WEBVTT

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 You might be wondering why, when I've got the whole Bible to choose from this evening,

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 I decided to speak on refreshers.

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 It wasn't just so I could put some packs of sweets on your pews, but please do feel to

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 suck or to crunch if it still takes you while I'm speaking.

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 The reason why I've chosen to speak on this is to do with 2 Timothy.

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 We've just finished 2 Timothy, and in 2 Timothy there's a character called Onesiphorus.

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 Onesiphorus, I think, is one of the great unsung heroes of the New Testament.

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 He's been described as Paul's pastor because he was the man who went to Paul when he was

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 in prison and who ministered to him.

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 And I was thinking in a slightly random way that Onesiphorus sounds a bit like Onesimus.

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 Onesimus is the subject, as you know, of the book of Philemon.

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 The two names mean much the same thing.

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 They're people who are profitable.

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 I then thought, oh, these two men actually have quite a lot of similarities.

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 They came from fairly close together.

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 Onesimus was from Colossae, and Onesiphorus was from Ephesus, both in what was then Asia,

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 the province of Asia, today part of Turkey.

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 Both men ended up in Rome.

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 Onesiphorus, perhaps they're in business.

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 Onesimus, because he had run away from his master Philemon.

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 Both men, when they were in Rome, met Paul.

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 Now, not at the same time, because Onesimus was during Paul's first imprisonment in Rome

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 when he was under house arrest.

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 Onesiphorus was towards the end when Paul was in trial for his life.

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 So it was during Paul's second and much more arduous imprisonment.

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 And Paul wrote very warmly about both of them to Philemon and to Timothy.

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 And in writing about them, both times Paul wrote about being refreshed.

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 That eventually got to the point.

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 Paul wrote about being refreshed.

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 And I thought, this is something that was obviously really important to Paul.

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 That these men had refreshed him, and it made quite a big difference to him in difficult circumstances.

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 I thought, I can't remember ever hearing anyone speaking about being a refresher.

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 I've heard of people speaking about encouraging, usually using Barnabas as the prime example.

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 But never heard of anyone speaking about what it means to refresh others.

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 So I thought, this evening, we'll redress the balance a bit.

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 We're going to think about the importance of refreshing others.

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 And we're going to encourage each other to be refreshers.

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 I'm going to do something that's a little bit different from the normal this evening.

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 I'm going to name names.

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 So as we go along, I'm going to mention a few people who I think are really good examples in our church.

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 Of those who show the characteristics of refreshers.

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 Now, please don't be offended if I don't mention you.

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 You may well be as good as anyone else at it.

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 And it's just I didn't have to think of you.

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 They're only examples.

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 But I think it's good to recognize these people.

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 And we'll come back to that towards the end.

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 The importance of recognizing other people.

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 But let's begin with God's word.

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 We're going to read a few verses from Philemon and then a few verses from 2 Timothy.

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 If you want to turn to them.

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 It's Philemon.

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 Only has one chapter.

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 So nice and easy.

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 And we're going to read verse 7 and then from verse 20 onwards.

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 So Paul writes to Philemon, your love has given me great joy and encouragement because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people.

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 And then he goes on a bit and he has his appeal to Philemon about Onesimus explaining how he's become a Christian, asking him to receive him back.

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 And in verse 20, he says, I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord.

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 Refresh my heart in Christ.

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 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

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 So that's Philemon and Onesimus.

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 Let's move over to 2 Timothy.

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 2 Timothy chapter 1.

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 And just a few verses to talk about Onesiphorus there.

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 2 Timothy chapter 1.

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 I'm reading from verse 16.

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 And Paul writes,

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 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.

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 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me.

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 May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day.

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 You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.

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 Now we will read a few more verses as we go along this evening.

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 But for the moment, I'm sure God will bless his word to us.

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 So what does it mean to refresh somebody?

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 Well, I think the best way to understand that is to understand a little bit about the Greek word that is translated as refresh in our New Testament.

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 And it's exactly the same Greek word as it's used elsewhere to talk about rest.

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 Rest.

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 So rest and refresh, the most common word for refresh in the New Testament, they're the same word.

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 Now I guess we could say that rest is what I do to myself.

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 I have a rest.

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 I go to sleep or whatever.

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 Refreshment is what I do to somebody else.

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 I rest them.

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 I give them rest.

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 Now sometimes that could be in a literal, physical sense.

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 That we say to someone, I want to help you in your work for the Lord.

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 I want to give you a bit of a break from it.

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 And I'll take over what you're doing for a while.

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 A true example, a few weeks ago, John Gemmo came to me and he said,

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 you don't need to come to Friday Fun Zone this evening.

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 I'll do your door duty for you.

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 Now I love being at the door at Friday Fun Zone.

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 It's a great privilege.

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 But I was quite tired.

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 There were family reasons why it was quite good to be at home.

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 And I was really glad of that period of rest.

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 It wasn't exactly a three-month sabbatical, but it really meant quite a lot to me.

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 And I think it's really good we all need rest from a Christian activity.

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 Sometimes we can say to someone, assuming we've got the gifts and the ability to do it,

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 I'll just take your duty for a short time to give you a rest from it.

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 But I don't think that's actually the main meaning of the word refresh or what rest means in this context.

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 It's not rest from work, I'd suggest.

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 It's rest in work.

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 So refreshing is about reviving us in the work we're doing.

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 It is about re-energizing us.

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 It is about giving us a real peace and a confidence in what we do at a time when we might be flagging,

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 when we might be finding things a little bit difficult.

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 And I think rest is different from encouragement in an important sense.

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 Now, the two are obviously quite related.

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 Encouragers will also be good refreshers.

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 But I suggest encouragement is largely something that we focus on with younger Christians.

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 Christians, we want to encourage younger Christians to serve the Lord and to be involved in service.

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 And we encourage them to do things.

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 And we encourage them in the things they do to help them to develop.

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 And that's great.

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 And that is a very, very important ministry.

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 If we think of Barnabas as being the classic example of an encourager, who did he encourage?

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 He encouraged the young church at Jerusalem when he sold his field.

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 He encouraged the apostle Paul as he was a young Christian.

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 He went and got him from Tarsus and took him to Antioch.

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 He encouraged the young church at Antioch, young Christians there.

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 He encouraged his nephew John Mark, again a young Christian.

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 And he didn't give up on him when Mark failed the first time round.

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 So largely, not entirely, but largely the ministry of encouragement is directed towards younger Christians.

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 I suggest the ministry of refreshment is more often directed towards those who've been on the road for a while.

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 We're just starting out in a race.

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 Then we don't generally need a rest very quickly.

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 As we're going on, as we've been doing it for quite a long time, at that point we've reached the stage where actually a rest and refreshment is something that we really need.

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 So I wouldn't make too big a distinction in it, but I think probably refreshment is more helping those who've been on the road for a while to keep going in their ministry.

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 And hopefully encouragement is helping those who are just starting out in their ministry for the Lord.

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 Now before we think about these two characters, particularly a few others in the New Testament,

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 I thought it would be good to think for a few minutes, well why is it that we need refreshers?

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 Why do we need to be refreshed?

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 And as we think about this, we're also going to note that refreshment is very much a work of God.

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 We'll think about what God does over the next few minutes, and then we'll think of some of the examples in the New Testament and one or two from Brunsfield a little bit later on.

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 So why do we need refreshers?

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 Well we need refreshers when we're going through times of difficulty.

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 We have Paul here in 2 Timothy, and he's in prison.

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 And everyone has deserted him, and he's on trial for his life.

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 And it really means a lot to him that someone is able to come in and to refresh him and to revitalise and revive him and give him something of the joy of the Lord again.

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 And in lots of circumstances, we probably need that too when we face problems in our lives.

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 Not hopefully imprisonment, but if we have problems with illness, with work, with family.

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 And lots of different situations where something happens in our life, and we think this is making the going really hard for me.

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 And someone can then come along and help us and refresh us in our time of difficulty.

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 There's a verse in 2 Peter.

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 1 Peter 4, where Peter writes,

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 What does it mean the Spirit rests?

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 The Spirit's not taking a rest.

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 The Spirit resting on you, I think, is the Spirit refreshing you, reviving you, revitalising you.

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 You're being insulted for the name of the Lord.

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 You're being persecuted in your Christian faith.

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 And in a very special way, the Spirit is then there with you and helping and encouraging and strengthening you.

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 And when we go through times of difficulty, it's great to know that alongside our human refreshers,

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 we have the Spirit of God who is resting on us and who is helping us to get through our time of difficulty.

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 So we need refreshment because we all have from time to time problems in our lives.

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 We need refreshers too because we suffer from weariness.

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 Dale Ralph Davis had a couple of expressions I quite liked to do with this.

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 He says,

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 Most Christians aren't run over, but they're quite often run down.

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 In other words, we don't have all these big crises sometimes in our lives,

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 but for a lot of us, we just gradually get wearier and wearier.

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 And the other thing he said is,

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 You tend not to get zapped in Christian ministry, but you often get sapped.

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 So in other words, you don't again have the big thing that knocks you out,

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 but just the regular working, serving the Lord, serving his people,

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 it can lead for us to times of weariness.

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 You may guess where I'm going now in the scripture.

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 Matthew chapter 11, the Lord Jesus says,

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 Come to me, oh, you are wearied and burdened,

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 and I will give you rest or I will refresh you.

