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The Assessment of Faith and Spiritual Immaturity · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Starting together now to the letter to Hebrews and chapter number 6 and we can read at the beginning of that chapter.
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! Hebrews chapter 6 at verse 1.
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Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith towards God and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and eternal life.
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And this we will do if God permits.
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And so on through the following verses and also taking into account the verses at the end of chapter number 5.
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I guess in every area of life there are times when we can be discouraged.
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There are times when we can be distracted.
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There are times when we can be disappointed and never become disengaged from everything that is happening around us.
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And I'm sure at different times in life we have experienced that.
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When we think of the life of faith and read of the life of faith in the Bible, we see exactly the same thing.
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Faith belongs to those who are the children of God.
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They believe that he exists and that he is the rewarder of all those who diligently seek him.
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And even in this letter itself we see that there can be discouragement.
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We see that there can be distraction and disappointment.
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And we can see that there is the danger of becoming completely disconnected from the gospel itself.
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That's the nature of life for this people.
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And it is the nature of life as we live as the children of God here in this world.
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And as we do read through this letter, we recognize first of all that there is the kind of crisis that Scott McLeod referred to this morning.
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There is a crisis in the hearing and the listening of the people.
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And where there is such a crisis, then faith is really threatened.
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There is a crisis in the way that they want to worship God.
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They are wanting to fall back from the worship that is now in place through what Jesus Christ has done.
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They want to fall back into old habits.
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Does that remind you of yourself?
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Does that remind me of myself?
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We are prone to fall back into old habits and to lose sight of where we are and what we are doing.
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And then that is the kind of thing that leads to the crisis of faith.
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And there are two things that the writer does in order to address these crises.
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And first of all, he wants to show to them the importance of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and his redeeming work.
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That is what he is doing up until this point.
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We are kind of stepping into this whole discourse about who Jesus is and what he has done.
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Then he goes on to describe faith and how faith works in that great chapter about faith, chapter number 11.
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But time after time, he throws in a wake-up call to those to whom he is writing.
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These are warning passages that speak to those who are going to hear this letter read
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so that they will pay attention to what he is saying about Jesus, pay attention to what he is saying about faith,
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and be on their guard.
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A wake-up call.
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And sometimes I know that is what I need.
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And I think it is true of all of us at different times in life.
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We need a wake-up call from God to remind us of what is important,
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and when we become distracted, to realign our lives with where we should be and what we should be doing.
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And against that, back in this evening, I want to think of this passage
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and to think of the assessment of faith and spiritual immaturity.
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I want to think, first of all, that we have in this passage a review.
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That is, there is a formal assessment by the writer with a view to bring about change.
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It happens in my workplace.
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It happens in my school life.
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It happens in education circles.
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A review is the kind of assessment that is necessary from time to time
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to introduce change where it is necessary.
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And when we look at review in this passage,
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we see that the writer has to interrupt his discourse about the Lord Jesus
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because of what he discovers in his review.
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And we go back to verse number 11 in chapter 5.
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About this time we are much to say,
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and it is hard to explain since you have become dull of hearing.
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He is telling them about the Lord Jesus.
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He is telling them about the work that he has done.
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He is telling them about this great high priest of God
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who is our redeemer, who is our mediator.
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Then he pauses because he is thinking of them.
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And he is realizing, as he is writing this letter to them,
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he is realizing that there is a problem.
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There is a problem with his hearers.
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And we could say that it is the problem of attitude.
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In any kind of learning circle,
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my progression in my learning depends on my attitude,
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my mindset, the feelings that I have,
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and the way I think of events and things that are brought before me.
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It is exactly the same in our faith.
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We need to have the right attitude in order to develop in our faith.
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And if we do not have that, then we will stall,
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we will stop where we are.
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And instead of climbing upwards or even going horizontal,
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we will begin to decline.
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Attitude is really important.
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And we find here that he is unable to carry on with this great message
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about the Lord Jesus because of this problem.
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They have become dull of hearing.
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It is a kind of incapacity in receiving the message of God
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and an incapacity, a sluggishness,
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in putting the word of God into practice.
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They are not hearing the way that they should
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and they are not putting into practice.
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They are not breathing in the word of God
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that is written to them, that is spoken to them.
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They are not breathing it in to take it into their own lives.
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And they are not breathing it out in the sense of
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living out the faith as they should.
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It is a real crisis.
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They are not receiving the gospel as they should.
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And because of that,
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they have become exhausted in the life of faith.
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They are beginning to grind to a halt.
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It's too much for them.
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That's what happens to your faith and mine.
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Once I stop receiving from God
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and once I stop living the kind of life that that produces,
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once that stops,
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then faith becomes all about what I can do myself.
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And when it becomes what I can do myself,
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then I realize I can do very little.
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And then I begin to stall and I begin to stop.
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That is where they were.
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And the simple reason for that,
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it seems to be from what the writer is saying,
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the simple reason for that is their lack of discipline.
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Being able to train themselves.
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And that's what he refers to in verse 14 of chapter 5.
