A New Translation of the Bible

[0:00] Our world needs a new translation of the Bible. Our world needs a new translation of the Bible.

[0:11] ! Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

[0:36] Be doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. I put to you our world needs you to be a translation of the Bible to your world.

[0:50] Amen? We need to be a translation of the Bible to our world. To translate the Bible into action, into our world. Into our streets.

[1:02] Where we live and work and go about our day by day lives. The world is crying out for truth that it desperately needs. Yet sadly they mostly reject it, don't they?

[1:15] When we offer it to them, by and large people can often reject the truth, the message. Maybe the message gets lost in translation. It gets lost in translation.

[1:26] Certainly we know the times they are are changing. Aren't they? The times are changing. Many people have been turned right off of religion and off of church as something that is painful.

[1:39] And that's real for some. It's painful. Church. You don't know what I've experienced in a church. You know, there's some dread, dire things that have happened. Some dreadful harm and hurt that's been done to people by churches.

[1:54] So no wonder there's a real lack of trust in churches. You know, when we go door knocking, sometimes we almost, you downplay the word church.

[2:04] We're not there to present or propagate a church. It's about a saviour, isn't it? It's about a saviour. And now, when we have been going out witnessing as a church, we try hard to connect with people where they are at.

[2:19] Where people are at. That's important, isn't it? To try to show that we care. To show we love souls in our city. There's a lot of barriers to communication out there.

[2:32] To getting the message across. It sure can be hard. Now, I can tell you for one example, when we're trying really hard to communicate with people. Now, you know, one of the basics of communication is eye-to-eye contact, isn't it?

[2:46] And it can be really hard trying to give eye-to-eye contact when you're looking through a fly screen that they can only see you. You can't even see them. And it was kind of funny, like yesterday, there was one man leaning up against his screen.

[3:00] I could see his cheek through the grill of his fly screen. So I could at least see where his face generally was. So I could try to give him eye-to-eye contact through the security grill.

[3:13] Now, we try hard. We try hard as a church. Yet many use the comeback, not interested. What do you say to that?

[3:23] You know, Peter and I, who I teamed up with yesterday, and we were talking amongst ourselves. How do you, what's the comeback to that comeback, not interested? You know, you could challenge them, try to present, hey, the fact that they face an eternity unprepared.

[3:41] Yet, even then they could say, I don't care. I don't care. Maybe the problem is that they don't see the message we're trying to impart as relevant to their lives.

[3:57] The message's not relevant. Sure, it is a big thing these days. People want relevance. What's real?

[4:08] They want relevance. Now, for this message today, I was thinking before I caught up here, maybe of getting a mohawk and dyeing it purple. But I didn't have enough hair to do that.

[4:20] So I couldn't do it. I thought of wearing jeans with holes in them or maybe getting some tats or piercings or, you know, just to look like I'm relevant. No dispersions on people who've got tats, you know, because that has happened.

[4:34] But, you know, I didn't happen to get tats before I got saved. But that's not the so-called relevance that I'm talking about here this morning. I'm not talking about that kind of relevance, so-called.

[4:46] People are searching for meaning, for relevance, for what's real, for something meaningful. That's what people want, isn't it? That's what all of us want, isn't it? Something meaningful. They're wanting to know what's for real.

[4:58] What's got application to the real life, to real life, where the rubber hits the road, where we live. Some would reckon that Christianity is out of touch.

[5:09] It's not modern. It's as if modern man has outgrown this childish notion of a God we have to answer to. And we see the result, don't we, in this God-rejecting society.

[5:23] They don't want accountability. I don't have anyone to answer to. You know, I'll get away with not answering to the government if they don't catch me. You know, if the police don't catch me, I'll just do what I want.

[5:35] But some question even whether God is relevant anymore, don't they? Is God relevant? I assure you, God is real, isn't he? He is real.

[5:46] You know him, many of you. I assure you, God is real. He is for real. He is personal. He is close. He is at your side. A man yesterday told me he had no purpose.

[6:00] He had no hope for the future. I encouraged him. He seemed to have a tenderness. I was kind of hoping he'd be here this morning. But he honestly said, I've got no purpose.

[6:13] He was being fair dinking with me. Now, the psalmist wrote these words in Psalm 42 over 3,000 years ago. 3,000 years ago. Psalm 42, verse 11.