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 The Lord doesn't say, I'm not going to stop you doing any work.

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 The Lord is saying, I'm going to come alongside you,

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 and I'm going to help you take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

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 for I am gentle and humble in heart,

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 and you will find rest, you will find refreshment for your souls.

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 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

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 And when we come across situations where we are wearier,

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 and I guess all of us involved in Christian service from time to time,

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 we experience that weariness.

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 It's good if we can know the presence of the Lord with us,

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 to reflect on the fact that he has been through a life of total devotion

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 to his Father and to serving others.

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 And he is willing to come alongside us and to teach us.

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 And when he does that, he will refresh us.

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 He will give us rest for our souls.

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 So we need refreshers.

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 We need refreshment because we get weary.

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 And then thirdly, I think we need refreshment from time to time

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 because we can get discouraged.

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 One of the greatest things, I think, that brings down people in Christian work

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 is when they've been doing something for a long time

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 and either not really seeing the results that they'd hoped for,

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 or whether something happens that seems to damage or destroy

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 the ministry they've been working on for a long time.

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 One of the things I particularly realised through being more involved

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 in the work in Pilton and Muir House

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 is how much the normal things that come across Christian workers

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 are there to an even greater extent

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 and can happen an awful lot more quickly.

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 A few years ago, Bridget and I went to a Scripture Union event.

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 And at that event, the programme had the story

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 of one of the young people from Muir House on the back.

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 And people were really thrilled at what God was doing.

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 And then just a fairly short time afterwards,

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 this particular young person decided

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 they didn't want to follow Jesus anymore

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 and that they weren't going to live as a Christian.

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 And you can imagine for those involved in a work like that,

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 you've got someone who seems to be doing really well

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 and then suddenly they've gone back.

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 And you see that quite regularly, I think,

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 in the kind of work that John and Peter and the others

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 are involved in Muir House.

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 And just from time to time,

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 you can just see their heads going down a little bit

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 if there's been a few things on the go

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 and then they revive, they get encouraged again

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 and they pick up.

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 And for all of us, there is that danger of discouragement.

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 If you're really involved, you're really passionate

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 about a work for the Lord,

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 there is a danger at times you will get quite discouraged in it.

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 A couple of verses from the Old Testament.

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 I'm slightly shorned in here,

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 but there are ones I wanted to refer to this evening.

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 I think they probably fit in this context.

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 Psalm 23.

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 This is the NIV translation.

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 He makes me lie down in green pastures.

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 He leads me beside quiet waters.

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 He refreshes my soul.

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 The traditional version, of course,

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 he restores my soul means very much the same thing.

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 So when we go through times of discouragement,

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 what should we do?

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 We should look to the Lord.

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 We should recognize that he is the one who is able to give us rest

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 and to refresh us.

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 Perhaps we should go away to the quiet place,

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 the quiet waters,

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 where he's able to speak to us

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 and to minister to us

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 and our souls will be refreshed.

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 And a few sounds back from that,

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 Psalm 19.

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 Psalm 19, which talks to us about the wonders of creation

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 and then talks to us about the greatness of the law.

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 And Psalm 19, verse 7 says,

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 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.

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 So if we're discouraged, if we're finally going hard,

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 what do we do?

00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:13.840
 Get our Bibles out.

00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:16.600
 Look for what God has to say to us

00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:18.819
 and he from his word will encourage

00:15:18.819 --> 00:15:22.500
 and will strengthen and will revive us.

00:15:22.899 --> 00:15:27.439
 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.

00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:33.420
 Okay, so that by kind of way of a quite long introduction.

00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:36.980
 Let's look now at some examples of refreshers

00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:38.160
 from the New Testament,

00:15:38.300 --> 00:15:39.760
 and particularly these two men.

00:15:40.880 --> 00:15:43.100
 It's Philemon actually rather than Onesimus

00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:45.020
 is the one Paul talks about refreshing others

00:15:45.020 --> 00:15:46.980
 and then Onesiphorus.

00:15:47.040 --> 00:15:49.840
 What are the characteristics that people might have

00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:51.440
 if we call them refreshing?

00:15:51.540 --> 00:15:53.420
 Now I think most of us will have a few of these,

00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.460
 probably not all of them,

00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:56.660
 so it's not by any means you have to have all of these

00:15:56.660 --> 00:15:58.040
 to be able to refresh anybody,

00:15:58.360 --> 00:15:59.639
 but they're the kind of things

00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:02.460
 that might be a characteristic of those

00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:03.700
 who refresh others.

00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:06.000
 So I'm suggesting first of all

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:08.800
 that refreshers love people.

00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:10.960
 First verse we read from Philemon,

00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:14.840
 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement

00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:17.440
 because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts

00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:18.660
 of the Lord's people.

00:16:18.780 --> 00:16:22.100
 And Paul very much emphasizes Philemon's love

00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:25.940
 for the people of God in this short book.

00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:27.800
 So I suggest refreshers love people.

00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:30.019
 Now, as Christians, all of us should love people.

00:16:30.420 --> 00:16:33.000
 We love God, we love our brothers and sisters,

00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:35.940
 we love those who don't yet know the Lord Jesus,

00:16:36.040 --> 00:16:38.820
 our neighbours in the world round about us.

00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:41.620
 But some of us are better at expressing our love

00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:42.540
 through service,

00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:45.019
 and others are better at expressing their love

00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:47.279
 through interacting with others.

00:16:47.420 --> 00:16:49.860
 Some of us are kind of, by nature, backroom people,

00:16:49.860 --> 00:16:53.340
 others are much better at talking to people,

00:16:53.680 --> 00:16:57.080
 at encouraging, at refreshing them.

00:16:58.320 --> 00:16:59.879
 One of the things that kind of excises

00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:01.159
 the minds of the elders quite a lot,

00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:02.919
 we had a discussion with John and Rachel about it

00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:04.059
 just last week,

00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:07.779
 is how we welcome and integrate people into the church.

00:17:07.900 --> 00:17:09.579
 And one of the things that really concerns us

00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:10.960
 is if people come into the church

00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:13.160
 and they sit through the service and go out again,

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:15.759
 and they don't really have anyone talking to them

00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:17.440
 or interacting with them.

00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:21.440
 Now for some of us, that is quite a difficult thing to do,

00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:22.039
 to interact.

00:17:22.100 --> 00:17:23.580
 We have to really kind of force ourselves

00:17:23.580 --> 00:17:25.299
 to go up and talk to strangers.

00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:27.960
 Other people are really good at it,

00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:29.220
 and I'm not saying it's easy for them,

00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:32.680
 but it seems to come a lot more straightforwardly to them.

00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:36.559
 They have that gift that they can interact well with people.

00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:38.259
 I'm blessed with a wife who's like that,

00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:40.019
 and quite often I'm able to go along

00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:41.019
 when she's talked to someone,

00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:42.640
 and I can kind of get the introduction

00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:44.960
 without having to make the first approach myself.

00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:46.340
 And that's quite a good thing to do.

00:17:46.360 --> 00:17:47.579
 But some people, I think,

00:17:47.620 --> 00:17:50.880
 are really good at talking to those whom they don't know.

00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:52.460
 And some of us not so good,

00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:55.100
 but we need to make a bit of effort.

00:17:55.600 --> 00:17:58.500
 So there's one thing all of us could try to do.

00:17:59.100 --> 00:18:00.759
 But in the particular context of Philemon,

00:18:01.319 --> 00:18:02.960
 the way Philemon showed his love,

00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:05.200
 especially to the people in Colossae,

00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:06.579
 was he had the church,

00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:07.620
 he had his home,

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.240
 in his home.

00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:09.240
 He had the people along,

00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:10.980
 he showed them hospitality.

00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:13.700
 And that ministry of hospitality

00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:15.940
 is something that is really important

00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:17.480
 and is really valuable.

00:18:17.579 --> 00:18:17.940
 And again,

00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:19.920
 from a discussion with Johnny and Rachel on Tuesday,

00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:21.160
 we will be making some suggestions

00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:22.319
 over the next week while

00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:23.799
 about how we as a church

00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:24.980
 could be better perhaps

00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:25.900
 at showing hospitality,

00:18:26.460 --> 00:18:27.920
 particularly to new people

00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:28.980
 when they come.

00:18:29.860 --> 00:18:31.259
 Now there are lots of people already

00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:32.259
 in this church

00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:33.000
 who are very good

00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:34.839
 at showing hospitality.

00:18:35.620 --> 00:18:35.920
 And again,

00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:36.420
 I'm going to,

00:18:36.860 --> 00:18:38.000
 hopefully not be divisive

00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:39.079
 by sending me out people,

00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:40.700
 but I wanted to mention Ian and Nan,

00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:42.539
 and I wanted to mention Ian and Nan particularly,

00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:43.799
 because when our kids

00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:44.740
 were a little bit younger

00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.600
 a few years ago,

00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:46.680
 they made a point

00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:47.580
 of inviting them out

00:18:47.580 --> 00:18:48.860
 separately from us.

00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:49.620
 So it wasn't,

00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:50.519
 we were invited along

00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:51.180
 and the kids kind of

00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:52.140
 came along with us.

00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:52.940
 Ian and Nan

00:18:52.940 --> 00:18:54.100
 invited our children together,

00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:55.400
 gave them some identity

00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:57.279
 and had something suitable

00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:58.779
 for them that evening.

