James, thank you for your warm welcome. It's good to be with you, a privilege to share in worship
and praise this evening. Before singing to God's praise, let me read just these few verses from
the scriptures, where in Psalm 30 we're told, sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name. Let us worship him together. Singing from the Psalter in Psalm 111,
Psalm 111 from the Psalter, and we'll sing from the beginning to the tune Amazing Grace to verse 4.
Praise ye the Lord, with my whole heart I will God's praise declare, where the assemblies of the
just and congregations are. The whole works of the Lord our God are great above all measure,
sought out they are of everyone that doth therein take pleasure. Psalm 111, and we'll sing from the
beginning to verse 4, to God's praise.
Praise ye the Lord, with my whole heart I will God's praise declare,
where the assemblies of the just and congregations are. The whole works of the Lord our God is.
Our God is. The whole works of the Lord our God. Our great above all measure,
our great above all measure, sought out they are of everyone that doth therein take pleasure.
In this work most honor, our great above all measure,
most glorious and pure, and this untinted righteousness,
and this untinted righteousness forever doth endure.
His works most wonderful we have, may to be thought upon,
The Lord is gracious and he is, full of compassion,
The Lord is gracious and he is, full of compassion.
Let us pray together.
Praise ye the Lord, with my whole heart I will God's praise declare.
Lord, these words resonate within our very souls.
They speak of what it is to gather together, brother and sister in Christ,
Before the throne of grace in worship and in praise.
Lord, we would draw near to you with a spirit that would please and honor you.
We would long to know your presence and seek your face.
And may it please you, Lord, to come in among us and do us good this evening.
As we seek your presence and study together the glorious gospel of God,
May it please you to draw near to us, to bless us, to edify us and to nourish us.
Lord, we ask these things for you are a God of wonderful provision.
You are a God of who is compassionate and full of grace toward us.
And we bless you that this is the case and it has been declared as such through Jesus Christ,
your son, our savior, the one who came into this world to seek and to save the lost.
And so we gather together this evening in the name of Jesus.
We lift up his name, we glorify his name, we acknowledge him to be our king, our shepherd.
We profess our faith and hope to be in him, the one who is altogether lovely,
the one who came into this world and gave himself.
And so we, Lord, join with our brothers and sisters across our island and nation and world.
And we see that the life we now live, we live by faith in the son of God,
God loved us and gave himself for us.
What testimony, what profession, what hope.
And we pray, Lord, tonight that that hope would burn brightly
as we spend time this evening in worship and in fellowship over these days.
And that as we go into the week ahead, fortified by word and sacrament,
may it please you, Lord, to bless our witness and our service of the gospel to those around us.
For we pray that the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus would shine brightly through each one of our lives.
That in our hearts, in our conversations, in our conduct,
and how we hold ourselves in what we do and what we don't do,
and how, Lord, we conduct our business and make our decisions,
and how we behave at home, at the workplace, in private and in public.
Lord, we pray that you would take the glory to yourself.
And we thank you, Lord, that we would ask this to be the case.
And we do humbly in dependence upon you, for the scripture tells us we are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people special to God,
that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you from darkness into his marvellous light.
Lord, may each one of us, according to opportunity and your gifts and grace,
in our own way, in our own homes, in our own circumstance, be as a city on a hill that cannot be hid.
And so, Lord, we thank you tonight for this opportunity to study the scripture together
in anticipation of meeting at the Lord's table tomorrow on the beginning of a new week.
Lord, we gather this evening humbled at the teaching of the Bible that reveals to us that place known as Golgotha,
the place where Jesus Christ gave himself to death, even death on a cross,
where there he breathed his last, where there he suffered the agony of separation and judgment as the sin bearer of the world.
We can scarce take in that scene.
How can we begin to comprehend in our hearts when we come to the foot of the cross?
But Lord, as we do so, we do so in faith and trust.
We look there in awe and wonder.
We look there at times, Lord, broken, conscious of our own sin, conscious of our weakness, conscious of our need.
Lord, in Jesus, these things are met to their fullest.
And so we say in our hearts, too, that when we survey that wondrous cross in which the Prince of Glory died,
that we do so, Lord, through a sense of wonder, a sense of thankfulness, a sense, Lord, that there is the hope of the world.
It was not that someone died on the cross that amazes us.
It's who died.
It's not that blood was shed on the cross, but whose blood?
And there he became a curse for us.
A lifetime of theological study and reflection and worship is not long enough to plumb the depths of that reality.
The Son of God, the very Lamb of God, taking away the sin of the world by becoming a curse for us.
And so, Lord, we gather this evening humbled, dependent, grateful.
We meet, Lord, in anticipation also.
For you tell us that where two or three gather in your name, you are there in the midst and there to bless.
And so, Lord, we ask that the Holy Spirit would be amongst us here, ministering to us and amongst us in our hearts,
shining his light of understanding and insight onto the person and work of Jesus, your Son.
That there we would glorify him and worship him and lift up his name and praise him
and give thanks for his saving work upon the cross, where there he gave himself in perfection and took upon himself our sin.
And we bless you, Lord, that at the heart of the gospel there is a transaction,
and that that transaction continues to happen around the world.
That when sinners come to Jesus in repentance and faith, he takes our guilt and gives us his goodness.
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
And so help us, Lord, this evening to further understand and appreciate and glory in this good news.
