WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.260 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, the last four verses. 00:00:03.879 --> 00:00:04.280 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.700 We're reminded again that what we've been studying here is actually a very personal letter between Paul and the Thessalonian congregation. 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:49.679 However, personal correspondence does not necessarily equate to private correspondence, and we know that to be the case in these New Testament letters. 00:00:49.679 --> 00:01:05.000 Paul's letters bear the marks of intimacy between friends, between a spiritual family, even with a shortened time that he had with this church. 00:01:05.299 --> 00:01:11.280 He sees them, and this letter, again, it bears the marks of closeness and intimacy and love. 00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:22.719 And yet, his writings, including 1 Thessalonians, were meant to be publicly read, copied, and then distributed to other congregations. 00:01:23.019 --> 00:01:27.780 We even see that intention stated somewhat in verse 27. 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:35.060 The letter circulation is evident in that we still have it today. 00:01:35.060 --> 00:01:47.680 And here again, in 2025, in a place very far from Thessalonica, we are reading Paul's letter publicly before the brothers and sisters in Christ, 00:01:47.820 --> 00:01:54.400 seeking to understand God's will for us and to be transformed by the working of his word. 00:01:55.599 --> 00:02:02.300 And I actually think this is quite amazing for us to think about, just the means by which God has given us his word. 00:02:02.299 --> 00:02:11.479 The means by which he inspired and preserved his word for us is, it's amazing, it's kind of beautiful. 00:02:13.139 --> 00:02:18.900 God gave us so much of the New Testament in this form, in this letter form. 00:02:21.639 --> 00:02:30.759 Through the ordinary means of discipling Christians, helping one another faithfully follow Jesus 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:32.459 as we await Christ's return. 00:02:33.019 --> 00:02:35.219 That's how God gives us his word. 00:02:35.659 --> 00:02:38.159 That's how he preserves his word for us. 00:02:38.620 --> 00:02:39.819 That's the picture here. 00:02:40.079 --> 00:02:44.060 Even as we come to just a simple salutation at the end of the letter, 00:02:44.519 --> 00:02:47.259 we're just reminded, how has God given us his word? 00:02:47.340 --> 00:02:53.060 Well, much of it in the New Testament has just come through the faithfulness of discipling relationships. 00:02:53.060 --> 00:03:00.379 Paul and his team seeking to help the Thessalonian Christians be faithful followers of Christ. 00:03:00.379 --> 00:03:06.840 And he writes his letter and God inspires the writing and preserves the writing so that today, 00:03:07.159 --> 00:03:10.280 we can take it and disciple one another. 00:03:10.280 --> 00:03:23.520 Christ's command to make disciples is baked into the very format in which 1 Thessalonians was written. 00:03:24.259 --> 00:03:30.219 The letter, as you've seen, it follows the typical apostillary structure of the first century. 00:03:30.379 --> 00:03:33.060 It opens with the names of the authors and the recipients. 00:03:33.500 --> 00:03:37.879 It follows that up with an offer of thanksgiving for the church. 00:03:37.879 --> 00:03:43.699 All of that's common in the letters that we see from the New Testament and other letters from that time. 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:48.240 The primary content, it comes through the main body of the text. 00:03:48.359 --> 00:03:58.599 And then a few final words of personal greeting, instruction, and blessing bring it to a close. 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:02.560 Nothing really unusual about that as far as the structure is concerned. 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:07.960 But it's in these few final words that we find our place today. 00:04:09.379 --> 00:04:13.099 If you're like me, when you get to places like this in your reading, 00:04:13.259 --> 00:04:15.539 you may be tempted to kind of rush through them, right? 00:04:17.899 --> 00:04:20.500 To my shame, to be honest with you, 00:04:20.860 --> 00:04:23.259 I spoke to Julie earlier in the week. 00:04:23.379 --> 00:04:24.639 We were talking about this text. 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:30.300 And I told her, I'm thinking about just moving on to something different in preparation for Easter. 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:37.459 And as you might imagine, the Lord rebuked me for that in my spirit. 00:04:38.699 --> 00:04:39.099 Why? 00:04:42.099 --> 00:04:45.039 Not all scripture is equally impactful. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:52.080 But it is all inspired by God and profitable. 00:04:54.900 --> 00:05:01.680 If all God intended to use to accomplish his work in us was the most impactful text, 00:05:01.980 --> 00:05:03.400 then that's all he would have given us. 00:05:03.580 --> 00:05:05.160 But that's not what he has done. 00:05:07.580 --> 00:05:11.580 Not every meal you eat in your life will impact you in the same way. 00:05:11.579 --> 00:05:15.759 In fact, most of them you'll never even remember. 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:18.120 And yet each one of them sustained you. 00:05:18.620 --> 00:05:20.859 Each one of them nourished you. 00:05:21.240 --> 00:05:23.339 Each one of them shaped you. 00:05:23.359 --> 00:05:24.899 In some cases, literally. 00:05:26.819 --> 00:05:28.419 Well, it's the same with God's word. 00:05:29.639 --> 00:05:31.399 Yeah, it's a simple greeting at the end. 00:05:32.219 --> 00:05:33.979 But it's an inspired greeting. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:36.159 Yeah, it's basic instruction. 00:05:36.919 --> 00:05:38.659 But it's instruction from God. 00:05:38.660 --> 00:05:42.020 To my shame, I wanted to skip it. 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:44.920 God has something to say to us here. 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:46.920 And we need to hear him. 00:05:48.500 --> 00:05:51.860 You've heard sermons that consist of three points in a poem. 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:58.280 Here in the final words of 1 Thessalonians, we have three instructions and a blessing. 00:05:59.420 --> 00:06:00.240 They're simple. 00:06:00.520 --> 00:06:01.220 They're straightforward. 00:06:01.220 --> 00:06:08.420 But I think what you will find is that they are so very necessary for us as well. 00:06:09.080 --> 00:06:12.220 Let me give you the three instructions and then we'll wrap it up with the blessing, okay? 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:17.380 Instruction number one, pray for gospel ministers. 00:06:18.700 --> 00:06:21.120 Pray for gospel ministers. 00:06:22.420 --> 00:06:24.120 Verse 25 is straightforward, isn't it? 00:06:24.120 --> 00:06:24.840 It's only four words. 00:06:24.920 --> 00:06:27.200 Brothers, pray for us. 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:29.020 Pray for us. 00:06:29.019 --> 00:06:36.159 Now, we can take time to think and meditate generally on the necessity of prayer. 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:43.299 After all, if we're going to call ourselves Christians, it means we're going to follow in the footsteps of our Lord. 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:47.599 And if we're going to follow in the footsteps of our Lord, we will pray as he prayed. 00:06:47.719 --> 00:06:49.240 We will pray as he taught. 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:50.799 We will pray as he modeled. 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:52.539 We will pray as he commanded. 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:53.500 All of that's true. 00:06:53.500 --> 00:06:59.720 But here, Paul has a particular application of prayer in mind. 00:07:01.420 --> 00:07:03.259 Two pieces of it, I think, are useful. 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:08.459 First, he was focused, I think, on corporate prayer in this case. 00:07:08.459 --> 00:07:22.379 In fact, all three of the instructions, as we come to them in this text, Paul is thinking about what Christians do together, 00:07:22.779 --> 00:07:25.919 not merely what Christians are to do in private. 00:07:27.060 --> 00:07:32.500 And we understand that somewhat in his repeated use of this term, brothers. 00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:32.699 Brothers. 00:07:34.579 --> 00:07:37.339 It's used 17 times in this letter. 00:07:37.420 --> 00:07:40.040 That's a lot for a little letter like 1 Thessalonians. 00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:42.319 17 times he uses brothers. 00:07:42.540 --> 00:07:47.360 In Greek, the difference between brothers and sisters is really just the ending of the word. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:54.379 But whenever it was being used to speak generally like we would say siblings, it was always in the masculine form. 00:07:54.379 --> 00:08:04.060 And as we work through 1 Thessalonians and we're looking at each instance of brothers, what we come to understand contextually is that Paul is not highlighting a group in the church. 00:08:04.279 --> 00:08:05.959 He's not addressing only the men. 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:07.939 He's addressing the entire congregation. 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:12.480 We might read it, and some of your Bibles might actually interpret it this way or translate it this way. 00:08:12.819 --> 00:08:16.899 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:19.040 He's addressing the whole congregation. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:23.240 And his instructions seem aimed at what they do together. 00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:25.699 And what is it that we do together most fundamentally? 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:26.600 We worship. 00:08:27.620 --> 00:08:30.920 And I think we see that coming through in the three instructions, including this one. 00:08:30.980 --> 00:08:32.120 So that's part of the focus. 00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:36.919 He's not thinking of only private prayer, though we need to care about that. 00:08:37.080 --> 00:08:42.440 But here, he's especially concerned with what we're doing in prayer when we are together. 00:08:42.820 --> 00:08:44.299 But then there's a second focus. 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:53.120 He was also focused on instructing a particular subject for their corporate prayer. 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:54.639 Notice what he says. 00:08:55.139 --> 00:08:57.860 Pray for us. 00:08:59.379 --> 00:09:00.480 Pray for us. 00:09:03.419 --> 00:09:08.120 Pray for me, Timothy, our companions. 00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:18.639 His expectation and request was that they continue in prayer for him and his team as they did gospel work. 00:09:18.860 --> 00:09:21.240 Hence the instruction, as I've put it in the heading. 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:24.480 Pray for gospel ministers. 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:32.460 The specific application, I think, here is that we pray together for those serving in gospel ministry. 00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:40.259 Perhaps especially doing so and intentionally doing so in the regular worship gatherings of the church. 00:09:41.899 --> 00:09:46.240 Notice that the instruction, it isn't to pray for gospel ministry in general. 00:09:46.500 --> 00:09:48.159 Though we should certainly do that. 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:53.419 We want to pray for the gospel's advancement in general across the globe. 00:09:54.259 --> 00:09:56.259 But that's not what he's aimed at here. 00:09:56.579 --> 00:09:59.279 He says pray for people. 