WEBVTT 00:00:00.380 --> 00:00:09.759 We're going to begin our worship now. We're singing firstly today in Psalm 138, 138, and 00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:20.420 that's on page 179. We're using these blue psalm books. It's on page 179. The tune is 00:00:20.420 --> 00:00:25.420 Weigham, 138, verses 1 to 5. 00:00:25.420 --> 00:00:31.660 I'll praise you, Lord, with all my heart. Before the gods, I'll sing your praise. I'll bow towards 00:00:31.660 --> 00:00:37.760 your holy place and bless your holy name always. I'll praise you for your faithfulness and for your 00:00:37.760 --> 00:00:44.460 covenant love, O Lord. For over all things, you have raised your holy name and faithful word. 00:00:45.240 --> 00:00:50.140 Psalm 138, we stand. If you're able to stand for singing, please stand while we sing these verses. 00:00:55.420 --> 00:01:20.420 I'll bless you, Lord, with all my heart. Before the gods, I'll sing your praise. I'll bow to part your holy place. 00:01:20.420 --> 00:01:43.540 And bless your holy name always. I'll praise you, Lord, your faithfulness and for your 00:01:43.540 --> 00:01:44.540 God. 00:01:44.540 --> 00:01:50.540 I'll praise you, Lord, your holy name and faithful word. 00:01:50.540 --> 00:01:51.540 Mother. 00:01:51.540 --> 00:02:09.540 And for over all things, you have raised your holy day. You have 00:02:09.539 --> 00:02:26.699 Every day I call to you, you give an answer to my plea. 00:02:26.699 --> 00:02:45.780 You made me whole within myself, with fury strong, you strength and need. 00:02:45.780 --> 00:03:04.699 O Lord, let all last kings get raised, when from your mouth they hear your word. 00:03:04.699 --> 00:03:23.500 Let them let strong, thou ways of God, for grace the glory of the Lord. 00:03:26.019 --> 00:03:29.219 Now we're going to engage in prayer, let's call upon the Lord in prayer. 00:03:29.739 --> 00:03:33.319 There'll be no children's address now, the children have gone through for the moment, 00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:34.879 so we'll engage in prayer. 00:03:38.799 --> 00:03:42.900 Lord, our gracious God, we give thanks that these words we have been singing 00:03:42.900 --> 00:03:48.519 have reminded us not only of your greatness, but of your faithfulness to your covenant, 00:03:49.419 --> 00:03:51.299 the covenant that you have made with your people, 00:03:51.900 --> 00:03:57.240 in which you have set so many promises for us to gather and to enjoy and to anticipate. 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:02.519 We thank you, Lord, that your promises come to us through your word, 00:04:02.520 --> 00:04:08.340 and we thank you for your word that brings to us today that great message of redemption, 00:04:08.640 --> 00:04:13.820 of salvation, of forgiveness of sins, of adoption, to be your own children. 00:04:14.820 --> 00:04:17.939 And we thank you, Lord, today as we come to worship you, 00:04:18.460 --> 00:04:23.639 that you have reminded us once again of the importance of worshiping the Lord God 00:04:23.639 --> 00:04:27.899 and giving us, O Lord, so many reasons to worship you, 00:04:28.180 --> 00:04:32.620 in which we give you thanks, in which we call upon your name as we do now, 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:38.379 and in which we enjoy being together with others who are like-minded. 00:04:39.139 --> 00:04:42.500 We give thanks, O Lord, today for this service of worship, 00:04:43.180 --> 00:04:44.759 for all that is attached to it, 00:04:44.819 --> 00:04:49.099 for the many promises you give us in relation to our gathering together, 00:04:49.100 --> 00:04:52.320 in relation to our calling upon your name, 00:04:52.420 --> 00:04:54.320 that you promise to hear us when we pray. 00:04:55.340 --> 00:04:58.140 Lord, we come to you today conscious that as we pray, 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:01.080 we do come with confession of our sins, 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:04.240 as well as thankfulness for all your gifts to us. 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:08.260 We bless you that in the promise of forgiveness, 00:05:09.100 --> 00:05:10.840 you extend to us in the gospel 00:05:10.840 --> 00:05:14.160 that great message of redemption in Christ, 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:16.580 in which you have placed our forgiveness 00:05:16.580 --> 00:05:19.720 and our washing and cleansing from sin. 00:05:20.580 --> 00:05:21.880 And we thank you today, Lord, 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:25.880 that the baptism we will shortly be witnesses to, 00:05:26.580 --> 00:05:29.940 that that is an ordinance that you have given to your church 00:05:29.940 --> 00:05:33.640 so that it would be a demonstration outwardly 00:05:33.640 --> 00:05:36.040 in a symbolic fashion, 00:05:36.760 --> 00:05:39.540 a way by which the assurance of forgiveness 00:05:39.540 --> 00:05:41.480 is given to those who trust in you, 00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:43.720 and by which we come to see 00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:46.600 that which is also in the message of the gospel 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:47.600 as it is proclaimed, 00:05:48.460 --> 00:05:51.040 that there is indeed preached forgiveness of sins 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:53.420 in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:05:53.939 --> 00:05:56.000 And we give thanks for the privilege, O Lord, 00:05:56.060 --> 00:05:56.939 we have today 00:05:56.939 --> 00:05:59.860 of knowing these great truths for ourselves. 00:06:00.460 --> 00:06:02.980 And we pray today that we may reflect upon 00:06:02.980 --> 00:06:04.960 our relationship to you. 00:06:05.660 --> 00:06:07.600 For it is not simply, Lord, 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:09.939 a matter today of those who are coming with their children 00:06:09.939 --> 00:06:10.819 to be baptized, 00:06:11.420 --> 00:06:15.019 you have given us in this a time of reflection 00:06:15.019 --> 00:06:16.019 and consideration 00:06:16.019 --> 00:06:18.579 of our own relationship with you, 00:06:19.019 --> 00:06:21.620 and of those of us who have been baptized already, 00:06:22.199 --> 00:06:24.199 of how we are living out that baptism, 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:26.939 and how much it is evident in our lives, Lord, 00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:27.620 outwardly, 00:06:28.100 --> 00:06:30.779 as we seek to live in a life dedicated to you. 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:33.000 We thank you today, O Lord, 00:06:33.060 --> 00:06:33.800 for your church 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:35.980 and for all the privileges we have 00:06:35.980 --> 00:06:37.860 as we belong to your church on earth. 00:06:37.860 --> 00:06:40.520 We thank you for the way 00:06:40.520 --> 00:06:42.600 in which you have blessed the gospel 00:06:42.600 --> 00:06:43.699 down through the years 00:06:43.699 --> 00:06:45.980 in this congregation itself, 00:06:46.340 --> 00:06:48.199 as well as in the many other gatherings 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:49.560 of your people today, 00:06:49.639 --> 00:06:50.660 even throughout the world. 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:52.540 And we give thanks, Lord, 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:54.560 today that your promise still 00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:55.960 is attached to your gospel, 00:06:56.139 --> 00:06:56.860 to your message 00:06:56.860 --> 00:06:58.819 that you have given us to proclaim, 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:02.000 that your word will not return to you empty, 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:04.000 that it will indeed accomplish 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:05.780 that for which you sent it out. 00:07:05.779 --> 00:07:08.319 We pray that that accomplishment today 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:10.539 would be, in our own experience, 00:07:11.019 --> 00:07:12.979 a drawing of us nearer to God, 00:07:13.639 --> 00:07:15.219 and a drawing of us in such a way 00:07:15.219 --> 00:07:16.939 as will instill in our hearts 00:07:16.939 --> 00:07:18.739 that fear of God, 00:07:18.819 --> 00:07:20.799 which is respect for your name 00:07:20.799 --> 00:07:21.979 and love for your name, 00:07:22.719 --> 00:07:24.579 and a zeal for your service. 00:07:25.179 --> 00:07:26.279 We pray, O Lord, 00:07:26.359 --> 00:07:27.439 that that will increasingly 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:29.199 be our portion today. 00:07:29.959 --> 00:07:31.919 We pray your blessing to be upon us 00:07:31.919 --> 00:07:34.000 as a congregation of your people. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:36.639 We thank you for all that takes place 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:37.899 in the congregation 00:07:37.899 --> 00:07:39.680 from day to day and week to week. 00:07:40.220 --> 00:07:42.439 We pray, along with the services of worship 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:43.879 and the preaching of the gospel 00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:46.420 and the administration of sacraments, 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:48.240 that you'd be blessed and be pleased 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:49.000 to bless, Lord, 00:07:49.060 --> 00:07:50.399 the gatherings of our children 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:52.459 in Crescens, Sunday school, 00:07:52.540 --> 00:07:54.220 in tweenies, in Bible class. 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:56.040 Bless to them the message 00:07:56.040 --> 00:07:57.620 they receive about Jesus, 00:07:58.180 --> 00:07:59.740 about God, about themselves, 00:08:00.379 --> 00:08:01.839 about the world in which we live. 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:04.779 We pray that they will themselves, 00:08:05.039 --> 00:08:06.119 Lord, take these things up 00:08:06.119 --> 00:08:06.739 as they grow 00:08:06.739 --> 00:08:08.679 and as they advance in years, 00:08:08.799 --> 00:08:09.560 that they will come 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:11.899 to be dedicated to you 00:08:11.899 --> 00:08:13.379 and will come willingly 00:08:13.379 --> 00:08:15.899 to serve you in this world 00:08:15.899 --> 00:08:17.899 and to be lights in this world 00:08:17.899 --> 00:08:19.539 in the midst of the moral 00:08:19.539 --> 00:08:20.819 and spiritual darkness 00:08:20.819 --> 00:08:23.319 that we are so very much aware of. