WEBVTT 00:00:00.920 --> 00:00:07.660 Well, please turn with me now to Acts 24, and we'll read again from verse 14. 00:00:11.240 --> 00:00:29.980 But this I confess to you, that according to the way which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the law and written in the prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the just and the just. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.920 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience towards both God and man. 00:00:41.079 --> 00:00:59.179 One of the wonderful things about the Bible is that because it is indeed reliable in all that it says, reliable in its account of events such as this, as you read a passage like this, you're really being transported effectively back to that occasion. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:06.060 And today we're just standing, as it were, in this courtroom, listening to these proceedings. 00:01:07.180 --> 00:01:15.760 Paul making his defense, Tertullus, this professional lawyer type of figure, laying out the charges against him. 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:24.640 The charges were threefold, that Paul was a troublemaker, that he was a ringleader of this sect, that he was a profaner of the temple. 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:29.060 Tertullus was hired particularly for this purpose. 00:01:29.180 --> 00:01:31.299 This would be his occupation. 00:01:32.099 --> 00:01:42.460 He was a kind of lawyer, a professional man, somebody who was skilled in presenting the likes of these charges against Paul in a courtroom setting. 00:01:42.459 --> 00:01:50.139 And then Paul was given, as we've read, the opportunity of defending himself. 00:01:51.139 --> 00:01:52.879 He had the charges that all laid out. 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:54.539 Tertullus has spoken. 00:01:55.419 --> 00:01:58.379 And now the governor nods to Paul, gives him the signal. 00:01:59.379 --> 00:02:00.319 Now it's up to you. 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:04.019 And so Paul makes his confession. 00:02:05.579 --> 00:02:10.539 But he doesn't confess any guilt to the charges that are laid against him. 00:02:11.579 --> 00:02:14.739 He makes a confession of his faith. 00:02:16.039 --> 00:02:22.759 He makes a confession that really has four very important elements to it, and they're all joined together. 00:02:22.759 --> 00:02:31.000 A confession in which he comes, not to express any guilt at all, but to just set out his way of life. 00:02:31.340 --> 00:02:33.539 It's a very personal confession. 00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:37.419 It's a very personal presentation of his case. 00:02:38.899 --> 00:02:47.399 The word I appears in it four times, but not in any way that's presumptuous or proud of himself. 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:56.800 And the four things he confesses that form what you might call the basis of this definition of a Christian life, 00:02:57.060 --> 00:03:02.319 are themselves today important for you and for me and for all of us together. 00:03:03.400 --> 00:03:07.659 First of all, he's saying, I confess, I worship. 00:03:08.520 --> 00:03:10.920 I worship this God. 00:03:10.919 --> 00:03:18.119 I worship the God of our fathers according to the way which they call a sect. 00:03:18.259 --> 00:03:19.799 That's the first confession. 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:22.560 First part of the confession, I worship. 00:03:23.019 --> 00:03:25.679 The second one is, I believe. 00:03:26.459 --> 00:03:29.099 In fact, we'll see that the two are connected significantly. 00:03:29.319 --> 00:03:30.779 I worship believing. 00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:37.239 He says, I believe everything laid down by the law and written in the prophets. 00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:42.879 Thirdly, I have a hope in God. 00:03:43.640 --> 00:03:44.920 I'm a hoper. 00:03:45.500 --> 00:03:47.060 I hope in God. 00:03:48.140 --> 00:03:53.100 And I hope in relation to the resurrection of the dead. 00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:56.640 That's where my hope reaches forward to. 00:03:57.700 --> 00:04:00.740 And fourthly, I take pains. 00:04:01.640 --> 00:04:04.500 We'll see that that means I strive. 00:04:04.500 --> 00:04:07.340 I take pains. 00:04:07.780 --> 00:04:14.780 I strive always to have a clear conscience towards both God and man. 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:25.079 Four elements all closely tied together, all forming a definition of a Christian life or a Christian way of life. 00:04:25.800 --> 00:04:26.939 I worship. 00:04:27.060 --> 00:04:28.620 Now, he says, according to the way. 00:04:28.620 --> 00:04:34.199 I confess to you that according to the way which they call a sect, I worship. 00:04:34.620 --> 00:04:45.100 The way, as you find it here in the ESVs, is good because in this sense, at least, it gives you this word, the way, with a capital W. 00:04:45.100 --> 00:04:53.600 Because that's what those who are observing the church of these early times, they called them the people of the way. 00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:56.280 The way of following their leader. 00:04:56.439 --> 00:04:57.879 The way of faith. 00:04:57.980 --> 00:04:59.640 The way of faith in Christ. 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:04.820 The way of believing all of those things that Paul was going to mention that he believed in. 00:05:04.819 --> 00:05:09.459 In other words, Paul is saying, I have a certain path to my life. 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:14.120 I have a certain way by which I follow my leader, my savior. 00:05:14.779 --> 00:05:17.600 I worship according to the way. 00:05:18.139 --> 00:05:27.279 I worship according to what's specified of that way of life, of that way of pleasing God, which he himself has specified in his word. 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:38.879 And that means that for Paul, life is not just about a loose collection of principles or things which you might regard as important points. 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:44.339 For Paul, the way means an affirmation of absolutes. 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:49.699 And for Paul, truth is not about something that's true today and then not tomorrow. 00:05:50.159 --> 00:05:56.479 Truth is not something that may be suitable for today, but then you have to leave it and take up something else tomorrow. 00:05:56.480 --> 00:06:00.939 No, as the world advances, as technology advances, as human thinking advances. 00:06:01.200 --> 00:06:04.879 No, for Paul, the worship is a worship according to the way. 00:06:05.480 --> 00:06:13.780 According to what God himself has specified and laid down and what his forefathers as Christians, as believers, have followed before him. 00:06:14.640 --> 00:06:16.420 This, he says, is my confession to you. 00:06:16.420 --> 00:06:18.540 This is what I'm happy to confess. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:25.540 That I, according to the way which they call a sect, I worship God. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:28.060 That's why we're here today. 00:06:29.200 --> 00:06:37.060 Because we're following in the line of the apostle and those who are before him, all the way through the pages of history. 00:06:37.540 --> 00:06:41.520 People who've worshipped the way, the way that God himself has specified. 00:06:42.400 --> 00:06:50.780 People who have worshipped knowing that God is true to himself and what he says in the Bible regarding himself and his worthiness to be worshipped. 00:06:50.779 --> 00:06:53.519 And the benefits we have of worshipping him. 00:06:55.039 --> 00:07:00.619 Now, we're not going to go into any aspects of worship and what it entails as such. 00:07:01.259 --> 00:07:08.659 But, just again to emphasize that our presence here is an important aspect of worship. 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:13.639 Because we worship physically as well as spiritually. 00:07:13.639 --> 00:07:15.800 We come together physically. 00:07:16.599 --> 00:07:25.459 We come together in such a way that really appreciates the gathering together that God enables us by his providence to engage in. 00:07:25.719 --> 00:07:27.240 Yes, we have live stream. 00:07:27.379 --> 00:07:29.680 We're very thankful to God for live stream. 00:07:29.819 --> 00:07:36.240 It's a brilliant provision for those who simply cannot gather with others as we gather here today. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:42.800 But remember, your physical presence is an aspect of your worship. 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:48.560 When you cannot be present physically, it doesn't mean you're not able to worship. 00:07:49.780 --> 00:08:03.920 But when you are able to come physically together, you are expressing through your very body your appreciation of being together with other people as joined in worship of God. 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:10.439 This, he says, I confess to you that according to the way I worship. 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:18.480 And, of course, the worship is a fundamental mark of being a Christian, of being Christians, as we say, together. 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:23.500 A life of praise, of adoration, of prayer, of listening to God. 00:08:24.300 --> 00:08:27.960 Of coming to appreciate the revelation that God has given us. 00:08:28.520 --> 00:08:31.639 Of coming to know more of his will for us. 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:37.019 Of coming to actually appreciate the fact that God has remembered us, to give us the Bible. 00:08:38.220 --> 00:08:41.559 We worship him according to the way. 00:08:42.319 --> 00:08:45.899 I worship the God, he says, of our fathers. 00:08:47.659 --> 00:08:51.840 And that worship dominates the whole of a Christian life. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:09:01.060 There's a wonderful verse in Judges chapter 7, verse 15, which makes a very important emphasis for us. 00:09:01.139 --> 00:09:02.960 Remember the story of Gideon. 