On behalf of the Presbyte of the Western Isles to the service, appointed for the induction of Reverend Calamurdo Smith as Assistant Minister of this congregation.
We also of course extend a warm welcome to those who are joining us online.
On a personal note, it is a great privilege for me to be appointed to take this service.
I watched Calamurdo come into faith in Shalbos in September 2002.
I was with Calamurdo at his induction in Dumfries on November 2011.
I also had the pleasure of being with him at his induction to North East, Grimsey and Burnery in June 2016.
It is a great pleasure for me to see him here this evening and to see the way in which his ministry has developed
and for him to be ready to be inducted as Assistant Minister of this congregation.
We begin our worship of God by singing to his praise from Psalm 118 in St. Psalms.
It's on page 156.
And we're singing at verse number 15 down to verse 24.
Psalm 118 in St. Psalms on page 156.
Triumphant shouts of joy resound in places where the righteous dwell.
The Lord's right hand does lift it high.
This mighty hand does all things well.
From verse 15 to verse 24.
And we stand to sing to cause praise.
The Lord's right hand does lift it high.
His mighty hand does all things well.
I shall not find it high.
I shall live.
The Lord's right hand does lift it high.
I've entered and given thanks to God.
This is the King of all new ways.
The righteous come before the Lord.
If you answered me, I will give thanks.
Salvation comes from you, my Lord.
Bless you, the wilderness I've been here.
Has now become the glorious storm.
The Lord himself has done all this.
This is the King of all new ways.
Let's join together in prayer.
Let's bow our heads in prayer.
Almighty and most gracious God,
we rejoice as we gather in your presence this evening.
You are the great creator God.
You have made us and fashioned us for your glory.
And we bless you and we praise you tonight that we can gather as we do.
You are the creator God who has become the great savior God.
And we praise and magnify your name because of the way in which you have addressed our sin.
And the way in which in the pages of the truth and in the gospel of Jesus Christ, your son,
we come face to face with your purposes and with your plans.
And with the marvel of the way in which your love moved to save this world brings us to the place where we see the son of God dying for the sins of the world,
reconciling a lost world to you.
We bow before you as we confess our sin and we give thanks for that.
And as we worship you together this evening on this occasion,
we rejoice in the church of Jesus Christ, your son.
You have bought the church with the blood of your son.
You are building your church in the generations of this world.
Your word promises us that so you will continue to do until the end of time.
And we rejoice for every way in which you appoint and you call and you summon.
We rejoice for every way in which you send people to serve you and to minister for you in the gospel.
And we are thankful for the generations of the people of God that have gone before us.
They have been faithful servants of God, not only in our communities, but across the world.
And we give thanks tonight that we gather here on this occasion under the banner of your eternal purposes,
under the banner of your redeeming love and under the banner of the good news of the gospel.
And we are thankful, O Lord our God, for the fact that your son is king and head of the church.
And as we worship you together this evening, help us to sense something of what that headship means in lordship over us.
And what that headship means in our humble submission before you.
We do pray, O Lord our God, that as we do worship you, we may know your near presence.
Your presence transforms.
It transforms the words that we speak.
It transforms the way in which we hear.
It transforms our worship in your presence.
And we do pray tonight for the privilege of sensing that God is in this place.
That you are here in your glorious presence,
overshadowing us and indwelling us.
And giving us to know that every step that we take,
we are taking it in your presence.
And help us in doing so, to walk before you and to do the things that are pleasing and honouring to you.
We do pray your mercy and your favour and your grace for the whole of our time gathered together this evening.
We pray for your blessing to be upon this congregation at this time.
We are thankful for the ministry of the gospel here down through the years.
We are thankful for the present ministry.
We are thankful for the ministry of your servant, Kenneth I. McLeod, who is retired as assistant minister.
And we are thankful for the way in which this evening we are gathered.
Because in a new development in your purposes, Reverend Calumura Smith is to be inducted as assistant minister in this place.
And so we pray for your blessing to be upon this people.
We pray that you will pour of your spirit with your word upon them.
So that your word may come with that transforming power to people's hearts and to people's lives.
So bless this congregation, we pray.
Bless all of its homes and all of its families.
Bless every aspect of the ministry of the gospel through your people here.
And encourage them this evening at this new juncture in their lives.
We are thankful as we do worship you that your church is a worldwide church.
And we are thankful for every way in which you bless your people.
And your word teaches us that as your church develops and that as your church expands, that it is subject to growing pains.
And we remember tonight the church of Jesus Christ that suffers for the sake of the gospel.
And as we enjoy this time of peace and blessing together, we pray for your blessing to be upon every part of your church in the world.
That they all may sense and know your presence and that they may know that we are with them.
And that we may know that they are with us.
