WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.219 Thank you very much, Eric. Good evening, everyone. And again, thank you for coming out. I know there are lots of other things you could have been doing this evening. Really good to see you. 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:28.620 I want to start with two men named Jonathan Edwards. Both have the same name. One Jonathan Edwards is famous for jumping into a sandpit. That's his words, not mine. He was very good at it. He set the world triple jump record 30 years ago next month and is still there. I'm actually not sure anyone's ever got close to it. 00:00:28.620 --> 00:00:45.079 But Jonathan Edwards was a fantastic athlete. He was also known during his athletic career as a Christian. Indeed, at the start of his career, he was known particularly because out of conscience, he didn't compete on Sundays and he missed a world championship and other things because of that. 00:00:45.780 --> 00:00:55.040 And even though he changed his mind on that later, he continued to be known as a Christian. And after he retired from athletics, among other things, he presented songs of praise. 00:00:55.039 --> 00:01:12.359 And then out of the blue to most people, Jonathan Edwards declared he no longer believed in God. And the way I heard him put it was I'm a scientist. I examined the evidence. I can't be sure there's a God. And so I'm moving on with my life. I'm sure it wasn't really that simple. 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:25.980 But he was someone who started out. But he was someone who started out well as a Christian, who had a really good testimony, and then who ultimately proved to be faithless and not to continue following the Lord Jesus. 00:01:25.980 --> 00:01:44.200 The other Jonathan Edwards, very different, or was an 18th century Puritan American preacher and theologian, well known in particular in his theology that he had a theology of joy, and maybe not what you expected of a Puritan. 00:01:44.200 --> 00:01:50.640 But he believed in our Christian service to be really effective. We have to do it with a real joy in the Lord. 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:59.920 I think his joy was probably particularly tested when at one point his congregation decided they didn't want him as their pastor anymore. 00:02:00.780 --> 00:02:07.760 And one of the reasons for that, these things are always complicated, but one of the reasons for that was that Jonathan Edwards had decided 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:14.200 that he wasn't going to admit anyone to take communion if they didn't have faith in Jesus. 00:02:14.900 --> 00:02:21.319 It wasn't enough to have been baptized and to live a moral life. You had to have a faith in the Lord. 00:02:21.980 --> 00:02:28.439 And part of his reason for that was that he didn't want to be responsible for making people complacent about their salvation 00:02:28.439 --> 00:02:35.900 and people going to hell because they hadn't been told that they must have a faith in Jesus to be saved. 00:02:35.900 --> 00:02:43.560 But because of that, and no doubt some other things, his congregation decided that they didn't want him anymore. 00:02:44.920 --> 00:02:50.379 And it was quite striking, I was reading what someone said when they had the kind of church counter, whatever it was. 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:59.060 Someone who was there said, his happiness was out of reach of his enemies, overbalancing all imaginable ills of life. 00:02:59.060 --> 00:03:04.960 So he was someone who, because of his faith, because of his stand for the gospel, was being rejected. 00:03:05.780 --> 00:03:11.840 But in all that, he had a joy, he had a peace, because he knew he was doing God's will. 00:03:12.360 --> 00:03:14.939 And Jonathan Edwards is known as a revival preacher. 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:18.980 He saw many, many people coming to trust the Lord through him. 00:03:19.800 --> 00:03:25.620 I think these two Jonathan Edwards are probably typical of the kind of thing that we're talking about this evening, 00:03:25.620 --> 00:03:30.840 the kind of person you're either faithless, that you don't follow through in your Christian life, 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:34.939 you don't serve the Lord as you should, or you are faithful. 00:03:35.700 --> 00:03:38.180 You endure hardship for the sake of the Lord Jesus. 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:41.460 You are willing to suffer for your faith. 00:03:41.539 --> 00:03:47.219 Now, Paul clearly is in the second category, and he's encouraging Timothy to be the same. 00:03:48.740 --> 00:03:51.180 A little bit of background before we dig into the passage. 00:03:51.300 --> 00:03:54.140 I'm sure if you've been here previous weeks, you remember, you may know anyway. 00:03:54.139 --> 00:03:59.459 This is the last letter of Paul that we have, writing to Timothy, his protégé, 00:03:59.559 --> 00:04:01.979 who had travelled round with him and had become his ambassador, 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:04.779 particularly looking after churches in Ephesus. 00:04:05.739 --> 00:04:09.379 And he is, as the title of his series says, he's passing on the baton. 00:04:09.839 --> 00:04:12.859 He's recognising that he's not got long to go in this world. 00:04:13.279 --> 00:04:14.339 He's in prison in Rome. 00:04:14.419 --> 00:04:16.159 He's about to go on trial for his life. 00:04:16.500 --> 00:04:21.500 And he wants to make sure the next generation continues the work of the gospel. 00:04:21.500 --> 00:04:28.240 And a lot of the book is reminding Timothy of reasons why he needs to keep going. 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:37.500 I'm trying to give him the fibre, the nerve, the faith to keep going and to endure despite everything. 00:04:38.259 --> 00:04:42.980 So in chapter 1, Paul reminds Timothy of his mother and his grandmother, 00:04:43.100 --> 00:04:45.500 his family situation, how they had taught him the gospel. 00:04:45.500 --> 00:04:51.079 In chapter 3, he'll talk about the scriptures and how valuable and important they are. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:56.439 And in chapter 2, in the past we have just now, he focuses, particularly says, remember Jesus Christ. 00:04:56.540 --> 00:04:58.920 That is the core of our faith. 00:04:58.920 --> 00:05:06.640 In the earlier verses of this chapter, Paul has used three analogies, three pictures of the Christian 00:05:06.640 --> 00:05:09.420 and how we should serve the Lord diligently. 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:16.120 We're to be like a soldier who gives up civilian life and dedicates himself to the service of the army. 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:22.980 We're to be like an athlete who competes and competes fairly and within the rows for the prize. 00:05:22.980 --> 00:05:29.660 And we're to be like a farmer who works hard and diligently so he ends up getting a good crop. 00:05:30.680 --> 00:05:35.500 And Paul then seems to, I think, maybe imagine, well, would Timothy be asking, well, why? 00:05:36.060 --> 00:05:38.280 Why is it that I have to do these things? 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:43.620 Why is it that I have to endure all these things for the sake of the gospel? 00:05:44.400 --> 00:05:48.819 And this little section we're looking at this evening, I think, gives us the answer to the why. 00:05:48.819 --> 00:05:51.599 Why should we endure as Christians? 00:05:51.800 --> 00:05:54.459 Why is it important that we keep going? 