WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.440 14. 1 Timothy 3 at verse 14. 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:22.219 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and birthress of truth. 00:00:22.219 --> 00:00:31.659 And so on to the end of the chapter. Now we know that physical health is a gift from God. 00:00:31.659 --> 00:00:38.619 And we know that as long as we have physical health, we're able to function in so many areas of life. 00:00:38.619 --> 00:00:45.879 We also know that if we lose our health, that we're not able to function as we used to do. 00:00:45.879 --> 00:00:50.320 We are restricted in different ways because we have lost our health. 00:00:50.320 --> 00:01:11.180 When I look at health of organizations, we see that organizations that they run smoothly because they communicate well, because they are aligned with their vision and strategy well, and because they are flexible and they work together for the good of the organization. 00:01:11.180 --> 00:01:15.740 A successful organization will work like that. 00:01:15.739 --> 00:01:18.739 We know that the church is very similar. 00:01:18.739 --> 00:01:40.739 A healthy church will function according to God's design and will do so by walking in the paths of God, by communicating the gospel clearly, and will also have flexibility and the availability for change as the church moves on and as things develop from generation to generation. 00:01:40.739 --> 00:01:55.739 And reflecting on that and reflecting on what this passage says, I want this evening and the times that we are together on a Wednesday evening in the future to think something of the New Testament and a healthy congregation. 00:01:55.739 --> 00:02:02.739 It's important that we understand what the Bible requires of us as the people of God. 00:02:02.739 --> 00:02:11.740 And as we begin to do so, it's worth noticing that at the beginning of this letter, Paul is telling Timothy to remain in Ephesus. 00:02:11.740 --> 00:02:15.740 And Ephesus was very close to Paul's heart. 00:02:15.740 --> 00:02:17.740 He worked there for many years. 00:02:17.740 --> 00:02:22.740 It was the hub of his missionary activity for quite some time. 00:02:22.740 --> 00:02:32.740 And we read that as he left Ephesus in Acts chapter 20, that he put them on their guard that things might change after he left. 00:02:32.740 --> 00:02:47.740 And when you read Revelation chapter 3 and see the way in which the church of Ephesus had lost its first love, had abandoned its first love, then we realize that the warnings that Paul gave to them, they did not heed. 00:02:47.740 --> 00:02:54.740 And because of that, we find Jesus Christ himself assessing the church in that passage. 00:02:54.740 --> 00:03:03.740 And so looking at these verses, I want us to think of three particular things with regard to the formation and function of the church. 00:03:03.740 --> 00:03:08.740 And first of all, just to think of the formation of the church itself. 00:03:08.740 --> 00:03:16.740 We read in verse number 15 that the church is the church of the living God. 00:03:16.740 --> 00:03:23.740 And we understand from a personal experience that the whole sense of church is the calling of God. 00:03:23.740 --> 00:03:35.740 And the whole sense of this word in the New Testament that's translated as church speaks to us of those who are called out to be together and gathered into one place. 00:03:35.740 --> 00:03:42.740 In other words, there is a forming of a group of people together in response to a particular call. 00:03:42.740 --> 00:03:53.740 And we understand from the gospel, for example, in Paul's read to Corinthians, we understand that we are called by God into the fellowship of his son. 00:03:53.740 --> 00:04:00.740 And we understand from Paul in Galatians 1 that we are set apart and called by the grace of God. 00:04:00.740 --> 00:04:06.740 God works, God calls, and he brings us together. 00:04:06.740 --> 00:04:19.740 And we are here this evening as a result of that initial call of God, where he took us from where we were and brought us into the church to be part of the people of God. 00:04:19.740 --> 00:04:24.740 And the church is described here as the church of the living God. 00:04:24.740 --> 00:04:25.740 Of course, it is God's church. 00:04:25.740 --> 00:04:28.740 And God is the only true and living God. 00:04:28.740 --> 00:04:36.740 But the church of the living God in the sense of ownership and possession, but also in the sense of his presence. 00:04:36.740 --> 00:04:52.740 And Paul reminds the church of the church of the church of the church of the living God called by God. 00:04:52.740 --> 00:04:55.740 And God dwells in our hearts individually and personally. 00:04:55.740 --> 00:05:02.740 And God also dwells in our hearts collectively as a gathering of God's people. 00:05:02.740 --> 00:05:04.740 We are possessed by him. 00:05:04.740 --> 00:05:05.740 We are owned by him. 00:05:05.740 --> 00:05:07.740 We are indwelt by him. 00:05:07.740 --> 00:05:09.740 We belong to him. 00:05:09.740 --> 00:05:19.740 And Paul wants Timothy to see here that when the church is formed, that the church is formed as the family of God. 00:05:19.740 --> 00:05:23.740 And that's again what we read in verse number 15. 00:05:23.740 --> 00:05:27.740 The household of God. 00:05:27.740 --> 00:05:33.740 Paul is using a domestic arrangement to describe the church of God. 00:05:33.740 --> 00:05:38.740 That there is in a community of those who are bound together in a family. 00:05:38.740 --> 00:05:40.740 They have a shared dwelling place. 00:05:40.740 --> 00:05:42.740 They have shared parenthood. 00:05:42.740 --> 00:05:44.740 They have shared brothers and sisters. 00:05:44.740 --> 00:05:49.740 They are joined together by lot because they belong to the same household. 00:05:49.740 --> 00:05:56.740 And Paul wants Timothy and those to whom Timothy is going to bring the gospel. 