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:25.059 And, Lord, we ask that 00:08:25.059 --> 00:08:26.659 your blessing will continue 00:08:26.659 --> 00:08:28.859 to own and acknowledge us 00:08:28.859 --> 00:08:30.819 as a congregation of your people, 00:08:30.819 --> 00:08:33.700 so that we may go from week to week 00:08:33.700 --> 00:08:35.840 and from moment to moment, 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:37.960 conscious, Lord, that we need you 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:39.759 and are dependent upon you, 00:08:40.220 --> 00:08:41.720 and yet conscious that you have promised 00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:42.840 to bless your people. 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:44.500 So help us, Lord, 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:45.740 to take that encouragement 00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:47.299 from your word, 00:08:47.659 --> 00:08:49.460 which the psalmist himself set out 00:08:49.460 --> 00:08:51.080 when he said that the Lord 00:08:51.080 --> 00:08:52.580 would surely bless them 00:08:52.580 --> 00:08:53.840 and their children. 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:56.080 We ask your blessing today 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:57.899 to be with those who are in need, 00:08:57.980 --> 00:08:59.740 those whom we know ourselves, 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:02.480 those, Lord, who are laid aside 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:03.480 in illness at home 00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:04.160 or in hospital 00:09:04.160 --> 00:09:05.180 or in care homes 00:09:05.180 --> 00:09:06.519 or in the hospice. 00:09:06.620 --> 00:09:08.420 We thank you for the care they receive, 00:09:09.080 --> 00:09:10.019 and we give thanks 00:09:10.019 --> 00:09:11.060 for all the ways 00:09:11.060 --> 00:09:12.420 in which we are cared for 00:09:12.420 --> 00:09:14.660 in our times of need in this life. 00:09:15.300 --> 00:09:16.360 We pray for them, Lord, 00:09:16.420 --> 00:09:17.840 and for their homes and families. 00:09:18.440 --> 00:09:19.840 We ask that you would be pleased 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:20.940 to bless them today. 00:09:21.800 --> 00:09:23.060 And I bless also those, Lord, 00:09:23.139 --> 00:09:24.820 whose hearts are grieved 00:09:24.820 --> 00:09:26.680 over the loss of loved ones 00:09:26.680 --> 00:09:27.560 who have bereavement 00:09:27.560 --> 00:09:28.840 in their families, 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:30.280 either in these recent days 00:09:30.280 --> 00:09:31.080 or in the past. 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:32.980 Oh, Lord, we give thanks 00:09:32.980 --> 00:09:34.240 that you are the great healer, 00:09:34.820 --> 00:09:35.480 that you are the one 00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:37.480 who brings your own balm 00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:39.840 to be applied to the wounds 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:40.540 that are opened 00:09:40.540 --> 00:09:41.920 in the course of life. 00:09:42.019 --> 00:09:43.620 And we pray that today 00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:44.920 we may be drawn to you, 00:09:44.980 --> 00:09:46.460 that we may receive that comfort, 00:09:46.460 --> 00:09:47.940 that we may receive 00:09:47.940 --> 00:09:48.900 especially those 00:09:48.900 --> 00:09:50.540 whom we commit to you, Lord. 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:52.420 We ask that you would 00:09:52.420 --> 00:09:54.259 tenderly upbind them 00:09:54.259 --> 00:09:55.280 in their wounds 00:09:55.280 --> 00:09:56.740 and graciously draw them 00:09:56.740 --> 00:09:57.720 to yourself. 00:09:58.620 --> 00:09:59.820 We ask your blessing now 00:09:59.820 --> 00:10:00.560 to be with us 00:10:00.560 --> 00:10:01.980 while we remain here 00:10:01.980 --> 00:10:03.120 at the service of worship 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:04.259 and throughout this day. 00:10:04.920 --> 00:10:06.360 We give thanks for this day 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:06.900 and for the way 00:10:06.900 --> 00:10:08.040 that you have appointed it 00:10:08.040 --> 00:10:09.700 as a day of rest, 00:10:09.820 --> 00:10:11.040 a day when we can come 00:10:11.040 --> 00:10:12.519 such as we do now 00:10:12.519 --> 00:10:14.120 to focus on those things 00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:15.420 which are to do 00:10:15.420 --> 00:10:16.139 with your glory 00:10:16.139 --> 00:10:16.919 and your praise 00:10:16.919 --> 00:10:17.379 and worship. 00:10:18.199 --> 00:10:19.080 Hear us, we pray, 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:20.519 forgiving our sin 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:21.480 in Jesus' name. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:22.340 Amen. 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:26.240 We're going to praise God again 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:26.580 this time. 00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:28.139 We're singing from Psalm 51. 00:10:29.779 --> 00:10:30.740 Psalm 51, 00:10:30.899 --> 00:10:32.559 that's on the Scottish Psalter version 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:33.059 this time, 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:35.059 page 281. 00:10:37.220 --> 00:10:37.919 And we'll sing 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:39.220 verses 6 to 10. 00:10:40.139 --> 00:10:41.319 The tune is St. Kilda. 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:45.700 Behold thou in the inward parts 00:10:45.700 --> 00:10:46.280 with truth, 00:10:46.400 --> 00:10:47.240 delighted art, 00:10:47.960 --> 00:10:49.620 and wisdom thou shalt make me know 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:50.860 within the hidden part. 00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:52.620 Do thou with hyssop, 00:10:52.860 --> 00:10:53.480 sprinkle me, 00:10:53.540 --> 00:10:54.940 I shall be cleansed so. 00:10:55.760 --> 00:10:55.980 Yea, 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:56.840 wash thou me, 00:10:56.940 --> 00:10:58.620 and then I shall be whiter 00:10:58.620 --> 00:11:00.600 than the snow. 00:11:00.740 --> 00:11:02.240 David's prayer 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:03.580 and prayer of repentance 00:11:03.580 --> 00:11:04.060 indeed, 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:05.860 that the Lord would 00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:07.240 forgive the sin 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:08.260 that he is confessing 00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:08.980 in this psalm 00:11:08.980 --> 00:11:10.399 and that he would come 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:11.299 to once again 00:11:11.299 --> 00:11:13.139 restore him inwardly 00:11:13.139 --> 00:11:14.600 and that he would come 00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:15.600 to wash him 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:16.919 from his sins 00:11:16.919 --> 00:11:18.600 and create a clean heart 00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:19.039 in him. 00:11:19.059 --> 00:11:19.919 And that's our concern 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:20.879 as we come to God 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:22.480 and as we witness 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:23.279 for ourselves 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:24.840 the sacrament of baptism, 00:11:25.299 --> 00:11:26.639 it brings us to consider 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:28.419 the wonder of God's forgiveness 00:11:28.419 --> 00:11:30.620 and cleansing of us 00:11:30.620 --> 00:11:31.600 from our sins. 00:11:32.340 --> 00:11:34.059 So, these verses 6 to 10 00:11:34.059 --> 00:11:35.039 to the tune St. Kilda, 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:37.980 Behold thou in the inward parts. 00:11:38.259 --> 00:11:51.319 Behold thou in the inward parts, 00:11:51.319 --> 00:11:58.600 when to delighted hearts, 00:11:58.600 --> 00:12:03.039 and with some blood 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:04.039 shall be healed, 00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:05.039 and with some blood 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:06.039 shall be healed, 00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:07.039 and with some blood 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:08.039 shall be healed, 00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:10.039 within the inward parts. 00:12:10.039 --> 00:12:13.039 a weapon of a lingering heart, 00:12:13.819 --> 00:12:16.039 and with some blood 00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:17.039 of northbound ß. 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:21.500 In Jesus' name and Amor, 00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:23.779 � then He would come to love 00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:28.099 and let the forth 00:12:28.099 --> 00:12:29.099 enth organisation, 00:12:29.099 --> 00:12:31.039 in Jesus' name всех, 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:35.039 in his signing, 00:12:35.039 --> 00:13:05.019 CHOIR SINGS 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:35.019 CHOIR SINGS 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:36.519 CHOIR SINGS 00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:39.039 CHOIR SINGS 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:47.039 Create and give our glory 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:57.039 You, how I set me with Him 00:13:57.039 --> 00:14:02.279 Let's now turn to read God's Word. 