Just like a few nuns together. Three women getting sex. Three women getting sex in their nun books. Three women getting free from their burden of sin. There's power in the nun. We'll sing together, we'll keep our seats just for these first few hymns as others are gathering in and we'll sing on to the Lord. 286. The dreamer and the dreamer. of the Lamb. There is power, power, wonder-working power in the precious blood of the Lamb. Look, ye three, from your passion and pride. There's power in the blood, power in the blood. Come, for a cleansing drink. There is power, power, wonder working in the land of God. There is power, power, wonder working in the land of God. There is power, power, wonder-working power in the pressure of love. There is power, power, wonder where he come. In the blood of the Lamb, there is power, power, wonder where he come. We're going to try 305 now. 305, will your anchor hold in the storms of life when the clouds unfold their wings of strife? And we'll sing the first verse and the last verse together, please. 305. We have an anchor that keeps the storm, steadfast and sure while the billows roll, fastened to the rock which cannot move. Stand fast and sure, while the billows roll, Fast and to the rock, which cannot move. Turn over the page, 304. We are never, never weary of the grand old song. Glory to God. Hallelujah. We can sing it loud as ever with our faith more strong. Glory to God. Hallelujah. And then the chorus says, oh, the children of the Lord have a right to shout and sing. So let's sing this together with all of our hearts. If you're saved tonight, we should be never, ever weary of the grand old song of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, let's sing this. We'll sing this whole hymn together while others are gathering in 304, please. ♪ We are never, ever weary of the grand old song of the gospel of Jesus Christ. strong. Glory to God. Hallelujah. Oh, the children of the Lord have tried to challenge sin. Oh, the weight is growing by, and my soul is crumbling. We are going higher and higher to the palace of the King. Glory to God. Hallelujah. of redeeming love. Glory to God. Hallelujah. We are rising up as women to the hills above. Glory to God. Hallelujah. All the children of God have a right to shine and sing for the way is growing bright and our song We are going high and high to the palace of the King. Glory to God. Hallelujah. We are going to the palace of the King. Glory to God. Hallelujah. Glory to God. Hallelujah. Glory to God. Hallelujah. I have a right to shine and sing, for the way is growing bright, and my soul's from the wind. There will shine redeeming mercy upon this land. Glory to God, alleluia. There will sing the praise of Jesus when the world was strong. Glory to God, alleluia. We are rolling by and by to the palace of the King. Glory to God, alleluia. It's good to see everyone in God's house tonight, and we're just going to commence our service by singing hymn number 334. It was down at the feet of Jesus, O the happy, happy day, that my soul found peace in believing, and my sins were washed away. And we'll stand to sing together after the introduction, please. Let's stand together to sing. And my sins were washed away. Let me tell the old, old story Of His grace so full and free, For I feel I give Him the glory It was down at the feet of Jesus where I found such perfect rest. When the lion first roamed on my spirit, and my soul was truly blest. Let me tell the old, old story of His grace so His wondrous love to me. It was dine and feed of Jesus, Where I brought my yield and sin, That he canceled all my transgressions, And salvation entered in. Amen. I wonder, is that your testimony in this meeting tonight? That it was down at the feet of Jesus. Oh, the happy, happy day that your soul found peace in believing and your sins were washed away. I pray that that will be so. in each one of our lives, in each one of your lives tonight in this meeting. We're just going to come before the Lord now in prayer. We're going to ask the Lord to bless us as we come to worship Him tonight in this service, and to bless our brother that has come into our midst, that we know a sense of the presence of God in our meeting tonight. Our Heavenly Father, we thank and we praise you for the words of the hymn that we've been singing. And Lord, what a happy day it was in our lives. And we can testify of that day whenever we came as old, hell-deserving sinners, and we put our faith and our trust in the Savior. Well, thank you, Lord, for a great salvation. Well, thank you, Lord, for so many in this meeting tonight that can testify that their sins are washed away, and they're saved, and they're born again. And Lord, they've been walking with thee. They've been walking with you as their savior, as their friend, oh Lord, over many years. Lord, we pray that you'll bless us in this meeting tonight. We thank you, Lord, that we can come into your presence, in and through the precious blood that was shed for us in Calvary. And Lord, we thank you, Lord, for the privilege of meeting together in a fashion such as this. And Lord, we pray tonight that everything that's said and everything that's done, that it will be owned of thee. Lord, we want you to come and be one of our number tonight. We pray, Lord, that you'll bless every aspect of this meeting. We pray, Lord, that you'll help us as we seek to lead this meeting. We pray, Lord, for each hymn that we sing, that you'll write the words upon our hearts. Lord, we thank you for our brother that you've brought into our midst. Lord, we pray that you'll bless him. And Lord, as he relates to us, how that you've saved him. Lord, I pray that you'll speak to our hearts. And Lord, we think of those that are meeting and they're not saved. And Lord, as our brother talks about his saviour, and tells us about how he come to know the Savior. Lord, I pray that you'll speak to the hearts of men and women in this meeting tonight. Speak to the hearts of boys and girls. And Lord, I pray that you'll save precious souls. Lord, we want you to move. We pray for our district, our community. Lord, we pray for those that live around about us. And