00:05:56.740 --> 00:06:01.740 He wants them to understand that they are the family of God. 00:06:01.740 --> 00:06:07.740 And it's key for ourselves to be reminded of that time after time. 00:06:07.740 --> 00:06:11.740 That we're not just a scattering of individual believers. 00:06:11.740 --> 00:06:14.740 That we're actually the family of God. 00:06:14.740 --> 00:06:17.740 And that we have God as our Father. 00:06:17.740 --> 00:06:21.740 And that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:06:21.740 --> 00:06:24.740 The formation of the church. 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:32.740 And as you saw from the beginning of this chapter, when God forms his church, he has it organized. 00:06:32.740 --> 00:06:38.740 And we see the way in which in that organization, he speaks of those who are overseers or elders. 00:06:38.740 --> 00:06:40.740 He speaks of those who are deacons. 00:06:40.740 --> 00:06:44.740 He speaks of those who are able to manage their own household well. 00:06:44.740 --> 00:06:47.740 So that they can manage the household of God. 00:06:47.740 --> 00:06:51.740 Church leadership organized by God. 00:06:51.740 --> 00:06:57.740 Brought together by God for the purpose of managing the family of God. 00:06:57.740 --> 00:07:01.740 And we read through the rest of that chapter. 00:07:01.740 --> 00:07:07.740 And we see the way in which there are those who are to keep themselves. 00:07:07.740 --> 00:07:09.740 Those who are to pray. 00:07:09.740 --> 00:07:11.740 The women are to do good works. 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:14.740 The whole of the family of God. 00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:19.740 They have a role and a responsibility in their service of God. 00:07:19.740 --> 00:07:25.740 And in their service of one another to ensure that the church keeps its formation. 00:07:25.740 --> 00:07:39.740 And that it reforms in order to ensure that everyone is functioning according to God's design. 00:07:39.740 --> 00:07:43.740 And according to the way in which God has called us together. 00:07:43.740 --> 00:07:48.740 There is the formation of the church. 00:07:48.740 --> 00:07:55.740 Secondly, there is the faithfulness of the church. 00:07:55.740 --> 00:08:01.740 And Paul reminds Timothy that there is a necessity. 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:03.740 It's not Paul's necessity. 00:08:03.740 --> 00:08:06.740 It's the necessity that comes from God. 00:08:06.740 --> 00:08:10.740 And he is writing these things to Timothy. 00:08:10.740 --> 00:08:16.740 So that if he is delayed, you will know how you ought to behave. 00:08:16.740 --> 00:08:19.740 When I read the word ought in the New Testament. 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:23.740 It's a necessity that arises not from what Paul wants. 00:08:23.740 --> 00:08:25.740 Not from what Timothy wants. 00:08:25.740 --> 00:08:29.740 It's a necessity that arises from the purpose of God. 00:08:29.740 --> 00:08:32.740 I read about the work of the Lord Jesus. 00:08:32.740 --> 00:08:36.740 And Jesus is telling his disciples, I must go to Jerusalem. 00:08:36.740 --> 00:08:38.740 He ought to go. 00:08:38.740 --> 00:08:42.740 There is a divine necessity in the plan of God. 00:08:42.740 --> 00:08:44.740 He must follow God's plan. 00:08:44.740 --> 00:08:47.740 God has ordered it so to be. 00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:53.740 And it brings us face to face with the fact that together as the family of God, 00:08:53.740 --> 00:08:57.740 there is a necessity that comes from God alone. 00:08:57.740 --> 00:09:03.740 And it's a necessity that speaks about our behavior, our conduct. 00:09:03.740 --> 00:09:15.740 It's important for us personally and collectively to recognize that God requires behavior and conduct of us. 00:09:15.740 --> 00:09:17.740 And that's what Paul says here. 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:26.740 How you ought to behave yourselves in the household of God. 00:09:26.740 --> 00:09:29.740 It's the way you're going to spend your lives. 00:09:29.740 --> 00:09:35.740 And as we think of behavior in the household of God, let's see the distinction that Paul makes. 00:09:35.740 --> 00:09:38.740 He is not saying about behavior in the house of God. 00:09:38.740 --> 00:09:42.740 So that what God requires happens only in the worship of God. 00:09:42.740 --> 00:09:45.740 It's what happens in the family of God. 00:09:45.740 --> 00:09:52.740 There is of necessity behavior prescribed by God for our Christian living. 00:09:52.740 --> 00:09:57.740 For our Christian living in a relationship with God. 00:09:57.740 --> 00:10:00.740 Our Christian living in a relationship with each other. 00:10:00.740 --> 00:10:05.740 Our Christian living in a relationship with the world. 00:10:05.740 --> 00:10:10.740 And going back once more to the beginning of the chapter, and to the beginning of chapter 2. 00:10:10.740 --> 00:10:14.740 We see there the way in which he refers. 00:10:14.740 --> 00:10:22.740 First of all then I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people. 00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:25.740 For kings and all who are in high positions. 00:10:25.740 --> 00:10:27.740 That they may lead a peaceful life. 00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:28.740 And so on. 00:10:28.740 --> 00:10:33.740 We see the way in which he speaks about those who are to pray with holy hands. 00:10:33.740 --> 00:10:34.740 In verse 8. 00:10:34.740 --> 00:10:37.740 That woman should adore themselves in respectable apparel. 00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:38.740 With modesty and self-control. 00:10:38.740 --> 00:10:40.740 And so on and so forth. 00:10:40.740 --> 00:10:45.740 There is that sense of behavior that God requires. 00:10:45.740 --> 00:10:50.740 And of course we can, we could fill out the detail of that. 00:10:50.740 --> 00:10:53.740 The principles that Paul raises here. 00:10:53.740 --> 00:10:56.740 We could take from the other literature of Paul. 00:10:56.740 --> 00:10:59.740 And fill in and put flesh on these principles. 