00:18:59.080 --> 00:18:59.940
 Now lots of others said

00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:00.799
 very good hospitality,

00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:02.000
 I'm sure equally thoughtful

00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:04.000
 in the way you go about it.

00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:05.960
 But it's a really great ministry

00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:07.240
 and a way to show

00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:08.460
 God's love to others

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:10.519
 and to refresh them

00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:12.640
 in their Christian life.

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:15.400
 Refreshers love people.

00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:18.740
 Second thing I suggest

00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:19.900
 is that refreshers

00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:21.779
 recognize God's work.

00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.759
 Refreshers look at something

00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.960
 and they can say,

00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:26.480
 I can really see God

00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.360
 at work here

00:19:27.360 --> 00:19:30.420
 and I'm rejoicing in it.

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:32.579
 That's what Paul's relying on

00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:33.500
 with Philemon.

00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:35.460
 Philemon's got this slave,

00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:36.180
 Onesimus,

00:19:36.340 --> 00:19:37.640
 who appears to have run away

00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:38.880
 and perhaps stolen something

00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.940
 from Philemon.

00:19:40.380 --> 00:19:41.360
 And Paul is sending

00:19:41.360 --> 00:19:42.299
 Onesimus back

00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:43.000
 and saying,

00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:43.519
 Philemon,

00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:44.519
 he's become a Christian,

00:19:44.900 --> 00:19:45.720
 he's now a brother

00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:46.460
 in the Lord,

00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:48.259
 will you receive him back?

00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:51.360
 And fairly clearly,

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.400
 Paul is also saying,

00:19:52.460 --> 00:19:53.120
 well not directly,

00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:54.180
 will you receive him back

00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:55.340
 but not as a slave, please?

00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:57.819
 He's now your brother

00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:59.519
 rather than being a slave.

00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:00.620
 He does it very cleverly.

00:20:00.619 --> 00:20:03.619
 And we read how Paul says

00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:04.619
 that Philemon refreshes

00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.759
 the hearts of God's people.

00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:08.579
 A little bit later on,

00:20:08.899 --> 00:20:09.579
 Paul says,

00:20:09.659 --> 00:20:11.199
 Onesimus is my heart.

00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:13.639
 And then second part we read,

00:20:13.919 --> 00:20:14.539
 Paul says,

00:20:14.739 --> 00:20:15.879
 refresh my heart.

00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:17.979
 So very much directing Philemon

00:20:17.979 --> 00:20:19.879
 to say you receive Onesimus back

00:20:19.879 --> 00:20:21.159
 and you rejoice

00:20:21.159 --> 00:20:22.500
 in what God has done

00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:23.459
 in his life.

00:20:23.479 --> 00:20:24.899
 And I'm quite sure Philemon did.

00:20:25.719 --> 00:20:26.579
 But it would have been easy

00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:27.699
 for someone in his situation

00:20:27.699 --> 00:20:28.119
 to say,

00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:30.279
 so Onesimus managed

00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:31.259
 to get around Paul.

00:20:31.459 --> 00:20:32.839
 He's pretended to be a Christian.

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:33.679
 I'm going to have nothing

00:20:33.679 --> 00:20:34.419
 to do with him.

00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:35.779
 And very important

00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:37.099
 that he was able to see

00:20:37.099 --> 00:20:38.899
 that God had worked

00:20:38.899 --> 00:20:40.699
 in Onesimus' life

00:20:40.699 --> 00:20:42.419
 and to be able to receive him

00:20:42.419 --> 00:20:43.399
 as a brother

00:20:43.399 --> 00:20:45.319
 in the Lord Jesus.

00:20:46.619 --> 00:20:47.339
 There's another example

00:20:47.339 --> 00:20:48.679
 Paul gives of refreshers.

00:20:48.919 --> 00:20:50.559
 Next we read from Romans chapter 15.

00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:51.539
 He says,

00:20:51.619 --> 00:20:52.739
 this is writing to church in Rome,

00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:54.179
 pray that I may be kept safe

00:20:54.179 --> 00:20:56.019
 from the unbelievers in Judea

00:20:56.019 --> 00:20:57.359
 and that the contribution

00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.579
 I take to Jerusalem

00:20:58.579 --> 00:21:00.639
 may be favorably received

00:21:00.639 --> 00:21:01.920
 by the Lord's people there

00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:03.799
 so that I may come to you

00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.519
 with joy

00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:06.000
 by God's will

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:08.000
 and in your company

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.940
 be refreshed.

00:21:10.639 --> 00:21:11.539
 And actually probably better

00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:12.759
 translated at the end of that,

00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:14.579
 we can be refreshed together.

00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:16.559
 That's the sense of the word

00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:18.259
 that Paul uses.

00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:20.740
 So why are they going to be refreshed

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.900
 when Paul comes to Rome?

00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:23.079
 Well it is Christian fellowship

00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:24.900
 and enjoying being with one another.

00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:26.560
 But I think particularly

00:21:26.560 --> 00:21:28.019
 it is because of what Paul

00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:29.360
 believes and hopes

00:21:29.360 --> 00:21:30.100
 will have happened

00:21:30.100 --> 00:21:31.460
 in Jerusalem.

00:21:32.340 --> 00:21:33.560
 So there's the one thing

00:21:33.560 --> 00:21:34.340
 about being preserved

00:21:34.340 --> 00:21:35.240
 from those who are

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:36.259
 against the gospel.

00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:38.120
 But more significantly here

00:21:38.120 --> 00:21:40.820
 I think that Paul

00:21:40.820 --> 00:21:42.280
 is looking for the favorable

00:21:42.280 --> 00:21:45.540
 reception by God's people.

00:21:46.840 --> 00:21:48.080
 Paul had gone round

00:21:48.080 --> 00:21:48.720
 the churches

00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:50.500
 of the ancient world

00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:52.060
 and he said to them

00:21:52.060 --> 00:21:53.759
 there's a famine in Judea,

00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:55.220
 it would be really good

00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:56.799
 if you could help out financially.

00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:58.359
 And some of them

00:21:58.359 --> 00:21:59.379
 had given spontaneously

00:21:59.379 --> 00:22:00.240
 and generously

00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.779
 like the church in Philippi.

00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:03.059
 Others had given

00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:04.160
 perhaps more reluctantly

00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.160
 with a bit of a prod

00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:06.599
 like the church in Corinth.

00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:08.420
 But Paul had collected

00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.599
 a significant amount

00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:11.000
 that he could take back

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.960
 to Jerusalem.

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:14.339
 But there was a real danger

00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.119
 that Paul might have

00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:15.960
 got to Jerusalem

00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:17.379
 and the church at Jerusalem

00:22:17.379 --> 00:22:17.960
 would have said

00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:19.480
 this is Gentile money,

00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:20.879
 we can't receive it.

00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:22.040
 We are Jews,

00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:23.080
 they are Gentiles,

00:22:23.260 --> 00:22:24.500
 we are not going to take

00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:24.940
 the money

00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:26.020
 that they have given

00:22:26.020 --> 00:22:27.060
 for us.

00:22:27.840 --> 00:22:28.760
 And Paul is praying

00:22:28.760 --> 00:22:29.800
 that the Christians

00:22:29.800 --> 00:22:30.560
 in Jerusalem

00:22:30.560 --> 00:22:31.760
 will recognize

00:22:31.760 --> 00:22:33.140
 that God has been at work

00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:34.500
 in the Gentile world,

00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:35.740
 that he has brought

00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:37.080
 many there to know him

00:22:37.080 --> 00:22:38.540
 and to trust in the Lord Jesus

00:22:38.540 --> 00:22:40.020
 and that he has laid

00:22:40.020 --> 00:22:40.980
 on their hearts

00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:42.500
 to share fellowship

00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:43.600
 with their brothers

00:22:43.600 --> 00:22:45.880
 and sisters in Judea.

00:22:46.520 --> 00:22:47.340
 And if the Christians

00:22:47.340 --> 00:22:48.140
 in Jerusalem

00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:49.660
 recognize that God

00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:50.380
 had been at work

00:22:50.380 --> 00:22:51.420
 in the Gentile church

00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:52.940
 and rejoiced in the fact

00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:54.460
 that they had given them

00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.100
 this gift,

00:22:55.580 --> 00:22:56.560
 then Paul would have been

00:22:56.560 --> 00:22:57.580
 really refreshed

00:22:57.580 --> 00:22:59.360
 in his ministry.

00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:00.240
 And every indication

00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:01.100
 I think that that is

00:23:01.100 --> 00:23:01.920
 what happened

00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:02.880
 with the church

00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:03.920
 in Jerusalem.

00:23:05.020 --> 00:23:05.640
 If the church

00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:06.220
 had refused

00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:07.000
 to accept the money

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:07.640
 and refused

00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:09.340
 to see God's work in it,

00:23:09.560 --> 00:23:10.460
 then it would have been

00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:12.120
 really discouraging

00:23:12.120 --> 00:23:13.180
 for Paul

00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:14.900
 in what he had done.

00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:16.820
 What does that mean for us?

00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:19.300
 It means that we should look

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:20.960
 at what people are doing

00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:21.740
 for the Lord

00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.940
 and sometimes we'll look

00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:23.299
 at it and say,

00:23:23.379 --> 00:23:24.220
 well, I wouldn't do it

00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:24.799
 that way.

