WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.679 Good morning, Church. We're going to read 2 Timothy 2, 14 to 26. 00:00:12.679 --> 00:00:16.719 ! Dealing with false teachers. 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:26.039 Keep reminding God's people of these things. Warn them before going against correlling about words. 00:00:26.039 --> 00:00:36.599 It is no value and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, 00:00:37.399 --> 00:00:42.460 a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handle the word of truth. 00:00:42.460 --> 00:00:50.020 Avoid godless chatter because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 00:00:51.299 --> 00:00:54.140 Their teaching will spread like a gangrene. 00:00:55.020 --> 00:01:01.200 Among them are Imenus and Philetus, who have departed from the truth. 00:01:01.960 --> 00:01:07.859 They say that the resurrection has already taken place and they destroy the faith of some. 00:01:07.859 --> 00:01:14.400 Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription, 00:01:15.099 --> 00:01:24.159 The Lord knows who I is, and everyone who confess the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness. 00:01:25.039 --> 00:01:32.519 In a large house, there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. 00:01:32.519 --> 00:01:36.479 Some are for special purpose and some of common use. 00:01:37.379 --> 00:01:43.699 Those who cleanse themselves from the letter will be instruments for special purpose, 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:48.739 made holy, useful for the master, and prepared to do any good work. 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:56.140 Flee the evil desire of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, 00:01:56.140 --> 00:02:01.579 along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 00:02:02.180 --> 00:02:06.140 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, 00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:09.479 because you know they produce quarrels. 00:02:10.259 --> 00:02:13.000 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:18.620 but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 00:02:18.620 --> 00:02:21.939 Opponents must be gentle instructed, 00:02:22.539 --> 00:02:25.879 in the hope that God will grant them repentance, 00:02:26.700 --> 00:02:29.180 leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 00:02:29.939 --> 00:02:34.599 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:39.060 who has taken them captive to do his evil. 00:02:39.379 --> 00:02:39.620 Amen. 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:42.640 Thanks so much, Alexandra. 00:02:43.040 --> 00:02:44.500 Do keep the passage open. 00:02:44.620 --> 00:02:47.840 If you've not got a Bible, try and shuffle along and find one if you can. 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:50.280 We're going to be working our way through that passage. 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:52.700 If you're here for the first time, 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:55.500 then we have been working our way through the book of 2 Timothy, 00:02:56.039 --> 00:02:57.680 and we've arrived at these verses, 00:02:57.860 --> 00:03:00.219 so that's why we are in these verses this morning. 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:03.460 Let me pray, ask for the Lord's help as we look at God's word together. 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:03.939 Let me pray. 00:03:05.240 --> 00:03:11.460 Father, we do recognise that what we're doing now is a spiritual battle. 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:17.379 To listen to you and ignore the distractions around us and of the world 00:03:17.379 --> 00:03:22.400 is more difficult than it should be. 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:25.960 And so, Lord, we pray and ask for your help. 00:03:26.840 --> 00:03:30.419 Pray that your Holy Spirit, who inspired these words, 00:03:31.240 --> 00:03:32.859 might now be at work in our hearts, 00:03:33.039 --> 00:03:37.039 helping us to listen to them and respond in obedience and faith. 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:40.340 Help me to speak truly and carefully 00:03:40.340 --> 00:03:43.840 and be at work in all of us, we pray in Jesus' name. 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:44.819 Amen. 00:03:47.080 --> 00:03:48.500 Now, as you look down at the passage, 00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:52.199 I want you to notice that the heart of what's going on here 00:03:52.199 --> 00:03:53.659 is there in verse 19. 00:03:53.819 --> 00:03:55.939 It's this solid foundation. 00:03:55.939 --> 00:04:00.840 Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, 00:04:01.560 --> 00:04:03.240 sealed with this inscription, 00:04:03.500 --> 00:04:05.439 the Lord knows those who are his, 00:04:05.879 --> 00:04:08.419 and everyone who confesses the name of the Lord 00:04:08.419 --> 00:04:10.680 must turn away from wickedness. 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:16.639 In all probability, those verses are a quote from Numbers chapter 16. 00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:22.979 In Numbers 16, you get the story of the Korahite rebellion. 00:04:24.060 --> 00:04:26.800 The Korahite rebellion happened in the wilderness 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:30.860 when the people of Israel are leaving slavery in Egypt 00:04:30.860 --> 00:04:32.579 and heading to the promised land, 00:04:33.039 --> 00:04:34.300 but are yet to arrive. 00:04:35.459 --> 00:04:38.740 They had been promised to enter into a land 00:04:38.740 --> 00:04:41.000 flowing with milk and honey, 00:04:41.860 --> 00:04:45.779 but instead, they found themselves in the wilderness. 00:04:46.639 --> 00:04:48.019 And they were fed up. 00:04:48.979 --> 00:04:51.939 And more than just fed up, the Korahites were angry. 00:04:52.740 --> 00:04:55.539 Angry specifically with Moses and Aaron, 00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:58.360 and angry with them for presuming 00:04:58.360 --> 00:05:00.159 that they were the leaders of God's people. 00:05:00.599 --> 00:05:03.539 How dare you do this, Moses and Aaron? 00:05:04.259 --> 00:05:07.579 Who do you think you are leading the people? 00:05:08.419 --> 00:05:11.019 How on earth do you expect us to follow you 00:05:11.019 --> 00:05:13.159 when you've not given us anything that we were promised? 00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:14.579 We're here in the wilderness. 00:05:14.579 --> 00:05:17.579 Where's the land flowing with milk and honey? 00:05:18.819 --> 00:05:21.099 And the story ends with a showdown. 00:05:21.979 --> 00:05:24.399 God summons the people before him 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:27.419 and brings them in front of the tabernacle. 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:33.519 And Moses asks people to stand away from Korah and his men 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:35.959 and says, right, God is going to judge. 00:05:36.939 --> 00:05:39.399 God now is going to answer the Korahites' question. 00:05:39.799 --> 00:05:41.539 Who has the right to lead God's people? 00:05:41.540 --> 00:05:45.780 And so as they stand back from the Korahites, 00:05:46.460 --> 00:05:49.540 the ground literally opens up 00:05:49.540 --> 00:05:53.140 and swallows Korah, his men, his family, 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:56.700 and all their possessions and closes up over them. 00:05:57.980 --> 00:05:59.000 Buried alive. 00:05:59.680 --> 00:06:03.540 It's a dramatic story of God really proving 00:06:04.060 --> 00:06:06.800 that Moses and Aaron had the right to lead God's people. 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:11.939 And Paul quotes it here in 2 Timothy 2, verse 19, 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:14.740 because he wants to draw two lessons for Timothy 00:06:14.740 --> 00:06:15.740 from that story. 00:06:16.360 --> 00:06:18.340 Two foundations, he calls them, 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:19.439 sealed with inscriptions. 00:06:20.060 --> 00:06:21.540 And they are, look down at verse 19, 00:06:21.960 --> 00:06:24.460 number one, the Lord knows those who are his. 00:06:25.160 --> 00:06:28.240 And secondly, everyone who confesses the name of the Lord 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:29.740 must turn away from wickedness. 00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:32.740 Just as we start, think about those with me for a moment. 00:06:32.939 --> 00:06:33.680 Think about the first one, 00:06:33.740 --> 00:06:35.920 the Lord knows those who are his. 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:39.319 This implies, doesn't it, says Paul, 00:06:39.980 --> 00:06:43.939 that you and I don't know who belongs to the Lord. 00:06:44.420 --> 00:06:47.480 We cannot tell who belongs to God and who does not. 00:06:48.180 --> 00:06:51.860 God's people are to a certain degree invisible to us, 00:06:52.460 --> 00:06:53.319 but not to God. 00:06:53.740 --> 00:06:54.900 They are known to God. 00:06:55.840 --> 00:06:58.220 In other words, Paul's point is to Timothy 00:06:58.220 --> 00:07:00.840 that the church now, just like Israel then, 00:07:00.939 --> 00:07:03.439 is in a sense a mix of people, 00:07:03.980 --> 00:07:05.560 a mix of genuine believers, 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:07.879 and people who claim to be believers, 00:07:08.020 --> 00:07:09.319 but are not really. 00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:11.280 And largely speaking, 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:13.759 that difference is invisible to us. 00:07:13.840 --> 00:07:15.340 It's not something that we can see. 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:17.620 Being a Christian, 00:07:18.300 --> 00:07:19.280 belonging to God, 00:07:19.379 --> 00:07:22.480 is not about external behavior, 00:07:22.980 --> 00:07:25.660 but about an internal change of heart. 00:07:25.660 --> 00:07:30.160 Being a Christian is about having our hearts changed and transformed, 00:07:30.260 --> 00:07:32.340 that we love God and trust him. 00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:37.280 And that internal change is not apparent to us. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:39.100 People don't wear a badge. 00:07:39.160 --> 00:07:39.940 You can't see. 00:07:40.940 --> 00:07:42.620 So you could claim to be a Christian, 00:07:43.060 --> 00:07:45.100 and we wouldn't know whether it was true or not. 00:07:46.400 --> 00:07:48.140 But God does, right? 00:07:48.139 --> 00:07:50.360 No one fools God. 00:07:50.919 --> 00:07:52.079 You might fool a church. 00:07:52.159 --> 00:07:52.979 You might fool yourself. 00:07:53.500 --> 00:07:54.659 You can never fool God, 00:07:54.819 --> 00:07:57.279 because God knows those who are his. 00:07:58.219 --> 00:07:58.860 Secondly then, 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:01.060 everyone who confesses the name of the Lord 00:08:01.060 --> 00:08:02.419 must turn away from wickedness. 