WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.299 Let's begin our worship by singing to God's praise. We're going to sing in Psalm 100, 00:00:05.020 --> 00:00:11.519 the Scottish Psalter, the first version of the psalm. Psalm 100, singing the whole of this psalm. 00:00:12.099 --> 00:00:16.820 All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice, 00:00:17.339 --> 00:00:23.100 himself with mirth, his praise forth tell, come ye before him and rejoice. We'll sing 00:00:23.100 --> 00:00:25.660 the whole of this psalm to God's praise. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:52.420 All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice, him said with 00:00:52.420 --> 00:01:05.620 mirth, his praise forth tell, come ye before him and rejoice. 00:01:05.620 --> 00:01:32.620 Know that the Lord is not indeed. Without doubt he did us make. We are his lucky, doth us 00:01:32.620 --> 00:01:58.080 be. And for his sheep he doth us take. O enter then his gates with praise. Approach with joy his 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:24.539 words and two. Praise Lord and bless his name always. For it is simply so to do. For why the Lord 00:02:24.539 --> 00:02:51.539 our God is good. His mercy is forever sure. His truth at all times firmly stood. And shall from age to 00:02:51.539 --> 00:02:56.539 the word that he should lay the Lord. And shall from age to be. And shall from age to the Lord. 00:02:56.539 --> 00:02:57.539 Amen. 00:02:57.539 --> 00:02:58.539 Amen. 00:02:58.539 --> 00:02:59.539 Amen. 00:02:59.539 --> 00:03:00.539 Amen. 00:03:00.539 --> 00:03:01.539 Amen. 00:03:01.539 --> 00:03:02.539 Amen. 00:03:02.539 --> 00:03:05.539 Well, let's join together in prayer. Let us pray. 00:03:05.539 --> 00:03:06.539 Amen. 00:03:06.539 --> 00:03:19.539 Our Father in heaven, as we come before you anew today, we thank you, Lord, to be able to join together in singing praise to you, calling upon your name in this way, and joining in with many people all over the world. 00:03:19.539 --> 00:03:25.099 with many people all over the world who come together to worship and praise your name. 00:03:25.799 --> 00:03:29.739 Even at this very hour and at this very moment, we know we join in with praise 00:03:29.739 --> 00:03:35.579 that is being offered up to you in heaven. And we thank you for the multitude of your people 00:03:35.579 --> 00:03:41.739 far and wide who sing your praise and recognize that you are the God of heaven and earth, 00:03:42.359 --> 00:03:48.979 the one who has made us, the one who has sustained us to this point, and the one who goes before us 00:03:48.979 --> 00:03:57.199 in all things. So may we come truly with a sense of praise and worship in our hearts and to offer up 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:04.500 that singing from the very bottom of our hearts, expressing our thanksgiving and our delight in you. 00:04:05.259 --> 00:04:10.959 And we know, Lord, that there are times too when as we worship, we worship with much sorrow in our 00:04:10.959 --> 00:04:17.319 hearts. We can have much sadness in our lives, but yet we thank you that you are a God who remembers 00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:24.079 us in this as well. You remember individuals and families. You remember us as a congregation and 00:04:24.079 --> 00:04:30.800 as a people far and wide. And we thank you for your great love towards us. We thank you for every way 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:38.500 you do remember us, in every way you bless us. We thank you for every gift that is ours on a day-to-day 00:04:38.500 --> 00:04:47.000 basis, even getting up anew this morning and being able to dress and to come together in worship, 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:54.240 to be able to have food on our tables and to be able to go on in your strength. Lord, we thank you for 00:04:54.240 --> 00:05:01.740 every blessing that is ours. And we do pray, Lord, that you will help those in need, help those who find the 00:05:01.740 --> 00:05:07.439 way difficult, help those who are struggling in different ways. We pray, Lord, that you will 00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:14.900 surround them and draw near to them. And we do pray the blessing of your Spirit upon us as a people 00:05:14.900 --> 00:05:21.180 today, that your Word, as we read it and share it together, at our time of worship and our times of 00:05:21.180 --> 00:05:28.000 fellowship today, will be blessed and touched by you. We thank you that we come to share together, 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:33.939 and we look forward, God willing, this evening to hearing a testimony of one of your own. We pray 00:05:33.939 --> 00:05:41.000 for Jack as he will be speaking this evening, and we pray for all who will gather and hear what he has 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:47.180 to say, Lord, that truly you would be with us in it, and it would be a blessed time to us all. We thank 00:05:47.180 --> 00:05:54.220 you for the means we have to share your Word. We thank you for everyone tuning in online, whether it's live 00:05:54.220 --> 00:06:00.800 or later on. We thank you that your Word goes out far and wide, and we do pray your blessing on it 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:07.000 to all of us together as a people, young and old alike. May we know the blessing and the power of 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:13.020 your Spirit. Remember our young ones, Lord. We pray for them. We thank you for our Sunday school and 00:06:13.020 --> 00:06:18.620 creche and tweenies and all that is done. And we do pray, Lord, that you will protect them and keep them 00:06:18.620 --> 00:06:24.199 and watch over them each and every day. We thank you for all who help in leading and teaching in 00:06:24.199 --> 00:06:29.160 these things and for all that goes on through the week as well, both in our day schools and in 00:06:29.160 --> 00:06:36.399 events that take place with youth clubs and all kinds of activities, the explorers and all of these 00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:42.980 things. We pray, Lord, your hand of good and blessing upon us in all of these. So continue with us now, 00:06:42.980 --> 00:06:49.900 guide us and keep us. And we ask all with forgiveness of our sins. In Jesus' name. Amen. 00:06:53.340 --> 00:06:58.660 It's good to have the young ones here today and to see you both upstairs and downstairs. And 00:06:58.660 --> 00:07:04.780 I just want to ask you a question. And you maybe put your hand up if your answer is yes. Did you all 00:07:04.780 --> 00:07:10.800 have breakfast this morning? Did everybody have breakfast this morning? Hands up if you had breakfast 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:16.120 this morning? Yeah, I'm seeing lots of hands going up. Seems like most of you had your breakfast this 00:07:16.120 --> 00:07:22.220 morning. That's good. And what did you have for your breakfast? Did you all have maybe something you 00:07:22.220 --> 00:07:30.180 like to have on a regular basis? Maybe cereal or toast or something like that, was it? Yeah? And what 00:07:30.180 --> 00:07:35.980 do you put on your toast or what do you put on cereal when you're having it? There's some things that 00:07:35.980 --> 00:07:43.060 just, they go together quite naturally, isn't there? So you maybe have a slice of toast and you put maybe 00:07:43.060 --> 00:07:51.439 butter and jam on it. That just, it just goes together quite well, doesn't it? Or maybe you had cereal. 00:07:51.900 --> 00:07:57.439 And if you had cereal, what do you put on that? You put maybe milk on your cereal because these two 00:07:57.439 --> 00:08:03.540 things, they just go together, don't they? Did any of you get up this morning and have a slice of toast 00:08:03.540 --> 00:08:11.620 with a bit of gugah on it? Probably not. It just, just doesn't work, does it? Or did you get your 00:08:11.620 --> 00:08:19.360 bowl of cereal and pour orange juice or coke on it? Or maybe poured your cup or tea on it? No, it just, 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:26.480 it doesn't work, does it? There's just certain things that they just go together. Last night we had 00:08:26.480 --> 00:08:32.659 chips. And when you have chips, very often you get asked, do you want salt and vinegar on it? And again, 00:08:32.659 --> 00:08:38.779 they just, they go together. You don't get asked, do you want sugar and vinegar on it? Because it just, 00:08:38.839 --> 00:08:45.279 it just wouldn't work, would it? So there's certain things that just, they go with each other. 00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:52.039 And today we're going to be thinking about Christians and the kind of things that goes 00:08:52.039 --> 00:08:57.919 together with the idea of what it is to be a Christian. And there's certain things that they 00:08:57.919 --> 00:09:04.699 just go together when you think of being a Christian. So if you're a Christian, you go to 00:09:04.699 --> 00:09:11.319 church and you come and praise God. It just, they go together. Because you love the Lord, 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:17.399 you want to come together with all his people and praise God together. If you're a Christian, 00:09:18.099 --> 00:09:24.839 you read your Bible and you study the word and you serve the Lord. Again, these things, 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:32.560 they just go together. You don't, as a Christian, say to yourself, I just really don't want to go to 00:09:32.560 --> 00:09:38.680 church. I really don't want to see God's people. That's not what it is to be a Christian. We're to 00:09:38.680 --> 00:09:45.480 have a hunger and a thirst for coming to church and being with God's people. What we're going to be 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:54.379 thinking especially about today is, as Christians, we're to love God and love one another. And again, 00:09:54.379 --> 00:10:00.399 that's just something that should go together. It should be quite natural. But sadly, it's not 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:06.539 always the case. But God tells us that this is something we are to be like as a people. 