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God is Faithful · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Great fear and meeting of the saints is due unto the Lord.
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He of all about him should with reverence be adored.
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What a wonderful summary that is of the spirit of worship as the Lord's people gather together Sunday by Sunday
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or as opportunity presents itself to give glory to the Lord.
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And as verse 8 puts it specifically in the chapter we read together earlier in 2 Timothy chapter 2,
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Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, has preached in my gospel,
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for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal, but the word of God is not bound.
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Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus
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with eternal glory.
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You cannot but read this letter and take on board what really drove Paul,
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what mattered most of all to him, what he really wanted more than anything else,
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what drove him was giving Jesus Christ all the glory and all the praise.
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And so here we have in just the second chapter of this wonderful letter that's so personal,
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so moving to read this and think of the providence behind it, the circumstances,
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here he is bound as a criminal, writing furiously, his right, his written ministry,
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still going on even though he himself was suffering, bound with chains,
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but he knew the word of God is not bound.
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But what drove him, these wonderful words here in verse 8,
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Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead.
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This was his mission.
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To understand Paul, we need to bear these words in mind and ourselves.
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Remember what drove him, what shaped him, what moulded him,
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what motivated him was this exact sense of service and mission and purpose.
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Remember Jesus Christ as preached in my gospel.
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That, Timothy, is the key to you taking your place in service in his church as one of his people.
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If you're going to lead, you yourself must be led.
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That's an ethic of grace.
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That certainly has its place in whatever role you're fulfilling in the work of the congregation.
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To lead others, you yourself and I myself, you need to be led by the Spirit
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toward understanding Jesus Christ, his finished work upon the cross.
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And to share that with others, we ourselves need to study and delve into the scripture
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and understand the gospel and seek the grace of the gospel to make Jesus known.
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And that's all gone on in the heart and mind of Paul.
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He wanted people to hear the good news and to grow in their newfound knowledge and understanding,
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gained through the gospel ministry that he was part of.
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Remember Jesus Christ as preached in my gospel.
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Gospel.
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Still wonder then, with this motivation, this love, this desire,
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that we find him calling Timothy to get the perspective right in order to step into leadership,
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in order to fulfill his ministry, in order to meet the responsibility and privilege that would be his
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as a pastor, as a leader, as a teacher.
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He had to first and foremost get the fundamentals right.
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The foundation had to be in place.
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And here it is, friends, remember Jesus Christ.
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So I want to think about that for a few moments with you this evening,
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and in the hope that we would benefit, as Timothy would have in reading these words for the first time,
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that we would be encouraged, that we would be motivated to express real loyalty
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and sharpen our perspective and deepen our hope that the light would burn brightly
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as we go into a new week.
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And who knows, Christian friend, the opportunities to witness to your Lord and Saviour
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that await this week.
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None of us know that.
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We'll get to that in a moment.
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The first thing then to notice tonight,
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I'll put it to you this way,
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you are to cherish your Lord and Saviour.
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Cherish your Lord and Saviour.
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If we don't remember our Lord,
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then our spiritual growth cannot occur.
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This word, we might just glance over it,
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but this wonderful call,
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the call here to remember Jesus Christ
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is an absolutely crucial principle
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in spiritual growth and Christian living.
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Because forgetfulness
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is an enemy of faithfulness.
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If we forget,
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we're going to stumble,
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we're going to mumble,
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we're not going to be certain,
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we're going to be hitting the grey areas
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instead of being black and white,
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showing forth the praises of him
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who called us from darkness
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into his marvellous light.
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For that light to shine brightly,
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we need to remember.
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This is a starting point.
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I'm sure many of you know
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that John Newton is famously on record
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as saying toward the end of his own life,
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my memory is nearly gone.
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But I remember two things,
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that I am a great sinner
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and that Christ is a great Saviour.
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That Christian friend is a message
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that is the pulse of the New Testament.
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It is where our hope is sourced from.
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Jesus Christ,
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our Lord and Saviour and friend,
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he's done everything for us.
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We have it beautifully described
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so movingly by John in chapter 19 of Christ.
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He bearing his own cross
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as he leaves the city behind,
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making his way to Calvary's hill.
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There's our Saviour.
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And why did he go there?
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So that tonight you and I would have hope.
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So that you and I, friends,
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could speak of forgiveness,
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redemption, adoption,
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and salvation,
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wonderful, glorious words of grace.
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These are words that are just chocked full
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in the New Testament
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to help us understand who he is
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and what it all means for you
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and for me this evening.
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And this is where it all starts.
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Remember Jesus Christ,
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risen from the dead,
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the offspring of David,
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as preached in my gospel.
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So if we're going to remember,
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that's going to protect us
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as we cherish our Saviour.
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We're going to refuse to forget.
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We're going to remember the blessings.
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We're going to remember what we've learned
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in our pilgrimage, Christian friend.
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We're going to store up these nuggets,
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these beautiful moments in time
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and fellowship under the word,
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together, perhaps at the Lord's table
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in this very building.
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Time and time again,
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the Lord has fed you
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and nourished you
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and blessed you
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and filled you
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and built you up.
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And you are to remember these things
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and draw on these things
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as you go into the world
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and that world out there
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that's waiting for us
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is a dark world.
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It's a world of indifference
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and apathy.
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It's a world where the devil reigns
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as a prince.
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It's where his influence is felt
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in the secularism
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that seems to be gripping
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our own nation
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and driving this progressiveness
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toward liberalism
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and atheism,
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secularism at the back of everything.
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And who's driving it?
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Who's fanning that flame?
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The devil.
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Because he wants the church of Christ
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silenced,
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all the more important
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that we cherish our Lord and Saviour
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and remember Jesus Christ
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risen from the dead.
