WEBVTT

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 Great fear and meeting of the saints is due unto the Lord.

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 He of all about him should with reverence be adored.

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 What a wonderful summary that is of the spirit of worship as the Lord's people gather together Sunday by Sunday

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 or as opportunity presents itself to give glory to the Lord.

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 And as verse 8 puts it specifically in the chapter we read together earlier in 2 Timothy chapter 2,

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 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, has preached in my gospel,

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 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal, but the word of God is not bound.

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 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus

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 with eternal glory.

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 You cannot but read this letter and take on board what really drove Paul,

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 what mattered most of all to him, what he really wanted more than anything else,

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 what drove him was giving Jesus Christ all the glory and all the praise.

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 And so here we have in just the second chapter of this wonderful letter that's so personal,

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 so moving to read this and think of the providence behind it, the circumstances,

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 here he is bound as a criminal, writing furiously, his right, his written ministry,

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 still going on even though he himself was suffering, bound with chains,

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 but he knew the word of God is not bound.

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 But what drove him, these wonderful words here in verse 8,

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 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead.

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 This was his mission.

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 To understand Paul, we need to bear these words in mind and ourselves.

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 Remember what drove him, what shaped him, what moulded him,

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 what motivated him was this exact sense of service and mission and purpose.

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 Remember Jesus Christ as preached in my gospel.

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 That, Timothy, is the key to you taking your place in service in his church as one of his people.

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 If you're going to lead, you yourself must be led.

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 That's an ethic of grace.

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 That certainly has its place in whatever role you're fulfilling in the work of the congregation.

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 To lead others, you yourself and I myself, you need to be led by the Spirit

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 toward understanding Jesus Christ, his finished work upon the cross.

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 And to share that with others, we ourselves need to study and delve into the scripture

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 and understand the gospel and seek the grace of the gospel to make Jesus known.

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 And that's all gone on in the heart and mind of Paul.

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 He wanted people to hear the good news and to grow in their newfound knowledge and understanding,

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 gained through the gospel ministry that he was part of.

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 Remember Jesus Christ as preached in my gospel.

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 Gospel.

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 Still wonder then, with this motivation, this love, this desire,

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 that we find him calling Timothy to get the perspective right in order to step into leadership,

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 in order to fulfill his ministry, in order to meet the responsibility and privilege that would be his

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 as a pastor, as a leader, as a teacher.

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 He had to first and foremost get the fundamentals right.

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 The foundation had to be in place.

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 And here it is, friends, remember Jesus Christ.

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 So I want to think about that for a few moments with you this evening,

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 and in the hope that we would benefit, as Timothy would have in reading these words for the first time,

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 that we would be encouraged, that we would be motivated to express real loyalty

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 and sharpen our perspective and deepen our hope that the light would burn brightly

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 as we go into a new week.

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 And who knows, Christian friend, the opportunities to witness to your Lord and Saviour

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 that await this week.

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 None of us know that.

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 We'll get to that in a moment.

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 The first thing then to notice tonight,

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 I'll put it to you this way,

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 you are to cherish your Lord and Saviour.

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 Cherish your Lord and Saviour.

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 If we don't remember our Lord,

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 then our spiritual growth cannot occur.

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 This word, we might just glance over it,

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 but this wonderful call,

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 the call here to remember Jesus Christ

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 is an absolutely crucial principle

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 in spiritual growth and Christian living.

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 Because forgetfulness

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 is an enemy of faithfulness.

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 If we forget,

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 we're going to stumble,

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 we're going to mumble,

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 we're not going to be certain,

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 we're going to be hitting the grey areas

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 instead of being black and white,

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 showing forth the praises of him

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 who called us from darkness

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 into his marvellous light.

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 For that light to shine brightly,

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 we need to remember.

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 This is a starting point.

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 I'm sure many of you know

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 that John Newton is famously on record

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 as saying toward the end of his own life,

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 my memory is nearly gone.

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 But I remember two things,

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 that I am a great sinner

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 and that Christ is a great Saviour.

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 That Christian friend is a message

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 that is the pulse of the New Testament.

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 It is where our hope is sourced from.

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 Jesus Christ,

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 our Lord and Saviour and friend,

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 he's done everything for us.

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 We have it beautifully described

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 so movingly by John in chapter 19 of Christ.

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 He bearing his own cross

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 as he leaves the city behind,

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 making his way to Calvary's hill.

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 There's our Saviour.

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 And why did he go there?

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 So that tonight you and I would have hope.

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 So that you and I, friends,

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 could speak of forgiveness,

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 redemption, adoption,

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 and salvation,

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 wonderful, glorious words of grace.

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 These are words that are just chocked full

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 in the New Testament

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 to help us understand who he is

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 and what it all means for you

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 and for me this evening.

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 And this is where it all starts.

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 Remember Jesus Christ,

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 risen from the dead,

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 the offspring of David,

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 as preached in my gospel.

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 So if we're going to remember,

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 that's going to protect us

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 as we cherish our Saviour.

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 We're going to refuse to forget.

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 We're going to remember the blessings.

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 We're going to remember what we've learned

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 in our pilgrimage, Christian friend.

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 We're going to store up these nuggets,

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 these beautiful moments in time

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 and fellowship under the word,

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 together, perhaps at the Lord's table

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 in this very building.

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 Time and time again,

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 the Lord has fed you

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 and nourished you

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 and blessed you

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 and filled you

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 and built you up.

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 And you are to remember these things

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 and draw on these things

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 as you go into the world

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 and that world out there

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 that's waiting for us

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 is a dark world.

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 It's a world of indifference

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 and apathy.

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 It's a world where the devil reigns

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 as a prince.

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 It's where his influence is felt

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 in the secularism

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 that seems to be gripping

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 our own nation

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 and driving this progressiveness

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 toward liberalism

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 and atheism,

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 secularism at the back of everything.

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 And who's driving it?

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 Who's fanning that flame?

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 The devil.

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 Because he wants the church of Christ

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 silenced,

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 all the more important

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 that we cherish our Lord and Saviour

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 and remember Jesus Christ

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 risen from the dead.

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 Paul writes from a prison cell.

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 He is writing where things

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 have not gone

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 according to his own plans.

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 He didn't wish to be chained,

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 suffering, bound as a criminal.

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 But nevertheless,

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 this is where providence finds him.

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 We need to, friends,

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 as we remember,

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 hope for the best

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 but plan for the worst.

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 There will be times

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 where providence

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 overtakes us

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 in a manner

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 that we wouldn't wish on anybody

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 and things will suddenly change

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 and we may be disorientated

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 and buffeted

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 and uncertain

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 of where to turn

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 and so all the more important,

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 we remember Jesus Christ.

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 we remember who he is

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 and look where Paul was writing from.

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 As far as we can piece things together,

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 a New Testament scholars

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 have been so detailed

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 in the study of these things.

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 It seems that the two stages

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 of the Roman judicial system,

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 Paul has been through the first,

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 he's been found guilty.

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 It's now just a matter of the second

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 where the pronunciation,

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 the sentence will be carried out.

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 He doesn't know how long he's got.

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 Time is ticking

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 and for him,

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 he knows that there isn't much left to go.

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 He knows that he has been poured out

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 as a drink offering.

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 He knows that the time

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 for his departure has come.

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 Time is short.

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 There's not much left.

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 And so we find him in this letter

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 particularly emphasising

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 what needs to be emphasised.

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 Remember Jesus Christ.

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 Christ,

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 cherish your Lord and Saviour.

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 Christian friend,

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 there's a reminder here for all of us

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 that if we cherish our Lord,

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 it will protect us from apathy.

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 Where does apathy come from?

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 Apathy comes from disillusionment,

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 disappointment,

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 despair.

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 All these things can combine and collide

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 and take the hope right out of your heart

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 and leave you uncertain of things.

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 But not if you're fixed on Christ.

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 Not if you remember who he is

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 and what he has done for you.

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 Not if you as a Christian

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 can speak to him tonight

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 as your Lord

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 and your Saviour.

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 And so cherishing the Lord

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 is something that begins in here.

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 It's a heart work.

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 It's personal.

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 But there's another element to this

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 and that comes out in these words

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 in verse 9.

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 I am suffering

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 for which I am suffering.

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 So he makes a link there.

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 Remember Jesus Christ

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 risen from the dead,

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 the offspring of David

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 as preached in my gospel.

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 So has everything gone smoothly

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 because of that?

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 Absolutely not.

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 For which I am suffering,

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 bound with chains,

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 as a criminal.

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 But the word of God is not bound.

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 So here we're seeing Paul

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 and his awareness,

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 not just of the need

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 to have our heart warmed

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 with a love

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 that is completely focused on Jesus.

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 He wants us to be protected

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 from the apathy and disappointment

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 that comes from disappointment

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 and setbacks.

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 But he also is very conscious

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 of the watching world.

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 What did the world make of Paul

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 at this time?

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 As far as the Roman security detail

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 were concerned,

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 this was just a troublemaking Jew.

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 He was finished,

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 hopeless,

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 beaten,

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 a religious troublemaker,

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 a zealot,

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 a fool.

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 He was weak,

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 he was puny,

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 and above all,

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 he's in chains,

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 in a cell,

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 he's alone.

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 That was the world's view of Paul.

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 But it was not God's view.

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 God's view of Paul,

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 that's his view of every child

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 that belongs to him.

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 Precious,

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 forgiven,

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 adopted.

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 A child,

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 not forgotten,

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 not alone,

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 but loved

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 and redeemed

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 and part of his plan

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 to make the gospel known.

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 So Paul accepts this.

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 Remember Jesus Christ.

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 Remember the gospel

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 for which I am suffering,

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 bound with change as a criminal,

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 but the word of God

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 is not bound.

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 And so friends,

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 tonight,

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 the call from this

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 great personal epistle

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 is to cherish

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 your Lord

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 and your Saviour.

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 You'll notice the language

00:12:18.400 --> 00:12:19.200
 in verse 10

00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:20.020
 in these few verses

00:12:20.020 --> 00:12:20.900
 we've read together

00:12:20.900 --> 00:12:22.220
 and we're going to get to this

00:12:22.220 --> 00:12:22.660
 in a moment,

00:12:22.740 --> 00:12:23.639
 but just to jump ahead

00:12:23.639 --> 00:12:24.500
 into verse 10,

00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:26.440
 there's another link.

00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:26.879
 Therefore,

00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:28.640
 because of all this,

00:12:29.020 --> 00:12:30.240
 I endure everything

00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:32.080
 for the sake of the elect.

00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:32.860
 Why, Paul?