00:05:55.620 --> 00:05:57.899 And there are three things, essentially, that Paul says. 00:05:58.099 --> 00:06:02.879 He says we should keep going because of Jesus, because of all he is and all he means to us. 00:06:03.459 --> 00:06:06.959 We should keep going because there are lots of people who haven't heard the good news 00:06:06.959 --> 00:06:09.620 and we want the gospel to reach everywhere. 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:15.060 And we should keep going because ultimately, if we do, there's a reward for us 00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:20.399 that those who are faithful will ultimately receive a reward from God. 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:22.500 So we're looking at these three things. 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:25.759 I've given them headings just to help remember them a bit. 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:30.120 So we're going to look at a summary, a sacrifice, and a song. 00:06:30.180 --> 00:06:35.720 A summary, a sacrifice, and a song as my kind of headings for the three parts. 00:06:37.220 --> 00:06:43.079 So first is the summary, which is in verse 8, if you've got your Bible in front of you. 00:06:43.079 --> 00:06:48.379 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:51.019 This is my gospel. 00:06:52.339 --> 00:06:57.199 If in the recent past you've had the joy of being interviewed for membership of this church, 00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:02.579 there's a good chance that those of us who were interviewing you asked a question along the lines of, 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:09.319 if a non-Christian friend asked you to explain your faith in just a few sentences, what would you say? 00:07:09.319 --> 00:07:15.199 It's quite a good sentence, quite a good question to find out people's understanding of the gospel. 00:07:16.180 --> 00:07:21.040 Some people probably answer it better than we could, and they have a really good grasp of the gospel, 00:07:21.139 --> 00:07:26.180 a really good simple way of explaining it, perhaps because they already have tried to do that to their friends. 00:07:26.699 --> 00:07:27.839 Others struggle a bit. 00:07:28.579 --> 00:07:31.699 But I don't think anyone has ever given us a nine-word answer. 00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:33.560 And that's what Paul does here. 00:07:34.019 --> 00:07:36.199 Nine words summarizing the gospel. 00:07:37.099 --> 00:07:42.000 Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:45.779 I guess if someone had given us that answer, we might have said, 00:07:45.860 --> 00:07:49.060 well, can you expand on it a bit, explain a bit more what you mean. 00:07:49.699 --> 00:07:54.560 But it's actually a really good summary of the gospel message. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:59.980 So Paul says a number of things here that bring out the gospel. 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:03.879 First, he says it's about Jesus Christ. 00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:10.759 Now, Paul, obviously, throughout Timothy, refers quite frequently to the Lord. 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:14.740 But every other time he does it in this letter, I think there are nine other times, 00:08:14.939 --> 00:08:16.959 he talks about Christ Jesus. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:21.779 Only here does he talk about Jesus Christ. 00:08:21.779 --> 00:08:26.779 Now, he may be doing it just for variety, but it may be there's some significance in that. 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:29.239 What does Jesus Christ mean? 00:08:30.039 --> 00:08:33.240 So the name Jesus was given to him means God saved. 00:08:33.539 --> 00:08:37.879 It was given to him because he would save his people from their sins. 00:08:38.539 --> 00:08:43.779 So the first thing we need to know about the gospel is that Jesus is the Savior. 00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:46.699 That Jesus went to the cross at Calvary. 00:08:47.079 --> 00:08:49.319 He took our sins on himself. 00:08:49.320 --> 00:08:53.860 He took the punishment that was due to us so that we wouldn't need to suffer it. 00:08:53.900 --> 00:08:55.140 He is our Savior. 00:08:55.900 --> 00:08:58.920 And alongside that, he is the Messiah. 00:08:59.680 --> 00:09:04.640 He is the Christ, the promised one from the Old Testament who would liberate his people 00:09:04.640 --> 00:09:08.540 and bring them into God's perfect peace. 00:09:09.140 --> 00:09:10.879 Perhaps the Savior comes first. 00:09:10.980 --> 00:09:14.100 The sacrifice that the Lord Jesus made comes first. 00:09:14.100 --> 00:09:19.480 But alongside that, there's his triumph and all that he does for his people. 00:09:21.180 --> 00:09:24.000 There are then two other statements that we'll take together. 00:09:24.820 --> 00:09:29.639 Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. 00:09:30.680 --> 00:09:35.060 I think there are two parallels that we can bring out in that. 00:09:35.059 --> 00:09:41.459 The first is that Jesus is holy God and also holy human. 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:46.099 So he was raised from the dead. 00:09:46.579 --> 00:09:48.139 How was he raised from the dead? 00:09:48.479 --> 00:09:50.619 It was by the power of God. 00:09:51.099 --> 00:09:54.559 It was because he himself is God. 00:09:54.559 --> 00:10:00.299 At the start of Romans 1, in a passage which has quite a few parallels with the one we're looking at this evening, 00:10:00.959 --> 00:10:11.299 Paul says that Jesus was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead. 00:10:11.779 --> 00:10:16.759 He was declared to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead. 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:23.220 It is through the death of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, that we can come into a relationship with God. 00:10:23.879 --> 00:10:30.460 It is his resurrection that gives us the absolute assurance that when he died, he was doing the will of God, 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:33.939 and that he is who he said he was. 00:10:34.299 --> 00:10:37.340 He is the Son of God become man. 00:10:37.819 --> 00:10:40.159 Jesus is truly God. 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:44.580 But then Paul says he's also descended from David. 00:10:44.580 --> 00:10:47.340 And that tells us that he is human. 00:10:48.180 --> 00:10:54.620 He has a family tree, albeit his family tree, and really goes back through his mother because he was conceived by the Spirit. 00:10:55.040 --> 00:10:57.120 But he is perfectly human. 00:10:58.120 --> 00:11:06.139 He was a man just like us, except that he also was God and therefore was sinless and had God's power. 00:11:06.540 --> 00:11:14.400 So Paul says a key element of the gospel is that Jesus Christ is both God and man. 00:11:14.580 --> 00:11:25.540 And then secondly, again looking at these two little phrases, Paul says that Jesus is both living and reigning. 00:11:25.540 --> 00:11:29.600 He was raised from the dead and is not said, but it's implied. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:30.980 He is still alive. 00:11:31.100 --> 00:11:32.220 He is a living Savior. 00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:34.660 He is our living Lord today. 00:11:35.300 --> 00:11:40.259 He is the one who died once and now is alive forevermore. 00:11:40.259 --> 00:11:48.019 And the reference to David also, I'm sure, is intended to bring out the reign of Jesus. 00:11:48.179 --> 00:11:52.360 David was the greatest king of the Israelites in the Old Testament. 