How are we to Live?

[0:00] The End My question tonight is how are we to live? How are we to live? How are we to live in this present world?

[0:19] ! We're living in an apostate age. Isn't that so? A godless world. A wicked generation.

[0:30] In 2 Timothy 3 we read of this pleasure addiction, this latter day falling aside. In 2 Timothy 3 it says this note also, that in the last days perilous times shall come for men to be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce despisers of those that are good, traitors, heavy minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.

[1:03] Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Here I put it to you, we see some evident signs of the 21st century. This is how someone has kind of crystallised this.

[1:14] Based on these verses we've just read. Where it says lovers of themselves. Lovers of their own selves. Humanism. We see covetous, lovers of money.

[1:26] Materialism. And we see lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Hedonism. These are what has been called the three marks of the prominent philosophies of our world today.

[1:43] It's so evident, isn't it? We see these things. Humanism. It's all humanism. No thought of God. It's all about self. Materialism, all about amassing wealth to ourselves.

[1:55] Hedonism, all about the pursuit of pleasure. Evident signs of the 21st century you could say. These are sobering days indeed.

[2:06] And our Lord warns us of a time where iniquity shall abound. And the love of many shall wank cold. They'll have cold hearts. Matthew 24, 12.

[2:18] The signs of the times are all around. And I can foretell a definite time ahead of a great global warming. Climate change is going to be a reality for this planet.

[2:33] The Lord Jesus is coming soon. And it says when he comes he will burn up the earth with fervent heat. We are living on borrowed time people today. 2 Peter 1, 3, verse 9 through 14 says, The Lord is not slain concerning his promise, but as some men count slateness.

[2:50] But his longsuffering to us were not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 3 Peter 1, 4. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.

[3:07] 4 Peter 1, 4. The earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up. 5 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?

[3:23] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness? It goes on, verse 12, Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens shall be on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.

[3:44] Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

[4:01] The context here is of a world being dissolved. We know the Bible speaks of a new heaven and a new earth. The earth and the heavens will be renewed. It's going to warm up.

[4:14] Who's glad about that? It's a bit cold tonight, but it's going to warm up in a big way, big time. With fervent heat, as the Lord will renew the earth and the heavens.

[4:25] And so in faith we look to that time, the coming of our Lord, we look to that time and to be preparing for that time at the end of the age, at the end of the world, as it were. And so what manner of persons ought we to be?

[4:39] In all holy conversation, which encompasses conduct, our way of life. In all holy conversation and godliness.

[4:50] And so what we are going to do is to prepare for the day of judgment.

[5:05] To prepare everyone present. It's my duty before almighty God. And I take that very seriously. That this readiness, this readying of ourselves for the coming of the day of God is a very awesome and solemn duty.

[5:23] And I need to tell you the truth. I have to tell you the truth. And to address in particular at this time this pressing question, how are we to live in this present world?

[5:35] Paul writes to Titus of the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. And as to how we are to make ready for his coming.

[5:48] In Titus 2 verse 11 through 14 it says, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.

[6:06] Notice that we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. We'll go to that. And going on verse 13, Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God, the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

[6:23] Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people, a special people, zealous of good works.

[6:35] Friends, this is in the context of the blessed hope, that glorious, glad, gracious hope, that certain joyful expectation of our coming Lord and King.

[6:49] And the Bible is God's message to us. It tells us how we are to be prepared. It's God's divine plan that must be our priority. How we are to live in the light of these days ahead of this present world.

[7:03] And he warns us through his word. He instructs us how we are to live in this increasingly godless world that we live in. You know, I've seen things in my home, in my family that tear me up inside.

[7:18] You know, there's people here that are feeling like that. Because the devil is tearing families apart. He is destroying people. It's an increasingly godless world. And it's our sacred duty to hear and consider the word of God.

[7:31] And to take action. To not be hearers only, but doers of it. To put it into action. To translate it into the walk in our shoes. Our sacred duty to hear this truth.

