Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / The Presence and Development of Faith

Transcript

The Presence and Development of Faith · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

0:00
2 Timothy 1, verse number 5.
0:04
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and now I am sure dwells in you as well.
0:16
For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
0:23
For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.
0:30
And so on.
0:34
I am sure every individual and personality in the Bible, they are important and special in themselves.
0:42
But one of the most significant writers in the Bible surely is Paul, who was Saul of Tarshish.
0:50
It's an interesting study to look at Paul's life, to look at the road to Damascus and the life that he lived then as a very religious man,
0:59
and the road that he took from Damascus, where he became the servant of Christ and where he served the Church of Christ.
1:07
And as we see from this chapter itself, where he suffered because of his service to the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:15
And we know that in the Bible here, we see quite clearly that there are two letters that he wrote to Timothy.
1:23
And he was concerned for Timothy personally, but he was especially concerned for the ongoing work of the gospel.
1:32
In the first letter to Timothy, he is encouraging them to remain at Ephesus.
1:39
And he is encouraging them to continue to teach the things that Paul himself taught.
1:45
He is wanting to ensure that the gospel works out to bring about change in people's everyday lives.
1:54
And so he is keen to encourage Timothy in order to watch out for the gospel.
2:02
And here in the second letter, he is the Paul who is ready to leave this world.
2:09
We heard this morning about how it may be the case that this may be our last opportunity to hear the gospel.
2:17
Paul was quite clear in his own thinking that he was coming to the end of his journey.
2:22
We see later on in chapter 4 that he is sensing that he's finished his course.
2:28
He's fought the good fight.
2:30
He's kept the faith.
2:31
He's somebody who's clear in his own thinking in the second imprisonment in Rome that he is about to leave this world.
2:41
And before he does so, he wants to remind Timothy of God's claims upon him as the servant who is going to continue the work of Paul.
2:50
And he wants to remind Timothy of the importance of remaining faithful to the teaching and to be led by the Spirit of God,
2:58
knowing that he will suffer because of the gospel.
3:04
And here in these verses, we have a close reminder of the way in which Paul is interested in Timothy's welfare.
3:14
I want to look at these verses from verse 5 to verse 7 this evening and to think of the presence of faith and the development of faith.
3:24
I want to think, first of all, of the presence, the presence of faith.
3:28
And we want to see from this part of our message this evening that Paul wants to put his own ministry and the faith of the people of God
3:40
in the context not of their own personal lives, but in the context of the wider church of Christ
3:46
and indeed in the context of the wider covenant people of God, both Old Testament and New.
3:53
And when Paul introduces himself, we see that he wants to put his own ministry and his own service right in the context of his own ancestors,
4:05
those who went before him in the Old Testament down through the generations.
4:09
And he does introduce himself there in verse number 3.
4:13
I thank God whom I serve as did my ancestors with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.
4:23
He is the servant of God.
4:26
He is the servant of God as somebody who is in continuity with those who served God in the Old Testament.
4:34
And if we understand Paul's own thinking, he is not only the servant of God in line with the Old Testament prophets
4:42
who are sent by God and chosen by God, he is also the servant of God in continuity with the Lord Jesus Christ himself.
4:53
The message of Isaiah in chapter 42, for example, focuses upon the coming of the Son of God into the world.
5:02
Behold my servant whom I uphold.
5:04
And Paul understood what servant who had meant for the Son of God, for the Lord Jesus,
5:12
and he seeks his own ministry, continuing, following on as the servant of God to continue the work that Jesus himself begun whilst he was here on earth.
5:24
The importance of understanding of the importance of understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ.
5:27
And our service in the name of God in the context of the whole of the Bible
5:34
and the very way in which we come under the banner of God's covenant of grace,
5:39
where the church develops and where God's plans for redemption are revealed more and more
5:47
in the unfolding of the pages of the Bible.
5:52
And we see that the Paul who sees himself in that way, that he's imprisoned,
5:57
but he's there with a clear conscience.
5:59
He's done nothing wrong.
6:01
He is there because he suffered for the sake of his Savior.
6:07
Our faith is the faith of the community of the people of God.
6:12
It's the faith of the covenant people of God.
6:17
And that continuity is important for us to recognize.
6:21
And it's important for us to appreciate because if we do understand that,
6:26
we will see what the Word of God says about my faith
6:30
and then learn what it means to have faith and to live by faith.
6:37
But as speaking to Timothy,
6:39
he wants to move to the context of personal faith.
6:45
And that's what he wants to focus on this evening,
6:48
that faith is personal in the context of the bigger picture.
6:53
And Paul speaks in verse 5 about the way in which he is reminded of Timothy's sincere faith.
7:02
Every time he thinks of Timothy, he thinks of faith.
7:07
I wonder what you think about any person.
7:12
What is the first thing that you think about anybody?
7:15
Do you think immediately about their faith?
7:20
As soon as Paul remembered Timothy,
7:23
he prayed for him and he remembered his faith.
7:28
And as we consider faith,
7:32
we want us to understand something of what faith means.
7:37
In Hebrews chapter 11,
7:38
we read that faith is the substance of things hoped for,
7:45
the conviction of things that are not yet seen.
7:49
And there are two things within that definition of faith
7:53
that help us to appreciate what faith is.
7:56
It is, first of all,
7:58
the substance,
7:59
what is set under the Word of God
8:03
and the promises of God in my thinking.
8:05
It is what gives the Word of God a platform in my mind.
8:13
Tonight, if I have no faith tonight,
8:15
the Word of God will land on my mind
8:18
and will just disappear and vanish
8:20
because it does not have the platform on which it is going to rest
8:24
and where I am going to view the Word of God by my faith.