And that we would go from here, Lord, encouraged and nourished, built up in our faith and deepened in our understanding of the deep things of God.
That we would say, day by day, I am not ashamed of the testimony of my Saviour.
And I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe.
What a wondrous declaration that is, that all who believe are saved.
Bless, Lord, that message this evening amongst ourselves.
As we study this evening your word in preparation to share together at the table of the Lord tomorrow,
we ask that you would draw near to us, Lord, and that we would have a teachable spirit and a listening ear.
That our souls, Lord, would be edified.
That we would know something of the fullness of God in our time of worship together this evening.
Lord, we pray that you would bless your cause here on our island, across our communities and across our nation.
We long for the day when we will see the gospel taking root in hearts and lives around us.
We long for the day where men and women and boys and girls will come to know Jesus Christ for themselves,
professing their faith in him and acknowledging him as Saviour, living for him day by day.
Remember us, Lord, in Scotland at this time.
And may it please you to raise up men and women who will take their place in the public square
and be unashamed of their testimony, unashamed of their Saviour,
and clear in their conviction that Jesus Christ is Lord.
So, Lord, this evening we pray that you would come in among us,
that we would know your word to be all the more precious to us,
for it is the word of life.
And here we have the promise of life in Christ Jesus.
And may it please you, Lord, that as together we worship,
we would do so in humility and dependence, looking unto Jesus,
the author and finisher of our faith.
And so we pray for ourselves this evening.
We pray for your cause across our land.
We remember our nation.
And we pray, Lord God, that you would remember us at this time,
where it seems that secularism and atheism and humanism are running rampant.
And it seems that at times our nation, Lord, is hurtling full speed away from the cross,
away from Christ and away from any concept of our nation being a nation that has a Christian heritage.
And so, Lord, there is a great task,
for the darkness seems to be extending and deepening.
But we know, we know that that darkness is presided over by a defeated prince,
who rages and is in terror of Christ at the same time.
And so he takes out his rage on the church of Christ and the people of Christ and the cause of Christ.
And we pray, Lord God, tonight that we would be conscious of this roaring lion,
seeking to be in amongst us, seeking to devour and scatter,
seeking to inhibit and terrorise the Lord's people.
May we resist him.
May we resist him in the name of Christ.
And may we, Lord, resist him in reliance on the grace and peace that you promise as we wait upon you.
And we bless you, Lord, for that great promise,
that those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.
So be with us this evening.
Draw near to us.
Cleanse us and renew us.
Forgive our sin, we pray.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, we'll sing again to God's praise from Sing Psalms
in Psalm 119, verse 9.
Psalm 119, singing from verse 9,
page 157 in our Blue Psalm books.
And we'll sing this section to the tune,
Herringate.
Psalm 119 from Sing Psalms, page 157.
The second section.
How can the young keep their life pure?
By doing what your word demands.
I seek you with my heart and soul.
Let me not stray from your commands.
Your word I've hidden in my heart to keep me from offending you.
Praise be to you, O Lord my God.
Teach me your statutes, firm and true.
And true.
We'll sing this whole section to God's praise.
Praise.
Praise be to you, O Lord.
O come the young keep their life pure.
I take what your word demands.
I seek you with my heart and soul.
Let me not stray from your commands.
I seek you with my heart and soul.
Let me not stray from your commands.
I seek you with my heart and soul.
Let me not stray from your commands.
You are my faith in my heart.
I seek you with my heart and soul.
Let me not stray from your commands.
You are my faith in my heart.
I seek you with my heart and soul.
Let me not stray from your commands.
You are my faith in my heart.
To keep me from offending you.
I seek you with my heart.
I seek you with my heart and soul.
Let me not stray from your commands.
You are my faith in my heart.
To keep me from offending you.
Praise be to you, O Lord my God.
Teach me your statutes firm and truth.
Each law proceeding from your mouth.
I O Lord my heart.
I grant you with my heart and soul.
I plan thee with my lips.
I attend your heart.
I bend you with my lips and soul.
I love to follow your commands.
You are my faith in my heart.
I love to follow your commands.
A salvage love to kind their gold.
and their gold.
I meditate upon your ways,
and on your peace
and timey flag.
I take delight
in your decrease.
Your word I never will neglect.
Wonderful words that speak of a tenacity
and a determination to live wholeheartedly
for the Lord.
Verse 10 there says,
I seek you with my heart and soul.
Let me not stray from your commands.
Words of commitment
that come from deep-seated conviction.
And we're going to be thinking about that this evening
as we turn to the second letter of Paul
to Timothy and chapter 1.
2 Timothy and chapter 1,
where the apostle writes
to his young brother in the Lord,
indeed his son in the Lord.
He was someone who Paul was deeply affectionate towards,
who had served as a right-hand man
for many a long year in the work of the gospel.
And from what we can tell,
this is Paul's final word and testimony.
It is, in many ways,
his will,
his last will and testimony
written to the church
from a prison cell,
incarcerated because of his gospel service
and his love for Christ.
And so he writes to encourage Timothy
and prepare him for leadership in his time.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus
by the will of God,
according to the promise of the life
that is in Christ Jesus,
to Timothy, my beloved child,
grace, mercy, and peace
from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I thank God whom I serve,
as did my ancestors,
with a clear conscience,
as I remember you constantly
in my prayers night and day.