00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:08.500 And how Gideon had got down to the camp of the Midianites, their enemies at the time. 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:13.340 And he was listening to the interpretation of a dream that one of the Midianites had. 00:09:13.340 --> 00:09:21.620 And as soon as the dream was about how the people of Israel under Gideon would actually prevail over the Midianites. 00:09:21.960 --> 00:09:27.759 As soon as Gideon heard the interpretation, he worshipped. 00:09:28.940 --> 00:09:31.500 He didn't just say, great, let's go to it. 00:09:31.860 --> 00:09:33.540 He stopped, first of all, to worship. 00:09:34.300 --> 00:09:36.540 As soon as he heard, he worshipped. 00:09:36.539 --> 00:09:42.259 In other words, for us, that's a reminder that worship is appropriate at all times. 00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:49.240 That worship is something that we engage in, even in the spur of a moment, when the situation calls for it. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:54.500 As soon as he heard, he worshipped. 00:09:55.079 --> 00:09:56.839 Is that my first thought? 00:09:57.579 --> 00:10:01.259 When something clicks in my life, in the providence of God, 00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:05.279 whether it's difficult or whether it's joyous, 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:07.120 is that my first reaction? 00:10:07.439 --> 00:10:08.559 Is that my first thought? 00:10:08.679 --> 00:10:10.579 I have to worship God. 00:10:11.779 --> 00:10:14.500 I remember when some Koreans were visiting the island, 00:10:14.939 --> 00:10:15.699 and were living with us, 00:10:16.459 --> 00:10:18.279 partly living with us, 00:10:18.339 --> 00:10:20.579 but especially came to visit us, 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:22.620 just as they arrived, having picked them up, 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:25.740 taking them back to the mansus was when we were in Garibust. 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:29.939 And there were four of them, I remember rightly. 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:32.419 And I took them into the sitting room. 00:10:32.419 --> 00:10:33.839 I turned my back round, 00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:38.219 and then I started saying how great it was to have them at last here. 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:42.079 And I turned round, and they weren't listening because they were worshipping. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:45.579 They were giving thanks to God 00:10:45.579 --> 00:10:47.860 that they had arrived there, 00:10:48.860 --> 00:10:53.579 that they had come safely to their destination. 00:10:53.580 --> 00:10:56.460 Is our first thought, 00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:58.900 when we're going on holiday, 00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:01.580 having asked for God's blessing to accompany us, 00:11:01.820 --> 00:11:03.700 is our first thought when we get there 00:11:03.700 --> 00:11:05.259 to worship God, 00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:08.040 or do we just dive into the swimming pool or whatever? 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:10.940 As soon as Gideon heard, 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:12.200 he worshipped. 00:11:13.200 --> 00:11:14.280 And here is Paul saying, 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:16.120 this is my confession to you, 00:11:16.540 --> 00:11:17.780 that according to the way, 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:20.420 I worship the God of our fathers. 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:21.580 That's the other thing he mentions. 00:11:21.580 --> 00:11:23.560 I worship the God of our fathers. 00:11:23.680 --> 00:11:25.480 He's not worshipping a new God. 00:11:25.900 --> 00:11:29.180 He's not worshipping in a new church. 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:32.500 God has only ever had the one church, 00:11:32.540 --> 00:11:34.860 all the way through the history of the Old Testament 00:11:34.860 --> 00:11:35.860 into the New Testament, 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:38.400 right up to the present day in Stornoway Free Church. 00:11:38.620 --> 00:11:41.060 You belong to the church of the Apostle Paul. 00:11:41.900 --> 00:11:44.940 The church that worships the God of our fathers. 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:47.060 What does he mean, the God of our fathers? 00:11:47.220 --> 00:11:48.480 The God of promises. 00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:49.520 The God of truth. 00:11:49.520 --> 00:11:50.900 The God of revelation. 00:11:51.580 --> 00:11:53.720 That's who we worship today. 00:11:55.960 --> 00:11:58.000 And Paul would have recognized our worship 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:01.060 as a worship of the God he worshiped, 00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:03.120 the same true and living God. 00:12:04.060 --> 00:12:06.259 Now different, that is too, 00:12:07.060 --> 00:12:11.720 to many of the ideas that you find currently 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:15.020 in people's minds, 00:12:15.019 --> 00:12:17.419 in the church in the wider sense, 00:12:18.059 --> 00:12:21.539 where you have to adjust the Bible 00:12:21.539 --> 00:12:24.679 according to what you think is the needs of the age. 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:26.319 Whether it's to do with worship 00:12:26.319 --> 00:12:27.579 or what you believe, 00:12:27.659 --> 00:12:28.419 as we'll see in a minute. 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:29.699 He says, 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:30.360 I worship. 00:12:30.699 --> 00:12:32.579 I worship according to the way, 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:34.340 according to God's revelation. 00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:37.759 I worship the God of our fathers. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:39.860 In other words, he's saying, 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:41.620 the God Abraham worshiped, 00:12:41.680 --> 00:12:42.680 the God Noah worshiped, 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:43.820 the God Abel worshiped, 00:12:44.060 --> 00:12:45.160 the God Noah worshiped. 00:12:45.300 --> 00:12:46.480 That's the God I worship. 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:50.100 The God of covenant promises. 00:12:50.100 --> 00:12:52.779 And they stretched down through the years 00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:54.580 right to the present day. 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:56.759 And it will go on like that 00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:58.379 till the end of the world. 00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:01.740 The God of our fathers. 00:13:02.420 --> 00:13:03.899 You today as a congregation 00:13:03.899 --> 00:13:06.659 have a very rich heritage. 00:13:08.180 --> 00:13:10.899 Not because you're a free church congregation 00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:11.920 as such, 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:13.519 though that itself is precious. 00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:15.560 But because you worship 00:13:15.560 --> 00:13:17.500 the God of our fathers. 00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:19.680 You have learned the importance 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:21.419 of covenant theology. 00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:23.479 The importance of promises 00:13:23.479 --> 00:13:24.579 given to God, 00:13:24.839 --> 00:13:26.179 by God to his children 00:13:26.179 --> 00:13:27.719 and their children after them. 00:13:29.299 --> 00:13:32.439 I worship the God of our fathers. 00:13:33.719 --> 00:13:35.219 So that's the first thing I worship. 00:13:35.539 --> 00:13:37.039 But certainly, I believe. 00:13:38.359 --> 00:13:40.500 I worship the God of our fathers, 00:13:40.959 --> 00:13:42.699 believing everything laid down 00:13:42.699 --> 00:13:44.120 by the law and written in the prophets. 00:13:44.219 --> 00:13:44.599 In other words, 00:13:44.859 --> 00:13:46.199 the Old Testament scriptures 00:13:46.199 --> 00:13:47.240 as Paul had them, 00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:52.120 that was the writings of the time. 00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:54.379 Afterwards, through his own writings 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:55.220 and other apostles, 00:13:55.820 --> 00:13:56.820 they came to be added to 00:13:56.820 --> 00:13:58.320 so that you have a complete Bible 00:13:58.320 --> 00:13:59.299 now in your possession 00:13:59.299 --> 00:14:00.919 as the word of God written. 00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:02.500 But he's saying, 00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:04.580 I believe everything laid down 00:14:04.580 --> 00:14:05.379 in the law and the prophets. 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:07.980 But you notice how it's believing 00:14:07.980 --> 00:14:09.039 rather than just saying, 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:09.799 I believe. 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:12.259 I worship believing. 00:14:13.719 --> 00:14:15.099 Now that's important, isn't it? 00:14:15.259 --> 00:14:16.879 I worship believing. 00:14:17.259 --> 00:14:18.059 My worship today 00:14:18.059 --> 00:14:18.959 and you worship today 00:14:18.959 --> 00:14:19.839 or worship together 00:14:19.839 --> 00:14:22.199 is not just a man-made ritual. 00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:24.059 That's not something 00:14:24.059 --> 00:14:25.719 that's been invented by the church. 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:27.439 That's not something 00:14:27.439 --> 00:14:28.579 that's come to us 00:14:28.579 --> 00:14:29.620 without having 00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:30.799 a proper foundation 00:14:31.359 --> 00:14:32.539 in God himself. 00:14:33.459 --> 00:14:35.759 I worship believing. 