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:05.500 We're going to read today from the book of Joshua. 00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:12.399 In the Old Testament, the book of Joshua, chapter 24, verses 1 to 18. 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:21.559 Book of Joshua, it's around page 238 if you're using the church Bibles. 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:32.080 So it's the book of Joshua and chapter 24. 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:35.580 24 from the beginning of the chapter. 00:14:40.780 --> 00:14:43.460 Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem 00:14:43.460 --> 00:14:47.600 and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel, 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:50.660 and they presented themselves before God. 00:14:51.540 --> 00:14:53.379 And Joshua said to all the people, 00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:56.000 Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:00.600 Long ago your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:03.700 Tera, the father of Abraham and of Nahor, 00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:05.879 and they served other gods. 00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:09.279 Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the river 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:12.220 and led him through all the land of Canaan 00:15:12.220 --> 00:15:14.200 and made his offspring many. 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:15.960 I gave him Isaac, 00:15:15.960 --> 00:15:18.600 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau, 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:22.320 and I gave Esau the hill country of Seir to possess. 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:25.340 But Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. 00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:27.660 And I sent Moses and Daron, 00:15:28.160 --> 00:15:30.840 and I plagued Egypt with what I did in the midst of it. 00:15:31.460 --> 00:15:33.400 And afterwards I brought you out. 00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:36.280 Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, 00:15:36.660 --> 00:15:38.180 and you came to the sea. 00:15:38.959 --> 00:15:41.479 And the Egyptians pursued your fathers with horses 00:15:41.479 --> 00:15:45.159 and chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. 00:15:45.719 --> 00:15:47.419 And when they cried to the Lord, 00:15:47.779 --> 00:15:49.959 he put darkness between you and the Egyptians 00:15:49.959 --> 00:15:53.459 and made the sea come upon them and cover them. 00:15:53.719 --> 00:15:56.079 And your eyes saw what I did in Egypt, 00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:59.279 and you lived in the wilderness a long time. 00:16:00.199 --> 00:16:02.399 Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:04.719 who lived on the other side of the Jordan. 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:06.700 They fought with you, 00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:08.560 and I gave them into your hand. 00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:11.019 And you took possession of their land, 00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:13.180 and I destroyed them before you. 00:16:14.060 --> 00:16:15.759 And Balak the son of Zippor, 00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:16.980 king of Moab, 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:18.820 arose and fought against Israel. 00:16:19.680 --> 00:16:22.960 He sent and invited Balaam the son of Baor to curse you. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:25.540 But I would not listen to Balaam. 00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:27.779 Indeed, he blessed you. 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:30.259 So I delivered you out of his hand. 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:33.360 And you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho. 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:36.120 And the leaders of Jericho fought against you, 00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:37.800 and also the Amorites, 00:16:38.060 --> 00:16:38.740 the Perizzites, 00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:39.500 the Canaanites, 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:40.139 the Hittites, 00:16:40.700 --> 00:16:41.379 the Gergesites, 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.159 and the Hivites, 00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:43.620 and the Jebusites. 00:16:44.180 --> 00:16:46.039 And I gave them into your hand. 00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:48.379 And I sent the hornet before you, 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:50.300 which drove them out from before you, 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:52.279 the two kings of the Amorites. 00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:55.139 It was not by your sword or by your bow. 00:16:55.800 --> 00:16:58.120 I gave you a land on which you had not labored, 00:16:58.580 --> 00:17:00.480 and cities that you had not built. 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:02.240 And you dwell in them. 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:04.680 You eat the fruit of vineyards, 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:07.460 and olive orchards that you did not plant. 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:09.200 Now, therefore, 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:13.319 fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and faithfulness. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:16.920 Put away the gods that your father served beyond the river, 00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:18.039 and in Egypt, 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:19.259 and serve the Lord. 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:23.440 And if it is evil in your sight to serve the Lord, 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:25.900 choose this day whom you will serve, 00:17:25.900 --> 00:17:29.580 whether the gods your father served in the region beyond the river, 00:17:30.120 --> 00:17:32.720 or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. 00:17:33.560 --> 00:17:35.280 But as for me and my house, 00:17:35.580 --> 00:17:36.980 we will serve the Lord. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:39.060 Then the people answered, 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:43.420 Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods. 00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:47.120 For it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers 00:17:47.120 --> 00:17:48.759 up from the land of Egypt, 00:17:48.920 --> 00:17:50.140 out of the house of slavery, 00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:53.100 and who did those great signs in our sight, 00:17:53.560 --> 00:17:55.780 and preserved us in all the way that we went, 00:17:56.340 --> 00:17:59.040 and among all the peoples through whom we passed. 00:17:59.880 --> 00:18:04.680 And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, 00:18:05.060 --> 00:18:06.740 the Amorites who lived in the land. 00:18:07.540 --> 00:18:10.259 Therefore we also will serve the Lord, 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:12.920 for he is our God. 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:15.240 Amen. 00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:17.220 May God follow with his blessing, 00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:19.279 reading that portion of his word. 00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:22.840 Well, we turn to look at some aspects of that passage. 00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:23.800 Let's sing again. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:26.779 And we're singing this time in Psalm 34. 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:29.460 That's on page 40 of the Psalm book. 00:18:29.600 --> 00:18:30.560 Psalm 34, 00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:34.060 and verses 8 to 12. 00:18:36.340 --> 00:18:37.840 Sorry, 8 to 14. 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:43.619 Come, taste and see, the Lord is good. 00:18:44.199 --> 00:18:45.839 Who trusts in him is blessed. 00:18:46.699 --> 00:18:48.339 O fear the Lord, you saints. 00:18:48.879 --> 00:18:50.559 With need you will not be oppressed. 00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:53.220 Young lions may grow weak and faint, 00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:54.480 and hunger for their food, 00:18:55.179 --> 00:18:57.099 but those who wait upon the Lord 00:18:57.099 --> 00:18:59.619 will not lack any good. 00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:00.679 Psalm 34, 00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:03.720 and singing verses 8 to 14. 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:05.419 The tune this time is since Stephen, 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:06.819 to God's praise. 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:17.259 O fear the Lord, 00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:35.659 you saints with me, 00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:37.660 you will not be oppressed. 00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:41.660 You will not be oppressed. 00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:51.660 Young lions may grow weak and faint, 00:19:51.660 --> 00:19:58.660 and hunger for their good, 00:19:58.660 --> 00:20:08.080 but those who wait upon the Lord 00:20:08.080 --> 00:20:14.660 will not have any good. 