[6:25] He said, He said, countenance and my God. He said, why are you cast down, O my soul? Why are you disquieted?

[6:46] Why are you feeling like this? Hope thou in God. Here's my hope. Here's my praise. Here's the health of my face, of my life, my God. This truth is timeless. It's eternal. It's real. It's relevant.

[7:02] It is relevant. And we can have this hope, this hope still. We can know this hope. We can personally know this hope. You can have this hope, this sure and certain hope within you in this 21st century. It's not dated. You can have this hope, this hope in this 21st century because of this old book, because of this old truth, because of this message. You know, last time I looked, and I've said this before, I looked in this book and it's got no expiry date.

[7:38] You know, most things you buy down the shop, there's an expiry date. Well, this book doesn't have an expiry date. The Bible is still relevant. It's forever. It's not outdated. It's not obsolete.

[7:50] It's real. It's relevant for the now. It still is the good news for modern man, as someone has called it. Good news for modern man. It still is that. It never has been irrelevant and it never will be irrelevant. These truths are eternal. Eternal. Isaiah 40 verse 8 tells us, The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand forever. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, the word of our God standeth forever. That's still true, isn't it? The grass still withers, doesn't it? Starting to, isn't it? Starting to wither.

[8:32] The rain's failing and the grass is withering. And the flowers are still fading, aren't they? You can have the prettiest flower, ultimately it will fade. Fade, fade away. But the word of our God, the word of our God stands forever. It still does. It still does. And as some have said, the Bible is actually more current than today's newspaper, probably tomorrow's. It's more current, the word of God. And we see the escalating tensions across the world as we see the signs of an emerging conflict in the Middle East. It's been foretold. God tells us this will happen. And Bible prophecy indicates the future. This is absolutely relevant. Nothing is more relevant than the Bible. Bible truth translated into action is relevant. You know, I like to think of it, really, to put it in our shoes. That's what we need to do, don't we? That's the translation we need. Translate the Bible into your shoes. I knew that would happen. Now I'm going to be preaching with one shoe off. No, the grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand forever. And Bible truth has to be translated into action. In your shoes. Your shoes. And that is always relevant. It's relevant in the classroom when they try to teach evolution. This book is relevant in the beginning God created.

[10:14] It's relevant in the classroom. It's relevant in the courtroom. You heard the story lately of a man showing forgiveness to his brother's killer. It's the latest news item where a brother extended forgiveness and hugged his brother's killer. In the courtroom, it's still relevant.

[10:34] The forgiveness. The grace we can extend. It's still relevant in the counselling room when people need counselling, when they need help, when they've got depression, when they've got suffering, when they've got anxiety, when they've got hurts. It's still relevant. The Bible truth is still relevant in the counselling room where people need hope. It's still relevant and in the streets of our city. You know, as I was mentioning, you know, we heard stories yesterday as we were out there and I know there was a glad news story from yesterday that someone did trust the Lord on the streets of Elizabeth Downs. You can get to heaven from Elizabeth Downs.

[11:17] Amen. From anywhere on this planet as you trust him. And as we were walking along, there was one woman accosted me or she kind of talked to me and Peter who I was teamed up with. And she was telling me stories about people in fear of their lives. These were in our streets, the streets of our city, where we live. And she said, there's a dangerous man on the streets.

[11:40] And she wasn't making this up. There was a man on the loose. And, hey, look out. I joked to her that I was teamed up with this young Peter, this little skinny Peter from South City Baptist Church. And I said, don't worry, I've got my own personal bodyguard here.

[11:59] And he later told me he's got a black belt in karate. So I was glad I was teamed up with him. So when we were out witnessing Elizabeth Downs, I was asking people, what's happening for you? And a number of people were telling us about the word on the street. Have you heard the word on the street? It's a lot of violence. There's been a number of suicides in this street.

[12:27] Murders. They spoke of fear, of depression, of hopelessness, of situations with loved ones in hospital. And if we would but open our eyes, we would see like Jesus sees, wouldn't we?

