We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise. We're going to sing in Psalm 130,
in the Sing Psalms version, Psalm 130, page 173 of the psalm books.
We'll sing the whole of this psalm, Psalm 130.
Lord, from the depths I call to you, Lord, hear me from on high, and give attention to my voice
when I for mercy cry. Lord, in your presence who can stand if you our sins record?
But yet forgiveness is with you that we may fear you, Lord.
So we'll sing the whole of this psalm to God's praise. We stand to sing.
Amen.
I quit my soul, wait for the Lord.
My hope is in His word.
For that the watch and wait for dawn, my soul is for the Lord.
Oh, it shall do your hope in God.
Our mercy is within.
Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer.
Let us pray.
Our gracious Father in heaven, we come anew before you this evening, thankful for these
words that we have sung, thankful that we are able to approach you, that we are able
to cry out to you as our Lord, our Lord, and as our God.
We thank you that as we sing from this psalm, we see the psalmist crying from the depths,
and sometimes that is our experience, Lord.
We feel that we are in the depths of life in so many different ways.
Yet we thank you, too, that there are so many other occasions when we are reminded that a
cry comes from on high, a cry comes from different circumstances.
When it's high or low, Lord, we thank you that you are the God who hears and is able to deal
with us according to all our different needs.
And we thank you that this psalm reminds us of one of our greatest needs, that we realize in these
words, O Lord, the depth of your love towards us, that you are a God with whom there is rich
forgiveness.
For forgiveness.
We thank you, Lord, that we could not stand in your presence if you did record our sins.
But forgiveness is with you, as the psalmist says.
And we thank you that we can wait upon you, that we can put our hope in your word, and that you are
our hope, that you are the one with whom there is full redemption.
These wonderful words, Lord, encourage our hearts and remind us of the need of coming back to you
again and again. For prayer is not offered once or even twice, but daily, Lord, as we come to you,
we come in prayer, we come in dependence upon you. We come thankful for the instructions to pray
and how your word guides us in our prayers. Even the Lord's prayer itself, as we have said it together
this morning, we thank you for the great instructions and truths that there are in that, how we are reminded
that we begin looking to you as our Father in heaven, and the privilege that we have to call you
by that name, the privilege that is ours to come and approach the creator of the heavens and the earth,
and yet to come and call you our Father. And we thank you, Lord, that it's a prayer that reminds us,
too, that our dependence is upon you for all things. Even when we feel that we can satisfy ourselves,
that we are a people who provide for ourselves in so many different ways. Even today, as we have
set our tables, as we have eaten our food, as we have enjoyed the comforts of our homes, as we have
been gathered together around your word and peace and security here, as we have enjoyed fellowship,
Lord, we can think that these are all of our own making. But yet, Lord, they are all from you.
They are all gifts from above, from the one who does not change. And so this evening, Lord, we come
with so much to be thankful for. We come to praise your name for your blessings to us, rich and new each
day. And we thank you for the blessings of this day as we have gathered in worship and as we continue
to worship you, that you are with us, for that is your promise. You have reminded us this morning,
Lord, of how you are one who calls our people, that although we might put out invites to come,
that you are the one who works, that apart from you we can do nothing. And so we pray and thank you
for the encouragements that we had this morning of seeing so many gathered here, young and old alike.
We thank you for all who came and pray, Lord, that the gospel will have borne fruit, even in the midst of it
all and bear fruit in the days and weeks and months ahead. We thank you for the promise that you are
building your church. And we pray, Lord, that we will see it in our midst here and throughout our lands.
And we thank you for the command that you give to us as a people. Even as we have come today and heard,
we are to be a people who go and tell. And this evening, as we come to your word, may you encourage
us in that. May you encourage us and strengthen us, Lord, as we seek to be salt and light in all the
different places that you place us. And as we go into this week, oh Lord, may you help us to be
courageous, to be bold, to be a people who bear your light to all around us. We pray and thank you
for opportunities that you give us, whether it's in the home and among our own families, something that
can be so difficult at times. And yet, Lord, we thank you that you promise to be with us in the workplace,
in schools, in our communities as we go about our day-to-day lives. Lord, we thank you for all we come
into contact with. And we pray, Lord, that as we talk about so many other things in life,
that we would be a people who talk about the gospel, who talk about your goodness to us, who talk about
the wonder of your truth, the wonder of your grace, your grace that we see all around us, that
grace that we see in creation and in the sky and in the universe around us, Lord. We marvel at so many
things. We marvel at the northern lights as we see them in the nighttime. We marvel at the beauty of
the sunshine and the creation all around us. And yet help us to see you in it. We thank you for these
grace, the grace that you give us in these things. But we pray too, Lord, that we would see your special
grace to us, the wonder of the grace that is salvation in Jesus Christ, a gift from God.
