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Welcome to everyone. Just two quick announcements this Wednesday as we get back to our studies in Deuteronomy. We're going to be going through the Ten Commandments, Deuteronomy chapter 5. So if anybody is interested in in an exposition of the commandments, you're obviously welcome to come. And then secondly, I just wanted to say thanks to everybody. I wanted to specifically address Nathan and Carla and Whim for all of the hard work that went into the confessing the faith conference and to everybody else who volunteered. It was a phenomenal success. It was a great blessing. I had mentioned that we will entice those brothers back with the roast beef. But in essence, it'll be the graciousness and the hospitality and the kindness of the people of God here. They both expressed just uh uh gr gratitude for a wonderful time of fellowship with us at conference and as well on the Lord's day. And James Doleazal said, "Yeah, the singing in your church is really good." So again, thanks to everyone. It's a very blessed thing for me to see that kind of participation involved in putting together a conference like that and God's blessing obviously upon it. Uh many encouraging words from other pastors. I said to some of the brethren, one of the the pastors that I met sounded like a school girl who had just found a a treasure the way that he was just exuding love and and appreciation for what had gone on here. So, thank you all very much. Well, for our call to worship tonight, you can turn in your Bibles to the Song of Solomon. Song of Solomon, chapter 5, for our opening call to worship. Song of Solomon, chapter 5. The bridegroom comes to the beloved, but the beloved does not open the door. And then she finds herself in straits as a result of that and then seeks after him. So beginning in chapter 5 at verse one, I have come to my garden, my sister, my spouse. I have gathered my with my spice. I have g eaten my honeycomb with my honey. I have drunk my wine with thy with my milk. Eat, O friends. Drink, yes, drink deeply, O beloved ones. I sleep, but my heart is awake. It is the voice of my beloved. He knocks saying, "Open for me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one. For my head is covered with dew, my locks with the drops of the night. I have taken off my robe. How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet. How can I defile them? My beloved put his hand by the latch of the door, and my heart yearned for him. I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrr, my fingers with liquid myrr on the handles of the lock. I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had turned away and was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him. I called him, but he gave me no answer. The watchmen who went about the city found me. They struck me. They wounded me. The keepers of the walls took my veil away from me. I charge you, oh daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved that you tell him I am lovesick. What is your beloved more than another beloved, oh fairest among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved that you so charge us? My beloved is white and ruddy, chief among 10,000. His head is like the finest gold. His locks are wavy and black as a raven. His eyes are like doves by the rivers of waters washed with milk and fitly sat. His cheeks are like a bed of spices, banks of scented herbs. His lips are liies dripping liquid myrr. His hands are rods of gold sat with barrel. His body is carved ivory inlaid with sapphires. His legs are pillars of marble sat on bases of fine gold. His countenance is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. His mouth is most sweet. Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved and this is my friend, oh do daughter daughters of Jerusalem. Where has your beloved gone, O fairest among women? Where has your beloved turned aside that we may seek him with you? Amen. Well, please turn to Psalm 134. Psalm 134 will stand as we sing together. [Music] Bless the [Music] Lord. You faithful servants of the Lord. who it is us to stand by and praise him there with all your life. Lift down your anticy prayer draw to this sanctuary. Oh, bless the Lord. He at his feet and worship him with the Lord. I bless you from Zion in his power. [Music] Bless our God who [Music] earth. Bless be his great and holy name. Amen. Well, let us pray. Our blessed God and holy father, we thank you for this beautiful day. We thank you for the sunshine and for the reality that God most high made the world and all things in it. We thank you for your providence wherein you govern all your creatures and all their actions according to your most holy and wise and powerful plan. We thank you for redemption through our Lord Jesus Christ, the life that we now have in him, that one who loved us and who gave himself for us. We rejoice in these works of God. We rejoice in the uh life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. And we rejoice in this public worship of the living and true God. And we pray that as we come to the father through the son in the spirit, God would be glorified and that you would be all in all in this place. We thank you for your mercies to us. We thank you for your grace to us. We thank you for that forgiveness of sin, for that casting all of our transgressions into the depths of the sea. And we rejoice that you are our father, that you have given us the Holy Spirit, that Christ has not left us as orphans in this present evil age, but he is always with us. We thank you for these promises. We pray that as we gather together tonight for the public worship of God, the the taking of the supper together, may it strengthen us. May it confirm us. May it indeed cause us to reflect upon the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of his people. Even now, Lord God, we are mindful that we have not lived according to the light that we have. We confess to you our remaining corruption, our transgressions, praying that you would cleanse us aresh in that precious blood of the lamb. We have the sure promise of God Almighty that if we confess our sins, you are faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And we know God, this is not uh this is a promise for the believer. We have promises to the unbeliever that if they come, if they look to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith, they will be received. Jesus says, "All that the father gives me will come and the one who comes to me, I will in no wise cast out." What a blessed savior. And what a glorious God. And what a wonderful gospel that we proclaim. The gospel that we by grace have believed. And that gospel that is going forth to the uttermost parts of the earth, we know it does not return unto you void, but it always accomplishes the purpose for which you sent it. And God, give us that that peace, that comfort, that stability with reference to this good promise of the most high. We ask for your blessing upon this local church. We thank you for all of your goodness to us all throughout the year, but we thank you, God, that we see saw it in a particular way last week at the conference. We rejoice in the gathering together of the saints of Christ. We thank you for all the pastors that were able to visit with us. We thank you for the speakers and for their ministry among us. And we thank you, God, for all of the hard work that went into the planning and in the execution of that that wonderful event. God, we thank you for these good things that you give to us. We thank you that you sustain us on a regular basis. We thank