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:04.599 This is the second foundation, 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:11.740 that the visible sign of invisible change is obedience. 00:08:12.479 --> 00:08:13.039 Obedience. 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:14.100 In other words, 00:08:14.200 --> 00:08:18.600 while it's impossible for us to see the invisible change in human hearts, 00:08:18.860 --> 00:08:22.420 we are able to observe external obedience. 00:08:23.340 --> 00:08:26.879 External obedience is not an infallible sign of genuine faith, 00:08:26.980 --> 00:08:29.680 but it is a sign of genuine faith. 00:08:30.360 --> 00:08:32.139 So if you claim to be a Christian, 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:34.320 but you don't live as one, 00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:35.820 you don't obey the Lord, 00:08:36.620 --> 00:08:38.500 well, then you're almost certainly not a Christian. 00:08:39.700 --> 00:08:41.100 If you call yourself a Christian, 00:08:41.100 --> 00:08:42.639 but you have no desire to please God, 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:43.439 to live his way, 00:08:43.559 --> 00:08:44.539 to submit to his word, 00:08:44.899 --> 00:08:45.879 then in all probability, 00:08:46.019 --> 00:08:47.879 you're lying to yourself about being a Christian. 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:50.559 Not, I hasten to add, 00:08:50.919 --> 00:08:52.699 not because obedience saves you. 00:08:52.819 --> 00:08:54.460 Obedience does not save you, 00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:56.699 but obedience is the mark 00:08:56.699 --> 00:08:59.539 of having received salvation from the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:09:00.100 --> 00:09:01.980 His obedience saves us. 00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:05.580 Our obedience is a sign that we have received his salvation. 00:09:06.539 --> 00:09:09.120 A desire to follow God and to live his ways 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:12.620 and to please him is a sign of true faith. 00:09:13.559 --> 00:09:16.939 It's why if you belong to this church as a church member, 00:09:17.299 --> 00:09:20.199 we ask not only do you believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:22.720 but we also look at your life 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:25.360 to see whether you are living in a way that backs that up. 00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:28.799 It's why baptism is really the entry point 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:29.919 into the life of the church 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:33.000 because it is a first act of step of obedience 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:34.059 to Jesus' command. 00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:36.720 Believe and be baptized, he says. 00:09:37.700 --> 00:09:39.279 So there you have it, two foundations. 00:09:39.480 --> 00:09:40.879 The Lord knows those who are his. 00:09:41.500 --> 00:09:42.600 They're invisible to us. 00:09:42.940 --> 00:09:44.800 And everyone who confesses the name of the Lord 00:09:44.800 --> 00:09:46.379 must turn away from wickedness. 00:09:47.220 --> 00:09:48.620 Now, what I want you to see this morning 00:09:48.620 --> 00:09:50.080 is that really the rest of the passage 00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:52.080 works out in the light of those two foundations. 00:09:52.920 --> 00:09:54.320 Essentially, the rest of the passages, 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:57.120 you know, if those are the solid truths, 00:09:57.540 --> 00:09:59.520 then what should church be like? 00:10:00.300 --> 00:10:03.220 You know, what's Timothy's job in church to be 00:10:03.220 --> 00:10:05.480 if these are the solid foundations? 00:10:06.340 --> 00:10:08.820 How should he go about his ministry 00:10:08.820 --> 00:10:10.600 in a visible church, 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:12.540 which is a mix of the genuine and the fake? 00:10:14.260 --> 00:10:16.100 Well, basically, Paul says two things, 00:10:16.280 --> 00:10:18.360 one before verse 19 and one after, 00:10:18.700 --> 00:10:20.440 and each of them have their own illustration. 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:22.720 So the first is about a road builder 00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:24.820 and the second is about a housekeeper. 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:25.760 And for the rest of our time, 00:10:25.820 --> 00:10:27.440 we're going to talk about road building 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:30.060 and housekeeping, as Paul does here. 00:10:30.300 --> 00:10:33.900 So firstly, the road builder, verses 14 to 18. 00:10:34.600 --> 00:10:35.780 Look down at verse 15. 00:10:35.900 --> 00:10:38.820 This is the instruction that Paul gives to Timothy. 00:10:39.080 --> 00:10:42.360 Do your best to present yourself to God 00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:43.640 as one approved, 00:10:44.100 --> 00:10:46.080 a worker who does not need to be ashamed 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:48.540 and who correctly handles the word of truth. 00:10:48.539 --> 00:10:50.459 Here you go. 00:10:50.620 --> 00:10:52.839 This is Timothy's task in a mixed church, 00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:56.000 in a church of invisible faith, 00:10:56.219 --> 00:10:58.259 made visible by external obedience. 00:10:58.419 --> 00:11:00.419 What are you to do in that mixed church? 00:11:00.539 --> 00:11:01.279 Well, says Paul, 00:11:01.740 --> 00:11:02.559 you need to make sure 00:11:02.559 --> 00:11:05.000 that you correctly handle the word of truth. 00:11:05.579 --> 00:11:07.980 Literally here to guide a straight path, 00:11:08.339 --> 00:11:09.480 go in a straight line, 00:11:09.599 --> 00:11:11.000 not to cut corners 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:12.799 or to deviate to one side or the other. 00:11:13.839 --> 00:11:15.339 Apparently, the word here 00:11:15.339 --> 00:11:17.360 is the word from road building, 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:19.820 correctly handling the word of truth 00:11:19.820 --> 00:11:22.100 is cutting a straight path, 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:23.899 as in road building. 00:11:24.680 --> 00:11:26.120 It's not hard to think, why is it? 00:11:26.539 --> 00:11:28.620 If you've been in Britain any length of time 00:11:28.620 --> 00:11:30.220 or even in any other country 00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:32.120 that was at one point occupied by the Romans, 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:33.980 you will know they love to build 00:11:33.980 --> 00:11:36.399 straight roads, right? 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:38.940 Cutting through the countryside 00:11:38.940 --> 00:11:40.300 without twisting and turning. 00:11:40.440 --> 00:11:41.300 And that, says Paul, 00:11:41.379 --> 00:11:42.899 is to be Timothy's approach to the Bible. 00:11:43.779 --> 00:11:44.779 Cut a straight line. 00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:47.000 Don't twist, don't turn. 00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:49.720 Cut a straight line right through it. 00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:51.860 Be honest and straightforward 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:54.299 as a Roman road builder 00:11:54.299 --> 00:11:57.039 is committed to cutting a straight line 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:57.720 through the countryside. 00:11:59.179 --> 00:11:59.860 And in doing that, 00:12:00.139 --> 00:12:02.360 Timothy then is to be an approved worker, notice. 00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:03.839 Approved, though, notice, 00:12:03.939 --> 00:12:06.079 not by the church, but by God. 00:12:06.419 --> 00:12:08.319 That is who Timothy is presenting himself to 00:12:08.319 --> 00:12:09.000 in verse 15. 00:12:09.439 --> 00:12:11.899 That word implies that he is tested or examined. 00:12:11.899 --> 00:12:14.559 He is someone who God is holding to account. 00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:16.959 And so Timothy, in pleasing God, 00:12:17.059 --> 00:12:19.659 can be unashamed if he is not twisting 00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:21.379 God's word to his own ends 00:12:21.379 --> 00:12:24.620 or seeking to win personal vendettas or arguments, 00:12:25.059 --> 00:12:27.179 but clearly working hard to cut a straight road. 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:30.840 I guess it's not really that hard to imagine, is it? 00:12:30.899 --> 00:12:33.059 Paul and Timothy in their time together as friends 00:12:33.059 --> 00:12:35.519 have probably walked down a lot of Roman roads. 00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:39.079 And the difference between an approved worker 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:41.580 and an unapproved worker would have been obvious to them, right? 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:43.460 You can imagine their conversation 00:12:43.460 --> 00:12:44.500 as they're walking down the road. 00:12:45.540 --> 00:12:45.900 Wow. 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:48.560 Perhaps the guy went on holiday today, right? 00:12:48.920 --> 00:12:51.360 Notice the bump and the curve in the road, Timothy? 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:55.160 You know, perhaps the guy, you know, fell asleep. 00:12:55.860 --> 00:12:56.780 Perhaps he was drunk, 00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:58.940 but he has not cut a straight road. 00:13:00.820 --> 00:13:02.100 Timothy, don't be that guy. 00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:04.160 Make sure that you work hard. 00:13:04.820 --> 00:13:05.680 Study hard. 00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:07.680 Train properly for ministry. 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:08.579 Don't cut corners. 00:13:08.699 --> 00:13:09.859 Don't make assumptions, Timothy. 00:13:10.059 --> 00:13:11.500 Don't rely on chat GPT. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:13.459 Don't rely on Google searches. 00:13:13.659 --> 00:13:16.120 Don't stand there and waffle through your own good ideas. 00:13:16.579 --> 00:13:18.659 Don't stand there just relying on your own story 00:13:18.659 --> 00:13:19.439 or your own testimony. 00:13:19.979 --> 00:13:22.079 Don't rely on telling emotional stories, 00:13:22.419 --> 00:13:23.519 but cut a straight road. 00:13:24.659 --> 00:13:26.479 Let your teaching of the Bible be on point, 00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:28.059 direct, focus, clear. 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:31.079 In the verses that follow, 00:13:31.199 --> 00:13:32.779 Paul articulates the distractions 00:13:32.779 --> 00:13:35.059 to this kind of straight shooting Bible ministry. 00:13:35.199 --> 00:13:36.240 Look down at verse 14. 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:38.019 Quarrels about words. 