Lord, I pray that you'll do a great work in our community. And Lord, we'll see a great movement of God in this place. Lord, I pray, Lord, that you'll, Lord, just bless and undertake, Lord, we think of those tonight that cannot be here, those that are sick, those, Lord, are maybe in hospital beds tonight, or in nursing homes tonight, and maybe, Lord, they're even in their own home, but, Lord, tonight finds them in a bed of sickness. Lord, I pray, Lord, that you'll bless them. And I pray, Lord, that you'll be unto them all that they need. Lord, we know that if it was their decision, it would be here in the house of God. But Lord, I pray that you'll meet with them. Lord, for those that are listening on tonight on the internet, Lord, across this world, I pray, Lord, as your word goes forth, that it'll find a resting place. Lord, be with us, we pray. Lord, we think of the minister, our minister, Mr. McKee. We pray, Lord, that you'll bless him tonight as he serves thee. We pray, Lord, that you'll be unto him all that he would need. And Lord, we just be with us, we pray. Lord, be unto us all that we need. Bless us. Lord, we think of those that are mourning tonight. We pray for our sister Alma. We pray for our sister Loreen, Lord, as they mourn a passing of a father. And Lord, I pray, Lord, that you'll pour in the oil of joy for mourning. Help them know the presence of their Savior. And Lord, draw very near. Lord, we think of others in our meeting tonight. And Lord, they've lost loved ones over the past days. And Lord, I pray, Lord, that you'll draw very near unto them and bind up their heart, we pray. Lord, be with us now, we pray. We hand this meeting over to thee. We pray, Lord, that everything that we say and everything that we do, that it'll be owned of thee. And, Lord, we know that we're right in the center of God's will. And, Lord, we pray that you'll bless. Lord, we pray that you'll just be with us now. We ask these things in thy name's sake. For they will give thee all the praise and all the honor and all of the glory. For they alone are worthy. Amen. Amen. We're going to sing and worship the Lord with hymn 310. It shall be well known to everyone. Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it. Redeemed by the blood of the lamb. Redeemed through his infinite mercy. His child and forever I am. This great hymn written by Fanny Crosby. And we pray that the Lord will write those words on our heart redeemed, bought back, our ransom paid in full. I wonder, is that you tonight? Let's sing these words from the depth of our hearts, and we'll stand to sing again after the introduction. Let's stand, please. Redeem, how I love you, O Mary Redeem by the blood of the Lamb Redeem through His infant-like mercy His child and forever I am Redeem, redeem Redeem by the blood of the Lamb Redeem His child, and forever I am. Reading now, so happy in Jesus, know I praise my doctor can tell. We'll just have the ladies on verse 3, and then the men on verse 4, and then we'll all come together again on the final verse. So the ladies on verse number 3. Oh, my blessed Redeemer, I think of Him all the day long. I sing, for I cannot be silent. His love is the theme of my song. Redeemer, Redeemer, Redeemer of the world. His child and forever I am. I know I shall see in His beauty the King in whose law I belong, who lovingly guardeth my footsteps and giveth me Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Redeemed, redeemed, His child and forever I am. I know there's a crown that is waiting in yonder bright Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Redeemed, redeemed, His child and for us. That's good singing. You've got your Bibles with you. Can you turn with me, please, to Psalm number 40? Psalm number 40. We're just going to read this Psalm together. Psalm 40. Very familiar portion of Scripture, I'm sure. Too many, but we're just going to read it together tonight. Psalm 40 in the verse 1. I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock and established my goings. He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to usward. They cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Sacrifice and offering, thou didst not desire. Mine ears hast thou opened. Burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come in the volume of the book it is written of me. I delight to do thy will. O my God, yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation, though I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart. I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation. I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord. Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have compassed me about. Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up. They are more than the hairs of mine head, therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me O Lord, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it. Let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, aha, aha. that all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee, that such as love thy salvation say continually, the Lord be magnified. But I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon me. Thou art my help and my deliverer. Make no tarrying, O my God. Amen. And we know that the Lord will bless the public reading of his word to all of our hearts. Let me phrase in verse 4, it says, blessed or blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust. And as I was reading that, I was thinking, what are you trusting on as you sit in this service tonight? What are you trusting on for life, for eternity, for salvation? Maybe it's your church, your minister, your good works, But this verse says, blessed or happy is that man that maketh the Lord his trust. And I pray that each one that sits in this service tonight, that that'll be your testimony, that you'll make the Lord your trust. Well, can I welcome everyone to your service? this evening, those that are gathered here in the building, and also those that are watching online. And we pray that the Lord will bless each one of us as we gather together to worship the Lord together, and even as God's word is opened up later on. We pray