WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.139 In some very important ways, Jesus Christ is not the same today as he was yesterday. 00:00:06.219 --> 00:00:09.460 ! Think about in his incarnation when he took on flesh. 00:00:10.460 --> 00:00:12.580 ! He became one of us. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:14.700 So Augustine said, you know this quote, 00:00:14.700 --> 00:00:19.219 Without ceasing to be what he eternally was, he became what he eternally was not. 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:26.260 Without ceasing to be what he eternally was, he became what he eternally was not. 00:00:26.260 --> 00:00:28.100 He has become one of us. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.159 And the word that was with God, John 1, the word that was face to face with God, 00:00:36.480 --> 00:00:43.579 that word was made flesh, took on skin and bones, and dwelt amongst us. 00:00:43.579 --> 00:00:49.179 And we have beheld his glory, the glory of the one and only, of the Father, full of grace and truth. 00:00:51.460 --> 00:00:58.859 And after his earthly career, after he was raised from the dead and he appeared over 40 days, 00:00:58.859 --> 00:01:01.600 he ascended on the clouds bodily to heaven. 00:01:02.619 --> 00:01:05.620 And so that tonight, there is a man in the glory, isn't there? 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:13.620 At the right hand of the majesty on high, he seats the risen and ascended and glorified Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:13.620 --> 00:01:16.140 And it's a man. 00:01:16.140 --> 00:01:19.640 He didn't discard his humanity when he ascended to heaven. 00:01:20.060 --> 00:01:26.000 He didn't get rid of his humanity like a set of clothes that were shed as he went up on the cloud. 00:01:26.200 --> 00:01:32.920 When he returned to his Father's presence, he returned as a man where he sits tonight. 00:01:32.920 --> 00:01:36.200 I love the words of Martin Luther. 00:01:36.320 --> 00:01:37.120 He said something like this, 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:42.859 I live as though Christ died yesterday, rose again today, and is coming back again tomorrow. 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:45.140 Christ died yesterday. 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:47.500 He bled and died on the cross. 00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:50.960 He suffered abject shame and pain and humiliation. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:52.820 Yesterday, he died on the cross. 00:01:52.939 --> 00:01:55.159 Today, he is alive from the dead. 00:01:56.020 --> 00:01:58.920 And we proclaim him as his church in word and in sacrament. 00:01:58.920 --> 00:02:01.219 But tomorrow, he's coming back again. 00:02:03.159 --> 00:02:06.240 And with all his holy angels unto salvation to all who look for him. 00:02:06.500 --> 00:02:10.979 So it's not true to say that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 00:02:13.620 --> 00:02:23.180 So clearly, you can't take this verse just on its own, pull it out as a kind of Chinese cookie verse, whatever it is, 00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:27.480 and apply it in an unqualified, unlimited way. 00:02:27.479 --> 00:02:32.699 And so we need to put it into its context because it is a wonderful verse. 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:37.759 And there are three things that it teaches us about the unchangeableness of Jesus Christ. 00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:42.000 What does this verse really mean that you're going to learn this week? 00:02:42.179 --> 00:02:43.299 The first thing I want to say is this. 00:02:43.579 --> 00:02:49.179 Jesus Christ is always the same yesterday, today, and forever in his own person. 00:02:51.219 --> 00:02:54.839 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever in his own person. 00:02:54.840 --> 00:02:57.580 The context is interesting, isn't it? 00:02:57.599 --> 00:02:58.860 So look with me at verse 7. 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:00.439 Look at verse 7. 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:03.300 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. 00:03:03.740 --> 00:03:06.379 Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:08.920 And then compare it with verse 17. 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:11.939 Obey your leaders and submit to them. 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:16.199 For they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will give an account. 00:03:16.460 --> 00:03:20.379 Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that will be of no advantage to you. 00:03:20.379 --> 00:03:23.460 And so verse 7, we're told to remember. 00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:26.579 Remember your leaders, we spoke the word of God to you. 00:03:26.919 --> 00:03:30.799 And then verse 17, we're told to obey the leaders and to submit to their authority. 00:03:32.180 --> 00:03:33.859 So the context is really interesting, isn't it? 00:03:33.879 --> 00:03:34.979 The context is about leadership. 00:03:36.659 --> 00:03:38.340 Leadership that is past and present. 00:03:38.419 --> 00:03:41.219 Verse 7, it's present leaders that they're told to obey. 00:03:41.719 --> 00:03:44.919 Verse 17, it's present leaders. 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:48.879 Sorry, verse 17, it's present leaders. 00:03:48.959 --> 00:03:49.959 Verse 7, it's past leaders. 00:03:50.059 --> 00:03:50.659 Now who are they? 00:03:51.139 --> 00:03:52.000 Well, we don't know, do we? 00:03:54.339 --> 00:03:58.039 We don't know exactly who they are, but they were probably people like Stephen, the first Christian martyr. 00:03:59.419 --> 00:04:01.579 Probably people like James, the brother of our Lord. 00:04:02.399 --> 00:04:04.219 And the leader of the Jerusalem church who was beheaded. 00:04:04.679 --> 00:04:08.079 Remember those leaders who spoke faithfully the word of God to you. 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:16.120 And so whenever there's new leadership within a church, or a change of leadership, 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:19.800 there's a tendency, isn't there, I think, to compare. 00:04:21.220 --> 00:04:25.360 I think that's a great tendency in London churches, to kind of compare your church leaders, 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:26.900 to kind of play top trumps with them. 00:04:26.899 --> 00:04:33.359 And there's a tendency, certainly, to romanticize leaders of the past. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:39.079 To idealize the heroes of the faith, those who've gone by. 00:04:39.259 --> 00:04:43.819 To put those men on pedestals and venerate their memories. 00:04:43.919 --> 00:04:46.239 To look back with rose-colored spectacles. 00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:52.779 I think I've used this quote in the past with you about the pastor, the minister. 00:04:52.779 --> 00:04:56.039 If he visits his flock, he's nosy. 00:04:56.779 --> 00:04:58.339 If he doesn't, he's a snob. 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:01.799 If he preaches longer than ten minutes, it's too long. 00:05:02.279 --> 00:05:05.079 If he preaches less than ten minutes, he can't have prepared his sermon. 00:05:05.979 --> 00:05:07.619 If he runs a car, he's worldly. 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:10.319 If he doesn't, he's always late for appointments. 00:05:11.219 --> 00:05:12.819 If he tells a joke, he's flippant. 00:05:13.459 --> 00:05:14.899 If he doesn't, he's far too serious. 00:05:15.739 --> 00:05:18.379 If he starts the sermon on time, his watch must be fast. 00:05:18.819 --> 00:05:21.219 If he's a minute late, he's keeping the congregation waiting. 00:05:21.220 --> 00:05:24.720 If he takes a holiday, he's never in the parish. 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:26.620 If he doesn't, he's a stick in the mud. 00:05:27.440 --> 00:05:30.560 If he runs a bazaar or a gala, he's money mad. 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:33.160 If he doesn't, there's no social life in this parish. 00:05:33.820 --> 00:05:37.160 If he has the church painted and decorated, he's extravagant. 00:05:37.460 --> 00:05:39.080 And if he doesn't, the church is shabby. 