00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:25.759
 That's not the way

00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.940
 we've done it in the past

00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:27.899
 or that's not the modern

00:23:27.899 --> 00:23:28.519
 way of doing it,

00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:28.859
 whatever.

00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:30.119
 Look at what people

00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:31.119
 are doing for the Lord

00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:31.899
 and say,

00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:33.720
 is the Lord in it?

00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:35.659
 And if the Lord is in it,

00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:36.579
 we should rejoice

00:23:36.579 --> 00:23:38.579
 as we recognize God

00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:39.759
 at work.

00:23:40.419 --> 00:23:40.879
 One of the things

00:23:40.879 --> 00:23:42.159
 I find quite encouraging

00:23:42.159 --> 00:23:43.259
 at Brantzfield,

00:23:43.339 --> 00:23:44.200
 a few times I've heard

00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:44.980
 people say,

00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:47.180
 well, I'm not that happy

00:23:47.180 --> 00:23:47.940
 with some of the things

00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:48.840
 that are being done

00:23:48.840 --> 00:23:49.200
 at the moment.

00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:49.799
 It's not the way

00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.560
 I would do it,

00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:51.740
 but God is clearly

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:53.980
 at work and so as a church

00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:55.160
 we're moving forward

00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:57.980
 and we can rejoice together.

00:23:58.660 --> 00:23:59.580
 Really important

00:23:59.580 --> 00:24:01.880
 that we recognize God's work

00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:03.120
 and when we see someone

00:24:03.120 --> 00:24:04.060
 doing God's work

00:24:04.060 --> 00:24:05.500
 that we encourage them in it,

00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:07.120
 even if it's not necessarily

00:24:07.120 --> 00:24:08.080
 the way that we would have

00:24:08.080 --> 00:24:09.920
 gone about it ourselves.

00:24:10.820 --> 00:24:11.700
 So refreshers,

00:24:12.120 --> 00:24:14.400
 recognize God's work.

00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:16.400
 I'm going to move on

00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:18.840
 to look at Onesiphorus now,

00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:19.540
 so we're moving on

00:24:19.540 --> 00:24:20.420
 to 2 Timothy

00:24:20.420 --> 00:24:22.200
 and we have three points

00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:23.140
 from him

00:24:23.140 --> 00:24:25.140
 that I want to think about.

00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:30.140
 And the first one is

00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:32.400
 that refreshers are there

00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:34.460
 when you need them.

00:24:35.580 --> 00:24:36.320
 Paul is in Rome.

00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:38.360
 Paul is in prison in Rome.

00:24:39.060 --> 00:24:40.040
 He's going through,

00:24:40.560 --> 00:24:41.820
 certainly in a physical sense,

00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:42.940
 the lowest period

00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:44.200
 of his life.

00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.900
 He knows that he's coming

00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:46.800
 towards the end.

00:24:47.120 --> 00:24:48.440
 He knows it's very likely

00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.140
 that he'll end up

00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:49.940
 being executed

00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:51.620
 and when he's in Rome

00:24:51.620 --> 00:24:53.000
 he finds everyone

00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.880
 is not wanting

00:24:53.880 --> 00:24:55.040
 to associate with him.

00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:57.120
 Those who had been involved

00:24:57.120 --> 00:24:57.780
 in some way

00:24:57.780 --> 00:24:58.580
 in his ministry,

00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.259
 he mentions people

00:24:59.259 --> 00:25:00.240
 like Phygelus

00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.580
 and Hermogenes

00:25:01.580 --> 00:25:02.460
 and he mentions

00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.600
 the whole province of Asia

00:25:03.600 --> 00:25:05.100
 having rejected him.

00:25:05.340 --> 00:25:06.040
 These people,

00:25:06.360 --> 00:25:07.200
 when Paul was going

00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:08.860
 through his most difficult time,

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.740
 they weren't there for him.

00:25:11.600 --> 00:25:12.580
 They weren't willing

00:25:12.580 --> 00:25:13.820
 to stand with him

00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:15.579
 when it came to the crunch

00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:17.279
 and he was on trial

00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:18.619
 for his life.

00:25:19.679 --> 00:25:20.899
 Onesiphorus comes along

00:25:20.899 --> 00:25:22.419
 and he's not ashamed

00:25:22.419 --> 00:25:24.039
 of Paul's chains.

00:25:24.859 --> 00:25:26.379
 He recognizes the work

00:25:26.379 --> 00:25:27.220
 that Paul has done

00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:28.399
 that has been of the Lord

00:25:28.399 --> 00:25:29.500
 and he recognizes

00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:30.579
 the benefit he's had,

00:25:30.659 --> 00:25:30.939
 no doubt,

00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:31.619
 from Paul

00:25:31.619 --> 00:25:33.059
 in his own life

00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:34.659
 and he's determined

00:25:34.659 --> 00:25:36.059
 that he's going to spend

00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:37.059
 time with Paul

00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:38.859
 and to help him

00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:40.200
 during his time

00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:41.740
 in prison.

00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:44.220
 So important,

00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:44.799
 isn't it,

00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:45.859
 that when people

00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:46.519
 are going through

00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:47.899
 times of difficulty,

00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:49.440
 that we're there

00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:51.279
 standing with them.

00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:53.619
 Think of a few Christians

00:25:53.619 --> 00:25:54.359
 who have gone through

00:25:54.359 --> 00:25:55.559
 quite difficult periods

00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.299
 in their lives

00:25:56.299 --> 00:25:57.579
 and quite often

00:25:57.579 --> 00:25:58.319
 they look back,

00:25:58.399 --> 00:25:58.679
 I'm not saying

00:25:58.679 --> 00:25:59.480
 this is a good thing too,

00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:00.119
 but it does happen,

00:26:00.179 --> 00:26:01.200
 quite often they look back

00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:01.879
 and they'll think

00:26:01.879 --> 00:26:02.519
 this person

00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:03.220
 and that person,

00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:04.059
 they supported me

00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:04.579
 and they were there

00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:05.119
 for me,

00:26:05.460 --> 00:26:06.480
 but actually these people

00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:06.980
 when I was going

00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:08.079
 through times of difficulty

00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:08.960
 they were nowhere

00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.639
 to be seen,

00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:10.839
 they were no help

00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:11.700
 at all.

00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:13.179
 And sometimes the people

00:26:13.179 --> 00:26:14.460
 who were the most help

00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:15.240
 were people you wouldn't

00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:15.919
 have expected

00:26:15.919 --> 00:26:17.399
 and the ones

00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:18.500
 who weren't very helpful

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.440
 were people

00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:20.679
 who you might have expected

00:26:20.679 --> 00:26:22.339
 to be more involved

00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:23.839
 in helping them.

00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:25.960
 Very important

00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:27.539
 if we are Christians

00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:29.379
 that we stand together

00:26:29.379 --> 00:26:30.759
 in the Lord Jesus.

00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:31.639
 We're not just

00:26:31.639 --> 00:26:32.839
 fair weather friends,

00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:34.000
 happy to associate

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.559
 with others

00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:36.000
 when it's an easy thing

00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:36.359
 to do,

00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:37.420
 when it's very pleasant

00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:38.579
 to do it,

00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:39.940
 but not around

00:26:39.940 --> 00:26:41.420
 when people really

00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:42.539
 need us.

00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:43.819
 Onesiphorus,

00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:44.839
 the refresher,

00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:46.299
 he was there

00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.420
 when Paul

00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:49.420
 really needed him.

00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:51.640
 Second point

00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:52.559
 about Onesiphorus

00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.779
 is that refreshers

00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:56.240
 go the extra mile.

00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:58.180
 Refreshers are willing

00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:59.440
 to go above

00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:00.400
 and beyond

00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:01.480
 what might be

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.440
 expected of them.

00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:03.759
 Onesiphorus

00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.640
 comes to Rome

00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:05.940
 and he can't find

00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:06.519
 Paul very easily.

00:27:06.579 --> 00:27:07.079
 Not very clear

00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:07.519
 why he couldn't

00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.480
 find Paul very easily

00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.359
 but it was a bit

00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:10.480
 difficult to find him.

00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:11.839
 And you can imagine

00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:12.619
 a lot of people

00:27:12.619 --> 00:27:13.160
 that have spent

00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:14.420
 a little time

00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:15.039
 asking around

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:15.359
 and perhaps

00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:16.240
 searching for Paul

00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:17.140
 and when they

00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:17.700
 couldn't find him

00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:17.940
 they've said,

00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:18.140
 well,

00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:19.019
 I've made my effort,

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:19.940
 I've done my best,

00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:21.720
 I'll go on now

00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:22.440
 and I could tell

00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:22.980
 people he just

00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:24.220
 wasn't available

00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:25.180
 to find.

00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:26.700
 Onesiphorus

00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.619
 doesn't like that.

00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:28.299
 He goes around,

00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:28.700
 I don't know if he

00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.259
 says to people,

00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:29.920
 where's the prisoner,

00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:30.660
 have you seen Paul,

00:27:30.660 --> 00:27:31.060
 whatever,

00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.540
 and he goes around

00:27:32.540 --> 00:27:34.340
 and with great difficulty

00:27:34.340 --> 00:27:35.640
 he eventually

00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:37.019
 finds Paul.

