WEBVTT

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 Thank you.

00:00:30.679 --> 00:00:37.340
 We shall be in Hebrews chapter 13 this evening, and if you turn there, it will help me a little later on.

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 But first let me tell you of the assignment that I was given at the Evangelical Ministry Assembly just the week before last.

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 I was asked to speak at the last session. There were three evenings, and that was three evening sessions.

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 And I can tell you that I was very reluctant, partly because I'm old and I've spoken at the Ministry Assembly many times,

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 and I thought it was quite time for the younger men to be on the platform,

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 but partly because I was being invited to be a kind of exhibit.

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 On the first evening, a young minister was meant to speak and explain why he'd been able to persevere.

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 On the second evening, a sort of middle-aged man was asked to speak on how he had persevered,

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 and how the Lord had kept him.

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 And then on the third, an ancient relic like myself was meant to come onto the platform and explain the same thing.

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 Well, I'm very reluctant to be an exhibit.

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 You know, it's rather like these London marathons when they wait at the end for the last people to arrive.

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 You know, there's some aged man who arrives at last, and the commentator is so excited and says,

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 at last he's come, it's taken him eight days and four hours and three seconds or whatever it is,

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 let's give him a clap and all the rest of it.

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 Well, I decided not to be an exhibit, but I felt I must speak on perseverance,

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 and these texts in Hebrews 13 have meant a great deal to me in the last fortnight as I worked on them.

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 I was speaking, of course, in the Barbican to hundreds of Christian leaders,

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 and as you saw or heard in the reading, this chapter has three verses about leaders.

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 Quite an unusual title, of course.

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 Not the title of pastor or steward or minister,

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 but the title of leader.

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 And so I'm going to read the three verses, if I may,

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 and then we'll get to work on them.

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 Verses 7,

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 verse 17,

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 and verse 24.

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 Verse 7.

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 Remember, your leaders,

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 who spoke the word of God to you.

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 Consider the outcome of their way of life,

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 and imitate their faith.

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 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

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 Verse 17.

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 So that was a look into the past.

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 Now we go to the present.

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 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority,

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 because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account.

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 Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden,

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 for that would be no benefit to you.

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 And then finally,

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 verse 24,

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 which we will spend time on this evening.

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 Greet all your leaders

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 and all the Lord's people.

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 At any rate,

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 what verse 24 shows

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 is that the Lord's people

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 need leaders.

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 Of course they do.

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 All groups need leaders,

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 all institutions need leaders,

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 and we know,

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 all too painfully at the moment,

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 countries need leaders too.

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 And I guess you're praying about that,

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 at least I hope you are.

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 We were speaking in the car.

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 It is very remarkable, isn't it,

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 of the five or six

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 whose names are in the hat.

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 At least three or four

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 seem to be churchgoers

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 or God-fearers,

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 and one of them a real Christian.

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 That's something to be very thankful for

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 in these days, isn't it?

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 And we need to pray for them,

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 and especially for the one

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 on whom the lot falls.

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 So, what are the leaders' responsibilities?

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 This is what I gave my mind to

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 as I prepared for the ministry assembly,

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 and what I've been giving to my mind

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 ever since.

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 I think the person who learns most

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 from speaking, of course,

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 is the speaker.

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 Well, in verse 7,

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 the work of the church

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 or Christian leader

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 is to speak the word of God.

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 He's to be a preacher.

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 And in verse 17,

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 the work of the church

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 or Christian leader

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 is to be a shepherd.

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 That is a pastor.

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 It's a very succinct and clear pattern,

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 isn't it?

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 He's not a politician.

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 He's not a social activist.

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 He's not an ecclesiastical functionary.

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 He's a speaker,

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 a shepherd,

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 a preacher,

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 and a pastor.

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 But who,

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 and I'm talking to people,

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 I guess,

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 who know their Bibles

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 quite well,

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 indeed very well,

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 who is the speaker

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 par excellence

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 in the letter,

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 the sermon,

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 whatever you like to call it,

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 of Hebrews?

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 As you turn back

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 to chapter 1,

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 you'll soon find out

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 who the real speaker is.

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 Chapter 1,

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 verse 1,

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 In the past,

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 God spoke to our ancestors

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 through the prophets,

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 but in these last days,

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 he has spoken to us

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 by his Son.

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 So the great speaker,

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 according to Hebrews,

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 is our Lord Jesus Christ

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 himself.

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 And the importance of that

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 is really quite terrifying,

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 I think,

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 at the end of the letter,

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 chapter 12,

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 verse 25,

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 we get this exhortation

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 that shows how important

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 it is to listen

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 to the one who speaks.

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 See that you do not

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 refuse him who speaks.

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 If they did not escape

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 when they refused him

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 who warned them on earth,

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 how much less will we

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 if we turn away from him

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 who warns us from heaven.

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 And incidentally,

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 to show you how severe

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 the New Testament can be,

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 look at that last phrase

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 in verse 29,

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 Our God is a consuming fire.

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 That is the verdict

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 on those who won't listen.

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 So in this

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 sermon letter of Hebrews,

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 the speaker is our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Question number two,

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 Who is the great shepherd of Hebrews?

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 Well, you read it just now.

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 It's a wonderful verse.

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 We need only look at one verse,

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 verse 20,

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 of the 13th chapter.

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 Now may the God of peace,

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 who through the blood

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 of the eternal covenant

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 fall back from the dead,

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 our Lord Jesus,

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 that great shepherd of the sheep.

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 So here's a remarkable background

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 to the leader's work.

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 The great speaker

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 that God has sent into the world

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 is none other than Jesus Christ.

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 Oh, we know that, don't we?

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 He's the word.

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 He's the teaching.

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 He comes to preach the gospel.

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 The soldiers

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 who are sent to arrest him

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 said,

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 No man spoke like this man.

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 Well, we know that, don't we?

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 The teaching of Jesus Christ

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 is the wonder of the world.

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 Still is.

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 Would that we obeyed it

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 and listened to it.

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 And who is the great shepherd

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 of the sermon letter?

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 Well, it's our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 there's no doubt about that.

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 He himself said so,

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 did he not?

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 He said,

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 I am the good shepherd.

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 The one who really pastors

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 the universal church

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 and all the churches

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 in the universal church.

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 So in this remarkable letter

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 to the Hebrews,

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 quite different, isn't it,

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 from almost anything else

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 in the New Testament.

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 The Lord is the speaker

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 and the Lord is the shepherd.

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 But,

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 as you sometimes see

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 written on the holy table

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 in Protestant churches,

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 he is not here,

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 he is risen.

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 He's returned to the Father's throne.