that the Lord will bless us here. Can I welcome very especially our brother Phil Moffitt from Balamony congregation. He's our cleric of the cleric of session over in Balamony and I want them to feel very welcome amongst us and we're looking forward as he comes to testify to us just a little later on, and to bring God's Word to us. So the announcements for this week are as follows. Monday evening at 7 p.m., the bus will be leaving Sharp for the ladies who are traveling over to Ballymagerney. Then on Tuesday at 10 a.m., we have our Parents in Thoughts meeting. And then Tuesday at 7 p.m. is the Children's Workers' Prayer Time. And then at 8 p.m., we have our hour of prayer for the rest of our congregation. Then on Wednesday evening at 10 past 7, we have got our children's meeting. And on Friday evening at 8 p.m. is our youth fellowship. Now, young people, note the change of night. And the Reverend McKee explained that to us this morning. Our youth fellowship has now changed from Saturday night to a Friday night. So you remember that the night has changed. If you turn up here on Saturday night, there'd be nobody here. So our youth fellowship has changed to the Friday night at 8 p.m. We pray the Lord will bless our young people as they meet together. And also for our session, Presbytery on Friday night at 8 p.m. is in Halesborough. Then next Sunday at 10.30 is our Sunday school, just that little bit earlier, so that the children can spend a little time to practice for Children's Sunday that's coming upon us very soon. At 11 a.m. we have our Bible classes, and then at 12 noon and 7 p.m. we have our family worship and our gospel evening service. We'd like to thank those that helped last Sunday evening in our service, those that took part in the service here, and also those that served supper, team three, and those that brought food. And we really want to express our thanks to you for your labor and God's work. We want to express our sympathy to those that have been bereaved, the young family on the passing of Bell, The Bloomfield family on the passing of Annie. The Barclay family on the passing of Jackie. The Adams family on the passing of Christine. And then we want to think of the Reverend Garth Wilson on the passing of his father. And then in our own congregation here, our sister Alma Bell and the Ring King on the passing of their father. Alec Scott, and also our brother Robert Bale, an elder here, and David King, our clerk of session, on the passing of their father-in-law. The prayer requests for this week is the Reverend Ralph Hall in Tasmania and Robert McConnell, Children's Evangelist here in Northern Ireland. So those are all the announcements for this week. We pray that the Lord will bless us this week as we seek to serve him. And all these announcements are made subject to God's will. We're just going to continue now with another hymn. Hymn 332. 332. What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought since Jesus come into my heart. I have light in my soul which so long I had sought since Jesus come into my heart. And then after we sing this hymn, our brother Phil is going to come and testify to us, tell us how the Lord has saved him. and open up God's word to us. So hymn number 332, and we'll stand to sing together again. Stand to sing. What a wonderful change in my life has begun Since Jesus came into my heart For so long, for so long I have sought, since Jesus came and took my heart. Since Jesus came and took my heart. Since Jesus came and took my heart. going astray, since Jesus came into my heart. And my sins, which were many, are all but astray, since Jesus came into my heart. the joy of my soul, and the secret of truth. Since Jesus came into my heart, I've possessed of a hope that is steadfast and true. Since Jesus came into my heart, I've moved on, and I shall die, since Jesus came into my heart. Since Jesus came into my heart. Since Jesus came into my heart. There's a light in the valley of Bethlehem, Send Jesus, give him to my heart. Send Jesus, give him to my heart. Stitch Jesus, give him to my heart. And I'm happy, so happy, that's all the work I do. Stitch Jesus, give him to my heart. Stitch Jesus, give him to my heart. Stitch Jesus, give him to my heart. It is a pleasure to welcome to our pulpit tonight our brother Phil Moffitt and we pray that the Lord will bless you as you come to speak to us. Well, can I thank our brother Wenlock for his kind words of welcome. It is a great joy and privilege and pleasure to be with you here in Calvary this evening. I wonder if you have your Bibles with you, if you can turn to the Acts of the Apostles and Chapter 8, well-known portion of Scripture, the Acts of the Apostles and Chapter 8. Commencing to read at verse 26. And this is what the word of the Lord hath to say. And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go towards the south, unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went, and, behold, a man of Ethiopia A eunuch of great authority under Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning. Sitting in his chariot read Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, go near. and join thyself to this chariot.' And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Isaiah's, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired, Philip, that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this. He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb done before his shearer, so opened he, not his mouth. In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away, and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this, of himself or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water. And the eunuch said, See, here is water. What doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest, And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He commanded the chariot to stand still. And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they would come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip. that the eunuch saw him no more, and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. I want to impress upon you, if I may, this evening, verse 35, Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same scripture and preached unto him, Jesus. Folks, all that I am, all that I have, all that I ever will be is only because of the Lord Jesus Christ and his grace in my life. Reverend McKee asked us to come along and to just share the gospel and it wasn't until just before the meeting that we were looking at the announcements this morning and it was mentioned that our brother's going to bring a personal word of testimony and so the message has been shelved and a personal word of testimony is being brought this evening. I want to take you back to the very beginning of my life. You'll know, of course, that I'm not from North Antrim with an accent like this. I was born in the center of the universe. It's a place called Liverpool. And my family, all my relatives, were raised in that corner of God's vineyard. It's often referred to as the city of comedy, Many comedians were born and bred in that city. Others, when they think of the city, would consider it to be the city of music, for there were great artists that came from that city as well. But it goes without saying that Liverpool is inextricably linked with that funny old game called football. It was just a few years ago in 2007 that Liverpool became the capital of culture for the United Kingdom. And it used the strapline. And the strapline was this, that Liverpool is the world in one city. And they use that strap line because to this day you can visit our city and you can go to a certain area, it's called Chinatown. If you like the Chinese restaurants, then that's the place to go in the city. We have a large Chinese community. Those who are a little bit longer in the tooth, in the congregation might be able to remember the riots that took place in Liverpool. I think it was in the 80s. They were called the Toxteth Riots. And in that area called Toxteth is an African or a Caribbean community to this very day. We have a Chinese population. We have a black population. Outside of London, Liverpool has the second largest Jewish community. The city itself is inhabited by roughly about 500,000 people. And if you take the greater Merseyside area, just outside of the city of Liverpool, we have as many people in the city, the Merseyside area, as you do have here in the province of Ulster. We also have an orange and green community. That might seem strange to folks who are from Northern Ireland, but If we were to go back in history to the great potato famine that took place here way back in 1850, many folks from the island of Ireland, because of the poverty that was here in those days, decided that they would board ships and they would travel across on the ferry to board the big liners. Those liners were housed in Liverpool and the liners, of course, would then take them to the new world, the United States of America. But what actually happened is many folks left these shores. They came over to the city of Liverpool and they thought, do you know, this is far enough. We could set up home here. And in a very short space of time, there were orange and green communities established in Liverpool. In fact, there was a preacher, and you can check this out on the internet, his name was Pastor George Wise. And in 1903, he established a church in the city of Liverpool. He had a Bible class of 1,000 men. and he would march them to church every Sunday afternoon. He marched them past an area which were not too happy about these men walking to church, praying with their Bibles under their arms. Pastor George Wise was prohibited from organizing that parade of these Bible-believing Christians to his church, and he was incarcerated in Walton Jail. In fact, it was Sir Edward Carson who came to our city and was carried from the pier head on the shoulders of no less than 250,000 Protestants. And they took them to the municipal buildings in Liverpool. Sad to say, I was born into an orange home. I was born into a Protestant home. But friends, I was born into a Christless home. The Bible was never read in our home. Prayer was never offered in our home. We simply lived our lives without God and without hope in this world. Strange then that my parents, insisted that the three children in our family, I have a sister who's older than me, a brother who's younger than me, they insisted that we should attend the local Sabbath school. It was a city mission called A.C. Mitchell on a place called Meorhead Avenue. I can remember going along as a young boy being sent along by my parents and It was there that I first heard the glorious good news of the gospel, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, that Christ died for the ungodly. It was at the mission that I first realized that God so loved this world, that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life. It was here that I learned of the cross and of Calvary love and of the great work of redemption just as a small boy. Every year the mission used to take the children from the area to camp and it was at those camps that I first witnessed the Spirit of God moving in the lives of my friends and colleagues. Some of them as just young children came under conviction of sin and they were gloriously and wonderfully saved. I would often be challenged as I would continue to grow up through life and I'd often reflect upon these young people, these children whose lives were dramatically transformed by the power of God through the preaching of God's precious word. I came from a working class family background and very proud of that upbringing. But you know, things in our home were very, very tough. To the outside world, it would appear that we were keeping up with the Joneses, that we were keeping our heads above water. But you know, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, everything that we possessed, be it washing machines, televisions, cookers, Folks, even the clothes on our backs, they were all purchased on what we called the tick or the never-never. A money lender used to come to our area. His name was Mr. Holmes, and he used to call with us every Thursday evening. But you know, oftentimes, my mother never had the the money to pay him back. And it would be my job to stand