00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:40.220 These seem to be the same 00:13:40.220 --> 00:13:42.960 as the foolish and stupid arguments in verse 23. 00:13:43.899 --> 00:13:45.980 Silly side pursuits and blind alleys 00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:47.200 that Christians love to debate, 00:13:47.299 --> 00:13:47.940 but end up nowhere. 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:49.919 More seriously, 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:52.000 there's the godless chatter of verse 16. 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:53.580 Literally, the words there are, 00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:55.799 a cacophony of Babel 00:13:55.799 --> 00:13:57.600 that leads away from the Lord. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:00.379 Hymenus and Philetus in verse 18 00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:01.399 have said that the resurrection 00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:02.460 has already taken place. 00:14:02.820 --> 00:14:04.600 It's like an ancient prosperity gospel 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:06.259 that says, hey, you Christian, 00:14:06.420 --> 00:14:07.759 you've got everything you're going to get. 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:08.820 It's brilliant now. 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:11.000 You don't need to wait for the glory to come. 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:13.060 Paul says they're wrong. 00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:15.519 This is Paul's point, isn't it? 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:16.500 If you know the foundations 00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:17.920 that the Lord knows those who are his 00:14:17.920 --> 00:14:19.759 and everyone who confesses the name of the Lord 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:20.899 must turn away from wickedness, 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:22.080 what are you to do? 00:14:22.540 --> 00:14:23.639 What's going to cut through 00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:25.080 that dynamic in church life? 00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:27.660 What will expose hearts? 00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:30.160 What will lead people away from wickedness? 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:31.660 What will demonstrate to people 00:14:31.660 --> 00:14:32.900 that they're faking it? 00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:35.740 Straight, honest, clear, 00:14:35.940 --> 00:14:37.240 to the point Bible ministry 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:39.720 by a teacher who works hard 00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:41.400 and seeks the approval of the Lord 00:14:41.400 --> 00:14:42.500 and not men. 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:47.080 I want you just to think with me right now. 00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:49.980 What is happening right now 00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:51.000 as we open the Bible together? 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:54.960 I think the sense of what's going on here 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:55.820 in 2 Timothy 2 00:14:55.820 --> 00:14:57.460 is that Paul is suggesting 00:14:57.460 --> 00:14:58.620 that this, if you like, 00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:01.400 is a moment in front of the tabernacle 00:15:01.400 --> 00:15:02.840 with chorus people. 00:15:03.580 --> 00:15:04.620 That's what's going on 00:15:04.620 --> 00:15:06.100 every time we open God's word, isn't it? 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:07.520 As we open God's word, 00:15:07.660 --> 00:15:10.280 this is God cutting through 00:15:10.280 --> 00:15:11.660 the fake and the real. 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:15.120 I don't expect the ground to swallow people up. 00:15:15.800 --> 00:15:16.800 If the ground opened here, 00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:18.759 I would assume it was just the floor failing, 00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:20.900 which is maybe not totally unlikely. 00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:24.299 But God does expose our hearts 00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:25.559 as we open the Bible together. 00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:27.059 And I hope you're experiencing that. 00:15:27.819 --> 00:15:29.299 You see, we're a mixed bunch, aren't we? 00:15:29.819 --> 00:15:30.980 There are people in this room 00:15:30.980 --> 00:15:31.740 who love the Lord 00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:32.980 and are keen to live for his glory. 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:34.319 And there are people 00:15:34.319 --> 00:15:37.079 who know that's not them, 00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:39.879 but they are pretending that it is them. 00:15:41.559 --> 00:15:42.600 There are people in this room 00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:43.579 who know it's not them 00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:45.500 and they want to find out more. 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:49.680 And there are people who aren't Christians, 00:15:49.820 --> 00:15:52.420 but think they are and are self-deceived. 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:54.400 And like I said before, 00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:55.580 no one's wearing a label, are they? 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:56.600 No one comes in with a label. 00:15:56.600 --> 00:16:00.120 I am fooling myself this morning. 00:16:01.060 --> 00:16:02.620 I want you to think I'm a Christian, 00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:03.580 but really I'm not. 00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:05.279 I'm only investigating. 00:16:06.180 --> 00:16:07.060 No, none of us wear a label 00:16:07.060 --> 00:16:08.220 and that's absolutely fine. 00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:12.920 But God knows your heart right now, 00:16:13.180 --> 00:16:13.840 this morning, 00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:16.360 and he's cutting through it with his word 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:17.460 and exposing you. 00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:19.360 It's not me, it's him. 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:23.379 And it's not the sort of vague inferences 00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:24.519 of God's word about issues 00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:25.379 that don't really matter. 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:26.899 No, it's the central message 00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:28.200 all the way through the Bible, 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:30.320 the message about salvation in Christ alone, 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:31.139 through faith alone, 00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:32.200 to the glory of God alone. 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:33.919 That's what's going on here. 00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:35.279 That's what exposes us. 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:38.080 God's word confronts us with our sin. 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:40.200 That the God who made you, 00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:41.919 who loves you, 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:43.800 who gives you life and breath 00:16:43.800 --> 00:16:45.259 and everything that you enjoy, 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:47.720 that God deserves your worship 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:48.740 and your praise 00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:50.539 and your very life. 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:52.539 But you've lived for yourself, 00:16:53.299 --> 00:16:54.980 for your own glory and not his. 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:56.220 We all have. 00:16:57.019 --> 00:16:59.360 And so we deserve his judgment. 00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:02.799 Having received life as a gift 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:04.480 and lived it to ourselves, 00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:06.220 our life is now forfeit. 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:08.279 We deserve to die. 00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:11.440 But in an act of unfathomable mercy, 00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:13.539 God sent his son, Jesus Christ, 00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:15.200 God in flesh, 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:17.720 living in perfect worship 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:18.700 and praise of his father, 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:21.079 before dying on a cross in our place, 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:23.220 bearing the punishment that we deserve, 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:25.700 that we might receive resurrection life through him. 00:17:26.380 --> 00:17:27.480 It's that message, 00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:29.519 which it takes the whole Bible to tell, 00:17:29.779 --> 00:17:31.400 that exposes your heart. 00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:32.640 I'm a sinner. 00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:35.259 Jesus alone can save me. 00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:37.519 I need to trust in him. 00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:40.940 The truth is, 00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:44.200 this exposing work happens whenever the Bible is open. 00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:46.200 So perhaps this morning, 00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:47.720 you find yourself as being one of those people 00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:49.740 who's responsible for perhaps a community group 00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:50.819 or for youth ministry 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.879 or for Sunday school 00:17:51.879 --> 00:17:53.779 or for doing a one-to-one. 00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:55.019 Perhaps you've got your own children 00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:56.200 that you're trying to teach the Bible. 00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:57.779 Maybe you've got grandchildren, 00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:58.900 nieces or nephews, 00:17:58.900 --> 00:18:01.140 or maybe you're sharing in the preaching ministry 00:18:01.140 --> 00:18:01.980 in the life of the church. 