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:37.860 In other words, 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:39.179 your worship today 00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:41.600 is a believing worship. 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:42.279 It's a worship 00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:44.960 in which your mind is active. 00:14:45.779 --> 00:14:47.000 In which your whole soul 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:48.019 is engaged. 00:14:48.779 --> 00:14:49.720 A worship in which 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:51.319 your emotions should be stirred. 00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:52.980 A worship in which 00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:55.379 your conscience is engaged. 00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:56.419 A worship in which 00:14:56.419 --> 00:14:58.659 your will is engaged. 00:14:59.100 --> 00:15:00.559 As to the serving of God. 00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:01.799 As to what you should be 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:02.419 in this world 00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:03.139 and I should be 00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:05.419 as people in this life. 00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:09.319 I worship believing. 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:13.379 Your love for God 00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:16.059 is not a thoughtless love. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:17.979 It's not a love 00:15:17.979 --> 00:15:19.120 just based on something 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:19.919 you've read. 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:21.860 It's not a love 00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:23.559 based on something 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:24.919 someone's told you. 00:15:25.899 --> 00:15:27.120 It's not a love 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:29.279 just copying somebody else 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:31.019 who confesses to love the Lord. 00:15:31.839 --> 00:15:33.759 It is a thinking love. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:35.720 It's a love in which 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:37.220 your thoughts are engaged 00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:38.080 when you're saying 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:39.439 I love the Lord. 00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:40.939 Why? 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:42.399 Because 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:43.919 He has saved me. 00:15:45.100 --> 00:15:46.220 Because He's worthy 00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:47.059 of my worship. 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:49.419 Because He's God. 00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:51.360 I worship 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:52.899 believing. 00:15:52.899 --> 00:15:53.740 What did he say? 00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:54.299 Believing 00:15:54.299 --> 00:15:56.319 everything laid down 00:15:56.319 --> 00:15:57.039 by the law 00:15:57.039 --> 00:15:58.240 and written in the prophets. 00:15:58.620 --> 00:15:59.620 See, Paul is not saying 00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:00.580 I worship 00:16:00.580 --> 00:16:01.779 believing the things 00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:02.860 that seem appropriate 00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:03.500 to me. 00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:05.480 I worship 00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:06.899 believing things 00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:08.500 that I would have put 00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:09.740 in my own terms 00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:11.240 other than 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:12.259 what my fathers 00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:13.079 in the Old Testament. 00:16:13.439 --> 00:16:13.939 I worship, 00:16:14.019 --> 00:16:14.240 He says, 00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:15.600 believing everything 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:16.399 in the law 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:17.819 and written in the prophets. 00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:21.460 Paul is not a cut 00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:22.820 and paste Christian. 00:16:26.040 --> 00:16:27.020 Paul doesn't come 00:16:27.020 --> 00:16:27.820 to his Bible 00:16:27.820 --> 00:16:28.420 as he had it 00:16:28.420 --> 00:16:29.060 in those days 00:16:29.060 --> 00:16:29.460 and say, 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:30.980 now which parts of that 00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:32.300 are no longer relevant 00:16:32.300 --> 00:16:33.280 for the age 00:16:33.280 --> 00:16:34.379 that I'm living in? 00:16:35.220 --> 00:16:35.900 Whether it's to do 00:16:35.900 --> 00:16:37.220 with human relationships 00:16:37.220 --> 00:16:38.320 or his relationship 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:39.120 to God 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:40.120 or the world 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:40.800 in which he lives 00:16:40.800 --> 00:16:41.500 or the church 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.200 or what the church 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:42.800 is about, 00:16:43.400 --> 00:16:44.460 none of that 00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:45.560 as far as the apostle 00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:46.299 is concerned 00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:49.019 is of human invention 00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:50.359 when he comes 00:16:50.359 --> 00:16:51.259 to read the scriptures 00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:53.579 and therefore I believe 00:16:53.579 --> 00:16:54.000 he says, 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:55.239 everything. 00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:56.759 You know, 00:16:56.939 --> 00:16:57.679 the saddest thing 00:16:57.679 --> 00:16:59.539 or one of the saddest thing 00:16:59.539 --> 00:17:00.939 today is, 00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:03.599 again speaking 00:17:03.599 --> 00:17:04.779 of the widest church 00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:06.159 in the wider sense, 00:17:06.579 --> 00:17:07.179 and this is not 00:17:07.179 --> 00:17:08.519 drawing any attention 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:09.099 to ourselves 00:17:09.099 --> 00:17:09.559 as denomination 00:17:10.179 --> 00:17:11.859 so that we can take pride 00:17:11.859 --> 00:17:12.679 in what we are, 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:15.500 but looking at the church 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:16.660 in the wider sense, 00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:19.080 when church leaders 00:17:19.080 --> 00:17:21.279 deny fundamental truths 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:22.160 of the gospel, 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:25.380 it's one of the great 00:17:25.380 --> 00:17:27.480 tragedies of our age. 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:30.039 When you find church leaders 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:30.400 saying, 00:17:30.820 --> 00:17:31.220 actually, 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:33.140 Jesus didn't rise physically 00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:34.039 from the dead, 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.539 that's just a way 00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:36.980 in which the memory 00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:37.740 of his teaching 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:39.039 was kept by the apostles 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:39.860 and handed on 00:17:39.860 --> 00:17:40.980 to their successors. 00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:42.640 Actually, 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.880 Paul wouldn't have written 00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:45.140 about human relationships, 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:46.700 men and women's relationships, 00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:48.420 if he was living today, 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.180 he wouldn't have put it 00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:49.700 in the terms 00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:50.460 in which he put it 00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:51.400 in 1 Corinthians 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:51.980 or wherever. 00:17:54.660 --> 00:17:55.900 Paul is not ultimately 00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:56.500 the author 00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:57.539 of his own letters, 00:17:58.720 --> 00:17:59.400 not as Peter, 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:00.180 not as John, 00:18:00.380 --> 00:18:01.059 not as Luke 00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:02.160 can write in the book of Acts, 00:18:02.360 --> 00:18:03.620 it's the Holy Spirit 00:18:03.620 --> 00:18:05.279 who led these people, 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:06.860 as the Bible itself says, 00:18:07.360 --> 00:18:08.599 who led these men 00:18:08.599 --> 00:18:11.279 in order to bring to us 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:12.659 the message of the gospel 00:18:12.659 --> 00:18:14.719 and God bringing it about 00:18:14.719 --> 00:18:15.319 to be written 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:16.259 for our benefit. 