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:20.660 Come here, my children, 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:22.660 and listen to my word. 00:20:22.660 --> 00:20:26.660 And I will help you understand 00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:32.660 how you may hear the Lord. 00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:40.660 And I will help you understand 00:20:40.660 --> 00:20:48.660 how you may hear the Lord. 00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:58.660 Does anyone delight in life, 00:20:58.660 --> 00:21:04.660 and long to see your days, 00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:06.660 and hear the Lord. 00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:10.660 And hear the Lord. 00:21:10.660 --> 00:21:12.660 Lord, 00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:14.660 and hear the Lord. 00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:16.660 And hear the Lord. 00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:18.660 the Lord. 00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:22.660 And hear the Lord. 00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:24.660 the Lord. 00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:28.660 The Lord. 00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:30.660 the Lord. 00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:32.660 The Lord. 00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:34.660 The Lord. 00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:36.660 The Lord. 00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:38.660 The Lord. 00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:40.660 The Lord. 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:48.660 It's time to know the way of peace. 00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:58.660 As to it with your might. 00:21:58.660 --> 00:22:07.660 Now please turn with me to Joshua chapter 24. 00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:08.660 Joshua chapter 24. 00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:12.660 And we're going to look briefly at verse 15 especially. 00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:14.660 The words around that we'll look at as well. 00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:18.660 But Joshua 24 and verse 15. 00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:20.660 We can read from verse 14. 00:22:20.660 --> 00:22:22.660 Now therefore fear the Lord, 00:22:22.660 --> 00:22:25.660 and serve Him in sincerity and faithfulness. 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:28.660 Put away the gods that your father served beyond the river 00:22:28.660 --> 00:22:31.660 and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:34.660 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, 00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:37.660 choose this day whom you will serve. 00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:40.660 Whether the gods your father served in the region beyond the river, 00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:43.660 or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. 00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:49.660 But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:55.660 As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:59.660 As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:03.660 Well this great confession and statement that Joshua made, 00:23:03.660 --> 00:23:09.660 was made with him conscious that he was coming to the end of his life in this world. 00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:11.660 And we find in this, in the previous chapter, 00:23:11.660 --> 00:23:15.660 reference to the death of Joshua and his impending death, 00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:17.660 at least in the previous chapter, 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:19.660 and in this chapter itself. 00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:21.660 Towards the end of the chapter, verse 29, 00:23:21.660 --> 00:23:25.660 we read that he died being 110 years old. 00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:28.660 And because he was conscious that he was nearing the end of his life, 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:32.660 he took the people of Israel as they gathered there before him at Shechem, 00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:37.660 he took them through a brief history of their experiences, 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:42.660 from having been in Egypt, and indeed before that with Abraham, their father Abraham, 00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:47.660 all the way through to where they are now in the promised land, in the land of Canaan. 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:51.660 And as Joshua set these parts of their history before them, 00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:54.660 it's just a very brief summary really, isn't it? 00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:56.660 But still, it's a very important summary, 00:23:56.660 --> 00:24:00.660 because in the light of that summary, in the light of that history, 00:24:00.660 --> 00:24:05.660 and in the light especially of Joshua's own impending death, 00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:09.660 he calls for them to take note of what he's saying, 00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:14.660 and to rededicate themselves again to the service of God. 00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:19.660 Any time we come to a deathbed statement, 00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:22.660 it's always a very solemn moment when you come to listen to somebody 00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:26.660 who's speaking to you from what they know is their deathbed, 00:24:26.660 --> 00:24:28.660 who gives out advice or counsel, 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:34.660 and who wants to give you some direction in a way that you should lead your life, 00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:37.660 especially those people who have saved the Lord for years, 00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:39.660 and give advice to their descendants, 00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:42.660 and now call upon them to follow in the ways of the Lord. 00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:44.660 These are very special moments. 00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:49.660 These are moments that really require our utmost attention and seriousness, 00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:51.660 because they're solemn moments. 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:55.660 And that's how it was for the people with Joshua here coming to the end of his life. 00:24:55.660 --> 00:25:00.660 Here he is, and he's going over what their experiences were as a people, 00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:07.660 and he's calling upon them to re-engage and rededicate themselves to the service of God. 00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:13.660 And in doing that, he first of all tells them that there's a choice to be made. 00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:17.660 It's a choice to be made again, even though that choice may have been made previously. 00:25:17.660 --> 00:25:23.660 He's calling upon them again to make that choice here and now as he speaks to them, 00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:25.660 a choice between what he says, 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:29.660 are the gods that your father served beyond the river in Egypt, 00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:34.660 or in fact, the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. 00:25:34.660 --> 00:25:37.660 He's telling them that's a choice they have to make, 00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:41.660 but for him and for his house, they are going to serve the Lord. 00:25:41.660 --> 00:25:45.660 So, he's not saying to them, it's okay for you if you want to go and serve these other gods. 00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:48.660 He's not saying, that's fine, that's okay, that's your choice. 00:25:48.660 --> 00:25:53.660 He is saying it's their choice, but he's calling them so that they will follow his leadership 00:25:53.660 --> 00:25:59.660 into serving the Lord by putting away these gods, by turning from that lifestyle 00:25:59.660 --> 00:26:05.660 and rededicating themselves again as he is and his house to the Lord. 00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:09.660 And I'm sure you can see how relevant that is for our service today. 00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:14.660 It's relevant at all times, but it's relevant especially when we come to a baptism 00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:20.660 where we find that ordinance that God has given to his church as itself a demonstration outwardly 00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:25.660 of what happens when sin is forgiven, when we're washed from our sins, 00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:32.660 and how that takes along with it a dedication of ourselves and of our children to the Lord 00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:34.660 and to the ways of the Lord. 00:26:34.660 --> 00:26:40.660 And so, that's really why we're looking at this text today because it does fit with our circumstances today here 00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:47.660 as we come shortly to see children coming to be baptized and their parents taking pledges 00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:50.660 in regard to them and their service for the Lord. 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:52.660 So, here's the choice to be made. 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:55.660 Now, you notice first of all where this is. 00:26:55.660 --> 00:27:01.660 Beginning of the chapter, we're told that Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem. 00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:02.660 Why does it say that? 00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:03.660 Why is that important? 00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:10.660 Because when you look back over the history, Shechem was a particularly important place in the experience, 00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:12.660 in the history of these people. 