WEBVTT 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:11.660 Well, good morning everyone. It's really good to have you with us at our morning service on what is in many ways a sad day for the church, although we do rejoice that for Robert it is now so much better. 00:00:11.800 --> 00:00:16.240 Great also to see the new life that we have in our church in recent months. 00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:28.080 Holy Moses, Holy Elijah, Holy Daniel, Holy Paul, Holy you, Holy me. 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:37.140 What is it that links these great Bible characters and us as we would seek to be holy? 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:51.320 Well, I would suggest it is that they stood out as being different in their generation and when other people were rejecting God, they remained faithful to him. 00:00:52.099 --> 00:00:56.959 To be holy is to be different from the world round about us. 00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:09.420 Last week, you may remember, Graham talked about us being question marks that people can look at and can recognise that there's something different about us. 00:01:10.540 --> 00:01:20.240 To be holy is to be devoted to God and to live for him and to seek to serve him, whatever the circumstances round about us. 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:25.959 And holiness is one of the great themes of Paul's letter to the Ephesians. 00:01:26.060 --> 00:01:35.699 Eleven times in Ephesians, Paul talks about the fact that as Christians, as a church, as God's family, we are holy. 00:01:37.119 --> 00:01:44.719 It's not directly in this passage, but it certainly is behind everything that Paul is writing about here. 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:49.239 This is about how we are to be holy. 00:01:50.379 --> 00:01:55.319 But before we dig into the passage, let's just orientate ourselves a bit in Ephesians. 00:01:55.420 --> 00:01:59.819 It's good just occasionally to remind ourselves of the big themes of the book. 00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:07.780 So we have in Ephesians, God's purpose and God's people. 00:02:08.259 --> 00:02:11.259 God's purpose and God's people. 00:02:11.259 --> 00:02:17.419 In chapters 1 to 3, Paul writes particularly about what God's purpose is. 00:02:17.500 --> 00:02:29.120 And God's great purpose is, chapter 1 in verse 10, is to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 00:02:29.819 --> 00:02:31.159 And we are part of that. 00:02:31.519 --> 00:02:34.899 As God brings everything together under Christ. 00:02:34.900 --> 00:02:42.400 As we have come to know him as by God's grace and through faith, we have been saved from our sin. 00:02:43.040 --> 00:02:50.219 So we are the people of God and we are part of God's purpose in bringing everything together. 00:02:51.219 --> 00:02:57.140 Then chapters 4 to 6, Paul talks about how we should live as God's people. 00:02:57.719 --> 00:03:00.840 And we broadly divide that into four sections. 00:03:01.860 --> 00:03:04.259 There's how we should live in the church. 00:03:04.259 --> 00:03:11.479 We thought about that in chapter 4, about our unity and about the gifts we use to build one another up. 00:03:12.419 --> 00:03:14.139 There's how we should live in the world. 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:16.319 Last couple of weeks we were thinking about that. 00:03:16.659 --> 00:03:18.019 How we should be different. 00:03:18.539 --> 00:03:25.419 How the things that are very common in our society are not things which are appropriate for Christians. 00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:30.560 For the next couple of weeks we're going to be thinking about how we should live in the home. 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:35.039 That will become particularly evident next week as we think about the Christian household. 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:41.740 Which in Paul's day would largely have consisted of a husband and wife and children and slaves. 00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:46.039 Not so evident in the passage today but that is the background to it. 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:47.280 It's the Christian in the home. 00:03:47.960 --> 00:03:53.400 And then finally we have the Christian in the spiritual realms with principalities and powers against us. 00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:56.240 And putting on the armour of God. 00:03:56.960 --> 00:04:01.980 So today we're starting the section which is principally about the Christian in the home. 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:06.040 And I think there's a bit of a change of tone in this section. 00:04:06.620 --> 00:04:12.740 What we've been looking at over the last couple of weeks is what we shouldn't do as Christians. 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:15.159 Things that we should avoid. 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:20.920 Over the next couple of weeks we're going to be looking much more at what we should do. 00:04:21.459 --> 00:04:28.259 What are the positive things as believers in the Lord Jesus that should characterise our lives. 00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:37.219 So for example last week at the start of chapter 5 we were thinking of Paul's command that we should avoid sexual immorality. 00:04:38.579 --> 00:04:44.459 At the end of chapter 5 Paul talks about the love of a husband and a wife. 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:50.040 For the last couple of weeks Paul has talked a lot about how we speak, what we say. 00:04:50.320 --> 00:04:52.740 About the dangers of loose talk. 00:04:53.560 --> 00:04:55.920 Towards the end of chapter 5 we're looking at it today. 00:04:56.280 --> 00:05:01.620 He talks about speaking to each other in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. 00:05:02.540 --> 00:05:06.440 Early in chapter 5 Paul urges us to avoid pride. 