8:29
But you will know tonight that if you have faith,
8:33
that's what it does for you.
8:35
It gives you that sense of observing,
8:38
of admiring in the Word of God
8:40
and the promises of God.
8:42
You hear, you read,
8:44
the Word of God is preached
8:45
and there it is on display before you.
8:48
It doesn't vanish.
8:50
It doesn't vanish even as you leave the church service.
8:54
It remains part of your thinking
8:56
because faith is working.
8:59
And faith ensures that the Word of God stays in your mind
9:03
and you're able to look upon it.
9:06
And along that,
9:08
faith is the assurance,
9:09
the conviction about things not seen.
9:14
And because the Word of God comes
9:16
and rests in my faith in that way,
9:20
I see what God has promised to do
9:22
along with what God has already done.
9:25
And because I see all of these things,
9:28
I know that what God has promised to do,
9:31
He will fulfill it eventually.
9:34
And at the end of time,
9:35
He will bring this world to an end.
9:38
His Son will return
9:39
and all of His promises will at last be fulfilled.
9:43
That's what faith looks like.
9:47
That's how the Bible describes faith.
9:51
It's that sense of having a place for the Word of God
9:58
to rest in our minds,
10:00
for our hearts to feed upon it
10:02
and to learn from it,
10:04
and for our daily lives to be lived,
10:07
looking at the promises of God
10:08
and knowing that He will be with us always.
10:11
And when Paul thinks of Timothy,
10:15
he is reminded of his sincere faith.
10:19
It's a faith that is without pretension.
10:23
It's not a performance for the public stage.
10:28
It's something that arises from the very heart of Timothy.
10:32
Timothy.
10:33
And it's important for us to understand faith in that way.
10:38
As much as our faith is displayed by its works,
10:42
our faith arises from our hearts.
10:46
It's not for sure in the sense of being a performance.
10:50
It is something that arises from the depths of our being,
10:55
from our choosing,
10:56
from our willing,
10:57
and from our loving of God.
10:59
Timothy's sincere faith.
11:07
I wonder what your own faith is like this evening.
11:13
I guess we all come to hear the Gospel and the Word of God
11:17
because in some way we have faith
11:20
and we accept and acknowledge what the Bible says.
11:24
But the faith that Timothy has in sincerity,
11:30
the faith that Paul is looking for,
11:33
the faith that God is looking for from you and for me,
11:38
is that heartfelt sense of devotion to God,
11:43
being persuaded of the Word of God,
11:46
and leaning upon God and resting upon God
11:48
every day of my life.
11:54
A personal faith.
11:57
A sincere faith.
11:58
A faith that brings about great change.
12:02
And the personal faith that Paul highlights,
12:10
he wants to place it in the context of family faith.
12:15
And that's really important
12:16
because we read the Bible
12:20
and we read the way in which God works in families.
12:24
God's covenant people are blessed in their families.
12:29
And generation after generation,
12:31
there is continuity
12:32
down through the revelation of the Bible
12:35
where God is working through families.
12:38
He works outside of families also, of course.
12:41
But generally, ordinarily,
12:44
God works through his covenant people.
12:47
And Paul here is looking at the way in verse 5
12:55
in which it's a faith that dwelt in your grandmother Lois
13:00
and your mother Eunice.
13:03
It's a family faith
13:05
that dwelt, first of all, in a grandmother.
13:10
And the dwelling of faith is something
13:12
that's vitally important.
13:14
It's something that speaks to us of life
13:19
and of something being dynamic in life
13:23
and working powerfully.
13:25
If we think of a home where we live,
13:29
we can have items of furniture
13:31
that are really attractive,
13:33
that are beautiful to look at,
13:35
that set a particular purpose,
13:37
but there's no life in them.
13:38
They don't contribute anything
13:39
to the life of the home.
13:41
But place somebody in the home
13:44
full of energy, full of life,
13:47
the home becomes alive.
13:49
There is movement.
13:50
There is a dynamism about the family life
13:53
because of the introduction of life.
13:58
That's the kind of dwelling
13:59
that Paul is referring to here.
14:01
This faith was a faith
14:03
that was in your grandmother.
14:06
It was something that was powerfully dynamic
14:09
that brought about a great change in her life.
14:14
And then that was also found
14:17
in your mother Eunice.
14:20
There was the development of faith
14:23
through Timothy's family
14:25
reinforcing the sense of the fact
14:28
that God does work in continuity
14:31
with his people,
14:33
in continuity with his covenant,
14:34
and through the teaching
14:37
and the lessons
14:38
and the example
14:39
given by parents
14:42
to their children.
14:48
And I'm sure this evening
14:50
that there are many people
14:53
here in this time of worship
14:56
and in this service
14:57
who learnt the Bible
15:00
from their parents,
15:01
who learnt the Bible
15:03
from their grandparents,
15:07
who were taught the things of God.
15:11
God commanded the people of God
15:13
in the Old Testament
15:14
to teach to their children
15:17
in their homes
15:19
and while walking in the way
15:20
to reinforce the teaching of the Bible
15:23
always so the children grow up
15:25
to understand the Bible.
15:26
And Timothy himself,
15:30
later on,
15:32
Paul refers to him
15:32
as the person who,
15:34
from childhood,
15:35
you have been acquainted
15:36
with the writings of Scripture
15:39
which make you wise to salvation.
15:44
And tonight,
15:48
as a young person,
15:52
please remember
15:53
that God is speaking to you
15:56
through your mothers and fathers,
16:01
through your grandmothers and grandfathers,
16:03
if you have them still with you.
