00:50:42.960
 Keep your focus on Christ.

00:50:44.059 --> 00:50:45.579
 Don't take your eye off him

00:50:45.579 --> 00:50:48.579
 and off his mastery of your life.

00:50:49.739 --> 00:50:51.659
 Because then you find

00:50:51.659 --> 00:50:53.960
 Peter crying out.

00:50:54.719 --> 00:50:55.599
 He began to sink.

00:50:55.699 --> 00:50:56.199
 He cried out,

00:50:56.199 --> 00:50:57.639
 Lord, save me.

00:50:57.639 --> 00:50:58.119
 And of course,

00:50:58.199 --> 00:50:59.239
 that's the first step

00:50:59.239 --> 00:51:00.599
 in anyone's recovery,

00:51:00.739 --> 00:51:00.980
 isn't it?

00:51:00.980 --> 00:51:02.139
 To cry out to the Lord

00:51:02.139 --> 00:51:03.539
 out of a realization

00:51:03.539 --> 00:51:04.519
 that you're sinking

00:51:04.519 --> 00:51:05.619
 or that you're lost

00:51:05.619 --> 00:51:06.299
 and you cry out,

00:51:06.359 --> 00:51:08.119
 Lord, help me, save me.

00:51:09.139 --> 00:51:10.299
 That's the first step

00:51:10.299 --> 00:51:11.619
 in his recovery.

00:51:11.719 --> 00:51:12.939
 He realized he was sinking,

00:51:13.299 --> 00:51:14.419
 realized he needed help.

00:51:14.939 --> 00:51:16.839
 And that's how it is

00:51:16.839 --> 00:51:17.879
 for ourselves as well.

00:51:18.000 --> 00:51:18.139
 You know,

00:51:18.639 --> 00:51:19.359
 backsliding,

00:51:19.460 --> 00:51:20.319
 as we call it usually

00:51:20.320 --> 00:51:21.580
 for a Christian

00:51:21.580 --> 00:51:24.280
 who slides back

00:51:24.280 --> 00:51:26.420
 into almost,

00:51:26.680 --> 00:51:27.519
 could be even,

00:51:27.700 --> 00:51:28.220
 worldliness,

00:51:29.059 --> 00:51:29.740
 slides back

00:51:29.740 --> 00:51:30.580
 from faithfulness

00:51:30.580 --> 00:51:31.140
 to the Lord,

00:51:31.300 --> 00:51:31.820
 slides back

00:51:31.820 --> 00:51:32.820
 from church attendance,

00:51:33.280 --> 00:51:34.360
 from Bible reading,

00:51:34.559 --> 00:51:35.780
 from prayer to God.

00:51:36.300 --> 00:51:37.320
 We call that backsliding.

00:51:39.120 --> 00:51:40.140
 And it's a terrible thing

00:51:40.140 --> 00:51:41.720
 because if it goes on

00:51:41.720 --> 00:51:43.280
 for a certain time,

00:51:43.519 --> 00:51:44.960
 you can reach the conclusion

00:51:44.960 --> 00:51:46.460
 that you were never converted

00:51:46.460 --> 00:51:47.080
 at all.

00:51:47.079 --> 00:51:52.659
 What is the way

00:51:52.659 --> 00:51:53.380
 to deal with it?

00:51:54.759 --> 00:51:55.739
 Well, the way to deal

00:51:55.739 --> 00:51:56.739
 with it is like this.

00:51:57.500 --> 00:51:58.619
 Lord, help me.

00:51:59.920 --> 00:52:02.039
 You realize you're on the way

00:52:02.039 --> 00:52:03.319
 of sliding back.

00:52:03.940 --> 00:52:04.719
 Do you realize things

00:52:04.719 --> 00:52:06.039
 are not what they used to be

00:52:06.039 --> 00:52:06.920
 between yourself

00:52:06.920 --> 00:52:07.539
 and the Lord?

00:52:08.739 --> 00:52:09.759
 Do you realize your heart

00:52:09.759 --> 00:52:10.880
 has become cold

00:52:10.880 --> 00:52:12.639
 or colder to the gospel?

00:52:13.940 --> 00:52:15.340
 Do you realize that your heart

00:52:15.340 --> 00:52:16.980
 isn't desirable?

00:52:17.079 --> 00:52:18.579
 of fellowship with Christ

00:52:18.579 --> 00:52:19.360
 or with His people

00:52:19.360 --> 00:52:20.239
 as it used to be?