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Paul writes from a prison cell.
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He is writing where things
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have not gone
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according to his own plans.
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He didn't wish to be chained,
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suffering, bound as a criminal.
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But nevertheless,
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this is where providence finds him.
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We need to, friends,
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as we remember,
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hope for the best
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but plan for the worst.
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There will be times
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where providence
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overtakes us
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in a manner
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that we wouldn't wish on anybody
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and things will suddenly change
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and we may be disorientated
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and buffeted
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and uncertain
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of where to turn
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and so all the more important,
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we remember Jesus Christ.
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we remember who he is
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and look where Paul was writing from.
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As far as we can piece things together,
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a New Testament scholars
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have been so detailed
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in the study of these things.
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It seems that the two stages
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of the Roman judicial system,
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Paul has been through the first,
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he's been found guilty.
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It's now just a matter of the second
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where the pronunciation,
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the sentence will be carried out.
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He doesn't know how long he's got.
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Time is ticking
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and for him,
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he knows that there isn't much left to go.
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He knows that he has been poured out
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as a drink offering.
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He knows that the time
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for his departure has come.
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Time is short.
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There's not much left.
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And so we find him in this letter
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particularly emphasising
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what needs to be emphasised.
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Remember Jesus Christ.
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Christ,
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cherish your Lord and Saviour.
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Christian friend,
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there's a reminder here for all of us
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that if we cherish our Lord,
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it will protect us from apathy.
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Where does apathy come from?
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Apathy comes from disillusionment,
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disappointment,
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despair.
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All these things can combine and collide
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and take the hope right out of your heart
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and leave you uncertain of things.
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But not if you're fixed on Christ.
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Not if you remember who he is
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and what he has done for you.
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Not if you as a Christian
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can speak to him tonight
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as your Lord
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and your Saviour.
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And so cherishing the Lord
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is something that begins in here.
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It's a heart work.
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It's personal.
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But there's another element to this
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and that comes out in these words
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in verse 9.
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I am suffering
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for which I am suffering.
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So he makes a link there.
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Remember Jesus Christ
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risen from the dead,
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the offspring of David
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as preached in my gospel.
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So has everything gone smoothly
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because of that?
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Absolutely not.
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For which I am suffering,
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bound with chains,
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as a criminal.
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But the word of God is not bound.
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So here we're seeing Paul
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and his awareness,
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not just of the need
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to have our heart warmed
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with a love
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that is completely focused on Jesus.
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He wants us to be protected
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from the apathy and disappointment
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that comes from disappointment
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and setbacks.
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But he also is very conscious
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of the watching world.
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What did the world make of Paul
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at this time?
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As far as the Roman security detail
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were concerned,
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this was just a troublemaking Jew.
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He was finished,
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hopeless,
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beaten,
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a religious troublemaker,
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a zealot,
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a fool.
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He was weak,
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he was puny,
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and above all,
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he's in chains,
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in a cell,
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he's alone.
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That was the world's view of Paul.
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But it was not God's view.
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God's view of Paul,
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that's his view of every child
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that belongs to him.
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Precious,
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forgiven,
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adopted.
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A child,
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not forgotten,
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not alone,
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but loved
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and redeemed
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and part of his plan
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to make the gospel known.
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So Paul accepts this.
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Remember Jesus Christ.
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Remember the gospel
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for which I am suffering,
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bound with change as a criminal,
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but the word of God
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is not bound.
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And so friends,
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tonight,
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the call from this
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great personal epistle
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is to cherish
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your Lord
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and your Saviour.
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You'll notice the language
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in verse 10
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in these few verses
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we've read together
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and we're going to get to this
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in a moment,
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but just to jump ahead
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into verse 10,
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there's another link.
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Therefore,
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because of all this,
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I endure everything
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for the sake of the elect.
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Why, Paul?
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That they also may obtain
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the salvation
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that is in Christ Jesus
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with eternal glory.
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He cherished his Lord
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and Saviour.
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He loved making him known.
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It was his motivation.
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And he loved those
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who, like him,
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had responded
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in repentance
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and faith.
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And this is the supreme
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question of the Bible
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now before us
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here in verse 10.
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He speaks in this phrase
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of the elect,
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those chosen by God,
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that they
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may also
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obtain
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the salvation
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that is in Christ Jesus.
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What is that?
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It is to be saved
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from the wrath
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to come.
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It is to be saved
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from being under the law,
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banished
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and helpless,
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facing a lost eternity
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and to be transferred
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into the kingdom
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of his dear son.
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That is salvation.
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And so the question
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in all of this,
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friends,
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tonight is,
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do you know
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and do you cherish
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Jesus Christ
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as Lord and Saviour?
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That is
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the supreme question
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of the Bible.
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Are you saved?
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Do you know
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the Lord
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as your Saviour?
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Do you know
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what it is
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to speak of
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salvation
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in Christ Jesus?
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I pray so.
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And the question
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is this,
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of course,
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as we speak
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about cherishing
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the Lord,
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if tonight
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you're unconvinced
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and unconverted,
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I wonder
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if you would ask
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yourself in the
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quiet and privacy
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of your own heart
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now or this evening,
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why?
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Why are you
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unconvinced?
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why are you
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unconverted?
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What is it
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about the cross
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and the saving
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work of Christ
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that leaves you
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still far off?
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Are you waiting
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for something else?
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Are you waiting
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for something more?
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Are you waiting
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for someone
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to say something
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to you
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that hasn't
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been said before?
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Bearing
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his own cross,
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he went out
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and he gave himself
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a ransom for many.
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I would urge you
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tonight,
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friends,
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to be very,
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very careful
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from saying
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to the living God,
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I want a sign.
