1 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:11,160 Good evening and welcome. Again, this is the the last 2 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:17,320 sermon in our series through First Corinthians and we've 3 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:22,400 actually had 2022 messages. So here we go. 4 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:26,360 One Corinthians chapter 16, verses 1 to 24. 5 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:30,280 The title of tonight's message is Faithful to the finish. 6 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:36,000 So Paul has just finished chapter 15 with this, this 7 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:40,680 sweeping vision of resurrection, hope and the glory, the the 8 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:43,920 victory that is there, the the transformation of our bodies. 9 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:49,200 It's this majestic theology. But then what what comes next is 10 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:52,440 it's not like a celestial choir breaking out in the Hallelujah 11 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,240 Chorus. He breaks into chapter 16 with 12 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,520 the church offering schedule and we looked at this last week in 13 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:04,680 greater detail and it seems like this jarring shift from from 14 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:10,360 heavenly glory in chapter 15 to then handling money from the 15 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:14,640 resurrection to responsibility. Paul doesn't actually see a 16 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:19,240 contradiction here and it's because of this gospel doctrine 17 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:21,840 must lead to a gospel driven life. 18 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,080 So you see, if, if I really believe that I have a glorious 19 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:29,920 future and that my body is going to be transformed at some point 20 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:32,960 in the future, you know that I'm going to be in heaven with the 21 00:01:32,960 --> 00:01:36,360 Lord forever and and then come back and serve 1000 years in a 22 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:40,000 remade earth, a a millennial Kingdom in a, in a glorified 23 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,080 body. Then that should motivate me to 24 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:47,320 do as Jesus said here on earth. You know when he said layout for 25 00:01:47,320 --> 00:01:50,000 yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust cannot 26 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,720 corrupt, where where thieves cannot break in and steal. 27 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:57,480 It's all of that so so knowing the future glories of heaven and 28 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:01,880 and bodily resurrection. I want to live on earth with 29 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:04,320 eternity on my mind and behaviour. 30 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:08,880 And so we can never cut or detach the future from the 31 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,400 present. And so thus Paul, he he gets 32 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,160 very, very practical in chapter 16. 33 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:21,760 He lands the plane of of 1 Corinthians in chapter 16 with 34 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:26,880 with this ordinary earthy but essential detail of, of what a 35 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:30,720 faithful church looks like, how it handles money, how it 36 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:36,000 responds to leaders, how it lives in love and leans into 37 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,520 grace. So think of the final chapter 38 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:42,280 not as a throwaway, but as a call to finish well. 39 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:45,440 And so to help us hear it tonight, let's frame Paul's 40 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:49,920 words under 3 headings. Number one, priority of giving. 41 00:02:49,920 --> 00:02:51,960 We see that in verses 1 to 4 again. 42 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:57,840 And then secondly, posture in ministry in verses 5 to 9, and 43 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:02,000 then ahead into 13 and 14. And then thirdly and finally, 44 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,080 for us some people to honour in verses 10 to 24. 45 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:10,400 So let's look again, priority of giving verses 1 to 4. 46 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:15,240 I'm reading from the New King James Version now concerning the 47 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:18,920 collection for the Saints. As I've given orders to the 48 00:03:18,920 --> 00:03:24,040 churches of Galatia, so you must do also on the first day of the 49 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:28,680 week, let each one of you lay something aside, stirring up as 50 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,360 he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 51 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,720 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters, I will 52 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:38,480 send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 53 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:42,320 But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me. 54 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:45,880 So Paul starts with a very practical concern. 55 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:49,640 It's it's the offering for the struggling Saints in Jerusalem 56 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:54,240 and and it seems like a surprising place to begin unless 57 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:59,200 you remember what Jesus said again, where your treasure is 58 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,800 there your heart will be also. Matthew 6 verse 21. 59 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:07,040 Now Martin Luther said something interesting. 60 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:10,000 He said there's three conversions that are necessary. 61 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:14,280 The conversion of the heart, the conversion of the mind, a 62 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:18,640 person's thought, life, and he said the conversion of, of their 63 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:21,880 purse, or we would say it today, their wallet or chequebook or 64 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:24,960 bank account. And those three conversions are 65 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,080 truly necessary. So Paul was speaking to 66 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:31,680 converted people, the Gentile church in Corinth converted in 67 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:35,520 heart, converted in mind, and he wanted to make sure that their 68 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:37,760 attitude towards money was also converted. 