I do extend to you a warm welcome to this midweek meeting, those of you who have gathered here in the hall and again those of you who are joining us via the live stream. May the Lord richly bless us. Just one announcement, particularly for those of you who are listening online this coming Lord's Day. We are expecting and looking forward to the ministry of the Reverend Malcolm Watts. from Salisbury, he'll be here in the morning and in the evening. May the Lord bless us on that day, his day, and also this evening hour. The psalmist said, as the heart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? Let us pray. words that thou art the living God. That encourages us, O Lord, as we come to prayer. Our prayer is not in vain. Thou art the living and the true God. Thou art the listener. O Lord, we would echo those words of the psalmist, my soul thirsteth after thee. We have this thirst, this longing for thee, and we pray that thou would meet us where we are tonight and fulfil by word and dwell in the midst, O Lord, we do come to Thee. Do help us, O Lord, do send us help from the sanctuary. Do help us to pray, to sing, to hear Thy word. Help us in all these things. We recognize our need of Thee, conscious of our own weakness. We do come to Thee through our blessed Saviour. We thank Thee for Him. that he came into this world and went all the way to the cross of Calvary for us and we take comfort tonight that we are covered by the precious blood of Jesus. Would you pray for the Holy Spirit to work within our hearts now and have the glory this evening hour for Christ's sake. Amen. Our first prayer is Psalm 107. Psalm 107. We're singing verses 1 to 8 to the tune Naomi. Tonight we're going to consider the believing Jews who were scattered abroad. Here in this psalm we're considering the gathering of a people unto the Lord. Psalm 107 verses 1 to 8. Praise God for he is good for still his mercies lasting be. Praise God, for He is good, for still His mercy's lasting gain. Let us with Him say to the world, from the envies that it free. And gather them out of the dust from north, south, east, and west, They strayed in desert's heartless way, No city found to rest. For test and hunger women face their soul when strength's at rest. They cry unto the Lord, and He entreats of their distress. Then also in a way to war, That bright new city light, That they might to her city go, Wherein they might abide. ♪ Old and bent to the Lord her King ♪ ♪ Praise for His goodness then ♪ ♪ And for His works of wonder done ♪ unto the sons of men. If you would turn with me to 1 Peter chapter 1 and we'll commence the reading at verse 1 and we'll read down to verse 8. 1 Peter chapter 1 and we'll commence the reading at verse 1 down to verse 8. Having had over the last few months a little introduction into the life of Peter, tonight, the Lord enabling, we're going to begin the first epistle. Let's read the first eight verses. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, grace unto you, and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. You are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be withheld in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations. But the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth though betrayed with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen ye love, in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Amen. May the Lord add the blessing to the reading of his precious words. Well tonight, the Law of Enabling, as already mentioned, we're going to look at the first epistle, the opening part, verse 1 and verse 2. So let's read verse 1 and verse 2 again. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, did a stranger scatter throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace unto you, and peace be mortified. The Congregation Peter, despite his failings as we have considered, was used by the Lord in the church. He wrote, as we shall now consider, the opening two epistles under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in order to assist, confirm and comfort those Christian converts who were in the midst of trial. We notice the trial, have we not, in verse 7. Also, he wrote, particularly the second epistle, to exhort them to be on their guard against false teachers. And how important that is today. There's much out there on the internet. We need to be wise. We need to consider these things, which the Apostle Peter declares, particularly in this second epistle. But right at the outset, he was concerned for those new convicts. He had a great care for them. He was concerned that they would be shielded, but also that they would live Holy lives for God's glory. What a heart Peter had for them as a whole. Now you notice right at the top, it is the first epistle general of Peter. He didn't write to a particular person or particular congregation. No, he wrote particularly to Jewish converts as a whole who were in different places and struggling in trials. He had an enlarged heart, he was thinking of so many. Remember what the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, 2 Corinthians 6 verse 11, O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged, an enlarged heart, a heart full of love towards the brethren at Corinth, an enlarged heart, not a small heart, but an enlarged heart. Well, as we go through these epistles, the Lord Mangling and the Lord Willing, we'll consider the enlarged heart of Peter, the enlarged heart of Paul in Corinthians, among these epistles, the enlarged heart of Peter. Now, Peter particularly wrote for the Jewish believers, not exclusively, but chiefly. Listen to John Gill. The persons to whom it is written were Jews, at least chiefly, for there might be some Gentiles among them. Matthew Paul of Puritan wrote, Who were the strangers to whom this epistle was written? The answer is chiefly the Christian Jews scattered in those countries as appears by 1 Peter 2 verse 12. where we could go on and 1 Peter 1 verse 18. So then particularly the Jewish believers those new converts Peter has in mind but not just one or two of