00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:19.660 This is the place that Abraham came to when he left Ur of the Cold days, when he left his idolatrous background behind, 00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:29.660 when he responded to God's call for him to leave that country and leave that way of life and to come into fellowship with himself. 00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:30.660 He came to Shechem. 00:27:30.660 --> 00:27:44.660 And that Shechem, he actually came to a particular tree in Shechem, which is significant again as you read of the history of the people. 00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:47.660 But Shechem was the place that Abraham came to. 00:27:47.660 --> 00:27:55.660 And as you read that in Genesis, in chapter 12, remember that's the chapter where the call of Abraham is set out for us. 00:27:55.660 --> 00:28:04.660 And when you come to verse 6 there, Abraham passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak or the terebinth of Moreh. 00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:09.660 At that time the Canaanites were in the land, and the Lord appeared to Abraham and said, 00:28:09.660 --> 00:28:11.660 To your offspring I will give this land. 00:28:11.660 --> 00:28:16.660 So he built there an altar to the Lord who had appeared to him. 00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:18.660 Now that's a significant moment. 00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:28.660 Abraham is building an altar to the God who has called him out from his native place, from his paganism, from his paganistic background, 00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:33.660 into fellowship with himself, into the promises that God gives to those who trust in him. 00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:35.660 And there is Abraham, and what is he doing? 00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:38.660 He's erecting an altar to the Lord. 00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:42.660 He is really dedicating that place to the service of God. 00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:47.660 You might say he is setting a stamp on that place, on that plot of land, and saying, 00:28:47.660 --> 00:28:51.660 This is now the Lord's, and this is where the Lord is going to be worshipped. 00:28:51.660 --> 00:28:56.660 And instead of paganism, it's going to be the worship of the true and living God. 00:28:56.660 --> 00:29:11.660 Then you find afterwards that one of Abraham's descendants, Jacob, in Genesis chapter 35, he was on his way on a journey, and he came to this very same place. 00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:18.660 And in Genesis 35, this is what we read, from verses 2 to 4. 00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:20.660 Sorry, I'm next to the set. 00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:24.660 Genesis 35, and at verse 2. 00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:26.660 God said to Jacob, 00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:27.660 God said to Jacob, 00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:29.660 Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. 00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:33.660 Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau. 00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:37.660 So Jacob said to his household and all who were with him, 00:29:37.660 --> 00:29:42.660 Put away the foreign gods that are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments. 00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:52.660 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, that I may make there an altar to the Lord who answers me in the day of my distress, and has been with me wherever I have gone. 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:55.660 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods they had. 00:29:55.660 --> 00:30:02.660 These would have been little idols that they had in their possession, part of their paganistic ways. 00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:15.660 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods they had, and the rings that were in their ears, and Jacob hid them, or buried them, under the terebinth tree that was near Shechem. 00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:23.660 You see, there is the same spot, or all likelihood the same spot, that Abraham erected his altar at first. 00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:27.660 So Shechem is hugely important in the experience of these people. 00:30:27.660 --> 00:30:33.660 It is an important place in terms of their spiritual journey of their relationship with God. 00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.660 And here is Joshua. 00:30:34.660 --> 00:30:35.660 They are now in the Promised Land. 00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:36.660 They have entered the Promised Land. 00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:38.660 God has been faithful. 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:43.660 He has taken them through to the Promised Land, and He gathered them all at Shechem. 00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:52.660 That is why it is such a significant moment at this significant place that Joshua calls upon them again to re-dedicate themselves to the Lord. 00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:56.660 He is really more or less saying to them, think about what this Shechem is. 00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:58.660 Think about what this place means. 00:30:58.660 --> 00:30:59.660 Think about its significance. 00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:01.660 Think about everything that is attached to it. 00:31:01.660 --> 00:31:10.660 And now, I call upon you to re-dedicate yourselves again to the God who called Abraham and brought him to Shechem, 00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:13.660 and called Jacob and brought him to Shechem. 00:31:13.660 --> 00:31:15.660 And now you are at Shechem. 00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:21.660 You are walking in these same footsteps as these early fathers in your faith. 00:31:21.660 --> 00:31:24.660 And really, that is what the Gospel is saying to us as well, isn't it? 00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:32.660 When you go to Paul's writings, the likes of Colossians, for example, chapter 3, verses 1-5, other similar passages, 00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:34.660 what he is saying is, you have come to know the Lord. 00:31:34.660 --> 00:31:35.660 You have come to be redeemed. 00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:36.660 You are now in Christ. 00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:37.660 So, what do you do? 00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:43.660 Well, put away from you all the things that really belong to your sinful lifestyle. 00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:49.660 Put away the sins that you were once walking in and dedicate yourselves to the Lord. 00:31:49.660 --> 00:31:51.660 You see, that is the life of a Christian. 00:31:51.660 --> 00:31:53.660 That is the life of a Christian person. 00:31:53.660 --> 00:31:56.660 That is the life of a Christian congregation. 00:31:56.660 --> 00:32:02.660 We constantly come to the Gospel and say, look, you are in Christ, and if you are in Christ, this is your privilege, 00:32:02.660 --> 00:32:17.660 and this is your responsibility, to put away everything that is an alternative to God and come and follow Him, and in following Him come to know His wonderful grace. 00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:30.660 So, there is the place, but there is also here the pledge that Joshua set, or the people set before Joshua after he had called upon them to choose that day whom they will serve. 00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:34.660 Now, as I said, Joshua recounted their history really down through these verses. 00:32:34.660 --> 00:32:36.660 We have read through the verses. 00:32:36.660 --> 00:32:46.660 As you see the verses there, the one thing that really strikes you above all things is how Joshua emphasizes how good God has been to them. 00:32:46.660 --> 00:32:56.660 He did all of these things for you, he is saying, and the goodness of God to you was seen in everything that He did for you there. 00:32:56.660 --> 00:33:02.660 That is what he is reminding them of especially, that God in His goodness had given them this land. 00:33:02.660 --> 00:33:06.660 They had cities that they now did not build themselves, but they dwelt on them. 00:33:06.660 --> 00:33:08.660 They benefit from the produce of the land. 00:33:08.660 --> 00:33:12.660 They had not planted these, but this is God's gift to them. 00:33:12.660 --> 00:33:15.660 That is why he says then in verse 14, 00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:27.660 Now, therefore, because of that, in the light of that, serve the Lord in sincerity and in faithfulness. 00:33:27.660 --> 00:33:38.660 Under obligation to the Lord, Joshua calls them to serve the Lord once again in sincerity and in faithfulness. 00:33:38.660 --> 00:33:42.660 This is why he calls them here to choose who they are going to serve. 00:33:42.660 --> 00:33:43.660 Verse 15, 00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:46.660 Put away the gods your father served. 00:33:46.660 --> 00:33:52.660 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve. 00:33:52.660 --> 00:33:55.660 They have a choice to make for themselves. 00:33:55.660 --> 00:34:04.660 And the choice is there clearly between serving the Lord and serving these other gods they once had in their ancestry. 00:34:04.660 --> 00:34:10.659 And which, sadly, they still retained in part of their practices, and thus they went on. 00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:15.659 So, they imported even more of that paganism back into their way of life. 00:34:15.659 --> 00:34:18.659 But here is Joshua saying, you have to put that away. 00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:20.659 That doesn't belong to your service of God. 00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:23.659 Your service of God is in place of those things. 00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:30.659 And it's the same in many ways with regard to our baptism. 