00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:01.740 To show what our behavior is. 00:11:01.740 --> 00:11:04.740 And we are familiar with that. 00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:07.740 And we can put flesh on these principles ourselves. 00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:10.740 When we leave our meeting this evening perhaps. 00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:12.740 But the key thing is. 00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:14.740 That for you and for me. 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:18.740 God requires particular conduct and behavior. 00:11:18.740 --> 00:11:21.740 In all that we do in the worship of God. 00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:23.740 In all that we do outside of the worship of God. 00:11:23.740 --> 00:11:27.740 In all that we do in our daily lives. 00:11:27.740 --> 00:11:28.740 Godliness. 00:11:28.740 --> 00:11:34.740 And that behavior is described around these words. 00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:37.740 And there's the whole idea of godliness. 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:41.740 And that's what we have in version number 16. 00:11:41.740 --> 00:11:46.740 Great we confess is the mystery of godliness. 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:47.740 Godliness. 00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:48.740 We use the word godliness. 00:11:48.740 --> 00:11:50.740 Perhaps we don't even think what we're saying. 00:11:50.740 --> 00:11:52.740 We describe people as godly. 00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:55.740 Do we understand what we're saying? 00:11:55.740 --> 00:11:57.740 What exactly does that mean? 00:11:57.740 --> 00:12:01.740 When I read Paul's using the word godliness. 00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:08.740 He speaks about a life that is shaped according to rules and regulations. 00:12:08.740 --> 00:12:13.740 A life that is formed around the revelation of God. 00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:17.740 A life that embraces the things that God tells us to do. 00:12:17.740 --> 00:12:22.740 And commits itself to the service of God. 00:12:22.740 --> 00:12:35.740 And the basic meaning of the word godliness is the sense of falling back before something in awe and in adoration. 00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:39.740 That's where our behavior begins. 00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:43.740 We stand back in awe of the glory of God. 00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:45.740 Of the glory of our Savior. 00:12:45.740 --> 00:12:48.740 And filled with that sense of awe. 00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:57.740 We're in the place where we're constrained and persuaded to do the things that God tells us are necessary in our behavior. 00:12:57.740 --> 00:13:04.740 And I speak to myself as well as to all of us this evening. 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:12.740 How often do I find myself with that sense of awe before my God and my Savior? 00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:13.740 That seeing as beauty and glory. 00:13:13.740 --> 00:13:29.740 You stand back in admiration and you are so persuaded with a sense of the urgency of honoring God. 00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:36.740 In all that you do and in all that you say. 00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:41.740 The mystery of godliness. 00:13:41.740 --> 00:13:44.740 It's not a mystery in the sense that we don't know it. 00:13:44.740 --> 00:13:45.740 I don't understand it. 00:13:45.740 --> 00:13:50.740 It's a mystery in the sense that God kept it hidden in the Old Testament. 00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:53.740 But now it's revealed to us in the New Testament. 00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:57.740 It can only be known by God's revelation. 00:13:57.740 --> 00:14:05.740 And where do we see that revelation of the godliness that Paul speaks of this mystery? 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:07.740 It is in the following verses. 00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:12.740 Which are a great study on ourselves where we're going to study these verses together. 00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:24.740 He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. 00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:26.740 What is the mystery? 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:36.740 It has two elements in it that remind us of who we are going to be in awe of and what we should be doing. 00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:41.740 And the first element is that it speaks to us of the mission of Jesus himself. 00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:44.740 He was manifest in the flesh. 00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:45.740 He came into this world. 00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:48.740 He lived the life that he lived. 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:50.740 He was vindicated by the spirit. 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:54.740 He was raised up and glorified. 00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:56.740 He was on a journey. 00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:58.740 He was on a mission for God. 00:14:58.740 --> 00:15:03.740 A mission which included and was focused upon rescuing and redeeming us. 00:15:03.740 --> 00:15:08.740 But he lived his life in obedience to God's mission. 00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:15.740 And the second element is the mission of the church itself. 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:20.740 Proclaimed among the nations. 