00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:35.440
 That they also may obtain

00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:36.820
 the salvation

00:12:36.820 --> 00:12:38.860
 that is in Christ Jesus

00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:40.840
 with eternal glory.

00:12:41.799 --> 00:12:44.000
 He cherished his Lord

00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:44.799
 and Saviour.

00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:49.139
 He loved making him known.

00:12:49.680 --> 00:12:50.720
 It was his motivation.

00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:52.879
 And he loved those

00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:53.759
 who, like him,

00:12:53.800 --> 00:12:54.740
 had responded

00:12:54.740 --> 00:12:55.540
 in repentance

00:12:55.540 --> 00:12:57.379
 and faith.

00:12:58.420 --> 00:12:59.759
 And this is the supreme

00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:01.000
 question of the Bible

00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:01.740
 now before us

00:13:01.740 --> 00:13:02.519
 here in verse 10.

00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:04.320
 He speaks in this phrase

00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:04.899
 of the elect,

00:13:05.019 --> 00:13:06.440
 those chosen by God,

00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:07.700
 that they

00:13:07.700 --> 00:13:09.220
 may also

00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:10.040
 obtain

00:13:10.040 --> 00:13:11.240
 the salvation

00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:12.420
 that is in Christ Jesus.

00:13:12.419 --> 00:13:13.379
 What is that?

00:13:14.459 --> 00:13:15.740
 It is to be saved

00:13:15.740 --> 00:13:17.179
 from the wrath

00:13:17.179 --> 00:13:17.819
 to come.

00:13:18.299 --> 00:13:19.159
 It is to be saved

00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:20.399
 from being under the law,

00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:21.219
 banished

00:13:21.219 --> 00:13:21.979
 and helpless,

00:13:22.139 --> 00:13:23.419
 facing a lost eternity

00:13:23.419 --> 00:13:24.620
 and to be transferred

00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:25.379
 into the kingdom

00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:26.360
 of his dear son.

00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:27.799
 That is salvation.

00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:29.360
 And so the question

00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:29.899
 in all of this,

00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:30.199
 friends,

00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:30.899
 tonight is,

00:13:31.299 --> 00:13:32.360
 do you know

00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:33.879
 and do you cherish

00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:34.879
 Jesus Christ

00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:36.019
 as Lord and Saviour?

00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:38.439
 That is

00:13:38.439 --> 00:13:40.279
 the supreme question

00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:40.980
 of the Bible.

00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:42.720
 Are you saved?

00:13:43.920 --> 00:13:44.680
 Do you know

00:13:44.680 --> 00:13:45.259
 the Lord

00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:47.200
 as your Saviour?

00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:48.539
 Do you know

00:13:48.539 --> 00:13:49.279
 what it is

00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:50.039
 to speak of

00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:50.899
 salvation

00:13:50.899 --> 00:13:51.960
 in Christ Jesus?

00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:53.600
 I pray so.

00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:55.639
 And the question

00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:56.080
 is this,

00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:56.480
 of course,

00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:57.279
 as we speak

00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:57.899
 about cherishing

00:13:57.899 --> 00:13:58.320
 the Lord,

00:13:58.379 --> 00:13:58.820
 if tonight

00:13:58.820 --> 00:13:59.680
 you're unconvinced

00:13:59.680 --> 00:14:00.420
 and unconverted,

00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:01.620
 I wonder

00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:02.240
 if you would ask

00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:03.120
 yourself in the

00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:03.860
 quiet and privacy

00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:04.659
 of your own heart

00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:05.879
 now or this evening,

00:14:06.800 --> 00:14:07.180
 why?

00:14:08.180 --> 00:14:08.940
 Why are you

00:14:08.940 --> 00:14:09.720
 unconvinced?

00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:10.920
 why are you

00:14:10.920 --> 00:14:11.639
 unconverted?

00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:12.720
 What is it

00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:13.519
 about the cross

00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:15.200
 and the saving

00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:16.019
 work of Christ

00:14:16.019 --> 00:14:16.820
 that leaves you

00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:18.820
 still far off?

00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:20.120
 Are you waiting

00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:21.240
 for something else?

00:14:21.540 --> 00:14:21.940
 Are you waiting

00:14:21.940 --> 00:14:22.860
 for something more?

00:14:23.340 --> 00:14:23.759
 Are you waiting

00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:24.240
 for someone

00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:25.019
 to say something

00:14:25.019 --> 00:14:25.519
 to you

00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:26.060
 that hasn't

00:14:26.060 --> 00:14:27.060
 been said before?

00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:28.940
 Bearing

00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:30.879
 his own cross,

00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:32.740
 he went out

00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:34.840
 and he gave himself

00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:35.899
 a ransom for many.

00:14:36.139 --> 00:14:37.279
 I would urge you

00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:37.800
 tonight,

00:14:37.940 --> 00:14:38.160
 friends,

00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:38.759
 to be very,

00:14:38.860 --> 00:14:39.500
 very careful

00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:41.179
 from saying

00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:42.279
 to the living God,

00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:44.159
 I want a sign.

00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:45.980
 I want something else.

00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:47.299
 I want something more

00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:48.139
 because if you're

00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:49.219
 saying that to God

00:14:49.219 --> 00:14:49.480
 tonight,

00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:50.399
 what you're saying

00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:51.319
 is the cross

00:14:51.319 --> 00:14:52.659
 is not enough.

00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:54.000
 The death

00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:54.839
 of your precious

00:14:54.839 --> 00:14:55.759
 beloved son

00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:56.679
 is not enough.

00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:58.899
 His atoning sacrifice,

00:14:59.059 --> 00:14:59.939
 that's not enough.

00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:01.219
 I need something more.

00:15:01.439 --> 00:15:02.579
 I want something else.

00:15:02.779 --> 00:15:03.720
 I need to be gripped.

00:15:03.839 --> 00:15:04.779
 I need to be impressed.

00:15:04.779 --> 00:15:06.039
 I need to be entertained.

00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:07.179
 I need something

00:15:07.179 --> 00:15:09.259
 that I haven't had yet

00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:10.120
 and I want you

00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:10.839
 to give it to me.

00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:11.759
 That is to say

00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:12.459
 to God,

00:15:13.419 --> 00:15:14.019
 the cross

00:15:14.019 --> 00:15:15.179
 is not enough.

00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:17.039
 Be very,

00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:17.639
 very careful,

00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:18.100
 friends,

00:15:18.179 --> 00:15:18.559
 that you

00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:20.039
 do not stay long

00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:20.839
 on that dangerous

00:15:20.839 --> 00:15:21.339
 ground,

00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:23.220
 but come to Christ.

00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:24.899
 Trust in him

00:15:24.899 --> 00:15:26.500
 with all your heart.

00:15:27.439 --> 00:15:27.959
 Cherish

00:15:27.959 --> 00:15:29.220
 your Lord

00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:31.000
 and your Saviour.

00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:32.620
 There's something else here

00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:33.720
 to turn to secondly

00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:35.240
 and we find it

00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:35.820
 in these words.

00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:36.580
 We've read through

00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:37.460
 verse 10 already.

00:15:37.580 --> 00:15:37.879
 Paul,

00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:40.000
 in this wonderful perspective,

00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:41.759
 he himself was chained

00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:43.100
 to all intents

00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:43.700
 and purposes.

00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:45.300
 He was restricted.

00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:46.060
 He was of no use

00:15:46.060 --> 00:15:46.460
 to anybody,

00:15:46.800 --> 00:15:47.580
 but look at this.

00:15:47.680 --> 00:15:48.800
 2,000 years later,

00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:50.060
 we have all his epistles

00:15:50.060 --> 00:15:51.639
 that form

00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:53.440
 the canon of Scripture

00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:55.019
 that feed our souls,

00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:56.240
 that give us insight

00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:56.920
 and understand

00:15:56.920 --> 00:15:58.340
 the glorious gospel

00:15:58.340 --> 00:15:58.920
 of grace.

00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:00.540
 The world had no idea

00:16:00.540 --> 00:16:01.600
 who they were dealing with.

00:16:01.940 --> 00:16:02.500
 They were dealing

00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:03.100
 with Jesus,

00:16:04.060 --> 00:16:04.980
 the King of Kings

00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:06.440
 and here his apostle,

00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:07.160
 his servant,

00:16:07.259 --> 00:16:08.560
 was writing furiously,

00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:10.160
 maybe by lamplight,

00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:10.800
 who knows,

00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:12.280
 scratching furiously away

00:16:12.280 --> 00:16:13.580
 on these parchments

00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:14.700
 led by the Spirit

00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:15.519
 as the word

00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:16.680
 was breathed out.

00:16:16.940 --> 00:16:18.139
 He was born along

00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:18.860
 and he wrote

00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:19.720
 these beautiful,

00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:20.720
 precious words

00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:22.300
 and sends them off

00:16:22.300 --> 00:16:23.280
 to Timothy

00:16:23.280 --> 00:16:24.500
 and he draws

00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.960
 this incredible letter

00:16:25.960 --> 00:16:26.540
 to a close

00:16:26.540 --> 00:16:27.259
 in verse 4.

00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:28.100
 I charge you

00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:28.560
 in the presence

00:16:28.560 --> 00:16:29.139
 of God

00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:30.300
 and of Christ Jesus

00:16:30.300 --> 00:16:31.300
 who was to judge

00:16:31.300 --> 00:16:32.220
 the living and the dead.

00:16:32.940 --> 00:16:34.639
 Preach the word,

00:16:35.320 --> 00:16:35.620
 Timothy.

00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.259
 Keep the focus,

00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:37.740
 Timothy.

00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:38.960
 Take heart,

00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:39.440
 Timothy.

00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:40.920
 But whatever you do,

00:16:41.779 --> 00:16:42.460
 preach the word.

00:16:44.040 --> 00:16:45.320
 Because Paul knew,

00:16:45.940 --> 00:16:46.279
 secondly,

00:16:46.420 --> 00:16:46.899
 that that was

00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:47.720
 to the benefit

00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:50.080
 of the church of Christ

00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:50.860
 and this is

00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:51.820
 the second thing here.

00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:53.320
 We are to cherish

00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:54.660
 our Lord

00:16:54.660 --> 00:16:55.420
 and our Saviour

00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:56.979
 and we are secondly

00:16:56.979 --> 00:16:57.759
 to cherish

00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:59.059
 his church.

00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:00.659
 Cherish

00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:01.719
 his church.

00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:02.539
 I endure

00:17:02.539 --> 00:17:03.139
 everything

00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:04.559
 for the sake

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:06.339
 of the elect.

00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:08.460
 This was a man

00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:09.039
 who wasn't just

00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:09.940
 driven to some

00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:10.940
 kind of apostolic

00:17:10.940 --> 00:17:11.680
 high office.

