Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Together for the Kingdom
Transcript
- 0:00We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise in Psalm 95 in the Scottish Psalter,
- 0:07page 357 of the psalm book, Psalm 95, and we'll sing from verse 1 to verse 6 of the psalm. We
- 0:17sing as we approach God in worship, looking to him to bless our time and his word to us. O come,
- 0:24let us sing to the Lord, come let us everyone a joyful noise make to the rock of our salvation.
- 0:31Let us before his presence come with praise and thankful voice. Let us sing psalms to him with
- 0:38grace and make a joyful noise. We'll sing from verse 1 to 6 to God's praise. We stand to sing.
- 0:45O come, let us sing to the Lord, come let us everyone a joyful noise make to the rock of our salvation.
- 1:15Let us before his presence come with praise and thankful voice. Let us sing psalms to
- 1:45him with grace and make a joyful noise. For God, a great God and great King, above all gods he is.
- 2:13Depths of the earth are in his hand. The strength of his hands are in his hand. The strength of his hands is his. To him the spacious sea belongs.
- 2:41For he the same did make. The dry land also from his hands. It's born at first it take.
- 3:05Oh come and let us worship him. Let us bow down with all.
- 3:22And on our knees before the Lord. Our maker let us fall.
- 3:40Let us unite our hearts together in prayer. Let us pray.
- 3:48O Lord our gracious God as we come with these words ringing through this building. We thank you that we come offering up our praise to you. We come offering up our worship to you.
- 4:08The one who is the Lord. The one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the maker, the creator of all things.
- 4:12The one to whom all things belong.
- 4:15We can so often live in this world and we see it all around us thinking that so much belongs to us.
- 4:22that we have made so many things that we think are for our own possession.
- 4:28They are of our own making.
- 4:30They are for our own good.
- 4:32But we thank you that your word reminds us
- 4:35that every good and perfect gift is from above,
- 4:38is from the one who changes not.
- 4:41And these words remind us that you are the one
- 4:44who not just made them for a moment, but for all eternity,
- 4:49that you made the heavens and the earth and all that's in them.
- 4:53You made your people.
- 4:55You made people in your image.
- 4:57And we thank you, Lord, that you are the one who sustains and keeps us,
- 5:02that you are the one who knows everything about us.
- 5:06Lord, you are the one who has marked out every path in our life.
- 5:11You are the one who knows the end from the beginning,
- 5:13for you are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
- 5:16And Lord, we come to you as dependent upon you for all things tonight.
- 5:22Thankful for the joy of worship.
- 5:25Thank you for the gift of praising your name.
- 5:28Thankful for your word and seeking its blessing to us anew this evening.
- 5:33Thankful for this, your day,
- 5:36a day that you have set aside for this purpose,
- 5:39that in the busyness of a week gone past,
- 5:42that we have a new week beginning now, Lord,
- 5:45and we begin it setting our focus on you,
- 5:49seeking your blessing to us as a people and as a community and for all around us.
- 5:56As we go into this week, oh Lord, we pray that you will be with us,
- 6:00leading us and guiding us in every step we take.
- 6:04And so we come, oh Lord, to praise your name this night.
- 6:08We come thankful for every blessing that is ours in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
- 6:14Thankful for the words that we have sung there, salvation.
- 6:18How you are the God of salvation.
- 6:21How you are the one who is able to save and save to the utmost.
- 6:25And we do pray, Lord, that your great work of salvation will go on in this place and all around us.
- 6:34That you would call and draw people to yourself by your spirit and through your word.
- 6:40That you will even prepare our hearts now to receive your word to us.
- 6:44That you will help us to put away all other thoughts that may be cluttering our minds
- 6:49and distracting our focus from you.
- 6:53We pray that you will help us to have ears to hear what you are saying.
- 6:58And so, Lord, prepare us as we seek to prepare ourselves that we might receive from you.
- 7:05And we ask, Lord, that we would not just receive in a selfish way where we keep it to ourselves.
- 7:11But that as we go on into this week, that we would seek to share what we have with others.
- 7:16For we have the glorious gospel.
- 7:17So, we have the good news of Jesus Christ.
- 7:21We have a news that is able to turn the world upside down.
- 7:26And we see its great need today, O Lord, when all that goes on around us.
- 7:31We see it in our own hearts, O Lord, first and foremost.
- 7:35How so easily we fall away from you and are cold towards you.
- 7:41How so easily we're consumed by our own lives and what we want.
- 7:45Instead of seeking your will.
- 7:47And so, we pray that from our hearts that you will transform us and change us.
- 7:53And that you would use us, Lord, as your people.
- 7:56As your church here.
- 7:57To serve you in this place.
- 7:59And to serve you far and wide.
- 8:02Both practically and prayerfully.
- 8:05And we thank you, Lord, that together we have strength.
- 8:08That in your name we have strength.
- 8:10And that through your presence we have that promise of your strength with us.
- 8:15So, we do not do anything by ourselves or for our own glory.
- 8:21We seek to do all things for your glory.
- 8:23And we pray, Lord, for this week ahead of us and all that it entails.
- 8:27That all that we would do, we would do as to the Lord.
- 8:30So, that wherever we go in our homes and our families and our workplace.
- 8:36Be it into school or college or university.
- 8:39Be it with anxieties and worries in our hearts.
- 8:42Or a great sense of joy and anticipation looking forward.
- 8:46Lord, that whatever circumstances we go into in these coming days ahead, God willing.
- 8:53That you would help us.
- 8:55Help us to know that you are with us.
- 8:56Help us to look to you and to trust in you and to depend on you for all things.
- 9:03We do know, Lord, that there are many who go through different trials and emotions in this world.
- 9:10We know it in our own experience.
- 9:12We see it in the experience of others.
- 9:14And we know, Lord, that broken hearts and grief and sorrow are never far from us.
- 9:20And so, we seek to commit those who need you in these particular ways.
- 9:24To know your comfort.
- 9:26To know your blessing.
- 9:27To know your peace.
- 9:29We know, Lord, that you know every circumstance, even unknown to us.
- 9:35And so, we thank you that you would be precious to people, Lord, who need you in these ways.
- 9:40We pray for your church, Lord, that you would protect it.
- 9:44That you would build it up as your word has promised.
- 9:48And we pray, Lord, that you will come in your power, Lord, throughout our islands here, throughout our nation, throughout the world.
- 9:57We thank you that your kingdom is of great power and might.
- 10:01We pray the prayer week by week, Lord, that your kingdom come.
- 10:07And we do pray it, Lord, even now, that you would come.
- 10:11That you will come and convict those in sin.
- 10:15Come and challenge those whose thoughts are towards evil and self-gain and prosperity.
- 10:22Convict and convert them, Lord, we pray.
- 10:24We bring peace to lands that no trouble bring, oh, Lord, calmness in the midst of very difficult situations.
- 10:34Tragic circumstances, as we've seen in Morocco and Libya.
- 10:39And the natural disasters taking place there.
- 10:42And, oh, Lord, there is never a day that goes by when there is not news of some tragedy near and far.
- 10:49But, Lord, we pray for your grace.
- 10:52We pray for your mercy to be upon us.
- 10:55We pray for your word to go out with power even in the midst of all of these things.
- 11:01That your word will be heard.
- 11:02A word of peace.
- 11:04A word of comfort.
- 11:06We remember your people throughout the world.
- 11:08Those who are persecuted for their faith.
- 11:11Those who suffer greatly just to have the name of Jesus on their lips.
