WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.160 Amen. Well, thank you, Cata. Oh, that's loud. Thank you, Cata, for reading that to us and for praying that we do ask that God will bless the reading of his word and as we open it up this morning. 00:00:12.540 --> 00:00:20.359 And it's great to be in Galatians. It's a great letter and we trust that we will learn a lot this morning. 00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:28.940 You know, it's good to do a recap. Some of you maybe haven't been here the last couple of weeks. This is our third installment in Galatians and we'll be doing it through 00:00:28.940 --> 00:00:36.240 to November. So this is our third installment. We're in chapter two. So if you've not been, you've missed chapter one. 00:00:36.780 --> 00:00:42.340 And maybe you have been here the last couple of weeks, but our minds are weak, aren't they? So it's always good to have a recap. 00:00:43.120 --> 00:00:52.040 So this is a letter of Paul, the apostle, and we'll see him a lot this morning. And he's writing to the churches of Galatia. 00:00:52.039 --> 00:01:09.980 It says that in chapter one. Now, if you read Acts chapter 13 and 14, you see Paul on his missionary journey where he goes through, he visits, he encourages, he helps to run and to challenge these churches in the province of Galatia. 00:01:10.659 --> 00:01:17.519 We can see some of them there. We have Iconium, Antioch, Lystra, Derby. These are places that are mentioned. 00:01:17.519 --> 00:01:25.859 You know, it's great to go and read Acts. That's your homework. My youngest daughter, she just started school. She loves homework. Brilliant. 00:01:26.379 --> 00:01:34.019 So I hope you guys are the same, but go and read Acts. Read the background, the context of Galatians. It is very helpful. 00:01:34.659 --> 00:01:42.539 OK, but in Acts 13 and 14, Paul goes through these churches and that is who he is writing to. 00:01:42.540 --> 00:01:49.820 That there is modern day Turkey. You might recognize it. That is the situation that we are in. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:57.780 But Paul, he is writing an impassioned and a frustrated letter to these churches. 00:01:58.880 --> 00:02:01.600 Why? Well, he's addressing a false teaching. 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:13.019 This false teaching that the Christians, especially the Gentile Christians, they had to follow certain Jewish laws in order to be truly saved. 00:02:13.479 --> 00:02:15.799 That was this false teaching that had come in. 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:19.299 And Paul is writing to challenge that. 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:27.819 And he's writing in about A.D. 48 to 50, probably around A.D. 50 is the timeline on that one. 00:02:27.819 --> 00:02:32.939 And we saw in chapter one, we saw that Paul, he calls himself an apostle. 00:02:34.060 --> 00:02:35.019 What does that mean? 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:43.639 Well, it means that he was commissioned by God himself, was given the message directly to go and tell others. 00:02:45.939 --> 00:02:51.079 And we see in chapter one that he defends his authority to be doing so. 00:02:51.699 --> 00:02:54.919 He also defends the message that he is giving. 00:02:54.919 --> 00:02:58.679 This message is that there's only one gospel. 00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:02.819 That Paul, he was commissioned by Jesus. 00:03:04.339 --> 00:03:06.979 He received it from Christ himself. 00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:09.199 I know that word gospel. 00:03:09.659 --> 00:03:13.179 I'm always wary we use words that maybe aren't common in the world. 00:03:13.819 --> 00:03:22.119 Well, to define the word gospel, it means the message concerning Christ, God's kingdom and salvation. 00:03:22.120 --> 00:03:24.860 That is what the gospel means. 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:26.659 And literally, it means good news. 00:03:27.560 --> 00:03:30.659 But we'll see the gospel again in a minute. 00:03:31.740 --> 00:03:37.800 But Paul, in chapter one, he's defended his authority and his character to preach. 00:03:39.020 --> 00:03:41.960 He's addressed the presence of this false teaching. 00:03:41.960 --> 00:03:43.580 He's defended his calling. 00:03:44.760 --> 00:03:46.040 And this is necessary. 00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:54.360 Because if people don't think he has the right to speak, then they're not going to listen to the content of his message, are they? 00:03:55.819 --> 00:03:57.300 So that was chapter one. 00:03:57.520 --> 00:03:59.080 And that brings us to this morning. 00:03:59.960 --> 00:04:03.040 And hopefully, nice and simply, two things to remember. 00:04:03.379 --> 00:04:07.780 First of all, in the first half, we see the truth of the gospel. 00:04:07.780 --> 00:04:14.699 And then in our second half, we're going to see the fellowship of the gospel. 00:04:15.759 --> 00:04:19.620 So let's get stuck into the truth of the gospel. 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:27.560 Paul now goes on to defend the message that he has been giving and the truth of it. 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:33.399 You know, the truth, it's a bit of a flimsy concept nowadays, I believe. 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:41.339 We live in the world of fake news, of AI, where we could watch something and we go, I don't know if that's real. 00:04:41.759 --> 00:04:42.839 You know, it could be made up. 00:04:44.060 --> 00:04:46.419 Started with photo editing, now video editing. 00:04:46.659 --> 00:04:47.539 What is true? 00:04:48.799 --> 00:04:49.899 What is really true? 00:04:51.359 --> 00:04:54.639 You know, some people would say we live in a post-truth society. 00:04:55.039 --> 00:04:55.739 What does that mean? 00:04:55.799 --> 00:04:58.019 Well, it means that we all have our personal truth. 00:04:58.679 --> 00:05:01.479 That if it's true to you, then that's fine. 00:05:01.480 --> 00:05:04.020 But then that makes truth subjective. 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:07.060 But truth is not subjective. 00:05:07.660 --> 00:05:09.080 Truth is black or white. 00:05:09.840 --> 00:05:11.460 It is one thing or another. 00:05:11.660 --> 00:05:13.759 Things are true or not. 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:20.460 And this morning, we will see the truth of the good news of Jesus laid out and defended. 00:05:22.180 --> 00:05:25.860 So, please have the Bible in front of you. 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:29.080 It's so helpful to have it in front of you as we go through this morning. 00:05:29.079 --> 00:05:32.699 It is God's word and it is so important to read it. 00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:40.459 So, in verse 1, in the start of verse 2, we see that after 14 years, Paul goes up again to Jerusalem. 00:05:40.779 --> 00:05:45.740 So, at the end of chapter 1, he visits Jerusalem after three years of his conversion. 00:05:46.219 --> 00:05:49.879 And then 14 years later, he goes back to Jerusalem. 00:05:49.879 --> 00:05:56.399 He takes this man Barnabas with him, who is a partner in the gospel work that he was doing. 00:05:57.199 --> 00:05:58.759 And he also takes Titus. 00:05:59.219 --> 00:06:01.360 And we'll talk about Titus in a minute. 00:06:03.120 --> 00:06:05.819 But you know, he doesn't go up because it's really nice that time of year. 00:06:06.040 --> 00:06:07.319 He didn't fancy a holiday. 00:06:08.019 --> 00:06:09.779 It was a revelation from God. 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:14.100 He felt God speaking to him and saying, Paul, you need to go to Jerusalem. 00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:20.540 So, he goes and he meets privately in verse 2, those esteemed as leaders. 00:06:22.260 --> 00:06:27.900 These were the Jewish leaders, sorry, the Christian leaders in the church in Jerusalem. 00:06:30.600 --> 00:06:33.860 And they are mentioned later on and we'll speak about them then. 00:06:34.140 --> 00:06:38.220 But he goes and he presents the gospel to these church leaders in Jerusalem. 00:06:38.220 --> 00:06:43.940 He goes and presents what he has been speaking about for the past 17 years. 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:50.220 You know, in the second half of verse 2, we have a slightly funny phrasing. 