[12:47] When he'd look on the city, he'd be held and he'd wept over the city. Hopelessness. If we would open our eyes, we would see the signs of hopelessness, of despair, of poverty all around us. And that will help us to be a translation, won't it? A new translation. Well, not necessarily a new translation, but another translation of the same story, the same message, the same Bible. Another translation of the Bible and its truth. To get the message across. To souls in danger. To translate the word into action. To be doers of the word. I want to encourage you to get the word on the street. That's what we need to do. To get the word. The word.

[13:42] It's called W on the street. It's called W on the street. It's called W on the street. The Bible surely does translate into action and it's relevant for our city. And people need this message more than ever they did. Walk the word in your world. Be the translation your neighbourhood needs. Your workmates, your neighbours, your friends. The word is relevant.

[14:08] The gospel's still relevant. The gospel. Some would think now that there's many different paths to God. There's a smorgasbord out there. There's all manner of paths and philosophies and teachers and teachings and mantras and methods and no sure absolute truth.

[14:28] That's what they say. Surely man is more cultured now. We've evolved to that, the nth degree. We're more accepting now. We're more inclusive now.

[14:39] But the gospel is still the gospel. The gospel is still the same. It's not changed. Yes, the gospel is still relevant. Man still needs a saviour.

[14:51] A soul trusted Christ yesterday on the doorstep. Salvation is still relevant. This man receiveth sinners, it says. That hasn't expired yet.

[15:02] This man receiveth sinners. That's what it says. And the invitation is all inclusive. Whosoever will. To all. It's all inclusive. This is inclusive.

[15:14] This is true inclusion. It's all inclusive. But it is exclusive. Exclusive in the sense that there's only one saviour. There's one exclusive way.

[15:26] One exclusive saviour. One and one, only one way. And the definition Paul gave of the gospel is still relevant. 1 Corinthians 15. He says, 1 Corinthians 15 from verse 3.

[15:38] For I have delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.

[15:48] That he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. It's the gospel. Died for our sins.

[15:59] Buried. Rose again. According to the scriptures. Our Lord says, you must be born again. That is still true. That is still true.

[16:11] It's not changed. It's still relevant. You must be born again. There's no other way. No other way to heaven. Our world needs a new translation of the Bible.

[16:25] And that translation is you. It's you. You are the fifth gospel, as it were. We've got Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. And we've got David, Diane, Doreen, Jimmy.

[16:39] The gospel according to Rolf. We've got the gospel. It's the same. It's the gospel, isn't it? But it's the new translation, as it were. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about another testament of Jesus Christ and saying, we've got extra biblical revelation and we're going to add to the Bible or we're going to change it.

[16:57] No, I'm talking about the gospel in your shoes. The good news in your shoes. That we are, in a way, we are retelling that gospel, that good news story, and we are translating it to the people we communicate it to.

[17:11] And it's been truly observed that people form their impressions of Christianity, not just from what Christians say, but what they do, how they treat people.

[17:22] People are watching you. You that are professing to be a Christian. People are looking at you and you are telling them the gospel even by what you do. You know, there's a familiar quote that says, and it's truly been said, we are the only Bible the careless world will read.

[17:40] We are the sinner's gospel. We are the scoffer's creed. We are the Lord's last message given in deed and word. What if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?

[17:50] What if our hands are busy with other work than his? We are the only Bible the careless world will read. What's the gospel according to you? Are you sharing it?

[18:02] Are you taking it? Are you telling it? Are you showing it? You who profess to be a Christian, people are reading you. They're reading us, aren't they? You know, often people say, oh, look at him.

[18:16] He calls himself a Christian. They're watching. They're talking behind your back, whispering. Oh, she's a Christian. Look what she's up to. She says she's a Christian.

[18:28] The accuser of the brethren. Yeah, exactly. Now, we know no one's perfect. I've been accused falsely. But, you know, we stand on his merits, don't we?

[18:39] We stand on his grace, by his grace. And even when we have failed, and I have failed, we can know. Jesus cares.

[18:50] And Jesus shows grace to you, to me. And we have failed. It doesn't stop us from telling. From being a Christian. From being fervent. And, look, you might think, oh, I've blown it.

[19:02] You know, you don't know what I've done. I've really blown my testimony. I've been a bad witness. There's times that can happen. You can make tomorrow a new day. Leave that behind. You can say, no, I'm not.

[19:13] That was the old me, and I'm going to leave him behind. Her behind. People are reading us. That's the point. It says in 2 Corinthians 3 verse 2, Ye are our epistle, our letter, written in our hearts, known and read of all men.