- 11:16And to confess him as Lord.
- 11:18But we thank you that you are with them.
- 11:21We thank you that you are the one who upholds and strengthens.
- 11:26That you're one who has promised, oh, Lord, that they will be blessed.
- 11:31And we pray, Lord, that your people far and wide will know your blessing over them.
- 11:37That they will know your great presence.
- 11:40We think of Stephen in the book of Acts.
- 11:42And how even as he was persecuted and stoned.
- 11:46That he had a great vision of his own saviour.
- 11:50The heavens opened.
- 11:52And his Lord standing at the right hand of God.
- 11:55And we pray that your people here and everywhere throughout the world would have a greater vision of Jesus.
- 12:03That we would see him.
- 12:05That we would fix our eyes on him.
- 12:07So that in all that we do, oh, Lord, our gaze would always be upon him.
- 12:12That we would look to him as the one who is able to provide in all our needs.
- 12:18And so, Lord, as we continue in our worship at this time, we thank you for all that we have from your hand.
- 12:24And we thank you for the blessings that have been ours already this day.
- 12:28And our service this morning with the baptisms taking place.
- 12:31We thank you for the families who were gathered.
- 12:34And for the children baptized.
- 12:36And for parents and grandparents.
- 12:38And all of us gathered together as a congregation watching on.
- 12:41And we pray, Lord, your blessing on us to continue over us in all of these things.
- 12:47We ask, oh, Lord, now that you will guide us in your word.
- 12:50Lord, that you will help us in our praise to lift up our hearts to you.
- 12:54That you will hear our prayers as we offer them up in and through the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
- 13:01As we come as sinners before you.
- 13:05Humbly we come, Lord, pleading that you will forgive us.
- 13:08Forgive us all our sin.
- 13:11Forgive us and cleanse us.
- 13:12Create in us a clean heart as we sang this morning.
- 13:15And renew within us a right spirit.
- 13:18As we ask all of these things.
- 13:20In the name above every name.
- 13:22In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
- 13:24For his sake and glory.
- 13:26Amen.
- 13:30We'll again sing to God's praise.
- 13:33We'll sing in Psalm 47.
- 13:34This is in the Sing Psalms version.
- 13:37Page 62 of the Psalm books.
- 13:42Psalm 47.
- 13:45We'll sing the whole of this Psalm.
- 13:47June is Warrington.
- 13:50All nations, clap your hands and shout.
- 13:52Let joyful cries to God ring out.
- 13:55How awesome is the Lord Most High.
- 13:58Great King who rules the earth throughout.
- 14:01We'll sing the whole of this Psalm.
- 14:02To God's praise, we stand to sing.
- 14:05All nations, clap your hands and shout.
- 14:18Let joyful cries to God ring out.
- 14:26How awesome is the Lord Most High.
- 14:35Great King who rules the earth throughout.
- 14:42He has subdued beneath our feet.
- 14:52The nations who had been our foes.
- 15:01God has gone up with shouts of joy.
- 15:27The Lord amidst the trumpet sound.
- 15:36Sing praise, sing praise.
- 15:40To God Most High.
- 15:45To God our King.
- 15:50Let praise abound.
- 15:55For God is King of all the earth.
- 16:04Sing psalms of praise to Him alone.
- 16:13God rules the nations from on high.
- 16:22He sets upon His holy throne.
- 16:31The leaders of the nations come to yield themselves to Abram's Lord.
- 16:49To Him belong the shields of earth.
- 16:58Exalted greatly is the Lord.
- 17:07In the name of the nations come to Yahweh of all the nations come to the nations come to the nations.
- 17:12We can turn to read together now in God's word in the New Testament and Paul's letter to the Colossians.
- 17:19Colossians chapter 4.
- 17:21We take up a reading at verse 2.
- 17:29Colossians chapter 4.
- 17:31We're taking up a reading at verse 2.
- 17:33We're reading down to the end of this chapter.
- 17:35Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
- 17:43At the same time, pray also for us that God may open to us a door for the word
- 17:49to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison,
- 17:55that I may make it clear which is how I ought to speak.
- 17:59Conduct yourselves wisely towards outsiders, making the best use of the time.
- 18:03Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt,
- 18:08so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
- 18:12Tychicus will tell you all about my activities.
- 18:16He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
- 18:22I have sent him to you for this very purpose,
- 18:25that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts.
- 18:30And with him, Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you,
- 18:38they will tell you of everything that has taken place here.
- 18:43Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you.
- 18:46And Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions.
- 18:52If he comes to you, welcome him.
- 18:55And Jesus, who is called Justice.
- 18:58These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God,
- 19:04and they have been a comfort to me.
- 19:07Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you,
- 19:12always struggling on your behalf in his prayers,
- 19:16that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.
- 19:20For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you,
- 19:25and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
- 19:28Luke, the beloved physician, greets you, as does Demas.
- 19:33Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea,
- 19:36and to Nymphan, the church in her house.
- 19:39When this letter has been read among you,
- 19:42have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans.
- 19:45And see also you read the letter from Laodicea.
- 19:48And say to Archippus,
- 19:51See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.
- 19:56I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand.
- 20:00Remember my chains.
- 20:02Grace be with you.
- 20:05Amen, and may God bless that reading from his word.
- 20:09Well, again, sing to God's praise in Psalm 111.
- 20:13In the Scottish Psalter, version page 391 of the psalm books.
- 20:21Psalm 111, page 391.
- 20:24You can sing from verse 1 to verse 5.
- 20:28The tune is St. Paul.
- 20:30We'll sing from verse 1 to 5 to God's praise,
- 20:54and we stand to sing.
- 20:55Praise ye the Lord with my whole heart.
- 21:08I will God's praise declare,
- 21:14With the assemblies of the just,
- 21:23And congregations are,
- 21:30The whole works of the Lord our God,
- 21:38Are great above all measure,
- 21:46So doubt they are of every one,
- 21:53That does not take pleasure,
- 22:00Is what most on a grapple is,
- 22:09Most glorious and pure,
- 22:16And His untainted righteousness,
- 22:24Forever doth endure.
- 22:31His works most wonderful He hath,
- 22:41Made to be thought upon,
- 22:48The Lord is gracious,
- 22:52And He is full of compassion,
- 23:01He gave path,
- 23:06He gave path,
- 23:07Be done to all those,
- 23:11That truly do Him fear,
- 23:18And evermore His covenant,
- 23:26And He in His might well bear.
- 23:38We can turn back to our reading
- 23:40in Colossians chapter 4.
- 23:43We can look at verse 7 down to verse 11
- 23:47together this evening.
- 23:51Colossians chapter 4 at verse 7.
- 23:56Dechicus will tell you all about my activities.
- 23:58He is a beloved brother,
- 24:00And faithful minister,
- 24:01And fellow servant in the Lord.
- 24:03I have sent him to you for this very purpose,
- 24:07That you may know how we are,
- 24:09And that he may encourage your hearts.
- 24:12And so on.
- 24:15A couple of weeks ago in the evening,
- 24:16We were looking at the first chapter of Nehemiah,
- 24:20And there we were looking at Nehemiah,
- 24:22And seeing that he was a man of vision,
- 24:25A man who was looking around,
- 24:27And hearing about what was going on,
- 24:29And his beloved Jerusalem,
- 24:31How the walls had fallen down,
- 24:33How they were in great trouble,
- 24:35In great need,
- 24:36And how he had a burden for the people,
- 24:38And the place that they might be restored,
- 24:41And built up once again.