00:06:50.960 --> 00:06:59.080 He says, I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. 00:06:59.079 --> 00:07:06.419 You know, I'm not a big horse racing fan. 00:07:07.019 --> 00:07:07.919 I don't know if you guys are. 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:10.180 I never really got the whole horse thing. 00:07:10.419 --> 00:07:13.060 If you want to challenge me on that later, feel free. 00:07:13.539 --> 00:07:15.759 But I never really understood the whole horse racing thing. 00:07:16.299 --> 00:07:19.759 But you know, sometimes I have found some enjoyment in horse racing. 00:07:20.259 --> 00:07:22.060 It's when the jockey falls off. 00:07:22.279 --> 00:07:23.500 Hopefully they're okay, of course. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:25.620 But the horse, it just keeps running. 00:07:26.039 --> 00:07:28.899 And this horse just, you know, happy as Larry, running along. 00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:30.199 Having a great time. 00:07:30.779 --> 00:07:31.560 Here's one here. 00:07:31.979 --> 00:07:37.659 This was actually a horse in Mexico and it won the race, having lost its jockey at the start. 00:07:39.079 --> 00:07:41.659 But you know, once again, I don't know anything about horse racing. 00:07:41.779 --> 00:07:45.620 But the rules of horse racing is that a horse with no jockey can't win. 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:51.659 This horse had totally wasted its time and energy by running and absolutely given everything 00:07:51.659 --> 00:07:54.359 to win this race while he was trained to do. 00:07:54.659 --> 00:07:56.239 But it was totally pointless. 00:07:56.240 --> 00:07:59.439 Why am I going on about this? 00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:03.139 Well, Paul, he doesn't want to have wasted his time. 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:09.680 These 17 years that he spent, he doesn't want to have been running this race in vain, 00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:11.199 as he calls it. 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:18.060 But this is strange because Paul, he went up not because he doubted in what he had been doing, 00:08:18.539 --> 00:08:21.339 not because he didn't trust the gospel that he had been preaching. 00:08:21.860 --> 00:08:25.120 No, he went because he felt God wanted him to go. 00:08:26.139 --> 00:08:27.259 Paul wasn't unsure. 00:08:27.939 --> 00:08:32.299 Paul was confident in the gospel of Jesus Christ that he was preaching. 00:08:32.299 --> 00:08:36.000 He had got it straight from Christ himself. 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:36.879 He was an apostle. 00:08:38.179 --> 00:08:39.659 He had spent so long. 00:08:39.719 --> 00:08:44.779 He was so committed to this good news that he was going around telling others about. 00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:47.459 He was so committed to it. 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:49.019 He was suffering for it. 00:08:49.199 --> 00:08:54.299 And he would go on, as I'm sure you know, to suffer even more and eventually be killed 00:08:54.299 --> 00:08:58.759 for this message that he was proclaiming around the world. 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:00.919 So what does he mean here? 00:09:02.059 --> 00:09:04.819 Well, he's fighting for the truth. 00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:10.379 That truth that Gentiles can be saved by faith alone. 00:09:11.460 --> 00:09:15.659 If these other Christian leaders in the center of Judaism in Jerusalem, 00:09:16.319 --> 00:09:20.240 if these church leaders disagreed with him, if they undermined him, 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:24.500 then Paul's work, in a sense, would have been in vain. 00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:28.000 The Gentile Christians, their confidence and their faith 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:28.919 would have been shattered. 00:09:29.820 --> 00:09:34.120 It would have emboldened these false teachers who are saying the wrong thing. 00:09:36.860 --> 00:09:41.700 But thankfully, we see that Paul has not been running in vain. 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:44.820 We meet this man, Titus, in verse 3. 00:09:44.820 --> 00:09:49.820 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:52.059 even though he was a Greek. 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:54.360 So Titus was a Greek. 00:09:54.580 --> 00:09:57.559 He was not a Jew, essentially, a Gentile. 00:09:58.000 --> 00:09:58.279 Okay? 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:02.539 That he was brought up to the center of Judaism. 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:06.879 But, you know, he wasn't made to be circumcised 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:11.120 by the Christians in Jerusalem so that he could fit in. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:16.340 The main, but not the only thing that these false teachers were saying 00:10:16.340 --> 00:10:20.340 was that these Gentile Christians should be circumcised. 00:10:20.340 --> 00:10:25.220 That's something that the Jews followed from the Torah, their laws. 00:10:25.740 --> 00:10:28.680 But there was other laws they were trying to put on these new Christians. 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:34.980 But circumcision was one of the main ones that they tried to impose. 00:10:35.980 --> 00:10:38.740 But, you know, if Titus wasn't made to be circumcised here 00:10:38.740 --> 00:10:41.000 by those who ran the church in Jerusalem, 00:10:41.660 --> 00:10:44.420 then it means that no one should be, that no one has to. 00:10:44.419 --> 00:10:49.579 Jesus plus nothing. 00:10:51.159 --> 00:10:52.799 Jesus minus nothing. 00:10:53.659 --> 00:10:57.599 The good news of the gospel is that it is just Jesus. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:00.379 That Jesus is enough. 00:11:00.379 --> 00:11:05.580 In verse 4, Paul explains what he's talking about. 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:10.200 He explains what he's talking about. 00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:10.600 He says, 00:11:10.820 --> 00:11:15.519 This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:19.700 to spy on the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus 00:11:19.700 --> 00:11:21.759 and to make us slaves. 00:11:22.620 --> 00:11:24.659 These Judaizers, as they were called, 00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:29.159 they were trying to put these Christians back into the slavery of rules. 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:32.939 that you must do X, Y, and Z in order to be saved. 00:11:34.139 --> 00:11:36.679 But, you know, if anyone was going to stick to the Jewish laws, 00:11:37.159 --> 00:11:38.399 it would have been Paul. 00:11:40.620 --> 00:11:42.539 Paul, as he admits in chapter 1, 00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:45.159 he was top Jew. 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:46.799 He was zealous. 00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:48.360 He loved the rules. 00:11:48.959 --> 00:11:50.299 That was what he lived for. 00:11:51.319 --> 00:11:53.360 In chapter 1, verse 14, he says, 00:11:53.439 --> 00:11:56.799 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age 00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:58.639 among my people 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:02.959 and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 00:12:07.899 --> 00:12:11.519 You know, the false teaching that creeps in here 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:14.199 is very close to the truth. 00:12:15.339 --> 00:12:16.179 These false teachers, 00:12:16.319 --> 00:12:18.459 they weren't saying to abandon all that they'd heard 00:12:18.460 --> 00:12:20.040 and go back to, you know, 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:22.680 all following all of the rituals and all of the traditions. 00:12:23.180 --> 00:12:25.139 But they were just adding things on. 00:12:26.780 --> 00:12:29.600 And, you know, it's often when false teaching comes in, 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:31.240 it sounds almost right. 