00:09:59.740 --> 00:10:01.559 Pray for us. 00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:05.519 Those who are doing the gospel ministry. 00:10:06.119 --> 00:10:10.459 Pray for missionaries like Val and Angela. 00:10:11.179 --> 00:10:15.799 Pray for missionaries like the Howard family whom you'll meet in just a few weeks. 00:10:17.379 --> 00:10:18.299 Pray for pastors. 00:10:20.239 --> 00:10:23.219 And by the way, pray for one another. 00:10:23.220 --> 00:10:23.340 Pray for prayer. 00:10:24.540 --> 00:10:27.139 Because aren't we all to be doing this gospel work? 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:33.259 But what exactly are we meant to be praying for these people? 00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:36.139 Paul doesn't elaborate on that here, does he? 00:10:37.080 --> 00:10:38.440 And there could be a few reasons for that. 00:10:38.519 --> 00:10:44.660 Certainly the Thessalonians were familiar enough with his circumstances that he didn't need to say anything more. 00:10:45.259 --> 00:10:50.279 They've just finished a really fruitful visit from Timothy, 00:10:50.279 --> 00:10:53.199 who I'm sure was open with them about all these things. 00:10:53.299 --> 00:10:57.059 And Paul doesn't feel the need to elaborate any further than what he does. 00:10:57.199 --> 00:11:00.480 But Paul actually routinely asked for churches to pray for him. 00:11:01.079 --> 00:11:05.919 And if we just take a quick look at some of the occasions that he does that in the New Testament, 00:11:06.220 --> 00:11:10.059 I think it will help us better understand how we should be praying for one another 00:11:10.059 --> 00:11:14.120 and praying for those who are serving in gospel ministry in other ways around the world. 00:11:14.419 --> 00:11:15.019 There are many. 00:11:15.259 --> 00:11:17.639 I want to show you three, maybe four. 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:19.819 First one, just flip over a page. 00:11:19.820 --> 00:11:20.940 It's the 2 Thessalonians. 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:27.740 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, verses 1 and 2. 00:11:29.680 --> 00:11:30.960 Notice what Paul says here. 00:11:31.420 --> 00:11:33.900 Finally, brothers, pray for us. 00:11:35.020 --> 00:11:35.800 Pray what for us? 00:11:36.060 --> 00:11:41.740 That the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored as happened among you, 00:11:42.280 --> 00:11:45.060 that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:47.940 Three things stick out here to me. 00:11:47.940 --> 00:11:49.740 What is he asking them to pray for? 00:11:49.820 --> 00:11:53.200 We are to pray that the word of God will do its work. 00:11:54.280 --> 00:12:00.960 That the word of God will do its work through these people who are ministering the word to others 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:03.780 in evangelism and in further discipling. 00:12:04.100 --> 00:12:05.780 Pray that the word does its work. 00:12:05.900 --> 00:12:07.860 As you pray for Val and Angela and others, 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:10.280 pray that God's word would go forth, 00:12:10.360 --> 00:12:13.180 that it would speed ahead through their ministry. 00:12:13.179 --> 00:12:17.959 We're to pray that what God has done in us, 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:19.779 he'll do in others. 00:12:20.719 --> 00:12:21.599 Isn't that what he says? 00:12:22.059 --> 00:12:23.559 As has happened in you. 00:12:23.819 --> 00:12:25.659 Well, what had happened in 1 Thessalonians? 00:12:26.239 --> 00:12:27.079 We know what happened. 00:12:27.439 --> 00:12:32.359 The Holy Spirit came and empowered the gospel preaching of Paul and his team 00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:36.060 so that they, despite significant persecution, 00:12:36.659 --> 00:12:37.879 were not only converted, 00:12:38.300 --> 00:12:43.379 but persevered and continued longingly in faithfulness to the Lord. 00:12:43.779 --> 00:12:45.100 And he says, Thessalonians, 00:12:45.300 --> 00:12:49.120 pray that God will do that same thing in other places. 00:12:49.820 --> 00:12:50.940 What else? 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:56.700 Oh, pray that God will deliver gospel ministers from adversaries. 00:12:56.700 --> 00:12:59.860 Not for their own sake, but for the sake of the gospel. 00:13:00.140 --> 00:13:01.680 I think that's the implication there. 00:13:02.740 --> 00:13:04.060 So what should we pray for? 00:13:05.040 --> 00:13:07.980 Pray that the word will do its work through God's people, 00:13:08.220 --> 00:13:08.820 through his instruments. 00:13:09.700 --> 00:13:14.020 Pray that what's happened in your life will happen in others 00:13:14.020 --> 00:13:15.879 through this work of the gospel. 00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:21.060 Pray that God will overcome the adversaries for the sake of his gospel. 00:13:21.780 --> 00:13:23.640 Would you turn to Ephesians 6? 00:13:23.820 --> 00:13:25.940 Maybe just a few pages to the left. 00:13:26.700 --> 00:13:27.900 Ephesians 6. 00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:33.160 And look with me at verses 18 to 20. 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:42.860 Chris is in a series with us right now on the armor of God. 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:44.540 That's what's coming just before this. 00:13:44.940 --> 00:13:46.480 I'm picking up just on the tail end of that. 00:13:47.820 --> 00:13:50.120 Paul says, pray at all times in the Spirit. 00:13:50.220 --> 00:13:50.940 This is verse 18. 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:54.740 Pray at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication 00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:56.519 to that end. 00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:59.120 Keep alert with all perseverance. 00:13:59.960 --> 00:14:01.340 Making supplication. 00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:03.340 That's just another term for prayer. 00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:04.879 For all the saints. 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:07.259 And then notice, and he says, and also for me. 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:10.879 But he gives a specific thing for them to pray about for him. 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:17.899 Pray for me that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:23.459 to proclaim the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains 00:14:23.459 --> 00:14:26.459 that I may declare it boldly as I ought to speak. 00:14:26.939 --> 00:14:27.759 What do we gain from this? 00:14:27.819 --> 00:14:29.779 What should we be praying for ministers of the gospel? 00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:34.600 Well, one, we should pray that God will give gospel ministers exactly what to say. 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:38.040 Oh, isn't that the hard thing to do in our evangelism sometimes? 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:42.560 It's just know what to say and how to appropriately glorify 00:14:42.560 --> 00:14:47.080 and accurately give the gospel of God to other people 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:50.000 based on their unique circumstances and their unique questions. 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:51.180 Isn't that hard to do? 00:14:53.040 --> 00:14:53.820 In their preaching. 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:57.200 Lord, give me the words to say. 00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:58.139 Would you pray for me? 00:14:58.500 --> 00:14:59.800 Pray for me, Paul says, 00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:03.379 that God would give me exactly what I need to say in any given moment. 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:07.679 Whether that be in the synagogue on a Saturday in any given city 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:10.559 or whether it's in the Arapagus in Athens 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:13.419 among all the philosophers and leading philosophers of the day. 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:15.559 Pray that God will give me what to say. 00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:18.000 And then notice the second thing. 00:15:18.439 --> 00:15:20.939 Pray that God will give me boldness to say it. 00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:23.399 Boldness to say it. 00:15:24.419 --> 00:15:25.580 That's what we should pray. 00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:29.820 Turn now to 2 Corinthians chapter 1. 00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:32.840 2 Corinthians chapter 1. 00:15:33.379 --> 00:15:35.919 Just one verse here. 00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:40.700 I think is a helpful note on the goal of our prayer. 00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:45.620 2 Corinthians 1. 00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:53.720 Verse 11. 00:15:53.720 --> 00:16:07.720 You also must help us by prayer 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:12.120 so that many will give thanks 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:16.540 on our behalf for the blessing granted to us 00:16:16.540 --> 00:16:18.860 through those prayers. 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:21.560 That's interesting, isn't it? 00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:24.439 Paul doesn't say, 00:16:24.719 --> 00:16:26.799 look, you know, I'm getting beat up everywhere I go. 00:16:27.099 --> 00:16:29.000 Will you just pray that it'll hurt a little bit less? 00:16:30.599 --> 00:16:32.859 No, he says, will you pray a lot? 00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:35.799 And will you recruit others to pray for us 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:39.679 so that when we see God's work accomplished through us, 00:16:39.939 --> 00:16:41.779 we can then turn around with you 00:16:41.779 --> 00:16:43.500 and glorify him 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:45.559 that we may give thanks 00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:48.519 thanks because he is the one who has done this work 00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:50.919 and he's used your prayers to do it? 00:16:52.099 --> 00:16:52.879 That's amazing. 00:16:54.479 --> 00:16:55.799 Can I just show you one more? 00:16:57.059 --> 00:16:58.339 You're close enough to it. 00:16:58.599 --> 00:17:00.179 Romans chapter 15. 00:17:01.319 --> 00:17:02.619 Romans chapter 15. 00:17:02.620 --> 00:17:06.680 And there are many more. 00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:08.559 You can search them out on your own. 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:10.240 Romans chapter 15. 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:14.079 Verses 30 to 32. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:21.900 Paul says, 00:17:21.900 --> 00:17:23.240 I appeal to you brothers 00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:25.860 by our Lord Jesus Christ 00:17:25.860 --> 00:17:27.620 and by the love of the Spirit. 00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:29.660 That's an authoritative charge. 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.640 That's what's happening there. 00:17:31.860 --> 00:17:34.160 To strive together with me 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:36.680 in your prayers 00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:38.660 to God 00:17:38.660 --> 00:17:40.860 on my behalf. 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:43.640 So again, he's asking for them to pray for him. 00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:44.920 But then again, 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:46.720 he gives them a specific thing to pray for. 