00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.380
 And when he finds

00:27:38.380 --> 00:27:38.759
 Paul,

00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:39.620
 he just doesn't

00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:40.540
 make a token visit

00:27:40.540 --> 00:27:41.400
 and go once

00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:42.519
 and try to

00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:43.100
 encourage him

00:27:43.100 --> 00:27:44.120
 and then go away

00:27:44.120 --> 00:27:45.120
 and go about

00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:45.820
 his business

00:27:45.820 --> 00:27:47.019
 after that.

00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:48.480
 Rather,

00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:49.460
 Paul says,

00:27:49.840 --> 00:27:50.860
 he often

00:27:50.860 --> 00:27:52.100
 refreshed me,

00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:53.540
 he often refreshed me

00:27:53.540 --> 00:27:54.740
 and was not ashamed

00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:56.080
 of my chains.

00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:57.500
 here was a man

00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.359
 who was really

00:27:58.359 --> 00:27:59.259
 willing to put

00:27:59.259 --> 00:28:00.119
 himself out

00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:01.179
 for Paul

00:28:01.179 --> 00:28:02.679
 to go the extra

00:28:02.679 --> 00:28:03.079
 mile

00:28:03.079 --> 00:28:04.439
 to serve

00:28:04.439 --> 00:28:05.399
 the servant

00:28:05.399 --> 00:28:06.659
 of the Lord.

00:28:07.699 --> 00:28:08.079
 And important

00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:08.599
 for us too

00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:09.619
 to be like that.

00:28:09.699 --> 00:28:10.139
 Extra mile

00:28:10.139 --> 00:28:10.819
 is a great phrase,

00:28:10.879 --> 00:28:11.119
 of course,

00:28:11.199 --> 00:28:11.980
 it's from the Lord

00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.879
 Jesus himself

00:28:12.879 --> 00:28:14.399
 encouraging people

00:28:14.399 --> 00:28:15.000
 if they're forced

00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:16.359
 by a Roman soldier

00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:17.099
 to carry a burden

00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.859
 for one mile

00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:19.519
 to go the second mile.

00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:20.480
 I can just imagine

00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:21.220
 the Roman soldier

00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.000
 used to people

00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.519
 cursing

00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.699
 and being very

00:28:23.699 --> 00:28:24.460
 reluctant to go

00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:25.659
 even the first mile

00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:26.519
 and if someone

00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:27.100
 then volunteers

00:28:27.100 --> 00:28:27.320
 and says,

00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:27.560
 actually,

00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.519
 I'll take you home,

00:28:28.580 --> 00:28:29.340
 I'll go the second mile

00:28:29.340 --> 00:28:29.800
 with you,

00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:31.000
 what a refreshing thing

00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:31.600
 that must have been

00:28:31.600 --> 00:28:32.019
 for them

00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:32.660
 in their work

00:28:32.660 --> 00:28:34.320
 as a Roman soldier

00:28:34.320 --> 00:28:34.860
 thinking it was

00:28:34.860 --> 00:28:35.440
 not so bad

00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:36.019
 after all

00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:37.100
 with these people

00:28:37.100 --> 00:28:38.640
 in Judea.

00:28:39.360 --> 00:28:39.880
 And very good

00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:40.740
 important for us

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:42.019
 that we are willing

00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:42.660
 to go

00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:44.580
 the extra mile

00:28:44.580 --> 00:28:46.440
 in serving God.

00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:48.740
 Embarrassment time

00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.060
 again,

00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:49.860
 example here,

00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:50.420
 lots of examples

00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:51.040
 of the church

00:28:51.040 --> 00:28:51.759
 but I'm going to pick

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.480
 out Pete and Terry.

00:28:52.600 --> 00:28:53.080
 Pete and Terry

00:28:53.080 --> 00:28:53.940
 involved in loads

00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:54.960
 of things in the church.

00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:56.559
 If anything comes up

00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:57.779
 that we ask for volunteers,

00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:59.039
 almost always

00:28:59.039 --> 00:28:59.960
 they're among the first

00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:01.400
 to volunteer for it

00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:02.240
 and even when

00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:03.039
 they're not asked

00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:04.000
 then they see things

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.579
 that need done

00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:06.360
 and they just do them.

00:29:06.819 --> 00:29:07.279
 And it's great

00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:08.000
 to have people like that

00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.500
 and there are others

00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:09.000
 in Brunsfield,

00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:09.759
 great to have people

00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.319
 like that

00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:11.220
 who don't say,

00:29:11.360 --> 00:29:12.319
 well I will do this

00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:12.660
 and this

00:29:12.660 --> 00:29:13.180
 and then I think

00:29:13.180 --> 00:29:13.880
 I've done my share

00:29:13.880 --> 00:29:14.620
 for the church.

00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:16.120
 I've done my duty,

00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:16.700
 I've done as much

00:29:16.700 --> 00:29:17.480
 as most people

00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.799
 and that's it.

00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:20.059
 We need people

00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.579
 who are willing

00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:21.799
 to go the extra mile

00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:23.240
 and to serve

00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:24.619
 selflessly

00:29:24.619 --> 00:29:26.839
 and with real servant hearts

00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:28.059
 for the Lord Jesus

00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:29.339
 in the church

00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:30.019
 and that is what

00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.939
 really encourages

00:29:30.939 --> 00:29:32.099
 the leadership of churches

00:29:32.099 --> 00:29:33.480
 or any kind of Christian work

00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:34.460
 when we see people

00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.480
 growing in their faith

00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:37.199
 and willing to serve

00:29:37.199 --> 00:29:38.559
 others

00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:40.299
 rather than look

00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:41.480
 for their own comfort.

00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:42.240
 Let's be people

00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:44.899
 who go that extra mile.

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.519
 And then the final point

00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.980
 about Onesiphorus

00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:50.539
 refreshers leave you

00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:52.119
 feeling better.

00:29:53.319 --> 00:29:53.799
 Now it would have been

00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:55.200
 possible for Onesiphorus

00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:56.500
 to go around Rome

00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:57.519
 to do all his

00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.480
 searching for Paul

00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:59.599
 to go and visit him

00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:00.460
 fairly regularly

00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:02.099
 and when he got to see Paul

00:30:02.099 --> 00:30:02.599
 he could have said

00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:03.519
 something like this

00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:05.279
 well it's been really hard

00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:06.420
 finding you Paul.

00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:07.980
 I've spent hours

00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:09.339
 wandering these dusty

00:30:09.339 --> 00:30:10.400
 hot streets

00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:11.559
 being quite dangerous

00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:12.160
 talking to people

00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:12.579
 about you

00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:13.059
 because they might

00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:13.819
 not like me

00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:15.000
 associating with you

00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:17.079
 and I found it really hard

00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:18.240
 coming here.

00:30:19.339 --> 00:30:20.439
 And the church in Ephesus

00:30:20.439 --> 00:30:21.179
 were really not doing

00:30:21.179 --> 00:30:21.799
 very well.

00:30:22.839 --> 00:30:23.720
 Timothy's got a bit

00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:24.799
 too big for his boots.

00:30:24.899 --> 00:30:25.779
 He's just a young man

00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:26.500
 but he thinks he can

00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:27.619
 tell us what to do

00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:29.279
 and he says he does it

00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:29.919
 with your authority

00:30:29.919 --> 00:30:30.819
 but no one really

00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:31.419
 believes that.

00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:31.939
 We've got people

00:30:31.939 --> 00:30:32.419
 coming in,

00:30:32.439 --> 00:30:32.879
 false teaching,

00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:33.679
 all sorts of things

00:30:33.679 --> 00:30:34.179
 going on.

00:30:34.399 --> 00:30:35.179
 It's really quite

00:30:35.179 --> 00:30:35.879
 discouraging.

00:30:36.659 --> 00:30:37.240
 And there are people

00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:37.839
 like that

00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:39.039
 in Christian circles

00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:39.619
 and churches.

00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:40.339
 There are people

00:30:40.339 --> 00:30:42.159
 when you talk to them

00:30:42.159 --> 00:30:43.159
 they're always

00:30:43.159 --> 00:30:43.720
 complaining.

00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.019
 They're always

00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:46.419
 unhappy with their lot.

00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:47.060
 They're always

00:30:47.060 --> 00:30:47.759
 complaining about

00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:48.420
 other people

00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:49.180
 about leadership

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.900
 or other people

00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:50.560
 in the church

00:30:50.560 --> 00:30:51.779
 and that seems

00:30:51.779 --> 00:30:52.240
 to be the way

00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:53.039
 they almost live

00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:55.019
 their Christian lives.

00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:56.080
 And you almost

00:30:56.080 --> 00:30:57.019
 go away feeling

00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:57.620
 really weary

00:30:57.620 --> 00:30:58.620
 from talking to them

00:30:58.620 --> 00:30:59.800
 rather than feeling

00:30:59.800 --> 00:31:00.820
 encouraged.

00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:02.960
 Really good

00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:03.720
 if as Christians

00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:04.920
 when we get together

00:31:04.920 --> 00:31:06.000
 we can be

00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:06.700
 encouragers,

00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:07.539
 refreshers

00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:08.620
 of one another.

00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:09.220
 Now I don't know

00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:09.920
 what Onesiphorus

00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.620
 said to Paul

00:31:10.620 --> 00:31:12.000
 but I would imagine

00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:12.620
 that when he came

00:31:12.620 --> 00:31:13.100
 to Paul

00:31:13.100 --> 00:31:13.680
 he would take an

00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:14.660
 interest in Paul's

00:31:14.660 --> 00:31:15.220
 situation

00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:16.600
 what were his needs

00:31:16.600 --> 00:31:17.220
 was there anything

00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:17.759
 he could do

00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:18.759
 to help with them.