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 He is not with us,

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 in that sense, bodily.

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 He is bodily raised from the dead.

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 So the question arises,

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 who is to do the speaking now

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 and who is to do the shepherding?

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 Who is to preach the word?

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 Who is to speak the word of God?

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 And who is to pastor,

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 verse 17,

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 the flock of God?

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 And the answer,

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 are you ready for it?

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 Frail,

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 weak,

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 mortals.

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 Described by Paul

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 in one of his letters

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 as jars of clay.

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 You don't even turn to look at it.

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 I was speaking at the ordination

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 of a Presbyterian church

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 in Scotland,

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 in Glasgow,

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 two Sunday nights ago.

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 and in preaching,

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 I said to Paul,

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 the young man

00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:10.519
 who was being ordained,

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 talking about speaking

00:09:12.419 --> 00:09:13.139
 the word of God

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 and shepherding the flock of God,

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 I said,

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 I hope that in view of this,

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 you are more than

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 a little terrified.

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 I don't think anybody

00:09:21.799 --> 00:09:22.879
 was expecting that,

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 you know.

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 I think they thought

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 I was going to say,

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 it's a wonderful responsibility

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 and it's a great work

00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:27.519
 you're going to it.

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 And all these

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 rather flattering things,

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 but I really do believe that,

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 don't you?

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 He ought to be feeling

00:09:32.719 --> 00:09:33.859
 on the evening

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 in which he's set apart

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 from this work of leadership,

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 he ought to be terrified.

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 Not least,

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 because of that 17,

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 you must give an account.

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 God,

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 well,

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 that's enough

00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:48.219
 to make me tremble.

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 And might not

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 the members of the church

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 tremble too

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 to think that

00:09:56.259 --> 00:09:56.939
 your pastor,

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 your youth leader,

00:09:57.979 --> 00:09:59.259
 your Sunday school teachers

00:09:59.259 --> 00:10:00.840
 are in this position

00:10:00.840 --> 00:10:02.620
 of doing what actually

00:10:02.620 --> 00:10:03.919
 is the work of Christ.

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 You have this heavy,

00:10:08.919 --> 00:10:10.340
 of course it's a great privilege,

00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:11.059
 but a very,

00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:12.559
 very heavy responsibility

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 of actually speaking

00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:15.279
 the word of God

00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:16.860
 and looking out

00:10:16.860 --> 00:10:17.939
 to the flock of God.

00:10:20.819 --> 00:10:21.179
 You know,

00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:22.299
 the work of a,

00:10:23.059 --> 00:10:24.419
 I thought of this young man

00:10:24.419 --> 00:10:25.200
 a fortnight ago,

00:10:25.559 --> 00:10:27.000
 very able young man actually,

00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:28.279
 but quite brave,

00:10:28.340 --> 00:10:28.679
 I think,

00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:30.139
 to venture into this work

00:10:30.139 --> 00:10:32.339
 because the minister today

00:10:32.339 --> 00:10:33.099
 in our society

00:10:33.099 --> 00:10:34.919
 is a very marginalized character,

00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:35.399
 isn't he?

00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:37.819
 He's regarded as somebody

00:10:37.819 --> 00:10:39.059
 who can't do any other job,

00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:39.339
 really.

00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:43.339
 And here was a young man

00:10:43.339 --> 00:10:44.719
 committing himself to that.

00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:47.919
 What did his great namesake

00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:48.239
 say,

00:10:48.359 --> 00:10:49.299
 Paul the Apostle?

00:10:49.959 --> 00:10:51.419
 He asked a great question,

00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:52.620
 which expects the answer,

00:10:52.620 --> 00:10:55.899
 who is equal to this task?

00:10:59.080 --> 00:11:00.759
 So that's the first truth

00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:01.580
 that seems to me

00:11:01.580 --> 00:11:03.179
 to emerge from this.

00:11:04.539 --> 00:11:06.659
 That Christian leadership

00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:09.840
 is an enormous responsibility.

00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:13.080
 It is actually the work of Christ

00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:14.480
 which is delegated to us

00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:15.899
 and we might well tremble,

00:11:16.019 --> 00:11:16.840
 we who speak,

00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:18.879
 we who shepherd,

00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:21.320
 whether in a church

00:11:21.320 --> 00:11:22.100
 or whatever.

00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:26.379
 The second truth

00:11:26.379 --> 00:11:27.080
 that I think emerged,

00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:27.940
 there are many truths

00:11:27.940 --> 00:11:28.440
 that emerge,

00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:29.440
 and the more I look at this,

00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:30.139
 the more truths

00:11:30.139 --> 00:11:31.200
 that seem to come out

00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:31.740
 and hit me

00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:33.200
 and make me think.

00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:34.960
 The second truth

00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:35.399
 that emerges

00:11:35.399 --> 00:11:37.120
 is that Christian leadership

00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:38.420
 demands a reliable

00:11:38.420 --> 00:11:39.500
 teaching ministry.

00:11:40.040 --> 00:11:40.620
 Look back,

00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:41.480
 if you will now,

00:11:41.680 --> 00:11:42.540
 to the past

00:11:42.539 --> 00:11:43.779
 in verse 7.

00:11:46.099 --> 00:11:47.139
 Remember your leaders

00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:48.139
 who speak the word

00:11:48.139 --> 00:11:49.039
 of God to you,

00:11:49.179 --> 00:11:50.500
 consider the outcome

00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:52.120
 of their way of life

00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:54.519
 and imitate their faith.

00:11:55.819 --> 00:11:56.659
 And so it would be good,

00:11:56.719 --> 00:11:57.059
 wouldn't it,

00:11:57.079 --> 00:11:58.079
 just for a moment

00:11:58.079 --> 00:11:59.059
 as we sit here,

00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:00.919
 to do just that.

00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:04.240
 Will you just for a moment

00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:05.639
 cast your mind back

00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:08.099
 to the people

00:12:08.099 --> 00:12:09.019
 who first told you

00:12:09.019 --> 00:12:09.839
 the word of God,

00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:11.599
 the gospel,

00:12:12.539 --> 00:12:13.439
 it's a debt

00:12:13.439 --> 00:12:14.259
 you can't repay,

00:12:14.459 --> 00:12:14.819
 isn't it?

00:12:15.699 --> 00:12:16.579
 Maybe a pastor,

00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:17.599
 maybe a parent,

00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:20.059
 maybe a class leader,

00:12:20.659 --> 00:12:21.439
 maybe a friend.

00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:23.699
 Let's just think

00:12:23.699 --> 00:12:24.159
 for a moment.