As I remember your tears,
I long to see you,
that I may be filled with joy.
I am reminded of your sincere faith,
a faith that dwelled first
in your grandmother, Lois,
and your mother, Eunice,
and now I am sure dwells in you as well.
For this reason,
I remind you to fan into flame
the gift of God which is in you
through the laying on of my hands.
For God gave us a spirit,
not of fear,
but of power and of love
and self-control.
Therefore, do not be ashamed
of the testimony about our Lord,
nor of me, his prisoner,
but share in suffering for the gospel
by the power of God,
who saved us and called us
to a holy calling,
not because of our works,
but because of his own purpose
and grace which he gave us
in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
and which now has been manifested
through the appearing of our Savior,
Christ Jesus,
who abolished death
and brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel,
for which I was appointed a preacher
and apostle and teacher,
which is why I suffer as I do.
But I am not ashamed,
for I know whom I have believed,
and I am convinced
that he is able to guard
until that day
what has been entrusted to me.
Follow the pattern
of the sound words
that you have heard from me
in the faith and love
that are in Christ Jesus
by the Holy Spirit
who dwells within us.
Guard the good deposit
entrusted to you.
You are aware
that all who were in Asia
turned away from me,
among whom are Phygelus
and Hermogenes.
May the Lord grant mercy
to the household
of Onesiphorus,
for he often refreshed me
and was not ashamed
of my chains.
But when he arrived in Rome,
he searched for me
earnestly and found me.
May the Lord grant him
to find mercy
from the Lord
on that day.
And you well know
all the service he rendered
at Ephesus.
Amen.
May God bless his word
to our hearts.
To his name be the praise.
Well, before we spend
some time together
looking at that chapter,
we'll sing again
to the praise of God
from the Psalter,
Psalm 89.
Psalm 89,
singing from verse 13
in the Psalter.
Page 3, 4, 5
in our Blue Psalm books.
Page 3, 4, 5.
Singing Psalm 89
from verse 13.
We'll sing to verse 16
to the tune Newington.
Thou hast an arm
that's full of power.
Thy hand is great in might.
Thy right hand
exceedingly exalted
is in height.
Justice and judgment
of thy throne
are made the dwelling place.
Mercy,
accompanied with truth,
shall go before thy face.
We'll sing from verse 13
to 16
to God's praise.
Amen.
Thy hand is great in might.
On thy right hand
exceedingly
exalted is in height.
justice and judgment
of thy throne
are made the dwelling place.
Mercy,
accompanied with truth,
shall go before thy face.
O greatly blessed
the people are,
the joyful Son
that know.
In brightness
of thy face,
O Lord,
they ever on
shall grow,
of glory,
shall she have the editor
Let's all take me on high.
Let's bow in prayer for a moment together.
Lord, may it please you this evening
to draw near to us.
We seek above all, Lord,
that everything done and said here
would be pleasing and acceptable before you.
We acknowledge you to be holy,
holy, holy, almighty God,
wondrous in power, glorious in might,
amazing in grace.
And so, Lord, as we would hear you speak
through your word this evening,
we ask that you would lead
and you would teach
and you would mold and you would guide,
that we might heed the scriptures
and take these,
your precious truths,
into our hearts
and from here
into our lives
and into our homes.
We ask, Lord,
that we would be effective witnesses
and go on by your grace and peace
to be the good soldiers of Christ Jesus
that we are urged to become.
We remain, Lord,
works in progress,
set apart,
but ongoing in our sanctification.
And may it please you, Lord,
tonight
to help us along that path
by teaching us in you
something
of the conviction of heart
that you call men and women
to exhibit
through faith
in Jesus Christ,
our Lord and Savior.
Hear us, we pray in his name.
In these things we ask
as we turn together to your word.
Amen.
Well, in 2 Timothy
and chapter 1
we have
deeply personal words,
words that are
full of teaching
and the deep things
of God are here.
There is real
depth in the theology
while at the same time
there is a personal feel
and touch
from the very beginning
of this letter
to the very end.
We remember well
the circumstance.
Paul is in prison.
He is now
under the sentence
of death.
It seems the Roman
judicial system
is working its way
towards its final conclusion
which will be
a summary execution
having been found guilty
of insurrection
and atheism
and all sorts of charges
that were brought against
the Christian church
at this time.
Paul knows
his time is short
and so he writes this letter
and gets right to the heart
of things
as quickly as he can
and as we pick up
on things
in chapter 4
I am already being poured out
as a drink offering.
The time of my departure
has come
and that urgency
is here from beginning
to end
in 2 Timothy
and chapter 1
and through that urgency
we see conviction.
Conviction of heart
and commitment
to the Lord Jesus Christ.
And that's where
we're going to go
this evening
and particularly
taking note of the words
in verse 12
where Paul utters words
that have become
so famous
down through the generations
in the Christian church.
I am not ashamed
for I know
whom I have believed
and I am convinced
that he is able to guard
until that day
what has been entrusted
to me.
I know
whom
I have believed.
I want to read
to you first of all
an interview
that caught my eye
some time ago
a Hollywood A-lister
who was being interviewed
and was asked
this question
do you believe in God?
Here is the A-lister's answer.
I believe
there are forces
at work in the universe
that science can't explain
and I think
there's an end
to human knowledge.
let's call it
the unknown
the higher power.
Let's just agree
there is something
beyond
what we know.