00:10:07.299 --> 00:10:13.220 So in the same way as we have our breakfast, we have our cereal with milk because they go together, 00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:20.879 we have our toast with butter and jam because they go together. To be a Christian is to love the Lord 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:28.559 and to love each other because that is what goes together. The Bible tells us you can't be a Christian 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:36.539 and hate your brothers and your sisters in Christ. That doesn't work. To be Christians is to love God 00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:43.419 with all our hearts and to love one another too. So that's what we want to see going together with us 00:10:43.419 --> 00:10:50.399 young and old alike. That we come together as Christians with things that just go together, 00:10:51.059 --> 00:11:00.099 loving God and loving one another. So may God bless these thoughts to us. We're going to share the 00:11:00.099 --> 00:11:06.679 Lord's prayer together now. So we'll say the Lord's prayer together. Our Father which art in heaven, 00:11:06.679 --> 00:11:14.019 hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:11:14.739 --> 00:11:22.579 Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not 00:11:22.579 --> 00:11:31.359 into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen. 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:39.960 Well, let's again sing to God's praise. This time we're singing in Psalm 86 in the Scottish Psalter. 00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:50.779 Psalm 86. This is on page 340. We're singing from verse 5 to verse 11. For thou art gracious, 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:58.539 O Lord, and ready to forgive, and rich in mercy all that call upon thee to relieve. We'll sing 00:11:58.539 --> 00:12:03.539 from verse 5 to verse 11. Psalm 86, to God's praise. 00:12:03.539 --> 00:12:28.519 O Lord, and ready to forgive, and rich in mercy all that call upon thee to forgive, and rich in mercy all that call upon thee to forgive. 00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:35.519 O Lord, and ready to forgive, and rich in mercy all that call upon thee to forgive. 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:43.519 O Lord, and ready to forgive, and rich in mercy all that call upon thee to forgive. 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:45.519 Hear, O Lord, and ready to forgive, and rich in mercy all that call upon thee to forgive. 00:12:45.519 --> 00:13:02.519 Hear, O Lord, my prayer unto the voice of my request, and rich in mercy all that call upon thee to forgive. 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:20.519 And godless times I'll call on thee, for no will I suspend. 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:40.559 Lord, there is none among the gods that deal with thee from here. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:58.819 And like the words which thou hast done, not any word is there. 00:13:58.820 --> 00:14:16.820 All nations whom thou made shall come and worship reverently. 00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:34.820 Before thy face and thee, O Lord, thy name shall glorify. 00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:53.820 Because thou art exceeding great, and words by thee are gone. 00:14:53.820 --> 00:15:13.820 Where it's hard to be admired, and thou art for thyself alone. 00:15:13.820 --> 00:15:23.820 Teach me thy ways, and in thy truth. 00:15:23.820 --> 00:15:37.820 O Lord, then what will I unite my heart? 00:15:37.820 --> 00:15:49.920 That thy, thy name may fit continually. 00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:58.360 Well, we'll turn and read God's word together. 00:15:58.480 --> 00:15:59.060 Two readings. 00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:04.160 First of all, we're going to read in 1 John, chapter 3. 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:08.240 1 John, chapter 3. 00:16:08.819 --> 00:16:11.019 We take up our reading at verse 11. 00:16:11.299 --> 00:16:15.980 And then we'll turn back a few pages to 1 Peter, chapter 1. 00:16:20.819 --> 00:16:23.759 1 John, chapter 3, at verse 11. 00:16:24.219 --> 00:16:27.219 And again, this is the theme of our service this morning, 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:30.439 as we're looking at 1 Peter's loving one another, 00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:32.120 loving one another earnestly. 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:35.899 For this is a message that you have heard from the beginning, 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:37.919 that we should love one another. 00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:44.279 We should not be like Cain, who was the evil one and murdered his brother. 00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:46.419 And why did he murder him? 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:50.639 Because his own deeds were evil, and his brothers righteous. 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:54.899 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:59.659 We know that we have passed out of death into life, 00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:01.939 because we love the brothers. 00:17:02.819 --> 00:17:05.639 Whoever does not love abides in death. 00:17:06.619 --> 00:17:08.779 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer. 00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:13.500 And you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:18.659 By this we know, love, that he laid down his life for us. 00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:22.000 And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:27.180 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:29.779 yet closes his heart against him, 00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:32.859 how does God's love abide in him? 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:38.039 Little children, let us not love in word or talk, 00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:40.579 but in deed and in truth. 00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:44.640 By this we shall know that we are of the truth, 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:46.940 and we assure our heart before him. 00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:49.860 For whenever our heart condemns us, 00:17:50.120 --> 00:17:51.779 God is greater than our heart, 00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:53.519 and he knows everything. 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:56.980 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, 00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:59.240 we have confidence before God. 00:17:59.820 --> 00:18:02.240 And whatever we ask, we receive from him, 00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:04.580 because we keep his commandments, 00:18:05.340 --> 00:18:07.120 and do what pleases him. 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:09.660 And this is his commandment, 00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:12.279 that we believe in the name of his Son, 00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:13.759 Jesus Christ, 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:15.660 and love one another, 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:18.059 just as he has commanded us. 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:20.740 Whoever keeps his commandments, 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.500 abides in him, 00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:24.000 and he in them. 00:18:24.680 --> 00:18:25.819 And by this we know, 00:18:25.899 --> 00:18:27.180 that he abides in us, 00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:30.599 by the Spirit whom he has given us. 00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:35.700 Then we'll turn back to 1 Peter chapter 1. 00:18:36.139 --> 00:18:38.759 I'm just reading the last few verses of chapter 1. 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:44.839 1 Peter chapter 1, 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:46.700 and at verse 22. 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:50.420 Having purified your souls 00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:52.339 by your obedience to the truth 00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:54.960 for a sincere brotherly love, 00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:57.460 love one another earnestly 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:58.839 from a pure heart, 00:18:59.059 --> 00:19:00.980 since you have been born again, 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:03.140 not of perishable seed, 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:05.039 but of imperishable, 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:08.379 through the living and abiding word of God. 00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:12.299 For all flesh is like grass, 00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:15.759 and all its glory like the flower of grass. 