00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:12.759
 He wasn't

00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.480
 lording it over

00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:13.920
 anybody.

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.559
 He was the least

00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:16.500
 of all the apostles.

00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:17.220
 He was a man

00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:17.639
 who had been

00:17:17.639 --> 00:17:19.099
 truly humbled.

00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:20.639
 He was a man

00:17:20.639 --> 00:17:20.940
 who,

00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:21.960
 in his own words

00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:22.620
 in his testimony

00:17:22.620 --> 00:17:23.299
 in 1 Timothy,

00:17:23.380 --> 00:17:24.059
 remember he says

00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:24.480
 it twice

00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.440
 in a very short

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.039
 space of time,

00:17:26.380 --> 00:17:28.420
 I received mercy.

00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:30.400
 He knew he had

00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:31.400
 been a pompous,

00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:31.940
 arrogant,

00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:33.200
 proud sinner

00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:34.240
 heading for

00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:35.500
 a lost eternity

00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:36.579
 until Christ

00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:37.480
 stopped him

00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.160
 in his tracks

00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:39.340
 and he received

00:17:39.340 --> 00:17:39.840
 mercy.

00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:40.799
 That's the gospel.

00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:43.160
 And so Paul

00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:44.640
 is giving himself

00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:46.019
 to the furtherance

00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:46.860
 of that cause

00:17:46.860 --> 00:17:47.519
 and the spreading

00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:48.340
 of that wonderful

00:17:48.340 --> 00:17:48.660
 name,

00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:49.400
 Jesus Christ

00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:50.540
 and he wants

00:17:50.540 --> 00:17:51.640
 to serve

00:17:51.640 --> 00:17:52.360
 the Lord

00:17:52.360 --> 00:17:53.460
 and by serving

00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:53.980
 the Lord

00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:54.780
 he wants to

00:17:54.780 --> 00:17:55.380
 nourish and

00:17:55.380 --> 00:17:55.940
 encourage and

00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:56.560
 look out for

00:17:56.560 --> 00:17:57.440
 his people.

00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.220
 I endure

00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:58.780
 everything for

00:17:58.780 --> 00:17:59.320
 the sake of

00:17:59.320 --> 00:17:59.740
 the elect

00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.540
 that they

00:18:00.540 --> 00:18:01.320
 also may

00:18:01.320 --> 00:18:02.360
 obtain the

00:18:02.360 --> 00:18:03.400
 salvation that

00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:04.259
 is in Christ

00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:06.620
 Jesus with

00:18:06.620 --> 00:18:07.560
 eternal glory.

00:18:08.800 --> 00:18:09.880
 He was driven

00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:11.820
 to encourage,

00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:12.900
 nurture,

00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:14.140
 build up the

00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:14.740
 faith because

00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:16.640
 he knew they

00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:17.160
 were living in

00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:18.140
 a dark and

00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:19.060
 sinful world.

00:18:19.059 --> 00:18:19.859
 as we are

00:18:19.859 --> 00:18:20.319
 tonight,

00:18:20.899 --> 00:18:21.559
 Christian friend.

00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:23.019
 I want to

00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:23.379
 share with you

00:18:23.379 --> 00:18:23.819
 what Oswald

00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:24.559
 Chambers said

00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:24.899
 about this

00:18:24.899 --> 00:18:25.339
 dynamic.

00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:25.720
 Oswald

00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:26.220
 Chambers,

00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:26.980
 maybe you

00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:27.319
 know his

00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:28.000
 very famous

00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.919
 devotional work,

00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:29.859
 my utmost for

00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:30.460
 his highest.

00:18:30.879 --> 00:18:31.619
 Oswald Chambers

00:18:31.619 --> 00:18:32.359
 at one point

00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:32.879
 and it's very

00:18:32.879 --> 00:18:33.679
 effective and

00:18:33.679 --> 00:18:34.039
 yes,

00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:34.859
 minister was

00:18:34.859 --> 00:18:35.500
 so short.

00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:36.279
 He said,

00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:37.200
 all heaven

00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:38.299
 is interested

00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:39.079
 in the cross.

00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:40.799
 All hell

00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:41.859
 is terribly

00:18:41.859 --> 00:18:42.559
 afraid of the

00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:42.980
 cross.

00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:44.659
 While humanity

00:18:44.659 --> 00:18:45.779
 are the only

00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:47.059
 beings who

00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:48.059
 more or less

00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:49.799
 ignore its

00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:50.099
 meaning.

00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:52.480
 We know

00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:52.839
 how true

00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:53.319
 that is.

00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:55.200
 We have

00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:56.500
 cultural heroes

00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:57.500
 tonight in the

00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:58.500
 UK for instance

00:18:58.500 --> 00:18:59.659
 and I mention

00:18:59.659 --> 00:19:00.500
 them often because

00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:01.240
 they seem to be

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:01.759
 even more

00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.279
 prominent than

00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:02.519
 ever,

00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:03.960
 are comedians.

00:19:05.159 --> 00:19:05.899
 Comedians are

00:19:05.899 --> 00:19:07.000
 leading the charge

00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.759
 in the secular

00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:08.359
 world,

00:19:08.639 --> 00:19:09.279
 the progressive

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.500
 mindset that

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:11.899
 uses repeatedly

00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:13.019
 the gospel and

00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:13.559
 the things of

00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:14.319
 Christ and the

00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:14.720
 things of

00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.160
 Christianity

00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:15.920
 as a

00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:16.759
 battering ram,

00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:17.480
 as something

00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.480
 to mock and

00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:18.920
 something for

00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:19.799
 cheap laughs.

00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.460
 Be careful

00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:20.940
 with them.

00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:22.200
 Don't let them

00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:22.700
 get under your

00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:23.220
 skin or in

00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:23.799
 your mind.

00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:25.019
 A lot of

00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:25.500
 them are bad

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.339
 people and we

00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:26.799
 need to be

00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.960
 careful of their

00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:29.059
 influence on

00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:30.839
 ourselves and

00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:31.319
 our youngsters

00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:32.819
 because they're

00:19:32.819 --> 00:19:33.839
 cultural heroes,

00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:34.680
 these comedians,

00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:35.720
 and they will

00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:36.519
 mock and

00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.380
 abuse and

00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:38.039
 deride the

00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:38.480
 cross of

00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:39.339
 Christ just

00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:39.740
 as Oswald

00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.460
 Chambers saw

00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:41.140
 over a hundred

00:19:41.140 --> 00:19:41.779
 years ago.

00:19:42.100 --> 00:19:42.839
 Humanity are the

00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:43.619
 only beings

00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:44.139
 who more or

00:19:44.139 --> 00:19:44.759
 less ignore

00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:45.359
 its meaning.

00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:46.899
 And we as

00:19:46.899 --> 00:19:47.259
 Christians,

00:19:47.379 --> 00:19:47.779
 the church,

00:19:47.859 --> 00:19:48.919
 can feel that.

00:19:49.379 --> 00:19:49.879
 We feel the

00:19:49.879 --> 00:19:50.500
 heat of the

00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:51.220
 mockery,

00:19:51.339 --> 00:19:52.079
 the disdain,

00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:54.379
 the way that

00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:54.879
 the world can

00:19:54.879 --> 00:19:55.720
 shun us at

00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:56.740
 times and

00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:57.199
 leave us,

00:19:57.919 --> 00:19:58.339
 don't want us

00:19:58.339 --> 00:19:58.740
 involved,

00:19:58.839 --> 00:19:59.279
 don't want the

00:19:59.279 --> 00:19:59.539
 voice,

00:19:59.679 --> 00:20:00.459
 don't want the

00:20:00.459 --> 00:20:00.899
 influence,

00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:01.500
 don't want the

00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:01.959
 space,

00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:02.480
 don't want a

00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:02.879
 seat at the

00:20:02.879 --> 00:20:03.939
 table because

00:20:03.939 --> 00:20:04.299
 we're going to

00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:04.859
 bring them to

00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:05.199
 Christ,

00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:05.619
 we're going to

00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:06.099
 live for

00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:06.439
 Christ,

00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:07.639
 we're drawn

00:20:07.639 --> 00:20:08.720
 not by an

00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.220
 ethic that

00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:10.500
 has as its

00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:12.240
 head cultural

00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.019
 progressiveness.

00:20:14.140 --> 00:20:14.779
 The Christian

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.259
 church is

00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:16.299
 counter-cultural,