00:12:32.820 --> 00:12:34.280 If we were to play that game, 00:12:34.500 --> 00:12:36.320 have you played it two truths and a lie? 00:12:37.040 --> 00:12:38.400 Most people have played that game. 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:39.920 We play it with a teenager sometimes. 00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:43.399 So if I was to tell you things that are true about myself, 00:12:43.539 --> 00:12:44.039 two of them, 00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:45.779 and I was to give you a lie, 00:12:46.379 --> 00:12:48.439 you know, if I give you an outrageous lie, 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:50.360 like I'm the president of America, 00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:52.219 you would spot it a mile off, wouldn't you? 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:54.059 But if I said something that, 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:55.699 oh, that could be true, 00:12:55.860 --> 00:12:57.360 if I just twist it a little bit, 00:12:57.799 --> 00:12:59.579 I'm more likely to get away with it. 00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:00.639 And that's the game. 00:13:01.539 --> 00:13:03.419 But, you know, that's a little bit like false teaching. 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:07.019 That's when false teaching can be dangerous, 00:13:07.019 --> 00:13:09.779 and that is why Paul is addressing it here. 00:13:12.059 --> 00:13:16.139 Paul, he is fighting for the freedom found in the gospel. 00:13:19.100 --> 00:13:22.059 We might hear from society or friends or family, 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:23.799 we might hear that, you know, Christianity, 00:13:24.059 --> 00:13:25.759 well, it's oppressive. 00:13:26.699 --> 00:13:27.939 It's old-fashioned. 00:13:28.699 --> 00:13:29.720 It's just rules. 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:31.620 Oh, you can't do that. 00:13:32.079 --> 00:13:33.259 And you must do this. 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:34.939 And you have to go to church on a Sunday. 00:13:35.079 --> 00:13:36.779 And you can't do that before you're married. 00:13:36.779 --> 00:13:37.759 And all that kind of stuff. 00:13:38.220 --> 00:13:39.579 Maybe that's what we hear. 00:13:40.939 --> 00:13:44.740 But the truth is that the gospel of Jesus Christ is freedom. 00:13:46.980 --> 00:13:48.159 What do I mean by that? 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:49.919 Well, it's freedom from sin. 00:13:50.319 --> 00:13:53.019 It's freedom from the curse of sin. 00:13:54.319 --> 00:13:55.500 The curse of sin. 00:13:55.899 --> 00:13:57.799 We are all sinful by nature. 00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:00.620 Yeah, we all have individual sin. 00:14:00.699 --> 00:14:01.779 We mess up at times. 00:14:01.779 --> 00:14:05.539 Well, that is because we are sinful in and of ourselves. 00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:07.819 What does that mean? 00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:11.279 Well, it means that we have an eternal separation from God. 00:14:12.439 --> 00:14:13.539 God is just. 00:14:14.259 --> 00:14:15.279 God is holy. 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:20.759 That means that he cannot just put up with our disobedience. 00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:25.179 Cannot just put up with our sinful nature. 00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:27.459 God wouldn't be just if he just said, 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:28.699 you know what? 00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:30.299 I'll let you off this time. 00:14:31.319 --> 00:14:33.199 God is holy and God is just. 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:37.440 The law, these rules that the Jews had to follow, 00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:41.840 all that it achieved was it pointed out to the fact that they couldn't follow them. 00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:45.940 If I gave you a massive list of rules, 00:14:46.400 --> 00:14:49.340 all that would happen is that you would feel guilt and shame 00:14:49.340 --> 00:14:51.140 and you would feel not good enough 00:14:51.140 --> 00:14:53.180 because you wouldn't be able to follow them. 00:14:53.179 --> 00:14:57.459 That was essentially what the law did for the Jews. 00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:01.699 You know, the gospel of Jesus Christ, 00:15:01.739 --> 00:15:05.500 it says that Jesus, he came to this earth. 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:08.659 We're approaching that time of year again when we'll think about that. 00:15:09.319 --> 00:15:11.359 But Jesus came, he came as fully human. 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:13.959 So he could feel how we feel. 00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:15.379 He could be tempted. 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:17.719 But he was also fully God, 00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:20.240 which meant that he did not sin. 00:15:20.359 --> 00:15:21.579 He resisted temptation. 00:15:21.580 --> 00:15:23.460 He lived that perfect life. 00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:28.400 And he went all the way to the cross. 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:29.740 And as he lived his life, 00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:32.860 he made many claims and he backed them up with miracles, 00:15:33.280 --> 00:15:36.020 which proved that he was who he said he was, 00:15:36.060 --> 00:15:36.860 the Son of God. 00:15:39.060 --> 00:15:43.060 He went all the way to that cross that we think about Easter time. 00:15:44.160 --> 00:15:45.800 He gave up his life. 00:15:46.420 --> 00:15:47.800 And yet he suffered physically. 00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:49.940 And yes, he died physically. 00:15:49.940 --> 00:15:52.220 But in those three hours of darkness, 00:15:52.420 --> 00:15:54.320 that eternal separation from God, 00:15:54.380 --> 00:15:56.440 that separation of God that we deserve, 00:15:57.960 --> 00:15:59.120 it was put upon him, 00:15:59.800 --> 00:16:01.180 the undeserving one. 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:02.760 Why? 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:05.380 So that if we trust in him, 00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:07.840 we don't have to face that. 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:11.680 And he physically died. 00:16:12.280 --> 00:16:14.580 But he was resurrected again, 00:16:14.680 --> 00:16:17.340 showing that sin and death had no hold upon him 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:20.899 because he didn't deserve to die. 00:16:22.040 --> 00:16:24.980 He witnessed to many and then ascended back to heaven 00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:27.420 and is preparing a place for us. 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:28.680 How wonderful is that? 00:16:28.679 --> 00:16:31.620 That means that if we trust in him, 00:16:32.059 --> 00:16:35.939 if we rely on Christ and not on ourselves, 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:37.159 as we sung about earlier, 00:16:37.299 --> 00:16:38.239 yet not I, 00:16:38.439 --> 00:16:39.819 but through Christ in me, 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:45.659 then we can have our sin problem forgiven. 00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:49.919 That we can have freedom in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:16:50.819 --> 00:16:51.500 Graham Helpfully, 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:52.240 a couple of weeks ago, 00:16:52.319 --> 00:16:52.579 said, 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:54.319 by grace alone, 00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:56.480 through faith alone, 00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:58.699 in Jesus alone. 00:16:58.980 --> 00:17:00.139 That is the good news, 00:17:00.219 --> 00:17:01.500 the truth of the gospel 00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:03.519 that Paul was getting across. 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:04.799 You know, 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:06.039 if that is not you this morning, 00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:07.519 please speak to me after. 