[7:44] This life transforming truth that changes our thinking and our living. And the word of God says this in Titus 2 verse 12. God, again, teaching us, grace teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live how?

[8:02] Soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. How are we to live in this present world? Firstly, we should live soberly.

[8:14] Isn't it so that these are sobering times? Every time you turn the news on or you see some media report of what is going on in our planet, in our nation.

[8:27] Time is short. Time is short, people. These are times that call for soberness. And yet it's as if drunkenness and lightness prevails. Even in the church quarters.

[8:39] People just think nothing of drinking. And drinking to make themselves stupid. I mean, how much drink does it take?

[8:50] People don't take the Bible seriously and they mock the things of God. The opposite of being sober is being drunk. It's frivolity and disrespect.

[9:02] This is what's going on in our world. There's a disrespect for the things of God. There's a mockery of the things of God. Rather than taking these things seriously and solemnly and treating these truths reverently and with godly fear.

[9:17] Instead of trembling at the word of God, it's as if it's just some thing you just gloss over and treat casually. But the Bible says we are to be temperate, to be sober, to be thoughtful, to be wise, brothers and sisters.

[9:33] We are living in a generation where people are ignorant of biblical doctrine. It just astonishes me. When you try to explain something, people just dismiss it and do not receive it.

[9:48] Their ears are deaf to the truth. And they'd rather go and follow some fanciful stories. People are ignorant of biblical doctrine and they will not be exhorted.

[10:00] People live carelessly, unheeding, down the helter-skelter, just doing their own merry thing without a thought to what they are doing.

[10:13] And there's a lack of soberness, people. This world has sucked people in. Divine truth is under attack in every way. And as a people we need revival.

[10:26] We need revival. Revival. Revival. Coming back to life again. A moral, spiritual, holy revival. And by and large the church is drifting.

[10:37] It's drifting. It's all over the place. The signs, you know, again, I'm just totally astonished at the bewildering things that are going on.

[10:50] You know, I could show you some video clips of what's going on in some quarters. I'd rather not promote it. I'd rather not. It's like, what does it say? That some things it's rather you don't speak about them.

[11:02] But the church is powerless. It's drifting. And many Christians are spiritually lazy. Stagnant. Stuck in the mud. And so you have in some quarters churches reinventing themselves.

[11:16] Rebranding themselves. Reimagining themselves. To be something that's totally out of accord with the scriptures. They don't care what the scripture says. It's what about pulls the numbers.

[11:27] Doesn't matter about biblical standards and biblical values and biblical principles. They'd rather have coffee shop based churches with interpretive dance. And drama skits.

[11:39] And pop psychology from the pulpit. You know, this is what you hear. I mean, some, I was kind of, I don't, I rarely go to the influencers church. I've got to say that.

[11:50] But there was one, one Sunday, I think it was about two or three years ago. I just, I happened to be free that Sunday morning. And I walked into the influencers church. And the message was, how to win friends and influence people.

[12:04] That was the message for the service today. It's all very well. I like to win friends and influence people. But it's not something to preach about. It's not something that the holy man of God, opening the holy word of God in front of the holy people of God, should be playing around with.

[12:21] This is what's going on in the name of Christ. And many people these days seem to have come under this influence, this general carelessness. And we see this general carelessness in all aspects.

[12:33] In many aspects, such as, for example, in the area of music. And I know this is one, oh, that's a preference, preacher. That's a preference. We don't talk about preferences.

[12:45] But such as in the area of music, there is a carelessness that's creeping in. Music is and always has been a vehicle for opening up the consciousness to influences.

[12:58] Good and bad. Devilish. And it's a doorway. It moves people along with it. We know that. The world knows that. It moves people. You know, they start shaking and jiving and bopping and there's an emotional high that comes from the music.

[13:14] As they become entranced by it. And the music sets the tempo in the church. So that at its heart, it has that foundation to a church.