them it's a general epistle what an enlarged heart he had for all those Jewish converts particularly at this time. The first epistle was written around AD 64. Now there is a debate on this. Some think it is as late as AD 66, others AD 65, but the majority believe it is AD 64, around that time. Well, without any further introduction, let's come tonight to verse 1 and verse 2. And I'd like us to consider, first of all, Peter the Apostle. And then secondly, Peter's opening address. Peter the Apostle and Peter's opening address. First of all then, let's consider Peter the Apostle. We've considered this already, but notice how the epistle begins. Peter. And so we're led to consider, first of all, his name. a name given to him by Christ. Turn with me to John 1 and verse 40. One of the two which heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah which is being interpreted to Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. That's precious, isn't it? I always think that's so precious as you read those words. He brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jonah. Thou should be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, a stone. Cephas, Animaic origin means a stone or rock. In the Greek, we consider Petros, Peter. Acts 10 verse 5, And now send men to Joppa, here's the word for Cornelius, And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter. Simon Peter, his first name Simon, his second name, surname is Peter, Petros. And our Lord speaks of him in Matthew 16 verse 18, And I say unto thee, Thou art Peter, Petros. And upon this rock, referring now to himself Petra, there's a difference there in the Greek, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Thou art Peter, Petros, a piece of rock. Now our Lord gave him this name, stone or rock. And despite his failings and his evident weakness, the Lord saw him as a stone, as a rock. He was to be strong, and he would be strong, and he would be a help to others. And we'll consider this in this epistle, in the second epistle, how he was a help to others. He would be strong, and he was to be strong. He would be firm in the faith, steadfast. When we come to the second epistle, we'll consider how he warns the believers against false teachers. He wants them to be steadfast. Well, he's steadfast. He's firm, and so he gives this warning. Now, Simon was a common name, but he's given the name, the surname Peter. And it's claimed that his faith, His steadfastness would stand out. I'm in the common name, but then Peter. He would be noted. It would stand out, his steadfastness, his firmness of faith. And as we consider his name, first of all, tonight, how we need to be firm, steadfast, and we need to be those who are strong in the Lord. You remember those words to the Apostle Paul, to the Church of Corinth, In 1 Corinthians 15 verse 58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast. Be like Peter, we could say. Be steadfast, unmovable. That's another characteristic of Peter, the rock. Always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vain. Be steadfast, unmovable. And we can learn from Peter, Now we read in James 1 verse 8, a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. Unstable, in contrast with we like Peter, steadfast, stable. How we need to be firm in these days, there's much confusion. Well in the darkness around and the compromise in the church, let your faith and my faith shine forth. that it might be an aid to others. Others are watching us and they're being encouraged and helped by our steadfastness. Oh let us be like Peter. Let me read in 1 Corinthians 16 verse 13. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Stand fast in the faith. assistance to the early church. He was noted as being one who would support, one who would be strong. Turn with me to Galatians 2 and verse 9. And when James, Cephas, there's Peter, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, They gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision." Now you notice James, he first saw Peter, and John seem to be pillars. It's interesting, isn't it? We're thinking of Peter, steadfast, strong, standing fast in the faith, where he was noted as a pillar. If you go down to Swanwich and you go to the west side and you park in the car park, you'll see these two pillars which are like Roman pillars. If you go to London, the Met Tap, you'll see pillars outside of the church. Buckingham Palace, the pillars. And it speaks of strength. They're fixed, stable, and they're there for support. Where in the early church there were these pillars. James, Peter and John. They were noted. They were strong and they were there supporting. They were stable. Noted ones. Reverend John Brown of Heslington writes this, saints and ministers especially, more noted ones, are fixed on the foundations of the divine truth. They have their affections heavenward and they mightily tend to support the church. where they live, pillars, supporters, strong in the faith, where we think of Peter. And there are noted ones in the church today. For a young minister like myself, I still see myself as a young minister. I look to those who are wise and older in the faith as ministers of the gospel, strong in faith and wise. pillars and we can think of pillars today, noted ones who are so wise and there supporting others. Well Peter was a pillar, he was steadfast, he was grounded on the truth and he was there to support, he was a rock in the church. So we think of his name but let's go on to consider briefly secondly his office. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. Now, we've already considered he was a pillar, a noted pillar in the church. What we read here, he was an apostle. And apostles were given to the church. Ephesians 4 verse 11, and he gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers. The Lord gave apostles. Peter was one of the twelve apostles who had his call and commission immediately from the Lord. He was an eyewitness to Jesus after his resurrection and that is an important culmination of an apostle. 