in the bay window and to watch for Holmesy's car as it would come round the corner. I'd have to alert mum. I can remember switching the TV off and mum gathering the three children around her knees in the rear kitchen as Holmesy knocked on the door, looking for his money. Wouldn't be long before he realised there's no cash coming my way this evening and he would go away for another week. My father was one of those most colourful characters in life. You've all possibly seen Del Boy and Only Fools and Horses. Well that was the type of father that I had. And oftentimes our children, when we got to the cupboards, when we got there, the cupboards were bare. Jacob's biscuit factory wasn't very far away from where we lived, just a few miles. Mum would say to Dad, listen, there's nothing for the children in the cupboards. And Dad would jump into the car, he'd drive off to Jacob's, and there he would wave some form of a card. And all of a sudden the barrier would go up. And he'd go into the very heart of the factory and he'd say to the men, I need to do a delivery. I need 20 boxes of biscuits. Put them in the car now. I'm in a rush. Next to no time, you know, he was driving out of the factory. He didn't work for Jacobs at all. Driving out of the factory with a boot full of biscuits. I was given my testimony here to the men's meeting in November of last year and I said to the brethren, if I never see another club biscuit for the rest of my life, it will be too soon. We never went on holiday because we just couldn't afford to go on holiday But on one occasion, through Dad's ill-gotten gains, we managed to go on holiday. It was to Butland's holiday camp in North Wales. They'd just opened a brand new block, it was called the Premier Block. And Dad managed to get us a chalet and this brand new accommodation. In fact, when we got there, we had to take all the wrapping off the pots and the pans. We had to take all the blankets out of their wrappings as well. Dad got very friendly with the folks next door. In fact, they had arrived the same day as we'd arrived and they were going the same day as we were due to go home. I can remember standing on the veranda, as it were, and waving off to this family. And as they're pulling out of the car park, Dad was saying, right boys, go into their chalet and get all their pots and pans, get all their bed linen, bring them into our place, because we're going to take all ours home. Folks, that was the type of home and family which we were raised in. Remember on one occasion going around to a friend, we were only 12, 13 years of age, both my brother and myself. We knocked on a friend's door, his name was John, John Fanning. And John said, have you seen mum's brand new car? It was a brand new orange Opel. And boys being boys, of course, we circled the car and we looked through the windows. And then John said, do you fancy going for a run in the car? A brand new car. And so in next to no time, my brother, myself, and John were in the car and we were cruising around the area. We hadn't been in the car for more than five minutes, maybe 10 minutes at the most, when we came across an unmarked police car. They did a U-turn and of course the chase was on. And I can honestly say that I have never, ever travelled at speeds the like of which we did on that occasion. We managed to get away from the police and it was only because we went right through an intersection of the roads, a crossroads. We really should have stopped and we really should have given way. And I can remember screaming at John, saying, John, you have to stop, you have to stop. And he put his foot on the gas and we went right the way through. And folks, it was only the grace of God that evening that prevented me from losing my life and prevented us from taking somebody else's life. Remember, on another occasion, we had remained in the home all night, both my brother and I. We hadn't been out. We retired for bed, it would have been about 10.30 in the evening, and we weren't up in our beds very long when there was a knock on the door, a loud knock on the door. As I got to the top of the stairwell, I could see all these blue lights flashing outside. Remember Dad opening the door and they said, we've come for your boys. Well, of course, Dad knew that on this occasion, we hadn't been out all evening, but something had happened in the area. Something untowards had happened and the Moffat boys were getting the blame that night. The sad thing was we were only 13, 14 years of age at this stage and we were already on the police radar. I remember Dad pushing the police officers out of the house and saying, these boys have done nothing wrong. They're not going with you this evening. I left school at the age of 16 and I got a job. I was travelling one morning to work, just 17 years of age now. And I remember being arrested on the way to work. taken, incarcerated, and again my father had to come and bail us out. A few nights afterwards we were standing with friends, both my brother and I, outside of an off-licence. It was just a place, a haunt, that we used to go to because it was very, very bright, the lights of the off-licence, very, very bright. And as we were standing there, a black Mariah came up and about eight police officers jumped out. And again, I was detained and my brother was detained. We were taken to Eaton Road Police Station. Again, my father had to come and had to bail us out. Why do I share those things with you? Friends, it's for this reason. Because where sin abounds, Grace doth much more abound. You could have been forgiven, you know, for looking at our family and for saying of our family, no good is going to come of those boys. There is always trouble at their parents' door. I was invited to go along to a rally one evening. In fact, it was held in St. George's Hall, the grand concert room in St. George's Hall. The Calvary Choir has sung in the grand concert hall at St. George's Hall. And I remember going along. It was an orange rally. I'd been to many of them before, but the speaker on this occasion was a man by the name of Roy Hughes. He was just a mere bus driver. Do you know, folks, he was a man who knew