[13:25] And so, let it be solidly biblical. That is my plea. Let the music that we sing be solidly biblical. Founded on the Bible. We should be teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.

[13:40] What we sing should be doctrinal. It should be truth. It should be scriptural. And so we must take these things seriously, people. And where it comes from too, the origin of the music matters.

[13:55] It matters. You open the door and it just gets ever wider. This is what we sing in churches in our land. They're adopting Hillsong.

[14:06] Churches like ours. Adopting Hillsong. And you could kiss them goodbye. They're gone. They're gone. There is much need for soberness today.

[14:17] Many who name the name of Christ seem to lack soberness. Many seem to care little about consuming alcohol and with drunkenness. This is happening. Because Christians are ignorant of these things.

[14:30] They're under the influence, spiritually intoxicated. And we're in a spiritual conflict these days. We have much need of soberness. We should live soberly. Soberly.

[14:41] We specifically urged, be sober. Be sober. Don't mess your mind with drugs. With anything that's going to mess your mind. Don't have a bar of it. Be sober, it says.

[14:52] Many times. 1 Peter 4 verse 7 it says, But the end of all things is at hand. Be ye therefore sober. And watch unto prayer. The end of all things is at hand, people.

[15:05] There's no time to play games anymore. No time to play church anymore. You've got to get radical, people. We are living in the end days. And it's time to pray. It's time to be on red alert.

[15:17] To watch out lest we be deceived. This is what our Lord tells us in Matthew. To beware lest any man deceive you. Take heed. Be on the alert for our spiritual enemy is at work.

[15:29] In 1 Peter 5 verse 8 it says, Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

[15:41] Friends, we have much need of soberness. It's not a game. Christianity is not something that we toy with. And trifle with. Or treat as some passing interest.

[15:53] Or just some hobby. That we make ourselves busy on a Sunday. For a couple of hours or so. Not something that we treat casually. And with little commitment. But it is a cause to be sold out for.

[16:06] To be faithful to our church. And its ministry. How a church operates is not something to be treated lightly. Or in a thoughtless way. Now if we can enjoy church.

[16:18] There's a gladness to church. It's not a morbid, mournful thing. There's a rejoicing. And a gladness of heart. But it's not something to treat in a flippant, uncaring, unthinking way.

[16:30] As to what God wants of us. And so, you know, I stand before God as one who will be judged for what I speak. I take it very seriously. And so, let's be wary of this.

[16:44] This prevailing flippancy that happens. This glib and careless attitude. And it can capture us. Because it's contagious. It's something that we can catch.

[16:55] That when we see others slacking. We can follow suit. And we can get taken in. By this lack of soberness. But rather, people of God.

[17:07] Let us wake up, be sober and pray. Take captive every thought. Every action. Every attitude. That we remain faithful to our Lord and Saviour.

[17:18] These are sobering times. So, number one. We should live soberly. Live soberly. Secondly, we should live righteously. It matters what is right.

[17:30] What is right. Now, there's a lot of talk these days about rights. Human rights. About rights of this and rights of that. You know, it's almost like animals are going to have the same rights as humans one day.

[17:44] You're not going to be able to have that lamb roast. It's like rights have gone completely nuts. And yet, often what people say is right. Or they fight for the rights for.

[17:57] Often what is wrong. Often what is wrong. We've lost our foundation. Because we've lost the sense of right and wrong. And these days, it seems as in the Bible days.

[18:08] Every man does what is right in his own eyes. You know, there's a lot of talk about values these days. Especially with the elections here and there.

[18:20] You know, lots of talk about values. Values. You know, Labor values. Whatever they are. Green values. LGBTIQ values.

[18:31] Values. Politicians don't mind talking about values unless you ask them, Whose values are these values? And why do you think homosexuals say they have the right to get married?

[18:47] Because every man does what is right in his own eyes. You know, judges strike down laws of common sense in favour of political correctness.

