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Paul and POVs · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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We can turn back together to our reading in Galatians chapter 2.
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! We look together this evening at verse 1 to verse 10.
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! Here we find, as you read in verse 1,
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after 14 years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas taking Titus along with me.
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The Lord has guided Paul back to Jerusalem and it's a report he's giving back there to the church.
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In Jerusalem to those in authority in the church there.
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We read of James and Cephas and John down in verse 9 there who Paul is reporting back to about his ministry,
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about what he's been involved in the gospel ministry.
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Perhaps you've looked at the title of this evening's sermon and you're wondering what it means.
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Paul and POVs.
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POV sometimes stands for point of view.
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But that's not what we're considering this evening.
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We're not going to be thinking about Paul and his different points of view on different things.
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But something slightly different and something that we will be hearing a little bit more of in these coming weeks ahead.
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Because as a congregation we are due to have a POV visit from presbytery.
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And POV actually stands for, in this context, Presbytery Oversight Visit.
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And I just want to think about this that's coming up in the near future.
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We'll be hearing more about it in the coming weeks.
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But just in a way of preparing ourselves for it.
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How should we approach it?
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Does it matter?
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What does it have to do with the preaching of the gospel?
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What's it got to do with the Bible?
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And why do we do these kinds of things?
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Is it just another exercise to go through that's of no real value?
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Well, as you think about, and as we look at this together, a presbytery oversight visit is really grounded in the scriptures.
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And that's the kind of thing that we see here with Paul being held accountable as he comes back to Jerusalem.
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And we want to think of ourselves and how we are going about our gospel ministry.
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And we have times of examination in our own lives.
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We think about coming up to another communion season.
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And we speak about examining ourselves, where we are in light of our faith and our relationship with the Lord.
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And it's important that we do that in light of coming to the Lord's table.
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But it's important in a wider perspective as well, as we think of what we're doing as a congregation, as what we're involved in, that we are held accountable in many ways because we are part of a Presbyterian church.
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We're not just a congregation by ourselves here.
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We are part of the Presbytery of the Western Isles.
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We are part of the denomination of the Free Church of Scotland.
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And therefore, as part of a bigger body, we have that strength and togetherness, but also that sense of accountability.
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And as we look at Galatians chapter 2, we get a little insight as to how Paul is reporting back to the church at Jerusalem and the kinds of things that they are looking at.
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And there's a sense of encouragement for ourselves here this evening to think about why this took place and what came out of it.
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So as we read here in Galatians, you find that there's this big jump between chapter 1 and chapter 2, where 14 years have passed in Paul's experience.
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And he then comes back to Jerusalem.
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So what has he been doing in these 14 years?
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Well, much of what he has been doing, we read throughout his letters in the New Testament.
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He has been involved in the gospel ministry.
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He has been proclaiming the gospel among the Gentiles, as we are told in verse 2.
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So this has been what Paul has been going about.
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He has been proclaiming the gospel to the Gentiles.
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And what kind of ministry did Paul have?
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Some people look at Paul as some kind of maverick.
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Someone who was just by himself, going out, doing his own thing, ministering in his own way.
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Someone who would not listen to anyone else, but thought what he...
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If he thought it was right, then it was.
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Is that the kind of Paul that we see in Scripture?
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Is that the kind of Paul that God would have used in the growth of the church?
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Just a lone voice.
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Someone going out by himself.
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Is that the way God builds his church today?
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Just by individuals going out to tell the gospel that they want to tell?
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Well, no.
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You see, Paul himself is part of the church of Christ.
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As you see here, he has Barnabas and Titus with him coming up to Jerusalem.
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And he's also appearing before others, before James and Cephas and John.
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So he is involved in a wider ministry.
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He is ministering to the Gentiles.
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Peter is ministering to the Jews.
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And so there's a variety of ministries going on here.
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And together they are serving to proclaim the gospel far and wide.
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And as you read through Paul's letters or the book of Acts,
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you see the great things that were happening as the gospel spread
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through all of these people, through all the churches, throughout all the lands.
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Faithful ministries, fruitful ministries were being seen
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throughout many areas in Paul's day, in Peter's day, in John's day.
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And the gospel was spreading far and wide.
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And so to this day, that is the way that the gospel spreads.
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Through faithful ministries, through faithful members in ministry,
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through people working together,
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through congregations and churches and denominations,
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proclaiming the gospel.
