1 00:00:08,060 --> 00:00:12,980 Title of this morning's message is a tear filled farewell. 2 00:00:17,300 --> 00:00:20,540 Have you ever had a meeting with someone, some of you from 3 00:00:20,740 --> 00:00:24,860 overseas, many of you from different countries overseas? 4 00:00:24,860 --> 00:00:29,860 And and maybe you had a farewell where you said never going to 5 00:00:29,860 --> 00:00:33,260 see you again. Yeah, you're you're migrating. 6 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,880 Chances of you going back or perhaps those you're meeting 7 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:43,680 with, elderly or frail? And you knew it would be the. 8 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:45,800 Last time you would ever see them. 9 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,280 Well, this is the book of Acts, chapter 20. 10 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:52,920 That's the narrative that runs through the book of Acts. 11 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,680 Paul is going to visit people, they're going to see him, and 12 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:58,840 he's going to see them for the last time. 13 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:04,519 We begin Doctor Luke's final section, third section of this 14 00:01:04,519 --> 00:01:08,560 amazing book, and we'll see Paul visiting the churches one last 15 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,840 time, through Greece and through Turkey before he heads to 16 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:18,000 Jerusalem where he will be arrested, and then his eventual 17 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:22,480 voyage to Rome as a prisoner of Christ, where he will be 18 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:27,360 executed. Paul was determined to finish 19 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:31,720 his course with joy, to do his father's will. 20 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,920 I think that is the reason that our heart keeps beating. 21 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,520 Our lungs keep. Operating and we keep breathing 22 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:47,200 and God gives us the breath of life until we finish what God 23 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:52,120 has called us to live for to do his Father's will. 24 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:57,040 In the book of Isaiah, the prophet chapter 50 says verse 7, 25 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:04,040 because the sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. 26 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:07,560 In other words, as I try to serve the Lord, he'll help me. 27 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:14,160 I therefore I have set my face, the prophet says like a stone, 28 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:17,600 steadfast, determined to do his will. 29 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:20,800 And I know that I will not be put to shame. 30 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:26,480 I'll I'll achieve, I will do what God has asked me to do, no 31 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:34,000 matter for Paul the personal cost in Romans chapter 12 verse 32 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,080 one and you know many of you know this passage very well. 33 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:43,560 It says Paul says I beseech you, I beg you brethren, that's to 34 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:49,240 all believers by the mercies of God that you present your 35 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:52,280 bodies. You're living now how you live a 36 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:55,560 living sacrifice. In other words, you used to live 37 00:02:55,560 --> 00:03:00,040 for yourself. Now that you save, stop living 38 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,760 for yourself. Now live for God. 39 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:06,920 That means sacrificing what was yourself interests and your 40 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:09,400 yourself goals. And these are your plans. 41 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:11,000 This is what I'm going to do. This is what? 42 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:14,840 I'm going to achieve, and now it's changed and you go, Lord, 43 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:16,600 what is it that you want me to do? 44 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,760 Then you present your bodies, a living sacrifice, holy. 45 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:23,360 That means you live for God, acceptable under God. 46 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:28,360 And then he says the rest of the verse says unto God, which is 47 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,280 your reasonable service. And that's not the word 48 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,280 reasonable. It's lost its grip from this 49 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,520 translation. It means which is your logical, 50 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:42,320 which is what you should do. This is what you should do not 51 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,240 like, think about it, it's what you should do. 52 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:51,800 In Acts chapter 20, we have 3 farewell gatherings of Paul. 53 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,800 And those whom he had so lovingly ministered to with the 54 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:02,120 gospel in Macedonia, Greece, Archaea, that's the southern 55 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:06,240 part of Greece and then Asia, which is modern day Turkey. 56 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,480 Verse one. After the uproar had ceased back 57 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:14,600 in Ephesus, remember the riot? Paul called the disciples to 58 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:18,480 himself, embraced them, hugged them, and he parted to go to 59 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:20,959 Macedonia. He's heading to Greece, and when 60 00:04:20,959 --> 00:04:23,840 he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, 61 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:26,520 he came to Greece. Remember, Corinth is there, 62 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,960 Thessalonica and stayed three months. 63 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:33,480 And when the Jews plotted? Against him. 64 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:37,400 So here's this wandering band again plotted against What do 65 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:39,440 they want to do with Paul? They just want to kill him. 66 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:44,800 I just want to kill him. Paul has a posse, a lynch mob 67 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:47,920 that no matter where he went, was out to kill him. 68 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,680 Imagine you move no matter where you move in Australia, you move 69 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,440 overseas somewhere there's a bunch of people who said about 70 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:56,040 to kill you no matter where you go. 71 00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:01,040 This is what Paul had and so Paul and they were going to plot 72 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:04,440 to kill him as he was about to sail to Syria. 73 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:09,200 So Paul decided to return. Instead of sailing, he would 74 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:13,160 walk. Through Macedonia and Sopatara, 75 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,840 Berea accompanied him to Asia. That's Turkey. 76 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:21,360 Also Aristarchus Secundus of the Thessalonians, Gaius of. 77 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:26,800 Derby and Timothy Tai Chikus Trophemus of Asia these. 78 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,440 Men going ahead waited for us at Troas. 79 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:33,680 Troas remembers Turkey. But we sailed away from 80 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:36,840 Philippi. That's in Greece after the days 81 00:05:36,840 --> 00:05:41,240 of of Macedonia of unleavened bread and in five days join them 82 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,560 at Troas, Turkey where we stayed seven days. 83 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:48,000 Very particular notice. It says it started off with Paul 84 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,800 then it ends up but we sailed and where we stayed. 85 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,400 This is Doctor. Luke now has joined up again 86 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,520 with Paul We. So Luke is writing this. 87 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:01,080 He's saying now this is what we did and I'm travelling with Paul 88 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:02,800 so you know who's writing. This. 89 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,400 Paul had. Laboured in ministry for them he 90 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:08,840 had. A shepherd's heart for each of 91 00:06:08,840 --> 00:06:11,040 these. Churches scattered throughout 92 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:11,920 these. Regions. 93 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:14,760 And he prayed for them every day. 94 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,720 Can you imagine how many people he prayed for? 95 00:06:18,280 --> 00:06:22,480 How many people he prayed for? Constantly I want to ask. 96 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,840 You who are you praying for every day? 97 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:36,280 I hope and I pray at least. For your family, I hope and 98 00:06:36,280 --> 00:06:39,200 pray, if you're married, at least for your husband, for your 99 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:47,640 wife, because prayer works. When you pray, God listens and 100 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:53,480 God answers prayer. We live in a prayerless church 101 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:58,080 society these days, the smallest gatherings in any church, no 102 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:03,320 matter whether it's in the USA, wherever, except for third world 103 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,720 nations where it's against the law to be a believer. 