and who loved the Lord Jesus Christ. And as Roy preached the gospel that evening, he spoke of the Saviour as being his Saviour. He spoke of the Lord as being his Lord and his God. I can remember the very points that he dealt with that evening. There is no priest but Christ. And Roy made much of our great prophet, our great priest, and our great King, the Lord Jesus. the one who loved us and gave himself for us. No priest but Christ, no sacrifice but Calvary. And Ruy endeavored to uplift the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. He endeavored to exalt the Savior of sinners. and to make much of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. No priest but Christ, no sacrifice but Calvary, no confession but the throne of grace. Roy shared with us that night that if we confess our sins, then he is faithful and he is just. to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. His final point, no authority but the Word of God. Roy pointed out how precious this inspired word was to him. I can remember him telling us that the Word of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be truly furnished unto all good works. You know, the Spirit of God began to minister to my heart and soul that night. I was conscious that I was in a meeting but it was as though I was the only person there. My friends said, come on, we'll go up the orange club afterwards. And I said, no, I just want to linger here for a while. See, I wanted to speak to Roy, wanted to introduce myself. And I remember as he came out, he always wore a handkerchief, in his top pocket, and he carried a briefcase. And I remember saying to him, Mr. Hughes, my name is Phil Moffat, and I just want to say to you, you have something that I don't have. But you have something that I really want. Folks, I didn't know how to, to properly explain to Roy that I see something in your life that is not in existence, it's not evident in my life. We chatted for a short while and the following evening he invited me to his home and I met his family and his loved ones. He witnessed to me, he ministered to me, but again, there was still that rebellion in my heart and soul. You don't just have the troubles over here in Northern Ireland. Thankfully, they are in bygone days, but way back in 1981, as we travelled home on the 12th day of July, the parade was attacked. As a result of all that happened on that occasion, a police officer sadly was hit and he fell to the ground, he was rushed away, he was placed on a life support machine. One of the brethren was taken, he was incarcerated in Risley Remand Centre on a possible, possible manslaughter charge. Thankfully, the officer returned to duty a number of months later. But I was asked, and I was just, I suppose, approaching my 18th birthday at this stage. I was asked if I would organize an event which would bring in finance to help towards this guy's legal cost. There was going to be a court case. we needed to raise funds. And I consented, I said, well, I'll book the disco, and I'll book the group, and I'll book the club, and I'll get the tickets done. You know, the Lord had began to speak to my heart and soul, and there was a church in Liverpool It was then called the Protestant Reformers Memorial Church. They had made application to the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster to become a fellowship, the first fellowship on mainland UK under the auspices of our denomination. The Lord strangely drew me to that church and I remember going along On numerous occasions, every Sunday evening, the church was vacant, of course. They were looking now for a minister they'd been accepted in by our presbytery. I remember different men getting up in the pulpit. They came from various areas of Northern Ireland. All with a view, perhaps, to becoming the first minister in mainland UK. But you know, as each man preached the Word of God, it was as though he was preaching to me. It was as though the man in the pulpit knew exactly what I was thinking, what I'd been up to that week. I now know, of course, it was the Spirit of God wrestling with my soul. They eventually called a pastor, his name was Hillis Fleming, the Reverend Hillis Fleming. And I remember meeting Mr. Fleming on one occasion and he said, Phil, he said, I'm going to be the new pastor here in Liverpool. And I'm to be ordained and inducted as the minister of Liverpool Free Presbyterian Church on the 23rd of July, 1982. He said, would you come along to that service? And I remember him holding out the hand and I shook him by the hand and he said, now listen, don't tell me you'll come along to the church if you have no intentions. And I said, no, Mr. Fleming, I'll come along to that induction service. He said, remember now the 23rd of July, 1982. So I said, right, I'll be there. It was a few weeks later when I had the tickets printed for this social event that I realised I had booked the entire event on the very evening that the Reverend Fleming was to be installed as pastor of the church. Isn't the devil so subtle? I can remember recalling the words of the Reverend Fleming, now don't make a promise if you've no desire to honour that promise. I thought to myself, I know what I'll do. I'll go along to the church. Sure, it will only be an hour. And as soon as it's finished, I'll be the first out and I'll be straight up to the club and we can have the evening of entertainment. But you know, God had different plans. For those who can remember, way back in those days when a man was inducted into a new fellowship, then the previous minister who was inducted into a fellowship, he used to preach. And then Doc himself, as moderator, he used to preach. So there were two preachers. But of course, this was a very, very big occasion because this was the first free Presbyterian church in mainland UK. The service seemed to go on and on and on. Folks, I went to the service that evening and this is how naive I was. I took all of the raffle prizes underneath the pews. because it was going straight up to the club. That was my intentions. But you know, as the Word of God was preached that evening, the Spirit of God began to move again. He made me uncomfortable