Just a reminder to everyone, we do have our Blenheim Court Outreach this afternoon and we meet later on today at 5.30pm. I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make a boast in the Lord. The humble shall hear their wrath and be drowned. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Let us come now to the Lord in prayer. Let us pray. O gracious God, we come before Thee, we come together as we have just been reminded to praise Thy name and we would seek to magnify Thee this morning. May we have high thoughts of Thee and may we encourage others to do so. O Lord, we come then to worship Thee, to bless Thy name, to rejoice in Thee and we can do these things, O Lord, because Thou hast drawn near and admit us in a gracious way, for we come to thee, O Lord, through the name of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank thee for him, for how could we approach such a holy God without him? To cleanse us, O Lord, heavenly Father, of sins even of this day we have done. Cleanse us, O Lord, we beseech thee, right at the beginning of this hour of worship. To assist us through despairing, to worship thee in spirit and in truth. May our hearts be in tune. May it not just be words from our lips, but words from our hearts. We come to give thee the glory thou art worthy. O hear our prayer, O Lord. Remember us now in We turn to our first praise, Psalm 46, verses 1 to 7, and the tune is Evangelos, Psalm 46, verses 1 through to verse 7. Let us sing a new song to the Lord, sing all the earth to God. To God sing, bless his name, show still his saving help abroad. Psalm number 96. O sing a new song to the Lord, sing all ye that do call. To those he wears his manger still, his saving help that rolls. Among the heathen nations his glory to declare, And unto all the people show his worth and wondrous power. For praise the Lord, and greatly he is to be magnified. Yea, worthy to be feared is he above all gods beside. For over God's our idols come, Which blind in nation's fear. And our God is the Lord by whom The heavens created her. Great honor is before His face, and majesty divine. Strength is within His holy grace, and bed of beauty shine. To ye, a scribe, and to the Lord, all people, every tribe. Glory to ye, and to the Lord, and mighty power, a scribe. If you would turn with me for a while. consecutive reading to Ecclesiastes and this week we come to chapter 2 and we're reading from verse 1 through to verse 16. Ecclesiastes chapter 2 and we're reading from verse 1 through to verse 16. Let us hear God's word. I said in my heart, go to now, I will prove thee with men, therefore enjoy pleasure, and behold, this also is vanity. I said of laughter it is mad, and of mirror, what do of it? I sought in my heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting my heart with wisdom, and to lay hold on foreign, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men. which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. I made me great works, I builded me houses, I planted me vineyards, I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits. I made me pools of water to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees. I got me servants and maidens and had servants born in my house, Also I had great possessions of great and small cattle, above all that were in Jerusalem before me. I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. I gathered me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all songs. So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me, and whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them. I withheld not my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced in all my labour, and this was my portion of all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do, and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit. and there was no prophet under the sun. And I turned myself to behold wisdom and madness and folly, for what can the man do that cometh after the king, even that which hath been already done? Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walketh in darkness. Then said I in my heart, as it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me, and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity, for there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever, seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. and how died the wise man as the fool. Thus far reads God's precious Word. Amen. Well, in light of what we have just read, let's turn to our second praise this morning, the 71st Psalm, and we're going to sing verses 1 to 3, and then verses 25 through to verse 28. Psalm 73, verses 1 to 3, and then verses 25 through to verse 28. Yeah, God is good to his Son, to each pure-hearted one, And as for me, my steps ne'er slipped, my feet were almost gone. Yet God is good to his way, and to each pure-hearted one. ♪ The turns for me, my steps misled, my feet were almost gone. ♪ ♪ For I am beaten, lost and crushed, ♪ the bluest world to see. When I perceive the witness, Lord, enjoy prosperity. Who have I in the heavens' high, but Thee, O Lord, alone? And in the earth, whom I desire, Beside thee there is none. My flesh and heart await and dwell but God doth fail me never. For of my heart God is the strength and motion forever. For who may act apart from Thee? Forever perish, Thou! Then, like the pouring from below, Thou hast destroyed it all. But surely it is good for me that I'm drawn here to God. In God I trust that all thy works I made it where I grew. If you would turn with me in the New Testament to 1 Peter chapter 1 and we're reading verses 1 through to verse 12. 