00:11:53.220 --> 00:11:59.259 And Jesus descended from David as David's greater son is the one who reigns forever. 00:11:59.899 --> 00:12:02.759 He has been put in the highest place in heaven. 00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:11.860 One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:15.759 So Paul's brought out Jesus as Savior and Messiah. 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:19.299 He's brought out that he's God and he's man. 00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:24.059 And he's brought out that he's alive today and he is reigning. 00:12:24.659 --> 00:12:27.039 That, says Paul, is my gospel. 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:30.100 Of course, that is our gospel as well. 00:12:30.100 --> 00:12:37.159 And that should be a motivation to us to keep going and to endure in our Christian lives. 00:12:37.820 --> 00:12:42.639 Because Jesus has died for us, because we have come into a relationship with him, 00:12:42.700 --> 00:12:47.019 because we know if we're Christians that our eternal future is secure. 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:54.740 Our love for the Lord should be sufficient that we go and we tell others about him, 00:12:54.800 --> 00:12:58.759 even if that is difficult, even if that leads to suffering. 00:12:58.759 --> 00:13:01.439 So that's our summary. 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:06.879 Second thing I wanted to talk about was a sacrifice. 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:12.879 So Paul's sacrifice comes out in verses 9 and 10. 00:13:13.700 --> 00:13:14.740 Verse 9 he says, 00:13:14.860 --> 00:13:18.419 I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal, 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:22.720 but God's word is not changed. 00:13:23.059 --> 00:13:25.860 God's word is not chained. 00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:32.480 Paul was limited in what he could do in prison, particularly in the second imprisonment. 00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:34.480 The first imprisonment was more of a house arrest. 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:38.820 This imprisonment, he really was in prison and was in chains. 00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:45.039 And yet he knew that despite the fact that he couldn't be out there proclaiming the gospel, 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:48.419 through the power of God, through the power of the Spirit, 00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:50.919 the gospel would keep being preached. 00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:54.659 People would keep being won for the Lord Jesus. 00:13:56.099 --> 00:14:00.299 Despite persecution, or in some ways almost because of persecution. 00:14:00.419 --> 00:14:04.539 Perhaps people would hear about Paul and hear about how gladly he suffered for the gospel 00:14:04.539 --> 00:14:06.559 and would say, well, what does that mean? 00:14:06.819 --> 00:14:08.259 Why is he willing to do it? 00:14:08.459 --> 00:14:12.039 And that might lead them into Christian faith. 00:14:12.039 --> 00:14:20.639 And history tells us that the more humans try to stop the gospel and to prevent it being preached, 00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:25.799 the more it reaches out and people come to trust in Jesus. 00:14:26.319 --> 00:14:27.360 Let me give you an example. 00:14:28.699 --> 00:14:32.860 This man here is called Robert Bruce, not Robert the Bruce, Robert Bruce. 00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:39.519 And he was a missionary in the 19th century to what was then Persia and is now Iran. 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:44.539 And he saw very little fruit evident for what he did. 00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:49.980 He labored for many years and he didn't really see a lot of blessing. 00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:53.200 So I think this is a very telling quote he says here. 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:54.600 I'm not reaping the harvest. 00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:57.480 I scarcely claim to be sowing the seed. 00:14:57.480 --> 00:15:02.820 I am hardly plowing the soil, but I am gathering out the stone. 00:15:02.899 --> 00:15:08.080 So in other words, he's come to, figuratively, some waste ground that is no good for anything. 00:15:08.420 --> 00:15:12.940 And he's trying to turn it into a field that can produce a crop. 00:15:13.060 --> 00:15:16.639 And he feels only just being able to do the first bit of it. 00:15:17.779 --> 00:15:23.940 Persia, Iran has over the centuries under Muslim rule been a really difficult place for the gospel. 00:15:23.940 --> 00:15:28.980 And not many Christians for a very long time. 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:38.520 But then look at this quote, which comes from a Christian organization working in Iran, or working in Asia generally. 00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:42.800 The fastest growing church in the world can be found in Iran, 00:15:42.900 --> 00:15:49.140 a land which since the Islamic Revolution in 1979 has been opposed to Christianity. 00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:55.519 Iran, as you know, is under a very fundamentalist Islam regime. 00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:58.539 And yet the gospel is flourishing. 00:15:58.679 --> 00:16:03.840 It's reckoned there are probably as many as a million Christians these days living in Iran. 00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:09.419 The leaders of the country have tried to stop the gospel, tried to crush Christianity. 00:16:10.220 --> 00:16:12.179 But the gospel can't be changed. 00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:15.539 And it is still blessing many. 00:16:15.539 --> 00:16:19.899 And the methods of being able to communicate the gospel in Iran have changed. 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:22.319 Yes, there's still demand for paper Bibles. 00:16:22.719 --> 00:16:29.740 But a lot of what happens today comes through radio or television, through the internet, through apps and phones. 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:35.240 That is how Christians in Iran find the scriptures and are discipled through it, 00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:38.679 when it is so dangerous to be known as a Christian. 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:42.120 But God's word is not chained. 00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:47.899 And we may suffer, and it may seem that others who are opposed to the gospel are winning. 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:52.940 But ultimately, God's word is powerful, and God's spirit is powerful, 00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:58.440 and even in the midst of persecution, people are being saved. 00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:00.840 So Paul says, 00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:17.759 Paul is suffering so that others may come to know the Lord. 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:20.340 For the sake of the elect, he says. 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:23.240 Now, we're not going to go into the doctrine of predestination this evening, 00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:29.160 but just note that whatever your views are on that, the gospel needs to be preached. 00:17:29.880 --> 00:17:35.420 People need to hear the word if they are to believe it and come to know Jesus. 