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But solid food is for the mature,
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for those who have their powers of discernment,
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trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
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Their powers of discernment,
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the way they're going to receive knowledge
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and use that knowledge in their lives,
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they have lost the ability to do so.
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And they have lost that because of their failure
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to train themselves,
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to discipline themselves
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in the ways of God,
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in the things of God,
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and in the Word of God.
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And the writer is using an image
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that comes from the Greek athletic scene
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where the athlete would not only discipline
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and training themselves,
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but would discipline themselves
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in removing all of the clothing
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that was going to stand in their way
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so that they could compete
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with all of their energy.
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Nothing was going to stand in their way.
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And the writer brings up
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something similar to that in chapter number 2.
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Laying aside every weight
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and the sin that so easily besets us.
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Here we are.
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We build up baggage along the journey of faith.
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We build up things that slow us down.
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We build on perhaps clothing, garments,
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the garments of the world in a symbolic way.
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And we begin to lose our way
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in the life of faith.
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We have lost our discipline.
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And God wants you and me tonight
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to consider that.
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This is God's review
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of your life and of mine.
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And He wants you and me
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to think of gratitude
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towards the things of the Bible
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and the things of the Gospel.
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He wants us to look at our own lives
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and to think of perhaps
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the fact that we have stopped listening
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the way that we were listening.
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And because of that
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we stopped living the life
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that we were living.
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And it's all because
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we are not disciplined.
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We are not watching over ourselves.
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I go to,
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the children go to their classroom
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and they need to be disciplined.
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And they are reminded
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about the discipline
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that they need
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by those who are teaching them.
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and being disciplined
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in their learning
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they are going to benefit
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from all that they are taught.
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And the same principles
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apply in everything
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that we are going to learn
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and they apply here
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in the Gospel.
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That you and I
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have to ensure
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we have the right attitude
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to receive.
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That we have the discipline
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that enables us
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to focus on
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what we are hearing
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and that therefore
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we are able to
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live out the life
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that God wants us
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to live.
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A review
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that caused
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an interruption
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and that caused him
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to think
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of where
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the people
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were.
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And in any kind
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of review
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there must be
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something that needs
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to be done
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to address
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the situation.
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And what must
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they do?
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What must you
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and I do?
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In verse number 13
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he speaks
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of the way
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in which
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they ought
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to be teachers.
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They were supposed
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to be helping others.
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That's why God
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has called us
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to be his children
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to be his disciples.
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All of us here
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tonight
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who have faith
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in the Lord Jesus
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we are to serve him.
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We are to teach
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each other.
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We are to teach
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those who are around us.
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We are to teach
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not only your children
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but all those
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who are on the journey
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of faith
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with us.
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We are all teachers
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because we have
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the spirit of God
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in our hearts
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and God has given
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to us the subject
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matter in his word.
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But they were
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unable to be teachers
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and instead of that
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they needed
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in verse number 12
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you need someone
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to teach you again
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the basic principles
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of the oracles
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of God.
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He is saying
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about them
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that with regard
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to faith
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they are back
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in their childhood.
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They are back
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where they were
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at the very beginning
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of their Christian journey.
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Imagine a parent
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receiving a review
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a report
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on their child
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from school
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and the child
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is years up
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into learning
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for example
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in primary school
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and the review
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the assessment
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at the end of the year
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is going to say
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that your child
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is like a child
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who needs to go back
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to the basic level
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of understanding
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and teaching school.
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How heartbreaking
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that would be.
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How distressing
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that would be.
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that's something
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of what the writer
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here is referring to.
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That here are
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the people of faith
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and God is saying
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about them
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you should be
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way up in the standard
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and the progression
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and development
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in the kingdom of God
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you should be up there
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teaching those
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who are around you
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and teaching
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those who are
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younger than you
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in the faith.
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But in actual fact
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you are like
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a child
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yourself.
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and if it's
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distressing
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for a parent
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to hear that
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about their own
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child in school
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what do you think
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God thinks
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tonight?
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If that's where
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this review
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finds you
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in your faith
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that it's childish
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that it's
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back to be
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more or less
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unnoticeable.
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that it's
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back to the
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basic principles
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that need to be
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learned once more
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to show what
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faith should be
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like.
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How do you
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think
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God feels
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if that's
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where you are
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tonight?
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a review
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with regard
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to
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their faith
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and it
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finds that
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their faith
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that they are
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immature in their
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faith
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and there are
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many hundreds
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in their lives
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that cause
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them to
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be back
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where they
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actually
15:40
started.
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a fearful
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situation
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that needs
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attention.
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It is
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as I said
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in the beginning
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it is one of
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these passages
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which is
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a wake up
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call
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and perhaps
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for all of us
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wherever this
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review finds us
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and wherever
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God finds us
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tonight
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perhaps it is
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at one level
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or other
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a wake up
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call
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to us all.
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There is
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a review.
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Secondly
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there is
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a recommendation.
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If that's
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the situation
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advice must
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be given
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for the best
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course of
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action
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to address
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such a
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poor attitude
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and such
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a lack
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of
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discipline.
