WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.820 Page 1186 if you're using a red covered Bible. 00:00:22.260 --> 00:00:26.160 It's on page 1186 through these summer months. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:28.699 It is summer. Yesterday was summer. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.340 And we're going through this great letter. 00:00:34.600 --> 00:00:39.600 And Ralph started us off and Kevin continues in chapter 2. 00:00:40.159 --> 00:00:47.719 So we're going to read from chapter 2 verse 1 through to verse 12 of 1 Thessalonians. 00:00:47.780 --> 00:00:49.060 On page 1186. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:51.760 Let's hear God's word. 00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:59.140 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not a failure. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:10.200 We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God, we dare to tell you this gospel in spite of strong opposition. 00:01:10.200 --> 00:01:18.219 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 00:01:19.100 --> 00:01:24.900 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. 00:01:25.760 --> 00:01:30.219 We are not trying to please men, but God who tests our hearts. 00:01:30.219 --> 00:01:35.659 You know, we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed. 00:01:36.379 --> 00:01:37.679 God is our witness. 00:01:38.920 --> 00:01:43.739 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. 00:01:43.739 --> 00:01:52.699 As apostles of Christ, we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 00:01:53.419 --> 00:02:04.319 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:09.439 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship. 00:02:10.079 --> 00:02:16.599 We worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 00:02:16.599 --> 00:02:26.740 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless we were among you who believed. 00:02:27.699 --> 00:02:41.400 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who called you into his kingdom and glory. 00:02:41.400 --> 00:02:53.060 Kevin, when you come up, Yelena, can I ask you just to get some pens while I'm talking to Kevin here? 00:02:53.920 --> 00:02:55.420 Yelena's going to be passing out pens. 00:02:55.520 --> 00:02:56.120 It's an opportunity. 00:02:56.300 --> 00:02:58.560 You can take notes on the back of the news sheet. 00:02:59.340 --> 00:03:04.180 Kevin will welcome any feedback afterwards, encouraging ones first, isn't that right? 00:03:04.340 --> 00:03:04.620 Exactly. 00:03:05.480 --> 00:03:07.099 This is Kevin O'Connor. 00:03:07.099 --> 00:03:16.139 He's studying in CIT, just completed your degree, and going on to a master's. 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:16.659 Is that right? 00:03:17.180 --> 00:03:17.579 No. 00:03:17.900 --> 00:03:18.199 No? 00:03:18.479 --> 00:03:19.139 Well, tell us. 00:03:19.259 --> 00:03:20.819 I was considering a master's. 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:29.359 I was offered a master's, but I'll be pursuing four years of theological training with a correspondence course with the evangelical movement of Wales. 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:32.479 There's another man in my church, Danny McAllen, who's doing that at the moment. 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:37.000 So it involves going over for one week in August and another in Easter for intensive lectures. 00:03:37.719 --> 00:03:41.919 And then what you do is they send you less essays and reading assignments then to do then via correspondence. 00:03:42.060 --> 00:03:47.439 So it allows me to serve in my church, work a full-time job, save up to get married to that girl. 00:03:48.419 --> 00:03:51.560 And so that's what I want to do the next four years anyway. 00:03:52.039 --> 00:03:52.259 Okay. 00:03:53.019 --> 00:03:53.419 Excellent. 00:03:54.060 --> 00:03:55.879 And you were just on camp as well? 00:03:56.079 --> 00:03:56.299 Yep. 00:03:56.780 --> 00:03:59.179 Had the hard job of looking after my son for a week? 00:03:59.399 --> 00:03:59.859 That's good. 00:04:00.079 --> 00:04:01.199 You beat him at table tennis? 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:02.299 I did, just about. 00:04:02.439 --> 00:04:03.079 It wasn't good. 00:04:03.519 --> 00:04:04.079 It wasn't good. 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:06.259 But welcome here today. 00:04:06.639 --> 00:04:09.599 And yeah, I'm going to pray for you and for us. 00:04:09.819 --> 00:04:10.780 Okay, so let's pray. 00:04:11.319 --> 00:04:14.379 Father, thank you for your gifts to us. 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:15.560 Thank you for people. 00:04:16.159 --> 00:04:17.659 And thank you for Kevin. 00:04:18.599 --> 00:04:20.519 Thank you for his love for you. 00:04:20.659 --> 00:04:25.539 Thank you for making him a child of your family. 00:04:25.540 --> 00:04:32.660 Thank you for the love that you have given to him to serve your church and your people. 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:42.660 We pray for him in this coming year as he settles into theological education, that you would help him in his reading, in his essay writing. 00:04:42.660 --> 00:05:00.360 You would guard him from just making it an informational exercise, but that you would use it all to change his life, to change him to be more like Christ, to be better equipped, to be a servant of the gospel as one, as we've just read, who is entrusted with the gospel. 00:05:00.360 --> 00:05:11.560 So we pray for him and we ask for your help upon him now and upon us all, your Holy Spirit to be at work amongst us, we pray in Jesus' name. 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:12.500 Amen. 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:14.300 Thanks, Kevin. 00:05:14.620 --> 00:05:14.939 Thank you. 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:16.660 Good morning, everybody. 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:21.520 So, let's get myself ready here now. 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:24.219 It's a privilege to be here. 00:05:26.060 --> 00:05:31.019 And I'm just amazed at the grace of God that I can stand before his people and open his word to you. 00:05:31.099 --> 00:05:33.819 So I just thank you so much for this invitation. 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:36.819 And thank you to my God for letting me stand here. 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:41.219 And so, I know you started Thessalonians already as a church. 00:05:41.219 --> 00:05:46.359 And so you've seen that it's a letter written by Paul from Paul, Silvanus and Timothy. 00:05:46.500 --> 00:05:47.379 They were fellow missionaries. 00:05:47.479 --> 00:05:49.519 It was on Paul's second missionary trip. 00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:53.939 He did a big circle kind of around the place, around two different countries. 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:58.680 And he landed, towards the end of it, he ended up in Thessalonica, which is in modern-day Greece. 00:05:59.639 --> 00:06:02.399 And he arrived from persecution. 00:06:03.139 --> 00:06:09.180 And he arrived from out of the frying pan into the fire, as it were, and planted a church there by God's grace. 00:06:09.219 --> 00:06:10.359 And it was a persecuted church. 00:06:10.579 --> 00:06:13.879 And so Timothy had visited the church in the meantime, so they moved on. 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:16.459 Timothy went back and visited the church in Thessalonica. 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:18.439 And he reported back to Paul. 00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:22.279 And so, concerning their faith and example, which he looked at last week. 00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:25.779 And so this letter was written by Paul in light of this report. 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:30.920 So it's kind of Paul's response, after Timothy had given a report to them, of how the Thessalonians were doing. 00:06:31.500 --> 00:06:36.420 And so, when we're looking at the book of Thessalonians, its parallel passage is in Acts 17, verses 1 to 9, 00:06:36.420 --> 00:06:43.300 which outlines the actual first visit that Paul and his entourage made to the Thessalonians. 00:06:43.300 --> 00:06:46.819 And so Paul is speaking to them as brothers. 00:06:47.980 --> 00:06:52.720 And he goes on as well to use paternal language, that he is their father in the Lord. 00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:55.439 And also, he describes himself as a mother, as we'll see later. 00:06:56.340 --> 00:07:01.259 So Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy came from Philippi to Thessalonica to preach the gospel. 00:07:01.259 --> 00:07:02.860 That was their goal. 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:08.399 And this was the end of Paul's second missionary trip, as I said, from 49 to 52 AD. 00:07:08.599 --> 00:07:12.860 And today, what we'll be looking at is chapter 2, verses 1 to 12 specifically, 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:18.060 where Paul outlines how he ministered among them and why. 00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:23.280 And so, I know preachers like fancy ways of saying things, so here's my shot of this. 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:26.360 The content and the intent of their ministry. 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:27.220 There you go. 00:07:27.420 --> 00:07:28.199 I thought that was good enough. 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:31.199 So the content and the intent of their ministry. 00:07:32.100 --> 00:07:37.019 And so today, for us as people in 2012, we're not in a persecuted church. 00:07:37.180 --> 00:07:38.279 We're not in Thessalonica. 00:07:38.500 --> 00:07:39.579 But we are God's people. 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:43.399 And so scripture always comes to bear to us. 00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:46.740 And by the Holy Spirit, we will realize that in our individual lives. 00:07:47.699 --> 00:07:51.100 And so today, God's word reminds us that our motives for Christian living, 00:07:51.800 --> 00:07:54.060 our motives for ministry as well, are so important. 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:58.579 And they will shape and define the legacy that we leave behind for God's kingdom 00:07:58.579 --> 00:07:59.960 and how we labor for him. 00:08:00.379 --> 00:08:01.120 And we don't have long. 00:08:02.280 --> 00:08:05.100 It feels like I entered college like four weeks ago, and now I'm finished. 00:08:06.019 --> 00:08:08.040 I think once you leave secondary school, it's just like a shotgun. 00:08:08.840 --> 00:08:09.420 I don't know. 00:08:09.460 --> 00:08:10.800 I feel like my life's going to fast forward. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:14.920 So I just realized that our time is limited as Christians. 00:08:14.920 --> 00:08:17.280 So let us labor under the right motives. 00:08:18.020 --> 00:08:19.280 And so let's begin in verse one. 00:08:19.980 --> 00:08:23.780 We're just going to go down through it verse by verse and just expand on what Paul is speaking about. 00:08:24.199 --> 00:08:28.240 And he says, you know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 00:08:29.180 --> 00:08:30.920 And so Paul begins reminding them of the obvious. 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:33.519 The very fact that he's writing to them is proof. 00:08:33.720 --> 00:08:35.420 If there's someone there to write to, that's a good thing, 00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:38.960 because the church took ground. 00:08:39.080 --> 00:08:39.539 They took root. 00:08:39.539 --> 00:08:43.419 And so he says, you know, he casts their mind back to their visit. 00:08:44.299 --> 00:08:47.419 And in one verse five, Paul said that the gospel didn't just come to you. 00:08:47.459 --> 00:08:50.339 So chapter one verse five, he said the gospel didn't just come to you in word. 00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:53.139 It came to you in power and the Holy Spirit. 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:55.839 And I know I've shared the gospel with people before, 00:08:55.939 --> 00:08:58.240 and I've asked them, do you understand what I'm telling you? 00:08:58.259 --> 00:08:59.079 And they go, I get it. 00:08:59.080 --> 00:09:02.620 But you see the spirit is not at work and that power is not there. 00:09:03.139 --> 00:09:04.000 And it's a sad thing. 00:09:04.800 --> 00:09:08.420 But you also see those times when you share the gospel and the power is there 00:09:08.420 --> 00:09:11.220 and the Holy Spirit is there to open their eyes to the gospel. 