00:34:30.659 --> 00:34:42.659 Our larger confession, a larger catechism rather, says, in line with our confession, in question 165, this is just the way that question answer ends, 00:34:42.659 --> 00:34:49.659 whereby the parties baptized are solemnly admitted into the visible church. 00:34:49.659 --> 00:34:53.659 In other words, baptism doesn't confer salvation. 00:34:53.659 --> 00:34:59.659 You're not able to say for sure about a child that's been baptized any more than an adult that's been baptized. 00:34:59.659 --> 00:35:03.659 That person is 100% certain that they're saved. 00:35:03.659 --> 00:35:10.659 They're being brought by the ritual of baptism, the ordinance of baptism, as it says, into the visible church. 00:35:10.659 --> 00:35:16.659 That visible body of people that worship God, that acknowledge Him as their God. 00:35:16.659 --> 00:35:18.659 That's where we are today. 00:35:18.659 --> 00:35:23.659 And baptism admits formally children into the visible church. 00:35:23.659 --> 00:35:31.659 They already belong to the covenant by virtue of their parents' profession, by virtue of their parents' relationship with the Lord. 00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:38.659 And on the basis of that, they are pledging themselves, the parents are to, the children pledged to the Lord. 00:35:38.659 --> 00:35:50.659 So this is what it says, the parties baptized are solemnly admitted into the visible church and enter into an open and professed engagement to be holy and only the Lord's. 00:35:50.659 --> 00:35:56.659 Now you might say, how can a child enter into an open and professed engagement to be the Lord's? 00:35:56.659 --> 00:36:15.659 Well, the open and professed engagement begins with their baptism, with the fact their parents bring them to be baptized, thereby being brought visibly into the visible church with all the privileges and the benefits that that gives us under the gospel. 00:36:15.659 --> 00:36:22.659 So anyone who objects to say, well, surely a child is not able to willingly and acknowledging follow the Lord at that age. 00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:23.659 Of course they're not. 00:36:23.659 --> 00:36:27.659 But is it a bad thing to bring them into the ways of the Lord? 00:36:27.659 --> 00:36:38.659 To bring them to have that mark upon them of baptism by which they belong to that covenant community where the gospel is preached, where the people of God regularly worship Him. 00:36:38.659 --> 00:36:44.659 They're brought into that number visibly so that they now gain the advantages as they grow up. 00:36:44.659 --> 00:36:51.659 And they can choose to not, if they want, they can choose themselves not to actually go that way as some sadly do. 00:36:51.659 --> 00:37:04.659 But it's to that great advantage that they're brought, that they're baptized, that they bear that mark of baptism, of membership of the visible church as baptized members. 00:37:04.659 --> 00:37:17.659 And that means they have, by virtue of their parents giving of them to belong to the church visibly, they are brought to bear the advantages of such a position. 00:37:17.659 --> 00:37:21.659 Of course, there are responsibilities as well. 00:37:21.659 --> 00:37:28.659 And so here is what Joshua is saying to them, choose today whom you will serve. 00:37:28.659 --> 00:37:34.659 And you notice he's saying, this is the choice you've got. 00:37:34.659 --> 00:37:44.659 Either the gods beyond the river in Egypt, or the gods of the Amorites here, or my God and my house, the God who brought you out of Egypt. 00:37:44.659 --> 00:37:48.659 The God who brought you through the wilderness and brought you here. 00:37:48.659 --> 00:37:57.659 Now, you go through, we haven't got time really to go into the thing in detail, but you'll notice in verse 15 there, this is what he's really saying. 00:37:57.659 --> 00:38:02.659 If it's not going to be God, then this is the alternative. 00:38:02.659 --> 00:38:05.659 Because it's not neutrality. 00:38:05.659 --> 00:38:11.659 None of us lives in a blank neutrality between one thing or another. 00:38:11.659 --> 00:38:16.659 We either serve God or we serve some other gods of our own making. 00:38:16.659 --> 00:38:21.659 And that's still true of us in this particular day and age we belong to. 00:38:21.659 --> 00:38:27.659 And that's why God today is setting this before us as the choice we have to make. 00:38:27.659 --> 00:38:31.659 And if we had time, we could go into verses 16 to 24. 00:38:31.659 --> 00:38:37.659 They're interesting because the people three times pledged themselves to serve the Lord. 00:38:37.659 --> 00:38:39.659 You see what they're saying there? 00:38:39.659 --> 00:38:44.659 Far be it from us, verse 16, that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods. 00:38:44.659 --> 00:38:51.659 He brought us up and our fathers from the land of Egypt, from slavery, and he preserved us, and he drove out these people before us. 00:38:51.659 --> 00:38:53.659 Therefore, we also will serve the Lord. 00:38:53.659 --> 00:38:55.659 Then what does Joshua say? 00:38:55.659 --> 00:38:56.659 You cannot serve the Lord. 00:38:56.659 --> 00:39:05.659 He's saying if you cling on to your sins, if you actually have these other gods along with your professed attachment to God. 00:39:05.659 --> 00:39:12.659 Joshua said you're not able to serve the Lord, for he's a holy God, if you forsake the Lord and serve other gods. 00:39:12.659 --> 00:39:14.659 That's not a service of God. 00:39:14.659 --> 00:39:16.659 You've got to put them away from you. 00:39:16.659 --> 00:39:20.659 But when they hear that, they say, no, no. 00:39:20.659 --> 00:39:22.659 We will serve the Lord. 00:39:22.659 --> 00:39:27.659 And so Joshua said you are a witness against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord. 00:39:27.659 --> 00:39:29.659 And they said we are witnesses. 00:39:29.659 --> 00:39:37.659 Then put away the foreign gods, and they said, the Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey. 00:39:37.659 --> 00:39:47.659 Now these three verses there are important because three times Joshua actually challenged them to make the choice. 00:39:47.659 --> 00:39:50.659 He brought out reasons that they needed to consider. 00:39:50.659 --> 00:39:53.659 And so as they make that choice, this is what they come up with. 00:39:53.659 --> 00:39:57.659 We will serve the Lord. 00:39:57.659 --> 00:39:59.659 And then what happens? 00:39:59.659 --> 00:40:05.659 Well, you find Joshua then taking a stone, probably a stone in the shape of a pillar. 00:40:05.659 --> 00:40:11.659 He took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth or the oak that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. 00:40:11.659 --> 00:40:16.659 And Joshua said to the people, behold, this stone shall be a witness against us. 00:40:16.659 --> 00:40:21.659 For it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us. 00:40:21.659 --> 00:40:26.659 Therefore, it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God. 00:40:26.659 --> 00:40:30.659 So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance. 00:40:30.659 --> 00:40:40.659 In other words, every time they would come and see the stone and look at the stone, it would be a reminder for them of the pledge they made to be the people of God. 00:40:40.659 --> 00:40:41.659 To live for God. 00:40:41.659 --> 00:40:46.659 To serve him, as he said, with sincerity and faithfulness all the days of their life. 00:40:46.659 --> 00:40:53.659 A permanent marker, a permanent reminder to them that they belonged to the Lord and that the Lord was their God. 00:40:53.659 --> 00:41:00.659 And in many ways, our baptism serves exactly the same purpose. 00:41:00.659 --> 00:41:07.659 Because it's there as a permanent marker that we were given to the Lord and dedicated to the Lord by our parents. 00:41:07.659 --> 00:41:13.659 If we were baptized as infants or if we were baptized as adults, it comes to the same thing. 00:41:13.659 --> 00:41:22.659 You still look at your baptism as an ordinance that God has given to teach us certain things of importance about our relationship to him. 00:41:22.659 --> 00:41:26.659 About the forgiveness of sins, our washing and walking in the ways of the Lord. 00:41:26.659 --> 00:41:32.659 Here's our opportunity today because in many ways, we're like Israel in the days of Joshua. 00:41:32.659 --> 00:41:36.659 Looking at this pillar, this stone that was put up. 00:41:36.659 --> 00:41:40.659 Every time they looked at that, they said, we have to remember what we pledged. 00:41:40.659 --> 00:41:43.659 We have to remember that we belong to the Lord. 00:41:43.659 --> 00:41:47.659 We have to remember that he has made us a blessed people. 00:41:47.659 --> 00:41:50.659 That we are the happiest of all people on the face of the earth. 00:41:50.659 --> 00:41:53.659 Because we have this God as our Lord. 00:41:53.659 --> 00:41:56.659 Look at your baptism today. 00:41:56.659 --> 00:42:01.659 Here's the challenge to me and the challenge to you. 00:42:01.659 --> 00:42:06.659 Whether we are baptized as infants or as adults. 00:42:06.659 --> 00:42:10.659 It comes to the same thing as far as this is concerned. 00:42:10.659 --> 00:42:11.659 Look at your baptism today. 00:42:11.659 --> 00:42:13.659 What does it signify? 00:42:13.659 --> 00:42:16.659 It signifies forgiveness of sins. 00:42:16.659 --> 00:42:18.659 Being joined to Christ. 00:42:18.659 --> 00:42:21.659 Washing away of our sins by the grace of God. 00:42:21.659 --> 00:42:23.659 By God in his grace. 00:42:23.659 --> 00:42:26.659 It signifies to us that we are dedicated to the Lord. 00:42:26.659 --> 00:42:28.659 That we are the Lord's people. 00:42:28.659 --> 00:42:30.659 That we serve him in sincerity and faithfulness. 00:42:30.659 --> 00:42:33.659 So for me and for you today. 00:42:33.659 --> 00:42:37.659 All of us here who are witnesses to the baptism of these children today. 00:42:37.659 --> 00:42:39.659 This is what it's saying to us. 00:42:39.659 --> 00:42:41.659 Where am I in relation to that? 00:42:41.659 --> 00:42:42.659 Am I serving the Lord? 00:42:42.659 --> 00:42:47.659 Have I followed him sincerely and faithfully since I was baptized? 00:42:47.659 --> 00:42:53.659 Am I looking at my own baptism as something that today challenges me to walk in the ways of the Lord? 00:42:53.659 --> 00:42:57.659 Do I need to rededicate myself to the Lord today? 