104 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:07,720 And you'll be. Killed. 105 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:12,680 If you're a Christian, the prayer services, the very power 106 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,640 of the church is the least attended. 107 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:23,800 Pray at least for your children because out those doors is the 108 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:30,200 most dangerous, violent, sinful world and it's waiting to grab 109 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:32,440 them. We're going to cover that more 110 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:37,680 so on Wednesday. Remember, this man was a true 111 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:42,440 pastor. The care he had for each of 112 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:45,320 these churches was his greatest joy. 113 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:48,160 Yes, isn't parenting your greatest joy? 114 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,320 But also. It can be the greatest heartache 115 00:07:52,560 --> 00:08:00,200 all second tears, tears from dad, tears from mum over you, 116 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:05,760 you over them. Paul said how hard it had been 117 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:08,840 back in letter to the Corinthians, his 2nd letter of 118 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:15,480 verse 23 of Chapter 11 he's and people were saying Paul's known 119 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:17,520 minister of Christ. He said these people. 120 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:20,280 Let me tell you what a real. Minister is let me let. 121 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:24,040 Me tell you what I've experienced, I speak as a fool, 122 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:25,400 he says. I'm having to say this, but I'm 123 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:29,120 going to tell you I am more in Labour's more abundant. 124 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:33,120 I've worked hard in stripes above measure in prisons, more 125 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:34,960 frequently in. Deaths. 126 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:38,320 Often people just want to kill me from the Jews. 127 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:44,360 Five times I received 40 stripes -1 three times I was beaten with 128 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:48,600 rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. 129 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:52,040 A night and a day. I've been in the ocean in 130 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:55,120 journeys, often in perils and waters and perils of robbers, 131 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,440 perils of my own countrymen who want to kill me, and perils of 132 00:08:58,440 --> 00:08:59,880 the Gentiles who want to kill me. 133 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,360 Perils in the city and perils in the wilderness, perils in the 134 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:07,320 sea, and perils among false brethren in weariness and toil. 135 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:15,160 It's got to the place where I'm just so tired in sleeplessness. 136 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:20,400 Often in hunger and thirst, in fast things, often in cold and 137 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:25,520 nakedness, beside the other things which come upon me daily, 138 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:28,440 my deep concern for all the. Churches. 139 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:32,400 That's a pastor's heart. That, my friends, is a parent's 140 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:36,000 heart. It's a parent's heart. 141 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:42,920 After the Ephesus riot, Paul headed to Macedonia and Archaea. 142 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,160 Paul visited the churches for three reasons. 143 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:52,360 Why didn't he go there 1. I'll give you the three reasons. 144 00:09:52,360 --> 00:10:00,320 One, and This is why Church fellowship is so important, to 145 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:05,880 encourage and strengthen the Saints so that they might stand 146 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:10,080 true to the Lord and be an effective witness. 147 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,720 You don't realise, but when you come to church and when you miss 148 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:17,640 church, you're missed because your gift is not here. 149 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:19,000 Each and 1:00 every. One of us. 150 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,280 Has a gift? You're saying hello, you're, 151 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:23,960 you're catching up with that person that relates to you 152 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,240 because of where you work or or where you come from or your 153 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:32,800 nationality. You can't be a Christian by by 154 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:38,120 one of these. There's too many people now who 155 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:41,480 who sit at home and just watch the box. 156 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:44,400 That's church. No, that's not church. 157 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:48,360 This is church. Church is where you've got to 158 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,800 rub shoulders, where the book of Proverbs says we're iron 159 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:54,240 sharpens iron. We're men to get get together on 160 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:56,840 Friday. We're where we where we we. 161 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,960 Help and exhort. Because you know what? 162 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:05,120 We all need help. We all need exhortation to 163 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:06,920 encourage and. Strengthen one another. 164 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:12,280 To be effective witness, that is to continue to live for Christ, 165 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:16,560 not to be a fake. Secondly, to also finish 166 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,240 gathering. Paul was taking a collection 167 00:11:19,560 --> 00:11:23,920 from the Gentile churches, and he was gathering this collection 168 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:27,280 and he was going to take it to the starving, struggling church 169 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:30,680 in Jerusalem. Because in Jerusalem, because 170 00:11:30,680 --> 00:11:34,560 the Jews had become followers of Christ, they were cut off, 171 00:11:35,680 --> 00:11:39,160 couldn't work in the unions, couldn't get a job no one wanted 172 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:41,520 to live near, and they all kicked out of their family. 173 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:45,040 They were isolated, treated as lepers. 174 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:51,280 It says in Romans 15 of this collection, verse 25 But now I 175 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:55,120 go to Jerusalem to minister unto the Saints there, for it has 176 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,720 pleased them of Macedonia and Archaea, where he was visiting 177 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:02,400 to make a certain contribution to the poor Saints. 178 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:06,320 Who are at Jerusalem? It has pleased them verily, and 179 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:09,880 they're dead as they are. The Gentile churches owe 180 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:11,080 Jerusalem. You go how? 181 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:12,880 How do they owe them what they borrow money. 182 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:16,520 No, listen to what Paul says. For if the Gentiles have been 183 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:19,800 made partakers of their spiritual things because of the 184 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:25,080 Jews, we have the word of God. Jesus came through the the line 185 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:29,200 of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob where the unnatural branch 186 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:33,720 grafted in. He says Paul says they've been 187 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:35,680 made. Partakers of their spiritual 188 00:12:35,680 --> 00:12:37,560 things. And now Paul says this to the 189 00:12:37,560 --> 00:12:41,720 Gentile churches, their duty, it's the right thing to do. 190 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:44,120 This is what they need to do is also. 191 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:49,240 To minister unto them in carnal things, in other words, provide 192 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:50,800 for them. Note that. 193 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:58,680 But thirdly, the reason he was visiting because there was a 194 00:12:58,680 --> 00:13:03,200 plot to kill Paul at sea and so he went the different route and 195 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,200 visited all the churches by foot to Macedonia. 196 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,760 So it was a farewell service. Verse 7. 