00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:18.920 The grass withers and the flower falls, 00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:22.480 but the word of the Lord remains forever. 00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:25.599 And this word is the good news 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:28.059 that was preached to you. 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:29.920 Amen. 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:32.700 And may God bless these readings from his word. 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:34.900 Let's again join our hearts together 00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:35.839 in a word of prayer. 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:35.940 Amen. 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:42.440 Our gracious and eternal God, 00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:45.119 as we look to you at this time, 00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:47.779 we do thank you that there is the promise 00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:50.119 of your presence always, 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:52.920 that you as our God and Lord 00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:54.400 and as our Father in heaven 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:57.180 has given us so many promises. 00:19:57.180 --> 00:20:01.140 They are so abundant in number 00:20:01.140 --> 00:20:04.779 and yet so fulfilled in Christ Jesus 00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:05.860 as our Lord. 00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:07.740 We thank you for the promise 00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:09.400 that you will never leave us 00:20:09.400 --> 00:20:10.940 or forsake us. 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:13.600 What a wonderful truth that is 00:20:13.600 --> 00:20:15.539 for us to keep a hold of, 00:20:16.080 --> 00:20:18.560 especially in our times of great need, 00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:20.680 our times of difficulty. 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:23.880 There may be others who aren't there to help us 00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:26.660 because of a variety of reasons, 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:28.720 being unable to do it 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:31.220 or the timing being all wrong 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:32.820 or even when we're alone, 00:20:32.900 --> 00:20:34.560 even through the watches of the night 00:20:34.560 --> 00:20:37.340 and there seems to be no one to call out to. 00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:40.980 We thank you that those promises of your word 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:42.360 can come to us then, 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:44.520 that you will hear our cry, 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:46.660 that you are near to us 00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:48.240 because you are near to all 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:50.160 who call upon your name. 00:20:51.040 --> 00:20:53.019 And so, Lord, may you be that 00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:54.700 to us today and always, 00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:56.480 the God who is near 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:58.620 and the God of all comfort, 00:20:59.180 --> 00:21:00.480 the God of all grace. 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:02.480 We do thank you, Lord, 00:21:02.580 --> 00:21:04.759 that you have done much for us 00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:06.920 and as we come to your word, 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:08.820 we are assured that it is a word 00:21:08.820 --> 00:21:10.140 that lasts forever. 00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:12.820 All that changes around us, 00:21:13.340 --> 00:21:14.320 you know, as we have been reminded 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:16.899 of the flowers and the grass that grow, 00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:19.099 their glory is temporary. 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:22.000 The grass withers and the flower falls, 00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:24.559 but we know that the word of the Lord 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.960 remains forever. 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:28.000 And we thank you that this word 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:30.579 is unchanging and unchangeable. 00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:33.339 It is your truth to your people 00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:35.019 for every generation. 00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:37.439 And how we need your truth, 00:21:37.439 --> 00:21:39.240 how we need your spirit 00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:41.000 to come in a day of your power, 00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:43.379 to bring healing to our nation, 00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:45.160 to bring healing to our world, 00:21:45.820 --> 00:21:46.820 to bring glory, 00:21:47.260 --> 00:21:48.360 the glory of your name 00:21:48.360 --> 00:21:50.060 to all ends of the earth. 00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:51.980 Oh, Lord, we pray that 00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:54.960 even as the sun rises and sets today, 00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.940 that the glory of your name 00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:58.160 will rise with it 00:21:58.160 --> 00:22:00.440 and that there will be many people 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:02.000 touched by the promises 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:03.220 of your truth 00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:05.520 throughout the world this day. 00:22:06.060 --> 00:22:07.880 We pray that even for ourselves 00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:08.800 here today, 00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:11.020 that as we join in worship 00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:12.319 throughout this day, 00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:14.400 your truth will minister 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:15.639 to our hearts, 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:17.119 that it will reach deeply 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:18.460 into our souls, 00:22:18.900 --> 00:22:19.940 that it will bring us 00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:21.160 out of darkness 00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:23.299 into the marvelous light 00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:24.279 of your truth 00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.400 and the wonder 00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:26.079 and the joy 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:27.400 of salvation 00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:28.720 in Jesus Christ. 00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:30.700 So we do pray, Lord, 00:22:31.139 --> 00:22:32.500 your continuing blessing 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:33.839 upon your church 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:35.019 as you build it up. 00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:36.639 You have promised 00:22:36.639 --> 00:22:38.539 that nothing will break it down. 00:22:38.539 --> 00:22:40.079 And we pray, Lord, 00:22:40.139 --> 00:22:40.960 that even here 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:42.159 in our town 00:22:42.159 --> 00:22:43.480 and throughout our islands, 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:44.180 your kingdom 00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:45.420 will come in power. 00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:46.819 We thank you 00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:48.180 for every home and family 00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:50.019 who belong to us 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.779 as a people. 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:52.119 We thank you 00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:52.720 for every home 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:54.180 and family represented 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:55.019 here in our midst 00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:55.779 and all who 00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:57.779 tune in online as well. 00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:59.399 And we do pray, Lord, 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:01.159 that you will minister to us, 00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:03.099 that you will draw near to us 00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:04.960 even in this hour of worship. 