Welcome to Dingwall & Strathpeffer Free Church God Calls Us to Delight in Christ and to Share His Hope.

Psalm 86:8-13 (p. 341) 8Lord, there is none among the gods that may with thee compare; And like the works which thou hast done, not any work is there.

Psalm 86:8-13 (2/6) 9 All nations whom thou mad’st shall come and worship rev’rently Before thy face; and they, O Lord, thy name shall glorify.

Psalm 86:8-13 (3/6) 10Because thou art exceeding great, and works by thee are done Which are to be admired; and thou art God thyself alone.

Psalm 86:8-13 (4/6) 11 Teach me thy way, and in thy truth, O Lord, then walk will I; Unite my heart, that I thy name may fear continually.

Psalm 86:8-13 (5/6) 12 O Lord my God, with all my heart to thee I will give praise; And I the glory will ascribe unto thy name always:

Psalm 86:8-13 (6/6) 13 Because thy mercy toward me in greatness doth excel; And thou delivered hast my soul out from the lowest hell.

Prayer and Bible Reading

Bible Reading Revelation 7:9-17 (p. 1238)

Revelation 7: After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

Revelation 7: All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

Revelation 7: Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?" 14 I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 7: Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.

Revelation 7: For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD AND HIS PEOPLE – Unison Prayer from Romans 14 MINISTER: Our Saviour Jesus Christ, Lord of the living and the dead, you died and rose again to life:

OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD AND HIS PEOPLE – Unison Prayer from Romans 14 ALL: Let us not live for ourselves alone, nor die for ourselves alone; so that whether we live or die we may belong to you for ever. Amen.

Scottish Paraphrase 66 (Revelation 7:13ff) 1 How bright these glorious spirits shine; whence all their white array? how have they come to this fair place of everlasting day?

Scottish Paraphrase 66 (Revelation 7:13ff) 2 These have endured through sufferings great and come to realms of light, and through the blood of Christ the Lamb their robes are pure and white.

Scottish Paraphrase 66 (Revelation 7:13ff) 3 Humble they stand before the throne, palm-branches in their hands; here they are serving him they love, fulfilling his commands.

Scottish Paraphrase 66 (Revelation 7:13ff) 4 No more can hunger hurt them now, nor shall they thirst again; no scorching heat can do them harm nor sun shall cause them pain.

Scottish Paraphrase 66 (Revelation 7:13ff) 5For at the centre of the throne, Jesus the Lamb who died feeds them with nourishment divine, their shepherd and their guide.

Scottish Paraphrase 66 (Revelation 7:13ff) 6 In pastures green he'll lead his flock where living streams appear, and God the Lord from every eye shall wipe away each tear.

Sermon Revelation 7 God’s Family In Heaven: But where is the Temple?

1: A Song for God’s Family 7:9, 14:6 – The redeemed family are not from a restricted group! Psalm 86:9; Genesis 15:5; 22:17. Where does that leave tolerance and pluralism? Salvation belongs to our God!

2: A Song of God’s Gospel 9-10: God’s answer to “tribalism” and a broken world is the gospel message. What they all wear (a white robe = right relationship with God).

2: A Song of God’s Gospel What they all hold (palms = symbol of victory, and joy). What they all shout (Jesus = the Lion- Lamb:– see 5:5,9,12, focused on the cross).

3: A Song of God’s Glory What glory, if we are not living as a reconciled family?What glory, if we are not living as a reconciled family? The focus of heaven: Psalm 96 – ‘declare his glory among the nations.’The focus of heaven: Psalm 96 – ‘declare his glory among the nations.’

3: A Song of God’s Glory John Piper: “Missions exist because worship doesn’t.”John Piper: “Missions exist because worship doesn’t.” The only temple, the only focus we need, both now and in heaven is the Lord Jesus Christ himself.The only temple, the only focus we need, both now and in heaven is the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

Psalm 98:4-9* (p. 129) 4 Acclaim the LORD, O all the earth; shout loudly and rejoice. Make music and be jubilant; to him lift up your voice.

Psalm 98:4-9* (2/4) 5 With harp make music to the LORD; with harp his praises sing. 6 With trumpet and with horn rejoice before the LORD, the King.

Psalm 98:4-9* (3/4) 7 Let earth, the sea and all in them rejoice triumphantly. 8 Let streams clap hands and mountains sing together joyfully.

Psalm 98:4-9* (4/4) 9 Now let them sing before the LORD, who comes to judge the earth; He’ll judge the world in righteousness, the peoples in his truth.

God Calls Us to delight in Christ and to Share His Hope.