16:06
God is speaking to you through them
16:08
and God wants you to learn from them
16:12
and to listen to everything
16:14
that they speak to you
16:15
about the way that you should live,
16:17
the way that you should worship,
16:19
the way that you should serve God
16:20
and the way that you need
16:22
to come to faith.
16:26
Young people,
16:27
you need to listen
16:28
to your parents to learn.
16:31
And there is the importance also
16:34
of the home and family environment.
16:38
where you as parents
16:41
have the responsibility
16:43
and the privilege
16:44
to lay before your children
16:47
the importance of faith,
16:50
the importance of the things of God,
16:52
not just for the Lord's Day
16:54
and for Sunday,
16:55
but for every day living
16:57
and for every day of the week.
17:01
God blesses that ministry
17:03
that takes place
17:05
around the family table
17:07
in the family home.
17:10
And God regularly blesses
17:12
that ministry.
17:13
And from it so often,
17:15
we see our children,
17:16
our young people,
17:18
growing up and developing
17:19
in their faith
17:20
because of the things
17:22
that they have learned
17:23
and the things that they remember.
17:25
and time after time
17:28
on my own journey
17:30
through faith
17:31
come across so many people
17:33
who will,
17:34
in telling the story
17:36
of them coming to faith
17:37
on the Lord Jesus,
17:38
will speak about the things
17:40
they learned
17:40
when they were younger,
17:42
what they learned
17:42
at home
17:43
and in Sunday school,
17:45
and what they learned
17:47
even in day school
17:48
about the things of God.
17:50
these things leave a mark.
17:54
And that kind of ministry
17:56
takes place
17:57
in the environment
17:59
of our home
18:00
with prayer
18:01
and recognizing
18:02
that only God
18:04
is going to bless.
18:06
so that there is
18:08
that sense
18:09
of the community
18:11
of faith
18:11
into which we come
18:13
by faith.
18:14
There is that sense
18:15
of the need
18:15
of personal faith
18:17
and there is that sense
18:19
of the importance
18:20
of family faith.
18:24
And of course,
18:24
there is no way
18:25
that Paul is saying
18:27
or there is no way
18:28
that I'm saying
18:28
that that alone
18:30
will save anyone.
18:33
Of course,
18:33
it will not,
18:34
but it can be
18:35
the means so often
18:36
and it has been
18:38
the means
18:39
through which
18:39
God works
18:40
to bring about
18:42
change in the lives
18:43
of our children
18:44
and of our young people.
18:46
And may we be encouraged
18:48
recognizing
18:49
the presence of faith
18:50
in Timothy
18:51
to seek to recognize
18:53
the presence of faith
18:54
in ourselves
18:54
and to seek to ensure
18:57
that because
18:58
we have the faith
18:59
that belongs
19:00
to the whole
19:01
of the community
19:01
of faith,
19:02
the church of Christ,
19:04
that we have
19:05
the responsibility
19:05
to use that faith
19:08
in teaching
19:09
and in instruction.
19:11
There is
19:12
the presence
19:13
of faith.
19:17
Secondly,
19:19
there is
19:20
a problem
19:21
regularly
19:23
in the Bible
19:24
when the standard
19:26
is set,
19:27
when what God requires
19:28
is set before us,
19:30
there is usually
19:31
a problem
19:32
that the Bible
19:33
addresses.
19:35
And there is
19:35
a problem here
19:36
which comes to our attention
19:37
in verse number 6.
19:39
For this reason,
19:40
I remind you
19:41
to fan into flame
19:43
the gift
19:45
of God.
19:48
Paul is reminded
19:49
about Timothy
19:50
and Paul wants
19:53
to remind Timothy
19:54
about something else.
19:56
and he wants
19:58
to remind him
20:00
about what
20:01
is taking place
20:02
in his heart
20:02
to fan the flame
20:04
which is
20:05
the gift
20:05
of God.
20:07
And the very words
20:09
suggest to us
20:10
and paint the picture
20:11
for us
20:12
that here is
20:13
a fire
20:14
that is
20:14
because of neglect
20:16
that it is
20:17
in danger
20:18
of burning out.
20:22
There is
20:22
not much left
20:25
but the signs
20:26
of ashes
20:27
or embers
20:28
or the sense
20:30
of the fire
20:31
just on its last legs
20:32
ready to burn
20:35
itself out
20:35
completely.
20:38
The sense
20:39
that this fire
20:41
needs
20:41
attention.
20:46
This morning
20:47
we heard
20:49
about
20:49
light
20:50
and the illustration
20:52
of streetlights.
20:55
a different way
20:57
of looking
20:58
at streetlights
20:59
that help us
21:00
to understand
21:01
the passage here.
21:02
The streetlights
21:02
that are there
21:03
for a purpose
21:04
for our safety
21:05
to show us
21:06
where we are going
21:07
and regularly
21:09
on our streets
21:09
in a dark winter's night
21:11
we can see
21:12
some of the lamps
21:13
either simply flickering
21:14
or not working
21:15
at all.
21:17
And because
21:18
they are not working
21:19
at all
21:19
it introduces
21:21
danger
21:22
into the path
21:22
and there is
21:23
that space
21:24
of darkness
21:25
where this light
21:26
should be shiny
21:27
and where it is not.
21:30
And that lamp
21:30
needs attention
21:31
because there is
21:33
a fault on it.
21:34
There is
21:35
maintenance work
21:36
required
21:37
in order to
21:38
fix the light
21:39
so that it
21:40
fulfills
21:41
its purpose.
