Now then, we're going to begin our worship this evening singing in Psalm 108.
Psalm 108, and that's from the Sing Psalms version, page 146.
We sing to a tune, High for Doll, verses 1 to 7.
O Lord God, my heart is steadfast, and with all my soul I'll sing.
Harp and lyre I will awaken, and my song the dawn will bring.
Lord my God, among the nations I will ever give you praise.
In the midst of all the peoples I will sing of you always.
Psalm 108, verses 1 to 7, the double verse 7, to God's praise.
O Lord God, my heart is steadfast, and with all my soul I'll sing.
Harp and lyre I will awaken, and my song the dawn will bring.
Lord my God, among the nations I will ever give you praise.
In the midst of all the peoples I will sing of you always.
For your steadfast love is boundless, greater than the heavens high.
And your faithfulness towards us reaches even to the sky.
Far above the highest heavens, be exalted, O my God.
And your glory spread abroad.
With your right and safe and helpless, rescue all those whom you love.
God has spoken from this temple, from this holy place above.
I will distribute in triumph every part of Sheffersland.
And the whole of Sarkovalli, I will measure with my hand.
Let's call upon the Lord again in prayer.
Let's pray together.
Our gracious and eternal God, as we bow our heads before you in prayer,
we give thanks again for these words that you have given us to sing,
where the psalmist, in expressing his desire that the glory of the Lord would spread abroad throughout the earth,
received that answer from God that you would indeed come to spread forth your blessing
so as to cover these lands that are named in this psalm.
We thank you, Lord, that your glory has been made manifest
and has largely gone through all the earth,
though we know that parts of the earth, even tonight,
have not yet been reached with the gospel.
O Lord, we thank you that in the spread of the gospel,
your own kingdom has been advanced.
And we thank you that your promise from the days of the Old Testament prophets
through into the New Testament and the apostles,
that your promise that you would build your church
has indeed been, is indeed being fulfilled
and has come to be seen in the way in which you bring people to know yourself.
We thank you tonight that we form part of those who have been reached with the gospel,
those who have come to know that the Lord has provided salvation for us
in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lord, we thank you tonight for him.
It is indeed our great desire that we would know his blessing,
that we would find as he sits upon the throne of the universe
and administers his kingdom.
Lord, our God, we pray that tonight we will know
through the Holy Spirit of your blessing upon us.
We pray that we may rejoice in being incorporated into your kingdom
and that we may rejoice as a congregation,
that we have the gospel,
that we have that announcement in its fullness in your word,
that the Lord God reigns on high
and that the Lord God has provided for sinners like we are
such an abundant redemption.
Lord, we thank you tonight that we can come to express these things before you in prayer.
We thank you that you are the God who hears the crying of your people.
We thank you that you call upon us to call upon you.
We thank you, Lord, that you make clear in your word
that it is your delight to meet with us
as we worship you and as we call upon you in prayer
and sing your praises.
Help us, we pray, as we come to your word,
both in the reading and expounding of it
and in hearing its message.
Help us to receive it once again into our hearts.
Help us to receive it in a way that would change
and bring about in our lives that spiritual and holy shape
that would be in accordance with your word
on each and every facet of our lives.
O Lord God, we pray tonight that our concern will be
to be furthered in holiness of life,
in commitment and love to you and to your cause
and in looking to each other and to your cause at large
so that we may value and love hearing about your people elsewhere
throughout the world as we have been in recent times.
We pray tonight for your people in all parts of the world.
Lord, we ask, Lord, that you'd bless again those who are persecuted,
those who are facing so many difficulties
that we know largely little about.
We thank you for the information that reaches us
and for the way that we can bring this before you in prayer.
Once again, we pray for the troubled spots of the world,
the nations that are in upheaval through war,
through famine, through various things that cause people distress,
through misgovernment and mismanagement.
Lord, we ask that you would be merciful to the many millions of people in the world
who have to go without so many of the things that we enjoy in abundance.
Lord, we pray that you would bless them tonight
and bless them especially with the gospel.
Forgive us, Lord, for we find ourselves complaining
in relation to how we find things in these recent times
with an increase in the price of commodities,
with other aspects of increased prices and in fuel.
While, O Lord, we do look with concern at these things,
yet we confess they are but so small compared
to the distress faced by many people in the world
who don't even have clean water to use day by day,
who have to walk miles for the nearest resources,
who don't have shops to attend,
and who have so few, O Lord, of the food
and the commodities that we enjoy.
We ask that you would make us thankful,
make us dependable,
give us, we pray, not to be complainers,
and help us not to be like your people Israel of old
who as soon as they came to the place
where there was little water
grumbled against Moses
and therefore grumbled against the Lord.
Help us, Lord, to be careful
that we never grumble against you,
that we never consider you as one to be complained of,
for you give us day by day far more than we deserve.