you that we have corporate worship each Lord's day where we can gather together and know the nearness of God as our good, as the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. We ask that you would look with favor upon other churches in our association. We thank you for our brothers who are laboring in the word and doctrine. We ask God that you would just continue to grant them the grace to be faithful in that great endeavor. And may they indeed be beacons in their community. May their churches be beacons in their community. and may the gospel go forth in those part uh those parts of the world and may you indeed bless that word and may you cause sinners to look unto the Lord Jesus Christ believing on him and finding that eternal life. We ask as well for the rest of Canada. We pray God in heaven that the churches would be blessed richly by you and prospered. We know that these are tumultu day uh tumultuous days in which we live. We know ultimately Christ is at the right hand of God most high. We know that we can be still and know that you are God. That you will be exalted among the nations and in the earth. And that whatever we see that does perplex us on this side of heaven, we know that you are in absolute sovereign control. We pray, Father, that you would be well pleased to bless this nation with gospel preaching. Bless this nation with solid churches. Bless this nation with a with a knowledge of the Lord God most high. We pray, Father, for your work in Myanmar. We pray for a ceasefire there. We pray for our brother Peter that you would sustain this man that you would strengthen him with might. That you would cause him to continue to be faithful to persevere and to know your resources and your provision. God, give them food and shelter and clothing. Give them safety and peace. Give them some stability in their political order that they may worship and glorify you, the living and true God. We also pray for our brethren in Cuba, thanking you for the work that is going forth there and that oppressed land. We thank you that though the government continues to crack down upon the churches, the churches blessed of God are continuing to remain steadfast and we thank you for that. May you look with favor upon the work there as well, God. Throughout the earth, we know the gospel is going forth and it is a great encouragement to us. We know that Christ shall have dominion. We know that the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea to cause us to live in light of these great truths spoken by the prophets confirmed by our New Testament documents. And may we as your people be incredibly hopefilled knowing that you are victorious, knowing that you triumph and knowing that you will bring your bride home ultimately into that blessed land that is Emmanuel's. We ask that you would continue with us now. Guide us as we worship. bless us by the presence of your spirit. And we ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. We can turn with me again in your hymbooks to 284. 284 will stand as we sing together. [Music] service your master proclaim and publish his wonderful name. The king all victorious of Jesus extol. His kingom is glorious and rules over all. A ruler of God mighty to save. And still he is high. His presence we have the great congreation his triumph shall sing ascribing salvation to Jesus our [Music] king to God who sits on the throne. Let all cry aloud and honor the sun. The praises of Jesus the angels proclaim fall down their praises and worship the lamb. And let us adore and give him his right. All glory and power and wisdom and might. All honor and blessing with angels above and thanks ever for love. [Music] Please turn with me in your Bibles to the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah chapter 55. Isaiah 55. We've looked at this passage a few times in the past, but I want to focus specifically on verses 10 and 11. But I do want to read the entirety of the chapter. It comes in a context. In Isaiah 52, we have redemption and deliverance promised by God. Uh Isaiah 53, redemption is accomplished by the atoning death of the servant of the Lord. Isaiah 54, four promises are made to the church based on that servant's work that is indicated in chapter 53. And then Isaiah 55 is the command to come to the servant of the Lord. So beginning in chapter 55 at verse 1. Ho everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. And you who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is good. And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to me. Hear and your soul shall live. and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the sure mercies of David. Indeed, I have given him as a witness to the people, a leader and commander for the people. Surely, you shall call a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you shall run to you because of the Lord your God and the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the Lord. And he will have mercy on him and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sewer and bread to the eater. So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out with joy and be led out with peace. The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree, and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. Amen. Well, let us pray. Our father in heaven, we thank you for the written word of the living and true God. We pray now for the ministry of the spirit who gave us that word to guide us into its meaning and with reference to application in our own hearts and lives. And may we stand in awe at what you have done in terms of the servant of the Lord. That one who brought atonement, that one who who satisfied divine justice, that one who by his own wrath under the weight and fury of God Almighty has borne that wrath for us. We bless you and we thank you that you have taken out the sting from death and the victory of the grave and that you have paved the way for us into that blessed Jerusalem. We give praise to you for your mercies to us. We ask again that you would guide us and lead us by your spirit. And we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Well, before we get to verses 10 and 11, just a reminder in terms of the outline of this particular chapter. In verses 1 to5, you have an exhortation to come. And it's to come to God through the servant of the Lord. So in verse one, there's an invitation proper. Oh, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters and you who have no money, come by and eat. Yes, come by wine and milk without money and without price. So this idea of waters and the refreshment of the gospel, the wine and the exhilaration of the gospel, the milk which is the nourishment of the gospel, sinners are invited to come. There is then a question in verse 2A. Why do you spend money for what is not bread and your wages for what does not satisfy? In other words, why are you looking for your pleasure, your nourishment, your exhilaration, your stability, and your comfort in that which is unable to provide those things? And then we have the promise in verses 2B and three. Listen carefully to me and eat what is good and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to me here and your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you. The sure mercies of David. There's the promise of God to sinners who by grace come to him in faith. And then there's that guarantee. The guarantee is at the end of verse three. I will make an everlasting covenant with you the sure mercies of David. Indeed, I have given him as a witness to the people, a leader and commander for the people. Surely you shall call a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you shall run to you. Why? Because of the Lord your God and the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. Salvation truly is of the Lord through the mediation of Jesus Christ, the promised servant of Yahweh, who has given us in 42, 49, 50, and then in 52 and 53, those four servant songs of the Lord. Then there is an instruction to those who do come to God in verses 6 to13. Notice the emphasis on faith and repentance in verses 6 and 7. Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near. That's faith. That's belief. That's looking unto the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. That's always joined with inextricably connected with repentance. Verse seven, let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy on him and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Not just a little bit of pardon, but an abundant a pardon because we're abundantly sinful. That's the kind of God that we need. And then notice the encouragement concerning the power of God with reference to those who come. And that is in verses 8 uh 6, I'm sorry, 8 to13. You've got God's nature in verses 8 and nine. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. That does not mean we can't know anything about God. But it does show us that God is in the business of providing abundant forgiveness to abundant sinners. He goes on to highlight that in verse 9. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. He then emphasizes the power of the word of God in verses 10 and 11 and the promise of future blessing from God in verses 12 to13. So that's an overview of Isaiah 55. Let's focus specifically on verses 10 to 11. An exploration of the word of God and this in two parts. First the power of the written word and then secondly the glory of the incarnate word. So first the power of the written word. Notice that he uses an illustration from the light of nature. Verse 10. For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven and do not return there, but water the earth and make it bring forth uh bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sewer and bread to the eater. The descent of the rain and the snow. This serves a purpose in God's universe. The descent of the rain and the snow provide for mankind. The rain obviously waters crops. The wa rain obviously brings forth that that fruit from the earth. The snow provides the fresh water deposits that the earth desperately needs that the creatures depend upon for their sustenance. The the precipitation descends not to return to the sky but to perform a particular act but water the earth and make it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sewer and bread to the eater. God does not do this half-hazardly. Rain and snow and everything that descends has a specific purpose in the plan of God most high. He then likens that to the word of God in verse 11. First, as I said, the written word, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void. Just like the snow and the rain doesn't return to God void. Rather, it accomplishes the purpose for which he sense sent it. And that's what he says concerning his word. It shall accomplish what I please and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. The revelation of the word of God. The revelation of the word through Moses through the prophets through the writings through our Lord Jesus Christ through the apostles and all of that according to the spirit of the living God. All scripture is given by inspiration of God. And it's profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished or thoroughly equipped unto every good work. So it accomplishes the purpose for which God designed it. It doesn't return to him void. And I think that's very encouraging for the people of God because at times we see preaching go forth. We see gospel sermons proclaimed and we don't always see a massive response. And we might conclude, well, the word of God isn't working. The word of God is not efficacious. The word of God is frustrated. Well, brethren, we may be frustrated from time to time, but God is not frustrated ever. The purpose of God's word is very specific. It accomplishes what he purposes. Notice in terms of the word not returning to him void. You can turn to the New Testament book of 2 Corinthians. 2 Corinthians, I'm sorry, 1 Corinthians, 1 Corinthians chapter 1, the word accomplishes the purpose for which God sends it. Notice in 1 Corinthians chapter 1 specifically at verse 18, he says, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing." And essentially what Paul is doing in this section is he is saying that God's manifold wisdom is displayed in the means that he has ordained. First in the word of God, secondly in the Corinthians themselves and then thirdly in the apostle. In other words, everything is structured and designed in such a way so that when sinners are saved, sinners are not to be congratulated. Preachers are not to be congratulated. But God is to be glorified. As I say, he speaks concerning the word, which the world concludes as foolishness. He speaks concerning the Corinthians, not many wise, not many noble. You aren't some group of pious, righteous, holy people, that God said, "Oh, I'm obliged to bring you into my kingdom." And then in that bit in chapter 2:es 1:5, he highlights himself. He says, "When I came to you, I didn't come as the alpha male. I didn't come to you strutting like a peacock. I came to you with much weakness. I came to you with much fear. I came to you with much trembling. We might think at times that God should ordain angels as the vehicle of communication of gospel truth. But God has not ordained angels. He's ordained men. And later in second Corinthians, he speaks about this treasure, this gospel treasure putting uh having been put in earthnware vessels. That's a nicer way of saying cracked pots. And God puts that gospel treasure in cracked pots so that when sinners are saved, when they are brought to relation with the Lord Jesus Christ, the the the the glory and the power is of God and not of men. And so that's the larger context here. He's highlighting what appears to be foolishness in terms of the world's appro uh approach to God and his ways. This is God's power. This is God's wisdom. So notice in verse 18, for the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Paul's throwing down a challenge here. Paul is issuing a challenge to the moral universe, saying, "Come on, bring it. If you think you can stop, frustrate, or thwart the purposes of God, let's see you attempt that." He goes on to say, "Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world. For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified. To the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness. But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God, because the w foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Paul is saying that the message of the cross which appears to be folly with reference to the Greeks which doesn't have the signs with reference to the Jews is nevertheless the power and the wisdom of God most high. That word does not return unto him void. Notice in 2 Corinthians chapter 1, I'm sorry, 2 Corinthians chapter 2 rather, just looking at the reality that God's word proceeds and accomplishes the purpose for which he sent it. It doesn't return void. We can watch. We can be in participation of We can see gospel preaching and what appears to be a lot of people hearing it and not responding, not coming to Jesus, not coming forth to the son of God. And we might conclude or be tempted to conclude there's something wrong. There's something wrong with that word. It's not the word, brethren. Notice in 2 Corinthians 2:12, "Furthermore, when I came to Trrowaz to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was open to me by the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find Titus, my brother, but taking my leave of them, I departed from Macedonia." Now, thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of his knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved. Notice and among those who are perishing. It's not that God disregards his word and faithful proclamation in light of the fact that some perish. Now I take from this particular passage that God is glorified through declaration. God is glorified through proclamation. God is glorified through the making known of Christ and him crucified and resurrected. God's purpose is sure. Notice what he goes on to say. Verse 15. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as so many pedalling the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as from God we speak in the sight of God in Christ. So when the Lord most high and the prophet Isaiah says, "So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void." Gospel preaching brings glory to God most high. Just the way that the rain and the snow when they descend and they bring forth good things on the earth, God is glorified through the proclamation. He goes on to say, "It shall accomplish what I please." It shall accomplish what I please. In Romans 1:es 16 and 17, the apostle says, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For what? For it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Why? Because in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written, the just shall live by faith. The apostle underscores that the gospel itself is indeed the power of God. In other words, it accomplishes the purpose for which God sent it. In Romans 10:14-17, he highlights the necessity of faithful preacher preachers. God sent preachers, not self-appointed preachers, but God sent ones according to verses 14 and 15. And then in verse 17, he says, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." James 1:18, "Of his own will, by the word of truth, he brought us forth." This gospel in the hand of the the divine one is most efficacious to save those for whom it was intended to save. So God's word does not return unto him void. And God's word accomplishes the purpose for which he pleases. And then notice he says in verse 11 at the end, "And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. It shall prosper." And without getting into a big debate concerning esquetology, every Christian ought to have a degree of optimism in light of special promises like these. It is very clear it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. In other words, we don't discount or get discouraged or get frustrated at the prospect of gospel missions or at evangelism. No, we take great comfort. We know according to the prophet Isaiah who spake by the Holy Spirit that it will prosper the cause of God in truth. It will advance the kingdom of Jesus Christ. We see that emphasis there again in 1 Corinthians 1:21. For since in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through what? Through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. You turn to the book of Revelation 7:9. You see a great multitude that no man can number from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You've got promises in Isaiah. You've got promises in this altar that the knowledge of Yahweh will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. Why is it that there are some that have been so encouraged at the prospect of gospel missions? Because they read their Bibles or they hear Jesus commissioning the church in Matthew 28:18 to20. He says, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth as the mediatorial king as the risen resurrected and about to ascend Lord as the one who's going to take his station at the right hand of the father and govern everything with a particular interest with his church." He says, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations." Why? Well, this was promised by the father to the son in Psalm two. Ask of me and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession. So Christ is simply making good on the promise of the father to give him the nations. So then he commisss the disciples to go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. He starts off with omnipotence and he ends on omniresence. In other words, church, I have all power. Church, I'm always with you. church, go get the nations because the father promised them to me. Isaiah the prophet highlighting the blessedness of the word of God says, "So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Now I want to consider secondly the glory of the incarnate word. This language of word proceeding from the mouth of God is reminiscent of some concepts we have visited much lately. Our studies in John go uh John's gospel. We've considered the eternal generation of the son. We've just finished up a large teaching block. 13-16 Jesus instructs his disciples. John 17 Jesus prays. We took time going through that to see those relations between the father and the son. we get back, God willing, to John's gospel, John 18:1 picks up the narrative in terms of his passion. We will see him arrested. We will see him crucified. We will see him resurrected again with reference to that concept that we see there in John 1:1 for instance. In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. John 1:14, the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten son, full of grace and truth. Verse 18, no one has seen God at any time, but the only begotten son who is in the bosom of the father. He has declared him. Jesus says in John 14, if you've seen me, you've seen the father. Do you not know that I am in the father and the father is in me? So many times along the way, we have considered that doctrine of eternal generation. But that is not something confined to the New Testament. In fact, the fathers, if one man is to be trusted, didn't put all their eggs in the cart of that language, only begotten. They went to the Old Testament to prove the doctrine of the eternal generation of the son or in addition to only begotten. That only begotten is crucial. I think that when we sacrifice the word or the language, it won't be long before we sacrifice the actual doctrine. Some of the newer translations translate it the only son or the one and only son. Those are not wrong, but they're not the best. The best is to emphasize only begotten. He is only begotten in the sense that he is not created. He's not adopted, but he is the son by nature. And that language highlights that. But I would submit that what God through the prophet is saying here speaks concerning his written word, but it also speaks concerning the incarnate word. So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. We shouldn't have any more difficulty understanding word in this context of the incarnate word than we do with John 1:1. In the beginning was the word and the word was with God. Or John 1:14, the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory. So when it comes to Isaiah 55:11, yeah, an emphasis on the the written word of the living God accomplishing the purpose for which the Lord sends it, but as well the emphasis on the incarnate word who accomplishes the purpose for which God sent it. Now, in terms of the Old Testament, we won't turn to all of these texts, but just remember Genesis 1 verse 3 6 verse 9, verse 11, verse 14, verse 20, verse 