197 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:13,440 Now on the first day of the week, why does the church meet 198 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,760 on Sunday? Jesus rose from the dead on 199 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:18,360 Sunday. We're not all the Sabbath, you 200 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:20,160 know. You know, we, we got to do it on 201 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:21,680 Saturday. No, no, no. 202 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:26,320 The church met after the resurrection of Jesus, which was 203 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:29,440 on Sunday, and then the church met on Sunday. 204 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:32,720 Now, on the first day of the week, when the disciples came 205 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,480 together to break bread, Paul ready to depart. 206 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:38,800 The next day spoke to them and continued his message until 207 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:43,880 midnight. Some of you look at your watch 208 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:45,360 and go. He's already gone 10 minutes. 209 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:48,200 My gosh, how long is he going to be? 210 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:49,080 I got. Things to do. 211 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:52,800 I got to get out of here. There were many lamps in the 212 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:54,600 upper room where they were gathered together. 213 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,400 So the lamps are burning, the smell. 214 00:13:57,680 --> 00:13:59,760 And so it's taking all the oxygen, Right. 215 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:04,040 And in a window sat a certain young man named Uticus. 216 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:07,360 Now he's by the window. And they met at night. 217 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:09,800 Why? Because remember, slaves 218 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:11,000 couldn't go. Couldn't just go. 219 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:14,880 Oh, hey, man, I'm just heading to church Sunday morning, back a 220 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,000 couple of hours. You ain't going anywhere until 221 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:20,400 you finish your job. And so there were slaves and 222 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,560 masters, but the slaves couldn't get to church until they'd 223 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:25,360 worked all their work that they had to. 224 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:30,240 There was no holiday on the Sunday they worked. 225 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:32,160 And then they went to church at night. 226 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:36,760 Here fellow called Eauticus who was sinking into a deep sleep. 227 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:40,040 He's probably worked his tail off since dawn. 228 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:42,720 Now he's gone because he wants to catch up with Paul. 229 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:45,600 And the place is packed because they know this is Paul. 230 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:52,440 Probably Paul's last message. He was overcome by sleep, and as 231 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:55,640 Paul continued speaking, Eauticus fell down from the 232 00:14:55,640 --> 00:15:00,240 third story and was taken up deadly die crash. 233 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:06,400 But Paul went down, fell on him, embraced him, said do not 234 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,240 trouble yourselves, for his life is in him. 235 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:13,640 Back in the book of First Kings chapter 17, Elijah visits a 236 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:16,840 widow, the widow of Serapheth. Remember her son dies, her only 237 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:20,760 son, and Elijah praises, oh God, don't bring me in like this 238 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:23,360 woman's who's looked after me. She cooked the the the. 239 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:26,640 First meal and gave it to him. She was about to die and through 240 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:31,160 starvation son dies. And so Elijah lays over the 241 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:34,040 child and God brings the son back to life. 242 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:35,680 Very. Similar to this. 243 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:41,920 And now when he had come up so they get back together, had 244 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:46,120 broken bread and eaten, and it says notice what Luke says and 245 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:49,520 talk for a long while now he he's been going to midnight. 246 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:53,920 Now he's going on even till. Daybreak till dawn. 247 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:59,440 He departed and they brought the young man in alive and they were 248 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:02,440 not a little comforted. Now if people fall asleep, I see 249 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:04,200 him up here. So what? 250 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:05,560 I've talked to the elders about this. 251 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:07,560 We're going to buy a little a little plastic. 252 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:10,440 Thing that goes over your head, it's got to have uticus on it 253 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:13,440 with a little blue light. And when I see you falling 254 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:16,960 asleep, I'll just point. They'll come prop that on your 255 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:18,320 head with a little blue light going on. 256 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,760 That'll be uticus. So if you see any little blue 257 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:22,400 lights flashing up there, the people are asleep. 258 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:25,120 They got the uticus hat. So that's something that we're 259 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:32,080 going to bring in. God's Word was always taught. 260 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:35,640 In the gathering of the assembly, you know there are 261 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:37,160 always these people. And let's just. 262 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:39,320 We don't need the Bible. We've had too much teaching. 263 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:43,360 Let's just gather. No, I'd rather go surfing. 264 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:47,800 When we gather, we need the Word of God. 265 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:53,360 That's what makes us a Christian gathering, which included the 266 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:55,400 public reading of the Old Testament. 267 00:16:55,720 --> 00:17:00,000 So the Bible was read out loud, and every time the Christians 268 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,440 gathered, that's why we read. The Psalm to start the service. 269 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:08,280 Paul knew this to be likely the last time with these two 270 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:11,000 believers. And so he preached a long. 271 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:14,040 Sermon And you know what? No one complained. 272 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:16,839 Someone died, but no one complained. 273 00:17:19,319 --> 00:17:24,040 Preach the Word is still God's admonition to his church today 274 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:26,400 when people say Cambridge Chapel, I'm thinking coming 275 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:28,760 here, I'll go look if you don't. Like the Bible? 276 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:31,520 You don't like going teaching? Through the Bible, this is not 277 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:36,480 the church for you. Because this is not a pretend 278 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,240 place. This is the most serious 279 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:41,560 gathering. Because we're talking about 280 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:44,440 eternal life, we're talking about heaven and hell. 281 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:49,600 We're talking about the word of God to to save a marriage, to 282 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,440 bring a son, a son or a daughter out of drugs. 283 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:55,600 To be forgiven for doing something that you wish I'd 284 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:59,360 never done and and finding out the grace of God is available to 285 00:17:59,360 --> 00:18:02,240 you, then you haven't committed the unforgivable sin. 286 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,680 The unforgivable sin is. What is the rejection of Jesus 287 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:07,920 Christ? Nothing can be done. 288 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:12,920 So Eutechus, his name means fortunate. 289 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:20,040 Falls three stories to his death, Paul. 290 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:22,640 Raised him back from the dead, as did Elijah. 291 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:25,960 People say you just come on, you should've just stayed home. 292 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:29,200 No, no, Listen up. This was Paul's last message. 293 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:32,480 This was the last chance for Uticus to see Paul. 294 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:37,840 At least he was in the service. He was deadbeat, worn out, 295 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,720 probably worked really hard, but he wanted to be there. 296 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:43,280 That's why he sat near the window. 297 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:46,000 He's trying to keep awake. He's just trying. 298 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:49,080 He's just overwhelmed. By his labours. 