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:12.700 And at the end of chapter 5 he tells us that we should submit to one another. 00:05:12.699 --> 00:05:17.519 So it is presenting the positive way that we should live as Christians. 00:05:17.860 --> 00:05:19.979 That we should be holy. 00:05:21.479 --> 00:05:24.639 So let's think about how this passage divides up. 00:05:25.339 --> 00:05:28.699 I've used two good Scots words to help us understand. 00:05:28.839 --> 00:05:33.199 It's a good day to day to be Scottish I think after what happened at Twickenham yesterday. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:42.759 So I'm suggesting that verses 15 to 17 at the start of the passage can be summarized as use your holy gumption. 00:05:43.979 --> 00:05:48.599 And then verses 18 to 21, I've stolen the verse from Graham next week but I'll give it back later. 00:05:48.939 --> 00:05:55.259 Verse 18 to 21 I'm suggesting we could say is be full of the Holy Spirit. 00:05:55.259 --> 00:06:00.579 Let you judge as we go along whether these are good descriptions highlighting the passages. 00:06:01.819 --> 00:06:06.819 So first of all we need to use our holy gumption. 00:06:07.779 --> 00:06:08.980 Gumption is a great word. 00:06:09.459 --> 00:06:13.399 It was originally a Scottish word and it just meant wise. 00:06:13.740 --> 00:06:15.360 Gumption is wisdom. 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:21.120 But as it's spread out to the rest of the UK and indeed overseas particularly to the United States, 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:23.439 it's taken on a broader meaning. 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:29.579 And it's not just about being wise in some kind of theoretical sense. 00:06:30.180 --> 00:06:34.339 It's about knowing what you should do and doing it. 00:06:35.060 --> 00:06:39.720 So the Chambers Dixstree definition says that gumption is the ability to decide 00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:43.540 what is the best thing to do in a particular situation 00:06:43.540 --> 00:06:48.980 and to do it with energy and determination. 00:06:48.980 --> 00:06:52.839 To do it with energy and determination. 00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:59.000 And I think that's quite a good summary of what Paul is saying in these three verses. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:03.060 He says that we should live, literally means we should walk, 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:10.159 but we should live carefully and make sure we're not unwise but we're wise. 00:07:10.980 --> 00:07:15.019 And two particular things he says we should pay attention to. 00:07:15.019 --> 00:07:23.439 We should be redeeming the time, verse 16, and we should be understanding the Lord's will, verse 17. 00:07:24.419 --> 00:07:29.120 How we use our time is really, really important. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:32.659 All of us have 24 hours in every day. 00:07:33.060 --> 00:07:36.599 We don't all use them as well as each other. 00:07:36.600 --> 00:07:40.800 And it's very easy to waste time. 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:48.439 I can, if I get in the mood, spend hours on an app, perhaps an app or a puzzle or something on my phone, 00:07:48.740 --> 00:07:52.680 because I spend far too long on it when I could be doing better things. 00:07:53.200 --> 00:07:59.740 Maybe for you it's video games or daytime television or box sets or even just sleeping. 00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:08.740 Things which are not bad in themselves and can be helpful in helping us to relax and be refreshed. 00:08:09.480 --> 00:08:16.960 But if we spend too long on them, then they're taking away from time that we could be using more profitably. 00:08:18.439 --> 00:08:24.220 And so Paul says in the NIV, making the most of every opportunity. 00:08:24.220 --> 00:08:31.220 There were some people in lockdown, time has hung pretty heavy on them. 00:08:31.880 --> 00:08:38.160 All days have been more or less the same, and they found it difficult to find productive things to do. 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:41.420 I'm thankful that's not my experience, but I know it is for many. 00:08:41.620 --> 00:08:43.320 And it is difficult. 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:51.600 And yet there are always things we can do that will be profitable, that will help us to redeem the time. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:57.220 Whether it is in current circumstances, giving someone a phone call, writing an email or a letter, 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:01.399 or to the extent we're allowed, helping them practically. 00:09:02.540 --> 00:09:08.060 But it's also using the time that perhaps we've been given, time we maybe don't normally have, 00:09:08.200 --> 00:09:14.399 to deepen our relationship with the Lord Jesus, to spend time thinking and meditating on our Bible, 00:09:14.560 --> 00:09:16.440 perhaps reading some good Christian books, 00:09:16.440 --> 00:09:23.560 and making sure this time that is very different from what we normally have, that it isn't wasted. 00:09:24.680 --> 00:09:32.760 God wants us to use every opportunity to further our holiness and our devotion to him, 00:09:33.420 --> 00:09:38.600 and to help others, whether it's helping them practically, or perhaps helping them spiritually. 00:09:39.080 --> 00:09:43.800 A word we can say about the Lord Jesus, or something like that. 00:09:43.799 --> 00:09:47.019 We need to redeem the time. 00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:54.819 And then secondly, in verse 17, Paul says we need to understand the Lord's will. 00:09:55.399 --> 00:10:01.559 He says, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 00:10:02.939 --> 00:10:07.500 Now the question of guidance, and how we know the right things to do in life, 00:10:07.719 --> 00:10:09.699 it is often very difficult. 00:10:09.700 --> 00:10:15.100 What are the right things for my career, my family, my Christian service, and so on? 