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:37.120 And Paul says, 00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:40.079 It's worth me suffering for the sake of the gospel, 00:17:40.660 --> 00:17:43.039 if through my preaching and if through my suffering, 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:45.920 people may come to know the Lord Jesus, 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:48.019 may come to faith in him, 00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:52.480 and may put their trust in the only one who can save them. 00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:54.519 Our suffering doesn't save people. 00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:56.160 It's not the suffering of the Lord Jesus, 00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:58.639 which is able to bring salvation. 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.619 But through our suffering, 00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:02.980 through our willingness to endure, 00:18:03.379 --> 00:18:06.500 despite whatever circumstances and opposition we face, 00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:09.099 then people will come to hear the gospel 00:18:09.099 --> 00:18:12.119 and will come to know the Lord Jesus. 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:14.700 And that should be a tremendous motivation for us. 00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:17.640 There are millions and millions of people out there 00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:19.200 who don't know the Lord Jesus. 00:18:19.340 --> 00:18:21.500 Perhaps have never heard the gospel. 00:18:22.100 --> 00:18:24.720 Are we able to talk to them about and to recognize 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:27.440 that it is only through the preaching of the gospel 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:31.279 and through the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:33.940 that they can come to know Jesus? 00:18:34.840 --> 00:18:35.380 Paul says, 00:18:35.559 --> 00:18:39.799 I will endure everything for the sake of the elect. 00:18:39.900 --> 00:18:41.279 I look at myself and I think, 00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:43.039 well, can I say that? 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:45.259 And probably the answer might be no. 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:46.779 But we need to think, 00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:48.859 what is my commitment to the Lord Jesus? 00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:52.379 And what is my compassion for those who don't know him yet? 00:18:52.859 --> 00:18:56.420 Am I willing to suffer and to face opposition 00:18:56.420 --> 00:18:58.720 so that the gospel may flourish, 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:01.960 so that people may come to faith in Jesus? 00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:04.700 That's Paul's sacrifice. 00:19:04.859 --> 00:19:06.799 Paul's sacrifice, 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:10.639 willing to suffer for the sake of the elect. 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:13.780 And finally, what I've called a song. 00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:17.220 So the last three verses 00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:21.700 are probably a first century hymn. 00:19:22.100 --> 00:19:23.080 We don't know for certain, 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:25.000 but when Paul says at the beginning of verse 11, 00:19:25.100 --> 00:19:26.500 here's a trustworthy saying, 00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:28.220 he is always referring, 00:19:28.320 --> 00:19:29.560 when he uses that phrase, 00:19:29.800 --> 00:19:32.280 he's always referring to something that people would know 00:19:32.280 --> 00:19:35.360 and saying this is something that's worth listening to. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:38.220 And most likely this was a hymn. 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:40.319 It's the kind of structure you see in the Psalms 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:41.680 where you get two lines 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:44.180 and they kind of parallel or build on each other. 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:46.940 It's very much in the form of Hebrew poetry 00:19:46.940 --> 00:19:49.120 and Hebrew songs. 00:19:50.120 --> 00:19:51.180 So what does Paul say? 00:19:52.360 --> 00:19:53.940 In the first little couplet, 00:19:55.579 --> 00:20:00.019 he says that those who die with Christ 00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:00.940 will live with him. 00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:03.140 Those who endure with Christ 00:20:03.140 --> 00:20:04.860 will reign with him. 00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:06.319 In other words, 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:08.899 if we are willing to make sacrifices 00:20:08.899 --> 00:20:10.439 for the sake of the Lord Jesus 00:20:10.439 --> 00:20:11.779 and the gospel, 00:20:12.139 --> 00:20:14.299 we won't lose out through it. 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:16.939 Ultimately, God will reward us 00:20:16.939 --> 00:20:18.899 for the things that we do 00:20:18.899 --> 00:20:22.679 and for our willingness to suffer for him. 00:20:23.179 --> 00:20:26.000 Not that our suffering brings us our salvation, 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:29.119 that is only through the work of the Lord Jesus. 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:32.059 And yet there are rewards in heaven, 00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:34.679 and particular rewards for those who are faithful, 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:38.019 for those who endure to the end. 00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:40.919 You may notice there's a bit of a parallel 00:20:40.919 --> 00:20:43.159 in these verses with what Paul said back 00:20:43.159 --> 00:20:44.339 in verse 8 00:20:44.339 --> 00:20:46.259 when he talks about Jesus raised from the dead, 00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:47.299 descended from David. 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.279 So he says, 00:20:48.419 --> 00:20:49.359 if we've died with him, 00:20:49.419 --> 00:20:50.500 we will live with him, 00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:52.559 so we'll be raised like Christ was. 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:53.879 If we endure, 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:55.379 we will also reign with him, 00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:57.799 so we will have crowns of glory 00:20:57.799 --> 00:21:01.559 through our faithfulness to the gospel. 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:04.519 Paul later in 2 Timothy can say, 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:06.460 I fought the good fight, 00:21:06.879 --> 00:21:08.159 I finished the race, 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.359 I've kept the faith, 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:11.500 now there is in store for me 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:12.740 the crown of righteousness, 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.419 which the Lord, 00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:15.779 the righteous judge, 00:21:16.139 --> 00:21:18.759 will award to me on that day. 