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.599 Please go along to Hope Explored. 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:10.539 What a great opportunity 00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:12.200 to go and discuss these things 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:13.640 and to really tease them out. 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:17.480 It's the most important thing we'll ever do 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:18.900 is address our position 00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:21.160 before the God who made us 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:22.740 and the God who loves us. 00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:23.779 But you know, 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:24.580 if we are saved, 00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:26.840 then we respond in love and appreciation. 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:29.900 We respond by doing what he wants us to do. 00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:31.380 Not because we have to, 00:17:31.620 --> 00:17:33.920 not because of a condition of our salvation, 00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:36.539 but because we want to. 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:38.220 And you know, 00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:39.500 not reverting back 00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:41.660 to what we were doing before 00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:42.860 in our sinful ways. 00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:45.759 It's a silly example, 00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:47.000 but it's the only one I thought of. 00:17:47.100 --> 00:17:48.779 Can you imagine being set free from prison? 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.040 Captive in there. 00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:53.519 You've got the whole world in front of you, 00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:54.880 but you keep going back 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:57.140 because you really enjoyed the yard time 00:17:57.140 --> 00:17:58.940 where you could look up to the sky 00:17:58.940 --> 00:18:01.160 and imagine the possibilities out there. 00:18:02.120 --> 00:18:03.100 That's probably just a, 00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:04.460 like what I see in films, 00:18:04.540 --> 00:18:06.080 it's probably not reality at all. 00:18:06.600 --> 00:18:06.820 But you know, 00:18:06.820 --> 00:18:07.340 imagine that. 00:18:07.340 --> 00:18:09.120 Imagine going back to something like that. 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:10.639 But in a sense, 00:18:10.699 --> 00:18:12.299 if we go back to our sinful ways 00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:13.259 after being saved, 00:18:13.399 --> 00:18:14.539 then that's what we're doing. 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:18.959 So that is the truth of the gospel. 00:18:19.639 --> 00:18:20.199 And to finish, 00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:21.139 we have the fellowship 00:18:21.139 --> 00:18:23.539 of the gospel. 00:18:24.639 --> 00:18:26.759 I don't know if you hear the phrase 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.899 the fellowship of, 00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:28.860 and in your head, 00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:29.740 you just start going, 00:18:30.080 --> 00:18:34.480 a few blank faces. 00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:36.060 I'm talking about the Lord of the Rings, 00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:39.720 the fellowship of the ring. 00:18:40.800 --> 00:18:41.800 So the Lord of the Rings, 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:43.660 the J.R. Tolkien book, 00:18:43.700 --> 00:18:46.000 and then the famous film series. 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:48.820 Here we have the fellowship of the ring. 00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:50.200 There are a varied bunch. 00:18:50.580 --> 00:18:51.360 Ignore the horse, 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:53.160 just photo bombed in there. 00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:54.480 But the rest of them, 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.839 you've got an elf, 00:18:56.140 --> 00:18:57.759 you've got a man, 00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:58.539 you've got a wizard, 00:18:58.920 --> 00:19:00.019 you've got a king, 00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:02.120 and you've got the hobbits, 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:02.740 of course. 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.220 And this fellowship, 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:05.140 they came together. 00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:06.339 They had a purpose. 00:19:06.579 --> 00:19:07.680 They had something to do. 00:19:08.360 --> 00:19:09.860 They wanted to get rid of this ring. 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.980 They went on a quest. 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:12.759 They all had the same purpose 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:14.160 and goal in mind, 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:16.519 and they were dedicated to it. 00:19:16.860 --> 00:19:18.279 And they traveled all that way 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:19.400 to Mordor. 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:19.700 Anyway, 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:21.299 you can watch it later on. 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:23.019 But read Acts first. 00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:23.420 Okay. 00:19:25.379 --> 00:19:25.859 So, 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:27.359 why am I talking about this? 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:28.180 Well, 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:29.639 this was the fellowship of the ring. 00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:31.019 But here in the second half, 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:33.220 we see the fellowship of the gospel. 00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:36.759 Here we see that the Christians here, 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:39.180 they had a common goal and purpose. 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:41.420 They wanted to see the good news 00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:43.440 of the gospel spread abroad. 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:45.379 And they have real unity 00:19:45.379 --> 00:19:46.440 in what they are doing. 00:19:47.639 --> 00:19:48.720 In verse 6, 00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.319 read along with me, 00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:50.740 it says, 00:19:50.740 --> 00:19:52.539 As for these who were held 00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:53.819 in high esteem, 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:55.279 whatever they were 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:56.440 makes no difference to me. 00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:58.079 God does not show favoritism. 00:19:58.620 --> 00:20:00.559 They added nothing to my message. 00:20:02.420 --> 00:20:03.920 These esteemed others, 00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:04.740 as Paul calls them, 00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:05.660 they had nothing to add 00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:07.000 to what Paul was preaching. 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:09.579 The gospel is the gospel. 00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:11.420 And that was true then. 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:12.960 And it's true now. 