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:20.160 It's good that we ask these questions, and that we think carefully about them. 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:24.379 I'm not sure that's what Paul is thinking about here, though. 00:10:25.020 --> 00:10:31.060 I think that Paul is talking about God's will, as it has been revealed in Scripture, 00:10:31.560 --> 00:10:35.000 and as it applies to all of us. 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:38.980 So it is the things that we learn in the Bible that God says, 00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:42.080 this is how I want you to be. 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:47.879 So I am to be holy, because God is holy. 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:53.620 I'm to love the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, 00:10:54.139 --> 00:10:57.639 with all my mind, and with all my strength. 00:10:58.080 --> 00:11:00.679 And I'm to love my neighbor as myself. 00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:07.699 And to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the only one who can bring me salvation. 00:11:08.739 --> 00:11:14.419 We need to understand these things, which are not difficult to understand in a sense, 00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:17.359 but can be difficult to put into practice. 00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:21.979 And they're things which the world around us just doesn't understand. 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:31.440 The importance of our relationship with God as the basis for our relationships with our neighbors. 00:11:32.779 --> 00:11:37.379 Biblical wisdom is always practical. 00:11:38.600 --> 00:11:41.800 We need to use our holy gumption. 00:11:42.860 --> 00:11:47.620 God doesn't want us to be spending all our time finding obscure verses in the Bible 00:11:47.620 --> 00:11:49.840 and looking for hidden meanings in them. 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:53.840 Rather, he wants us to take what he has revealed to us 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:59.060 and to put it into practice and to live holy lives for him. 00:11:59.560 --> 00:12:02.840 We have to use our holy gumption. 00:12:04.700 --> 00:12:07.920 Then verses 18 to 21, I've headed, 00:12:08.220 --> 00:12:10.280 Be foo of the Holy Spirit. 00:12:11.280 --> 00:12:16.440 Now the Scottish word foo at one level just means fool, as it sounds. 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:22.980 But actually in practice, normally when it's used, it means drunk, inebriated, 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:26.140 under the influence of alcohol. 00:12:27.220 --> 00:12:29.020 And so Paul is saying in verse 18, 00:12:29.460 --> 00:12:32.700 Don't get drunk on wine or beer or whiskey or whatever, 00:12:33.740 --> 00:12:37.180 but be filled with the Spirit. 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:39.780 So there's a comparison here. 00:12:39.779 --> 00:12:45.600 On the one hand, we might choose to get drunk to go out and to have a good time 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:50.559 and to drink lots of pints and feel that that is liberating us 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:52.959 and we can be really happy. 00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:55.779 And Paul says that's foolishness. 00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:58.699 That just leads to debauchery. 00:12:58.899 --> 00:13:01.339 It leads to losing our self-control. 00:13:01.839 --> 00:13:05.039 It is not a way for the Christian to live. 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:10.139 On the other hand, we can seek to be full of the Holy Spirit, 00:13:10.679 --> 00:13:16.860 to let the Spirit work in our lives and lead us in God's way. 00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:21.620 Both of them we could describe as being under the influence. 00:13:22.419 --> 00:13:24.319 But when we're under the influence of alcohol, 00:13:24.819 --> 00:13:28.579 what happens is we lose control of ourselves. 00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:31.799 When we're under the influence of the Spirit, 00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:35.120 Paul reminds us in Galatians that one of the fruit of the Spirit 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:38.159 is self-control. 00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:43.339 One of the great, perhaps the greatest British preacher of the 20th century 00:13:43.339 --> 00:13:45.399 was Martin Lloyd-Jones. 00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:50.339 His books on Ephesians particularly are probably definitive. 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:53.259 Martin Lloyd-Jones was also a doctor. 00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:57.599 So when he wrote on this verse, he wrote with some authority. 00:13:58.500 --> 00:14:00.339 And here's part of what he said. 00:14:00.340 --> 00:14:03.639 He says, alcohol is a depressant. 00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:06.980 Depressing everything that gives us self-control, 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:13.180 wisdom, understanding, discrimination, judgment, balance, 00:14:13.780 --> 00:14:15.960 the power to assess everything. 00:14:16.780 --> 00:14:19.320 We may feel stimulated by alcohol. 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:25.000 In fact, it is depressing the higher parts of our brains. 00:14:25.560 --> 00:14:27.180 On the other hand, says Dr Lloyd-Jones, 00:14:27.179 --> 00:14:31.899 the Spirit is a stimulant, stimulating our mind and intellect, 00:14:32.459 --> 00:14:34.719 our heart, our will. 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:36.959 I'm not saying never have a drink. 00:14:37.099 --> 00:14:38.699 That is not what I'm saying this morning. 