There are things
like karma.
There are things
beyond
what we understand.
So yes
I believe
there's an energy
and I try
to use it
and be in the good
graces
of that energy
so things
in my life
go the way
I want them to.
I want you
to compare
that
to the words
of verse 12
I know
whom I
have believed.
Paul the apostle
is writing
from a prison cell
and he writes
with a whole
hearted
focus
on the gospel
and on his
saviour
Jesus Christ.
Verse 8
in chapter 1
therefore do not
be ashamed
of the testimony
about our Lord
not of me as prisoner
but share in suffering
for the gospel
by the power of God
who saved us
and called us
to a holy calling
not because of our works
but because of his own
purpose
and grace
which he gave us
in Christ Jesus
before the ages began.
You see
the Roman judicial system
his sufferings
the persecution
and agonies
he'd gone through
personally in his life
the heartache
the bitter
letdowns
the disappointments
the abandonment
it's all
caught up in this letter
none of these things
took from Paul
what he held
to be most precious
a close relationship
and communion
with the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Do not be ashamed
of the testimony
about our Lord.
So I want us
to think about this
this evening
bearing in mind
the setting
and examine
this conviction
which leads to commitment
and what it means
for you and I
this evening
as we prepare
our hearts
to meet together
at the Lord's table
God willing
tomorrow.
This focus
this conviction
remains steadfastly
cross-centered.
Look at the very
first sentence
where he begins
before we get
to the wonderful words
of verse 12
Paul an apostle
of Christ Jesus
by the will of God
according to the promise
of life
that is in Christ Jesus.
He's under the sentence
of death.
It seems time is short
he knows that
soon he will be taken
from his cell
out with the city limits
as was his right
afforded to a Roman citizen
and rather than being
crucified
he would be beheaded
and that was coming
to him
and yet
here we find him
in the very first sentence
of his final letter
exulting in the promise
of life
while being under
the sentence
of death.
This is conviction
this is commitment
this is the reality
of certainty
in the gospel
of Jesus
this is grace
which leads
to these wonderful words
I know
whom I
have
believed
and I am
persuaded
that he is able
to guard
until that day
what has been entrusted
to me.
It's a wonderful
example
and encouragement
to us
to wait
on the Lord
and
to maintain
our closeness
and communion
with him
despite
circumstances
and despite
what we go through
we must stay
close to Jesus.
There's a story
told of Martin Luther
who at only
38 years of age
was summoned
to one of these
great synods
where he was being
called to give
an account
for the teachings
that had become
public knowledge
in his name
and it seemed
that he was taking
a great risk
in going there
he could face arrest
and being burnt
at the stake
as a heretic
and that was known
and they discussed
should he go
should he not
and eventually
he was given
a guarantee
of safe passage
but he wrote
this letter
to a fellow leader
and wrote these words
before going
to that synod
my dear brother
if I do not
come back
you will go on
teaching
and standing
fast
in the truth
I know
and am certain
that our Lord
Jesus Christ
lives
and rules
upon this knowledge
and assurance
I rely
he who is with me
is greater
than he
who is in the world
it's the exact
sentiment
we find here
in 2nd Timothy
and chapter 1
a wonderful
conviction
of heart
a tenacity
a strength
of faith
a clarity
and purpose
a desire
not to
let the Lord
down
and not to
abandon the cause
and not to turn
tail
and not to
clower before
the world
because he knew
whom
he had believed
so we find
first of all
then
a burning
conviction
a burning
conviction
I know
whom I have
believed
in this
sentiment
in these words
in this letter
in his life
in his teaching
and in all his writings
Paul's commitment
to Jesus
was absolute
in him we see
a clear example
of what
John Stott
would write
when he was asked
what is a Christian
John Stott
would summarize it
in this way
a Christian
is someone
who must
commit themselves
heart and mind
soul and will
home and life
personally
and unreservedly
to Jesus Christ
that's a Christian
that's clarity
that's an expression
and summary
of the gospel
of what the Bible
teaches
of what God
wants us to know
tonight here
and what God
wants us to share
out there
every opportunity
we get
to tell people
when they ask us
well what's it
all about
let's tell them
it's about
committing ourselves
heart and mind
soul and will
home and life
personally
and unreservedly
to Jesus Christ
that's what Paul did
he believed
in the saviour
who lived
a perfect
sinless life
and gave himself
for lost sinners
15 years or so
before he wrote
this letter
he wrote the letter
to the Galatian Christians
and in there
he said
I have been
crucified with Christ
it is no longer
I who live
but Christ
who lives in me
and the life
I now live
in the flesh
I live by faith
in the son of God
who loved me
and gave himself
for me
and perhaps
that's where
people around us
just don't get it
so many people
in our community
on our island
in our country
tonight
think
that the Bible
is a book
about religion
they think
the free church
is a denomination
it's just all
about religion
that our message
is about religion
how wrong are they
they couldn't be
more wrong
this is not a book
about religion
it's a book
about salvation
that's why we find
the apostle
so fool hearted
and whole hearted
despite being
in a prison cell
despite being
under the sentence
of death
he would say
I know
whom I