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:15.099 That's why we need to guard 00:20:15.099 --> 00:20:16.220 against false teaching 00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:18.120 if it comes in at all. 00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:19.739 And Peter, 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:20.899 he's named later on. 00:20:21.079 --> 00:20:22.339 It might be in your version, 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:22.919 Cephas. 00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:23.619 That's him. 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:24.219 That's Peter. 00:20:25.219 --> 00:20:26.459 But he had seen firsthand 00:20:26.459 --> 00:20:28.019 in Acts chapter 10 and 11, 00:20:28.139 --> 00:20:29.379 he had seen the Gentiles 00:20:29.379 --> 00:20:30.299 come to faith 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.459 and receiving the Spirit 00:20:31.459 --> 00:20:32.959 with no add-ons, 00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:34.719 just by accepting the truth 00:20:34.719 --> 00:20:36.079 of what Jesus had done, 00:20:36.159 --> 00:20:37.419 his death and resurrection. 00:20:38.919 --> 00:20:39.879 Acts 11 and 18, 00:20:39.959 --> 00:20:40.819 when they heard this, 00:20:40.879 --> 00:20:42.219 they had no further objections 00:20:42.219 --> 00:20:44.000 and praised God, 00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:44.379 saying, 00:20:44.380 --> 00:20:45.040 So then, 00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:46.440 even to the Gentiles, 00:20:46.580 --> 00:20:48.200 God has granted repentance 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:49.500 that leads to life. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:52.480 So Peter, 00:20:52.600 --> 00:20:53.520 he couldn't add to this 00:20:53.520 --> 00:20:55.220 because he had seen it firsthand. 00:20:56.820 --> 00:20:57.280 And Paul, 00:20:57.420 --> 00:20:57.820 interestingly, 00:20:58.040 --> 00:20:59.480 he sees no hierarchy 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:01.380 because God doesn't. 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:03.200 It says, 00:21:03.300 --> 00:21:04.380 God does not show favoritism. 00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:08.060 All are the same before God. 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:11.460 Everyone is equal before God. 00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:12.600 We can maybe explore that 00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:13.980 in growth groups 00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:15.180 or discuss after maybe 00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:16.600 about how that would relate 00:21:16.600 --> 00:21:18.180 in church circles, 00:21:18.340 --> 00:21:19.400 but that's not time 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:20.279 for that this morning. 00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:22.980 But we are all the same 00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:23.680 before God. 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:25.519 When God looks out, 00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:27.059 he sees us in two categories. 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:29.240 It's sinners or saved. 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:32.340 So that means if we are saved, 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:33.440 then we are all equal. 00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.039 You know, 00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:38.640 it's remarkable 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:40.319 that nothing is added to 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.319 in the gospel here 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:43.039 that Peter and the others, 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:44.099 they basically sign off 00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:44.399 and say, 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.019 we are preaching 00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:45.879 the same gospel. 00:21:46.419 --> 00:21:46.980 Think about it. 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:48.480 14 years has elapsed 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:50.019 between when they've seen each other. 00:21:50.639 --> 00:21:52.419 Think of the distances involved. 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:53.839 This wasn't in the day 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.599 that you could email 00:21:54.599 --> 00:21:55.460 or send a text 00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:55.839 and say, 00:21:55.939 --> 00:21:56.099 oh, 00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:58.159 how's your doctrine on this? 00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.839 What do you think about that? 00:21:59.919 --> 00:22:01.240 Can you remind me of this? 00:22:02.639 --> 00:22:02.899 You know, 00:22:02.919 --> 00:22:03.720 in human terms, 00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:05.319 this is remarkable, 00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:06.720 but it's because 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:08.099 of the work of God. 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:09.359 This is God's work. 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.700 And so the gospel 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:13.579 has been stuck to. 00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.619 The truth of it 00:22:14.619 --> 00:22:15.759 has been kept. 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:18.519 And we see in verse 7 and 8 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:19.519 that God is working 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.939 in Paul and Peter, 00:22:21.179 --> 00:22:23.079 but in different ways. 00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:26.539 Verse 7 says, 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:49.519 It is all God's work here. 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:51.299 Peter and Paul, 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:52.639 they are just messengers. 00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:55.480 They are just being used by God. 00:22:55.859 --> 00:22:57.359 And they are equal in role. 00:22:57.639 --> 00:22:58.700 There is no hierarchy. 00:22:59.099 --> 00:23:00.619 They just have a different calling. 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.279 They've been called 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:03.559 to go to different places 00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:05.099 and to speak to different people. 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:07.480 And when you break that down, 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:09.059 that means that there is no difference 00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:10.440 between a Jewish Christian 00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:12.319 and a Gentile Christian. 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:13.680 And that really affects 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.500 the false teaching 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.819 that was being put in here. 00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:18.000 There is real unity 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:19.119 and responsibility 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:22.119 in the body of Christ. 00:23:22.899 --> 00:23:23.960 What do I mean by that? 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:24.819 The body of Christ. 00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:26.039 Elsewhere in Paul's letter, 00:23:26.139 --> 00:23:27.599 he talks about the body of Christ. 00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:28.539 That is the church. 00:23:28.939 --> 00:23:29.700 Not the building, 00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.519 not Brunsfield, 00:23:30.659 --> 00:23:31.839 but the global church. 00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:32.879 All Christians 00:23:32.879 --> 00:23:34.740 are the body of Christ. 00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:36.460 You know, 00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:37.480 what do we know about the body? 00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:39.200 Well, there's lots of different parts. 