00:14:39.099 --> 00:14:41.359 But Christians should avoid getting drunk 00:14:41.359 --> 00:14:43.399 to the point where they lose control. 00:14:44.059 --> 00:14:47.839 And our priority must be to have the control of the Spirit 00:14:47.839 --> 00:14:50.899 in our lives, to be under the influence of the Holy Spirit, 00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:57.259 let him fill us, and to live lives that are holy and pleasing to God. 00:14:58.360 --> 00:15:02.220 And Paul then brings us four things that are reflective of those 00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:04.740 who are full of the Holy Spirit. 00:15:05.179 --> 00:15:08.279 As I say, I'm taking verse 21 because that is part of the same sentence 00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:12.019 in the Greek, but Graham will talk about it in more detail next week. 00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:15.059 But the first thing we have to do, says Paul, 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:17.059 is singing to one another. 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:18.159 Actually, he doesn't say that. 00:15:18.419 --> 00:15:20.240 He says we should speak to one another 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:23.600 with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:25.179 What does he mean by that? 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:28.759 Well, sometimes it is good to speak the words of hymns. 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:31.240 If you listen to Graham Shank's preaching, 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:33.460 very often he will take an old hymn 00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:35.500 and he will use the words of that 00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:37.120 to illustrate a point 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:38.600 and to drive it home. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:40.100 And he's in good company with that. 00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:41.519 Paul did it frequently. 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:43.680 Probably verse 14 of this chapter, 00:15:43.800 --> 00:15:45.500 just before where we are today, 00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:47.779 is taken from an old hymn. 00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:50.100 Wake up, O sleeper, arise from the dead, 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:52.779 and Christ will shine on you. 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:56.220 So speaking the words of hymns can be helpful. 00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:59.259 But I don't think Paul is just restricting me to that. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:02.259 I think he's thinking about singing as well. 00:16:03.560 --> 00:16:05.500 I don't think either that the difference, 00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:08.100 if any, between psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs 00:16:08.100 --> 00:16:10.980 is that important in this verse. 00:16:11.800 --> 00:16:14.460 We could perhaps say psalms are the words of scripture, 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:18.440 hymns are what has been written by others in song, 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:20.320 and spiritual songs might be those 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:22.200 that come spontaneously to us. 00:16:22.420 --> 00:16:23.779 But I'm not sure if that's right, 00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:25.440 and I don't think it's important. 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:29.159 What is important in this part of the verse 00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:32.279 is that we are speaking to one another 00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:35.899 in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. 00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:41.000 Most hymns, and I think particularly most modern Christian songs, 00:16:41.339 --> 00:16:43.500 are about me and God, 00:16:43.959 --> 00:16:46.819 about my relationship to the Lord Jesus. 00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:47.819 There's nothing wrong with that. 00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:52.480 It's great to reflect on God's goodness to me as an individual. 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:55.440 But it's good also to remember 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:57.940 that Christian hymns and songs 00:16:57.940 --> 00:17:00.500 are designed to be sung together. 00:17:00.800 --> 00:17:04.120 Really sad that we can't do it together at the moment. 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:06.759 Hopefully it won't be too long before we can. 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:09.180 And as we sing together, 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:12.299 as we join together in praising God, 00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:14.680 then we are encouraging one another, 00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:18.120 we are building one another up in our faith. 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:23.199 Hymns and songs are great for reinforcing Bible truths 00:17:23.199 --> 00:17:25.099 in a way that is memorable 00:17:25.099 --> 00:17:28.219 and in a way that draws us to God. 00:17:28.679 --> 00:17:30.079 They're not a substitute for the Bible, 00:17:30.179 --> 00:17:30.979 and we need to be careful 00:17:30.979 --> 00:17:33.219 that the words of the hymns and songs we sing 00:17:33.219 --> 00:17:34.599 really are scriptural. 00:17:34.959 --> 00:17:37.859 But they're a great way for us as a church, 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:40.119 as a group of God's people, 00:17:40.659 --> 00:17:44.099 to encourage and exhort one another 00:17:44.099 --> 00:17:47.139 as we seek to serve the Lord Jesus. 