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The one God who is able to save through one Savior,
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who is Christ Jesus,
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by one Spirit who leads us to know Him.
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And so that's why this section is important for us.
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Even as we prepare for a POV ourselves,
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a presbytery oversight visit,
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we see the need for it in terms of being held accountable,
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being challenged in many different ways,
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but also to encourage one another
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and to strengthen one another
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in the midst of all the challenges that we have,
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that we remain faithful to the gospel,
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that we keep the main thing, the main thing.
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And we are all entrusted with this gospel.
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We are all part of this congregation here together.
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We are all part of the same presbytery,
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the same denomination.
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We are entrusted with this gospel.
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So every aspect of the ministry we are involved in,
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whatever we are doing,
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we are all workers in the gospel.
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And what is our key aim in this work?
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Well, it's that God is glorified in all that is done,
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that people hear the good news of Jesus Christ,
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and that the work goes on day by day,
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strengthened in prayer,
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encouraged and going on in the strength of the Lord.
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And so as we prepare ourselves for a presbytery oversight visit,
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it's not something to be afraid of.
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It's not something to distrust in any way.
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It's not something to think either that it's not important
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and has no impact on us.
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Done right and done well,
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they are there for our strengthening and our encouragement.
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And there's three things that I feel we can take from this passage this evening
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and apply to the process that we are going to be involved in.
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Reminding us of what we are about
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and who it is that we are serving.
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We are serving our God.
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We are making Jesus known.
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And we are seeking the Spirit's blessing on all that we do.
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And so three things that we see with Paul here
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that we can apply to ourselves.
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The first thing is accountability.
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And especially accountability to being obedient.
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The second is examination.
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And the third is encouragement.
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So the first thing is accountability.
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And especially accountability to obedience.
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As I say, it's been 14 years, we see here,
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since Paul was at Jerusalem.
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And now he's coming back to Jerusalem once again.
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Again, the Lord met Paul in a great way.
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When we read of Paul's conversion,
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it's an amazing experience.
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Here he was, someone who was persecuting the church.
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But the Lord met with him on that Damascus road
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and his whole life was changed.
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But we don't need a Damascus road experience
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for our lives to be changed.
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All we need is to meet with the Lord Jesus Christ.
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When we come to know him by faith,
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as we hear of him through his word,
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and as we come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,
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we have the same Lord on our side as Paul did then.
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And so our same desires should be changed as well.
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Paul's life had been completely transformed.
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As he says in the letter to the Philippians,
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what things were gained to me.
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All that he had in his life,
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his attainments in Jewish religion.
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He says, those I counted loss for the sake of Christ.
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So his life has been transformed.
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He was zealous for the traditions of his fathers before him.
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But now he is zealous for Christ and his kingdom.
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That is what matters.
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That is what counts.
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So that instead of trying to destroy the Christian faith,
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he is now seeking to proclaim the gospel.
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So the Christian faith will be strengthened.
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And so there's been this transformation in his life.
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And it comes about from obedience.
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He has been obedient to his calling.
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He has been obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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And it's not just for a short time.
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But down through all of these years,
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you could say for these 14 years,
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he's gone on in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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And so there's the challenge for ourselves as a people.
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Are we being obedient?
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Are we being obedient in our ministry?
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Are we being obedient to our Lord Jesus Christ
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in how we serve him?
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In how we honor him?
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In all that we do.
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As you see Paul here coming to Jerusalem,
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what was the purpose in it?
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What's the purpose of a paraispatri oversight visit,
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a committee coming to our congregation?
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Is it to ask,
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are we obedient to them?
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Is that what Paul is encountering here?
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Is he being challenged?
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Is he obedient to Peter or James,
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Cephas or John?
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Is that the ones he is being accounted to
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as being obedient to them?
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No, it's,
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is he obedient to God?
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And that's what this visit will be about
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for ourselves as well.
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Are we being obedient to the Lord
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in all that we are doing?
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Every aspect of Paul's life was given
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over to serving him.
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It had not wavered.
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It had not wavered through challenges,
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through ups and downs,
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through every experience that he went through.
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He was still there to proclaim the gospel
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among the Gentiles.
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And so as he appears here in Jerusalem,
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as it says in verse 2,
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that I proclaim among the Gentiles
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in order to make sure I was not running
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or had not run in vain.