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:21.259 So if we'll die for Christ, 00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:23.480 we'll live with him. 00:21:24.099 --> 00:21:26.559 I don't think Paul here particularly 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:27.759 has martyrdom in mind. 00:21:27.899 --> 00:21:29.539 Now, martyrdom was certainly on his mind 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:31.680 as he was looking forward to his trial 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:33.779 and knowing that it was likely to result 00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:36.119 in him being executed. 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:38.799 I think he's probably thinking more 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:41.099 of the daily taking up our cross, 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:42.559 denying ourselves, 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:44.519 and following Jesus. 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:47.119 Seeking to be dead to the sin 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:48.659 and the things of this world 00:21:48.659 --> 00:21:51.000 and presenting our bodies wholly 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:54.420 as living sacrifices for Christ. 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:57.800 It is the day-to-day dying to this world, 00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:58.180 I think, 00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:59.519 is the key focus here 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:01.580 rather than martyrdom. 00:22:01.620 --> 00:22:03.620 And obviously that makes it more relevant for us. 00:22:04.100 --> 00:22:06.080 None of us will end up being martyred, 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:06.800 though who knows, 00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:08.900 but certainly all of us are called 00:22:08.900 --> 00:22:10.100 to deny ourselves 00:22:10.100 --> 00:22:11.900 and to take up our cross 00:22:11.900 --> 00:22:13.759 and follow Jesus. 00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:16.340 To receive our reward, 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:18.539 our lives need to be dedicated 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.980 to the Lord. 00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:21.579 We need to endure 00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:23.279 and not be fair-weather Christians 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:25.240 who are happy to come to church 00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:26.139 and be with those 00:22:26.139 --> 00:22:27.220 who are like-minded 00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:29.619 but not willing in any way 00:22:29.619 --> 00:22:30.759 to make sacrifices 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:32.480 for the sake of the gospel. 00:22:33.159 --> 00:22:34.180 We need to keep going 00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:36.319 despite any difficulties we face 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:38.200 and then we can know 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:39.559 that we will qualify 00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:41.440 for Christ's commendation, 00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:42.099 well done, 00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:43.779 good and faithful servant, 00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:45.879 and the crown of righteousness 00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:47.520 that Paul talks about. 00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:49.240 That we will be rewarded, 00:22:49.340 --> 00:22:50.200 and we don't know exactly 00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:51.860 what that means yet, 00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:52.920 but we will be rewarded 00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:54.040 in some way in heaven 00:22:54.040 --> 00:22:56.640 for the works that we have done. 00:22:57.020 --> 00:22:58.260 And if our works are good, 00:22:58.700 --> 00:23:00.220 then we will see 00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:01.800 how blessed we are 00:23:01.800 --> 00:23:03.280 and that we have done them 00:23:03.280 --> 00:23:04.740 and we have made the right decisions 00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:06.240 in our lives. 00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.080 And that then makes 00:23:08.080 --> 00:23:09.500 the second little couplet here 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:10.760 quite sobering. 00:23:11.340 --> 00:23:13.100 Now this one isn't terribly easy 00:23:13.100 --> 00:23:13.900 to understand. 00:23:14.040 --> 00:23:15.240 There are quite a few different 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:17.640 interpretations of it. 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:20.039 The comment in verse 12 00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:21.880 about disowning Christ 00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:23.019 echoes something 00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:24.500 that Jesus himself said. 00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:26.819 In Matthew 10 verse 33, 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.660 Jesus said, 00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:29.960 whoever disowns me before others, 00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:31.460 I will disown 00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:34.160 before my Father in heaven. 00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:37.359 I think it's probably best 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:38.660 to understand this 00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:40.200 as referring to people 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:40.960 who repeatedly 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:43.859 and consistently disown Christ. 00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:45.839 So he's not referring here 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:46.899 to the kind of situation 00:23:46.899 --> 00:23:47.919 that Peter faced, 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:49.939 where Peter denied the Lord 00:23:49.939 --> 00:23:51.359 three times in the heat 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:52.839 of the courtyard 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:55.319 as he faced hostility 00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:56.179 round about him 00:23:56.179 --> 00:23:57.740 as he saw his Lord on trial 00:23:57.740 --> 00:24:00.799 and he caved in at that point, 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:02.259 but was later restored 00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:03.679 by the Lord Jesus. 00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.979 It's not these one-offs 00:24:04.979 --> 00:24:06.279 which may happen 00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:07.579 when we are put in 00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:09.719 a really difficult situation. 