00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:19.879 And because it's God's word, 00:18:20.579 --> 00:18:21.699 it doesn't lie. 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:24.879 And in the strictest sense, 00:18:25.379 --> 00:18:27.799 the Bible doesn't need 00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:29.000 to be made relevant. 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:31.559 Some people will tell you, 00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:33.119 make the preaching 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:34.319 of the gospel relevant, 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:34.859 and yes, 00:18:34.899 --> 00:18:36.099 I see the point in that. 00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:37.119 But then say, 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:39.139 make the Bible relevant 00:18:39.139 --> 00:18:40.519 to the age 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.439 in which you're preaching. 00:18:41.679 --> 00:18:42.699 I don't need to make 00:18:42.699 --> 00:18:43.679 the Bible relevant. 00:18:43.959 --> 00:18:45.059 It's not my job. 00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:46.859 The Bible is already relevant 00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:48.719 because God has taken account 00:18:48.719 --> 00:18:50.379 of every single generation 00:18:50.379 --> 00:18:51.359 of human history 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:52.519 right down to the end 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:53.000 of the world, 00:18:53.059 --> 00:18:53.480 and he said, 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:55.159 this word is relevant 00:18:55.159 --> 00:18:56.179 to your needs. 00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:58.719 That's what it means. 00:19:00.099 --> 00:19:01.199 This word doesn't need 00:19:01.199 --> 00:19:02.159 to be made relevant 00:19:02.159 --> 00:19:03.599 by me or anybody else. 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:05.459 I seek to bring out 00:19:05.459 --> 00:19:06.500 its relevance 00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:08.339 to myself and to others. 00:19:08.679 --> 00:19:10.000 The already existing 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:11.159 relevance of the Bible 00:19:11.159 --> 00:19:12.980 to your circumstances today 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:14.179 and my circumstances, 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:16.000 to your needs as a congregation, 00:19:16.659 --> 00:19:17.740 the relevance is there. 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:18.699 We need to seek 00:19:18.699 --> 00:19:19.699 to bring it out 00:19:19.699 --> 00:19:21.079 and understand it more fully. 00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:25.459 Everything written, 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:28.039 everything laid down 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:28.519 by the law 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:30.099 and written in the prophets. 00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:34.279 So the greatest temptation, 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:36.179 I think it's right to say, 00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:37.819 of the church today 00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:40.619 is a temptation 00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:42.319 to see flaws in the Bible. 00:19:43.939 --> 00:19:45.099 Flaws in what the Bible 00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:45.899 tells you about 00:19:45.899 --> 00:19:46.759 the history 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:49.159 of the Old Testament 00:19:49.159 --> 00:19:50.079 or New Testament. 00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:54.240 And the greatest temptation 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:55.519 to you as a Christian 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:56.439 and to me, 00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:58.319 because of the importance 00:19:58.319 --> 00:19:59.599 of the Word of God 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.679 and knowing 00:20:00.679 --> 00:20:01.500 what this Bible 00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:02.559 actually is. 00:20:02.639 --> 00:20:02.960 And of course, 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:04.279 you always ask, 00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:06.419 not what does the Bible say 00:20:06.419 --> 00:20:07.519 as your first question, 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:09.019 but what is the Bible? 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:11.480 What is this book? 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:13.119 Before you ask, 00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:14.460 what does it say to me? 00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:15.119 You're saying, 00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:16.220 who is its author? 00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:17.139 Who's written it? 00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:19.200 And because it's God's Word, 00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:20.139 then you ask, 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:21.399 well, what is it saying to me? 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:22.919 What is God saying to me? 00:20:24.119 --> 00:20:25.399 The greatest temptation 00:20:25.399 --> 00:20:26.599 to you and to me 00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:27.559 as Christians today 00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:29.399 is the very temptation 00:20:29.399 --> 00:20:30.559 with which the devil 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:31.679 came to Adam 00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:32.220 and Eve 00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:33.299 in the Garden of Eden. 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.179 What is it? 00:20:36.399 --> 00:20:40.019 Has God really said? 00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:44.559 Has God really said that? 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:47.399 Placing doubt in your mind 00:20:47.399 --> 00:20:49.599 in regard to the reliability 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:51.679 or the veracity of God 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:54.640 and trying to deflect you 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:55.539 from the fact that 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:57.519 you are dealing with God's truth 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:59.140 when you're dealing 00:20:59.140 --> 00:20:59.799 with the Scriptures. 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:03.400 I worship believingly. 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:05.360 I worship believing 00:21:05.360 --> 00:21:07.060 all the things 00:21:07.060 --> 00:21:08.240 that are written 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.080 in the prophets 00:21:09.080 --> 00:21:10.380 and laid down by the law. 00:21:10.600 --> 00:21:10.960 Thirdly, 00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:13.060 I worship having a hope. 00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:16.500 Having this hope in God 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:18.100 which these men themselves, 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:18.940 that's his opponents, 00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:20.460 accept that there will be 00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:20.940 a resurrection 00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:21.960 of both the just 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:22.759 and the unjust, 00:21:24.100 --> 00:21:25.160 that's what his hope 00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:27.259 involves or entails. 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:28.080 It's a hope 00:21:28.080 --> 00:21:29.360 connected to 00:21:29.360 --> 00:21:30.539 the resurrection, 00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:32.940 a resurrection 00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:33.779 from the dead. 00:21:35.080 --> 00:21:35.380 Now, 00:21:35.600 --> 00:21:36.420 we haven't got time 00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:36.860 to go into 00:21:36.860 --> 00:21:37.779 that itself 00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.539 as a topic, 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:39.799 but you remember 00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.779 how he described 00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:42.100 the Ephesians 00:21:42.100 --> 00:21:43.420 in Ephesians chapter 2 00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:44.720 when Paul wrote to them 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:46.299 and how he described 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:47.400 how they once were 00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:48.100 before they came 00:21:48.100 --> 00:21:49.059 to know Christ. 00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:50.360 You where he says, 00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:51.799 without God 00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:53.799 and without hope 00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:55.240 in the world. 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.380 Without God 00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:58.900 and without hope. 00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.720 You don't have God, 00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:00.579 you don't have hope. 00:22:01.180 --> 00:22:02.700 The world speaks about hope. 