24, verse 26. And God said, "Let there be light." And God said, "Let us make man in our image." Now that text specifically at verse 26, some have seen that let us make man as what they call a divine counsel as if God conferred with the holy angels when it came to the creation of the universe. You might think that's an odd interpretation. Well, it's gaining some steam. It's definitely been around. I like what Aquinas says concerning that divine counsel idea. He says, "We must not imagine that when God said, "Let us make man," he spoke to the angels, as some were perverse enough to think, but by these words is signified the plurality of the divine persons whose image is more clearly expressed in man. The let us make man there is a reference to the Trinity. Let us make man. God spoke by his word the heavens were created. By his word, the earth was formed. Notice in Psalm 33, I believe this is divine commentary on what you have there in the creation account. Psalm 33, specifically at verse 6. By the word of the Lord, the heavens were made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. By the word, in the beginning was the word. What does John say in 13? By him all things were made. And then notice the reference to the spirit and all the host of them by the breath or the spirit of his mouth. Brethren, I'd argue what you have there are eternal processions. The son and the spirit. The son eternally begotten by the father. The spirit proceeds from the father and the son. The explanation in the New Testament confirms this. I've already alluded to John 1:3. By him all things were made. Paul says the same thing in a col in Colossians chapter 1:es 15 and 16. By him all things were made. If we're taking Pauline authorship of the book of Hebrews, he says the same thing in Hebrews chapter 1. By him all things were made. We need to remember when Jesus is the agent with reference to creation. It's not like I almost said the way we use typewriters, but a lot of you would wonder what's a typewriter. the way that we use devices, the way that we use iPads, the way that we use computers, the way that we use phones. John Webster has a helpful statement. He says, "Nor is the son a mere instrument through whom the father works. Father and son act by the same principle, the simple divine essence." So the book of Genesis sets forth to us the eternal generation of the son. Secondly, the psalms of David. You can turn to Psalm 2. I've already alluded to it. But we won't spend a lot of time there. But Psalm 2, we ought to see it for ourselves. Psalm 2:6, yet I have set my king on my holy hill of Zion. And now the king is going to speak. Verse 7, I will declare the decree. The Lord has said to me, you are my son. Today I have begotten you. Now Paul appeals to this particular passage in Acts 13:33 and speaks of it concerning the resurrection. I think both things are true. According to Paul in Romans chapter 1, Jesus is declared to be the son of God with power at the resurrection by the spirit of God. So both things are there. The eternal generation of the son, the resurrection of the son according to his humanity, the eternal generation in the Old Testament. Notice as well Psalm 45. Psalm 45. Again, a sampling of Psalms here. Psalm 45 6 and 7. This comes up in Hebrews chapter 1. Psalm 45 6 and 7. Your throne, oh God, is forever and ever. A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore, God your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions. Hypothic union right here in verses six and seven. The divinity of Christ. verse 6, the humanity of Christ. Verse 7, and then Psalm 110. I think that's a passage we all know. Yahweh said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies a foottool." But turn to Psalm 130. Psalm 130. We've got the psalmist out of the depths. Verse one, I have cried to you, oh Lord. Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If you, Lord, should mark iniquities, oh Lord, who could stand. But there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared. Now notice, I wait for the Lord. My soul waits and in his word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning. Yes. More than those who watch for the morning. So you've got the presence of the written word with reference to the psalmist. He says that I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I do hope. But it's not only his present possession of the written word that he holds, but in the promised Messiah who will hail from his line. And I think you can see that. Notice in verse 5, I wait for the Lord all caps, which indicates this is the name Yahweh. Verse 6, my soul waits for the Lord, not all caps, which indicates the name Adoni. Just like in Psalm 110:1, Yahweh said to Adoni, sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your foottool. So David, as he's thinking about the reality of his own sin, he thinks about strict justice. If thou, Lord, should mark iniquity as oh Lord who could stand. But there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared. Where does he get his comfort? I wait for the Lord, my soul waits. And in his word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning. Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. David was looking for the son of promise. David got this in 2 Samuel chapter 7 in what we call the Davidic covenant. A son of David would rule over the kingdom of God most high. And he had that hope. Notice then as well the proverbs of Solomon specifically chapter 8. Proverbs chapter 8. Just trying to show that eternal generation is not foisted by the New Testament on the Old Testament, but the New Testament certainly illumines for us what was always there in the Old Testament. Notice in Proverbs chapter 8, specifically at verses 22 to31. Now, in terms of the subject, in terms of the object, the topic, the the speaker in Proverbs 8, it's Christ. Christ speaking is wisdom. Paul tells us in Colossians 2 that in Christ all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid. Bridges makes a helpful comment. He says it must be a perverted imagination that can suppose an attribute. Here other words that wisdom is just somehow an attribute that's speaking. He says, "So glorious are the rays of eternal supreme deity, distinct personality and essential unity that the mysterious ever bless blessed being, the word who was in the beginning with God and was God now undoubtedly stands before us. To receive his own revelation of himself is our reverential privilege." And that's exactly what we're getting to see. It's similar to what John does in the prologue in John 1 1-18. He goes as it were behind the veil to show us something of God in himself. And notice Christ speaking of wis as wisdom highlights eternal generation specifically in verses 22 to 26. The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his way before his works of old. I have been established from everlasting from the beginning before there was ever an earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth when there were no fountains abounding with water before the mountains were settled. Before the hills I was brought forth, while as yet he had not made the earth or the fields or the primal dust of the world. The Lord Jesus Christ speaking his wisdom highlights his eternal generation from the father. Again, it's eternal. There never was a time when the son was not. Contra areas. The son is from everlasting to everlasting. And he gives us a peak into that reality here in the book of proverbs. And then he speaks concerning the creation, that essential unity of father and son relative to works of creation and