21:42
and from what
21:47
Paul is saying
21:48
it suggests
21:49
to us
21:50
tonight
21:50
that
21:50
there may be
21:52
times
21:52
in your life
21:53
and mine
21:54
when our faith
21:57
is
21:57
withering away
21:59
when its
22:01
very activity
22:02
is coming
22:03
to an end
22:03
when because
22:05
of our
22:06
neglect
22:07
of our faith
22:08
it has
22:10
stopped
22:11
working.
22:13
Faith
22:14
will never
22:14
vanish
22:15
completely
22:15
because it
22:16
is the
22:16
gift of
22:17
God
22:17
but its
22:19
development
22:20
depends
22:20
on the
22:22
way in
22:22
which I'm
22:23
going to
22:24
look after
22:24
my faith
22:25
and as
22:26
surely
22:27
as a
22:28
fire
22:28
will stop
22:30
working
22:30
will stop
22:31
burning
22:31
when we
22:33
remove heat
22:33
and fuel
22:35
and oxygen
22:35
from it
22:36
as soon
22:38
as you
22:38
and I
22:38
neglect
22:39
our faith
22:40
then our
22:41
faith
22:41
begins
22:42
to
22:42
wither
22:43
away
22:44
and
22:48
tonight
22:49
it's worth
22:49
asking
22:50
the question
22:51
is it
22:54
possible
22:54
that you
22:56
are neglecting
22:57
your faith
22:57
and starving
22:59
your faith
22:59
of the very
23:01
things that
23:01
your faith
23:02
needs
23:02
in order
23:03
to grow
23:03
and that
23:04
because of
23:05
that
23:05
your faith
23:06
is beginning
23:08
to fail
23:10
later on
23:12
in this
23:12
chapter
23:13
the book
23:14
itself
23:14
in chapter
23:14
number 4
23:15
Paul
23:16
refers to
23:17
the man
23:18
called
23:18
Demas
23:18
who in
23:19
love with
23:20
this present
23:20
world
23:21
has forsaken
23:23
him
23:23
there is that
23:25
sense of
23:26
the way in
23:26
which
23:27
living our
23:28
lives in
23:28
this world
23:29
exposes us
23:30
to the danger
23:31
of neglecting
23:32
our faith
23:33
and introducing
23:34
into our lives
23:35
the very
23:36
things that
23:36
will smother
23:37
the fire
23:38
that will
23:39
eventually
23:39
snuff it out
23:40
and cause it
23:41
not to burn
23:42
at all
23:43
what is
23:45
your faith
23:47
like
23:48
have you
23:51
neglected
23:52
your faith
23:53
are you
23:55
starving
23:56
your faith
23:56
and you're
23:58
wondering why
23:59
your faith
23:59
isn't growing
24:00
the possibility
24:03
of these
24:05
things happening
24:06
in life
24:07
in the world
24:08
in our
24:09
working life
24:10
in our
24:11
things that
24:11
we are
24:12
exposed to
24:13
in our
24:15
school life
24:16
in family
24:18
life
24:18
in life
24:19
with our
24:19
friends
24:20
so many
24:21
things that
24:21
are working
24:22
in the
24:23
environment
24:23
around us
24:24
seeking to
24:26
starve our
24:27
faith of
24:27
what it
24:28
needs
24:28
and the
24:30
danger
24:31
that we
24:32
are exposed
24:32
to in all
24:33
of these
24:33
areas of
24:34
life
24:34
of embracing
24:35
the very
24:36
things
24:36
that are
24:38
so harmful
24:39
to our
24:41
faith
24:41
the problem
24:43
of
24:44
neglect
24:45
the problem
24:47
of
24:47
starving
24:48
our faith
24:50
and Paul
24:52
exhorts
24:52
Timothy
24:53
as he
24:54
reminds him
24:54
of that
24:54
to fan
24:56
up
24:56
fan into
24:57
flame
24:57
the gift
24:58
of God
24:59
which is
24:59
in you
25:00
through the
25:00
laying on
25:01
of my
25:02
hands
25:02
he has
25:05
a
25:05
responsibility
25:06
he has
25:08
a responsibility
25:08
to revive
25:10
this fire
25:11
to stir
25:12
it up
25:12
again
25:12
to reactivate
25:14
this fire
25:14
so that it
25:15
begins to
25:16
burn
25:16
that is
25:17
active again
25:18
the way
25:18
that it
25:19
was
25:19
before
25:20
is to
25:22
take
25:22
the
25:23
kindling
25:24
that will
25:25
rekindle
25:26
the fire
25:26
and to
25:27
ensure that
25:27
what I
25:28
choose as
25:29
my kindle
25:29
to rekindle
25:31
the fire
25:31
are the
25:33
things that
25:34
are effective
25:34
in order to
25:36
ensure that
25:37
the fire
25:37
begins
25:38
to burn
25:39
and for
25:42
our fire
25:42
we go for
25:43
the kindle
25:44
the dry
25:45
pieces of
25:45
wood
25:46
that are
25:46
so ready
25:47
to burn
25:47
with the
25:48
least bit
25:49
of heat
25:49
and we
25:52
need to
25:53
ensure as
25:53
we seek
25:54
to rekindle
25:55
our faith
25:56
that we
25:59
use the
26:00
things
26:00
that God
26:02
has designed
26:03
will do
26:04
exactly
26:05
that
26:06
and
26:09
the danger
26:10
again that
26:11
we are
26:11
exposed to
26:12
is that
26:12
we choose
26:13
the things
26:14