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:22.740 Believed on in the world. 00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:25.740 Taken up in glory. 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:27.740 Here is the mission. 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:29.740 The message of Jesus. 00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:32.740 His finished, completed work. 00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:35.740 The Jesus who is now at God's right hand. 00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:42.740 Our mission together, our mission individually, is to proclaim this to the nations. 00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:44.740 This is our service. 00:15:44.740 --> 00:15:48.740 And calling upon others to hear the message of the gospel. 00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:52.740 And to embrace this same Jesus for themselves. 00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:54.740 Believed on in the world. 00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:56.740 We see people coming to faith. 00:15:56.740 --> 00:16:01.740 The mission of the church is carried out in obedience to the command of Christ. 00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:06.740 With the power and enabling of the Holy Spirit of God. 00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:09.740 And people are called. 00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:11.740 People come to believe. 00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:15.740 And the church of Jesus Christ grows. 00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:22.740 And tonight, the focus of our conduct and our behavior. 00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:25.740 The focus of our godliness. 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:27.740 Is double edged. 00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:32.740 We have to see the finished work of Jesus Christ. 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:38.740 If I don't see that clearly for myself, then the inspiration is gone. 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:41.740 But when I see that clearly, the awe. 00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:46.740 The sense of my need to adore and to serve fills my heart. 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:52.740 And then I'm inspired to do what Jesus called his disciples to do. 00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:55.740 To do what Paul requires the church to do. 00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:58.740 Inspired to deny myself. 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:01.740 Remind myself that I'm not my own. 00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:03.740 That I'm bought with a price. 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:10.740 Remind myself that God has called me for the purpose of serving him. 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:17.740 And tonight, how transformational that would be for us personally. 00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:19.740 And for us collectively. 00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:22.740 To have that sense of godliness. 00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:28.740 What God in Christ has done for me. 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:32.740 And what I must now do for him. 00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:40.740 And Paul goes on to speak of the way in which there is godliness with contentment. 00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:43.740 Which is great gain. 00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:45.740 That doesn't mean to say we won't have our troubles. 00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:48.740 That we won't have our challenges, our trials. 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:50.740 But there is a contentment. 00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:53.740 And a settled view. 00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:55.740 Of seeing what Jesus has done. 00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:57.740 There is a contentment. 00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:59.740 And sensing our need. 00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:01.740 Our call to serve him. 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:04.740 And to seek to do so. 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.740 With all of our failings. 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:07.740 With all of our shortcomings. 00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:09.740 Wishing that we could do it better. 00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:11.740 But with a sense that we have to do. 00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:13.740 What we can do. 00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:15.740 For the glory of his name. 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.740 There is. 00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:18.740 That sense of. 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:19.740 Faithfulness. 00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:21.740 And we remind ourselves. 00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.740 Of the. 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:23.740 Formation. 00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.740 We remind ourselves. 00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:25.740 Of. 00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:26.740 The. 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:27.740 People of God. 00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:28.740 In the old testament. 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.740 When. 