have believed
and twice
already
before he even
gets there
I am not ashamed
and that
Christian friend
as you know
is a constant
source of attack
by the devil
against us
that we would
feel ashamed
that we would
feel awkward
that we would
feel embarrassed
and that we would
be conscious
of our sin
and our weakness
and our failings
and our faults
and he uses it
he uses it
against the Lord's
people
he uses it
against Christian
men
women
boys and girls
to keep us
from the table
to make us
think and feel
I can't go there
I'm a sinner
and he trips us up
with false theology
and empty lies
and deceit
because you and I
know tonight
that we go to the table
because we're sinners
we don't go to the table
to be saved
we go there
because we have
been saved
we go there
to say
in our hearts
I know
whom I have
believed
that's why it's
wonderful to remember
that the table
is a place of
profession
and proclamation
we proclaim
our Lord's death
till he come again
Christian friend
in Christ
we go together
to his table
Paul then has
this burning
conviction
despite the prison
the imprisonment
despite the setbacks
despite the abandonments
despite his pressure
read 2nd Corinthians
I think it's chapter 11
or is it 13
where he lists
the persecution
the hardship
the nakedness
the hunger
the thirst
the beatings
the imprisonment
being stoned
half to death
and he went through
all that
because of his love
for Jesus
and he didn't count it
something that
he shouldn't go through
because Christ
lived
and died
for him
I live by faith
in the son of God
who loved me
and gave himself
for me
and what about
this death
what about this
Lord and our saviour
what was it that
was at the heart
of this burning
conviction
that the apostle
shows here
you see of all
humanity
Christ
the son of God
was without sin
that he took our place
and paid our price
that's the gospel declaration
that he was declared
the sin bearer
of the world
behold
the lamb of God
who takes away
the sin of the world
and how did he do that
by dying
on that cross
at that time
the bible tells us
the wages of sin
is death
and so we dig in
a little bit further
we say
but he was without sin
so in the death
of Christ
we have an anomaly
he did not deserve
to die
and so the question
we raised is
why
why did Christ die
why is there a table
to anticipate tomorrow
why do we look
at the bread
and the wine
and remember
his broken body
and shed blood
why did Jesus die
he died
because that's
what he came to do
to seek and to save
the lost
Christ Jesus
came into the world
to save sinners
you may know
that
as Spurgeon
lay on his deathbed
he was asked
about his
theology
and he answered this
my theology
is very simple
I can express it
in a few words
they are enough
to die by
Jesus
died
for me
Christian friend
if you're struggling
with the concept
of coming to the table
here tomorrow
take these words
and repeat them
in your heart
again
and again
Jesus
died
for me
and so we come
to the table
in faith
looking to Jesus
the author
and finisher
of our faith
we come to the table
with this burning
conviction
that we too know
whom we have
believed
Christians
we don't believe
in a concept
or an idea
we're not defined
by a strand
of theology
or a specific
historical denomination
we are defined
with a burning
conviction
in the substitutionary
death
of the son
of God
that's what
defined Paul
and it's what
has gone on
to define
every Christian
man and woman
since
there's a burning
conviction
in these words
I know
whom
I have
believed
it's the opposite
of that
A-lister quote
I mentioned
to you earlier
there was all
what ifs
buts
maybes
and a great
big giant
question mark
there might be
something out there
there's an energy
or something
I'm sure
there might
well be
if maybe
it's the opposite
of the Christian
gospel
behold
the Lamb
of God
who takes
away
the sin
of the world
a burning
conviction
secondly
there's this
there's from
this
a crucial
confidence
because look
what he goes
on to say
he's not
ashamed
for I know
whom I have
believed
and I
am
convinced
I am
convinced
here then
is a crucial
confidence
who's
railed
against him
the state
all the power
and might
of the Roman
Empire
the Roman
judicial system
the Jewish
legal system
all the legalists
all the Pharisees
and the scribes
they've had their
day with Paul
they've had their
pound of flesh
they've got him
right where they
want him
he's crushed
and broken
and incarcerated
under the
sentence of death
as far as
they're concerned
they've won
the day
the battle
and the war
is over
Paul saw
things very
differently
he saw
around him
a culture
a city
an empire
a people
drowning
in atheism
lost
and floundering
about
in polytheism
worshipping
the emperor
lining up
in their droves
to sprinkle
incense
on the altar
and say
Caesar is Lord
it's still
going on today
men and women
around us
worship the world
they're
enthralled
to the world
they're dancing
to the tune
of the world
engrossed
with the culture
of the world
and we are called
to say there's a
different path
to take
there's a different
model to build
your life upon
and the model
is not what the
world holds up
as glorious
and pure
and true
it's what
the gospel
holds out
to be the truth
and that is
Christ
I am
the way
the truth
and the life
remember
see how
personal
these words
are
I know
whom
I have
believed
it reflects
his burning
conviction
and his
close communion
with a living
saviour
in whom he had
come to know
and one he
had come to
trust
unreservedly
the Lord
who he loved
that's who
he has trusted
in
the one who
the scripture
describes as
the Lord
of creation
the Lord
of all
the Lord
of glory
the Lord
of lords
that's our
Jesus