- 24:44And we will come back,
- 24:45Maybe to look at some more of Nehemiah,
- 24:47In the coming weeks.
- 24:48But as you look at Nehemiah,
- 24:50And the vision that he had,
- 24:52As he was looking ahead,
- 24:54And seeing what needed to be done,
- 24:56There were other things that he needed for himself as well.
- 24:59We read it through Nehemiah,
- 25:01And his preparation for going back to Jerusalem,
- 25:04That he was looking to God,
- 25:06He was praying to God,
- 25:08For his help,
- 25:09For his presence,
- 25:11To be with him.
- 25:12But there was something else,
- 25:14That Nehemiah needed,
- 25:15For the work,
- 25:16And the vision to be fulfilled.
- 25:18And that was,
- 25:20People.
- 25:21He needed people,
- 25:23To be with him,
- 25:24To be alongside him,
- 25:25To be working together,
- 25:26For the kingdom of God,
- 25:28To see the blessing of God,
- 25:30And the restoration,
- 25:32That might take place.
- 25:33And it's that I want to focus on,
- 25:35This evening here in Colossians.
- 25:37People.
- 25:38Do you feel a part,
- 25:41Of the congregation here?
- 25:44Perhaps this is,
- 25:46Where you come every week,
- 25:47Perhaps maybe tonight,
- 25:48You're just passing through,
- 25:49You're just visiting.
- 25:51But whatever your situation tonight is,
- 25:53Do you feel a part,
- 25:54Of the congregation here?
- 25:57Do we have that,
- 25:58Collective vision of the Lord,
- 26:00As we come in here tonight,
- 26:02That whatever our situation is,
- 26:04We're all looking to God,
- 26:06Seeking his blessing.
- 26:09Do you feel a part,
- 26:10Of the congregation?
- 26:12Do you feel you have,
- 26:13Something to offer,
- 26:15The congregation?
- 26:17Again,
- 26:18Whether you're here regularly,
- 26:19Or just passing through,
- 26:21Do you feel you have something,
- 26:22To offer the congregation here?
- 26:26We all have,
- 26:28Something to offer.
- 26:30The Lord has made us,
- 26:31All different,
- 26:33But for a purpose.
- 26:34He's given us,
- 26:36A purpose,
- 26:37To serve him.
- 26:39Our chief end is,
- 26:41To glorify God,
- 26:42And to enjoy him forever,
- 26:44As the shorter catechism tells us.
- 26:47And in so doing that,
- 26:48And seeing that,
- 26:49Working out in our lives,
- 26:50We all have something,
- 26:52To offer God in that way,
- 26:53How we glorify,
- 26:55And enjoy him together.
- 26:58Well as we look at,
- 26:59The conclusion to Paul's letter,
- 27:01To the Colossians,
- 27:01Colossians,
- 27:03It would be easy for us,
- 27:04To just,
- 27:05Skim over this last part,
- 27:07Of chapter four.
- 27:09When you look at it,
- 27:11You maybe don't think,
- 27:12It's as important,
- 27:13As the rest of the body.
- 27:15If you've read through,
- 27:16Colossians,
- 27:17Or if you heard services,
- 27:19On Colossians,
- 27:20Do you know that,
- 27:21There is a richness,
- 27:22In this letter,
- 27:23About the glory of God,
- 27:26And Paul's,
- 27:27Ministry to the people,
- 27:29There,
- 27:29The preeminence,
- 27:30Of Christ,
- 27:32In chapter one,
- 27:33There's such beauty,
- 27:35In theology there,
- 27:37And then as you read on,
- 27:38There's practical ways,
- 27:40That Paul is,
- 27:41Teaching the people,
- 27:42To live together,
- 27:44But then as you come,
- 27:45To the end of the letter,
- 27:46Perhaps you think,
- 27:47Well there's no real,
- 27:48Deep theology here,
- 27:50There's no deep teaching here,
- 27:52Or there's no practical,
- 27:53Purpose in this last part,
- 27:55Of the letter,
- 27:56And yet,
- 27:56The closer you look to it,
- 27:58You see it as both,
- 28:00There's rich theology,
- 28:01In teaching here,
- 28:03And there's very practical,
- 28:05Teaching for us as well,
- 28:07So it would be easy for us,
- 28:08Just to glance across it,
- 28:11Brush over it,
- 28:11And not really see,
- 28:13The importance of it,
- 28:15In some ways,
- 28:17It reminds me of a book,
- 28:18As you're reading a book,
- 28:20And you start reading a book,
- 28:21Either at the beginning,
- 28:23Or the end of a book,
- 28:24You'll often find a section,
- 28:26By the author,
- 28:27That's acknowledgements,
- 28:29Acknowledging people,
- 28:30Either maybe family,
- 28:32And friends,
- 28:32Who have supported him,
- 28:34Or other friends,
- 28:35Who have helped,
- 28:36In preparing the book,
- 28:37For publishing,
- 28:38And the list can go on,
- 28:39And on sometimes,
- 28:40A list of names,
- 28:42But who reads it?
- 28:44Do you read these things,
- 28:45If you start to read a book,
- 28:47Or do you skip past that,
- 28:48And just get into the,
- 28:49Contents of the book itself?
- 28:53Well as Paul is writing,
- 28:54His letters,
- 28:55In the New Testament,
- 28:56You find that both,
- 28:58The beginning of his letters,
- 28:59Maybe the opening few verses,
- 29:01And the last verses,
- 29:03You can often be parts,
- 29:04That you just skim over them,
- 29:06And not see,
- 29:08Just how important,
- 29:09They are,
- 29:11Perhaps,
- 29:12It's just,
- 29:13A list of names,
- 29:15And it's got nothing much,
- 29:17To say to me,
- 29:19But there's more to it,
- 29:21Than first meets the eye,
- 29:23When you look at the people,
- 29:24Mentioned here,
- 29:26And we're just going to look at,
- 29:27Verse 7 to 11,
- 29:29That we could go on through,
- 29:30To the end of the chapter,
- 29:32Where there's,
- 29:32A lot of different names,
- 29:34Mentioned here,
- 29:35Of people,
- 29:36Who,
- 29:37Paul is thanking them,
- 29:38For different ways,
- 29:40That they've supported him,
- 29:41And encouraged him,
- 29:43And in his ministry,
- 29:44And for the spread of the gospel,
- 29:47The good news of Jesus,
- 29:48As it's spreading throughout,
- 29:49So many different parts,
- 29:51He's thanking them,
- 29:52For their help,
- 29:54And for their involvement,
- 29:55In this,
- 29:56We often can speak today,
- 29:58About team ministries,
- 30:01Or every member ministry,
- 30:03We have these phrases,
- 30:05That we can put out,
- 30:07In our own day,
- 30:08But as you look at,
- 30:10The scriptures,
- 30:11As you look at,
- 30:12Paul's letters here,
- 30:14You find that,
- 30:15He was someone,
- 30:16Who had this vision,
- 30:17Of team ministry,
- 30:18Of everyone,
- 30:20Working together,
- 30:21For the good of the kingdom,
- 30:23Of God,
- 30:25And that's the challenge,
- 30:26To ourselves today,
- 30:28Paul here mentions,
- 30:30A variety of different people,
- 30:32With different gifts used,
- 30:34To spread the gospel,
- 30:35And to encourage,
- 30:37Believers,
- 30:38Then far and wide,
- 30:40And ourselves,
- 30:41To this day,
- 30:43At the heart of it all,
- 30:44Is God,
- 30:45And his goodness,
- 30:46At the heart of it all,
- 30:48Is the gospel,
- 30:49The good news,
- 30:50Of Jesus Christ,
- 30:52But through this,
- 30:53Is also people,
- 30:55Being used,
- 30:56To spread,
- 30:58The gospel,
- 30:59And so we're going to focus,
- 31:01This evening on verse,
- 31:027 to 11,
- 31:03And look at five people,
- 31:05Who are mentioned here,
- 31:06And just take,
- 31:07A little bit about each of them,
- 31:10And think about ourselves,
- 31:12And the lessons,
- 31:13That we can learn from them,
- 31:15And apply to ourselves,
- 31:17As a church,
- 31:19Individually,
- 31:21In our own lives,
- 31:22On a daily basis,
- 31:23So that even as we go into this week,
- 31:25Ahead,
- 31:27That what we look at this evening,
- 31:28Will make us think,
- 31:29How am I going to be,
- 31:31Different,
- 31:32In the week ahead?