69 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:42,600 And so he asked that an offering would be taken up to support the 70 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,120 believers in Jerusalem who are struggling at this time under, 71 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:50,720 under heavy persecution. And in that what we see is, is 72 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:54,680 giving in our lives reflects gospel gratitude. 73 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:59,560 Paul doesn't open with a command for a a specific amount, but 74 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:02,080 what he is calling for is, is a pattern here. 75 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:06,520 And, and the principle that he indicates is of regularity in 76 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:10,360 our giving of, of proportional giving and, and cheerful giving. 77 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,320 And, and giving is so central. Why? 78 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:17,760 Because it, it demonstrates our relationship with God. 79 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:22,120 And Paul knows that financial habits are spiritual habits. 80 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:27,120 And so giving isn't God's way of raising cash. 81 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:29,640 It's, it's actually his way of raising children. 82 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:34,200 If we treasure the gospel, we'll be compelled to give in ways 83 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:38,480 that honour God's Kingdom. So let's look practically the 84 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,760 the specific guidance Paul provides is that that weekly 85 00:05:41,840 --> 00:05:43,480 they were on the first day of the week. 86 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:46,960 That was the the time when they would gather for worship. 87 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:50,240 It's the Sunday and it emphasises regularity, not like 88 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:55,040 this one off sporadic act of charity, but it's also part of 89 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:59,000 their their worship time. And so it gave a structure that 90 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,000 prioritised God and, and his work. 91 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:05,680 And, and here, like I say on a weekly basis, it was personal. 92 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:07,920 He said each one of you. And, and it spoke to the 93 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:11,400 individual nature of giving. It wasn't just for the wealthy 94 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:14,040 in the congregation, but everyone in the congregation, no 95 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:18,240 matter how seemingly little or, or, or much that was given, but 96 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:21,040 a personal 1. And it was proportional. 97 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:25,320 It says, as he may prosper. You know, God never asks us to 98 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:29,440 give what we don't have, but to give according to what we do 99 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:32,680 have. And then he he indicates Paul 100 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:36,240 that it's to be prepared so that he says no collections need to 101 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:39,920 be made when I come. So it was this planned ahead of 102 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:43,240 time process, something that would not put the church on the 103 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:47,800 spot when when Paul did arrive. And, and the heart of giving 104 00:06:47,840 --> 00:06:52,080 that's evident there is about it being a Worshipful component, 105 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:57,080 not an obligatory thing, but very intentional, very 106 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:00,480 Worshipful and, and, and for joy to be a part of it. 107 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:06,640 But you know, it also built this, this gospel unity because 108 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,760 the Gentile Christians were supporting the Jewish 109 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:12,880 Christians. Paul demonstrated that the 110 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:16,400 gospel binds in this way across cultural and ethnic lines. 111 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:19,360 And, and though the Gentiles had been outside of God's promises 112 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:23,280 that they were now Co heirs with the Jewish believers in Christ. 113 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,520 And so they were asked to support the church in Jerusalem. 114 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,720 And again, this has direct application for us today. 115 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:35,880 You know, a local church here in Australia, for example, we're 116 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,760 called to support missionaries and, and we do that in places 117 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:42,480 like Fiji and, and elsewhere. When the, when the need and 118 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:47,960 opportunity arises, it's, it's our giving then as a testimony 119 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:51,920 of, of the unity, a declaration that we're one in Christ. 120 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:56,720 And when we give, we're actually participating something much 121 00:07:56,720 --> 00:08:00,360 bigger than ourselves. It's not just financial support, 122 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:02,600 it's the expansion of God's Kingdom. 123 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:06,120 It's, it's the worship of God's people unto the Lord. 124 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:10,160 It, it ties us to the mission of the church, linking us not only 125 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:13,920 with the needs we see, but with the whole global body of Christ. 126 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,640 So that's, that's Paul's first initial declaration. 