and redemption. Notice in verse 27, when he prepared the heavens, I was there. When he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above, when he strengthened the fountains of the deep, when he assigned the sea to the sea its limit so that the waters would not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him, rejoicing in his inhabited world. And my delight was with the sons of men in creation and in redemption. Not the angels, but the sons of Adam. Those creatures of God that populate the earth that would fall into sin and then the recovery mission by the son of God. It is a blessed testimony to the reality of the eternal generation of the son. Turn to Micah the prophet. Micah chapter 5, a passage that we often see cited and preached on at Christmas time. Micah 5 specifically at verse two. But you Bethlehem Epheretha, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to me the one to be ruler in Israel whose goings forth are from of old from everlasting whose goings forth are from of old from everlasting. And essentially what the prophet is saying is just as David brought salvation in a sense to the nation of Israel, so will David's greater son. In other words, from a cradle in Bethlehem, the nation would be blessed. But this one to be born in the line of David is no ordinary man. His goings forth are from of old. And we could read this from the ancient of days. His goings forth are from of old, from the ancient of days. The father sends the son. The father is unbegotten. The son is begotten by the father. And the spirit proceeds from the father and the son. And then one other passage in the prophet Isaiah. You turn back to Isaiah 9. Isaiah chapter 9. We have another passage that often gets a lot of time during Christmas. Isaiah chapter 9 specifically at verse six. We've got the king identified and his kingdom described in verse 7. But the king identified. Notice in verse six, for unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given. and the government will be upon his shoulder and his name will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace. John Owen makes the perceptive comment on this statement. He says that the same person should be the mighty God and a child born is neither conceivable or possible nor can be true but by the union of the divine and human natures in the same person. So you see the prophets, the psalmists, the the the the lawgiver Moses under inspiration, guidance by the spirit prophesied the coming of Messiah that he would be divine. This underscores the reality that God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made, one in being with the father, through whom all things were made. Now when we go back to Isaiah 55, all that was predicated of the written word is predicated of the incarnate word. Everything true of that word sent by the father in terms of its written form is duplicated with reference to the incarnate word. Notice we've got the incarnation. So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. the eternal procession seen specifically in the temporal mission. The word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory. Or Galatians 4:4, in the fullness of the time God sent forth his son, born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those under the law. And then notice in terms of the accomplishment, it shall not return to me void. Brethren, when you you want to argue the the efficacy or the definitess or the particularity of atonement, this is a good passage to go to. Christ is not frustrated. Christ's work is not void. Christ's work does not depend on the free will of godless men. Christ's work does accomplish the purpose for which the father sent it sent him. And when we think of his work, we think of the incarnation. We think of the passion. We think of his active obedience in terms of his his perfect fulfillment of the entirety of God's law. We think of his death on the cross or passive obedience, his satisfaction of divine justice. We think of his resurrection again, the third day, his ascension on high, his current session at the right hand of the father. None of this is void. None of this is without without effect. None of this is empty. But no, he accomplishes the purpose for which he has sent. And not only does he accomplish what I please, but it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. The word does not return void. If you go back to the prophet Isaiah chapters 42 and 49, the servant of the Lord there is not frustrated. You go back to chapter 53, the servant of the Lord there is not frustrated. In fact, Isaiah 55 is predicated on the work of the servant of the Lord. This hoe, everyone who thirsts comes, that is only because of what the servant has wrought in his perfect accomplishment of the will of God. You've got it all over the New Testament. Got Matthew 1:21. You shall call his name Jesus. Why? For it is he that will save his people from their sins. Got it in Matthew 20:28. He says, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many." You you've got it all throughout John's gospel. John 6:37-40. This is the will of the Father that you believe on him whom he sent. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me, I will certainly not cast out. There's no void here. There's no emptiness here. There's no frustration. And there's no savior at the right hand of the father gnawing on his fingernails hoping hoping beyond hope that those free will sinners will choose for Jesus at the at the gospel tent. That's not the picture that you have when God makes the promise to Abraham. Look north, look south, look east, look west. All of that is going to be your land. That's fulfilled in the seed of Abraham. According to Paul in Romans 4:13, it means the entirety of the world. And when God says to Abraham, "In your seed, all the nations shall be blessed," he's not talking about physical Israel that descends by ordinary generation from Abraham's loins. The seed of Abraham is Galatians 3:16. It's the Lord Jesus Christ. In him, the nations of the earth are blessed. That's why he says, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations." Why? because this was always the planned purpose and promise of God. Even the oracle to Noah that Jeffa will find rest in the tents of Shem. This is gentile inclusion in the covenant promises of God. It's not just a New Testament concept. We're going to close our service tonight by singing a psalm that addresses specifically gentile inclusion in the covenant promises of God. It's not about ethnic Israel. It's about Jesus, the true Israel who identifies himself thus in John 15:1. I am the true vine. I am the true vine. He says, so we have all these promises of God. They're yay and amen in our Lord Jesus Christ. And the prophet testifies of that it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. And remember in light of verse 10, and make it bring forth in bud that it may give seed to the sewer and bread to the eater. Jesus uses similar analogy in John 12:24 speaking about his own death. The hour had come according to verse 23. And in verse 24, he says,"Most assuredly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain." He appeals to the light of nature. He appeals to general revelation. He illustrates from that reality, the blessed spiritual reality that if Christ goes into the grave, if Christ dies, there will be the pro uh production of much grain through his crosswork on behalf of sinners. Well, brethren, I hope that we see the power of the word of God both in its written form and with reference to the incarnation of the son of God. And I just want to before we