And as with any gift, Lord, that we would rejoice in and share with others, we pray that the gospel
would be something that we would share and share with all around us. We thank you for your spirit
who is with us to that end to help us and to be with us. We thank you for your word, how powerful it is.
It is described as a sword that is, the word is sharper than any two-edged sword and how it cuts into the
very core of our being. And we pray, Lord, that even tonight and each time we hear it, that your word
would not just brush over us, that it would not just go in one ear and out another, but that it would
resonate in our hearts and in our very being. That it would be a word that would give us assurance,
give us confidence, give us grace for each day, give us that conviction of sin, as it speaks of.
If we are away from you, Lord, if we have not yet trusted in you, that the arrows of your word would
pierce deeply, even this night, and to give us that conscience of our need of you and not put it off.
And so we pray, Lord, that you will be with us, that you will bless us in our time together,
bless us as a people, as a congregation here, as we commit one another into your hands.
In all our different needs, Lord, comfort those who mourn, be with those who are going through these
times of sorrow and sadness. Thankful for your promise as a great comfort to your people,
that you would be that. Remembering those who are in hospital, both locally and away from here as well,
we pray for your healing hand upon them, for your goodness to follow them. Thankful for recovery and
mental health for some and praying for others who are maybe waiting surgery or treatment. Lord,
we pray to surround each one in all their different needs. We commit our congregations to
you as well. We thank you for this time of communion season, and we pray that where your people are
gathered over this weekend and this evening hour, that you would have been pleased to be in their
midst to bless. We think of the congregation of North Tolstown, Shabbos and North Uist, as they have
gathered around your word this weekend and around the Lord's table. We pray for encouragement. We pray
for strengthening. We pray for blessing in the midst of it. We thank you too, Lord, for the upcoming
induction of the Reverend David Ferguson to North Uist. We pray for that coming in a fortnight's time.
We thank you for David and Catherine and the young Duncan. We pray for them, Lord, that they would
settle in well to their new home and surroundings and congregation, and that together, Lord, with the
congregation, you would use them, that you would bless them, that you would watch over them. We pray that,
Lord, for our church near and far. We thank you that you are one who blesses your church. We thank you that
when your truth is proclaimed, that it is mighty and powerful. And so we pray that to all ends of the earth,
even anew this night, that your word would go out with power, that we go out, Lord, to build up your people and
challenge those who are in darkness, that they would call them into your wonderful light. And so we pray, Lord,
for your kingdom to come with power. May you bless us as we continue in our worship this evening. May you
guide us as a people in the week ahead as we think of all the different activities going on. We thank you
for the Explorers Group as it resumes this week, both the young ones and the older ones. May you bless
them as they start once more in a new term. We pray, Lord, that we will see a time of real
encouragement among our young people. We thank you for the Big Questions Study Group to resume as well.
We pray for invitations to go out and for many to come, to come and have fellowship with one another
and to hear your word and to enjoy that time of growing in our knowledge and understanding of you.
So may you bless that. And may you bless the preaching of your word and our fellowship around it in all the
different ways. May you go before us now, Lord, in this week ahead. May you guide us and keep us,
draw us close to yourself, be our constant companion. And may you be the Lord who gives us
courage and boldness to stand up for truth and to honour you and to serve you with all of our hearts.
So hear our prayers, Lord, and go before us now,
pardoning all our sin as we ask it all in Jesus' name for the sake and glory. Amen.
We're going to sing again to God's praise this time in Psalm 71 in the Scottish Psalter.
Psalm 71. We'll sing from verse 14 down to verse 18.
Psalm 71 at verse 14, page 311 of the psalm books.
Singing at verse 14 there, we see in these words that hope that is in the Lord,
but I with expectation will hope continually, and yet with praises more and more I will thee magnify.
And then verse 16 speaks about going on constantly in the strength of the Lord,
which is what we need. And then verse 18, as we even go into old age,
that there is that hope and confidence that the Lord will not leave us.
So we sing from verse 14 to 18 to God's praise, and we stand to sing.
Thank you.
We'll turn together to reading God's Word in the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew chapter 28.
I'm going to read the whole of this chapter.
Matthew chapter 28.
Find it around page 1006, the end of the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 28 at the beginning.
Now after the Sabbath, towards the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow.
And for fear of him, the guards trembled and became like dead men.
But the angel said to the woman,
Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.
Come, see the place where he lay.
Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead.
Behold, he is going before you to Galilee.
There you will see him.
See, I have told you.
So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples.
Behold, Jesus met them and said, Greetings.
And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshipped him.
Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid.
Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.
While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.
And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said,
Tell people, his disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.
And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.
So they took the money and did as they were directed.
And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
And when they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted.
And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.
Amen. And may God bless that reading from his word.
Before we come back to look at this passage, we're going to sing in Psalm 67.
In the Sing Psalms version, page 84 of the psalm book, Psalm 67, we'll sing the whole of this psalm.
God be merciful and bless us.