00:18:02.280 --> 00:18:02.480 Well, 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:04.740 then you need this instruction in verse 15, 00:18:04.820 --> 00:18:05.200 don't you? 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:07.880 That you need God's approval, 00:18:08.040 --> 00:18:09.540 not other people's. 00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:10.360 You know, 00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:12.140 if you open the Bible 00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:13.660 looking for people's approval, 00:18:13.860 --> 00:18:14.860 then what you will do 00:18:14.860 --> 00:18:16.680 is you will fall into the godless chatter. 00:18:17.019 --> 00:18:18.300 People love godless chatter. 00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:18.539 You know, 00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:21.339 if you spend hours talking about 00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:22.919 who the beast is in Revelation 13, 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:24.319 they'll love to chat about that. 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.399 Or worse, 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:29.039 you'll find yourself spreading the gangrene 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:30.599 of telling people what they want to hear, 00:18:30.899 --> 00:18:32.139 like Hymenus and Philetus. 00:18:32.919 --> 00:18:34.079 You've got everything you want. 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:35.139 Life's going to be brilliant. 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:38.039 Instead, though, 00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:38.980 you need to be examined, 00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:39.639 tested, 00:18:39.899 --> 00:18:40.319 trained, 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:41.859 open to feedback and criticism 00:18:41.859 --> 00:18:42.919 so that you're clear 00:18:42.919 --> 00:18:43.819 that what you're saying 00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.960 is what the Bible is saying. 00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:46.680 So that as you speak 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:47.579 for the glory of God, 00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:47.980 you do it, 00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:49.519 not as someone who's just rocked up 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:50.960 and is saying whatever's on their mind 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:53.220 or in some super spiritual way, 00:18:53.659 --> 00:18:54.599 speaking as if, 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:55.019 you know, 00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:56.259 preparing to preach 00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:57.480 or preparing to speak 00:18:57.480 --> 00:18:58.819 or preparing to share God's word 00:18:58.819 --> 00:19:00.299 takes no preparation at all. 00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:00.879 No, 00:19:01.159 --> 00:19:02.419 the image of road building 00:19:02.419 --> 00:19:03.980 implies sweat, 00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.179 doesn't it? 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:06.039 Hard work, 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:06.819 graft. 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:09.899 The spirit loves to bless hard work. 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.879 I think it's probably worth 00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:13.859 us just lingering here 00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:15.460 on this for a moment. 00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:17.019 I received an email 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:18.220 from a friend this week 00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:20.440 who's a retired seminary professor. 00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.779 He spent his working life 00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:24.099 training men and women 00:19:24.099 --> 00:19:25.720 for ministry roles 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:26.700 in the life of the church. 00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:28.379 We exchange emails 00:19:28.379 --> 00:19:29.000 every now and again 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.579 as we debate 00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:30.400 various different things 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:31.460 and he made this comment. 00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:32.660 He said, 00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:33.460 just in one line, 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:33.859 he said, 00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:34.920 mediocre preaching 00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:36.639 is now the rule 00:19:36.639 --> 00:19:37.940 and not the exception 00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:39.099 in churches in Britain. 00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:41.579 In other words, 00:19:41.679 --> 00:19:42.079 he said, 00:19:42.159 --> 00:19:43.559 the weakness of the church 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:44.559 is not about 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.579 the cultural moment 00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:46.379 that we live in 00:19:46.379 --> 00:19:47.619 but that ministry 00:19:47.619 --> 00:19:48.219 in churches 00:19:48.219 --> 00:19:49.980 is done by unqualified people 00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:51.019 working for the approval 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:51.699 of men and women. 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:52.959 That was his point. 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:55.879 He's not the only one 00:19:55.879 --> 00:19:56.559 saying it, 00:19:56.639 --> 00:19:56.959 actually. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:59.480 So what does it look like 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:00.359 to be a church 00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:01.539 that bucks that trend 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:02.879 and takes this instruction 00:20:02.879 --> 00:20:04.139 in verse 15 seriously? 00:20:04.140 --> 00:20:06.880 But I think it means 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:07.700 that one of the things 00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:08.300 that we are going 00:20:08.300 --> 00:20:09.120 to invest in 00:20:09.120 --> 00:20:10.259 as a local church 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:12.400 is training people, 00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:13.540 men and women, 00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:15.900 to be these approved workers 00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:18.000 who work for God's glory 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:19.740 and who are straight-talking 00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:21.200 word ministers, right? 00:20:22.900 --> 00:20:23.440 You see, 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:24.420 think about what's being said here. 00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:25.120 If Paul is right 00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:25.900 that in churches 00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:27.120 of invisible hearts 00:20:27.120 --> 00:20:28.080 where preaching 00:20:28.080 --> 00:20:28.520 is the thing 00:20:28.520 --> 00:20:29.320 that cuts through it, 00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:31.120 God's word cuts through 00:20:31.120 --> 00:20:33.060 invisible hearts 00:20:33.060 --> 00:20:34.040 that aren't really 00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:35.079 exposed to us, 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:36.279 then two things 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:37.099 are true by implication. 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:38.220 One, which we've seen, 00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:39.480 is that it's the ministry 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:39.859 of the word 00:20:39.859 --> 00:20:40.700 that does the exposing. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.099 You know, 00:20:41.579 --> 00:20:42.000 ministry of the word 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:43.200 is like cancer surgery, right? 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.759 It's cutting open 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:45.839 and cutting out the bad. 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:47.960 But the second implication 00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:49.720 is that it's not just 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:51.180 any old Bible ministry 00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:52.240 that does that work. 00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:53.859 It's approved by God 00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:55.399 straight-shooting Bible ministry 00:20:55.399 --> 00:20:56.220 that does this. 00:20:57.139 --> 00:20:58.019 And Paul says 00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:59.639 that really that kind of ministry 00:20:59.639 --> 00:21:00.899 requires examination, 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:02.119 it requires training, 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:03.180 it requires testing. 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:05.220 Which means that if you expect 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:06.559 to be able to teach young people, 00:21:06.659 --> 00:21:07.079 to preach, 00:21:07.159 --> 00:21:08.019 to lead a Bible study, 00:21:08.460 --> 00:21:09.279 and the only training 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:09.899 that you've received 00:21:09.899 --> 00:21:10.839 is you've sat in church 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:11.659 and watched someone else 00:21:11.659 --> 00:21:12.680 do it for a few years, 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.639 that's like someone 00:21:13.639 --> 00:21:14.480 turning up and doing 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.339 a cancer operation 00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:15.599 and says, 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:15.779 well, 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:17.240 I watched it on YouTube. 00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:18.559 What? 