And we do pray that you would continue
to expand our thankfulness
so that the praise and the glory will belong to you.
Remember us, we pray,
as a congregation of your people.
Lord, we thank you for all that we experienced this morning,
for the baptisms that took place,
for the children that were baptized and their parents,
and we pray for them.
We pray that you would bless them
and bless this event to them.
Make it indeed to them, O Lord,
a means of blessing.
We pray for every young family
belonging to us as a congregation with children
and bringing them up in difficult times
as we face, O Lord.
Give them, we pray,
to trust in yourself.
Enable them to look to your word
and give them confidence in your word
as they would seek to bring up their children
in ways that are acceptable to you
and are bright and wholesome morally and spiritually.
We pray for them, Lord, in their schools.
We ask that you would grant your blessing
to all who teach our children.
And we pray in the many challenges that they face,
Lord, that you would grant your blessing
to give them the strength and the resolve
and the commitment
and indeed the delight where possible
in instructing young lives
in such necessary subjects as they are.
O Lord God, we ask that your blessing
will be upon our local authority
as they too take charge of the material in our schools.
We pray that you would give them wisdom and courage
and help them to resist whatever attempts are made,
O Lord, to introduce that which is unwholesome,
that which is contrary
to the way in which your word sets before us,
that which is healthy and good,
spiritually and morally.
And we pray that you would grant that blessing too
throughout all our schools,
throughout our nation,
so that we may see many coming to be educated
in a way that will be pleasing to you.
We ask your blessing too, Lord, tonight
for all our older ones,
for those who have come to a time of failing health.
We remember them and ask that you would be near to them,
be with them, Lord,
as they face difficulties and challenges
in regard to their mental capacity,
regard to physical abilities
and failures of various bodily faculties.
Gracious Lord, remember all who belong to us
and have reached that stage of life.
Remember, too,
those who mourn over the passing of loved ones.
Again, we pray for them.
We pray for those who have lost loved ones recently.
We pray, too,
for those who look back over years
and still find it so traumatic
and difficult to think of
their loved ones no longer being here,
whether they passed away
in their young days as children
or even infants
or in their older years.
Nevertheless, Lord, we know
the pain involved in losing loved ones.
And even though we may know
that our loved ones have gone to a better place,
yet the pain of bereavement
and separation remains.
We thank you that you understand,
that you know what it is,
O Lord,
to hear a cry from the cross.
My God,
my God,
why have you forsaken me?
And we ask,
O Lord,
that all our concerns
and all our weepings,
all our sorrows
and all our changes
may be laid at the foot of your cross
and that we may see it
in relation
to your triumphant resurrection
from the dead
through which you have gone
to prepare a place
for your people.
And now we pray
that you'd bless the children this evening,
the young ones
at their big YF.
Bless, we pray,
those who are in leadership
there as well.
We pray for Gordon MacLeod
and his role
within the presbytery.
We ask your blessing
for him
and for the work
that he carries out
and we ask that
he may know your blessing
from week to week
as he engages
with the young folks.
And we pray
that you would
graciously hear us
as we now
continue in your presence.
All of these things
we ask,
seeking the pardon
of our sin
and cleansing
in the name of Christ,
our Lord,
for his sake.
Amen.
Let's read from God's Word
now from 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians chapter 16.
And we read from the beginning
through to the end of the chapter.
Isn't it very instructive
how the apostle,
having gone through
that amazing discourse
in chapter 15
in such theological depth
about the resurrection,
that he could come
at the beginning
of this section,
the final section
of 1 Corinthians,
to turn from that deep theology
into something so practical
as collection
for the saints.
But he has no embarrassment
about that
because he realizes
that all theology
flows into
our practical concern
for one another
and for the cause of God.
Now, concerning
the collection
for the saints,
as I directed
the churches of Galatia,
so you also are to do.
On the first day
of every week,
each of you
is to put something aside
and store it up
as he may prosper
so that there will be
no collecting
when I come.
And when I arrive,
I will send those
whom you accredit
by letter
to carry your gift
to Jerusalem.
If it seems advisable
that I should go also,
they will accompany me.
I will visit you
after passing
through Macedonia,
for I intend
to pass through Macedonia
and perhaps
I will stay with you
or even spend the winter
so that you may help me
on my journey
wherever I go.
For I do not want you,
I do not want to see you
now just in passing.
I hope to spend
some time with you
if the Lord permits.
But I will stay
in Ephesus
until Pentecost
for a wide door
for effective work
has opened to me
and there are
many adversaries.
When Timothy comes,
see that you put him
at ease among you
for he is doing
the work of the Lord
as I am.
So let no one
despise him.
Help him on his way
in peace
that he may return
to me
for I am expecting
him with the brothers.
Now concerning
our brother Apollos,
I strongly urged him
to visit you
with the other brothers
but it was not
at all his will
to come now.