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I want something else.
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I want something more
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because if you're
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saying that to God
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tonight,
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what you're saying
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is the cross
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is not enough.
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The death
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of your precious
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beloved son
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is not enough.
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His atoning sacrifice,
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that's not enough.
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I need something more.
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I want something else.
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I need to be gripped.
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I need to be impressed.
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I need to be entertained.
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I need something
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that I haven't had yet
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and I want you
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to give it to me.
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That is to say
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to God,
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the cross
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is not enough.
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Be very,
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very careful,
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friends,
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that you
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do not stay long
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on that dangerous
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ground,
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but come to Christ.
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Trust in him
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with all your heart.
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Cherish
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your Lord
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and your Saviour.
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There's something else here
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to turn to secondly
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and we find it
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in these words.
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We've read through
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verse 10 already.
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Paul,
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in this wonderful perspective,
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he himself was chained
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to all intents
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and purposes.
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He was restricted.
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He was of no use
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to anybody,
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but look at this.
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2,000 years later,
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we have all his epistles
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that form
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the canon of Scripture
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that feed our souls,
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that give us insight
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and understand
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the glorious gospel
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of grace.
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The world had no idea
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who they were dealing with.
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They were dealing
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with Jesus,
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the King of Kings
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and here his apostle,
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his servant,
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was writing furiously,
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maybe by lamplight,
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who knows,
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scratching furiously away
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on these parchments
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led by the Spirit
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as the word
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was breathed out.
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He was born along
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and he wrote
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these beautiful,
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precious words
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and sends them off
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to Timothy
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and he draws
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this incredible letter
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to a close
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in verse 4.
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I charge you
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in the presence
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of God
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and of Christ Jesus
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who was to judge
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the living and the dead.
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Preach the word,
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Timothy.
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Keep the focus,
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Timothy.
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Take heart,
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Timothy.
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But whatever you do,
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preach the word.
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Because Paul knew,
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secondly,
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that that was
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to the benefit
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of the church of Christ
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and this is
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the second thing here.
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We are to cherish
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our Lord
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and our Saviour
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and we are secondly
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to cherish
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his church.
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Cherish
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his church.
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I endure
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everything
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for the sake
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of the elect.
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This was a man
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who wasn't just
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driven to some
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kind of apostolic
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high office.
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He wasn't
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lording it over
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anybody.
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He was the least
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of all the apostles.
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He was a man
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who had been
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truly humbled.
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He was a man
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who,
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in his own words
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in his testimony
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in 1 Timothy,
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remember he says
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it twice
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in a very short
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space of time,
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I received mercy.
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He knew he had
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been a pompous,
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arrogant,
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proud sinner
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heading for
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a lost eternity
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until Christ
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stopped him
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in his tracks
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and he received
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mercy.
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That's the gospel.
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And so Paul
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is giving himself
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to the furtherance
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of that cause
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and the spreading
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of that wonderful
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name,
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Jesus Christ
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and he wants
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to serve
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the Lord
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and by serving
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the Lord
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he wants to
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nourish and
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encourage and
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look out for
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his people.
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I endure
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everything for
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the sake of
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the elect
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that they
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also may
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obtain the
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salvation that
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is in Christ
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Jesus with
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eternal glory.
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He was driven
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to encourage,
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nurture,
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build up the
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faith because
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he knew they
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were living in
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a dark and
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sinful world.
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as we are
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tonight,
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Christian friend.
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I want to
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share with you
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what Oswald
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Chambers said
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about this
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dynamic.
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Oswald
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Chambers,
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maybe you
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know his
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very famous
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devotional work,
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my utmost for
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his highest.
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Oswald Chambers
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at one point
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and it's very
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effective and
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yes,
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minister was
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so short.
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He said,
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all heaven
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is interested
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in the cross.
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All hell
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is terribly
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afraid of the
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cross.
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While humanity
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are the only
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beings who
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more or less
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ignore its
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meaning.
18:51
We know
18:52
how true
18:52
that is.
18:54
We have
18:55
cultural heroes
18:56
tonight in the
18:57
UK for instance
18:58
and I mention
18:59
them often because
19:00
they seem to be
19:01
even more
19:01
prominent than
19:02
ever,
19:03
are comedians.
19:05
Comedians are
19:05
leading the charge
19:07
in the secular
19:07
world,
19:08
the progressive
19:09
mindset that
19:10
uses repeatedly
19:11
the gospel and
19:13
the things of
19:13
Christ and the
19:14
things of
19:14
Christianity
19:15
as a
19:15
battering ram,
19:17
as something
19:17
to mock and
19:18
something for
19:18
cheap laughs.
19:20
Be careful
19:20
with them.
19:21
Don't let them
19:22
get under your
19:22
skin or in
19:23
your mind.
19:24
A lot of
19:25
them are bad
19:25
people and we
19:26
need to be
19:26
careful of their
19:27
influence on
19:29
ourselves and
19:30
our youngsters
19:31
because they're
19:32
cultural heroes,
19:33
these comedians,
19:35
and they will
19:35
mock and
19:36
abuse and
19:37
deride the
19:38
cross of
19:38
Christ just
19:39
as Oswald
19:39
Chambers saw
19:40
over a hundred
19:41
years ago.
19:42
Humanity are the
19:42
only beings
19:43
who more or
19:44
less ignore
19:44
its meaning.
19:46
And we as
19:46
Christians,
19:47
the church,
19:47
can feel that.