00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:25.099
 Remember those

00:12:25.099 --> 00:12:26.740
 who spoke the word

00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:27.599
 of God to you.

00:12:27.879 --> 00:12:28.839
 An enormous debt

00:12:28.839 --> 00:12:30.059
 is what we owe to them.

00:12:31.059 --> 00:12:31.779
 I'm thinking of

00:12:31.779 --> 00:12:32.740
 two men at least

00:12:32.740 --> 00:12:34.799
 and a crusader leader

00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:37.259
 in whose class

00:12:37.259 --> 00:12:38.579
 I simply misbehaved.

00:12:39.860 --> 00:12:40.419
 Well, I suppose

00:12:40.419 --> 00:12:41.139
 I learned something.

00:12:42.539 --> 00:12:46.379
 Now, I don't think

00:12:46.379 --> 00:12:47.779
 we can get the full import

00:12:47.779 --> 00:12:48.539
 of verse 7

00:12:48.539 --> 00:12:49.519
 without verse 8,

00:12:49.599 --> 00:12:50.139
 which is why

00:12:50.139 --> 00:12:50.899
 I read it.

00:12:52.219 --> 00:12:53.579
 What does verse 8 mean?

00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:55.019
 It's a glorious verse,

00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:55.319
 isn't it?

00:12:55.319 --> 00:12:56.539
 It's one everybody knows.

00:12:56.699 --> 00:12:57.339
 Christ the same

00:12:57.339 --> 00:12:58.240
 yesterday and forever.

00:12:59.079 --> 00:13:00.139
 And I'll tell you

00:13:00.139 --> 00:13:00.879
 what I don't think

00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:01.419
 it means.

00:13:03.199 --> 00:13:04.399
 I don't think it means

00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:05.139
 something fairly

00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:05.919
 conventional,

00:13:06.199 --> 00:13:06.879
 that whereas

00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:08.879
 verse 8,

00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:09.179
 the Christian leader

00:13:09.179 --> 00:13:11.159
 comes and goes,

00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:13.240
 those men that I think

00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:14.480
 of who led me to Christ

00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:15.299
 to preach the gospel

00:13:15.299 --> 00:13:16.439
 to me long ago,

00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:18.259
 gone to be with Christ,

00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:19.320
 long, long ago.

00:13:20.100 --> 00:13:21.039
 I don't think it means

00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:23.320
 that the human leaders

00:13:23.320 --> 00:13:24.320
 come and go,

00:13:24.439 --> 00:13:25.600
 but the Lord is still

00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:26.000
 with us,

00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:26.799
 whether in the past

00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:27.559
 generation today

00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:29.179
 and in the future.

00:13:29.319 --> 00:13:30.059
 I don't think that's

00:13:30.059 --> 00:13:31.419
 the point at all.

00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:34.899
 I think verse 8

00:13:34.899 --> 00:13:36.199
 is summing up

00:13:36.199 --> 00:13:37.199
 the essential

00:13:37.199 --> 00:13:38.859
 Christian message

00:13:38.859 --> 00:13:39.759
 as taught

00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:40.559
 by the writer

00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:41.179
 of the Hebrews.

00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:44.659
 And that is

00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:46.259
 the same gospel message,

00:13:46.419 --> 00:13:46.659
 of course,

00:13:46.739 --> 00:13:47.459
 as all the writers

00:13:47.459 --> 00:13:48.199
 are talking about,

00:13:48.299 --> 00:13:49.519
 but it's very distinctive,

00:13:49.699 --> 00:13:50.000
 isn't it,

00:13:50.019 --> 00:13:50.479
 in Hebrews.

00:13:51.500 --> 00:13:52.459
 It takes him

00:13:52.459 --> 00:13:53.979
 two-thirds

00:13:53.979 --> 00:13:55.179
 of the letter

00:13:55.179 --> 00:13:56.179
 to describe

00:13:56.179 --> 00:13:57.019
 in chapters 3

00:13:57.019 --> 00:13:57.979
 to chapters 10.

00:13:58.799 --> 00:13:59.419
 Chapters 3,

00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:01.439
 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

00:14:01.439 --> 00:14:02.339
 are all taken up

00:14:02.339 --> 00:14:03.059
 with one thing,

00:14:04.620 --> 00:14:05.699
 and that is

00:14:05.699 --> 00:14:06.859
 Christ the High Priest.

00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:09.279
 In fact,

00:14:09.319 --> 00:14:10.120
 it's all taken up

00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:10.899
 with one day

00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:12.439
 in the Jewish year

00:14:12.439 --> 00:14:13.839
 in the Old Testament times.

00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:15.099
 It's taken up

00:14:15.099 --> 00:14:15.879
 with that great day

00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:16.519
 of atonement

00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:19.199
 when the High Priest,

00:14:19.339 --> 00:14:20.620
 I hardly tell you this,

00:14:20.699 --> 00:14:21.439
 took the blood

00:14:21.439 --> 00:14:22.439
 of the sacrifice.

00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:25.120
 He would go trembling

00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:26.440
 through the curtain

00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:27.820
 into the Holy Polis.

00:14:29.220 --> 00:14:30.100
 The blood would be

00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:31.240
 sprinkled there.

00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:33.179
 He would stand there

00:14:33.179 --> 00:14:34.039
 for a few minutes,

00:14:34.779 --> 00:14:36.060
 and then he would return,

00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:38.379
 having ratified

00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:40.100
 the covenant

00:14:40.100 --> 00:14:40.860
 between God

00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:41.500
 and his people

00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:42.860
 for one more year.

00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:44.779
 In a year's time,

00:14:44.820 --> 00:14:45.779
 he'd have to do the same.

00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:47.480
 And then the next year,

00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:48.560
 and the next year.

00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:52.960
 And at very great length,

00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:54.360
 it's an incredible detail.

00:14:55.180 --> 00:14:56.160
 And I'm not sure

00:14:56.160 --> 00:14:57.139
 how many Bible readers

00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:58.240
 take trouble

00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:58.940
 to go through

00:14:58.940 --> 00:14:59.680
 all the detail.

00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:00.980
 He points out

00:15:00.980 --> 00:15:02.200
 how Christ has fulfilled

00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:03.420
 that once and for all,

00:15:04.160 --> 00:15:05.440
 in virtue of his own

00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:06.519
 sacrifice,

00:15:07.920 --> 00:15:09.160
 going through the

00:15:09.160 --> 00:15:10.420
 Holy of Holies

00:15:10.420 --> 00:15:11.740
 into the presence of God.

00:15:13.180 --> 00:15:14.200
 Opening that way

00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:15.300
 once and for all,

00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:16.600
 so that the covenant

00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:17.720
 between God

00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:18.440
 and his people

00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:20.620
 is firm forever.