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:20.259 You've got a scalpel, 00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:21.159 you're cutting into them, 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:21.720 what are you doing? 00:21:23.099 --> 00:21:23.619 That's it. 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:24.399 It happens in churches 00:21:24.399 --> 00:21:24.940 all the time, 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:25.420 doesn't it? 00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:27.240 It means that we, 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.059 as a church, 00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:29.299 need to take care 00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:30.000 who we appoint 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:31.240 to be teaching elders, 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:33.240 but also that we need 00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:33.980 to be serious 00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:35.180 about training others 00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:35.680 as well, 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:38.240 ourselves and others. 00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:40.000 We need to turn up, 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:41.180 we need to knuckle down, 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:42.680 we need to listen carefully 00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:43.200 to feedback, 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.920 we need to study hard, 00:21:45.140 --> 00:21:46.240 formally and formally. 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:49.380 There's a research group 00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:50.620 called the Barna Research Group 00:21:50.620 --> 00:21:52.099 that suggested in 2024 00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:53.380 that the attrition rate 00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:54.480 of pastors leaving 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.319 or wanting to leave 00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:55.740 their jobs 00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:57.059 in independent 00:21:57.059 --> 00:21:57.960 evangelical churches 00:21:57.960 --> 00:21:58.579 like ours 00:21:58.579 --> 00:22:00.220 is 50%. 00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:01.819 Like 50% 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:03.160 of men in ministry, 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:04.059 if you ask them 00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:04.740 would they like 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.519 to quit their job, 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.480 would tell you 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:07.620 yes please, 00:22:08.099 --> 00:22:08.359 right? 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.019 I mean, 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:11.200 that is incredible. 00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:12.480 But if you take 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:13.140 into consideration 00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:14.599 that and the average age 00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.640 of people in pastoral ministry, 00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:17.079 then churches like ours, 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:18.339 and this was a back 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:18.819 of an envelope 00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:19.480 kind of calculation, 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:20.460 I think we probably 00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:21.559 need to be training up 00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:23.039 somebody every two years 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:23.539 to send them 00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:24.319 into pastoral ministry. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:26.500 Because if we're not 00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:26.879 doing that, 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.740 we will be running out 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.679 of people to do ministry. 00:22:29.639 --> 00:22:30.119 In fact, 00:22:30.139 --> 00:22:30.759 I think you could make 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.379 a good argument 00:22:31.379 --> 00:22:32.059 that for a church 00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:33.240 like ours in inner London, 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:33.779 you know, 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:34.639 there are twice as many 00:22:34.639 --> 00:22:35.439 young people living 00:22:35.439 --> 00:22:36.000 in inner London 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.579 as there are 00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:37.139 in other parts 00:22:37.139 --> 00:22:37.639 of the country, 00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:39.039 means that we should 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:40.059 be doing more of this 00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:41.059 than any other church. 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.359 We should do twice 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:43.319 as much of this 00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:44.200 because we have 00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:45.119 twice the opportunity. 00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:47.000 So a church like ours 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:47.939 should invest heavily 00:22:47.939 --> 00:22:50.119 its money in providing 00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:51.439 training to men and women, 00:22:51.639 --> 00:22:53.119 not just for full-time roles, 00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:54.299 but for lay roles too. 00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:56.000 So that we might serve 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:57.500 God's people for God's glory 00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:59.000 and for their good. 00:23:00.139 --> 00:23:01.339 And if we won't invest 00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:02.240 there as a church, 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:03.759 we can expect to be in a mess 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:05.079 because we're called 00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:05.980 to be road builders 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:08.439 in a church where the Lord 00:23:08.439 --> 00:23:09.720 knows those who are his. 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:11.439 That's the first illustration, 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:11.879 road builder. 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:12.679 Second illustration, 00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:13.859 housekeeper. 00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:14.720 Have a look down 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.460 at verse 20. 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:18.460 In a large house, 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:19.460 there are articles 00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:21.659 not only of gold and silver, 00:23:21.939 --> 00:23:23.859 but also of wood and clay. 00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:26.759 Some are for special purposes 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:28.679 and some for common use. 00:23:29.659 --> 00:23:30.779 Those who cleanse themselves 00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:31.519 from the latter 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.519 will be instruments 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.839 for special purposes, 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.319 made holy, 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:37.339 useful to the master 00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:38.599 and prepared to do 00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:40.000 any good work. 00:23:41.439 --> 00:23:42.279 Here the image then 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:43.740 is a grand house 00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:45.379 with servants in it. 00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:46.700 And the servants 00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:48.220 have two kinds of tools 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:49.799 at their disposal. 00:23:50.179 --> 00:23:51.679 They have dirty tools 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:52.620 for dirty jobs 00:23:52.620 --> 00:23:54.180 and they have special tools 00:23:54.180 --> 00:23:55.279 for special jobs. 00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:58.259 Dirty tools like hammers, 00:23:58.380 --> 00:23:59.440 shovels, clay jars 00:23:59.440 --> 00:23:59.840 and the like 00:23:59.840 --> 00:24:01.500 and clean tools 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.120 for fancy jobs 00:24:02.120 --> 00:24:03.880 like silver service implements, 00:24:04.120 --> 00:24:05.080 golden candelabras, 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:06.259 goblets and the like. 00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:08.299 And the point is this, 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:08.580 right? 00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:10.340 Be like the gold 00:24:10.340 --> 00:24:11.779 and silver tools, 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:13.799 not like the wooden clay ones. 00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:15.640 What does that mean? 00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:17.740 Well, remember verse 19, 00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:18.680 the Lord knows those 00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:19.140 who are his 00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:20.559 and everyone who confesses 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:21.180 the name of the Lord 00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:22.579 must turn away from wickedness. 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:23.960 In other words, 00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:25.779 the point is 00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:27.819 God will get the job done, 00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:28.200 right? 