00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:17.740
 we're not going

00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.380
 to be shaped by

00:20:18.380 --> 00:20:18.819
 the culture

00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:19.299
 around us,

00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:19.759
 we're going to

00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.420
 engage with the

00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:20.779
 culture,

00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.039
 we're going to

00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:22.759
 enjoy as much

00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:23.460
 as we can of

00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:23.599
 it,

00:20:23.620 --> 00:20:24.200
 of course we

00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:24.460
 are,

00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:25.480
 but the

00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:25.940
 ethic that

00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:26.660
 drives us

00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:27.059
 is an

00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:27.480
 ethic of

00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:28.019
 grace,

00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:29.120
 for to me

00:20:29.120 --> 00:20:29.799
 to live is

00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:30.940
 Christ,

00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:33.120
 to die is

00:20:33.120 --> 00:20:33.359
 gain,

00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:33.799
 we honour

00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:34.339
 him above

00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:34.700
 all,

00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:35.700
 we put him

00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:36.200
 first,

00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:37.079
 his name,

00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:38.200
 and our

00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:39.299
 loyalty must be

00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:40.559
 seen in these

00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:40.819
 words,

00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:41.899
 remember Jesus

00:20:41.899 --> 00:20:42.559
 Christ,

00:20:43.399 --> 00:20:43.839
 so let us

00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:44.599
 do so friends

00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:45.319
 together as we

00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:45.899
 cherish our

00:20:45.899 --> 00:20:46.359
 Lord and

00:20:46.359 --> 00:20:46.740
 Saviour,

00:20:47.099 --> 00:20:47.740
 secondly let us

00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:49.179
 cherish his

00:20:49.179 --> 00:20:50.099
 church,

00:20:51.659 --> 00:20:52.599
 I endure

00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:53.159
 everything for

00:20:53.159 --> 00:20:53.799
 the sake of

00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:54.399
 the elect,

00:20:55.139 --> 00:20:55.639
 Paul is

00:20:55.639 --> 00:20:56.700
 very keen

00:20:56.700 --> 00:20:57.139
 on using the

00:20:57.139 --> 00:20:57.700
 word saints

00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:58.059
 in his

00:20:58.059 --> 00:20:58.579
 writings of

00:20:58.579 --> 00:20:59.099
 the church,

00:20:59.259 --> 00:20:59.619
 people,

00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.159
 brothers and

00:21:00.159 --> 00:21:00.500
 sisters,

00:21:00.659 --> 00:21:01.220
 set apart,

00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:01.980
 Adelphoi,

00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:03.079
 often used,

00:21:03.879 --> 00:21:04.659
 often translated

00:21:04.659 --> 00:21:05.439
 in the ESV as

00:21:05.439 --> 00:21:05.839
 brethren,

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.759
 but it could

00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:07.379
 and should be

00:21:07.379 --> 00:21:07.819
 translated,

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:08.419
 brothers and

00:21:08.419 --> 00:21:08.779
 sisters,

00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:10.399
 his sense

00:21:10.399 --> 00:21:10.940
 of family

00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:11.359
 was never

00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:11.899
 far from

00:21:11.899 --> 00:21:12.519
 the surface,

00:21:12.940 --> 00:21:13.399
 as he wrote

00:21:13.399 --> 00:21:14.019
 to Christians

00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:14.779
 around the

00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:15.319
 then known

00:21:15.319 --> 00:21:15.599
 world,

00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:16.200
 he knew they

00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:16.440
 were under

00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:16.940
 the cost,

00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:17.339
 he knew they

00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:17.879
 were suffering,

00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:18.559
 he knew they

00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:18.960
 were open

00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:19.920
 to attack

00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:20.240
 from the

00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:20.700
 enemy and

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.559
 agnosticism

00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:22.379
 and secularism

00:21:22.379 --> 00:21:23.039
 and atheism

00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:23.899
 and pluralism,

00:21:24.119 --> 00:21:24.519
 he knew all

00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:24.899
 these things

00:21:24.899 --> 00:21:25.359
 were coming

00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:25.899
 against the

00:21:25.899 --> 00:21:26.160
 church,

00:21:26.339 --> 00:21:26.700
 not only

00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:27.059
 from out

00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:27.319
 with,

00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:27.899
 but then

00:21:27.899 --> 00:21:28.319
 the problem

00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:28.920
 from within,

00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:29.980
 false teachers

00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:31.319
 saying you

00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:32.319
 need circumcision,

00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:32.819
 you need the

00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:33.619
 Aaronic priesthood,

00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:34.279
 you need to

00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:35.160
 maintain the

00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:35.819
 bond we have

00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:36.079
 with our

00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:36.759
 father Abraham

00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:37.339
 and all the

00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:37.899
 Abrahamic

00:21:37.899 --> 00:21:38.480
 practices

00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.360
 and the

00:21:39.360 --> 00:21:40.099
 tension

00:21:40.099 --> 00:21:40.579
 from out

00:21:40.579 --> 00:21:40.940
 with and

00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:41.339
 the pressure

00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:41.819
 from within,

00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:42.599
 the church

00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:43.220
 was really

00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.000
 under the

00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:44.460
 cosh,

00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:46.440
 that's why

00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:46.759
 it meant

00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:47.200
 so much

00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:47.440
 to the

00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:48.160
 apostle Paul,

00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:50.039
 that's why

00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:50.380
 we have

00:21:50.380 --> 00:21:50.860
 wonderful

00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:51.319
 passages

00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:53.099
 such as

00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:53.700
 2nd

00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:54.240
 Corinthians

00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.599
 and chapter

00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:56.059
 11,

00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:57.640
 where we

00:21:57.640 --> 00:21:58.640
 read from

00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:59.120
 verse

00:21:59.120 --> 00:22:01.240
 23,

00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:03.120
 these words,

00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:05.200
 five times

00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:05.700
 I received

00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:05.940
 at the

00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:06.319
 hands of

00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:06.460
 the

00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:06.720
 Jews

00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:07.140
 forty

00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:07.599
 lashes

00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:07.940
 less

00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:08.259
 one,

00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.359
 three times

00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:09.620
 I was

00:22:09.620 --> 00:22:09.880
 beaten

00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:10.079
 with

00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:10.420
 rods,

00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:10.920
 once I

00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:11.079
 was

00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:11.519
 stoned,

00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:12.420
 three times

00:22:12.420 --> 00:22:12.680
 I was

00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:13.200
 shipwrecked

00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:13.420
 for a

00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:13.759
 night and

00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:14.059
 a day,

00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:14.500
 I was

00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:15.059
 adrift at

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:15.339
 sea,

00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.220
 on frequent

00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:16.660
 journeys,

00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:17.200
 in danger

00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:17.740
 from rivers,

00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:18.539
 danger from

00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:18.920
 robbers,

00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:19.680
 danger from

00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:20.079
 my own

00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:20.440
 people,

00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.339
 danger from

00:22:21.339 --> 00:22:21.920
 Gentiles,

00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:22.519
 danger in

00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:22.980
 the city,

00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:23.759
 danger in

00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:24.200
 the wilderness,

00:22:24.420 --> 00:22:24.880
 danger at

00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:25.160
 sea,

00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:26.039
 danger from

00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:26.359
 false

00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:26.700
 brothers,

00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:27.740
 in toil and

00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.259
 hardship,

00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:29.099
 through many a

00:22:29.099 --> 00:22:29.880
 sleepless night,

00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:31.000
 in hunger and

00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:31.360
 thirst,

00:22:31.620 --> 00:22:32.120
 often without

00:22:32.120 --> 00:22:32.840
 food and

00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:33.340
 cold and

00:22:33.340 --> 00:22:34.400
 exposure and

00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:35.020
 apart from

00:22:35.020 --> 00:22:36.140
 other things,

00:22:37.860 --> 00:22:38.420
 there is the

00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:39.180
 daily pressure

00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:40.720
 on me of

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.500
 my anxiety

00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:43.320
 for all the

00:22:43.320 --> 00:22:43.800
 churches.

00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.680
 Cherish

00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:48.540
 his church.

00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:51.460
 And so

00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:53.200
 we find

00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:54.620
 tonight that

00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:55.280
 the words of

00:22:55.280 --> 00:22:56.120
 scripture place

00:22:56.120 --> 00:22:56.960
 great dignity

00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:57.280
 on the

00:22:57.280 --> 00:22:58.120
 Christian church.

00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:58.760
 We don't

00:22:58.760 --> 00:22:59.520
 create it

00:22:59.519 --> 00:22:59.980
 ourselves,

00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:00.559
 we receive

00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:00.839
 it.

00:23:01.879 --> 00:23:02.319
 Behold,

00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:02.900
 what manner

00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:03.359
 of love

00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:03.859
 the Father

00:23:03.859 --> 00:23:04.240
 has given

00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:04.660
 to us,

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:04.920
 we should

00:23:04.920 --> 00:23:05.379
 be called

00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:06.000
 children of

00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:06.339
 God.

00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:07.740
 As with

00:23:07.740 --> 00:23:08.039
 Paul,

00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:08.500
 so with

00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:09.039
 the Apostle

00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:09.420
 John.

00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:10.359
 They were

00:23:10.359 --> 00:23:10.920
 caught up

00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:11.259
 with the

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:11.500
 great

00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:12.019
 dignity

00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:12.279
 that is

00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:12.559
 ours

00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:12.839
 through

00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:13.480
 Christ,

00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:14.799
 the dignity

00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:15.440
 that belongs

00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:16.259
 to the

00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:16.839
 church.

00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:17.940
 And so

00:23:17.940 --> 00:23:18.359
 he knew

00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:18.920
 and accepted

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:19.299
 that to

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:19.960
 further the

00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:20.440
 gospel,

00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:21.160
 he was

00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:21.639
 required at

00:23:21.639 --> 00:23:22.059
 times to

00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:22.779
 suffer for

00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.339
 the gospel.

00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:23.859
 And so

00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:24.400
 he accepts

00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:25.000
 this readily

00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.660
 and gladly,

00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:26.460
 I endure

00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:27.039
 everything for

00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.539
 the sake of

00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:27.960
 the elect,

00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:28.740
 that they may

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.500
 also obtain

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.279
 the salvation

00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:31.079
 that is in

00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:31.779
 Christ Jesus

00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:32.579
 with eternal

00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:32.920
 glory.

00:23:33.059 --> 00:23:33.579
 If I have

00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:34.079
 to suffer

00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:34.779
 for their

00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.380
 well-being

00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:35.920
 and their

00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:36.359
 nourishment

00:23:36.359 --> 00:23:36.700
 and their

00:23:36.700 --> 00:23:37.140
 encouragement,

00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:37.420
 well,

00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.359
 so be it.

00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:39.079
 Perhaps he

00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:39.640
 had understood

00:23:39.640 --> 00:23:40.480
 at this point

00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.339
 as his life

00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:42.299
 and ministry

00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:42.779
 and service

00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:43.640
 was fast

00:23:43.640 --> 00:23:44.200
 drawn to a

00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:44.779
 close that

00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.460
 the Lord

00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:45.880
 had put him

00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:46.279
 in prison

00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:46.559
 so he

00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.039
 would write

00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:49.779
 and write

00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:50.920
 and keep

00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:51.299
 writing.

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:52.519
 and so

00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:52.700
 we have

00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:53.180
 the prison

00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:53.819
 epistles

00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.240
 and the

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.759
 pastoral

00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:55.779
 epistles

00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:56.159
 and the

00:23:56.159 --> 00:23:56.680
 Corinthian

00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:57.339
 letters

00:23:57.339 --> 00:23:59.119
 that furnish

00:23:59.119 --> 00:23:59.419
 us with

00:23:59.419 --> 00:24:00.059
 such great

00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:00.599
 insight and

00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:01.159
 understanding

00:24:01.159 --> 00:24:01.480
 of the

00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:02.039
 gospel of

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.339
 our Lord

00:24:02.339 --> 00:24:02.940
 and Saviour

00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:03.859
 Jesus

00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:04.519
 Christ.

00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.059
 John

00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:06.619
 Stott said

00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:06.980
 this,

00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:07.819
 glory comes

00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:08.099
 through

00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:08.639
 suffering.

00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:09.960
 This is

00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:11.059
 an invariable

00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:12.279
 law of

00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:13.339
 Christian life

00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:13.960
 and service.

00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:14.799
 We are not

00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:15.359
 entitled,

00:24:15.639 --> 00:24:16.339
 Christian friends,

00:24:16.399 --> 00:24:16.759
 to an easy

00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:17.079
 time.

00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:19.879
 That's not

00:24:19.879 --> 00:24:20.299
 a promise

00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:20.859
 we receive

00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:21.099
 in the

00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:21.339
 Bible.