00:09:11.420 --> 00:09:13.160 And such is the case here in the Thessalonians. 00:09:13.500 --> 00:09:14.440 And Paul is reminding them. 00:09:14.500 --> 00:09:16.480 He said, look, I didn't come to you just with a message. 00:09:17.180 --> 00:09:21.080 I came to you and the Lord came in power and the Holy Spirit. 00:09:21.340 --> 00:09:23.080 And that is why he has someone to write to. 00:09:23.780 --> 00:09:28.879 And so in Acts 17, we read about this actual visit. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:30.000 So I'm just going to give you a brief overview. 00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:32.539 You can look at it yourself in your own time, but Acts 17, 1 to 9. 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:36.139 And it says that basically what Paul used to do, his style of ministry, 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:38.779 was to go to the synagogue, open up the Old Testament, 00:09:39.159 --> 00:09:40.580 and prove that Jesus was the Christ. 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:46.320 And it says in Acts 17 that he proved to them, explained and proved to them, 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:50.559 so it's possible to prove from the Old Testament that Christ had to suffer and rise again. 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:53.820 Because the Jewish understanding of the Messiah was that he was going to be a king 00:09:53.820 --> 00:09:56.620 that was going to come along and basically kick the Romans to touch 00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:58.500 and bring in this earthly rule. 00:09:59.419 --> 00:10:01.500 Whereas what Paul was saying, he reasoned with them. 00:10:01.500 --> 00:10:04.759 No, it was actually necessary for the Christ, the Messiah, the chosen one of God, 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:08.100 to suffer, which doesn't sound very kingly, 00:10:08.679 --> 00:10:11.679 to be humbled and suffered and die on a cross 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:14.340 and then be risen again. 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:16.580 And so he reasoned with them. 00:10:17.159 --> 00:10:20.460 And some Jews believed, many God-fearing Greeks believed, 00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:22.500 and some influential women also believed. 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:26.279 So influential women would be essentially wives of prominent men, 00:10:26.899 --> 00:10:28.179 as the society was then. 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:30.440 But what happened is, after a couple of weeks of this, 00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:32.179 it says about three Sabbaths, about two weeks, 00:10:32.259 --> 00:10:33.919 but it must have been, it was a good bit longer than that. 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:36.039 So a good few weeks, the Jews got sick of it, 00:10:36.899 --> 00:10:40.340 and they'd got some, basically some wasters from the marketplace, 00:10:40.580 --> 00:10:42.840 started up a riot, dragged them, 00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:45.460 they couldn't find Paul and Silvanus, 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:47.540 or Silas or Silvanus, it's the same guy. 00:10:48.019 --> 00:10:48.759 They couldn't find them, 00:10:49.220 --> 00:10:50.460 so what they did is they dragged Jason, 00:10:50.540 --> 00:10:51.500 who was their host for the week, 00:10:51.580 --> 00:10:54.120 or for their time, their visit in Thessalonica, 00:10:54.300 --> 00:10:55.639 dragged them before the magistrates, 00:10:55.920 --> 00:10:57.800 and said that they're committing treason against King Caesar. 00:10:57.799 --> 00:11:01.799 And so Jason is forced to pay bonds, 00:11:01.899 --> 00:11:03.500 he's basically forced to pay money as a guarantee 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:04.979 that he won't put these people up again. 00:11:05.559 --> 00:11:08.079 And as soon as night falls, Paul and Silvanus, 00:11:08.179 --> 00:11:11.079 they continue on and they head off to Berea. 00:11:12.079 --> 00:11:13.500 And so you can see that it was, 00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:16.719 you can imagine the stress of that, 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:18.979 imagine ministering among the Jews, 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:20.000 and then suddenly there's a riot, 00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:22.339 you've got to leave as soon as there's night cover. 00:11:22.959 --> 00:11:24.919 I mean, that was a pretty stressful visit for them. 00:11:25.439 --> 00:11:27.579 And so he left the church in persecution, 00:11:28.779 --> 00:11:29.979 the Jews were giving them hassle 00:11:29.979 --> 00:11:32.819 because they had left as they saw the way of God 00:11:32.819 --> 00:11:35.939 to follow this carpenter from Nazareth. 00:11:37.599 --> 00:11:39.399 And so in verse 2 then, 00:11:39.479 --> 00:11:40.799 Paul goes on to give them a little background. 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:42.319 So if that was bad, he says, 00:11:42.439 --> 00:11:44.279 okay, go back to before I even arrived there. 00:11:44.479 --> 00:11:46.019 I came from Philippi, 00:11:46.599 --> 00:11:49.199 and that was just another bad time, 00:11:49.259 --> 00:11:50.079 it was really difficult for him. 00:11:50.099 --> 00:11:51.379 He said, we had previously suffered, 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:52.679 verse 2, 00:11:52.679 --> 00:11:54.959 and been treated outrageously in Philippi, 00:11:55.359 --> 00:11:56.000 as you know, 00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:57.299 but with the help of God, 00:11:57.299 --> 00:11:58.979 we dare to tell you 00:11:58.979 --> 00:12:01.919 his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:05.539 And this outrageous treatment 00:12:05.539 --> 00:12:06.620 that Paul was referring to 00:12:06.620 --> 00:12:09.339 was the fact that they were arrested and beaten, 00:12:10.139 --> 00:12:11.779 they were put in shackles, 00:12:11.779 --> 00:12:15.360 and as their Roman citizens, 00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:17.399 basically the magistrates there got egg in their chin, 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:19.339 they sort of threw them in prison, 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:20.480 realized they're Roman citizens, 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:21.659 and said, okay, you can go. 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:22.459 And Paul was like, 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:23.860 well, hey, you don't get off that lightly. 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:25.139 So they had to apologize to them 00:12:25.139 --> 00:12:26.100 and send them on their way. 00:12:26.659 --> 00:12:27.039 But you know, 00:12:27.139 --> 00:12:28.159 when Paul was in prison 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:29.579 in Philippi, 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:30.799 I think this is amazing, 00:12:31.179 --> 00:12:32.179 when Paul was in prison, 00:12:32.819 --> 00:12:33.879 with Silvanus as well, 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:35.799 they sang in their prison cells. 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:37.879 And I think this morning 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:38.899 of people in Eritrea, 00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:40.079 in containers, 00:12:40.819 --> 00:12:41.299 and I wonder, 00:12:41.419 --> 00:12:42.219 I think they're singing, 00:12:42.579 --> 00:12:43.740 I hope they are in their hearts, 00:12:44.139 --> 00:12:45.620 and we pray the Lord will be with them. 00:12:46.479 --> 00:12:47.459 But as they sung, 00:12:47.539 --> 00:12:48.419 and as they prayed, 00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:50.159 there was an earthquake, 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:53.360 and the prison basically 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:54.419 was just rocked to pieces. 00:12:54.959 --> 00:12:55.579 Paul comes out, 00:12:55.639 --> 00:12:56.500 the door swings open, 00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:57.199 Paul comes out, 00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:58.639 the guard is ready to kill himself, 00:12:58.699 --> 00:12:59.959 because he knows it's better to kill himself 00:12:59.959 --> 00:13:01.100 than stand before his authorities, 00:13:01.539 --> 00:13:02.179 knowing that the people 00:13:02.179 --> 00:13:03.159 that he's been entrusted with 00:13:03.159 --> 00:13:04.079 have now gone free. 00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:06.500 And then the jailer gets saved. 00:13:06.919 --> 00:13:07.299 He goes, 00:13:07.339 --> 00:13:08.360 what must I do to be saved? 00:13:09.559 --> 00:13:11.600 And so his whole house is saved 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:12.120 and baptized, 00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:14.779 and so Paul leaves them in Philippi there, 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:15.399 the church, 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:16.179 and goes on his way. 00:13:16.259 --> 00:13:17.120 He greets Lydia as well, 00:13:17.159 --> 00:13:18.559 another woman who was converted. 00:13:19.079 --> 00:13:19.819 And so you can see, 00:13:19.820 --> 00:13:20.900 you've got the frying pan, 00:13:21.020 --> 00:13:22.420 and the fryer. 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:23.520 So Paul, 00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:24.480 wherever he seems to go, 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:25.980 there's persecution, 00:13:26.180 --> 00:13:26.840 there's persecution, 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:27.340 persecution. 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:29.820 And I think it's just, 00:13:30.260 --> 00:13:30.800 it's really, 00:13:30.940 --> 00:13:32.480 it's really evident in Acts 00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:33.280 to see that 00:13:33.280 --> 00:13:36.040 as the Lord's church is expanding, 00:13:36.280 --> 00:13:37.400 it is always under fire. 00:13:39.060 --> 00:13:40.040 And I know that mightn't be 00:13:40.040 --> 00:13:41.120 a very comforting thought to us, 00:13:41.160 --> 00:13:42.960 but we see the places in the world 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:44.200 where the Lord's church, 00:13:44.300 --> 00:13:45.700 where God's people are oppressed 00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:46.800 in their worship of him. 00:13:47.420 --> 00:13:49.000 And we see how God blesses them, 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:50.100 and how the church spreads 00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:50.919 in spite of it. 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:52.259 And I love that. 00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:54.480 Not that we don't love the fact 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:55.559 that we have freedom here as well. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:57.259 We shouldn't seek persecution as such. 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:00.279 So verse 3, 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:01.460 he goes on to talk about motives. 00:14:01.580 --> 00:14:02.639 That's what we want to look at this morning. 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:03.480 So there's the background. 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:03.820 He says, 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:05.519 remember what I did when I was there? 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:06.679 Here's the background 00:14:06.679 --> 00:14:07.720 for what I did when I was there, 00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:08.840 before we came there. 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:09.820 And he goes on, 00:14:09.860 --> 00:14:10.220 he says, 00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:11.100 verse 3, 00:14:11.100 --> 00:14:12.379 for the appeal we make 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:14.940 does not spring from error 00:14:14.940 --> 00:14:17.100 or from impure motives, 00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:19.300 nor are we trying to trick you. 00:14:21.460 --> 00:14:22.100 And he says, 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:22.279 look, 00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:26.180 I have no hidden agenda here. 00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:28.580 And as Christians, 00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:30.600 we should just have a simple agenda, 00:14:30.920 --> 00:14:32.540 is to please God 00:14:32.540 --> 00:14:34.200 and to bring people the gospel. 