And that we may have that greater joy that comes from sensing that the gospel indeed is the fulfillment of the commission of Jesus Christ your son to go and to make disciples of all nations.
So bless your church throughout the world.
And bless the world in which we live.
And all of its confusion.
And all of its chaos.
And all of its sufferings.
And all of its pains.
And in all of its conflicts.
We pray that you will bring an end to all that brings pain.
We pray that you will bring peace.
That you will bring good health.
That you will restore relationships where they are broken.
And that you will bless us with a sense of our duty to you.
And our need to return to you as our God.
And so we pray as we continue before you that you will bless us and hear our prayer.
We pray that you will bless us in the reading of your word.
And our study of it together in the singing of your praises.
And we pray that you will help us to hear what you have to say to us from your word this evening.
Hear as we ask and accept as we pray.
For Jesus sake.
Amen.
We are going to turn to read the word of God now in the New Testament.
And in Paul's second letter to Corinthians.
And beginning a reading in chapter 5.
And at verse number 16.
2nd Corinthians 5 at verse 16.
And we are reading into chapter number 6.
From now on therefore we regard no one according to the flesh.
Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh.
We regard him thus no longer.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation.
The old has passed away.
Behold the new has come.
All this is from God.
Who through Christ reconciled us to himself.
And gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
That is in Christ.
God was reconciling the world to himself.
Not counting the trespasses against them.
And entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ.
God making his appeal through us.
We implore you.
On behalf of Christ.
Be reconciled to God.
For our sake.
He made him to be sin who knew no sin.
So that in him we might become.
The righteousness of God.
Working together with him then.
We appeal to you.
Not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says.
In a favourable time I listened to you.
And in a day of salvation I have helped you.
Behold now is the favourable time.
Behold now is the day of salvation.
We put no obstacle in anyone's way.
So that no fault may be found with our ministry.
But as servants of God.
We commend ourselves in every way.
By great endurance.
In afflictions.
Hardships.
Calamities.
Beatings.
Imprisonments.
Riots.
Labours.
Sleepless nights.
Hunger.
By purity.
Knowledge.
Patience.
Kindness.
The Holy Spirit.
Genuine love.
By truthful speech.
And the power of God.
And with the weapons of righteousness.
For the right hand and for the left.
Through honour and dishonour.
Through slander and praise.
We are treated as impostors.
And yet are true.
As unknown.
And yet well known.
As dying.
And behold we live.
As punished.
And yet not killed.
As sorrowful.
Yet always rejoicing.
As poor.
Yet making many rich.
As having nothing.
Yet possessing everything.
We have spoken freely to you.
Corinthians.
Our heart is wide open.
You are not restricted by us.
But you are restricted in your own affections.
And return.
I speak as to children.
Widen your hearts.
Also.
Amen.
This is the word of God.
And we trust that it will be blessed to us.
Our reading from it.
We are going to turn to praise God from Psalm number 85.
And sing Psalms on page 113.
And we are singing from verse 1 down to the verse marked 9.
Psalm 85.
Sing Psalms page 113.
In times past Lord you showed favour to your own beloved land.
The prosperity of Jacob you restored by your strong hand.
From verse 1 to verse 9.
Let's stand to praise God.
In times past Lord you showed favour to your own.
The Lord who gave the heart and the heart and the heart and the heart.
The Lord said it here on the earth.
You restored by your strong hand.
You forgave your needless trust.
You were pleased to send to life.
You lived through all your wish pleasure.
From your heart you turned aside.
Lord our Savior now restored us.
All that stern our way to raise.
Will your mind ever hurt against us?
Will it pass from age to age?
Will you not again be by us?
And we may rejoice in you.
Show us Lord your common mercy.
Your salvation come and mercy.
Your salvation come to you.
I will hear of all the Lord's saints.
To the saints.
The honour of Jesus.
But his people must not wander.
But his people must not wander and return to foolishness.
Surely for all those who fear him, his salvation is a time.
So that once again his glory may be seen within her arms.
Let's turn together now to Paul's second letter to Corinthians and to chapter number six.
And we can read at the beginning of the chapter.
2 Corinthians 6 at verse 1.
And so on down to verse number 13.
It's an interesting story to read.
The story of Paul's relationship with the church in Corinth.
We see at the very beginning of his writings to them.
That he is addressing them and speaking to them.
As those who are sanctified, set apart in Christ.
Called to be saints.
And he is able to say that because of his own first relationship with them.
When this church was actually born.
But when we read through his letters.
We see in the first place and in his first letter.
That he is addressing the problems that they faced.
Problems in their theology.
Problems in their morality.
And problems in their relationships with one another.
And we see for example in that letter.
The great difficulty they had with regard to the resurrection.
And so in the first letter.
He is addressing these problems that the church faced.
When we come into the second letter.
Things change slightly.
Because we see in the second letter.