[18:59] To protect all manner of vile things. And we've lost our moral compass in these days. Because right is wrong and wrong is right.

[19:10] That's what they're telling us. Who determines what is right and what is wrong? How does an atheist decide what is right and what is wrong? You know, is lying wrong? Who says so?

[19:21] Thou shalt not lie. Thou shalt not, what is it? Give false witness. Give false witness. You know. Even the atheist has to turn to the book to know what is right and wrong.

[19:34] Because there's a moral code there that's in every man and woman. And God has set this as the determinant of what is right and wrong. Now there's a story told years ago how in a small Missouri town there was two preacher boys.

[19:49] And they had a little dog there. He came in their yard and they were playing with a little dog. That they had found it was black with a white tail. And they wanted to keep this little puppy dog.

[20:00] They loved him so much. And the preacher dad thought it was a fine thing too. And then they heard about a new family had moved in down the road. And how they'd lost their little dog. And they had a great little dog. Who was black with a white tail.

[20:12] And their preacher dad didn't want to have to give up the dog. So he painted the white tail black. And so when the new neighbours came and knocked on the door and said, Have you seen our little dog?

[20:32] He said, No. The tail is the wrong colour. What could they say? What could they say? And those two little boys of this preacher man, their names are Frank and Jesse James.

[20:45] They would become two of the most notorious criminals of all time. Their preacher dad had taught them how to lie and how to be wicked.

[20:59] What a reproach that is. The world has warped values about what is right and what is wrong.

[21:10] We're living in a world that says rights is wrong and wrong is right. Light is darkness and darkness is light. Good is evil and evil is good. How do we know what is right?

[21:22] What is true? How do we know what God wants for us? It's in here. The Word of God. It says, It says, All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

[21:41] This is how we know what righteousness is. Thus saith the Lord, it says, 413 times in your Bible. It is written, it says, 80 times in the Bible. And if we want to live right, to know right, to do right, to get right with God, we need to follow the book.

[21:58] If God says it is sin, it is sin. If God says it is wrong, it is wrong. If God says it is right, it is right.

[22:09] You know, I think it's time that we got dogmatic about the Bible. Dogmatic about it. God mocks the worldly wise scholars and their so-called wisdom.

[22:22] In 1 Corinthians 3, 19, the wisdom in this world is fulllessness with God. This Word is our treasure. It's our food. It's our sword.

[22:34] We must be faithful to it, to speak the truth, to take and stand for what is right, what is decent. And these are the values that we need.

[22:45] These are the values that we want in our politicians, in our government. The values of the Bible. We are Bible Christians. God says it and that settles it.

[22:57] We've got 66 books, 1,189 chapters, 31,102 verses that are the words of the living God. We have a word perfect Bible.

[23:09] The scripture cannot be broken. And in Isaiah 66, 5 it says, these words ought to make us tremble. We ought to tremble that we love them and take them seriously. Because truth does not change.

[23:21] Truth does not change with the seasons and fans of men. Truth is not up for debate or discussion. God said it, that's it. He's revealed it, that's it.

[23:33] And we love the truth. We hate lies and sin. So let's be that people that love righteousness and hate every false way. We love and proclaim the truths of God.

[23:46] We know what is righteous and what is right because God's told us that. And it's very clear for us in what he's told us. So we can recognize and reject the lies, what is false.

[23:57] We can discern what is right and we can discern what is wrong. So people of God today, at its heart, the church of our time has really swallowed a lie.

[24:08] The carnal, ecumenical church has swallowed the old lie. I liked it, Aaron, leading the worship. He was the worship leader. As the people of God were down at the bottom of the mountain.

[24:21] The worship leader as they were jiving and dancing and praising around the golden calf. And we're seeing that today. We're seeing that today where people have lost track of what is right because they've got away from the book.

[24:35] Friends, this is the problem we have. And Aussies are falling for this. Left, right and centre in this worldly degenerate fake Christianity. This counterfeit Jesus, counterfeit gospel, counterfeit salvation at the end of the day.