00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:36.740 And it's almost deceptively simple. 00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:38.139 But Paul says, 00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:39.460 I don't have any trick up my sleeve. 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:40.740 I'm not trying to get money out of you. 00:14:41.180 --> 00:14:42.420 I'm not trying to be greedy. 00:14:42.560 --> 00:14:43.480 I'm not trying to flatter you. 00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:44.759 I came. 00:14:45.259 --> 00:14:46.680 And I just want you to know 00:14:46.680 --> 00:14:47.879 that I'm not trying to trick you 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:49.580 and that my motives for this are pure. 00:14:50.400 --> 00:14:51.700 And it's also possible as well, 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:52.920 if you read Paul's writings, 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:55.519 Paul oftentimes had to address 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.620 critics in the church. 00:14:57.100 --> 00:14:58.420 What happens if Paul would plant a church? 00:14:58.540 --> 00:14:59.540 I'd say he just got sick of it 00:14:59.540 --> 00:15:00.060 by the end of it. 00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:01.500 He'd plant a church, 00:15:01.680 --> 00:15:02.000 leave, 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:02.960 and then you'd have someone going like, 00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:03.900 I don't know about that Paul fellow. 00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:05.080 They'd undermine his authority. 00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:06.780 And I actually looked it up. 00:15:07.300 --> 00:15:08.860 Paul wrote 13 epistles, okay? 00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:10.460 Not including Hebrews, 00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:11.320 but most people don't believe 00:15:11.320 --> 00:15:11.860 that he wrote Hebrews. 00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:14.200 Out of the 13 epistles, 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:16.220 nine of them start off 00:15:16.220 --> 00:15:17.820 with Paul asserting his apostleship. 00:15:18.660 --> 00:15:19.639 And I think that's telling. 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:21.120 And so it could be the case, 00:15:21.180 --> 00:15:21.840 now not explicitly, 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:22.720 but it could be the case 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:25.040 that in the Thessalonian church 00:15:25.040 --> 00:15:26.540 that Paul is addressing 00:15:26.540 --> 00:15:27.759 maybe local critics 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:28.820 or people who are sort of 00:15:28.820 --> 00:15:29.820 giving out about Paul, 00:15:29.900 --> 00:15:30.180 saying, you know, 00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:30.900 he came there now 00:15:30.900 --> 00:15:32.000 and he only did that 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:32.780 because he was greedy 00:15:32.780 --> 00:15:33.680 or he wanted to get money out of it. 00:15:33.680 --> 00:15:34.340 He'll be back now 00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:35.500 and he'll give you the bill 00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:36.139 for what he did. 00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:36.819 And he's saying, 00:15:36.899 --> 00:15:38.360 look, that's not happening. 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:39.039 I'm not going to come back 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:39.500 and do that. 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:40.879 And so although it's not 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:41.580 explicitly mentioned, 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:42.980 it could be the case 00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:44.139 that he's addressing those things. 00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:45.480 And so regardless, 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:46.500 Paul is just saying, 00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:47.860 our motives are pure. 00:15:49.439 --> 00:15:51.080 He was transparent before them. 00:15:51.199 --> 00:15:52.100 And so in verse 4, 00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:53.960 he gives the actual motive itself. 00:15:54.220 --> 00:15:55.039 And this is the crux 00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:55.539 of the passage, 00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:56.279 I think, for us 00:15:56.279 --> 00:15:57.080 as Christians today. 00:15:58.179 --> 00:15:58.960 On the contrary, 00:15:59.120 --> 00:15:59.580 verse 4, 00:15:59.580 --> 00:16:02.700 we speak as those 00:16:02.700 --> 00:16:03.840 approved by God 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:05.560 to be entrusted 00:16:05.560 --> 00:16:06.320 with the gospel. 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.580 We are not trying 00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:08.420 to please people, 00:16:08.820 --> 00:16:11.020 but God who tests our hearts. 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:12.060 And so Paul here 00:16:12.060 --> 00:16:13.920 states plainly 00:16:13.920 --> 00:16:14.900 their motive 00:16:14.900 --> 00:16:16.620 to please God. 00:16:17.800 --> 00:16:18.840 It's so simple. 00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:19.980 I just, 00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:21.000 I love how scripture 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:21.720 is just like, 00:16:21.780 --> 00:16:22.639 it's like having a shower 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:23.160 for your mind. 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:23.840 It just gets rid of 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:24.400 all the dirt, 00:16:24.780 --> 00:16:25.580 all the buildup. 00:16:26.520 --> 00:16:27.160 And sometimes 00:16:27.160 --> 00:16:28.720 when I go out 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:29.139 in passage, 00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:29.800 I was speaking to people 00:16:29.800 --> 00:16:30.340 about the gospel 00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:31.120 or I was in college, 00:16:31.700 --> 00:16:32.820 I get all wound up. 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:33.759 And you think, 00:16:33.820 --> 00:16:33.879 well, 00:16:33.940 --> 00:16:34.680 why am I doing this 00:16:34.680 --> 00:16:35.200 and all these things? 00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:36.480 Why do we serve tea 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:36.980 from the hatch? 00:16:37.040 --> 00:16:37.860 Why do we play guitars? 00:16:38.040 --> 00:16:38.960 Why do we set up mics? 00:16:39.420 --> 00:16:40.180 Why do we come here 00:16:40.180 --> 00:16:40.940 every Sunday morning? 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:43.240 Why do we minister 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:44.100 in MTC camps 00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:44.940 or in camps 00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:45.259 for children 00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:46.040 with hard of hearing? 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:47.480 To please God 00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:49.160 because of what 00:16:49.160 --> 00:16:50.040 he has done for us. 00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:51.519 And here is the purest 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:52.460 and highest motive 00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:53.420 for Christian ministry. 00:16:54.060 --> 00:16:54.460 And there are 00:16:54.460 --> 00:16:55.220 other motives as well. 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:55.800 I mean, 00:16:55.820 --> 00:16:56.440 I got onto passage 00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:56.820 because, 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:58.379 or we share the gospel 00:16:58.379 --> 00:16:58.960 with people 00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:00.159 because we want them 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:00.799 to be saved. 00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:02.559 I want everybody 00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:03.659 in my extended family 00:17:03.659 --> 00:17:04.859 to become Christians. 00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:06.420 And it pains me 00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:07.000 that so far 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:07.599 very few of them 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.000 have it. 00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:08.400 None. 00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:10.960 That is a perfectly 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:11.519 good motive 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:12.259 but that must come 00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:13.359 under the highest motive 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:14.140 which is the pleasure 00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:15.240 of God in all things. 00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:16.319 To please him, 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:17.180 to obey him. 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:18.819 And by pleasing him 00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:19.700 we obey him 00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:20.339 and by obeying him 00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:21.019 we exalt him. 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:21.779 It's all wrapped up 00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:22.619 in one sort of 00:17:22.619 --> 00:17:24.859 huge motive. 00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:26.559 And so we must love 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:27.319 people absolutely. 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:28.899 And so I think 00:17:28.899 --> 00:17:29.439 if you look at 00:17:29.439 --> 00:17:30.439 remember when Christ 00:17:30.439 --> 00:17:30.779 was asked 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.240 what's the greatest 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:31.720 commandment? 00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:32.299 What did he say? 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:34.659 He said to love God 00:17:34.659 --> 00:17:35.059 essentially. 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:36.339 And he said 00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:36.819 and the second 00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:37.419 is like it. 00:17:38.379 --> 00:17:39.379 And I can kind of 00:17:39.379 --> 00:17:39.740 see your man 00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:40.000 kind of going 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:40.519 I didn't ask you 00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:40.879 about the second 00:17:40.879 --> 00:17:41.240 commandment. 00:17:42.119 --> 00:17:42.799 But you see 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:44.019 what Jesus was doing 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:44.220 there. 00:17:44.339 --> 00:17:44.720 He was saying 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.299 there is a very 00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:46.059 tight relationship 00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:46.899 between these two. 00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:48.980 I mentioned the first 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:49.799 and it is first. 00:17:50.639 --> 00:17:51.299 But I will also 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:51.960 mention the second 00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:52.419 because there is 00:17:52.419 --> 00:17:52.899 such a close 00:17:52.899 --> 00:17:53.399 relationship. 