19:49
We feel the
19:49
heat of the
19:50
mockery,
19:51
the disdain,
19:52
the way that
19:54
the world can
19:54
shun us at
19:55
times and
19:56
leave us,
19:57
don't want us
19:58
involved,
19:58
don't want the
19:59
voice,
19:59
don't want the
20:00
influence,
20:01
don't want the
20:01
space,
20:02
don't want a
20:02
seat at the
20:02
table because
20:03
we're going to
20:04
bring them to
20:04
Christ,
20:05
we're going to
20:05
live for
20:06
Christ,
20:06
we're drawn
20:07
not by an
20:08
ethic that
20:09
has as its
20:10
head cultural
20:12
progressiveness.
20:14
The Christian
20:14
church is
20:15
counter-cultural,
20:17
we're not going
20:17
to be shaped by
20:18
the culture
20:18
around us,
20:19
we're going to
20:19
engage with the
20:20
culture,
20:21
we're going to
20:22
enjoy as much
20:22
as we can of
20:23
it,
20:23
of course we
20:24
are,
20:25
but the
20:25
ethic that
20:25
drives us
20:26
is an
20:27
ethic of
20:27
grace,
20:28
for to me
20:29
to live is
20:29
Christ,
20:32
to die is
20:33
gain,
20:33
we honour
20:33
him above
20:34
all,
20:35
we put him
20:35
first,
20:36
his name,
20:37
and our
20:38
loyalty must be
20:39
seen in these
20:40
words,
20:40
remember Jesus
20:41
Christ,
20:43
so let us
20:43
do so friends
20:44
together as we
20:45
cherish our
20:45
Lord and
20:46
Saviour,
20:47
secondly let us
20:47
cherish his
20:49
church,
20:51
I endure
20:52
everything for
20:53
the sake of
20:53
the elect,
20:55
Paul is
20:55
very keen
20:56
on using the
20:57
word saints
20:57
in his
20:58
writings of
20:58
the church,
20:59
people,
20:59
brothers and
21:00
sisters,
21:00
set apart,
21:01
Adelphoi,
21:02
often used,
21:03
often translated
21:04
in the ESV as
21:05
brethren,
21:06
but it could
21:06
and should be
21:07
translated,
21:08
brothers and
21:08
sisters,
21:08
his sense
21:10
of family
21:10
was never
21:11
far from
21:11
the surface,
21:12
as he wrote
21:13
to Christians
21:14
around the
21:14
then known
21:15
world,
21:15
he knew they
21:16
were under
21:16
the cost,
21:17
he knew they
21:17
were suffering,
21:18
he knew they
21:18
were open
21:18
to attack
21:19
from the
21:20
enemy and
21:20
agnosticism
21:21
and secularism
21:22
and atheism
21:23
and pluralism,
21:24
he knew all
21:24
these things
21:24
were coming
21:25
against the
21:25
church,
21:26
not only
21:26
from out
21:27
with,
21:27
but then
21:27
the problem
21:28
from within,
21:29
false teachers
21:29
saying you
21:31
need circumcision,
21:32
you need the
21:32
Aaronic priesthood,
21:33
you need to
21:34
maintain the
21:35
bond we have
21:35
with our
21:36
father Abraham
21:36
and all the
21:37
Abrahamic
21:37
practices
21:38
and the
21:39
tension
21:40
from out
21:40
with and
21:40
the pressure
21:41
from within,
21:42
the church
21:42
was really
21:43
under the
21:44
cosh,
21:44
that's why
21:46
it meant
21:46
so much
21:47
to the
21:47
apostle Paul,
21:49
that's why
21:50
we have
21:50
wonderful
21:50
passages
21:51
such as
21:53
2nd
21:53
Corinthians
21:54
and chapter
21:55
11,
21:57
where we
21:57
read from
21:58
verse
21:59
23,
22:01
these words,
22:03
five times
22:05
I received
22:05
at the
22:05
hands of
22:06
the
22:06
Jews
22:06
forty
22:07
lashes
22:07
less
22:07
one,
22:08
three times
22:09
I was
22:09
beaten
22:09
with
22:10
rods,
22:10
once I
22:10
was
22:11
stoned,
22:11
three times
22:12
I was
22:12
shipwrecked
22:13
for a
22:13
night and
22:13
a day,
22:14
I was
22:14
adrift at
22:15
sea,
22:15
on frequent
22:16
journeys,
22:16
in danger
22:17
from rivers,
22:18
danger from
22:18
robbers,
22:19
danger from
22:19
my own
22:20
people,
22:20
danger from
22:21
Gentiles,
22:22
danger in
22:22
the city,
22:23
danger in
22:23
the wilderness,
22:24
danger at
22:24
sea,
22:25
danger from
22:26
false
22:26
brothers,
22:27
in toil and
22:27
hardship,
22:28
through many a
22:29
sleepless night,
22:29
in hunger and
22:31
thirst,
22:31
often without
22:32
food and
22:32
cold and
22:33
exposure and
22:34
apart from
22:35
other things,
22:37
there is the
22:38
daily pressure
22:39
on me of
22:40
my anxiety
22:41
for all the
22:43
churches.
22:46
Cherish
22:46
his church.
22:50
And so
22:51
we find
22:53
tonight that
22:54
the words of
22:55
scripture place
22:56
great dignity
22:56
on the
22:57
Christian church.
22:58
We don't
22:58
create it
22:59
ourselves,
23:00
we receive
23:00
it.
23:01
Behold,
23:02
what manner
23:02
of love
23:03
the Father
23:03
has given
23:04
to us,
23:04
we should
23:04
be called
23:05
children of
23:06
God.
23:07
As with
23:07
Paul,
23:08
so with
23:08
the Apostle
23:09
John.
23:10
They were
23:10
caught up
23:10
with the
23:11
great
23:11
dignity
23:12
that is
23:12
ours
23:12
through
23:12
Christ,
23:14
the dignity
23:14
that belongs
23:15
to the
23:16
church.