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:03.680 We might ourselves 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.480 speak about hope 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:04.940 and there is 00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:06.680 a hope of a kind 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:08.220 that is really 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:09.180 no more than 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:10.440 wishful thinking. 00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:12.079 You hope something 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:12.920 will work out, 00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:14.720 but you can't guarantee 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.600 that it will work out 00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:16.380 the way you hope 00:22:16.380 --> 00:22:17.400 if you use hope 00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:18.240 in that sense. 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:21.320 Those of you 00:22:21.320 --> 00:22:22.140 at heart supporters 00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:22.600 are hoping 00:22:22.600 --> 00:22:23.500 they might win the league. 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:26.220 No guarantee of it. 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:28.100 Might yet be overtaken. 00:22:29.580 --> 00:22:30.620 But that hope, 00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:32.120 that kind of hope 00:22:32.120 --> 00:22:33.259 exists 00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:34.860 with that 00:22:34.860 --> 00:22:36.160 and many other topics 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:36.519 as well 00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.200 you can think of. 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:38.880 The Christian hope 00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:40.080 is not 00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:41.680 a hoping for the best, 00:22:42.080 --> 00:22:42.840 wondering if it's 00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:44.179 ever going to come about. 00:22:45.339 --> 00:22:46.159 The Christian hope 00:22:46.159 --> 00:22:47.819 is that positive hope, 00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:48.619 that hope 00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:50.039 that will never be put to shame, 00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:51.240 that will never be denied. 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.199 The hope 00:22:52.199 --> 00:22:53.240 that is connected 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:54.019 to the resurrection 00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:54.959 of Christ 00:22:54.959 --> 00:22:55.659 and therefore 00:22:55.659 --> 00:22:56.439 to the resurrection 00:22:56.439 --> 00:22:57.159 of his people 00:22:57.159 --> 00:22:58.079 joined to him. 00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:00.240 Having this hope 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:01.599 in God 00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:02.939 that there will be 00:23:02.939 --> 00:23:03.539 a resurrection 00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:04.740 of both the just 00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:06.279 and the unjust. 00:23:08.199 --> 00:23:08.699 You see, 00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:09.119 our hope 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:10.019 has to be based 00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:11.480 on something 00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:12.839 absolutely solid. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.480 A foundation 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.259 that's not going 00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:15.819 to change, 00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:16.859 not going to move 00:23:16.859 --> 00:23:18.379 as the events 00:23:18.379 --> 00:23:18.900 of history 00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:19.720 or the providence 00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:20.900 of your life moves. 00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:23.299 Your hope 00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:24.660 has to be something 00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:26.299 connected firmly 00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:27.799 to an unchanging, 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:29.740 unchangeable foundation. 00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:31.819 And the Christian hope 00:23:31.819 --> 00:23:32.359 is that. 00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:34.400 Because it's connected with, 00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:35.799 it's based upon 00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:37.599 the reality of Christ. 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:39.119 the reality of his death, 00:23:39.199 --> 00:23:40.480 the reality of his resurrection 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.339 particularly. 00:23:43.899 --> 00:23:45.579 And through faith in him, 00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:47.399 you believe the Bible 00:23:47.399 --> 00:23:49.779 when it tells you, 00:23:50.399 --> 00:23:51.500 because of your connection 00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:52.799 believingly to him, 00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:54.939 everything 00:23:54.939 --> 00:23:56.819 that God assures you 00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:58.639 will take place yet 00:23:58.639 --> 00:24:01.079 is in fact established already. 00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:03.619 There will be a resurrection, 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:04.299 Paul says, 00:24:04.719 --> 00:24:05.740 of the just 00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:07.019 and the unjust. 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:09.240 And all the way 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.319 through Paul's writings 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:10.880 and did through 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:11.859 the whole New Testament, 00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:12.519 you find that 00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:14.180 as very central 00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:14.880 to the preaching 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:15.720 of the apostles. 00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:17.099 The doctrine 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:18.220 of the resurrection. 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:19.740 Now we make a lot 00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:20.759 of the doctrine 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:21.779 of the death of Christ. 00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:22.900 Of course we do. 00:24:23.700 --> 00:24:24.740 Our salvation 00:24:25.400 --> 00:24:26.740 is based upon that. 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:28.779 But not without 00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.460 the resurrection 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:31.279 equally so. 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:36.399 if Jesus, 00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:37.299 as Paul put it 00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:38.579 in 1 Corinthians 15, 00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:39.279 I remember going through 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:39.879 this with you 00:24:39.879 --> 00:24:41.460 during the final part 00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:42.559 of my time here 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:42.899 with you, 00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:43.359 went through 00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:44.839 1 Corinthians 15, 00:24:44.920 --> 00:24:45.639 that wonderful 00:24:45.639 --> 00:24:47.240 detailed 00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:48.779 exposition 00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.680 of the doctrine 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:50.420 of the resurrection. 00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.259 Remember how Paul 00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:52.759 put it there. 00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:53.680 If 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:55.599 there is no 00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:56.240 resurrection 00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:57.359 of the dead, 00:24:58.279 --> 00:24:59.039 then Christ 00:24:59.039 --> 00:24:59.799 is not risen. 00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:01.859 You discount 00:25:01.859 --> 00:25:02.720 the whole idea 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.440 of resurrection, 00:25:03.879 --> 00:25:04.480 therefore Christ 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.279 is still dead. 00:25:06.419 --> 00:25:07.319 And if Christ 00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:08.079 is not risen, 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:10.259 we have no hope. 00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:12.399 If Christ 00:25:12.399 --> 00:25:13.139 is not risen, 00:25:13.639 --> 00:25:14.059 we are still, 00:25:14.159 --> 00:25:14.359 he says, 00:25:14.419 --> 00:25:15.659 in our sins. 00:25:16.659 --> 00:25:17.740 Just awaiting 00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:19.099 the judgment 00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:19.819 of God. 00:25:21.419 --> 00:25:22.119 But he says, 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:22.799 now that Christ 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.579 is risen 00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:24.700 from the dead, 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:25.940 you have 00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:26.659 a hope 00:25:26.659 --> 00:25:28.440 of eternal life. 