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:54.019 And so it is 00:17:54.019 --> 00:17:54.639 with our motives 00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:55.280 as Christians 00:17:55.280 --> 00:17:56.780 our highest motive 00:17:56.780 --> 00:17:57.420 ought to be 00:17:57.420 --> 00:17:58.360 the pleasure of God 00:17:58.360 --> 00:17:59.759 but linked to it 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:00.180 is the pleasure 00:18:00.180 --> 00:18:01.480 of people in God. 00:18:03.100 --> 00:18:03.600 And he said 00:18:03.600 --> 00:18:04.560 it's not to please man 00:18:04.560 --> 00:18:05.360 so Paul states 00:18:05.360 --> 00:18:06.520 in the negative sense 00:18:06.520 --> 00:18:07.160 that I didn't come 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:07.740 here to please you. 00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:10.180 I've said it to 00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:10.780 many of my friends 00:18:10.780 --> 00:18:11.060 before. 00:18:11.140 --> 00:18:11.520 I think you get 00:18:11.520 --> 00:18:12.080 this as Christians. 00:18:12.280 --> 00:18:12.840 If I wanted to be 00:18:12.840 --> 00:18:13.360 a people pleaser 00:18:13.360 --> 00:18:13.800 I'd have picked 00:18:13.800 --> 00:18:14.460 a different religion. 00:18:16.380 --> 00:18:16.560 You know 00:18:16.560 --> 00:18:17.840 or else I'd preach 00:18:17.840 --> 00:18:18.280 some sort of 00:18:18.280 --> 00:18:18.860 false gospel 00:18:18.860 --> 00:18:19.480 about how God 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.180 will make you rich 00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:21.120 all the time. 00:18:21.280 --> 00:18:21.520 And you know 00:18:21.520 --> 00:18:22.900 there's an awful 00:18:22.900 --> 00:18:23.520 lot of better religions 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.160 if your goal 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:24.740 is to make people 00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:25.220 feel happy 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:25.859 about themselves 00:18:25.859 --> 00:18:26.339 you know 00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:29.119 in a cheap sense. 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:30.200 Christianity of course 00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:31.599 does bring much joy 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:32.680 when we receive Christ. 00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:33.740 But you know 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.279 Paul stated 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.519 in Galatians 1.10 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.339 he said 00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:36.579 you know 00:18:36.579 --> 00:18:38.079 for am I now 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:38.680 seeking the approval 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.099 of man 00:18:39.099 --> 00:18:39.859 or of God 00:18:39.859 --> 00:18:41.839 or am I trying 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:42.460 to please man 00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:42.960 if I were still 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:43.779 trying to please man 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.759 I would not be 00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:45.660 a servant of Christ. 00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:46.539 He says 00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:46.900 you're going to 00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:47.460 serve Christ 00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:47.779 he says 00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:48.359 you can give up 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:49.720 you can give up 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.960 that motive 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:51.759 of just trying 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:52.379 to please men. 00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:54.160 you serve Christ 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:55.480 and let men 00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:56.240 think what they will. 00:18:58.680 --> 00:18:59.300 And he said 00:18:59.300 --> 00:19:00.260 I did not change 00:19:00.260 --> 00:19:01.600 our message 00:19:01.600 --> 00:19:02.780 to please people 00:19:02.780 --> 00:19:03.860 the gospel divides 00:19:03.860 --> 00:19:05.620 it offends people 00:19:05.620 --> 00:19:06.820 it's awkward 00:19:06.820 --> 00:19:07.180 to bring up 00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:07.860 in conversation 00:19:07.860 --> 00:19:08.940 it started a riot 00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:09.680 in Thessalonica 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:10.700 quite literally 00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:11.600 wherever Paul went 00:19:11.600 --> 00:19:12.480 it was just like 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:12.980 an explosion 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:15.940 but it offends 00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:17.400 and it's awkward 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:17.900 it's really awkward 00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:18.420 sometimes to bring up 00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:18.800 the gospel. 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:19.840 I went up to my 00:19:19.840 --> 00:19:20.440 neighbor the other day 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:20.960 because I realized 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:21.600 I'd never actually 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:22.079 gone to my neighbor 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:22.559 about the gospel 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.699 and it was one of 00:19:23.699 --> 00:19:24.219 the most painfully 00:19:24.219 --> 00:19:24.859 awkward conversations 00:19:24.859 --> 00:19:25.519 of my life. 00:19:26.399 --> 00:19:26.959 I'm just being honest 00:19:26.959 --> 00:19:27.279 with you 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:28.799 but now she has 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:29.539 a gospel of John 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:30.219 she has a tract 00:19:30.219 --> 00:19:30.639 and it's something 00:19:30.639 --> 00:19:31.319 more than she had 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:31.779 the week before 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:32.199 when I didn't 00:19:32.199 --> 00:19:32.699 tell her anything 00:19:32.699 --> 00:19:34.019 and so I trust 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.639 God for that 00:19:34.639 --> 00:19:37.419 but I just want 00:19:37.419 --> 00:19:37.939 to remind us 00:19:37.939 --> 00:19:38.500 that it's okay 00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.219 for it to be awkward 00:19:39.219 --> 00:19:40.099 but let's go anyway 00:19:40.099 --> 00:19:42.259 and it says here as well 00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:42.939 Paul reminds them 00:19:42.939 --> 00:19:43.819 God who tests 00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:44.559 our hearts 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.819 and he doesn't say 00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:46.579 God who tested 00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:47.059 our hearts 00:19:47.059 --> 00:19:47.740 or God who will 00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:48.379 test our hearts 00:19:48.379 --> 00:19:48.919 on that great day 00:19:48.919 --> 00:19:49.259 of judgment 00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:49.919 he could have said 00:19:49.919 --> 00:19:50.539 something like that 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.460 but he says God 00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:52.519 who tests our hearts 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:53.940 on a continuing 00:19:53.940 --> 00:19:54.960 ongoing basis 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:56.799 and so we see 00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:57.779 we know that God 00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:58.920 often comes to us 00:19:58.920 --> 00:19:59.920 sometimes when we're 00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:00.500 lying in our beds 00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:00.899 at night 00:20:00.899 --> 00:20:03.099 and he convicts us 00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:03.659 where we've gone 00:20:03.659 --> 00:20:04.139 astray 00:20:04.139 --> 00:20:05.619 or where our motives 00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:06.579 maybe have gone off 00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:07.279 or where we need 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:08.299 to look in our lives 00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:09.379 and we see that God 00:20:09.379 --> 00:20:10.220 tests our hearts 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:11.700 and that he keeps us 00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:12.720 on the narrow path 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:14.399 with that singular motive 00:20:14.399 --> 00:20:15.319 the pleasure of God 00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:18.500 and he says in 5 00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:20.500 you know we never 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:21.200 use flattery 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:21.679 nor do we put on 00:20:21.679 --> 00:20:22.480 a mask to cover up 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:22.799 greed 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:25.379 God is our witness 00:20:25.379 --> 00:20:27.099 and flattery 00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:27.460 we know from 00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.240 scripture is sin 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:29.019 I looked up a 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:30.059 definition of flattery 00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:30.819 in the dictionary 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:32.279 and it says to 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:33.359 ingratiate yourself 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:33.859 with another 00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:34.480 by means of 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.339 excessive compliments 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:36.639 so in other words 00:20:36.639 --> 00:20:37.179 just trying to 00:20:37.179 --> 00:20:37.819 butter somebody up 00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.200 by telling them 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:38.619 they're great 00:20:38.619 --> 00:20:40.059 but flattery 00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:41.019 never works as a 00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:41.500 means of spreading 00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:41.980 the gospel 00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:43.460 what we know 00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:43.960 from scripture 00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:44.480 about man 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.500 in his fallen state 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:46.039 is that he is 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.819 in love with himself 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:48.339 he is a hater of God 00:20:48.339 --> 00:20:49.779 and if you tell him 00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:50.460 that he's great 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:52.220 he's bound to agree 00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:54.640 and so the main message 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:55.059 of the gospel 00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:55.620 is not that you're 00:20:55.620 --> 00:20:56.480 a fantastic person 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:57.380 it's that God 00:20:57.380 --> 00:20:58.099 is a great God 00:20:58.099 --> 00:20:58.839 and that he has come 00:20:58.839 --> 00:21:00.140 to save sinners like us 00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:02.980 and greed is likewise 00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:03.420 a sin 00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:04.400 and Paul is well aware 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:04.940 