[19:26] We are known and read of all men. That's the fact, isn't it? Hopefully we're a good translation. And if we are not, we can say, Lord, help me to be a good one now. I'm going to say, yes, Lord, I can see I've not been a good translation.

[19:42] Help me, Lord, to make it different now. So we don't just talk the talk, but we'll walk the walk. We'll have that Bible in our, you know, just get that picture.

[19:55] That's what we need to be, isn't it? Translate it into your shoes. You know, it's not just a cliche to say your life may be the only Bible some people read.

[20:06] That's true. There's people out there that don't go to church. They've never seen a church. They scarcely had a Bible. They've maybe never heard the, they may not even have heard the basic Bible stories that we are familiar with.

[20:19] So our lives should model Christ to others. And it's absolutely relevant, isn't it? That we're mindful of that. That we're conscious of that.

[20:30] Somebody even questioned, is heaven relevant? Is heaven still relevant? Yes, people are still dying. It's still relevant. It's sad to see people when they're challenged about their eternal destiny to be uncaring.

[20:44] I don't care. They don't care about the direction they're going. What of heaven? Can we still get there from here? You know, I don't know.

[20:57] I haven't tried it in my GPS, but I know we can get to heaven from here. Amen? The GPS won't tell you. Google won't tell you. But Jesus tells you, I am the way.

[21:09] How do we know the way? He says, I am the way. Can we know the way? Yes, I am the way, he says. Yes, it is possible to get directions from this city to that city to come.

[21:21] It's still relevant. Heaven's still relevant. And we can know the way. And the directions, the way to get to heaven are still the same as they always have been. They haven't changed.

[21:32] Jesus says, I am the way. The question is, who will tell them? The ones who don't know yet. Who will tell them? Is evangelism still relevant? How shall they hear unless we tell them?

[21:46] How shall they hear? Biblical love constrains us. This love of Christ reaching out to lost souls is still relevant. The book still says, go ye.

[21:59] That's everybody. That's us. Is even the church still relevant today? Some would say the church isn't relevant. Look at the church. What the world looks on is the church.

[22:10] Is the church still relevant? Seems some care little for the church. For faithfulness to an assembly. Some would just view a church as a place you flit and flot and consumer mentality.

[22:28] See what's on show at this place or that. What's on the calendar. Some make no definite commitment. No definite contribution. It's definitely time to stop playing church.

[22:42] Be the church. Be the church. Some would say, I see things wrong with the church and so I won't commit. People say that and they mean that.

[22:54] I've seen churches and I see what's out there and I don't like what I see. Some have had hard and sad experiences of wrongdoing by the church. That's gut-wrenching to hear about.

[23:05] But the wrongdoing of some so-called churches doesn't negate the real church. God's church. Which is still relevant. And God still has a plan and purpose for men and women to be saved and to be the church.

[23:19] You may say, well I don't see a good church. I've yet to find one. I'll just keep looking. I put to you as to how to have a good church, get involved. If you think this church lacks something, then make up what's lacking.

[23:32] You know? Really? Isn't it that simple? Make a contribution. If you think this church has got some faults, and I know it has. I know the pastor's very faulty.

[23:44] But we know there's much to be desired. There's much lacking in this church. And we can't say, oh look I can see. I kind of like church for you, but there's this, that. There's things I don't really like about it.

[23:54] There's these things. I'm not going to commit to this church because I think it's just missing something. Well be what's missing. Be what's missing. Contribute.

[24:06] Put your shoulder to the wheel. Put your nose to the grindstone, as it says. You know? We need people to commit and to be the church.

[24:17] So we can be a stronger church. And that stronger church will be because of you. God helping you to be a contributor. Is prayer still relevant? Some would doubt that.

[24:28] They would dispute that. Prayer. You know, we knocked on doors and people were saying they were in difficulty. They were in serious conditions. There was dread. They were facing serious concerns.

[24:39] Loved ones in hospital. And we offered to pray for them. There's a number of people we offered to pray for them. You know, they were saying not interested at first. And then they kind of opened up and said, oh, I've got this.

[24:50] I'm just too busy. I've got this loved one in hospital. Can we pray for you? And they received prayer. That says something about there was something there.