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So his appearing here is to show
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that the gospel that he was proclaiming
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was the right gospel,
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that it was being done well
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and everything was in order.
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And so that's what we are being challenged
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about as well.
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Are we being obedient in this way?
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It was Thomas Kempis who once said,
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instant obedience is the only kind of obedience
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there is.
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Delayed obedience is disobedience.
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Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience
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withdraws from grace.
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We could apply that in so many ways
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into our lives individually and collectively.
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Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience
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there is.
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Are we being obedient in the work of the gospel?
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If we withdraw from it,
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whoever strives to withdraw from obedience
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withdraws from grace.
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So if we pull back,
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if we're not obedient,
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we are losing out on the grace that God gives.
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Because grace is given in obedience.
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Disobedience.
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We can apply that individually.
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Are we obedient individually
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to the call of God in our lives?
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To following him?
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Because if we're saying we'll put it off,
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that is disobedience.
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And you miss out on grace.
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And so it's first and foremost,
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are we putting our faith and our trust
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in the Lord Jesus Christ?
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But then collectively too,
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are we being obedient?
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Are we being faithful
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in the gospel ministry
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that the Lord has given to us?
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Because if we are pulling back,
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if we are disobedient in it,
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we are missing out on the grace
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and the provision that God is able to give.
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And so as Paul is appearing here in Jerusalem,
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he is appearing as one
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who has been obedient.
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One who has known the grace
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of our Lord Jesus Christ with him.
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What Paul is preaching throughout this letter,
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as we see as you read on in this chapter,
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he is preaching all about Christ crucified.
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It's not about works, as he says,
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but it's about the grace of God.
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In verse 21,
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I do not nullify the grace of God,
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for if justification were through the law,
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then Christ died for no purpose.
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It's all about the grace of the Lord
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and faith in him.
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And where do we see the greatest obedience of all?
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It is through Christ and Christ crucified.
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You think of how he went to the cross for our sins
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and how he bore our sins there,
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but before he came to the cross,
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as he was in the garden of Gethsemane,
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what did he say as he prayed to his father?
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In Matthew 26, verse 39,
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there it says,
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There is the obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Not as I will,
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but as you will.
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And is that our prayer?
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When things are difficult,
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when things are hard,
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we might say,
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oh, just leave it just now.
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Let this pass by for this moment,
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instead of seeking the will of God
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for the gospel flourishing here.
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God entrusts the work of the gospel to his church,
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the proclaiming of the gospel,
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the church that has been purchased
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at such a great price
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that God gave his own son.
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And so therefore,
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are we obedient to our calling
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to be a gospel church?
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That's the purpose of this Presbytery visit.
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Not so much are we obedient to them,
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but are we obedient to the Lord our God
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in the work of the gospel?
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It's a question for us all.
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Are we a people who are obedient?
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And is our greatest desire obedience
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to the Lord Jesus Christ?
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Are we a faithful people?
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So let us ask ourselves that as we prepare,
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as we think of preparing for the Lord's table,
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as we think of preparing
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for the coming of this Presbytery Oversight visit,
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are we obedient?
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Are we faithful?
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Are we committed to the Lord Jesus Christ?
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The second thing we see here is that Paul was examined.
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And that is part of the process
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that we will go through as well.
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We will be examined by those who come.
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Examined in so many aspects of our congregational work.
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Individually, I meet with our committee,
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the Kirk Session, the Deacons Court,
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members and adherents.
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There are various meetings
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that will take place with this committee,
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so everyone will have a chance
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to come under examination from them,
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but also to examine the work
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that we are doing ourselves as well.
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And so it's important to see just who it is
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that we're being examined by
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and how we're being examined.
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When Paul arrived here in Jerusalem,
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he found himself under examination.
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But there was two kinds of examination
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that he became under.
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One was public and one was private.
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And you find the public one
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was more to condemn his ministry.
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In verse 4,
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yet because of the false brothers
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secretly brought in,
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who slipped in to spy out our freedom
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that we have in Christ
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so that they might bring us into slavery.
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You see there,
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they were there to condemn his ministry,
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to bring him back out of the preaching
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the gospel to preaching
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what is not the gospel.