that we
26:14
think are
26:15
going to
26:15
rekindle
26:16
the flame
26:17
of our
26:17
faith
26:17
when in
26:18
actual fact
26:19
there are
26:20
things that
26:21
will smother
26:22
it more
26:23
and more
26:24
it's learning
26:26
to take
26:27
the things
26:27
that belong
26:30
to God
26:31
that will
26:32
revive
26:33
my faith
26:34
and refresh
26:35
it and
26:35
cause it
26:36
to be
26:37
built up
26:38
and strengthened
26:39
and to cause
26:40
it to be
26:41
developed
26:42
and Paul
26:44
speaks in
26:45
1st Timothy
26:46
chapter 4
26:47
of the
26:48
very things
26:48
that Timothy
26:49
himself must
26:50
do in order
26:50
to ensure
26:52
that the fire
26:53
keeps burning
26:54
devote yourself
26:56
in public
26:58
and in private
26:58
to the reading
26:59
of scripture
26:59
to exhortation
27:01
to teaching
27:02
do not neglect
27:03
the gift
27:04
of God
27:05
that is in you
27:05
practice these
27:06
things
27:07
immerse yourself
27:08
in them
27:09
keep a close
27:10
watch on
27:10
yourself
27:11
persist in
27:12
this
27:13
so that you
27:14
may save
27:14
both yourself
27:15
and others
27:16
it's a picture
27:17
of the Bible
27:19
and perseverance
27:20
in studying the Bible
27:22
and learning the Bible
27:23
and knowing the Bible
27:25
and in putting the Bible
27:26
into practice
27:27
immersing yourselves
27:29
in the word of God
27:31
and from there
27:32
emerging as those
27:33
who are ready
27:34
to live out
27:35
the word of God
27:36
to walk
27:37
in the light
27:38
with God
27:38
and to stand
27:41
firm
27:41
as those
27:42
who have
27:43
faith
27:44
the problem
27:51
the answer
27:52
is simple
27:54
and
27:55
the answer
27:57
is exactly
27:58
what we're doing
27:59
here this evening
28:00
or that's at least
28:01
part of the answer
28:02
that in the public
28:04
worship of God
28:05
my faith
28:06
is instructed
28:07
I learn about
28:09
my faith
28:10
I learn about
28:11
what God is saying
28:11
in his word
28:13
and that feeds
28:14
my faith
28:15
it's like fuel
28:16
to the fire
28:17
of my faith
28:17
and so my faith
28:19
begins to grow
28:20
and my very neglect
28:23
of the public
28:24
worship of God
28:25
which God has
28:26
appointed
28:27
for that purpose
28:28
exposes me
28:30
immediately
28:31
to my faith
28:34
losing its edge
28:35
losing its fire
28:37
and to my faith
28:39
simply beginning
28:40
to
28:40
to wither out
28:41
and because of
28:44
the way in which
28:45
we are all exposed
28:46
to this problem
28:47
the importance
28:50
of ensuring
28:52
that we use
28:53
the public
28:54
worship of God
28:54
that we use
28:56
the
28:56
our own
28:57
family worship
28:58
that we use
28:59
our own
28:59
private
29:00
personal worship
29:01
as the means
29:02
through which
29:03
we are feeding
29:05
our faith
29:05
and as a means
29:07
through which
29:07
we are ensuring
29:08
that we are not
29:09
starving our faith
29:10
but that it is
29:12
growing and
29:13
developing
29:14
there is
29:16
the presence of
29:17
faith
29:17
there is
29:18
the problem
29:19
and thirdly
29:21
there is
29:21
the proclamation
29:23
and the proclamation
29:25
we have in
29:26
version number 7
29:27
why is that the case
29:29
what he has said
29:30
before
29:30
it is
29:31
for God
29:32
gave us
29:33
a spirit
29:33
not of fear
29:35
but of power
29:36
and love
29:37
and self
29:38
control
29:39
God did not
29:42
give us
29:42
a spirit
29:43
of fear
29:44
in other words
29:47
the gift
29:48
is the spirit
29:49
of God
29:49
the gift
29:51
is the spirit
29:51
of God
29:52
in our hearts
29:53
and
29:54
perhaps
29:55
it would be
29:56
fair to
29:57
translate
29:59
that word
29:59
or to write
30:00
that word
30:00
with a capital
30:02
S
30:03
to show
30:04
that at least
30:05
what Paul
30:05
has in mind
30:06
is the
30:07
spirit of God
30:08
which makes us
30:09
the children of God
30:10
which dwells
30:11
in our hearts
30:11
and the same
30:13
Paul in Romans
30:14
chapter 8
30:14
speaks of
30:15
you haven't
30:15
received the
30:16
spirit of bondage
30:17
again to fear
30:18
and there is
30:20
the same idea
30:21
here
30:21
that
30:22
you have not
30:23
received
30:24
the spirit
30:25
of
30:26
fear
30:28
there is
30:30
the sense
30:31
that Timothy
30:32
was
30:32
timid
30:33
there is the
30:35
sense that he
30:36
perhaps was
30:37
a bit of a
30:39
coward
30:39
when he came
30:40
to faith
30:40
and there is
30:42
a sense