1 Corinthians 9 verse 1, here's Paul speaking, am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord? You cross-reference in your own time Acts 1 verse 22. Must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection? There was a qualification, an important one. One called sent and a witness of the resurrected Lord. We think of the signs of the apostle, 2 Corinthians 12 verse 12. We read there of those signs and wonders. Peter was clearly called and commissioned by the Lord to be an apostle, a messenger, one sent. Now it was an office then, but not now. And that's plain. You think that the particular qualification had to be an eyewitness of the resurrection. Well, he was a pillar, that's alluded to in his name, but he was steadfast, he was a rock, and he was an apostle of Jesus Christ. So that's a little about Peter. But let's move on now and consider secondly Peter's opening address. And we'll just begin here tonight. Verse 1, Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ. to the strangers gathered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. He's thinking particularly of Jewish converts who were found in certain places within Asia Minor. Asia Minor encompassed a lot of the country we call Turkey today. And here it addresses that. such a heart for them as we will consider as we go on through this chapter he wants to encourage them just made his first fight what an encouragement this is who are kept by the power of god through faith they were struggling they were facing difficulties in following the lord but they were a kept people and so are you what an encouragement well let's just open this up we consider the ones he was addressing here his opening address and let's think first of all of their outward condition to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. They were strangers, simply they were not in the homeland of Israel and they were scattered Just turn over the page to James 1 and verse 1, James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. They were scattered at some time. Now there are those who believe there is reference to the scattering before our Lord came. Matthew Henry believes that, and John Gill hints at that as well. Others to a later time, due to persecution in the early church. And you only have to go through the book of Acts and you see certain ones were scattered. The persecution brought a dispersing. When enemies have warred against the church, believers have been scattered. You think back to the Second World War when Hitler and the Germans were advancing and threatening this country. The children were dispersed around the country, sent on trains to safe places. There was a certain lady in Ringwood and she was sent down this way from London to a safe place. Dispersed because of those who war against the church many of those people have been scattered but the apostle addresses them he's not unmindful of their situation we see this in verse one we also see it in verse seven he speaks of their trial he's not unmindful he's concerned about them and in this opening address we see the concern Hebrews 13, verse 3, Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them, and them which suffer adversity as being yourselves also in the body. We're to remember. Let's remember our brothers and sisters in Christ tonight who are in bonds, talking before the meeting to Steve about China. How many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are so suffering in China, pastors, kept in prison with no trial. We're to remember them, we're to have a concern for them, a heart for them. We see this, do we not? And we're to seek to support them. There is a cross to bear in following Christ. If you recall the English words of our Lord in Matthew 16, verse 24, then say, Jesus, unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me there is a cross and for some it's a very heavy cross isn't it even at this time certain ones have had to flee their homes why because they love the lord jesus christ certain ones are in prison because they love the lord jesus christ now consider again the apostle addresses them as strangers they're not in their homeland They've been scattered because of trial, because of persecution. They were strangers. But here in Peter, we can consider a little further what it means to be a stranger. For we are strangers and pilgrims. We don't belong here, do we? This world is not our home. Just think of your long home of heaven. So peaceful. So calm. Such an abundance of joy. Such happiness. There's no sorrow, nor tears, nor pain. That's your home. Now when you think of it like that, we're pilgrims, aren't we? We readily admit that. We're strangers. This present world is not our home. Tell them in 1 Peter 2 verse 11, see how the Apostle Paul opens this up, dearly beloved, I beseech you strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. You're a pilgrim, you're a stranger, be on your guard. We live in hostile territory and there's temptations that come so quickly and there's the roaring lion as we will consider later on in Peter. Be on your guard. remember you're a stranger here and remember you're a killer you're on your way home thomas watson once wrote i believe it's thomas watson whenever thou meetest a christian wherever thou meetest a christian he's going to heaven and you're on your way to heaven this world is not my home i'm just a passing through Remember those heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 verse 13 these all died in faith not having received the promises but having seen them afar off and were persuaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. And this is what they confessed. Do you confess it? You're just passing through. It's good to think of this isn't it? It's good to look beyond this world It's good to consider eternity. It can lift the soul. It can be such an encouragement. We're going to be with the Lord. And what did the Apostle Paul say to the Brethren of Philippi? To be with Christ, which is far better. Oh, we're strangers and pilgrims on the earth. One day, we're going to follow our forerunner and we're going home