- 31:33Am I going to,
- 31:34Change things,
- 31:36In the week ahead,
- 31:37In my attitude,
- 31:38In how I live,
- 31:39In what I do,
- 31:40In what I say,
- 31:42In all of these things,
- 31:43Am I going to think of,
- 31:44What these people,
- 31:45In mentioned here,
- 31:47And what God's word,
- 31:48Is saying to us,
- 31:49How is it going to change,
- 31:51How I live,
- 31:52In the week ahead?
- 31:55So let's look at these,
- 31:56Some of these,
- 31:57People that we have mentioned here,
- 31:59And the first one we have,
- 32:01Is in verse 7 there,
- 32:02Tychicus,
- 32:04Now here is someone,
- 32:06Who along with Onesimus,
- 32:08Was key to having this letter,
- 32:10Delivered to the church,
- 32:12At Colossae,
- 32:14And this was,
- 32:15No small task,
- 32:17In itself,
- 32:19Paul was writing,
- 32:20To them from prison,
- 32:22At this time,
- 32:24And he was sending,
- 32:25This letter,
- 32:26To the people in Colossae,
- 32:27And someone had to be selected,
- 32:29To take this letter,
- 32:31It wasn't a stamp,
- 32:33Put on an envelope,
- 32:34And it popped into,
- 32:35A letter box,
- 32:36And the post office,
- 32:37Would see to it,
- 32:38This needed,
- 32:39People to be standing up,
- 32:42And to be willing,
- 32:43To serve in this way,
- 32:45To take the letter to Colossae,
- 32:47Was a long way to go,
- 32:49It was a dangerous journey,
- 32:51And one that Paul needed,
- 32:53Trusty servants to undertake,
- 32:56And here we are told,
- 32:58Of two of them,
- 32:58Who were entrusted with this,
- 33:01Tychicus and Onesimus,
- 33:02They were entrusted,
- 33:05With taking the letter,
- 33:07To them,
- 33:09So,
- 33:10Tychicus was sent,
- 33:12With a purpose,
- 33:14Paul,
- 33:15We see here,
- 33:16Thrusted him,
- 33:18And what we see about Tychicus,
- 33:19Is he was,
- 33:20An encourager,
- 33:23He says here,
- 33:24He is,
- 33:24Paul says of him,
- 33:25He is a beloved brother,
- 33:28And faithful minister,
- 33:29And fellow servant,
- 33:32In the Lord,
- 33:33What wonderful words,
- 33:35To speak of anyone,
- 33:37Who's working,
- 33:38In the gospel,
- 33:39Man or woman,
- 33:41Boy or girl,
- 33:42It doesn't matter,
- 33:43He is a beloved brother,
- 33:45Or sister,
- 33:45A faithful minister,
- 33:46And fellow servant,
- 33:48In the Lord,
- 33:50That we would be used,
- 33:51In this way,
- 33:53For God,
- 33:55He says in verse 8,
- 33:55I have sent him to you,
- 33:57For this very purpose,
- 33:58That you may know,
- 33:59How we are,
- 34:00And that he may,
- 34:01Encourage your hearts,
- 34:04He was selected,
- 34:07For this very purpose,
- 34:10When you look at Tychicus,
- 34:11In the New Testament,
- 34:13You find him,
- 34:14Mentioned in different parts,
- 34:17And it reveals us,
- 34:19More to us about him,
- 34:20Than just these few words here,
- 34:23You find him mentioned,
- 34:24In the book of Acts,
- 34:26Being with Paul again,
- 34:28Going to deliver,
- 34:29A collection,
- 34:30That has been taken,
- 34:32Money that has been collected,
- 34:33For another church,
- 34:35He is found as the one,
- 34:36Who's entrusted,
- 34:38With carrying this collection,
- 34:40You find him mentioned,
- 34:42In Titus and Timothy,
- 34:44Being sent with letters,
- 34:46To Crete and to Ephesus,
- 34:49He's experienced,
- 34:50He's well traveled,
- 34:52A partner in the gospel,
- 34:54With Paul,
- 34:55He's dependable,
- 34:57He's dependable,
- 34:59And these words,
- 35:01Expressed in verse 7 here,
- 35:03Show how Paul describes him,
- 35:05In this loyal way,
- 35:08A beloved brother,
- 35:09Faithful minister,
- 35:11A fellow servant,
- 35:13In the Lord,
- 35:15Here is someone,
- 35:16Who has experienced much,
- 35:20Who has learned much,
- 35:22Along the way,
- 35:23But in all that he's learned,
- 35:26He's willing to give,
- 35:29He's not holding it,
- 35:30To himself,
- 35:32He's willing to give,
- 35:33And to give sacrificially,
- 35:35To give everything,
- 35:37For the cause,
- 35:38Of the Lord,
- 35:39To see,
- 35:40These roles,
- 35:41That he was fulfilling,
- 35:42In delivering letters,
- 35:43In delivering collections,
- 35:45They were all dangerous,
- 35:48They were all,
- 35:49Putting his life,
- 35:50In danger,
- 35:51And yet he was,
- 35:53Called upon,
- 35:54And depended upon,
- 35:56Again,
- 35:57And again,
- 35:58So he was,
- 36:00Trusted,
- 36:01And how did,
- 36:03Take us come to be,
- 36:04Trusted,
- 36:05By proving himself,
- 36:08By showing himself,
- 36:10Worthy of this,
- 36:11By putting himself,
- 36:12Forward,
- 36:13For this role,
- 36:14For that cause,
- 36:15Of Christ,
- 36:16In this way,
- 36:17His aim,
- 36:19Was to please,
- 36:21The Lord,
- 36:22In everything,
- 36:24He was beloved,
- 36:25He was faithful,
- 36:26He was a fellow,
- 36:28Servant,
- 36:29And every church,
- 36:32Needs,
- 36:33These kinds,
- 36:34Of people,
- 36:36Experienced,
- 36:37Faithful,
- 36:39Dependable,
- 36:40People who put,
- 36:41Themselves forward,
- 36:43People who,
- 36:44Use the experience,
- 36:45Gained through life,
- 36:46In so many different ways,
- 36:49And to put it to use,
- 36:50For the cause,
- 36:51Of Christ,
- 36:53He has gained,
- 36:56So much experience,
- 36:57Through Paul's,
- 36:59Ministry,
- 37:00Through being with him,
- 37:01In different journeys,
- 37:02In different places,
- 37:04Through relationships,
- 37:05With the Lord,
- 37:06That he's grown in,
- 37:08He's come to serve,
- 37:09The Lord,
- 37:10In this way,
- 37:12We need,
- 37:12More and more,
- 37:15Of these kinds,
- 37:16Of people,
- 37:16Those who are,
- 37:18Experienced,
- 37:19In the Lord,
- 37:20Those who have,
- 37:21Learned so much,
- 37:22Over the years,
- 37:23To be there,
- 37:24To be depended upon,
- 37:25To teach,
- 37:26The generation,
- 37:28Coming after,
- 37:29To show them,
- 37:31The way,
- 37:32To show,
- 37:32What they've learned,
- 37:33To encourage,
- 37:34Others to come,
- 37:35Alongside,