30:42
that Paul
30:44
recognized
30:44
that
30:45
there was
30:47
the danger
30:47
because of
30:48
what faith
30:49
was going
30:49
to cost
30:50
Timothy
30:50
that he
30:51
was so
30:52
reserved
30:53
and that he
30:54
was the
30:54
person who
30:55
would take
30:57
a back seat
30:59
and take a
30:59
step back
31:00
instead of
31:01
taking over
31:02
from Paul
31:03
a sense
31:06
of
31:06
fear
31:07
and it
31:09
seems that
31:09
if we
31:10
want to
31:11
see a
31:13
line of
31:14
the journey
31:15
that Timothy
31:16
was on
31:17
that there
31:18
is the
31:19
sense of
31:19
the fear
31:20
of God
31:20
where we
31:21
come to
31:21
trust in
31:22
God
31:22
and the
31:24
other place
31:25
is the
31:26
sense of
31:26
living the
31:27
life of
31:27
faith in
31:28
the Lord
31:29
Jesus
31:29
and this
31:31
sense of
31:32
fearing
31:32
it's not
31:32
the sense
31:33
of terror
31:34
it's
31:34
the sense
31:37
of the
31:37
coward
31:38
who stops
31:39
halfway between
31:40
the two
31:41
the person
31:43
who is
31:43
persuaded
31:44
by the
31:45
spirit of
31:46
God
31:46
with their
31:46
trust in
31:47
the Lord
31:47
and has
31:49
that faith
31:50
in their
31:50
hearts
31:51
a faith
31:52
that should
31:53
express
31:53
itself
31:54
and show
31:54
itself
31:55
in our
31:56
public
31:56
lives
31:56
it stops
32:00
its
32:01
development
32:02
does not
32:04
take place
32:05
because
32:05
of the
32:06
fear
32:07
of the
32:07
coward
32:08
of the
32:10
heart
32:10
of
32:11
Timothy
32:12
and we
32:16
can be
32:16
like that
32:17
when
32:17
faith
32:18
takes place
32:19
when
32:19
salvation
32:20
takes place
32:21
and faith
32:22
begins to
32:23
work in
32:23
our lives
32:24
we can
32:26
have the
32:26
sense of
32:27
the private
32:29
relationship
32:30
with the
32:31
Lord Jesus
32:31
a sense
32:32
that I've
32:33
come from
32:33
where I
32:34
am
32:34
I'm not
32:35
what I
32:35
was
32:35
before
32:36
I
32:37
am a
32:37
new
32:38
creation
32:38
now in
32:39
Christ
32:39
and my
32:40
faith is
32:40
in the
32:41
Lord Jesus
32:41
and I
32:42
have that
32:43
in the
32:43
privacy of
32:44
my own
32:44
heart
32:45
and I
32:47
know that
32:47
Jesus wants
32:48
me to
32:48
follow him
32:49
and to
32:50
serve him
32:50
and to
32:51
show my
32:51
faith
32:52
but there
32:54
is something
32:54
in here
32:55
that leaves
32:56
me
32:56
afraid
32:57
I might
32:59
be afraid
33:00
of those
33:01
in my
33:01
family
33:02
I might
33:03
want to
33:03
hide my
33:04
faith from
33:04
them
33:04
because I
33:05
don't want
33:05
to show
33:06
it to
33:06
them
33:06
I might
33:08
be afraid
33:09
of those
33:09
who are
33:10
in school
33:11
with me
33:11
who are
33:11
my friends
33:12
as I
33:12
grow up
33:13
in life
33:13
I might
33:14
want to
33:14
hide my
33:15
faith from
33:15
them
33:15
because I
33:16
am afraid
33:17
of how
33:17
they will
33:18
respond
33:18
if I
33:19
show my
33:19
faith
33:20
at every
33:22
stage of
33:23
life
33:23
there are
33:24
things taking
33:25
place around
33:26
us that
33:27
want to
33:28
make us
33:28
to hide
33:29
our
33:30
faith
33:30
instead of
33:33
doing what
33:33
Paul did
33:34
and what
33:35
Jesus commanded
33:35
the disciples
33:36
to do
33:36
that is to
33:37
suffer for
33:38
his name's
33:39
sake
33:40
and if you
33:43
are here
33:44
tonight and
33:44
you have
33:45
that faith
33:46
in your
33:47
heart
33:47
between
33:48
yourself
33:49
and the
33:49
Lord Jesus
33:50
and you
33:51
know it
33:51
is there
33:52
it is the
33:54
faith that
33:55
by its very
33:55
nature
33:56
needs to
33:57
shine out
33:58
in public
33:59
and
34:01
don't let
34:03
the fear
34:03
of anything
34:04
around you
34:05
trap you
34:06
in the
34:07
place where
34:07
you begin
34:08
to hide
34:09
the faith
34:09
and stop
34:10
it from
34:11
it being
34:11
developed
34:12
why should
34:15
you not
34:15
fear
34:15
well Paul
34:17
gives the
34:18
answer
34:18
and the
34:19
answer is
34:20
the spirit
34:21
that God
34:21
has given
34:22
is one
34:22
of power
34:23
and of
34:25
love
34:25
and of
34:27
self
34:28
control
34:29
that's what
34:31
God has
34:31
given
34:32
the spirit
34:33
of power
34:34
the spirit
34:35
of the
34:35
ability to
34:36
achieve
34:37
something
34:37
the spirit
34:38
of
34:39
courage
34:41
and the
34:43
spirit
34:43
of strength
34:44
the quality
34:45
that you
34:46
and I
34:46
need
34:46
in order
34:47
to live
34:48
out the
