1 00:00:08,700 --> 00:00:11,700 If you remember over the past few weeks and months, as a 2 00:00:11,700 --> 00:00:16,200 church, we've been exploring the book of 1st Timothy and our 3 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:18,600 prayer is that through that book, we would have had a 4 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:22,100 greater understanding of God's purpose for the local church. 5 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:25,600 What his DNA, his blueprint for the church is not, what 6 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:30,300 tradition says, not what modern Church growth movements promote, 7 00:00:30,300 --> 00:00:35,500 but what God's word says, And with the interaction between 8 00:00:35,500 --> 00:00:39,100 Paul and Timothy and Paul's writings and instruction still 9 00:00:39,100 --> 00:00:42,300 fresh in our minds. I think it seems appropriate 10 00:00:42,300 --> 00:00:45,200 that we would only continue as a church to go through the book of 11 00:00:45,700 --> 00:00:49,900 2nd Timothy and that's exactly what we're going to be doing 12 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,700 throughout the next few weeks. So please turn with me to the 13 00:00:52,700 --> 00:00:57,900 book of 2nd, Timothy chapter 1 and as you turn there, We're 14 00:00:57,900 --> 00:01:00,400 going to pray one more time, and ask the Lord to help us with 15 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,200 these two verses that we have today. 16 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:10,800 Pray with me, please. Father in heaven, we come before 17 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:13,800 you again. Lord, your word says that your 18 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:15,900 house shall be called a House of Prayer. 19 00:01:16,500 --> 00:01:21,800 We pray, we seek your face Lord. We come with empty hands. 20 00:01:22,700 --> 00:01:27,100 We come with hearts that are in need of you Minds that are need 21 00:01:27,100 --> 00:01:29,700 of you bodies that are need of you. 22 00:01:29,700 --> 00:01:32,500 Lord. Our souls are in need of you. 23 00:01:33,100 --> 00:01:36,600 We ask Lord that this morning you would sanctify us. 24 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:40,300 You would wash Us afresh in the revelation of your goodness. 25 00:01:40,900 --> 00:01:42,800 We pray. Lord that you would destroy 26 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:47,100 every work of Satan. Every work of the flesh. 27 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:49,400 We pray. Lord that the Holy Spirit would 28 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:53,100 do miracles in this place and Lord as you fell in the 29 00:01:53,100 --> 00:01:56,000 household of Cornelius, to those who heard the word. 30 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,600 Would you do the same in this place fall upon us as we hear 31 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:02,500 your word and change Us From the Inside Out. 32 00:02:02,500 --> 00:02:06,600 Lord, we long to partner with your purpose and your purpose. 33 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:11,600 To transform us into the image of your son brand us, Lord with 34 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:15,700 Christ rewire, renew our thinking Lord. 35 00:02:16,100 --> 00:02:19,300 I pray Lord with my brothers and sisters that in this place, you 36 00:02:19,300 --> 00:02:23,600 would show us how we can change. Show us how we can understand 37 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:27,400 you. Show us how we can reflect you. 38 00:02:28,100 --> 00:02:30,800 This is our desire Lord made the ministry of the word. 39 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,800 Be assisted by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. 40 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:36,300 Now we can't do this without you. 41 00:02:36,300 --> 00:02:39,000 We can't preach it without you. We can't receive it without you. 42 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:41,500 We humble ourselves in the Name of Christ. 43 00:02:41,500 --> 00:02:43,300 We pray. Amen. 44 00:02:44,300 --> 00:02:46,900 Read with me, please. Second, Timothy chapter, 1, 45 00:02:46,900 --> 00:02:52,200 verse 1 and 2 Paul An apostle of Christ Jesus. 46 00:02:53,500 --> 00:02:57,300 By the will of God, according to the promise of the life that is 47 00:02:57,300 --> 00:02:59,800 in Christ. Jesus 2. 48 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:05,600 Timothy, my beloved child grace mercy, and peace. 49 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:09,600 From God, the father and Christ Jesus, our lord. 50 00:03:11,100 --> 00:03:14,500 The book of 2nd Timothy is unique for two main reasons and 51 00:03:14,500 --> 00:03:16,700 I'm sure you can come up with one or two other ones. 52 00:03:17,500 --> 00:03:20,800 Firstly, second. Timothy is one of Paul's most 53 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:25,300 intimate and personal letters. Paul here is not addressing an 54 00:03:25,300 --> 00:03:28,400 entire congregation as he does other books nor. 55 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:32,000 Is he unfolding a theological masterpiece? 56 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,100 Like he does with the book of Romans, for example. 57 00:03:34,900 --> 00:03:37,600 Paul here, speaking to an individual and not just a random 58 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,200 individual. He speaking to his Protege. 59 00:03:40,900 --> 00:03:46,800 He speaking to his spiritual son, his coworker in the gospel 60 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,200 that meant so much to him because Paul had seen many 61 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:52,200 disappointments throughout his ministries. 62 00:03:52,500 --> 00:03:55,700 Some people starting out with Zeal, some people coming in and 63 00:03:55,700 --> 00:03:59,100 out some people walking out in the ministry, but with Timothy, 64 00:03:59,100 --> 00:04:03,300 there was something special. He was sold out to Christ. 65 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:08,700 And Paul had a special affection for him in the spirit and this 66 00:04:08,700 --> 00:04:11,500 letter gives us a glimpse in went to one of the most intimate 67 00:04:11,500 --> 00:04:14,100 and transparent moments in the life of the Apostle. 68 00:04:14,100 --> 00:04:17,700 Paul. He is sharing his thoughts. 69 00:04:17,700 --> 00:04:20,800 Yes, and he's sharing truths, but he is also showing us by the 70 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:24,700 spirit, a special bond that he has with another cold labor in 71 00:04:24,700 --> 00:04:26,900 Christ. And I believe that as you read 72 00:04:26,900 --> 00:04:29,400 second, Timothy, if you read it with that kind of a lens, it 73 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,300 would challenge you and I to reflect on our own relationships 74 00:04:32,300 --> 00:04:36,500 with others in comparison. Them and see what really binds 75 00:04:36,500 --> 00:04:40,100 us to other people. You read about Paul and Timothy 76 00:04:40,100 --> 00:04:43,400 and you know that what they shared was this a dedication to 77 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:47,000 the gospel a love for Christ, they lived for no other thing. 78 00:04:48,300 --> 00:04:51,800 And this is why they had such an intimate relationship and May 79 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:55,100 challenge us to reflect. What we do with our 80 00:04:55,100 --> 00:04:59,300 relationships. What connects us to others and 81 00:04:59,300 --> 00:05:01,900 even the language of Paul here. In this personal metal should 82 00:05:01,900 --> 00:05:05,100 stir us as Christians is to know how we should encourage one 83 00:05:05,100 --> 00:05:07,400 another build up. One another stir up, one another 84 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,400 as we seek to serve the Lord together. 85 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:14,000 But this letter is even more unique because of the timing. 86 00:05:14,500 --> 00:05:20,000 It is Paul's final letter. It's his concluding letter. 87 00:05:21,700 --> 00:05:26,100 This letter invites us to the brink of a man's martyrdom as 88 00:05:26,100 --> 00:05:27,900 you and I read this. We know that in second. 89 00:05:27,900 --> 00:05:30,600 Timothy look at chapter 4, verse 6 with me quickly. 