He will come
when he has opportunity.
Be watchful,
stand firm
in the faith,
act like men,
be strong,
let all that you do
be done in love.
Now I urge you,
brothers,
you know that the
household of Stephanas
were the first converts
in Nehaya
and that they have
devoted themselves
to the service
of the saints.
Be subject to such
as these
and to every fellow
worker and laborer.
I rejoice
at the coming
of Stephanas
and Fortunatus
and Nehaya
because they have
made up for your absence
for they refreshed
my spirit
as well as yours.
Give recognition
to such men.
The churches of Asia
send you greetings.
Aquila and Prissa
together with the church
in their house
send you hearty
greetings in the Lord.
All the brothers
send you greetings.
Greet one another
with a holy kiss.
I, Paul,
write this greeting
with my own hand.
If anyone has no love
for the Lord,
let him be accursed.
Our Lord,
come,
the grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ,
the grace of the Lord
Jesus be with you.
My love be with you all
in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
And we pray once again
for God to follow
that reading
with his blessing.
Our next psalm of praise
is Psalm 122.
Psalm 122
in the Scottish Psalter.
That's page 416.
We'll sing the whole psalm.
The tune is St. Paul.
I joyed when
to the house of God
go up,
they said to me.
Jerusalem within
thy gates
our feet
shall standing be.
Jerusalem as a city
is compactly
built together
and to that place
the tribes go up.
The tribes of God
go thither.
Psalm 122
singing the whole psalm
to God's praise.
I joyed when
to the house
of God
go up
they said
to me
Jerusalem
within
thy gates
our feet
shall
stand
in
be.
Jerusalem
lost
our city
is
compactly
built
together
unto
the place
that
rights
go up
the
rights
of God
go
there
to
Israel's
testimony
there
to
cause
him
thanks to
pay
for
God
got
to
praise
the
unity
pierced
và
gi Hera n
in
לב
che
Felicity
Let them
Thou love
Beyond thy peace
Have still
Prosperity
Therefore
I wish
That peace may still
Within
Thy walls
Remain
And never
May thy
Policies
Prosperity
Retain
Now
For my
Friends and
brethren's
sake
Peace
Be in
thee I'll
stay
And
For the
house
Of
God
Our
Lord
I'll
see
thy
good
always
God
Great
Now
will you turn with me to Paul's letter to the Philippians.
Paul's letter to the Philippians where we're going to finish off our series of studies in Philippians with the final few verses there of chapter 4.
Philippians 4 at verse 21.
Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
So we're coming to this final study as we've gone through the book of Philippians. We began it, I think, sometime back in June last year. And so it's taken us some time. But I did want, as I said at the beginning, to take time going through it so as to actually seek to bring out much of the main teaching in this wonderful letter of Paul.
And I think I said at the beginning that one of the reasons we do, or one of the main reasons we do such studies as these consecutively, going through a book like this, is so that we can actually take it as a whole.
Just imagine yourselves, if you were receiving this letter, if you were the congregation in Philippi, you wouldn't just pick out a passage here and there. You would begin at the beginning and read through the letter as a whole, and you would see how it was put together.
And it's a wonderful thing to study these letters of the apostle, as well as other parts of scripture too, of course, and see how wonderfully and carefully the Holy Spirit has guided Paul in putting together these four chapters.
And we've seen how much there is packed into certain passages or even verses of this epistle.
And it's great to see how that network of teaching, that wonderful tapestry, if you like, of teaching, has been woven together in such a way as when we bring out the various parts of it, you begin to see the whole pattern more clearly.
And I hope that's something that you've seen as we've gone through the epistle.
Well, these final verses of the letter speak about two things mainly.
First of all, it speaks about the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He says,
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
And we'll take that first of all, and then come back to the other two verses, which speak mainly about the saints in Christ Jesus,
the people of God that are called saints because of the way God has set them apart to be his own people in the world.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, you recall at the very beginning of the letter that he begins with a reference to the grace of God, chapter 1, verse 2.
To all the saints in Christ Jesus, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
So he begins with a reference to grace and he ends with a reference to grace.
And within these two bookends, if you like, of grace, he has packed all the teaching that we've seen as we've gone through the letter.
The grace of God is, of course, the undeserved favor of God that he bestows on us sinners.
It's not just favor, it's the undeserved favor of God.
If you look at it in other terms, it's really effectively the love of God at work towards his people.
That grace of God, that undeserved favor, that love of God with which they are loved as it is worked through in their lives from day to day and year to year.
And you'll notice he's saying the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Be with your spirit.
Now, he's still talking in plural terms, but obviously every individual is incorporated, included in the reference.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with your spirit, plural.
You as a congregation.
And that reminds us that this undeserved favor of God, this wonderful favor, this love of God for his people, is a love that reaches through into the deepest part of our lives.