299 00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:52,760 I love to have a Eutechus in church. 300 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:55,640 If you'd labour and you're here and you, I'd rather have you 301 00:18:55,640 --> 00:19:01,760 here asleep. And so the Ephesian elders are 302 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:04,960 exhorted by Paul, verse 17, from my leaders. 303 00:19:05,360 --> 00:19:08,640 Paul sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church 304 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:10,920 there at Ephesus. And when they'd come to him, he 305 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,120 said to them, you know. From the last. 306 00:19:13,120 --> 00:19:17,200 From the first day that I came to Asia, Turkey, in what manner, 307 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,680 I always lived among you. You know me, you've seen me. 308 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:25,360 You know who I am. And then he explains verse 19. 309 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:29,960 Serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and 310 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:34,320 trials, hasn't been easy, which happened to me by the plotting 311 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:37,600 of the Jews, how I kept back nothing. 312 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:45,840 Notice that that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you and 313 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,960 taught you publicly in the public gathering. 314 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:57,080 And from house to house, Paul was just teaching Bible study in 315 00:19:57,080 --> 00:20:01,880 the church, Bible study in the church, testifying to Jews and 316 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:04,880 also to Greeks. What did he preach? 317 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:09,640 Repentance toward God, faith toward our Lord Jesus. 318 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:14,800 Christ, let me tell you again if you ever get bored with hearing 319 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:18,560 repentance. Towards God and faith toward our 320 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:22,160 Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that you never do because 321 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:25,920 that's the message that the church has told, been told, and 322 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:28,480 has preached since John the Baptist preached. 323 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:30,400 We're going to hear about that tonight. 324 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:34,720 So 4 points. I'm going to give you 1 Paul 325 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:36,680 visits. The elders and he. 326 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaks of the past. Paul visits the past Paul here 327 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:47,080 spoke of the faithfulness of the Lord to his church where Paul 328 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:50,680 administered laboured diligently for three years. 329 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,160 And it wasn't just I'll meet your own for an hour on Sunday. 330 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:58,920 No, no, no, no. Remember he he we discovered on 331 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:03,520 Wednesday he went to the the hall that was next to next to 332 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:08,840 the library and Taichikus there Tyrannis the hall of Tyrannis 333 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,480 and he used it. He preached there everyday, 334 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:16,120 teaching for hours everyday in emphasis, which you can still 335 00:21:16,120 --> 00:21:20,240 see standing today. From day one Paul had given 336 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:24,280 himself unsparingly to the work of the Lord in emphasis. 337 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:27,320 Paul was an ambassador, not a diplomat. 338 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:31,840 Paul had got his hands dirty. It rolled up his sleeves. 339 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:36,800 It laboured how teaching and preaching the gospel of grace 340 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:40,800 verse 19 serving the. Lord, with all humility, with 341 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:44,560 many tears and trials, listen up. 342 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:49,080 Christianity isn't easy. Ministry isn't easy. 343 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:53,040 Parenting isn't easy. Keeping your marriage together 344 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:58,440 right and solid takes work. People think that everything, 345 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:00,520 everything's got to be easy. And if it's not easy while I'm 346 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:03,360 out of here, it's not working. I'm not happy with the way 347 00:22:03,360 --> 00:22:05,960 things are going. We have irreconcilable 348 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:08,560 differences. Of course you will, because 349 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:12,360 you're two different people. Not everyone in this church 350 00:22:12,360 --> 00:22:14,640 you're going to get on with. But I tell you what, God puts 351 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:17,440 them here because He wants you to learn to get on with them. 352 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:24,200 He wants you to change how He wants you to be like Him. 353 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:34,200 Jesus never turned anyone away. I had someone talk to me as they 354 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:35,840 were coming into church 1 morning. 355 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:40,240 He's oh man, it's been been hard and I bit my tongue. 356 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:43,480 It's been hard. It's hard. 357 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:52,040 It is hard when you get old, it's even harder, people. 358 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:55,400 Want. Easy Gospel, dying on the cross. 359 00:22:55,800 --> 00:23:00,640 Jesus, oh, this is easy. That's a breeze. 360 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:03,120 Oh, the the whipping, there was nothing. 361 00:23:03,120 --> 00:23:09,840 It was easy. Go to Nigeria, ask how hard it 362 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:14,880 is to be a Christian in Nigeria, how hard it is to being a 363 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:22,760 Christian in Iran. The world is pathetic in the way 364 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:26,480 that everything has to be easy. Oh, man, the kids are just, oh, 365 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:33,320 they're driving me crazy and so, well, get rid of them. 366 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:38,480 Got this kid, Get ready. There you go. 367 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:44,560 And. That's what people do, you see. 368 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:46,280 When things get. Hard they go. 369 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:50,800 We're not doing this. They spiral, we kind of laugh, 370 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:56,560 but sadly it's true. And they do it with God. 371 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:00,200 I'm just too hard. Or what? 372 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:07,280 You get what's hard Not going to hell and going to heaven. 373 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:16,160 You see the reality, the world tells you a lie, and the lie is 374 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:21,000 everything's got to be easy. All the doors are going to open. 375 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:28,800 Ministry is not easy. Parenting is not easy. 376 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:32,920 One needs to work on being a godly husband. 377 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:38,480 Mean you need to be there Friday, or a wife, or an 378 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:41,200 obedient son or daughter. By the way, remember. 379 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:46,040 Kids, you know, those who are young, It's the first 380 00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:52,400 commandment with a promise. Only your father and mother. 381 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:55,200 Why, you'll live long. My dad would tell me or I'll 382 00:24:55,200 --> 00:25:01,840 kill you, he added. Just his own translation there 383 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:05,880 and. So we have. 384 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:09,760 Kids growing up and. All this is. 385 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:11,360 Too hard. I can't do this. 386 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:12,400 Why? Because. 387 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:17,600 Dad is too pathetic in doing anything instead of leading the 388 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:20,280 home, being the spiritual head of the home. 389 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:24,640 He's just some spineless Jellyback thing that's just, 390 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:31,960 well, whatever your mother says. And it's shameful. 391 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:38,920 When I was a kid and I went to church, I couldn't. 392 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:41,520 I wanted to know, where's all the men? 393 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:45,040 How come the church is only filled with women? 394 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:47,800 I think against them the women would do all the ministry. 395 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:54,400 Why, Where's all the men? Then we wondered why our nation 396 00:25:54,760 --> 00:26:00,240 went away from God, because there was no one steering the 397 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:04,440 ship, no captain on the boat, no one in the front protecting the 398 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:07,120 family and guiding and leading and saying, what are we doing 399 00:26:07,120 --> 00:26:08,120 today? We're going to church. 