00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:22.879
 What we

00:24:22.879 --> 00:24:23.539
 do receive

00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.099
 is great

00:24:24.099 --> 00:24:24.579
 dignity

00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.859
 as children

00:24:25.859 --> 00:24:26.099
 of the

00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:26.579
 living God

00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:27.839
 and that

00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:28.099
 is a

00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:28.519
 wonderful

00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:29.179
 humbling

00:24:29.179 --> 00:24:29.939
 reality

00:24:29.939 --> 00:24:30.399
 tonight.

00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:32.679
 So there's

00:24:32.679 --> 00:24:33.159
 no sense

00:24:33.159 --> 00:24:33.419
 in us

00:24:33.419 --> 00:24:34.000
 sitting back

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.500
 leaving it

00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:34.899
 to God

00:24:34.899 --> 00:24:35.240
 or leaving

00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:35.559
 it to

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:35.859
 others.

00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:36.339
 We have

00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:36.639
 to take

00:24:36.639 --> 00:24:37.119
 an example

00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:37.480
 from these

00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.159
 early believers,

00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:39.059
 this first

00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:39.939
 century church

00:24:39.939 --> 00:24:40.740
 that reached

00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.099
 out,

00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:41.720
 that turned

00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.039
 the world

00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:42.720
 upside down,

00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:43.259
 that lived

00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:44.119
 out what

00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:44.439
 the Lord

00:24:44.439 --> 00:24:44.960
 had worked

00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:45.779
 in and

00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.319
 they made

00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:46.939
 Jesus

00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:47.640
 known.

00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:48.860
 I endure

00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:49.580
 that they

00:24:49.580 --> 00:24:50.620
 may obtain.

00:24:50.940 --> 00:24:51.519
 We too

00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.460
 must cherish

00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:53.140
 the church

00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:53.500
 and do

00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:54.039
 the work

00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:54.720
 we are

00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.240
 called to

00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:55.840
 do in

00:24:55.840 --> 00:24:56.779
 our day

00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.380
 and in

00:24:57.380 --> 00:24:57.900
 our age.

00:24:58.820 --> 00:24:59.380
 Many

00:24:59.380 --> 00:24:59.880
 passages

00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:00.100
 in the

00:25:00.100 --> 00:25:00.580
 New Testament

00:25:00.580 --> 00:25:02.039
 deal with

00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:02.740
 the nature

00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.160
 of the

00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:04.519
 church and

00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:05.240
 how it is

00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:05.620
 that the

00:25:05.620 --> 00:25:06.000
 church is

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:06.660
 to conduct

00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.100
 herself.

00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:07.500
 By this

00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:07.900
 of course

00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:08.380
 I'm speaking

00:25:08.380 --> 00:25:09.200
 to you

00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:09.440
 and to

00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:09.759
 me as

00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:10.120
 Christians

00:25:10.120 --> 00:25:10.660
 this evening.

00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:11.840
 We've

00:25:11.840 --> 00:25:12.320
 gathered in

00:25:12.320 --> 00:25:12.960
 a place

00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:13.860
 of worship

00:25:13.860 --> 00:25:15.080
 but we

00:25:15.080 --> 00:25:15.340
 know that

00:25:15.340 --> 00:25:15.820
 the Bible

00:25:15.820 --> 00:25:16.120
 and New

00:25:16.120 --> 00:25:16.559
 Testament

00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.399
 makes it

00:25:17.399 --> 00:25:17.720
 clear that

00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:18.200
 the church

00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:18.619
 is not

00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:19.159
 a building

00:25:19.159 --> 00:25:19.619
 we are

00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:20.519
 living

00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:21.119
 stones.

00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:23.299
 We belong

00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:24.039
 to Christ.

00:25:24.899 --> 00:25:25.220
 We are

00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:25.879
 called to

00:25:25.879 --> 00:25:26.579
 worship

00:25:26.579 --> 00:25:27.099
 together

00:25:27.099 --> 00:25:27.779
 to nourish

00:25:27.779 --> 00:25:28.179
 ourselves

00:25:28.179 --> 00:25:28.599
 through the

00:25:28.599 --> 00:25:29.119
 word and

00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:29.919
 through sacraments

00:25:29.919 --> 00:25:30.359
 and prayer.

00:25:30.919 --> 00:25:31.419
 This is where

00:25:31.419 --> 00:25:32.419
 we learn

00:25:32.419 --> 00:25:33.679
 where understanding

00:25:33.679 --> 00:25:34.399
 deepens and

00:25:34.399 --> 00:25:35.039
 expands

00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:35.799
 that it is

00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:37.099
 those who are

00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:37.480
 poor in

00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:37.940
 spirit

00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:38.960
 that inherit

00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:40.119
 the kingdom

00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:41.139
 of heaven.

00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:42.159
 And that's

00:25:42.159 --> 00:25:42.679
 why Paul

00:25:42.679 --> 00:25:43.419
 is so clear

00:25:43.419 --> 00:25:43.819
 in other

00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:44.220
 writings

00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:44.559
 that we

00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:44.940
 are to

00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:45.680
 conduct

00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.160
 ourselves

00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:46.480
 in a

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:46.759
 manner

00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.620
 that is

00:25:47.620 --> 00:25:48.299
 worthy

00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:48.720
 of the

00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.039
 calling

00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:49.500
 with which

00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:49.799
 we have

00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:49.960
 been

00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:50.460
 called.

00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.420
 Called

00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:51.779
 from

00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.319
 darkness

00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:52.960
 to

00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:53.440
 light.

00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.240
 Therefore

00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:55.000
 as Jesus

00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:55.339
 said

00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:55.720
 let your

00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:56.039
 light

00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:56.799
 shine

00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.720
 before

00:25:57.720 --> 00:25:58.200
 men

00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:59.299
 that

00:25:59.299 --> 00:25:59.440
 they

00:25:59.440 --> 00:25:59.640
 might

00:25:59.640 --> 00:26:00.200
 glorify

00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:00.480
 your

00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:01.019
 father

00:26:01.019 --> 00:26:02.059
 who is

00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:02.240
 in

00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:02.559
 heaven.

00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:03.519
 And so

00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:03.900
 I mentioned

00:26:03.900 --> 00:26:04.140
 earlier

00:26:04.140 --> 00:26:04.620
 that we

00:26:04.620 --> 00:26:04.759
 are

00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:05.000
 driven

00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.279
 by

00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:05.720
 an

00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.059
 ethic

00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:06.319
 of

00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:07.019
 grace.

00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:08.299
 An

00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:08.600
 ethic

00:26:08.600 --> 00:26:09.100
 not

00:26:09.100 --> 00:26:09.519
 of

00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:11.220
 moral

00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:11.819
 principles

00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:12.819
 of course

00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:14.319
 but

00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:14.940
 principles

00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:15.480
 that have

00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:15.720
 at their

00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:16.059
 heart

00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:16.779
 the grace

00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.079
 of the

00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:17.539
 gospel.

00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:18.740
 So we

00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:18.940
 put

00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:19.279
 Jesus

00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:19.980
 first.

00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:20.900
 We

00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:21.339
 die

00:26:21.339 --> 00:26:21.559
 to

00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:22.200
 self

00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:23.019
 to

00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:23.379
 live

00:26:23.379 --> 00:26:23.680
 for

00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:24.180
 him.

00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.000
 And

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.160
 this

00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:25.299
 is

00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:25.579
 very

00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:26.019
 important

00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:26.579
 especially

00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:27.259
 in

00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:27.480
 your

00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:28.119
 situation

00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:28.400
 this

00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:28.700
 evening

00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.259
 as a

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:29.539
 vacant

00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:30.059
 congregation.

00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.160
 You've

00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:31.299
 been

00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:31.539
 now

00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:32.139
 21

00:26:32.139 --> 00:26:32.759
 months

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:32.980
 going

00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:33.220
 through

00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:33.460
 this

00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:33.879
 process.

00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:34.720
 It's

00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:34.879
 been

00:26:34.879 --> 00:26:35.019
 a

00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:35.299
 privilege

00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:35.559
 to be

00:26:35.559 --> 00:26:35.879
 part

00:26:35.879 --> 00:26:36.119
 of

00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:36.220
 it

00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:36.440
 with

00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:36.639
 you.

00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:37.099
 I

00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:37.319
 wish

00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:37.460
 it

00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:37.599
 had

00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:37.740
 been

00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.240
 shorter.

00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:38.700
 I

00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:38.859
 wish

00:26:38.859 --> 00:26:38.920
 it

00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:39.019
 had

00:26:39.019 --> 00:26:39.139
 been

00:26:39.139 --> 00:26:39.500
 clearer.

00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:40.139
 At

00:26:40.139 --> 00:26:40.480
 times

00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:40.619
 I

00:26:40.619 --> 00:26:40.799
 know

00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:41.099
 things

00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:41.279
 could

00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:41.379
 have

00:26:41.379 --> 00:26:41.500
 been

00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:41.759
 so

00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.039
 much

00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:42.420
 better.

00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.180
 But

00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:43.299
 the

00:26:43.299 --> 00:26:43.539
 best

00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:43.680
 of

00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:43.879
 men

00:26:43.879 --> 00:26:44.019
 are

00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.180
 men

00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:44.319
 at

00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:44.660
 best.

00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:45.240
 And

00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:45.339
 I

00:26:45.339 --> 00:26:45.539
 hope

00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:45.799
 you'll

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.220
 forgive

00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:46.779
 my

00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:47.799
 blunderings

00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:48.559
 and my

00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:49.420
 uncertainties

00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:49.720
 as we've

00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.099
 gone through

00:26:50.099 --> 00:26:50.660
 just to

00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:51.019
 get to

00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:51.259
 this

00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:51.539
 point.

00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:51.740
 Where

00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:52.059
 are we

00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:52.220
 in

00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:52.420
 this

00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:52.920
 process?

00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:53.400
 At

00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:53.639
 this

00:26:53.639 --> 00:26:53.900
 point

00:26:53.900 --> 00:26:54.099
 in

00:26:54.099 --> 00:26:54.339
 time

00:26:54.339 --> 00:26:54.500
 we

00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:54.639
 have

00:26:54.639 --> 00:26:54.920
 had

00:26:54.920 --> 00:26:55.059
 the

00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:55.460
 speeches,

00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:56.259
 we've

00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:56.420
 had

00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:56.539
 the

00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:56.980
 election,

00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:57.619
 we've

00:26:57.619 --> 00:26:57.799
 had

00:26:57.799 --> 00:26:57.960
 the

00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.319
 votes,

00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:58.940
 the

00:26:58.940 --> 00:26:59.220
 votes

00:26:59.220 --> 00:26:59.359
 are

00:26:59.359 --> 00:26:59.619
 in,

00:26:59.900 --> 00:27:00.039
 the

00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:00.299
 counts

00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:00.440
 have

00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:00.579
 been

00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:00.899
 done.