that there are many 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:05.740 ministers around 00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:06.380 in that time 00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:07.180 as there are now 00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:08.480 who use the gospel 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:10.799 or a sort of gospel 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:11.579 and use the scripture 00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:12.299 to make money 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:14.439 and that is a shameful thing 00:21:14.439 --> 00:21:16.220 Paul addressed that 00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:16.960 in Romans 16 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:17.399 he said 00:21:17.399 --> 00:21:18.199 for such persons 00:21:18.199 --> 00:21:18.879 do not serve 00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:19.919 our Lord Jesus Christ 00:21:19.919 --> 00:21:21.960 with their own appetites 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:24.199 and by smooth talk 00:21:24.199 --> 00:21:25.019 and flattery 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:26.539 they deceive the hearts 00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:27.240 of the naive 00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:29.399 and you know 00:21:29.399 --> 00:21:31.079 we are sure from scripture 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:31.720 they will be numbered 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:32.319 among those 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:33.319 who stand before the Lord 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:33.839 on that day 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:35.179 and the Lord will say 00:21:35.179 --> 00:21:36.039 I never knew you 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:37.819 away from me 00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:38.799 you workers of lawlessness 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:41.159 and so 00:21:41.159 --> 00:21:42.059 Paul is saying 00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:42.899 I'm not like those 00:21:42.899 --> 00:21:45.359 I did not come to you 00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:46.519 to flatter you 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:48.099 or to get money 00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:48.599 out of you 00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:50.299 and he says 00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:50.839 we were not looking 00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:51.339 for praise 00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:52.419 verse 6 and 7 00:21:52.419 --> 00:21:53.480 and 8 as well 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:54.519 he says 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:55.279 we were not looking 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.039 for praise 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:56.700 from people 00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:57.359 so again 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:58.680 he's saying the same thing 00:21:58.680 --> 00:21:59.180 a lot of the time 00:21:59.180 --> 00:21:59.980 over and over again 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:00.619 the same thing 00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:02.099 not from you 00:22:02.099 --> 00:22:02.879 or anyone else 00:22:02.879 --> 00:22:03.740 even though 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:04.619 as apostles of Christ 00:22:04.619 --> 00:22:05.759 we could have asserted 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.859 our authority 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:08.579 instead we were like 00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:09.660 young children among you 00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:11.180 just as a nursing mother 00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:12.339 cares for her children 00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:14.680 so as apostles of Jesus 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:16.180 as apostles of Jesus Christ 00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:17.019 as ones who received 00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:17.460 their ministry 00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.700 directly from the Lord 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:19.539 they could have made 00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:20.299 legitimate requests 00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:23.119 he was an apostle 00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:24.119 that was a privilege 00:22:24.119 --> 00:22:25.059 and he could have made 00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:26.599 legitimate requests 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.539 without sinning 00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:30.200 and the only thing 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:30.920 I can think of at the moment 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:31.299 would be that 00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:31.799 they would ask for 00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:32.619 financial support 00:22:32.619 --> 00:22:33.720 ask for bread and board 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:34.240 as it were 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:35.720 but Paul said no 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.940 we were sensitive 00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:37.620 towards you 00:22:37.620 --> 00:22:38.839 and they did not have 00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:39.880 a sense of entitlement 00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:40.940 so they didn't walk in 00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:41.240 and go like 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:41.740 we're apostles 00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:42.299 you know 00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:43.259 we're the big Jesus 00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:44.279 we'll tell you how it's done 00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:45.539 he shared the gospel 00:22:45.539 --> 00:22:46.019 with them 00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:47.559 they discipled them 00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:48.759 but they did not lean on them 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.960 or become a burden to them 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:51.339 and he says 00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:52.519 as a mother 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:53.759 as a nursing mother 00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.779 cares for her children 00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:56.360 and so mothers 00:22:56.360 --> 00:22:57.740 ask for nothing 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.420 from their children 00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:59.900 really 00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:00.740 they don't try 00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.339 and make a profit 00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:02.039 off their kids 00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:03.200 if they do 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:03.860 they're mixed up 00:23:03.860 --> 00:23:05.680 mothers want to see 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:06.340 their kids 00:23:06.340 --> 00:23:06.840 to grow up 00:23:06.840 --> 00:23:07.400 and be healthy 00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:09.340 and Paul is saying 00:23:09.340 --> 00:23:10.180 that's what I want for you 00:23:10.180 --> 00:23:10.960 I'm like a mother 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:11.539 nursing you 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.799 I want you to grow up 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:13.259 and be healthy 00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:14.039 that's my desire 00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:16.279 and so we care for you 00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:16.539 he says 00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:17.320 because we loved you 00:23:17.320 --> 00:23:17.840 so much 00:23:17.840 --> 00:23:19.220 we delighted to share 00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:19.420 with you 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:20.180 not only the gospel 00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:21.980 of God 00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:23.019 but our lives as well 00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:23.660 and so Paul said 00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:24.539 I didn't just give you 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.100 the gospel 00:23:25.100 --> 00:23:26.180 and kind of step back 00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:27.220 I wasn't standoffish 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:29.019 I gave you my very self 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:30.539 we shared our lives 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:30.920 with you 00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:32.759 we ate with you 00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:34.279 we worked in the same 00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:34.740 areas as you 00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:35.559 we shared ourselves 00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:36.039 with you 00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:37.379 so it wasn't a sort 00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:38.099 of impersonal 00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:38.839 here is the gospel 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.720 and we'll be over here 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.299 we'll come back tomorrow 00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:40.879 and tell you more 00:23:40.879 --> 00:23:42.519 they share the gospel 00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:43.000 with them 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:44.039 they share their lives 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:45.819 and that brings validity 00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:47.480 and I think there's surely 00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:48.119 a good principle 00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:49.019 to be observed here 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:50.700 that by giving of ourselves 00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:53.160 we reinforce the message 00:23:53.160 --> 00:23:53.960 of the gospel 00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:56.740 as it says in Titus 00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:57.680 that our good works 00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:58.400 they adorn 00:23:58.400 --> 00:24:00.500 the doctrine of God 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.080 our saviour 00:24:01.080 --> 00:24:02.480 and so our good works 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:03.759 are not the gospel 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.460 they are a result 00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:05.120 of the gospel 00:24:05.120 --> 00:24:05.880 they are an outworking 00:24:05.880 --> 00:24:06.480 of the gospel 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:08.180 but what they do 00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:09.320 is they point towards 00:24:09.320 --> 00:24:09.880 the gospel 00:24:09.880 --> 00:24:12.600 and so Paul 00:24:12.600 --> 00:24:14.259 shared with them 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:15.040 their very lives 00:24:15.040 --> 00:24:16.060 and this reinforced 00:24:16.060 --> 00:24:16.960 how genuine 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.440 and sincere 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.080 he was 00:24:18.080 --> 00:24:18.740 to them 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:20.860 surely