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.899 You know our needs 00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:08.200 and you know that 00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:08.920 there are many 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:10.400 in our midst at this time 00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:13.220 with sorrow and sadness around, 00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:14.300 with ill health 00:23:14.300 --> 00:23:17.400 and infirmity all around us, 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:18.460 with so many things 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:19.440 that are uncertain 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:21.080 in our lives. 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:22.620 We thank you, Lord, 00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:23.560 that each of us 00:23:23.560 --> 00:23:24.920 is known unto you. 00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:26.240 And so we pray 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:27.340 for one another. 00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:29.400 And even as we're here today, 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:31.660 help us to love one another 00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:33.380 and to do so earnestly, 00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:35.600 to remember one another 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:36.659 in our different needs 00:23:36.659 --> 00:23:37.439 and to be there 00:23:37.439 --> 00:23:38.259 for each other. 00:23:38.959 --> 00:23:39.839 Help us, Lord, 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:41.099 not just to think 00:23:41.099 --> 00:23:42.439 that someone else 00:23:42.439 --> 00:23:43.480 will deal with it, 00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:44.679 but to ask, 00:23:44.859 --> 00:23:45.779 what can we do 00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:46.559 for each other? 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:47.980 Lord, we pray 00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:49.179 that you will build us up 00:23:49.179 --> 00:23:49.939 in our faith 00:23:49.939 --> 00:23:51.259 and strengthen us in it 00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:52.279 and help us 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:53.219 to recognize 00:23:53.219 --> 00:23:55.219 all the wonderful commands 00:23:55.219 --> 00:23:56.419 that are there for us. 00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:58.939 Commands not to burden us, 00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:00.779 not like they once did 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.439 with the law 00:24:01.439 --> 00:24:02.859 in the days of the Pharisees 00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:04.359 when there were commandments 00:24:04.359 --> 00:24:05.740 that they could never keep 00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:06.799 for they were so many, 00:24:07.399 --> 00:24:08.199 but to recognize 00:24:08.199 --> 00:24:09.599 the greatest commandments 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:11.119 that you have given to us, 00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:13.139 to love the Lord our God 00:24:13.139 --> 00:24:14.259 with all our heart 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:15.679 and to love our neighbor 00:24:15.679 --> 00:24:17.240 as ourself. 00:24:17.979 --> 00:24:18.919 These are not there 00:24:18.919 --> 00:24:19.939 to burden us, 00:24:20.419 --> 00:24:21.479 but to build us up 00:24:21.479 --> 00:24:22.099 in the faith 00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:23.240 and to help one another. 00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:24.299 So we pray 00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.500 that you will encourage us 00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:27.279 and help us to that end. 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:29.019 We do remember 00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:30.279 our leaders today, Lord, 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:32.859 in every aspect of it. 00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:34.519 We pray for our King 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:36.539 who rules over us now 00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:37.960 and as he continues 00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:39.700 to mourn the passing 00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.420 of his mother, 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:41.259 as he continues 00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:43.759 to seek to guide his family 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:45.220 and as he takes up 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:46.920 his responsibilities as King, 00:24:47.339 --> 00:24:48.319 we pray that you will 00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:49.039 uphold him 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:49.980 and strengthen him 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:51.500 and above all, Lord, 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:52.379 that your word 00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:53.740 will minister to him. 00:24:54.379 --> 00:24:55.180 We pray, Lord, 00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:56.319 your blessing on him 00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:57.240 and his family 00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:59.500 and all the royal family, Lord. 00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:00.619 May you be with them 00:25:00.619 --> 00:25:02.599 and help them to rule well. 00:25:03.139 --> 00:25:04.559 We pray for our governments, 00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.139 O Lord. 00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:07.460 We pray for our new Prime Minister 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.619 and First Minister. 00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:09.659 We pray, O Lord, 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:11.299 for all who lead us 00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:11.980 and guide us 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:13.139 in the ways 00:25:13.139 --> 00:25:14.939 of our day-to-day lives. 00:25:15.659 --> 00:25:16.559 Lord, help us 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.519 that we would see 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:19.819 a ruling by your power, 00:25:20.399 --> 00:25:22.099 a ruling by your agenda, 00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:23.839 not just our own agendas. 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:25.359 We pray, Lord, 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:26.359 for your turning 00:25:26.359 --> 00:25:28.119 as towards you 00:25:28.119 --> 00:25:29.019 as a people. 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:30.799 Remember your church 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:31.759 far and wide. 00:25:32.379 --> 00:25:33.979 Remember all your missionaries 00:25:33.979 --> 00:25:34.459 who go out 00:25:34.459 --> 00:25:35.879 to all ends of the earth, 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:38.279 sometimes in large groups, 00:25:38.419 --> 00:25:39.599 sometimes individually. 00:25:40.179 --> 00:25:40.979 But we thank you 00:25:40.979 --> 00:25:42.259 for those you have called 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:43.439 to take the word 00:25:43.439 --> 00:25:44.740 to many different parts 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.379 of the world. 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:47.539 We pray your blessing on them 00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:48.859 and upon the ministry 00:25:48.859 --> 00:25:49.539 of your word 00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.599 and in every challenge 00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:51.359 that they face, 00:25:51.899 --> 00:25:52.339 that again, 00:25:52.419 --> 00:25:53.419 they will be confident 00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.519 that you are with them. 00:25:55.080 --> 00:25:57.180 Remember your persecuted people. 00:25:57.920 --> 00:25:58.820 We do thank you 00:25:58.820 --> 00:26:00.240 for the strength of faith 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:00.800 you give 00:26:00.800 --> 00:26:02.900 in the midst of persecution. 00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:04.180 And we thank you 00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:04.880 for the blessings 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:05.820 that there are in it, 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:07.259 something that sounds 00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:08.200 so strange 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:09.120 as they do not seem 00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:10.039 to go together. 00:26:10.580 --> 00:26:11.920 But your word reminds us 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:13.080 that blessed are those 00:26:13.080 --> 00:26:13.940 who are persecuted. 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.560 And we ask that 00:26:15.560 --> 00:26:16.740 for all your people 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.720 far and wide. 00:26:18.340 --> 00:26:19.720 So continue with us now, 00:26:19.820 --> 00:26:20.019 Lord. 00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:21.559 Lord, lead us into your word 00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:22.700 and into your truth 00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:24.099 and help us to continue 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:25.359 to praise your name 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.579 as we acknowledge 00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:28.279 all our sin before you. 00:26:28.940 --> 00:26:30.339 Pardon us, we pray, 00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:31.859 from all our iniquity. 