00:27:01.319 --> 00:27:01.439
 And

00:27:01.439 --> 00:27:01.839
 now for

00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:02.299
 you on

00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:02.759
 Wednesday

00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:03.799
 the next

00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:05.159
 phase is

00:27:05.159 --> 00:27:05.659
 just around

00:27:05.659 --> 00:27:06.159
 the corner.

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:06.679
 Now I

00:27:06.679 --> 00:27:07.019
 need to

00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:07.299
 speak

00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:07.720
 tonight

00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:08.859
 specifically

00:27:08.859 --> 00:27:09.199
 and

00:27:09.199 --> 00:27:09.759
 particularly

00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.539
 to the

00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.019
 members

00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:11.919
 of this

00:27:11.919 --> 00:27:12.519
 congregation.

00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:13.699
 Let me

00:27:13.699 --> 00:27:14.139
 say this

00:27:14.139 --> 00:27:14.519
 to you

00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:15.359
 gently

00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:15.899
 and with

00:27:15.899 --> 00:27:16.460
 all

00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:17.159
 respect,

00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:18.720
 you need

00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.119
 to be

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:19.500
 here on

00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:19.839
 Wednesday.

00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:20.919
 If you're

00:27:20.919 --> 00:27:21.480
 not here

00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:22.039
 on Wednesday

00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:23.079
 there are

00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:23.599
 mandates

00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:24.579
 available for

00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:25.019
 you to

00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:25.519
 take part

00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:25.839
 in this

00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:26.379
 process.

00:27:26.380 --> 00:27:26.940
 That

00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:27.320
 allows

00:27:27.320 --> 00:27:27.720
 you to

00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:28.020
 put your

00:27:28.020 --> 00:27:28.560
 name to

00:27:28.560 --> 00:27:29.020
 the call

00:27:29.020 --> 00:27:29.420
 we hope

00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:29.920
 to sign

00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:30.600
 here on

00:27:30.600 --> 00:27:30.960
 Wednesday

00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:31.320
 evening.

00:27:32.920 --> 00:27:33.440
 It's

00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:33.920
 not me

00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:34.420
 now that's

00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:35.000
 telling you

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.440
 what to

00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:35.720
 do.

00:27:36.120 --> 00:27:36.540
 I'm

00:27:36.540 --> 00:27:37.040
 pointing you

00:27:37.040 --> 00:27:37.500
 to the

00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.200
 ethic of

00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:38.880
 grace.

00:27:39.600 --> 00:27:40.100
 I mentioned

00:27:40.100 --> 00:27:40.740
 the election

00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:40.960
 that's

00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:41.300
 happened.

00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:42.060
 All that

00:27:42.060 --> 00:27:42.420
 we have

00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:42.820
 to go

00:27:42.820 --> 00:27:43.460
 on as

00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:43.960
 a branch

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.220
 of the

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:44.500
 church

00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:45.000
 of Christ

00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.280
 when it

00:27:45.280 --> 00:27:45.820
 comes to

00:27:45.820 --> 00:27:46.420
 vacancies

00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:47.900
 is numbers.

00:27:48.660 --> 00:27:49.000
 We've

00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:49.420
 had the

00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:50.180
 vote and

00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:50.640
 the numbers

00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:50.960
 have been

00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:51.460
 cast.

00:27:51.840 --> 00:27:51.940
 The

00:27:51.940 --> 00:27:52.240
 clear

00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:52.680
 majority

00:27:52.680 --> 00:27:53.880
 said we

00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:54.260
 wish to

00:27:54.260 --> 00:27:54.660
 call

00:27:54.660 --> 00:27:55.360
 Calamurdo.

00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:56.459
 So what

00:27:56.459 --> 00:27:56.639
 do we

00:27:56.639 --> 00:27:56.959
 do now?

00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:57.259
 How do

00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:57.619
 we run

00:27:57.619 --> 00:27:57.959
 with this?

00:27:58.259 --> 00:27:58.519
 How do

00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:59.599
 we deal

00:27:59.599 --> 00:27:59.899
 with this?

00:27:59.939 --> 00:28:00.159
 I'm going

00:28:00.159 --> 00:28:00.579
 to turn

00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:01.500
 now to

00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:02.279
 where perhaps

00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:02.899
 this ethic

00:28:02.899 --> 00:28:03.419
 of grace

00:28:03.419 --> 00:28:04.240
 is most

00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:05.740
 clearly and

00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:06.319
 famously

00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:07.179
 spelt out.

00:28:07.719 --> 00:28:08.199
 How do

00:28:08.199 --> 00:28:08.839
 we conduct

00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:09.339
 ourselves

00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:10.039
 perhaps at

00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:10.419
 a time

00:28:10.419 --> 00:28:10.839
 when you're

00:28:10.839 --> 00:28:11.319
 challenged

00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:12.359
 because things

00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:12.879
 maybe didn't

00:28:12.879 --> 00:28:13.439
 turn the way

00:28:13.439 --> 00:28:13.899
 you'd hoped

00:28:13.899 --> 00:28:14.139
 for?

00:28:14.359 --> 00:28:15.039
 Well, so

00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:15.559
 be it.

00:28:15.779 --> 00:28:16.419
 That happens

00:28:16.419 --> 00:28:17.079
 often in life,

00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:17.519
 doesn't it?

00:28:18.219 --> 00:28:18.859
 We don't

00:28:18.859 --> 00:28:19.699
 allow our

00:28:19.699 --> 00:28:21.659
 own sense

00:28:21.659 --> 00:28:22.439
 of things

00:28:22.439 --> 00:28:23.159
 to cloud our

00:28:23.159 --> 00:28:23.959
 judgment at

00:28:23.959 --> 00:28:24.539
 a time like

00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:24.699
 this.

00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.219
 Let me read

00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:25.660
 to you

00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:26.120
 from

00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:26.640
 Philippians

00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:27.120
 in chapter

00:28:27.120 --> 00:28:27.620
 two,

00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:28.600
 how it

00:28:28.600 --> 00:28:28.940
 is we

00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:29.200
 are to

00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:29.519
 conduct

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:29.960
 ourselves

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.519
 going forward

00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:31.319
 with an eye

00:28:31.319 --> 00:28:31.839
 to Wednesday

00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:32.460
 in particular

00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:32.920
 and this

00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:33.440
 is for the

00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:33.839
 members.

00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:34.900
 If there

00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:35.160
 is any

00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:35.660
 encouragement

00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:36.380
 in Christ,

00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:37.480
 any comfort

00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:38.140
 from love,

00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:39.259
 any participation

00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:40.120
 in the spirit,

00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:41.240
 any affection

00:28:41.240 --> 00:28:41.980
 and sympathy,

00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:43.140
 complete my

00:28:43.140 --> 00:28:44.220
 joy by being

00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:44.819
 of the same

00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:45.400
 mind,

00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:46.460
 having the

00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:47.140
 same love,

00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:48.140
 being in

00:28:48.140 --> 00:28:49.120
 full accord

00:28:49.120 --> 00:28:50.539
 and one

00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:51.019
 mind.

00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.460
 Do nothing

00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:53.299
 from rivalry

00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:54.220
 or conceit,

00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:55.279
 but in

00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:55.779
 humility

00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:57.380
 count others

00:28:57.380 --> 00:28:58.500
 more significant

00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:59.759
 than yourself.

00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:00.880
 Let each

00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:01.299
 of you look

00:29:01.299 --> 00:29:01.960
 not only to

00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:02.799
 his own

00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.440
 interests,

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.600
 but also

00:29:04.600 --> 00:29:05.360
 to the

00:29:05.360 --> 00:29:06.000
 interests

00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:07.279
 of others.

00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:09.119
 of this

00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:09.799
 mind among

00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:10.460
 yourselves,

00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:11.759
 which is

00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:12.139
 yours in

00:29:12.139 --> 00:29:12.859
 Christ Jesus,

00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:14.039
 who though

00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:14.460
 he was in

00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:14.879
 the form

00:29:14.879 --> 00:29:15.420
 of God,

00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:16.220
 did not

00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:16.879
 count equality

00:29:16.879 --> 00:29:17.420
 with God

00:29:17.420 --> 00:29:17.799
 a thing

00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:18.099
 to be

00:29:18.099 --> 00:29:18.639
 grasped,

00:29:18.819 --> 00:29:19.339
 but made

00:29:19.339 --> 00:29:19.740
 himself

00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.339
 nothing,

00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:21.119
 taking the

00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:21.480
 form of

00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:21.960
 a servant,

00:29:22.059 --> 00:29:22.460
 being born

00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:22.740
 in the

00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.099
 likeness

00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:23.440
 of men,

00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:23.899
 being found

00:29:23.899 --> 00:29:24.240
 in human

00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:24.559
 form,

00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:25.019
 he humbled

00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:25.799
 himself by

00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:26.180
 becoming

00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:26.859
 obedient to

00:29:26.859 --> 00:29:27.259
 the point

00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:27.660
 of death,

00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:28.779
 even death

00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:30.240
 on a cross.

00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:31.079
 There is the

00:29:31.079 --> 00:29:31.619
 ethic of

00:29:31.619 --> 00:29:32.160
 grace.

00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:33.519
 Count

00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.500
 others

00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:35.559
 better

00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:35.779
 than

00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.599
 yourselves.

00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:38.759
 Members,

00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:39.119
 you need to

00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:39.539
 be here on

00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:39.880
 Wednesday.

00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:41.059
 There is a

00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:41.440
 clear

00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:42.240
 responsibility

00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:43.720
 and duty

00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:44.380
 for you to

00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:44.859
 be here.

00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:45.759
 I am not

00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.339
 telling you

00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:47.119
 to be here,

00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:47.839
 but what I am

00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:48.319
 doing is I am

00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:48.880
 taking you to

00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:49.420
 the scripture

00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:50.240
 and I am

00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:50.740
 presenting you

00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.339
 with a word

00:29:51.339 --> 00:29:52.220
 that says

00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:52.579
 there is a

00:29:52.579 --> 00:29:53.420
 time and a

00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:53.980
 place where

00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:54.579
 the church,

00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:54.920
 where the

00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:55.579
 believers and

00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:56.079
 members of

00:29:56.079 --> 00:29:56.460
 the church,

00:29:56.519 --> 00:29:56.779
 the living

00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:57.180
 stones,

00:29:57.420 --> 00:29:57.799
 have to be

00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:58.400
 gathered in

00:29:58.400 --> 00:29:59.380
 together and

00:29:59.380 --> 00:29:59.839
 conduct

00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:00.380
 themselves in

00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:00.779
 a manner

00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.339
 that is

00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:02.079
 worthy of

00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:02.640
 the calling

00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:03.859
 with which we

00:30:03.859 --> 00:30:04.259
 have

00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.359
 been called.