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:49.319 That I may be delivered 00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:51.100 from the unbelievers in Judea. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:53.920 We've seen him ask for that already. 00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:55.420 This one's unique. 00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:57.480 That my service for Jerusalem 00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:59.519 may be acceptable to the saints. 00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:04.120 You know, Paul wasn't the most popular figure 00:18:04.120 --> 00:18:05.440 among Christians in Jerusalem. 00:18:07.100 --> 00:18:07.980 What's he asking? 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:10.440 Lord, would you just pray 00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:11.960 that God would spare me 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:12.860 from the unbelievers 00:18:12.860 --> 00:18:13.720 that want to kill me? 00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:15.759 And would you pray 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:17.319 that God would so work 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:18.599 in the hearts of the saints 00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:21.019 to which I endeavor to minister 00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:23.740 that my service to them 00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.519 will be acceptable. 00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:27.819 That they'll understand my love. 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.299 And then notice what he says 00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:32.039 in verse 32. 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:34.539 And then pray 00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:36.160 that by God's will 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:37.819 I can come to you. 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:40.319 That I can come to you with joy 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:42.200 and be refreshed in your company. 00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:44.519 Now he gets to them 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.400 but he gets to them 00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:47.460 via a four year prison sentence. 00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:51.119 But what's he asking them to do? 00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:54.500 Pray for more opportunity. 00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:57.879 How are we to pray 00:18:57.879 --> 00:18:59.299 for gospel ministers? 00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:00.359 All of these ways 00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:00.779 that gives us 00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:01.779 a pretty good place to start 00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:02.319 doesn't it? 00:19:04.859 --> 00:19:06.240 Paul utterly depended 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:07.359 on God for all things. 00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:07.859 He knew 00:19:07.859 --> 00:19:08.980 that prayer 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:10.200 is one of God's 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:11.279 ordained means 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:12.619 for accomplishing 00:19:12.619 --> 00:19:13.680 his divine work. 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:14.740 So he constantly 00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:15.539 asked the churches 00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:16.399 to pray for him. 00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:17.980 Not for prosperity 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:18.599 and health 00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:19.899 in and of himself 00:19:19.899 --> 00:19:23.000 but for his faithfulness 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:23.980 and the work 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:24.660 of the gospel 00:19:24.660 --> 00:19:26.119 through him. 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:30.299 An American pastor 00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:31.059 once asked 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:32.220 Charles Spurgeon 00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:33.759 about the quote 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:34.559 secret 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:36.160 of his great influence 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:36.879 in London 00:19:36.879 --> 00:19:37.920 and throughout Europe. 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:39.080 you've probably 00:19:39.080 --> 00:19:39.720 heard this story 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.120 before. 00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:43.640 After a brief pause 00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:44.440 Spurgeon says 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:44.900 simply 00:19:44.900 --> 00:19:46.779 my people 00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:47.539 pray for me. 00:19:49.820 --> 00:19:50.480 There was a 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.460 designated place 00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:52.060 in the church 00:19:52.060 --> 00:19:52.880 that he referred to 00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:53.960 as the boiler room. 00:19:55.380 --> 00:19:56.220 It's where people 00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:56.680 would gather 00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:57.180 and they would do 00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:57.920 nothing but pray. 00:19:58.880 --> 00:19:59.640 They'd pray for him. 00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:01.560 They'd pray for the 00:20:01.560 --> 00:20:02.480 elders of his church. 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.279 They'd pray for the 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.539 gospel ministry work. 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:10.639 We trust God 00:20:10.639 --> 00:20:11.180 to do 00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:12.759 his sovereign work 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:13.700 according to 00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:14.480 his good pleasure. 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:16.420 Prayer is not 00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:17.539 in opposition to that. 00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:20.460 But what prayer does 00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:21.579 is it acknowledges 00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:22.759 that prayer 00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:23.440 is actually 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:24.519 a means 00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:26.000 by which 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:27.279 God determines 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:28.319 to do that work. 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.259 God not only 00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:31.480 ordains the ends 00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:33.259 he ordains 00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:34.619 the means. 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:37.619 And so he says 00:20:37.619 --> 00:20:39.119 come 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:41.399 pray 00:20:41.399 --> 00:20:43.720 ask me 00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:46.059 commune with me 00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:47.619 and I think 00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:48.220 we must give 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:49.159 ourselves to this. 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.359 I think the instruction 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:51.259 here for us church 00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:52.299 is that we must 00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:53.359 especially give 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:54.200 ourselves to doing 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:55.500 this for those 00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:56.079 we know who are 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:56.920 laboring in the 00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:57.279 gospel. 00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:58.839 We should do it 00:20:58.839 --> 00:20:59.619 in Sunday morning 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:00.099 gatherings. 00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:01.319 We should do it 00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:01.960 when we gather 00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:02.639 for our Christ 00:21:02.639 --> 00:21:03.119 from beginning 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:03.879 to end study 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:04.700 this summer 00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:05.480 for our first 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:06.340 principles class 00:21:06.340 --> 00:21:07.240 this summer 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:07.980 when we're getting 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:08.960 together over coffee 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:09.600 we should be 00:21:09.600 --> 00:21:11.100 readily prepared 00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:12.200 to pray 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:13.100 for those 00:21:13.100 --> 00:21:13.360 who are 00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:14.040 ministering 00:21:14.040 --> 00:21:14.620 the gospel. 00:21:16.300 --> 00:21:17.280 Brothers pray 00:21:17.280 --> 00:21:17.800 for me. 00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:19.900 Brothers pray 00:21:19.900 --> 00:21:21.120 for those you know 00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:21.820 in this community 00:21:21.820 --> 00:21:22.660 and around the world 00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:23.660 who are laboring 00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:24.700 in gospel ministry. 00:21:25.340 --> 00:21:26.560 Pray for one another 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:29.599 all of these things 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:31.259 as we endeavor 00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:31.899 to obey 00:21:31.899 --> 00:21:33.339 the great commission. 00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:34.460 That's instruction 00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:35.259 number one. 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:36.319 The other two 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:36.879 will be a little bit 00:21:36.879 --> 00:21:37.139 quicker. 00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:38.940 Instruction number two 00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:41.419 greet 00:21:41.419 --> 00:21:43.159 all the brothers 00:21:43.159 --> 00:21:44.179 with a holy kiss 00:21:44.179 --> 00:21:44.679 he says. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:46.759 What's the instruction? 