That Paul is facing new challenges in his ministry.
And the new challenges are such that.
His credentials as an apostle.
Are being questioned.
By the very people to whom he is preaching the gospel.
And we read through the first part of the letter.
As we take an overview of the first five chapters of the letter.
We see the way in which they seem as untrustworthy.
We see the way in which they seem as lacking authority.
We see the way in which their question is being an apostle.
Because he hasn't come with letters of commendation or recommendation.
We see that because he is weak.
And because he is suffering.
All of these things are raising questions.
About his apostleship.
And his right to bring this message to them.
And in his interaction with them.
What we now find in this letter.
There is the way in which Paul gives to us an explanation.
Of the very credentials of ministry.
And step after step.
He takes us to this point in the letter.
Where he wants them to understand what ministry is.
And tonight I want us to look at these verses in chapter 6.
Against that background.
And in the context of our induction setters this evening.
And to think of these verses.
As a model for effective Christian ministry.
I want us to think first of all.
That we have in this passage.
A partnership.
Partnerships are so important.
No organisation can work.
Without proper relationships.
And proper partnerships.
And here as we begin.
Chapter 6.
We see in the words of Paul.
Working together with him then.
We appeal to you.
The ministry.
Is about workers.
And they are workers.
Who are working.
Together.
And it is that.
Working together.
Spending their energy together.
That makes their ministry effective.
But what gives authority to the ministry.
Is that they are working together with him.
And of course we need to ask.
Who the him refers to.
And it's clear from the previous chapter.
That the him refers to God.
God.
And so they are.
Working together with God.
In the ministry.
And when you think of.
Working together with someone.
Or being with someone.
We can understand that.
In at least two ways.
We can first of all.
Be with someone.
And have no interest in them.
And not be involved in anything.
That they are doing.
We can be neighbours with.
We can sit with.
We can be with people.
And have nothing to do with what they are doing.
But the second way.
In which we can understand.
Being with someone.
Is being so entwined.
In all that they are doing.
That it is impossible.
To separate them from.
The work in which they are engaged.
And the person.
Whom they are working with.
And such is the entwinement.
And the intensity.
Of this relationship.
That Paul uses the same word.
With regard.
To the people of God.
Being raised from the dead.
With Jesus.
We died with him.
We were raised with him.
So much in union with him.
That the people of God.
Cannot be separated from.
The Christ by whom.
They are saved.
And so tonight.
We see that.
We have here.
A partnership of ministry.
Where the ministry.
Is so entwined.
In the partnership with God.
That they cannot be separated.
From him.
We see the minister.
Of the gospel.
Where God has placed him.
And not only.
Is God promised to be with him.
In the sense of presence.
But he is here.
With the authority of God.
For the ministry of the gospel.
And so.
Taking part.
In the work of God.
On God's behalf.
And God with him.
And we are here tonight.
For the induction.
Of an assistant minister.
There already is.
A minister.
In place.
In the congregation.
Mr. McEver.
Is here.
With the authority of God.
He is here.
Entwined.
In the work of God.
And in the work.
In which God is engaged.
Working with him.
And working for him.
And working under him.
He is already here.
And we see that Paul.
Sees.
In this first verse.
Not only.
Working together with him.
Then.
We appeal to you.
There is.
A team.
That is in partnership.
With God.
In the work of the gospel.
In Corinth.
And when we read.
Through the letter.
We see the way.
In chapter 7.
The way in which.
Paul highlights.
The importance of Titus.
In the ministry.
In which he is engaged.
With his church.
In Corinth.
And Titus.
Comes with news.
To Paul.
To comfort Paul.
Because of the way.
In which.
Titus himself.
Has been comforted.
In the way.
In which.
The people of God.
Have responded.
To the message.
Of the gospel.
The gospel.
And so.
We have.
The whole picture.
Of.
Of a team.
That is working.
With God.
Entwined.
In the work.
Of the gospel.
A team.
That includes.
Paul.
And Titus.
And here they are.
As those.
Who are sent.
By God.
Into Corinth.
To bring.
The gospel.
To them.
And so.
Tonight.
We.
We have.
Exactly that.
We have.
The partnership.
With God.
We have.
A minister.
And an assistant minister.
And they are here.
With the authority.
Of God.
Sent out.
To do.
The work.
Of God.
And how much.
We.
Need.
As.
Servants.
Of God.
To remember.
That.
And how much.
As the people.
Of God.
We need to remember.
The way.
In which.
God.
Has structured.
His church.
And structured.
The ministry.
Of the gospel.
So that.
The minister.
Of the gospel.
Goes.
With the authority.
Of God.
And with God.
With him.
And with.
And him.
With God.
But when you think.
Of the partnership.
There is an extension.
To that.
Because.
The work.
Of the gospel.