to heaven. And what a blessing to say, We're going home to heaven. We know the Lord. We're saved. Heaven is our home. We will be there with the Lord in heaven and in the heavenly world forever and ever. Secondly, their blessed state, their blessed state. we've considered the situation they were in they were strangers they were scattered but let's consider now their blessed state we're thinking now their spiritual condition in verse one we particularly consider as Matthew Henry points out their outward condition but now in verse two we consider their spiritual condition and we haven't got time there's so much here and it's not so easy to go through first two as we might think. Let's just briefly summarize their blessed state. First of all, they were elect. Elect according to the full knowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Elect, chosen to eternal salvation. How blessed you are, dear child of God. You were chosen. How amazing. Just turn with me to the first chapter of Ephesians and see there how the Apostle Paul writes to the church at Ephesus and encourages them. Verse 3 of chapter 1. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who have blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. we should be holy and without blame, before him in love. We're so blessed, aren't we? It just builds here, doesn't it? Who have blessed us with all spiritual blessings. You think of an orchestra, they begin, and it begins to build, and the music gets louder, and there's volume, and people are amazed. We just note these words here, who have blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. In Christ, it just builds up, How blessed we are according as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. Chosen, elect, are we not thankful for that? How can we thank the Lord? As we think of chosen to eternal salvation, we're then led to consider that the believer is sanctified. of the Apostle Peter, elect according to the full knowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit." Now rightly often we think of what we call progressive sanctification. We see our duty there, be holy says the Lord, for I am holy, verse 16, we are to be concerned about holiness, we pray also for the work of the Holy Spirit in progressive sanctification. But what Peter is particularly thinking of here is what we call initial sanctification. Now don't misunderstand me. We were not made perfect. That's why there is the need of progressive sanctification. But when you go through the New Testament, you see that the Lord's people have this standing and are known as sanctified. 1 corinthians 6 verse 11 so that's for some of you but you are washed but you are sanctified yes we think of progressive sanctification how necessary that is because we're not perfect but those people are known as being sanctified 1 corinthians 6 verse 11 initial sanctification professor murray spoke of divinity as we think of salvation. A principle of grace was put within at the new bath. And it's good, isn't it? A principle of grace is not an unholy thing. We're a new creature in Christ. We've been delivered from bondage. Just tell me to Romans 6 verse 19, I speak after the manner of men. because of the infirmity of your flesh. For us ye have yielded your members, servants to uncleanness, and iniquity unto iniquity. Even so now yield your members, servants to righteousness, unto holiness. See the change? We were once a servant of sin in bondage, but we've been set free. Who by? The Lord Jesus Christ made it plain. The Son will set you free. We've been set free. We're a new creature. We're servants now, not of sin, but of the Lord and righteousness. There's been a change. 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. All things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new. Born again. We're sanctified in an initial way. We're not a servant of sin now. We're the Lord's, set apart from Him for Him. And consider this, we have a new life with Christ within. Christ living for me. Just a little, just to guide us in considering that we're sanctified. We're not what we once were, were we? We're not in bondage now. Yes, hell we need to battle with sin, but we're not a servant of sin now. Our lives have been changed in hell, we've been set apart for the Lord. Tell me again to 1 Corinthians 6 verse 11, and such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God. As you think of salvation, the sanctification what we are in Christ. We're His now. Listen to Matthew Henry speaking of this initial sanctification, a real one, begun in regeneration, whereby we are renewed after the image of God and made new creatures. Just consider who you are and the life you now have. Are we not thankful for this? We're not servants of sin now. The Lord is our master. He's given us life. Oh yes, we need to deal with sin and be thankful the Spirit goes on in that progressive sanctification. But consider the blessed state you are in because of Jesus Christ. And then as we consider the spiritual condition, the blessed state, faithfully and finally covered. Interesting words, elect according to the full knowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the spirit and to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. There's a new line. covering. We're covered by the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus has been applied, sprinkled, divine justice satisfied, and our sins are covered, pardoned, we're justified. Romans 3 verse 24, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption of his whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God." How blessed we are. Now just consider the contrast here. Their outward state or condition. They were strangers. They were scattered. They were suffering. But then consider their spiritual state. They were so blessed. And it reminds us we may be suffering in this world. There may be a heavy cross, but we are blessed, aren't we? You remember Psalm 89 verse 15, blessed are they that know the joyful sound. It's the joyful sound of Christ in the gospel. a joyful sound for me each