00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:48.500 I think it's this 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:50.480 express 00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:52.339 Christian 00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:53.359 affection. 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:53.500 expression. 00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:55.439 Express 00:21:55.439 --> 00:21:57.539 Christian 00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:59.299 affection. 00:22:01.219 --> 00:22:02.279 Greet all the brothers 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:04.399 with a holy kiss. 00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:06.639 Now let's be honest 00:22:06.639 --> 00:22:07.439 that's weird. 00:22:10.419 --> 00:22:11.619 It's not only weird 00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:12.699 because kissing's weird 00:22:12.699 --> 00:22:14.359 certainly not sanitary 00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:17.199 it's weird because 00:22:17.199 --> 00:22:18.219 it actually seems 00:22:18.219 --> 00:22:19.139 a bit trivial here 00:22:19.139 --> 00:22:19.599 doesn't it? 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:22.379 Why would Paul 00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:23.039 be concerned 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:24.679 about instructing 00:22:24.679 --> 00:22:25.399 Christians 00:22:25.399 --> 00:22:26.980 on how to greet 00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:27.500 one another? 00:22:29.419 --> 00:22:30.419 But this is not 00:22:30.419 --> 00:22:31.480 an unusual command 00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:31.959 in the scripture 00:22:31.959 --> 00:22:32.779 actually it's 00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:33.980 repeated quite often. 00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:36.619 Paul issued it 00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:37.799 in at least 00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:39.219 three other places 00:22:39.219 --> 00:22:41.119 to varying churches. 00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:42.939 So did Peter. 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:45.199 The exact command 00:22:45.199 --> 00:22:46.259 Peter makes 00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:47.099 one change 00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:47.879 rather than 00:22:47.879 --> 00:22:48.559 a holy kiss 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:48.939 he says 00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:49.299 the kiss 00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:49.860 of love. 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:54.519 When Paul 00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:54.960 met with the 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.759 Ephesian elders 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.960 for the final time 00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:57.600 in Acts 20 00:22:57.600 --> 00:23:00.100 it says that 00:23:00.100 --> 00:23:01.400 they fell 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:01.820 on him 00:23:01.820 --> 00:23:03.440 that they 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:04.240 embraced him 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:05.740 that they 00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:06.259 kissed him. 00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.460 When Jesus 00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:09.240 told the parable 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:10.259 of the 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:11.019 prodigal son 00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:12.600 as the 00:23:12.600 --> 00:23:13.019 prodigal 00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:13.320 is still 00:23:13.320 --> 00:23:14.120 a great distance 00:23:14.120 --> 00:23:14.519 off 00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:15.019 the father 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:15.519 sees him 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:15.759 and what 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.059 does the 00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:16.539 father do? 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:17.420 Jesus uses 00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:18.000 this language 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:18.579 he says 00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:19.079 the father 00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:19.960 ran to 00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:20.380 him 00:23:20.380 --> 00:23:22.579 and embraced 00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:23.140 him 00:23:23.140 --> 00:23:25.440 and kissed 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:25.819 him. 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:29.460 So what 00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.480 seems a trivial 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:31.200 thing to us 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:31.940 had an obvious 00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:33.440 meaning and 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:33.960 purpose to 00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:34.359 these early 00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:34.880 Christians. 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.380 I don't want to 00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:37.240 overtax what 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:37.880 Paul instructed 00:23:37.880 --> 00:23:38.819 here but I 00:23:38.819 --> 00:23:39.220 don't think we 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:39.660 can quickly 00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:40.339 dismiss this 00:23:40.339 --> 00:23:40.640 either. 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.480 So let's 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:43.099 meditate on it 00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:43.619 for a moment. 00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:45.779 Culturally 00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:47.519 speaking the 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.059 kiss was 00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:48.559 used to 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.219 demonstrate 00:23:49.219 --> 00:23:50.619 familial 00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:51.259 affection 00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:53.299 or to 00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:54.139 symbolize 00:23:54.139 --> 00:23:54.779 peace 00:23:54.779 --> 00:23:55.859 between two 00:23:55.859 --> 00:23:56.339 parties. 00:23:57.139 --> 00:23:57.339 Now I 00:23:57.339 --> 00:23:57.939 don't think 00:23:57.939 --> 00:23:58.719 Paul's purpose 00:23:58.719 --> 00:23:59.539 in this case 00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:00.579 was to 00:24:00.579 --> 00:24:01.740 institute a 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:03.299 kiss as 00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:03.959 the standard 00:24:03.959 --> 00:24:04.740 and universal 00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.519 greeting for 00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:06.000 Christians. 00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:06.939 I think that 00:24:06.939 --> 00:24:07.399 would be too 00:24:07.399 --> 00:24:08.679 rigid of an 00:24:08.679 --> 00:24:09.139 interpretation 00:24:09.140 --> 00:24:11.540 but I don't 00:24:11.540 --> 00:24:12.080 think that what 00:24:12.080 --> 00:24:12.500 Paul is 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.200 instructing here 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:14.240 is merely 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:15.480 politeness. 00:24:15.780 --> 00:24:16.300 He's not just 00:24:16.300 --> 00:24:17.000 simply saying 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:18.000 make sure that 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:19.100 you give a 00:24:19.100 --> 00:24:19.759 good nod or 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.920 smile or 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:22.200 handshake or 00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:23.200 say hello 00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:23.900 whenever you 00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:24.700 see another 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:24.940 Christian. 00:24:25.040 --> 00:24:25.440 I think it's 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:26.120 more than that. 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:27.020 I don't think 00:24:27.020 --> 00:24:27.540 that it's just 00:24:27.540 --> 00:24:28.160 politeness. 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:28.820 I think that 00:24:28.820 --> 00:24:29.300 would be too 00:24:29.300 --> 00:24:30.600 loose of an 00:24:30.600 --> 00:24:31.040 interpretation. 00:24:32.560 --> 00:24:33.340 The command 00:24:33.340 --> 00:24:33.920 is about 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:35.060 intentionally 00:24:35.060 --> 00:24:37.080 and genuinely 00:24:37.080 --> 00:24:38.940 expressing 00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:40.980 familial 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:42.039 family 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:42.920 affection 00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:44.019 to one 00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:44.360 another 00:24:44.360 --> 00:24:45.059 in the 00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:45.539 church. 00:24:47.140 --> 00:24:48.059 It's a 00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:48.620 call to 00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:49.279 outwardly 00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:49.860 demonstrate 00:24:49.860 --> 00:24:50.900 toward fellow 00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:51.420 believers 00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:52.480 the heart 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:53.580 level affection 00:24:53.580 --> 00:24:54.840 that you 00:24:54.840 --> 00:24:55.299 possess 00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:56.080 inwardly 00:24:56.080 --> 00:24:56.600 for them. 00:24:57.360 --> 00:24:57.779 It's 00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:58.320 working 00:24:58.320 --> 00:24:58.779 something 00:24:58.779 --> 00:24:59.279 from the 00:24:59.279 --> 00:24:59.779 inside 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.460 to the 00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:00.740 out 00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.160 in a 00:25:01.160 --> 00:25:02.039 physical 00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:03.360 expression. 00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:04.220 It is a 00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:04.779 call not 00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.420 only to 00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:06.100 love each 00:25:06.100 --> 00:25:06.380 other 00:25:06.380 --> 00:25:07.200 but to 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:08.019 express 00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:08.380 that 00:25:08.380 --> 00:25:08.880 love 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:09.640 in the 00:25:09.640 --> 00:25:09.860 way 00:25:09.860 --> 00:25:10.060 that 00:25:10.060 --> 00:25:10.260 we 00:25:10.260 --> 00:25:10.840 interact 00:25:10.840 --> 00:25:11.160 on an 00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:11.480 ongoing 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.100 basis. 