Doesn't stop.
With.
The work.
Of the full-time.
Gospel ministry.
And we see.
The way.
In which.
Paul.
In that same.
Verse.
We appeal.
To you.
Not to receive.
The grace.
Of God.
In vain.
There is.
An appeal.
To the people.
Of God.
From this ministry.
To be.
Part of the ministry.
In which.
Paul and Titus.
Are engaged.
They are not.
To receive.
The grace.
Of God.
In vain.
In other words.
Paul is giving.
The image.
That.
When we come.
Along.
To measure.
The way.
In which.
The gospel.
Has prospered.
Otherwise.
In Corinth.
There has to be.
Something.
In the measuring.
Can.
There has to be.
Something.
In the measuring.
Scale.
He.
Is saying.
To them.
That when we come.
To measure it.
The scale.
Cannot.
Be empty.
We appeal.
To you.
Not to receive.
The grace.
Of God.
In vain.
And that means.
That there should be.
Development.
On their part.
In response.
To the ministry.
But also.
That there is.
Another.
Partnership.
For the sake.
Of the gospel.
That the people.
Of Corinth.
Form a new part.
Of the partnership.
Partnership.
And we see that.
From chapter one.
Sorry.
The first epistle.
And chapter one.
And the way.
In which.
Paul speaks of.
You must also.
Help us.
By prayer.
Partnership.
There's a role.
To play.
We work with you.
For your joy.
There is such.
A working together.
Such a partnership.
In the gospel.
That everyone.
Is included.
And so.
Tonight.
When we.
Move on.
In thinking.
About partnership.
We see.
That God.
Has a network.
Of relationships.
A hierarchy.
Of ministry.
And all.
For the sake.
Of his purposes.
That they will be.
Fulfilled.
And so.
When we come to.
The induction.
Of a minister.
Or in this case.
An assistant minister.
It includes.
All of the people.
Of God.
Participating.
In that.
And.
As we will see.
Responding.
To ensure.
That.
The grace.
Of God.
The gospel.
Is not.
Received.
In vain.
A partnership.
That speaks.
Of authority.
That speaks.
Of teamwork.
That speaks.
Of everyone.
Involved.
And that speaks.
Of the way.
In which.
The gospel.
Will flourish.
Partnership.
Secondly.
We want to see.
In the passage.
That with partnership.
We have.
Privilege.
What.
A privilege.
To be.
Together.
Here.
This evening.
We have so many.
Privileges.
Under the gospel.
In this passage.
We.
Want to see.
Two.
Particular.
Privileges.
And the key.
To understanding.
The privileges.
Is to understand.
The key.
To the passage.
And the key.
To the passage.
We have.
In the words.
In verse two.
Now is.
In a favorable time.
Or later on.
Now is the favorable time.
What does Paul.
Mean.
By that.
He is.
Referring.
To the way.
In which.
God.
Works.
At.
Appointed times.
In accordance.
With his.
Purposes.
And plans.
And he does that.
By an act.
Of his own will.
To put in place.
The very things.
That he has purpose.
To do.
So when I think of.
The favorable time.
For example.
I think of.
The first of July.
And I think of.
7 p.m.
And I think of.
The induction.
Of.
Reverend.
Callum.
Or.
Smith.
To.
As a.
Sister.
Minister.
Of this.
Congregation.
It is a favorable time.
God.
Works.
At particular.
Times.
To show his favor.
To fulfill his purposes.
And when.
We read.
A favorable time.
We want to.
Pay attention.
Because.
These words.
Tell us.
That things.
Are moving on.
And God's plan.
Is being put in place.
And at each.
Significant step.
There is.
The act of God.
That is.
His favorable.
Time.
The blessing.
Of knowing.
That God.
Has.
Favorable.
Times.
And.
In the passage.
We see.
First of all.
That there is.
A key.
Event.
Which brings us.
To the cross.
And we read.
These words.
For he says.
Going back.
To Isaiah 49.
For he says.
In a favorable time.
I listen to you.
And in a day of salvation.
I have.
Helped you.
What does this.
Have to do.
With the gospel.
Well.
It has to do.
With the fact.
That the son of God.
Who comes to die.
On Calvary's cross.
In Isaiah 49.
Is the servant.
Of the Lord.
Who is taken.
From among the people.
Who is sent.
By God.
To be the savior.
Of the world.
And he is.
In that passage.
Being spoken to.
By God.
And him speaking.
To God.
There is the servant.
Speaking to the master.
And from that conversation.
We have these words.
And when we notice that.
It is so important.
For us to.
Recognize.
To hear.
What God is saying.
To his servant.
And what the servant.
Is saying.
To God.
And why is that important.
Let me paint the picture.
These words.
Are spoken in.
To a people.
Who are facing.
A crisis.
And the image.
That I see.