- 37:36And to help,
- 37:37Along the way,
- 37:39As you see here,
- 37:40With Tychicus,
- 37:40That's what his,
- 37:41Purpose was,
- 37:42He was bringing,
- 37:43He was bringing,
- 37:43He was bringing,
- 37:43News to them,
- 37:44And to encourage,
- 37:45Their hearts,
- 37:48To enliven them,
- 37:49For the Lord,
- 37:50To help them,
- 37:51To go on,
- 37:52In the strength,
- 37:53Of the Lord,
- 37:54So for ourselves,
- 37:57Are we,
- 37:59Encouragers,
- 38:01Are we willing,
- 38:03To put ourselves,
- 38:05Forward,
- 38:06To give ourselves,
- 38:07To the Lord,
- 38:09To give ourselves,
- 38:10Wholeheartedly,
- 38:11For the Lord,
- 38:14How do you,
- 38:15Learn to drive,
- 38:17There's probably some here,
- 38:18Who have,
- 38:19Perhaps just,
- 38:20In the last year,
- 38:21Maybe passed their test,
- 38:22Others who've,
- 38:22Been driving for years,
- 38:24But how do you,
- 38:25Learn to drive,
- 38:27You don't just,
- 38:28Sit a theory test,
- 38:30You don't just,
- 38:31Watch a DVD,
- 38:32About driving,
- 38:33And that's it,
- 38:34You're qualified,
- 38:35To drive,
- 38:36You've got to get,
- 38:38Behind the wheel,
- 38:40You've got to go out,
- 38:41In the car,
- 38:42You've got to drive,
- 38:43The car,
- 38:43And drive it in all kinds,
- 38:45Of different conditions,
- 38:47In nice,
- 38:48Calm,
- 38:49Sunny weather,
- 38:49In dark,
- 38:50Wet nights,
- 38:51In snow and ice,
- 38:53That's how you learn,
- 38:54Through experience,
- 38:56And that experience,
- 38:57Teaches you,
- 38:58And you can,
- 38:58Pass that experience,
- 38:59On to others,
- 39:02And that is how it is,
- 39:03With the Lord's people too,
- 39:06We need,
- 39:07People like Tychicus,
- 39:08Encouragers in the Lord,
- 39:10People of experience,
- 39:12In the Lord,
- 39:13In different ways,
- 39:14In different situations,
- 39:16In different circumstances,
- 39:17Who can come alongside others,
- 39:19And encourage,
- 39:21Their hearts,
- 39:22So it's so important,
- 39:25To have people,
- 39:26Of experience,
- 39:28Who are willing,
- 39:28To give,
- 39:30In the same way,
- 39:32As Tychicus,
- 39:33So as we go into this week,
- 39:36Are we going to be,
- 39:37Like that?
- 39:39Are we going to be,
- 39:40Encouragers?
- 39:41Are we going to be people,
- 39:43Putting ourselves forward,
- 39:44Using,
- 39:45Our experience,
- 39:47For the glory,
- 39:48Of God?
- 39:51The second one,
- 39:52We see here,
- 39:53Is who was alongside,
- 39:54Tychicus,
- 39:54And delivering the letter,
- 39:56Was Onesimus,
- 39:58And what do we see,
- 39:59Here,
- 40:00Of Onesimus?
- 40:01He's an interesting,
- 40:03Character here,
- 40:05Just to see him mentioned,
- 40:07It says so much to us,
- 40:09Because it reminds us,
- 40:11Of the power,
- 40:12Of the grace,
- 40:13Of God,
- 40:16Look at what it says,
- 40:17About him there,
- 40:18In verse 9,
- 40:19And with him,
- 40:20Onesimus,
- 40:21Our faithful,
- 40:22And beloved brother,
- 40:24Who is one of you,
- 40:27There's only a few words there,
- 40:30But it says,
- 40:31So much to us,
- 40:34And to understand,
- 40:35What we,
- 40:36What it's saying to us,
- 40:38We have to learn,
- 40:39A little bit more,
- 40:39About Onesimus,
- 40:41Who he was,
- 40:43And what his background,
- 40:44What his experience was,
- 40:45And to do that,
- 40:47You have to turn,
- 40:48To another letter,
- 40:49Philemon,
- 40:50And as you read,
- 40:51Through Philemon there,
- 40:52You'll read there,
- 40:53Of a slave,
- 40:55That Philemon had,
- 40:56And this was,
- 40:58Onesimus,
- 41:01He had lived,
- 41:02In Colossae,
- 41:04He had been a slave,
- 41:05But he left them,
- 41:07And he went on the run,
- 41:10Now,
- 41:11Any slave,
- 41:12Who did this,
- 41:13And was caught,
- 41:14The punishment,
- 41:16Would normally be,
- 41:17To be put to death,
- 41:20You couldn't just,
- 41:21Abandon everything,
- 41:22And run away,
- 41:22In this way,
- 41:23There were serious,
- 41:24Consequences,
- 41:25But Onesimus,
- 41:28Along the way,
- 41:29He met,
- 41:30With Paul,
- 41:32And through,
- 41:33His ministry,
- 41:35Through hearing,
- 41:36Of the gospel,
- 41:37Of the glory,
- 41:38Of Jesus,
- 41:40And the forgiveness,
- 41:41Of sin,
- 41:42And restoration,
- 41:43And all of these things,
- 41:45He had become,
- 41:46A Christian,
- 41:47His life,
- 41:49Was transformed,
- 41:51He was,
- 41:52A changed,
- 41:54Man,
- 41:54Onesimus,
- 41:56Had run away,
- 41:59But had met,
- 42:00With the Lord,
- 42:01Had known,
- 42:02His power,
- 42:04And now,
- 42:04Here he is,
- 42:06Coming back,
- 42:07To Colossae,
- 42:08Coming back,
- 42:09To people,
- 42:10He would have known,
- 42:11As it says here,
- 42:12He is one,
- 42:13Of you,
- 42:15It's wonderful,
- 42:17To see this,
- 42:18Because it tells,
- 42:20Us of the power,
- 42:21The transforming power,
- 42:22Of the gospel,
- 42:23And it gives us,
- 42:26Two things,
- 42:26A number of things,
- 42:27To consider,
- 42:27But two things,
- 42:29In particular,
- 42:29For ourselves,
- 42:30Here tonight,
- 42:31The first,
- 42:32Is this,
- 42:33As you think,
- 42:34Of being involved,
- 42:34In the kingdom work,
- 42:36Of God,
- 42:37How we need people,
- 42:39Who are,
- 42:39If you like,
- 42:40Local,
- 42:41People who,
- 42:43Know the situation,
- 42:44On the ground,
- 42:44People who know,
- 42:45The place,
- 42:46And the people,
- 42:47All around us,
- 42:49Onesimus,
- 42:50Onesimus,
- 42:52Was one,
- 42:53Of them,
- 42:55He knew,
- 42:56Them already,
- 42:57He knew much,
- 42:58About them,
- 42:59He knew much,
- 42:59About the place,
- 43:00And how powerful,
- 43:01And how effective,
- 43:02Is that,
- 43:03When it comes,
- 43:04To ministry,
- 43:04To have those,
- 43:05Who know,
- 43:06The people,
- 43:07And the place,
- 43:09Our church,
- 43:11Should be a place,
- 43:12Where we see,
- 43:13Everyone coming in,
- 43:15And we're thankful,
- 43:16That we do,
- 43:17So often,
- 43:18But we have to ask,