00:25:13.300 --> 00:25:14.200 But why? 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:15.920 Why give 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:16.120 this 00:25:16.120 --> 00:25:16.520 command? 00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:19.020 Well in 00:25:19.020 --> 00:25:19.860 doing so 00:25:19.860 --> 00:25:22.000 not only 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.400 do we 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:23.040 edify 00:25:23.040 --> 00:25:23.480 one 00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:23.860 another 00:25:23.860 --> 00:25:25.260 once we're 00:25:25.260 --> 00:25:25.580 able to 00:25:25.580 --> 00:25:26.080 move past 00:25:26.080 --> 00:25:26.660 perhaps the 00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:27.020 potential 00:25:27.020 --> 00:25:27.640 awkwardness 00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:27.900 of the 00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:28.220 act. 00:25:29.300 --> 00:25:30.160 We edify 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:30.460 one another 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:30.700 but what 00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:30.900 else do 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:31.300 we do? 00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:32.660 We 00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:33.300 demonstrate 00:25:33.300 --> 00:25:33.800 something 00:25:33.800 --> 00:25:34.180 here. 00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:35.260 We 00:25:35.260 --> 00:25:36.020 demonstrate 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:37.099 our 00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:37.660 gospel 00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:38.339 union 00:25:38.339 --> 00:25:40.160 to the 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:40.440 watching 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:40.980 world. 00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:43.200 A 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:43.539 people 00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:45.000 who 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:45.359 most 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:45.920 often 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:47.139 in a 00:25:47.139 --> 00:25:47.339 church 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:47.759 setting 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:49.299 have no 00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:49.579 other 00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:50.299 commonality 00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:50.660 with one 00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:50.980 another 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:53.440 expressing 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:54.279 a kind 00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:54.920 of affection 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:56.500 that is 00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:56.900 typically 00:25:56.900 --> 00:25:57.819 only seen 00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.359 in blood 00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:58.819 relatives. 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:00.119 I think 00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:00.839 that's what's 00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:01.599 meant here. 00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:02.500 I think 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.019 that's what's 00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.279 at the 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:03.639 heart of 00:26:03.639 --> 00:26:04.119 what Paul 00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:05.119 is saying 00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:05.420 here. 00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:08.039 He's not 00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:08.799 concerned for 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:09.539 us to kiss 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:09.960 as we 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:10.119 greet. 00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:10.420 I don't 00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:10.819 think that's 00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:11.259 the primary 00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:11.680 concern 00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:11.900 here. 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:12.519 I don't 00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:13.039 need Josh 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:13.440 laying a 00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:13.740 wet one 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:14.019 on me 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:14.660 after service 00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:14.940 today. 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:18.799 But he 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.160 isn't just 00:26:19.160 --> 00:26:19.859 speaking about 00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:20.240 an inward 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:20.819 disposition 00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:21.200 either. 00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:23.319 I think 00:26:23.319 --> 00:26:23.779 we need to 00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:24.539 understand this 00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:24.879 as a 00:26:24.879 --> 00:26:25.240 physical 00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:26.180 yet appropriate 00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:27.619 action 00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:29.379 that expresses 00:26:29.379 --> 00:26:30.660 real affection 00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:32.319 for brothers 00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:32.819 and sisters 00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:33.339 in Christ. 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.259 And can 00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:34.579 we just 00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:34.960 acknowledge 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.399 that's not 00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:35.740 an easy 00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:36.059 thing to 00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:36.319 do. 00:26:38.339 --> 00:26:38.939 I'm not 00:26:38.939 --> 00:26:39.500 real touchy 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:39.980 feely just 00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.399 kind of by 00:26:40.399 --> 00:26:40.740 nature. 00:26:43.399 --> 00:26:44.220 I fell 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:44.700 in this 00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.200 often 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:48.519 to just 00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:50.019 brother I 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.480 love you. 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.439 Sister I'm 00:26:53.439 --> 00:26:53.919 praying for 00:26:53.919 --> 00:26:54.119 you. 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:01.200 We need 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:01.579 to remember 00:27:01.579 --> 00:27:01.939 what's at 00:27:01.940 --> 00:27:02.360 the heart 00:27:02.360 --> 00:27:02.740 of this 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.220 instruction. 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:04.100 It's not 00:27:04.100 --> 00:27:04.600 about the 00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:05.039 act. 00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:06.100 There's 00:27:06.100 --> 00:27:06.400 something 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:06.880 under the 00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:07.240 surface 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:07.539 here. 00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:09.820 How do 00:27:09.820 --> 00:27:10.480 you love 00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:11.340 the ones 00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:12.039 who drive 00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:12.559 you crazy? 00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.600 Ask my 00:27:14.600 --> 00:27:14.940 wife. 00:27:17.600 --> 00:27:18.400 Let alone 00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:19.259 express that 00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:19.580 love. 00:27:23.380 --> 00:27:24.059 After all 00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:24.539 to do it 00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:26.740 disingenuously 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:27.860 would mean 00:27:27.860 --> 00:27:28.259 that it's 00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:28.900 not a 00:27:28.900 --> 00:27:29.640 holy act. 00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:31.420 let us 00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:32.060 not forget 00:27:32.060 --> 00:27:33.240 that Jesus' 00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:34.280 very betrayal 00:27:34.280 --> 00:27:36.000 came at 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:36.360 the sign 00:27:36.360 --> 00:27:36.680 of a 00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:37.020 kiss. 00:27:38.560 --> 00:27:39.200 The 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:39.920 showing of 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:40.420 affection 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:42.320 without the 00:27:42.320 --> 00:27:43.060 possession of 00:27:43.060 --> 00:27:43.460 affection. 00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:44.920 So we need 00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:45.220 to think 00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:45.880 about this. 00:27:46.900 --> 00:27:47.660 How do we 00:27:47.660 --> 00:27:48.460 actually love 00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:48.940 and express 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:49.380 that love 00:27:49.380 --> 00:27:49.759 for people 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:50.060 that we 00:27:50.060 --> 00:27:50.380 actually 00:27:50.380 --> 00:27:51.440 struggle 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:53.740 quite a lot 00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:55.059 with feeling 00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:55.940 affection for? 00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:58.700 And the 00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.319 answer is in 00:27:59.319 --> 00:27:59.759 the gospel. 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:01.519 Isn't it? 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:03.940 Christ 00:28:03.940 --> 00:28:05.480 and Christ 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:06.079 alone 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:07.700 is our 00:28:07.700 --> 00:28:08.180 bond. 