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And there
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is the
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message that
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we have
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then as we
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move into
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chapter number
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six.
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There is
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a reference
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to the
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elementary
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doctrine
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of Christ
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and it's
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the basic
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building blocks
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that is the
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very beginning
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of me coming
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to know
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the Lord
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Jesus Christ
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as my
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Savior.
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The very
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beginning of
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things.
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We have a
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list of them
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there.
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The foundation
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of repentance
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from dead
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works and
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faith towards
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God.
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That's my
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coming to
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faith.
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Then there
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is the
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instructions
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about washing
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and the
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laying of
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hands.
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The way
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in which
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we're
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devoted to
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the Lord
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Jesus and
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the way
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in which
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the Spirit
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of God
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dwells in
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our hearts.
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The
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resurrection
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of the
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dead.
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The future
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and eternal
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judgment.
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And this
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is what we do
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of God.
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Permits basic
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things.
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It's the
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kind of
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things that
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we learn
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in Sunday
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school.
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that in
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our infant
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years there
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were things
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that were
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taught to
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us.
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The basic
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things about
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salvation.
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The
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shorted
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catechism.
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The
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messages that
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we were
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taught.
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The
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recommendation
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is that
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there must
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now be
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a departure.
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A moving
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on.
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And not
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in the
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sense of
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leaving these
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things as if
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they did not
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matter.
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It's
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building on
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these as
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the basic
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building blocks
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that begin
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a life of
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faith.
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And now
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building on
18:12
that and
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he says to
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them,
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let us
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leave the
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elementary
18:18
doctrine of
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Christ and
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go on
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to
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maturity.
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It is
18:28
the sense
18:29
of bearing
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a burden
18:32
the
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going on.
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It's not
18:34
simply
18:34
stepping
18:35
forward and
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running
18:36
along.
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It's
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going on
18:38
in the
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sense of
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bearing a
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burden.
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And we
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would be
18:46
kidding
18:46
ourselves if
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we're going
18:47
to live the
18:48
life of
18:48
faith and
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we're not
18:50
going to
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carry the
18:51
burden.
18:52
The yoke of
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Christ as
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Christ himself
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calls it,
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there is that
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sense of
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bearing the
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burden,
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of bearing
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the yoke,
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there is
19:01
that moving
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along,
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bearing the
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burden of
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responsibility,
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of learning,
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and of
19:08
developing
19:09
faith.
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And
19:11
interestingly,
19:12
when the
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writer speaks
19:13
about going
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on to
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maturity,
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in the
19:18
Greek language
19:18
it is the
19:20
sense of
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being
19:21
passive.
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And we're
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not saying
19:26
that to be
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complicated,
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but we're
19:28
saying that
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because it
19:29
draws attention
19:31
to the
19:31
fact that
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God is
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carrying them
19:34
along and
19:35
will carry
19:36
them along as
19:37
they go on
19:38
to maturity.
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He is not
19:41
saying to
19:41
them, go off
19:42
on your own
19:43
and here is
19:44
where you're
19:44
at, but go
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and embark on
19:46
this journey and
19:47
go towards
19:48
maturity and
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you're going to
19:50
be on your
19:50
own doing
19:51
it.
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God doesn't
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work like
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that.
19:55
He gave
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us faith.
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He gave
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us of His
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Holy Spirit
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in our
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hearts and
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He gives
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the strength
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to us to
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carry on in
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the life of
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faith.
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It is
20:09
not quite
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carrying us
20:11
along, but
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it's giving
20:13
us the
20:13
strength to
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go along
20:15
life's
20:16
way.
20:18
And that's
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the encouragement
20:19
for you and
20:20
for me this
20:21
evening that
20:22
in our
20:23
good to
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answer the
20:26
difficulties in
20:27
our faith and
20:28
our failure to
20:29
be as far on
20:31
our faith as
20:31
we should be
20:32
that we have
20:33
to go on
20:35
towards
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maturity.
20:41
Maturity in
20:42
faith, of
20:43
course.
20:44
We read back
20:44
in chapter 5
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and the writer
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speaks about
20:47
that Jesus
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Himself,
20:51
He learned
20:51
obedience from
20:52
what He
20:53
suffered and
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being made
20:56
perfect,
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becoming
20:59
mature, He
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became the
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source of
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eternal
21:02
salvation.
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It's
21:04
perfection,
21:05
it's maturity
21:06
in the sense
21:07
of being what
21:08
God has
21:08
designed us
21:09
to be and
21:10
to be grown
21:11
up people of
21:12
faith and the
21:12
children of
21:13
God, walking
21:14
at that level
21:15
at which we
21:16
should be
21:16
walking in
21:17
comparison to
21:18
the number of
21:18
years that we
21:20
have lived the
21:20
life of the
21:21
Christian.
21:23
God wants
21:27
me and
21:27
you to
21:28
hear this
21:30
recommendation.