get into the the supper proper here again taking into consideration the entirety of the of the chapter this a bit bit of an exhortation to believers and unbelievers. Unbelievers you should listen to what the prophet says and come to the savior. I I don't know how to make that clearer or planer. If I knew 20 languages I would say it in 20 languages. You need to listen to the prophet Isaiah. You've got problems. And your problem isn't, well, I'm just not as well adjusted as everybody else. No, your problem is you sin against a thrice holy God. Your problem is is eternal damnation as a result of that sin against a thrice holy God. Your problem is is that if you die tonight or you die today or you died right now, you drop into hell. The problem is the wrath and fury and judgment of the most high God. His eye is too pure to look approvingly upon any evil. The prophet tells us that. The psalmist tells us that God is angry with the wicked every day. There's even an urgency in our own chapter. Notice in Isaiah 55 at verse 6, seek the Lord. Notice while he may be found. What does that imply? There's a time coming when he won't be found. There's a time coming when it will be too late. There's a time coming when you may knock and there will be no answer. So there's an urgency on the part of the prophet. There's an urgency on the part of the entirety of scripture. Now is the acceptable time. Today is the day of salvation. So unbeliever, listen to what the prophet says. Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the Lord. And you have this blessed assurance. He will have mercy on him and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. So if you're sitting there right now saying, "Well, I am a sinner. I am an unbeliever. I haven't looked at the Lord Jesus Christ, but man, I'm quite the sinner. Jesus is quite the savior. I've got an abundance of sins." Jesus has an abundance of grace. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace. Ephesians 1:7. So don't try to talk yourself out of coming to Jesus because you're so sinful. Because you're so sinful, you should flee immediately to Jesus. That's my encouragement to any unbelievers. Whether you're old, whether you're young, whether you're man, or whether you're a woman, it doesn't matter. You've sinned against a thrice holy God. Undelt with sin deserves God's wrath and curse both in this life and that which is to come. If you do not believe, if you do not repent, you will die in your sins. And the Bible describes for us in vivid detail what that looks like. It's not a walk in the park. It's not like some fools out there say, "Well, uh, heaven's a heaven doesn't want me and hell's afraid I'm going to take over." What? Take over suffering. Take over pain. Take over weeping and nashing at teeth. Really? That's what you you want to go with that? Well, I'd rather go to hell because all my friends are going to be there. Yeah, what a party that's going to be. Misery, suffering, pain, weeping, wailing, nashing of teeth. So, brethren, you're unbeliever. Listen to the text. Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near. Why? Because he abundantly pardons. Newton said, "I'm a great sinner, but I have a great savior." And everyone in here in Christ can testify to the same thing. But for the believer, as we come to the supper, it's a bit of a covenant renewal time. This isn't our service to God. This is the householders service to us. It is for us to renew. It is for us to be confirmed. It is for us to grow. It is for us to be strengthened. It is for the wi weary pilgrim along the way to be refreshed by the master with a fresh view of our blessed savior. He uses the means of bread. He uses the means of wine. He uses physical realities to show us spiritual truths, the broken body, the shed blood of our blessed savior and what that entails for the the believing sinner. But in this particular prophecy, we've got encouragement even for believers because as we sang this morning, we are prone to wander and we are prone to leave the God that we love. Our brother made application specifically to that. He had a believers, unbelievers, and then Christians that are just kind of you ever just kind of do you ever just get into that slump? Not me, pastor. Oh, good. Send me your Bible study so I can never go through. And it's a reality. We are prone to wander. We are prone to leave the God that we love. Listen to the prophet. The repetition of the promise or rather the invitation three times in verse one and once in verse three. Let us come Aresh in faith to our blessed God tonight through the sacrament. Let us come Aresh to God tonight through the sacrament. Let it not just be a meaningless ritual that we engage in once a month in the terms of the church. No, come to the waters. Come by and eat. Come by wine and milk. Verse three, incline your ear and come to me. the graciousness of the invitation for the unbeliever without money, without price. But for the believer, he doesn't say, "Well, you're you're going to owe. You're going to have to pay big. You've messed it up so much, you better do some penance. And once that's done, then you no without money, without price." the description of the blessings. Notice in verse three, your soul shall live. Joy and peace in verse 12 for the unbeliever, your your soul shall live versus die separate from God, cut off from all blessing, suffering what the the older boys called the sense of loss. All the good from God is gone in hell, but also suffering the sense of pain. his wrath, his fury that invokes the weeping, the wailing, and the nashing of teeth. But for the believer, we don't want to just want to live, want to be joyful and have that peace according to verse 12, the promise of the presence of God. Let your soul delight itself in abundance. As unbelievers and believers, we need to be reminded of this. Sin is no good task, master. Sin doesn't pay rich dividends. Sin does not reward. Sin does not provoke or provide rather good things for the sinner. No, it it just doesn't. You always come up short. You always come up empty. But with God, your soul can delight itself in abundance. You got the promise of the mercy of God. He will have mercy on him and to our God for for he will abundantly pardon. Brethren, as believers, we always stand in need of that promise. We always stand in need of the riches of his grace. We always stand in need of that reality spoken of by the prophet Micah. He'll take our transgressions and cast them into the depths of the sea. We always stand in need of that great grace and it's promised here. We've got the promise of God's mercy. He will have mercy on him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon. We've got faith and repentance. We might be lacking. We might be struggling. We might be weak in our faith. Not no faith, but we want stronger faith. We say with that man, Lord, I believe. Help thou mine unbelief. That ought to be a regular part of our prayer lives. I believe, help thou mine unbelief. As well, this repentance, this putting to death the the the the ways, the the the the thoughts, the the the wretchedness, the transgression of God's law, the lack of conformity unto it. Lord, forgive me. Cleanse me. Wash me in that precious blood. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. I need to know his presence, his power, such that I don't continue in these particular things. Help me by the spirit to mortify the deeds of the body that I might live. These are all things that as believers, we get renewed by the covenant renewal meal. We get resolved by the grace of God to walk in that that blessed life that we have. And let us never forget the urgency of the situation. Seek the Lord while he may be found. call upon him while he is near. May God bless, may God save, and may God encourage the hearts of his people as we take this bread and as we drink this cup. Well, let us pray. Our father in heaven, we thank you for your word. We thank you for the the power of the written word and the glory of the incarnate word. We know that word accomplishes the purpose for which it is sent. We know it prospers your cause in this world. And we pray for the proclamation of the truth. We pray for the glory of the redeemer to be made known through that truth. We pray that multitudes would believe on it and that the church would be strengthened according to it. We ask specifically for our church that you would build us up in our most holy faith. Fill us with your spirit and strengthen us as we seek to glorify you in this present evil age. And we ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Well, you can turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 26 as it's the section we're going to rehearse for the supper. Matthew chapter 26. If the brothers could come forth, please just by way of a few reminders with reference to the ordinance of the supper, the Lord's supper or the sacrament of the supper. It is for believers only. If you're not a believer here tonight, this is not meant to be an insult. It's not meant to be a a pre a prejuditial thing. But the first order of business is to seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near. So believers and those believers that are dealing with their sin, this is a means God has given for help in dealing with our sin. I think at times we think, well, I've been so sinful this week, I better not come to the supper. Well, it might just be that God uses the supper to help us in that quest to deal with our sin. The means of grace are just that. They're ordained to help us and to be of benefit to us as well. The sacrament is a means of grace, but these things remain what they are. They're set apart from uh profane to a holy use in terms of church service. But the bread does not become the actual body of the Lord Jesus. The wine or juice does not become the actual blood of the Lord Jesus. They are visible elements, representations, symbols, things that we can literally sink our teeth into to remind us concerning the life, death, and resurrection of the blessed savior. So we reject the concept of transubstantiation. Allah Roman Catholicism as well as consubstantiation Allah the Lutheran church both of which involve christoologgical problems of a of a pretty big sort. And then remember that the sacrament points us ultimately to Jesus Christ. It's not about us. It's not a reward for good behavior. It's not a a benefit because we go to a particular church, but it's a means to keep us always looking unto the Lord Jesus Christ. It's interesting in John 6 where some do try to get a transubstantiation view when Jesus talks about eating his flesh and drinking his blood. Augustine says to eat the flesh and to drink the blood is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And I think that's a very helpful way to explain that particular passage. So the bread and the wine, they remind us concerning the blessedness of our Lord. And hopefully it grounds us into that reality when Jesus says, "Do this in remembrance of me." Not, "Do this in remembrance of your own sin or do this in remembrance of all the things you should have done or could have done better this week." And I'm not suggesting don't try to should have should do and could do better in the week to come. But our performance is not the basis of our acceptance with the father. It is in the beloved. Well, if the brothers will pass out the bread, we will sing a hymn while they do that and then we'll read the section together and I'll pray and then we'll take the bread together. So, we will sing number 13A. You can remain seated. Psalm 13A as in alpha. [Music] Lord to you my cry, oh Lord, to me and give to My voice I cry for mercy here. If you Lord should our sins, oh Lord stand. My Lord and can be found with you that you may fear. Oh my, my [Music] soul the Lord. My hope is in his word. Yes, and wait for my soul the Lord. [Music] Oh, with God the Lord, your mercy is with him. With great redemption he will sing his from all sin. [Music] So in Matthew chapter 26, I'll begin reading at verse 26. It says, "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, Take, eat. This is my body. Well, let us pray. Our gracious God, we thank you for the incarnation of the word. We thank you for his passion on behalf of those whom the father had given him. We thank you for that triumph and that victory and that current session now at the right hand of God Almighty. We look forward to his return again in glory to judge the living and the dead. We know that he is not frustrated. We know that his plan and purpose to save will not be stopped. And we rejoice to think that men and women, boys and girls from every tribe, every tongue, every people, and every nation will make up a multitude that no man can number. Until such time, give us grace, give us help, give us strength to persevere, and give us hope in the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And we pray in his most blessed name. Amen. Well, let us take together We can turn to 450. And again, please remain seated. The juice is in the outer ring of the tray. The juice is in the outer ring and there's wine in the inner rings. We'll sing number 450 while the brothers pass out the fruit of the vine. [Music] Jesus of my soul. Let me [Music] th my Savior till the sword of my is save to the heaven. Oh, receive my soul at lastuge. [Music] My helpers for [Music] me still and all my trustee is all my help from thee. I bring the word I keep with the shadow of my wings. Now all I want for all I raise the fall and cheer the way he just and holy is thy name. I am all unrighteousness. [Music] All of I am thou marful of truth and grace with praise to all my saints abound. and keeping your thous. [Music] Freely let me take [Music] away my heart to all. [Music] Then he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my father's kingdom." And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Well, let us pray. Our gracious God, we know the first covenant was ratified with blood at the base of Sinai. We know that new covenant is ratified with blood. It's not the blood of bulls and goats that could never take away sin, but the blood of the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We rejoice in this new covenant. We rejoice in the grace that has put us there. We rejoice in all of the benefits that you have uh blessed us with. And we pray now that you would be glorified as we drink this cup, as we remember in a particular way our Lord's death on our behalf, as we do this in remembrance of him. And we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Let us take together Well, when it says, "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. They likely sang from the s uh the hymns recorded in 113 to 118, the hell psalms." So, we'll sing 117b as in Bravo. We'll stand as we sing together. 117B. [Music] Praise the Lord. All you nations, all you people sing his praise. For his truth endures forever and his steadfast love is great. He is faithful. He is faithful. Hallelu. Praise the Lord. Oh Israel, hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is abundant redemption and he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Amen. Well, please be seated for a brief time of meditation.