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:41.299 I can read Paul's letter 00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:42.279 that explains this. 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:43.859 But essentially what he says 00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:45.579 is that the church 00:23:45.579 --> 00:23:46.960 is the body of Christ. 00:23:47.139 --> 00:23:48.200 There's different parts. 00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:49.440 There are hands. 00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:50.039 There are feet. 00:23:50.139 --> 00:23:51.279 They do different roles. 00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:53.000 But we need all of them 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:54.539 for it all to come together 00:23:54.539 --> 00:23:56.579 and to work well. 00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.480 If we were missing 00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:00.660 any part of our body, 00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:01.879 then I'm sure we would struggle 00:24:01.879 --> 00:24:02.680 in certain ways 00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:03.839 to do certain things. 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:09.940 So they are equal 00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:12.000 but have different roles. 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:14.559 And we see that in verse 9 00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:16.339 where James, Cephas, and John, 00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:17.559 those esteemed as pillars, 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:19.759 they gave me and Barnabas 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:22.259 the right hand of fellowship 00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:24.960 when they recognized 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:26.379 the grace given to me. 00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:27.819 They agreed that we should go 00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:28.879 to the Gentiles 00:24:28.879 --> 00:24:30.980 and they to the circumcised. 00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:34.279 There's marvelous common appreciation 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:36.079 and respect shown here 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:38.139 between these two parties. 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:40.779 Yes, they have different roles. 00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:42.539 They have different areas. 00:24:42.899 --> 00:24:44.339 They have a different ministry. 00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:46.200 But they have the same gospel. 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:50.259 There is mutual encouragement here. 00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:52.079 We'll see next week 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:53.240 that there was challenge 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:55.039 when things aren't right. 00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:58.559 There's accountability in this. 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:00.480 You know, the right hand of fellowship, 00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:02.160 it's something that we don't really, 00:25:03.299 --> 00:25:04.720 maybe that's not fair to say, 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:05.559 buy into nowadays, 00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.899 but not explicitly. 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:09.000 But you know, really back then 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:10.119 it was a strong thing. 00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:11.559 It meant that we were partnering. 00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:13.480 We're partnering in this together. 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:16.519 It means that there would be encouragement, 00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:17.960 there would be challenge, 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:19.599 that there would be prayer 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:20.299 for one another. 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:22.259 It was really a sense saying, 00:25:22.339 --> 00:25:24.079 I am with you no matter what 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:27.419 in our shared work of the gospel. 00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:30.220 This is a great example 00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:33.019 to follow nowadays. 00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:35.060 Partnering in our work. 00:25:35.600 --> 00:25:36.620 It might be in big ways, 00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:37.920 it might be in small ways. 00:25:38.840 --> 00:25:40.140 Partnering in the work 00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:41.720 of spreading the good news of Jesus. 00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:44.920 So we have our final verse. 00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:46.900 And it might seem a bit random. 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:47.279 It says, 00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:48.480 All they asked was that 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:50.539 we should continue to remember the poor, 00:25:51.120 --> 00:25:53.180 the very thing I'd been eager to do 00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:54.300 all along. 00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:57.599 Seems sort of added on, 00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:58.579 out of place. 00:25:59.639 --> 00:25:59.940 But you know, 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:01.859 this here is the outflowing 00:26:01.859 --> 00:26:03.200 of this fellowship. 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:07.619 Outflowing of this like-mindedness. 00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:11.519 It was probably meaning by the poor, 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:12.299 it was probably meaning 00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:14.799 the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:16.579 They were really struggling. 00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:19.180 They were facing massive hostility 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:20.700 for what they believed. 00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:22.919 They were being persecuted. 00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:24.900 They were facing really tough times. 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:26.880 And we see in Acts 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:28.340 that they were raising money 00:26:28.340 --> 00:26:29.060 in other churches 00:26:29.060 --> 00:26:30.060 and sending it 00:26:30.060 --> 00:26:32.680 to these Christians in Jerusalem. 00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:34.440 You know, 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:35.240 if the truth 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:37.440 and the fellowship of the gospel 00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:38.640 is applied, 00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:40.420 then we're not inward focused. 00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:42.160 We're not thinking all about us 00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:44.920 and how things affect us. 00:26:45.300 --> 00:26:46.860 But we look outward. 00:26:48.560 --> 00:26:49.900 We look outward. 