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.299 Our 00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:12.000 fellowship, 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:14.200 our affection 00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:14.680 with one 00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:15.140 another in 00:28:15.140 --> 00:28:15.740 this church 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:17.339 is based 00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:17.799 on nothing 00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:18.160 else. 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:18.680 It should be 00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:19.099 based on 00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:19.759 nothing else 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:21.400 than Christ 00:28:21.400 --> 00:28:22.620 and Christ 00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:23.100 alone. 00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.220 Our 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:24.680 unity 00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:25.200 with one 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:25.480 another 00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:25.980 is based 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.840 entirely 00:28:26.840 --> 00:28:27.940 on our 00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:28.480 union 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:29.480 with Christ. 00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:30.160 We see 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:30.500 that in 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.360 1 John 1. 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:31.980 We see 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:32.240 it in 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:33.080 Ephesians 2. 00:28:33.320 --> 00:28:33.740 We see 00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.019 it in 00:28:34.019 --> 00:28:34.820 John 13. 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:35.620 Over and 00:28:35.620 --> 00:28:36.160 over and 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:36.500 over, 00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:37.560 the affection 00:28:37.560 --> 00:28:38.000 that we 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.300 are to 00:28:38.300 --> 00:28:39.120 hold and 00:28:39.120 --> 00:28:39.660 the affection 00:28:39.660 --> 00:28:40.060 that we 00:28:40.060 --> 00:28:40.500 are to 00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:40.920 express 00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:41.600 is not 00:28:41.600 --> 00:28:42.259 feigned. 00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:42.980 It's not 00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:43.780 manufactured. 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:44.759 It is a 00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:45.160 genuine 00:28:45.160 --> 00:28:45.980 affection that 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:46.440 does not 00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:46.880 come from 00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:47.220 any 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:47.940 commonality 00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:49.519 save the 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.160 Lord Jesus 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:50.740 Christ. 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:51.740 Our 00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.620 spiritual 00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:53.200 union 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:53.840 with Him, 00:28:54.300 --> 00:28:55.259 a divine 00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:56.220 miracle that 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:56.940 takes place 00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:57.279 at the 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:58.160 moment that 00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:59.019 Christ saves 00:28:59.019 --> 00:28:59.340 you, 00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:00.720 that union 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.660 is what 00:29:01.660 --> 00:29:02.820 unites you 00:29:02.820 --> 00:29:03.620 with everyone 00:29:03.620 --> 00:29:04.480 else who 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.320 is also in 00:29:05.320 --> 00:29:05.860 union with 00:29:05.860 --> 00:29:06.080 Him. 00:29:06.360 --> 00:29:07.019 That's what's 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.440 at the heart 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:07.800 of this. 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.340 It's the 00:29:08.340 --> 00:29:08.759 gospel. 00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:11.560 But as 00:29:11.560 --> 00:29:12.240 long as we 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:12.900 attempt to 00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:14.279 center our 00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:15.440 relationships on 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.259 any other 00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:17.320 potential 00:29:17.320 --> 00:29:18.600 commonality, 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:19.519 whether it 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:20.619 be our 00:29:20.619 --> 00:29:21.139 race, 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:22.180 or whether 00:29:22.180 --> 00:29:22.759 it be 00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:24.279 our family 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.139 situations, 00:29:25.339 --> 00:29:25.599 whether or 00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:25.819 not you 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:26.139 have a 00:29:26.139 --> 00:29:26.740 kid or 00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:27.000 you don't 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:27.339 have a 00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:27.599 kid, 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:28.299 whether or 00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:28.619 not you're 00:29:28.619 --> 00:29:29.099 married or 00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:29.619 unmarried, 00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.359 whether or 00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:30.799 not you're 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.259 in the 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:32.039 older generation 00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:32.359 or the 00:29:32.359 --> 00:29:32.559 younger 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:33.200 generation, 00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:34.000 whether or 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:34.259 not you 00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:34.539 live in 00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:34.960 this place 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:35.259 or that 00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:35.639 place, 00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:36.180 whether you 00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:36.559 eat this 00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:36.900 food or 00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:37.460 that food, 00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:38.019 whether you 00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:38.519 do this 00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:39.019 job or 00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:39.400 that job, 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:39.799 if it's 00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:40.220 trying to 00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:40.779 base it on 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:41.279 anything 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:41.920 else, 00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:42.879 anything 00:29:42.879 --> 00:29:43.480 other than 00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:43.859 Christ, 00:29:44.139 --> 00:29:44.639 you will 00:29:44.639 --> 00:29:46.279 never fully 00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:47.279 possess and 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:47.940 express the 00:29:47.940 --> 00:29:48.619 kind of love 00:29:48.619 --> 00:29:49.639 that is behind 00:29:49.639 --> 00:29:50.279 this command. 00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.579 It can be on 00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:52.399 nothing else 00:29:52.399 --> 00:29:53.439 and it is on 00:29:53.439 --> 00:29:54.179 nothing else. 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:55.459 Our affection 00:29:55.459 --> 00:29:56.359 for one another 00:29:56.359 --> 00:29:58.159 is rooted in 00:29:58.159 --> 00:29:59.259 Christ's affection 00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:00.939 for us. 00:30:03.659 --> 00:30:04.879 Your affection 00:30:04.879 --> 00:30:06.139 for me and 00:30:06.139 --> 00:30:06.879 my affection 00:30:06.879 --> 00:30:08.019 for you and 00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:08.939 your affection 00:30:08.939 --> 00:30:09.779 for every other 00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:12.019 Christian is 00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:13.159 rooted in the 00:30:13.159 --> 00:30:14.179 fact of 00:30:14.179 --> 00:30:15.299 Christ's affection 00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:16.379 for that 00:30:16.379 --> 00:30:16.819 person. 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:19.019 And how 00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:19.619 was his 00:30:19.619 --> 00:30:20.319 affection 00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:22.099 displayed? 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:24.519 Romans 5a. 00:30:26.159 --> 00:30:26.960 But God 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:28.379 demonstrated his 00:30:28.379 --> 00:30:29.259 love to us 00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:31.180 in that while 00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:31.779 we were yet 00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:32.279 sinners, 00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:33.940 Christ died 00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:34.480 for us. 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:35.980 That's his 00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:36.419 affection. 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:37.859 That's the 00:30:37.859 --> 00:30:38.740 extent of his 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.159 affection. 00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:41.319 And it is as a 00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:42.359 result of his 00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:43.319 affection for that 00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:44.240 person that drives 00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:44.759 you crazy or 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.200 perhaps has 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:46.180 significantly hurt 00:30:46.180 --> 00:30:46.539 you. 00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:47.859 That you 00:30:47.859 --> 00:30:48.480 actually not 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:48.940 only have the 00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:50.359 power but the 00:30:50.359 --> 00:30:52.119 command to 00:30:52.119 --> 00:30:52.579 love them. 00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:54.839 You are to 00:30:54.839 --> 00:30:56.220 love that 00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:56.879 Christian that 00:30:56.879 --> 00:30:57.700 drives you crazy 00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.460 because Jesus 00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:59.359 loved him enough 00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:01.019 to bear God's 00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:01.640 wrath in his 00:31:01.640 --> 00:31:02.059 place. 