It's designed to do that.
It's something that actually comes to reach into the deepest recesses of our souls because we need the grace of God at work there.
Because the grace of God brings the power of God.
The grace of God at work, the power of the love of Christ as that flows into the lives of his people.
It's a life-changing love.
It's a life-changing grace.
It's a life-changing power.
And so, as he says here, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
It's a reminder to ourselves that this is really where we need the grace of God at work.
Not just to tidy up a few pieces in our lives, a few parts of our outward conduct as it might be, though that itself would not be a bad thing.
But the grace of God in its effectiveness, in its work, is not just doing a tidying-up job, a sweeping-up job, so that certain aspects of your outward conduct are tidied up or cleaned up.
It's actually something that reaches into such deep parts of your soul as involve your will, your emotions, your conscience.
All of that is affected by the working of God's grace as he applies it.
There may be many things we know that stir our souls.
I'm sure most of you like some types of music or other.
And people will say that their favorite type of music, if they have time to listen to it, really find it stirring.
They find it stirs their soul.
And that's perfectly, perfectly acceptable, of course.
When music or something that you love in that way stirs your soul properly, stirs your emotions, really works in you to move you to affection, to move you to appreciate what you're actually listening to.
It's a wonderful thing.
But the grace of God is the only thing that can renew your soul.
You can enjoy the most magnificent music.
You can enjoy the most magnificent writing.
You can enjoy all of those things that we have from God and his goodness.
But the grace of God reaches deeply into your spirit.
And the grace of God, the working through of the love of God in the hearts of his people, is what really brings the change.
And what I thought I would do with this point is just to try and summarize the teaching of the letter by thinking of it as the grace of God.
Because that's really, I think, one of the reasons that Paul has put these two bookends of grace where they are at the beginning and at the end.
So that everything in between them, really, you might say, has some relation or other to this grace of God.
To this undeserved favor of God.
To the love of God working in and towards his people.
You remember back in chapter 1.
It's the grace of God that binds us into a fellowship of people.
So that it brings about a partnership in the gospel.
And he's thanking God for that.
In chapter 1 there from verse 3.
I thank my God for that fellowship.
For that partnership.
And as he goes on to speak of that.
He speaks of them being all partakers with me of grace.
That's what's made them a people.
That's what's made them the congregation, the church they are.
They've been bound together.
They're united together.
They are a people by the grace of God.
Then you go to the verse 12 of chapter 1.
I want you to know, brothers, what has happened to me has really helped to advance the gospel.
Here is a man who's in prison, as we recall.
Here's a man who's writing from prison to these beloved Philippians.
Here's a man who has all these troubles to contend with.
Not just in regard to where he himself is.
But the burdens he carries for all the churches.
And yet he's convinced that the grace of God, the power of God's grace,
makes these troubles work for the good of the gospel.
I want you to understand, he's saying,
that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
So it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard.
We'll come back to that in a moment.
It makes the troubles that we have work for the gospel and for our own good,
as well as we depend on God.
It enables us also to look beyond the present life.
Verse 19, and the present circumstances.
For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
this will turn out for my deliverance.
And of course, it's the grace of God that has provided this wonderful Savior
that he deals with so wonderfully in chapter 2,
where he talks about the Son of God coming,
showing this mind towards lost sinners,
that he gave himself to all that he suffered,
gave himself to the deprivations that he subjected himself to so willingly,
and ultimately to the death of the cross itself.
It's that grace of God that has provided us with that Savior tonight,
who is Jesus.
Why has Jesus Christ existed?
Why did he live in this world?
Why did the Son of God come?
Because the grace of God was at work in providing that Savior for us.
Grace of God, the love of God for his people, for his children,
sent his own Son into this world.
And then, the grace of God empowers our persevering witness.
Chapter 2, verse 12, following.
It's the persevering witness of God's people against the odds, you might say,
against the troubles and the afflictions and the persecutions
and the challenges and the resistance that they face.
And indeed, that itself is proof of Christ risen from the dead.
And just imagine, just now, these disciples,
that you find, the account you find in the book of Acts
about the disciples,
and they're going out into the world with the gospel.
In chapter 5, just to take one example,
verses 40 to 42,
you find the governing authorities
summoning the disciples again
and saying to them,
don't preach in this name again,
and wanting to send them away,
and charging them not to speak in the name of Jesus,
and then let them go.
But they actually let them go,
but they left the presence of the council,
rejoicing that they were counted worthy
to suffer dishonor for the name,
for the name of Christ.
And every day in the temple, from house to house,
they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Now, can you possibly imagine
these people, these disciples,
if they were convinced that Jesus was still dead,
as we're actually facing that idea in the world
that Christ couldn't possibly have risen from the dead,
nobody rises from the dead,
certainly not by their own power.