- 43:20Are there any,
- 43:21People missing,
- 43:22If you like,
- 43:24Of course there are,
- 43:26Because there's many more,
- 43:27Who could be here,
- 43:29We see people coming,
- 43:30Sometimes from other,
- 43:31Free churches,
- 43:32Free church people,
- 43:33We might call them,
- 43:34We see people coming,
- 43:35From other churches,
- 43:38But a church is for all,
- 43:41And especially,
- 43:43For the community,
- 43:44Especially,
- 43:45For the lost,
- 43:48For those,
- 43:50Who do not even know,
- 43:51That they're sinners,
- 43:53For those,
- 43:54Who do not know,
- 43:55That they are lost,
- 43:57That they would come,
- 43:59And meet with Jesus,
- 44:01That they would come,
- 44:02And find,
- 44:03Forgiveness of sin,
- 44:05That they would come,
- 44:06And be used,
- 44:07For the Lord,
- 44:09That they would come,
- 44:10And be transformed,
- 44:11And be able to go out,
- 44:12And meet with people,
- 44:13They already know,
- 44:14To go out to a place,
- 44:16They already know,
- 44:17And share the gospel,
- 44:19The wonderful gospel,
- 44:21Of the transforming power,
- 44:22Of Christ,
- 44:24You can imagine,
- 44:25Onesimus there,
- 44:26Walking around,
- 44:27Colossae and people,
- 44:28Seeing him,
- 44:29Is that not the one,
- 44:30Who ran away?
- 44:32Is that the one,
- 44:34Who was up to no good?
- 44:37What's he doing,
- 44:38Here now?
- 44:40And for him to be able to say,
- 44:41The Lord has transformed me,
- 44:43And to be able to share,
- 44:44The gospel,
- 44:45With his own people,
- 44:48Here is one,
- 44:49On the run,
- 44:50Afraid for his life,
- 44:51No intention,
- 44:52Of returning to Colossae,
- 44:54Until he met the Lord,
- 44:57How many of us,
- 44:58Have left this island,
- 45:01Gone away,
- 45:02Thinking we're going,
- 45:03To get away,
- 45:04From the Lord,
- 45:05We don't want anything,
- 45:07To do with the Lord,
- 45:09And yet we're back here now,
- 45:11Loving the Lord,
- 45:12And seeing his goodness,
- 45:14And how many more,
- 45:15Do we want,
- 45:16Who perhaps have gone away,
- 45:18Already,
- 45:19Praying,
- 45:20That they would come,
- 45:22That they would meet,
- 45:22With Jesus,
- 45:23Even as they've gone away,
- 45:25And that they would come back,
- 45:26Changed,
- 45:27And be used,
- 45:28For God's glory,
- 45:30In this place,
- 45:31And that's what,
- 45:33We are reminded of here,
- 45:36In Onesimus as well,
- 45:37It's a power,
- 45:39It's a power of God's grace,
- 45:40It's a power of God's grace,
- 45:40It's a power of God's grace,
- 45:40It's a power of God's grace,
- 45:40It's a power of God's grace,
- 45:42It's a power of God's grace,
- 45:43He was a local one,
- 45:44But he was also one,
- 45:46Who experienced,
- 45:47The grace of God,
- 45:50And God's grace,
- 45:52Is powerful,
- 45:52To transform,
- 45:54That we always hold on to,
- 45:57Onesimus is there,
- 45:58He's now described as,
- 46:00Our faithful,
- 46:02And beloved brother,
- 46:03What a transformation,
- 46:06Has taken place,
- 46:09So we have these two,
- 46:11Who were used,
- 46:12To deliver,
- 46:13The letter,
- 46:15We also see as we go on,
- 46:17There are three then,
- 46:19We see together in verse 10 and 11,
- 46:22And we see that they were Jews,
- 46:26In verse 11 it says,
- 46:27These are the only men of the circumcision,
- 46:29Among my fellow workers,
- 46:31For the kingdom of God,
- 46:32They were Jews,
- 46:33As well,
- 46:34So the three mentioned here,
- 46:35Are Jews,
- 46:36Who had come to faith,
- 46:38In the Lord Jesus Christ,
- 46:40And we learn a little bit,
- 46:41About each of them,
- 46:43Aristarchus there,
- 46:45My fellow prisoner,
- 46:47Greets you,
- 46:48Again just a few words,
- 46:50But what can we learn,
- 46:51From Aristarchus,
- 46:53Well we learn that,
- 46:55He is loyal,
- 46:57And every congregation,
- 46:59Every church,
- 47:00Needs people,
- 47:02Who are loyal,
- 47:03When you look at mentions of him,
- 47:06In other parts of the scriptures,
- 47:08You see that he has been on many journeys,
- 47:11With Paul as well,
- 47:13But he's almost like the unsung hero,
- 47:16He's more in the background,
- 47:18There's others,
- 47:21Who maybe come to the fore,
- 47:22In different ways,
- 47:23But Aristarchus is just more,
- 47:25In the background,
- 47:27But still,
- 47:28So essential to the ministry,
- 47:30Still so important,
- 47:32To Paul,
- 47:33And his ministry of the gospel,
- 47:36My fellow prisoner,
- 47:38It says there,
- 47:39He hasn't,
- 47:41Abandoned Paul,
- 47:42In fact,
- 47:44He stayed with him,
- 47:45To be a comfort,
- 47:47And a help,
- 47:48To him,
- 47:50He has been a comfort,
- 47:52To Paul,
- 47:52As it says,
- 47:54In verse 11,
- 47:55And they have been,
- 47:57A comfort to me,
- 47:58These three,
- 47:59That we're looking at just now,
- 48:00They've all been,
- 48:01A comfort to him,
- 48:03In different ways,
- 48:04And what you find here,
- 48:07Is someone who was,
- 48:07Just faithful to the cause,
- 48:11Didn't want the limelight,
- 48:12Didn't want the glory,
- 48:14But just quietly getting on,
- 48:15With things in the background,
- 48:18And every congregation,
- 48:20Is so often blessed,
- 48:21With these kinds of people,
- 48:22We are blessed with it here,
- 48:24People who just quietly,
- 48:25Get on with things,
- 48:27In the background,
- 48:28The little things,
- 48:29That you don't notice,
- 48:31But if they weren't to do it,
- 48:32You soon would,
- 48:33Those who are loyal,
- 48:35Those who are faithful,
- 48:37Those who are always there,
- 48:38To be called upon,
- 48:39When needed,
- 48:41He has learned too,
- 48:44From Paul,
- 48:45Of what ministry is about,
- 48:47What serving,
- 48:48In the kingdom,
- 48:49Is all about,
- 48:50Just being faithful,
- 48:52In the little things,
- 48:54And that the Lord,
- 48:55Would bless that,
- 48:57He has been with,
- 48:59Paul through it all,
- 49:01And just quietly,