00:31:19.300 --> 00:31:20.000
 They talk I'm sure

00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:21.000
 about the Lord Jesus

00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:22.860
 and about the suffering

00:31:22.860 --> 00:31:23.400
 of the Lord

00:31:23.400 --> 00:31:24.340
 and how our suffering

00:31:24.340 --> 00:31:25.960
 however bad it seems

00:31:25.960 --> 00:31:26.400
 there's nothing

00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:27.180
 compared with that

00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:27.860
 and all that he was

00:31:27.860 --> 00:31:29.060
 willing to do for us.

00:31:29.640 --> 00:31:30.120
 Perhaps they look

00:31:30.120 --> 00:31:30.820
 forward to heaven

00:31:30.820 --> 00:31:31.600
 knowing that Paul's

00:31:31.600 --> 00:31:32.580
 life was nearly

00:31:32.580 --> 00:31:33.200
 at an end

00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:34.240
 and looking forward

00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:34.860
 to the joy

00:31:34.860 --> 00:31:35.560
 it would be

00:31:35.560 --> 00:31:37.000
 to be received

00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:37.600
 and to receive

00:31:37.600 --> 00:31:38.660
 the crown of righteousness

00:31:38.660 --> 00:31:40.120
 that was in store for him.

00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:40.460
 I don't know

00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:41.380
 that kind of thing.

00:31:41.380 --> 00:31:43.320
 Showing an interest

00:31:43.320 --> 00:31:43.880
 in Paul

00:31:43.880 --> 00:31:45.120
 and talking with him

00:31:45.120 --> 00:31:45.900
 about the Lord

00:31:45.900 --> 00:31:48.360
 and about spiritual things

00:31:48.360 --> 00:31:49.380
 and that is the way

00:31:49.380 --> 00:31:50.220
 that we should be

00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:50.960
 with one another

00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:52.400
 if we really want

00:31:52.400 --> 00:31:53.500
 to refresh each other

00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:54.840
 in our Christian work.

00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:55.600
 Not complaining

00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:56.520
 not grumbling

00:31:56.520 --> 00:31:58.440
 and not depressing

00:31:58.440 --> 00:31:59.080
 one another

00:31:59.080 --> 00:32:00.360
 but rather trying

00:32:00.360 --> 00:32:01.140
 to encourage

00:32:01.140 --> 00:32:02.280
 and strengthen

00:32:02.280 --> 00:32:02.920
 one another

00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:05.240
 in our Christian faith.

00:32:06.280 --> 00:32:06.860
 Lots of examples

00:32:06.860 --> 00:32:07.540
 of that too

00:32:07.540 --> 00:32:08.140
 I'm going to pick

00:32:08.140 --> 00:32:08.460
 on Graham.

00:32:08.520 --> 00:32:08.920
 Graham's actually

00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:09.320
 gone out with

00:32:09.320 --> 00:32:09.780
 the young people

00:32:09.780 --> 00:32:10.220
 this evening.

00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:11.460
 Graham I've lost

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:12.480
 quite a number of times

00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:13.400
 people have come to me

00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:13.940
 and they've said

00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:14.519
 something like

00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:15.360
 that Graham

00:32:15.360 --> 00:32:16.259
 he's a really nice

00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:16.860
 young man.

00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:17.339
 Now it's usually

00:32:17.339 --> 00:32:18.600
 ladies of a certain

00:32:18.600 --> 00:32:20.400
 vintage who said that

00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:21.880
 and I think

00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:22.500
 it doesn't sound

00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:23.500
 a very spiritual comment

00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:24.000
 to begin with

00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:24.360
 but I think

00:32:24.360 --> 00:32:25.360
 actually it is

00:32:25.360 --> 00:32:26.700
 because what

00:32:26.700 --> 00:32:27.480
 they've noticed

00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:28.420
 is that Graham

00:32:28.420 --> 00:32:29.460
 makes time for them

00:32:29.460 --> 00:32:30.480
 even if he's running

00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:30.880
 around busy

00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:31.319
 this morning

00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:31.640
 and he takes

00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:32.180
 a couple of minutes

00:32:32.180 --> 00:32:32.740
 just to speak

00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:33.680
 and ask how they are

00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:34.400
 that he's interested

00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:34.960
 in them

00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:35.960
 and he's got

00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:36.779
 something spiritual

00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:38.160
 to help them with.

00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:38.539
 Now again

00:32:38.539 --> 00:32:39.220
 lots of other people

00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:39.920
 I could have chosen

00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:41.360
 but really good

00:32:41.360 --> 00:32:41.960
 if we can be

00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:43.080
 these kinds of people

00:32:43.080 --> 00:32:44.340
 who take an interest

00:32:44.340 --> 00:32:44.820
 in others

00:32:44.820 --> 00:32:46.560
 and when we go away

00:32:46.560 --> 00:32:47.220
 they say

00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:48.259
 that was really good

00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:49.000
 it was good

00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:50.060
 to talk about the Lord

00:32:50.060 --> 00:32:50.480
 and to be able

00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:51.019
 to share

00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:52.860
 my thoughts

00:32:52.860 --> 00:32:53.560
 and my issues

00:32:53.560 --> 00:32:54.500
 with somebody else

00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:56.120
 I feel a lot better

00:32:56.120 --> 00:32:58.220
 from that conversation.

00:32:59.220 --> 00:32:59.800
 Refreshers

00:32:59.800 --> 00:33:00.759
 leave you

00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:01.539
 feeling

00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:02.519
 better.

00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:04.920
 Some unlikely refreshers

00:33:04.920 --> 00:33:05.480
 refreshers

00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:06.460
 the church

00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:07.580
 in Corinth

00:33:07.580 --> 00:33:08.680
 the church

00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:09.080
 in Corinth

00:33:09.080 --> 00:33:09.680
 was Paul's

00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:10.420
 problem child

00:33:10.420 --> 00:33:11.779
 you read the two

00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:12.580
 epistles to the

00:33:12.580 --> 00:33:12.980
 Corinthians

00:33:12.980 --> 00:33:14.200
 and you think

00:33:14.200 --> 00:33:15.300
 what a terrible church

00:33:15.300 --> 00:33:15.980
 there are so many

00:33:15.980 --> 00:33:16.300
 problems

00:33:16.300 --> 00:33:17.259
 one after the other

00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:18.140
 there's immorality

00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:19.080
 there's snobbishness

00:33:19.080 --> 00:33:20.300
 there's all sorts

00:33:20.300 --> 00:33:21.400
 of things going on

00:33:21.400 --> 00:33:22.620
 that you think

00:33:22.620 --> 00:33:23.640
 this is a church

00:33:23.640 --> 00:33:24.539
 that is really

00:33:24.539 --> 00:33:25.100
 going through

00:33:25.100 --> 00:33:25.880
 difficult times

00:33:25.880 --> 00:33:26.680
 and Paul must have

00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:27.440
 been really

00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:28.539
 depressed

00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:29.920
 about it

00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:30.980
 and Paul writes

00:33:30.980 --> 00:33:31.640
 his first letter

00:33:31.640 --> 00:33:32.140
 he then says

00:33:32.140 --> 00:33:32.759
 another letter

00:33:32.759 --> 00:33:33.480
 which isn't

00:33:33.480 --> 00:33:34.240
 kept for us

00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:34.619
 in scripture

00:33:34.619 --> 00:33:35.200
 that was really

00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:35.599
 hard

00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:36.299
 firm letter

00:33:36.299 --> 00:33:37.359
 and then he sends

00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:38.299
 Titus to see them

00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:40.059
 and Titus to go

00:33:40.059 --> 00:33:41.180
 and try to work out

00:33:41.180 --> 00:33:42.359
 where the church

00:33:42.359 --> 00:33:43.400
 is spiritually

00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:44.400
 now it's still

00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:44.940
 not perfect

00:33:44.940 --> 00:33:45.799
 read 2nd Corinthians

00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:46.259
 and there's still

00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:47.099
 loads of problems

00:33:47.099 --> 00:33:47.440
 there

00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:48.480
 but this is what

00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:49.200
 Paul says

00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:50.220
 about Titus'

00:33:50.379 --> 00:33:50.759
 visit

00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:52.059
 in addition to

00:33:52.059 --> 00:33:52.460
 our own

00:33:52.460 --> 00:33:52.960
 encouragement

00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:54.420
 we were especially