00:05:39.720 --> 00:05:41.600 If he's young, he's inexperienced. 00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:43.860 If he's getting old, he ought to retire. 00:05:44.220 --> 00:05:46.820 But when he dies, there's never been anyone like him. 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:52.180 And the tendency is, isn't it, and I find this in my own heart, 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:57.019 I make too much of men and too little of the Lord Jesus. 00:05:58.379 --> 00:06:01.100 So remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you, 00:06:01.159 --> 00:06:03.639 and consider the outcome of their way of life. 00:06:04.600 --> 00:06:05.360 Do remember them. 00:06:06.300 --> 00:06:07.060 Imitate their faith. 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:10.000 But Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 00:06:13.539 --> 00:06:15.480 Leadership is really in vogue, isn't it? 00:06:15.480 --> 00:06:17.200 There's lots of good things about that. 00:06:17.280 --> 00:06:19.900 There are many books, many conferences in leadership. 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:23.180 Sometimes feels there's more chiefs than Indians around. 00:06:24.860 --> 00:06:29.660 And sometimes Christian books on leadership get more bizarre and more eccentric, 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:31.660 the more original. 00:06:33.640 --> 00:06:36.020 And the more people seem prepared to follow. 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:39.439 But I think we need to say this, don't we? 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:42.900 Originality in the leadership of the church 00:06:42.900 --> 00:06:45.180 is not a mark of Christian leadership. 00:06:45.480 --> 00:06:51.040 True Christian leaders don't strike out by themselves. 00:06:53.300 --> 00:06:56.400 True Christian leaders, I don't think, are great innovators. 00:06:57.900 --> 00:06:59.580 They keep in line with Jesus Christ. 00:06:59.700 --> 00:07:02.259 They follow well-worn paths of those who've gone before. 00:07:02.259 --> 00:07:08.240 And I think tragically, in conservative evangelicalism, 00:07:08.279 --> 00:07:09.420 which is a bit broader than us, 00:07:09.579 --> 00:07:11.459 pastoral practice over the past 13 years 00:07:11.459 --> 00:07:13.920 has kind of gone away from the well-worn paths 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:16.980 of Christian leadership and pastoral practice, 00:07:17.099 --> 00:07:18.360 and we're reaping the fruit of that. 00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:22.639 And so when you look for elders, 00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:24.920 don't look for original minds. 00:07:27.180 --> 00:07:29.400 And if you're going to look for a leader in Christ's church 00:07:29.400 --> 00:07:30.620 and follow a leader, 00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:32.879 you better make sure he knows where he's going. 00:07:34.960 --> 00:07:36.759 And you better make sure that they know where they're going 00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:38.420 in as much as they follow Jesus Christ. 00:07:38.420 --> 00:07:42.319 And the writer of the Hebrews is saying, 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:44.240 you follow them, imitate their way of life, 00:07:44.920 --> 00:07:45.340 their faith, 00:07:45.520 --> 00:07:47.960 because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, forever. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:49.860 And don't follow them blindly. 00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:52.879 Follow them in as much 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:55.360 as they follow Christ. 00:07:55.360 --> 00:07:59.740 Because in the end, 00:07:59.840 --> 00:08:00.800 he is the only king. 00:08:00.939 --> 00:08:03.319 The Lord Jesus Christ is the only head of his church. 00:08:05.379 --> 00:08:07.860 The Lord Jesus Christ is the only leader 00:08:07.860 --> 00:08:09.100 it is safe to follow. 00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:12.080 Always himself. 00:08:14.980 --> 00:08:16.620 Apparently, you can translate it like this, 00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:18.340 Jesus Christ always himself. 00:08:19.699 --> 00:08:20.400 Always himself. 00:08:20.819 --> 00:08:22.699 And that can be said of very few people, isn't it? 00:08:22.939 --> 00:08:24.160 Very few of us. 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:25.100 As we grow older, 00:08:25.200 --> 00:08:26.600 as we change, 00:08:27.180 --> 00:08:28.780 we see that with people, don't we? 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:31.280 In your workplace, 00:08:31.460 --> 00:08:32.379 new young people, 00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:34.460 full of zeal and idealistic. 00:08:35.820 --> 00:08:37.279 And that is the more cynical people 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:38.779 who've been through it all. 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:40.420 Been around a bit. 00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:41.399 It's got to them. 00:08:43.300 --> 00:08:44.200 They become cynical. 00:08:45.540 --> 00:08:47.120 There are very few people 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:48.660 who are always the same, aren't they? 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:50.759 Those kind of people are like gold 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:51.600 when you meet them. 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:55.360 We know, don't we, 00:08:55.379 --> 00:08:55.959 as a church family, 00:08:56.120 --> 00:08:57.600 circumstances change us. 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:00.980 Life situations change us. 00:09:02.899 --> 00:09:04.579 Some of us are affected by the weather. 00:09:06.259 --> 00:09:08.959 Some of us have been greatly affected by hard things. 00:09:09.659 --> 00:09:11.559 We're affected by all sorts of things, 00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:14.039 but Jesus Christ is always himself, 00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:14.679 always the same. 00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:17.859 Earth did not change him. 00:09:18.539 --> 00:09:20.459 Heaven has not gone to his head. 00:09:21.399 --> 00:09:22.459 He is the same yesterday, 00:09:22.739 --> 00:09:23.019 today, 00:09:23.099 --> 00:09:23.379 and forever. 00:09:23.439 --> 00:09:24.519 He's unchangeably the same. 00:09:26.039 --> 00:09:27.519 He's always himself. 00:09:27.599 --> 00:09:28.439 The arm of flesh, 00:09:28.579 --> 00:09:29.419 it will fail us. 00:09:29.959 --> 00:09:30.739 The best of men, 00:09:30.819 --> 00:09:31.559 the best of leaders, 00:09:31.719 --> 00:09:32.479 are men at best, 00:09:32.579 --> 00:09:33.479 and they have feet of clay, 00:09:33.579 --> 00:09:35.279 but Jesus Christ is always himself. 00:09:36.439 --> 00:09:37.359 He's always the same. 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:40.560 He's unchangeably the same in his own person, 00:09:40.659 --> 00:09:41.060 but secondly, 00:09:41.159 --> 00:09:42.980 he's unchangeably the same in his message, 00:09:43.800 --> 00:09:45.600 in the message that we preach. 00:09:45.680 --> 00:09:46.580 Again, look at the context. 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:47.759 Remember your leaders 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:49.500 who spoke the word of God to you. 00:09:50.039 --> 00:09:51.240 Jesus Christ is the same 00:09:51.240 --> 00:09:52.139 yesterday, 00:09:52.340 --> 00:09:52.560 today, 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:53.019 and forever. 00:09:55.940 --> 00:09:57.200 Don't be led away, 00:09:57.539 --> 00:09:58.100 verse 8, 00:09:58.300 --> 00:09:58.779 verse 9, 00:09:59.100 --> 00:10:01.019 by diverse and strange teachings. 00:10:01.019 --> 00:10:04.579 You see, 00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:05.980 Jesus Christ is not only the leader 00:10:05.980 --> 00:10:06.799 that we are to follow, 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:08.639 but he's also the message 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:09.539 that we are to proclaim. 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:10.600 Him we proclaim, 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:11.659 Paul says in Colossians. 