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:29.519 A positive 00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:31.019 affirmation 00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:31.599 and hope 00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:33.139 that that will 00:25:33.139 --> 00:25:33.900 be your portion 00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:34.619 in eternity. 00:25:35.639 --> 00:25:36.139 Is that your 00:25:36.139 --> 00:25:36.759 hope today? 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.799 Don't tell me 00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:40.139 you're here 00:25:40.139 --> 00:25:40.720 just hoping 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:41.339 for the best 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:42.240 that somehow 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:43.680 things will 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:44.200 work out 00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:44.680 all right. 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:46.839 That somehow 00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:47.680 at the end 00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:48.559 of your life 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.539 and as you 00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:49.940 come from 00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:50.500 this life 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.379 into eternity, 00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:52.839 somehow, 00:25:53.119 --> 00:25:53.859 maybe you don't 00:25:53.859 --> 00:25:54.339 know how, 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:55.039 but somehow 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:55.940 things will 00:25:55.940 --> 00:25:56.400 work out 00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:57.579 positively for you. 00:25:57.579 --> 00:25:59.619 that's not 00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:00.059 hope. 00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:03.299 That's not 00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:03.740 hope. 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:06.799 That's just 00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:07.339 wishing for 00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:07.939 the best 00:26:07.939 --> 00:26:10.460 and not 00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:11.039 sure if it 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:11.339 will happen. 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:14.419 That's just 00:26:14.419 --> 00:26:14.960 taking your 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:15.359 chances, 00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:15.939 as the world 00:26:15.939 --> 00:26:16.539 would put it. 00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:18.179 That's not 00:26:18.179 --> 00:26:18.639 the hope 00:26:18.639 --> 00:26:19.539 of the gospel. 00:26:20.919 --> 00:26:21.619 Your hope 00:26:21.619 --> 00:26:22.500 is through 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:23.439 faith in 00:26:23.439 --> 00:26:23.919 Christ, 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.119 based upon 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:25.500 him, 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:26.379 based on 00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:27.120 his resurrection 00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:28.440 and looking 00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:29.700 forward to 00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:30.660 being raised 00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:31.240 with him 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.200 from the 00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:32.580 dead. 00:26:33.540 --> 00:26:34.100 Isn't that 00:26:34.100 --> 00:26:34.660 your hope? 00:26:36.560 --> 00:26:37.020 Isn't that 00:26:37.020 --> 00:26:37.580 at the center 00:26:37.580 --> 00:26:37.960 of your 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:38.700 Christian life 00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:39.220 and thinking 00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:40.080 today? 00:26:40.560 --> 00:26:40.920 What Paul 00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:41.240 is saying, 00:26:41.320 --> 00:26:41.540 this is, 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:42.420 I worship 00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:42.820 God, 00:26:42.900 --> 00:26:43.260 I worship 00:26:43.260 --> 00:26:44.080 believingly, 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.560 having this 00:26:45.560 --> 00:26:46.120 hope in 00:26:46.120 --> 00:26:46.500 God, 00:26:47.340 --> 00:26:48.040 so I 00:26:48.040 --> 00:26:48.680 always take 00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:49.000 pains. 00:26:49.100 --> 00:26:49.400 The fourth 00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:49.600 thing, 00:26:50.080 --> 00:26:50.520 I always 00:26:50.520 --> 00:26:51.060 take pains 00:26:51.060 --> 00:26:51.420 to have a 00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:52.100 clear conscience 00:26:52.100 --> 00:26:52.800 towards both 00:26:52.800 --> 00:26:53.260 God and 00:26:53.260 --> 00:26:53.620 man. 00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:53.659 man. 00:26:54.739 --> 00:26:55.119 In other 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:55.399 words, 00:26:55.739 --> 00:26:56.139 in his 00:26:56.139 --> 00:26:56.839 definition of 00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:57.299 a Christian 00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:57.859 life, 00:26:59.159 --> 00:26:59.779 Paul doesn't 00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:00.299 leave out 00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:00.919 his conscience. 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:03.379 Paul doesn't 00:27:03.379 --> 00:27:03.599 say, 00:27:03.739 --> 00:27:03.879 well, 00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:06.179 I just 00:27:06.179 --> 00:27:06.779 go about 00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:07.379 doing my 00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:07.679 best, 00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.000 but I'm 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:08.500 not too 00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.039 concerned 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:09.699 about it. 00:27:10.639 --> 00:27:11.379 I'm not 00:27:11.379 --> 00:27:12.239 too concerned 00:27:12.239 --> 00:27:12.719 about what 00:27:12.719 --> 00:27:13.419 my conscience 00:27:13.419 --> 00:27:14.079 is saying. 00:27:14.959 --> 00:27:15.659 I'm not 00:27:15.659 --> 00:27:16.479 too concerned 00:27:16.479 --> 00:27:17.619 about distinguishing 00:27:17.619 --> 00:27:18.199 right from 00:27:18.199 --> 00:27:18.939 wrong or being 00:27:18.939 --> 00:27:19.559 too strict 00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:20.500 about those 00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.199 things. 00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:21.439 No, 00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:22.059 the language 00:27:22.059 --> 00:27:22.559 Paul is 00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:23.119 using here 00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:23.500 actually, 00:27:23.899 --> 00:27:24.940 it's interesting, 00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:25.559 I always 00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:26.539 take pains. 00:27:27.899 --> 00:27:28.539 It's a 00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:29.720 word connected 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.419 with the 00:27:30.419 --> 00:27:31.619 strivings of 00:27:31.619 --> 00:27:32.359 an athlete, 00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.419 either in 00:27:33.419 --> 00:27:34.359 training or 00:27:34.359 --> 00:27:34.899 in the actual 00:27:34.899 --> 00:27:35.559 race or 00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:36.559 activity that 00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:37.000 the athlete 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.599 is involved 00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:37.779 with. 00:27:37.899 --> 00:27:38.179 And Paul 00:27:38.179 --> 00:27:39.139 frequently 00:27:39.139 --> 00:27:40.460 actually took 00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:41.839 some illustrations 00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:42.659 from the 00:27:42.659 --> 00:27:43.079 world of 00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:43.700 athletics. 00:27:44.099 --> 00:27:44.419 And he's 00:27:44.419 --> 00:27:44.960 using this 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:45.779 word of 00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:46.519 athletes in 00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.179 their training 00:27:47.179 --> 00:27:47.799 or in 00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:48.899 their exercise 00:27:48.899 --> 00:27:49.379 or running 00:27:49.379 --> 00:27:50.299 as an 00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:50.779 athlete. 00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:51.519 This he 00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:51.879 says is, 00:27:52.180 --> 00:27:52.579 what I'm 00:27:52.579 --> 00:27:53.559 like spiritually, 00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.399 as surely 00:27:55.399 --> 00:27:56.059 as an 00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:57.019 athlete takes 00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:57.619 pains, 00:27:58.119 --> 00:27:58.940 strenuously 00:27:58.940 --> 00:28:00.839 strives on 00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:01.899 day by day 00:28:01.899 --> 00:28:03.440 to improve 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:03.740 on their 00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.319 performance. 