400 00:26:08,120 --> 00:26:09,360 What do you think we're doing today? 401 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:13,160 Going the first out the door? Where's your Bible? 402 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:15,080 You you can't go to church without your Bible. 403 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:17,080 Where's your Bible? Are you reading? 404 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:24,920 Are you leading? Australia is in its condition 405 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:32,680 because Australian men are weak and spineless and they're all 406 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:38,480 brave and all this other way and they're not loving the children, 407 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:43,600 they're abusing them by letting them go about their own 408 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:47,120 business. That's child abuse. 409 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:51,240 The second point Paul's motive of ministry. 410 00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:54,280 What was his motive? Paul was not in the ministry for 411 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:57,960 financial gain. Verse 33 drop down. 412 00:26:57,960 --> 00:27:01,440 Look at verse 33. He says I have coveted no one 413 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:03,640 silver or gold or apparel. Listen up. 414 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:06,320 If you ever plan to go on into the ministry, you'll be 415 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:11,520 ministry. You're going to do doe, you'll 416 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:14,520 survive, could God's looked after you, but you're going to 417 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:17,840 drop thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands and 418 00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:24,320 thousands of dollars in salary ministry. 419 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:28,880 It's not about money, Paul said. I didn't cover this. 420 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:36,320 Paul's mission statement. Term they use today still around 421 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:39,440 if you'd like. His motive for ministry is found 422 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:43,600 in verse 19. Notice it says serving the Lord 423 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:47,200 with all humility. So many people today seek 424 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:48,400 ministry. Why? 425 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:52,080 For personal gain, if I'm up here, everyone will see me. 426 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:54,400 If I'm doing this, I can wear a badge. 427 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:56,400 I can, I can tell people what to do. 428 00:27:56,480 --> 00:27:58,480 You pick that up, put that over there. 429 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:03,560 Oh, I'm the so and so they're looking for personal gain to be 430 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:07,880 seen to display their talents. While I have all these talents 431 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:10,080 and I just think I need to be in the ministry. 432 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:15,720 You know when anyone signed up for ministry at Calvary Chapel 433 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:21,480 Costa Mesa under Pastor Chuck? You know where they started? 434 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:25,360 Good. Mop, bucket toilets. 435 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:29,920 Clean them after each service. Mop, bucket, toilets, rubbish, 436 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:37,520 janitor, work. You know, cleaning. 437 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:44,080 I tell you what pastors do here. Cleaning, picking up rubbish, 438 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:49,160 emptying bins, emptying the nappy bin, washing. 439 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:54,840 Floors. Wiping taps, toilets cleaned. 440 00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:58,760 That's what we offer here if you want to go in the ministry. 441 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:03,880 Oh, I'd rather just kind of run a Bible study. 442 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:08,400 Yeah, think about that first. Start off with the toilet. 443 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:10,120 And by the way, we're getting some new toilets. 444 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:16,360 That'll give me some. More to work on Jesus showed up. 445 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:24,640 On the night of his betrayal and he showed us how to serve to 446 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,800 minister the night of his arrest. 447 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:32,200 The night of his betrayal, a special Passover meal he's 448 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:34,920 heading. What's he do? 449 00:29:35,080 --> 00:29:37,440 They're all arguing and chatting with one another. 450 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:42,760 Jesus gets up, wraps an apron around himself, gets a bowl of 451 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:47,000 water, a towel, and he goes around and let me tell you, you 452 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:51,840 ever seen feet in sandals? Gross. 453 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:59,240 Dirt, sweat, sandals are off. These are gnarly fishermen. 454 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:03,560 These are people that have walked and walked and Jesus 455 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:06,080 bends down. He bows down, pours the water 456 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:07,520 in. Puts their feet in. 457 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:09,840 And he washes every one of their feet. 458 00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:14,040 Where is that going? That's ministry. 459 00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:18,080 You want to be a minister? That's ministry. 460 00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:21,800 That's ministry. That's true ministry. 461 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:29,120 In ministry for the Lord, most of the time your only witness of 462 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:34,520 what you're doing is Christ. As you scrub, you clean, you 463 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:39,680 tidy up, you labour in some other capacity away from most 464 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:41,920 people's eyes. Paul. 465 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:45,560 Was not interested in living the easy life and that's the other. 466 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:49,840 Danger that we have in our society today and it seeped into 467 00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:50,640 the truth. Easy. 468 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:56,400 We want an easy life. That's why when the war in Iran 469 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:59,960 and COVID broke out, we fell apart, didn't we? 470 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:03,680 People abused one other over toilet paper. 471 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:09,360 Now we have people abusing one another over fuel and and and 472 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:12,280 and and and on all this sort of carrying on, oh, what? 473 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:14,800 What's going to happen? What's going to happen? 474 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:19,920 Paul was not interested in the easy life. 475 00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:23,680 Which so many people are striving for today. 476 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:30,000 Don't strive for an easy life, strive for God's power for you 477 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:33,120 to be able to live. And and be an overcomer of the 478 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:37,720 difficult things that come your way in verse. 34 Yes, you 479 00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:41,400 yourselves know that these hands are provided for my necessities. 480 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:46,760 This is I work myself. For those who were with me, I 481 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:50,920 have shown you in every way by labouring like this that you 482 00:31:50,920 --> 00:31:55,480 must support the weak and. Remember the words of the Lord 483 00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:59,280 Jesus that he said it is more blessed to give than to receive. 484 00:31:59,480 --> 00:32:03,040 Verse 3435. It is more blessed to give than 485 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:07,200 to receive. You know, tight people, stingy 486 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:12,200 people become known. You know, you mentioned someone, 487 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:15,240 that bloke man wouldn't give you anything. 488 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:19,160 You get known you don't know it, but everyone else. 489 00:32:19,160 --> 00:32:22,440 Knows how stingy. You are because they don't want 490 00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:25,640 to have they don't want to part with they, they when they go and 491 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:27,360 have a coffee with it. You never pay. 492 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:32,920 You never give, you know, group of guys go off in a car and they 493 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:36,080 travel somewhere on a surf crew. You never put petrol money in. 494 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:39,160 You never. Buy for somebody else. 495 00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:45,040 Paul, remember, gave himself the title. 496 00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:48,200 Of bondservant. So what do you? 497 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:49,400 Do for a living. I'm slave. 