00:42:57.659 --> 00:43:03.659 Am I here witnessing a baptism like these people were witnessing that column, that pillar of stone? 00:43:03.659 --> 00:43:10.659 Do I have to say to myself, here is the Lord in his goodness giving you another opportunity to see a baptism. 00:43:10.659 --> 00:43:11.659 What is it saying to you? 00:43:11.659 --> 00:43:15.659 It's saying to you, am I walking in the ways of the Lord? 00:43:15.659 --> 00:43:18.659 A huge challenge, isn't it? 00:43:18.659 --> 00:43:20.659 But it's a necessary one. 00:43:20.659 --> 00:43:32.659 Because we can so easily lose our focus on the fact that we are by baptism a people dedicated to the Lord. 00:43:32.659 --> 00:43:41.659 And that we have taken him and said, like these people of Joshua's day, no, but the Lord, he is our God. 00:43:41.659 --> 00:43:43.659 We will worship him. 00:43:43.659 --> 00:43:44.659 We will serve him. 00:43:44.659 --> 00:43:47.659 We will be his people. 00:43:47.659 --> 00:43:50.659 There's the choice to be made. 00:43:50.659 --> 00:43:55.659 And secondly, briefly, this is the key to a blessed household. 00:43:55.659 --> 00:43:58.659 Joshua is saying, well, here's the choice for you. 00:43:58.659 --> 00:44:03.659 Whichever way you go, he says, and he is throwing them to serve the Lord, obviously. 00:44:03.659 --> 00:44:07.659 But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:44:07.659 --> 00:44:13.659 What is for himself as an individual, as the head of that house, it's going to be that for his house as well. 00:44:13.659 --> 00:44:20.659 He is concerned and determined that his family, his household, will be like himself, followers of the Lord. 00:44:20.659 --> 00:44:23.659 That's what he's committed to. 00:44:23.659 --> 00:44:30.659 And our questions at times of baptism include that question. 00:44:30.659 --> 00:44:39.659 Do you promise to bring up your children in the training and discipline of the Lord, or in the nurture and discipline of the Lord? 00:44:39.659 --> 00:44:45.659 And the answer to that being yes, and the children then being baptized, then this is what it is. 00:44:45.659 --> 00:44:50.659 As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:44:50.659 --> 00:44:53.659 We will be true to our pledge. 00:44:53.659 --> 00:44:56.659 We will carry through what we have promised before God. 00:44:56.659 --> 00:45:04.659 And we will see that our children, as they grow up, are made familiar with what it is to follow the Lord. 00:45:04.659 --> 00:45:09.659 You see, that's essentially what parents are saying regarding the baptism of their children. 00:45:09.659 --> 00:45:19.659 They are not guided by the thinking and the reactions and the opinions of society that might think of these things as very outmoded, very old-fashioned, no longer relevant in this world. 00:45:19.659 --> 00:45:29.659 What on earth are people doing baptizing children in a world in which we've become so secular-minded that religion really is no longer a relevance for most people? 00:45:29.659 --> 00:45:33.659 And we're not leaving our children to decide for themselves. 00:45:33.659 --> 00:45:40.659 We're not saying, let them come to adulthood and then let them come if they want to be baptized. 00:45:40.659 --> 00:45:42.659 We're saying, we're dedicating them to the Lord. 00:45:42.659 --> 00:45:47.659 They come to bear the mark of the covenant that God has made with His people. 00:45:47.659 --> 00:45:57.659 And that brings to them a permanent reminder as they grow up and as parents can point to that baptism and say, look, when you actually were baptized, we were doing such a good thing for you. 00:45:57.659 --> 00:46:08.659 We were bringing you to be brought into the privileges of God's covenant so that you would enjoy for yourselves the salvation that God has promised to those who trust in Him. 00:46:08.659 --> 00:46:12.659 How can that be bad? 00:46:12.659 --> 00:46:16.659 It's all the benefits of God's covenant promises. 00:46:16.659 --> 00:46:24.659 And we bear the mark of that in our baptism, whether we choose to accept what all that sets out or not. 00:46:24.659 --> 00:46:26.659 That's our choice. 00:46:26.659 --> 00:46:38.659 But God is being very serious and honest and true to us and saying, this is a reminder to you of the privilege I'm giving you of being my covenant people. 00:46:38.659 --> 00:46:43.659 And that's why they say, we will serve the Lord, me and my house. 00:46:43.659 --> 00:46:46.659 We will serve the Lord is what he's saying. 00:46:46.659 --> 00:46:57.659 Now you notice he's bringing two things together there in verse 14, where he's actually saying, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and faithfulness. 00:46:57.659 --> 00:47:00.659 We ask you the question, what is the fear of God? 00:47:00.659 --> 00:47:04.659 Well, it's really answered there, isn't it, in the other part of it. 00:47:04.659 --> 00:47:11.659 The fear of God, which involves loving Him and being obedient to Him, is serving Him in sincerity and faithfulness. 00:47:11.659 --> 00:47:12.659 That's the fear of the Lord. 00:47:12.659 --> 00:47:18.659 It's not cringing as if you want to just be away from God or put God at a distance from you. 00:47:18.659 --> 00:47:23.659 It's serving the Lord in sincerity and faithfulness. 00:47:23.659 --> 00:47:35.659 In other words, we show our children what that means by our teaching them, by our example to them, of what it means to live a baptized life, 00:47:35.659 --> 00:47:45.659 what it means to be a member of the visible church of God, a member of that covenant community to which God has given so many promises. 00:47:45.659 --> 00:47:56.659 Remember Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 4, where the apostle there is writing to various groups, including children themselves as well, 00:47:56.659 --> 00:47:59.659 but he's saying here to parents and certainly to fathers, 00:47:59.659 --> 00:48:09.659 don't provoke your children to wrath or to anger, but bring them up in the training and discipline of the Lord. 00:48:09.659 --> 00:48:17.659 That's for fathers, heads of households, or mothers as well, doesn't matter, parents. 00:48:17.659 --> 00:48:22.659 Bring them up in the nurture and in the training of the Lord. 00:48:22.659 --> 00:48:30.659 In other words, how do we counter the influences, the many influences of that world out there? 00:48:30.659 --> 00:48:37.659 Well, we have our lives and our children's lives shaped by God's truth. 00:48:37.659 --> 00:48:42.659 Because that world, if you leave them to the world, it will shape them in a very different way. 00:48:42.659 --> 00:48:51.659 And to counteract that and to actually have a countering influence, you teach them the ways of God. 00:48:51.659 --> 00:48:54.659 You teach them by the truth of God. 00:48:54.659 --> 00:48:58.659 In other words, we teach our children, why do we worship God as we do? 00:48:58.659 --> 00:49:01.659 Why do we come together with other people to worship God? 00:49:01.659 --> 00:49:02.659 Why is worship important? 00:49:02.659 --> 00:49:05.659 Why is worship important for themselves as individuals? 00:49:05.659 --> 00:49:09.659 Why do we make this Lord's day a special day? 00:49:09.659 --> 00:49:10.659 Why is it different? 00:49:10.659 --> 00:49:11.659 What are the advantages of it? 00:49:11.659 --> 00:49:16.659 Why did God institute, why did God set it as a day different to other days? 00:49:16.659 --> 00:49:19.659 We teach our children that they need Jesus Christ. 00:49:19.659 --> 00:49:22.659 Why do they need Jesus Christ? 00:49:22.659 --> 00:49:24.659 Because we're all fallen, lost sinners. 00:49:24.659 --> 00:49:25.659 We need Christ. 00:49:25.659 --> 00:49:27.659 We need to trust in Jesus. 00:49:27.659 --> 00:49:34.659 We teach our children that that is absolutely necessary in order to live a life that pleases God 00:49:34.659 --> 00:49:37.659 and looks forward to eternity in heaven. 00:49:37.659 --> 00:49:38.659 We teach them how to pray. 00:49:38.659 --> 00:49:40.659 We teach them what holiness is. 00:49:40.659 --> 00:49:42.659 We show them what holiness is. 00:49:42.659 --> 00:49:45.659 All of these things are great, great challenges. 00:49:45.659 --> 00:49:52.659 And we teach them these things, but for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:49:52.659 --> 00:49:55.659 Well, that's a great motto, isn't it? 00:49:55.659 --> 00:49:57.659 To erect over any household. 00:49:57.659 --> 00:50:01.659 And it's really the key to a blessed household. 00:50:01.659 --> 00:50:08.659 When you receive the keys to a house, you assume that everything in it is ready to go, 00:50:08.659 --> 00:50:14.659 that it's occupiable, that everything in it is functioning, that it's been properly built. 00:50:14.659 --> 00:50:21.659 And so, when everything's gone through, legally and so on, here are the keys to your new house. 00:50:21.659 --> 00:50:26.659 And here is God saying to us, well, here are keys to a blessed household. 00:50:26.659 --> 00:50:33.659 And God is saying, everything you need for a blessed household has already been done for you in Jesus. 00:50:33.659 --> 00:50:37.659 But as I hand you the keys, here are the keys to it. 00:50:37.659 --> 00:50:39.659 Worship the Lord. 00:50:39.659 --> 00:50:40.659 Fear the Lord. 00:50:40.659 --> 00:50:43.659 As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:50:43.659 --> 00:50:48.659 That's the key to living a blessed life and a blessed household. 00:50:48.659 --> 00:50:56.659 It's not going to be a means by which every problem is solved, by which our children will never do anything wrong, 00:50:56.659 --> 00:50:58.659 by which they will never again need correction. 00:50:58.659 --> 00:50:59.659 None of that. 00:50:59.659 --> 00:51:05.659 It's all, like every other household, in need of all of these things to take place. 00:51:05.659 --> 00:51:10.659 But it is a key to a blessedness nevertheless. 00:51:10.659 --> 00:51:15.659 So, we pray that God will bless to us these thoughts on His Word. 00:51:15.659 --> 00:51:17.659 We're going to sing some verses now. 00:51:17.659 --> 00:51:20.659 And we're going to sing this from Psalm 128. 00:51:20.659 --> 00:51:33.659 And while we're singing these verses, the children will come in and take their place on the far side there. 00:51:33.659 --> 00:51:37.659 This is on page 172. 