00:52:21.819 --> 00:52:23.139
 What do you do about it?

00:52:23.980 --> 00:52:24.960
 Well, don't try and cope

00:52:24.960 --> 00:52:25.739
 with it on your own.

00:52:26.900 --> 00:52:28.179
 The thing to do about it

00:52:28.179 --> 00:52:29.480
 is go to the Lord with it.

00:52:29.920 --> 00:52:30.639
 Say to the Lord,

00:52:31.019 --> 00:52:32.539
 Lord, I realize.

00:52:33.199 --> 00:52:35.099
 I realize something's happened

00:52:35.099 --> 00:52:35.639
 in my life.

00:52:35.699 --> 00:52:36.579
 I don't know exactly

00:52:36.579 --> 00:52:37.420
 how it's come about,

00:52:37.659 --> 00:52:38.960
 but I realize where I am

00:52:38.960 --> 00:52:39.719
 things are not

00:52:39.719 --> 00:52:40.559
 as they should be.

00:52:41.279 --> 00:52:41.819
 Help me.

00:52:42.759 --> 00:52:43.279
 Save me.

00:52:44.039 --> 00:52:44.559
 Take me out

00:52:44.559 --> 00:52:45.400
 of this situation.

00:52:45.400 --> 00:52:47.940
 And immediately,

00:52:48.360 --> 00:52:49.160
 you see,

00:52:49.260 --> 00:52:50.240
 the Lord reached out

00:52:50.240 --> 00:52:51.400
 His hand

00:52:51.400 --> 00:52:52.420
 and took hold of Him,

00:52:52.480 --> 00:52:52.780
 saying,

00:52:53.280 --> 00:52:54.160
 O you of little faith.

00:52:54.220 --> 00:52:54.900
 He reached out.

00:52:55.000 --> 00:52:55.139
 You see,

00:52:55.200 --> 00:52:55.720
 there's the Lord.

00:52:56.559 --> 00:52:57.639
 Immediately He reached out.

00:52:57.720 --> 00:52:58.300
 He didn't leave it

00:52:58.300 --> 00:52:59.400
 for a second longer

00:52:59.400 --> 00:53:00.320
 than it should be.

00:53:00.360 --> 00:53:00.960
 It was immediate.

00:53:01.800 --> 00:53:02.960
 Soon as Peter cried out,

00:53:03.300 --> 00:53:04.200
 the Lord reached out

00:53:04.200 --> 00:53:04.559
 His hand,

00:53:04.660 --> 00:53:05.440
 took hold of Him.

00:53:07.500 --> 00:53:08.480
 I'm sure Peter spent

00:53:08.480 --> 00:53:09.260
 the rest of his life

00:53:09.260 --> 00:53:10.139
 thankful to the Lord

00:53:10.139 --> 00:53:11.239
 for that grasp

00:53:11.239 --> 00:53:12.839
 of the Lord's hand

00:53:12.839 --> 00:53:13.420
 on the sea

00:53:13.420 --> 00:53:14.239
 at that time.

00:53:15.379 --> 00:53:16.379
 And that He looked back

00:53:16.379 --> 00:53:17.839
 reflectively on that moment

00:53:17.839 --> 00:53:18.940
 many, many times

00:53:18.940 --> 00:53:19.639
 and said,

00:53:20.579 --> 00:53:21.759
 If the Lord had not

00:53:21.759 --> 00:53:22.960
 taken hold of my life

00:53:22.960 --> 00:53:24.299
 in response to my cry,

00:53:24.440 --> 00:53:25.500
 I would have drowned.

00:53:26.500 --> 00:53:27.799
 I would have perished.

00:53:28.679 --> 00:53:29.460
 That would have been it.

00:53:29.460 --> 00:53:34.659
 And it's that power

00:53:34.659 --> 00:53:37.019
 that saves us

00:53:37.019 --> 00:53:38.059
 from our sins.

00:53:39.079 --> 00:53:40.119
 It's that power

00:53:40.119 --> 00:53:41.300
 that keeps us

00:53:41.300 --> 00:53:43.380
 in our life of obedience

00:53:43.380 --> 00:53:44.139
 to God.

00:53:44.760 --> 00:53:45.780
 It's that power

00:53:45.780 --> 00:53:46.940
 that rescues us

00:53:46.940 --> 00:53:47.960
 when we go astray.