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.740 The. 00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.740 The armies. 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:32.740 Were formed. 00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.740 Around. 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.740 The king. 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.740 And they won't doubt. 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.740 Successfully. 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.740 Because. 00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.740 God was. 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:39.740 With them. 00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:40.740 And there is. 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.740 That sense. 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.740 Of. 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:50.259 and the unity and the oneness of of the gospel itself following King Jesus the 00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:57.559 victory is his he deserves our service we cannot achieve any by ourselves but 00:18:57.559 --> 00:19:06.740 we can achieve everything because of him the faithfulness and closely reach that 00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:15.319 and finally that is the function of the church and the function has to do with 00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:23.359 the Word of God in verse number 15 once more we see the church of the living God 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:32.920 a pillar and buttress of the truth the truth being that of the Word of God the 00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:39.700 faithfulness of what God has said Paul says in second letter to me in chapter 00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:45.160 chapter 3 that that all scripture is breathed out by God this is the truth 00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:51.400 breathed out by God this revelation that we have in the Word of God this is the 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:57.279 truth and alongside of that we read that grace and truth came with Jesus Christ 00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:05.259 and that Jesus says I am the way and the truth and the life and so the truth which 00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:09.160 is the focus of the function is the truth as we have it written in the Word of God 00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:16.899 it's the truth as we have it revealed in the person of Jesus Christ that brings us 00:20:16.899 --> 00:20:24.940 back to to the way in which our godliness is focused upon him a function is entirely 00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:35.500 Bible-centered God-centered Christ-centered word of God inspired and led and as the 00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:43.180 people of God Paul highlights two areas of the function of the church based on 00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:53.000 agricultural terms where we read at the end of verse 15 a pillar and buttress of the truth 00:20:53.000 --> 00:21:01.640 and that speaks to us of two things that we are to do as we function as the people of God we are to be 00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:14.480 pillars of the truth I read Solomon building the glorious temple and he built great pillars and some of them had 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:22.460 nothing on the top of it but they were ornamental he built other pillars which supported the purchase that 00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:50.460 were around the temple pillars are there to make sure that something is protruding up into the space and can be visible from a great distance and the Paul is writing to Timothy here is the Paul who knew well about the temple of our team is in Ephesus and all of its glorious pillars ensuring that across the city the temple of the goddess Diana could be seen 00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:58.620 one of the seven wonders of the world let's look at the temple of the goddess Diana there for all to see 00:21:58.620 --> 00:22:20.440 and Paul is telling them that's the way you should be as the church of God let this truth let this word of God stand up visible and to make it visible make sure that it shines across the 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:34.440 the world of the world of which we live across our homes and our workplaces that there is the truth of God on its pillar not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ but making it known to all around 00:22:34.440 --> 00:23:02.440 and if you go to Ephesus today the place where the one of the seven wonders of the world was found all that you will see is the remains of one pillar that remind us of the judgment of Jesus and it was regard to the church in Ephesus in the book of Revelation that reminds us of the of the warning that Paul gave to to the 00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:09.440 Ephesians and that he gives to Timothy here how what was held high visible to everyone can suddenly crumble because the pillars aren't there and you and I tonight have that responsibility that this truth the gospel of Jesus Christ that it's up there that people can hear it and people can see it and 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:39.420 it's held up there as long as the pillar is steady as long as the pillar is steady as long as the there's the pillar that is supported by the 00:23:39.420 --> 00:24:09.400 by our godliness and by our godliness and by our christ-centeredness and by our god-centeredness the pillar stands high it will not crumble and that's surely a challenge for us all this evening that as we function as the people of God that we ask ourselves every morning how can I today put this word of God and this gospel on display on a pillar of the 00:24:09.420 --> 00:24:09.580 moment and this gospel of the moment and this gospel is a moment of the moment and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this moment of grace and this gospel is a moment of grace and this moment of grace and this moment of grace and this moment of grace and 00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:46.259 We have to forget our failures, to move on from our failures and to ensure that we learn from them 00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:52.580 and that the pillar is raised once more and remains raised up and high. 00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:58.980 And we are also to be the birthress of the truth. 