00:51:37.659 --> 00:51:47.659 And we'll probably have to wait a few minutes after we've sung these verses before the children are seated. 00:51:47.659 --> 00:51:52.659 How blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk the way that He has shown. 00:51:52.659 --> 00:51:54.659 Success and blessing will be yours. 00:51:54.659 --> 00:51:58.659 You'll eat the fruit that you have grown. 00:51:58.659 --> 00:52:01.659 Your wife will be a fruitful vine. 00:52:01.659 --> 00:52:05.659 And round your table will be placed your children like young olive shoots. 00:52:05.659 --> 00:52:08.659 Thus he who fears the Lord is blessed. 00:52:08.659 --> 00:52:11.659 May you behold Jerusalem's good. 00:52:11.659 --> 00:52:14.659 From Zion may God's blessing flow. 00:52:14.659 --> 00:52:16.659 Your children's children. 00:52:16.659 --> 00:52:17.659 May you see. 00:52:17.659 --> 00:52:21.659 May God on Israel peace bestow. 00:52:21.659 --> 00:52:23.659 These three verses. 00:52:23.659 --> 00:52:25.659 And I think what we'll do is we'll sing them twice. 00:52:25.659 --> 00:52:28.659 The presenter can just go back to sing them twice. 00:52:28.659 --> 00:52:31.659 And that will give those who are coming in plenty of time to take their place. 00:52:31.659 --> 00:52:32.659 So, Psalm 128. 00:52:32.659 --> 00:52:33.659 We'll sing it twice. 00:52:33.659 --> 00:52:36.659 How blessed are all who fear the Lord. 00:52:36.659 --> 00:52:55.659 Who walked the way that He has shown. 00:52:55.659 --> 00:53:04.659 Success and blessing will be yours. 00:53:04.659 --> 00:53:14.659 To lead the fruit that you have grown. 00:53:14.659 --> 00:53:23.659 Your wife will be a fruitful vine. 00:53:23.659 --> 00:53:32.659 A crowd, your table will be placed. 00:53:32.659 --> 00:53:41.659 Your children find the golden shoes. 00:53:41.659 --> 00:53:51.659 The seed who fears the Lord is blessed. 00:53:51.659 --> 00:54:00.659 May you be behold Jerusalem's good. 00:54:00.659 --> 00:54:09.659 From Zion may God's blessing flow. 00:54:09.659 --> 00:54:18.659 Your children's children may you see. 00:54:18.659 --> 00:54:28.659 May all your ears have finished his soul. 00:54:28.659 --> 00:54:38.659 May you哦!! 00:54:38.659 --> 00:54:39.659 Addятся選Sub Vo 왜 00:54:39.659 --> 00:54:43.619 by Deja 00:54:43.659 --> 00:54:44.659 May we pray Christ 00:54:44.659 --> 00:54:46.659 They do not receive Jesus 00:54:46.659 --> 00:54:47.659 Ambel sprout 00:54:47.659 --> 00:54:51.739 isser 00:54:51.739 --> 00:55:04.739 The blessing will be yours to lead the good that you have grown. 00:55:04.739 --> 00:55:23.739 Your mind will be a fruitful vine, and round your table will be placed. 00:55:23.739 --> 00:55:42.799 Your children like the apparel and shoes, thus ye who hear the Lord is blessed. 00:55:42.800 --> 00:56:01.100 May you be old, Jesus' land's good, from Zion, may God bless you all. 00:56:01.099 --> 00:56:19.099 Your children, children, may you see, may God bless you all. 00:56:20.099 --> 00:56:21.199 We should see it. 00:56:21.199 --> 00:56:51.179 Thank you. 00:56:51.439 --> 00:56:54.000 It's just so that the camera can get you, you can just go sideways. 00:56:55.500 --> 00:56:56.859 You can move in a wee bit, Ian. 00:56:57.039 --> 00:56:57.500 That's fine. 00:56:57.639 --> 00:56:57.939 Excellent. 00:56:58.139 --> 00:56:58.519 That's fine. 00:56:59.179 --> 00:56:59.539 That's fine. 00:56:59.639 --> 00:57:00.139 Let's go that way. 00:57:00.219 --> 00:57:00.579 That's good. 00:57:02.199 --> 00:57:02.439 Okay. 00:57:05.500 --> 00:57:06.079 It's okay. 00:57:06.159 --> 00:57:06.439 Don't worry. 00:57:08.759 --> 00:57:11.739 Before we come to the baptism, there'll be some prayer. 00:57:11.739 --> 00:57:14.899 I'll have questions to put to the parents as well. 00:57:15.239 --> 00:57:20.719 And then we can stand for prayer and the baptism, and then a prayer immediately after that as well. 00:57:21.199 --> 00:57:31.899 So, first of all, I have to ask the fathers, particularly, do you believe in God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as the only true God and your God? 00:57:31.900 --> 00:57:37.840 Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and men? 00:57:39.440 --> 00:57:44.700 Do you now promise to bring up these children in the training and discipline of the Lord? 00:57:44.699 --> 00:57:49.460 Do you please stand for prayer and remain standing for the baptism? 00:57:54.759 --> 00:57:59.659 Gracious and eternal God, we thank you for the significance of this moment. 00:57:59.659 --> 00:58:10.420 We thank you for the way that you have appointed it, not only as a point in our experience, but also as an ordinance that you have given to your church. 00:58:11.279 --> 00:58:17.639 We thank you, Lord, as we come to this time of baptism, that you are the great forgiver of our sins. 00:58:17.639 --> 00:58:26.619 And that our baptism, as it sets out, our enjoining with Christ and the forgiveness and washing and cleansing that comes from Him. 00:58:27.319 --> 00:58:34.940 We ask, Lord, that we may contemplate these things prayerfully and seriously and faithfully as we've been thinking in your Word. 00:58:35.659 --> 00:58:38.199 We ask your blessing for these parents, for the children. 00:58:39.039 --> 00:58:42.199 We pray that they may know your blessing day by day. 00:58:42.199 --> 00:58:49.259 And we ask, O Lord, that as the days go by, the children themselves will come to acknowledge you and to walk in your ways. 00:58:49.799 --> 00:58:54.699 And we'll come to serve you faithfully and sincerely in the course of their own life too. 00:58:55.339 --> 00:58:57.639 Bless all others who are here today related to them. 00:58:58.279 --> 00:58:59.460 Thank you for their presence. 00:58:59.679 --> 00:59:03.859 And we pray that you'd bless this time to them and make them, Lord, we pray. 00:59:04.480 --> 00:59:10.259 Know of your own provision for them in peace and in mercy at this time. 00:59:10.260 --> 00:59:17.480 And we do confess our sin, asking, Lord, that as we're reminded of cleansing, that we will come to you for that cleansing. 00:59:18.100 --> 00:59:23.460 For it's not that washing outwardly that cleanses us from sin, but the wonderful work of your Holy Spirit. 00:59:24.140 --> 00:59:27.940 So receive our thanks, we pray now, and pardon us for Jesus' sake. 00:59:28.480 --> 00:59:28.780 Amen. 00:59:31.360 --> 00:59:33.640 I'm going to have to remind myself of your names. 00:59:34.660 --> 00:59:37.180 Take Eliana, first of all, please. 00:59:37.179 --> 00:59:40.159 Just use that towel afterwards. 00:59:45.019 --> 00:59:50.319 Eliana, Esther, Mackenzie, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. 00:59:50.779 --> 00:59:52.519 May God bless you and keep you. 00:59:52.879 --> 00:59:55.279 Make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. 00:59:55.739 --> 00:59:58.779 May He lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. 00:59:58.780 --> 00:59:59.780 Amen. 01:00:05.500 --> 01:00:28.000 Let's again engage in prayer briefly. 01:00:28.780 --> 01:00:40.500 Almighty and merciful God, we have done in your name what your own Word calls us to do in regard to the baptism of our children. 01:00:41.240 --> 01:00:44.700 And we give thanks, O Lord, for all that this means to the parents here. 01:00:45.360 --> 01:00:50.760 And we do pray today that you'd bless the children themselves, especially as they have received baptism. 01:00:50.760 --> 01:01:03.020 Be with Eliana, be with Ian as well, and grant to them, Lord, as they grow up, that they may grow up in the nurture and discipline of the Lord. 01:01:03.880 --> 01:01:05.060 Be with the parents. 01:01:05.180 --> 01:01:11.040 We pray for them, Lord, and ask that you'd be gracious to them, to Ian and Emma, to Finley and Ruth. 01:01:11.039 --> 01:01:12.199 We commit them to you. 01:01:12.259 --> 01:01:20.480 We thank you for belonging to this congregation, for the encouragement it gives us today to find them here, bringing their children to be baptized. 01:01:20.840 --> 01:01:26.980 And we pray you'd bless them in their homes and their family circles, and especially bless this ordinance to them now. 01:01:27.619 --> 01:01:29.519 Hear us, we pray, for Jesus' sake. 01:01:30.079 --> 01:01:30.340 Amen. 01:01:30.980 --> 01:01:31.559 Please be seated. 01:01:31.559 --> 01:01:48.380 We're going to sing now in conclusion verses from Psalm 90. 01:01:49.599 --> 01:01:52.039 Psalm number 90, that's in the Scottish Psalter. 01:01:53.699 --> 01:01:55.820 And the last four verses of Psalm 90. 01:01:56.320 --> 01:01:57.940 You'll find that on page 350. 01:02:01.559 --> 01:02:05.000 Psalm 90 from verse 14, the tune is Kilmarnock. 01:02:05.860 --> 01:02:14.500 O with thy tender mercies, Lord, as early satisfy, so we rejoice shall all our days, and still be glad in thee. 01:02:14.739 --> 01:02:15.880 You can remain seated. 01:02:15.980 --> 01:02:17.460 The rest can stand for singing, please. 01:02:17.539 --> 01:02:19.619 O with thy tender mercies, Lord. 01:02:20.179 --> 01:02:20.679 Let's stand. 01:02:20.679 --> 01:02:50.659 O with thy tender mercies, Lord, as early satisfy, so we rejoice shall all our days, and still be glad in thee. 01:02:50.659 --> 01:03:20.639 O with thy tender mercies, Lord, as early as we shall be, when we be upon. 01:03:20.639 --> 01:03:22.619 Reading of Christ. 01:03:22.639 --> 01:03:25.299 Lear Me O with thy tender mercies, Lord, as early as we shall 01:03:25.299 --> 01:03:25.639 Be glad in thee. 01:03:25.639 --> 01:03:27.879 O with thy tender mercies, Lord, as early as we shall be upon. 01:03:27.879 --> 01:03:28.559 You can bear with them all our days, but we Harold, as early as we 걸로. 01:03:28.559 --> 01:03:30.559 Where will thy mercies be done, and still be glad in me, and still be glad in thee. 01:03:30.559 --> 01:03:32.079 O when we shall be glad in thee. 01:03:32.079 --> 01:03:36.940 O let thy work and power appear, thy servant, manufactured and free,äthing o'er. 01:03:36.940 --> 01:03:49.599 O Mel, as early as I Quinn says, old as I 01:03:49.599 --> 01:04:02.400 To their children dear, Thy glory evermore. 01:04:02.400 --> 01:04:17.539 And let the beauty of the Lord, our God be as upon. 01:04:19.599 --> 01:04:34.420 Our heavenly works, each salvation, each salvation be shown. 01:04:37.000 --> 01:04:41.139 I'll go to the door over the far side there after the benediction just now. 01:04:42.599 --> 01:04:48.000 Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit 01:04:48.000 --> 01:04:51.179 be with you now and evermore. Amen.