Shine upon us with your face, that the earth may know your actions and all lands your saving grace.
A psalm that reminds us of the power of God's word going out into the midst of all the nations and bearing fruit.
So we're going to sing the whole of this psalm, Psalm 67, page 84.
Stand to sing to God's praise.
Amen.
God be merciful and bless us, try not follow us with your grace,
and the earth may know your actions and all lands your saving grace.
O God, may the people praise you, may all people sing your praise.
Are you just the nation's justly, who they know every grace?
May they sing with joy and gladness, may they all rejoice as one.
O God, may the people praise you, as they all unite in song.
Then the land will yield its harvest, God will pour his gifts abroad.
God and God will surely bless us, all the earth will fear our God.
Amen.
We can turn back together to our reading in Matthew 28.
We're going to read again at verse 19 to the end there, just these last two verses.
But the whole chapter is connected together.
You see it's split into three different sections in the Bibles.
Here you have the section verse 1 to 10 called the resurrection.
And then you have the report of the guard, verse 11 to 15.
And then the last section, the great commission, verse 16 to verse 20.
But I want us to see that the whole chapter is connected because what we have here is actually
not just one commission.
We have the great commission at the end.
But you have another commission that was given to the soldiers in verse 11 to 15.
15.
They were given a message to tell the people.
And the disciples, the church was given a message to tell the people.
But they're opposing messages.
And the messages are linked to the resurrection.
One message of the soldiers is telling people that his body was stolen away, that he is not
risen.
And the other message of the great commission is that he is risen and that he is with us.
So in verse 19, we read these words.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.
When you have been to maybe the cinema or to a show, when you've seen something that leaves
you amazed and astonished, what do you do afterwards?
Do you just forget about it?
And you go on in the wake and maybe say nothing to anybody about it?
Or more likely, if you've seen something that's left you amazed and you think other people need
to see this, they need to go and see this or they need to hear this, you are going to talk
to others about it.
You're going to tell others about it.
Go and see it for yourselves.
That's what happens when something leaves you excited and amazed.
Go and see it for yourselves.
What about when we think of what we have called today, back to church Sunday?
Is that it?
Are we done?
Do we take the banner down that's up outside, put it away in the box and forget about it?
That's it.
We've done our duty.
Maybe until the next time.
Do we put the invitations away?
We don't have to give them out anymore for people to come to church.
Do we forget about these kinds of things?
Surely not.
And it shouldn't just be based around one Sunday that we're calling back to church Sunday.
It should be based around every time we meet together in this way of coming to worship God.
That we'll be astonished and amazed at what the word of God is saying to us.
Astonished and amazed by the love of God towards us.
Just like we saw with the prodigal son this morning.
That even though he had gone away from home, even though he had squandered everything that his father had given to him.
Yet still he was welcomed back.
It's astonishing.
It's astonishing to think of what God has done for us through Christ Jesus.
As we sang in Psalm 130.
As we think of the forgiveness of our sin.
Of the cost.
Of the price that has been paid.
Let us never lose our amazement and our wonder at that.
The wonder of having sat at the Lord's table last Sunday.
Of having remembered the Lord's death.
And the bread and the wine that we shared with one another.
As we partook in the Lord's supper.
Remembering his death.
Do we lose our wonder and amazement at that?
Every time we come and hear the gospel.
It should never leave us unmoved.
And yet we know ourselves.
Our hearts can be hard.
Our hearts can be cold.
But yet let us keep that fire in our hearts.
The joy of salvation as the psalmist calls it.
The one.
The two on the road to Emmaus.
Who say did not our hearts burn within us.
As he walked on the way.
As he opened up the scriptures to us.
They were amazed.
They were in wonder of what they were hearing.
And what it made them do was go and tell others.
So this morning we were looking at that idea of the invitation to come.
To come and hear of the wonder of all that God has done for us in Christ.
And we broke down the word come in each letter.
Giving each letter a word of itself.
Come.
Christ offers me everything.
That's the invitation that we have in the gospel.
Tonight we're looking at it in another way now.
We're thinking of the go part.
We've come.
We've heard.
So what do we do with that now?
We go.
We are to go and tell others.
To share with others the wonder of this news.
And I want to break go into two words by itself as well.
And take the letter G and the letter O.
And it's great opportunities.
Great opportunities.
We are to go because there are great opportunities around us.
Because there are people all around us.
And that's the wonder of what we see here in this closing chapter of Matthew's gospel.
We see the Lord Jesus giving this commission to the disciples, to the church.
That we are to be a people who go.
And why do we go?
We go because there's others who are going into the world and telling people lies.
That's what we see in the report of the guard in verse 11 to verse 15.
And it says in verse 15, they took the money and did as they were directed.
They told lies.
They told a false story.
And it says, and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
In the days of the gospel being written, maybe about 20 years after the event.
But even to this day, this same story is still being spread among people.
But Jesus is not real.
That he never rose from the dead.