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And so that's not the kind of examination
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that we will come under,
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but it's the kind of examination
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that we can come under
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in a public way as well,
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where people will tell us
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that the gospel doesn't matter,
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that the gospel is not true.
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The world will condemn us.
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When you say that there is only one Savior
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and one way to salvation,
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that that is faith in Jesus Christ.
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There are people who will tell us
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that we are wrong,
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but we don't change the gospel.
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Because the gospel as we have it,
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as it is passed down,
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is the way of God to salvation.
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And therefore,
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we don't just allow the world
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to examine us and to guide us.
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But what you find here with Paul
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is it wasn't those who came in secretly
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that he allowed to examine him.
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They didn't count.
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But those who did examine him
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and who examined him privately in many ways,
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who he met with,
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as he met with James and Cephas and John,
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they were the ones who he truly allowed
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to examine him,
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to search him,
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to ask him questions.
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Because as they were examining him,
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they were examining him in the Lord.
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And you find that there are these bonds
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between them,
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gospel bonds between them.
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And so what mattered to Paul
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was being examined in regards
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to the gospel that he preached.
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And it wasn't about putting people
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on pedestals,
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as you see in verse 6.
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For from those who seem to be influential,
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what they were makes no difference to me
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because God shows no partiality.
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Or as it says further down
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when he's speaking about
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those who seem like James and Cephas and John,
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who seem to be pillars,
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he's not there putting them on a pedestal.
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But it's more together,
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examining the gospel
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that they are proclaiming
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and how they are proclaiming it.
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And so as we get examined,
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it is not about who has done good
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and who hasn't,
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or all of these things,
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putting anybody on a pedestal.
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But being examined into,
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are we doing the things
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that we need to be doing,
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the things that we should be doing,
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and what you notice here
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is that Paul,
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Barnabas,
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and Titus,
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they have their ministry going on.
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They are ministering to the Gentiles.
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James and Cephas and John,
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they are ministering to the Jews.
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And it could easily have been
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an area of conflict,
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an area where they could have come together
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and said one is more important
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than the other.
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But they didn't.
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They saw that both were important.
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And that is the key to gospel ministry.
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That there are various kinds of ministry
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that we are involved in.
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Various different people
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that we are engaged with.
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That at the heart of it all
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is that the gospel
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is being proclaimed.
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that the gospel
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is being made known
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to all around us.
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And so examination
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is an important part.
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They will come in
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and examine
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what we are doing
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and how we are doing it.
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And we will all have
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different ideas
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about areas of improvement,
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things we can do better.
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They will always be there.
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And it will be a great time
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to get feedback
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and to discuss
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all of these things.
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How can we do things better?
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How can we be strengthened?
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How can we be more effective?
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What can we stop doing?
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What should we start doing?
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All of these things.
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It's a time of examination.
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But it's not a thing
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to be avoided.
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It's not a thing
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to be afraid of.
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You think of your car.
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It needs to be examined
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on a yearly basis
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to make sure
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that everything is running in order.
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It has to go through
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an MOT.
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Well, in many ways
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we could look at this
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as an MOT for ourselves
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as a church
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to see if there's anything
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that needs fixed,
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anything that needs improved
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or anything that's just working
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as it should.
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So examination
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is important.
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And it's important
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that we do look at ourselves
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honestly,
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openly,
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and not to be afraid
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of what that means.
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Examination
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is important.
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But when you look
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at the third thing
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we see here,
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we see that examination
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is important
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in light of what we want
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the outcome
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to be.
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And what we see
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the outcome to be here
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with Paul
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is he was
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encouraged.
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encouraged.
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And we ourselves
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as we come through
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this examination
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we would want
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to come out of it
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encouraged.
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And encouraged
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in different ways.
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Encouraged
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among each other.
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And encouraged
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by those
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who come
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to visit.
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When you look
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at Paul
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and
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James
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and Cephas
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and John
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here
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in verse 9
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onwards
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what you see
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is that there
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was this
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togetherness.
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They seemed
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like pillars.
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Let me just
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read the verse 9.
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When James
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and Cephas
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and John
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who seemed
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to be pillars
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perceived
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the grace
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that was given
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to me
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they gave
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the right
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hand of fellowship
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to Barnabas
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and me
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that we should
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go to the Gentiles
25:49
and they
25:50
to the circumcised.
25:53
there was
25:54
this sense
25:54
of encouragement
25:56
and oneness
25:58
together.