00:15:22.040 --> 00:15:23.280
 Just an amazing

00:15:23.280 --> 00:15:24.960
 passage

00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:26.400
 and an amazing description.

00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:28.080
 It's very interesting to me.

00:15:28.300 --> 00:15:28.740
 I'd like you,

00:15:28.780 --> 00:15:29.180
 if you will,

00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:31.340
 it'll mean that you're

00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:31.940
 still with me

00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:33.980
 if I hear the pages turned.

00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:36.660
 Just turn to Mark 15

00:15:36.660 --> 00:15:37.760
 for a moment.

00:15:38.660 --> 00:15:39.820
 The earliest gospel,

00:15:41.280 --> 00:15:42.840
 and when you come to

00:15:42.840 --> 00:15:45.840
 the critical passage

00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:47.500
 on the death

00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:49.040
 of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:51.899
 all that he tells you

00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:53.639
 is that Christ

00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:54.740
 laid down his life

00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:55.540
 and sacrificed

00:15:55.540 --> 00:15:56.800
 bearing the sins

00:15:56.800 --> 00:15:57.320
 of the world,

00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:59.040
 verse 34,

00:16:01.540 --> 00:16:03.040
 that he cried,

00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:04.080
 a loud cry

00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:04.940
 in verse 37,

00:16:05.060 --> 00:16:05.780
 grieved his last,

00:16:06.040 --> 00:16:06.759
 and the curtain

00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:07.220
 of the temple

00:16:07.220 --> 00:16:08.060
 was torn in two.

00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:09.460
 So there we go

00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:10.560
 to the very earliest

00:16:10.560 --> 00:16:11.900
 strata of the Christian

00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:13.059
 gospel in the New Testament.

00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:14.259
 You can't go earlier

00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:14.799
 than that.

00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:18.579
 So the very essential

00:16:18.579 --> 00:16:19.480
 gospel that they

00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:20.000
 were preaching

00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:21.620
 was the gospel

00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:23.039
 of a Savior

00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:24.779
 who takes,

00:16:24.939 --> 00:16:25.439
 by virtue

00:16:25.439 --> 00:16:26.579
 of his sacrifice,

00:16:26.579 --> 00:16:29.120
 takes himself

00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:30.579
 as a representative

00:16:30.579 --> 00:16:31.459
 into the presence

00:16:31.459 --> 00:16:31.939
 of God

00:16:31.939 --> 00:16:33.639
 and opens that way

00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:34.199
 forever.

00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:35.319
 So coming back

00:16:35.319 --> 00:16:35.899
 to Hebrews,

00:16:36.319 --> 00:16:37.500
 when we get at last

00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:38.460
 to the application

00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:39.240
 of those

00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:41.220
 many chapters,

00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:43.100
 look at chapter 10,

00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:44.000
 verse 19,

00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:44.759
 I'm sure you know

00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:45.060
 it well,

00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:45.660
 and if you don't,

00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.120
 you ought,

00:16:46.920 --> 00:16:47.779
 because this is the

00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:48.740
 climax of the whole

00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:49.000
 letter,

00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:49.940
 and it's so wonderful,

00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:50.340
 really.

00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:51.080
 Therefore,

00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:51.980
 brothers and sisters,

00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:52.800
 since we have

00:16:52.800 --> 00:16:54.759
 confidence to enter

00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:55.899
 the most holy place

00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:57.160
 by the blood of Jesus,

00:16:57.860 --> 00:16:59.600
 by a new and living way,

00:17:00.160 --> 00:17:00.960
 and since we have

00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:01.680
 a great priest

00:17:01.680 --> 00:17:02.860
 over the house of God,

00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:04.079
 let us draw near

00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:05.200
 to God with a sincere

00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:05.480
 heart,

00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.160
 and so on.

00:17:07.360 --> 00:17:08.400
 Let us draw near.

00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:10.400
 And you've got

00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:11.220
 that same drawing

00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:11.519
 here,

00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:12.040
 don't you,

00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:13.380
 in chapter 12.

00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:14.620
 Just turn over the page.

00:17:15.040 --> 00:17:16.920
 I love the contrast,

00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.380
 don't you,

00:17:17.420 --> 00:17:18.320
 in chapter 12,

00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:19.340
 verse 18.

00:17:19.780 --> 00:17:20.840
 You have not drawn

00:17:20.840 --> 00:17:21.740
 near to the mountain

00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:22.540
 that can be touched

00:17:22.540 --> 00:17:23.320
 that is burning

00:17:23.320 --> 00:17:24.560
 with fire and darkness.

00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:25.780
 That is,

00:17:25.900 --> 00:17:26.860
 in the Old Testament,

00:17:27.040 --> 00:17:27.580
 terrifying.

00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:30.400
 No animal allowed near,

00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:31.180
 gloom,

00:17:31.340 --> 00:17:31.840
 storm,

00:17:32.280 --> 00:17:33.140
 trumpet blast.

00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:34.300
 But,

00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:35.300
 verse 22,

00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:37.139
 you have come

00:17:37.139 --> 00:17:37.919
 to Mount Zion,

00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:38.559
 to the city

00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:39.419
 of the living God,

00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:40.799
 the heavenly Jerusalem.

00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:41.659
 You have come

00:17:41.659 --> 00:17:42.639
 to thousands of angels.

00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:43.899
 We really ought to say

00:17:43.899 --> 00:17:44.579
 that at the beginning

00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:45.180
 of our meeting.

00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:45.819
 It's all great.

00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:47.740
 When we started,

00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:50.440
 when Paul stood here,

00:17:51.379 --> 00:17:52.039
 he might easily

00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:52.720
 have said to us

00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:53.259
 these words,

00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:54.159
 because they're true.

00:17:54.579 --> 00:17:55.919
 Because of that sacrifice,

00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:56.740
 we have come

00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:58.279
 to thousands of angels

00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:59.159
 in Joyful Assembly.

00:17:59.299 --> 00:17:59.899
 You can't see them,

00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:00.460
 but they're there.

00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:02.039
 We've come to the church

00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:02.839
 of the firstborn.

00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:04.000
 We've come to God,

00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:04.839
 the judge of all.

00:18:04.839 --> 00:18:05.919
 We've come to the

00:18:05.919 --> 00:18:06.720
 sprinkled blood

00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:09.019
 that speaks a better word

00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:10.519
 than the blood of Abel.

00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:14.539
 Now,

00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:15.259
 why do you think

00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.519
 that he spends

00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.799
 so much time on this

00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:18.439
 in this letter?