90 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:34,300 We are aware that Paul is in prison, but we know more. 91 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,900 He says, for I am already being poured out as a drink offering 92 00:05:37,900 --> 00:05:42,100 and the time of my departure has come when you read, Paul's other 93 00:05:42,100 --> 00:05:45,400 prison Epistles. He often shares, his hope that 94 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,700 he will be released. He has this faith that he's 95 00:05:48,700 --> 00:05:51,200 going to come out of it. He knows that it's just a 96 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:55,300 temporary moment just to season. But in this letter, he shares, 97 00:05:55,300 --> 00:05:59,000 no hope. He knows that this is the final 98 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:03,200 End of the Road. His departure has come history 99 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,500 tells us that while Paul wrote this letter Nero, the Roman 100 00:06:06,500 --> 00:06:08,800 Emperor broke out and mass persecution against the 101 00:06:08,808 --> 00:06:11,700 Christians and he was hunting them down and he was causing 102 00:06:11,700 --> 00:06:15,700 Society to turn on believers. And Paul here is a victim of 103 00:06:15,700 --> 00:06:18,200 that persecution. And here he is in prison, and he 104 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:21,500 knows full well, that at any moment, a Roman official will 105 00:06:21,500 --> 00:06:24,200 come into his dungeon and call his name, to lead him to his 106 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:28,700 final exit. And so you and I before us with 107 00:06:28,700 --> 00:06:32,700 these words, have the preserved words of the Holy Spirit of a 108 00:06:32,700 --> 00:06:37,000 man who is facing death. Of a man who is about to enter 109 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:40,800 into glory and that is special for us for many reasons. 110 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:46,000 Because the reality is from time to time facing death has a 111 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,800 purifying effect on what we prioritize in life. 112 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:54,200 Ecclesiastes. 7 2 says, it is better to go to the house of 113 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:57,000 mourning that to go to the house of feasting. 114 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,800 For this is the end of all mankind and the living will lay 115 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:04,100 it to heart. It is better to go to the house 116 00:07:04,100 --> 00:07:07,100 of mourning than to go to the house of feasting for. 117 00:07:07,100 --> 00:07:10,200 This is the end of all mankind and the living will lay it to 118 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:14,200 heart. You know, most people Dodge the 119 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,700 discussion about death and more than that. 120 00:07:16,700 --> 00:07:19,700 They avoid the thought of it at all costs. 121 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,600 And this verse here in Ecclesiastes, doesn't teach us 122 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:25,600 to be more bid and to be preoccupied with dying. 123 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:30,600 No, it's giving us an Insight. It's showing us that in the 124 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,200 house of mourning. Provide some kind of a wisdom 125 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,900 that the distractions of the House of feasting cannot 126 00:07:35,900 --> 00:07:39,200 provide. And even if you come to the 127 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:43,300 place where you behold death for a moment, you can learn much 128 00:07:43,300 --> 00:07:46,000 about how to navigate through life. 129 00:07:46,900 --> 00:07:49,800 It is the brevity of Our Lives. That makes us more thoughtful 130 00:07:49,900 --> 00:07:52,200 with our days and careless with our hours. 131 00:07:53,100 --> 00:07:55,200 And I believe that second Timothy, if we read it with 132 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:56,900 that, kind of a lens will provoke us. 133 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,500 Provoke us because we see here a man who has burned out for 134 00:08:01,500 --> 00:08:05,100 Christ and was finished. Well, you know, showed us what 135 00:08:05,100 --> 00:08:09,100 it really means to live a full life, a joyful life, a 136 00:08:09,100 --> 00:08:13,100 meaningful life. We praise God for such a letter 137 00:08:13,100 --> 00:08:16,600 as this because we know that we can draw some encouragement 138 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:18,100 from. And I believe from the first two 139 00:08:18,100 --> 00:08:21,200 verses alone. We can pull out some insight. 140 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:24,300 I want us to ring out every single verse from this book. 141 00:08:24,300 --> 00:08:27,800 It's not a very long book. So we should draw every drop of 142 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:32,200 truth that we can. And we will do that in verse one 143 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:34,799 alone. We can see three truths, three 144 00:08:34,799 --> 00:08:39,600 truths of this man who is in such a dire situation. 145 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:41,299 Remember? He's not. 146 00:08:41,500 --> 00:08:43,799 The American version of what prison looks like. 147 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:49,500 He's in a cold damp, stinking cell left himself abandoned by 148 00:08:49,500 --> 00:08:51,600 his friends, his Partners in Ministry. 149 00:08:52,500 --> 00:08:56,600 And knowing that at any moment, the cold breath of the Grave 150 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,700 will call for his head. But notice here, that as its man 151 00:09:00,700 --> 00:09:05,800 is writing his final letter before his own death, the call 152 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:10,800 of God Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God. 153 00:09:10,900 --> 00:09:13,600 Now, that's interesting. The Apostle Paul is writing to 154 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:17,400 Timothy, Timothy knows. Paul Timothy understands Paul 155 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:20,400 Spiritual Authority. Why would Paul go out of his way 156 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:23,200 to reintroduce himself as an apostle? 157 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:27,000 We know that Timothy surely understands that but he's saying 158 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,200 it, I'm an apostle, this isn't To meet letter is that 159 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:31,400 necessary? Paul? 160 00:09:31,500 --> 00:09:36,000 Well, it is necessary. When Timothy himself is a target 161 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,300 of persecution. He is going through difficult 162 00:09:38,300 --> 00:09:40,700 circumstances himself. You read us and you knows he 163 00:09:40,700 --> 00:09:43,200 needs encouragement. He needs to be built up and Paul 164 00:09:43,300 --> 00:09:45,100 wants to make sure that he understands the words. 165 00:09:45,100 --> 00:09:47,400 You're about to read come from God. 166 00:09:48,100 --> 00:09:50,400 I am commissioned by the Lord as an apostle. 167 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,800 I've been called out to be a channel for divine revelation, 168 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:55,600 and I'm bringing that Revelation to you. 169 00:09:56,100 --> 00:09:58,900 I want you to know Timothy that what you're about to see and 170 00:09:58,900 --> 00:10:00,600 read. Read and understand comes from 171 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:05,000 the heart of your master of your lord, which tells us the very 172 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:08,300 simple truth of the greatest encouragement that you and I can 173 00:10:08,300 --> 00:10:11,900 receive are the truths from the almighty, unchanging God. 174 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:14,800 And that's what you wants to provide him. 175 00:10:14,900 --> 00:10:19,600 My words are authoritative my words come from him and they are 176 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:21,800 for you. But Paul mentioning his 177 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:24,400 apostleship goes beyond, just the authority of what he's about 178 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:28,100 to say, I believe that what Paul is saying here is highlighting 179 00:10:28,300 --> 00:10:31,100 how he personally lived on this Earth. 