In the Old Testament.
Is first of all.
A people.
Who used to be.
In Jerusalem.
Taken away.
By their enemies.
To Babylon.
They are relocated.
Geographically.
I go to the place.
That they left behind.
And I see.
The king's house.
Burnt down.
I see.
The lord's house.
Burnt down.
I see everything.
That symbolized.
The presence of God.
With his people.
Done away with.
And a heap.
Of ruin.
And that tells me.
That this people.
Are alienated.
From their God.
The situation.
Is.
Irretrievable.
It's irreversible.
It's irrecoverable.
There is nothing.
This people.
Alienated.
From God.
Can do.
To get back.
To where they.
Where they're.
Left behind.
Or get back.
In any way.
To the presence of God.
And to the temple of God.
And to the king's palace.
Nothing.
Can happen.
They cannot do anything.
And that tells me.
That the world.
Is hopeless.
And helpless.
Unless.
There is.
A favorable time.
And the favorable time.
In the old testament.
Is the promise.
Given.
To the servant.
And the promise.
Given to the people of God.
Through the servant.
That in this.
Impossible.
Irreversible situation.
There is hope.
Because God.
Is sending.
His servant.
And the servant.
In that passage.
Is speaking about.
The way in which.
His efforts.
Are bearing no fruit.
The way in which.
Everything.
Seems to be going nowhere.
And he's praying.
To God the father.
And there.
God the father.
Saying.
In a favorable time.
I listened to you.
And in a day of salvation.
I.
Helped you.
And the favorable time.
Yes.
It includes.
The son of God.
Coming into the world.
In the manger of Bethlehem.
But.
Especially.
It includes.
Two particular things.
It includes.
The cross.
Where the servant.
Of Jehovah.
Where he died.
For the sins of the world.
I will give you.
My servant.
To bring back.
The people of God.
Who are away.
In Babylon.
Who are alienated.
From God.
And in doing so.
The Lord.
Lays on him.
The servant.
The iniquity.
Of us all.
All.
And so.
He bears our sins.
In his own body.
To the tree.
And it was the will of the Lord.
To crush him.
And we come to Calvary's cross.
And the brokenness.
Of the.
Of the temple.
In Jerusalem.
Is symbolic.
Of the brokenness.
That he now.
Experiences.
On that same cross.
Where in.
Psalm 22.
We read of the way.
In which.
His.
Body is falling apart.
The way in which.
He's.
Unrecognizable.
As a human being.
He's suffering.
The wrath of God.
For the people.
That are alienated.
From God.
He is God's answer.
To the situation.
Of alienation.
And he is there.
Suspended.
On the cross.
To remove.
That alienation.
And to bring.
About.
What was thought.
Impossible.
To bring.
About.
Reconciliation.
And when I hear.
On.
The morning.
Of the resurrection.
That the tomb.
Is empty.
And I hear.
The word.
God.
The word of God.
Telling me.
That God.
Has.
Raised.
His son.
From the dead.
I see.
A new image.
And the image.
Is that.
That God.
Is embracing.
His son.
By.
In this.
Favorable time.
Bring him.
Back.
From the dead.
And in doing so.
He's bringing.
He's embracing.
His people.
The whole church.
In that moment.
Of resurrection.
So.
What.
Appeared to be.
Irreversible.
And recoverable.
In this.
Favorable time.
Becomes.
A moment.
In accordance.
With the definite.
Plan of God.
Where.
Reconciliation.
Has been.
Secured.
And when.
Jesus said.
It is finished.
He had paid the price.
And when the tomb.
Is open.
And he is raised.
From the dead.
And when he is.
Seated at the right hand.
Of God.
Then.
The new thing.
Begins.
The oldest.
Guns.
Is Paul.
The rubbish.
And the ruin.
Is being rebuilt.
The people of God.
Come back.
In their droves.
Come.
Says.
The Lord.
To his people.
In that same chapter.
Let the prisoners.
Come out.
Let those.
Who are in darkness.
Let them appear.
Because.
The Lord.
Has done.
A new thing.
The privilege.
Of hearing.
That God.
Is a God.
Who fulfills.
His promise.
The God.
Concerning him.
Paul says.
In the first chapter.
That all of the promises.
Of God.
Are yes.
In Christ.
Jesus.
And so tonight.
In history.
We can look back.
And see that.
In the cross.
And resurrection.
Of the son of God.
God's favor.
Is revealed.
His purposes.
And plans.
Are made known.
And God.
Was.
In Christ.
Reconciling.
The world.
To himself.
What does that mean.
For the church.
In Corinth.
What does it mean.
For you.
And for me.
It is the fact.
That in applying that.
Paul is now saying.
Behold.
Now is the favorable time.
Behold.
Now is the day.
Of salvation.
This moment.