00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:33.079 Cleanse us anew 00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:34.480 for all we ask. 00:26:34.660 --> 00:26:35.460 We ask in the name 00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.639 of our Lord and Savior, 00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:37.779 Jesus Christ, 00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:39.559 for his sake and glory. 00:26:40.139 --> 00:26:40.559 Amen. 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:44.539 Let us again sing 00:26:44.539 --> 00:26:45.539 to God's praise 00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:46.559 in Psalm 18, 00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:49.839 on page 21. 00:26:50.039 --> 00:26:50.399 Let's sing 00:26:50.399 --> 00:26:51.359 Psalm's version. 00:26:52.399 --> 00:26:53.159 Psalm 18. 00:26:55.659 --> 00:26:57.039 And we're going to sing 00:26:57.039 --> 00:27:00.159 from verse 27. 00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:06.599 Psalm 18 at verse 27, 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:08.319 page 21 of the Psalm books. 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.879 You save the humble 00:27:09.879 --> 00:27:10.659 and the meek, 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:11.779 but bring the proud 00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:13.180 down from their height. 00:27:13.180 --> 00:27:14.180 You, Lord, 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:16.360 will keep my lamp aflame. 00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:18.560 God turns my darkness 00:27:18.560 --> 00:27:19.840 into light. 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:21.180 We'll sing from verse 27 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:23.680 down to verse 36 00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:25.180 to God's praise. 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.200 Amen. 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:32.420 You save the humble 00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:35.200 and the meek, 00:27:35.600 --> 00:27:37.180 but bring the proud 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:40.180 down from their height. 00:27:40.180 --> 00:27:42.299 You, Lord, 00:27:42.360 --> 00:27:46.539 will keep my lamp aflame. 00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:49.000 God turns my darkness 00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:52.240 into light. 00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:55.019 With help from God, 00:27:55.100 --> 00:27:57.920 I can advance 00:27:57.920 --> 00:28:00.680 against the truth 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:03.519 and rout them all. 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:06.220 And with the aid 00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:09.180 my God will give. 00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:11.620 I can't leap over 00:28:11.620 --> 00:28:14.180 any wall. 00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:17.180 I can't leap over 00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:20.180 any wall. 00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:23.880 For perfect is 00:28:23.880 --> 00:28:26.180 the way of God. 00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:29.560 No flaw is found 00:28:29.560 --> 00:28:32.640 within His word. 00:28:33.060 --> 00:28:35.360 To all who put 00:28:35.360 --> 00:28:38.180 their trust in Him, 00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:40.620 as shield and refuge 00:28:40.620 --> 00:28:43.180 is the Lord. 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:46.600 For who is God 00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:49.420 except the Lord? 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:52.180 Besides our God 00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:55.060 who is a rock, 00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:57.180 He is the God 00:28:57.920 --> 00:29:00.180 who gives me strength, 00:29:01.180 --> 00:29:02.180 and He perfects 00:29:03.100 --> 00:29:06.180 the path I walk, 00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:08.180 and He perfects 00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:11.180 the path I walk. 00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:14.180 He makes my feet 00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:17.180 like feet of deer, 00:29:17.180 --> 00:29:20.180 upon the heights 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:23.180 He makes me stand. 00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:26.180 My hands can bend 00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:26.620 My hands can bend 00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:29.460 a bow of bronze 00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:31.180 In skills of one 00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:34.180 He plays my hand. 00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:35.180 His right hand, 00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:36.180 Your right hand 00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:37.180 Your right hand 00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:39.180 gives me victory 00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:43.180 You stood down low 00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:45.180 to make me great 00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:48.180 so that my footsteps 00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:51.180 Do not turn 00:29:51.180 --> 00:29:53.600 You smooth the pathway 00:29:53.600 --> 00:29:56.180 for my feet 00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:59.180 You smooth the pathway 00:29:59.180 --> 00:30:02.180 for my feet 00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:04.180 IMPUSH 00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:09.560 Well we can turn 00:30:09.560 --> 00:30:10.299 together now 00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:10.920 to a reading 00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:12.000 in 1 Peter 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:13.600 and again 00:30:13.600 --> 00:30:15.019 at verse 22. 00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:17.740 1 Peter chapter 1 00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:18.900 at verse 22 00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:20.700 Having purified 00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:21.560 your souls 00:30:21.560 --> 00:30:22.519 by your obedience 00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:23.460 to the truth 00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:24.680 for a sincere 00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.600 brotherly love, 00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:27.580 love one another 00:30:27.580 --> 00:30:28.299 earnestly 00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:29.759 from a pure 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:30.560 heart 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:38.299 and so on. As we continue to move through this letter of Peter, we're coming to the end of here 00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:44.079 of chapter 1 today, and we've seen already how the people of God, they have been scattered far 00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:51.339 and wide throughout the region we know today as modern-day Turkey. So there are pockets of God's 00:30:51.339 --> 00:30:58.240 people scattered all around, congregations, if you like, of God's people scattered all around, 00:30:58.240 --> 00:31:03.920 and they are suffering greatly for their faith. In many different ways, they are suffering 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:10.819 persecution. And Peter has written to them to remind them of the many great truths that they 00:31:10.819 --> 00:31:18.519 have from God. He's reminded them of the hope that they have in God, the inheritance that is theirs 00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:26.420 to be brought to them eventually, what their faith means in their day-to-day life, and the salvation 00:31:26.420 --> 00:31:32.900 that they have through faith in Jesus Christ. There have been all these wonderful promises and 00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:40.779 truths that he reminds them of at the start of the chapter. But then we saw last week how in verse 13, 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:47.900 as we move through, we begin to see how these truths will work themselves out in the day-to-day lives 00:31:47.900 --> 00:31:57.840 of the people. There's a word in verse 13 that shows this movement. It says, therefore. And that word, 00:31:58.320 --> 00:32:05.740 therefore, moves us on. It's about remembering all the promises that God has given to us, but then 00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:15.240 seeing how these truths apply on a day-to-day basis and the great instructions that they give to us. 00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:21.319 And last week, we were looking at how Peter was showing us the initial part of that is focused 00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:31.599 on our relationship with God. That as a people, we are to seek to