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:11.880 It's those who repeatedly 00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:14.220 deny their faith, 00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:16.120 deny the Lord Jesus, 00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:19.480 and who maybe in the first instance 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:21.120 were never really true believers 00:24:21.120 --> 00:24:22.240 at all. 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:24.759 So if that's those 00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:26.259 who disown Christ 00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:28.100 and who he will disown, 00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:29.799 what about verse 13 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:32.420 and those who are faithless? 00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:34.620 There are a number 00:24:34.620 --> 00:24:35.799 of different interpretations 00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:37.640 I said of this verse. 00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:39.940 It may be that Paul 00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:41.060 is effectively repeating 00:24:41.060 --> 00:24:43.040 what he said in verse 12, 00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:44.160 putting it a little bit different. 00:24:44.860 --> 00:24:45.380 So he's saying, 00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:46.840 if you disown Christ, 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:49.100 that means you are faithless. 00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:50.840 In that case, 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:52.100 when it talks about Christ 00:24:52.100 --> 00:24:52.640 remaining faithful 00:24:53.280 --> 00:24:55.060 because he cannot disown himself, 00:24:55.620 --> 00:24:56.660 it's not talking about 00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:57.640 Christ being faithful 00:24:57.640 --> 00:24:58.460 in his love 00:24:58.460 --> 00:25:00.500 and his care and concern for us, 00:25:00.540 --> 00:25:01.440 so that is true. 00:25:02.060 --> 00:25:03.240 It's talking about Christ 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:04.280 being true to himself, 00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:05.680 he can't disown himself, 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:07.700 and there must be consequences 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:08.940 for sin. 00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:10.640 And if people haven't trusted 00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:11.580 in the Lord Jesus, 00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:13.320 if they've not got their faith in him, 00:25:13.860 --> 00:25:14.820 then they face 00:25:14.820 --> 00:25:17.539 eternal condemnation for that. 00:25:18.060 --> 00:25:19.259 That is one possibility 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.740 for this verse. 00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:23.000 A second possibility 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:23.960 is Paul is looking 00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:24.980 at a different kind 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:27.120 of failing the Lord Jesus here. 00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:28.900 So it's not people 00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:31.180 who consistently deny him 00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:31.539 and say, 00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:32.740 well, nothing to do with him, 00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:34.060 I've got nothing to do 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:35.559 with Christian faith. 00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:37.619 It's more the Peter situation 00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:39.539 I talked about a minute ago. 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:41.079 People who fall 00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:43.319 in some kind of way. 00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:44.940 Now that might be 00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:46.659 in denying the Lord Jesus 00:25:46.659 --> 00:25:48.519 in the kind of situation 00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:50.119 that Peter faced. 00:25:50.879 --> 00:25:51.899 Or it might be 00:25:51.899 --> 00:25:52.960 just growing cold 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:54.720 in our Christian lives 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:56.679 and not obeying the Lord 00:25:56.679 --> 00:25:58.019 as we should. 00:25:58.700 --> 00:25:59.619 It might be falling 00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:01.079 into a particular sin 00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:02.960 and feeling real guilt 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:04.220 about that. 00:26:05.399 --> 00:26:07.079 And if that's the case, 00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:08.220 then what Paul was saying 00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:09.039 in this verse 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:10.000 is yes, 00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:11.399 sometimes we are faithless. 00:26:12.179 --> 00:26:13.220 Yes, we're all sinners. 00:26:13.359 --> 00:26:14.559 We're all imperfect. 00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:17.039 But we have a faithful God. 00:26:17.699 --> 00:26:18.819 And the one who's begun 00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:20.059 a good work in us 00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:22.199 will bring it to completion. 00:26:22.859 --> 00:26:24.480 And even though we fail him, 00:26:24.899 --> 00:26:26.079 when we repent, 00:26:26.419 --> 00:26:27.779 when we return to him 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:29.539 and acknowledge our failure, 00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:31.460 there is always forgiveness. 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:33.740 There is always the opportunity 00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:35.059 to go back 00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:37.279 to fruitful Christian living. 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:38.940 We may be faithful, 00:26:39.159 --> 00:26:39.659 faithless, 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:42.759 but the Lord remains faithful. 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.639 I'll leave it to you 00:26:44.639 --> 00:26:45.579 to think which of these 00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:47.159 interpretations is the better. 00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:48.639 I tend to slightly favor 00:26:48.639 --> 00:26:49.339 the second one, 00:26:49.379 --> 00:26:49.879 but I don't claim 00:26:49.879 --> 00:26:51.480 to be an expert in it. 00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:53.039 Actually, both are true. 00:26:53.819 --> 00:26:54.759 On the one hand, 00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:55.879 if people constantly 00:26:55.879 --> 00:26:56.740 deny the Lord Jesus, 00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:57.599 they don't really have 00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:58.399 a faith in him, 00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:00.140 then they can't expect 00:27:00.140 --> 00:27:02.320 him to acknowledge them. 