498 00:32:50,240 --> 00:32:54,720 I'm the lowest of all slaves. Romans 11. 499 00:32:55,080 --> 00:33:02,520 Paul I Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, says that first, 500 00:33:02,760 --> 00:33:05,680 Then he says secondly, an apostle. 501 00:33:05,680 --> 00:33:10,760 Here you go, I'm. An apostle Jesus Christ I says I 502 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:19,040 Paul Bonser separate to the Gospel of God, verse 20. 503 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:25,680 Acts 20 How I kept nothing back that was helpful but proclaimed 504 00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:27,440 to you and taught you publicly and from. 505 00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:30,760 House to house testifying the Jews and also the Greeks, 506 00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:32,840 Repentance toward God. That's the message. 507 00:33:33,080 --> 00:33:35,560 Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 508 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:40,640 And see, now I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem. 509 00:33:41,520 --> 00:33:44,800 I'm being driven by the Holy Spirit, not knowing the things 510 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:48,600 that will happen to me there. Except everywhere I go that the 511 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:51,440 Holy Spirit testifies in every city, every church, people are 512 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:54,240 saying that chains and tribulations await me. 513 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:57,480 Paul. It's not looking good, but. 514 00:33:57,480 --> 00:34:00,680 None of these things moved me. It doesn't matter. 515 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:04,480 Nor do I count my life dear to myself. 516 00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:07,000 Here's the deal. If you count your life dear to 517 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:08,639 yourself, Jesus said you lose it. 518 00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:13,920 You count your life dear to yourself, you lose it. 519 00:34:17,920 --> 00:34:20,199 That's where people get this. They come to church and they're 520 00:34:21,159 --> 00:34:28,400 between 2 worlds. So that why why I don't count my 521 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:31,600 life so that I may finish my race. 522 00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:37,000 With joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus 523 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:40,280 to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 524 00:34:40,840 --> 00:34:45,239 Paul's motive of ministry was his overwhelming thankfulness. 525 00:34:47,239 --> 00:34:50,840 If you struggle in worship, if you struggle to read and to pray 526 00:34:50,840 --> 00:34:54,600 and to come to church, I doubt whether you really know just how 527 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:59,240 much. God has saved you from He who 528 00:34:59,240 --> 00:35:05,560 loves much, gives much, worships. 529 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:10,080 You see? We don't have someone coming to. 530 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:12,320 You are you excited? This morning, let's worship the 531 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:14,280 Lord. Come on, get excited. 532 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:16,560 Let's worship. No, no, no, there's no false 533 00:35:17,560 --> 00:35:22,000 getting it up here. If you haven't got it, we can't 534 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:26,640 give it to you. But for you to get it. 535 00:35:26,840 --> 00:35:31,640 Look at the cross. Remember Easter? 536 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:37,400 Agony, Pain, suffering for you, a Sinner. 537 00:35:40,080 --> 00:35:41,600 And you don't have a problem worshipping. 538 00:35:41,600 --> 00:35:48,960 Actually, you're too moved, you're too overwhelmed, you 539 00:35:48,960 --> 00:35:54,480 struggle. Words aren't enough because you 540 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:56,440 know how bad you. Were. 541 00:35:57,480 --> 00:36:05,520 You've done and what Christ went through to give you grace. 542 00:36:06,560 --> 00:36:11,280 To forgive you, to cleanse you, and he still loves you each and 543 00:36:11,280 --> 00:36:15,800 every day. Paul said one Corinthians 9 544 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:19,960 verse 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast 545 00:36:19,960 --> 00:36:23,120 of, for necessity is laid upon me. 546 00:36:23,120 --> 00:36:27,080 He says I have to yes, well as me, if I do not preach the 547 00:36:27,080 --> 00:36:30,880 gospel. Third, the manner of Paul's 548 00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:34,880 ministry. Paul said, follow my example 549 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:38,000 verse 18. And when they'd come to him, he 550 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:41,000 said to him, said to them, you know from the first day that I 551 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:44,280 came to Asia in what manner I always lived among you, You saw 552 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:49,680 me serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and 553 00:36:49,680 --> 00:36:53,840 trials. In one Corinthians 11, Paul 554 00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:57,720 says, imitate me just as I also imitate Christ. 555 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:01,160 Dads, wouldn't that be lovely? For you to say to your children, 556 00:37:02,320 --> 00:37:05,880 as I read the Word and I love the Word, as I love going to 557 00:37:05,880 --> 00:37:12,040 church, as I worship, follow my example, kids follow me. 558 00:37:13,440 --> 00:37:16,000 Paul lived. What is lacking, so lacking? 559 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:21,040 Today, what is that? A constant walk with God, not 560 00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:23,960 fluctuating here. One day I'm missing him but 561 00:37:23,960 --> 00:37:29,480 persistent faithful like Daniel, even though he lived in Babylon, 562 00:37:29,560 --> 00:37:31,880 thousands of kilometres away from Jerusalem. 563 00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:38,080 Daniel chapter 6 pray out Lord now Daniel verse 10 when Daniel 564 00:37:38,080 --> 00:37:41,680 knew that he was what what was written about sign he went home 565 00:37:41,680 --> 00:37:44,560 about. About the against praying, and 566 00:37:44,560 --> 00:37:47,240 in his upper room with his windows open toward Jerusalem, 567 00:37:47,240 --> 00:37:51,280 he knelt down on his knees three times that day, even though it's 568 00:37:51,280 --> 00:37:55,000 against the law, and prayed and gave thanks before his God. 569 00:37:55,000 --> 00:37:57,560 Why? As was. 570 00:37:57,560 --> 00:38:00,800 His custom since. Early days, he did it all the 571 00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:03,920 time. Dad and mum. 572 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:07,720 Here's the danger. Oh, I don't know why my kids are 573 00:38:07,720 --> 00:38:12,160 not interested. You know, they just, you'll most 574 00:38:12,160 --> 00:38:15,160 likely see your kids walk away from the church, from Christ and 575 00:38:15,160 --> 00:38:22,200 living for him if you are not constant and persistent in your 576 00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:26,400 relationship, in your walk with God because they'll just mirror 577 00:38:26,400 --> 00:38:31,880 you. Remember the song Cats in the 578 00:38:31,880 --> 00:38:33,880 cradle? Dad, will you come? 579 00:38:34,800 --> 00:38:36,800 My dad. Dad, I'll grow up to be like 580 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:37,600 you. Oh, son, can you come? 581 00:38:38,320 --> 00:38:44,720 Well, I'm kind of busy today. Today they watch you and they 582 00:38:44,720 --> 00:38:46,040 watch you go home. They go. 583 00:38:48,240 --> 00:38:49,920 It's not real. Why should I bother? 584 00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:56,200 Pretend to Timothy 22. The things that you've heard 585 00:38:56,200 --> 00:38:58,200 from me among many witnesses, Paul said. 586 00:38:58,440 --> 00:39:01,920 Commit these two faithful men. You know what faithfulness is, 587 00:39:02,240 --> 00:39:04,800 85% of faithfulness is just turning up. 588 00:39:06,280 --> 00:39:09,440 Just be in there. Dad'll be here. 589 00:39:09,960 --> 00:39:12,720 Dad'll pick me up. Dad'll know what to do. 590 00:39:15,360 --> 00:39:16,960 Who will be able to teach others? 591 00:39:16,960 --> 00:39:21,040 Also a faithful man. A church filled with faithful 592 00:39:21,040 --> 00:39:22,600 men. That's a blessed church. 593 00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:24,880 The. Importance of this cannot be 594 00:39:24,880 --> 00:39:26,040 overstated. Why? 595 00:39:26,320 --> 00:39:29,320 Because we are Speaking of eternal life here for your 596 00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:33,120 children. You want them being part of the 597 00:39:33,120 --> 00:39:37,400 first resurrection. Just because you come to church 598 00:39:37,400 --> 00:39:40,080 doesn't automatically mean they're going to go to heaven. 599 00:39:40,160 --> 00:39:43,240 Think about that. That should drive you to prayer. 600 00:39:46,160 --> 00:39:49,400 You want them in the first resurrection, not the second, 601 00:39:49,800 --> 00:39:52,440 because the second resurrection, when all the dead are raised up 602 00:39:52,440 --> 00:39:55,280 before God, the great White Throne judgement, they stand 603 00:39:55,280 --> 00:40:00,040 there and they're sentenced. It's not. 604 00:40:00,040 --> 00:40:02,520 Oh well, whether you're going in heaven or hell or not, no. 605 00:40:02,680 --> 00:40:09,560 It's the sentence, you see, we're talking reality. 606 00:40:09,560 --> 00:40:12,120 That's what church is so important and the teaching of 607 00:40:12,120 --> 00:40:14,320 the word of God. Because we're all going to die. 608 00:40:14,320 --> 00:40:18,240 We're all terminal. We just don't know how long. 609 00:40:19,680 --> 00:40:22,640 He's in every one of us, including our children and our 610 00:40:22,640 --> 00:40:30,640 grandchildren. Man, we have a mission Paul had. 611 00:40:30,640 --> 00:40:33,960 Nothing to hide. Paul served always in humility 612 00:40:33,960 --> 00:40:38,000 like Christ, not as a religious celebrity. 613 00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:43,240 Oh man, I get it. I can't demanding others. 