21:32
He wants
21:33
us to
21:33
remember the
21:34
building blocks
21:35
and He
21:37
wants us to
21:37
use these as
21:38
a springboard
21:39
from which
21:40
He Himself
21:41
will give us
21:42
strength to
21:43
go along
21:44
through this
21:44
world in
21:46
all of its
21:46
discouragements,
21:48
in all of its
21:49
distractions,
21:50
in all of its
21:51
disappointments,
21:52
discipline to
21:54
go forward in
21:55
life with a
21:56
kind of faith
21:57
that grows
21:57
strong in the
21:58
midst of all
21:59
the challenges
22:00
and that shines
22:01
forth in the
22:03
midst of all
22:03
the examination.
22:08
We know
22:09
our children,
22:11
we know how
22:11
well they've
22:12
learned and
22:12
studied when
22:14
they have their
22:14
examination
22:15
results and
22:18
we see
22:19
results and
22:20
we can say
22:20
wow and
22:22
we can say
22:22
that because
22:23
there has
22:23
been discipline,
22:25
there has
22:25
been hard
22:26
work and
22:27
now we have
22:27
the results.
22:30
It's the
22:30
same in the
22:31
life of
22:32
faith.
22:34
And let's
22:35
be clear,
22:36
that is not
22:37
to say that
22:38
this is faith
22:39
by works,
22:41
that we are
22:42
depending on
22:42
what we do
22:43
ourselves,
22:45
but our
22:46
development is
22:47
dependent on
22:48
what we do.
22:50
We have to
22:50
work out
22:51
our salvation
22:52
with fear and
22:53
trembling because
22:54
it is God
22:54
that works in
22:55
us.
22:57
It's God
22:58
and us and
22:59
it's us and
22:59
God and so
23:01
he carries
23:03
us along.
23:06
And in
23:07
any stage of
23:09
education there
23:10
is that sense
23:11
of age and
23:12
stage relevance
23:13
and age and
23:14
stage development
23:15
and God
23:17
does not
23:18
expect the
23:19
person who
23:20
has newly
23:21
put their
23:22
trust in the
23:23
Lord Jesus
23:23
to be at
23:25
the same
23:25
stage along
23:26
this journey
23:26
as the
23:27
person who
23:28
has for a
23:29
long life
23:29
lived trusting
23:31
in the
23:32
Lord Jesus.
23:34
It is age
23:35
and stage
23:36
relevant.
23:37
God expects
23:37
the development
23:38
at every
23:39
stage but
23:40
maturity is
23:41
God's design
23:42
and God's
23:43
goal and
23:44
that's where
23:45
we're all
23:45
moving towards.
23:51
And in
23:52
many ways
23:52
if there's
23:54
an examination
23:55
as to how
23:56
much we have
23:57
learned in
23:59
the Bible
24:00
the examination
24:02
is what
24:03
proves the
24:04
genuineness of
24:06
my faith.
24:08
And when
24:09
God is
24:10
reviewing your
24:11
life and
24:14
he finds
24:14
that things
24:15
are not
24:15
the way
24:15
they should
24:16
be and
24:18
he's
24:18
calling upon
24:19
you recommending
24:21
with this
24:22
imperative that
24:23
you go on
24:24
to maturity
24:25
he is
24:28
saying that
24:29
that's how
24:29
you prove
24:30
that your
24:31
faith is
24:32
genuine
24:33
it is real.
24:36
And that's
24:36
a wake up
24:37
call.
24:37
faith is
24:41
not the
24:41
kind of
24:42
thing that
24:42
can be
24:43
hidden.
24:45
We cannot
24:45
see it
24:46
but we
24:47
can see
24:47
the evidence
24:48
offered.
24:49
By the
24:49
fruits you
24:50
shall know
24:50
them.
24:51
A good
24:52
tree will
24:52
bring forth
24:52
good fruit.
24:55
How much
24:56
does your
24:58
life confirm
24:59
that your
25:01
faith is
25:02
genuine?
25:02
genuine.
25:04
That's
25:05
challenging
25:05
for me.
25:07
It must be
25:07
challenging
25:08
for you.
25:10
That life
25:11
is what
25:12
confirms.
25:13
That's
25:14
where the
25:15
examination
25:16
result is
25:17
seen.
25:18
What kind
25:19
of life
25:20
do you
25:21
live?
25:21
What kind
25:22
of life
25:22
do I
25:23
live?
25:24
How much
25:24
does that
25:25
life show
25:26
that our
25:27
faith is
25:28
genuine?
25:29
And the
25:31
flip side
25:31
of that
25:32
of course
25:32
is that
25:33
unless
25:34
our lives
25:36
show that
25:38
our faith
25:38
is genuine
25:39
then it
25:41
raises the
25:42
critical
25:42
question
25:43
do we
25:45
have faith
25:45
at all?
25:48
And we
25:48
know that
25:49
James speaks
25:49
about faith
25:50
without works
25:51
being dead.
25:53
That's the
25:54
way it is.
25:56
Genuine
25:57
faith shines
25:58
out in
25:59
the challenges
26:00
of life
26:00
in the
26:01
midst of
26:01
all the
26:02
disappointments
26:02
all of
26:03
the
26:03
disillusionment
26:05
everything
26:05
that knocks
26:06
us down
26:07
is where
26:08
faith springs
26:09
up and
26:09
comes to
26:10
the surface
26:10
and it
26:11
begins
26:12
to shine.