[25:02] Just a little, just some little glimpse of something. Man, maybe God can help me. Maybe I can call out to God in my time of need. Maybe there is a God. Maybe prayer is relevant.

[25:13] And they received prayer. Now, it wasn't to say they're saved. Maybe they don't know the saviour yet. But there was something about them. Maybe they're like a Cornelius. Maybe there's some, there's a God-fearing bit inside of them.

[25:27] God has given light to every man. He lights every man, doesn't he? There's a sense where there's something there. This little tiny glimmer of something about God in them. Some kind of sense of the beyond, of the value of prayer.

[25:44] Prayer is still relevant. Let's not be afraid to offer to pray for people. That can be just the thing. No, no, you hear of workplaces where people offer to pray for a workmate and they get in trouble with the boss.

[25:55] Of course, you've got to be conscious of the circumstance. But don't let anything stop you from reaching out. Prayerfully reaching out.

[26:06] Offer prayer. Prayer is still relevant. Amen? The book still says, Jeremiah 33.3, some call it God's phone number. Call unto me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.

[26:19] Prayer is still relevant. He says, call unto me. He hasn't changed that. It still says that. Call unto me. I will answer thee. Is the Christian life still relevant? You might say, I've lived the life and I'm struggling.

[26:33] I'm a Christian but, oh, I've got this and that going on for me. I'm torn. I'm stretched. Life's busy. It's hard. I've got some tough things going on.

[26:44] It's hard just to get up in the morning and get to church. I've got so much on my plate. Is the Christian life still relevant? Can you translate that into your everyday?

[26:54] You are the translation. The word translates into action. I'm going to do it again. So you get this. In your shoes. Translate it into action.

[27:07] Translate it in the shoes, in the steps that you take, in the walk that you walk. Let it walk. Is holiness still relevant? Some would say, some would adopt the philosophy of anything goes.

[27:17] Anything goes. And their daily walk is a meandering way. They've got no definite convictions. No definite thinking of God in their daily decisions.

[27:30] Oh, it's Sunday. I'll think about God today. You know, but the other six days, scarcely a thought. They're just so consumed by the world that they're just like the next man.

[27:41] They're consumed by the world and its ways. Yes, holiness is still relevant. And it's relevant 24 by 7 by 365.

[27:52] The Christian life isn't a Sunday morning from 10 to 11.30. It's life. The Christian life. From A to Z. From womb to tomb.

[28:05] From the beginning to the end. The Christian life. It's all of your life. And we will face a holy God and answer to him.

[28:17] Not that our works merit heaven, but as a believer, we ought to be working, oughtn't we? To be active. And holiness still matters.

[28:28] What was seen as sin 20 years ago is still sin. It may not be popularly thought that way, but it still is, isn't it? What the book says is right is still right.

[28:40] What the book says is wrong is still wrong. It still says touch not the unclean thing. It tells us forsake your idols. Vow your will.

[28:52] It commends humility. And pride is the enemy of humility, isn't it? Humility. How do I humble myself before God? How do I expose myself before God for my inadequacy, for my lack, for my need of him, for my lack without him?

[29:13] Humble yourself in the sight of God. Acknowledge he is God. He is the Lord. He is the master. He is the one that we must bow our will, our lives to.

[29:23] And pride is the enemy of humility. Pride will say, no, I don't want this man to reign over me. Think about what's personally relevant now. Now, we talked about relevance.

[29:34] We talked about numbers of things. Let's zero it down right now to you and the Lord, to between you and the Lord. That's where it really, where the rubber hits the road, isn't it? It's between you and God.

[29:46] You know, I can't judge or necessarily dictate or intrude on that sacred space between you and God.

[29:58] And that's where you've got to zero it down to on a personal level, isn't it? That place of really getting to grips with God. Do you care about your soul? Is your soul something that, you know, and look, not picking on ladies, but us men can be just as vain, looking in the mirror and caring for our bodies.

[30:18] And, you know, when you've got such a handsome face as this one, you just spend all the time looking, and every time you walk past the mirror, you just, you know, just make sure. You've got to keep patting it down, put the grease on.

[30:29] You know, we've got the sense we care for our bodies. But what about your soul? What about your soul? What about your soul? Do you care about your soul? What's relevant?