00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:19.879
 You don't find it

00:18:19.879 --> 00:18:20.699
 anywhere else

00:18:20.699 --> 00:18:21.539
 in the New Testament,

00:18:21.679 --> 00:18:21.819
 though,

00:18:21.899 --> 00:18:22.059
 of course,

00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:23.179
 the message of the Gospel

00:18:23.179 --> 00:18:24.659
 is the same.

00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:26.299
 Well,

00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:27.679
 I think that verse 8

00:18:27.679 --> 00:18:29.539
 has the clue within it.

00:18:30.399 --> 00:18:31.119
 Jesus Christ,

00:18:31.199 --> 00:18:31.859
 the same yesterday,

00:18:31.859 --> 00:18:33.159
 and for ever.

00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:34.039
 And once you see

00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:35.039
 those words for ever,

00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:36.839
 the Bible student

00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:37.700
 knows exactly

00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:38.899
 what he's talking about.

00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:41.460
 Because that is the theme

00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:42.539
 of those great chapters

00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:43.500
 in the middle of Hebrews

00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:45.000
 about the high priest

00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.339
 who is the high priest

00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:47.779
 after the order of Melchizedek

00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:48.480
 forever.

00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:49.480
 Chapter 7,

00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:50.659
 seven times,

00:18:50.899 --> 00:18:51.159
 six,

00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:51.940
 seven times,

00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:53.099
 the same phrase

00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:53.740
 is used.

00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:55.899
 So,

00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:57.039
 why does he tell us

00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:58.059
 that our priest

00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:59.139
 is a priest for ever?

00:18:59.140 --> 00:18:59.420
 Well,

00:18:59.480 --> 00:18:59.860
 of course,

00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:00.580
 he's telling us

00:19:00.580 --> 00:19:01.420
 because we don't need

00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:02.340
 any more priests.

00:19:05.800 --> 00:19:06.240
 Now,

00:19:06.320 --> 00:19:07.840
 there's some controversy

00:19:07.840 --> 00:19:09.700
 as to what verse 9 means.

00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:11.140
 I want to tell you

00:19:11.140 --> 00:19:12.460
 what I think it may mean

00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:14.420
 and possibly does mean.

00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:18.100
 Hebrews was not written

00:19:18.100 --> 00:19:18.759
 to Jews.

00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:19.920
 It was written to Christians

00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:20.700
 and has been read

00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:21.340
 by Christians

00:19:21.340 --> 00:19:22.500
 for 2,000 years.

00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:22.980
 But,

00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:25.839
 in the first century

00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:26.619
 there were many

00:19:26.619 --> 00:19:27.799
 Jewish Christians.

00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:30.880
 And I think

00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:32.200
 that many of these Jews

00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:33.960
 towards the third quarter

00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:34.880
 of the first century

00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:35.380
 when people

00:19:35.380 --> 00:19:36.579
 are getting discouraged

00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:38.480
 were finding it

00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:39.140
 so difficult

00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:40.180
 to live by faith

00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:41.500
 in an invisible Lord

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:43.240
 and an unknown future.

00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:45.839
 It was also

00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:47.480
 apparently empty

00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:49.279
 and you just had

00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:49.859
 to believe.

00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:52.719
 But how many

00:19:52.719 --> 00:19:53.899
 supports they had,

00:19:53.959 --> 00:19:54.459
 hadn't they,

00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:55.199
 in their time

00:19:55.199 --> 00:19:56.039
 as Jews?

00:19:56.459 --> 00:19:57.179
 They had endless

00:19:57.179 --> 00:19:57.759
 supports.

00:19:57.899 --> 00:19:58.339
 The priest,

00:19:58.459 --> 00:19:59.039
 the sacrifice,

00:19:59.279 --> 00:19:59.759
 the temple,

00:20:00.159 --> 00:20:00.659
 the altar,

00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:01.339
 and so on.

00:20:01.659 --> 00:20:02.159
 And I think

00:20:02.159 --> 00:20:03.000
 probably these

00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:03.779
 Jewish Christians

00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:04.319
 were saying

00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:05.619
 we need something

00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:06.359
 that we can see,

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.639
 something to support us,

00:20:08.139 --> 00:20:08.919
 something to give us

00:20:08.919 --> 00:20:09.740
 confidence

00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:11.119
 about these

00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:11.919
 great truths.

00:20:14.959 --> 00:20:16.199
 Why I think that

00:20:16.199 --> 00:20:17.099
 is because

00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:18.059
 throughout this

00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:19.639
 letter to the Hebrews

00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:22.300
 you have a constant

00:20:22.300 --> 00:20:23.220
 word being

00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:25.460
 almost shouted out.

00:20:26.380 --> 00:20:27.759
 We have a great

00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.420
 high priest.

00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:29.600
 Again and again

00:20:29.600 --> 00:20:30.000
 and again.

00:20:30.100 --> 00:20:30.840
 You follow it through.

00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:31.860
 It's worth reading

00:20:31.860 --> 00:20:32.740
 right through the letter

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:34.880
 once in half an hour

00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:36.060
 and counting the number

00:20:36.060 --> 00:20:37.040
 of times he says,

00:20:37.320 --> 00:20:38.500
 he almost shouts it out.

00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.800
 We have a great

00:20:39.800 --> 00:20:40.420
 high priest.

00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.420
 And there you have it

00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:43.960
 in verse

00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:46.520
 10, don't you?

00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:47.620
 We have an altar.

00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:49.699
 Why is he saying

00:20:49.699 --> 00:20:50.059
 this?

00:20:51.479 --> 00:20:52.039
 Well he's saying

00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:52.899
 be assured

00:20:52.899 --> 00:20:53.939
 we have a high priest,

00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:54.599
 we have an altar.

00:20:54.899 --> 00:20:55.799
 You cannot see

00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:56.599
 these things

00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:58.199
 but the cross

00:20:58.199 --> 00:20:58.619
 of Christ

00:20:58.619 --> 00:20:59.319
 was the altar

00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:00.500
 and the high priest

00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:00.859
 in heaven

00:21:00.859 --> 00:21:02.099
 is caring for you.

00:21:03.479 --> 00:21:04.579
 The God man.

00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:09.779
 Once a year

00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:11.859
 the churches

00:21:11.859 --> 00:21:12.500
 in the city

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.739
 have an open Sunday

00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:16.059
 and it's amazing

00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:17.099
 the number of tourists

00:21:17.099 --> 00:21:17.960
 who come in

00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:18.759
 to see the churches

00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:19.759
 and we're encouraged

00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.400
 to tell them

00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:21.019
 what goes on

00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:21.599
 in the churches.