00:53:48.699 --> 00:53:49.920
 It's not your own ability.

00:53:50.720 --> 00:53:51.559
 It's not the minister.

00:53:51.720 --> 00:53:52.519
 It's not your elders.

00:53:52.699 --> 00:53:53.740
 It's not the congregation.

00:53:54.460 --> 00:53:55.940
 Precious though these might be

00:53:55.940 --> 00:53:57.280
 and important in their own right

00:53:57.280 --> 00:53:57.800
 as they are,

00:53:58.179 --> 00:53:59.199
 what saves us

00:53:59.199 --> 00:53:59.799
 is the Lord

00:53:59.799 --> 00:54:00.719
 and His power,

00:54:01.819 --> 00:54:03.279
 His grasp of our life

00:54:03.279 --> 00:54:05.679
 and His hold of us.

00:54:07.960 --> 00:54:08.919
 And then it comes

00:54:08.919 --> 00:54:10.019
 a searching question.

00:54:11.759 --> 00:54:13.199
 O you of little faith,

00:54:14.519 --> 00:54:15.919
 why did you doubt?

00:54:17.359 --> 00:54:17.719
 You see,

00:54:17.819 --> 00:54:18.599
 you put that as well

00:54:18.599 --> 00:54:21.000
 beside verse 27,

00:54:21.179 --> 00:54:22.980
 in the light of verse 27 there,

00:54:23.500 --> 00:54:24.239
 Take heart,

00:54:24.379 --> 00:54:25.019
 it is I,

00:54:25.199 --> 00:54:26.480
 do not be afraid.

00:54:27.279 --> 00:54:27.980
 And here is Peter

00:54:27.980 --> 00:54:28.819
 now afraid.

00:54:29.639 --> 00:54:30.339
 Afraid because

00:54:30.339 --> 00:54:31.000
 he's looked away

00:54:31.000 --> 00:54:31.859
 from this Jesus.

00:54:33.619 --> 00:54:34.399
 Because he looked

00:54:34.399 --> 00:54:35.219
 into himself.

00:54:35.939 --> 00:54:36.419
 He looked at

00:54:36.419 --> 00:54:37.399
 what was around him.

00:54:39.500 --> 00:54:40.639
 And Jesus saying,

00:54:40.759 --> 00:54:41.799
 O you of little faith,

00:54:42.139 --> 00:54:43.399
 why did you doubt?

00:54:43.480 --> 00:54:44.359
 Why did you doubt?

00:54:44.639 --> 00:54:45.839
 When I assured you

00:54:45.839 --> 00:54:47.000
 that this was none other

00:54:47.000 --> 00:54:47.879
 but myself,

00:54:48.139 --> 00:54:48.859
 than myself.

00:54:49.079 --> 00:54:50.219
 When I assured you,

00:54:50.339 --> 00:54:50.879
 it is I,

00:54:51.039 --> 00:54:51.779
 be not afraid.

00:54:51.780 --> 00:54:53.220
 Why did you doubt?

00:54:53.220 --> 00:54:53.400
 Why did you doubt?

00:54:58.460 --> 00:54:59.900
 We mustn't ever treat

00:54:59.900 --> 00:55:00.519
 our doubts

00:55:00.519 --> 00:55:01.340
 as if they're good.

00:55:04.140 --> 00:55:04.960
 Doubts are always

00:55:04.960 --> 00:55:05.900
 a sign of failure

00:55:05.900 --> 00:55:07.180
 to some extent

00:55:07.180 --> 00:55:07.820
 on our part.

00:55:07.820 --> 00:55:08.760
 We all have doubts,

00:55:08.820 --> 00:55:09.140
 I'm sure,

00:55:09.220 --> 00:55:09.900
 from time to time,

00:55:09.980 --> 00:55:10.500
 most of us.

00:55:11.300 --> 00:55:12.519
 I've seldom come across

00:55:12.519 --> 00:55:13.620
 anyone.

00:55:13.780 --> 00:55:13.940
 In fact,

00:55:13.980 --> 00:55:15.260
 I can only think of one person

00:55:15.260 --> 00:55:16.240
 ever as a Christian

00:55:16.240 --> 00:55:18.320
 that would always say to you,

00:55:18.660 --> 00:55:19.680
 if you asked him,

00:55:19.720 --> 00:55:20.580
 have you any doubt about it?