Christian friends
this evening
and in that
Paul's
crucial confidence
is unshakable
I am
convinced
he's convinced
Psalm 2
tells us
that
the kings
of the earth
set themselves
and the rulers
take counsel
together against
the Lord
and against
his anointed
saying
that has
burst their
bonds
apart
and cast
away
their cords
from us
the world
exalts
and glories
over the church
all too often
the church
assumes
you see
that the world
assumes that
the world
is one
the world
tonight
around us
thinks that
the church
is marginalized
and an
insignificant
blip
in the history
and story
of Scotland
maybe all too
often
they're right
but it's up
to us
to challenge
that thinking
and mindset
to take on
that darkness
and that
worldliness
and that
lawlessness
and to expose
it as false
and we can only
do that
by coming to
the gospel
and speaking
of the Lord
Jesus
chapter 2
and verse 8
puts it this way
remember Jesus
Christ
risen from the
dead
the offspring
of David
is preached
in my gospel
for which I
am suffering
bound with change
is a criminal
but the word
of God
is not bound
there's something
else the world
just doesn't get
the world thinks
if it can dominate
and control
a denomination
as we see
quite often
happening at
national levels
they think
they've got us
they've got that
Christian church
right where they
want them
on the side
they let us in
at Easter
they let us in
at Christmas
they let us in
at baptism
they let us in
at weddings
and we can have
our seat at funerals
that's it
away you go
don't want to hear
you anymore
the world is happy
with the babe
in the manger
the world cannot
bear to hear
about the babe
who grew up
to be a man
and died
in a cross
that's what drives
Paul here
and what's wonderful
about this crucial
confidence
is that he knew
the gospel
and the church
was not dependent
on his efforts
or on him
as Paul the apostle
things weren't
going to fall apart
because he
had come to the
end of his course
no
Jesus Christ
who was made
the sin bearer
for his people
and had abolished
death
was building
his church
do not be ashamed
of me
or the testimony
about our Lord
the end of verse 8
he uses that
wonderful phrase
share in suffering
for the gospel
by the power
of God
isn't that amazing
share in suffering
for the gospel
by the power
of God
so we have
this crucial
confidence
that the Lord
Jesus Christ
is building
his church
and that brings us
to a third thing
we have a
burning conviction
and we have
a crucial confidence
and that confidence
flourishes
and displays
a humble
awareness
see he goes on
to say here
I am convinced
that
he
is
able
he
is
able
it's not all about
Paul
it's not all about
the apostle
it's not about
his missionary
journeys
and his wonderful
oration
and his preaching
and his writing
and his teaching
all of these things
which were amazing
but he knew that
in these things
he was just
what he goes on
to describe
in chapter 2
he was just being
the good soldier
he was just being
an honest athlete
he was just being
the hard working
farmer
pictures he uses
to illustrate
Christian life
and Christian service
Christian ministry
things we are all
called to
through our Lord
and through our Saviour
so there's a humble
awareness
he says here
he is able
this word here
able
in the Greek
is dunatos
it's from the word
group for power
and Paul knew
that he was able
because of who he is
and who is he
the son of God
the Lord of glory
the Lord of creation
the Lord of all
the Lord of lords
he is able
and so friends
prior to a communion
service
what do we do
we look up
we look to him
we put our faith
and our trust
in him
we too seek
to nourish
and nurture
and develop
this humble
awareness
here am I
Lord
send me
but what is it
the devil wants us
to do
and what is the world
trying to make us do
not look up
but look down
and be conscious
of our weakness
and our sins
and our failings
and our faults
I remember often
to share a story
with you
a number of years ago
in my chaplaincy days
of going into
a headquarter building
which was very unusual
for me
I tended to stay away
from places like that
it was full of brass
and red tabs
and that meant
colonels and above
which was brigadiers
generals and the like
they just made me nervous
but they were people
to be spoken to
and they were very often
supportive and welcoming
to chaplaincy
and I was told by this general
one day
come and see me
and as I made my way
to the front door
of the headquarters
about to go in
I glanced down
and noticed my boots
were dirty
and I stopped
at my tracks
I thought I can't
I can't go into
the headquarters
to see the general
I've got muddy boots
and I had to find
a spot somewhere
off to the side
and get a rag
and just try
and get rid of the mud
because the last thing
I wanted to do
was go into the headquarters
with muddy boots on
because where there are generals
there are regimental
that aren't majors
and these are guys
who live to spot people
turning up
in dress order
that's less than perfect
and I didn't want to
hand them the opportunity
so I had to get out of there
and clean my boots
but I've thought about it
time and again since
and I've thought
sometimes when it comes
to the communion table
particularly in our
denominational mindset
and the way we do things
the devil succeeds
in getting Christians
to look down
and be conscious
of their own muddy boots
and to think
I can't go there
I can't go to that table
I've got muddy boots
but friends
we all
had
muddy boots
what is it
that the gospel
tells us
Christ does
look Isaiah chapter 1
he makes us
whiter than the snow
he takes away
the stains
of sin
he makes us
as white
as wool
as fresh
fallen snow
do we achieve that?