26:15
There is
26:16
a review
26:17
there is
26:19
a recommendation
26:19
and finally
26:21
there is
26:22
a reflection.
26:24
reflection.
26:30
A reflection
26:31
that calls
26:33
for
26:34
careful
26:35
and
26:35
thoughtful
26:36
consideration
26:37
of what
26:38
he has
26:38
said.
26:41
And
26:42
reflections
26:42
are really
26:43
important
26:43
and the
26:44
way reflections
26:45
take shape
26:47
and the
26:47
way they
26:47
happen
26:48
they are
26:48
crucially
26:49
important.
26:52
And the
26:52
writer here
26:53
brings them
26:54
to reflect
26:56
on something
26:57
that is
26:58
really critical
27:00
to their
27:00
faith,
27:01
critical to
27:02
their Christian
27:02
experience
27:03
and concerning
27:05
which they
27:06
must be
27:07
very mindful.
27:10
If it's a
27:11
warning from
27:11
God it's
27:13
worth listening
27:14
to we
27:15
have to
27:16
listen to
27:17
it.
27:18
And the
27:19
reflection that
27:20
he does
27:21
have he
27:21
places the
27:22
spotlight on
27:24
a group of
27:25
people and
27:27
he describes
27:28
that group of
27:29
people in
27:29
verse number
27:30
four.
27:32
Those who
27:33
have once
27:33
been enlightened
27:34
those who
27:36
have tasted
27:37
the heavenly
27:37
gift who
27:39
have shared
27:40
in the Holy
27:40
Spirit and
27:42
have tasted
27:42
the goodness
27:43
of the
27:44
word of
27:44
God and
27:45
the perish
27:46
of the
27:46
age to
27:49
come.
27:51
They were
27:52
once
27:52
enlightened.
27:56
The light
27:56
of God's
27:57
Spirit shone
27:58
into their
27:59
lives.
28:00
They're part
28:00
of this
28:00
Christian
28:01
community and
28:02
as being
28:02
part of it
28:03
they themselves
28:04
received that
28:06
measure of
28:07
light.
28:09
Along with
28:10
that they
28:12
tasted
28:12
the heavenly
28:14
gift.
28:17
They tasted
28:18
something of
28:20
the grace
28:20
of salvation.
28:23
We can
28:24
taste something
28:25
and not
28:26
swallow it
28:26
because we
28:28
don't like
28:28
it.
28:30
We can
28:30
taste it
28:31
and swallow
28:32
it.
28:33
But here are
28:33
those who
28:35
have tasted
28:35
something of
28:37
the experience
28:38
the grace
28:39
of salvation.
28:42
And they
28:43
are also
28:43
those who
28:44
have shared
28:44
in the
28:45
Holy Spirit
28:45
tasted the
28:46
goodness of
28:47
the word
28:47
of God
28:47
and the
28:48
powers of
28:49
the age
28:49
to come.
28:51
The word
28:52
of God
28:52
has touched
28:53
their lives.
28:55
The kingdom
28:56
of God
28:57
which is
28:57
future
28:58
which is not
28:59
yet has
28:59
touched
29:00
their lives
29:00
also.
29:02
Their lives
29:03
have been
29:04
impacted by
29:05
the word
29:06
of God
29:06
and by
29:07
the gospel
29:07
the good
29:08
news of
29:08
Jesus Christ
29:09
and they
29:10
have seen
29:10
the light.
29:17
And it
29:18
draws our
29:19
attention
29:19
to what
29:22
can happen
29:24
and to
29:26
how much
29:27
can happen
29:27
and yet
29:29
there is no
29:30
genuine
29:31
faith.
29:32
life.
29:33
And that
29:34
alarms me
29:35
tonight.
29:36
And it
29:37
should alarm
29:37
all of us
29:38
that we
29:40
can look
29:40
as if we
29:41
have all
29:41
the
29:41
characteristics
29:42
of being
29:43
a person
29:44
of faith
29:44
and being
29:44
the child
29:45
of God
29:46
and has
29:47
gone no
29:48
deeper than
29:49
passing
29:50
experience
29:50
in life
29:51
where because
29:52
of the fact
29:53
that we're
29:54
in the
29:54
community
29:54
of faith
29:55
and under
29:56
the ministry
29:56
of the gospel
29:57
where the
29:58
Holy Spirit
29:58
of God
29:59
is working
29:59
that because
30:00
of all of
30:01
that
30:01
our lives
30:02
were impacted
30:03
for a
30:04
while.
30:07
We need
30:08
to allow
30:09
ourselves
30:11
to reflect
30:13
upon that
30:14
as the
30:15
writer wanted
30:16
them to
30:17
reflect
30:18
upon it.
30:21
They were
30:22
bearing
30:23
all the
30:24
hallmarks
30:25
of genuine
30:27
faith
30:28
and
30:29
Christianity.
