Welcome to Dingwall & Strathpeffer Free Church Sunday January 25 th 2009 God Calls Us to Delight in Christ and to Share His Hope.

Psalm 31:1-5 (p. 241) 1 In thee, O LORD, I put my trust, shamed let me never be; According to thy righteousness do thou deliver me.

Psalm 31:1-5 (2/5) 2 Bow down thine ear to me, with speed send me deliverance: To save me, my strong rock be thou, and my house of defence.

Psalm 31:1-5 (3/5) 3 Because thou art my rock, and thee I for my fortress take; Therefore do thou me lead and guide, ev’n for thine own name’s sake.

Psalm 31:1-5 (4/5) 4 And sith thou art my strength, therefore pull me out of the net, Which they in subtlety for me so privily have set.

Psalm 31:1-5 (5/5) 5 Into thine hands I do commit my spirit: for thou art he, O thou, JEHOVAH, God of truth, that hast redeemèd me.

Prayer & Scripture Reading

Scripture Reading Ezekiel 36:1-10,21-28 (p. 867)

Ezekiel 36:1-10,21-28 A Prophecy to the Mountains of Israel 1 Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, 'O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD. 2 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The enemy said of you, Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession.'

Ezekiel 36:1-10, Therefore prophesy and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because they ravaged and hounded you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people's malicious talk and slander, 4 therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign LORD:

Ezekiel 36:1-10,21-28 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and the deserted towns that have been plundered and ridiculed by the rest of the nations around you— 5 this is what the Sovereign LORD says: In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against Edom,

Ezekiel 36:1-10,21-28 for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made my land their own possession so that they might plunder its pasture-land.' 6 Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says:

Ezekiel 36:1-10,21-28 I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of the nations. 7 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I swear with uplifted hand that the nations around you will also suffer scorn. 8 'But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home.

Ezekiel 36:1-10, I am concerned for you and will look on you with favour; you will be ploughed and sown, 10 and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. …to verse 21

Ezekiel 36:1-10, I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone. 22 Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have

Ezekiel 36:1-10,21-28 profaned among the nations where you have gone. 23 I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.

Ezekiel 36:1-10, 'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.

Ezekiel 36:1-10, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Ezekiel 36:1-10, You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. ___________

Psalm 145:15-21* (p. 190) 15All eyes are raised expectantly to you, And in due season you supply their food. 16You open wide your hand to all that live And satisfy their needs with what is good.

Psalm 145:15-21* (2/4) 17The LORD is just and good in all his ways; He shows his love to all that he has made. 18The LORD is near to all who call on him, To all who call in truth to him for aid.

Psalm 145:15-21* (3/4) 19The hopes of those who fear him he fulfils; He hears their cry and saves them from distress. 20 The LORD protects all those who love his name, But slays all those who practise wickedness.

Psalm 145:15-21* (4/4) 21My lips will frame a psalm of thanks to God; My mouth will speak for ever in his praise. Let every creature magnify the LORD, And praise his holy name now and always.

SERMON: A People Made New Ezekiel 36 (p. 865) “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN God who makes all things new. Not a message of an earthly Utopia - but God’s good news for the refugees in Bablyon.

1– Why God Reversed their Fortunes God’s word comes to the one mountain of Edom and the many mountains of Israel (chapters 35-35). WHY would God deal in this way with Israel? (36:9,11-12) Not God’s ego-trip: His name LORD is bound to His Covenant relationship. What answer is there for defilement?

There is no human answer to sin… God’s answer is bound to his own name and reputation (20-23). The universe has God at the centre: if salvation is to come at all, it must be in a way that honours and pleases God.

2 – How God Renews His People Is your heart warmed by verses 24-28? God has a way to make people CLEAN again (25) – but not just clean on the outside. (26,27) Other religions can get you to obey outwardly: only the Holy Spirit can make you new, obeying God willingly from the new desires of a new heart.

2 – How God Renews His People 28: The Covenant is also made new… FAITH is the core emphasis of both the Old and New Testaments! FAITH is a matter of the heart… this chapter explains Jesus’ chat with Nicodemus! Renewal: first the people, then the land. DO WE LOOK LIKE NEW PEOPLE?

Psalm 51:7-12 (p. 281) 7Do thou with hyssop sprinkle me, I shall be cleansèd so; Yea, wash thou me, and then I shall be whiter than the snow.

Psalm 51:7-12 (2/4) 8Of gladness and of joyfulness make me to hear the voice; That so these very bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Psalm 51:7-12 (3/4) 9 All mine iniquities blot out, thy face hide from my sin. 10 Create a clean heart, Lord, renew a right spirit me within.

Psalm 51:7-12 (4/4) 11 Cast me not from thy sight, nor take thy Holy Spirit away. 12 Restore me thy salvation’s joy; with thy free Spirit me stay.

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