no
Christ does
so don't look down
at your muddy boots
look up
look up to your saviour
because that's what we find
Paul doing here
that's where his burning
conviction leads us
this evening
and that's where
we see now thirdly
this humble awareness
he is able
Paul knew
that the progress
of the gospel
the security
of the church
lay not on him
or on Peter
or on James
or on John
but in Christ
I will build
my church
and the gates
of hell
will not prevail
against it
and how does
Christ do that
by his spirit
through his people
it is ordained
from eternity
that God
fulfills
his purposes
through our prayers
and by our witnessing
isn't that amazing
that tonight
we can think
of a conversation
we may have had
recently
or are about to have
that we know nothing about
and through that conversation
God may lead a sinner
to salvation
from darkness
to light
from alienation
and being far off
right up
to Jesus
to be turned
from being an enemy
of God
to being a child
of God
that's grace
that's amazing grace
that's why
Paul speaks
here in verse 9
he saved us
and called us
to a holy calling
not because of our works
that's muddy boots
you see
but because of his
own purpose
and grace
which takes away
the mud
and says come
all things are now ready
and so we go to his table
in a humble awareness
of our forgiveness
of our salvation
of our dependence
when totally
and utterly
reliant on Christ
Jesus
expressed
this
ultimate reality
here in chapter 10
of John's gospel
in verses 17
and 18
where he spoke
of what he was about to do
for this reason
the father loves me
because I lay down
my life
that I may take it up again
no one takes it from me
but I lay it down
of my own accord
I have authority
to lay it down
and I have authority
to take it up again
this charge
I have received
from my father
there's power
divine power
and in his power
he holds the church
in his hand
he says to us
follow me
he says to us
come
for all things
are now ready
do this
in remembrance
of me
death itself
has been
abolished
God willing
we'll think about that
tomorrow morning
and so let's just
deflect on this
tonight
that his burning
conviction
and his crucial
confidence
that combined
and flourished
into this humble
awareness
it was not diminished
because of what
he went through
the providence
of imprisonment
again
and hardship
and suffering
and difficult
circumstances
it did not diminish
his trust in Jesus
it seemed to
in some way
feed and nourish
his trust
in Jesus
the gospel
had been entrusted
to him
but under the care
of the Lord
he says to Timothy
I am convinced
he is able
to guard
until that day
what has been
entrusted to me
it's a very
technical
Greek
phrase
used here
commentators are
split
to what he's
actually referring to
it's either his soul
or the gospel
I understand
that the ESV
has got it
absolutely right
in making the
emphasis here
upon the gospel
that had been
entrusted to him
to work
toward as an
apostle
because he goes
on there in
verse 14
to say
exactly the same
thing
by the Holy
Spirit
it dwells
within us
guard the good
deposit
entrusted to you
Timothy
and remember
these letters
are addressed
in the first
instance to Timothy
but to you
and I this evening
and what's
interesting here
is that
he says
that we are
to guard
until
he speaks
in verse 12
there of
that the Lord
is able to guard
and then down
there in 14
he's saying
Timothy
guard the good
deposit
entrusted to you
it's the same
word
it's the same
word
reflecting the
same activity
of constant
vigilance
and so we need
to be aware
and savvy
when it comes
to the gospel
and false
teachers
and false
hope
and false
religion
and we must
assert
maintain
and defend
what we know
to be true
of the gospel
that has been
revealed to us
in Christ
Jesus
our Lord
and Saviour
we need to
like Paul
and Timothy
and everyone else
has come before us
exhibit a humble
awareness
as we
stick to our
guns
Martin Luther
put it this way
as he
formulated
and clarified
what the
Protestant church
is beginning
to adhere
to
faith alone
makes you
good and
righteous
faith alone
makes you
a member
of Christ
an inheritor
of heaven
and a servant
of God
behold what manner
of love the
Father has bestowed
on us
that we are
children of God
and so we
are
by
grace
which he gave
us in Christ
Jesus
before the
ages began
that's the
focus
for when
times get
tough
when
providence
deals us
with a
difficult
blow
and we're
knocked
sideways
when the
phone rings
and a text
comes
and a
door
and our
world
turns upside
down
and we're
buffeted
by shocks
and setbacks
and bereavement
and ill health
and unemployment
and financial
stress
and pressure
and we can
be consumed
with worry
and eat
ourselves
alive
remember
these words
we have
been saved
by grace
which has
been given
us in
Christ
Jesus
before the
ages
began
verse 9
God
knows
what he's
doing
if you ever
visit St.
Andrew's
I'm sure
many of you
have
and if you
go to
the top
end of
the town
to where
St.
Salvatore's
College
used to
stand
you'll find
in the
cobbled
streets
there
the letters
P.
H
which marks
the spot
or near
enough
where
Patrick
Hamilton
at the
age
of 24
was
burnt
at the
stake
in
1528
19
years
later
if you
go down
you'll find
if you go
down
toward
where
the
castle
of St.