00:55:20.580 --> 00:55:22.200
 I've never doubted in my life,

00:55:22.260 --> 00:55:23.019
 this person would say.

00:55:23.080 --> 00:55:24.039
 Never doubted anything

00:55:24.039 --> 00:55:24.800
 about Jesus.

00:55:25.240 --> 00:55:26.360
 Never doubted about

00:55:26.360 --> 00:55:27.160
 my salvation.

00:55:27.300 --> 00:55:28.760
 That's a very rare person.

00:55:29.840 --> 00:55:30.840
 Because very often,

00:55:31.220 --> 00:55:32.300
 you and I have doubts

00:55:32.300 --> 00:55:33.039
 of some kind.

00:55:33.640 --> 00:55:34.760
 What we must never do

00:55:34.760 --> 00:55:36.480
 is make our doubts

00:55:36.480 --> 00:55:38.000
 something commendable

00:55:38.000 --> 00:55:39.560
 in the presence of God.

00:55:39.660 --> 00:55:40.640
 As if doubt

00:55:40.640 --> 00:55:41.140
 was actually

00:55:41.140 --> 00:55:42.060
 a very good thing.

00:55:44.580 --> 00:55:45.900
 What we must do is

00:55:45.900 --> 00:55:48.080
 put our doubts aside

00:55:48.080 --> 00:55:48.960
 and look to him

00:55:48.960 --> 00:55:51.900
 and rest upon his word.

00:55:52.740 --> 00:55:53.880
 Because if he says

00:55:53.880 --> 00:55:54.700
 something to us,

00:55:55.080 --> 00:55:55.940
 such as he said

00:55:55.940 --> 00:55:56.900
 to the disciples here,

00:55:57.000 --> 00:55:57.519
 it is I,

00:55:57.880 --> 00:55:59.039
 do not be afraid.

00:55:59.840 --> 00:56:00.860
 Whatever comes to you

00:56:00.860 --> 00:56:02.280
 from the word of God,

00:56:02.300 --> 00:56:03.580
 God that assures you

00:56:03.580 --> 00:56:05.180
 and reassures you,

00:56:05.480 --> 00:56:06.960
 build your life around that,

00:56:07.060 --> 00:56:08.160
 build your life on that.

00:56:09.480 --> 00:56:10.700
 Because it's the truth.

00:56:12.140 --> 00:56:13.580
 And the devil will come to you

00:56:13.580 --> 00:56:14.960
 and your own heart

00:56:14.960 --> 00:56:16.100
 will come to you sometimes

00:56:16.100 --> 00:56:16.720
 by saying,

00:56:17.460 --> 00:56:19.220
 hmm, not so sure.

00:56:20.440 --> 00:56:22.120
 Not really sure about that.

00:56:23.620 --> 00:56:25.539
 That's how the first sin began.

00:56:27.260 --> 00:56:28.260
 When the serpent

00:56:28.260 --> 00:56:30.240
 in the Garden of Eden,

00:56:30.239 --> 00:56:32.979
 who was effectively Satan,

00:56:33.639 --> 00:56:35.599
 said to the woman,

00:56:36.239 --> 00:56:39.659
 has God really said?

00:56:40.979 --> 00:56:42.759
 And from that moment onwards,

00:56:43.019 --> 00:56:44.319
 we have been assaulted.

00:56:44.579 --> 00:56:45.599
 We have been assaulted

00:56:45.599 --> 00:56:48.099
 by the same dark force.

00:56:48.559 --> 00:56:50.299
 When it comes to the word of God,

00:56:50.539 --> 00:56:53.059
 there's always this dark power,

00:56:53.239 --> 00:56:54.259
 this dark influence

00:56:54.259 --> 00:56:55.839
 that comes from time to time

00:56:55.839 --> 00:56:56.079
 and say,

00:56:56.279 --> 00:56:57.699
 has God indeed said,

00:56:57.699 --> 00:56:59.460
 can you trust the word of God?

00:56:59.839 --> 00:57:00.879
 Yes, you can.

00:57:01.359 --> 00:57:02.299
 Yes, you must.

00:57:02.719 --> 00:57:02.960
 Otherwise,

00:57:03.139 --> 00:57:04.319
 you're left with your own thoughts,

00:57:04.559 --> 00:57:05.179
 your own word,

00:57:05.379 --> 00:57:06.179
 your own mind,

00:57:06.480 --> 00:57:07.279
 your own ability.