180 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:37,000 For the glory of God. I'm an apostle by the will of 181 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:43,200 God. in other words, one of the greatest Comforts that you can 182 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:46,600 have in this life other than having, the Assurance of 183 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:50,400 Salvation is to know that you lived your calling. 184 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:55,400 Is that you understood your purpose for God and you lived it 185 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:59,700 out for God? And I think that Paul is saying 186 00:10:59,700 --> 00:11:03,300 something of this sort here. I'm an apostle by the will of 187 00:11:03,300 --> 00:11:05,100 God. I have performed, the will of 188 00:11:05,100 --> 00:11:09,400 God in my final letter. I want to let you know that and 189 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:15,600 I am reflecting on that myself. I stumbled across a song not too 190 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:18,300 long ago. It's an old song and it 191 00:11:18,300 --> 00:11:19,900 intrigued me. The lyrics intrigued me. 192 00:11:19,900 --> 00:11:22,000 So I looked into it. I realize that it is one of the 193 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:26,600 most popular funeral songs. And it's not for Christian 194 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:28,900 funerals, of course, but generally speaking, it's one of 195 00:11:28,900 --> 00:11:34,100 the most used songs for people to cope with death, and it's one 196 00:11:34,108 --> 00:11:36,300 of the most used songs for people to request that their 197 00:11:36,300 --> 00:11:38,000 burial. You've probably heard it. 198 00:11:38,300 --> 00:11:41,700 It's been made popularized by Frank Sinatra, My Way. 199 00:11:42,100 --> 00:11:45,100 You heard it. Well, here are some lyrics to 200 00:11:45,100 --> 00:11:48,600 consider from that song. Listen, and now the end is near 201 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:51,600 and so I face that final curtain. 202 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:53,800 My friend. I'll make it clear. 203 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:58,000 I'll State my case. Case of which I'm certain, I've 204 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:01,300 lived a life that's full. I traveled each and every 205 00:12:01,300 --> 00:12:05,200 Highway and more much more. I did it. 206 00:12:05,500 --> 00:12:11,300 I did it my way. If somebody would have sung that 207 00:12:11,300 --> 00:12:13,500 at the Apostle Paul's Funeral, I'm sure he would have 208 00:12:13,500 --> 00:12:15,200 resurrected just to rebuke the guy. 209 00:12:18,100 --> 00:12:23,500 I did it my way. I did it my way. 210 00:12:25,100 --> 00:12:27,700 No, Paul would never say such a thing. 211 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:31,800 He would say, I obeyed the heavenly vision that I've 212 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:35,400 received from him. I obeyed the will of God for my 213 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:38,100 life. He called me to be an apostle. 214 00:12:38,100 --> 00:12:40,700 So that's what I honored him with to be an apostle. 215 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:44,700 And you're going to see later on that Paul will expand on his Joy 216 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,600 of how he fulfilled his purpose on the earth for God. 217 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:53,100 And it's no wonder because he is reflecting the attitude of his 218 00:12:53,100 --> 00:12:54,800 Lord. Our Lord Jesus Christ. 219 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:58,000 When he said these words near the end of his own life and John 220 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:01,400 17:4. I glorified you on Earth. 221 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:04,900 Having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 222 00:13:07,100 --> 00:13:09,900 I read that last night in a move, me to tears. 223 00:13:10,700 --> 00:13:14,200 Jesus saying to the father. I glorified you on Earth. 224 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:19,200 I did what you called me to do. I pray that you would be able to 225 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:21,200 say those words. If you know your death is 226 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:24,200 coming, you would constantly be able to say before God. 227 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:27,300 I glorified you. I didn't do it my way. 228 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,100 I didn't live life to my understanding of what it means 229 00:13:30,100 --> 00:13:33,400 to live life to the full. No, I glorified you. 230 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,400 What's amazing about the life of Jesus as that? 231 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:38,500 It wasn't a long life, but it was a full life. 232 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,600 If somebody died at the age of 33 today, even a Christian, most 233 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:45,600 people would think what a what a loss. 234 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:51,900 He's gone too soon. And the human sense that that 235 00:13:51,900 --> 00:13:55,500 may be true, but then Jesus would have gone too soon. 236 00:13:55,500 --> 00:13:58,300 According to the understanding that we believe that. 237 00:13:58,900 --> 00:14:02,300 No, see, that's old Covenant thinking because in the old 238 00:14:02,300 --> 00:14:05,600 Covenant, the emphasis of blessing, one of them is a long 239 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:09,900 life, many, many years being lived and we could equate that 240 00:14:09,900 --> 00:14:13,100 today as well as a blessing. But there's a different emphasis 241 00:14:13,100 --> 00:14:15,900 in the New Covenant and that is exemplified by Christ. 242 00:14:15,900 --> 00:14:17,000 It's not about the amount of years. 243 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:18,400 It's what you do with those years. 244 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:24,400 It's the fullness of life and Jesus Christ. 245 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:29,000 The earliest recorded words of him in the gospels is found in 246 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:32,000 Luke at the age of what 12 years old. 247 00:14:32,900 --> 00:14:36,600 Those are the first words, uttered from the Son of God and 248 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:40,400 is preteen years. And you know what, that sentence 249 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:42,000 was that came from those holy lips. 250 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:46,200 Even at that point of his life and Luke 2:49 when his parents 251 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:47,900 were looking for his Earthly parents. 252 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,000 He said to them. Why were you Looking for me. 253 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,500 Did you not know that I must be in my father's house? 254 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:55,800 Other translations. Did you not know that I must be 255 00:14:55,800 --> 00:15:02,400 about my father's business. And so even at 12 years old, 256 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:06,500 Christ consecrated himself, the revelation of who he was was 257 00:15:06,500 --> 00:15:11,100 blossoming and these are the earliest recorded words of who 258 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:14,400 he was and what he lived for. And as he approached the 259 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,000 finality of his life. He could say, I glorified you on 260 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:20,500 the Earth. I'm about my father's business. 261 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:24,100 I'm here to fulfill his will, and it's amazing and verse 50. 