Can you imagine these disciples
going out to the world
with this message of Jesus risen from the dead,
if they were not themselves convinced
that he had risen from the dead?
Where did they get the encouragement from?
Where did they get this conviction from?
Where did they get this desire?
Where did they get this burden
to bring this message of the gospel
to the world of their day?
From the fact that they knew Jesus was risen.
That's what the grace of God had brought about.
They would not have put up
with all the sufferings and persecutions
that they endured,
as described in the book of Acts,
if they had any doubts
that Jesus was alive or dead.
They wouldn't have put up with it.
And it's in chapter 3.
I'm just scanning through this quickly.
It's just a reminder to us
that this is what we've covered.
This is the substance, really,
of the teaching of the book
as we skim over these.
Chapter 3,
the grace of God
is what changes a persecutor
into a disciple.
There is the apostle himself
giving his testimony.
There he is talking about
how he used to have confidence
in the flesh,
his own ability,
his own ability to please God
by his own efforts,
by the strenuous efforts
of trying to keep God's law.
But he said,
whatever gain I had,
I counted as loss
for the sake of Christ.
Indeed,
I count everything as loss
because of the surpassing worth
of knowing Christ Jesus,
my Lord.
For his sake,
I have suffered the loss
of all things
and count them as rubbish
in order that I may gain Christ.
And so on.
And he goes on,
of course,
from that to,
into that great teaching
of how we come to be justified.
Where does our righteousness
come from
that we need
in the presence of God?
It's in Jesus himself.
And by faith in Jesus,
his righteousness
becomes ours.
Now,
you and I need
that righteousness.
righteousness.
We're not born with it.
It's not something
that we produce ourselves.
If you think of it
as the Bible often does,
as a garment
that is worn spiritually,
spiritual garment,
well,
that garment
is not woven
by any human craftsman.
That garment
has been produced
by God
through Jesus Christ
and his work
on the cross.
and the righteousness
that now exists
in Christ for us,
that's what the gospel
offers to us.
And you could go on
and see how in chapter 3,
the grace of God
sanctifies God's people
for glory.
Chapter 3,
verses 12,
following on from that.
That's the grace of God
in chapter 4
that mends
broken relationships,
that we need
to mend
broken relationships.
I entreat you,
I entreat Syntyche
to agree
in the Lord.
And so on.
He talks there
about how
they need
to deal with
whatever has
separated them
and caused
the difference
of opinion
or the falling out
between them.
It's the grace of God
that's required
in order to mend
broken relationships.
It's the grace of God
that produces
contentment of mind.
Chapter 4,
verse 12,
I have learned
in whatsoever state
I am therein
to be content.
Why is he content?
Because he has
Jesus in his fullness
and he doesn't need
to look for
contentment
anywhere else.
He has all he needs
of contentment
in Christ.
It's the grace of God
that moves people
to kindness
and supplies
all our wants
as we saw
in our most recent study.
Now all of these things
are features
which we need
as a congregation.
All of these things
whether we think
of Jesus himself
of being a fellowship
and a partnership
of actually having
the strength
to face our troubles
in life
of actually looking
beyond the present life
positively
and in hope
of sanctifying us
for glory
of mending
broken relationships
when that occurs
of producing
contentment
of mind
of moving us
to acts
of kindness
to one another
and to the world
around us
of supplying
all our wants
all our needs
that is the grace
of God
as it works
as it comes
into our experience
and into our lives.
So there is what Paul
begins with
or rather ends
with
although we've said it
as the first point
of our study tonight
the grace
of the Lord
Jesus Christ
be with your spirit.
What is it
that moves you
most
in your own life?
What is it
that gives you
the greatest satisfaction?
What is it
that gives you
the greatest stirring
of soul?
Is it not
the grace of God
at work?
Is it not
the love of Christ
as you experience it?
Is it not
Jesus being
your Savior too?
Is that not
the most precious
thing you have?
The most precious
person that you own
and are related
to?
This Lord
this Savior
this mighty
Redeemer
the grace
of the Lord
Jesus Christ
be with
your spirit.
But then he speaks
also about the saints.
And there are three
things here briefly
that we can take note
of as he says
first of all
greet every saint
in Christ Jesus.
All the saints
greet you
especially those
of Caesar's
household.
Now you notice
he's saying
all the saints
greet you.
And the first thing
that comes across
to you from that
is the unity
of God's church.
The unity of all
who are believers
in Christ.
This is what he's saying.
All the saints
greet you.
All the saints
are not in Philippi.
All the saints
are not in Rome.
All the saints
are scattered
throughout the empire
as Paul writes
these words
to the Philippians.
But he says
all the saints
greet you.
Maybe he meant
all those
particularly
as he says
of Caesar's household.
He does go on
to mention that
and we'll see that
in a minute.