127 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:22,000 And then secondly, we move on to the posture and ministry that he 128 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,400 provides. And we'll read these verses, but 129 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:27,720 what he's doing is, is he's opening up his schedule to them, 130 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:33,080 his his travel plans, his delays and the opportunities and the 131 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:35,960 opposition that he's experiencing and countering. 132 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:41,000 So verse 5, it says, now I will come to you when I pass through 133 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:44,120 Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia. 134 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:48,520 And it may be verse 6, that I will remain or or even spend the 135 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:52,800 winter with you that you may send me on my journey wherever I 136 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:55,240 go. For I do not wish to see you now 137 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:59,280 on the way, but I hope to stay a while with you if the Lord 138 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:02,160 permits. But I will tarry in Ephesus 139 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:06,640 until Pentecost, for a great and effective door has opened to me. 140 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:11,480 And there are many adversaries. And if Timothy comes, see that 141 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:13,840 he may be. Well, actually, we'll get back 142 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:16,280 to that. Let's jump ahead to verse 13. 143 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:25,240 And it says, watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be 144 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:29,160 strong, let all that you do be done with love. 145 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:35,280 So again, it's it's it's seemingly mundane kind of 146 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,840 practical information. But but Paul, he reveals a 147 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:42,280 particular posture in ministry through the revelation that 148 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:46,200 we've just read. There's a flexibility in in his 149 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,720 vision. Paul's ministry was always 150 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:52,120 marked by intentionality and flexibility. 151 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:57,200 He's making plans, but he's also making room for God's guidance. 152 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:01,160 He says, again, I hope to spend some time with you, But look at 153 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:02,960 this. If the Lord permits. 154 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:06,760 And Paul was a visionary, he was a planner, but he also knew the 155 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:10,440 importance of surrendering his plans to God's sovereign will. 156 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:15,520 Doesn't James chapter 4 remind us that we're not promised 157 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:20,320 tomorrow in verses 13 to 15? You know, planning is wise, but 158 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:22,480 we must always hold our plans lightly. 159 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:26,520 Our lives, you see, are ultimately in God's hands. 160 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:31,080 And the keyword again in Paul's schedule as we read is if the 161 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:35,360 Lord permits, you know, in in our lives, it's easy for us to 162 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:39,400 make rigid plans. But you know, haven't you found 163 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:41,400 that things often don't go as expected? 164 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:45,160 Sometimes that can seem like a disappointment to us, but other 165 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:50,680 times we we understand it and maybe we'll understand more on 166 00:10:50,680 --> 00:10:54,040 the other side of eternity. But it it's a divine 167 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:57,000 interruption. And so in the Kingdom of God, 168 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:00,400 our calendars are not our own. They belong to the one who 169 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,080 directs our steps. And that's how we ought to live. 170 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,840 We're to live with with this caveat, if the Lord permits, if 171 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:09,600 the Lord wills. So again, go back to James, 172 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:13,960 James, chapter 4. James says, come now, you who 173 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:17,000 say today or tomorrow we're going to go into such and such a 174 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:20,600 city and spend a year there and buy and sell and make a profit, 175 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:23,120 whereas you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. 176 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,880 For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears 177 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:28,840 for a short time then vanishes away. 178 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:33,120 Rather he said you ought to say, if the Lord wills, we shall live 179 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,480 and do this or that. So you know what, you and I, we 180 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:39,760 don't even know if the Lord wants us to live into tomorrow, 181 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:43,760 let alone do this or that. But if it's the Lord's will, 182 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:46,800 great. So we we make our plans, but 183 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:50,440 always give God elbow room because he's going to take it 184 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:54,400 anyway. Be flexible, be practical, be 185 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:56,640 flexible. Trust God with your time and 186 00:11:56,640 --> 00:12:00,400 opportunities. So Paul's attitude here is of 187 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:04,960 surrender and trust. It's not a refusal to plan. 188 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:12,000 It's an openness to change. And then in verses 13 and 14, we 189 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:15,560 read those at the end there. There's this this courage that's 190 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:20,000 kind of commanded or or commended to the people in 191 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:22,320 current, but compassion runs through it as well. 192 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,640 It cuts deep into the heart of what it means to be a faithful 193 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:29,280 leader and follower of Christ. Be watchful, he says. 194 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:31,760 This speaks to spiritual vigilance. 