00:10:13.319 --> 00:10:15.579 The word that the New Testament spoke 00:10:15.579 --> 00:10:17.740 was all about him. 00:10:20.259 --> 00:10:21.039 And that message, 00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:22.340 which you've heard from your leaders, 00:10:22.439 --> 00:10:22.860 was the same. 00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:23.960 That message about Jesus 00:10:23.960 --> 00:10:25.279 is the same yesterday, 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:26.220 today, 00:10:26.340 --> 00:10:26.579 and forever. 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:27.779 Error changes. 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:29.240 Can you notice that in verse 9? 00:10:31.019 --> 00:10:33.199 Truth is singular. 00:10:34.939 --> 00:10:35.220 So, 00:10:35.539 --> 00:10:36.439 verse 7, 00:10:37.299 --> 00:10:38.039 they spoke to you, 00:10:38.100 --> 00:10:38.639 the word of God, 00:10:38.699 --> 00:10:39.179 that's singular. 00:10:40.220 --> 00:10:41.799 But in verse 9, 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:43.259 do not be led away 00:10:43.259 --> 00:10:44.879 by diverse and strange teachings. 00:10:45.179 --> 00:10:45.639 That's plural. 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:48.899 Because once you move away 00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:49.939 from the faith 00:10:49.939 --> 00:10:50.579 that's been delivered 00:10:50.579 --> 00:10:51.460 to all the saints, 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:55.779 you have to keep reinventing 00:10:55.779 --> 00:10:57.220 the gospel for every generation. 00:10:57.220 --> 00:11:01.399 One of the hallmarks 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:03.160 of God in the Bible 00:11:03.160 --> 00:11:04.440 is that nothing needs changing. 00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:06.040 Nothing needs to be revised 00:11:06.040 --> 00:11:06.720 or adapted 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:07.420 or rewritten. 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:11.519 Take, for example, 00:11:11.660 --> 00:11:12.340 I don't want to get into, 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:13.180 well, I don't mind 00:11:13.180 --> 00:11:13.940 getting into controversy 00:11:13.940 --> 00:11:14.460 about it, 00:11:14.560 --> 00:11:16.580 but take into the creation account, 00:11:16.740 --> 00:11:17.540 Genesis 1 and 2. 00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:20.080 It stands for all time. 00:11:20.200 --> 00:11:20.680 It can be understood 00:11:20.680 --> 00:11:21.440 in any age, 00:11:21.560 --> 00:11:23.160 the plain reading of the text. 00:11:23.159 --> 00:11:26.679 It does not have to be rewritten 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:27.679 and revised 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:29.439 for the 21st century. 00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:31.019 It can be understood 00:11:31.019 --> 00:11:32.639 by a caveman, 00:11:32.719 --> 00:11:33.259 it can be understood 00:11:33.259 --> 00:11:34.159 by an Oxford scientist. 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:37.019 It's one of the hallmarks 00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:37.419 of God, 00:11:37.539 --> 00:11:39.139 but error is constantly 00:11:39.139 --> 00:11:40.100 being rewritten 00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:40.819 and revised 00:11:40.819 --> 00:11:42.039 and updated. 00:11:43.939 --> 00:11:44.579 John Stott, 00:11:44.620 --> 00:11:45.279 in his lovely little book 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:46.279 and the contemporary Christian, 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:47.939 identifies 13 different 00:11:47.939 --> 00:11:49.240 interpretations of Christ. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:51.100 13 different attempts 00:11:51.100 --> 00:11:52.179 of the church 00:11:52.179 --> 00:11:53.939 to fashion Christ. 00:11:55.620 --> 00:11:56.139 And we could probably 00:11:56.139 --> 00:11:56.879 come up with some more. 00:11:56.939 --> 00:11:57.439 It's been a few years 00:11:57.439 --> 00:11:58.039 since this was written. 00:11:58.159 --> 00:11:59.239 So you have Jesus the ascetic, 00:11:59.559 --> 00:12:00.459 the pale Galilean, 00:12:00.559 --> 00:12:01.419 the cosmic Christ, 00:12:01.739 --> 00:12:02.839 the teacher of common sense, 00:12:03.179 --> 00:12:04.439 the clown of God's spell, 00:12:04.739 --> 00:12:05.839 the star of Jesus Christ, 00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:06.299 superstar, 00:12:06.839 --> 00:12:07.359 the revolutionary, 00:12:07.599 --> 00:12:08.059 the socialist, 00:12:08.219 --> 00:12:08.639 the mystic, 00:12:08.719 --> 00:12:09.099 the magician, 00:12:09.259 --> 00:12:09.779 the carpenter, 00:12:10.079 --> 00:12:11.079 the management consultant. 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:13.379 And you name it, 00:12:13.399 --> 00:12:14.359 people are always trying 00:12:14.359 --> 00:12:15.479 to reinvent Jesus 00:12:15.479 --> 00:12:16.959 and adapt him 00:12:16.959 --> 00:12:17.699 for their own age, 00:12:17.819 --> 00:12:18.839 but he is not. 00:12:18.839 --> 00:12:20.339 Jesus Christ is always the same. 00:12:22.179 --> 00:12:25.519 The message which you heard 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:28.519 and read in your scriptures 00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:29.699 is the message 00:12:29.699 --> 00:12:30.799 that we are to preach today. 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:33.879 It's the same yesterday, 00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:34.239 today, 00:12:34.339 --> 00:12:34.639 and forever. 00:12:34.779 --> 00:12:36.000 And Jesus never needs updating 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:37.839 or revising. 00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:40.259 He's always new, 00:12:40.339 --> 00:12:41.079 if I can put it like that. 00:12:41.139 --> 00:12:43.199 Not in the novelness kind of way, 00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:44.859 but in the sense of freshness. 00:12:44.860 --> 00:12:49.200 It's why it is, 00:12:49.220 --> 00:12:49.539 isn't it, 00:12:49.580 --> 00:12:51.060 a wonderful thing. 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:51.519 It's a great, 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:51.980 great privilege 00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:52.960 to be a preacher of the gospel 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:54.039 because the core thing 00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:55.220 is to introduce people 00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:56.320 to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:12:58.620 --> 00:13:00.519 To bring people to Christ. 00:13:00.899 --> 00:13:01.680 I can't think of anything better. 00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:05.840 There's nothing more reviving 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:06.800 than when that happens. 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:10.300 And when you see someone 00:13:10.300 --> 00:13:11.039 meeting Christ 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:11.580 for the first time 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:12.100 during the preaching 00:13:12.100 --> 00:13:12.600 of the gospel, 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:13.779 Jesus is always new, 00:13:13.920 --> 00:13:14.960 not novel, 00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:16.600 but always fresh, 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:17.279 always relevant. 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:22.139 Just look at 00:13:22.139 --> 00:13:24.000 the direction of this 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:26.840 exhortation. 