But he does say
all the saints
greet you.
And there is no
indication that he
wants to confine it
to those that he
knows himself
personally
or in Rome
where he's imprisoned.
All the saints
greet you.
God
has only one church.
Whatever denominations
we know of
or may belong to
all who are saints
all who are
set apart
by God
in Christ Jesus
belong to each other
as they belong to him.
So wherever
God's people
are placed
they are
spiritually
connected
in a
brotherly
sisterly way
with all the saints
elsewhere
in the world.
And we have
an interest
because there is
just the one church
that crosses
all of the divides
that we know
between congregations
between denominations
between
various traditions
in the gospel
throughout the world
we have
an interest
and involvement
in the well-being
of God's church.
Why should it bother us
tonight
that Christians
are actually suffering
in different parts
of the world
because they are
brothers and sisters
in Christ
because they belong
to a family?
Why should it bother us
if certain
congregations
or certain groups
that follow
the Christian faith
actually go aside
into heresy
and are no longer
following the gospel
faithfully
maybe come sometimes
up with some
outrageous
conclusions
and practices?
Why should it bother us
if some
Christian churches
mainstream Christian churches
are embracing
a worldly view
of life
and of marriage
and of relationships?
Why should that bother us?
Because
because the saints
of Jesus Christ
make up one church
and wherever you find
decline
whatever
denomination
it may be
or whatever
congregation
it may be
just as you can say
within
one congregation
whatever individual
it may be
it concerns
us
as those
who in this world
are set apart
to be God's people
because
the saints
all the saints
have an interest
together
in the well-being
of Christ's church
it is
our concern
it is
our concern
tonight
for
our brothers
and sisters
in Ukraine
wherever else
they may be
in the world
their welfare
is important
to us
not because
they're just
human beings
like ourselves
but because
as Christians
in Ukraine
they are the
Lord's people
they differ from us
as other Christians
in other places do
they don't worship
exactly the same
as we do
they may have
traditions
that we don't
ourselves
agree with
but where they
present themselves
as living
by faith
in Christ
and seeking
to be obedient
to God
then the Arab
brothers
and sisters
at that level
at least
in the Lord
all the saints
greet you
but especially
those of
Caesar's household
this is interesting
and it ties up
with what we saw
near the beginning
we reflected on
just briefly
tonight as well
in chapter 1
I want you to know
brothers
that what has
happened to me
has really served
to advance the gospel
so that it has
become known
throughout the whole
imperial guard
and to all the rest
that my
imprisonment
is for Christ
and it led
to some
actually
being emboldened
to preach the gospel
what do you see
what he's saying
there
and what he's saying
here
all the saints
greet you
especially those
of Caesar's household
what is he talking
about
what is Caesar's
household
Caesar's household
is the imperial
palace
who was the Caesar
at the time
that Paul wrote
to the Philippians
it was the cruel
emperor
Nero
and yet here
you find
in Nero's
palace
among Nero's
servants
among those
who served
as wicked
emperor
this un-Christian
un-godly
pagan man
here you find
Paul saying
all the saints
greet you
especially those
of Caesar's
household
there are saints
in the most
unexpected places
even Caesar's
household
even Nero's
household
even Nero's
servants
contain
saints
there are
Christians there
there are people
there who love
the Lord
and Paul is saying
they are sending
you their
greetings
tonight there are
Christians
in the most
unexpected places
places that are
closed officially
to the gospel
there are Christians
tonight as you
know yourselves
in China
there are Christians
tonight in North
Korea
these countries
can be sealed
off by their
dictators
as North Korea
is at the
moment
and yet
God has
his people
there
you see
we can
legislate
even in our
own country
against grace
we can
legislate
in a way
that seeks
to wipe
the statute
book
of all
that is
really
specifically
Christian
we can
imprison
Christians
we can
make it
really tough
for them
as it was
for the
apostle here
but you
cannot stop
the gospel
you cannot
stop the
Holy Spirit
there is no
power in the
world
or out of
the world
that can
actually stand
against the
Holy Spirit
and say
you can't
come in
here
this is a
no-go
area for
the gospel
we don't
want your
Christianity
here
here are
all of
these people
in Caesar's
household
and they're
worshippers of
God
they are
saints of
God
be thrilled
about that
tonight
remember us
you pray
tonight
for God's
people
throughout
the world
pray for
those
who are
Christians
in unexpected
places
pray for
those
who are
Christians
in
countries
that are
closed
officially