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.200 I had a 00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:07.000 conversation with 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:07.599 Julie one time. 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:08.180 This just tells 00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:08.680 you how messed 00:31:08.680 --> 00:31:09.119 up I am. 00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:11.559 We were talking 00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:11.960 about something 00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:12.500 like this and 00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:12.860 I said, 00:31:13.860 --> 00:31:16.259 how could 00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:16.960 Jesus love a 00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:17.460 person like 00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:17.660 that? 00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:23.240 And you 00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:23.740 know how God 00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.140 works. 00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:25.140 You know what 00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:25.640 I am about to 00:31:25.640 --> 00:31:26.640 say almost 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:27.240 immediately. 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.299 It is like God 00:31:29.299 --> 00:31:30.620 says, how could 00:31:30.620 --> 00:31:31.440 anybody love you 00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:31.900 like that? 00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:35.319 That is what 00:31:35.319 --> 00:31:36.100 this love is. 00:31:36.099 --> 00:31:38.559 it is not about 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:39.119 anything else 00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:39.599 than that. 00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:42.919 It is about the 00:31:42.919 --> 00:31:43.259 gospel. 00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:46.259 Why does Paul 00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:46.980 use brothers 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:50.019 17 times in a 00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:51.439 short letter that 00:31:51.439 --> 00:31:52.419 even in your 00:31:52.419 --> 00:31:53.419 double columned 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:54.939 Bibles takes up 00:31:54.939 --> 00:31:55.500 two and a half 00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:55.879 pages? 00:31:56.759 --> 00:31:57.879 17 times. 00:31:58.099 --> 00:31:58.319 Why? 00:31:58.319 --> 00:32:00.460 Because in 00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:03.399 Christ we 00:32:03.399 --> 00:32:04.299 truly are a 00:32:04.299 --> 00:32:05.619 family with an 00:32:05.619 --> 00:32:07.399 eternal bond that 00:32:07.399 --> 00:32:08.220 cannot be broken. 00:32:09.919 --> 00:32:11.159 We can sense 00:32:11.159 --> 00:32:13.439 estrangement but it 00:32:13.439 --> 00:32:13.919 will not be 00:32:13.919 --> 00:32:15.759 broken because 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.779 Christ will lose 00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:18.439 none who 00:32:18.439 --> 00:32:19.179 belongs to him. 00:32:20.179 --> 00:32:20.960 And we need to 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:21.579 endeavor to 00:32:21.579 --> 00:32:23.319 express that 00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:25.000 blood-bought 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:27.359 affection in our 00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:28.119 interactions with 00:32:28.119 --> 00:32:28.639 one another. 00:32:31.379 --> 00:32:31.899 Instruction 00:32:31.899 --> 00:32:32.479 number three. 00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:35.159 We need to 00:32:35.159 --> 00:32:36.059 recognize the 00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:37.000 authority of the 00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:37.319 scriptures. 00:32:38.619 --> 00:32:39.439 We need to 00:32:39.439 --> 00:32:40.099 recognize the 00:32:40.099 --> 00:32:40.659 authority of the 00:32:40.659 --> 00:32:40.879 scriptures. 00:32:40.979 --> 00:32:41.259 Look at verse 00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:41.719 27. 00:32:42.199 --> 00:32:42.899 I put you under 00:32:42.899 --> 00:32:43.879 oath before the 00:32:43.879 --> 00:32:45.099 Lord to have 00:32:45.099 --> 00:32:46.279 this letter read 00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:47.439 to all the 00:32:47.439 --> 00:32:47.779 brothers. 00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:48.739 Simple. 00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:49.339 Yeah. 00:32:50.379 --> 00:32:50.899 Important. 00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:52.299 Very. 00:32:54.419 --> 00:32:54.919 Now many have 00:32:54.919 --> 00:32:55.739 suggested perhaps 00:32:55.739 --> 00:32:56.259 you've had this 00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:57.059 thought before that 00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:58.019 the apostles 00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:59.319 were unaware that 00:32:59.319 --> 00:32:59.859 what they were 00:32:59.859 --> 00:33:00.779 writing was the 00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.660 inspired word of 00:33:01.660 --> 00:33:01.940 God. 00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:04.039 Passages like this 00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:04.599 prove otherwise. 00:33:06.660 --> 00:33:08.019 It may not have 00:33:08.019 --> 00:33:09.519 occurred to Paul at 00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:10.379 any given moment 00:33:10.379 --> 00:33:11.779 that this letter 00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:12.779 would eventually be 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:13.700 added to a 00:33:13.700 --> 00:33:15.019 collection of 00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:16.160 apostolic writings 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:17.700 and then bound in a 00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:19.539 codex in the first 00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:20.819 and second century and 00:33:20.819 --> 00:33:22.319 developed through time 00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:23.480 and passed on 2,000 00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:24.400 years later in the 00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:25.339 form that we have it 00:33:25.339 --> 00:33:25.539 today. 00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:26.639 That may not have 00:33:26.639 --> 00:33:27.079 occurred to him. 00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:28.099 Who would ever 00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:28.680 think of that? 00:33:29.019 --> 00:33:29.159 Right? 00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:30.859 But that's not the 00:33:30.859 --> 00:33:31.139 point. 00:33:32.339 --> 00:33:33.980 He clearly understood 00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:35.079 what he was writing 00:33:35.079 --> 00:33:36.960 to bear the authority 00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:37.859 of the Lord Jesus. 00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:40.619 Peter himself in 00:33:40.619 --> 00:33:41.599 2 Peter 3 00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:44.180 literally calls Paul's 00:33:44.180 --> 00:33:45.579 writings scripture 00:33:45.579 --> 00:33:47.440 and puts them equal 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:48.399 to the Old Testament 00:33:48.399 --> 00:33:48.839 scriptures. 00:33:49.839 --> 00:33:50.879 So this was not a 00:33:50.879 --> 00:33:52.359 secret to them and it 00:33:52.359 --> 00:33:53.920 was not a secret to the 00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:54.620 early church. 00:33:55.300 --> 00:33:56.539 The apostles understood 00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:57.519 themselves to be 00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:59.240 communicating God's 00:33:59.240 --> 00:34:00.480 inerrant truth to the 00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:01.620 church and the 00:34:01.620 --> 00:34:02.600 Thessalonians through 00:34:02.600 --> 00:34:03.900 this instruction were 00:34:03.900 --> 00:34:05.080 to consider the letter 00:34:05.080 --> 00:34:06.900 as coming from God 00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:08.360 to them not merely 00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:09.599 from Paul and his 00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:09.900 team. 00:34:11.260 --> 00:34:12.619 The oath language here 00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:13.200 might be a little 00:34:13.200 --> 00:34:13.700 confusing. 00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:15.599 Neither Paul nor the 00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:17.539 congregation is agreeing 00:34:17.539 --> 00:34:18.960 to an oath in this 00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:19.440 instance. 00:34:19.820 --> 00:34:20.680 The verb it just means 00:34:20.680 --> 00:34:21.659 to adjure. 00:34:21.659 --> 00:34:24.219 I adjure you. 00:34:25.179 --> 00:34:26.480 It means to bind. 00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:30.279 It's an expression of 00:34:30.279 --> 00:34:30.879 authority. 00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:33.019 So that speaking with a 00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:34.739 unique apostolic 00:34:34.739 --> 00:34:36.259 authority given to him 00:34:36.259 --> 00:34:37.719 by the Lord Jesus 00:34:37.719 --> 00:34:40.119 Christ, Paul bound 00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:41.119 these Christians. 00:34:41.339 --> 00:34:43.119 He charged this church 00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:44.639 to ensure that the 00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:45.940 letter was read in the 00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:47.279 public gathering and 00:34:47.279 --> 00:34:48.899 that each believer would 00:34:48.899 --> 00:34:50.960 be held accountable to 00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:52.059 what it says. 00:34:53.019 --> 00:34:53.960 That's what this 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:54.960 instruction is about. 00:34:55.699 --> 00:34:56.320 In other words, the 00:34:56.320 --> 00:34:57.679 final instruction is 00:34:57.679 --> 00:34:58.320 that the church 00:34:58.320 --> 00:34:59.880 recognizes the 00:34:59.880 --> 00:35:00.880 apostolic scriptures, 00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:02.940 that the church 00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:04.860 holds them as its 00:35:04.860 --> 00:35:06.159 supreme authority, 00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:09.019 and that the church 00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:11.059 keeps them at the 00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:11.679 center of their 00:35:11.679 --> 00:35:12.039 worship. 