be holy. We are to set our minds 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:39.160 on God, fixing our minds on God, girding up our minds as we thought about last week, preparing for all 00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:47.000 the challenges that we'll come our way by our focus being on God and pursuing holiness because God 00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:57.540 himself is holy. And our faith and our hope are in God. And that's where we finished last week in verse 00:32:57.540 --> 00:33:04.240 21. There you see there's how it says, through him are believers in God who raised him from the dead 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:13.440 and gave him glory so that your faith and hope are in God. So, there was very much an upward-looking 00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:23.539 people there. They were looking upwards toward God, seeking to live a holy life. Now, in verse 22, 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:30.279 it follows again, there's a shift. So, going from this upward look when we're looking to God 00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:36.259 and seeking to be holy because he is holy, it's shifting from a relationship with God but taking 00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:44.299 that with it and looking into a relationship with one another and a relationship with the word of God. 00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:53.099 So, from upward looking, we're now going to be more outward looking. How is our lives of seeking to live 00:33:53.099 --> 00:34:00.879 holy lives for God? How is it going to now look as we look outwards? What impact is it going to have 00:34:00.879 --> 00:34:10.380 on our lives? And that gets expanded on throughout the letter here now. You may have heard the phrase 00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:19.500 at some point, you're so heavenly minded that you're no earthly good. You may have heard that phrase said. 00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:28.559 It's attributed to a man from America originally, a man called Oliver Wendell Holmes. He was a poet 00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:37.280 and he is said to have penned these words first of all, you're so heavenly minded, you're no earthly good. 00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:44.440 If you're into your music, perhaps these words resonate with you too. They're words from a song by 00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:51.980 Johnny Cash called No Earthly Good. So, these words have been put out there on a number of different 00:34:51.980 --> 00:35:02.619 occasions but are they true? Is it true to say that we're so heavenly minded that we're no earthly good? 00:35:02.679 --> 00:35:11.539 Is it a fair thing to say? It's meant in these cases as a criticism, an accusation put against 00:35:11.539 --> 00:35:18.820 Christians who just seem to be just so focused on heaven or maybe on the future or just looking to 00:35:18.820 --> 00:35:28.159 God all the time but actually doing no earthly good. Is it a fair statement? Christians being accused of 00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:36.039 not paying attention to earthly matters and to what's going on around us. I mean, there are many 00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:45.500 different ways that Christians do receive criticism and rightly so at times but this one, it just doesn't 00:35:45.500 --> 00:35:52.239 seem to add up. There may be the odd occasion where you think that may be true but then you have to ask 00:35:52.239 --> 00:35:58.779 well maybe there's problems there but on the whole it shouldn't be true of any Christian. To be so 00:35:58.779 --> 00:36:03.960 heavenly minded that we're no earthly good, these things, just like we were saying with the children, 00:36:03.960 --> 00:36:12.500 they're just not things that go together because the more heavenly minded we are, the more earthly good 00:36:12.500 --> 00:36:21.920 we should see as a people. And to be heavenly minded is something very scriptural. It is based in God's 00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:29.940 truth, what we're seeing here and what we see in other parts of Scripture. For example, Colossians chapter 3 00:36:29.940 --> 00:36:37.659 verse 2 says, set your minds on things that are above, not things that are on earth. 00:36:38.380 --> 00:36:45.159 So our faith begins first and foremost by setting our minds on the things that are above, 00:36:45.659 --> 00:36:54.059 just as Peter has been doing in this letter. But never is it left there. Never does the Scripture tell us 00:36:54.059 --> 00:37:03.219 just do that and stay there with that focus. You read through Colossians chapter 3 where it says that, 00:37:03.340 --> 00:37:10.799 set your minds on things that are above, not on things of earth. But later on in that chapter in 00:37:10.799 --> 00:37:18.940 verse 12 and 13 it says, put on then as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, 00:37:18.940 --> 00:37:28.240 kindness, humility, meekness and patience bearing with one another. So the more heavily minded you are, 00:37:28.500 --> 00:37:37.280 the more earthly good you should do. And so Peter moves on here from the upward holiness that we are 00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:44.420 to have and it leads us to the outward good that we are to see being put in practice. And that's what 00:37:44.420 --> 00:37:50.780 we're going to start looking at today. And there's three things from these last verses of chapter 1 I 00:37:50.780 --> 00:37:58.760 want to take. From verse 22 to 25, the truth going outward. And the first thing is obeying the truth. 00:37:59.480 --> 00:38:07.579 And secondly we'll see practicing the truth. And then thirdly, very briefly, just trusting the unchanging 00:38:07.579 --> 00:38:20.480 truth. So the first thing is obeying the truth. To be heavenly minded and to be of earthly good is grounded 00:38:20.480 --> 00:38:28.880 in obedience to the truth. It would have been easy perhaps for those in Peter's day who he was writing to 00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:35.860 to try and avoid all the problems that surrounded them by hiding away from the truth. We've thought about this 00:38:35.860 --> 00:38:44.280 before us well. They were persecuted for their faith. So if they were to hide their faith, to bury their 00:38:44.280 --> 00:38:50.800 faith and not make it evident to those around them, perhaps that would spare them then from the persecution 00:38:50.800 --> 00:38:58.480 that they were facing. Perhaps that was the answer to their problems. Just put away our faith. 00:38:58.480 --> 00:39:08.500 But Peter knew that that was not the answer. Peter knew that that was not for their good. And the growth 00:39:08.500 --> 00:39:19.659 they needed as a people was to obey the truth. Not just to know the promises of God, but to live by them. 00:39:19.659 --> 00:39:24.039 Not just to know the truth. Not just to know the truth. Not just having their minds fixed on their heavenly 00:39:24.039 --> 00:39:33.059 things, but on the earthly good as well that they were to do. And this comes from obedience to God's Word. 00:39:33.179 --> 00:39:40.399 Having, it says in verse 22, having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth. 00:39:41.079 --> 00:39:44.319 Your obedience to the truth. 00:39:44.320 --> 00:39:54.080 What is obedience to the truth? And are you being obedient to the truth yourself? 00:39:54.900 --> 00:40:02.980 Well, it's coming back to this pattern that we see here. The pattern that we see throughout Scripture. 00:40:03.100 --> 00:40:12.120 The commands that God gives to us. To love the Lord our God with all our heart. But not just to stop there, 00:40:12.119 --> 00:40:21.539 but to love our neighbor as ourselves. And that's the pattern you see with godly men and women down 00:40:21.539 --> 00:40:30.319 through the generations. Can you do good apart from God? It's often a challenging question. And people 00:40:30.319 --> 00:40:37.039 will say, yes, there's many ways that we can do good apart from God. We don't need God to do good. 00:40:37.039 --> 00:40:44.500 And there are many people who do good in this world who have no thought of God and no thought of Christ. 00:40:45.480 --> 00:40:53.259 But our ultimate good and the ultimate good for this world is always with our focus on God. 00:40:54.179 --> 00:40:58.139 And that's what you see when you look at godly men and women down through the generation. 00:40:58.659 --> 00:41:02.619 They did good but focused on God and His truth. 00:41:02.619 --> 00:41:08.659 Because the Lord Himself says, apart from me, you can do nothing. 00:41:09.920 --> 00:41:14.940 And so if you go through the Scriptures and you look at the characters that you see in the Scriptures, 00:41:15.500 --> 00:41:22.179 you see many people who did good. Imperfect people. People who had all of their faults, 00:41:22.859 --> 00:41:28.739 but who were heavenly minded, but also with earthly good in their mind as well. 00:41:28.739 --> 00:41:35.039 So many of them are mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11, the great passage of faith. 00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:44.299 Just to touch on a few of them. Think of Noah. Was he so heavenly minded that he did no earthly good? 00:41:45.059 --> 00:41:50.939 Well, his faith and his focus on God, by faith, what did he do? He built the ark. 00:41:50.940 --> 00:41:59.360 Noah was described as a righteous man, a good man. But that goodness led to action. 00:42:00.780 --> 00:42:09.320 David, another described by God as the apple of his eye. Again, very much a man who was heavenly minded. 