in my sin. When the service finally concluded, the Reverend Fleming was at the door and a long, long line of people And I was at the back of the line, or it seemed as though I was at the back of the line. I remember looking along thinking, not long to go now. And I'm looking at the watch. I need to get out of this place. Time's pressing on. As I got nearer and nearer to the Reverend Fleming, I thought, what am I going to say to impress this guy? What can I say? I remember shaking him by the hand and saying, Pastor Fleming, I want to welcome you to our first city. And I want to ask you, when you get settled into your new home, I'd like to speak to you about getting right with God. You know, he was a shrewd old character, and he kept hold of my hand, and he began to witness And he said, you know, Phil, the Bible says, boast not thyself of tomorrow, for we know not what a day may bring forth. Behold, now is the accepted time of salvation. And Phil, do you realize that except a man be born again, he cannot even see the kingdom of God? I want you to know that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And if you confess this night with your mouth, the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, he said, you shall be saved. He still had hold of the hand, I was going nowhere. And he brought me into a side room and there on the 23rd of July, 1982, I placed my trust in the finished all atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. As soon as my all, I ventured on the atoning blood, the Holy Spirit entered. Folks, I was born of God. I was changed now for time and for all eternity. The power of God had transformed my life. The Lord had given me not only a new start in life, but a new life to start with. I was born of His Spirit. As we were singing, I was washed in the blood of the Lamb, free from the sins of tomorrow. I was free from the guilt of the past, for I traded my shekels for this glorious thought that I'm free. Praise the Lord, free at last. But I still have the raffle prizes. I couldn't explain what had actually taken place, but I knew that something significant had happened in my life. And at 18 years of age, I remember coming out of the church and I skipped, literally skipped up to the Orange Hall. I had my dad's keys in my pocket. He was the vice chairman of the social club. I was to lock up the club that night, but the first person I met was the Grand Master. He said, where have you been? And I said, well, I just want to explain something's happened in my life this evening. What do you mean something's happened? I said, I've asked the Lord Jesus to forgive me of my sins, to cleanse me from all unrighteousness, I said, and I won't be back here again, I said, listen, here's dad's keys. I wonder would you lock up the club and would you get them back to him tomorrow? Remember jumping the bus and coming home and standing in the front living room and dad said, sure it's not over already. I said, no, I was at the church tonight. I said, and then I went up to the club. I said, but dad, I want to tell you something. God's transformed my life. I became a Christian this evening. I remember him laughing, laughing as he sat on the set. Oh, what do you mean you're a Christian? Sure you're in the Orange Lodge? And I said, no, dad, there's something that's happened to me this evening. It was February of the following year that we had a gospel mission. I might say that I was the only young person in the church. The church was filled primarily with old age pensioners in those days. I was the first young person, just this 18 year old cub sitting on the back row. I remember we had a mission and we were encouraged to invite people along and the only folks I knew were people from the band that I was in. I remember inviting along a few of the girls from the band. Three of them came to the gospel mission. But you know, as the word of God was preached, one of them came under conviction of sin. She was later to become my wife, Tracy, who's with us this evening, and what a blessing she's been to me throughout my life ever since. You may ask, well, what happened to the rest of the family members? Well, you know, Dad, that Del Boy character, he came to a saving knowledge and into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. My mum, Just, I suppose, 24 hours before she passed into God's eternity, and the folks in the Calvary choir might remember this when you came to Liverpool, and the Reverend McRae came into the hospital to visit my mum, he sang the gospel to her, he witnessed to her, and he led her to the Lord that night. She too came through for the Lord Jesus Christ. God blessed us with three lovely children. My eldest is a deacon in our Balamagirne congregation and is the organist there in Balamagirne. I hear that your women are going there just next week or this week. My only daughter, was stolen by Macrafelt congregation and she's here this evening, Sarah, and what a blessing she's been to our family. She sings around our churches and ministers in song. My youngest son was born again also and he is minister of our Bangor congregation. And you know the Lord has richly blessed us. Truly, we can say as a family, for all the Lord hath done for me, I never will cease to praise him. He's secured for me a home in heaven. He's promised me a place in the marriage supper of the Lamb. And one day, I'll spend the countless ages of eternity with the one who loved me and gave himself for me. We turn to that portion of scripture this evening in the Acts of the Apostles because I just want to leave three very, very simple thoughts with you this evening. You see, in that passage, We had a seeking sinner. He's known as the Ethiopian eunuch. And the Bible says that he left the dark continent of Africa and he traveled from Ethiopia to Jerusalem to worship a God that he knew nothing of. You know, that was just like me prior to 1982. coming along to the gospel service, singing the hymns of Zion, standing when the people of God stood, and yet without God, and without hope in this world. But here we see this eunuch, he goes to Jerusalem, the epicenter of the spiritual world, to worship a