00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.160
 So there we

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:06.539
 have an

00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:06.940
 ethic of

00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:07.400
 grace in

00:30:07.400 --> 00:30:08.379
 Philippians and

00:30:08.379 --> 00:30:08.779
 when we turn

00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:09.259
 forward to

00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:10.059
 Paul's final

00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:10.799
 letter, we

00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:11.180
 find him

00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:11.799
 enduring.

00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:12.920
 He is bound

00:30:12.920 --> 00:30:13.819
 with chains

00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:14.539
 as a criminal.

00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.200
 But he knows

00:30:16.200 --> 00:30:16.539
 that is not

00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:17.079
 the end.

00:30:17.879 --> 00:30:18.359
 He knows

00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:18.680
 that the

00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.140
 word of

00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:19.859
 God is

00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:20.519
 going out,

00:30:21.140 --> 00:30:21.559
 is going

00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:22.119
 forth,

00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:23.079
 is spreading.

00:30:23.619 --> 00:30:24.140
 Therefore he

00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:24.779
 endures for

00:30:24.779 --> 00:30:25.200
 the sake of

00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:25.839
 the elect that

00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:26.519
 they also may

00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:27.099
 obtain the

00:30:27.099 --> 00:30:27.779
 salvation that

00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.240
 is in Christ

00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:29.220
 Jesus with

00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:30.160
 eternal glory.

00:30:32.119 --> 00:30:33.259
 Cherish your

00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:33.799
 Lord,

00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:34.900
 and your

00:30:34.900 --> 00:30:35.379
 saviour,

00:30:36.379 --> 00:30:37.019
 and cherishes

00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:37.740
 church.

00:30:38.779 --> 00:30:39.559
 Sometimes that

00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:41.599
 means getting

00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:42.259
 in line,

00:30:43.099 --> 00:30:44.099
 getting together,

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:45.420
 working together,

00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:46.440
 pulling together,

00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:47.619
 and taking your

00:30:47.619 --> 00:30:49.220
 part in what

00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:49.839
 could be the

00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:50.960
 next phase,

00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:51.799
 the next season

00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:52.640
 of ministry here

00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:53.720
 among you as a

00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:54.339
 congregation.

00:30:55.160 --> 00:30:55.480
 What an

00:30:55.480 --> 00:30:55.980
 opportunity.

00:30:56.599 --> 00:30:58.000
 At a time of

00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.819
 real challenge,

00:30:58.940 --> 00:30:59.519
 many of us,

00:30:59.900 --> 00:31:00.440
 if we think

00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:00.859
 back,

00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:02.220
 will be hard

00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:02.960
 pressed to

00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:03.680
 find a

00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:04.160
 time in

00:31:04.160 --> 00:31:04.339
 our

00:31:04.339 --> 00:31:04.940
 denomination

00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:05.339
 where we've

00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:05.640
 had so

00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:06.319
 many vacancies

00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:06.799
 to deal

00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:07.059
 with.

00:31:07.339 --> 00:31:07.779
 Everybody's

00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:08.339
 double-hatting.

00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:09.460
 There are

00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:10.220
 intermoderators

00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:10.559
 and lay

00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:10.980
 preachers

00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:11.640
 crisscrossing

00:31:11.640 --> 00:31:12.019
 our island

00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:12.799
 every Sunday

00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:14.240
 and sometimes

00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:14.500
 on a

00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:15.019
 Wednesday as

00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:15.259
 well.

00:31:15.819 --> 00:31:16.079
 And it's

00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:16.400
 the same

00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:16.680
 in the

00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:17.079
 north of

00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:17.519
 Scotland,

00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:18.420
 in Skye

00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:18.839
 and Wester

00:31:18.839 --> 00:31:19.180
 Ross,

00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:19.460
 and in

00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:19.839
 Glasgow.

00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:21.440
 Vacancies,

00:31:22.180 --> 00:31:22.920
 challenge,

00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:23.960
 gaps.

00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:25.380
 We need

00:31:25.380 --> 00:31:25.720
 men.

00:31:26.360 --> 00:31:26.740
 And so we

00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:27.400
 pray to the

00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:27.839
 Lord of the

00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:28.500
 harvest to

00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.539
 raise up and

00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:30.880
 send workers

00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:31.900
 who will

00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:32.320
 reap a

00:31:32.320 --> 00:31:33.060
 great harvest

00:31:33.060 --> 00:31:33.540
 to his

00:31:33.540 --> 00:31:34.000
 glory.

00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:35.460
 We need

00:31:35.460 --> 00:31:35.760
 men.

00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:36.200
 We need

00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:36.540
 grace.

00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:36.860
 We need

00:31:36.860 --> 00:31:37.280
 prayer.

00:31:38.100 --> 00:31:38.480
 And there

00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:39.200
 in Philippians

00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:40.180
 we see the

00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:41.800
 stress that

00:31:41.800 --> 00:31:42.200
 the apostle

00:31:42.200 --> 00:31:42.760
 puts on

00:31:42.760 --> 00:31:43.340
 unity and

00:31:43.340 --> 00:31:43.680
 being of

00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:44.300
 one mind

00:31:44.300 --> 00:31:45.260
 together.

00:31:46.340 --> 00:31:46.600
 As our

00:31:46.600 --> 00:31:47.020
 Lord and

00:31:47.020 --> 00:31:47.320
 Saviour

00:31:47.320 --> 00:31:47.840
 prayed the

00:31:47.840 --> 00:31:48.860
 night he

00:31:48.860 --> 00:31:49.480
 was betrayed

00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:50.600
 that they

00:31:50.600 --> 00:31:51.020
 may be

00:31:51.020 --> 00:31:51.500
 one.

00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:52.580
 As you

00:31:52.580 --> 00:31:53.300
 father are

00:31:53.300 --> 00:31:53.760
 in me and

00:31:53.760 --> 00:31:54.320
 I in you

00:31:54.320 --> 00:31:54.640
 that the

00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:55.300
 world may

00:31:55.300 --> 00:31:56.000
 know that

00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:56.540
 you sent

00:31:56.540 --> 00:31:56.780
 me.

00:31:58.380 --> 00:31:58.840
 We look

00:31:58.840 --> 00:31:59.420
 to his

00:31:59.420 --> 00:32:01.440
 grace and

00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:02.019
 mercy and

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.620
 peace to

00:32:02.620 --> 00:32:03.100
 lead and

00:32:03.100 --> 00:32:03.600
 guide and

00:32:03.600 --> 00:32:04.120
 sustain.

00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:05.620
 A day by

00:32:05.620 --> 00:32:06.279
 day be it

00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:07.019
 Wednesday signing

00:32:07.019 --> 00:32:07.800
 a call or

00:32:07.800 --> 00:32:08.140
 out there

00:32:08.140 --> 00:32:08.680
 speaking to

00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:09.420
 an unbeliever

00:32:09.420 --> 00:32:10.500
 we might be

00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.480
 as described

00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:12.100
 in this very

00:32:12.100 --> 00:32:12.700
 chapter the

00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.300
 good soldier

00:32:13.300 --> 00:32:13.779
 of Christ

00:32:13.779 --> 00:32:14.180
 Jesus.

00:32:14.860 --> 00:32:15.340
 The honest

00:32:15.340 --> 00:32:15.779
 athlete,

00:32:15.900 --> 00:32:16.200
 the hard

00:32:16.200 --> 00:32:16.980
 working farmer.

00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:17.920
 Great three

00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:19.220
 amazing pictures

00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:20.000
 of what it

00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:21.060
 is to be a

00:32:21.060 --> 00:32:21.860
 child of God,

00:32:22.360 --> 00:32:22.779
 a forgiven

00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:23.220
 sinner.

00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:24.940
 Telling others

00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:25.320
 about the

00:32:25.320 --> 00:32:25.720
 Lord that

00:32:25.720 --> 00:32:26.220
 you have come

00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:27.360
 to know and

00:32:27.360 --> 00:32:27.880
 love and

00:32:27.880 --> 00:32:28.400
 serve.

00:32:29.420 --> 00:32:30.840
 cherish your

00:32:30.840 --> 00:32:32.019
 Lord and

00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:32.700
 your Saviour

00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:34.140
 and cherish

00:32:34.140 --> 00:32:35.100
 his church.

00:32:35.620 --> 00:32:36.240
 May he bless

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:36.779
 you at this

00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:37.140
 time.

00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:38.120
 May he go

00:32:38.120 --> 00:32:38.740
 before you

00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:39.320
 and be among

00:32:39.320 --> 00:32:39.600
 you.

00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:40.840
 May you know

00:32:40.840 --> 00:32:41.800
 a time of

00:32:41.800 --> 00:32:42.580
 great blessing

00:32:42.580 --> 00:32:43.420
 and grace

00:32:43.420 --> 00:32:44.840
 as we gather

00:32:44.840 --> 00:32:45.660
 week by week.

00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.080
 Wednesday,

00:32:46.259 --> 00:32:46.519
 yes,

00:32:46.580 --> 00:32:47.460
 is just another

00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:48.240
 meeting in many

00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:48.620
 ways,

00:32:49.340 --> 00:32:50.080
 another moment

00:32:50.080 --> 00:32:50.720
 in the life

00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:51.400
 and experience

00:32:51.400 --> 00:32:51.840
 of the

00:32:51.840 --> 00:32:52.440
 congregation

00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:53.200
 of which

00:32:53.200 --> 00:32:53.400
 you are

00:32:53.400 --> 00:32:53.759
 part.

00:32:55.259 --> 00:32:55.700
 And above

00:32:55.700 --> 00:32:56.220
 all may his

00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:57.220
 name be glorified.

00:32:58.200 --> 00:32:58.519
 And it's

00:32:58.519 --> 00:32:59.039
 his name we

00:32:59.039 --> 00:32:59.759
 finish with.

00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:00.720
 And this

00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:00.940
 is the

00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:01.359
 question.

00:33:02.139 --> 00:33:02.700
 What does

00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:03.139
 his name

00:33:03.139 --> 00:33:03.700
 mean to

00:33:03.700 --> 00:33:04.279
 you tonight?

00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:06.059
 What does

00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:06.500
 his call

00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:06.940
 to have a

00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:07.399
 walk that

00:33:07.399 --> 00:33:07.839
 is worthy

00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:08.379
 of his

00:33:08.379 --> 00:33:08.599
 calling?