00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:50.200 And I do particularly like hymns and songs 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:52.900 where we come together to God as a group, 00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:56.440 and it's about us and not just about me. 00:17:56.800 --> 00:17:59.140 Although, as I say, the hymns that are about me and God 00:17:59.140 --> 00:18:01.920 can be a really good testimony to others. 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:05.200 But we are to use the words of hymns and songs 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:08.740 to encourage and build one another up. 00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:10.820 But of course, when we sing, 00:18:11.060 --> 00:18:14.040 we're not primarily singing for one another. 00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:17.940 We are primarily bringing praise in our heart to God. 00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:19.879 And that's the second half of verse 19. 00:18:20.379 --> 00:18:24.519 Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord. 00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:27.379 I particularly like the way that J.B. Phyllis put it 00:18:27.379 --> 00:18:28.379 in his paraphrase. 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:33.220 Make music in your hearts for the ears of the Lord. 00:18:33.879 --> 00:18:35.359 Some of us, when we make music, 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:36.720 or when we try to make music, 00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:39.220 it can be quite offensive to other people's ears 00:18:39.220 --> 00:18:40.700 because we're not musical. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:45.680 And yet, all of us can make music in our heart to the Lord. 00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:48.140 It's not what comes out of our mouth 00:18:48.140 --> 00:18:50.539 or how it comes out that's really important. 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:52.819 It's what's in our heart 00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:56.079 and how we feel as we come to God 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:57.539 and bring him sincerely, 00:18:57.900 --> 00:19:00.100 our praise, our thanksgiving, 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:01.500 perhaps also our confession 00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:04.400 and our requests in song. 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:06.200 We sing to the Lord. 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:08.039 We sing for his glory 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:12.160 and to help us to draw closer to him 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:15.420 and to show him how much we love 00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:17.519 and appreciate him. 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:20.079 And that brings us on to the third thing 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:21.859 that Paul talks about here. 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:24.339 Because he says we should be thankful, 00:19:24.579 --> 00:19:26.819 always giving thanks to God the Father 00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:32.000 for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:35.079 Now, Graham talked about thankfulness last week, 00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:37.539 so I'm not going to spend a lot of time on it. 00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:39.639 But let me just reflect on this. 00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:41.679 That very often, 00:19:42.179 --> 00:19:43.799 it's the people who go through 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:47.099 the most difficult, trying times in their lives 00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:50.119 who come across as the most thankful. 00:19:50.859 --> 00:19:53.839 And these are people who are then truly holy. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:56.220 They are suffering from illness 00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:59.179 or from tragedy in their lives. 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:01.419 And yet they're thankful to the Lord 00:20:01.419 --> 00:20:03.439 for everything he's done for them 00:20:03.439 --> 00:20:06.179 and for his daily mercies. 00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:08.859 And you often find on the other side 00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:11.699 that those of us who haven't really suffered that much, 00:20:12.139 --> 00:20:14.879 whose lives have been in relative terms quite easy, 00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:17.039 are often the quickest to grumble 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:19.559 when minor things go wrong. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:22.980 That is not how it should be. 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:25.860 All of us should be thankful to God 00:20:25.860 --> 00:20:28.799 for his goodness in our lives. 00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:31.539 Now, I know it says thank God for everything. 00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:34.099 I don't think that is to be taken too literally. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:36.360 We're not to thank God for evil in our world. 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:38.940 We're not to thank God that COVID has been 00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:41.539 such a disaster around the world. 00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:45.120 But rather, we can thank God in these circumstances 00:20:45.120 --> 00:20:46.640 for the good that he does 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:50.320 and the blessings that he gives to us. 00:20:50.520 --> 00:20:54.200 Because we do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:57.040 And everything we have, everything we are, 00:20:57.460 --> 00:21:01.920 is in the name of Jesus and because of him. 