26:01
And what you
26:01
see here
26:02
is that sense
26:03
of the humility
26:04
of the gospel.
26:06
It humbles
26:07
us
26:07
when we see
26:08
that it's
26:09
about serving
26:10
people.
26:12
That the gospel
26:13
is about reaching
26:14
out to all.
26:16
And here you
26:16
see it quite
26:17
clearly
26:17
the Gentiles
26:18
are to be reached
26:19
and the circumcised
26:21
the Jews
26:21
are to be reached.
26:23
That the gospel
26:24
goes out
26:25
to all.
26:28
But there's
26:28
encouragement
26:30
and that's
26:32
what we should
26:33
take from this
26:34
as well.
26:35
That we would
26:35
encourage
26:37
one another.
26:38
That as we
26:38
examine ourselves
26:40
we do so
26:41
in the right
26:42
way.
26:43
We do so
26:44
seeking
26:45
the good
26:46
of each other.
26:47
The easiest
26:48
thing in the world
26:49
to do
26:50
is to criticise
26:51
and to find
26:52
fault.
26:52
And there's
26:53
no doubt
26:53
that in any
26:54
examination
26:55
that takes
26:56
place
26:56
and as
26:57
this POV
26:57
takes place
26:58
there will
26:58
be areas
26:59
that there
27:00
will be
27:00
maybe
27:01
criticism.
27:02
And areas
27:03
where we
27:03
need to
27:04
improve.
27:05
Rightly so.
27:07
But what we
27:07
want is it
27:08
to be done
27:08
in a right
27:10
spirit.
27:12
Where collectively
27:13
we are thinking
27:14
what is the
27:15
greater good
27:16
in this?
27:17
And how
27:18
can Jesus
27:18
be made
27:19
known
27:19
through us
27:20
as a
27:21
congregation?
27:23
Today I was
27:24
over in
27:24
Ness this
27:25
morning and
27:25
as Ewan
27:25
was here
27:26
I was driving
27:28
over to
27:29
Ness and
27:29
you're driving
27:30
on the roads
27:30
and you're
27:31
thinking to
27:31
yourself there's
27:32
some pretty
27:33
poor condition
27:34
roads here.
27:35
So many
27:36
places that
27:38
need repair
27:39
or improvement.
27:42
So one
27:42
reaction could
27:43
be I'm
27:44
going to
27:44
start complaining
27:46
to someone
27:46
about this.
27:47
That something
27:48
gets done.
27:51
The other
27:52
way to react
27:53
was to see
27:54
the places
27:54
where work
27:55
is being
27:56
done.
27:57
Where there
27:58
are many
27:58
areas of
27:59
the road
27:59
that are
27:59
being worked
28:00
on just
28:01
now or
28:01
have been
28:02
worked on
28:02
and have
28:03
been improved
28:04
and that
28:05
improvements
28:05
are being
28:06
made.
28:07
That work
28:08
is going
28:08
on with
28:09
the means
28:09
that are
28:10
available.
28:12
There are
28:12
two different
28:13
ways of
28:14
looking at
28:14
things and
28:15
we could do
28:15
that with
28:16
church.
28:17
We can
28:17
look at
28:17
the things
28:18
that we
28:18
think that
28:19
needs improving,
28:20
that needs
28:21
done better and
28:22
we can start
28:22
complaining about
28:23
it.
28:24
Or we could
28:24
look at it
28:25
the other
28:25
way and
28:25
say well
28:26
it's great
28:26
that these
28:27
things are
28:27
happening.
28:28
It's great
28:29
that there's
28:29
encouragement,
28:30
that there's
28:31
so much
28:31
being done
28:32
with the
28:32
means that
28:33
we have
28:34
available.
28:36
We all
28:36
want things
28:37
to be
28:38
better.
28:39
We all
28:39
want things
28:40
to improve.
28:41
believe,
28:42
but let
28:43
us do
28:43
it in a
28:44
way where
28:44
we're
28:44
encouraging
28:45
one another
28:45
and seeing
28:47
the gospel
28:47
flourishing
28:48
in our
28:49
midst.
28:51
When you
28:51
see Paul
28:52
here being
28:53
encouraged,
28:54
he was
28:54
encouraged by
28:55
the right
28:55
hand of
28:56
fellowship.