[24:51] A false brand of Christianity. A fashionable, sugar-coated, smooth-talking kind of Christianity. As someone has put it, there's no command in the word of God to entertain one another.

[25:04] But there is a command to exhort one another. That's what we try to do as we prayerfully seek to worship. Our object is not to entertain, but to exhort.

[25:16] And so, prayerfully, that's our object. We're distinct from the Canaanites as the Israel, as it were. We're distinct as the people of God.

[25:29] Of course, Israel is Israel, but I'm just using that as an example. But we are distinct from the world around us as the people of God, as the Church of God. And so we are to live righteously.

[25:40] To live the truth. You know, truth and error has nothing in common. We cannot join in unity with such things where there's a compromise.

[25:53] But rather, we warn against such things. So, our world needs truth today. And the word of God says, every word of God is pure. Proverbs 30 verse 5.

[26:04] Every word of God is pure. And so we can trust and not trifle with God's word. People are doing what is right in their own eyes because they've lost the word.

[26:16] It's lost. They've neglected the words of God. And we need to get back to the book. As heresy creeps in, it's because the book has been neglected.

[26:27] And we can get all kinds of fancy things, padded seats and state-of-the-art, razzmatazz, everything that moves and shakes and shines.

[26:38] But if we lose God, it's not worth a cracker, is it? It's nothing at all. And when there's a softness, a weakness, a weakening of the word of God, we need to get back to fall in love with the word of God.

[26:52] And not fall in love with the love of the world. So, let's have that renewed vigilance, that renewed discernment and that sound doctrine as we get back to the Bible.

[27:04] So, secondly, we should live righteously. And thirdly, we should live godly. We should live godly. We're meant to be about our Father's business. This is precious.

[27:16] This is critical, vital, essential. God's work should preoccupy us. It should be our food. It's to do His will. To care about pleasing God.

[27:28] Do you want to be a powerful Christian? That is my prayer for you. That we be a powerful church. It's my heart's crying. To be that people prepared for the coming day of God.

[27:39] To see a people truly converted. A faithful people. Desirous of fellowship. Hungry for the word. In earnest to be at every meeting. A godly people. It is my heart's desire for you.

[27:51] To be that glorious church. A church on fire. Radical. Victorious. Walking close to God. In this age of compromise. That's my prayer for you.

[28:02] Noah was found faithful. Even in a time of total despair. And falling aside. In a wicked generation he was found faithful.

[28:13] Where are the godly? Is the question. We should live godly. You know the powers of evil are all around us. The backsliding. The shallowness. The deception.

[28:24] We're living in an unholy generation. And carnal Christianity is our greatest threat. It would be easy just to be like the church down the road.

[28:36] It would be easy just to be carnal. To give you an ear tickling. Pat on the back. Warm and fuzzy. She'll be right message today. It would be easier for me to do that to you.

[28:48] But we're living in an unholy generation. A generation that minds earthly things. And there's need for a call to godliness. To practical holiness.

[28:59] To a separation. The truth is Bible Christianity is the only true religion. Bible salvation is the only true salvation.

[29:13] Now that's intolerant. That's divisive preacher. You're going to upset somebody by saying that. But with God there is a dividing line. There's the sheep and there's the goats.

[29:25] In Exodus 32. Moses said, who is on the Lord's side? People had to make a decision. What side they were going to stand on. And likewise too.

[29:36] We have to step over the line. We have to be different. Not to conform. God is holy. His spirit is holy. His scriptures are holy.

[29:48] His angels. His temple. His name. The four beasts at his throne praise his holiness. You cannot serve God acceptably without holiness.

[29:59] You cannot see God without holiness. Your prayers are only heard if you are holy. He calls us to be a holy people.

[30:12] To set our affection on things above. To be a separated people. The will of God for your life is holiness. God is holy. So we too are to be holy.