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:04.160 And the birthress brings before us two images. 00:25:05.100 --> 00:25:09.600 It brings before us, first of all, the sense of a foundation. 00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:12.440 What is lying beneath the surface? 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:18.220 And in that sense, we are to be the foundation of the truth. 00:25:18.380 --> 00:25:22.680 We know, of course, that God is the only foundation and Jesus is the foundation of our faith. 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:32.500 But as the people of God, our lives conform to the word of God, that gives our witness a basis. 00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:36.560 Once more challenging every day. 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:42.160 That I may speak the word and there's no foundation for it in my life. 00:25:43.140 --> 00:25:48.220 That I may speak the word and my life is a contradiction of the word which I speak. 00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:51.299 We are to be a birthress. 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:59.839 We are to be a foundation in our own lives so that the pillar of our witness and our proclamation stands for him. 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:08.179 So that as we talk the talk, we are walking the walk and we are strong in the grace that there is in Christ Jesus. 00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:19.199 And the second sense is that there is that sense of having a ramp that is for the protection of a city. 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:30.019 So in Paul's time, you would have that sense of something that is built up to protect the city from the enemy. 00:26:30.620 --> 00:26:31.759 It's a birthress in that sense. 00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:37.660 So that it's impossible for the enemy to climb over the birthress to attack the city. 00:26:38.100 --> 00:26:40.420 It's the means of protection. 00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:50.920 And God wants us tonight to be reminded that we're also to be guardians of the truth. 00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:53.700 We are to protect the truth. 00:26:53.700 --> 00:27:02.860 And we all know how in a loud speaking way, the truth is undermined and compromised. 00:27:03.580 --> 00:27:13.140 And we all also know the way in which in a subtle and quiet way, the very truth that is precious to us is undermined. 00:27:13.140 --> 00:27:27.120 We know the way in which in the society that we live, there is the drive to remove every sense of theological memory, every sense of the vocabulary of God and to leave us with nothing. 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:30.080 We need to protect the truth. 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:34.720 We need to protect our minds in the first place from that kind of onslaught. 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:43.839 And then protect it vocally and protect it in our witness so that we are defenders of the truth. 00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:46.019 A great challenge. 00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:49.059 But that is our function. 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:56.279 And tonight, we pray that God will help us to hear what Paul is saying. 00:27:57.539 --> 00:28:01.839 That together we may understand the church and its formation. 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:11.859 That we may be moved with a sense of the call of God to the faithfulness that Paul speaks of and calls for. 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:15.599 That sense of godliness and of godly living. 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:20.220 And inspired from that to fulfill our function. 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:27.779 It's the environment in which God has promised to bless his word and to build his church. 00:28:27.779 --> 00:28:34.019 And may God help us to hear what he has to say and to seek to look in the mirror of God's word. 00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:40.539 And to learn together in the challenges that we face from the word of God to be better. 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:45.539 Because we all know, I know and you know, that we can be better. 00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:48.539 And the Bible tells us that we must be better. 00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:53.339 And may God help us by his spirit to be better as his people. 00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:56.639 And to live the kind of life that his word speaks of. 00:28:57.099 --> 00:28:58.519 May God bless these thoughts to us. 00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:05.059 So we're now going to sing your final item of praise in Psalm 71. 00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:08.119 And Scottish school.