28:57
There was
28:57
this
28:58
togetherness.
28:59
They were
29:00
encouraged and
29:01
they encouraged
29:02
one another
29:02
in the gospel
29:03
because they
29:04
had a great
29:05
gospel to
29:06
proclaim.
29:07
And you
29:08
also see
29:09
that he
29:09
was encouraged
29:10
in verse
29:11
10,
29:12
that together
29:12
they saw
29:13
a great
29:14
need to
29:15
help the
29:15
poor.
29:16
Only,
29:17
it says in
29:18
verse 10,
29:18
they asked
29:19
us to
29:19
remember the
29:20
poor,
29:20
the very
29:20
thing I
29:22
was eager
29:22
to do.
29:24
So there
29:25
was various
29:25
aspects of
29:27
this ministry
29:28
that they
29:28
were involved
29:29
in.
29:30
But it
29:30
was all
29:31
about
29:32
people.
29:33
It was
29:34
all about
29:34
people in
29:36
various
29:36
situations
29:37
and to
29:38
various
29:38
degrees.
29:39
The gospel
29:39
being made
29:40
known and
29:41
people being
29:42
encouraged and
29:43
helped and
29:45
strengthened in
29:45
every kind of
29:46
need that
29:47
they have.
29:49
But they
29:49
were encouraged
29:50
to keep
29:51
going.
29:52
And so let
29:53
us be
29:54
encouraged as
29:55
we approach
29:56
this time of
29:57
examination,
29:59
encouraged in
30:00
what we're
30:00
doing,
30:01
encouraged in
30:01
the gospel
30:02
that we
30:02
have,
30:03
be encouraged
30:04
as we meet
30:05
together to
30:06
do everything
30:06
in the
30:07
right spirit
30:08
for the
30:08
greater good
30:09
of the
30:09
cause of
30:11
Christ here.
30:12
So we
30:13
go forward
30:14
encouraged,
30:15
encouraged with
30:16
the gospel
30:17
that we
30:18
have to
30:19
make it
30:19
known to
30:20
many around
30:21
us that
30:23
the glory
30:23
of Christ
30:24
would be
30:25
seen.
30:27
Somebody
30:27
once said
30:28
this,
30:28
flatter me
30:29
and I may
30:30
not believe
30:31
me,
30:32
believe you,
30:33
criticize me
30:34
and I may
30:35
not like
30:35
you,
30:36
ignore me
30:37
and I may
30:38
not forgive
30:39
you,
30:40
encourage me
30:41
and I will
30:42
never forget
30:44
you.
30:46
There are
30:47
many around
30:48
us who
30:49
need
30:49
encouragement.
30:51
Many of
30:52
us, we
30:53
need
30:53
encouragement
30:54
and so let
30:55
us encourage
30:56
one another
30:56
in the
30:57
gospel.
30:59
So as we
30:59
come to
31:00
this time
31:00
of
31:01
presbytery
31:01
oversight
31:02
visit,
31:03
may it
31:04
be a
31:04
time when
31:04
we ask
31:05
ourselves,
31:06
are we
31:06
obedient
31:06
in the
31:08
gospel?
31:09
Are we
31:10
a people
31:10
who are
31:11
being
31:11
obedient
31:11
to our
31:12
Lord
31:13
Jesus
31:14
Christ?
31:16
Are we
31:17
being
31:17
faithful
31:17
to him?
31:20
Are we
31:20
being
31:21
faithful
31:21
to one
31:22
another?
31:24
Let us
31:24
approach it
31:25
in three
31:26
ways.
31:29
Prayerfully,
31:30
because we
31:31
need prayer
31:32
in all
31:33
that we
31:33
do.
31:35
Humbly,
31:38
thinking
31:38
more of
31:38
others
31:39
than
31:40
ourselves
31:40
and
31:42
graciously,
31:44
thankful
31:45
for the
31:45
grace of
31:46
the Lord
31:47
Jesus
31:47
Christ that
31:48
we have
31:49
through the
31:50
gospel.
31:51
That Christ
31:52
is who
31:53
we serve
31:54
because he
31:55
served us
31:57
and gave
31:58
himself
31:59
for us.
32:02
So let us
32:03
approach this
32:03
time in
32:05
these ways,
32:06
seeking the
32:07
goodness of
32:07
God and
32:08
the grace
32:08
of God
32:09
in our
32:09
midst and
32:11
in all
32:11
that we
32:12
do.