- 49:04Getting on with things,
- 49:05He's loyal,
- 49:06To him,
- 49:07It reminds me,
- 49:08Of a film I once watched,
- 49:10It was based on a,
- 49:11On a true story,
- 49:13In the second world war,
- 49:15Of a battleship,
- 49:16That had gone through,
- 49:17So many different experiences,
- 49:19In the war,
- 49:20And on board,
- 49:21Was this crew,
- 49:23Who had been together,
- 49:24Through it all,
- 49:25They were,
- 49:26Almost always,
- 49:26It was just the same crew,
- 49:28Again and again,
- 49:30It was the captain,
- 49:30Of the ship,
- 49:31And his second in command,
- 49:32They were together,
- 49:33All throughout the war,
- 49:35And just towards,
- 49:36The end,
- 49:37Of the war,
- 49:38The second in command,
- 49:39Got offered,
- 49:40His own charge,
- 49:41Got offered,
- 49:42His own ship,
- 49:43That he would,
- 49:44Get promoted,
- 49:45To captain,
- 49:45And have his own crew,
- 49:46Have his own vessel,
- 49:48But he turned it down,
- 49:50Because he wanted,
- 49:52To stay faithful,
- 49:53To the captain,
- 49:54He'd come through,
- 49:55So much with,
- 49:56He didn't want,
- 49:57The glory for himself,
- 49:59He just wanted,
- 50:01To be faithful,
- 50:03Alongside those,
- 50:04He had come through,
- 50:05So much with,
- 50:06And again,
- 50:07There's just a lesson,
- 50:09There for us,
- 50:11Faithfully,
- 50:12Getting on with things,
- 50:14Being loyal,
- 50:15Being faithful,
- 50:17Quietly getting on,
- 50:18With things,
- 50:19In the background,
- 50:20Being loyal,
- 50:21To the kingdom of God,
- 50:23And to the cause,
- 50:25Of Christ,
- 50:26Aristarchus,
- 50:28Is another wonderful,
- 50:29Example to us,
- 50:33Then you have,
- 50:34Mark,
- 50:34As it says here,
- 50:35The cousin,
- 50:36Of Barnabas,
- 50:37Concerning whom,
- 50:38You have received instructions,
- 50:39If he comes to you,
- 50:41Welcome him,
- 50:44Again,
- 50:44Just a few words,
- 50:45And yet,
- 50:46When you look,
- 50:47Into the background,
- 50:48It tells us,
- 50:49So much,
- 50:50Just Paul saying,
- 50:51Those words,
- 50:52If he comes to you,
- 50:54Welcome him,
- 50:56Why would he be,
- 50:57Emphasizing this,
- 50:58What's the importance,
- 50:59Of these words,
- 51:01Well when you look at,
- 51:02Mark,
- 51:02And Paul's relationship,
- 51:04With Mark,
- 51:05It's been,
- 51:06Up and down,
- 51:08To say the least,
- 51:10In the book of Acts,
- 51:12You read in chapter 13,
- 51:13And then chapter 15,
- 51:15Of an event,
- 51:16That's happened,
- 51:17And it,
- 51:18Gives us so much,
- 51:19Background,
- 51:20To why these,
- 51:21Words are so,
- 51:22Important,
- 51:22In Acts chapter 13,
- 51:25Verse 13 says,
- 51:26From Paphos,
- 51:27Paul and his companions,
- 51:28Sailed to Perga,
- 51:30And Pamphylia,
- 51:31Where John,
- 51:32That's Mark,
- 51:33John,
- 51:33Mark,
- 51:34As we'll see in a moment,
- 51:35Left them,
- 51:36To return,
- 51:37To Jerusalem,
- 51:38So Mark,
- 51:39Had left them,
- 51:40At this point,
- 51:41In Acts chapter 15,
- 51:43Verse 37,
- 51:44It says this,
- 51:45Barnabas,
- 51:46Wanted to take,
- 51:47John also,
- 51:48Called Mark,
- 51:49With them,
- 51:49But Paul did not think it wise,
- 51:52To take them,
- 51:53Because he had deserted them,
- 51:55In Pamphylia,
- 51:55And had not continued with them,
- 51:57In the work,
- 51:58They had such a sharp disagreement,
- 52:00That they parted company,
- 52:03Barnabas took Mark,
- 52:04And sailed to Cyprus,
- 52:05But Paul chose Silas,
- 52:07And left,
- 52:08Commended by the brothers,
- 52:10To the grace of the Lord,
- 52:13They had a fallout,
- 52:15They had come to this point,
- 52:17Where they had gone,
- 52:19Their separate ways,
- 52:21And what does this tell us,
- 52:23Differences occur,
- 52:26We know it,
- 52:27We know it so often,
- 52:29Differences occur,
- 52:31But it tells us more than that,
- 52:34It tells us that differences,
- 52:35Can be overcome,
- 52:38That relationships,
- 52:40Can be restored,
- 52:42For now we see Mark,
- 52:44And Paul together,
- 52:45As fellow workers,
- 52:49Fellow workers,
- 52:51In the gospel,
- 52:53If he comes to you,
- 52:55Welcome him,
- 52:57Never mind what you've heard about us,
- 52:59In the past,
- 53:01Never mind what's maybe,
- 53:02Gone on and happened,
- 53:04In a previous time in our lives,
- 53:07If he comes to you now,
- 53:09Welcome him,
- 53:10So it shows us,
- 53:15That even when we have disagreed,
- 53:16With others in the past,
- 53:18When it comes to the kingdom of God,
- 53:21We should be looking,
- 53:23For restoration,
- 53:25We should be looking,
- 53:26For coming alongside,
- 53:27One another,
- 53:28And working together,
- 53:30Where that is possible,
- 53:31Welcome,
- 53:33All who come,
- 53:34In the name of the Lord,
- 53:35That is how,
- 53:37We are to live,
- 53:38The final one,
- 53:41We see here,
- 53:42Is justice,
- 53:43Jesus who is called,
- 53:46Justice,
- 53:47Again,
- 53:49Not much said here for us,
- 53:52But what it says,
- 53:54They are the only men,
- 53:55Of the circumcision,
- 53:57Among my fellow workers,
- 53:58For the kingdom of God,
- 54:00And they have been a comfort to me,
- 54:02Applies to justice,
- 54:03Here as well,
- 54:05So what does that tell us?
- 54:07Well,
- 54:09Justice we can see here,
- 54:11Is the bold one,
- 54:14The one who is willing,
- 54:16To make a stand,
- 54:17The one who is willing,
- 54:20To show his faith,
- 54:22In the Lord,
- 54:24He may be a Jew,
- 54:25One of the circumcision,
- 54:27As he's described here,
- 54:28But he knows the Lord,
- 54:31And now he is standing,
- 54:33For him,
- 54:34And so,
- 54:36What does that say to us?
- 54:38What does it say to you tonight?
- 54:40As we think of all of these,
- 54:42The ones we've looked at,
- 54:43Tychicus,
- 54:44Onesimus,
- 54:45Astarchus,
- 54:46Mark,
- 54:49Justice,
- 54:49You come to him,
- 54:53And this is almost where it begins,
- 54:56Are you making a stand for the Lord?