1 Peter chapter 1 and we're reading verse 1 through to verse 12. Peter and 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 Lord and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy have begotten us again unto a livelihood by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled. the fade, if not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time, wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold, that perisheth, though it be tried 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, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls, of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you. Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. which things the angels desire to look into. Amen. May the Lord add the blessing to the reading of his precious word. Let us come again now to the Lord in prayer. Let us stand for prayer. Almighty and ever-blessed God, we do thank thee for thy word, And we thank Thee as we recognize afresh this morning how the glorious gospel of our Lord and Saviour was made known in the Old Testament, how the prophecies were there, how the prophets looked into these things. We thank Thee in the fullness of time, He came and He accomplished redemption. Oh, what a savour we have. We thank thee for his resurrection as we were reminded of there in our New Testament reading what hope he gives us. We thank thee he did it all, death could not keep him and he's alive in the glory now and spiritually he is with his people particularly today where two or three are gathered together. Oh may we be aware of him our risen glorious saviour We frankly here have done it all, and therefore we can look to the future, we who love thee this morning, and we know there is life beyond the grave in heaven above, and we have a most blessed eternity. May we set our affections in view of these things on things above. May we be particularly this day, but throughout the week as well, heavenly minded, all for the thought of thee to arise more often in our soul, affection on things above. Even when we come to things in this world where we must give attention to, may we just, for a few moments if possible, set our affection on things above. We thank Thee for the glorious Gospel. We thank Thee that Thou hast made known this Gospel in our hearts. We do praise Thee for this Thy day. And we pray that thou bless the Sabbath day, this day of rest. How needful, how kind thou art in giving us this day, O Lord. We do not understand those who see no need for this day. Thou art such a kind God, such a gracious God. And thou dost give us one day in seven that we might rest and particularly focused on thee. Help us, O Lord. Help us to keep this day holy for thy glory, and out of love for Christ we beseech thee. We do come to thee, we pray that thou would speak to us with thy word this morning, upon in the preaching of the word, also in the hearing of the word, and then in the doing of the word. O Lord, may we be helped in all these, we pray, as those who minister the light today, give them encouragement We pray for those churches represented here in Southampton and Portsmouth, we pray for them. And other churches near and far, we commit them unto thee this day. We do pray for the churches in France, those we know of. We do pray for Mark and Amy, the family, on holiday this day. So Lord we look to thee, remember thy people in these days, look down from heaven and come without looking, oh have we need thee just a little reviving, oh Lord in these days is what we long for, but Lord may there be more, oh look and revive thy cause, build it up in these days, oh Lord, take delight we pray in mercy and have mercy upon us, oh Lord. We pray for our country at this time. We pray for this coming Friday, for this coming Thursday, in view of the general election. O Lord, thy will be done. Give thy people wisdom, O Lord. Thy will be done. How we need leaders that fear thee. O, they will be seeking to put forth their policies which they will believe will do the nation good, but how we need thee. O Lord, we pray for leaders who fear Thee, give us, lead us in time, who walk with Thee. Oh, we commit this nation unto Thee. What have we done? We have turned our backs upon Thee. Oh, have mercy, we pray. We pray that ungodly laws that have been made would yet be overturned. Oh, we pray, then, for this nation. We pray for other nations of the world. We pray for those nations where there is great trial and difficulty, where thy people are persecuted. We pray for North Korea. We thank thee for what thou didst do over a hundred years ago as the gospel spread and swept through that land. Oh, we pray that thou wouldst do it again. Be with thy people in bonds today in North Korea and in China, what hardships they face. We pray for those who are being held and have had no trial but just being held or be near to them today. For others who are suffering in this world, thou knowest, those in Eritrea we know, we pray, draw near to them. We do pray for the spread of thy word. We thank thee for the work of the Trinitarian Bible Society. We thank thee for the hunger there is in this world in certain parts. We pray that thou spread forth thy word in Latin America, in India and many other places, for we are encouraged, O Lord, that thy word is not bound, and it