you remember 00:24:20.860 --> 00:24:21.200 brothers 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:21.720 verse 9 00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:21.960 it says 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:22.560 surely you remember 00:24:22.560 --> 00:24:23.420 brothers and sisters 00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:25.000 our toil and hardship 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:26.140 we worked night and day 00:24:26.140 --> 00:24:26.640 in order 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:27.620 not to be a burden 00:24:27.620 --> 00:24:28.320 to anyone 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:29.379 while we preach 00:24:29.379 --> 00:24:30.159 the gospel of God 00:24:30.159 --> 00:24:30.519 to you 00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:32.859 and so they sought 00:24:32.859 --> 00:24:33.539 to avoid being 00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.419 a burden financially 00:24:34.419 --> 00:24:35.679 and we all know 00:24:35.679 --> 00:24:36.740 that Paul had a trade 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.460 what was his trade 00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:39.740 he made tents 00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:41.200 I'm intimately aware 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:42.500 of the need for good tents 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:43.359 having spent two weeks 00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:43.939 living in one 00:24:43.939 --> 00:24:46.720 we had army tents 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:47.559 they're really good tents 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:49.599 but we had really good 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.099 rain as well 00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:51.519 so I woke up one night 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.779 and it was just like 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:54.179 just like a bucket of water 00:24:54.179 --> 00:24:54.799 had been sloshed 00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:55.299 into our tent 00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:57.319 but that was fun 00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:57.879 I had to laugh 00:24:57.880 --> 00:24:58.660 it was good fun 00:24:58.660 --> 00:25:00.020 but Paul 00:25:00.020 --> 00:25:01.200 I'd like to think of this 00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:02.060 sometimes we think of Paul 00:25:02.060 --> 00:25:02.520 like this 00:25:02.520 --> 00:25:04.020 and we ought to think 00:25:04.020 --> 00:25:04.620 of Paul highly 00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:06.360 I was just thinking 00:25:06.360 --> 00:25:06.900 on the way down 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:08.180 I'd like to imagine 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:09.020 Paul just sitting there 00:25:09.020 --> 00:25:09.700 making a tent 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:11.240 I know we always think 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:12.060 of Paul like standing 00:25:12.060 --> 00:25:12.640 in the middle of 00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:12.880 you know 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:13.540 the Coliseum 00:25:13.540 --> 00:25:14.180 like roaring 00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:14.660 you know 00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:15.760 and having this 00:25:15.760 --> 00:25:17.100 massive point to make 00:25:17.100 --> 00:25:17.940 and preaching Christ 00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:18.580 but remember 00:25:18.580 --> 00:25:19.820 Paul sat down sometimes 00:25:19.820 --> 00:25:20.420 for the whole day 00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:21.000 and made tents 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:22.920 I think 00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:23.460 I've never actually 00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.119 thought about that before 00:25:24.119 --> 00:25:25.140 I knew he made tents 00:25:25.140 --> 00:25:25.880 but I never actually 00:25:25.880 --> 00:25:27.019 pictured him sitting there 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:28.140 you know 00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:29.279 getting the cuts right 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:30.299 or getting one wrong 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:31.079 getting frustrated 00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:31.859 selling them 00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:33.359 and just dealing day to day 00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:35.460 and I think that is 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:36.200 that's a nice thought 00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:36.980 to dwell on I think 00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:38.640 to see that even Paul 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:39.400 the great Paul 00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:41.359 just to see him 00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:41.980 making tents 00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:43.160 and that gives me hope 00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:43.920 for a guy who works 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:44.299 in a shop 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:44.920 I sell you know 00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:46.759 computers and laptop cases 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.240 and all that 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:48.420 I can do all things 00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:49.220 for the glory of God 00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:50.339 and so can you 00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:52.279 there is no separation 00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:53.460 between secular and holy 00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:54.460 all of our lives 00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:55.519 are worshipped towards him 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:57.599 and finally in 10 00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:58.700 just going towards 00:25:58.700 --> 00:25:59.140 the end of it 00:25:59.140 --> 00:25:59.559 he says 00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:02.039 you are witnesses 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:02.920 and so is God 00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:03.519 of how holy 00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:04.019 and righteous 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.500 and blameless 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:05.319 you were among you 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:05.940 and he appeals 00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:06.660 to their consciences 00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:07.500 he says look remember 00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.420 just think 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:09.759 you can pick 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:10.460 what we did apart 00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:11.480 just look at what we did 00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:13.259 it was before you all 00:26:13.259 --> 00:26:14.019 it was transparent 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:15.339 and it was clear to you 00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:16.599 that we had no false motives 00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:18.659 and just going back 00:26:18.659 --> 00:26:19.119 as well sorry 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:20.099 just to verse 9 there 00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:21.899 while we preach the gospel to you 00:26:21.899 --> 00:26:22.419 I just want to pick up 00:26:22.419 --> 00:26:23.359 on that very last phrase 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:23.599 it says 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:25.439 while we preach the gospel to you 00:26:25.439 --> 00:26:27.519 and so 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.039 he doesn't say like 00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:29.179 when we preach the gospel to you 00:26:29.179 --> 00:26:30.500 it wasn't just a one off event 00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.779 as I said remember 00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:33.480 that it didn't just hit them 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:34.399 with the gospel 00:26:34.399 --> 00:26:35.480 and leave for the next town 00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:38.379 he worked in the 00:26:38.379 --> 00:26:39.039 in the synagogue 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:39.619 Paul did 00:26:39.619 --> 00:26:40.459 for three weeks 00:26:40.459 --> 00:26:41.599 three sabbaths 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.099 so two weeks 00:26:42.099 --> 00:26:42.559 inclusive 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:45.299 but he stayed with them 00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:45.919 a lot longer 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:47.039 and he discipled them 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:48.640 and so the gospel 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:50.700 this is something that is 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.640 that is really important 00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:52.500 I think for us to understand 00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:54.180 is the gospel is simple enough 00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:54.800 to be outlined 00:26:54.800 --> 00:26:56.220 in a few phrases 00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:57.240 or even a few paragraphs 00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:57.940 in a few minutes 00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:59.080 you can give someone the gospel 00:26:59.080 --> 00:27:00.019 you can start off with 00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:01.120 the holy and righteous God 00:27:01.120 --> 00:27:02.300 the fall of man 00:27:02.300 --> 00:27:03.620 the Messiah 00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:05.140 the sent God 00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:06.120 that God sent us 00:27:06.120 --> 00:27:06.660 a solution 00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:08.320 he sent us to atone for sins 00:27:08.320 --> 00:27:09.600 he sent his own son Jesus Christ 00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:11.279 and that by simple faith in him 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:11.900 we can join 00:27:11.900 --> 00:27:12.880 in his resurrection life 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:14.019 and be forgiven of our sins 00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:15.139 there's lots of ways 00:27:15.139 --> 00:27:15.819 you can say 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:17.180 the message of the gospel 00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:19.319 but it's simple enough 00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:20.339 to be outlined in a few minutes 00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:21.240 but it is deep enough 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:22.240 and it is deep enough 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:23.819 to be thought of 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.420 for eternity 00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:26.980 we will spend eternity 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:28.460 glorying in the gospel 00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.220 of Jesus Christ 00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:30.579 we will not arrive at heaven 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:32.740 and realize that there's 00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:33.720 you know 00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.720 another gospel 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:36.180 there is one gospel 00:27:36.180 --> 00:27:37.019 