day quarter to three in my day the final bell of the school day that was a joyful sound not the bell at half eight for me but the bell at quarter to three what a sound it was but you consider the joyful sound of the gospel and what the psalmist declared in psalm 89 blessed are they that know we're blessed aren't we Yes, we may have a difficult path, it was the trial of our faith, verse 7, but you consider the blessings in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. What a blessed state, we've been chosen, sanctified, the blood of Jesus Christ has been applied, we're forgiven, how blessed we are. One of the Lord wrote, Robert Murray McShane, chosen not for good in me, wakened up from wrath to flee, hidden in the Saviour's side by the Spirit sanctified. Teach me, Lord, on earth to show by my love how much I am. Well, we're going to come now to conclusion. And as we think of Peter's address and who was he addressing, thirdly and finally, a blessing for them. And that's at the end of verse two. Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. Grace and peace be multiplied. Now just consider they were scattered abroad because of difficulty. Peter speaks particularly of the trial of their faith in verse seven. There were manifold temptations, verse six. They were in heaviness, also in verse six. What did they need? More grace. What did they need? More peace. Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. Now it's a blessing for them, a pronouncement of blessing. Now if you go through the New Testament you often see the pronouncement of blessing at the end of the epistles but also in a number of places at the beginning of the epistles and here's one grace unto you and peace be multiplied now it's a pronouncement of blessing there's no question here it's a pronouncement grace unto you and peace be multiplied. What do you need in your life? More grace. Well, it will come. What do you need in your life? More peace. It will come. There's more grace. He giveth more grace to the humble. We get disturbed at times, restless, but there's more peace coming. Remember the legacy of Christ. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. What a precious legacy. A lasting legacy. Our minds do get disturbed, but there's peace. And we're reminded of it. More peace. Be multiplied. Restless nights you may be facing, but there be more peace. We need it instantly. We shall have it. Because it's a pronouncement of blessing. Grace unto you and peace. been multiplied. Now consider again Peter's heart, Peter's concern for them. And at the end of that time of worship the minister's heart for the people and so he pronounces the benediction. You know there's some people who say you shouldn't have a benediction as part of the apostles era. And the priests, if you go through Scripture, those preaching the Word of God, ministering the Word of God, are to pronounce the blessing because they have a heart for the people. They want to remind the people there's more grace and there's more peace. Think of that well-known benediction, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Or just think of it as you go on your way after the service, there's more grace for me from my Saviour who so loved me. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, all to be reminded of the love of God. And the ministers thought that the people would be reminded that there is more love to be enjoyed. And then the communion of the Holy Spirit, how we need the ministry of the Holy Spirit to draw near, to make intercession within, to point us to Christ, to excite the graces. With a minister's heart, there's going to be more of these things. You're going to know more of the communion of the Holy Spirit. Somebody in the worship may be struggling. Where's the Lord? The benediction comes. to remind them, you will know more, the Lord will draw near, where he appeared to them, grace unto you and peace be multiplied. They were scattered, they were suffering, but grace would find them. Grace finds us in the wilderness and so doth peace and it will be multiplied. And when you come to the end of your pilgrimage, What grace you will admire in heaven as you see Jesus. And what peace will fill your heart as you bask in the sunlight of Christ. A blessing, we need blessings, don't we? Well, we have them. May the Lord help us in these things, for his name's sake. Amen. Let us pray. Almighty and ever-blessed God, how can we thank Thee enough that Thou didst choose us to salvation? Oh, we thank Thee for that work of the Holy Spirit. We're known as sanctified, yes, we're conscious of our sin, but we thank Thee for the new life we have within. We thank Thee for our Saviour who dwells in our hearts. We thank Thee for that standing in Christ, sanctified. Oh, we thank Thee we are covered by the precious blood of Jesus. For Thou art satisfied with His work. Oh, we thank Thee for the precious blood. We've thought of it last Lord's Day and we think of it again tonight. Lord, we are covered. And Lord, we thank Thee there is more grace for us and more peace. It's not a question, it's coming. How vast is the ocean of Thy grace. How deep is the river of peace. Lord, may we know more peace. May it come, may it flow to us. May the ocean of thy grace surround us. As we think of those words of the Apostle Peter, grace, peace be multiplied. Lord, we can say it has been. And we're in expectation that it will be. O Lord, multiply thy grace to thy people here. Multiply thy peace to thy people here. And as we hear the pronouncements of blessing, may we go home resting in these things. Lord, we pray, may we not miss the blessing of the blessing. O Lord, hear us, help us, and teach us through these epistles for the glory of thy name. O we thank thee we have been reminded tonight we are a kept people, kept by thy power. will be well. Oh we thank Thee we are in Thy hands. We give Thee the thanks, we praise Thee and we thank Thee O Lord that Thou has put that love in our hearts. We can't see our Saviour but we love Him. Oh how we're going to love Him when we do see Him. Oh hear