00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:05.899 That's how I 00:28:05.899 --> 00:28:06.339 am as a 00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:06.700 Christian. 00:28:08.379 --> 00:28:09.160 I take 00:28:09.160 --> 00:28:10.859 pains with 00:28:10.859 --> 00:28:11.220 what? 00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:12.619 With my 00:28:12.619 --> 00:28:13.059 conscience. 00:28:15.619 --> 00:28:16.259 And it's 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:16.660 not enough 00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:17.139 for Paul 00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:17.539 to say, 00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:18.519 I take 00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.079 pains in 00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:19.619 regard to 00:28:19.619 --> 00:28:20.519 my conscience 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.379 between 00:28:21.379 --> 00:28:22.239 myself and 00:28:22.239 --> 00:28:22.679 God. 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:23.399 That is 00:28:23.399 --> 00:28:23.839 ultimately 00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:24.299 the case 00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:24.639 for him. 00:28:24.899 --> 00:28:25.239 But he's 00:28:25.239 --> 00:28:25.519 saying I 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:26.319 take pains 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:27.459 to have 00:28:27.459 --> 00:28:27.899 a clear 00:28:27.899 --> 00:28:28.519 conscience 00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:29.359 toward 00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:30.299 both 00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:30.739 God 00:28:30.739 --> 00:28:31.839 and 00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:32.299 man. 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:34.359 He's 00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:34.579 not 00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:34.879 leaving 00:28:34.879 --> 00:28:35.159 out 00:28:35.159 --> 00:28:35.659 his 00:28:35.659 --> 00:28:36.399 relationships 00:28:36.399 --> 00:28:36.899 with his 00:28:36.899 --> 00:28:37.119 fellow 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:37.479 human 00:28:37.479 --> 00:28:38.059 beings. 00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:39.139 It's 00:28:39.139 --> 00:28:39.559 not enough 00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:39.939 for him 00:28:39.939 --> 00:28:40.379 to say, 00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:40.899 I'm 00:28:40.899 --> 00:28:41.299 persuaded 00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:41.559 my 00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:41.959 conscience 00:28:41.959 --> 00:28:42.439 is clean 00:28:42.439 --> 00:28:42.759 between 00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.219 myself 00:28:43.219 --> 00:28:43.439 and 00:28:43.439 --> 00:28:43.839 God 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:45.079 irrespective 00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:45.379 of how 00:28:45.379 --> 00:28:45.799 I live 00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:46.479 in relation 00:28:46.479 --> 00:28:46.899 to other 00:28:46.899 --> 00:28:47.319 people. 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:49.139 He said 00:28:49.139 --> 00:28:49.439 I need 00:28:49.439 --> 00:28:49.819 a clear 00:28:49.819 --> 00:28:50.519 conscience 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.919 in all 00:28:51.919 --> 00:28:52.119 my 00:28:52.119 --> 00:28:52.720 relationships 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.319 with my 00:28:53.319 --> 00:28:53.599 fellow 00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:53.939 human 00:28:53.939 --> 00:28:54.480 beings. 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.179 I need 00:28:56.179 --> 00:28:56.460 to make 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:56.759 sure that 00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:56.960 my 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:57.319 conscience 00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:57.599 is 00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:57.960 clean. 00:28:58.679 --> 00:28:59.240 I need 00:28:59.240 --> 00:28:59.859 to attend 00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:00.519 to the 00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:00.919 things that 00:29:00.919 --> 00:29:01.279 I know 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:01.839 are still 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:02.399 wrong in 00:29:02.399 --> 00:29:02.939 my life. 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:03.539 I need 00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:04.039 to attend 00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:04.799 to how 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.339 I speak 00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:05.839 to people. 00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:06.559 I need 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:07.019 to attend 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.819 to how 00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:08.419 I react 00:29:08.419 --> 00:29:08.859 to people, 00:29:08.939 --> 00:29:09.159 how I 00:29:09.159 --> 00:29:09.579 respond 00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:10.220 to people 00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:12.159 because I 00:29:12.159 --> 00:29:12.500 need to 00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:12.879 keep a 00:29:12.879 --> 00:29:13.119 clear 00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:13.779 conscience 00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.980 between 00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:15.399 God, 00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:16.119 between 00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:16.779 myself and 00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:18.079 God and 00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:18.779 myself and 00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:19.160 man. 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.259 And we 00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:22.599 need to 00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:24.059 keep both 00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:24.399 of these 00:29:24.399 --> 00:29:25.059 in place. 00:29:26.639 --> 00:29:27.299 Clear 00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:27.940 conscience. 00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.420 I 00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:31.899 worship. 00:29:32.899 --> 00:29:33.579 I 00:29:33.579 --> 00:29:34.019 worship 00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:34.940 believingly. 00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:38.119 I have 00:29:38.119 --> 00:29:38.639 a hope 00:29:38.639 --> 00:29:39.660 connected 00:29:39.660 --> 00:29:39.960 to 00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.559 resurrection. 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:42.960 I 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:43.259 take 00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:43.720 pains. 00:29:43.899 --> 00:29:44.000 I 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:44.720 strive. 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:46.759 I 00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.920 strive to 00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:48.180 have a 00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:48.440 clear 00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:49.200 conscience 00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:50.640 towards 00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:51.140 both 00:29:51.140 --> 00:29:51.440 God 00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:51.620 and 00:29:51.620 --> 00:29:52.100 man. 00:29:54.120 --> 00:29:54.360 Now 00:29:54.360 --> 00:29:54.779 every one 00:29:54.779 --> 00:29:55.100 of us, 00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:55.440 myself 00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:56.019 included, 00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:57.240 comes 00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:57.799 very far 00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:58.279 short 00:29:58.279 --> 00:29:59.420 in each 00:29:59.420 --> 00:29:59.779 and all 00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:00.140 of these 00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:00.500 four 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:01.200 concepts. 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:03.339 Our 00:30:03.339 --> 00:30:03.880 worship is 00:30:03.880 --> 00:30:04.299 never what 00:30:04.299 --> 00:30:04.600 it should 00:30:04.600 --> 00:30:04.880 be. 00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:06.339 It's 00:30:06.339 --> 00:30:06.759 never as 00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:07.140 pure as 00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:07.460 it should 00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:07.680 be, 00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.440 personally, 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:09.579 individually, 00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:10.180 even 00:30:10.180 --> 00:30:10.680 collectively. 