That the resurrection was just some kind of made up story.
They're saying others are telling the lies.
We have the truth.
The truth is they stole his body.
But Jesus is risen.
That's what we see in the account of the resurrection.
And you can almost say that there's a commission already being given before these two.
In verse 7 of this chapter, when Jesus met with a woman at the tomb, he says,
Go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead.
And behold, he is going before you to Galilee.
So there's already been this commission given to them.
You go and tell the disciples he has risen.
He has risen from the dead.
And he is going before you into Galilee.
And then you come into the contrasting commissions as we see them in these next two sections.
And so we're going to think about these things this evening together.
When Jesus spoke these words at the end of chapter 28 to the disciples,
He was speaking directly to them, but also indirectly to us as we have it through his word.
He was giving the church our marching orders.
Even though he was going away to be with the Father.
He says at the end of this chapter, I am going to be with you always.
Through his spirit he is with us even to the end of the age.
And that's what these disciples knew in their own ministry.
And that's what we know with us today as well.
There is this powerful message.
It's a message that the world needs to hear.
It's a message that as you were to go into the book of Acts,
which follows the gospel accounts,
the acts of the apostles as the church began to go out
and to be the witnesses of Jesus beginning in Jerusalem to Judea
and to all the ends of the earth.
There was this promise that he was with them.
And it says in Acts chapter 17 verse 6,
the effect of this message of this gospel was turning the world upside down.
There was a power in this message.
And it's a power that is still there today
because he has all authority on earth and in heaven
has been given to our Lord Jesus.
He has all power.
And so he gave this great commission.
In the midst of the lies that were being spread,
there is a commission to the church.
But it can easily turn into the great omission.
The part that we forget about.
The part that we neglect.
The part that goes undone.
And so as we think of ourselves here today,
as we have had this back to church Sunday,
as we've come,
we are to remember to not to neglect
our commission going forward.
It's not job done.
That's not the end of the matter.
Because there are still souls all around us
who need to hear the gospel.
So we don't leave it neglected.
We come and we go.
Because there's great opportunities all around us.
Somebody once described it in this way,
how the church has almost gone backwards
over the generations.
It said,
instead of taking the gospel to all the ends of the earth
as the Lord commanded,
the modern church won't even take the gospel
to the end of the street.
That's a sad reflection on us
if that was true of us.
That we wouldn't be a people
who are reminded and remember
that this is our commission.
That this is our duty,
our command as a church
to be a people who go.
Salvation belongs to God.
But God has entrusted his church,
his people,
with taking this message
to all the ends of the earth.
So just three things we want to take
from this portion tonight.
I want us to see,
first of all,
the contrasting commissions.
There's a contrast between the guards
and the disciples
and what they are told to do.
And then there's the courage
that's required.
And then finally we'll see
the confident trust
that we need to have as well.
So first of all,
there's contrasting commissions.
We see this, as I say,
between the guards
and the disciples
and what they were told to do.
And it's a powerful reminder
to us of the world
that we still live in.
You see,
when Jesus had risen
from the grave,
not everybody believed
and even wanted to believe
that this was true.
And the soldiers,
the guards
and the chief priests
who had heard of this,
they assembled,
it says in verse 12,
with the elders
and taking counsel
and they gave sufficient
sum of money
to the soldiers
and said,
tell people.
His disciples
came by night
and stole them away
while we were asleep.
So they are given
this commission.
This is their commission
given from their supervisors,
their managers,
if you like,
the ones who are over them.
tell people.
And really,
that's what this world does.
The world is always
telling us a message.
The case is,
who do we believe?
The soldiers,
we're told,
tell the people
that the disciples came
and stole his body away.
In other words,
he's not alive,
he's dead.
And they stole the body.
And that's what the world
believes to this day,
that Jesus may have been
a man who lived
in this world,
but he's dead.
It's got no meaning
for us now.
So this is their commission.
But the disciples
have a very different commission.
And when they had gone
to Galilee,
to the mountain
to which Jesus
had directed them,
they saw him.
Not a body.
They saw him.
They saw Jesus.
And they worshipped him.
And Jesus came
and said to them,
spoke these words to them,
all authority in heaven
and on earth
has been given to me.
Go,
therefore.
This is your message.
Go and tell the people
my message,
teaching them to observe
all that I have commanded you.
What a contrast.
A message that is meaningless
and hopeless.
Jesus is dead.
Or the message
of the power of the gospel
and the wonder
of a risen Savior.
When you look at
the soldiers here
who were given
this message,
tell the people
that the disciples
came and stole
away his body.
What hope is in that?
It's a bit like
an army commander,
one who was over
an army,
saying,
go to battle.
Go and fight.
Follow my commands.
So the order
has been given
from on high.
And yet,
instead of listening
to that,
the soldiers
in this battalion,
they listen to the cook.
He says,
I don't think
that's a good idea.
I think we should
just hold back.