00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:24.039
 And there's a

00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:25.500
 I mustn't call him

00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:25.799
 a lad

00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:26.240
 because I think

00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:26.519
 he's probably

00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:27.720
 getting on to 45.

00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:30.180
 A young man

00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:30.700
 on the staff

00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:31.400
 called Charlie

00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:33.140
 who is absolutely

00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:34.420
 brilliant at doing this.

00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:37.000
 And one of the

00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.720
 first questions

00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:38.420
 that's asked

00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:39.359
 in question time

00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:40.400
 what Charlie does

00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:41.079
 is to take them

00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:41.700
 around the building

00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:43.019
 and preach the gospel

00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:44.059
 through the various

00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:44.920
 parts of the building.

00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:46.960
 And after he's

00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:47.620
 finished his talk

00:21:47.620 --> 00:21:48.259
 the first question

00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:49.279
 is nearly always this

00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:50.400
 where's the altar?

00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:54.000
 And what a wonderful

00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:54.480
 opportunity

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.240
 for explaining

00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:56.059
 Hebrews 13.

00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.480
 We have an altar.

00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.700
 The way is open.

00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:03.660
 It's a majestic

00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.740
 statement isn't it?

00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:12.740
 So these are words

00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.980
 of enormous confidence

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.940
 to these young

00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:15.720
 Jewish Christians

00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:17.900
 that in Christ

00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:19.059
 we have a high priest

00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.720
 who has

00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:21.000
 made that

00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:21.480
 permanent

00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.400
 and full

00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:23.140
 and perfect

00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:23.720
 sacrifice

00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:25.000
 and is still

00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:26.200
 today with us

00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:27.200
 and we won't read

00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:27.740
 those wonderful

00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.460
 chapters at the

00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:29.220
 beginning of Hebrews

00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:30.380
 where we're told

00:22:30.380 --> 00:22:31.359
 that he cares for us

00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:32.380
 and has mercy upon us

00:22:32.380 --> 00:22:33.460
 and draws near to us.

00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:34.819
 We don't often

00:22:34.819 --> 00:22:35.640
 hear that do we?

00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:36.400
 We hear Christ

00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:37.039
 as a friend

00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:37.819
 a saviour

00:22:37.819 --> 00:22:38.819
 a lord

00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:40.700
 but it's so important

00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:41.600
 to see him too

00:22:41.600 --> 00:22:42.920
 as a priest.

00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:50.860
 So leadership

00:22:50.860 --> 00:22:52.000
 demands a ministry

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.960
 of truth

00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:55.680
 that enables us

00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.519
 to walk

00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.660
 by faith

00:22:57.660 --> 00:22:59.920
 in an invisible

00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:00.480
 lord

00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:02.160
 and a far

00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:03.059
 distant future.

00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:07.480
 Well I think

00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:07.900
 that's enough

00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:08.740
 probably for this

00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:08.980
 evening.

00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:09.660
 I'll finish by

00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:10.120
 telling you

00:23:10.120 --> 00:23:10.860
 what my last

00:23:10.860 --> 00:23:11.640
 point was

00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:12.240
 in the

00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:12.660
 Barberkin

00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:13.600
 ten days ago.

00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:20.059
 This leadership

00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:22.079
 was committed

00:23:22.079 --> 00:23:22.740
 to me

00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.480
 at St.

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.120
 Helen's Church

00:23:24.120 --> 00:23:25.100
 in Bishopsgate

00:23:25.100 --> 00:23:25.700
 38

00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:27.140
 well for

00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:28.240
 no not 38

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:28.740
 years ago

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:30.819
 in 1961

00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:32.159
 and I can't

00:23:32.159 --> 00:23:32.439
 do the

00:23:32.439 --> 00:23:32.919
 mathematics

00:23:32.919 --> 00:23:33.439
 but some

00:23:33.439 --> 00:23:33.599
 of you

00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.159
 can do it

00:23:34.159 --> 00:23:34.799
 it's a long

00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:35.339
 time ago

00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:35.759
 isn't it?

