2024 Aug 25th St Paul's Presbyterian Church

Welcome

Entrance

All stand as we enter the church with the bible

Prayer

Everlasting Father, Lord of lords and King of kings, we worship you and thank You for the grace to be here. We bow before Your presence this day to ask for your forgiveness and especially the sanctification of our hearts. Thank you for gathering us here for this service. The Bible says, where two are gathered, You are there with them. We pray that you may come down and fellowship with us. Come with the abundance of blessings and empower us to do exploits. We rebuke all the plans of the evil one during this service, and we pray that you may help us to listen to you. Fill us with your joy and make this service a success for your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray.

Amen. Read more: https://www.tuko.co.ke/423713-20-opening-prayers-worship-church-service-meetings.html

Chorus Come, Now is the time to worship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbiydWv7NCY

Jenny will now read the Old Testament reading to us from the NIV pew bible.

She begins with “Hear the Word of God as it is written in Psalm 16

She ends with “This is the word of God”.

Congregation: “Thanks be to God”

Judy will now read the New Testament reading to us from the NIV pew bible.

She begins with “Hear the Word of God as it is written in Luke 5:27-32

She ends with “This is the word of God”.

Congregation: “Thanks be to God”.

Hymn

Sermon

Series 58

Sermon 2

MATTHEW THE TAX COLLECTOR

TEN NEW TESTAMENT CONVERSIONS by Francis Dixon (Scripture Portion: Luke 5:27-32)

Matthew’s conversion is recorded in Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:13-14; Luke 5:27-32, and it is significant that when Matthew is giving his testimony (in Matthew 9:9) he does it in one short verse!

Perhaps this indicates the modesty of the man who became one of our Lord’s most trusted first followers.

Levi, or Matthew as he became known after his conversion, was a tax collector for the Roman government and it is possible that he, like Zacchaeus and many of that day, lined his own pockets very well at the same time. If this was so he would be a hated man, regarded as an extortioner.

On the other hand we must remember that Levi was a deeply religious man.

For this reason, at any rate, he should have been an honest tax collector! We now read of the day when the Lord Jesus passed Matthew’s office, saw him hard at work and called him to follow Him.

It happened as simply as that (verse 27); and what was Matthew’s response?

It was unreserved and immediate (verse 28). Notice the three pictures that are brought before us.

1. Matthew counting his money

Luke 5:27 tells us this. When Jesus saw him he was sitting at his tax booth.

So look at Matthew counting his money, Matthew immersed in his job,

Matthew who was not liked by the people,

Matthew who was wealthy and perhaps lonely, and

Matthew who was efficient and methodical – obviously a keen businessman.

This was the man Jesus called while he was doing his ordinary job.

It’s interesting that Jesus chose him!

How often this incident has been repeated down the centuries!

D.L. Moody was selling boots when Edward Kimble called on him in his Boston shoe shop and led him to Christ.

One of today’s great preachers spent most of his time in his consulting room when God called him away to work full-time in Christian ministry.

Others have been preparing for brilliant professional careers when God has laid His hand upon them and led them to serve Him in very different work.

Often God does the unexpected thing. We would not have thought of Matthew becoming an ardent disciple of the Lord Jesus, or for that matter Peter, James or John, but such are God’s sovereign ways (Luke 4:18-19).

Compare John 20:21. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

Perhaps we should point out here that it is not necessary to leave a secular calling to become a Christian, a wholehearted and dedicated follower of the Lord.

Matthew did have to do this, for obvious reasons, so have a good look at him – counting his money!

2. Matthew changing his mind

A tremendous change took place very quickly in this man, which we read about in the second part of verses 27 and 28.

Did all this really happen as suddenly as that?

Yes and no!

Yes, because verse 28 leaves us in no doubt about it. Matthew’s response was immediate. But in another sense it may not have been as immediate as it seems, for surely Matthew had given this matter a good deal of thought.

What we know is that he was a thoughtful man, and here we are told that he was a man who changed his mind.

That is what repentance is (Isaiah 55:7).

To repent is to change your mind about God, about Christ, sin, self, the Christian life and the things of time and eternity.

So in all probability Matthew was ready when the call came, prepared by the Lord Himself; he was religious but longing for reality, just like so many people today.

He had probably recognised Jesus as the promised Messiah and was already convinced of this, so that when Jesus called him he was ready to get up to follow Him.

3. Matthew confessing the Master

He had no thought of doing this secretly.

He did it so publicly that in no time his action would have been the talk of the town! Notice that there were at least three ways in which Matthew confessed his Master:-

1. By leaving his sins. When we are told in verse 28 that he “left everything” it certainly includes the whole idea of turning away from anything which was shady, underhand or dishonest in his business.