00:57:09.519 --> 00:57:10.559
 Never doubt him.

00:57:11.319 --> 00:57:12.480
 Never doubt his word.

00:57:14.219 --> 00:57:15.579
 Never debate as to whether

00:57:15.579 --> 00:57:17.339
 this Bible is the truth or not.

00:57:17.980 --> 00:57:18.519
 It is.

00:57:18.659 --> 00:57:20.059
 It will remain so.

00:57:21.079 --> 00:57:22.500
 It will never be anything else.

00:57:22.500 --> 00:57:25.940
 Take Christ at his word today.

00:57:27.139 --> 00:57:29.179
 Whatever it is he commands you to do

00:57:29.179 --> 00:57:30.840
 and requires you to do,

00:57:31.420 --> 00:57:32.820
 step out and do it.

00:57:34.000 --> 00:57:35.039
 Difficult though it may be,

00:57:35.179 --> 00:57:36.380
 challenging though it may be,

00:57:37.739 --> 00:57:38.659
 seeing it as him,

00:57:39.780 --> 00:57:40.619
 don't be afraid.

00:57:41.639 --> 00:57:41.900
 You see,

00:57:41.960 --> 00:57:42.599
 they all then got,

00:57:43.199 --> 00:57:44.780
 it's interesting and important

00:57:44.780 --> 00:57:48.579
 that when they got into the boat,

00:57:49.380 --> 00:57:50.360
 the wind ceased.

00:57:50.360 --> 00:57:51.579
 You see,

00:57:51.640 --> 00:57:52.240
 that's important.

00:57:52.480 --> 00:57:53.760
 When they got into the boat,

00:57:53.820 --> 00:57:54.320
 who's they?

00:57:54.640 --> 00:57:56.500
 It is Jesus and Peter.

00:57:57.440 --> 00:57:58.320
 Jesus didn't say,

00:57:58.620 --> 00:57:59.539
 now I've saved you,

00:57:59.780 --> 00:58:01.079
 I'll take you back to the boat,

00:58:01.340 --> 00:58:02.960
 I'll even give you a hand up

00:58:02.960 --> 00:58:03.480
 into the boat

00:58:03.480 --> 00:58:04.260
 and then I'll disappear.

00:58:06.380 --> 00:58:07.880
 They got into the boat.

00:58:08.660 --> 00:58:09.620
 Jesus and Peter,

00:58:10.320 --> 00:58:10.780
 together.

00:58:12.820 --> 00:58:14.760
 Bound to each other spiritually.

00:58:16.360 --> 00:58:17.860
 They got into the boat.

00:58:17.860 --> 00:58:21.440
 And when you do that,

00:58:21.780 --> 00:58:22.539
 with Jesus,

00:58:23.019 --> 00:58:24.000
 when you're with Jesus,

00:58:24.120 --> 00:58:25.000
 that's how it is.

00:58:25.200 --> 00:58:26.140
 He doesn't leave you.

00:58:26.960 --> 00:58:28.559
 Whatever the situation is,

00:58:28.640 --> 00:58:29.760
 he will always see you through.

00:58:31.420 --> 00:58:32.599
 And then he will gather,

00:58:32.780 --> 00:58:34.960
 he will stay with you

00:58:34.960 --> 00:58:37.380
 for the rest of your life.

00:58:38.579 --> 00:58:39.400
 And verse 32,

00:58:39.480 --> 00:58:40.200
 the wind ceased.

00:58:41.140 --> 00:58:41.640
 There it is,

00:58:41.660 --> 00:58:42.280
 another miracle

00:58:42.280 --> 00:58:45.340
 that it is,

00:58:45.600 --> 00:58:47.180
 it's really just reminding us,

00:58:47.580 --> 00:58:48.840
 who is our Redeemer?

00:58:49.280 --> 00:58:50.380
 Who is our Savior?

00:58:51.960 --> 00:58:53.920
 It's not just one who says,

00:58:54.340 --> 00:58:55.900
 I am the Savior of sinners.

00:58:56.140 --> 00:58:57.640
 He demonstrates that.

00:58:57.720 --> 00:58:58.980
 How does he demonstrate that?

00:58:59.019 --> 00:59:00.540
 How did he demonstrate it here?