00:33:08.639 --> 00:33:08.819
 What does

00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:09.119
 it mean

00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:09.500
 to you

00:33:09.500 --> 00:33:09.859
 tonight?

00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:11.440
 Have you

00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:11.940
 sought him

00:33:11.940 --> 00:33:12.259
 until you

00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:12.740
 found him

00:33:12.740 --> 00:33:13.119
 with all

00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:13.720
 your heart?

00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:14.599
 Have you

00:33:14.599 --> 00:33:14.980
 come to

00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:15.480
 understand

00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:16.000
 that unless

00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:16.500
 and until

00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:17.059
 you bow

00:33:17.059 --> 00:33:17.579
 the knee

00:33:17.579 --> 00:33:18.420
 and cry

00:33:18.420 --> 00:33:18.700
 out,

00:33:18.759 --> 00:33:18.960
 Lord,

00:33:19.059 --> 00:33:19.779
 be merciful

00:33:19.779 --> 00:33:20.279
 to me,

00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:20.799
 a sinner,

00:33:21.379 --> 00:33:21.659
 that you

00:33:21.659 --> 00:33:22.180
 remain

00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:23.379
 out with

00:33:23.380 --> 00:33:25.060
 his

00:33:25.060 --> 00:33:25.520
 kingdom?

00:33:27.140 --> 00:33:27.640
 You

00:33:27.640 --> 00:33:27.980
 remain

00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:28.400
 under

00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:29.040
 the law

00:33:29.040 --> 00:33:29.880
 which

00:33:29.880 --> 00:33:30.240
 brings

00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:30.660
 with it

00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:30.940
 the

00:33:30.940 --> 00:33:31.440
 curse

00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:32.000
 of

00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:32.480
 eternal

00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:33.020
 judgment?

00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:34.680
 But he

00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:35.100
 came and

00:33:35.100 --> 00:33:35.660
 fulfilled that

00:33:35.660 --> 00:33:36.920
 law and

00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:37.240
 lived a

00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:38.100
 perfect life

00:33:38.100 --> 00:33:39.280
 and having

00:33:39.280 --> 00:33:39.680
 been raised

00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:39.940
 from the

00:33:39.940 --> 00:33:40.200
 dead,

00:33:40.320 --> 00:33:40.800
 says now

00:33:40.800 --> 00:33:41.120
 by the

00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:41.440
 grace of

00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:41.880
 the gospel,

00:33:42.060 --> 00:33:42.540
 come to

00:33:42.540 --> 00:33:42.800
 me.

00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:43.920
 All you

00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:44.360
 who labor

00:33:44.360 --> 00:33:44.640
 and are

00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:45.220
 heavy laden,

00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:46.140
 I will

00:33:46.140 --> 00:33:47.060
 give you

00:33:47.060 --> 00:33:47.920
 rest.

00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:49.400
 What an

00:33:49.400 --> 00:33:49.940
 opportunity,

00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:51.039
 what an

00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:51.580
 invitation,

00:33:52.300 --> 00:33:52.920
 and what a

00:33:52.920 --> 00:33:53.360
 saviour.

00:33:53.820 --> 00:33:54.240
 Let's bow

00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:54.640
 in prayer

00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:55.240
 together for

00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:55.700
 a moment.

00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:56.800
 Lord,

00:33:56.880 --> 00:33:57.320
 our gracious

00:33:57.320 --> 00:33:57.840
 God,

00:33:58.560 --> 00:33:59.340
 we pray

00:33:59.340 --> 00:34:00.700
 tonight for

00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:01.360
 your blessing,

00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:02.140
 for your

00:34:02.140 --> 00:34:02.620
 guidance,

00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:03.140
 for your

00:34:03.140 --> 00:34:03.740
 hand to be

00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.440
 upon us.

00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:05.580
 We pray,

00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:06.180
 Lord God,

00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:06.500
 that we

00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:08.639
 might understand

00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:09.119
 what you

00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:09.500
 would have

00:34:09.500 --> 00:34:10.000
 us do

00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:10.539
 day by

00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:10.980
 day.

00:34:11.559 --> 00:34:11.900
 We pray

00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:12.320
 especially,

00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:12.619
 Lord,

00:34:12.680 --> 00:34:12.940
 at this

00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:13.480
 time that

00:34:13.480 --> 00:34:13.740
 you would

00:34:13.740 --> 00:34:14.240
 bless and

00:34:14.240 --> 00:34:14.780
 guide your

00:34:14.780 --> 00:34:15.519
 people here

00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:15.980
 as a

00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:16.619
 congregation.

00:34:16.619 --> 00:34:17.900
 in the

00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:18.279
 time they

00:34:18.279 --> 00:34:18.519
 have been

00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:18.819
 through,

00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:19.139
 Lord,

00:34:19.239 --> 00:34:19.719
 these almost

00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:20.440
 two years

00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:22.639
 of coming

00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:23.279
 to terms

00:34:23.279 --> 00:34:23.799
 with a

00:34:23.799 --> 00:34:24.359
 vacancy

00:34:24.359 --> 00:34:24.739
 and the

00:34:24.739 --> 00:34:25.179
 challenges

00:34:25.179 --> 00:34:25.699
 that that

00:34:25.699 --> 00:34:26.259
 presents

00:34:26.259 --> 00:34:27.239
 and the

00:34:27.239 --> 00:34:27.819
 ongoing

00:34:27.819 --> 00:34:29.400
 gospel work

00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:30.019
 and ministry

00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:30.779
 to the

00:34:30.779 --> 00:34:31.559
 town here

00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:32.119
 around them.

00:34:32.199 --> 00:34:32.400
 Lord,

00:34:32.460 --> 00:34:32.839
 we pray

00:34:32.839 --> 00:34:33.219
 that you

00:34:33.219 --> 00:34:33.400
 would be

00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:33.880
 with them,

00:34:34.380 --> 00:34:34.739
 that you

00:34:34.739 --> 00:34:35.239
 would nourish

00:34:35.239 --> 00:34:35.500
 them,

00:34:35.839 --> 00:34:36.039
 that you

00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:36.659
 would sustain

00:34:36.659 --> 00:34:37.199
 them and

00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:37.639
 encourage

00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:37.920
 them.

00:34:38.819 --> 00:34:39.259
 Feed their

00:34:39.259 --> 00:34:39.619
 souls,

00:34:39.839 --> 00:34:40.019
 Lord.

00:34:40.739 --> 00:34:41.039
 Grant

00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:41.400
 them your

00:34:41.400 --> 00:34:42.099
 grace to

00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:43.039
 be bright,

00:34:43.239 --> 00:34:43.559
 shining

00:34:43.559 --> 00:34:44.099
 witnesses

00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:44.519
 where you

00:34:44.519 --> 00:34:44.960
 have raised

00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:45.460
 them up and

00:34:45.460 --> 00:34:46.019
 placed them

00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:46.460
 together.

00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:46.880
 May they

00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:47.280
 be a

00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:47.820
 beacon of

00:34:47.820 --> 00:34:48.960
 hope to

00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:49.639
 so many

00:34:49.639 --> 00:34:50.380
 around us.

00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:50.659
 Lord,

00:34:50.740 --> 00:34:51.260
 we ask all

00:34:51.260 --> 00:34:51.860
 these things

00:34:51.860 --> 00:34:52.179
 with the

00:34:52.179 --> 00:34:52.760
 forgiveness of

00:34:52.760 --> 00:34:53.159
 our sin.

00:34:53.780 --> 00:34:54.220
 For Jesus

00:34:54.220 --> 00:34:54.559
 sake,

00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:54.840
 Amen.

00:34:54.840 --> 00:34:54.980
 Amen.

00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:04.760
 Well,

00:35:04.820 --> 00:35:05.139
 we're going to

00:35:05.139 --> 00:35:05.599
 close our

00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:06.340
 service tonight

00:35:06.340 --> 00:35:07.099
 by singing

00:35:07.099 --> 00:35:08.260
 finally from

00:35:08.260 --> 00:35:10.260
 Psalm 131

00:35:10.260 --> 00:35:10.699
 in Sing

00:35:10.699 --> 00:35:11.300
 Psalms.

00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:13.720
 Psalm 131

00:35:13.720 --> 00:35:14.199
 in Sing

00:35:14.199 --> 00:35:14.780
 Psalms.

00:35:14.780 --> 00:35:40.660
 We'll sing

00:35:40.660 --> 00:35:41.800
 these verses

00:35:41.800 --> 00:35:42.300
 together and

00:35:42.300 --> 00:35:42.680
 we'll stand

00:35:42.680 --> 00:35:43.100
 to praise

00:35:43.100 --> 00:35:43.380
 God.

00:35:44.780 --> 00:35:45.780
 Psalm 131

00:35:45.780 --> 00:35:49.360
 My heart's not

00:35:49.360 --> 00:35:52.660
 proud, O Lord,

00:35:53.080 --> 00:35:59.260
 nor haughty is my eye.

00:35:59.260 --> 00:36:07.260
 I do not occupy myself

00:36:07.260 --> 00:36:14.140
 with things to great or high.

00:36:14.140 --> 00:36:21.580
 My spirit I have come,

00:36:21.580 --> 00:36:27.740
 my heart is pacified,

00:36:27.739 --> 00:36:44.119
 my soul is like a little child, close to its mother's side.

00:36:44.119 --> 00:36:58.159
 Just like a little child, my soul is come in me.

00:36:58.159 --> 00:36:58.859
 My heart is so happy that I have come, My heart is so happy that I have come, My heart is so happy that I have come, My heart is so happy that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have come from the past that I have from the past that I have from the past that I have from the past that I have from the past that

00:37:28.159 --> 00:37:30.059
 is to mention for a final time

00:37:30.059 --> 00:37:32.199
 these mandate forms that I've been doing the rounds.

00:37:32.679 --> 00:37:34.119
 If you're unable to be present

00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:36.199
 and wish to be part of the call process

00:37:36.199 --> 00:37:37.379
 on Wednesday night

00:37:37.379 --> 00:37:39.339
 and you have yet to complete a mandate,

00:37:39.759 --> 00:37:40.839
 please speak to an elder,

00:37:41.139 --> 00:37:42.079
 get in touch with him yourself.

00:37:42.460 --> 00:37:44.099
 We will get your mandate complete

00:37:44.099 --> 00:37:46.420
 and it will be part of the process on Wednesday night.

00:37:46.639 --> 00:37:46.980
 Thank you.

00:37:58.159 --> 00:38:28.139
 Thank you.