Just stay where we are.
Don't want to listen
to the one who's over us.
Let's just do
our own thing.
Does that make sense?
It doesn't.
It would never happen.
It should never happen.
And yet,
that's what they are doing.
They are listening
to those who are over them
in worldly things.
And yet,
if they had listened
and seen
to what they had seen
and heard of the cross,
which many of them
would have observed,
even seeing,
perhaps,
the risen Lord,
they wouldn't have gone
in this way.
But they're blinded.
Just like the world
in which we live,
so much
of the messages
that we hear
are just blind.
They don't know
what they're telling us.
They don't know
what they're saying.
And yet,
so many
will listen.
There is this
hopeless commission
that they were given,
this foolish commission.
Tell the people
that he's dead.
It's just like
what Paul speaks
to the Romans.
And it goes on
down through
every generation.
It's the same thing.
They've exchanged
the truth about God
for a lie.
And worshipped
and served
the creature
rather than
the creator.
It's the ongoing battle.
It's a battle
that we are in.
As a church,
as a people,
we are in this
same battle
that people today
have exchanged
the truth of God
for a lie.
It's ongoing.
They believe it
to this day.
But yet,
what a contrast
we have
in the truth.
What a contrast
there is
in the fact
that Jesus
is risen.
He has been
crucified.
He was put
in the grave,
but he rose
from the grave.
That message
the woman
received
in verse 6
of this chapter
about the resurrection.
He is not here
for he has risen.
And as he said,
come,
see the place
where he lay.
Then go quickly
and tell his disciples
that he has risen
from the dead.
This brings excitement.
This brings,
yes,
fear on one hand,
but joy
on the other.
As well,
the Lord
is risen.
risen.
And
he says
to them
in verse 10
there,
Jesus said,
don't be afraid.
Go and tell
my brothers
to go
to Galilee
and there
they will see me.
There's this
power in this
message.
He is risen.
The truth
is
that he
is risen.
And that's
what we need
to hold
onto.
And so
this is what
they are to
go
with.
What a
contrast
in these
messages.
And so
as Jesus
is saying,
go
therefore
into the
world,
making disciples
of all
nations.
He is saying,
keep going.
And as you
go,
share this
message
with others.
There are
plenty who
will tell
lies in
this world,
but you
have a
truth.
We have
a truth,
a wonderful
truth,
that he
is risen,
that he
is a
savior,
that he
is able
to forgive
our sins
and to
give us
hope of
eternal
life.
And we
are to
go into
the world
and tell
the people
all of
these
truths,
teaching
them to
observe
all that
I have
commanded
you.
All that
I have
commanded
you.
The only
way to
salvation
is through
faith in
him.
So,
we are
to be a
people
who go.
you
think of
the woman
of
Samaria
in
John
chapter
4,
who
met
Jesus
at
the
well
outside
the
town
by
herself.
Again,
someone
else
who
was
far
away
from
God
in
many
ways
and
cast
out
by
society
in
her
day.
And yet
Jesus
met
with
her.
And
she
met
with
the
Christ.
And
what
did
she
do?
She
went
to
the
town.
She
went
back
to
the
people.
People
who
had
shunned
her and
neglected
her and
said,
come,
come see
a man
who knows
everything
about me.
Could
this be
the
Christ?
She
came
to him
and she
went
to tell
others.
There was
an
opportunity
for her
to go
to them
and she
did.
And
Jesus,
as you
read in
this part
through the
Gospels,
he so
often
discipling
his
people
in
this
way
of
how
we
are
to
live.
Someone
has
described
the
book
of
the
Gospels
as
just
Jesus
discipling
his
church,
showing
us
how
we
are
to
live
and
how
we
are
to
behave
in
this
world.
And
he
often
gives
us
reminders
about
how
we
have
a
message
to
share
and
where
we
are
to
share
it.
Christ
met
unbelievers
where
they
were.
And
someone
has
gone
through
the
Gospels
and
counted
the
number
of
places
where
Jesus
met
with
individuals
or
with
people.
And
they
counted
132
contacts
Jesus
had
with
people.
And
where
were
they?
Where
were
the
places
that
Jesus
met
with
them?
Well,
they
broke
it
down
into
this
six
were
in
the
temple,
four
in
the
synagogues,
and
122
were
with
people
in
just
the
ordinary
place
of
life,
in
their
homes,
out
in
the
countryside,
down
by the
sea,
in
their
workplaces,
in
all of
these
kinds
of
places.
That
is
where
he
met.
122
of
the
132
occasions
recorded
in
the
scriptures
for
us.
He
met
with
them
in
the
ordinary
places.