will not return unto thee void. Thou wilt use it. We know that thou wilt use it in a way of judgment, but also in a way of mercy. And we thank thee that we have the evidence it's not just in a way of judgment in this world. It's being used much in a way of mercy, and we give thee praise. Lord, look on this nation, we pray use thy word in a way of mercy beyond what we expect. Do bless us now in the word, help us, and as we think of these things and as we consider our lives, oh may we press on with thee, looking unto thee, may we know that joy that only can be tasted within, that joy and view of our Saviour, we pray. Bless all the young ones here, we thank thee for them, to go before them in these final few weeks of the school year and to take for them, we pray. We do pray for that which is planned throughout the summer holidays. We pray for the Christian worship camps and other such activities, conferences or loads. May it be a time of blessing for the young people and for the Bless the young people here who are before them in their work, in their studies, in their university. O Lord, we pray, lead them and guide them. We beseech thee. Lord, we thank thee. We thank Thee for our homes, the food we eat, the clothing. We thank Thee for a measure of health. We thank Thee for spiritual blessings, for Thy care, Thy love, Thy guidance and direction. We thank Thee for the unspeakable gift, our Saviour, in whose name we pray. Amen. offer praise is psalm 119 verses 25 through to verse 32 and the tune is humility psalm 119 verses 25 through to verse 32 the fourth part of this psalm my soul to dust cleaves quicken me according to thy word my ways i showed and me thou heard teach me 119 verse 25. My soul to Thou hast beswittened me, according to Thy word. Thy ways I show, and Thee Thou hast Teach me thy statutes, Lord The way of thy commandments Make me a right to learn To all thy words and wondrous love, I shout to adoration. My soul doth melt and draw away For heaviness and grief To Thee accord it did I birth His strength and send relief. Throw me the wicked way of life, Let the removed be, and graciously Thy holy law do Thou grant unto me. I chosen have the perfect faith, of truth and verity. My judgment day, my righteous hour, in holy name have I. I do thy debts in lowly sway, shame do not o'erweigh. I'll run thy precepts where'er thou my heart enlarget hast. Well, let's return then to 1 Peter, and we'll continue this morning where we left off last Thursday morning. 1 Peter, and we're going to read verses 6 through to verse 8. 1 Peter, chapter 1, we'll read verses 6 through verse 8. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptation. that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than a gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ, whom, having not seen, ye loved, in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice, with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Dear congregation, thankfully it is not all sorrow and tears for the Lord's people as they make their way to heaven. There are times of joy when Christ our precious Saviour is so near to us. The eye of faith is so focused and the heart is filled with joy. Just notice verse 8, 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. And we see there they were focused and they knew joy in their hearts. And at such times the Spirit cultivates the grace of joy and we know this gladness within. And are we not thankful for such times? Because we do know what it is to have heaviness in our heart as well And these two things we have before us in these verses this morning. Now we've just sung Psalm 119 and we see there the Psalmist with heaviness within in a moment afterwards We're going to see sing Psalm 4 and we'll see their gladness within the heart. Well these two things are known in the believer's life. The Brethren who were scattered abroad through times of heaviness, within, notice verse 6, wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Now, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, as we considered a few weeks ago, the Apostle reminded them of the glorious inheritance that awaited them, and they could be assured of it, for they were a kept people, as we note in verse 5. but the apostle wrote to them reminding them of these things so as to encourage them as they trod through the veil of tears. They needed encouragement, they needed help, they would know what it is to look down with a heavy heart or that they would look up and rejoice and consider that they are a kept people and a glorious inheritance away. Well, we need help. For there are times, frankly, it's not all sorrow, but there are times when there is sorrow in our lives. We need that help and we need that encouragement to look up. We are being kept and a wonderful inheritance awaits. And when we consider eternity, we're nearing the end of this veil of tears, aren't we? What an encouragement that is. Well as we come again to these verses, verses 6 through to verse 8, I'd like us to consider first of all heavy hearts and then secondly unspeakable joy. We see the opposites here. Heavy hearts and unspeakable joy. Well let's consider them heavy hearts, verse 6. wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations." Now that's interesting, isn't it? Right at the outset, they were in heaviness, but even in that heaviness, they knew times of joy. And is it not our testimony? There's no contradiction here, is there? We do know times of joy, but we also know times of heaviness. Turn with me to 2 Corinthians 6 and verse 10. Listen to the words of the apostle. Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. Poor, yet making rich. Having none, and yet possessing all things. You see the opposites. But it's true, isn't it? There are times of sorrow, but even in sorrow we can be found rejoicing. See, the Spirit comes and cultivates that grace of joy, and one can be found focusing on the Lord and rejoicing in him. There are times when we go through a valley and we have heavy hearts. Now just come with me to verse 6 again. If need be ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations. We have here the word temptations, reminded of those words in Genesis 22 verse 1 where the Lord did tempt Abraham. What does it mean? Well the word there in the Hebrew and the word here in Greek, it speaks of a putting to proof, it's a test. There were times, testing times for these scattered Jews and there were testing times For us, we're going through a period in this nation where there is much against the Church of Jesus Christ. These are testing times, where the people were tested, and we will be tested. Notice verse seven, that the trial of your faith. And in such times, one could know heaviness within. Now our faith will be tested. Remember again how the Lord did test Abraham, and particularly his faith. And we read in Hebrews 11 verse 17 these words, By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac. And he that hath received the promises offered up his only begotten Son. By faith Abraham. And if you put it all together there, when he was tried, his faith was being tested. And as he was being tested, But our faith will be tried. What are we going to do? What are we going to say? Where are we going to look? Now remember those familiar words from John 6 and verse 6, just before the feeding of the 5,000. One comes and our Lord says in verse 6, And this he said to prove him, for he himself knew what he would do. When shall we buy bread, he said to Philip, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him, for he himself knew what he would do. He knew he was going to perform a wonderful miracle. He was going to children feed the 5,000. He was going to set forth his glory a little. He was going to help the disciples and the people. He was going to encourage the people. He knew what he was going to do, but he put the question because he was testing Philip. The Lord knows what he's going to do. He's going to bless you. He's going to keep you. Verse five, he's going to welcome you into heaven and you're going to know such a wonderful eternity with him in the eternal state in the heavenly world. As we see in these verses, he knows all this. He knows all this as you enter the valley. He's going to test you. This he said to prove him. Our faith is going to be tested. And there are times when our faith, as we see here this morning, is going to be tested in the furthest of affliction, when it's difficult, when it's hard. Notice verse seven. that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire. Now think of gold in the furnace. It is proved to see if it is genuine and it is purged that the dross might be taken away. It's proved to be genuine in the furnace and it's purged so that the dross is taken away. We're told that gold refiners use several different methods to remove the impurities and achieve a high level of purity in the final product. Removing impurities through melting the ore is a method that has been used for thousands of years. And you see Peter here, he's speaking of gold. It's purged, isn't it? It's in the furnace. where you'll find yourself in the furnace of affliction and there'll be this proving that you are the Lord's and your faith will be strengthened but also there'll be this purging. Remember Luke chapter 12, laying aside that which doth so easily beset us, laying aside the proving and the purging, there'll be the testing that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, then just take comfort, your faith is far more precious. The Lord gave it, it will be tested in the furnace of affliction, but it will be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Christ Jesus. Faith is far more precious than of gold, Consider gold doth not multiply in the fire when the dross is removed, but faith can grow and be strengthened. You see the opposite there? When you're in the furnace of affliction, unlike gold that doesn't grow, your faith can grow. It can be multiplied. The trial of your faith. being much more precious than of gold that perisheth. A man may be rich, but what a blessing to faith, and it will be spoken of at the last day. For we think here of the trial of the faith in which the believer can know heaviness of heart. Heavy hearts in the furnace of affliction, and we will consider in a moment in verse eight, but they can be a heavy heart. When we're being tested, when our faith is being tested, but also at other times, heaviness within, our hearts are stirred up. Turn with me to Job nine, verse 27. If I say I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness and comfort myself. I'm afraid of all my sorrow. I know that thou would not hold me innocent. You see the reasoning there? If I forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness. The thing that was trying him, the thing that was going around his mind, if I leave it off, I will leave off my heaviness. You see there, Job