614 00:40:43,240 --> 00:40:44,960 To serve him, Jesus. He did it. 615 00:40:45,520 --> 00:40:49,840 He chipped in, but this humility was not weakness. 616 00:40:49,840 --> 00:40:51,080 And that's where. We get it wrong. 617 00:40:51,080 --> 00:40:54,400 Men being humble is not being weak. 618 00:40:55,840 --> 00:40:59,960 Godly men are powerful men, men who exhibit strength and 619 00:40:59,960 --> 00:41:01,760 kindness. We're not doing that, son. 620 00:41:01,760 --> 00:41:03,520 We're going to. Church, this is what. 621 00:41:03,520 --> 00:41:05,760 The Bible says, son, This is why we're doing this. 622 00:41:07,560 --> 00:41:10,040 I can't do that. I'm missing out a promotion. 623 00:41:10,040 --> 00:41:11,120 Why? Because they want me to do this, 624 00:41:11,120 --> 00:41:12,200 son. That's why I'm not doing it. 625 00:41:12,880 --> 00:41:21,120 It's important. Never wavering, never not 626 00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:26,760 leading their family Spiritually, you're in control. 627 00:41:27,240 --> 00:41:30,120 You're. The one who is to give them 628 00:41:30,480 --> 00:41:33,240 this? It's not your wife's job. 629 00:41:35,040 --> 00:41:38,880 They're having to do it. If you're not doing it, it's 630 00:41:38,880 --> 00:41:42,240 your job. God will hold you and me 631 00:41:42,480 --> 00:41:46,200 responsible, the Bible says. If I don't treat my wife 632 00:41:46,200 --> 00:41:49,480 correctly, then my prayers are hindered. 633 00:41:52,600 --> 00:42:00,840 They're hindered. Paul was a courageous man who 634 00:42:00,840 --> 00:42:02,840 faced massive trials and mistreatment. 635 00:42:03,120 --> 00:42:07,080 But Paul also opened his heart, the most intimate side of his 636 00:42:07,200 --> 00:42:10,000 himself at times. Are you such a man like that? 637 00:42:11,320 --> 00:42:16,200 Do the kids really know? You, you walk with God, you talk 638 00:42:16,200 --> 00:42:19,400 with them about you, how you're praying with God and how God 639 00:42:19,400 --> 00:42:22,720 spoke to you the other day. Or do they know nothing about 640 00:42:22,720 --> 00:42:26,720 that? I know what sporting team you 641 00:42:26,720 --> 00:42:29,400 follow. They know you know how you run 642 00:42:29,400 --> 00:42:31,680 fast or do something like that. Well, great. 643 00:42:36,680 --> 00:42:39,480 It had not been easy and being that godly. 644 00:42:40,120 --> 00:42:43,120 Father won't be easy. Acts 20, verse 31. 645 00:42:43,480 --> 00:42:46,840 Therefore, watch and remember that for three years I did not 646 00:42:46,840 --> 00:42:49,520 cease to warn everyone night and day. 647 00:42:49,840 --> 00:42:55,600 With tears it was hard. 4th Paul's motive. 648 00:42:57,280 --> 00:42:59,760 His manner and now Paul's message what was it that the 649 00:42:59,760 --> 00:43:03,520 great apostle Paul taught and preached all this time over 650 00:43:03,520 --> 00:43:04,640 these difficult. Years. 651 00:43:04,640 --> 00:43:07,400 Did he have a? New exciting thing each Sunday 652 00:43:08,560 --> 00:43:11,640 Paul's got something new. Whoa, can't wait to hear this. 653 00:43:12,920 --> 00:43:18,920 I'm. Shaken Acts 19 he preached back 654 00:43:18,920 --> 00:43:20,760 in the previous chapter and verse 8. 655 00:43:21,320 --> 00:43:23,680 For three months he preached reasoning and persuading 656 00:43:23,680 --> 00:43:26,080 concerning the things of the Kingdom of God. 657 00:43:27,400 --> 00:43:31,000 In verse 10 And he continued for two years to all that dwelt in 658 00:43:31,400 --> 00:43:36,040 Asia, who heard the word of the Lord, the Lord Jesus, both Jews 659 00:43:36,040 --> 00:43:38,600 and Greeks. Paul taught what? 660 00:43:38,680 --> 00:43:43,640 What did the great Paul teach? He taught sinners to repent of 661 00:43:43,640 --> 00:43:47,880 their sins and believe in Jesus. Christ, that's what you need to 662 00:43:47,880 --> 00:43:50,960 hear. You don't need to hear all the 663 00:43:51,000 --> 00:43:55,520 other stuff because, have you? If you haven't done that, the 664 00:43:55,520 --> 00:43:58,280 other stuff, it doesn't count anyway. 665 00:44:00,280 --> 00:44:05,160 It was the gospel of grace, the grace of God, Paul said. 666 00:44:05,160 --> 00:44:07,360 So that I may finish my race with joy. 667 00:44:07,560 --> 00:44:10,480 And the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to 668 00:44:10,480 --> 00:44:13,800 testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 669 00:44:14,880 --> 00:44:19,280 Paul reminded them that this is the only message that can save 670 00:44:19,400 --> 00:44:21,320 the Sinner. People want counselling about 671 00:44:21,320 --> 00:44:23,480 this and that. First thing we always ask, are 672 00:44:23,560 --> 00:44:25,520 you saved? Do you know Christ? 673 00:44:27,240 --> 00:44:30,480 Because now you're talking about marriage counselling or raising 674 00:44:30,480 --> 00:44:33,440 kids or planning on doing this unless we find out. 675 00:44:33,440 --> 00:44:35,520 First of all, do you? Do you know God? 676 00:44:38,200 --> 00:44:40,280 Paul told them. He held nothing back. 677 00:44:41,760 --> 00:44:45,360 That was the past, and now Paul speaks of the present for the 678 00:44:45,360 --> 00:44:49,400 elders of Ephesus as we come into the home straight, verse 22 679 00:44:49,840 --> 00:44:54,000 And see, now I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing 680 00:44:54,000 --> 00:44:57,520 the things that will happen to me down to verse 25. 681 00:44:57,760 --> 00:45:00,840 And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I've gone 682 00:45:00,840 --> 00:45:04,640 preaching the Kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 683 00:45:04,760 --> 00:45:09,560 This is the last guys. Might see me again, you know 684 00:45:09,560 --> 00:45:13,680 what I mean by that. Therefore I testify to you this 685 00:45:13,680 --> 00:45:17,160 day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 686 00:45:17,400 --> 00:45:21,040 What's he saying? For I have not shunned to 687 00:45:21,040 --> 00:45:24,040 declare to you the whole counsel of God. 688 00:45:25,760 --> 00:45:29,080 Paul was open to his friends, that he was bound by his spirit. 689 00:45:30,080 --> 00:45:33,000 Even though danger awaited him, Jerusalem, he says. 690 00:45:33,000 --> 00:45:35,920 I'm still going. It was God's. 691 00:45:35,920 --> 00:45:38,800 Calling on Paul's life that drove him on. 692 00:45:39,920 --> 00:45:44,400 Now Paul will finish on these gives us 6 pictures to explain 693 00:45:44,600 --> 00:45:48,920 why he would not quit but continue on to Jerusalem to die 694 00:45:48,920 --> 00:45:53,960 for Christ. If necessary, it's interesting 695 00:45:54,280 --> 00:45:58,040 that many people think men to go to church and women to go to 696 00:45:58,040 --> 00:46:00,760 church, particularly men, young men as well. 697 00:46:00,960 --> 00:46:01,600 Why? Why? 698 00:46:01,600 --> 00:46:03,520 Are you a bit weak or something? You're going to church. 699 00:46:03,840 --> 00:46:09,360 Guess what the Bible says? Courageous people are 700 00:46:09,360 --> 00:46:11,360 Christians. You know why? 701 00:46:11,720 --> 00:46:14,560 Because it says in Revelation 21, verse 8. 702 00:46:15,000 --> 00:46:20,640 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable murderers, sexually 703 00:46:20,640 --> 00:46:24,640 immoral sorcerers, idolaters, liars, shall have their part in 704 00:46:24,640 --> 00:46:26,840 the lake, which burns with fire and brimstone. 705 00:46:26,960 --> 00:46:30,840 Which is the second death. So you here today, men, I want 706 00:46:30,840 --> 00:46:33,600 to tell you you're courageous, you're different, you're unique, 707 00:46:34,920 --> 00:46:38,240 you're strong. God makes you strong. 708 00:46:40,200 --> 00:46:44,920 Six things now that Paul had. First of all, Paul said by 709 00:46:44,920 --> 00:46:47,400 example, Paul considered himself. 710 00:46:47,520 --> 00:46:49,240 An accountant as. Soon as I mentioned that 711 00:46:49,320 --> 00:46:52,120 everyone thinks God with a balding head, glasses and 712 00:46:52,640 --> 00:46:55,520 advisor and earth. What do you want? 713 00:46:55,680 --> 00:46:59,720 No verse 24, nor do I count my life. 714 00:47:00,120 --> 00:47:05,000 Dear to myself. Paul had examined his assets and 715 00:47:05,000 --> 00:47:09,440 his liabilities. Paul decided to put Jesus before 716 00:47:10,600 --> 00:47:13,960 everything else. What are your assets? 717 00:47:15,360 --> 00:47:20,320 What are you proud of? What are your liabilities? 718 00:47:20,680 --> 00:47:21,920 Because that's what an accountant does. 719 00:47:21,920 --> 00:47:25,120 He goes through cheques all the. Books, This is what you have. 720 00:47:25,120 --> 00:47:26,800 This is what you don't have. This is what you owe. 721 00:47:28,200 --> 00:47:30,240 And Paul said. All that I have. 722 00:47:32,280 --> 00:47:40,280 I put behind to finish my race to count my life. 723 00:47:42,960 --> 00:47:47,600 Secondly, Paul saw himself as a runner, as an athlete who wanted 724 00:47:47,600 --> 00:47:49,800 to finish his race victorious, he says. 725 00:47:49,800 --> 00:47:52,640 So that I may finish my race with joy. 726 00:47:53,840 --> 00:47:56,040 Paul knew his life was a gift do. 727 00:47:56,040 --> 00:47:59,720 You know that that you're very living now and the talents that 728 00:47:59,720 --> 00:48:02,040 you have, they're all a gift from God. 729 00:48:02,040 --> 00:48:04,360 You have nothing of yourself. God gave it to you. 730 00:48:05,680 --> 00:48:10,960 Eric Little, the Scottish rugby player and Olympian Chariots of 731 00:48:10,960 --> 00:48:14,560 Fire movie, he says. When I run and in the reason 732 00:48:14,560 --> 00:48:20,760 that he run, he says I feel the pleasure of God and he used he's 733 00:48:20,760 --> 00:48:24,600 gold medal and he's running to be a missionary in China where 734 00:48:24,600 --> 00:48:28,400 he died of a brain aneurysm in China. 735 00:48:29,880 --> 00:48:32,680 He used the gift that he had for the glory of God. 736 00:48:32,920 --> 00:48:36,240 You see if you have a gift. I want to ask you, there's only 737 00:48:36,240 --> 00:48:43,680 one way that that gift can be used that will last for the 738 00:48:43,680 --> 00:48:46,040 glory of God. Paul saw himself. 739 00:48:46,040 --> 00:48:50,120 As a steward thirdly, and the ministry which I received from 740 00:48:50,120 --> 00:48:56,320 the Lord Jesus, His gifting, his calling, his ministry, Paul had 741 00:48:56,320 --> 00:49:00,520 received all of it from the Lord Jesus himself on the road to 742 00:49:00,520 --> 00:49:03,120 Damascus when? Paul was struck by the light. 743 00:49:03,120 --> 00:49:05,920 Paul said. What would you have me do, Lord? 744 00:49:08,440 --> 00:49:10,840 Now here's a steward. You know what a steward is? 745 00:49:11,240 --> 00:49:16,040 A steward owns nothing. They manage their masters stuff 746 00:49:16,360 --> 00:49:18,440 everything that you have. You know, when you give your 747 00:49:18,440 --> 00:49:23,320 offering, it's not well, here's a lot on here's a couple of you. 748 00:49:24,720 --> 00:49:29,080 Guess what, it's all the Lords. He allows you to keep some. 749 00:49:29,400 --> 00:49:34,720 Think of that when you give. And if you aren't giving, read 750 00:49:34,720 --> 00:49:38,760 the book of Malachi, read the Bible and go to the foot of the 751 00:49:38,760 --> 00:49:43,560 cross and find out what he gave a steward. 