[30:25] We are called to be saints. Which means holy ones. Now there's many pressing scriptures. These are really challenging thoughts aren't they?

[30:36] If we are to really take these thoughts and consider them personally today. The Bible says we are to be unspotted from the world. And touch not the unclean thing.

[30:48] Jones 1.27 Are we spotted with our entertainment habits? With our friends? With our speaking? With our thoughts? With our jokes?

[30:59] With our music? With our music? Is it fleshly? Or is it spiritual? We can easily get spotted by the world. It's all around us.

[31:10] In the use of our money, our time, what we occupy ourselves with. Holiness is something we should aspire to. Be encouraged to.

[31:21] Commit to seeking and being that people. To be that holy people. And not by a legalistic trying and striving of your own flesh.

[31:36] But as you receive his holiness. Enrobing you. With his righteousness. And we'll see that it becomes a part of us. And we won't want to play with sin or excuse it. But that in all things, whether we eat or drink or whatsoever we do.

[31:47] We do it all to the glory of God. And it says that godliness with contentment is great gain. So friends, we need holy fathers. Not like preacher James.

[32:00] Holy fathers. Who will live with our holy fathers. Who will live with our holy fathers. Who will live with our holy fathers. So friends, we need holy fathers.

[32:11] Not like preacher James. Holy fathers. Who will teach their children what is godly. Holy mothers.

[32:22] Who will be an example to their children. The Bible tells of a people who have lost their way. As blinded mentally, spiritually and in their hearts.

[32:35] Ephesians 4 verse 17. Ephesians 4 verse 17. This I say therefore and testify in the Lord. That he henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk.

[32:46] In the vanity of their mind. Having the understanding darkened. Being alienated from the life of God. Through the ignorance that is in them. Because of the blindness of their heart. Who have been past feeling.

[32:57] Have given themselves over unto lasciviousness. To work all uncleanness with greediness. So giving yourselves over unto immorality. Uncleanness. It talks about a people blinded.

[33:09] With the blinkers on their minds. On their hearts. How are we to live? How are we to live? How are we to live? As these who walk in the blindness and the vanity of their mind.

[33:22] Having their understanding darkened. How are we to live? In the light of the coming of our Lord and Saviour. We are to live soberly. Righteously. And Godly.

[33:33] Soberly. Righteously. And Godly. Friends. Tonight. We are living on borrowed time. We are to put away our idols. To repent. To avoid even the appearance of evil.

[33:45] In Psalm 139. David cried. Search me O God. And know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me. And lead me in the way everlasting.

[33:58] What a prayer we can pray. That's a prayer from the heart isn't it? That's a prayer you can pray. That I can pray. And friends. These days call for prayer. These days call for urgency. In these perilous times.

[34:10] These last days. Where most people don't want sound doctrine. It's how the book says it will be. We are not to be surprised at that. We are not to be surprised at that. It's how it says it will be.

[34:22] Evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse. We see the TV preachers. And the con artists that they are. We are fighting against these carnalities.

[34:36] These falsehoods. That abound. And we must build on the rock of scripture. This must be our foundation.

[34:48] So live godly. We cannot stop. And we dare not hold back. It's too important. Some have said. He demands our absolute obedience. And total devotion. And constant joy.

[35:00] In knowing him. Friends. We are told to live godly. Now. Let's be real here today. We live in Elizabeth. We live in Andalaya. We live in South Australia.

[35:11] We know this is a godless state. A godless nation. It's a godless community. We are told to live godly. That's a challenge for you. It's a challenge for me. All about us. We are seeing and hearing.

[35:23] The world rubs off on you. The ungodliness that surrounds us. Just going down the shops. And hearing the music play. The ungodliness. The doctrines of devils. In church quarters.

[35:34] It's all abounding. It's like it's a flood. That's all around us. And we must hold fast the truth in these days. Don't be deterred. Do not be deterred. If you are feeling like it's overwhelming. I'm feeling like that a lot of late.