195 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:35,280 As believers, we must be aware of the spiritual battles 196 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:38,680 surrounding us, especially as and when we step out in 197 00:12:38,680 --> 00:12:41,600 ministry. Being watchful means being 198 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:46,280 prayerful, mindful of the schemes of the enemy, cautious 199 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:50,960 of complacency in our lives. He says to them, stand firm in 200 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:53,680 the faith. And Paul calls us to hold our 201 00:12:53,680 --> 00:12:55,480 ground. You know, when opposition, 202 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:59,840 distractions, or even our own doubts arise, we cling to the 203 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:04,160 unchanging gospel. Stand firm, act like men. 204 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:07,360 This here isn't about bravado or ego. 205 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:11,320 What it is about is spiritual maturity and strength coupled 206 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:14,880 with gentleness and humility. And so the call is for men 207 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:18,320 specifically to rise up in courage, to lead, to stand firm, 208 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:21,200 to endure hardship for the sake of the gospel. 209 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:25,680 Don't we live in a culture that that denigrates men? 210 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:28,480 You just have to watch the average sitcom to see that it's 211 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:32,800 like the the dad or the man is, is kind of the butt of all the 212 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:35,920 jokes and he's totally incompetent, doesn't know what 213 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:39,080 what day it is and needs everybody else to help him out. 214 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:41,600 So he's almost there for like the comedic relief. 215 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:45,320 But I want to give you one verse that Paul already gave us 216 00:13:45,680 --> 00:13:49,560 earlier in this same book. And I want to encourage all of 217 00:13:49,560 --> 00:13:52,040 my brothers gathered here tonight to memorise it because 218 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:56,200 it'll change your life. 1 Corinthians 11, verse 7, Paul 219 00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:00,560 says that men are the glory of what God. 220 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:05,240 Men are the glory of God. Gentlemen, when was the last 221 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,480 time someone told you that? I know you've heard you're an 222 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:10,840 idiot, you're a young guy, you've got no potential. 223 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:13,360 What do you know? And you've not done anything and 224 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:16,120 and all of this sort of derogatory negative language. 225 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:19,240 But gentlemen, you're the image of God. 226 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:26,880 So act like it, fulfil that identity and be strong flows out 227 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:28,480 of that. That the strength that Paul 228 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:32,240 speaks of here is not of raw physical power, but of spiritual 229 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,280 resilience. It's strength here. 230 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:38,760 It's a strength here that that holds firm in faith and love 231 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:43,000 even when the world is shaking. So here's the application. 232 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:47,560 In a world that is increasingly hostile to the gospel, men and 233 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:51,200 women of courage are needed. We need men who stand strong in 234 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,600 their faith, resist the world's temptations, and lead with love. 235 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:58,680 To act like men, in Paul's view, is not to be aggressive or 236 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:00,600 domineering, but to model Christ. 237 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:03,120 Like strength. This is strength rooted in love 238 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:06,840 grounded in truth. We need women who hold their 239 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:09,240 families in prayer, who encourage their brothers and 240 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:13,680 sisters, who stand firm on God's word in the face of opposition. 241 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:20,640 So Paul there, he's he's encouraged them with with the 242 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:24,200 posture and ministry that that he's all about and that flows on 243 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:27,320 into impacting them. And now he wants to thirdly and 244 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:31,960 lastly for us in verses 10 to 24, just honour a few people and 245 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:34,480 mention them by name. And he closes with names that 246 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:38,480 maybe you have or or haven't heard of in, in Timothy, in 247 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:43,320 Apollos and Stefanus Fortunatus, Priscilla and Aquila and a few 248 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:45,600 others. And I want you to know they're, 249 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:49,720 they're not footnotes. They're actually faithful people 250 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,720 that that Paul takes deliberate time to mention and to honour. 251 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:56,400 So we're going to read these verses as we go along. 252 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:59,760 But he's recognising the labourers that contributed to 253 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:03,040 the ministry. So he continues, continues these 254 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:08,720 final exhortations. Now if Timothy, he says verse 10 255 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:14,960 comes, see that he may be with you without fear, for he does 256 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:17,280 the work of the Lord as I do also. 257 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:20,840 Therefore let no one despise him. 258 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:23,720 Send him on his journey in peace that he may come to me for I'm 259 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,200 waiting for him with the brethren. 