And
there's
a
word
in
that
for
us,
that
as
we
have
this
commission
to
go
and
tell
and
to
tell
the
truth,
it's
for
everywhere
that
we
go,
in
the
ordinary
places
of
life,
so that
as
we
go
into
this
week
ahead,
that
we
are
to
go
because
there
are
great
opportunities
everywhere
we
go,
in
the
homes,
in
our
communities,
in
the
workplaces,
in
the
schools,
wherever
we
go,
that
is
our
field,
that
is
where
we
are,
that's
where
God
has
put
us,
and
we
have
this
truth,
and
we're
speaking
this
truth
in
the
midst
of
a
world
that
hears
the
lie
that
Jesus
is
dead.
So
we
have
contrasting
commissions.
The
second
thing we
see
here
is
something
we
so
often
need
as
well
as
the
courage
that
is
required.
When
you
look at
the
soldiers
here
as
they
were
given
this
lie
to
tell,
they
were
in
fear
for
their
lives.
They
were
afraid
of
what
might
happen
to
them
if
the
truth
got
out.
But
they
were
calmed
by
their
elders
who
said,
don't
worry,
in
verse
14,
if
this
comes
to
the
governor's
years,
we
will
satisfy
him
and
keep
you
out
of
trouble.
Yet
there
was
still
a
fear.
They
were
still
afraid
because
they
failed
in
their
duties.
And
if
they
were
found
out,
they
would
more
than
likely
be
put
to
death.
So
there
was
a
fear
in
them.
They
had
to
be
courageous
to
stand
up
for
a
lie.
But
what
about
the
disciples?
When
you
look
at
the
disciples,
they
were
afraid
of
failing
their
master.
What
kept
them
going
in
all
of
this
and
as
they
would
go
on
to
minister
for
the
Lord
throughout
their
lives
was
obedience
to
the
Lord.
Their
commission
was
dangerous.
Some
would
lose
their
lives
in
it,
but
yet
they
were
obedient.
They
went
on
courageous
in
the
Lord.
And
we
need
to
be
courageous
too.
We
need
to
be
courageous
ourselves.
We
need
to
remind
ourselves
of the
wonder
of
God
with
us.
So
that
as
we
go
we
have
this
promise
behold
I
am
with
you
always
to
the
end
of
the
age
to
the
very
end.
I
will
never
leave
you.
The
soldiers
they
couldn't
have
that
confidence.
They
couldn't
have
that
assurance
that
the
was
that
were
over
them
over
them.
If
news
comes
to
the
governor
they
said
we
will
satisfy
them.
Well
if
the
elders
were
in
fear
for
their
lives
they
wouldn't
have
protected
the
soldiers.
They
would
have
passed
the
buck
and
said
no
it's
their
fault
they
weren't
doing
their
duties.
So
the
soldiers
would
always
be
in
fear.
But
we
have
the
Lord
on
our
side.
We
have
the
Lord
with
us.
That
is
the
promise
that
he
gives
us.
If
you
look
at
verse
17
you
see
there
though
if
you
are
of
seven
some
worshipped
him
but
some
doubted.
And
you
think
but
yeah
look
even
the
disciples
here
they
weren't
courageous
they
weren't
bold
doubted
can also
be
translated
hesitated
and
it's
probably
closer
to the
right
word
they
hesitated
they
saw
Jesus
but
it was
almost
unbelievable
this
is the
one we
have
just
seen
crucified
this
is the
one
who
hung
on
the
tree
this
is the
one
whose
body
was
taken
down
and
placed
in
the
tomb
is
it
him
they
hesitated
they
were
unsure
but
only
for
a
time
and
who
wouldn't
be
in
many
ways
you
think
of
Thomas
how
he
would
say
well
I
will
believe
it
when
I
see
him
when
I
am
able
to
touch
him
and
put
my
hand
and
my
finger
in
the
hole
the
mark
on
his
hands
and
his
side
or
the
two
on
the
road
to
Amaze
who
were
downcast
they
were
just
dismayed
that
the
Lord
was
dead
that
he
was
gone
that
their
hope
was
all
but
gone
all
kinds
of
different
reactions
and yet
in
them
all
Jesus
gives
the
answer
to
Thomas
he
appears
to
him
Thomas
says
my
Lord
and
my
God
to
the
two
on
the
road
to
Amaze
he
comes
alongside
them
and
opens
up
the
scriptures
and
their
hearts
burn
within
them
there
is
that
assurance
there
is
that
confidence
he
is
with
them
with
the
woman
at
the
tomb
here
the
angel
appears
to
them
and
then
the
Lord
himself
appears
to
them
in
verse
9
he
met
them
and
said
greetings
they
came
up
and
took
hold
of
him
and
he
said
don't
be
afraid
there
is
this
wonderful
assurance
and
Jesus
is
always
giving
instruction
he
is
always
giving
guidance
you read
verse
16
there
and
it
just
seems
like
an
insignificant
little
verse
there
now
the
eleven
disciples
went
to
Galilee
to
the
mountain
which
Jesus
had
directed
them
and
yet
you
see
the
key
here
there
was
obedience
they
were