00:42:10.280 --> 00:42:17.700 But he did earthly good. He did much good. And still his goodness speaks to us in so many different ways. 00:42:17.699 --> 00:42:22.239 You think of some of the women you see in Scripture in the Old Testament. 00:42:23.000 --> 00:42:30.559 Ruth and Esther, to name but two. You see them too with God's grace in their lives being focused 00:42:30.559 --> 00:42:40.079 heavenwards, but yet so much earthly good as well. And so it goes on down through the generation. 00:42:40.079 --> 00:42:48.759 You think of Peter himself and all that went on in his own experience and how, yes, he was heavenly minded, 00:42:49.340 --> 00:42:53.480 but earthly good. Paul, the apostles. You just look through the Scriptures. 00:42:54.319 --> 00:43:00.219 The two go together hand in hand. Heavenly minded leading to earthly good. 00:43:00.219 --> 00:43:07.099 You think of some of the great Christians down through the years, from Lutheran, Calvin, John Newton, 00:43:07.619 --> 00:43:15.980 William Wilberforce, Corrie ten Boom, Joni Erikson Tadda, Ann Judson. All of these people and all the 00:43:15.980 --> 00:43:23.199 good that they did in this world as Christians. It came from being heavenly minded to being earthly good. 00:43:23.199 --> 00:43:51.159 And that is what we see with Peter here. That is what he is telling God's people then. That's what he is 00:43:51.159 --> 00:44:01.119 saying to ourselves today as well. Obey the truth. Set your mind on the things above, but show it in 00:44:01.119 --> 00:44:09.159 how you live your lives out as well. It comes back to this thought of what Peter wanted for his people. 00:44:09.559 --> 00:44:17.039 It wasn't just to survive, but to thrive. And to thrive, the foundation of thriving, 00:44:17.039 --> 00:44:22.719 and this doesn't just mean, oh, everything's going to go well for us now. They were still 00:44:22.719 --> 00:44:29.719 going to suffer for their faith in many ways, but they were to know God's blessing. It was to obey 00:44:29.719 --> 00:44:38.800 the truth. And so what does that mean for them? And what does that mean for us? Well, the basis is 00:44:38.800 --> 00:44:50.420 to listen to God and to heed his commands, to listen to his word and to seek to live by his truth in every 00:44:50.420 --> 00:45:02.039 aspect of our lives. Heavenly minded and seeking earthly good. It was a man who once told a story about 00:45:02.039 --> 00:45:07.840 a lesson he learned, a lesson he learned from his father and a dog that his father had. He said, 00:45:07.900 --> 00:45:14.659 my father used to put a bit of meat or a biscuit on the floor near the dog and say to the dog, 00:45:15.159 --> 00:45:25.579 no. And the dog wouldn't touch it. He knew he wasn't to touch it. His master had given him a command 00:45:25.579 --> 00:45:33.299 and he was to be obedient to it. And what the dog did was never to look at the biscuit or the meat, 00:45:34.139 --> 00:45:41.019 but always to keep his eyes on his master. The man who was telling the story said this, 00:45:41.079 --> 00:45:49.779 it's a great lesson for the Christian life to fix our eyes on our master, to look to the Lord. 00:45:49.900 --> 00:45:54.619 Otherwise, if we start looking around us too much and the temptations that are around us, 00:45:54.619 --> 00:46:03.960 we could so easily drift away. But our first and foremost calling is obedience to God and his word. 00:46:04.779 --> 00:46:13.559 And the more we are fixed on him, the more then it will lead to right good works going out as well. 00:46:13.559 --> 00:46:21.299 As somebody once said, when Christians have their eyes on Christ, they gain an eternal perspective 00:46:21.300 --> 00:46:30.180 and they are of great earthly good as their faith impacts their lives and the lives of others. 00:46:31.519 --> 00:46:38.220 There is a danger that these people of God would be of no earthly good in Peter's days, 00:46:38.340 --> 00:46:44.140 same as it is for ourselves. And so the warning and challenge here is for us to be obedient 00:46:44.139 --> 00:46:53.539 obedient to the word of God. Obedience to the truth is the foundation here as we think of going outwards. 00:46:54.179 --> 00:47:02.319 The second thing we see then is practice the truth. As we move on, we see how this looks and it begins 00:47:02.319 --> 00:47:10.659 with a wonderful word, but a very challenging word to us. A call to obedience in this truth. And what is 00:47:10.659 --> 00:47:18.460 disobedience? What's it start with? Well, verse 22 continues, for a sincere brotherly love, 00:47:18.460 --> 00:47:23.460 love one another earnestly from a pure heart. 00:47:23.460 --> 00:47:40.820 And let'sстра for Brooks. 00:47:40.820 --> 00:48:10.800 Thank you. 00:48:10.820 --> 00:48:40.800 Thank you. 00:48:40.820 --> 00:49:10.800 Thank you. 00:49:10.840 --> 00:49:40.800 Thank you. 00:49:40.800 --> 00:49:42.800 Thank you. 00:49:42.800 --> 00:49:44.800 Thank you. 00:49:45.800 --> 00:49:52.900 Peter's day was a time of great persecution, a great suffering for them as a people. 00:49:52.900 --> 00:49:58.579 and the people that he was addressing they would have been saying to themselves you know what's 00:49:58.579 --> 00:50:05.660 this all about why is this happening and when these things are happening it's so easy for them 00:50:05.660 --> 00:50:13.380 the people to turn on each other so instead of loving one another as God's word commands 00:50:13.380 --> 00:50:22.220 instead it leads to personality clashes things going wrong at a time selfish interests instead 00:50:22.219 --> 00:50:30.419 of selfless interests and so it goes on and the devil can often become so active in the midst of 00:50:30.419 --> 00:50:40.319 this you may have heard of the the strategy divide and conquer it's when an enemy seeks to divide a 00:50:40.319 --> 00:50:47.699 people and make them turn against themselves so then they are of no good in any way because they're 00:50:47.699 --> 00:50:54.960 fighting amongst themselves and it's one of the devil's great tactics especially among God's 00:50:54.960 --> 00:51:03.199 people he would love nothing better than all of God's people just to turn on each other backbiting 00:51:03.199 --> 00:51:09.859 and snapping at one another saying the wrong things about each other gossiping about each other all of 00:51:09.860 --> 00:51:18.280 these things that just divide a people the devil would like nothing better but what we see throughout 00:51:18.280 --> 00:51:28.280 scripture is the call to be on our guard against that and we all have our part to play in this it's what 00:51:28.280 --> 00:51:39.280 we see in this verse as verse 22 says love one another earnestly it's this call to of Peter towards the 00:51:39.280 --> 00:51:48.540 people then to come together to unite their hearts together to be looking out for each other and it's a 00:51:48.540 --> 00:51:49.900 command to repeat 00:51:49.900 --> 00:51:59.920 first Peter chapter 3 verse 8 he says finally all of you have unity of mind sympathy brotherly love 00:51:59.920 --> 00:52:09.220 a tender heart and a humble mind he says it again in chapter 4 verse 8 above all keep loving one another 00:52:09.219 --> 00:52:20.059 earnestly since love covers over a multitude of sin it's something Peter himself has known in his own 00:52:20.059 --> 00:52:28.339 experience he was with Jesus on the night before his crucifixion when Jesus said a new command I give to you 00:52:28.339 --> 00:52:37.859 to all the disciples who are there love one another just as I have loved you you also are to love 00:52:37.860 --> 00:52:47.019 one another and the importance of it is said by what he says after by this all people will know that you are my disciples 00:52:47.019 --> 00:52:54.960 if you love one another the witness of the church is based on this loving one another 00:52:54.960 --> 00:53:04.620 our reading in first john again a powerful message there love one another for this is a message that you have heard 00:53:04.619 --> 00:53:14.739 from the beginning that we should love one another and Peter knows that he cannot make them love one another earnestly 00:53:14.739 --> 00:53:21.319 just as I know today it's not something I can do myself for you or force upon you 00:53:21.320 --> 00:53:31.760 but I can say as Peter said too this is a command this is something we are to strive for and to earnestly pursue 00:53:31.760 --> 00:53:37.200 love one another earnestly from a pure heart 00:53:37.200 --> 00:53:45.780 in Peter's day as he wrote these there were many needs but Peter knew all these needs could be met 00:53:45.780 --> 00:53:56.160 by loving God and loving each other loving God and loving each other and you ask yourself well how did Peter know this 00:53:56.160 --> 00:54:04.100 well because he had experienced it so personally himself he'd experienced it with the Lord Jesus Christ 00:54:04.100 --> 00:54:14.720 coming to him and asking Peter Peter do you love me and Peter's response was Lord you know I love you 00:54:14.719 --> 00:54:21.119 and how did then Peter see it in action among others well you go into the book of Acts 00:54:21.119 --> 00:54:28.819 Acts chapter 2 and you have Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost what did he see after that as the spirit 00:54:28.819 --> 00:54:38.139 was poured out it says in verse 43 and awe came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were being done 00:54:38.139 --> 00:54:48.659 through the apostles and all who believed were together and had all things in common it's a word there that's used 00:54:48.659 --> 00:54:58.199 10 times in the book of Acts having all things in common being of one accord and it belongs it's unique to the 00:54:58.199 --> 00:55:07.460 Christian community community and this is what Peter is longing for them to have here all these Christians 00:55:07.460 --> 00:55:16.220 Christians who are scattered to have this