34:49
life
34:49
of faith
34:50
and perhaps
34:55
your
34:55
response is
34:56
as it
34:56
could be
34:57
anyone else's
34:58
perhaps your
34:59
response is
35:00
that your
35:01
faith is too
35:02
weak
35:02
and you are
35:04
too weak
35:04
yourself
35:04
and you
35:05
cannot give
35:06
expression to
35:06
your faith
35:08
because of
35:08
your weakness
35:09
and the
35:10
same Paul
35:11
in 2
35:11
Corinthians
35:12
13
35:12
he speaks
35:13
about the
35:14
way in
35:14
which God
35:15
says to
35:15
him
35:16
my grace
35:18
is sufficient
35:19
for you
35:19
my power
35:20
is made
35:21
perfect
35:22
in your
35:23
weakness
35:23
what does
35:25
that mean
35:26
in simple
35:26
terms
35:27
it means
35:28
that
35:29
his weakness
35:30
was the
35:31
platform
35:32
for God's
35:32
power
35:33
in other
35:35
words
35:35
the weakness
35:36
it's not
35:36
the excuse
35:37
not to show
35:38
my faith
35:39
but the
35:41
weakness
35:41
is the
35:41
place
35:42
where God's
35:43
power
35:43
will enable
35:43
me
35:44
to give
35:45
expression
35:45
to the
35:46
faith
35:46
that I
35:46
think
35:46
I cannot
35:47
do
35:47
myself
35:47
so that
35:50
it is the
35:51
case this
35:51
evening
35:51
that the
35:52
more we
35:53
are persuaded
35:53
of our
35:54
own weakness
35:54
the more
35:56
we should
35:56
see the
35:57
power of
35:58
Christ
35:58
the power
36:00
of the
36:00
grace of
36:00
Christ
36:01
to enable
36:02
us to
36:03
serve
36:03
him
36:03
you have
36:05
received
36:06
the spirit
36:06
of power
36:07
and the
36:10
power
36:10
certainly
36:11
is on
36:12
the platform
36:13
of weakness
36:14
it arises
36:16
out of
36:16
there
36:17
and I
36:18
sense the
36:19
power
36:19
as soon
36:20
as I
36:21
move from
36:22
the platform
36:22
of weakness
36:23
then the
36:24
power of
36:25
God
36:25
the power
36:26
of Christ
36:26
overtakes
36:27
me
36:28
the spirit
36:30
of power
36:30
the spirit
36:31
of love
36:34
what's at
36:36
the very
36:37
center
36:38
of the
36:39
gospel
36:39
the
36:41
continuity
36:42
and the
36:44
connectivity
36:44
of
36:45
the love
36:46
of God
36:47
the God
36:48
who is
36:48
love
36:49
himself
36:50
the God
36:51
who shows
36:52
his love
36:52
by sending
36:53
his son
36:53
to be the
36:54
propitiation
36:55
for our
36:55
sins
36:56
the God
36:57
who by
36:57
his Holy
36:58
Spirit
36:58
pours his
36:59
love
36:59
into our
37:00
hearts
37:00
it's a
37:03
spirit of
37:03
that love
37:04
that sort
37:05
of my
37:05
faith is
37:06
continuous
37:06
with the
37:07
faith of
37:07
the people
37:08
of God
37:08
the love
37:09
that I
37:09
have in
37:10
my heart
37:10
is continuous
37:11
with the
37:12
love that
37:12
there is
37:13
in God's
37:13
own heart
37:14
and because
37:16
that's the
37:17
love that
37:17
dwells in
37:18
my heart
37:19
it's the
37:20
love that
37:21
persuades me
37:22
to walk
37:23
in the ways
37:24
of God
37:24
to do
37:25
the will
37:25
of God
37:26
to serve
37:27
God
37:27
because
37:31
we love
37:31
him because
37:32
he first
37:33
loved us
37:35
and
37:37
Paul
37:38
in writing
37:39
to the
37:39
Galatians
37:39
makes that
37:40
so clear
37:41
that
37:43
he is
37:44
crucified
37:45
with Christ
37:45
nevertheless
37:46
he lives
37:46
but
37:48
the life
37:49
that he
37:49
now lives
37:50
it's a
37:50
life of
37:51
faith
37:51
in Jesus
37:52
Christ
37:52
who loved
37:54
me and
37:54
gave himself
37:55
for me
37:56
it's a
37:57
spirit of
37:58
love
37:58
and
37:59
love for
38:01
the Lord
38:01
love for
38:02
the Lord
38:02
Jesus
38:03
trumps
38:04
everything
38:04
else
38:05
it over
38:06
comes
38:07
everything
38:07
else
38:07
it over
38:09
comes
38:09
my fears
38:10
it over
38:10
comes
38:11
my
38:11
weaknesses
38:11
when I
38:13
have the
38:14
love of
38:15
God
38:15
poured out
38:16
to my
38:16
heart
38:16
then I
38:17
will
38:18
follow him
38:18
and I
38:19
will
38:19
serve him
38:19
that's
38:20
the spirit
38:20
that Paul
38:21
says
38:22
Timothy
38:22
has
38:22
received
38:23
and
38:24
the one
38:26
of
38:26
self
38:27
control
38:28
learning
38:30
about the
38:31
kind of
38:31
person
38:32
that I
38:32
am
38:32
from the
38:33
word
38:33
of God
38:33
learning
38:35
the kind
38:35
of
38:36
person
38:36
that
38:36
God
38:37
wants
38:37
his
38:37
people
38:38
to be
38:38
learning
38:40
the path
38:41
that God
38:41
wants
38:41
his
38:42
children
38:42
to follow
38:43
and being
38:44