[35:46] 2 Corinthians 7.1 it says. Having therefore these promises dearly beloved. Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Perfecting holiness in the fear of God. We should live godly. I say to the backslider. Don't toy with the world. Do not toy with the world. God wants godly fruit. So we must plant. wisely.

[35:57] He thought painting the dog died. Let us not plant any fruit. Let us not plant any fruit. Let us not plant any fruit. Let us not plant any fruit. Let us not plant any fruit. Let us not plant any fruit. Let us not plant any fruit. Let us not plant any fruit.

[36:08] Let us not plant any fruit. Let us not plant any fruit. Let us not plant any fruit. Let us not plant any fruit. Let us not plant any fruit. Let us not plant any fruit. Let us not plant any fruit.

[36:18] Let us not plant any fruit. not plant like preacher James did. He thought painting the dog's tail black would be quite a funny, easy thing to get away with. But there was a fruit from that, wasn't there?

[36:34] There was a reaping from that. What he planted bore fruit. Where is the godly fruit? We've got to plant some things, brothers and sisters. I'm not saying sow into this ministry and put it all in the bag. It's not about that. But we need to sow to ourselves in righteousness, don't we? We need to break up our fallow ground. We need to seek the Lord while he may be found.

[36:55] We need to plant that which matters. Godly fruit, such as David cried in Psalm 37, 4, Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. As he cried out in Psalm 104, 34, My meditation of him shall be sweet, I will be glad in the Lord.

[37:14] And as the emperor was told by the Lord, I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward. Let's be like the Greeks who said, we would see Jesus. Let's be like Paul, that I may know him. Let's be like Mary who wanted that which was the better part that our Lord commended her for. Let's live godly. That's the harvest that we will see as we are planting now. You know, brother and sisters, we might think all of our planting, there's not much to show for it.

[37:47] You know, it's easy to feel despondent at times and think all of this planting and there's nothing to show for it. But the harvest time is coming. The harvest time is coming, brother.

[37:58] The harvest time is coming, sister. For what you're planting will bear a harvest and there'll be fruit. I pray that it will be godly fruit. Yeah. So friends, Galatians 6 verse 9 it says, and let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. How easy it is to feel faint, to feel weary and to refrain from planting because it feels like it's too hard. But rather plant, sister. Plant, brother. Plant now. Because harvest time is just around the corner. To plant that godly witness as you can. To plant that godly witness in your workplace, in your home place. That you'll see a harvest. You will reap a harvest. And godliness brings a harvest. Jeremiah 9 23 it says, Thus saith the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might. Let not the rich man glory in his riches. Now, we'll just hold it there. So there's three things here. It says, there's three things here that some people will glory in. I'll put the glory in these three things. Notice these three things. The might, the wisdom, the might and the riches. God says don't glory in that. But verse 24, but let him that glorieth glory in this. That he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord, which exercise loving kindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, saith the Lord. So it's not in wisdom, might or riches that we should glory in, that we should spend. It's not that we should spend our lives searching and expanding ourselves for such things as that. But rather to know and understand and to glorify our God, our great saviour. So friends, as we wrap up now, there's need to consider these truths. How are we to live? How are we to live in the light of the fact that our time is short? The end of the age? The day of the

[40:12] Lord is at hand. The end of all things is at hand. Our God is a jealous God. He's jealous. Now I've had times of jealousy. And our Lord is jealous. He's jealous. And he's offended when the church leaves its first love. God's jealous. He's offended by that. Now some people think, preacher, you're offending me. You're offending me, preacher. Something that you said offended me. Well, what about offending him? Do we consider what we do? Offends our almighty God. Our Lord is offended when we use worldly ways in our worship, in our living. He hates the world. When we are called to hate the world and its ways, its philosophies. Friends, the days are perilous. And the day of God is coming.