[30:41] Your soul's more important. And when it talks about body, soul, and spirit, that's the order the world puts it, body, soul, and spirit. God puts it, soul, body, and spirit, doesn't he? Spirit, soul, and body, yeah, in 1 Thessalonians 5.

[30:53] Spirit, soul, and body, that's God's order. We put it the other way around, don't we? Put body first. Do you care about your soul? What's relevant to your life? The fact is God has a purpose and he's got a plan.

[31:07] And that we would actually care about finding that. It's a vital issue, isn't it? That's what's really relevant. When the crunch comes, the state of our heart.

[31:19] This is absolutely relevant in that sacred space, as I say, between you and God. Now, I might have a view about how you are with your relationship with God, but only you know that.

[31:31] I might think of others, oh, they've got a poor relationship with God, but they might have a stronger relationship than I have with God. We can't judge others. And it's only something you can answer to God for.

[31:44] Only you can take the steps to work on that relationship, to get to know him on this side of eternity, hopefully. To know him this side of eternity. Because the Lord Jesus is relevant to your life.

[31:58] One day you will face him. So I put to you, personally determined. This personal decision, this personal decision is absolutely relevant.

[32:10] It's when you and God. The Bible talks about the desires of your heart. Some people like to quote Psalm 37, where God will give you the desires of your heart.

[32:20] It's a good verse. It's only part of the verse. Psalm 37, verse 4. First it says, delight thyself also in the Lord. Number one, delight yourself also in the Lord.

[32:32] Psalm 37, 4. And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. So when you delight yourself in the Lord, when Jesus is your delight, when you adore him, when you worship and honour him, when your delight is Christ, it's your God, it's your saviour, it's your master, the one you love, you delight in him, then he shall give you the desires of your heart.

[32:55] Because your heart will be right. And your heart's desires will be right. When his will is sent to it most. It says, verse 5 of Psalm 37, it goes on, Commit thy way unto the Lord.

[33:09] Trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. Commit your way to him. Commit your will, your will, your way to his way, his will. His leading. And he shall bring it to pass.

[33:21] Friends, let me nail it down here. Our precious Lord, God and saviour is still alive. And he's still relevant. He's not changed. People might say, not interested, don't care.

[33:35] He is relevant. He's real. And he's for you. And the word of God is still real and relevant. It needs a new translation in the sense that we need to translate it into our shoes.

[33:49] Take it in our lives. Walk it in our world. Trust him. Decide to honour the Lord. Know his forgiveness. Trust him that he is able. He's still able.

[34:01] It says he is able. He's able to save. He's able to keep. You may wonder about the keeping power of God. Some question that. Is he still able to keep us? You don't know what I've done, preacher.

[34:13] You don't know where I've been. How I've fouled up. Is the keeping power of God still able? If you've trusted him, his keeping power is still able.

[34:25] Is there such a reality as amazing grace? We sing about it. Do we believe it? That it's for real? It is. And it is amazing. It still is amazing.

[34:35] His grace is relevant today and it still is amazing. And he still extends grace to the unworthy. We just have to be humble enough to receive it, don't we? To be humble enough to receive it.

[34:47] I'm nearly closing here. It says, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God.

[34:59] That he may exalt you in due time. It says, casting all your care upon him for he careth for you. Now, I put to you this morning and you might say, look, okay, I can see what you're driving at.

[35:15] I can see, I believe what you're saying in theory. But no, don't leave it there. You might say, yeah, oh, that sounds theologically correct. Yeah.

[35:25] Well, I can accept that as sound doctrine. Yeah, I'll believe it. Amen, preacher, preach it. No, don't leave it there. Do it.

[35:37] Do it. Do it. What does it say? Be not hearers only. Deceiving yourselves.

[35:48] Be doers of the word. Deceiving yourselves. You know, as I say, it's often a verse people refer to at an end of a sermon in the sense that, you know, what I've told you, put it into action.

[36:00] It needs an application. You know, I can be guilty of giving you all kinds of theological truth but not having an application of it. What does it say?

[36:11] Grow in grace. It says grow. Keep on growing. Is the devil still relevant? Yes, he is. He's alive and well on planet Earth.