00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:28.580 I wanted to do a bit more work 00:13:28.580 --> 00:13:28.840 on this, 00:13:28.899 --> 00:13:30.159 but I haven't enough time really, 00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:31.060 but see if you can 00:13:31.060 --> 00:13:31.820 stick with me here. 00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:33.540 What happens 00:13:33.540 --> 00:13:35.379 in the church today, 00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:41.039 it's the exact opposite 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:42.220 of what Paul is, 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:42.980 of what the writer 00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:43.539 to the Hebrews 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:45.720 is kind of exhorting us here. 00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:46.620 So he's saying, 00:13:46.820 --> 00:13:47.899 remember your elders, 00:13:48.779 --> 00:13:49.439 who were these leaders? 00:13:49.539 --> 00:13:50.240 Well, they were the apostles 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:50.860 of Jesus Christ. 00:13:51.179 --> 00:13:51.820 Remember your leaders 00:13:51.820 --> 00:13:52.759 who spoke the word 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:53.679 of God to you. 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:56.500 Remember them 00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:57.200 who first spoke 00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:57.799 the word of God to you. 00:13:57.820 --> 00:13:58.500 Now what do we have 00:13:58.500 --> 00:13:59.379 in today? 00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:00.159 We have the reverse 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:00.460 of that, 00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:00.759 don't you? 00:14:01.139 --> 00:14:02.080 It's not we 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:02.840 who remember 00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:04.399 people like Peter 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:06.600 and what people 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:07.500 like Paul preached 00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:08.259 about Christ. 00:14:09.580 --> 00:14:10.059 Today, 00:14:10.340 --> 00:14:11.580 they have to remember 00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:12.679 what we have discovered. 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:15.539 And they have to remember 00:14:15.539 --> 00:14:16.779 what we have suddenly discovered. 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:19.840 So to make it 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:20.639 even more controversial, 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:21.840 let's talk about 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:22.539 women's ordination 00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:23.019 for a minute. 00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:23.980 The ordination of women 00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:25.080 to the office of elder 00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:25.659 and minister. 00:14:26.439 --> 00:14:27.159 What is that about? 00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:28.279 It's about the authority 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:28.860 of the Bible. 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:31.860 And it basically 00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:32.759 comes down to this. 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:33.919 Are we going to follow 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:36.080 the New Testament? 00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:37.080 Are we going to remember 00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:38.120 what the apostle Paul 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:38.799 spoke to us 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:40.439 and what Paul wrote? 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:42.759 Or does he have to remember? 00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:44.840 Does he have to remember 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:45.819 what we think today? 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:47.860 Does he have to follow 00:14:47.860 --> 00:14:49.240 our view on things? 00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:52.580 And so do we follow Paul 00:14:52.580 --> 00:14:53.539 in the first century AD 00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:55.200 or does he have to fit in 00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:56.259 with our modern culture 00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:57.819 and our political correctness? 00:14:57.820 --> 00:15:01.240 so that what he wrote 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:02.260 then needs to be 00:15:02.260 --> 00:15:03.020 reinterpreted 00:15:03.020 --> 00:15:04.080 in the light of today. 00:15:06.920 --> 00:15:07.620 People say it has 00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:08.480 to be contextualized. 00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:09.120 It has to be lifted 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:10.520 out of the first century setting 00:15:10.520 --> 00:15:12.740 and dropped 00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:13.879 into the 21st century. 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:14.860 And the amazing thing 00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:16.040 is that when you do that, 00:15:16.220 --> 00:15:17.140 Paul is made to teach 00:15:17.140 --> 00:15:18.480 the exact opposite 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:20.100 of what he actually taught. 00:15:20.900 --> 00:15:21.900 And he agrees 00:15:21.900 --> 00:15:22.580 with our culture, 00:15:22.800 --> 00:15:23.100 amazingly. 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:27.580 And that's not 00:15:27.580 --> 00:15:28.220 where we're to stand. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:31.220 We stand under the authority 00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:32.120 of the word of God, 00:15:32.460 --> 00:15:33.180 under the authority 00:15:33.180 --> 00:15:33.759 of the apostles 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:35.100 and of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:36.220 and we're to remember 00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:36.840 those who spoke 00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:37.800 the word of God to us. 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:40.100 They don't have to remember 00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:40.740 what we think. 00:15:41.820 --> 00:15:42.639 We have to remember 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:43.519 what they have spoken, 00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:44.940 what they have said. 00:15:48.040 --> 00:15:49.660 That kind of twisted thinking, 00:15:50.580 --> 00:15:52.259 if you go down that track, 00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:53.220 what it does is it takes 00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:53.819 the Bible away 00:15:53.819 --> 00:15:54.500 from you altogether. 00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:58.399 So remember, 00:15:58.480 --> 00:15:59.419 remember that word 00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:00.860 that has been spoken to you. 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:02.679 We are Protestants. 00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:06.740 We don't use that very well. 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:07.460 It would be a good word 00:16:07.460 --> 00:16:10.200 to kind of actually reuse. 00:16:10.419 --> 00:16:11.259 But I used to think 00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:12.480 that means someone 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:13.399 who protests. 00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:16.399 But the word is from 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:17.319 the word protestare, 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:20.120 which means to confess. 00:16:21.179 --> 00:16:22.179 It means to attest 00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:22.699 to something. 00:16:22.819 --> 00:16:23.599 It means to proclaim. 00:16:25.479 --> 00:16:26.399 To be a Protestant 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:28.139 is to proclaim Jesus Christ. 