[41:12] The earth is going to be burnt up with fervent heat. The end of all things is at hand. How then are we to live? We are to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.

[41:23] There's more reason now than ever there was to not be weary. Burdens might weigh you down. Health might be fading. Your hair might be balding. Your hearts might be heavy. Let us not be weary in well-doing, brother. It's all the more reason to be about the Lord's work. The harvest is ready, but the labourers are few. Keep planting precious seed. You might think the soil is barren, it's unresponsive, but keep doing it. Keep doing it. In due season we shall reap, if we faint not. So, I know there's some people here that have been feeling a bit flogged. Sometimes I work people a bit too hard. I work people hard in this church, you know. If you put your hand up to say you want to do something, usually I'll work you pretty hard. I know there's a dear sister here who's been running ragged, serving the Lord. And it's easy to feel weary in well-doing. And I'm not saying be a martyr and a masochist and flog yourself to death.

[42:31] But it says, in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. So, when you're feeling faint, just keep on going. Alright? Keep on keeping on. Because harvest time is just around the corner. And so, God is looking for such a people. And we should be courageous in these days. There's a spiritual war going on. And we're not fighting the communists or political parties of whatever persuasion. We're not here to fight some political campaign. You know, some might do that. But really our warfare is against carnal Christianity. It's against that carnality. You know, pulling down carnal strongholds. Pulling down that which is carnal.

[43:16] It's what we're called to. So, what are we to do? How are we to live? Soberly, righteously and godly. Just, I know I've said it before, I'm closing now. Will you be one of the few?

[43:29] One of the few. You know, the Bible says that a virtuous woman is very rare. Now, I'll thank God I'll marry one of them. A virtuous woman is very rare. Proverbs 31.10, it says, Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. Now, women here tonight aspire to be virtuous. Virtuous. Have those virtues, those godly, precious, God-blessed qualities in your life. That there's virtue in your life. And a faithful man is also rare. In Proverbs 20, verse 6, most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness, but a faithful man, who can find? Men, be faithful. A faithful man. In Psalm 12, the psalmist cried, Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, for the faithful fail from among the children of men. Let's be faithful.

[44:33] Faithful people. Faithful people. There is a cause that counts for eternity, and we are part of something that's eternal. And so, let us be transformed. Not conformed to this world. Transformed by the renewing of our mind. Let's get deeper and stronger. Let's fight harder and longer. Let's plant more and more and more. And the harvest will become in due season, if we faint not. And so, deny yourself. Take up your cross. Follow him. Let us not be wearing in well-doing. The grace of God has come, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. Let us pray.

[45:23] Our God and Father, we thank you for each soul here tonight. I know, Lord, we've had some thoughts about the end of the days. And we know, Lord, it's one day closer today than it was yesterday, Lord. And we know, we don't know the time or the hour, the day, but we know that day is one day closer than it was yesterday. Help us, Lord, to be a people prepared. Help us, Lord, to be a people ready, living in the light of that coming day of God, the coming day of our Lord, that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Help us, Lord, to have a mind, a heart, a will that will live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.

[46:10] Give us the grace, Lord, to teach us how to be such a people. Help us to have a soberness that keeps us alert and vigilant. Help us to have a righteousness that's found as we've found what's right and wrong through reading your word and putting it into our action in our lives. And, Lord, help us, Lord, to be that people that likewise are godly, that will be like you, Lord, that will grow closer to being in your image, that will be conformed to your image, that we'll be a people that Christ is going to be formed in us, that Christ will be formed in us. And that's our prayer, Lord. And we pray if there's any here tonight that have yet to trust you, they're uncertain that they are yours tonight, they are uncertain about their standing with you, that they'll seek prayer tonight to get it right, to seek that knowledge of salvation by your grace and peace, and by the blood of the cross.

[47:10] And that each believer here too will be assured and stirred on, spurred on in that gospel race, Lord, for your glory and all your praise. In Jesus' name. Amen.

[47:20] Amen.