had a heavy heart and affliction in which he felt his sin. And it can be like that. can be going through some valley and we have a heavy heart and as we go through that valley we think of our sin as well. Consider the testament of the psalmist. Psalm 69 verse 20. Reproach hath broken my heart. He's thinking of that which is coming to him from outside. Reproach had broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. How descriptive. I am full of heaviness. Full of heaviness. Like a vessel about to burst. So heavy was his heart. And it's amazing, isn't it, as we've seen often. We hear there the Saviour and His humiliation. I am full of heaviness. Not a pleasant thing, is it? Affliction can weigh one down, and the heart can be heavy. One affliction after another comes, and the heart feels heavier. Notice verse six. If need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptation. You think children, you're carrying something, and then someone else comes and puts another item on you, and your hands are heavier now. One trial after another can make the heart so heavy, and so affects within. Psalm 119, we sang earlier, verse 28, my soul melted for heaviness. Strengthened thou me according unto thy word. You know at times you feel your strength going, maybe physically, Certain times when I go to a shop and I pick up something sweet, a chocolate bar or something, because I just feel my energy is drained and I need extra strength. You feel it, this draining, my soul melted, this inward draining, this melting. You're in the fiery furnace of affliction and your soul is melting from heaviness. It's so hard, it's so heavy. You know, when you're trying to carry something that's heavy, your fingers may start hurting. And so your arms and you feel your strength so weak, melting for heaviness. One struggles with a heavy heart in affliction. A trial comes and another trial comes and it weighs us down. And then consider further at times when one has a heavy heart, They may not sense the Lord's nearness. They may not sense his smile, how we often pray for and sing that the Lord would shine on us, that the Lord would make known his countenance, lift it up, it speaks of favour, mercy, but when there's the hiding, where is his mercy? And sometimes we don't sense it, do we? And it has an impact on us, and our hearts can be heavier The broken heart, Psalm 69, can have an impact on us. Heaviness is so descriptive of how it can be in the believer's life, particularly in affliction. Heaviness, as it were, sums it up, doesn't it? Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations. Are you in heaviness? at this present time. It doesn't mean that you don't know a little joy. You notice verse 6, wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season. Yes, you know a little joy, you look to the Lord, but you have a heavy heart as well. Do you not see that in Psalm 113? Sadness in my heart daily, yet rejoicing at the end of the psalm. Is there heaviness within? A certain trial or trials are weighing you down and you feel that sinking feeling. Burdened. You're burdened about something? Burdened about someone else? Not really apostle Paul. He was burdened in view of many of his brethren. They weren't the lords. Romans 9 verse 1, I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continued sorrow in my heart, for I could wish that myself were a curse from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen, according to the flesh. You see the heaviness within? They weren't believing! Great heaviness, continued sorrow, he mourned! He knew joy. And what did he exhort the brethren at Philippi to do? And what are we exhorted to do? Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say rejoice. Philippians 4 verse 4. Yet he had great heaviness with him. He longed for many of his countrymen, the Jews, to be converted. Heavy heart. It can be a real thing. And it can affect the mind. And also the body. Do not underestimate these things. Just consider the Lord Jesus Christ in the garden of Gethsemane. He was sorrowful and he began to be heavy and he was in agony. Remember the angel came to strengthen. How it affected him. But there's something else that can bring a heavy heart, and that is sin. Heaviness in view of sin. And we see this in Ezra chapter 9. Just turn with me to Ezra chapter 9 in verse 5. And at the evening sacrifice I rose up from my heaviness, and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God, and said, O my God, I am ashamed and blushed to lift up my face to thee. For God, for our iniquities are increased over our heads, and our trespasses go not into the heavens. There's Ezra. He had known heaviness in view of sin, the sin of the people, and he includes himself. I'm ashamed and blushed to lift up my face to thee. Remember children in the New Testament, the publican, he couldn't lift up his eyes unto heaven, he felt his sin, he had a heavy heart, so did Ezra. There were times when the Lord's people collectively ought to have a heavy heart, burdened, Is it not one of the reasons we have this quarterly prayer meeting for the local congregations? We come because we're burdened with the sins of the nation and the sins of the church. We come with a burdened heart, but we come in expectation, because the Lord delights in mercy, as we will consider later today. Well, we think here of heavy hearts. Peter was aware of the heavy hearts amongst the brethren that were scattered. And there are times