At which Paul.
Is writing to them.
Becomes.
Their favorable time.
In other words.
It's the point.
Appointed by God.
God.
In the purposes.
Of God.
In the outworking.
Of his plan.
In the building.
Of his church.
That he is taking.
That message.
And that he is now.
Making it.
A time.
Of favor.
For them.
A time.
Of fear.
For them.
When he came.
With the gospel.
At first.
But a time.
Of favor.
For them.
When the gospel.
Continues.
To be preached.
There.
And we.
We follow.
Paul.
We see.
In this passage.
With the ministry.
Of reconciliation.
With reminding them.
That the word.
Of the cross.
Is foolish.
To those.
Who are perishing.
But to those.
Who are being said.
It is the power.
Of God.
The favorable time.
The moment.
Of the power.
Of God.
Touching people's hearts.
Through the ministry.
Of the gospel.
It is now happening.
In the church.
In Corinth.
The ministry.
Of reconciliation.
They are not to receive.
The grace of God.
In vain.
They are to remember.
That here is.
The gospel.
Of reconciliation.
And what does that mean?
Of course.
It means.
That they have peace.
With God.
Of course.
It means.
That their sins.
Are forgiven.
Of course.
It means.
That they are justified.
Before God.
But it means.
Reconciliation.
In every aspect.
Of that relationship.
Which means.
That when they embrace.
The gospel.
They are embracing.
The very heart of God.
When they are embracing.
The gospel.
They are embracing.
The minister of the gospel.
The apostle Paul.
Whom they are questioning.
And Paul is telling them.
That their response.
To Paul.
Is their.
Rejection.
Of the gospel.
And that this gospel.
Of reconciliation.
Must impact upon them.
In such a way.
As to ensure.
That they are.
Understanding.
The significance.
Of the message.
And the significance.
Of the messenger.
And once that.
Takes place.
Then everything.
Is resolved.
Is the privilege.
Of having the.
Historical message.
Of the.
Cross of Jesus.
Proclaimed.
To the people of God.
And in.
The now time.
Of.
God's favor.
And of God's plan.
They are called upon.
In that point.
Of crisis.
They are called upon.
At that point.
To respond.
And to.
Embrace.
And to be.
Reconciled.
And.
We see.
Then.
A trail.
Of relationships.
And they are all.
At peace.
With each other.
Because.
Everyone.
Understands.
The privilege.
Of the ministry.
Of the gospel.
And in understanding it.
There is that.
Peace.
And that.
Synchronized way.
In which.
The people of God.
Are synchronized.
With ministry.
And.
The ministry.
Is synchronized.
With the heart of God.
And everything flows.
In that way.
From.
The heart of the loving God.
The privilege.
And thirdly.
I was going to say.
The most important thing.
But I think.
The most important thing.
Is the partnership.
But thirdly.
The participation.
How are we.
To.
Participate.
In this message.
Of.
Reconciliation.
How does ministry.
Work.
In the context.
Of the.
Ministry.
Of reconciliation.
It works.
First of all.
When we see.
The sincerity.
Of the minister.
Of the gospel.
The sincerity.
Of the apostle.
Paul.
We see.
In verse number 11.
We have.
Spoken.
Freely.
To you.
Corinthians.
Our heart.
Is.
Wide.
Open.
We have.
Spoken.
Freely.
We haven't.
Held.
Anything.
Back.
We have.
No.
Haven't.
Put any.
Obstructions.
In the way.
It's.
The picture.
Of.
We.
Kept.
Nothing.
Back.
From.
You.
And.
We.
Couldn't.
Stop.
Speaking.
About.
This.
Truth.
And.
The.
Whole.
Truth.
It.
Speaks.
About.
The.
Constancy.
Of.
The.
Message.
The.
Clarity.
Of.
The.
Message.
And.
The.
Way.
In.
Which.
Paul.
Pours.
The.
Gospel.
Into.
The.
City.
In.
Corinth.
We.
Have.
Spoken.
Freely.
To.
You.
And.
The.
Sincerity.
Of.
The.
Message.
We.
See.
In.
The.
Way.
In.
Which.
It.
Describes.
Our.
Heart.
Is.
Wide.
Open.
We.
See.
The.
Heart.
Of.
God.
Open.
In.
Love.
To.
A.
Lost.
World.
We.
See.
The.
Heart.
Of.
God.
Open.
Through.
The.
Apostle.
Paul.
In.
The.
Church.
In.
Corinth.
We.
See.
The.
Heart.
Of.
God.
Open.
Through.
The.
Sincerity.
Of.
The.
Minister.
Of.
The.
Gospel.
That.
Hearts.
Are.
Wide.
Open.
And.
Of.
Course.
That.
Speaks.
To.
Us.
Of.
The.
Fullness.
Of.
The.