to the
gospel
and that's
what you
find
even the
likes of
Ukraine
as well
with all
the brutality
that the
Ukrainian
people are
experiencing
and have
experienced
now for
months
not even
all that
brutality
can extinguish
the gospel
or can extinguish
faithful witness
to Christ
how many people
have you heard
in the news
reports
quite a number
thankfully
that were
interviewed
certainly in the
early parts
of the
struggles
and asking
for their
views
making reference
to their
faith in
God
making reference
to placing
their lives
in his
hand even
as they
fled the
country
or look
to the
shell
of their
accommodation
a wreckage
of their
city
did that
destroy their
faith
did that
mean that
Christianity
had been
wiped out
of course
not because
you cannot
stop the
power of
God
the grace
of God
you cannot
stop the
love of
God reaching
sinners
wherever he
chooses
you know
there are
people in
our own
locality
tonight
who are
undoubtedly
enemies of
the gospel
who make
it quite
clear that
they are
out against
the gospel
to do
everything
possible
not only to
make it
ineffective
but to
get rid
of it
altogether
if
possible
they stand
as enemies
of the
church
as enemies
of the
preaching
of the
gospel
as enemies
of the
standard
of the
gospel
the moral
and spiritual
standard
that the
gospel
sets out
and they
make it
clear
many of
them
by the
way they
speak
that that
is what
their life
is driven
by
that is
what they
are setting
out to
achieve
let me
tell you
this
they may
put us
in prison
we may
end up
having to
suffer
deeply
for the
faith
for all
we know
they may
remove
everything
from us
in terms
of our
possessions
but they
cannot take
Christ from
us
they cannot
take the
gospel itself
from us
and remember
when you're
praying
tonight again
not just
praying for
those in
these
countries
where you
might not
expect to
find
Christians
but where
they're
there
remember
too for
those who
are
about
enemies
of the
gospel
pray for
them
pray for
this mighty
grace of
God to
take hold
of their
lives
as that
grace of
God took
hold of
the life
of this
author of
Philippians
who as he
says in
chapter 7
this power
this Jesus
grasped me
he took
hold of
me
he arrested
me
and he
took me
into the
custody of
his grace
the power
and the
care of
his grace
pray for
those tonight
that God
would convert
them
that the
power of
his grace
would enter
their lives
that they
may have
a change
around in
their thinking
completely
not just so
that we
might have
more peace
for the
gospel
that's
important
but that
they will
realize
themselves
how much
they need
this Christ
how valuable
the Savior
is
how
indispensable
it is
to have
Jesus as
your Savior
especially
they
who are of
Caesar's
household
there are
saints
even there
and there are
saints tonight
in the most
unexpected
places
and finally
he says
greet
every saint
greet
every saint
in Christ
Jesus
he's been
thinking
up to now
and writing
in corporate
terms
plurals
but now
he's
individualizing
greet
every saint
in Christ
Jesus
we tend
to categorize
people
don't we
we tend to
categorize
Christians
as well
we tend
to categorize
Christians
who are
like
ourselves
have the
same
way of
looking at
things
the same
kind of
worship
and we
categorize
them
and we
make them
really
so much
more
important
to us
in a sense
than others
are
we think
of them
as
brothers and
sisters
but don't
really want
to go
outside of
that too
much
greet
every
saint
in Christ
Jesus
wherever you
come across
a Christian
someone who
is truly
the Lord's
someone who
truly loves
the Lord
someone who
obviously is
a saint
set apart
by the grace
of God
greet them
and greet
them means
deal with
them as
brothers and
sisters should
greet
every saint
in Christ
Jesus
because the
Bible tells
us that
we are all
one in
Christ Jesus
in Paul's
letter to
the Galatians
now he meant
that specifically
in terms of
how we come
to be justified
by faith
in Christ
Jesus
and we are
made all
one in
that sense
you mustn't
take from
that some
ideas that
you find
current that
there's no
distinction at
all between
men and
women in
church or
in church
office or
that sort
of thing
that's not
what Paul
meant
he meant
on the
level of
being justified
of being
accepted
with God
of being
righteous
of being
saints
there is
no difference
between male
and female
in that
regard
and we
mustn't
actually put
a difference
or something
where of a
distinction
where God
hasn't made
one
whatever race
or color
people may
be of
there is
no racism
allowed within
the relationships
of God's
people
greet
every saint
in Christ
Jesus
the Bible
teaches us
the New Testament
a biblical
equality
where we all
have an
equality in
Christ
where each
of us
is accepted
by God
as much
as the
other
and you
remember
Paul himself
when he
wrote
that little
letter
to
Philemon
you remember
that he
speaks in
Philemon
of how
Philemon
was to
receive
the slave
that had
run away
from him
and was
now coming
back to him
this slave
Onesimus