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:05.259 And then finally, and I'm not going to speak on this much, 00:21:05.580 --> 00:21:07.640 but just at the end, verse 21, 00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:11.519 Paul talks about submitting to one another 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:13.960 out of reverence for Christ. 00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:16.800 And that is part of the same sentence 00:21:16.800 --> 00:21:20.420 where he talks about singing and giving thanks. 00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:24.300 It's not all about what we might call the softer things, 00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:26.580 the things that are to do with our thoughts 00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:31.759 and our emotions, rather it is to do with our actions as well. 00:21:32.159 --> 00:21:33.960 And we are to submit to one another. 00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:36.539 And particularly in this context, 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:39.299 it is about submitting in the home, 00:21:39.699 --> 00:21:42.159 in the place where people know us better 00:21:42.159 --> 00:21:45.159 than they do anywhere else in our world. 00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:47.799 We are called to live for God 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:51.259 and to submit appropriately to others. 00:21:51.919 --> 00:21:54.859 We are to be full of the Holy Spirit. 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:56.259 When we have the Holy Spirit, 00:21:56.579 --> 00:22:00.579 with us, these are the kind of things that will happen. 00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:03.480 People sing when they get drunk. 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:06.559 How much better it is to sing God's praises 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:08.899 to one another and to God, 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:11.299 to be thankful in our lives 00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:14.099 and to have relationships with one another 00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:16.579 which are respectful, loving, 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:20.159 which show the character of the Lord Jesus. 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:22.859 If we want to be holy, 00:22:23.439 --> 00:22:26.000 we have to use our holy gumption. 00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:29.980 And we have to be full of the Holy Spirit. 00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:33.639 And I started by listing a number of people 00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:37.859 who I described as holy or potentially holy in our case. 00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:41.279 I didn't mention someone called Holy Willie. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:43.000 You may have come across Holy Willie. 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:48.279 Holy Willie's prayer is a poem written by Robert Burns. 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:51.399 And Holy Willie was a pillar of the Kirk. 00:22:51.979 --> 00:22:55.179 He was one of these people who was very respectable 00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:59.600 who felt that others should be looking up to him. 00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:03.700 And to start with, Holy Willie's prayer is very good. 00:23:04.360 --> 00:23:07.279 He recognises God's greatness and God's sovereignty 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:10.039 and his own unworthiness. 00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:16.680 But as you go on, you begin to see that there's a certain smugness about Holy Willie. 00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:20.099 Let me just read one verse from this poem. 00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:22.039 I don't think it would be too difficult to understand. 00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:25.899 O Lord, thou kens what seal I bear 00:23:25.899 --> 00:23:28.779 When drinkers drink and swearers swear 00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:32.859 And singing here and dancing there we great and small 00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:36.180 For I am keep it by thy fear 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:39.039 Free from them all 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:42.159 So Holy Willie's thinking, yes, I'm a good man 00:23:42.159 --> 00:23:45.700 It's a bit like the Pharisee that went into the temple the Lord talked about 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:49.319 I'm a good person, I'm better than others 00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:51.759 But then as the poem goes on 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:55.460 It emerges that Holy Willie isn't a doubterer 00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:59.579 He's got full with wine and committed debauchery 00:23:59.579 --> 00:24:03.460 He's spiteful, he's vengeful, he's very nasty 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:07.500 Actually, he's not holy at all 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:10.579 All the holiness that Holy Willie has 00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:12.359 Is just for show 00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:15.119 It's just a public appearance 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:19.420 And we need to be very careful about that too in our lives 00:24:19.420 --> 00:24:24.519 If we seek to be holy and to live for the Lord Jesus 00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:30.599 Is that something that's real and evidence and that people can see? 00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:35.460 Or is it something that we only put on as a veneer for a Sunday 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:37.000 Or in certain circumstances 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:41.420 And doesn't really reflect what our lives are like? 