00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:31.899 It's the old, old story 00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:33.179 of Jesus and his love. 00:16:33.299 --> 00:16:34.179 He is unchangeably 00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:35.019 the same in his person. 00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:35.839 He's unchangeably 00:16:35.839 --> 00:16:36.879 the same in his message. 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:38.919 And he's unchangeably 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:40.339 the same in the message 00:16:40.339 --> 00:16:41.099 that we preach. 00:16:43.459 --> 00:16:44.299 And thirdly and lastly, 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:45.239 he's unchangeably 00:16:45.239 --> 00:16:46.259 the same to his people. 00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:50.039 He's unchangeably 00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:50.879 the same to his people. 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:54.740 And it's all very well, 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:54.960 isn't it, 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.879 to look back to the past. 00:16:58.600 --> 00:16:59.720 Some of the great heroes 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:00.679 of the faith, 00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:01.439 people like Luther, 00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:02.480 Athanasius, 00:17:03.340 --> 00:17:04.299 Wesley, Calvin, 00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.519 Whitfield, Spurgeon, 00:17:06.180 --> 00:17:07.000 Amy Carmichael, 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:08.119 people like that. 00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:11.380 But that can be a form 00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:12.259 of escapism, 00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:12.720 can't it? 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:20.480 I'm a great fan of 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:21.200 Martin Lloyd-Jones. 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:22.579 I'm a kind of preacher 00:17:22.579 --> 00:17:23.339 from the last century. 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:25.500 He would often say to people, 00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:26.380 I don't agree with everything 00:17:26.380 --> 00:17:26.680 he said, 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.299 he would often say, 00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:28.900 well, I'm an 18th century man. 00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:31.819 And you know what he means. 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:32.799 He means that 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:33.960 if there was any period 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:34.539 in church history 00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.200 that he'd like to have 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:35.720 gone back to, 00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:37.319 it was in the TARDIS. 00:17:37.380 --> 00:17:38.240 He would go and visit 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:38.940 George Whitfield, 00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:39.339 preach. 00:17:39.339 --> 00:17:41.859 But there is a danger 00:17:41.859 --> 00:17:42.720 in that. 00:17:43.139 --> 00:17:43.559 And that is, 00:17:43.639 --> 00:17:44.240 the danger is that 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:44.779 many of the people 00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:45.839 who followed Dr. Lloyd-Jones 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:47.079 actually preached 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:47.399 like they were 00:17:47.399 --> 00:17:48.359 in the 18th century. 00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:50.959 And believe it or not, 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:51.459 we don't live 00:17:51.459 --> 00:17:52.159 in the 18th century. 00:17:54.399 --> 00:17:55.119 We live in a very 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:55.599 different time 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:56.359 and a very different place. 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:57.359 And we have to serve Christ 00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:58.619 here and now in London. 00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:00.559 And there were giants 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.299 in the land 00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:02.039 in those days 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:03.039 and so much of church history. 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:04.240 And we are a race 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.339 of little people 00:18:05.339 --> 00:18:06.059 in comparison. 00:18:07.939 --> 00:18:08.740 But don't forget 00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:09.159 those men 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:09.820 who spoke the word 00:18:09.820 --> 00:18:10.560 of God to you 00:18:10.560 --> 00:18:11.759 and sealed their confession 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:12.460 with their own blood, 00:18:12.540 --> 00:18:13.500 they were just flesh 00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:13.940 and blood, 00:18:14.080 --> 00:18:14.360 weren't they? 00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:16.480 These people, 00:18:16.560 --> 00:18:17.220 they were just men 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.080 and women like you and me. 00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:19.420 And times have changed 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.340 but Jesus hasn't. 00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:23.279 And what he was to them, 00:18:23.360 --> 00:18:24.100 he will be to you. 00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:26.160 Jesus Christ 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:27.220 is the same. 00:18:29.120 --> 00:18:29.620 That word 00:18:29.620 --> 00:18:31.120 that's used there 00:18:31.120 --> 00:18:31.519 in verse 7 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.259 is an interesting word. 00:18:32.320 --> 00:18:33.060 There's only two places 00:18:33.060 --> 00:18:33.900 where you find that word 00:18:33.900 --> 00:18:34.519 in the New Testament. 00:18:35.860 --> 00:18:36.420 In verse 7, 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.100 he talks about 00:18:37.100 --> 00:18:38.480 these leaders 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.480 who spoke the word 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:40.120 of God 00:18:40.120 --> 00:18:41.339 consider the outcome 00:18:41.339 --> 00:18:42.420 of their way of life. 00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.259 And the word 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:45.019 that's used there 00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:45.420 means 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:47.559 a coming out of it. 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:48.440 It's the same word 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:49.380 that Paul used 00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:51.160 in 1 Corinthians 10 00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:51.880 verse 13 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:54.920 where he's referring 00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:55.700 to the wilderness 00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:56.500 wanderings 00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:57.240 and he's reminded 00:18:57.240 --> 00:18:57.799 the Corinthians 00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:59.039 that it was Jesus Christ 00:18:59.039 --> 00:18:59.860 who was actually 00:18:59.860 --> 00:19:00.980 leading the people 00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:02.059 out of Egypt. 00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:04.200 the rock 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:04.899 in the wilderness 00:19:04.899 --> 00:19:05.980 was Christ. 