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:03.880 They can't expect him 00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:05.480 to be unfaithful 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:06.380 to his character 00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:07.920 and overlook sin 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:09.320 that's not been forgiven. 00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:10.759 On the other hand, 00:27:11.040 --> 00:27:12.340 if we do know the Lord 00:27:12.340 --> 00:27:13.460 of our faith is in him 00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:15.200 and we fall away 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.360 in some kind of way, 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:18.019 then we know he is faithful. 00:27:18.540 --> 00:27:19.740 He will always keep 00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:21.280 his promises. 00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:23.940 So it's been really challenging 00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:25.480 as well as encouraging teaching, 00:27:25.600 --> 00:27:25.940 I think, 00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:26.940 this evening. 00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.900 We're encouraged 00:27:28.900 --> 00:27:30.180 by the Lord Jesus 00:27:30.180 --> 00:27:31.500 as we think about him 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.700 of all that he has done 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:33.279 for us, 00:27:33.340 --> 00:27:34.400 that he is the living, 00:27:34.580 --> 00:27:35.259 reigning one 00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:37.440 who died for our sins 00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:39.100 but is alive 00:27:39.100 --> 00:27:40.820 and with us today. 00:27:41.860 --> 00:27:43.039 I think we're probably challenged 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:44.400 as we think about Paul 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:45.420 and the suffering 00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:46.500 that he went through 00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:47.380 and saying, 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:47.600 well, 00:27:47.660 --> 00:27:48.960 would I be willing 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:50.059 to go through that 00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:51.080 as well? 00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:52.460 And maybe we're both 00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:53.619 encouraged and challenged 00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:55.039 by the thought of reward 00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:57.460 and of reward being withheld 00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.960 if we're not faithful 00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:00.500 to the Lord Jesus. 00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.720 Let me finish, though, 00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:04.299 with another Scottish missionary. 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:04.619 Sorry, 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:05.559 we're going back again 00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:06.079 a long way. 00:28:06.399 --> 00:28:07.539 Another 19th century 00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:08.359 Scottish missionary. 00:28:09.139 --> 00:28:10.259 And this man is called 00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:11.720 William Chambers Burns. 00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:13.240 He looks quite Chinese there, 00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:14.299 but that's because 00:28:14.299 --> 00:28:16.000 he adopted Chinese costume 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.179 when he went to be 00:28:17.179 --> 00:28:19.159 a missionary in China. 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:20.680 William Chambers Burns 00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:22.000 worked for many years 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:23.420 for the gospel in China 00:28:23.420 --> 00:28:24.200 with at times 00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:26.120 quite a lot of discouragement, 00:28:26.820 --> 00:28:28.340 but he had a huge influence 00:28:28.340 --> 00:28:30.840 on gospel mission in China, 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:32.380 particularly through his character 00:28:32.380 --> 00:28:34.700 and through his absolute devotion 00:28:34.700 --> 00:28:35.640 to the Lord Jesus 00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:38.560 and the great work that he did. 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.540 One of the people 00:28:39.540 --> 00:28:40.620 who he particularly influenced 00:28:40.620 --> 00:28:41.680 was Hudson Taylor. 00:28:42.100 --> 00:28:42.660 Hudson Taylor, 00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:43.620 probably the best known 00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:45.300 of all missionaries to China, 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:46.519 among other things, 00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:47.759 the founder of OMF 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:49.660 or what has become OMF, 00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:51.299 which is the missionary organization 00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:53.599 that Danny is associated with. 00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:55.539 There were three things 00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:56.339 in particular 00:28:56.339 --> 00:29:00.660 that William Chambers Burns 00:29:00.660 --> 00:29:02.579 passed on to Hudson Taylor. 00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.759 Taylor, remember, 00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:05.160 three things which are relevant 00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:06.200 to what we've been thinking 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:06.980 about this evening. 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:09.700 The first is that God has a purpose 00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:12.200 in permitting our suffering. 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:14.259 Our suffering isn't random. 00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:15.799 It is not something 00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:17.440 that's beyond God's control. 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:19.380 It is not God in some ways 00:29:19.380 --> 00:29:20.180 being sadistic 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:21.460 and allowing us to suffer. 00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:23.259 There is always a purpose 00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:24.440 in our suffering. 00:29:24.600 --> 00:29:25.900 Sometimes it's to bring us 00:29:25.900 --> 00:29:27.059 back to Christ 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:28.940 when perhaps we've fallen away. 00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:30.759 Sometimes it will be 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:32.620 as a witness to others 00:29:32.620 --> 00:29:33.840 and to bring others 00:29:33.840 --> 00:29:34.779 to the Savior. 