Andrew's
stands
around
half a
mile
away
you'll
find
the
letters
GW
on
the
pavement
opposite
where
the
castle
stood
which
marks
the
spot
where
George
Wishart
was
also
burned
at the
stake
for his
adherence
to the
gospel
of Jesus
Christ
Patrick
Hamilton
George
Wishart
they are
part of the
DNA
of who we
are and
what we
believe
we give
thanks to
God that
we don't
face the
circumstance
providence
and providence
that
face
them
to deny
Christ
or be
burnt
alive
and let
their
records
their
initials
PH and
GW
stand as
a
monument
to their
faithfulness
of what
God called
them to
do
and in
their
humble
awareness
they in
their way
never give
up
their belief
that he
is
able
so let's
just think
of one
last thing
one last
thing this
evening
that comes
through this
verse
Paul has
said I am
not ashamed
for I know
whom I have
believed
I am
convinced he
is able
to guard
until that
day
what has
been entrusted
to me
just think
in closing
about that
phrase
that
day
because here
fourthly
finally
there is
great
anticipation
great
anticipation
but he's
in chains
he's facing
death
what's
he got
to
anticipate
a new
beginning
the time
of his
departure
has come
I have
fought the
good fight
I have
finished
the race
there is
henceforth
laid up
for me
a crown
of
righteousness
as he
goes on
to say
three times
you find
him in
verses
12
18
and then
again
chapter 4
in verse
8 he
refers to
that day
what day
the day
when time
will come
to an
end
the day
when time
will cease
and eternity
is ushered
in
that's where
his focus
is
he's looking
forward
he's anticipating
that day
Paul had
played an
exceptional role
in the work
of the gospel
he had been
a foundation
stone
in the spread
of the gospel
into the
non-jewish
nations
he had
planted
churches
all around
south-west
turkey
into
Macedonia
and southern
greece
he had
preached
the gospel
in cyprus
he had
gone round
the then
known world
from Antioch
to Jerusalem
and declared
the good news
of Jesus
Christ
but he knew
eventually
inexorably
time will be
no more
he knew
that none
of us
have forever
none of us
the god of wonders
through whom
the world
came into being
at one point
will announce
the end of time
as we know
it
and that
will be
on
that day
so Paul
turns to
that day
speaks
in other
letters
of the day
of judgment
and an
account being
taken
he speaks
of books
being opened
and all
being held
to account
that's the
truth of the
gospel
and it's
wonderful
that the
gospel doesn't
hide from
these things
and neither
must we
we must
gently
and persuasively
and often
as we can
with patience
and love
speak the
truth
in righteousness
we must
speak the
truth
there was a
incident back
in the 80s
when
Brezhnev
the Russian
president I guess
he was at the
time of the
old USSR
he died
and in a
state controlled
effort to keep
the news from
getting out
the moment he
died
he switched
every TZV
station in
the USSR
to the same
program
every channel
available was
playing Swan
Lake
so in an
instant
everyone in
Russia knew
something was
up
something was
going on
something was
going down
and the
state was
trying to
keep it
in and
hidden
and to
themselves
and years
since then
a commentator
on Russian
affairs said
in the Soviet
Union the
relationship with
the truth
was complicated
complicated
sometimes
if we're
honest
we would be
guilty
as charged
of something
similar
if we are
not sharing
the whole
counsel of
God and
the truth
of the
gospel with
those around
us
which is why
we have twice
in chapter 1
this phrase
do not be
ashamed
don't be
ashamed
and don't
allow your
relationship with
the truth to
become complicated
don't avoid
telling people
what they need
to know
most of all
to be ready
for that
day
four qualities
then stand
out in this
incredible letter
and in these
verses
we have a
burning conviction
a crucial
confidence
a humble
awareness
and a
great
anticipation
and I think
Christian friends
we should find
all these
qualities
in our hearts
as we gather
tomorrow at the
Lord's table
we gather
with a burning
conviction
I know
whom I have
believed
and that burning
conviction
draws us
with a crucial
confidence
to his
table
and we sit
there
in humble
awareness
that he is
able
and we eat
and we drink
together
the great
anticipation
of receiving
his grace
in a special
measure
the same
grace
but in a
special way
we remember
the body
and blood
we remember
the cost
of our
salvation
we remember
our saviour
we do so
humbly
and obediently
do this
in remembrance
of me
let me finish
with the words
of Daniel
Whittle's
hymn
I know
not why
God's
wondrous
grace
to me
he has
made known
nor why
unworthy
Christ
in love
redeemed
me
for his
own
but I
know
whom I
have
believed
let's pray
for a
moment
together
Lord our
God we
bless and
praise you
for the
wonder of
the gospel
for the
invitation
and summons
that comes
from Christ
to sinners
come to
me
Lord part us
with your
blessing this
evening
and may we
go from
here conscious
of these
qualities in
our hearts
that tomorrow
we would
come in
simple
obedience
and gather
there in
anticipation
with conviction
and clarity
of thought
in confidence
and humble
awareness
that we
remember the
death of our
Lord till he
come again
bless Lord your
gospel to our
hearts we pray
in Jesus name
Amen
we'll close our
service this
evening and
we'll turn to
Psalm 36 and
sing Psalms
Psalm 36
singing from
verse 5
page 44
in our blue
psalm books
Psalm 36
singing from
verse 5
your steadfast
love is great
O Lord
it reaches
heaven high
your faithfulness
is wonderful
extending to
the sky
your righteousness
is very great
like mountains
high and steep
your justice
is like ocean
depths both
man and beast
you keep
Psalm 36
we'll sing from
verse 5 to
9 to the tune
Land of Rest
your steadfast
love is great
O Lord
it reaches
heaven high
your faithfulness
is wonderful
your righteousness
is wonderful
and standing
to the sky
your righteousness
is very big
like mountains
high on sea
your righteousness
is like ocean
that's
O Father
and peace
to be
I precious
is your steadfast
love
what confidence
it brings
O
thy
aloof
and shelter
in
the
shadow
of
your
wings
the
peace
within
your
hearts
and
drink
from
streams
of
your
delight
for
when
you
is
the
source
of
life
in
your
might
we
see
light
if you
give me a
moment to reach
the door before
leaving
peace this evening
let us pray together
the blessing of God
almighty
father son
and holy spirit
rest on you
and be with you now
and those
whom you love
forever and ever
amen
een
men
нее
you