and we will 00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:38.339 we will glory in that forever 00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:39.319 it says that angels 00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:41.779 long to look into these things 00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:44.099 that is an amazing thing 00:27:44.099 --> 00:27:44.859 to think of isn't it 00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:46.480 that is how amazing 00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.299 the gospel is 00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:48.940 the fact that 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:50.000 I was just thinking about this 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.559 over the week 00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:51.480 that God 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.279 infinite God 00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:54.220 of all creation 00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:55.960 who existed in perfect communion 00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:56.460 in the Trinity 00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:57.539 before the world began 00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:58.619 became a baby 00:27:58.619 --> 00:28:01.960 he became a baby 00:28:01.960 --> 00:28:04.359 God became a baby 00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:05.680 he grew up 00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:07.899 and when he was 00:28:07.899 --> 00:28:08.879 33 years old 00:28:08.879 --> 00:28:10.379 he was crucified on a cross 00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:11.800 naked 00:28:11.800 --> 00:28:12.820 shamefully 00:28:12.820 --> 00:28:13.920 for my sin 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:15.300 and for your sin 00:28:15.300 --> 00:28:17.360 what a wonderful 00:28:17.360 --> 00:28:18.340 wonderful gospel 00:28:18.340 --> 00:28:22.680 it's amazing to think of 00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:23.680 and Paul stayed there 00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:24.540 and he explained it 00:28:24.540 --> 00:28:25.440 he discipled them 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:27.280 and so he didn't 00:28:27.280 --> 00:28:27.620 as I said 00:28:27.620 --> 00:28:28.380 he didn't just give them 00:28:28.380 --> 00:28:29.340 the gospel as it were 00:28:29.340 --> 00:28:30.220 in a couple of points 00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:30.800 and leave them 00:28:30.800 --> 00:28:32.060 he explained it to them 00:28:32.060 --> 00:28:32.780 and I have no doubt 00:28:32.780 --> 00:28:33.740 that Paul would have taken them 00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.300 because they didn't have 00:28:34.300 --> 00:28:34.740 the New Testament 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.420 at that time yet 00:28:35.420 --> 00:28:36.560 he would have taken them 00:28:36.560 --> 00:28:37.360 to the Old Testament 00:28:37.360 --> 00:28:38.860 I would like to guess 00:28:38.860 --> 00:28:39.360 at the passages 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:39.959 he would have used 00:28:39.959 --> 00:28:41.019 you see Isaiah 53 00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:43.299 or Ezekiel 46 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:43.699 he was talking about 00:28:43.699 --> 00:28:44.359 the new heart 00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:46.099 you see all those 00:28:46.099 --> 00:28:46.939 Old Testament passages 00:28:46.939 --> 00:28:47.919 that speak of Christ 00:28:47.919 --> 00:28:48.779 and how Paul would have 00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:50.039 shown them from the scriptures 00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:52.639 that Jesus was the Messiah 00:28:52.639 --> 00:28:54.359 and that he was the way 00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:55.479 the truth and the life 00:28:55.479 --> 00:28:58.559 and finally in verses 11 and 12 00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:58.899 he says 00:28:58.899 --> 00:28:59.819 for you know we dealt 00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:00.439 with each of you 00:29:00.439 --> 00:29:01.319 as a father deals 00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.219 with his own children 00:29:02.219 --> 00:29:03.759 encouraging 00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.799 comforting 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.639 and urging you 00:29:05.639 --> 00:29:06.439 to live lives 00:29:06.439 --> 00:29:07.819 worthy of God 00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:08.439 who calls you 00:29:08.439 --> 00:29:09.099 into his kingdom 00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:10.579 and glory 00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:13.939 and he says 00:29:13.939 --> 00:29:14.500 as a father 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:16.319 deals with his own children 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:18.179 and I think 00:29:18.179 --> 00:29:19.259 the picture of fatherhood 00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:21.059 is a perfect blend 00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:22.700 of authority 00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:23.379 and love 00:29:23.379 --> 00:29:25.700 I'm glad 00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.539 that I have a father 00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:28.939 and he's not a perfect father 00:29:28.939 --> 00:29:29.419 by any means 00:29:29.419 --> 00:29:29.779 but I'm glad 00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:30.399 I have a father 00:29:30.399 --> 00:29:31.799 and I'm glad 00:29:31.799 --> 00:29:32.599 that God has given him 00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:33.519 authority over me 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.500 and I'm glad 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:35.240 that he loves me 00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:36.500 and I think 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.559 if you have all love 00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:38.720 but no authority 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:39.359 no discipline 00:29:39.359 --> 00:29:40.920 you get 00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:42.120 mixed up kids 00:29:42.120 --> 00:29:43.400 but if you have 00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:44.559 all authority 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:45.200 and no love 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:46.779 it's a sterile 00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:47.559 relationship 00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:48.140 with your father 00:29:48.140 --> 00:29:48.880 but our father in heaven 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:50.299 he's a perfectly loving father 00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:51.920 and he disciplines us 00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:53.299 because he loves us 00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:55.599 and Paul goes on 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:56.460 and I want us to just dwell 00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:57.339 on this as we finish 00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:59.259 he says 00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:00.120 I want to 00:30:00.120 --> 00:30:01.259 he encouraged you 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:02.920 comforted them 00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:03.579 encouraged them 00:30:03.579 --> 00:30:04.099 and urged them 00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:04.720 to live lives 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.859 worthy of God 00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:07.539 who calls you 00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.099 into his kingdom 00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:08.619 and glory 00:30:08.619 --> 00:30:10.379 and I was thinking 00:30:10.379 --> 00:30:11.119 like it says that 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:11.599 in Philippians 00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:13.399 in chapter 1 00:30:13.399 --> 00:30:13.919 of Philippians 00:30:13.919 --> 00:30:15.619 or chapter 2 00:30:15.619 --> 00:30:16.299 it's in Philippians 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:16.819 anyway definitely 00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:18.059 where it says 00:30:18.059 --> 00:30:18.559 that we are to live 00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:19.779 in a manner 00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.759 worthy of the gospel 00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:21.960 I was thinking 00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:22.519 how can you live 00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:23.599 a life worthy of that 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:26.679 how can you live up 00:30:26.679 --> 00:30:28.240 to this amazing calling 00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:29.359 that God has brought us to 00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:30.879 that God has become man 00:30:30.879 --> 00:30:32.279 that he has humbled himself 00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:33.579 that he has died 00:30:33.579 --> 00:30:34.619 under the curse 00:30:34.619 --> 00:30:35.240 of the law 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:37.420 and that he has redeemed us 00:30:37.420 --> 00:30:38.359 from out of the law 00:30:38.359 --> 00:30:40.220 into the gospel of grace 00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:41.099 how can I live a life 00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:41.639 that even 00:30:41.639 --> 00:30:44.220 what does worthy mean 00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:44.839 in that case 00:30:44.839 --> 00:30:48.000 there is no life 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:48.960 that deserves the gospel 00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:50.799 that's not what Paul 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.379 is getting at 00:30:51.379 --> 00:30:52.160 he's not saying 00:30:52.160 --> 00:30:52.660 live a life 00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:53.779 to earn your gospel 00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:56.379 there's none of us 00:30:56.379 --> 00:30:56.839 in this room 00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.460 that deserve 00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:58.420 the grace of God 00:30:58.420 --> 00:30:59.480 the mercy of God 00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:00.180 as revealed to us 00:31:00.180 --> 00:31:01.160 through our Lord Jesus Christ 00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:02.160 I know I don't 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:04.040 I deserve hell 00:31:04.040 --> 00:31:05.100 it took me a few years 00:31:05.100 --> 00:31:06.240 to really be able to say that 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:07.100 and mean it 00:31:07.100 --> 00:31:08.880 but having seen more 00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:09.779 of my sinful nature 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:10.480 I realize now 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:11.779 that I deserve the wrath of God 00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:12.800 apart from Jesus Christ 00:31:12.800 --> 00:31:13.540 I really do 00:31:13.540 --> 00:31:14.360 I'm not saying that 00:31:14.360 --> 00:31:15.180 because I'm standing up here 00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:16.980 I'm saying that 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:17.920 because I know myself 00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:20.080 and I realize from scripture 00:31:20.080 --> 00:31:20.640 that all men 00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:21.400 are just like me 00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:23.540 and so apart from God's mercy 00:31:23.540 --> 00:31:25.160 and forgiveness 00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:26.460 through the Lord Jesus Christ 00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:27.420 all men deserve 00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:28.060 God's wrath 