00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:37.960 Second thing that 00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:39.539 William Challenge Burns 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:41.200 taught to Hudson Taylor 00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:42.600 is that evangelism 00:29:42.600 --> 00:29:44.059 is the great work 00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:45.220 of the church. 00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:45.720 church. 00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:46.880 The church is here 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:48.940 primarily to make disciples 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:50.500 for the Lord Jesus 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:52.700 and we need to be evangelists 00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:53.860 to reach out to others 00:29:53.860 --> 00:29:54.940 for that, 00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:56.680 whatever the cost 00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:57.579 may be. 00:29:58.039 --> 00:29:58.980 And then the third thing 00:29:58.980 --> 00:30:00.880 was that lay evangelists, 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.600 those who aren't 00:30:01.600 --> 00:30:03.000 in ordained ministry, 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:04.100 whatever you want to call it, 00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:04.700 aren't full-time 00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:05.519 Christian workers, 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:07.039 are absolutely vital 00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:07.759 to the work 00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:09.100 of evangelism. 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:10.600 That you and I 00:30:10.600 --> 00:30:11.400 are the ones 00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:12.380 who are on the front line 00:30:12.380 --> 00:30:13.280 in many ways 00:30:13.280 --> 00:30:14.520 and we need to be 00:30:14.520 --> 00:30:15.280 very active 00:30:15.280 --> 00:30:16.660 in reaching others 00:30:16.660 --> 00:30:17.840 for the gospel. 00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:19.520 Here's the quote 00:30:19.520 --> 00:30:20.660 I want to finish with 00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:23.520 from William Chalmers Burns. 00:30:24.120 --> 00:30:24.700 He said, 00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:26.440 I am ready to burn out 00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:27.340 for God. 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:29.360 I am ready to endure 00:30:29.360 --> 00:30:30.180 any hardship 00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:32.000 if by any means 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:33.580 I might save some. 00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:36.000 The longing of my heart 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:36.880 is to make known 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:38.140 my glorious Redeemer 00:30:38.140 --> 00:30:41.220 to those who never heard. 00:30:41.220 --> 00:30:42.900 that's very much 00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:43.839 what Paul is saying 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:45.579 to us in this passage. 00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:47.400 We should be ready 00:30:47.400 --> 00:30:48.559 to endure hardship 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:49.860 so that others 00:30:49.860 --> 00:30:50.880 may come to know 00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:52.160 the Lord Jesus. 00:30:52.940 --> 00:30:53.920 And our great longing 00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:54.620 should be 00:30:54.620 --> 00:30:55.880 that our friends, 00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:57.579 our colleagues at work 00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:58.160 or at uni 00:30:58.160 --> 00:30:59.120 or wherever we are, 00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:00.100 that they too 00:31:00.100 --> 00:31:01.140 come to know the Lord 00:31:01.140 --> 00:31:02.279 and that we're willing 00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:03.140 to talk to them 00:31:03.140 --> 00:31:04.000 about our faith 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:05.579 and to introduce them 00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:06.860 to our Saviour. 00:31:07.339 --> 00:31:07.900 So let's go out 00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:08.680 with a determination 00:31:08.680 --> 00:31:09.680 to do that 00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:11.680 and to serve the Lord 00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:13.019 whatever the cost, 00:31:13.560 --> 00:31:14.279 knowing that God 00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:15.519 is no man's debtor 00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:16.820 and we will ultimately 00:31:16.820 --> 00:31:17.759 be rewarded 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:19.160 many fold 00:31:19.160 --> 00:31:20.060 for anything 00:31:20.060 --> 00:31:20.820 that we do 00:31:20.820 --> 00:31:21.980 for the Saviour. 00:31:22.420 --> 00:31:23.220 Let's pray together. 00:31:24.860 --> 00:31:25.640 Father, we thank you 00:31:25.640 --> 00:31:26.180 for your word. 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:26.660 We thank you 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:27.420 for this passage 00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:28.840 that Paul brings to us 00:31:28.840 --> 00:31:30.460 explaining to us 00:31:30.460 --> 00:31:31.740 why it is so important 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:33.060 that we endure 00:31:33.060 --> 00:31:34.259 as Christians. 00:31:35.100 --> 00:31:35.600 We pray that you 00:31:35.600 --> 00:31:36.180 will give us 00:31:36.180 --> 00:31:37.220 a greater love 00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:38.120 for the Lord Jesus, 00:31:38.119 --> 00:31:40.479 a greater desire 00:31:40.479 --> 00:31:42.299 that we may reach out 00:31:42.299 --> 00:31:43.159 to those who don't 00:31:43.159 --> 00:31:43.899 yet know him 00:31:43.899 --> 00:31:46.559 and a greater determination 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:47.819 to please him 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:49.139 and ultimately 00:31:49.139 --> 00:31:50.579 to reap the rewards 00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:51.219 for that. 00:31:51.679 --> 00:31:52.119 We thank you 00:31:52.119 --> 00:31:53.219 for the glorious message 00:31:53.219 --> 00:31:53.919 of the Gospel. 00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:55.059 We thank you 00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:56.219 for the glorious Saviour 00:31:56.219 --> 00:31:56.939 that we have. 00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.579 We pray that we will be 00:31:58.579 --> 00:31:59.899 those who are faithful 00:31:59.899 --> 00:32:00.459 to him 00:32:00.459 --> 00:32:01.939 not those who are 00:32:01.939 --> 00:32:02.859 faithless. 00:32:03.219 --> 00:32:03.639 We thank you 00:32:03.639 --> 00:32:04.459 for our time together. 00:32:04.939 --> 00:32:05.599 We commit ourselves 00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:06.259 to you now 00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:07.180 in Jesus' name. 00:32:07.819 --> 00:32:08.119 Amen. 00:32:08.119 --> 00:32:08.200 Amen.