able to
38:45
control
38:46
and to
38:46
discipline
38:47
myself
38:47
in the
38:48
light of
38:49
the word
38:49
of God
38:50
in my
38:50
love
38:51
for the
38:51
Lord
38:51
Jesus
38:51
so that
38:54
there is
38:55
no hesitation
38:56
so that
38:58
there is
38:58
service
38:58
even though
39:00
it means
39:00
suffering
39:00
there is
39:02
following
39:02
even though
39:03
it means
39:04
denying
39:04
myself
39:05
nothing
39:06
can stop
39:07
me or
39:07
hinder me
39:08
from
39:09
following
39:10
the Lord
39:10
Jesus
39:11
because
39:11
this is
39:13
the spirit
39:14
that God
39:15
has given
39:15
to us
39:15
and as we
39:17
close this
39:17
evening
39:17
let's be
39:18
encouraged
39:19
with the
39:21
reminder
39:22
of the
39:23
spirit
39:23
that God
39:24
has given
39:24
to us
39:25
and let's
39:27
go forward
39:27
in faith
39:28
to experience
39:29
more of
39:30
his power
39:30
let's go
39:32
forward
39:32
in faith
39:33
to learn
39:34
more about
39:34
how his
39:35
love is
39:36
expressed to
39:37
us and
39:37
how love
39:37
expressed to
39:38
him
39:38
and let's
39:40
go forward
39:40
in faith
39:41
living as
39:42
the people
39:43
of God
39:43
in the
39:45
zone of
39:46
life that
39:46
God has
39:47
set out
39:48
for his
39:48
people
39:48
to live
39:49
in
39:49
and so
39:51
be
39:51
Christian
39:53
families
39:53
and Christian
39:54
congregation
39:55
and
39:56
congregation
39:57
that belong
39:58
to the
39:58
wider
39:58
church
39:59
of
39:59
Christ
39:59
who
40:00
walk
40:01
always
40:01
in the
40:02
ways
40:02
of
40:02
God
40:02
and
40:03
who
40:03
do
40:03
the
40:03
things
40:04
that
40:04
are
40:05
pleasing
40:05
to
40:05
him
40:06
may
40:06
God
40:07
bless
40:07
these
40:07
thoughts
40:07
to us
40:07
let us
40:08
pray
40:08
most
40:10
gracious
40:10
God
40:10
we
40:10
bow
40:11
before
40:11
you
40:11
we
40:12
give
40:13
thanks
40:13
to
40:13
you
40:13
for
40:13
your
40:14
word
40:14
for
40:15
every
40:15
way
40:15
in which
40:15
it
40:15
speaks
40:16
into
40:16
life
40:16
and we
40:17
pray that
40:17
you will
40:18
help us
40:18
to
40:18
take your
40:20
word to
40:20
heart
40:21
to
40:22
still
40:22
ourselves
40:23
before you
40:23
and
40:23
to reflect
40:25
upon the
40:25
things that
40:26
you speak
40:26
to us
40:27
each time
40:28
we come in
40:28
contact with
40:29
your word
40:29
and this
40:30
evening
40:30
may you
40:31
take us
40:31
from
40:32
here
40:32
where
40:33
we
40:33
take
40:34
our
40:34
journey
40:34
into
40:34
the
40:35
week
40:35
that
40:36
unfolds
40:36
before
40:36
us
40:37
and
40:37
do
40:38
so
40:38
with
40:38
a
40:38
sense
40:38
of
40:39
belonging
40:39
to
40:40
you
40:40
a
40:41
sense
40:41
of
40:41
the
40:42
need
40:42
to
40:42
guard
40:43
and
40:44
keep
40:44
our
40:44
faith
40:45
and
40:45
to
40:45
protect
40:45
it
40:46
from
40:46
the
40:46
things
40:47
that
40:47
seek
40:47
to
40:47
weaken
40:48
and
40:48
destroy
40:49
and
40:50
help
40:50
us
40:50
oh
40:50
Lord
40:50
God
40:51
to
40:51
live
40:51
as
40:52
those
40:52
who
40:52
love
40:52
you
40:53
in
40:53
sincerity
40:54
and
40:55
with
40:55
all
40:55
of
40:55
our
40:55
hearts
40:56
so
40:56
help
40:56
us
40:56
and
40:56
hear
40:57
us
40:57
we
40:57
pray
40:57
for
40:58
Jesus
40:58
sake
40:58
Amen
40:59
finally I
41:08
now
41:08
pray
41:08
to
41:08
Psalm
41:09
verse
41:09
31
41:09
in
41:11
the
41:11
Scottish
41:12
Psalter
41:12
page
41:14
243
41:15
Psalm
41:18
31
41:19
at
41:19
verse
41:20
21
41:20
all
41:24
praise
41:25
and
41:25
thanks
41:25
be to
41:26
the
41:26
Lord
41:27
for
41:27
he
41:27
hath
41:27
magnified
41:28
his
41:28
wonders
41:29
love
41:29
to
41:29
me
41:29
within
41:30
a
41:30
city
41:31
fortified
41:32
we
41:33
stand
41:33
to
41:33
sing
41:33
from
41:33
verse
41:33
21
41:34
to
41:34
the
41:34
end
41:34
of
41:34
the
41:35
psalm
41:35
to
41:35
God's
41:35
praise
41:59
!
42:01
to
42:01
love
42:02
to
42:03
come
42:03
to
42:03
me
42:04
and
42:04
come
42:05
to
42:05
me
42:06
!
42:06
to
42:06
to
42:07
!
42:08
to
42:09
!
42:09
to
42:09
die
42:09
!
42:10
to
42:11
!
42:13
to
42:14
!
42:16
to
42:19
!
42:20
to
42:20
me
42:22
!
42:24
to
42:29
may
42:59
CHOIR SINGING
43:29
I'll go to the main door after the benediction.
43:53
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
43:56
the love of God the Father,
43:57
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
43:59
be with you all now and forevermore.
44:02
Amen.