when we are aware. We're to encourage one another, that we look unto the Lord, that we cast our burden upon him. Psalm 55 verse 22, cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved, Cast thy burden. Now, it's interesting, isn't it, Peter, here, as he seeks to encourage the people. He reminds them that they are kept by the power of God. Psalm 55, cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee. He'll keep thee and sustain thee. Well, cast thy burden, that burden that is weighing your heart down. cast it upon the Lord. Here, sustain me, here, carry thee. You may still have the burden to some measure, but here, carry thee. And it'll never suffer you to be moved. He will support you in the trial, for his arm is strong. Isaiah 40, verse 28, hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard? of the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth. Faint if not, neither is weary. There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might, he increaseth strength. Oh, the God we have, who never grows weary, who is infinitely strong, he's able to carry you you may have a heavy heart in the trial but he's able to carry you and strengthen you and lift your heart now peter here reminded the brother it was but for a season a little while notice verse six wherein he greatly rejoiced though now for a season a season a little while he's wanting to encourage them And here's the encouragement. You may have a heavy heart, but you won't always have a heavy heart. It's just for a season. Children, think of the seasons of the year. How quickly the seasons go. Tomorrow, we're in the second month of summer already. How quickly the seasons go. Doesn't seem long ago, does it? It was so cold, minus eight here, then the spring. the seasons go, but always winter is it. It passes am I thankful. And here's the encouragement. You may have a heavy heart, but you won't always have a heavy heart. Now for a season. In this life there is a desired haven, Psalm 107, and there is the green pasture, Psalm 23, where we're made to lie down in the green pasture. And we know refreshment. A little reviving. It's for a season. It may seem a long season to you, but it will pass. We often say this in Britain, don't we? It's a long winter. Well, the winters are just as long as each other, if you look at the days of winter. But we say it's a long winter, and there's times it seems so long. How long, oh Lord? And we cry out with the psalmist in Psalm 14, Psalm 70, make haste, and we cry out with the Saviour there in those psalms, make haste. It's not wrong to pray. Make haste, Lord. May this season of affliction soon be over. It's just a little while now. Thomas Watson, the Puritan, wrote, Affliction has a sting, but also a wing. It should fly away. your heavy heart will be lifted. And then consider what a blessed eternity awaits you forever with the Lord. And you will not for one moment have a heavy heart in heaven and in Emmanuel's land. For a season. Let that be encouragement to you. For a season. But then consider in affliction, when we have a heavy heart. Look these words, wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be. And in the province of God, not always, but in the province of God, sometimes we come to a trial, wherein we have a heavy heart, that we might grow in grace. We're told that certain plants grow best in winter. We need the cold. And there are some times the Lord in his providence leads us to a trial wherein we have a heavy heart, that we might feel our weakness, that we would look to him for strength and that in fact is part of growth. When we feel our weakness because we have a heavy heart and we look to Jesus, we're growing. because we're leaning more on him. Sanctified afflictions. Remember this, the present trial you are going through, the Lord will support us. All things work together for good. The Lord may lead you to a certain trial wherein you have a heavy heart, so he can show to you how strong his arm is. to encourage you as you come to the next trial if need be so important those words for a Caesar that's encouragement isn't it it's not always going to be like this and there's a purpose sanctified afflictions if need be the trial can humble us and the trial can wean us off this well Psalm 119, how the Lord, we see there, uses his word. And that can be to our good as it is in affliction. Psalm 119, verse 28, My soul melter for heaviness, strengthen thou me according unto thy word. My heart is heavy, but the Lord has a purpose. He's going to show his strength through his word. And it may be the Lord leads you to a pleasant trial that you might be strengthened particularly through his word in the trial. He applies the word, he shows you the way and you hear his voice. Remember Elijah, he heard the quiet, still, small voice of the Lord when he was in affliction. And it may be the Lord brings you to a certain trial that you might hear his small, the still voice of him. There's a purpose, Hebrews 12 verse 11. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless, afterward it yielded the peaceful fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees See the purpose there? It's not joyous, is it? It's grievous. There can be certain trials that really weigh us down, but the Lord is working. And they can come forth fruit. And see what the Lord is able to do. With a heavy heart, he can bring forth more fruit. You see, the Spirit has access to our heart. even when they're heavy and he can come and apply the word and lift our hearts and cause us to be focused looking to him if need be you're in heaviness through manifold temptations it's not easy is it we're encouraged it's just for a season but there's a purpose the lord always has a purpose Well, as we draw to a close for a time that's passed so quickly, take comfort in your sympathizing high priest. Just go to the Garden of Gethsemane, Matthew 26, verse 37. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. He took Peter, the two sons of Zebedee, James and John, those close disciples. He took them a little further. And there he went on. And there he began to pray. And we're told he began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Very heavy. A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. A man of sorrows. And there in the garden his heart was so heavy. He sympathises when you are Bearing a heavy heart, he supervises. Turn back to Psalm 69, verse 20. Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. Reproach hath broken my heart. How though they opposed our Saviour, and it affected his mind, I am full of heaviness, full of heaviness. He who knew such joy, As God, infinite joy in his human nature, knew such heaviness, full of heaviness, full of heaviness because what he was facing, full of heaviness because of love to you. All remember your sympathising High Priest Spurgeon. Commenting on Psalm 69 verse 20, wrote this, the heaviness of our Lord in the garden is expressed by many and forcible words in the four Gospels. And each term goes to show that the agony was beyond great measure. He was filled with misery, like a vessel which is full to the brim. Very heavy, he understands. You know, you may be going through a situation and you wonder, does anyone really understand? The Lord does. What heaviness he knew in the garden. He's the sympathizing high priest. He has touched with the feeling of our infirmities. And what an infirmity it is. A heavy heart. He's touched. He knew what it was like in the garden of Gethsemane. what Peter wrote here under inspiration to encourage them, to help them. They knew what it was to have a heavy heart, but he desires to help them. He reminds them of the Lord Jesus Christ. And that brings us to verse eight, whom having not seen ye love, in whom though now you see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. He reminds them of their Saviour and the joy they had known. One may have a heavy heart, one may know what it is to weep in the night, but joy cometh in the morning. And even in the veil of tears, we can know a little of the joy that is unspeakable. Look at this unspeakable joy on Wednesday. But consider here this morning, first of all, heavy hearts. Not easy, is it? But it's only for a season. And God is working out his purpose. If need be, you're in heaviness through manifold temptations. Let the trial of your faith, dear brethren. Remember often the Lord is testing you, and you'll come forth as gold. The drops will be taken away, And in the furnace of affliction, unlike the gold, there can be a multiplying, a growing in grace. May we look at these things. May we consider what the Lord is doing. He's refining us in the furnace of affliction and all for his glory. May the Lord help us and may the Lord bless his way. Almighty and ever-blessed God, we thank Thee for those words, if need be. We thank Thee for Thy providence, that Thou art working out Thy will in accordance to its own right. We thank Thee that Thy providence is most holy and wise. We thank Thee that it is but for a season, the trials we face, and even an affliction, how thou hast brought joy to us at times. O Lord our God, we pray that thou wouldst help us as we suffer in this world. May we remember that we have a sympathising high priest at thy right hand, who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. O what a saviour we have, full of compassion, touched, O Lord, sympathising with us. the Saviour who went to the Garden of Gethsemane and then to the cross with such a full, heavy heart, having such love in his heart for us. Help us, O Lord, in this world. Help us in the fairness of affliction. Help us to recognize thou art doing things for our good. Hear us, O Lord, that their faith is being so tested. Lord, where there is the need, come and test our faith. Prove us, as thou didst prove Philip of old. Thou dost know what thou art going to do. Oh, that we would remember that more often, and that we would quickly focus on thee. Hear us, O Lord, for Christ's sake. Amen. we turn to our final praise. Number four, psalm number four, we're going to sing verses four through to verse eight. The tune is Wallace, fear and synod talk with your heart on bed and silent be of Britain's presumptive righteousness and in the Lord trust ye. Psalm four, verses four, They will sing a tune with your past, on bed and side and knee. God, we present our righteous head, And in the Lord trust ye, And in the Lord trust ye, For the truth will show us any good, It's that which many say. That of thy countenance the light, Lord, lift on us away. Lord, lift on us away. Above, my God, bestowed by Thee, More grand than I have found. And may He then, when cold and high, keep us with Him above, keep us with Him above. I will put baby down in peace, and quiet sleep will take. In God's power lead me to dwell In safety, Lord, thus may In safety, Lord, thus may The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.