262 00:15:24,100 --> 00:15:26,500 They did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 263 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:29,900 Didn't understand what you're 12 years old. 264 00:15:30,700 --> 00:15:32,400 You're about your father's business. 265 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:35,100 Seeing that time for Jewish culture. 266 00:15:35,100 --> 00:15:38,100 When you are 12 13, you would you would begin to learn your 267 00:15:38,100 --> 00:15:41,800 father's trade. And Jesus, here is doing that. 268 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:44,400 He's at the right point of life, but he is imitating his heavenly 269 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:47,000 father. He's saying I'm here to preach 270 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,000 the word because he was teaching in the temple. 271 00:15:49,900 --> 00:15:53,200 This is what I've came to do to show the truth to declare the 272 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:56,800 truth. And even after that they said, 273 00:15:56,800 --> 00:16:00,000 well, you're still our son so he had to submit to them. 274 00:16:00,500 --> 00:16:02,900 And listen that was still the will of God. 275 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:07,900 So you might be wondering what is it that I must be doing to go 276 00:16:07,900 --> 00:16:11,300 about my father's business and you have all these radical 277 00:16:11,300 --> 00:16:14,000 amazing plans that rush through your mind. 278 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:16,700 But in this case at this point in Jesus life, yeah, he was 279 00:16:16,700 --> 00:16:18,400 teaching but that was only for a moment. 280 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:22,600 He's submitted to his parents and he was equally fulfilling 281 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:28,900 the will of God. He was obeying and we see here 282 00:16:28,900 --> 00:16:33,900 that Paul is saying, I'm an apostle by the will of God and 283 00:16:33,900 --> 00:16:36,500 I've been doing it up to this very moment. 284 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:40,700 He reflected on the call of God, but him, mentioning his 285 00:16:40,700 --> 00:16:44,300 apostleship goes even deeper than that because it is not just 286 00:16:44,300 --> 00:16:47,600 him reflecting about his faithfulness to the mission that 287 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,900 God had ordained for his life. It's also a recollection of the 288 00:16:51,100 --> 00:16:55,800 wonderful mercies of the master. What do I mean by that? 289 00:16:56,800 --> 00:16:59,400 You and I have every reason to believe that whenever Paul 290 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:02,800 mentioned his apostleship those who read it were alarmed by The 291 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:04,700 Authority. This is an apostle. 292 00:17:04,900 --> 00:17:08,300 While at the same time. Paul would be lavished by fresh 293 00:17:08,300 --> 00:17:14,800 sense of the grace of God. Because every time he knew that 294 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,599 he was an apostle and he declared that he was an apostle, 295 00:17:17,700 --> 00:17:21,300 he knew that he didn't deserve to be an apostle. 1st 296 00:17:21,300 --> 00:17:24,500 Corinthians 15, he tells a very plain and clear in verse 9. 297 00:17:24,599 --> 00:17:26,500 For I am the least of the Apostles. 298 00:17:27,500 --> 00:17:31,500 I am the least of the Apostles, unworthy to be called an 299 00:17:31,500 --> 00:17:35,400 apostle. Because I persecuted the Church 300 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:39,900 of God, you have many people that discourage Christians from 301 00:17:39,900 --> 00:17:42,800 reflecting on their past and I would discourage you of 302 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:45,400 reflecting on your past of all that brings about his guilt and 303 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:47,600 shame. I would but this man didn't 304 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:51,200 forget his past. He reflected, he understood. 305 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,100 It was ever before him, but it only provoked worship. 306 00:17:55,300 --> 00:17:58,700 It, provoked, an understanding of the grace of God, it 307 00:17:58,700 --> 00:18:01,700 magnified, the Lord, and his affections, and his adoration. 308 00:18:02,500 --> 00:18:04,700 And so here, he says, I know what I did. 309 00:18:04,700 --> 00:18:08,500 I killed Christians, but oh, here's the grace of God. 310 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,900 Here's the mercy of God. Here's the wonderful tender 311 00:18:12,900 --> 00:18:17,400 kindness and compassion of God. I'm not worthy to be called an 312 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,500 apostle. Do you think anytime he said in 313 00:18:20,500 --> 00:18:22,500 one of his introductions? I am an apostle that he said, it 314 00:18:22,500 --> 00:18:26,300 would Pride with arrogance with his nose. 315 00:18:26,300 --> 00:18:28,400 Lifted up. No, he understood full. 316 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:31,400 Well that what I was able to do on the Earth was simply by the 317 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:35,400 mercy and grace of God. I'm an apostle Timothy. 318 00:18:36,300 --> 00:18:39,500 Paul was a preacher of Grace and often time the grace that was 319 00:18:39,500 --> 00:18:40,700 connected to the Cross of Christ. 320 00:18:40,700 --> 00:18:43,300 But that's not only the Grace that he preached about. 321 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:46,400 There is a Grace for service, not just salvation that he 322 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:51,200 declared. Yes, Christ called me to be in 323 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:53,700 his kingdom though. I persecuted his own body. 324 00:18:53,900 --> 00:18:56,400 But Christ also elevated me and called me to be one of his 325 00:18:56,400 --> 00:19:00,100 ambassadors. And here's the beauty about 326 00:19:00,100 --> 00:19:01,600 that. You and I not only have the 327 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,500 invitation to know the comfort of Salvation and the grace of 328 00:19:04,500 --> 00:19:07,400 God in that. If you're humble and hungry 329 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:11,500 enough, you can do a lifelong experience of different series 330 00:19:11,500 --> 00:19:14,300 of his grace by him. Letting you use you for his 331 00:19:14,300 --> 00:19:17,500 glory. Many Christians don't know those 332 00:19:17,500 --> 00:19:19,900 Grace's because they're not hungry enough. 333 00:19:19,900 --> 00:19:21,500 They want to do a Frank Sinatra's way. 334 00:19:22,900 --> 00:19:24,500 I'm saved. Thank God. 335 00:19:24,500 --> 00:19:26,900 I got my ticket to heaven, but I'm going to do it my way. 336 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:32,100 Do it my way. And you waste a Grace that God 337 00:19:32,100 --> 00:19:38,000 longs to fill your life with. It's a Grace that you might 338 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:40,100 know, and that he uses you for something. 339 00:19:40,100 --> 00:19:42,100 And you say I'm not worthy to be using this way. 340 00:19:42,500 --> 00:19:44,400 He uses you to touch somebody else's life. 341 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:48,400 He uses you to do something wonderful out of the ordinary. 342 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:52,500 Oftentimes, it's the grace that you feel with the strength that 343 00:19:52,500 --> 00:19:55,500 you're able to endure, knowing that in the natural, you would 344 00:19:55,500 --> 00:19:59,300 throw in the towel. It's a Grace to love the 345 00:19:59,300 --> 00:20:01,300 unlovable, to forgive the unforgivable. 346 00:20:01,300 --> 00:20:03,900 To give what you would not give if you did not have Christ. 347 00:20:03,900 --> 00:20:08,100 Raining in your heart. Wonderful graces are waiting for 348 00:20:08,100 --> 00:20:11,200 you to experience, but you have to be like this man who says, I 349 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:12,900 count my life. I have no value. 