30:31
it seems
30:32
that if
30:32
we were
30:33
going to
30:33
look
30:34
at this
30:36
group of
30:36
people that
30:37
he is
30:37
referring to
30:38
and we
30:38
to observe
30:39
where they're
30:40
at
30:41
we would
30:42
conclude
30:42
these are
30:44
Christians
30:45
they are
30:45
people
30:46
of faith.
30:50
And the
30:50
reflection
30:51
takes us
30:51
to the
30:53
way in
30:53
which
30:53
he speaks
30:55
about
30:55
something
30:56
that's
30:56
impossible.
30:57
impossible.
30:59
And we
30:59
know that
31:00
in the
31:00
Old Testament
31:01
the Bible
31:02
tells us
31:02
with God
31:04
nothing is
31:05
impossible.
31:07
He has
31:07
the power
31:08
to do
31:08
everything
31:09
that he
31:10
must do
31:10
in order to
31:11
fulfill his
31:12
own plans.
31:13
Nothing is
31:14
impossible
31:15
with him.
31:17
In this
31:17
letter itself
31:18
it's impossible
31:19
for God
31:19
to lie.
31:20
It simply
31:21
cannot happen.
31:22
And here
31:24
there is
31:25
something else
31:26
that is
31:27
impossible.
31:29
And it
31:29
is in
31:30
relation to
31:30
God
31:31
but more
31:32
especially
31:33
it's in
31:33
relation to
31:34
you and
31:34
to me.
31:36
And the
31:37
impossibility
31:37
is with
31:38
regard to
31:39
those who
31:41
may fall
31:43
away.
31:44
If they
31:45
then fall
31:46
away.
31:48
If they
31:49
disappear
31:50
over the
31:51
edge
31:51
they're
31:54
on the
31:55
edge
31:55
anyway
31:56
because
31:56
the
31:57
faith
31:57
that they
31:58
have
31:58
is not
31:58
genuine
31:59
it hasn't
32:00
really
32:00
changed
32:01
their
32:01
hearts.
32:04
And
32:05
because of
32:06
the
32:06
disappointments
32:07
and the
32:07
distractions
32:07
and the
32:09
discouragements
32:10
they are
32:11
ready to
32:12
become
32:12
disconnected
32:13
and if
32:14
that
32:14
happens
32:14
if they
32:15
fall
32:16
over the
32:16
edge
32:16
if they
32:17
abandon
32:17
their
32:18
faith
32:18
what is
32:21
it
32:21
that's
32:23
impossible
32:23
it's
32:25
impossible
32:25
to
32:27
restore
32:27
them
32:28
again
32:29
to
32:32
repentance
32:32
the
32:35
repentance
32:36
that is
32:37
at the
32:37
very
32:38
beginning
32:38
of the
32:39
journey
32:39
of faith
32:40
the
32:41
repentance
32:41
where I
32:42
change my
32:43
mind
32:43
about my
32:44
sin
32:44
because
32:45
God
32:45
has
32:45
shone
32:46
his
32:46
light
32:46
upon it
32:47
and I
32:47
turn
32:48
away
32:48
from my
32:48
sin
32:49
and I
32:49
seek
32:50
to put
32:50
my
32:50
trust
32:51
in the
32:51
Lord
32:51
Jesus
32:51
there is
32:52
that
32:53
physical
32:55
turning
32:55
around
32:56
in the
32:56
Old
32:56
Testament
32:56
there is
32:58
that
32:58
heart
32:58
turning
32:59
around
32:59
in the
33:00
life
33:01
of
33:01
faith
33:01
in the
33:02
New
33:02
Testament
33:03
there is
33:04
that
33:04
repentance
33:05
and the
33:07
writer is
33:07
saying here
33:08
that if
33:09
there are
33:09
those
33:10
and they
33:12
did taste
33:13
something
33:13
of
33:14
Christian
33:14
experience
33:15
and it
33:16
didn't
33:17
really
33:17
reach
33:18
their
33:19
hearts
33:19
then if
33:22
they
33:22
subsequently
33:23
fall away
33:24
for whatever
33:25
reason
33:26
then it is
33:27
impossible
33:28
for them
33:28
to be
33:30
restored
33:30
again
33:31
to
33:31
repentance
33:32
there is
33:34
no lifting
33:35
up what
33:36
has fallen
33:36
down in
33:36
this case
33:37
but regularly
33:39
through the
33:39
Bible we
33:40
see that
33:40
God is
33:41
the person
33:42
who lifts
33:43
up those
33:43
who are
33:43
cast down
33:44
he lifts
33:45
up those
33:45
who fall
33:46
those who
33:48
are as
33:48
genuine
33:49
people
33:49
but in
33:50
this case
33:50
they are
33:54
a separate
33:54
case
33:54
they don't
33:57
have the
33:57
genuine
33:57
faith
33:58
they have
33:59
claims
34:00
they could
34:01
be confused
34:02
but they
34:03
don't have
34:04
the genuine