00:35:12.360 --> 00:35:13.800 Remember, it seems 00:35:13.800 --> 00:35:14.780 that everything Paul's 00:35:14.780 --> 00:35:16.179 instructing here really 00:35:16.179 --> 00:35:17.800 has kind of a bent 00:35:17.800 --> 00:35:18.840 toward their public 00:35:18.840 --> 00:35:19.760 gathering, what they're 00:35:19.760 --> 00:35:20.380 doing together. 00:35:21.180 --> 00:35:22.340 Now, why would Paul 00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:23.300 bind them to such a 00:35:23.300 --> 00:35:23.580 command? 00:35:25.480 --> 00:35:26.580 Because he understood 00:35:26.580 --> 00:35:27.320 that what he was 00:35:27.320 --> 00:35:29.080 writing was from God, 00:35:29.700 --> 00:35:30.760 and as he said in 00:35:30.760 --> 00:35:32.240 chapter 2 in verse 13, 00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:34.220 it is the word of God 00:35:34.220 --> 00:35:35.600 given through the 00:35:35.600 --> 00:35:36.700 apostles that is, 00:35:37.060 --> 00:35:39.400 quote, at work in us. 00:35:40.440 --> 00:35:41.480 How are they to 00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:42.060 persevere? 00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:43.980 Through the word. 00:35:43.980 --> 00:35:46.639 How are they to grow in 00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:48.039 holiness and sanctification? 00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:49.880 Through the word. 00:35:50.460 --> 00:35:51.820 How are they to know 00:35:51.820 --> 00:35:52.420 how to pray? 00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:53.880 Through the word. 00:35:54.059 --> 00:35:55.039 How are they to know 00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:55.639 how to love? 00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:57.079 Through the word. 00:35:57.780 --> 00:36:00.019 The Spirit uses the 00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:01.719 word to do his work. 00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:04.360 Paul knows it, and so 00:36:04.360 --> 00:36:05.500 he binds the church to 00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:05.940 this. 00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:10.820 And we know any church 00:36:10.820 --> 00:36:13.039 that diminishes in any 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:13.440 way. 00:36:14.200 --> 00:36:15.760 The authority and the 00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:17.320 centrality of the Bible 00:36:17.320 --> 00:36:20.180 will eventually lose the 00:36:20.180 --> 00:36:20.580 gospel. 00:36:23.440 --> 00:36:25.400 At first, it may just 00:36:25.400 --> 00:36:28.600 seem like a minor change 00:36:28.600 --> 00:36:30.220 in hermeneutic principle 00:36:30.220 --> 00:36:33.539 as we see happening all 00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:34.559 over the place right now 00:36:34.559 --> 00:36:35.559 in American churches. 00:36:35.559 --> 00:36:37.940 to say, well, God only 00:36:37.940 --> 00:36:39.820 meant this instruction to 00:36:39.820 --> 00:36:40.940 be applicable to us. 00:36:41.500 --> 00:36:43.279 This instruction only 00:36:43.279 --> 00:36:44.659 meant something to them. 00:36:44.860 --> 00:36:46.559 That's a bad hermeneutic 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:48.179 that diminishes the 00:36:48.179 --> 00:36:48.880 authority of the 00:36:48.880 --> 00:36:49.179 scripture. 00:36:49.519 --> 00:36:50.880 It diminishes the 00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:51.719 centrality of the 00:36:51.719 --> 00:36:53.239 scripture, and it sets a 00:36:53.239 --> 00:36:54.360 church on the path to 00:36:54.360 --> 00:36:55.099 apostasy. 00:36:56.719 --> 00:36:58.199 They will lose the 00:36:58.199 --> 00:36:58.579 gospel. 00:36:58.920 --> 00:37:00.199 And historically, look 00:37:00.199 --> 00:37:01.320 around you at the 00:37:01.320 --> 00:37:01.960 churches in this 00:37:01.960 --> 00:37:02.360 community. 00:37:02.880 --> 00:37:04.019 Those who started on 00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:05.539 that path do not 00:37:05.539 --> 00:37:06.659 have the gospel. 00:37:08.619 --> 00:37:10.039 Julie and I took Ashlyn 00:37:10.039 --> 00:37:10.980 to a concert the other 00:37:10.980 --> 00:37:11.779 day at a church in our 00:37:11.779 --> 00:37:12.219 community. 00:37:12.940 --> 00:37:13.719 She was playing with the 00:37:13.719 --> 00:37:14.159 orchestra. 00:37:14.759 --> 00:37:16.279 And in their lobby, I 00:37:16.279 --> 00:37:17.219 could have picked up a 00:37:17.219 --> 00:37:18.500 pin, a button, to put on 00:37:18.500 --> 00:37:19.980 my shirt that says, what 00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:21.340 are my pronouns? 00:37:21.539 --> 00:37:22.380 Just ask me. 00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:25.599 A church that Sunday by 00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:29.300 Sunday proclaims to know 00:37:29.300 --> 00:37:31.480 Christ and to preach his 00:37:31.480 --> 00:37:31.900 gospel. 00:37:32.239 --> 00:37:33.559 They've lost the gospel. 00:37:33.559 --> 00:37:33.679 gospel. 00:37:35.239 --> 00:37:35.799 Why? 00:37:36.400 --> 00:37:37.440 Because at some point 00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:39.299 along the way, they've 00:37:39.299 --> 00:37:40.559 moved away from the 00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:41.299 authority and the 00:37:41.299 --> 00:37:42.099 centrality of the 00:37:42.099 --> 00:37:42.420 scriptures. 00:37:44.920 --> 00:37:46.719 Churches that do not 00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:47.880 have a pulpit at the 00:37:47.880 --> 00:37:51.259 center, that are not 00:37:51.259 --> 00:37:52.539 preaching sermons from 00:37:52.539 --> 00:37:54.480 the Bible, but homilies 00:37:54.480 --> 00:37:59.659 from movies or personal 00:37:59.659 --> 00:38:00.920 anecdotes. 00:38:02.719 --> 00:38:04.019 They will lose the 00:38:04.019 --> 00:38:04.400 gospel. 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:07.639 We must not do that. 00:38:09.280 --> 00:38:10.240 We can't. 00:38:11.559 --> 00:38:12.699 This is just another 00:38:12.699 --> 00:38:14.280 reminder why here in this 00:38:14.280 --> 00:38:14.760 instruction. 00:38:15.840 --> 00:38:16.900 We need to keep the 00:38:16.900 --> 00:38:17.980 scriptures at the center of 00:38:17.980 --> 00:38:18.639 all that we do. 00:38:19.159 --> 00:38:20.380 We must preach the Bible. 00:38:20.380 --> 00:38:20.460 Bible. 00:38:20.940 --> 00:38:22.140 We must read the Bible. 00:38:22.700 --> 00:38:24.079 We must pray the Bible. 00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:25.800 We must sing the Bible. 00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:27.519 And all of that in our 00:38:27.519 --> 00:38:28.280 worship services. 00:38:28.740 --> 00:38:29.619 That's what should be at 00:38:29.619 --> 00:38:30.240 the heart of what we're 00:38:30.240 --> 00:38:30.599 doing. 00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:32.480 Letting God work through 00:38:32.480 --> 00:38:32.920 his word. 00:38:33.880 --> 00:38:35.440 All our beliefs and 00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:36.720 behaviors must be weighed 00:38:36.720 --> 00:38:38.220 against the word of God. 00:38:38.440 --> 00:38:39.700 And anything found in 00:38:39.700 --> 00:38:41.380 opposition to it must be 00:38:41.380 --> 00:38:42.320 repented of. 00:38:42.320 --> 00:38:44.340 And we must be submitted to 00:38:44.340 --> 00:38:44.980 the scriptures. 00:38:44.980 --> 00:38:50.400 As God's people, we must 00:38:50.400 --> 00:38:51.800 hold a high view of God's 00:38:51.800 --> 00:38:52.119 word. 00:38:53.079 --> 00:38:54.679 And we cannot waver on 00:38:54.679 --> 00:38:55.139 this. 00:38:56.000 --> 00:38:58.079 The New Hampshire Baptist 00:38:58.079 --> 00:38:59.300 Confession of Faith so 00:38:59.300 --> 00:39:01.179 helpfully tells us it is the 00:39:01.179 --> 00:39:03.179 perfect treasure of heavenly 00:39:03.179 --> 00:39:03.860 instruction. 00:39:04.740 --> 00:39:06.360 It has God for its author, 00:39:06.900 --> 00:39:08.980 salvation for its end, and 00:39:08.980 --> 00:39:10.860 truth without any mixture of 00:39:10.860 --> 00:39:11.960 error for its matter. 00:39:12.639 --> 00:39:14.559 It reveals the principles by 00:39:14.559 --> 00:39:15.860 which God will judge us. 00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:18.679 And therefore is and shall 00:39:18.679 --> 00:39:20.099 remain to the end of the 00:39:20.099 --> 00:39:22.920 world the true center of 00:39:22.920 --> 00:39:24.860 Christian union and the 00:39:24.860 --> 00:39:27.019 supreme standard by which 00:39:27.019 --> 00:39:29.599 all human conduct, all human 00:39:29.599 --> 00:39:31.759 creeds, and all opinions 00:39:31.759 --> 00:39:33.179 must be tried. 00:39:33.739 --> 00:39:35.259 What does Paul mean when he 00:39:35.259 --> 00:39:37.500 says, I bind you to read 00:39:37.500 --> 00:39:39.279 this letter to everybody. 00:39:39.400 --> 00:39:40.719 Don't leave anybody out. 00:39:41.099 --> 00:39:42.179 He means this is the 00:39:42.179 --> 00:39:43.679 authoritative word of God. 00:39:43.679 --> 00:39:45.639 It must hold supreme 00:39:45.639 --> 00:39:47.440 authority over your life, and 00:39:47.440 --> 00:39:48.759 it should be at the center of 00:39:48.759 --> 00:39:49.739 everything you're doing as a 00:39:49.739 --> 00:39:50.759 church in Thessalonica. 00:39:51.319 --> 00:39:53.279 And that truth holds true for 00:39:53.279 --> 00:39:54.519 the church in Cornelius as 00:39:54.519 --> 00:39:54.759 well. 00:39:55.559 --> 00:39:56.199 Now that's the three 00:39:56.199 --> 00:39:56.659 instructions. 00:39:56.819 --> 00:39:57.539 Let me close with the 00:39:57.539 --> 00:39:58.559 blessing, and it's simple. 00:39:59.779 --> 00:40:00.379 Verse 28. 00:40:02.579 --> 00:40:03.779 The grace of our Lord Jesus 00:40:03.779 --> 00:40:04.699 Christ be with you. 00:40:05.659 --> 00:40:07.079 The grace of our Lord Jesus 00:40:07.079 --> 00:40:07.940 Christ be with you. 00:40:07.940 --> 00:40:12.659 unsurprisingly, Paul officially 00:40:12.659 --> 00:40:14.260 ends the letter on a note of 00:40:14.260 --> 00:40:14.740 grace. 00:40:16.019 --> 00:40:19.300 The unmerited favor of the Lord 00:40:19.300 --> 00:40:22.320 Jesus Christ found supremely in 00:40:22.320 --> 00:40:24.320 the gospel of his death and 00:40:24.320 --> 00:40:26.659 resurrection and lordship. 00:40:26.659 --> 00:40:32.379 Paul brought that grace, quote, to 00:40:32.379 --> 00:40:35.119 them in chapter 1, verse 1. 00:40:36.299 --> 00:40:38.859 He says, Paul, to the Christians in 00:40:38.859 --> 00:40:42.239 Thessalonica, I bring grace to you 00:40:42.239 --> 00:40:44.420 from God the Father and the Lord 00:40:44.420 --> 00:40:45.059 Jesus Christ. 00:40:46.059 --> 00:40:47.739 When he closes the letter, he 00:40:47.739 --> 00:40:48.779 changes it just a little bit, 00:40:48.819 --> 00:40:49.159 doesn't he? 00:40:49.159 --> 00:40:53.460 Now, as he signs off, he prays 00:40:53.460 --> 00:40:55.199 that the grace of Jesus will go 00:40:55.199 --> 00:40:56.839 with them. 00:40:58.519 --> 00:41:00.399 It's grace from beginning to end. 00:41:01.519 --> 00:41:03.139 That's what Christianity is. 00:41:03.920 --> 00:41:06.859 It's grace from beginning to end. 00:41:08.859 --> 00:41:10.239 And that's my prayer for you 00:41:10.239 --> 00:41:10.500 today. 00:41:12.379 --> 00:41:14.279 That you will know the grace of 00:41:14.279 --> 00:41:18.500 God in the gospel of the Son and 00:41:18.500 --> 00:41:19.980 in the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:41:21.099 --> 00:41:23.460 And that the outpouring of his 00:41:23.460 --> 00:41:28.360 grace will go with you until he 00:41:28.360 --> 00:41:28.880 comes. 00:41:30.880 --> 00:41:32.940 He who calls you is faithful. 00:41:34.219 --> 00:41:35.619 He will surely do it. 00:41:36.619 --> 00:41:37.079 Let's pray.