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:44.140 So how can we be holy? 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:50.880 Well, the start of it all is in accepting our unholiness before God 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:54.200 Accepting our sin and our failure 00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:57.539 And recognising it only by trusting in Jesus 00:24:57.539 --> 00:25:01.240 And the fact that he died for us on the cross 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:04.220 Can we truly become holy? 00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:05.920 We need to put our trust in Jesus 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:09.039 And then we receive the Holy Spirit 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:12.680 And we're able to go on and live holy lives 00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:19.220 And then secondly, we do need to allow the Spirit to work in us 00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:21.599 To let the Spirit change our lives 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:25.279 So we reflect more the character of the Lord Jesus 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:28.660 To be full of the Spirit 00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:34.540 And that will evidence itself in all aspects of our lives 00:25:34.540 --> 00:25:37.400 As we seek his guidance and his leading 00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:41.840 As we respond to his prompts when we go wrong 00:25:41.840 --> 00:25:48.220 As we use his help to find the right way to live 00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:50.540 So we need to have the Holy Spirit 00:25:50.540 --> 00:25:52.060 And be filled with the Spirit 00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:55.599 And allow him to change our lives 00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:58.419 To become more like Jesus 00:25:58.419 --> 00:26:03.200 And then with the wisdom that the Spirit gives us 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:07.539 We need to be willing to do the right thing 00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:09.960 Whatever the circumstances 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:13.139 To pursue godliness and holiness 00:26:13.139 --> 00:26:16.759 In a society which Paul describes as evil 00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:20.059 And is no different now from what it was then 00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:23.519 We need to use our holy gumption 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:25.359 To do what is right 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:27.220 To live for the Lord Jesus 00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:33.460 And to be holy as our God is holy 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:36.059 My prayer this morning is that all of us 00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:39.940 That we may know the Lord Jesus as Saviour 00:26:39.940 --> 00:26:45.099 That we may experience the power and the leading of his Spirit 00:26:45.099 --> 00:26:46.539 In our lives 00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:50.299 And that we may be wise in the way that we live 00:26:50.299 --> 00:26:52.659 And follow our Saviour 00:26:52.659 --> 00:26:54.399 Let's pray together 00:26:54.399 --> 00:26:58.259 Our Father we thank you for your word 00:26:58.259 --> 00:27:01.699 We thank you for the way in which Paul describes 00:27:01.699 --> 00:27:05.099 How as Christians we can be holy 00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:08.939 How we need to be full of the Spirit 00:27:08.939 --> 00:27:10.559 Filled with the Holy Spirit 00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:12.519 And responding to him 00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:15.179 And how we need to act wisely 00:27:15.179 --> 00:27:17.720 In a foolish generation 00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:20.799 We pray that all of us may have our trust 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:22.000 In the Lord Jesus 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:25.279 And may live lives that are pleasing to you 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:26.599 And to him 00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:30.200 We want to pray again particularly for Dorothy Layton 00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:31.720 And we pray for your comfort 00:27:31.720 --> 00:27:33.440 And your strength for her 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:36.740 We thank you for the memories that many of us have 00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:39.840 Of Robert and the fellowship we've enjoyed with him 00:27:39.840 --> 00:27:41.080 For many years 00:27:41.080 --> 00:27:43.660 And we pray for your blessing on Dorothy 00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:46.980 And other family members in the coming days 00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:49.460 We thank you for this time we've had together 00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:51.680 And we pray for your blessing on us now 00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:54.279 And that you'll be with us in the week to come 00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:56.299 We ask in the name of the Lord Jesus 00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:57.720 Amen