34:04
faith
34:05
and if
34:06
they fall
34:06
away
34:07
they cannot
34:08
be restored
34:09
it is
34:10
impossible
34:11
and it is
34:12
impossible
34:13
he says
34:13
because
34:14
they are
34:17
crucifying
34:17
once again
34:18
the son of
34:19
God to
34:19
their own
34:19
harm
34:20
and told him
34:21
up to
34:21
contempt
34:23
which of
34:25
course
34:25
literally
34:26
cannot
34:27
happen
34:28
Jesus died
34:30
for sin
34:30
once
34:31
and he
34:32
will return
34:33
at the
34:33
end of
34:34
this age
34:34
as we read
34:34
in chapter
34:35
9
34:35
at the
34:36
end of
34:36
this age
34:36
without
34:37
sin
34:37
he will
34:39
come to
34:40
save his
34:40
people
34:41
he died
34:42
once
34:42
for sin
34:43
but what
34:45
the writer
34:46
does mean
34:46
is that
34:47
when this
34:48
happens
34:48
the falling
34:50
away
34:51
leads to
34:52
them
34:52
aligning
34:53
themselves
34:54
with the
34:55
kind of
34:56
people
34:57
that actually
34:58
hated the
34:58
Lord Jesus
34:59
and crucified
35:00
him on
35:01
Calvary's
35:02
cross
35:02
aligning
35:04
themselves
35:04
with those
35:05
who are
35:07
the enemies
35:08
of Jesus
35:09
and who
35:10
are the
35:11
enemies
35:11
of God's
35:13
kingdom
35:13
and there
35:16
is
35:16
an example
35:18
in chapter
35:19
11
35:19
and chapter
35:20
12 of
35:21
this letter
35:21
and it's
35:23
the example
35:24
of
35:24
Esau
35:26
the brother
35:28
of Jacob
35:29
he sold
35:31
the blessing
35:32
he sold
35:33
the birthright
35:34
they were
35:36
meaningless
35:36
he didn't
35:37
see any
35:37
value in
35:38
them
35:38
but though
35:42
he
35:42
sorted
35:43
with tears
35:44
afterwards
35:45
there was
35:47
no place
35:47
for him
35:48
to have
35:49
them
35:49
restored
35:50
and that's
35:53
an awful
35:54
place to be
35:54
that I
35:57
can
35:57
fall away
35:59
from where
35:59
I am
36:00
and be in a
36:01
place where
36:02
I cannot be
36:02
restored
36:03
and like
36:04
Esau
36:05
I come to
36:06
the place
36:06
where I
36:07
suddenly realize
36:08
what I've
36:09
lost
36:09
and yet
36:11
it's without
36:13
my reach
36:13
it's out
36:15
there and I
36:16
let it go
36:16
I turned my
36:18
back upon it
36:19
and it's
36:20
no longer
36:21
available
36:22
to me
36:23
the reflection
36:25
I'm going
36:29
to close
36:30
with a
36:31
reflection
36:32
from personal
36:33
experience
36:33
which I
36:34
don't do
36:34
often
36:34
but when
36:36
I was
36:37
struggling
36:38
and trying
36:39
to seek
36:40
the Lord
36:40
and trying
36:42
to put
36:43
my trust
36:43
in the Lord
36:44
Jesus
36:44
and struggling
36:45
with all that
36:46
was happening
36:47
around me
36:48
I found
36:49
myself in
36:50
a place
36:50
and the
36:51
following
36:52
morning I
36:52
woke up
36:53
from that
36:54
place
36:54
and I
36:55
realized
36:56
that unless
36:58
I straightened
36:59
out my
36:59
life
37:00
that the
37:01
most precious
37:01
thing
37:02
that I
37:03
could see
37:03
in life
37:03
would be
37:04
lost to
37:04
me
37:04
it was
37:05
reflecting
37:06
on something
37:07
like this
37:07
this is
37:08
what I
37:09
want more
37:09
than anything
37:10
and I'm
37:11
not now
37:11
going to
37:11
let anything
37:12
else get
37:13
in the way
37:13
of that
37:14
so I
37:15
give my
37:15
life
37:16
to seeking
37:17
to know
37:18
the Lord
37:19
Jesus
37:19
and perhaps
37:20
you may be
37:21
like that
37:21
this evening
37:22
struggling
37:23
with faith
37:25
with issues
37:25
of faith
37:26
struggling
37:26
and coming
37:27
to put your
37:27
trust in
37:28
the Lord
37:28
Jesus
37:28
well if
37:30
you are
37:31
God is
37:32
telling you
37:33
tonight
37:33
don't let
37:35
that go
37:36
don't shut
37:38
that door
37:38
pray that
37:40
God will
37:41
will help
37:42
you through
37:42
that process
37:43
and will
37:44
bring you
37:44
through the
37:45
door into
37:45
his kingdom
37:46
and be