32:13
Let us
32:13
pray.
32:14
Lord,
32:18
our
32:18
gracious
32:19
God,
32:19
we do
32:19
thank you
32:20
for your
32:21
church.
32:22
We thank
32:22
you to
32:23
be part
32:23
of it.
32:24
And we
32:25
ask that
32:25
you will
32:25
indeed build
32:26
up your
32:26
church here,
32:27
that you
32:27
will build
32:28
us up as
32:28
your people,
32:30
that you
32:30
will help
32:30
us to
32:31
obedience,
32:32
that you
32:32
will help
32:33
us as
32:34
we are
32:34
examined,
32:35
to be
32:35
examined in
32:36
light of
32:37
the gospel
32:38
of your
32:38
son,
32:39
Christ
32:39
Jesus,
32:40
but also
32:41
to be
32:41
encouraged,
32:42
encouraged by
32:44
all that we
32:44
have through
32:45
faith in
32:46
Christ,
32:46
and to
32:47
all that we
32:47
have to
32:48
share with
32:49
one another
32:49
and to
32:50
those around
32:50
us,
32:51
that encouragement
32:52
and strengthening
32:53
would be what
32:54
we come away
32:55
from all of
32:56
these things
32:57
with.
32:58
So,
32:58
Lord,
32:58
hear our
32:59
prayers,
32:59
continue with
33:00
us,
33:01
pardon our
33:01
sin,
33:02
as we ask
33:02
all in
33:03
Jesus'
33:03
name.
33:04
Amen.
33:12
We're
33:13
going to
33:14
conclude by
33:14
singing to
33:15
God's
33:16
praise in
33:16
Psalm 117,
33:19
the Sing
33:20
Psalms version,
33:21
Psalm 117,
33:22
page 155.
33:27
It's a
33:27
short
33:28
psalm,
33:28
just the
33:30
two verses
33:31
marked here,
33:33
but a
33:33
psalm reminds
33:34
us of how
33:35
great a
33:36
God we
33:36
have.
33:36
Praise the
33:37
Lord,
33:38
O all you
33:38
nations,
33:39
all you
33:39
people,
33:40
sing his
33:41
praise.
33:41
For his
33:42
love is
33:43
great towards
33:44
us,
33:44
his
33:44
commitment
33:45
lasts
33:46
always.
33:47
He is
33:47
faithful now
33:48
and ever.
33:49
Hallelujah.
33:50
Praise the
33:51
Lord.
33:52
The tune is
33:52
Regent's
33:53
Square,
33:54
and we'll
33:54
sing it
33:55
through
33:55
twice.
33:56
We stand
33:56
to sing
33:57
to God's
33:58
praise.
34:01
Praise the
34:02
Lord,
34:03
O all
34:05
you
34:05
nations,
34:07
all you
34:08
people,
34:10
sing
34:11
his
34:11
praise.
34:12
For his
34:14
love is
34:16
great towards
34:18
us,
34:19
his
34:20
commitment
34:21
lasts
34:23
always.
34:25
He is
34:26
faithful now
34:29
and ever.
34:32
Hallelujah.
34:34
Praise the
34:35
Lord.
34:36
Praise the
34:38
Lord,
34:39
Lord.
34:40
O all
34:41
you
34:42
nations,
34:43
all you
34:45
people,
34:46
sing his
34:48
praise.
34:50
For his
34:51
love is
34:53
great towards
34:55
us,
34:56
his
34:57
commitment
34:58
lasts
34:58
always.
35:00
He is
35:03
faithful now,
35:04
love and
35:06
ever.
35:10
Hallelujah.
35:11
Praise the
35:13
Lord.
35:16
After the
35:16
benediction, I'll
35:17
go to the door to
35:18
my left.
35:18
We'll close with
35:19
the benediction.
35:20
Now may grace,
35:21
mercy, and peace
35:22
from God,
35:23
Father, Son,
35:24
and Holy Spirit
35:25
rest upon
35:26
and abide with
35:28
you all now and
35:29
forevermore.
35:30
Amen.
35:30
Amen.
35:30
Amen.
35:30
Amen.
35:32
Amen.
35:33
Thank you.
36:03
Thank you.
36:33
Thank you.