[36:23] You see his dastardly deeds all over the place. We face an ongoing battle with the devil. You might think, oh, that's just a, oh, yeah, it's just a theological, that's just a doctrine, you know, the doctrine of Satan, Satanology, whatever it is, you know.

[36:38] I can believe it. Yeah, there's a devil. And he is real. And he is relevant. And he's at work. He's still roaming around like a roaring lion.

[36:48] He's still looking for people he can devour. That's still true too. So we should be wakeful and watchful. We face an ongoing battle. That's relevant for you.

[36:59] So don't be surprised when you have some troubles. It's par for the course. It's normal. That's the normal Christian life. You're going to have some tough things happen.

[37:11] That's normal. That's real. That's relevant. That's real life, isn't it? That's where the rubber hits the road. Yes, I can say amen to that. It's real. The devil's out to get you.

[37:23] But you have God's covering and his grace. And the Bible, what's more, promises power. You might say, well, is the power still available? You know, in Adelaide, the power's going out and out again.

[37:35] Well, this power never goes out. The promise of the power from above, the promise of the power from on high, is still in the Bible. No matter what version you've got, pretty much, it says the promise of power is still available.

[37:50] It's still relevant. Now, some will deny the power of God, that he's somehow too distant. Oh, God's not close to me. I don't feel his power. It's not about feeling his power.

[38:02] It's about what it says. Believe it. Trust his power. Trust he is powerful. And his power is still available. The Bible promises power, power from on high.

[38:16] And some will deny the power of God. They think, oh, God doesn't care. But God's power to save, God's power to keep is not diminished. And what's more, it says he's able to save to the uttermost.

[38:30] I can't reach it. It's that far. That's how far God is able. Utter most. He's able to save to the furthest, to the most perfect state, to that completeness.

[38:43] He's able to save utterly, absolutely. Wherefore, he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

[38:56] Hebrews 7 verse 25. That's another promise that's real, is that our Lord Jesus, we know he has ascended into heaven. We know he lives, he dwells in the believer by faith.

[39:09] He's also in that throne authority. He's enthroned as the authority in his throne, on the throne of his grace.

[39:21] And it says that he's interceding for us. Wow. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord, for interceding for me. I could do with some of that. It's still relevant.

[39:32] And the promise is the same as it always has been. It says, whosoever will, whosoever will. That means, that's absolute. That's to the uttermost. Whosoever will may come.

[39:43] That includes you. God is relevant for you, for me. And I put to you, friends, just, I'm trying to get this, it's a simple truth, but yet it's profound when you think about it, that our world needs a new translation of the Bible.

[39:59] And that translation is you. Think about that. I'm not saying to re-translate it. I'm saying this needs to be put into our shoes.

[40:13] And to walk it out in our world, let's pray. Lord, we praise you. Your word is real. It's true. It's alive. It's powerful. It's sharper than any two-edged sword.

[40:24] Lord, we know that the gospel truth is not changed. You know, salvation is still to the uttermost that you're able to save, able to keep. Lord, you call us to walk in truth.

[40:36] Lord, to be taking this message to those we can. Lord, to take it seriously. To check out that space between you and me, Lord.

[40:48] Each one of us to say between you and me, Lord. Lord, is there something that's hindering my Christian walk? Help me, Lord, to deal with it, to lay it down.

[40:59] Guide me, Lord, that I might delight in you, and then you'll give me the desires of your heart. Lord, that I commit my way unto you, and I can put my trust in you.

[41:11] Pray for anyone here present. Lord, I pray for anyone who's going to have a trust in you. Lord, we know that your word tells us we can be sure.

[41:23] We can know for sure. We know it says this is the record that we can know that we have eternal life as we put our trust in you. Lord, we pray if there's any in that situation here today that they might simply trust you now and receive your gift of salvation, that they might just yield to you and receive that gift now.

[41:45] Lord, as they trust you for their sins, that the sins you have paid for their sins on the cross, Lord. And we praise you.

[41:56] Lord, for everyone here present, Lord, pray help us to be such a people that will put this into action. We won't be just hearers but doers of it, Lord. Help us to be conscious, ever conscious, and mindful of how can we translate your truth into words that the world around us can understand and receive that simple truth, that simple saving message, Lord.

[42:19] May we be such that we're known and read by all men and that will be an example that will be worthy of your name.

[42:29] In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.