00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:13.519 our 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.200 believing is 00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:14.460 never 00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:14.940 without 00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:16.140 some 00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:17.420 doubt 00:30:17.420 --> 00:30:17.799 or other 00:30:17.799 --> 00:30:18.200 creeping 00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:18.580 in, 00:30:19.420 --> 00:30:20.259 not into 00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:20.420 the 00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:20.779 believing 00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:21.180 itself, 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:21.539 but to 00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:22.039 accompany 00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:22.600 my 00:30:22.600 --> 00:30:23.019 believing. 00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:25.160 And 00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:25.480 sometimes 00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:25.880 we have 00:30:25.880 --> 00:30:26.259 to come 00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:27.480 and ask 00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:27.820 God's 00:30:27.820 --> 00:30:28.279 forgiveness 00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:29.640 for our 00:30:29.640 --> 00:30:30.340 slowness to 00:30:30.340 --> 00:30:30.900 believe what 00:30:30.900 --> 00:30:31.240 he says 00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:31.519 in his 00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:31.960 word. 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:34.560 And I 00:30:34.560 --> 00:30:34.880 have a 00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:35.279 hope. 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:36.900 It's not 00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:37.220 a hope 00:30:37.220 --> 00:30:37.539 that's 00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:38.360 undisturbed 00:30:38.360 --> 00:30:38.720 some of 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:39.140 the time. 00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:40.860 So I 00:30:40.860 --> 00:30:40.980 have 00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:41.460 questions 00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:41.960 and doubts 00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:42.680 creeping in. 00:30:45.060 --> 00:30:45.700 And I 00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:46.019 keep a 00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:46.240 clear 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:46.720 conscience. 00:30:46.860 --> 00:30:46.940 I 00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:47.539 strive. 00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:49.620 But every 00:30:49.620 --> 00:30:49.960 day I 00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:50.240 need to 00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:50.560 come to 00:30:50.560 --> 00:30:50.940 God and 00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:51.100 say, 00:30:51.160 --> 00:30:51.320 Lord, 00:30:51.420 --> 00:30:51.880 forgive me. 00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:53.380 I have 00:30:53.380 --> 00:30:54.000 not striven 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:54.420 the way I 00:30:54.420 --> 00:30:55.920 should to 00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:56.400 keep my 00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:56.840 conscience 00:30:56.840 --> 00:30:57.660 clean today. 00:30:59.039 --> 00:30:59.640 But you 00:30:59.640 --> 00:31:00.120 know what? 00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:01.660 Your 00:31:01.660 --> 00:31:02.060 worship, 00:31:02.660 --> 00:31:03.080 your 00:31:03.080 --> 00:31:03.560 believing, 00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:04.519 your 00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:04.920 hope, 00:31:05.860 --> 00:31:06.140 you're 00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:06.440 taking 00:31:06.440 --> 00:31:07.140 pains. 00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:09.640 All the 00:31:09.640 --> 00:31:10.019 things that 00:31:10.019 --> 00:31:10.519 you confess 00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:10.960 are still 00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:13.440 wrong are 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:13.940 all to be 00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:14.579 brought under 00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:15.299 the provision 00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:15.940 of Jesus 00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:16.539 Christ. 00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:19.940 Because God 00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:21.259 will accept 00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:23.019 you with 00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:23.379 all your 00:31:23.379 --> 00:31:23.920 faults and 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:25.799 mine when 00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:26.440 Christ is 00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:27.079 your covering, 00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:29.319 when Christ 00:31:29.319 --> 00:31:29.819 is your 00:31:29.819 --> 00:31:30.160 Savior, 00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.079 when God 00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:32.819 sees you 00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:34.740 through 00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:35.180 Christ 00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:35.779 himself, 00:31:36.779 --> 00:31:38.339 related to 00:31:38.339 --> 00:31:38.680 him, 00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:38.740 him, 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.320 so you 00:31:40.320 --> 00:31:40.700 stand 00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:41.100 before 00:31:41.100 --> 00:31:41.480 him, 00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:43.620 judicially 00:31:43.620 --> 00:31:45.220 as if 00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:45.420 you've 00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:45.660 never 00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:46.240 sinned, 00:31:47.240 --> 00:31:47.860 and 00:31:47.860 --> 00:31:48.480 actually 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:50.299 in a 00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:50.640 way that 00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:51.220 still goes 00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:51.660 on being 00:31:51.660 --> 00:31:52.440 sanctified, 00:31:53.120 --> 00:31:54.000 till you 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:54.340 come to 00:31:54.340 --> 00:31:55.279 be glorified. 00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:57.200 Worship, 00:31:57.860 --> 00:31:58.460 believing, 00:31:59.360 --> 00:31:59.820 having a 00:31:59.820 --> 00:32:00.140 hope, 00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:01.860 and taking 00:32:01.860 --> 00:32:02.600 pains with 00:32:02.600 --> 00:32:03.259 your conscience. 00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:04.279 May God 00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:04.779 bless these 00:32:04.779 --> 00:32:05.880 thoughts on 00:32:05.880 --> 00:32:06.280 his word 00:32:06.280 --> 00:32:06.780 to us 00:32:06.780 --> 00:32:07.060 today. 00:32:07.420 --> 00:32:07.720 We're 00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:07.920 going to 00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:08.180 sing in 00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:08.580 conclusion 00:32:08.580 --> 00:32:09.020 now from 00:32:09.020 --> 00:32:09.960 Psalm 62, 00:32:11.380 --> 00:32:12.260 Psalm 00:32:12.260 --> 00:32:13.040 number 62 00:32:13.040 --> 00:32:13.720 in the 00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:14.460 Scottish 00:32:14.460 --> 00:32:14.940 Psalter, 00:32:15.740 --> 00:32:16.020 to the 00:32:16.020 --> 00:32:16.820 tune Amazing 00:32:16.820 --> 00:32:17.280 Grace, 00:32:17.840 --> 00:32:18.600 verses 5 00:32:18.600 --> 00:32:19.120 to 8. 00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:25.659 Psalm 62 00:32:25.659 --> 00:32:41.199 verses 5 00:32:41.199 --> 00:32:41.819 to 8 00:32:41.819 --> 00:32:42.259 of Psalm 00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:43.019 62, 00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:43.819 my soul 00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:44.799 wait thou 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:45.019 with 00:32:45.019 --> 00:32:45.479 patience. 00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:53.500 my soul 00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:54.579 wait thou 00:32:54.579 --> 00:32:57.440 with 00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:57.579 patience 00:32:57.579 --> 00:33:02.579 upon 00:33:02.579 --> 00:33:05.460 thy God 00:33:05.460 --> 00:33:09.059 alone 00:33:09.059 --> 00:33:25.379 On Him dependeth all my hope and expectation. 00:33:25.380 --> 00:33:45.540 He only my salvation is, and my strong rock is He. 00:33:45.539 --> 00:34:03.619 He only is my sure defense, I shall not live at He. 00:34:03.619 --> 00:34:21.619 In God my glory place it is, and my salvation sure. 00:34:21.619 --> 00:34:39.619 In God the rock is of my strength, my refuge most secure. 00:34:39.619 --> 00:34:57.619 Ye people, place your confidence in Him continually. 00:34:57.619 --> 00:35:09.299 Before Him pour, be out your heart. 00:35:09.699 --> 00:35:17.239 God is our refuge high. 00:35:18.339 --> 00:35:20.880 Please allow me to get to the main door after the benediction. 00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:25.759 Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, 00:35:25.760 --> 00:35:29.960 and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you now and evermore. 00:35:30.200 --> 00:35:30.500 Amen. 00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:56.760 Amen. 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:56.760 00:36:25.760 --> 00:36:55.740 Thank you. 00:36:55.760 --> 00:37:25.740 Thank you.