00:23:39.439 --> 00:23:40.099
 And it

00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:40.679
 seems to me

00:23:40.679 --> 00:23:42.279
 that I was

00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:42.819
 given the

00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:43.480
 responsibility

00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.359
 of doing

00:23:44.359 --> 00:23:44.939
 these two

00:23:44.939 --> 00:23:45.639
 things

00:23:45.639 --> 00:23:46.919
 week by

00:23:46.919 --> 00:23:47.319
 week

00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:49.039
 and if I

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.359
 was not

00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:49.799
 to be a

00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.259
 humbug

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:51.000
 it meant

00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:52.279
 that first

00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:53.419
 if I was

00:23:53.419 --> 00:23:53.899
 to speak

00:23:53.899 --> 00:23:54.259
 the word

00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:54.619
 of God

00:23:54.619 --> 00:23:54.980
 I'd got

00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.599
 to listen

00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:58.059
 and I

00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:58.439
 think that's

00:23:58.439 --> 00:23:58.759
 one of the

00:23:58.759 --> 00:23:59.480
 great privileges

00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:00.319
 of the

00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:00.759
 pastor

00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:01.279
 or the

00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:01.719
 teacher

00:24:01.719 --> 00:24:03.199
 the leader

00:24:03.199 --> 00:24:03.779
 in any

00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.339
 part of the

00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:04.719
 church

00:24:04.719 --> 00:24:05.859
 that they

00:24:05.859 --> 00:24:06.779
 cannot speak

00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:07.319
 until they

00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:07.939
 have listened

00:24:07.939 --> 00:24:09.319
 and it's

00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:09.699
 one of the

00:24:09.699 --> 00:24:10.219
 ways in which

00:24:10.219 --> 00:24:10.980
 God keeps

00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:11.679
 us I think

00:24:11.679 --> 00:24:14.319
 and secondly

00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:14.719
 if I was

00:24:14.719 --> 00:24:15.059
 not to be

00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:15.480
 a humbug

00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:16.019
 I had to

00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:16.980
 watch myself

00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:18.000
 verse 17

00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:19.159
 if I was

00:24:19.159 --> 00:24:19.579
 to watch

00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:20.339
 over others

00:24:20.339 --> 00:24:22.339
 so that

00:24:22.339 --> 00:24:22.740
 actually

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.919
 being a

00:24:23.919 --> 00:24:25.159
 church leader

00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:26.880
 is a

00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:27.340
 very great

00:24:27.340 --> 00:24:27.840
 privilege

00:24:27.840 --> 00:24:28.900
 because you

00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:29.460
 are bound

00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:29.940
 to listen

00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.500
 and bound

00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:30.920
 to watch

00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:31.519
 over yourself

00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:31.920
 if you're

00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.200
 to do

00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:32.920
 your job

00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:36.120
 and so

00:24:36.120 --> 00:24:36.340
 in the

00:24:36.340 --> 00:24:36.500
 Bible

00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:36.860
 can I

00:24:36.860 --> 00:24:37.240
 finish

00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:37.860
 by giving

00:24:37.860 --> 00:24:39.300
 three of

00:24:39.300 --> 00:24:39.660
 the great

00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:40.140
 warnings

00:24:40.140 --> 00:24:40.759
 of Hebrews

00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.940
 which I

00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:42.340
 think the

00:24:42.340 --> 00:24:42.660
 Christian

00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:43.480
 leader has

00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:43.900
 to take

00:24:43.900 --> 00:24:44.200
 apart

00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:44.720
 just as

00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.080
 much as

00:24:45.080 --> 00:24:45.400
 anybody

00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:45.960
 else

00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:49.480
 first

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:50.920
 not to

00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:51.580
 be ashamed

00:24:51.580 --> 00:24:54.620
 many

00:24:54.619 --> 00:24:54.919
 many

00:24:54.919 --> 00:24:55.359
 times

00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:55.699
 in this

00:24:55.699 --> 00:24:55.939
 letter

00:24:55.939 --> 00:24:56.159
 we're

00:24:56.159 --> 00:24:56.599
 told

00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:57.859
 of the

00:24:57.859 --> 00:24:58.439
 disgrace

00:24:58.439 --> 00:24:59.079
 there is

00:24:59.079 --> 00:24:59.719
 in believing

00:24:59.719 --> 00:25:00.619
 the words

00:25:00.619 --> 00:25:01.299
 of Christ

00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:03.379
 and I can only

00:25:03.379 --> 00:25:03.899
 speak for the

00:25:03.899 --> 00:25:04.239
 Church of

00:25:04.239 --> 00:25:04.439
 England

00:25:04.439 --> 00:25:04.899
 in saying

00:25:04.899 --> 00:25:05.339
 that many

00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:06.199
 gifted young

00:25:06.199 --> 00:25:06.539
 men

00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:07.899
 who were

00:25:07.899 --> 00:25:08.459
 evangelical

00:25:08.459 --> 00:25:09.019
 in their

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:09.639
 origins

00:25:09.639 --> 00:25:11.139
 who were

00:25:11.139 --> 00:25:11.839
 thoroughly

00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:12.519
 converted

00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:13.059
 people

00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:14.379
 who knew

00:25:14.379 --> 00:25:14.759
 the word

00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.259
 of God

00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:17.119
 before very

00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:17.619
 long

00:25:17.619 --> 00:25:18.279
 were tempted

00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:19.299
 to be ashamed

00:25:19.299 --> 00:25:19.859
 of where

00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:20.519
 they stood

00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:22.700
 over against

00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:23.680
 the

00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:24.539
 liberalism

00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:25.139
 and the

00:25:25.139 --> 00:25:26.220
 worldliness

00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:26.599
 of the

00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:26.980
 Church

00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:28.480
 and so

00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:30.460
 I tried

00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:30.960
 to make

00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:32.180
 an appeal

00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:32.639
 in the

00:25:32.639 --> 00:25:32.859
 Bible

00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.839
 and do

00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:34.400
 pray about

00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:34.740
 this

00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:35.680
 to those

00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:35.920
 who are

00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:36.400
 particularly

00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:36.920
 gifted

00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:37.319
 I thought

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:37.720
 to myself

00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.319
 there are

00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:39.299
 1500

00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:40.240
 Church

00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:40.599
 leaders

00:25:40.599 --> 00:25:42.639
 and

00:25:42.639 --> 00:25:43.839
 amongst

00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:44.160
 them

00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:44.599
 there will

00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:45.339
 be some

00:25:45.339 --> 00:25:46.639
 peculiarly

00:25:46.639 --> 00:25:47.000
 gifted

00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:48.400
 in mind

00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:49.819
 personality

00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:51.299
 gift

00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:53.640
 and they

00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:54.039
 who will

00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.480
 be tempted

00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:54.799
 to be

00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:55.339
 ashamed

00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:57.400
 they whom

00:25:57.400 --> 00:25:57.900
 Satan

00:25:57.900 --> 00:25:58.400
 will try

00:25:58.400 --> 00:25:58.900
 to move

00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.319
 away

00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:00.180
 in order

00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:00.579
 that they

00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:01.400
 might find

00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:02.259
 popularity

00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:03.099
 preferment

00:26:03.099 --> 00:26:03.839
 promotion

00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:04.859
 influence

00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:05.339
 whatever you

00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:05.700
 like to

00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:06.119
 call it

00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:08.559
 it's a

00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:08.980
 warning for

00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:09.359
 all of us

00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:09.839
 of course

00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:11.200
 but it's

00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:11.720
 especially

00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.579
 a warning

00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:13.160
 for Christian

00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:13.640
 leaders

00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:17.300
 the second

00:26:17.300 --> 00:26:17.960
 warning that I

00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:18.540
 chose to

00:26:18.540 --> 00:26:19.140