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:07.819 And then he says this 00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:08.539 in 1 Corinthians 10 00:19:08.539 --> 00:19:09.019 verse 13 00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:09.819 he applies it to them 00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:10.159 and he says 00:19:10.159 --> 00:19:11.480 God is faithful. 00:19:14.919 --> 00:19:16.039 You will not be tempted 00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:17.019 beyond what you can bear. 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.419 And when you are tempted, 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:20.159 when you are tried, 00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.240 when you are like those people 00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:21.720 in the wilderness 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:22.440 between a rock 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:23.700 and a hard place 00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:25.079 as they came out of Egypt 00:19:25.079 --> 00:19:26.159 with Pharaoh's troops 00:19:26.159 --> 00:19:27.460 breathing down their necks 00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.299 and the Red Sea 00:19:28.299 --> 00:19:29.000 in front of them 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.940 they're surrounded 00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:31.180 by hills and mountains 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:32.039 it's a trap 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:32.500 there didn't seem 00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.299 to be any way out. 00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:36.579 And just as Jesus 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:37.720 opened up the waters 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:38.519 of the Red Sea 00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:39.099 and they crossed 00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:39.880 on dry ground 00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:40.380 Paul says 00:19:40.380 --> 00:19:41.119 when you are tempted 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:42.240 when you are tried 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:42.539 like that 00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:43.319 what will he do? 00:19:43.900 --> 00:19:44.599 He will provide 00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:45.559 a way out. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:48.559 An exodus 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:49.180 that's the word. 00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:51.099 That's the word 00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:51.920 that's used here 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:52.440 in Hebrews. 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:53.480 Remember what Jesus 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:54.319 was to these people 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:54.940 at the Red Sea 00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:55.859 when they were entangled 00:19:55.859 --> 00:19:56.599 in the land 00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:57.480 and the Egyptians 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.220 are in hot pursuit 00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:59.259 and they're trapped 00:19:59.259 --> 00:19:59.900 and there didn't seem 00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:00.940 to be any way forward. 00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:05.140 I frequently find myself 00:20:05.140 --> 00:20:06.039 in that kind of situation 00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:06.819 I'm sure we all do 00:20:06.819 --> 00:20:07.200 don't we? 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:10.400 And in those situations 00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:12.079 what are we to do 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:13.200 when we're trapped 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:13.940 and we haven't got 00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:14.880 a clue what to do 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:15.720 will we remember 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.900 that Jesus Christ 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:17.940 is the same yesterday 00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:18.920 today and forever? 00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:22.019 The same Jesus Christ 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.640 who opened up 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:23.240 the Red Sea 00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:25.559 and brought his people 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.299 safely through 00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:28.779 that Jesus Christ 00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:30.000 is the same 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:30.839 today 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:31.960 as he was then 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:34.220 and what he can do 00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:34.720 for them 00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:35.599 he can do for you 00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:39.539 and he can provide you 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.919 with a way 00:20:40.919 --> 00:20:41.879 through the challenge 00:20:41.879 --> 00:20:42.799 that you are facing 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:45.159 and you don't know 00:20:45.159 --> 00:20:45.779 how am I going to 00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:46.339 cope with that 00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:46.720 I don't know 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:47.599 if I've got the resources 00:20:47.599 --> 00:20:48.859 to get through this week 00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:51.059 and he is the same 00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:53.819 he can provide you 00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:54.500 with a way through 00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:55.500 how else do you explain 00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:56.379 someone like Stephen 00:20:56.379 --> 00:20:57.879 the martyr 00:20:57.879 --> 00:21:00.599 how do you explain 00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:02.299 the way he died 00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:03.159 with his face 00:21:03.159 --> 00:21:04.159 like that of an angel 00:21:04.159 --> 00:21:05.220 as it's smashed in 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.899 by rocks 00:21:05.899 --> 00:21:09.200 remember what we're told 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:09.759 in Acts 7 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:10.460 that as the rocks 00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:11.259 were raining down 00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:11.440 on him 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:12.220 he fell on his knees 00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:12.960 and he cried out 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.799 Lord do not hold 00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:14.740 this sin against them 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:15.819 and when he said this 00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:16.339 he fell asleep 00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:17.179 how do you explain that? 00:21:17.180 --> 00:21:19.740 how do you explain 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:20.380 a man like Peter 00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:22.000 who denied the Lord Jesus 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.200 with oaths and curses 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.360 before a servant girl 00:21:24.360 --> 00:21:25.460 he says I don't know 00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:26.000 the so and so 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:26.680 and he swears 00:21:26.680 --> 00:21:27.720 how do you explain 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:28.440 that man 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:29.560 just a few weeks later 00:21:29.560 --> 00:21:30.980 boldly proclaiming Christ 00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:32.220 and 3,000 people 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:33.180 are converted 00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:35.259 how do you explain that? 