350 00:20:13,300 --> 00:20:15,600 Unless I fulfill the call of God on my life. 351 00:20:16,700 --> 00:20:19,800 And this man was an apostle and he understood that he was an 352 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:22,700 apostle because of God's grace. And I guarantee you, if you set 353 00:20:22,700 --> 00:20:25,700 your life apart, for the glory of God, at the end of the road, 354 00:20:25,700 --> 00:20:29,400 you will look back and all you will see is his Grace Grace upon 355 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:33,500 Grace, upon Grace. This man was be, he was able to 356 00:20:33,500 --> 00:20:35,700 identify his grace and absolutely everything. 357 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:39,900 Look what he says here in 1st Corinthians 15:10, but by the 358 00:20:39,900 --> 00:20:44,300 grace of God, I am what I am. And his grace toward me was not 359 00:20:44,300 --> 00:20:47,400 in vain on the contrary. I worked harder than any of 360 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:49,300 them. Oh, Paul, don't be so proud. 361 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:51,500 You worked harder than any of them. 362 00:20:52,100 --> 00:20:54,700 If we heard somebody say that today would say he Sky needs a 363 00:20:54,700 --> 00:20:57,900 spiritual shower. Who says I work harder than any 364 00:20:57,900 --> 00:21:00,400 of them. Well, finish though. 365 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:02,800 It was not I but the grace of God that is in me. 366 00:21:03,900 --> 00:21:07,100 Grace, not just for salvation, not just to be called into 367 00:21:07,100 --> 00:21:09,200 service. But Grace, for the strength, to 368 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:13,800 endure to be faithful to be fruitful Grace everywhere. 369 00:21:14,500 --> 00:21:16,300 And here is, you writes to Timothy goes. 370 00:21:16,300 --> 00:21:19,300 I'm an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and you can 371 00:21:19,300 --> 00:21:21,600 write in parentheses by the grace of God. 372 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:25,800 There he is sitting in that darkroom reflecting on the fact 373 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:29,200 that he lived his life in such a manner and it was only because 374 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:34,600 God was merciful toward him. You and I have the opportunity 375 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:38,300 to know that same Grace. But we have to be hungry to do, 376 00:21:38,300 --> 00:21:42,200 his will. But it goes beyond that Paul, an 377 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:45,400 apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, according to the 378 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,000 promise of the life. That is in Christ Jesus. 379 00:21:49,100 --> 00:21:53,200 See what he's saying. Yeah, I am an apostle. 380 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:56,800 I obeyed his will that's all by the grace of God, but now, I'm 381 00:21:56,800 --> 00:22:00,800 looking forward to a promise that has my name on it according 382 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:03,900 to the promise of the life. That is where only in Christ 383 00:22:03,900 --> 00:22:07,200 Jesus and Paul love to use those words in Christ Jesus. 384 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:11,100 And This Promise of the life that is in Christ. 385 00:22:11,100 --> 00:22:14,700 Jesus is a two-fold promise. It's a promise that's connected 386 00:22:14,700 --> 00:22:18,000 to what he said. I lived the will of God. 387 00:22:18,100 --> 00:22:22,800 See there's only true life in Christ Jesus and he experienced 388 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:26,900 that side of the promise. I know this life that Abundant 389 00:22:26,900 --> 00:22:30,600 Life that amazing life, that wonderful life. 390 00:22:30,900 --> 00:22:35,200 I often say this. You you cannot even measure up. 391 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:38,700 If you had all the resources in the world, all the It's all the 392 00:22:38,700 --> 00:22:40,300 opportunities to do what you want. 393 00:22:40,300 --> 00:22:42,700 It would not even come close to the will of God for your life. 394 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:46,800 And this man knew that the promise of life that is in 395 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,100 Christ Jesus, I experienced it. But there's another side of the 396 00:22:49,100 --> 00:22:51,600 promise. It's the life to come. 397 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:56,200 It's a life that he will experience very shortly. 398 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:59,100 It's a life. That is eternal. 399 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,600 And what's amazing is that it's a promise that he was holding 400 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:06,500 onto, this is not a phrase that Paul often uses in his 401 00:23:06,500 --> 00:23:09,100 introductions in his letter, but it was appropriate here. 402 00:23:10,700 --> 00:23:12,900 I'm reflecting right away. And I want to comfort. 403 00:23:12,900 --> 00:23:15,800 You Timothy right away. I'm not going to see you most 404 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:17,400 likely unless you hurry up and get here. 405 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:21,800 And he says that later on. But I'm clinging to a promise. 406 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:26,600 A promise that will help me endure, these chains that will 407 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:31,400 help me endure beheading. And here's what I want to say to 408 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:36,400 you this morning. Jesus Christ has made you a 409 00:23:36,408 --> 00:23:40,400 personal promise. Listen now, forget everybody 410 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:42,700 else in this room just for a moment. 411 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:48,000 And hear my words toward you. Okay, Jesus Christ has made a 412 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:52,300 personal promise to you. Now, that might not mean much to 413 00:23:52,300 --> 00:23:54,800 you, especially in a day where people say, yes and no one break 414 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:59,100 those promises, but let me remind you what Titus 1 tells us 415 00:23:59,500 --> 00:24:01,700 about this. God, in verse 2. 416 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:04,800 Listen carefully. It says in Hope of eternal life 417 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:08,300 of God. Who never lies? 418 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:15,300 Promise before the ages began in Hope of eternal life. 419 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:19,000 In which god, listen who never lies. 420 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:22,200 Promise. Before the ages began. 421 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:24,600 We were talking about a God who can't lie. 422 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:30,200 He can't and he made you a promise this morning and that 423 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:33,700 promise was found in John 11:25 and 26. 424 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:37,500 Jesus said to Martha. I am the resurrection and the 425 00:24:37,508 --> 00:24:40,200 life. I am the resurrection and the 426 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:43,300 life whoever believes in me, though. 427 00:24:43,300 --> 00:24:49,300 He die, yet shall he live? Whoever, whoever? 428 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:53,900 And everyone who lives and Believes In Me, shall never die. 429 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:55,500 And here's the question for you this morning. 430 00:24:55,500 --> 00:25:01,700 Do you believe this? Do you believe this whoever 431 00:25:02,300 --> 00:25:05,400 believes in me? Does it matter greater small? 432 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:10,300 Rich or poor? Whoever believes in me will 433 00:25:10,300 --> 00:25:13,300 never die. You know that truth, if you 434 00:25:13,300 --> 00:25:19,000 really believe it. Will help you interpret what Job 435 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:21,800 Calls the king of Terrors, which is death. 436 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:26,500 In a whole new light. One of my favorite books. 437 00:25:26,500 --> 00:25:30,800 Thus far is a book by John Flavel or Flavel called facing 438 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:34,800 grief, and I would actually recommend that book from the 439 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:37,600 pulpit to you. Because it deals with a ancient 440 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:42,100 writer who had lost many people in his life to death, including 441 00:25:42,100 --> 00:25:43,800 a child and three different wives. 