listening
all
along
in
chapter
26
verse
32
it
says
to
them
there
but
after
I
am
raised
up
I
will
go
before
you
to
Galilee
so
he's
told
them
even
before
the
crucifixion
after
I
am
raised
up
I
will
go
before
you
to
Galilee
and
then
in
verse
7
of
chapter
28
he
is
going
before
you
to
Galilee
there
you
will
see
him
and
then
in
verse
10
then
Jesus
said
to
them
do
not
be
afraid
go
and
tell
my
brothers
to
go
to
Galilee
oh
you see
it
a few
times
go
to
Galilee
there
you
went
to
Galilee
to
the
mountain
to
which
Jesus
had
directed
them
they
were
being
obedient
they
were
being
obedient
and
so
we
are
to
be
obedient
too
we
are
to
be
a
people
of
faith
who
go
in
that
promise
that
he
is
with
us
that
he
will
always
be
with
us
even
to
the
end
of
the
age
even
into
the
places
where
it
seems
impossible
George
Muller
a man
of
faith
who
so
often
saw
the
Lord
work
in
amazing
ways
he
said
this
faith
does
not
operate
in
the
realm
of
the
possible
there
is
no
glory
for
God
in
that
which
is
humanly
possible
faith
begins
where
man's
power
ends
and
we
cannot
save
we
cannot
go
and
make
disciples
by
ourselves
we
cannot
teach
them
to
observe
all
that
I
have
commanded
you
by
ourselves
but
Jesus
has
authority
all
authority
in
heaven
and
on
earth
has
been
given
to
me
and
he's
saying
go
and
at
the
end
behold
I
am
with
you
always
to
the
end
of
the
age
courage
is
required
but
he
gives
courage
he
gives
courage
through
that
promise
that
he
is
always
with
us
the
third
thing
the
final
thing
I
want
us
to
see
here
is
that
confident
trust
what
motivates
us
in
our
ministry
what
motivates
us
in our
Christian
lives
in our
witness
for the
Lord
what
is a
contrast
in the
motivations
that we
see
between
the
guards
and the
disciples
here
as
well
the
guards
they
were
the
soldiers
they
were
motivated
by
money
we
will
give
you
a
sufficient
sum
of
money
to
go
and
tell
people
this
story
tell
them
this
lie
they
were
motivated
by
money
and
it
would
be
easy
for
us
sometimes
to
have
the
wrong
motivations
and
sometimes
people
can
see
our
motivations
as
wrong
as
well
when
you
think
of
the
desire
we
have
to
see
many
coming
into
the
congregation
to
see
many
coming
in
under
the
word
people
will
say
our
numbers
is
what's
driving
their
motives
there
that's
what's
behind
it
all
just
so
they're
able
to
say
that
there's
large
numbers
of
people
that's
what's
motivating
them
or
you can
go into
all
kinds
of
ways
that
we
think
wrong
motivations
are
seen
they're
just
doing
it
to
be
seen
for
their
own
reputations
they're
just
doing
it
to
be
spoken
of
by
others
but
that's
never
what
should
drive
us
it's
not
what
drives
us
our
greatest
concern
should
always
be
our
love
for
Christ
for
the
glory
of
his
name
and
for
the
saving
of
souls
when
a
minister
is
ordained
you
hear
a
minister
taking
vows
and
it's
good
as
any
minister
to
remind
ourselves
of
the
vows
that
we
have
taken
and
perhaps
it's
vows
that
maybe
even
every
Christian
should
take
as
we
become
professing
members
of
the
church
that
our
desires
and
commitments
would
be
aligned
in
the
same
way
and
part
of
the
vows
that
a
minister
takes
is
the
seal
for
the
honour
of
God
love
to
Jesus
Christ
and
desire
for
the
saving
of
souls
that's
your
chief
inducement
as it
says
chief
motivation
in the
ordination
into the
ministry
seal
for the
honour
of
God
love
to
Jesus
Christ
and
desire
for
saving
of
souls
that's
what the
church
is
about
not
just
the
minister
all
of
us
together
seal
for
the
honour
of
God
love
to
Jesus
Christ
and
the
desire
of
the
saving
of
souls
we
don't
do
it
of
ourselves
we
look
to
him
who
is
able
and
there
are
souls
all
around
us
there
are
souls
everywhere
that we
look
and it's
our
desire
that they
be
saved
back to
church
Sunday
is not
just
for
one
day
it's
about
coming
to
see
a
saviour
the
Christ
who
offers
me
everything
come
and
see
this
man
could
he
be
the
Christ
was
the
invitation
the
woman
of
Samaria
gave
that's
our
invitation
come
see
a man
who knows
everything
about
me
could
this
be
the
Christ
does
that
drive
us
does
that
motivate
us
Dwight
Moody
said he
made a
promise
to God
that he
would
witness to
Christ
to at
least one
person
each
day
and so
he did
each day
of his
life
and there
was one
time
it was
coming up
to ten