God that he knew nothing of, And as he's returning in his chariot, we don't know how long he was there, but we find him reading the scriptures. And he's got the Bible opened at that tremendous portion, Isaiah 53. But he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned each one to his own way, but the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Sure he was oppressed and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth, he was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before his, sheer as his dung. So he opened not his mouth, but praise God, it pleased the Lord to bruise him for me. And this seeking sinner, as he reads the scriptures, He's confused, he's perplexed, he doesn't understand of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself or of some other man. Can you see that seeking sinner? Friend, is that seeking sinner you in Calvary Church this evening? Oh, there's another individual in the passage that we read of. His name was Philip. Philip was a committed Christian, a seeking sinner, and a committed Christian. And the Spirit of the Lord said to Philip, join thyself to this chariot. And Philip, with a desire to reach the lost, with a bounce in his step, with an eye for the glory of God, the Bible says, and Philip ran. He ran. And he comes up alongside this chariot and he said, understandest thou what thou readest? And this sinner says, how can I? How can I understand the scriptures except some man should help? And he told the chariot to stand still. And he brought Philip up into the chariot. And the Bible says he began at the same scripture. He didn't turn back to the book of Genesis and start leafing through. No, he began in Isaiah and he preached unto this seeking sinner, Jesus. And folks, that's who we present before you this evening. The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of this old world. He didn't preach church membership. He didn't preach baptism. He didn't preach confirmation. But he just exalted the Lord Jesus Christ. a seeking sinner, a committed Christian, and bringing both of them together was a guiding God in heaven. Folks, you're not here by chance or coincidence this evening. In the predetermined counsel and foreknowledge of God, the Lord has ordained that each individual gathered in this sanctuary this evening should be present. Should be present not to hear what I've done for Christ, but what Christ has done for me. And how he came into the life of a poor benighted sinner in the city of Liverpool and how he entered into the life of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the land of Ethiopia. And what Christ did for the Ethiopian. And folks, what Christ did for me, Christ can do for you. this very night, if you'll but put your faith and trust in the finished, all-atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. You know, there was one, and with this we'll close, there's one who once said that God was manifest in the flesh. Oh wonder to behold creative power within the breast that felt that blast of cold. God, in our likeness made, oh may we understand that the one who made the wandering world, folks, he appeared as lowly man. He stood within the realms that he fashioned with a thought. And his creatures looked upon him, alas, they knew him not. They cried out for his blood, his claims, cast out his dross. Then they spat upon his princely face, and they nailed him. to a cross. But friends, he made the tree of that cross of wood. And he made the hill on which the cross stood. And in some hidden vein of land, he made the steel that pierced each hand. He made the Son to hide its face. He made the people of that race, who in their hatred knew Him not, the very Christ, the Son of God. And then there, on the cross, Jesus made His way back to Himself eternally. And folks, He did it for you. and he did it for me. Oh, it would be my desire, the desire of your pastor, the desire of the oversight of this fellowship, that if there be any gathered in this service this evening that know not Christ, why not call upon him? Why not start out for heaven and for home? You know, we love Him, those of us that know Him and love Him, we love Him only because the Bible says He first loved us. Brother Wendell. Can I thank our brother tonight for being so faithful to us in presenting the Lord Jesus Christ. We're just going to sing together as we close our meeting, hymn 224. And this hymn asks the question, have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the lamb? Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Our brother has told us how he met the Saviour, how the Saviour changed his life. He has presented Jesus, the Lamb of God, to each one tonight. Now as we sing this hymn, each one has to answer this question in your heart. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? We'll sing verses one, verses three, and verse four together as we close our meeting. Let's stand, please. Are you eager to teach this world a dancing part? Are you marching with love of heart? Are you fully entrusting in His grace, His love? Through a bright blue promise may your oaths be white, pure and white in the blood of the Lamb. May your soul be ready for the Lamb to triumph and be washed in the blood of the Lamb. Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? There's a fountain flowing for his soul one day, holy waters in the blood of man. Burning waters in the land, in the soul-cleansing blood of man. Fire, garbage, smokers, Let's stand to pray, please. Our Heavenly Father, we thank you and we praise you for what our hearers have heard tonight. We thank you, Lord, for God's saving grace. And Lord, we pray that as your word has gone forth tonight, that you'll speak to hearts of men and women still outside of Christ. Lord, we pray that you'll work in this meeting tonight. And Lord, as the voice of man grew silent, we pray that the still small voice of the Spirit of God will speak on in the hearts of men and women, boys and girls. Lord, we'll leave this meeting with thee. We pray that you'll take us to our homes in safety. But Lord, we pray that you'll save precious souls. For we ask these things in thy name's sake. Amen.