752 00:49:44,600 --> 00:49:48,360 Earns nothing but everything that he has he realised. 753 00:49:48,520 --> 00:49:51,960 Is his master's. Everything, even the very breath 754 00:49:51,960 --> 00:49:54,960 he breathes. And Paul would have to give an 755 00:49:54,960 --> 00:49:57,640 account to Jesus, as will you and I. 756 00:49:57,640 --> 00:50:01,520 We will all not stand before Jesus to be judged on heaven and 757 00:50:01,520 --> 00:50:04,080 hell, but each one of us will stand before God. 758 00:50:04,120 --> 00:50:07,760 It's called what's called the Bema seat on the reward. 759 00:50:07,760 --> 00:50:09,920 What the This is the gift I gave you. 760 00:50:10,080 --> 00:50:13,280 This is the talent I gave you. This is the finances, the 761 00:50:13,280 --> 00:50:16,240 resources that I gave you. This is the time I gave you. 762 00:50:16,440 --> 00:50:19,320 What did you do with them? I just buried them. 763 00:50:21,280 --> 00:50:27,280 I just use them for myself. The. 4th Paul was a witness 764 00:50:27,680 --> 00:50:31,120 verse 26 Therefore I testify to you this day. 765 00:50:31,400 --> 00:50:34,960 Paul was testifying of the gospel of the grace of God 766 00:50:35,360 --> 00:50:38,520 literally means. The witness to give a solemn 767 00:50:38,520 --> 00:50:42,040 witness, because it is a matter of life and death. 768 00:50:42,240 --> 00:50:45,920 To those we. Share it to When you witness, 769 00:50:45,920 --> 00:50:50,840 it's a matter of life and death. Your life, your story, what God 770 00:50:50,840 --> 00:50:54,200 has done to you. When you witness, it's a matter 771 00:50:54,200 --> 00:50:58,040 of life and death to the hero. Paul was a. 772 00:50:58,040 --> 00:51:03,280 Herald for his king verse 25 I have gone preaching the Kingdom 773 00:51:03,280 --> 00:51:05,920 of God. The word preaching there Paul 774 00:51:05,920 --> 00:51:11,000 uses is the message that a herald sent out from the king 775 00:51:11,240 --> 00:51:13,400 speaks. The message that the king has 776 00:51:13,400 --> 00:51:16,080 told him to speak. Noah nothing else. 777 00:51:19,080 --> 00:51:24,040 A witness tells what happened to him, but a herald of the king. 778 00:51:24,760 --> 00:51:26,880 That's the word Paul uses here for preaching. 779 00:51:27,120 --> 00:51:28,960 Gives the message of the king. It. 780 00:51:28,960 --> 00:51:32,800 Cannot alter or change the King's message or word. 781 00:51:33,840 --> 00:51:38,920 And lastly, Paul was a watchman. What's that? 782 00:51:39,880 --> 00:51:42,240 Verse 26? Therefore, I testify to you this 783 00:51:42,240 --> 00:51:46,280 day. Then I am innocent of the blood 784 00:51:46,280 --> 00:51:48,440 of all men, for I have not shunned to. 785 00:51:48,440 --> 00:51:51,720 Declare to you the whole counsel of God. 786 00:51:52,760 --> 00:51:56,080 You see, the watchman stood on guard at the gate and on the 787 00:51:56,080 --> 00:51:59,600 walls of the city, ready to. Sound the alarm. 788 00:52:00,480 --> 00:52:04,440 He had to stay awake, couldn't sleep, never think of his own 789 00:52:04,440 --> 00:52:08,960 safety. Ezekiel 317 Son of man, I've 790 00:52:08,960 --> 00:52:11,720 made your watchman. God said to Ezekiel from the 791 00:52:11,720 --> 00:52:14,360 House of Israel. Therefore hear a word from my 792 00:52:14,360 --> 00:52:16,440 mouth, Give them warning from me. 793 00:52:16,600 --> 00:52:19,000 When I say to the wicked, you shall surely die. 794 00:52:19,200 --> 00:52:23,000 And you give him no warning nor speak to warn the wicked from 795 00:52:23,000 --> 00:52:27,400 his wicked way to save his life. That same wicked man shall die 796 00:52:27,400 --> 00:52:29,560 in in his iniquity. But listen to this. 797 00:52:29,840 --> 00:52:33,720 But his blood, the responsibility. 798 00:52:34,320 --> 00:52:42,000 I will require at your hand. And so just recently we've had 799 00:52:42,000 --> 00:52:47,160 two deaths in our family. We've heard eulogies at the 800 00:52:47,160 --> 00:52:52,320 funerals of the passing of my brother and and our nephew. 801 00:52:57,000 --> 00:53:02,760 If you could write your own eulogy, what would you say? 802 00:53:04,760 --> 00:53:06,400 This is What? This is who I am. 803 00:53:06,920 --> 00:53:12,280 What would you say? Would it be dominated by you? 804 00:53:12,280 --> 00:53:16,120 Oh, I had a great boat, great surfboard, good set of golf 805 00:53:16,120 --> 00:53:17,960 clubs, man. Yeah, really good. 806 00:53:18,400 --> 00:53:26,240 He's good at cricket, good at football and had a great car. 807 00:53:27,160 --> 00:53:29,560 Nice house. His lawn was beautiful. 808 00:53:33,160 --> 00:53:39,880 Wow, got me right here. Would it be dominated by your 809 00:53:39,880 --> 00:53:49,630 walk with God? He was an accountant. 810 00:53:50,910 --> 00:53:53,350 He counted everything he had, but he put God first. 811 00:53:54,150 --> 00:53:56,030 He was a runner. He run his race. 812 00:53:56,590 --> 00:53:58,030 He did all that God wanted to do. 813 00:53:58,950 --> 00:54:01,710 He was a Stuart man. He the things that God gave him 814 00:54:01,710 --> 00:54:04,990 and the way he managed. He was a witness. 815 00:54:04,990 --> 00:54:08,760 He told everyone at work, every time he went surfing, every time 816 00:54:08,760 --> 00:54:10,640 he played cricket, every time he was at the football club. 817 00:54:10,880 --> 00:54:12,880 He was sharing the gospel, praying with someone. 818 00:54:14,200 --> 00:54:16,760 It was a Herald man. He would just tell people the. 819 00:54:16,760 --> 00:54:18,480 Gospel. He would just give them the 820 00:54:18,480 --> 00:54:20,800 gospel. He was a watchman. 821 00:54:20,920 --> 00:54:23,360 He warned people who were. Going down the wrong path, he 822 00:54:23,360 --> 00:54:30,200 say this is not the way to live. It's dangerous or he was stingy. 823 00:54:30,200 --> 00:54:33,040 This guy, man, he was so stingy. Oh. 824 00:54:34,200 --> 00:54:38,960 Still have his first pay packet or I've never had such a 825 00:54:38,960 --> 00:54:41,600 generous person. He helped us through when our 826 00:54:41,600 --> 00:54:43,200 family was struggling. He was there. 827 00:54:43,640 --> 00:54:45,240 He provided this, he paid for that. 828 00:54:46,080 --> 00:54:50,120 He set that aside. He was a humble servant. 829 00:54:52,600 --> 00:54:55,440 He held nothing back. He did everything for his for 830 00:54:55,760 --> 00:54:58,200 for the Lord and for his wife and for his kids. 831 00:55:00,160 --> 00:55:04,840 Because right now you are riding your eulogy. 832 00:55:06,640 --> 00:55:11,800 Right now how you live. It's being prepared. 833 00:55:18,300 --> 00:55:21,420 Time is short. The door is. 834 00:55:21,420 --> 00:55:22,980 Open now, It's going to close soon. 835 00:55:22,980 --> 00:55:25,180 The world is in chaos. I love to see what's happening 836 00:55:25,180 --> 00:55:27,740 with the world. You know why Jesus is coming? 837 00:55:28,300 --> 00:55:33,520 He has to governments around the world, situation in Iran, the 838 00:55:33,560 --> 00:55:37,760 fuel crisis, our own government, our nation is in disarray. 839 00:55:38,080 --> 00:55:41,360 People, people seriously don't know what to do, where to turn. 840 00:55:41,920 --> 00:55:45,840 Ben Robert Smith, our Victoria Cross person now, he, they, 841 00:55:46,000 --> 00:55:52,960 they, they openly arrest him and have it all shown and and set 842 00:55:52,960 --> 00:55:55,960 up. When we as police were arresting 843 00:55:55,960 --> 00:55:57,320 one of our own, you know what we. 844 00:55:57,320 --> 00:55:59,960 Did we did it? No one around. 845 00:56:01,680 --> 00:56:04,600 We did it without any of his mates seeing it. 846 00:56:04,800 --> 00:56:06,840 We did it in the best, best possible way. 847 00:56:06,920 --> 00:56:10,560 This I don't know. But I tell you, it's hitting our 848 00:56:10,560 --> 00:56:13,160 nation because we're coming up to Anzac Day. 849 00:56:13,920 --> 00:56:16,680 Our country, our country is being destroyed. 850 00:56:16,920 --> 00:56:19,200 Our character is being torn apart. 851 00:56:20,320 --> 00:56:22,600 You know why? It's getting ready for the 852 00:56:22,600 --> 00:56:27,120 Antichrist. But you and I better be ready 853 00:56:27,120 --> 00:56:31,800 for Jesus Christ. Today, will you repent and turn 854 00:56:31,800 --> 00:56:35,560 your life to Christ? If you've not done that as a 855 00:56:35,560 --> 00:56:39,160 follower of Christ already, maybe you're a believer already. 856 00:56:39,320 --> 00:56:41,320 Will you dedicate your life to Him? 857 00:56:41,560 --> 00:56:44,920 You've been holding back. You've been stingy. 858 00:56:46,800 --> 00:56:51,920 You kept. That all yourself, the hymn says 859 00:56:51,920 --> 00:56:57,080 all to Jesus. I surrender all to him. 860 00:56:58,120 --> 00:57:05,720 I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him. 861 00:57:08,040 --> 00:57:12,200 Let's pray. Father, we thank you for your 862 00:57:12,200 --> 00:57:15,240 word. We thank you that you're 863 00:57:15,240 --> 00:57:17,800 preparing our hearts for the return of your Son. 864 00:57:19,120 --> 00:57:21,600 I pray for any here today that don't know you. 865 00:57:22,920 --> 00:57:26,800 I pray that the Holy Spirit, your Holy Spirit, has spoken to 866 00:57:26,800 --> 00:57:29,600 them and that's God has spoken to you today. 867 00:57:29,600 --> 00:57:34,960 Today is the day you need to repent and come to Christ if 868 00:57:34,960 --> 00:57:40,280 you're already a believer but you've followed from a distance. 869 00:57:40,840 --> 00:57:43,960 You've kept hold of things close to yourself. 870 00:57:46,080 --> 00:57:53,520 You're robbing God and God May He free you today. 871 00:57:54,600 --> 00:58:00,560 May you run your race with joy. These things we ask and pray now 872 00:58:00,560 --> 00:58:03,400 in Jesus name, Amen. Let's stand, shall we? 873 00:58:04,400 --> 00:58:05,920 Worship teams not coming forward. 874 00:58:07,240 --> 00:58:13,720 And for the blessing, if you'd like prayer, the passes will be 875 00:58:13,720 --> 00:58:17,120 available to pray with you at the front. 876 00:58:18,160 --> 00:58:20,280 The Lord bless you, the Lord keep you, the Lord make. 877 00:58:20,280 --> 00:58:24,160 His face to shine upon you, the. Lord give you his peace. 878 00:58:25,840 --> 00:58:32,000 We live in amazing times. When you pray, God hears you, 879 00:58:32,840 --> 00:58:37,400 God answers you. Wonderful to have to study the 880 00:58:37,400 --> 00:58:40,040 Word of God today. Are you looking forward to 881 00:58:40,040 --> 00:58:48,200 catching up with Paul? I am just to know you, my 882 00:58:48,200 --> 00:58:49,120 sweetest friend, my friend.