37:47
in the place
37:49
with the
37:49
people of
37:50
God
37:50
concerning
37:51
whom it
37:51
is through
37:51
that it
37:52
is impossible
37:53
to get
37:53
them out
37:54
of the
37:54
kingdom
37:54
and that
37:55
it is
37:56
impossible
37:56
for anyone
37:57
to take
37:58
them out
37:58
of the
37:59
hands
37:59
of God
38:00
may God
38:02
help us
38:02
to review
38:03
may help
38:04
us to hear
38:04
the recommendation
38:05
and may help
38:07
us to reflect
38:08
for the
38:09
improvement
38:09
of our
38:10
faith
38:10
and for the
38:11
transformation
38:12
of our
38:13
everyday
38:13
lives
38:14
may God
38:14
bless his
38:14
word
38:14
let us
38:15
pray
38:15
most
38:17
gracious
38:17
God
38:18
we
38:18
rejoice
38:18
in you
38:19
as
38:19
the
38:20
God
38:20
who
38:20
speaks
38:21
into
38:21
our
38:21
lives
38:22
and
38:22
who
38:23
highlights
38:24
for us
38:24
the
38:24
dangers
38:25
that we
38:26
are open
38:26
to
38:27
and
38:28
who
38:28
draws
38:28
our
38:28
attention
38:29
to the
38:29
riches
38:29
of your
38:30
grace
38:30
in the
38:30
gospel
38:31
help us
38:32
oh Lord
38:32
God
38:32
tonight
38:33
to see
38:34
both of
38:35
these
38:35
things
38:35
and help
38:36
us
38:36
to see
38:37
more and
38:38
more of
38:38
the value
38:39
and the
38:39
preciousness
38:40
of the
38:41
redemption
38:41
you have
38:42
secured
38:42
in the
38:42
Lord
38:43
Jesus
38:43
and give
38:44
to us
38:45
to put
38:45
our
38:45
trust
38:45
in his
38:46
name
38:46
day
38:47
by day
38:47
and to
38:48
live
38:48
for you
38:48
to hear
38:49
what you
38:49
have to
38:50
say
38:50
to us
38:50
to live
38:51
our lives
38:52
in accordance
38:52
with it
38:52
and to
38:53
so discover
38:54
the joy
38:55
of knowing
38:56
that you
38:56
are our
38:57
God
38:57
and our
38:58
saviour
38:58
our
38:59
father
38:59
in heaven
39:00
who cares
39:01
for us
39:01
endlessly
39:02
we pray
39:02
hear us
39:03
and accept
39:03
us
39:04
for Jesus
39:04
sake
39:04
Amen
39:06
the
39:12
closing
39:12
psalm
39:13
is
39:13
psalm
39:13
number
39:13
71
39:14
in the
39:14
Scottish
39:15
Psalter
39:15
at
39:17
verse
39:17
number
39:18
14
39:18
psalm
39:20
71
39:20
at
39:20
verse
39:21
number
39:21
14
39:21
it's
39:22
on
39:22
page
39:22
3
39:23
1
39:23
1
39:24
but I
39:28
with
39:29
expectation
39:30
will hope
39:31
continually
39:31
and yet
39:32
with praises
39:33
more and
39:34
more
39:34
I will
39:35
thee
39:35
magnify
39:36
and we're
39:37
singing from
39:37
verse 14
39:38
to
39:38
verse 17
39:39
to God's
39:40
praise
39:40
but I
39:48
with
39:49
expectation
39:52
will hope
39:58
continue
40:01
and yet
40:05
with praises
40:09
more and more
40:13
I will
40:16
be magnified
40:19
thy
40:23
justice
40:25
and
40:27
salvation
40:31
I
40:33
must
40:35
approach
40:37
a
40:38
true
40:40
in
40:41
over
40:43
it
40:45
for
40:46
I
40:48
thereof
40:50
that
40:51
numbers
40:53
do
40:54
not
40:56
know
40:57
and
40:59
I
41:01
will
41:02
haunts
41:03
and
41:05
be
41:05
go
41:07
on
41:08
it's
41:10
strength
41:11
of
41:12
God
41:13
the
41:14
Lord
41:16
!
41:17
of
41:18
thy
41:19
own
41:20
righteousness
41:22
in
41:24
life
41:26
alone
41:28
I
41:30
will
41:31
report
41:33
for
41:35
even
41:37
thought
41:38
my
41:40
youth
41:42
O
41:43
love
41:44
I
41:46
thee
41:47
I
41:48
have
41:48
been
41:51
told
41:51
and
41:54
never
41:55
do
41:57
I
41:59
have
42:00
been
42:01
here
42:03
the
42:03
wondrous
42:05
the
42:06
Lord
42:07
I
42:08
been
42:08
here
42:10
after
42:12
the
42:12
malediction
42:12
I
42:12
go to
42:13
the
42:13
door
42:13
on
42:13
my
42:13
right
42:13
the
42:15
grace
42:16
of
42:16
the
42:16
Lord
42:16
Jesus
42:16
Christ
42:17
the
42:18
love
42:18
of
42:18
God
42:18
the
42:19
Father
42:19
and
42:19
the
42:19
fellowship
42:19
of
42:20
the
42:20
Holy
42:20
Spirit
42:20
be
42:21
with
42:21
you
42:21
all
42:22
now
42:22
and
42:22
forever
42:22
more
42:23
Amen