 give to

00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:19.540
 those

00:26:19.540 --> 00:26:19.820
 men

00:26:19.820 --> 00:26:20.220
 ancient

00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:20.580
 leaders

00:26:20.580 --> 00:26:20.880
 who are

00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:21.220
 there is

00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:21.600
 not to

00:26:21.600 --> 00:26:21.860
 be

00:26:21.860 --> 00:26:22.520
 hardened

00:26:22.520 --> 00:26:23.360
 by sin's

00:26:23.360 --> 00:26:24.259
 deceitfulness

00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:26.420
 it's a

00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:26.900
 strong

00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:27.300
 strong

00:26:27.300 --> 00:26:27.740
 message

00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:27.960
 in

00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:28.280
 Hebrews

00:26:28.280 --> 00:26:30.560
 it applies

00:26:30.560 --> 00:26:31.000
 to all

00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.320
 of you

00:26:31.320 --> 00:26:31.940
 of course

00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:34.160
 but in a

00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:34.820
 very powerful

00:26:34.820 --> 00:26:35.360
 way it

00:26:35.360 --> 00:26:35.940
 applies to

00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:36.560
 the minister

00:26:36.560 --> 00:26:38.480
 because on

00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:39.220
 those very

00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:40.240
 basic things

00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:40.780
 like

00:26:40.780 --> 00:26:42.340
 marriage

00:26:42.340 --> 00:26:43.400
 verse 4

00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:45.480
 money

00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:47.120
 verse 5

00:26:47.120 --> 00:26:48.680
 well

00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:49.519
 I'm bound

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:49.880
 to say

00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:50.480
 because of

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.259
 my age

00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:52.300
 that I

00:26:52.300 --> 00:26:52.920
 look back

00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:54.460
 and I

00:26:54.460 --> 00:26:54.960
 can see

00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:55.480
 quite a

00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:55.900
 number of

00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:56.320
 men who

00:26:56.320 --> 00:26:56.920
 lost their

00:26:56.920 --> 00:26:57.340
 ministry

00:26:57.340 --> 00:26:59.500
 because of

00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:01.220
 sin

00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:02.200
 in marriage

00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:03.580
 and money

00:27:03.580 --> 00:27:04.080
 matters

00:27:04.080 --> 00:27:06.080
 and the

00:27:06.080 --> 00:27:07.300
 the

00:27:07.300 --> 00:27:09.140
 importance

00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:09.780
 of this

00:27:09.780 --> 00:27:10.420
 as I

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:10.840
 tried to

00:27:10.840 --> 00:27:11.180
 say to

00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:11.500
 them that

00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:11.740
 evening

00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.140
 was

00:27:12.140 --> 00:27:13.220
 that for

00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:13.740
 the minister

00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:14.460
 you only

00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:14.980
 need one

00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:15.339
 strike

00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:15.680
 and you're

00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:15.960
 out

00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:18.600
 a man

00:27:18.600 --> 00:27:19.360
 can lose

00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:19.620
 his

00:27:19.620 --> 00:27:20.140
 ministry

00:27:20.140 --> 00:27:22.279
 if he's

00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:22.620
 hardened

00:27:22.620 --> 00:27:23.299
 by sin's

00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.100
 deceitfulness

00:27:24.100 --> 00:27:25.559
 in these

00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:26.059
 matters

00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:29.160
 and the

00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:29.819
 third warning

00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:30.640
 I gave them

00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:31.120
 that evening

00:27:31.120 --> 00:27:31.799
 was not

00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:32.339
 only to be

00:27:32.339 --> 00:27:33.299
 unashamed

00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:33.700
 but not

00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:34.500
 only to be

00:27:34.500 --> 00:27:35.240
 careful about

00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:35.779
 sin's

00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:36.680
 deceitfulness

00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:38.680
 but to be

00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:39.620
 careful in

00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:40.460
 the face

00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:41.680
 of increasing

00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:43.400
 persecution

00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:45.140
 not to

00:27:45.140 --> 00:27:45.860
 shrink back

00:27:45.860 --> 00:27:47.259
 if you read

00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:47.920
 Hebrews 10

00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:48.180
 and we

00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:48.380
 haven't

00:27:48.380 --> 00:27:48.720
 time to

00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.100
 do that

00:27:49.100 --> 00:27:49.380
 now

00:27:49.380 --> 00:27:49.920
 it's very

00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:50.779
 very strong

00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:52.539
 about not

00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:52.840
 throwing

00:27:52.840 --> 00:27:53.220
 everything

00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:53.680
 away

00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.740
 because of

00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.160
 the bitter

00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:55.900
 opposition

00:27:55.900 --> 00:27:56.880
 you face

00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:59.900
 I think

00:27:59.900 --> 00:28:00.300
 those three

00:28:00.300 --> 00:28:00.920
 applications

00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:01.780
 apply to

00:28:01.780 --> 00:28:02.140
 you

00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:03.320
 they apply

00:28:03.320 --> 00:28:03.720
 to all

00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:04.260
 our church

00:28:04.260 --> 00:28:04.600
 leaders

00:28:04.600 --> 00:28:05.000
 in this

00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.280
 country

00:28:05.280 --> 00:28:05.600
 today

00:28:05.600 --> 00:28:06.000
 I think

00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.300
 there's a

00:28:06.300 --> 00:28:06.840
 tremendous

00:28:06.840 --> 00:28:07.400
 pressure

00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:07.880
 on our

00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:08.200
 leaders

00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:09.400
 especially

00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.240
 perhaps in the

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:10.680
 established

00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.200
 church

00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:12.540
 to be ashamed

00:28:12.540 --> 00:28:12.880
 of the

00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:13.280
 gospel

00:28:13.280 --> 00:28:15.100
 to be ashamed

00:28:15.100 --> 00:28:15.480
 of the

00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:16.060
 standards

00:28:16.060 --> 00:28:17.860
 of sex

00:28:17.860 --> 00:28:18.620
 and marriage

00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:20.360
 to shrink

00:28:20.360 --> 00:28:20.920
 back from

00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:21.920
 the constant

00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:22.760
 secular

00:28:22.760 --> 00:28:23.760
 sniping

00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.480
 that goes

00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.079
 on today

00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:27.259
 so this

00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:27.839
 letter has a

00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:28.220
 great deal

00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:28.720
 to say to

00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:28.980
 us

00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:30.099
 the work

00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:30.379
 of the

00:28:30.379 --> 00:28:30.680
 leaders

00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:31.359
 is of

00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:31.980
 unique

00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:32.559
 importance

00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.000
 isn't it

00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:33.420
 to speak

00:28:33.420 --> 00:28:33.759
 the word

00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:34.099
 of God

00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:34.400
 and to

00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:34.819
 look after

00:28:34.819 --> 00:28:35.240
 the flock

00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:35.660
 of God

00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:36.440
 but the

00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:36.859
 warnings

00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:37.640
 are equally

00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:38.119
 great

00:28:38.119 --> 00:28:41.140
 and I pray

00:28:41.140 --> 00:28:41.579
 that many

00:28:41.579 --> 00:28:42.160
 of those

00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:42.759
 leaders

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.339
 there

00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:44.900
 and leaders

00:28:44.900 --> 00:28:45.379
 perhaps that

00:28:45.379 --> 00:28:45.779
 you know

00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:46.299
 and pray

00:28:46.299 --> 00:28:46.640
 for

00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:47.099
 and ought

00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:47.420
 to pray

00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:47.819
 for

00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:49.059
 may be

00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:49.379
 kept

00:28:49.379 --> 00:28:49.960
 from

00:28:49.960 --> 00:28:50.960
 shame

00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:52.440
 and sin

00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:54.360
 and shrinking

00:28:54.360 --> 00:28:54.960
 back in

00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.320
 the light

00:28:55.320 --> 00:28:56.680
 of so

00:28:56.680 --> 00:28:57.000
 much

00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:57.580
 opposition

00:28:57.580 --> 00:29:01.880
 let's

00:29:01.880 --> 00:29:02.140
 pray