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[0:00] 1 John 1, verse 1.

[0:30] 1 John 1, verse 1.

[1:00] 1 John 1, verse 1.

[1:30] 1 John 1, verse 1.

[1:59] 1 John 1, verse 1. 1 John 1, verse 1. 1 John 1, verse 1. 1 John 1, verse 1.

[2:09] 1 John 1, verse 1.

[3:45] 1 John 1, verse 1. 1 John 1, verse 1. 1 John 1, verse 1. 1 John 1, verse 1.

[3:57] 1 John 1, verse 1. 1 John 1, verse 1. 1 John 1, verse 1. 1 John 1, verse 1. than you were yesterday. Amen. But you as a believer, you know, it's getting brighter and brighter until that perfect day.

[4:13] That's Proverbs 4 verse 18. The path of the just is as the shining light. Question for you today. What wattage are you?

[4:24] What wattage are you? Are you just a 10 watt? Or a 100 watt? Or a 200 watt? You know, that kind of Christian. We can all think about how bright am I? How strong am I?

[4:35] How full of his light am I? Are you like John the Baptist of whom it says in John 5 verse 35, he was a burning and shining light. Can you be that kind of light?

[4:45] A burning and shining light. I know we can all pray as we've been encouraged by the testimony of how are we being used of God? How is God using me?

[4:59] Each one of us. How is God using me? Can I be that burning and shining light? Will you burn brighter for Jesus? Will you burn brighter for him? Will you shine stronger for him?

[5:10] As his children. As children of light. And I think it's as we walk closer to him. The one who is the light of the world. As you get closer to the Lord Jesus, you will shine brighter.

[5:23] You will be brighter for him. You will shine more for the Lord Jesus. And as you get closer to him. As you walk closer to him. His light will be more manifest. In that testimony of your life.

[5:36] Our fellowship. Is word based. It's meant to be based on the word. The word of God itself is described as a light. As we know. It reads in Psalms now.

[5:49] It's a light unto our path. A lamp. Unto our feet. And in Isaiah we're told. To the law and to the testimony. If they speak not according to thy word.

[6:01] It is because there is no light in them. And sadly. Darkness prevails even in many churches today. I mean it's a sad reflection isn't it?

[6:11] A church home. Where there's no gospel. There's no ministry. But our fellowship. God willing. I pray. And I urge us to keep on praying. That our fellowship is word based.

[6:22] It's founded on the word. God's word is a light for us. Our soul food. And the message hasn't changed. Some think that they can twist it and change it. Make it more up to date.

[6:34] More contemporary. Really the message itself doesn't change. I mean. How we transmit it. Can vary. But it's not about bringing Christ down to man's level. It's about lifting men up.

[6:45] To Christ's level. Now what's happening. In some quarters. Is that the message is being dumbed down. Or made so palatable. You know.

[6:55] They take it piecemeal. The bits they can swallow easily. And they miss the challenging stuff. That convicts of sin. And draws people to repent.

[7:06] And it's not about bringing Christ down. To man's level. By taking away from his glory. It's about men. Being brought up to his level.

[7:18] Coming closer to the Lord Jesus. And we have a more sure word of prophecy. We're told. Where unto ye do well to take heed. As unto a light that shineth in a dark place.

[7:30] Until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts. Has the day star arisen in your heart? That's 2 Peter 1.19. Has God's word shone into the dark crevices of your heart?

[7:43] So that God is exposed and challenged and convicted. And drawn you to his life. God's word can shine like a light into our soul.

[7:55] Do we love the word of God? Enough to obey it. To act upon it. I was talking with a believer this week. And he was exhorting me along the lines of how we're meant to be making disciples.

[8:08] And I know there's a saying I heard. That we're not. He didn't say go ye into all the world and make decisions. You know. Make people make decisions. You know. Where's that hand? But go into all the world and make disciples.

[8:21] Disciples. We're meant to be encouraging people to learn of him. To be a learner. A disciple of him. To love the word of God. This light that he has given to us.