Love.
Of.
Paul.
For.
This.
Congregation.
He.
Is.
Speaking.
To.
Them.
As.
To.
Children.
It.
Shows.
To.
Us.
In.
The.
Verses.
Previous.
To.
This.
That.
His.
Heart.
Is.
Wide.
Open.
No.
Matter.
What.
And.
That.
That's.
Where.
We.
See.
The.
Sincerity.
Of.
The.
Genuine.
Gospel.
Ministry.
That.
The.
Heart.
Remains.
Open.
No.
Matter.
What.
And.
That.
Means.
No.
Matter.
How.
Much.
He.
Suffers.
No.
Matter.
How.
Much.
He.
Induced.
Hardships.
No.
Matter.
How.
Much.
Induced.
Calamities.
No.
Matter.
What.
His.
Heart.
Is.
Wide.
Open.
And.
That's.
Important.
Because.
Naturally.
A.
Response.
To.
Suffering.
To.
Calamity.
To.
Being.
Slandered.
In.
Any.
Way.
Our.
Natural.
Response.
To.
That.
Is.
To.
Close.
Our.
Hearts.
We.
Cannot.
Love.
That.
Person.
Who.
Has.
Said.
This.
Anymore.
But.
Paul.
Is.
Telling.
Us.
Here.
That.
No.
Matter.
What.
He.
Endured.
His.
Heart.
Remained.
Wide.
Open.
His.
Love.
Reached.
Out.
To.
Them.
No.
Matter.
What.
And.
Tonight.
I'm.
Sure.
That.
In.
The.
Ministry.
That.
You.
Presently.
Enjoy.
And.
The.
Ministry.
That.
Will.
Commence.
Under.
The.
Assistantship.
Of.
Reverend.
Callum.
Or.
Smith.
I.
Am.
Sure.
That.
That's.
Exactly.
How.
They.
Will.
Preach.
The.
Gospel.
And.
Minister.
The.
Gospel.
To.
You.
And.
They.
Will.
Know.
That.
They.
Face.
Challenges.
In.
The.
Ministry.
Challenges.
That.
They.
Expect.
And.
Challenges.
That.
They.
Don't.
Expect.
But.
Regardless.
Of.
That.
Their.
Hearts.
Will.
Always.
Remain.
Open.
And.
Loving.
To.
You.
As.
They.
Fulfilled.
Their.
Ministry.
Sent.
Out.
By.
The.
Lord.
Jesus.
Sent.
Out.
With.
God.
And.
In.
Partnership.
With.
Him.
But.
Unless.
That's.
Reciprocated.
Then.
The.
Gospel.
Will.
Not.
Flourish.
And.
That's.
What.
Paul.
Says.
To.
This.
People.
In.
Verse.
Number.
Twelve.
You.
Are.
Not.
Restricted.
By.
Us.
But.
You.
Are.
Restricted.
In.
Your.
Own.
Affections.
In.
Return.
I.
Speak.
As.
To.
Children.
Widen.
Your.
Hearts.
Also.
They.
Are.
Restricted.
Instead.
Of.
Being.
Wide.
Open.
The.
Way.
Paul.
Is.
Towards.
Them.
They.
Are.
Narrow.
And.
Restricted.
Towards.
Him.
So.
Everything.
That's.
Happened.
When.
The.
Relationship.
Begun.
It.
Seemed.
So.
Good.
Everything.
That's.
Happened.
Since.
Then.
It.
Seems.
That.
They.
Have.
Narrowed.
And.
Narrowed.
And.
Narrowed.
And.
Come.
To.
And.
Paul.
Is.
Reminding.
Them.
That.
They.
Haven't.
Been.
Restricted.
Because.
Of.
The.
Ministry.
They.
Have.
Been.
Restricted.
In.
Their.
Own.
Affections.
Their.
Own.
Hearts.
The.
Restriction.
Has.
Come.
In.
There's.
Been.
That.
Narrowing.
Of.
The.
Flow.
Of.
The.
Gospel.
To.
Them.
And.
Because.
Of.
Their.
Own.
Choices.
Because.
Of.
Their.
Wrong.
Different.
Ways.
In.
Which.
They.
Have.
Found.
Fault.
With.
Paul.
All.
Of.
These.
Things.
Have.
Closed.
The.
Channel.
More.
And.
More.
And.
He.
Wants.
Them.
To.
Be.
Just.
Like.
Him.
In.
Return.
As.
If.
He.
Said.
Them.
Look.
At.
My.
Heart.
Towards.
You.
And.
When.
You.
See.
That.
How.
Wide.
Open.
My.
Heart.
Is.
To.
You.
Widen.
Your.
Hearts.
Also.
Tonight.
That's.
What.
We.
See.
In.
This.
Model.
Of.
Christian.
Ministry.