00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:51.180 Yes, 00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:52.560 in message telling, 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:54.840 but also physically 00:26:54.840 --> 00:26:56.120 looking after people 00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:58.420 and really caring 00:26:58.420 --> 00:26:59.860 for how other people are. 00:27:00.560 --> 00:27:01.160 That is 00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:02.620 the truth 00:27:02.620 --> 00:27:03.259 and the fellowship 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:04.060 of the gospel 00:27:04.060 --> 00:27:05.519 applied out the way. 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:09.000 So as we finish, 00:27:09.100 --> 00:27:09.800 I thought it'd be helpful 00:27:09.800 --> 00:27:11.620 just to look at some practical things 00:27:11.620 --> 00:27:12.220 as to how 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:13.880 we can think about this. 00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:15.120 So from our first section, 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:16.560 how can we stick 00:27:16.560 --> 00:27:18.420 to the truth of the gospel? 00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:18.779 Well, 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:20.560 first of all, 00:27:20.620 --> 00:27:21.120 there's study. 00:27:22.600 --> 00:27:23.600 Read the Bible. 00:27:24.140 --> 00:27:24.480 Yes, 00:27:24.580 --> 00:27:25.060 individually, 00:27:25.380 --> 00:27:26.340 it's so important 00:27:26.340 --> 00:27:27.960 to have that one-on-one time 00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:30.220 in God's word. 00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:32.480 In this age that we are in, 00:27:32.560 --> 00:27:33.480 this is the age 00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:34.640 that God speaks to us 00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:35.420 through his word. 00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.180 So it's important 00:27:36.180 --> 00:27:37.140 that we spend time 00:27:37.140 --> 00:27:37.800 reading it, 00:27:38.320 --> 00:27:39.220 understanding it, 00:27:39.300 --> 00:27:40.160 getting to know it. 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:42.000 You know, 00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:42.580 it's also great 00:27:42.580 --> 00:27:43.300 to come together 00:27:43.300 --> 00:27:44.560 on occasions like this 00:27:44.560 --> 00:27:46.400 and to hear from God's word, 00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:48.680 to attend home groups, 00:27:49.100 --> 00:27:50.480 to go to places 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:51.560 where God's word 00:27:51.560 --> 00:27:52.340 is discussed 00:27:52.340 --> 00:27:54.340 and that we can learn 00:27:54.340 --> 00:27:57.320 and also when we can be corrected. 00:27:58.980 --> 00:28:00.180 These things are important. 00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:00.759 Why? 00:28:01.320 --> 00:28:02.680 Because if we don't know the Bible, 00:28:02.820 --> 00:28:03.700 how are we going to spot 00:28:03.700 --> 00:28:05.060 false teaching coming in? 00:28:05.540 --> 00:28:06.780 How are we going to guard 00:28:06.780 --> 00:28:07.400 the truth 00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:09.380 of the freedom of the gospel? 00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:12.120 Well, one of the best ways 00:28:12.120 --> 00:28:13.340 to do so is through prayer. 00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:15.319 We need to pray 00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:17.659 because we need God's help 00:28:17.659 --> 00:28:18.399 in these things. 00:28:19.379 --> 00:28:20.559 Just as it was God 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:22.159 who kept the gospel true 00:28:22.159 --> 00:28:23.879 in those 14 years 00:28:23.879 --> 00:28:24.839 and no deviation 00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:26.220 in that time 00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:27.399 for Paul and for Peter, 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:28.379 likewise, 00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:30.279 we need the Spirit's help. 00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:33.099 And lastly, 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:34.980 challenging what isn't right. 00:28:36.099 --> 00:28:36.379 You know, 00:28:36.399 --> 00:28:36.899 if there's things 00:28:36.899 --> 00:28:37.599 that aren't right, 00:28:37.699 --> 00:28:38.220 if there's things 00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:38.939 that are being said 00:28:38.939 --> 00:28:39.679 that aren't true, 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.599 then in a loving 00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:41.939 and a gracious way, 00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:42.720 we need to challenge 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.340 these things. 00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.600 We cannot just let 00:28:44.600 --> 00:28:45.320 small things, 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:46.799 it's not quite right, 00:28:46.900 --> 00:28:48.380 but we'll just let it go. 00:28:49.160 --> 00:28:49.460 You know, 00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:50.420 these things snowball. 00:28:51.380 --> 00:28:52.240 We cannot allow 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:53.080 false teachings 00:28:53.080 --> 00:28:53.840 to come in 00:28:53.840 --> 00:28:55.039 because they are dangerous 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:56.900 and it will cause 00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:57.720 a lot of problems. 00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:01.519 So how can we encourage 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.140 fellowship 00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:03.920 in the gospel? 00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:04.779 Well, 00:29:04.840 --> 00:29:06.019 meeting with other Christians, 00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:07.120 meeting together. 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:08.600 We're not going 00:29:08.600 --> 00:29:09.660 to encourage people, 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.120 we're not going 00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:10.739 to have fellowship 00:29:10.739 --> 00:29:12.139 if we don't meet together. 00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:15.459 As Craig said, 00:29:15.939 --> 00:29:16.599 grab a coffee 00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:17.319 at the end, 00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.919 speak to someone. 00:29:20.679 --> 00:29:20.939 You know, 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:22.079 encouraging people, 00:29:22.679 --> 00:29:23.739 encouraging one another, 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.500 both within Brunsfield, 00:29:25.619 --> 00:29:25.939 yes, 00:29:26.419 --> 00:29:27.699 but then out with as well. 00:29:28.459 --> 00:29:29.359 How do we do that? 00:29:30.239 --> 00:29:30.639 Well, 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.439 within Brunsfield, 00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.119 if we come, 00:29:32.179 --> 00:29:33.399 we come to the prayer meeting, 00:29:33.899 --> 00:29:34.959 we'll encourage people 00:29:34.959 --> 00:29:35.919 by being there, 00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.799 by attending, 00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:38.899 speaking together, 00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:40.920 how about you ask 00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:41.920 someone after the service 00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:42.900 how their prayer life 00:29:42.900 --> 00:29:43.780 has been this week. 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:45.200 Now, 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:45.759 it's a challenge, 00:29:45.860 --> 00:29:46.740 but it's an encouragement 00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:48.820 that we care 00:29:48.820 --> 00:29:49.700 about one another. 00:29:50.580 --> 00:29:51.700 We could message people 00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:52.320 during the week, 00:29:52.360 --> 00:29:53.080 how are you getting on? 00:29:54.180 --> 00:29:55.420 Anything I can pray for, 00:29:55.580 --> 00:29:56.700 that's really encouraging. 