[8:32] Enough to take it seriously. And to put it into action. To walk in the light. To walk with him. To walk in Jesus. To walk in his book. To be a people of the book.

[8:43] So firstly a fellowship in his light. Secondly a fellowship in his blood. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light. We have fellowship one with another. And the blood.

[8:54] The blood. Of Jesus Christ. His son cleansed us. From all sin. The fellowship that we enjoy. Is a fellowship. With one another. As God's blood bought people.

[9:06] It's not about anyone. Being any. Anything really of themselves. It's all about the blood. It's about the blood of Jesus. And we want the blood. To be. Dominant.

[9:17] And central in our. Fellowshiping together. Our fellowship bond. Is based on the blood. We're a blood bought people. Blood bought people. And we love to. Preach about the blood.

[9:29] To. Glory. In his blood. And to. Magnify. His blood. As the basis. For God's forgiveness. For us. It's that blood.

[9:39] That makes us save. That ransoms our soul. It's the blood. That sanctifies us. It's the blood. Of Jesus Christ. In 1 Peter 1. 9. We're told. It's precious.

[9:51] Precious. Priceless. The value of the blood. Think of the blood. As many scriptures we can cite. His blood is able. It's able to save. It's able to cleanse.

[10:02] To sanctify. To justify. To purchase. To redeem. To make peace. Our peace. Is in his blood. We're told.

[10:13] That he's made peace. Through the blood. Of his cross. Colossians 1. 20. It's our common bond. You know. We're members. As it were. By the blood.

[10:23] We're members of. His body. And it's the blood. That makes us. His. Own. It's the blood. With which he purchases us. And sets us free.

[10:35] He. Purchases us. Out of sin's slave market. And redeems us. And we have. Fellowship. With one another. Because of the blood. Because of that cleansing blood.

[10:47] We have that. Common bond. That personal relationship. With our Lord. And with one another. As. Brothers and sisters. In Christ. It's only by the blood.

[10:57] Sadly. We see today. Churches. Without the blood. We see. Bibles. Without the blood.

[11:09] We see. Song books. Without the blood. And people wonder. Why.

[11:20] Is Christianity. In trouble today. The message. Of the blood. Must be. Central. It's like. I heard a preacher. Talking about.

[11:31] The living Bible. Apparently. They've taken the blood. Out of the living Bible. Quite a lot. And yet. The Bible says. The life. Is in the. Blood. And he said.

[11:42] They shouldn't call it. The living Bible. No. They should call it. The dead Bible. Because it doesn't have the blood in it. And brothers and sisters. It's important. It's important. Because the blood. Matters.

[11:52] And as a biblical people. We have fellowship. With one another. Because. Of the blood. Of Jesus Christ. We're brought by it. We're brought together by it. The travail of his soul.

[12:04] Is the blood. That was shed for you. His sacrifice. It's ultimate. It's absolute. We can't. Put that. On the shelf. That's absolute.

[12:15] And critical. His sacrifice. It means our forgiveness. His great expense. Has cleansed us. From all sin. And he takes away. That defilement.

[12:25] Of our sin. The unworthiness. He blots it out. Every record. That is against us. He frees us. From bondage. By his blood. He shelters us. From God's wrath.

[12:35] By his blood. And he saves us. Without the blood. There is no remission. The light. Is in the blood. So. The fellowship. Is in the light. In the one who is. The light.

[12:46] Of the world. And you are. The children of light. The fellowship. Is because of the blood. Because the blood. Because of his soul travail. As I know. A brother read. In Isaiah.

[12:58] That his soul. Was poured out. Unt of death. Brothers and sisters. We see. Of the travail. Of his soul. And in my margin here. It says. Travail. Means labor pains.

[13:09] It means pains. Of childbirth. Agony. Intense pain. The travail of his soul. That's what it costs for you. To be saved. That's what it costs for you. To be part of his fellowship.

[13:21] Of God's family. And thirdly. Fellowship. One with another. One with another. It's not just meetings. It's fellowship.