442 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:45,500 I believe. Imagine that you married one 443 00:25:45,700 --> 00:25:47,200 died. The second one died. 444 00:25:47,300 --> 00:25:49,800 Third one died. And I think the fourth one 445 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:51,300 survivor of the third one survived. 446 00:25:53,100 --> 00:25:58,500 And this man from that pain, received an authority to speak 447 00:25:58,500 --> 00:26:01,900 on Grief. And it's no wonder because when 448 00:26:01,900 --> 00:26:04,500 you read that book, you come into insights, that will blow 449 00:26:04,500 --> 00:26:06,800 you away. And one of the things that touch 450 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:11,200 my heart is from one of the chapters in which he encourages 451 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:13,600 Christians who have experienced loss and I want you to hear 452 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:16,800 these words. Listen carefully, John Flavel 453 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:21,200 says that is listen, look not upon the dead as a Lost 454 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:24,200 Generation. Think not that death has 455 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:27,900 annihilated and utterly destroyed them. 456 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:33,000 Oh, no, they are not dead. But only sleep, and if they 457 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:38,200 sleep, they shall awake again, you do not use to make out cries 458 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:40,400 and Lamentations for your children and friends. 459 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:44,800 When you find them asleep upon their beds, why death is, but a 460 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:49,200 longer sleep out of which they shall surely awake as ever, they 461 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:51,800 did in the morning in this world. 462 00:26:53,100 --> 00:26:56,500 You see what he's saying. You never came after a late 463 00:26:56,500 --> 00:26:58,700 night into your home. And saw your children sleeping 464 00:26:58,700 --> 00:27:01,700 in bed and ripped your garments and put ashes on your head 465 00:27:01,700 --> 00:27:04,800 because they're asleep. You never stumbled upon your 466 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:08,400 spouse on the couch after a long afternoon, taking a nap and wept 467 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:10,100 your eyes out because they were asleep. 468 00:27:10,100 --> 00:27:11,400 Why? Because, you know, that they're 469 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:14,700 going to wake up any moment. And what he's saying here is 470 00:27:14,700 --> 00:27:17,500 that in Christ, death is just about a longer sleep. 471 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:20,500 One day, they're going to wake up. 472 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:24,100 And that's the hope that you and I had that's the promise. 473 00:27:25,100 --> 00:27:27,400 And here's the thing. It's going to be the best beauty 474 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:28,500 sleep. They've ever had. 475 00:27:28,900 --> 00:27:31,000 You know, why? Because they're going to wake up 476 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:35,300 glorified. In splendor and Majesty. 477 00:27:36,300 --> 00:27:39,900 And you're going to be amazed at the promise that is in Christ. 478 00:27:39,900 --> 00:27:43,000 Jesus fulfilled. In those that you love and 479 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:44,200 fulfill. They knew when you were in 480 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:46,500 Christ. It's just longer sleep. 481 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:51,300 That's what this promise does. It surges such a Grace and 482 00:27:51,300 --> 00:27:55,500 strength for you to not only interpret death in such a way. 483 00:27:55,900 --> 00:28:00,300 But even if you like, Paul stared death in the eyes, you 484 00:28:00,300 --> 00:28:05,400 can know a certain Grace. Because why this Timothy this 485 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:08,300 Timothy that's receiving this letter is being encouraged. 486 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:10,800 You read on as we're going to discover and he's actually 487 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:13,500 getting weak in the faith. He's letting his spiritual 488 00:28:13,500 --> 00:28:19,000 gifts, it aside and Paul's like no fan into flame, put things in 489 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:22,000 order, don't lose your seal suffer for Christ. 490 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,100 I mean, if there's anybody that needs encouragement from a 491 00:28:24,108 --> 00:28:28,400 letter, it's Paul. You're the one in the prison. 492 00:28:28,900 --> 00:28:30,700 You're the one that's about to be executed. 493 00:28:30,700 --> 00:28:34,300 Where are the letters coming in? No, he's sending letters out. 494 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:36,300 Why? Because he has a promise with 495 00:28:36,300 --> 00:28:40,700 his name on it. And it's so powerful. 496 00:28:40,700 --> 00:28:44,500 It's so profound that it even gave him the energy to motivate 497 00:28:44,500 --> 00:28:47,800 someone else that is not in the same predicament as him. 498 00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:52,900 That's What Faith Can Do. That's What Faith Can Do. 499 00:28:52,900 --> 00:28:56,000 It frames thing in such a way where, you know, Supernatural 500 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:59,500 compassion, even in the midst of your own sorrows. 501 00:29:01,700 --> 00:29:05,300 And Paul is doing that, and that's why he says, in verse 2 502 00:29:05,300 --> 00:29:08,100 Timothy. My beloved child, what 503 00:29:08,100 --> 00:29:10,900 tenderness and compassion? What comforting words? 504 00:29:11,900 --> 00:29:15,000 I love you. I want to show you how much I 505 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:16,300 love you. I'm going to instruct you as a 506 00:29:16,300 --> 00:29:19,500 father. Now as this man has rats running 507 00:29:19,500 --> 00:29:24,100 around his feet. Small rations of food living 508 00:29:24,100 --> 00:29:27,500 with any human with the anxiety of one day. 509 00:29:27,500 --> 00:29:30,300 I'm going to leave never to return again. 510 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:38,300 Because he had a promise and this is what he says grace mercy 511 00:29:38,300 --> 00:29:41,300 and peace from God the father again. 512 00:29:41,300 --> 00:29:44,200 He's reflecting Christ didn't Christ, hang there on the cross, 513 00:29:44,700 --> 00:29:47,100 having the whole weight of the sin of the world upon his 514 00:29:47,100 --> 00:29:49,400 shoulders and he looks down and he sees his mother. 515 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:54,800 And he assigns a caretaker for her while he is suffering. 516 00:29:57,100 --> 00:29:59,200 And Paul is doing the same to some degree. 517 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:03,700 He's tapped into a Grace because of a promise of life that is in 518 00:30:03,700 --> 00:30:06,400 Christ Jesus. And here is where we're going to 519 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:08,100 do something a little interesting because I've never 520 00:30:08,100 --> 00:30:10,400 done this in a message. I never gone through books this 521 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:12,500 fast, but I want to show you something. 522 00:30:12,500 --> 00:30:19,500 He says grace, mercy and peace. No word is by accident in the 523 00:30:19,500 --> 00:30:21,500 Holy Bible. No. 524 00:30:21,500 --> 00:30:23,800 Word is by accident. And I want to prove that to you. 525 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:25,300 You have your Bibles with you this morning? 526 00:30:25,700 --> 00:30:28,400 I hope so. Go to the Book of Romans. 