23:17
And so
23:17
he knew
23:18
and accepted
23:18
that to
23:19
further the
23:19
gospel,
23:20
he was
23:21
required at
23:21
times to
23:22
suffer for
23:22
the gospel.
23:23
And so
23:23
he accepts
23:24
this readily
23:25
and gladly,
23:26
I endure
23:26
everything for
23:27
the sake of
23:27
the elect,
23:28
that they may
23:28
also obtain
23:29
the salvation
23:30
that is in
23:31
Christ Jesus
23:31
with eternal
23:32
glory.
23:33
If I have
23:33
to suffer
23:34
for their
23:34
well-being
23:35
and their
23:35
nourishment
23:36
and their
23:36
encouragement,
23:37
well,
23:37
so be it.
23:38
Perhaps he
23:39
had understood
23:39
at this point
23:40
as his life
23:41
and ministry
23:42
and service
23:42
was fast
23:43
drawn to a
23:44
close that
23:44
the Lord
23:45
had put him
23:45
in prison
23:46
so he
23:46
would write
23:47
and write
23:49
and keep
23:50
writing.
23:51
and so
23:52
we have
23:52
the prison
23:53
epistles
23:53
and the
23:54
pastoral
23:54
epistles
23:55
and the
23:56
Corinthian
23:56
letters
23:57
that furnish
23:59
us with
23:59
such great
24:00
insight and
24:00
understanding
24:01
of the
24:01
gospel of
24:02
our Lord
24:02
and Saviour
24:02
Jesus
24:03
Christ.
24:05
John
24:06
Stott said
24:06
this,
24:07
glory comes
24:07
through
24:08
suffering.
24:09
This is
24:09
an invariable
24:11
law of
24:12
Christian life
24:13
and service.
24:14
We are not
24:14
entitled,
24:15
Christian friends,
24:16
to an easy
24:16
time.
24:17
That's not
24:19
a promise
24:20
we receive
24:20
in the
24:21
Bible.
24:22
What we
24:22
do receive
24:23
is great
24:24
dignity
24:24
as children
24:25
of the
24:26
living God
24:26
and that
24:27
is a
24:28
wonderful
24:28
humbling
24:29
reality
24:29
tonight.
24:32
So there's
24:32
no sense
24:33
in us
24:33
sitting back
24:34
leaving it
24:34
to God
24:34
or leaving
24:35
it to
24:35
others.
24:36
We have
24:36
to take
24:36
an example
24:37
from these
24:37
early believers,
24:38
this first
24:39
century church
24:39
that reached
24:40
out,
24:41
that turned
24:41
the world
24:42
upside down,
24:42
that lived
24:43
out what
24:44
the Lord
24:44
had worked
24:44
in and
24:45
they made
24:46
Jesus
24:46
known.
24:47
I endure
24:48
that they
24:49
may obtain.
24:50
We too
24:51
must cherish
24:52
the church
24:53
and do
24:53
the work
24:54
we are
24:54
called to
24:55
do in
24:55
our day
24:56
and in
24:57
our age.
24:58
Many
24:59
passages
24:59
in the
25:00
New Testament
25:00
deal with
25:02
the nature
25:02
of the
25:03
church and
25:04
how it is
25:05
that the
25:05
church is
25:06
to conduct
25:06
herself.
25:07
By this
25:07
of course
25:07
I'm speaking
25:08
to you
25:09
and to
25:09
me as
25:09
Christians
25:10
this evening.
25:11
We've
25:11
gathered in
25:12
a place
25:12
of worship
25:13
but we
25:15
know that
25:15
the Bible
25:15
and New
25:16
Testament
25:16
makes it
25:17
clear that
25:17
the church
25:18
is not
25:18
a building
25:19
we are
25:19
living
25:20
stones.
25:22
We belong
25:23
to Christ.
25:24
We are
25:25
called to
25:25
worship
25:26
together
25:27
to nourish
25:27
ourselves
25:28
through the
25:28
word and
25:29
through sacraments
25:29
and prayer.
25:30
This is where
25:31
we learn
25:32
where understanding
25:33
deepens and
25:34
expands
25:35
that it is
25:35
those who are
25:37
poor in
25:37
spirit
25:37
that inherit
25:38
the kingdom
25:40
of heaven.
25:41
And that's
25:42
why Paul
25:42
is so clear
25:43
in other
25:43
writings
25:44
that we
25:44
are to
25:44
conduct
25:45
ourselves
25:46
in a
25:46
manner
25:46
that is
25:47
worthy
25:48
of the
25:48
calling
25:49
with which
25:49
we have
25:49
been
25:49
called.
25:51
Called
25:51
from
25:51
darkness
25:52
to
25:52
light.
25:53
Therefore
25:54
as Jesus
25:55
said
25:55
let your
25:55
light
25:56
shine
25:56
before
25:57
men
25:58
that
25:59
they
25:59
might
25:59
glorify
26:00
your
26:00
father
26:01
who is
26:02
in
26:02
heaven.
26:03
And so
26:03
I mentioned
26:03
earlier
26:04
that we
26:04
are
26:04
driven
26:05
by
26:05
an
26:05
ethic
26:06
of
26:06
grace.
26:08
An
26:08
ethic
26:08
not
26:09
of
26:09
moral
26:11
principles
26:11
of course
26:12
but
26:14
principles
26:14
that have
26:15
at their
26:15
heart
26:16
the grace
26:16
of the
26:17
gospel.
26:18
So we
26:18
put
26:18
Jesus
26:19
first.
26:20
We
26:20
die
26:21
to
26:21
self
26:22
to
26:23
live
26:23
for
26:23
him.