I Paul
am now an
old man
prisoner for
Christ Jesus
I appeal
to you
for my
child
Onesimus
whose father
I became
in my
imprisonment
of course
he's talking
spiritually
Onesimus
was converted
as he met
with Paul
as a prisoner
he was
converted
formerly he
was useless
to you
but now
he is
indeed useful
to you
and to me
I am
sending him
back to you
sending my
very heart
I would have
been glad
to keep him
with me
in order
that he
might serve
me on
your behalf
during my
imprisonment
for the
gospel
but I
prefer to do
nothing
without your
consent
I have
sent him
back
for you
so
no longer
treat him
as a
slave
but more
than a
slave
as a
beloved
brother
especially
to me
but how
much more
to you
receive him
as you
would receive
me
aren't
these
incredible
words
here's
this
mighty
apostle
here's
this
great
man
of
God
and he's
writing
to Philemon
in regard
to this
slave
and here
he is
talking about
this slave
and saying
to Philemon
look I'm
sending him
back to you
but he's
a changed
man
he's been
converted
he's now
a man
of God
receive him
as you
would receive
me
because in
Jesus Christ
there's no
distinction
he's as
acceptable
to God
as the
apostle Paul
was
so that's
why he's
saying
greet
every
saint
in Christ
Jesus
well I
hope that
you have
heard the
voice of
God
speaking to
you through
these studies
and indeed
through all
the studies
of scripture
that we
engage in
and you
remember the
words of
Psalm 95
and verse
8
which speaks
about the
voice of
God
and today
if you
hear his
voice
harden
not your
heart
this is to
me and
this is to
you as
well
if you
hear his
voice today
harden
not your
heart
you know
today
is all
you have
yes you
may see
tomorrow
but it's
not
guaranteed
so for
the moment
today is
all you
have
this today
where you're
hearing and
when you're
hearing the
voice of
God
today
if you
hear his
voice
don't harden
your heart
don't say
I listen to
it more
tomorrow
accept him
now
don't harden
your heart
against it
don't promise
yourself something
that may never
happen
and today
it's not just
all you have
but today
is all you
need
today is all
you need
to have
Christ for
yourself
to be
saved
to be
a saint
to come
to be
a follower
a disciple
of Jesus
today
is all
you need
even if
there isn't
a tomorrow
for you
or for me
remember
today
right now
is all
you need
to trust
in Jesus
don't say
if you
hear his
voice
as you're
hearing his
voice
in the
gospel
now
don't say
well
I'm not
ready yet
for this
I need
to do
a bit
more
studying
I need
to do
something
else
in order
to
actually
appreciate
more
of what
the gospel
is
I want
to
understand
more
of the
likes
of these
letters
of the
Bible
these books
of the
Bible
today
is all
you need
to trust
in Christ
to give
your life
over to
him
to follow
him
to be
among
the saints
of God
saints
in
unexpected
places
saints
you can
turn that
around
and say
that there
are people
who aren't
saints
in places
where you
would expect
them to
be so
and this
is one
of them
you would
not expect
that this
place which
knows the
gospel so
well
would have
people
who are not
yet saints
of God
who have
not come
to a
saving
relationship
with Jesus
oh don't
be like
that if
you're like
that tonight
I urge
you in
the name
of Christ
trust in
him
receive
him
accept
him
love
him
follow
him
believe
in him
speak
about
him
defend
him
do
everything
in your
power
to be
a
saint
of
God
let's
pray
Lord
our
gracious
God
we
thank
you
for
the
grace
that
makes
saints
out
of
sinners
and as
we
find
ourselves
Lord
still
in
the
confession
of
our
sins
even
as
saints
of
God
we
pray
for
your
grace
for
the
grace
of
forgiveness
for
the
grace
of
restoration
we
pray
for
your
grace
oh
Lord
for
perseverance
and we
ask that
your
grace
will be
with us
day
by
day
in
all
our
responsibilities
to
our
families
to
our
neighbors
to
our
work
colleagues
to
our
fellow
Christians
grant
your
grace
to
us
Lord
we
pray
as
we
meet
with
the
world
in
its
hostility
to
the
gospel
grant
us
grace
to
treat
them
as
we
know
you
would
treat
them
grace
to
be
tactful
and
patient
and
grace
to
depend
Lord
that
you
would
bless
us
and
do
for
us
even
more
than
we
are
able
to
ask
or
even
think
hear
us
we
pray
for
Jesus
sake
Amen
well
we're
singing
in
conclusion
tonight
from
Psalm
133
Psalm
133
and the
Sing
Psalms
version
of it
and we're
singing
to
tune
Bishop
Thorpe
page
175
how
excellent
a thing
it is
how
pleasant
and how
good
when
brothers
dwell
in
unity
and
live
as
brothers
should
Psalm
133
you'll find
that on
page
175
how
excellent
a thing
it is
excellent
a thing
it is
how
for
blessed
and
blessed
and
her
good
when
brothers
dwell
in
unity
and
live
as
brothers
should
for
it is
like
the
precious
soil
for
doubt
own
male
said
The Lord bestows his blessing there,
The life that never ends.
I'll go to the door here to my right this evening.
Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God the Father,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you now and always.
Amen.