00:31:28.060 --> 00:31:29.080 and judgment 00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:33.039 but it is an unearned gift 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:34.500 God has lavished 00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.399 his love upon us 00:31:35.399 --> 00:31:36.500 as it says in 1st John 00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:37.439 what manner of love 00:31:37.439 --> 00:31:37.740 is this 00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.460 that we should be called 00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:39.519 children of God 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:42.240 it's an amazing thing 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:43.799 so there is no life 00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:44.919 that deserves the gospel 00:31:44.919 --> 00:31:45.619 there's no one 00:31:45.619 --> 00:31:46.199 that ever God 00:31:46.199 --> 00:31:46.939 came along to and said 00:31:46.939 --> 00:31:48.099 he's really good 00:31:48.099 --> 00:31:49.519 I think he deserves 00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:50.000 the gospel 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:52.000 it is all of grace 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:53.399 in fact the gospel 00:31:53.399 --> 00:31:54.519 is good news for us 00:31:54.519 --> 00:31:55.659 because we don't deserve it 00:31:55.660 --> 00:31:58.100 if our salvation 00:31:58.100 --> 00:31:58.940 was contingent 00:31:58.940 --> 00:32:00.120 upon our performance 00:32:00.120 --> 00:32:01.300 I'd have been disqualified 00:32:01.300 --> 00:32:02.240 years ago 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:05.259 but thank God 00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:05.920 that it depends 00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:06.880 not on man who wills 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:07.360 but on God 00:32:07.360 --> 00:32:08.080 who has mercy 00:32:08.080 --> 00:32:10.600 and boy does he have mercy 00:32:10.600 --> 00:32:12.019 boy is he patient 00:32:12.019 --> 00:32:13.480 and I just 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.279 I revel in that 00:32:14.279 --> 00:32:14.920 I thank him 00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:15.759 every day for it 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:17.660 and so when he's saying 00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:18.720 is live a manner worthy 00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:19.100 of the gospel 00:32:19.100 --> 00:32:20.200 here's what I think he means 00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:22.320 is live a life 00:32:22.320 --> 00:32:23.000 that points 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:24.500 and reflects the fact 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:26.339 that God has undeservingly 00:32:26.339 --> 00:32:27.660 showed his mercy upon you 00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:29.319 he's not calling us 00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:29.539 to 00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:30.799 to 00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:31.940 sort of try and earn 00:32:31.940 --> 00:32:32.940 our salvation at all 00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:33.880 that's a works gospel 00:32:33.880 --> 00:32:34.859 and Paul has spent 00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:35.980 a lot of time in Galatians 00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:36.859 and many other epistles 00:32:36.859 --> 00:32:37.259 trying to 00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:38.599 dismantle that 00:32:38.599 --> 00:32:39.779 he's saying 00:32:39.779 --> 00:32:40.500 live a life 00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:41.420 that reflects 00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:42.640 the mercy 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.400 and glory 00:32:43.400 --> 00:32:44.480 and forgiveness 00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:45.339 of Jesus Christ 00:32:45.339 --> 00:32:47.359 I think the nicest people 00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:48.200 to talk to in the world 00:32:48.200 --> 00:32:48.700 are people 00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:50.119 who are humble 00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:52.559 and people who are forgiven 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:54.639 remember Jesus said 00:32:54.639 --> 00:32:54.859 you know 00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:55.759 if you're forgiven little 00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:56.980 you love little 00:32:56.980 --> 00:32:58.099 isn't that what he said 00:32:58.099 --> 00:32:59.740 but he's forgiven much 00:32:59.740 --> 00:33:01.799 and so the more we dwell 00:33:01.799 --> 00:33:02.460 on the gospel 00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:04.559 the more we realize 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:06.240 how God has had mercy on us 00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:07.899 the more happy we are 00:33:07.899 --> 00:33:09.139 to put up with other people 00:33:09.139 --> 00:33:10.679 to put up with our own 00:33:10.679 --> 00:33:11.339 sinful nature 00:33:11.339 --> 00:33:13.440 to serve in a church 00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:14.039 humbly 00:33:14.039 --> 00:33:17.079 to go out and talk to people 00:33:17.079 --> 00:33:17.579 about the gospel 00:33:17.579 --> 00:33:18.919 and if they spit in our face 00:33:18.919 --> 00:33:19.639 or if they just 00:33:19.639 --> 00:33:21.299 give us some really weird 00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:23.259 sort of awkward response 00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:24.159 like I got during the week 00:33:24.159 --> 00:33:25.339 to just say 00:33:25.339 --> 00:33:25.819 that's okay 00:33:25.819 --> 00:33:26.579 because you know what 00:33:26.579 --> 00:33:28.980 it was awkward for God 00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:29.799 to come to earth 00:33:29.799 --> 00:33:30.819 to become a child 00:33:30.819 --> 00:33:32.159 to grow up 00:33:32.159 --> 00:33:33.399 God went through 00:33:33.399 --> 00:33:34.279 such persecution 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:35.440 and he endured 00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:36.220 the shame of the cross 00:33:36.220 --> 00:33:36.639 from me 00:33:36.639 --> 00:33:37.680 the least I can do 00:33:37.680 --> 00:33:38.419 is go to my neighbor 00:33:38.419 --> 00:33:39.460 and have a bit of 00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:40.220 an awkward conversation 00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:40.960 so long as 00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:41.899 they know the gospel 00:33:41.899 --> 00:33:43.639 and I'll let God 00:33:43.639 --> 00:33:44.799 take care of which soil 00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:45.799 that seed falls on 00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:48.680 and Paul is calling them 00:33:48.680 --> 00:33:49.639 to a life of holiness 00:33:49.639 --> 00:33:52.119 he's calling them 00:33:52.119 --> 00:33:53.559 to sanctification 00:33:53.559 --> 00:33:54.899 that's the fancy word 00:33:54.899 --> 00:33:56.059 for holiness 00:33:56.059 --> 00:33:57.259 becoming more like Jesus 00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:58.019 even in the midst 00:33:58.019 --> 00:33:58.700 of persecution 00:33:58.700 --> 00:34:00.839 and finally he says 00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:01.619 the motive for this 00:34:01.619 --> 00:34:02.359 call to holiness 00:34:02.359 --> 00:34:03.819 is the end result 00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:04.399 of our faith 00:34:04.399 --> 00:34:05.379 the kingdom of God 00:34:05.379 --> 00:34:07.200 and the glory of God 00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:09.820 and so may we be people 00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:11.000 who are busy 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:11.800 readying ourselves 00:34:11.800 --> 00:34:13.219 for that kingdom 00:34:13.219 --> 00:34:13.919 as it comes 00:34:13.919 --> 00:34:14.579 here on earth 00:34:14.579 --> 00:34:15.819 and eternally 00:34:15.819 --> 00:34:16.599 on that great day 00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:17.019 of judgment 00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:19.879 let me pray for us 00:34:19.879 --> 00:34:29.939 Father I thank you 00:34:29.939 --> 00:34:30.539 for your word 00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:33.079 and Lord I pray 00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:33.719 that you take 00:34:33.719 --> 00:34:35.059 these sort of broken 00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:36.500 thoughts about your word 00:34:36.500 --> 00:34:37.099 Lord and I pray 00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:37.579 Lord that 00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:41.039 that your gospel 00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:42.119 Lord would hit us afresh 00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:43.339 I thank you for Paul 00:34:43.339 --> 00:34:44.480 who gave us a good example 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:45.500 and for Silvanus 00:34:45.500 --> 00:34:46.239 and for Timothy 00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:49.440 I thank you Lord 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:50.359 for the reminder Lord 00:34:50.359 --> 00:34:52.480 that your persecuted church 00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:54.359 will flourish 00:34:54.359 --> 00:34:56.739 and that no power of hell 00:34:56.739 --> 00:34:57.599 no scheme of man 00:34:57.599 --> 00:34:59.239 will ever come 00:34:59.239 --> 00:35:00.339 above them 00:35:00.339 --> 00:35:02.239 all authority 00:35:02.239 --> 00:35:03.159 on heaven and on earth 00:35:03.159 --> 00:35:04.400 has been given to you 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:06.699 Lord whether we are 00:35:06.699 --> 00:35:07.779 sharing the gospel Lord 00:35:07.779 --> 00:35:09.279 or making tents 00:35:09.279 --> 00:35:10.579 or whatever our calling is 00:35:10.579 --> 00:35:12.299 I pray Lord 00:35:12.299 --> 00:35:12.960 that we would do it 00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:13.239 Lord 00:35:13.239 --> 00:35:14.400 with the motive 00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:15.519 of pleasing you 00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:17.840 Lord that you would be 00:35:17.840 --> 00:35:19.199 pleased in our rising up 00:35:19.199 --> 00:35:20.079 and in our lying down 00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:21.940 in our drinking 00:35:21.940 --> 00:35:22.639 and in our eating 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:24.519 in our silence 00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.380 and in our words 00:35:25.380 --> 00:35:28.340 I thank you for the Lord 00:35:28.340 --> 00:35:29.019 Jesus Christ 00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:30.019 I thank you for 00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:31.819 his people 00:35:31.819 --> 00:35:34.059 that is here in this room 00:35:34.059 --> 00:35:36.219 I thank you for his church 00:35:36.219 --> 00:35:38.679 and as we labor 00:35:38.679 --> 00:35:40.000 as we seek to fulfill 00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:40.699 the great commission 00:35:40.699 --> 00:35:41.939 here in Carragalline 00:35:41.939 --> 00:35:43.439 or in Balanchalec 00:35:43.439 --> 00:35:45.079 or if it's in Eritrea 00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:46.719 or in North Korea 00:35:46.719 --> 00:35:46.980 Lord 00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:47.619 may your people 00:35:47.619 --> 00:35:48.179 Lord labor 00:35:48.179 --> 00:35:49.259 under the pure motive 00:35:49.259 --> 00:35:49.719 it is 00:35:49.719 --> 00:35:51.939 to labor for the pleasure 00:35:51.939 --> 00:35:52.359 of you 00:35:52.359 --> 00:35:53.839 to obey you 00:35:53.839 --> 00:35:55.399 and to see your kingdom 00:35:55.399 --> 00:35:55.939 come here 00:35:55.939 --> 00:35:57.119 it is a privilege 00:35:57.119 --> 00:35:58.159 to be a Christian Lord 00:35:58.159 --> 00:35:59.879 it is all of grace 00:35:59.879 --> 00:36:01.319 and we thank you 00:36:01.319 --> 00:36:01.919 for this time Lord 00:36:01.919 --> 00:36:02.599 around your word 00:36:02.599 --> 00:36:04.759 in Jesus precious name 00:36:04.760 --> 00:36:06.020 Amen