00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:30.059 God knows who is his. 00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:32.420 God doesn't look at the church 00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:32.720 and go, 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:34.019 oh, I'm not quite sure 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:35.059 I know what I'm doing, 00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:35.900 right? 00:24:36.140 --> 00:24:37.539 God knows what he's doing 00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:38.920 and he will get the job done. 00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:40.680 He knows who his people are. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:42.900 God's mission is not threatened 00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:44.059 by false teachers 00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:44.940 and by bad workers 00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:45.700 in the church. 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.539 No, the point is really 00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:48.579 that false teachers 00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:49.319 and bad workers 00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:49.740 in the church 00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:50.920 are like these 00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:52.460 wooden implements, 00:24:52.639 --> 00:24:53.440 clay implements. 00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:55.339 They're used by God 00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:56.480 for the dirty jobs 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:58.079 and then discarded. 00:24:59.000 --> 00:24:59.119 You know, 00:24:59.139 --> 00:25:00.139 they're like the Assyrians 00:25:00.139 --> 00:25:01.940 in Isaiah chapter 7 00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:03.279 who are used like a razor 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:04.240 on the head of Israel, 00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:05.139 right? 00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.480 They are used 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.519 despite themselves 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:08.159 to accomplish 00:25:08.159 --> 00:25:09.079 the purposes of God 00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:10.420 or like the circumcision party 00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:11.139 in Acts 15 00:25:11.139 --> 00:25:12.379 who make the church 00:25:12.379 --> 00:25:13.240 much clearer 00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:13.960 on the gospel 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:14.960 by disputing 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:15.480 with the church 00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.299 on circumcision. 00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:17.299 You know, 00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:17.980 they're not seeking 00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:18.720 to serve God, 00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:19.700 they're serving themselves 00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:20.619 but nevertheless 00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:22.139 they accomplish God's purposes 00:25:22.139 --> 00:25:23.259 even unwittingly. 00:25:24.399 --> 00:25:25.259 The point is 00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:26.240 that false teaching 00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:27.180 in the church 00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:28.639 is not bad for God. 00:25:29.659 --> 00:25:31.059 It's bad for the false teacher 00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:32.759 and for those who listen 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:35.319 and God's point here 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:36.639 is don't be 00:25:36.639 --> 00:25:37.980 a wooden hammer, 00:25:38.619 --> 00:25:39.740 be a silver spoon. 00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:40.759 You know, 00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:41.899 don't unwittingly 00:25:41.899 --> 00:25:43.339 bash out God's plan, 00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:45.279 be a golden candelabra 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:46.279 that holds the flame 00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:47.220 of the gospel brightly 00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:48.579 because the Lord 00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:49.740 knows those who are his 00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:51.399 and everyone who confesses 00:25:51.399 --> 00:25:52.019 the name of the Lord 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.599 must turn away 00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:53.259 from wickedness. 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:54.940 So turn away 00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:56.220 from wickedness. 00:25:56.619 --> 00:25:57.619 That's what God's people do 00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:58.619 and that's what you should do. 00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:01.500 I wonder sometimes 00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.619 whether we get confused 00:26:02.619 --> 00:26:03.460 by these warnings 00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:03.980 in the Bible. 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.180 How can both 00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:06.139 those statements be true? 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:06.940 How can the Lord 00:26:06.940 --> 00:26:07.859 know those who are his 00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:08.480 and accomplish 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.119 all his purposes 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:10.799 and at the same time 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:12.500 warn us about disobedience? 00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:14.000 How can those things 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:14.440 be true? 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:16.740 Now, 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.480 I think actually 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.579 sometimes we get confused 00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:20.019 about this 00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:21.160 because we don't really listen. 00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:22.359 The point is 00:26:22.359 --> 00:26:24.039 that the warning 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:24.720 will work 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.799 if you listen to it 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.880 even if 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:27.640 you're listening 00:26:27.640 --> 00:26:28.180 to the warning 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:29.259 is not necessarily 00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:30.019 related 00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:32.059 to the warning itself. 00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:33.539 Let me try and give you 00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:33.880 an example 00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:34.599 because that's confusing, 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:35.039 isn't it? 00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:36.599 If I tell you, 00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:36.839 right, 00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:37.859 don't go play 00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:38.819 in the railway line, 00:26:38.819 --> 00:26:41.240 whether you listen 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:41.879 to my warning 00:26:41.879 --> 00:26:42.819 of not playing 00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:43.500 in the railway line 00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:44.599 is probably related 00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:45.240 something to do 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:45.879 with whether you think 00:26:45.879 --> 00:26:46.599 I'm sensible 00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:47.419 or a fool. 00:26:48.179 --> 00:26:48.779 I'll never listen 00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:49.759 to that Steve guy. 00:26:50.159 --> 00:26:50.619 What does he know 00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:51.559 about railways anyway, 00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:52.000 right? 00:26:52.679 --> 00:26:53.339 So you don't listen 00:26:53.339 --> 00:26:53.779 to the warning. 00:26:54.639 --> 00:26:55.240 But if you think, 00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:55.720 do you know what, 00:26:56.139 --> 00:26:57.220 Steve might be worth 00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:57.700 listening to. 00:26:57.919 --> 00:26:58.460 I know he's got 00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.159 some experience 00:26:59.159 --> 00:26:59.819 of railway lines. 00:26:59.919 --> 00:27:00.359 I don't actually, 00:27:00.439 --> 00:27:00.859 but you know, 00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:02.419 he's got some experience. 00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:03.019 He probably knows 00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.480 what he's talking about. 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:03.839 I should listen 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:04.319 to his warning. 00:27:04.919 --> 00:27:05.659 In that case, 00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:07.079 the warning works 00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:07.839 because of your 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.799 relationship with me. 00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:11.099 God warns his people 00:27:11.099 --> 00:27:12.439 and it divides them 00:27:12.439 --> 00:27:13.619 between those who listen 00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:14.500 and the warning works 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.539 and those who don't listen 00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:16.059 and therefore 00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:17.099 the warning doesn't work. 00:27:17.619 --> 00:27:18.619 And that's what's going on. 00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:20.119 The same is here. 00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:21.220 God tells you, 00:27:21.339 --> 00:27:22.139 cleanse yourself 00:27:22.139 --> 00:27:22.960 from being a tool 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:23.579 of ignorance 00:27:23.579 --> 00:27:25.419 to be a tool of glory. 