To become a Christian means this: being utterly honest before God and before others (Proverbs 11:1; 12:22).

1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,

But a just weight is His delight.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 12

22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,

But those who deal faithfully are His delight.

2. By telling his friends. He did this in a special way. Verse 29 tells us that Matthew made a feast in his house to which he invited friends to meet the Lord and hear about his conversion. Of course, this resulted in opposition (verses 30-32), but Matthew knew he was now on the Lord’s side, and the Lord was on his side (Joshua 24:15).

3. By writing his book.

What an achievement it was to write what we now know as “The Gospel According to Matthew”!

What a book!

Love always finds many ways for quiet but definite open confession of the Lord Jesus.

Matthew found at least these three ways; he left his sins, he told his friends, he wrote his book.

Take a good look at Matthew confessing his Master.

Are you a definite, open, dedicated follower of the Lord Jesus?

AMEN PRAY

Communion

UPCSA - THIRD ORDER of worship with HOLY COMMUNION - Elders please come to the table

The Offering and the Peace

So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Matt.5:23-24

Before we offer our gifts and come to the Lord's table, let us share this peace with one another. Each person then shares the peace with the words:

Peace be with you.

And with you.

But this I say: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Cor.9:6-7

Let us worship God with our gifts. The offering is taken.

If the gifts of bread and wine are not already on the Table, they are brought up and laid on the Table.

The minister says:

This is the table of our Lord Jesus Christ. All those who have been baptized in his name are invited to share in this sacrament. As Jesus welcomed children and did not forbid them, so we welcome children, under the care and guidance of their parents. O God, who has consecrated for us a new and living way into the holiest of all, through the veil, that is, his flesh, grant us, we pray, the assurance of your mercy, and sanctify us with your heavenly grace; that we may be enabled to offer to you a sacrifice in righteousness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hear the words of the institution of the Lord’s Supper, according to the Apostle Paul:

The Lord Jesus, on the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me.’

In the same manner he also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till he comes. 1 Cor.11:23-26

As the Lord Jesus, on the night of his arrest, took bread, so I take these elements of bread and wine to be set apart from all common use to this holy use and mystery.

The minister lifts the paten and then the chalice from the Table and lays his hands on the other vessels.

And as he gave thanks to God, let us draw near to offer our prayer of thanksgiving.

Let us pray.

The Lord be with you. And with your spirit. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Minister: Father of mercy and God of all comfort, we acknowledge you to be the Lord.

At all times we honour your greatness and glory first, because you created us in your own image and likeness, but chiefly because you freed us from the enslavement of sin, through your only Son.

You gave him in love to be made man, like us in all things except sin, that by his death and resurrection, he might bring life to the world.

Lord, we are not able, in our dullness, to understand the breadth and length and height and depth of your love; but, as our Lord Jesus Christ commanded, we come to this table, which he has left to us to commemorate his death and resurrection until he comes again. Here we declare and witness before the world that

by him alone we have received liberty and life,

by him alone you claim us as children and heirs,

by him alone we have access to your favour, freely shown,

by him alone we are raised into your kingdom, there to eat and drink with you and the Son at the most joyful table of eternal life.

In this present time we on earth have communion with you in heaven.

But in the time to come we shall be raised to that endless joy prepared for us before the foundation of the world was laid.

We acknowledge that we have received these gifts by your free mercy and grace through your only Son Jesus Christ.

Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of our Lord and of his resurrection, that we who receive the Lord's body and blood may live to the praise of your glory and receive our inheritance with all your saints in light.

Holy Spirit You are welcome

Father, moved by your Holy Spirit, we, your church, give you all thanks, praise, and glory, for ever and ever.

Our Father, which art in heaven,

hallowed be thy Name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive them that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever. Matt.6:9-13

Amen.

The minister says one of the following texts as an account of the institution of the Lord’s Supper.

While saying the words of institution he (slowly and deliberately) breaks the bread and pours the wine.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ Then he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matt.26:26-28

The minister partakes of the bread, and without undue delay, the cup.

The body of Christ, broken (or given) for you. Matt.26.26

Amen.

The blood of Christ, shed for you. Matt.26.28

Amen.

The Elders partake of the bread and wine. John Oberholzer.

The Elders serve the congregation

When all have received Communion, the vessels are returned to the Table.

The minister concludes: Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Ps.103:1-5

Notices

Mr. John Oberholzer Session Clerk

Collection Praise God From whom all blessings flow

Hymn

Benediction

Doxology

Now unto Him