26:24
And
26:25
this
26:25
is
26:25
very
26:25
important
26:26
especially
26:26
in
26:27
your
26:27
situation
26:28
this
26:28
evening
26:28
as a
26:29
vacant
26:29
congregation.
26:30
You've
26:31
been
26:31
now
26:31
21
26:32
months
26:32
going
26:32
through
26:33
this
26:33
process.
26:34
It's
26:34
been
26:34
a
26:35
privilege
26:35
to be
26:35
part
26:35
of
26:36
it
26:36
with
26:36
you.
26:36
I
26:37
wish
26:37
it
26:37
had
26:37
been
26:37
shorter.
26:38
I
26:38
wish
26:38
it
26:38
had
26:39
been
26:39
clearer.
26:39
At
26:40
times
26:40
I
26:40
know
26:40
things
26:41
could
26:41
have
26:41
been
26:41
so
26:41
much
26:42
better.
26:42
But
26:43
the
26:43
best
26:43
of
26:43
men
26:43
are
26:44
men
26:44
at
26:44
best.
26:45
And
26:45
I
26:45
hope
26:45
you'll
26:45
forgive
26:46
my
26:46
blunderings
26:47
and my
26:48
uncertainties
26:49
as we've
26:49
gone through
26:50
just to
26:50
get to
26:51
this
26:51
point.
26:51
Where
26:51
are we
26:52
in
26:52
this
26:52
process?
26:53
At
26:53
this
26:53
point
26:53
in
26:54
time
26:54
we
26:54
have
26:54
had
26:54
the
26:55
speeches,
26:56
we've
26:56
had
26:56
the
26:56
election,
26:57
we've
26:57
had
26:57
the
26:57
votes,
26:58
the
26:58
votes
26:59
are
26:59
in,
26:59
the
27:00
counts
27:00
have
27:00
been
27:00
done.
27:01
And
27:01
now for
27:01
you on
27:02
Wednesday
27:02
the next
27:03
phase is
27:05
just around
27:05
the corner.
27:06
Now I
27:06
need to
27:07
speak
27:07
tonight
27:07
specifically
27:08
and
27:09
particularly
27:09
to the
27:10
members
27:11
of this
27:11
congregation.
27:13
Let me
27:13
say this
27:14
to you
27:14
gently
27:15
and with
27:15
all
27:16
respect,
27:17
you need
27:18
to be
27:19
here on
27:19
Wednesday.
27:20
If you're
27:20
not here
27:21
on Wednesday
27:22
there are
27:23
mandates
27:23
available for
27:24
you to
27:25
take part
27:25
in this
27:25
process.
27:26
That
27:26
allows
27:27
you to
27:27
put your
27:28
name to
27:28
the call
27:29
we hope
27:29
to sign
27:29
here on
27:30
Wednesday
27:30
evening.
27:32
It's
27:33
not me
27:33
now that's
27:34
telling you
27:35
what to
27:35
do.
27:36
I'm
27:36
pointing you
27:37
to the
27:37
ethic of
27:38
grace.
27:39
I mentioned
27:40
the election
27:40
that's
27:40
happened.
27:41
All that
27:42
we have
27:42
to go
27:42
on as
27:43
a branch
27:43
of the
27:44
church
27:44
of Christ
27:45
when it
27:45
comes to
27:45
vacancies
27:46
is numbers.
27:48
We've
27:49
had the
27:49
vote and
27:50
the numbers
27:50
have been
27:50
cast.
27:51
The
27:51
clear
27:52
majority
27:52
said we
27:53
wish to
27:54
call
27:54
Calamurdo.
27:55
So what
27:56
do we
27:56
do now?
27:57
How do
27:57
we run
27:57
with this?
27:58
How do
27:58
we deal
27:59
with this?
27:59
I'm going
28:00
to turn
28:00
now to
28:01
where perhaps
28:02
this ethic
28:02
of grace
28:03
is most
28:04
clearly and
28:05
famously
28:06
spelt out.
28:07
How do
28:08
we conduct
28:08
ourselves
28:09
perhaps at
28:10
a time
28:10
when you're
28:10
challenged
28:11
because things
28:12
maybe didn't
28:12
turn the way
28:13
you'd hoped
28:13
for?
28:14
Well, so
28:15
be it.
28:15
That happens
28:16
often in life,
28:17
doesn't it?
28:18
We don't
28:18
allow our
28:19
own sense
28:21
of things
28:22
to cloud our
28:23
judgment at
28:23
a time like
28:24
this.
28:24
Let me read
28:25
to you
28:25
from
28:26
Philippians
28:26
in chapter
28:27
two,
28:28
how it
28:28
is we
28:28
are to
28:29
conduct
28:29
ourselves
28:29
going forward
28:30
with an eye
28:31
to Wednesday
28:31
in particular
28:32
and this
28:32
is for the
28:33
members.
28:34
If there
28:34
is any
28:35
encouragement
28:35
in Christ,
28:36
any comfort
28:37
from love,
28:38
any participation
28:39
in the spirit,
28:40
any affection
28:41
and sympathy,
28:42
complete my
28:43
joy by being
28:44
of the same
28:44
mind,
28:46
having the
28:46
same love,
28:47
being in
28:48
full accord
28:49
and one
28:50
mind.
28:51
Do nothing
28:52
from rivalry
28:53
or conceit,
28:54
but in
28:55
humility
28:55
count others
28:57
more significant
28:58
than yourself.
29:00
Let each
29:00
of you look
29:01
not only to
29:01
his own
29:02
interests,
29:03
but also
29:04
to the
29:05
interests
29:06
of others.