o'clock
at night
and he
realised
he
hadn't
spoken
to
anyone
about
Christ
that
day
he
hadn't
witnessed
and so
he went
out onto
the street
he went
out looking
for someone
to talk
to them
about
Christ
and about
their
soul
and he
saw
this
man
standing
by a
lamp
and he
went
over
asking
him
are
you
a
Christian
and the
man
went
into
a
violent
rage
he
was so
angry
with
Dwight
Moody
he
threatened
to throw
him
into
the
gutter
he
just
pushed
him
away
he
just
told
him
to
get
lost
this
got
back
to
some
of
the
elders
in
Dwight
Moody's
church
and they
said
you're
doing
more
harm
than
good
you're
stirring
up
people
to
anger
against
us
as
a
church
and they
begged
him
to
stop
but he
said
he
couldn't
he
still
had to
go on
witnessing
for
Christ
three
months
later
Dwight
Moody was
awakened
by a
knock
at his
door
and at
the
door
when he
opened
it
was
this
man
who
he
had
witnessed
to
on
the
street
who
had
got
into
a
rage
with
him
and
threatened
to
throw
him
into
the
gutter
and
he
said
I
want
to
talk
to
you
about
my
soul
and
he
apologized
for
the way
that he
treated
him
that
night
and
said
I
have
had
no
peace
ever
since
that
soul
is
troubled
and
he
came
in
with
Dwight
Moody
he
sat
with
him
and
they
spoke
of
the
wonder
of
Christ
the
beauty
of
Christ
the
one
who
is
able
to
save
come
because
Christ
offers
me
everything
and
this
man
came
to
faith
and
served
the
Lord
we
should
never
lose
our
seal
for
souls
that
are
lost
and
perishing
and
so
our
command
as we
come
to
Christ
who
offers
me
everything
is
also
tonight
to
go
to
go
because
there
are
great
opportunities
around
us
and
there
are
people
who
are
perishing
we
have
a
great
commission
we
have
the
truth
of
a
risen
saviour
there
are
others
who
still
spread
the
lie
that
Christ
is
not
real
he
may
have
lived
but
he's
dead
he's
of
no
use
to
you
now
but
we
have
the
truth
Christ
offers
us
eternal
life
through
faith
in him
so
we
go
because
there
are
great
opportunities
around
us
let's
not
fail
in
our
commission
but
be
faithful
to
him
seal
for
God
and
love
to
Jesus
Christ
and
the
saving
of
souls
may
that
move
us
and
make
us
go
as
we
have
been
commanded
let
us
pray
our
father
in
heaven
we
thank
you
that
we
hear
your
word
and
help
us
that
we
would
take
it
to
heart
that
we
would
take
it
as
your
truth
to
us
that
Jesus
Christ
is
risen
from
the
dead
and
that
we
have
this
command
to
go
and
tell
others
of
the
wonder
the
wonder
of
the
gospel
the
wonder
that
he
died
for
our
sins
the
wonder
that
he
rose
from
the
grave
and
the
wonder
that
he
will
come
again
may
you
help
us
Lord
to
be
a
people
to
be
a
church
here
on
earth
that
reflects
your
glory
and
shows
the
wonder
of
your
gospel
to
many
that
we
would
see
your
hand
upon
us
Lord
moving
in
our
midst
your
spirit
working
bringing
many
to
salvation
bringing
many
to
know
the
glory
and
the
wonder
of
Christ
as
their
Lord
and
amen
we're
going
to
conclude
by
singing
again
to
God's
praise
this
time
in
psalm
73
in
the
Scottish
Psalter
psalm
73
singing
from
verse
23
to
verse
26
page
316
of the
psalm
books
a psalm
that
reminds
us
as
the
psalmist
goes
through
it
how
often
we
can
have
questions
and
doubts
and
fears
and
worries
and
yet
he
says
at
the
end
of
verse
22
there
so
rude
was
I
and
ignorant
and
in
my
sight
a
beast
but
then
you
have
these
words
in
verse
23
nevertheless
continually
O
Lord
I
am
with
thee
thou
dost
me
hold
by
my
right
hand
and
still
uphold
this
neither
with
thy
counsel
while I
live
will
me
conduct
and
guide
and
to
thy
glory
afterward
receive
me
to
abide
we'll
sing
from
verse
23
to
26
to
God's
praise
and
we
stand
to
sing
stem
to
men
with
thee
and
does
me
hold
By my God, and still the foolishness be.
The will I counsel while I live, will keep on guard and guide.
And to the glory of the world receive me tonight.
To cover in the heavens high, that the, O Lord, alone,
Have been here, O God, I desire, besides me there is none.
Thy patient heart doth faint and fail,
The God doth fail me there.
For, O my heart, God is the same,
And worship for us.
After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my left.
We'll close the benediction.
Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon us
and abide with us now and forevermore.
Amen.