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:37.640 how do you explain 00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:38.440 Paul and Silas 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.299 singing hymns 00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:40.160 at midnight 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:41.880 in a rat infested 00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:42.500 prison hole 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.100 in the ground 00:21:43.100 --> 00:21:44.019 in the stocks 00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:45.720 a Roman instrument 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:46.320 of torture 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:48.139 and we're told 00:21:48.139 --> 00:21:49.339 they sang hymns 00:21:49.339 --> 00:21:49.819 at midnight 00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:53.179 think of Athanasius 00:21:53.179 --> 00:21:53.980 and he is told 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:55.720 the world is against you 00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:56.379 and he says 00:21:56.379 --> 00:21:57.279 well it's Athanasius 00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:58.039 against the world 00:21:58.039 --> 00:22:00.919 the courage of 00:22:00.919 --> 00:22:01.619 Martin Luther 00:22:01.619 --> 00:22:02.299 when it seems 00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:03.220 the whole might 00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:03.859 of the church 00:22:03.859 --> 00:22:04.519 is against him 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:05.339 and he says 00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:05.980 here I am 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.619 I can do no other 00:22:06.619 --> 00:22:07.579 how do you explain that? 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:08.740 the only way 00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.439 you can explain that 00:22:09.439 --> 00:22:09.919 is in the terms 00:22:09.919 --> 00:22:10.539 of our text 00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:11.779 that Jesus Christ 00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.659 is the same 00:22:12.659 --> 00:22:13.619 yesterday 00:22:13.619 --> 00:22:14.099 today 00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:14.679 and forever 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:18.360 and what he was 00:22:18.360 --> 00:22:19.400 for Athanasius 00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:20.120 and what he was 00:22:20.120 --> 00:22:20.620 for Luther 00:22:20.620 --> 00:22:21.279 and what he was 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:21.860 for Stephen 00:22:21.860 --> 00:22:22.940 and what he was 00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:23.320 for Peter 00:22:23.320 --> 00:22:23.980 and what he was 00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:25.019 for Paul and Silas 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.680 he is the same 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.160 for us 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:30.600 I don't know 00:22:30.600 --> 00:22:30.900 if you know 00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:32.380 it's a daft story 00:22:32.380 --> 00:22:32.940 of a man 00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:33.880 painting a stripe 00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:34.400 down the middle 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:34.980 of the road 00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:37.240 and that was his job 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:39.720 and on his first day 00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:40.660 at work 00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:41.220 he paints 00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:42.019 two miles 00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:42.799 of the road 00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:44.180 people are amazed 00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:45.559 no one's ever 00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:46.240 painted so much 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:46.599 before 00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:49.159 on the second day 00:22:49.159 --> 00:22:50.299 his production 00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:51.539 dropped to one and a half miles 00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:52.460 which is still far 00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:52.980 above average 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:55.940 on the third day 00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:57.119 it was only 00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:58.319 one mile 00:22:58.319 --> 00:23:00.839 fifth day 00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:01.519 it was even less 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:04.359 apparently his boss 00:23:04.359 --> 00:23:04.839 went to him 00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:05.319 and asked 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.639 why has your production 00:23:06.639 --> 00:23:07.779 fallen off so sharply 00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:10.019 and he said 00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:10.619 I'm just getting 00:23:10.619 --> 00:23:11.519 so far from the bucket 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:13.279 it's a rubbish 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:13.559 story 00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:14.480 isn't it 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:17.099 that's the trouble 00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:17.940 with our society 00:23:17.940 --> 00:23:20.639 our society 00:23:20.639 --> 00:23:21.500 has drifted 00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:22.339 from its heritage 00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:22.799 hasn't it 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:24.900 a very very long way 00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:28.599 it's the problem 00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:29.319 with the Christian church 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:31.139 that wants Christian values 00:23:31.139 --> 00:23:32.319 but actually doesn't want 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:33.180 the radical teaching 00:23:33.180 --> 00:23:33.900 of Christian 00:23:33.900 --> 00:23:34.859 of the Lord Jesus 00:23:34.859 --> 00:23:37.259 and you can't have 00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:37.879 Christian values 00:23:37.879 --> 00:23:39.059 without the Lord Jesus Christ 00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:42.139 you might want 00:23:42.139 --> 00:23:42.940 a traditional 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:44.679 Judeo-Christian ethic 00:23:44.679 --> 00:23:46.319 but you won't have that 00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:47.179 without the Lord Jesus 00:23:47.179 --> 00:23:51.440 people need Jesus Christ 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.099 and it's the gospel 00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:52.879 that they need here 00:23:52.879 --> 00:23:54.839 and Jesus Christ 00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:55.359 has not passed 00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:56.059 his sell by date 00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:56.879 he never will 00:23:56.879 --> 00:23:58.279 he'll never be superseded 00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:58.359 ! 