29:07
of this
29:09
mind among
29:09
yourselves,
29:11
which is
29:11
yours in
29:12
Christ Jesus,
29:13
who though
29:14
he was in
29:14
the form
29:14
of God,
29:15
did not
29:16
count equality
29:16
with God
29:17
a thing
29:17
to be
29:18
grasped,
29:18
but made
29:19
himself
29:19
nothing,
29:20
taking the
29:21
form of
29:21
a servant,
29:22
being born
29:22
in the
29:22
likeness
29:23
of men,
29:23
being found
29:23
in human
29:24
form,
29:24
he humbled
29:25
himself by
29:25
becoming
29:26
obedient to
29:26
the point
29:27
of death,
29:27
even death
29:28
on a cross.
29:30
There is the
29:31
ethic of
29:31
grace.
29:33
Count
29:33
others
29:34
better
29:35
than
29:35
yourselves.
29:38
Members,
29:38
you need to
29:39
be here on
29:39
Wednesday.
29:40
There is a
29:41
clear
29:41
responsibility
29:42
and duty
29:43
for you to
29:44
be here.
29:45
I am not
29:45
telling you
29:46
to be here,
29:47
but what I am
29:47
doing is I am
29:48
taking you to
29:48
the scripture
29:49
and I am
29:50
presenting you
29:50
with a word
29:51
that says
29:52
there is a
29:52
time and a
29:53
place where
29:53
the church,
29:54
where the
29:54
believers and
29:55
members of
29:56
the church,
29:56
the living
29:56
stones,
29:57
have to be
29:57
gathered in
29:58
together and
29:59
conduct
29:59
themselves in
30:00
a manner
30:00
that is
30:01
worthy of
30:02
the calling
30:02
with which we
30:03
have
30:04
been called.
30:05
So there we
30:06
have an
30:06
ethic of
30:06
grace in
30:07
Philippians and
30:08
when we turn
30:08
forward to
30:09
Paul's final
30:10
letter, we
30:10
find him
30:11
enduring.
30:12
He is bound
30:12
with chains
30:13
as a criminal.
30:15
But he knows
30:16
that is not
30:16
the end.
30:17
He knows
30:18
that the
30:18
word of
30:19
God is
30:19
going out,
30:21
is going
30:21
forth,
30:22
is spreading.
30:23
Therefore he
30:24
endures for
30:24
the sake of
30:25
the elect that
30:25
they also may
30:26
obtain the
30:27
salvation that
30:27
is in Christ
30:28
Jesus with
30:29
eternal glory.
30:32
Cherish your
30:33
Lord,
30:34
and your
30:34
saviour,
30:36
and cherishes
30:37
church.
30:38
Sometimes that
30:39
means getting
30:41
in line,
30:43
getting together,
30:44
working together,
30:45
pulling together,
30:46
and taking your
30:47
part in what
30:49
could be the
30:49
next phase,
30:51
the next season
30:51
of ministry here
30:52
among you as a
30:53
congregation.
30:55
What an
30:55
opportunity.
30:56
At a time of
30:58
real challenge,
30:58
many of us,
30:59
if we think
31:00
back,
31:01
will be hard
31:02
pressed to
31:02
find a
31:03
time in
31:04
our
31:04
denomination
31:04
where we've
31:05
had so
31:05
many vacancies
31:06
to deal
31:06
with.
31:07
Everybody's
31:07
double-hatting.
31:09
There are
31:09
intermoderators
31:10
and lay
31:10
preachers
31:10
crisscrossing
31:11
our island
31:12
every Sunday
31:12
and sometimes
31:14
on a
31:14
Wednesday as
31:15
well.
31:15
And it's
31:16
the same
31:16
in the
31:16
north of
31:17
Scotland,
31:18
in Skye
31:18
and Wester
31:18
Ross,
31:19
and in
31:19
Glasgow.
31:20
Vacancies,
31:22
challenge,
31:23
gaps.
31:24
We need
31:25
men.
31:26
And so we
31:26
pray to the
31:27
Lord of the
31:27
harvest to
31:28
raise up and
31:29
send workers
31:30
who will
31:31
reap a
31:32
great harvest
31:33
to his
31:33
glory.
31:34
We need
31:35
men.
31:35
We need
31:36
grace.
31:36
We need
31:36
prayer.
31:38
And there
31:38
in Philippians
31:39
we see the
31:40
stress that
31:41
the apostle
31:42
puts on
31:42
unity and
31:43
being of
31:43
one mind
31:44
together.
31:46
As our
31:46
Lord and
31:47
Saviour
31:47
prayed the
31:47
night he
31:48
was betrayed
31:49
that they
31:50
may be
31:51
one.
31:52
As you
31:52
father are
31:53
in me and
31:53
I in you
31:54
that the
31:54
world may
31:55
know that
31:56
you sent
31:56
me.
31:58
We look
31:58
to his
31:59
grace and
32:01
mercy and
32:02
peace to
32:02
lead and
32:03
guide and
32:03
sustain.
32:05
A day by
32:05
day be it
32:06
Wednesday signing
32:07
a call or
32:07
out there
32:08
speaking to
32:08
an unbeliever
32:09
we might be
32:10
as described
32:11
in this very
32:12
chapter the
32:12
good soldier
32:13
of Christ
32:13
Jesus.
32:14
The honest
32:15
athlete,
32:15
the hard
32:16
working farmer.
32:17
Great three
32:17
amazing pictures
32:19
of what it
32:20
is to be a
32:21
child of God,
32:22
a forgiven
32:22
sinner.
32:24
Telling others
32:24
about the
32:25
Lord that
32:25
you have come
32:26
to know and
32:27
love and
32:27
serve.
32:29
cherish your
32:30
Lord and
32:32
your Saviour
32:32
and cherish
32:34
his church.