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:27.099 You should listen. 00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:29.939 Be useful for good work. 00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:30.559 Be holy. 00:27:30.679 --> 00:27:31.240 Be special. 00:27:32.159 --> 00:27:32.539 And of course, 00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:33.599 whether or not you listen 00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:35.159 is not really related 00:27:35.159 --> 00:27:35.980 to the warning itself. 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:37.480 It's related to your relationship 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.019 with the Lord 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.900 who gives the warning. 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.500 So how then 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.160 do we become 00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:43.220 useful, 00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:44.519 holy tools 00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.920 instead of 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:47.900 sacrificial screwdrivers 00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:49.059 that we hit with a hammer 00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:50.140 when we've got a dirty job 00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:50.759 we want to do? 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:51.940 Well, 00:27:51.940 --> 00:27:53.099 that's what Paul articulates 00:27:53.099 --> 00:27:54.000 in verse 22. 00:27:54.140 --> 00:27:54.980 Have a look down at it. 00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:56.360 I'll read it to you. 00:27:56.359 --> 00:27:58.199 Flee the evil desires of youth. 00:27:58.879 --> 00:27:59.799 Pursue righteousness, 00:28:00.179 --> 00:28:00.519 faith, 00:28:00.719 --> 00:28:01.619 love and peace 00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:02.599 along with those 00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.399 who call on the Lord 00:28:03.399 --> 00:28:04.519 out of a pure heart. 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:06.159 Don't have anything to do 00:28:06.159 --> 00:28:06.819 with foolish 00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:08.039 and stupid arguments 00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:08.659 because you know 00:28:08.659 --> 00:28:09.719 they produce quarrels. 00:28:10.299 --> 00:28:11.139 And the Lord's servant 00:28:11.139 --> 00:28:12.259 must not be quarrelsome, 00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:13.759 must be kind to everyone, 00:28:13.859 --> 00:28:14.519 able to teach, 00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:15.279 not resentful. 00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:16.899 Opponents must be 00:28:16.899 --> 00:28:17.839 gently instructed 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:18.319 in the hope 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.219 that God will grant them 00:28:19.219 --> 00:28:19.659 repentance 00:28:19.659 --> 00:28:21.399 leading them to a knowledge 00:28:21.399 --> 00:28:22.059 of the truth 00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:22.899 so that they will 00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:23.859 come to their senses 00:28:23.859 --> 00:28:24.639 and escape from 00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:25.360 the trap of the devil 00:28:25.360 --> 00:28:26.520 who has taken them captive 00:28:26.520 --> 00:28:27.220 to do his will. 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:29.200 Let's just work through 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:29.940 those really briefly. 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:31.500 Being useful to the Lord 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.380 involves running 00:28:32.380 --> 00:28:33.580 from what Paul calls 00:28:33.580 --> 00:28:35.060 evil desires of youth. 00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:36.520 In the context 00:28:36.520 --> 00:28:37.400 that seems to be 00:28:37.400 --> 00:28:39.100 going in the opposite direction 00:28:39.100 --> 00:28:40.020 towards righteousness, 00:28:40.320 --> 00:28:40.540 faith, 00:28:40.660 --> 00:28:41.460 love and peace. 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:43.200 So that to flee 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.940 the youthful desires, 00:28:45.040 --> 00:28:46.240 the evil desires of youth 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:47.640 is yes to run away 00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:49.259 from unrighteous sexual desire 00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:50.700 but it's more than that. 00:28:51.600 --> 00:28:52.620 We're to flee a desire 00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:53.259 for fame. 00:28:54.040 --> 00:28:54.460 We're to flee 00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.759 a desire for influence. 00:28:56.120 --> 00:28:56.620 We're to flee 00:28:56.620 --> 00:28:58.259 a desire for material wealth. 00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:59.160 We're to flee 00:28:59.160 --> 00:29:00.039 a desire for making 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:01.120 a name for ourselves. 00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:03.259 We're to run after Jesus 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:04.740 and do stuff out of faith 00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:05.140 in him 00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:05.900 and not confidence 00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:06.539 in ourselves. 00:29:07.120 --> 00:29:07.900 We're to run after 00:29:07.900 --> 00:29:08.819 loving others, 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:09.920 laying down ourselves 00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:10.720 for their benefit, 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.920 being willing to become less 00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:14.500 that they might become more. 00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:16.600 We're to run after peace 00:29:16.600 --> 00:29:17.759 and not disagreements. 00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:20.059 In verse 23, 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:20.880 Paul spends longer 00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:21.400 on that, doesn't he? 00:29:21.420 --> 00:29:22.299 He says that churches 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:24.359 are full of stupid arguments, 00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:26.059 foolish talk 00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:27.220 that leads to quarrels. 00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:29.159 And verse 24, 00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:30.019 the Lord's servant 00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.980 of gold and silver 00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:32.059 is not to be fighting 00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:32.639 with the sheep 00:29:32.639 --> 00:29:33.700 over stuff that doesn't matter. 00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.680 You've all met that 00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:36.759 kind of pick-a-fight 00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:37.680 pastor, right? 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:38.859 Well, 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.700 he's a jar of clay 00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:41.960 in a bad way, 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:43.480 not in a one Corinthians way 00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:44.039 but in a bad, 00:29:44.099 --> 00:29:44.899 or two Corinthians way 00:29:44.899 --> 00:29:45.819 but in a bad way. 00:29:47.059 --> 00:29:47.819 He's there 00:29:47.819 --> 00:29:48.879 for ennobal purposes. 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:49.240 Actually, 00:29:50.560 --> 00:29:52.140 you need a peace-loving pastor. 00:29:54.040 --> 00:29:54.980 We're to be kind 00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:55.580 to everyone 00:29:55.580 --> 00:29:57.080 even when they disagree 00:29:57.080 --> 00:29:57.760 with us. 00:29:58.140 --> 00:29:58.720 We're to be able 00:29:58.720 --> 00:29:59.480 to teach 00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:00.440 because we're not 00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:01.900 distracted by silly arguments 00:30:01.900 --> 00:30:02.600 that can take away 00:30:02.600 --> 00:30:03.200 from the point. 00:30:04.100 --> 00:30:05.000 And our hope is that 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:06.520 not that we can change people 00:30:06.520 --> 00:30:06.800 but, 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.480 verse 25, 00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:08.200 look down at it, 00:30:08.260 --> 00:30:09.360 that God might grant 00:30:09.360 --> 00:30:10.280 repentance to people. 00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:11.520 God is the one 00:30:11.520 --> 00:30:12.220 that we trust in. 00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:13.220 God is the one 00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:14.060 doing the work, 00:30:14.680 --> 00:30:15.460 turning people back 00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:16.200 to him in knowledge 00:30:16.200 --> 00:30:16.740 of the truth 00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.240 and freedom 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:17.820 from the devil, 00:30:17.819 --> 00:30:18.480 verse 23. 00:30:20.119 --> 00:30:21.079 So here's the question 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:21.579 for you and me 00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:22.259 for this morning, 00:30:22.379 --> 00:30:22.519 right? 00:30:22.839 --> 00:30:23.980 The question is not, 00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:24.279 notice, 00:30:24.419 --> 00:30:25.240 the question is not 00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:27.159 will you be useful, 00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.059 right? 00:30:28.679 --> 00:30:29.819 You will be useful 00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:31.839 because God uses 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.599 all things 00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:33.339 for his purposes, 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.039 right? 00:30:34.159 --> 00:30:34.799 That's a given. 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:36.639 All things work out 00:30:36.639 --> 00:30:37.359 for the accomplishment 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:38.179 of God's purposes. 