- 55:02Are you bold,
- 55:04In standing out for him?
- 55:07For in order to serve the Lord,
- 55:10With all your heart,
- 55:12You have to stand,
- 55:13On his side,
- 55:15To show,
- 55:17That you love the Lord,
- 55:19With all your heart,
- 55:21With all your soul,
- 55:22With all your strength,
- 55:24Will you stand,
- 55:26On his side?
- 55:28The gospel of Matthew,
- 55:30Tells us,
- 55:32Everyone who has left houses,
- 55:34Or brothers,
- 55:34Or sisters,
- 55:35Or father,
- 55:36Or mother,
- 55:37Or children,
- 55:37Or fields,
- 55:38For my sake,
- 55:39Will receive a hundred times,
- 55:41As much,
- 55:42And will inherit,
- 55:44Eternal life,
- 55:47Are you willing,
- 55:49To stand,
- 55:50For the Lord?
- 55:53We learn lessons,
- 55:54From all,
- 55:56Of these,
- 55:57This is Paul's,
- 55:58Team ministry,
- 55:59If you like,
- 56:00We could go on,
- 56:00And look at others,
- 56:01Here as well,
- 56:02We learn from each of them,
- 56:05They're all important,
- 56:07As are we,
- 56:08As are we all,
- 56:09For the kingdom of God,
- 56:11Here,
- 56:12For the Lord,
- 56:13To use us,
- 56:15There is variety,
- 56:17There is different gifts,
- 56:19But it's about maturing,
- 56:20And developing,
- 56:21Together,
- 56:22And ultimately,
- 56:23It's about serving,
- 56:24The Lord together,
- 56:25And seeking his blessing,
- 56:27Over us,
- 56:28As a people,
- 56:30As a congregation,
- 56:30As a community,
- 56:32As a nation,
- 56:33As a world,
- 56:34That the gospel,
- 56:36Would go out,
- 56:37In power,
- 56:38As we go on,
- 56:41In the wake ahead,
- 56:43Can we take lessons,
- 56:44From all of these,
- 56:47To be encouragers,
- 56:49The local one,
- 56:51Who's come good,
- 56:52Onesimus,
- 56:53To be faithful,
- 56:55Like Aristarchus,
- 56:57To be like Mark,
- 57:00One who shows,
- 57:01That we're able,
- 57:02To put things in the past,
- 57:03Away for the cause,
- 57:05Of Christ,
- 57:06Justice,
- 57:08Being bold,
- 57:09To stand,
- 57:10For the Lord,
- 57:13We're all,
- 57:14In this list,
- 57:15Somewhere,
- 57:16We can all,
- 57:17Learn,
- 57:18From this list,
- 57:19We don't just,
- 57:20Glance over this,
- 57:21And think,
- 57:22It's got nothing,
- 57:23To say to us,
- 57:25It's got something,
- 57:26To say,
- 57:27To us all,
- 57:28There's lessons,
- 57:29For us to learn,
- 57:32Are our lives,
- 57:33Lived,
- 57:34For the Lord,
- 57:35In the right way,
- 57:36Are we serving him,
- 57:38As we should,
- 57:40And above all,
- 57:41Are we trusting,
- 57:43In the power,
- 57:44Of his glorious grace,
- 57:46The Lord Jesus Christ,
- 57:48As our strength,
- 57:50As our help,
- 57:52As our refuge,
- 57:54May we all,
- 57:56Serve together,
- 57:57As people,
- 57:58Looking to God,
- 58:00Serving our Savior,
- 58:01With all our heart,
- 58:04Trusting,
- 58:05Encouraging,
- 58:06And going on,
- 58:08In his strength,
- 58:09Let us pray,
- 58:10Our Father in heaven,
- 58:14We thank you,
- 58:15That there is no words,
- 58:16In your scripture,
- 58:18That are wasted,
- 58:19That even when there are times,
- 58:20When we,
- 58:21Maybe see little relevance,
- 58:23To ourselves,
- 58:24Maybe we only see,
- 58:25A list of names,
- 58:27That mean nothing to us,
- 58:28That even,
- 58:28And the names of so much,
- 58:30To tell us,
- 58:31And to teach us,
- 58:33And we thank you Lord,
- 58:34For all that we've,
- 58:35Looked at this evening,
- 58:36And how they,
- 58:37Encourage us,
- 58:38And how they speak to us,
- 58:40And how,
- 58:40They might even enable us,
- 58:42To go on,
- 58:43In these days ahead,
- 58:44Examining our own lives,
- 58:46And seeing how we stand,
- 58:48With you,
- 58:49How we serve you,
- 58:50How we stand with others,
- 58:53What we are doing,
- 58:54For the kingdom of God,
- 58:56And we pray,
- 58:57Lord,
- 58:57That you will unite us together,
- 58:59For your cause,
- 59:00That you will strengthen us,
- 59:02In our number,
- 59:02And in our faith,
- 59:04And in our trust in you,
- 59:06Use us Lord,
- 59:07We pray,
- 59:08Whether we are passing through,
- 59:09Or whether we are here,
- 59:11Every day of the week,
- 59:12That we might be used,
- 59:13For your glory,
- 59:14To spread the good news,
- 59:16Of Christ,
- 59:17We ask it all,
- 59:18For the forgiveness,
- 59:18Of our sins,
- 59:20In Jesus name,
- 59:21Amen.
- 59:21Amen.
- 59:26We are going to conclude,
- 59:27By singing to God's praise,
- 59:29In Psalm 134,
- 59:31In the Singed Psalms,
- 59:33Page 175,
- 59:35Of the psalm book,
- 59:37Psalm 134a,
- 59:39On page 175,
- 59:43In the tune is Stuttgart,
- 59:46Praise the Lord,
- 59:47All you his servants,
- 59:49As you serve,
- 59:50With one accord,
- 59:52Praise the Lord,
- 59:53In your night watches,
- 59:54In the temple,
- 59:55Of the Lord.
- 59:56We'll sing,
- 59:57These words,
- 59:58To God's praise,
- 59:59Praise the Lord,
- 1:00:07All you his servants,
- 1:00:11As you serve,
- 1:00:13With one accord,
- 1:00:16Praise the Lord,
- 1:00:19In your night watches,
- 1:00:23In the temple,
- 1:00:26Of the Lord.
- 1:00:31Raise your hands,
- 1:00:33Within his temple,
- 1:00:37To the Lord,
- 1:00:40Your God,
- 1:00:42Give praise,
- 1:00:44He who made the earth,
- 1:00:48And heaven,
- 1:00:50Bless you,
- 1:00:52From his holy place.
- 1:00:59After the benediction,
- 1:01:00I'll go to the door,
- 1:01:01To my right,
- 1:01:02So we'll close,
- 1:01:03With the benediction.
- 1:01:05Now may grace,
- 1:01:06Mercy,
- 1:01:06And peace,
- 1:01:07From God,
- 1:01:08Father,
- 1:01:08Son,
- 1:01:09And Holy Spirit,
- 1:01:10Rest upon,
- 1:01:11And abide with us all,
- 1:01:13Now and forevermore.
- 1:01:14Amen.
- 1:01:18Amen.
- 1:01:48Amen.
- 1:01:49Amen.
- 1:02:01Amen.
- 1:02:01Amen.
- 1:02:03Amen.
- 1:02:04Amen.
- 1:02:06Amen.
- 1:02:06Amen.
- 1:02:08Amen.
- 1:02:13Amen.