00:59:01.000 --> 00:59:02.240
 He demonstrated it here

00:59:02.240 --> 00:59:04.700
 by actually stilling the storm,

00:59:04.800 --> 00:59:06.680
 the wind has ceased.

00:59:06.679 --> 00:59:10.039
 By demonstrating his might

00:59:10.039 --> 00:59:10.919
 over creation,

00:59:12.619 --> 00:59:14.339
 he's assuring them,

00:59:15.000 --> 00:59:15.960
 Peter under rest,

00:59:16.679 --> 00:59:17.980
 that this is our Redeemer.

00:59:18.199 --> 00:59:20.000
 Who is our Redeemer today?

00:59:20.940 --> 00:59:21.879
 Who is our Savior?

00:59:22.179 --> 00:59:22.980
 What's he like?

00:59:23.980 --> 00:59:24.919
 It's this Jesus.

00:59:26.199 --> 00:59:27.259
 This Lord.

00:59:28.099 --> 00:59:29.079
 This Master.

00:59:29.079 --> 00:59:29.279
 This Master.

00:59:29.280 --> 00:59:35.000
 And he has the ability

00:59:35.000 --> 00:59:36.640
 at all times

00:59:36.640 --> 00:59:38.800
 to see us through

00:59:38.800 --> 00:59:40.360
 whatever crisis we're facing,

00:59:41.100 --> 00:59:42.320
 whatever challenges

00:59:42.320 --> 00:59:44.500
 we have today.

00:59:45.380 --> 00:59:46.740
 And they worshipped him.

00:59:47.880 --> 00:59:49.480
 Those in the boat worshipped him,

00:59:50.220 --> 00:59:50.540
 saying,

00:59:50.760 --> 00:59:51.060
 truly,

00:59:51.880 --> 00:59:53.880
 you are the Son of God.

00:59:55.140 --> 00:59:56.680
 What a wonderful conclusion

00:59:56.680 --> 00:59:58.720
 to this event.

01:00:00.040 --> 01:00:01.300
 Here is Peter and Jesus.

01:00:01.440 --> 01:00:02.420
 They've now gone into the boat

01:00:02.420 --> 01:00:03.060
 with the rest.

01:00:03.740 --> 01:00:04.760
 And what do the rest do?

01:00:05.140 --> 01:00:06.380
 They worship him.

01:00:07.120 --> 01:00:08.060
 And they worship him

01:00:08.060 --> 01:00:09.220
 and make their confession.

01:00:10.060 --> 01:00:10.460
 Truly,

01:00:11.019 --> 01:00:13.560
 you are the Son of God.

01:00:15.040 --> 01:00:16.340
 And if you're saying that today

01:00:16.340 --> 01:00:17.100
 about Jesus

01:00:17.100 --> 01:00:18.900
 in your heart of hearts,

01:00:18.900 --> 01:00:20.080
 in all honesty,

01:00:20.480 --> 01:00:21.380
 then you're a Christian.

01:00:22.680 --> 01:00:24.760
 It's a mark of you being saved.

01:00:25.760 --> 01:00:26.940
 Because you cannot say

01:00:26.940 --> 01:00:28.640
 that Jesus is Lord

01:00:28.639 --> 01:00:30.460
 but by the Holy Spirit.

01:00:32.019 --> 01:00:32.920
 You cannot say

01:00:32.920 --> 01:00:33.440
 that you're willing

01:00:33.440 --> 01:00:34.199
 to have him Lord

01:00:34.199 --> 01:00:35.319
 of your life

01:00:35.319 --> 01:00:37.460
 but by the Holy Spirit.

01:00:39.079 --> 01:00:40.379
 Today he's saying to you,

01:00:41.719 --> 01:00:43.319
 where are you in relation

01:00:43.319 --> 01:00:44.859
 to me as Lord?

01:00:44.859 --> 01:00:47.480
 If you've taken me

01:00:47.480 --> 01:00:49.599
 as Lord of your life,

01:00:50.099 --> 01:00:53.000
 let me control your life.

01:00:53.000 --> 01:00:55.900
 Give it entirely to me.

01:00:57.380 --> 01:00:58.920
 And whatever things arise

01:00:58.920 --> 01:00:59.760
 in providence,

01:01:00.760 --> 01:01:01.420
 it is I.