527 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:31,600 I want you to see and compare every other introduction that 528 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:37,800 Paul gives in his letters and we're going to do this by just 529 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:42,200 skipping Stones over the surface of these books, Romans chapter 530 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:46,100 1, verse 7, you ready to all those in Rome who are loved by 531 00:30:46,100 --> 00:30:49,300 God and called to be Saints. Grace to you and peace from God. 532 00:30:49,300 --> 00:30:51,100 Our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 533 00:30:51,500 --> 00:30:54,400 They're right. Let's go to First Corinthians 1. 534 00:30:57,300 --> 00:31:03,500 Verse 3. Grace to you and peace from God, 535 00:31:03,500 --> 00:31:05,800 our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 536 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:10,400 He see it. Second Corinthians. 537 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:14,300 Verse 1. Rather verse 2 of chapter 1. 538 00:31:15,500 --> 00:31:19,800 This is going to be worth it. I promise, okay. grace to you 539 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:23,400 and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ 540 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:31,400 Galatians 1 Verse 3. Grace to you and peace from God. 541 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:36,100 Our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Ephesians 1 verse 2. 542 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:40,600 Maybe some of you are getting it all ready grace to you and 543 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:43,300 Priests peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus 544 00:31:43,300 --> 00:31:47,100 Christ. Now skip over to Philippians 1 545 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:52,800 verse 2 Just a few pages grace to you and peace from God, our 546 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:54,700 Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 547 00:31:54,900 --> 00:31:59,900 Colossians 1 verse 2, to the Saints and faithful brothers in 548 00:31:59,900 --> 00:32:03,100 Christ are colossi grace to you and peace from God. 549 00:32:03,100 --> 00:32:06,600 Our Father. 1st Thessalonians, 1. 550 00:32:07,900 --> 00:32:12,000 Verse 2, verse 1. Rather Paul saw Donna, Saint 551 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:14,400 Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians in God the father 552 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:16,800 and the Lord Jesus Christ grace to you and peace. 553 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:21,600 Second Thessalonians 1. We're almost there verse 2 grace 554 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:24,700 to you and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus 555 00:32:24,700 --> 00:32:26,400 Christ. And finally skip over a few 556 00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:29,300 books and the short letter to Philemon. 557 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:33,000 Sure enough and verse 3, grace to you and peace from God, our 558 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:36,100 Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, grace to you and peace. 559 00:32:36,100 --> 00:32:38,700 Grace to you and peace Grace. Um, Peace, grace to you and 560 00:32:38,700 --> 00:32:39,900 peace. Grace to you, and peace. 561 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:45,700 Grace to you and peace. And then you go to 1st Timothy. 562 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:49,000 What do you read in verse 2 of chapter? 563 00:32:49,000 --> 00:32:50,100 1 2. Timothy. 564 00:32:50,100 --> 00:32:52,300 My true child in the faith Grace. 565 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:54,500 What's that word? Say Mercy? 566 00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:58,800 And peace from God, the father and Christ Jesus. 567 00:32:58,800 --> 00:33:01,100 Our lord 2nd Timothy. You read it. 568 00:33:01,300 --> 00:33:04,500 Now, you will only see this. Unfortunately, the ESV does a 569 00:33:04,508 --> 00:33:06,200 disservice to this, you'll only see this. 570 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:08,600 If you have a King James and new King James, but go to the book 571 00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:11,200 of Titus. Verse 1. 572 00:33:11,500 --> 00:33:14,000 Chapter 1, rather verse 4 to Titus. 573 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:19,100 Mine, own son, after the common Faith, grace, mercy, and peace 574 00:33:19,100 --> 00:33:21,500 from God, the father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Our Savior. 575 00:33:24,100 --> 00:33:29,100 Three out of all those letters. Paul includes the word mercy. 576 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:33,600 And he reserves using that word and 10 of them. 577 00:33:35,300 --> 00:33:38,400 When he uses the word mercy, do you know where he uses him? 578 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:41,900 When he used them? Why he uses them every time the 579 00:33:41,900 --> 00:33:44,500 word mercy was used. It was in the Pastoral letters. 580 00:33:45,200 --> 00:33:47,100 In other words. He used the word mercy when he 581 00:33:47,100 --> 00:33:51,000 was directing his letter to a full-time minister. 582 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:58,500 That's significant. Because it shows that Paul 583 00:33:58,500 --> 00:34:02,600 didn't AdWords or subtract words randomly. 584 00:34:02,600 --> 00:34:05,100 It wasn't just such a general salutation, know it was 585 00:34:05,100 --> 00:34:08,000 calculated. And here's the understanding. 586 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:11,600 It's not that people who are not ministers, don't need Mercy. 587 00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:15,100 It's that ministers who serve full-time are in need of extra 588 00:34:15,100 --> 00:34:20,699 Mercy. And he knew that very well as a 589 00:34:20,699 --> 00:34:24,300 minister himself. And so he says, Mercy. 590 00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:29,900 I call upon God, to give you Mercy, Timothy and Titus Mercy 591 00:34:29,900 --> 00:34:32,800 can be understood as a kindness and compassion, that is shown 592 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:36,000 towards somebody who offends and you know this very well that 593 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:38,500 when a spiritual leader offends, there's greater weight than 594 00:34:38,500 --> 00:34:43,199 consequence to it. Causing Greater Mercy to be 595 00:34:43,199 --> 00:34:46,100 needed. For the shortcomings and the 596 00:34:46,107 --> 00:34:49,100 blunders and the failure to be an example. 597 00:34:49,900 --> 00:34:53,300 Paul says, Timothy, I'm asking God that you would experience a 598 00:34:53,308 --> 00:34:56,800 Greater Mercy. Because you're going to need it. 599 00:34:57,700 --> 00:35:00,100 And I'm going to give you Mercy through my compassion and this 600 00:35:00,100 --> 00:35:01,800 letter. You know, what I learned from 601 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:04,200 that. Here's how I'm challenged. 602 00:35:04,200 --> 00:35:08,800 His greetings alone, display his thoughtfulness for each and 603 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:10,800 every single, one of the Believers that he knew. 604 00:35:13,900 --> 00:35:18,500 He was in general. He wasn't just throwing words 605 00:35:18,500 --> 00:35:21,900 for the sake of saying certain things know he understood the 606 00:35:21,900 --> 00:35:26,200 particular needs of every individual and he translated his 607 00:35:26,200 --> 00:35:30,300 prayers and he translated his words and his encouragement to 608 00:35:30,300 --> 00:35:35,800 cater to those specific needs Timothy and Titus needed mercy, 609 00:35:35,900 --> 00:35:38,100 so I'm asking God to give you Mercy. 610 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:43,300 That's how much love this man had. 611 00:35:43,300 --> 00:35:46,100 And we dare not think for a moment that his love is greater 612 00:35:46,100 --> 00:35:51,200 than the love of Jesus Christ. It's a particular singular 613 00:35:51,400 --> 00:35:54,500 unique, love that he has for each and every single one of us 614 00:35:54,500 --> 00:36:00,900 in this place by name by name. I hope you would believe that 615 00:36:00,900 --> 00:36:04,500 this morning. The Paul here is concerned about 616 00:36:04,500 --> 00:36:06,900 Timothy's condition at Titus condition and he knows how to 617 00:36:06,900 --> 00:36:08,400 deal with the Romans and the Galatians. 