That.
As.
You.
As.
A.
Congregation.
Do.
Prayerfully.
Widen.
Your.
Hearts.
And.
Keep.
Your.
Hearts.
Wide.
Open.
To.
The.
Ministry.
Of.
The.
Gospel.
As.
It.
Goes.
Forth.
From.
Your.
Minister.
And.
From.
The.
From.
Your.
Assistant.
Minister.
And.
The.
Sevens.
Of.
God.
That.
No.
Matter.
What.
Your.
Heart.
Will.
Always.
Be.
Wide.
Open.
And.
That's.
Where.
Gospel.
Prosperity.
Begins.
That's.
How.
It.
Continues.
Hearts.
Open.
Towards.
Each.
Other.
As.
Their.
Heart.
Was.
To.
Be.
Open.
To.
Paul.
And.
Through.
That.
Open.
To.
The.
Very.
Heart.
Of.
God.
So.
That.
Flows.
To.
Them.
From.
The.
Loving.
Heart.
Of.
God.
The.
Redeeming.
Love.
Of.
God.
That.
Fills.
Everyone.
And.
That.
Helps.
Everyone.
To.
Live.
Life.
That's.
Devoted.
To.
The.
Lord.
A.
Life.
That's.
Lived.
Out.
That.
Reflects.
That.
Devotion.
And.
A.
Life.
Through.
Which.
The.
People.
Of.
God.
Develop.
And.
Grow.
Towards.
The.
Maturity.
That.
Paul.
Speaks.
Of.
Until.
The.
Day.
Comes.
When.
The.
People.
Of.
God.
Are.
Perfected.
Let's.
Remember.
The.
Authority.
The.
Partnership.
Let's.
Remember.
The.
Great.
Privilege.
The.
Message.
Of.
Reconciliation.
And.
Let's.
Ensure.
We.
All.
Participate.
It's.
For.
Our.
Good.
Of.
Course.
It's.
For.
The.
Glory.
Of.
God.
And.
Our.
Savior.
Comes.
To.
Us.
In.
His.
Name.
May.
God.
Bless.
His.
Word.
His.
Let's.
Bow.
Our.
Heads.
In.
Prayer.
Gracious.
God.
We.
Are.
Thankful.
To.
You.
For.
The.
Gospel.
That.
Speaks.
To.
Us.
We.
Are.
Thankful.
To.
You.
For.
Every.
Way.
In.
Which.
It.
Speaks.
Into.
Our.
Lives.
Personally.
And.
Help.
Us.
So.
Lord.
To.
Understand.
Together.
Always.
What.
That.
Means.
Practically.
So.
That.
As.
We.
Seek.
To.
Live.
For.
You.
We.
Learn.
To.
Apply.
The.
Truth.
To.
Our.
Lives.
And.
We.
Will.
Learn.
To.
Overcome.
The.
Sinful.
Desires.
And.
Choices.
Of.
Our.
Hearts.
That.
We.
Learn.
Every.
Day.
To.
Do.
The.
Things.
That.
Will.
Ensure.
That.
Our.
Hearts.
Are.
Open.
To.
You.
Sensitive.
To.
Your.
Claims.
Sensitive.
To.
Your.
Word.
As.
It.
Is.
Proclaimed.
To.
Us.
And.
Sharing.
In.
The.
Joy.
Of.
Which.
Your.
Saviour.
Speaks.
The.
Joy.
That.
He.
Gives.
To.
His.
Disciples.
And.
To.
His.
Children.
A.
Joy.
That.
No.
One.
Will.
Take.
From.
Them.
So.
Bless.
Your.
Word.
And.
Hear.
As.
We.
Pray.
For.
Jesus.
Sake.
Amen.
So.
We.
Now.
Turn.
To.
Sing.
To.
God's.
Praise.
In.
Psalm.
69.
In.
The.
Scottish.
Psalter.
It's.
On.
Page.
308.
Psalm.
69.
And.
We.
Sing.
At.
Verse.
Number.
32.
Down.
To.
The.
End.
Of.
The.
Psalm.
69.
In.
The.
Psalter.
At.
32.
When.
This.
The.
Humble.
Men.
Shall.
See.
The.
Joy.
To.
Them.
Shall.
Give.
All.
Ye.
That.
To.
Seek.
The.
Lord.
Your.
Hearts.
Shall.
Ever.
Live.
We.
Stand.
To.
Sing.
From.
Verse.
32.
To.
The.
End.
Of.
The.
Psalm.
When.
This.
The.
Humble.
Man.
Shall.
See.
The.
loved.
Ji.
vacuum.
See.
them.
but.
triv.
done.
sea.
The.
Lord.
laughs.
you love.
said.
Heaven.
home.
May.
Our gods are pure years, and we'll share with him hymn.
Amen.