[13:32] One with another. I'm encouraged. I've heard stories. Of folk visiting people. Outside of a Sunday. Wow. You know. I've heard of people actually. Contacting people.

[13:44] In their homes. And going around about. And encouraging one another. And blessing people. Francis. Fellowship. One with another. That's important.

[13:55] Isn't it? It's more than just a Sunday. From 10 to 11. Whenever. It's about fellowship. One with another. We want to be that kind of church. And I'm encouraged to hear.

[14:06] Such things. Fellowship is about one another. It's more than. I've heard it said. In some churches. You don't get fellowship. You just get. Hello shit. You know. You just get hello. Goodbye.

[14:17] That's all you get. You know. We don't have to pee like that. I pray. I know there's visitors. There's people new here. And sometimes we miss that. And I don't want that. I'd encourage us to.

[14:29] Fellowship. Fellowship. Sometimes we're all stretched for time. And energy. And we can. Sometimes it can be hard to. Maybe linger. And chat.

[14:40] Maybe pray for one another. Or come early. You know. Church doesn't have to. You don't have to get here right on 10 o'clock. Or 10.01. As some of you do.

[14:51] Bro and sisters. It's about fellowship. Amen. It's about being here. It's about being with one another. Fellowship. It's about being with one another. And beyond just a mere meeting together.

[15:02] But that discipling. That spending time. And I know for one. Time is short and limited. But friends. Think of one another. Many scriptures about one another.

[15:13] We could. I'll just touch on quickly. Exhort one another daily. Hebrews 3.13. Let us consider one another. To provoke and to love.

[15:24] And to good works. Hebrews 10.24. Colossians 3.16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. In all wisdom. Teaching and admonishing. One another.

[15:35] In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Sing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Ephesians 4.32. And be ye kind one to another.

[15:47] Tender hearts and forgiving one another. Even as God for Christ's sake have forgiven you. Galatians 5.13. In part. By love serve one another.

[15:57] John 13.14. Our Lord says. If I then. Your Lord and Master. Have washed your feet. Ye also ought to.

[16:08] Wash one another's feet. That's humility. We heard about. Someone was passing for humility before. That's humility isn't it? To step down. And wash someone's feet.

[16:21] Of course we know. We could spiritualise that. But there's a sense where there's a. It's the attitude of the heart. Isn't it? That's what we need with one another.

[16:32] I know I need that with myself. And Julie needs it. More so. With me. We've got to bear one another. Forbear one another. It was the blessing of my many faults.

[16:44] John 15.17. These things I command you. That ye love one another. Do we? Do we truly? Romans 10.12.10. Be ye kindly affectioned.

[16:54] One to another. With brotherly love and honour. Preferring one another. Do we prefer one another? Romans 15.7. Wherefore receive ye one another. 2 Corinthians 13.12.

[17:05] Greet one another with a holy kiss. Greet one another with a holy handshake. Amen. Greet one another. Love one another. Rejoice. Receive one another. Consider one another.

[17:16] Prefer one another. Exalt one another. Forgive one another. By love serve one another. Wash one another's feet. Exalt one another. Exalt one another daily. Friends. Fellowship one with another.

[17:29] To close. A lady was dying. A lady in England. A great Christian. A reputed Christian. Lady Powerscourt was her name. A beautiful home.

[17:41] And there she was in her last days. Her last hours. And a friend came to speak to her. And asked her. How are you today?

[17:53] Lady Powerscourt. Very well. She said. I will tell you what I have been thinking of. I was thinking that one needs a lot of scriptures to live by. But only one to die by.

[18:05] Her friend said. And what is that verse? Your lady should. And the dying saint said. The only scripture that a person needs to die by is this. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.

[18:21] And she added. As I lay here dying. That verse has never been sweeter to me than at this moment. What are you living by?

[18:33] What will you die by? I know a dear friend of mine is close to death. A dear elderly brother. And a great friend of mine.

[18:44] And he loves this verse. The blood of Jesus Christ. His son cleanseth us from all sin. Let us pray. I love to tell the story of haunting things above.

[19:03]  Of Jesus and his glory.