618 00:36:08,700 --> 00:36:12,000 Do you not think that your master cares about you with your 619 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:14,400 particular situation and Circumstance. 620 00:36:15,300 --> 00:36:17,500 Do you not believe that he will provide the exact grace and 621 00:36:17,500 --> 00:36:21,700 mercy and peace for you and Supply it in another way for 622 00:36:21,700 --> 00:36:24,800 somebody else. He knows how to walk with us 623 00:36:24,800 --> 00:36:27,500 individually. See it's one thing to know. 624 00:36:27,500 --> 00:36:30,100 Jesus Christ loves the world will praise God. 625 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:33,200 Jesus Christ loves his church. How does Yeah. 626 00:36:34,300 --> 00:36:36,400 But how much do you research rehearsal over your soul that 627 00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:42,600 Jesus Christ loves me. Loves me personally me. 628 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:46,200 And if we think that's a stretch, and if we think that's 629 00:36:46,200 --> 00:36:48,500 too much and if we think that that's something that we 630 00:36:48,500 --> 00:36:50,800 shouldn't do, because it glorifies self. 631 00:36:50,800 --> 00:36:52,900 Well, then you have problems with the love of Christ. 632 00:36:54,600 --> 00:36:57,100 In John 11 when Lazarus was sick. 633 00:36:57,100 --> 00:36:59,400 We are told by the Holy Spirit and verse 5. 634 00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:02,500 Now, Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 635 00:37:04,200 --> 00:37:09,400 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus individually 636 00:37:10,300 --> 00:37:13,000 with a particular love, a special love. 637 00:37:13,600 --> 00:37:16,200 Do you think Martha Mary and Lazarus were all the same? 638 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:17,800 Do you think I had the same personalities? 639 00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:19,100 Do you think that had the same spiritual? 640 00:37:19,100 --> 00:37:20,700 Disciplines you read about Martha. 641 00:37:20,700 --> 00:37:23,000 She was the one running around working and getting distracted 642 00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:25,600 and Mary's. They're sitting sitting at Jesus 643 00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:27,900 feet and Lazarus was just quiet. I don't know where he was. 644 00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:30,800 They're different. Different temperaments. 645 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:35,400 Different challenges, different failures, different pros and 646 00:37:35,400 --> 00:37:38,800 cons. And yet Christ equal love equal. 647 00:37:38,800 --> 00:37:42,600 Love for each of them. And that's what we have to 648 00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:45,500 understand here. Is that the love of Christ can 649 00:37:45,500 --> 00:37:48,800 so Phyllis? That we look at every single 650 00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:52,400 person around us. And we are magnetized to 651 00:37:52,400 --> 00:37:54,200 catering to their specific needs. 652 00:37:55,300 --> 00:37:58,200 And their cares and their weaknesses. 653 00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:03,800 And like Christ we manifest exactly what it is that they 654 00:38:03,800 --> 00:38:07,300 need in our tenderness like Paul does with Timothy here. 655 00:38:07,500 --> 00:38:09,200 You're in need of Mercy right now, Timothy. 656 00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:12,600 And I'm asking God that you would know that Mercy, That's 657 00:38:12,600 --> 00:38:16,800 The Power of understanding, this promise that is in Christ Jesus 658 00:38:16,800 --> 00:38:20,200 of life. And in this short introduction 659 00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:22,800 this morning, I want us to prepare for what we are about to 660 00:38:22,800 --> 00:38:25,900 read because it's about to encourage us to live a life. 661 00:38:26,900 --> 00:38:30,200 That knows the life that is in Christ Jesus, a radical life. 662 00:38:30,200 --> 00:38:33,000 It's a life of surrender to life that will demand obedience, but 663 00:38:33,000 --> 00:38:37,700 it is a life that will know joy and pleasure and bless others. 664 00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:41,800 I look at this man again. And in conclusion, I say this. 665 00:38:43,200 --> 00:38:49,300 My faith can be so in tune with the power of God that I can be 666 00:38:49,300 --> 00:38:51,300 at the brink of my own martyrdom. 667 00:38:52,400 --> 00:38:56,100 And in my thinking, care about a discourage brother, who's in his 668 00:38:56,100 --> 00:38:59,400 house, Sam must reach out to him before. 669 00:38:59,400 --> 00:39:01,300 I don't have the chance to do so anymore. 670 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:06,500 I know we all have weaknesses. I know. 671 00:39:06,500 --> 00:39:08,400 We all have discouraging moments. 672 00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:11,900 I know we have bad days, but I want to encourage you with 1.1 673 00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:14,800 driving Point as a result of this Sunday morning service. 674 00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:19,500 We can know such a relationship with Christ that self is 675 00:39:19,500 --> 00:39:24,600 eliminated. That self is eliminated and we 676 00:39:24,600 --> 00:39:28,300 are so preoccupied with the needs and the Brokenness of 677 00:39:28,300 --> 00:39:31,900 others. And I don't want to be a 678 00:39:31,900 --> 00:39:33,900 Christian. That's so caught up in my own 679 00:39:33,900 --> 00:39:38,200 desires and wishes and longings that I forget to know that there 680 00:39:38,200 --> 00:39:41,500 is a Grace that I can experience that house me look outward and 681 00:39:41,500 --> 00:39:46,000 not in word all the time. And I pray that that would be 682 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:49,600 our desire in this place. Grace mercy, and peace to you 683 00:39:49,600 --> 00:39:52,500 Timothy and we're going to prepare ourselves in the weeks 684 00:39:52,500 --> 00:39:54,000 ahead for what he's going to say. 685 00:39:54,000 --> 00:40:11,500 Let's pray together. Father, we thank you. 686 00:40:13,400 --> 00:40:16,100 For the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. 687 00:40:17,700 --> 00:40:20,700 Thank you, that you are the resurrection and the life and 688 00:40:20,700 --> 00:40:24,900 that whoever believes in you, even though he dies yet. 689 00:40:24,900 --> 00:40:28,500 Shall he live? Do we pray that we would know 690 00:40:28,500 --> 00:40:34,400 that life that promised I would so strengthen us that it would 691 00:40:34,400 --> 00:40:38,400 help us strengthen others Lord. In this place. 692 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:41,900 We pray that every person in here would know the will of God 693 00:40:41,900 --> 00:40:46,100 for their lives. And that no matter what success 694 00:40:46,100 --> 00:40:49,700 you bring through them what opportunities open for them? 695 00:40:49,700 --> 00:40:53,000 They would never fail to realize it is by the grace of God. 696 00:40:54,300 --> 00:40:59,800 By the grace of God, I am what I am and Lord in these two verses 697 00:40:59,800 --> 00:41:05,000 we received much, and we ask you to help us be like this man. 698 00:41:05,000 --> 00:41:10,700 Paul, who is able to think of another, even as he faced death. 699 00:41:12,100 --> 00:41:14,900 Surely this is by the power of the Holy Spirit. 700 00:41:15,500 --> 00:41:17,000 Surely. This is something that is 701 00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:21,900 Unleashed when truth is really trusted in and we pray now Lord 702 00:41:21,900 --> 00:41:27,200 that we would feel that Grace that makes us feel undefeated. 703 00:41:28,900 --> 00:41:31,300 The king of Terrors according to job. 704 00:41:32,800 --> 00:41:35,600 Is incapable of intimidating us to sorrow. 705 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:39,700 To fear. To guilt. 706 00:41:41,300 --> 00:41:44,100 And that even in our last moments, we can be a blessing to 707 00:41:44,100 --> 00:41:45,400 others. Lord. 708 00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:48,600 What an amazing. Truth help us arrive there. 709 00:41:48,600 --> 00:41:52,200 God, please help us arrive there that we worship you for this 710 00:41:52,200 --> 00:41:55,700 promise. We glorify you in this house, in 711 00:41:55,700 --> 00:41:57,800 Jesus name, we pray. Amen. 712 00:41:58,100 --> 00:41:58,500 Amen.