00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:39.240 That is not the question. 00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:41.240 You know, 00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:42.919 if you think 00:30:42.919 --> 00:30:44.240 you can stand in God, 00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:45.079 it's like standing 00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:46.159 on Brighton Beach, 00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:48.060 stopping the tide 00:30:48.060 --> 00:30:48.740 from coming in, 00:30:48.860 --> 00:30:49.120 right? 00:30:50.600 --> 00:30:51.000 Stop. 00:30:51.360 --> 00:30:52.000 It's just going 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.759 to wash you away, 00:30:52.840 --> 00:30:53.140 isn't it? 00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:54.360 You can't stand 00:30:54.360 --> 00:30:55.140 in the way of God. 00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:57.540 You can't stop 00:30:57.540 --> 00:30:58.220 his purposes. 00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:59.220 He's going to accomplish 00:30:59.220 --> 00:30:59.860 his purpose 00:30:59.860 --> 00:31:00.740 come what may. 00:31:01.420 --> 00:31:01.600 Now, 00:31:01.620 --> 00:31:02.360 that's not the question. 00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:03.560 The question 00:31:03.560 --> 00:31:04.800 is really this. 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.740 The question is, 00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:07.660 are you going 00:31:07.660 --> 00:31:09.279 to be a gold 00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:10.040 or silver tool 00:31:10.040 --> 00:31:11.300 or are you going 00:31:11.300 --> 00:31:12.100 to be a wood 00:31:12.100 --> 00:31:12.880 and clay one? 00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:14.480 The question 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.360 isn't even, 00:31:15.980 --> 00:31:16.880 are you a Christian 00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:17.500 or not? 00:31:17.820 --> 00:31:18.820 Because it seems 00:31:18.820 --> 00:31:19.700 like in the context 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.480 it's possible 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:21.860 to be saved 00:31:21.860 --> 00:31:23.640 and still 00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:25.800 to be a noble tool 00:31:25.800 --> 00:31:27.140 in the hand of God. 00:31:27.800 --> 00:31:28.680 Think of the people 00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.660 in 1 Corinthians 3 00:31:29.660 --> 00:31:30.520 who were escaping 00:31:30.520 --> 00:31:31.280 through the flames. 00:31:32.820 --> 00:31:33.140 You see, 00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:34.140 the question really, 00:31:34.260 --> 00:31:34.560 I suppose, 00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:35.340 you put it this way, 00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:37.080 do you want God 00:31:37.080 --> 00:31:37.780 to use you 00:31:37.780 --> 00:31:39.220 because of your desires 00:31:39.220 --> 00:31:39.660 and your love 00:31:39.660 --> 00:31:40.340 for his people 00:31:40.340 --> 00:31:41.820 or despite 00:31:41.820 --> 00:31:42.820 your lack of love? 00:31:43.880 --> 00:31:44.780 Do you want 00:31:44.780 --> 00:31:46.500 in your youthful, 00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:47.340 sinful passion 00:31:47.340 --> 00:31:48.800 to pursue your own ends 00:31:48.800 --> 00:31:49.840 and be frustrated 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:50.960 and waste your life 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:52.420 in causing irrelevant arguments 00:31:52.420 --> 00:31:53.520 on the edge of church 00:31:53.520 --> 00:31:55.380 or do you want 00:31:55.380 --> 00:31:56.180 to grow up 00:31:56.180 --> 00:31:57.580 and live for God's glory 00:31:57.580 --> 00:31:58.280 and not your own? 00:31:59.160 --> 00:31:59.920 What do you want? 00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:01.700 Which will it be? 00:32:02.520 --> 00:32:03.320 It's not that you can 00:32:03.320 --> 00:32:04.180 thwart God's purposes 00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:05.860 but you can waste your life, 00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:06.360 right? 00:32:06.780 --> 00:32:08.440 You can ruin a church. 00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:10.680 You can squander your money. 00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:12.860 You can lead people astray. 00:32:13.740 --> 00:32:14.719 You can rob yourself 00:32:14.719 --> 00:32:15.479 of any assurance 00:32:15.479 --> 00:32:16.359 that you're really a Christian. 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:18.219 You can lose your joy 00:32:18.219 --> 00:32:20.559 or you could cleanse yourself 00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:21.199 from all of that 00:32:21.199 --> 00:32:23.079 and press into the gospel of grace, 00:32:23.819 --> 00:32:24.899 leaning in the strength 00:32:24.899 --> 00:32:25.399 of the spirit, 00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:26.159 making the most 00:32:26.159 --> 00:32:27.039 of being discipled 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:27.439 and trained 00:32:27.439 --> 00:32:27.939 that you might be 00:32:27.939 --> 00:32:29.039 an instrument of gold 00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:29.479 and silver 00:32:29.479 --> 00:32:30.000 and the mission 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:30.839 of God in the world. 00:32:30.839 --> 00:32:34.879 When I was at theological college, 00:32:35.059 --> 00:32:36.199 I was lectured by a guy 00:32:36.199 --> 00:32:37.159 called Mike Ovey 00:32:37.159 --> 00:32:39.199 who died tragically 00:32:39.199 --> 00:32:39.919 and very suddenly 00:32:39.919 --> 00:32:40.980 a few years later. 00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:43.139 He used to say, 00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:45.500 I want to make you 00:32:45.500 --> 00:32:47.259 the best gift 00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:48.839 to a local church 00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:49.659 that I can. 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:50.959 That was his purpose. 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:52.339 I want you 00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:53.679 to be the best gift 00:32:53.679 --> 00:32:54.419 you can be 00:32:54.419 --> 00:32:55.879 to a local church. 00:32:56.720 --> 00:32:58.000 He was under God 00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:58.840 trying to make 00:32:58.840 --> 00:32:59.640 wooden hammers 00:32:59.640 --> 00:33:00.600 into silver spoons. 00:33:00.800 --> 00:33:01.480 That's what he was doing. 00:33:02.840 --> 00:33:03.880 And it's not just for pastors, 00:33:04.020 --> 00:33:04.200 is it? 00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:05.360 It's for all of us. 00:33:06.760 --> 00:33:07.220 Let's pray 00:33:07.220 --> 00:33:08.400 that God might cleanse us 00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:09.020 from passion 00:33:09.020 --> 00:33:09.980 for our own glory, 00:33:10.320 --> 00:33:11.360 for the praise of others, 00:33:11.760 --> 00:33:12.760 that we might live 00:33:12.760 --> 00:33:13.960 for the glory of God alone, 00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:14.720 follow him, 00:33:15.040 --> 00:33:15.680 obey him, 00:33:16.220 --> 00:33:17.600 and be a golden tool 00:33:17.600 --> 00:33:18.440 in the service 00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:19.040 of our Lord 00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:20.159 because the Lord 00:33:20.159 --> 00:33:21.240 knows those who are his 00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:22.779 and everyone 00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:23.759 who confesses 00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:24.539 the name of the Lord 00:33:24.539 --> 00:33:25.859 must turn away 00:33:25.859 --> 00:33:26.759 from wickedness. 00:33:27.159 --> 00:33:28.000 Let me pray 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:29.579 as we close. 00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:42.960 Heavenly Father, 00:33:43.059 --> 00:33:44.079 how we thank you 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:45.079 that you have 00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:46.899 an unstoppable purpose, 00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:48.380 that you know 00:33:48.380 --> 00:33:49.140 what you're doing, 00:33:49.660 --> 00:33:50.800 you know who belongs 00:33:50.800 --> 00:33:51.400 to you, 00:33:51.620 --> 00:33:52.980 and you are accomplishing 00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:54.160 all that you desire 00:33:54.160 --> 00:33:54.880 in this world. 00:33:56.540 --> 00:33:58.060 We want to pray, 00:33:58.660 --> 00:33:59.420 please, Lord, 00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:00.060 that you would 00:34:00.060 --> 00:34:01.280 forgive us 00:34:01.280 --> 00:34:01.780 where we've been 00:34:01.780 --> 00:34:02.820 tricking ourselves, 00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:05.540 pretending that we belong 00:34:05.540 --> 00:34:06.720 to you when we don't. 00:34:07.660 --> 00:34:08.200 Forgive us, 00:34:08.260 --> 00:34:09.300 have mercy on us, 00:34:10.240 --> 00:34:11.119 purify our hearts, 00:34:11.200 --> 00:34:11.579 we pray. 00:34:12.860 --> 00:34:13.780 And we ask, Lord, 00:34:13.820 --> 00:34:14.920 that you might make us 00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:16.360 into useful servants 00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:17.539 for the glory of your name. 00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:19.480 Help us to be these 00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:21.599 approved workmen and women 00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:23.820 who live for your glory, 00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:25.780 who handle the Bible 00:34:25.780 --> 00:34:27.140 properly and truthfully 00:34:27.140 --> 00:34:28.200 and teach it clearly. 00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:30.099 Help us to avoid 00:34:30.099 --> 00:34:31.140 godless chatter 00:34:31.140 --> 00:34:32.880 or false teaching, 00:34:33.740 --> 00:34:35.000 but to present the gospel 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:36.200 clearly and faithfully 00:34:36.200 --> 00:34:37.579 that you might be at work 00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:38.539 turning people 00:34:38.539 --> 00:34:40.740 to trust in Christ 00:34:40.740 --> 00:34:42.720 and receive life in his name. 00:34:43.079 --> 00:34:45.000 As we pray in Jesus' name. 00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:45.880 Amen. 00:34:46.360 --> 00:34:46.860 Amen. 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:46.860 00:34:46.860 --> 00:35:16.840 Thank you.