00:29:57.380 --> 00:29:58.740 It encourages this fellowship 00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.519 in the gospel. 00:30:00.800 --> 00:30:01.780 Or they're serving. 00:30:02.840 --> 00:30:03.060 You know, 00:30:03.080 --> 00:30:03.540 it's brilliant 00:30:03.540 --> 00:30:04.800 to be able to serve 00:30:04.800 --> 00:30:05.340 one another. 00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:06.980 It's really encouraging 00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:08.819 to see people serve 00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:09.759 and give up time 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.599 and do roles 00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:11.740 that are just in the background 00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:13.420 that are so important 00:30:13.420 --> 00:30:15.079 and are so helpful. 00:30:16.839 --> 00:30:17.559 That's within, 00:30:17.660 --> 00:30:18.700 but then we also have without. 00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:20.200 So it might be going 00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:21.039 to speak somewhere, 00:30:21.160 --> 00:30:22.000 giving a talk. 00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.660 Maybe it's helping 00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:25.240 at other churches' events, 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:26.960 doing camps, 00:30:27.079 --> 00:30:27.860 this type of thing. 00:30:28.380 --> 00:30:29.059 We've been blessed 00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:29.680 at Brunsfield 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:30.660 to have people come 00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:32.180 to our church weekend away 00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:33.380 to do the cooking, 00:30:33.579 --> 00:30:34.599 to look after children. 00:30:34.599 --> 00:30:36.500 That was really encouraging. 00:30:37.639 --> 00:30:38.919 Or maybe you're on holiday 00:30:38.919 --> 00:30:39.759 and you attend 00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.679 a local church. 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:42.240 That will be really encouraging 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:42.819 for them, 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.980 wherever that is. 00:30:45.879 --> 00:30:46.439 And then you've got 00:30:46.439 --> 00:30:47.959 more formalized ways 00:30:47.959 --> 00:30:49.619 of fellowship 00:30:49.619 --> 00:30:50.319 in the gospel. 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.799 So we have things 00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:52.959 like the Origin Events 00:30:52.959 --> 00:30:53.480 in Edinburgh, 00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:55.000 where lots of people 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:55.799 from all the churches 00:30:55.799 --> 00:30:56.199 in Edinburgh 00:30:56.199 --> 00:30:57.879 and beyond 00:30:57.879 --> 00:30:59.199 gather together 00:30:59.199 --> 00:31:00.480 to sing and worship 00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.919 our God together. 00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:03.299 Similar with the 00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:04.000 praise gathering, 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:05.420 which some people 00:31:05.420 --> 00:31:06.380 here are involved in. 00:31:06.859 --> 00:31:07.440 And we also have 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:08.500 gospel partnerships. 00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.700 There's one in Glasgow. 00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:11.200 There's some all over the place. 00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:11.660 But Graham, 00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.680 he's heavily involved 00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:13.700 with the East of Scotland 00:31:13.700 --> 00:31:14.920 gospel partnership, 00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:17.079 working with other churches 00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:18.019 to see people 00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:19.539 in our city saved. 00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:20.880 Wonderful. 00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.700 And finally, 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:26.180 what does our saving faith 00:31:26.180 --> 00:31:28.019 cause us to do? 00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:30.380 Well, inwardly, 00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:31.759 we rejoice. 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:33.059 Rejoice in the freedom 00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:33.759 of the gospel, 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:35.480 the truth of it. 00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:38.399 And then there's 00:31:38.399 --> 00:31:40.279 that outward pouring, 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:42.079 the gospel applied, 00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:43.919 preaching the gospel, 00:31:44.159 --> 00:31:44.839 telling others, 00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:46.039 telling your friend 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:47.079 over lunch, 00:31:47.139 --> 00:31:48.240 whatever it might be. 00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:51.740 Telling the good news 00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:52.899 of Jesus to those 00:31:52.899 --> 00:31:54.279 who we rub shoulders with. 00:31:55.339 --> 00:31:56.720 But then practically as well, 00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:57.839 remember the poor, 00:31:58.619 --> 00:31:59.480 those who are 00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:01.460 in difficult times, 00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:02.799 those who are struggling 00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:03.480 physically, 00:32:03.660 --> 00:32:04.000 mentally, 00:32:04.120 --> 00:32:05.220 whatever it might be, 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.480 looking out 00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:09.100 for others. 00:32:12.140 --> 00:32:12.579 God, 00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:12.799 Father, 00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:13.480 we just thank you 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.079 for your word. 00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:14.819 We thank you 00:32:14.819 --> 00:32:16.059 for the opportunity 00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:17.340 and availability 00:32:17.340 --> 00:32:18.340 we have of it. 00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:19.559 And we thank you 00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:20.720 for speaking 00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:21.700 to each one of us. 00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:22.259 And we pray 00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:22.960 that your spirit 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:23.779 will work in us 00:32:23.779 --> 00:32:24.200 this week 00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:24.799 as we go 00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:26.220 and as we 00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:27.100 consider 00:32:27.100 --> 00:32:27.660 and apply 00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:28.259 these things 00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:29.779 that we have 00:32:29.779 --> 00:32:30.480 heard from you 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:31.000 this morning. 00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:32.420 And so we just 00:32:32.420 --> 00:32:33.700 ask your blessing 00:32:33.700 --> 00:32:34.759 on the rest of our time. 00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:35.799 In the name 00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:36.460 of the Lord Jesus. 00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:37.640 Amen.