00:33:54.420 --> 00:33:55.299
 delighted to see

00:33:55.299 --> 00:33:56.359
 how happy Titus

00:33:56.359 --> 00:33:56.779
 was

00:33:56.779 --> 00:33:58.220
 because his spirit

00:33:58.220 --> 00:33:58.879
 has been

00:33:58.879 --> 00:33:59.720
 refreshed

00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:01.140
 by all of you

00:34:01.140 --> 00:34:02.440
 I have posted

00:34:02.440 --> 00:34:03.500
 to him about you

00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:04.460
 and you have

00:34:04.460 --> 00:34:05.860
 not embarrassed

00:34:05.860 --> 00:34:06.740
 me

00:34:06.740 --> 00:34:07.740
 so church

00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:08.300
 with lots of

00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:08.800
 issues

00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:10.280
 and lots of

00:34:10.280 --> 00:34:10.800
 things that

00:34:10.800 --> 00:34:11.880
 we would look at

00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:12.079
 and say

00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:12.640
 that's not

00:34:12.640 --> 00:34:13.680
 very satisfactory

00:34:13.680 --> 00:34:15.400
 and yet actually

00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:16.320
 when Titus went

00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:16.880
 there he could

00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:17.360
 see God

00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:18.019
 is at work

00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:19.160
 these people

00:34:19.160 --> 00:34:19.700
 are growing

00:34:19.700 --> 00:34:20.500
 in their faith

00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:21.519
 and I'm really

00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:22.140
 refreshed

00:34:22.140 --> 00:34:22.660
 and encouraged

00:34:22.660 --> 00:34:23.099
 and everything

00:34:23.099 --> 00:34:23.940
 that Paul said

00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:25.160
 about how good

00:34:25.160 --> 00:34:25.519
 they are

00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:26.119
 it's true

00:34:26.119 --> 00:34:26.940
 despite all the

00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:27.240
 issues

00:34:27.240 --> 00:34:28.180
 it's true

00:34:28.180 --> 00:34:29.119
 they are God's

00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:29.480
 people

00:34:29.480 --> 00:34:30.700
 I am refreshed

00:34:30.699 --> 00:34:31.679
 I am happy

00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:33.719
 because of them

00:34:33.719 --> 00:34:35.219
 again great

00:34:35.219 --> 00:34:35.619
 if people

00:34:35.619 --> 00:34:36.579
 coming among us

00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:38.000
 can come to us

00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:38.679
 and can say

00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:39.919
 I came here

00:34:39.919 --> 00:34:40.659
 I'd heard about

00:34:40.659 --> 00:34:41.039
 the church

00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:41.539
 at Bransfield

00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:41.939
 I heard you

00:34:41.939 --> 00:34:42.319
 got a good

00:34:42.319 --> 00:34:42.819
 welcome

00:34:42.819 --> 00:34:43.980
 I heard there

00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:44.299
 were some

00:34:44.299 --> 00:34:45.079
 fine Christians

00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:45.379
 here

00:34:45.379 --> 00:34:45.960
 I came

00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:46.759
 and it was

00:34:46.759 --> 00:34:47.159
 true

00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:48.259
 I was really

00:34:48.259 --> 00:34:48.919
 refreshed

00:34:48.919 --> 00:34:49.719
 from meeting

00:34:49.719 --> 00:34:50.279
 with God's

00:34:50.279 --> 00:34:50.619
 people

00:34:50.619 --> 00:34:51.639
 and sharing

00:34:51.639 --> 00:34:52.819
 with them

00:34:52.819 --> 00:34:58.059
 refreshers

00:34:58.059 --> 00:34:58.500
 leave you

00:34:58.500 --> 00:34:59.059
 feeling better

00:34:59.059 --> 00:34:59.419
 so five

00:34:59.419 --> 00:35:00.159
 simple points

00:35:00.159 --> 00:35:00.719
 refreshers

00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:01.719
 love people

00:35:01.719 --> 00:35:02.759
 we should be

00:35:02.759 --> 00:35:03.179
 those

00:35:03.179 --> 00:35:04.059
 who take

00:35:04.059 --> 00:35:04.559
 an interest

00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:05.099
 in others

00:35:05.099 --> 00:35:06.199
 and are

00:35:06.199 --> 00:35:06.500
 willing to

00:35:06.500 --> 00:35:06.839
 take when

00:35:06.839 --> 00:35:06.980
 they're

00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:07.299
 visitors

00:35:07.299 --> 00:35:07.759
 or people

00:35:07.759 --> 00:35:08.259
 others

00:35:08.259 --> 00:35:08.819
 don't talk

00:35:08.819 --> 00:35:09.039
 to

00:35:09.039 --> 00:35:10.639
 them

00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:11.779
 we recognize

00:35:11.779 --> 00:35:12.519
 God's work

00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:13.039
 we rejoice

00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:13.559
 in what God

00:35:13.559 --> 00:35:14.019
 is doing

00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:14.539
 even as not

00:35:14.539 --> 00:35:14.920
 being done

00:35:14.920 --> 00:35:15.319
 the way

00:35:15.319 --> 00:35:16.179
 that we

00:35:16.179 --> 00:35:16.599
 would have

00:35:16.599 --> 00:35:17.079
 done it

00:35:17.079 --> 00:35:17.839
 we're there

00:35:17.839 --> 00:35:18.199
 when people

00:35:18.199 --> 00:35:18.679
 need us

00:35:18.679 --> 00:35:19.099
 we're willing

00:35:19.099 --> 00:35:19.539
 to go that

00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:20.199
 extra mile

00:35:20.199 --> 00:35:21.279
 and we

00:35:21.279 --> 00:35:22.159
 leave people

00:35:22.159 --> 00:35:22.960
 feeling better

00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:23.799
 from having

00:35:23.799 --> 00:35:24.599
 had some

00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:25.199
 interaction

00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:26.379
 with us

00:35:26.380 --> 00:35:29.440
 let me

00:35:29.440 --> 00:35:29.860
 finish with

00:35:29.860 --> 00:35:30.059
 this

00:35:30.059 --> 00:35:30.300
 and this

00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:30.579
 is why

00:35:30.579 --> 00:35:30.900
 I've been

00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:31.400
 to a

00:35:31.400 --> 00:35:31.880
 limited extent

00:35:31.880 --> 00:35:32.380
 this evening

00:35:32.380 --> 00:35:33.740
 naming names

00:35:33.740 --> 00:35:34.240
 this is what

00:35:34.240 --> 00:35:34.760
 Paul writes

00:35:34.760 --> 00:35:35.180
 again to

00:35:35.180 --> 00:35:35.720
 Corinthians

00:35:35.720 --> 00:35:37.340
 1 Corinthians

00:35:37.340 --> 00:35:38.280
 he says

00:35:38.280 --> 00:35:38.980
 I was glad

00:35:38.980 --> 00:35:39.880
 when Stephanus

00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:40.620
 Fortunatus

00:35:40.620 --> 00:35:41.240
 and Achaius

00:35:41.240 --> 00:35:41.800
 arrived

00:35:41.800 --> 00:35:42.800
 because they

00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:43.360
 have supplied

00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:43.800
 what was

00:35:43.800 --> 00:35:44.120
 lacking

00:35:44.120 --> 00:35:45.059
 from you

00:35:45.059 --> 00:35:46.240
 for they

00:35:46.240 --> 00:35:47.019
 refresh my

00:35:47.019 --> 00:35:47.360
 spirit

00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:47.780
 and yours

00:35:47.780 --> 00:35:48.300
 also

00:35:48.300 --> 00:35:49.740
 such men

00:35:49.740 --> 00:35:50.780
 deserve

00:35:50.780 --> 00:35:51.760
 recognition

00:35:51.760 --> 00:35:52.160
 now we don't

00:35:52.160 --> 00:35:52.380
 know what

00:35:52.380 --> 00:35:52.820
 these guys

00:35:52.820 --> 00:35:53.160
 have been

00:35:53.160 --> 00:35:53.620
 doing

00:35:53.620 --> 00:35:54.240
 and they've

00:35:54.240 --> 00:35:54.420
 obviously

00:35:54.420 --> 00:35:54.760
 done some

00:35:54.760 --> 00:35:55.180
 good work

00:35:55.180 --> 00:35:55.640
 in Corinth

00:35:55.640 --> 00:35:56.940
 and they

00:35:56.940 --> 00:35:57.300
 visited

00:35:57.300 --> 00:35:58.140
 Paul perhaps

00:35:58.140 --> 00:35:59.140
 and passed

00:35:59.140 --> 00:35:59.380
 on the

00:35:59.380 --> 00:35:59.559
 greetings

00:35:59.559 --> 00:35:59.840
 of the

00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:00.140
 Corinthian

00:36:00.140 --> 00:36:00.460
 Christians

00:36:00.460 --> 00:36:00.680
 and been

00:36:00.680 --> 00:36:00.980
 able to

00:36:00.980 --> 00:36:01.440
 help him

00:36:01.440 --> 00:36:01.960
 in the

00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:02.300
 way that

00:36:02.300 --> 00:36:02.760
 the others

00:36:02.760 --> 00:36:03.519
 hadn't

00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:04.400
 but Paul

00:36:04.400 --> 00:36:04.680
 says

00:36:04.680 --> 00:36:05.280
 people like

00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:05.660
 that

00:36:05.660 --> 00:36:06.400
 who just

00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:06.960
 go about

00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:07.619
 quietly

00:36:07.619 --> 00:36:08.260
 doing

00:36:08.260 --> 00:36:08.720
 Christian

00:36:08.720 --> 00:36:09.199
 work

00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:09.980
 encouraging

00:36:09.980 --> 00:36:10.720
 strengthening

00:36:10.720 --> 00:36:11.199
 others

00:36:11.199 --> 00:36:11.659
 refreshing

00:36:11.659 --> 00:36:12.000
 others

00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.320
 in their

00:36:12.320 --> 00:36:12.720
 faith

00:36:12.720 --> 00:36:13.500
 these

00:36:13.500 --> 00:36:13.960
 people

00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:14.740
 deserve

00:36:14.740 --> 00:36:15.840
 recognition

00:36:15.840 --> 00:36:16.780
 I'm not suggesting

00:36:16.780 --> 00:36:17.380
 we should have a

00:36:17.380 --> 00:36:18.360
 refresher of the month

00:36:18.360 --> 00:36:19.019
 board or anything

00:36:19.019 --> 00:36:19.639
 like that

00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:20.519
 but really good

00:36:20.519 --> 00:36:21.280
 within a church

00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:22.179
 and I've only mentioned