01:01:02.780 --> 01:01:04.000
 Don't be afraid.

01:01:04.960 --> 01:01:06.599
 May he bless these words to us.

01:01:06.599 --> 01:01:09.579
 We're going to conclude

01:01:09.579 --> 01:01:10.940
 now our service today

01:01:10.940 --> 01:01:11.319
 singing

01:01:11.319 --> 01:01:13.659
 from Psalm 146,

01:01:14.039 --> 01:01:14.219
 sorry,

01:01:14.279 --> 01:01:15.259
 from Psalm 37.

01:01:16.659 --> 01:01:19.259
 Psalm 37 on page 252.

01:01:21.380 --> 01:01:22.239
 Tune this time

01:01:22.239 --> 01:01:23.000
 is St. Andrew.

01:01:23.819 --> 01:01:24.299
 We're singing

01:01:24.299 --> 01:01:25.259
 from verse 3,

01:01:25.940 --> 01:01:27.319
 verses 3 to 7

01:01:27.319 --> 01:01:28.980
 of Psalm 37.

01:01:28.980 --> 01:01:30.760
 Set thou thy trust

01:01:30.760 --> 01:01:31.500
 upon the Lord

01:01:31.500 --> 01:01:33.280
 and be thou doing good

01:01:33.280 --> 01:01:34.940
 and so thou in the land

01:01:34.940 --> 01:01:35.639
 shalt dwell

01:01:35.639 --> 01:01:37.380
 and verily have food.

01:01:37.539 --> 01:01:39.219
 Delight thyself in God.

01:01:39.820 --> 01:01:41.199
 He'll give thine heart's desire

01:01:41.199 --> 01:01:41.719
 to thee.

01:01:42.460 --> 01:01:43.880
 Thy way to God commit.

01:01:44.440 --> 01:01:45.139
 Him trust

01:01:45.139 --> 01:01:46.699
 it bring to pass

01:01:46.699 --> 01:01:47.960
 shall he.

01:01:48.059 --> 01:01:49.480
 Verses 3 to 7

01:01:49.480 --> 01:01:50.179
 to his praise.

01:01:50.179 --> 01:02:01.480
 Let thou thy trust

01:02:01.480 --> 01:02:05.960
 upon the Lord

01:02:05.960 --> 01:02:13.559
 and be thou doing good

01:02:13.559 --> 01:02:20.159
 and so thou in the land

01:02:20.159 --> 01:02:22.659
 shall dwell

01:02:22.659 --> 01:02:30.779
 and verily have good.

01:02:30.779 --> 01:02:36.259
 Till thine thyself

01:02:36.259 --> 01:02:38.719
 in gold

01:02:38.719 --> 01:02:40.619
 will bear

01:02:40.619 --> 01:02:44.679
 thy heart's desire

01:02:44.679 --> 01:02:48.279
 to thee.

01:02:48.280 --> 01:02:52.780
 thy way to God

01:02:52.780 --> 01:02:58.080
 on heaven's path

01:02:58.080 --> 01:03:03.200
 and bring to us

01:03:03.200 --> 01:03:06.280
 shall be.

01:03:06.280 --> 01:03:14.320
 And like unto the light

01:03:14.320 --> 01:03:18.820
 shall thy righteousness

01:03:18.820 --> 01:03:19.820
 shall bring forth

01:03:19.820 --> 01:03:20.320
 thy good time

01:03:20.320 --> 01:03:23.320
 on the day.

01:03:23.320 --> 01:03:25.940
 And thee

01:03:25.940 --> 01:03:28.320
 thy judgment

01:03:28.320 --> 01:03:33.620
 shall bring forth

01:03:33.620 --> 01:03:37.320
 thy good time

01:03:37.320 --> 01:03:40.320
 on the day.

01:03:40.320 --> 01:03:42.320
 shall see

01:03:42.320 --> 01:03:46.320
achel

01:03:46.320 --> 01:03:47.320
 for Him

01:03:47.320 --> 01:04:00.700
 pay

01:04:00.699 --> 01:04:15.519
 For him who was in him in his way, success in sin again.

01:04:17.759 --> 01:04:20.039
 I'll go to the main door today after the benediction.

01:04:21.119 --> 01:04:24.779
 Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father,

01:04:24.960 --> 01:04:29.899
 and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you now and evermore. Amen.

01:04:30.699 --> 01:04:32.699
 Amen.