bond of love and unity in their midst to have all things in common 00:55:16.220 --> 00:55:28.119 do we have that today you know in many ways there's much we are to be thankful for but are we of one accord 00:55:28.119 --> 00:55:35.119 do we of one accord do we of one accord do we of one accord do we of one accord do we of one accord 00:55:35.119 --> 00:55:47.119 if we're honest we don't not to this degree not to this extent to love one another as Christ has loved us 00:55:47.119 --> 00:55:59.420 and so that is the challenge for us to pray and long for this unity and this love more and more in our midst to love 00:55:59.420 --> 00:56:08.199 one another earnestly it's something we must work on it's something we are to strive towards to be able to 00:56:08.199 --> 00:56:17.179 trust one another fully to be able to share in one another more openly to be able to comfortably come 00:56:17.179 --> 00:56:25.579 together individually in twos or threes small groups and pray earnestly together to be able to share our 00:56:25.579 --> 00:56:33.739 burdens with one another to help one another in practical ways not just to leave it at somebody else 00:56:33.739 --> 00:56:46.879 we'll do that but to ask what can i help how can we help one another and the the challenge often comes 00:56:46.879 --> 00:56:56.279 we maybe say but i don't have much in common with that person i just don't seem to click with that person 00:56:56.280 --> 00:57:04.280 and we are all different in that sense every one of us is different and there are people we will get 00:57:04.280 --> 00:57:12.120 on with better than others that's just natural but here it's talking about the community of god's people 00:57:12.120 --> 00:57:21.100 and how in every way we are to love one another so do we have something in common well the clue is in the 00:57:21.099 --> 00:57:31.019 name christian we have christ in common that is our common nature when we are god's people that we see 00:57:31.019 --> 00:57:40.019 the christ in each other and whatever our differences are surely they can be overcome the more heavenly 00:57:40.019 --> 00:57:48.639 minded we are and the more we see christ in each other just as paul wrote to the philippians he was saying 00:57:48.639 --> 00:57:55.679 complete my joy by being of the same mind having the same love being in full accord and one mind 00:57:55.679 --> 00:58:03.099 doing nothing out of rivalry or conceit but counting others more significant than yourselves what was the 00:58:03.099 --> 00:58:12.420 foundation of that having this mind among yourselves which is yours in christ jesus to have the mind 00:58:12.420 --> 00:58:27.380 of christ that is what peter is praying for and seeking for the people here to have this love of christ to love one another in all our differences 00:58:27.380 --> 00:58:35.059 in all our unique attributes that we all have different from each other but to see christ in each other 00:58:35.059 --> 00:58:43.079 and to love one another in a week when we will remember the great sacrifices made for us 00:58:43.079 --> 00:58:50.639 in times of conflict that passage we read in john it speaks about that love that would lay down our life 00:58:50.639 --> 00:58:59.340 for our friends as we remember the many who gave their life in conflicts past this week the great sacrifices 00:58:59.340 --> 00:59:06.360 made it's a reminder to us too that all of the loss and difficulties wasn't just in the battlefields 00:59:06.360 --> 00:59:12.720 but how many suffered at home as well how many lost people they loved how many lives were just 00:59:12.720 --> 00:59:21.780 changed in a blink so much tragedy and sorrow we remember at this time there's a story i read just this week 00:59:21.780 --> 00:59:28.760 it was about a young christian couple and it was just before world war one and they had become engaged 00:59:28.760 --> 00:59:36.060 engaged and shortly after they became engaged the man was called up to service he was called up to the army 00:59:36.060 --> 00:59:46.020 and he was sent away to the battlefields sent away into this awful conflict but they were writing 00:59:46.020 --> 00:59:53.140 regularly to each other letters were going back and forth but then all of a sudden the letter from the 00:59:53.139 --> 01:00:01.000 young man stopped no letters were coming and the fiancee was getting worried and a good number of weeks 01:00:01.000 --> 01:00:07.940 passed and then she received a letter in strange handwriting she didn't recognize the handwriting but as she 01:00:07.940 --> 01:00:15.759 began to read the letter she recognized who it was from she recognized the words it was from her 01:00:15.760 --> 01:00:24.020 fiancee he had managed to get someone else to write a letter to her and the reason was that he was now in 01:00:24.020 --> 01:00:30.680 hospital and he explained that he was in hospital in england having ended up in the middle of the battlefield 01:00:30.680 --> 01:00:39.200 and having lost both his arms seriously wounded and here he was now in hospital writing to her and he said in 01:00:39.199 --> 01:00:46.839 his letter now i won't be able to help you i won't be able to give you all the things that i hoped i'd be able 01:00:46.839 --> 01:00:55.839 to give to you our lives have changed and he said i think the engagement should be off the young woman 01:00:55.839 --> 01:01:06.019 didn't reply to the letter at least not in writing instead she jumped on the first train and made her way to the 01:01:06.019 --> 01:01:13.940 hospital where he was lying and surprised him by appearing by his bedside and with tears in their eyes 01:01:13.940 --> 01:01:24.780 they looked at one another and she said i will never leave you these hands of mine will work for you 01:01:24.780 --> 01:01:35.320 and we will live our life of love together what wonderful love that was and that's the love 01:01:35.320 --> 01:01:46.720 that christ had for us how we think of how our lives are so ruined by sin and yet christ didn't cast us away 01:01:46.720 --> 01:01:58.720 he called us to himself and we're told in his word to look to his hands those hands that were pierced for us 01:01:58.719 --> 01:02:13.239 all that he did for us he showed his love for us and so the more we set our minds on heaven and on christ and what he has done for us 01:02:13.239 --> 01:02:21.759 surely the more that we should look to each other and earnestly love one another 01:02:21.760 --> 01:02:32.180 we are to love one another because that is the command of god's word and as you see at the end of this section 01:02:32.180 --> 01:02:42.860 this is a word that is an abiding word an unchanging word a word that will never change for all eternity 01:02:42.860 --> 01:02:53.820 we are to listen to this word because what it says is this word is the good news that was preached 01:02:53.820 --> 01:03:04.079 to you it is the good news that we hear today kevin de young in his book the whole now holiness says 01:03:04.079 --> 01:03:13.559 good works should always be rooted in the good news and so may we seek to be heavenly minded 01:03:13.559 --> 01:03:22.699 our focus on god the lord but also to put this into practice by being earthly good as well 01:03:22.699 --> 01:03:32.039 and especially as we see here by loving one another earnestly it's a great challenge 01:03:32.039 --> 01:03:42.779 but something we are all to work towards that we would love one another as he has loved us let us pray 01:03:42.779 --> 01:03:52.039 our father in heaven we know how far short we so often fall when we think of these words that we are to love one another 01:03:52.039 --> 01:03:59.559 but we pray your help to us lord as a people that we would seek to do this earnestly by being obedient 01:03:59.559 --> 01:04:07.679 to your truth by listening to your word by seeing christ in it the hope of glory for us as your people 01:04:07.679 --> 01:04:13.840 but by seeing christ and those we look upon us well and to love them with all our hearts 01:04:13.840 --> 01:04:19.079 build us up lord to this end we ask in jesus name amen 01:04:22.039 --> 01:04:33.039 we conclude by singing to god's praise in psalm 71 in the scottish psalter page 311 01:04:33.039 --> 01:04:41.039 psalm 71 at verse 15 thy justice and salvation my mouth abroad shall show 01:04:41.039 --> 01:04:49.340 even all the day for either of the numbers do not know we'll sing from verse 1 to verse 18 to god's praise 01:04:49.340 --> 01:05:00.340 by justice and salvation 01:05:00.340 --> 01:05:12.340 by justice and salvation my mouth abroad shall show 01:05:12.340 --> 01:05:40.340 even all the day for i thereof the numbers do not know and i will constantly go on 01:05:40.340 --> 01:05:51.340 in strength of god the lord and thine own righteousness 01:05:51.340 --> 01:05:54.340 righteousness 01:05:54.340 --> 01:05:58.340 even thine own righteousness 01:05:58.340 --> 01:06:02.340 alone i will record 01:06:02.340 --> 01:06:04.340 for even from my youth oh god 01:06:04.340 --> 01:06:15.340 for even from my youth oh god 01:06:15.340 --> 01:06:19.340 and my i have been taught 01:06:19.340 --> 01:06:22.340 i have been taught 01:06:22.340 --> 01:06:26.340 and hitherto i have declared the wonder song has come 01:06:26.340 --> 01:06:30.340 and now lord we may not be taught 01:06:30.340 --> 01:06:34.340 i have been taught and hitherto i have declared the wonder song has come 01:06:34.340 --> 01:06:41.340 the wonder song has come 01:06:41.340 --> 01:06:47.340 and now lord we may not when i hold and great headed through 01:06:47.340 --> 01:07:02.340 till to this age my strength and power to all to come i show 01:07:02.340 --> 01:07:29.340 now may grace mercy and peace from god father son and holy spirit rest upon and abide with us all now and forevermore amen 01:07:29.340 --> 01:07:32.340 amen 01:07:32.340 --> 01:07:36.340 so 01:07:36.340 --> 01:07:38.340 and 01:07:38.340 --> 01:07:40.340 so