00:36:22.179 --> 00:36:22.740
 a few this evening

00:36:22.740 --> 00:36:23.639
 if there's someone

00:36:23.639 --> 00:36:24.280
 you think

00:36:24.280 --> 00:36:25.280
 some of these things

00:36:25.280 --> 00:36:25.960
 Ian's talked about

00:36:25.960 --> 00:36:26.440
 this evening

00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:27.220
 I really see them

00:36:27.220 --> 00:36:28.059
 in that person

00:36:28.059 --> 00:36:29.360
 go and tell them

00:36:29.360 --> 00:36:30.579
 encourage them

00:36:30.579 --> 00:36:31.679
 and recognize

00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:32.480
 what the Lord

00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:33.119
 is doing

00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:34.019
 in their

00:36:34.019 --> 00:36:34.900
 lives

00:36:34.900 --> 00:36:36.079
 again it's

00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:36.619
 something I will

00:36:36.619 --> 00:36:37.599
 encourage and

00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:38.480
 refresh them

00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:39.639
 and we'll guard

00:36:39.639 --> 00:36:40.139
 against the

00:36:40.139 --> 00:36:40.559
 weariness

00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:41.460
 discouragement

00:36:41.460 --> 00:36:42.159
 and so on

00:36:42.159 --> 00:36:42.799
 that we've

00:36:42.799 --> 00:36:43.279
 talked about

00:36:43.279 --> 00:36:43.900
 we should be

00:36:43.900 --> 00:36:44.839
 good at

00:36:44.839 --> 00:36:45.659
 recognizing our

00:36:45.659 --> 00:36:46.259
 Christian brothers

00:36:46.259 --> 00:36:46.799
 and sisters

00:36:46.799 --> 00:36:47.440
 the work of

00:36:47.440 --> 00:36:47.980
 the spirit

00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:49.239
 and what they

00:36:49.239 --> 00:36:49.619
 are doing

00:36:49.619 --> 00:36:50.079
 in building

00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:50.839
 God's church

00:36:50.839 --> 00:36:51.739
 and in

00:36:51.739 --> 00:36:52.579
 refreshing us

00:36:52.579 --> 00:36:53.400
 in our

00:36:53.400 --> 00:36:54.259
 ministry

00:36:54.259 --> 00:36:56.139
 so more

00:36:56.139 --> 00:36:56.719
 refreshers

00:36:56.719 --> 00:36:57.159
 please

00:36:57.159 --> 00:36:58.059
 is the

00:36:58.059 --> 00:36:58.279
 message

00:36:58.279 --> 00:36:58.500
 to see

00:36:58.500 --> 00:36:59.319
 think about

00:36:59.319 --> 00:37:00.119
 how you can

00:37:00.119 --> 00:37:00.799
 serve others

00:37:00.799 --> 00:37:01.420
 in the church

00:37:01.420 --> 00:37:02.079
 how you can

00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:02.739
 encourage and

00:37:02.739 --> 00:37:03.339
 strengthen them

00:37:03.339 --> 00:37:04.000
 in their faith

00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:04.860
 how you can

00:37:04.860 --> 00:37:05.719
 refresh them

00:37:05.719 --> 00:37:06.679
 when perhaps

00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:07.699
 they're flagging

00:37:07.699 --> 00:37:08.400
 then as a church

00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:09.059
 we'll be really

00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:10.400
 revitalized

00:37:10.400 --> 00:37:11.639
 and we'll have

00:37:11.639 --> 00:37:12.460
 a real joy

00:37:12.460 --> 00:37:13.719
 in serving the

00:37:13.719 --> 00:37:14.019
 Lord

00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:14.900
 and in living

00:37:14.900 --> 00:37:15.480
 for him

00:37:15.480 --> 00:37:16.679
 in our city

00:37:16.679 --> 00:37:17.420
 let's pray

00:37:17.420 --> 00:37:17.840
 together

00:37:17.840 --> 00:37:20.880
 Father we thank you

00:37:20.880 --> 00:37:21.380
 for your word

00:37:21.380 --> 00:37:22.059
 we thank you for

00:37:22.059 --> 00:37:22.840
 these two men

00:37:22.840 --> 00:37:24.019
 we thought about

00:37:24.019 --> 00:37:24.380
 and

00:37:24.380 --> 00:37:25.300
 I leave them

00:37:25.300 --> 00:37:25.739
 particularly

00:37:25.739 --> 00:37:26.619
 and Onesiphorus

00:37:26.619 --> 00:37:27.219
 we thank you

00:37:27.219 --> 00:37:27.719
 that they were

00:37:27.719 --> 00:37:29.039
 men who refreshed

00:37:29.039 --> 00:37:29.519
 others

00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:30.719
 who were

00:37:30.719 --> 00:37:31.420
 loving

00:37:31.420 --> 00:37:32.059
 who were

00:37:32.059 --> 00:37:32.539
 caring

00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:33.300
 who went

00:37:33.300 --> 00:37:33.780
 the extra

00:37:33.780 --> 00:37:34.159
 mile

00:37:34.159 --> 00:37:34.860
 who were

00:37:34.860 --> 00:37:35.320
 willing to

00:37:35.320 --> 00:37:35.900
 recognize

00:37:35.900 --> 00:37:36.579
 the work

00:37:36.579 --> 00:37:36.900
 that you

00:37:36.900 --> 00:37:37.259
 did

00:37:37.259 --> 00:37:38.199
 who left

00:37:38.199 --> 00:37:38.519
 others

00:37:38.519 --> 00:37:38.920
 feeling

00:37:38.920 --> 00:37:39.559
 better

00:37:39.559 --> 00:37:40.420
 for having

00:37:40.420 --> 00:37:40.960
 met them

00:37:40.960 --> 00:37:41.759
 we pray

00:37:41.759 --> 00:37:42.019
 that you

00:37:42.019 --> 00:37:42.340
 will help

00:37:42.340 --> 00:37:42.800
 us to be

00:37:42.800 --> 00:37:43.360
 like that

00:37:43.360 --> 00:37:44.179
 that we

00:37:44.179 --> 00:37:44.639
 may have

00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:45.360
 a ministry

00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:46.159
 of refreshment

00:37:46.159 --> 00:37:46.940
 in our church

00:37:46.940 --> 00:37:48.440
 that all of us

00:37:48.440 --> 00:37:49.019
 may be able

00:37:49.019 --> 00:37:49.759
 to support

00:37:49.759 --> 00:37:50.739
 and strengthen

00:37:50.739 --> 00:37:51.340
 one another

00:37:51.340 --> 00:37:52.579
 and that through

00:37:52.579 --> 00:37:53.199
 that we may

00:37:53.199 --> 00:37:53.759
 have a real

00:37:53.759 --> 00:37:54.960
 joy in the

00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:55.340
 Lord

00:37:55.340 --> 00:37:56.360
 we recognize

00:37:56.360 --> 00:37:57.059
 that ultimately

00:37:57.059 --> 00:37:57.699
 the work of

00:37:57.699 --> 00:37:58.239
 refreshment

00:37:58.239 --> 00:37:59.099
 is your work

00:37:59.099 --> 00:38:00.539
 it comes to

00:38:00.539 --> 00:38:00.880
 us through

00:38:00.880 --> 00:38:01.380
 the Spirit

00:38:01.380 --> 00:38:02.619
 and it's only

00:38:02.619 --> 00:38:03.599
 by the work

00:38:03.599 --> 00:38:04.059
 of the Spirit

00:38:04.059 --> 00:38:04.719
 changing our

00:38:04.719 --> 00:38:05.139
 lives

00:38:05.139 --> 00:38:06.019
 that we can

00:38:06.019 --> 00:38:07.079
 too become

00:38:07.079 --> 00:38:08.179
 refreshers

00:38:08.179 --> 00:38:08.980
 we pray to you

00:38:08.980 --> 00:38:09.639
 take your word

00:38:09.639 --> 00:38:10.219
 take what is

00:38:10.219 --> 00:38:10.880
 from yourself

00:38:10.880 --> 00:38:11.420
 use it

00:38:11.420 --> 00:38:12.500
 in our hearts

00:38:12.500 --> 00:38:13.179
 and our lives

00:38:13.179 --> 00:38:14.119
 that we live

00:38:14.119 --> 00:38:14.960
 lives that are

00:38:14.960 --> 00:38:15.460
 more honoring

00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:16.039
 to the Lord

00:38:16.039 --> 00:38:16.360
 Jesus

00:38:16.360 --> 00:38:17.779
 and more like

00:38:17.779 --> 00:38:18.299
 the perfect

00:38:18.299 --> 00:38:19.059
 life that he

00:38:19.059 --> 00:38:19.400
 lived

00:38:19.400 --> 00:38:20.179
 we give you

00:38:20.179 --> 00:38:20.659
 our thanks

00:38:20.659 --> 00:38:21.319
 in his name

00:38:21.319 --> 00:38:22.199
 Amen