32:35
May he bless
32:36
you at this
32:36
time.
32:37
May he go
32:38
before you
32:38
and be among
32:39
you.
32:40
May you know
32:40
a time of
32:41
great blessing
32:42
and grace
32:43
as we gather
32:44
week by week.
32:45
Wednesday,
32:46
yes,
32:46
is just another
32:47
meeting in many
32:48
ways,
32:49
another moment
32:50
in the life
32:50
and experience
32:51
of the
32:51
congregation
32:52
of which
32:53
you are
32:53
part.
32:55
And above
32:55
all may his
32:56
name be glorified.
32:58
And it's
32:58
his name we
32:59
finish with.
33:00
And this
33:00
is the
33:00
question.
33:02
What does
33:02
his name
33:03
mean to
33:03
you tonight?
33:05
What does
33:06
his call
33:06
to have a
33:06
walk that
33:07
is worthy
33:07
of his
33:08
calling?
33:08
What does
33:08
it mean
33:09
to you
33:09
tonight?
33:11
Have you
33:11
sought him
33:11
until you
33:12
found him
33:12
with all
33:13
your heart?
33:14
Have you
33:14
come to
33:14
understand
33:15
that unless
33:16
and until
33:16
you bow
33:17
the knee
33:17
and cry
33:18
out,
33:18
Lord,
33:19
be merciful
33:19
to me,
33:20
a sinner,
33:21
that you
33:21
remain
33:22
out with
33:23
his
33:25
kingdom?
33:27
You
33:27
remain
33:27
under
33:28
the law
33:29
which
33:29
brings
33:30
with it
33:30
the
33:30
curse
33:31
of
33:32
eternal
33:32
judgment?
33:34
But he
33:34
came and
33:35
fulfilled that
33:35
law and
33:36
lived a
33:37
perfect life
33:38
and having
33:39
been raised
33:39
from the
33:39
dead,
33:40
says now
33:40
by the
33:41
grace of
33:41
the gospel,
33:42
come to
33:42
me.
33:43
All you
33:43
who labor
33:44
and are
33:44
heavy laden,
33:45
I will
33:46
give you
33:47
rest.
33:47
What an
33:49
opportunity,
33:50
what an
33:51
invitation,
33:52
and what a
33:52
saviour.
33:53
Let's bow
33:54
in prayer
33:54
together for
33:55
a moment.
33:56
Lord,
33:56
our gracious
33:57
God,
33:58
we pray
33:59
tonight for
34:00
your blessing,
34:01
for your
34:02
guidance,
34:02
for your
34:03
hand to be
34:03
upon us.
34:05
We pray,
34:05
Lord God,
34:06
that we
34:06
might understand
34:08
what you
34:09
would have
34:09
us do
34:10
day by
34:10
day.
34:11
We pray
34:11
especially,
34:12
Lord,
34:12
at this
34:12
time that
34:13
you would
34:13
bless and
34:14
guide your
34:14
people here
34:15
as a
34:15
congregation.
34:16
in the
34:17
time they
34:18
have been
34:18
through,
34:18
Lord,
34:19
these almost
34:19
two years
34:20
of coming
34:22
to terms
34:23
with a
34:23
vacancy
34:24
and the
34:24
challenges
34:25
that that
34:25
presents
34:26
and the
34:27
ongoing
34:27
gospel work
34:29
and ministry
34:30
to the
34:30
town here
34:31
around them.
34:32
Lord,
34:32
we pray
34:32
that you
34:33
would be
34:33
with them,
34:34
that you
34:34
would nourish
34:35
them,
34:35
that you
34:36
would sustain
34:36
them and
34:37
encourage
34:37
them.
34:38
Feed their
34:39
souls,
34:39
Lord.
34:40
Grant
34:41
them your
34:41
grace to
34:42
be bright,
34:43
shining
34:43
witnesses
34:44
where you
34:44
have raised
34:44
them up and
34:45
placed them
34:46
together.
34:46
May they
34:46
be a
34:47
beacon of
34:47
hope to
34:48
so many
34:49
around us.
34:50
Lord,
34:50
we ask all
34:51
these things
34:51
with the
34:52
forgiveness of
34:52
our sin.
34:53
For Jesus
34:54
sake,
34:54
Amen.
34:54
Amen.
35:04
Well,
35:04
we're going to
35:05
close our
35:05
service tonight
35:06
by singing
35:07
finally from
35:08
Psalm 131
35:10
in Sing
35:10
Psalms.
35:11
Psalm 131
35:13
in Sing
35:14
Psalms.
35:14
We'll sing
35:40
these verses
35:41
together and
35:42
we'll stand
35:42
to praise
35:43
God.
35:44
Psalm 131
35:45
My heart's not
35:49
proud, O Lord,
35:53
nor haughty is my eye.
35:59
I do not occupy myself
36:07
with things to great or high.
36:14
My spirit I have come,
36:21
my heart is pacified,
36:27
my soul is like a little child, close to its mother's side.
36:44
Just like a little child, my soul is come in me.
36:58
My heart is so happy that I have come, My heart is so happy that I have come, My heart is so happy that I have come, My heart is so happy that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have from the past that I have from the past that I have from the past that I have from the past that
37:28
is to mention for a final time
37:30
these mandate forms that I've been doing the rounds.
37:32
If you're unable to be present
37:34
and wish to be part of the call process
37:36
on Wednesday night
37:37
and you have yet to complete a mandate,
37:39
please speak to an elder,
37:41
get in touch with him yourself.
37:42
We will get your mandate complete
37:44
and it will be part of the process on Wednesday night.
37:46
Thank you.
37:58
Thank you.