00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:00.279 and he'll never be replaced 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:01.460 and kingdoms will come 00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:02.599 and kingdoms will go 00:24:02.599 --> 00:24:03.339 and empires 00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:04.559 will rise and fall 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:06.039 and whole civilizations 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:07.720 will disappear 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:10.680 but Jesus Christ 00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:11.860 is the same yesterday 00:24:11.860 --> 00:24:12.680 today and forever 00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:14.880 I've told the story 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:15.319 haven't I 00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:16.900 of Lord Reith 00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:18.140 and the founder 00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:18.559 of the BBC 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:20.880 and he is 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:22.700 late for a meeting 00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.240 and as he walks 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:23.740 into a room 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.720 all the board 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.180 of directors 00:24:25.180 --> 00:24:25.900 are talking 00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:26.460 at the BBC 00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:27.799 and as Lord Reith 00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:28.519 comes in 00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:29.839 they fall silent 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:30.259 Lord Reith 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.140 is quite a fiery man 00:24:31.140 --> 00:24:32.200 he's a really interesting 00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:33.460 man to read 00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:35.460 and Lord Reith 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:35.900 wants to know 00:24:35.900 --> 00:24:36.640 what they're talking about 00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:38.259 and they're very reluctant 00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:38.680 to tell him 00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:39.060 and in the end 00:24:39.060 --> 00:24:39.860 he loses his temper 00:24:39.860 --> 00:24:40.880 and they tell him 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:43.860 and they say 00:24:43.860 --> 00:24:44.680 Lord Reith 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:46.320 we are planning a program 00:24:46.320 --> 00:24:46.960 on the funeral 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:48.040 of the Christian church 00:24:48.040 --> 00:24:49.000 Lord Reith 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:50.200 smacks the desk 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:50.880 and says 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:52.860 the church of Jesus Christ 00:24:52.860 --> 00:24:53.800 will stand at the funeral 00:24:53.800 --> 00:24:54.380 of the BBC 00:24:54.380 --> 00:24:57.920 that is true 00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:58.880 because Jesus Christ 00:24:58.880 --> 00:24:59.500 is the same 00:24:59.500 --> 00:25:00.120 yesterday 00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:00.820 today and forever 00:25:00.820 --> 00:25:02.940 Charles Spurgeon 00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:03.259 said 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:05.040 there is the same water 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:05.599 in the well 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:06.019 still 00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:07.619 and if we've not 00:25:07.619 --> 00:25:08.299 drawn it out 00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:09.259 it's our own fault 00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:11.200 we've come away 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:11.839 from the fire 00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:13.200 and that's why 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:13.720 we're cold 00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:15.599 let's return 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.220 to him 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:17.519 and he will 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.519 receive us gladly 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:20.180 as gladly 00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:21.259 and as warmly 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:22.839 as he did 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:23.720 when we first believed 00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:28.299 isn't that why 00:25:28.299 --> 00:25:28.659 there's so many 00:25:28.659 --> 00:25:29.200 ups and downs 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:29.980 in your Christian life 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:30.279 and mine 00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:33.700 yesterday you could pray 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:35.440 tomorrow you can't 00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:37.579 today you know 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.440 a measure of victory 00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:39.819 over the temptations 00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.759 that you've struggled with 00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:42.839 tomorrow you're 00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:43.579 totally overwhelmed 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:44.000 by them 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:44.480 why 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:45.480 why is that 00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:46.799 because we take 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.639 our eyes off Jesus 00:25:47.639 --> 00:25:50.559 and if you're anything 00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.059 like me 00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:52.180 you've turned to men 00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:53.180 and movements 00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:53.740 and books 00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:54.559 and programs 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:55.639 and it's Jesus Christ 00:25:55.639 --> 00:25:56.039 you need 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:57.319 not another book 00:25:57.319 --> 00:25:57.639 of all him 00:25:57.639 --> 00:25:58.839 but the living Christ 00:25:58.839 --> 00:26:01.159 who is always the same 00:26:01.159 --> 00:26:03.139 always himself 00:26:03.139 --> 00:26:03.659 yesterday 00:26:03.659 --> 00:26:04.359 and forever 00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:07.119 here is solid ground 00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:10.740 there is the same 00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:11.279 water 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.539 in the well still 00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:14.740 and if we've not 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.179 drawn it 00:26:15.179 --> 00:26:15.980 it's our own fault 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:17.919 we've come away 00:26:17.919 --> 00:26:18.439 from the fire 00:26:18.439 --> 00:26:20.679 and that's all we're cold 00:26:20.679 --> 00:26:21.939 let's return to him