260 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:31,800 You know about Timothy, right is Paul's protege. 261 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:34,520 He's what Paul referred to as my son in the faith. 262 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:36,600 He'd met him on his first missionary journey. 263 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,480 He was a young fellow then he'd become a believer. 264 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:42,320 His his mother was a Jewish believer. 265 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:45,440 His grandma was a believer, but he had an unbelieving dad. 266 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:50,360 Actually on Paul second missionary journey, Timothy came 267 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:52,160 along with him. It's like Paul invited him 268 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:54,520 along. Hey, let me let me mentor you. 269 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:57,680 Be a ministry helper here. And he matured through that 270 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:03,160 process and Paul devoted a lot of time and energy to him, so 271 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:05,760 much so that Paul, when he wrote to the Philippian church, he 272 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:09,119 said, for I have no man like minded who will naturally care 273 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:12,760 for your estate as Timothy. And, and here's how strong this 274 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:16,200 connection was. There's this very rare word used 275 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:20,240 in Philippians there like in that phrase like minded in the 276 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:24,640 Greek, a sipsicos, which means equal soul. 277 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:29,640 He and I, Paul says, share the same soul basically. 278 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:33,760 I don't know about you, but you've probably got many 279 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:36,960 acquaintances, maybe you've got many friends, but isn't it rare 280 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:39,520 when you find somebody who has an equal soul? 281 00:17:40,360 --> 00:17:43,320 You know somebody who it's like they know your heart, they know 282 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:45,360 your thoughts. They can sort of live inside 283 00:17:45,360 --> 00:17:47,200 your head. You don't even have to give 284 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:49,040 explanations. They're already just tracking 285 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:49,800 along. So. 286 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:52,240 So Timothy was like that for Paul. 287 00:17:53,360 --> 00:17:56,440 I don't know if you're catching the similarity here to an Old 288 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:59,120 Testament duo Jonathan and David. 289 00:17:59,920 --> 00:18:02,360 You know where it said that the soul of Jonathan was knit 290 00:18:02,360 --> 00:18:06,440 together to the soul of David back to Timothy. 291 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:09,880 Notice what Paul says in verse 10 of our text. 292 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:13,560 He said if Timothy comes see that he may be with you without 293 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:17,520 fear. He said that why did he say that 294 00:18:19,120 --> 00:18:26,080 Timothy equally sold loved Paul loyal to Paul loved by Paul. 295 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:31,760 Paul saw him as a as a son in the faith, but it it's likely 296 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:34,800 that he lacked that same confidence that Paul possessed 297 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:39,120 that that same robust character that Paul had and naturally just 298 00:18:39,120 --> 00:18:43,600 more more fearful and timid. In fact, in one Timothy chapter 299 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:45,720 4, verse 12, Paul writes to Timothy. 300 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:49,520 It's a personal letter. He says and and listen to this 301 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:52,080 language. Let no one despise your youth. 302 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:57,560 Be an example to the believers in Word, in conduct, in love, in 303 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:02,320 spirit, in faith, impurity. Don't let anybody look down on 304 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:04,280 you and despise you because you're young. 305 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:08,720 Timothy was actually in his 30s probably when Paul wrote that. 306 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:12,920 So he wasn't like a teenager, not in his 20s. 307 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:15,800 Even in his 30s, well, probably into his 30s. 308 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:18,920 But in those ancient cultures, you really weren't respected as 309 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:20,800 an elder until you're in your 40s. 310 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:25,800 Timothy, he's in his 30s. Maybe he had a baby face. 311 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:30,160 Maybe he looked like he was in his 20s and so he comes along 312 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:32,920 and he's been given the authority of Paul the apostle 313 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:36,640 and people probably took one look at him and went whatever, 314 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:38,720 who's this young with the snapper? 315 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:41,960 So Paul said, Timothy, don't let that happen. 316 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:43,760 Let no one despise your youth now. 317 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:46,720 Now, mind you, Timothy, for that to happen, you need to be an 318 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:50,360 example in these areas. You know he said be an example 319 00:19:50,360 --> 00:19:53,200 to the believers in Word, in conduct, in love and spirit and 320 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:58,240 faith in purity and and on through but over in second 321 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:04,320 Timothy, Paul outlined something again to Timothy says in verse 6 322 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:08,280 of chapter 1. Therefore, I remind you, stir up 323 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:11,200 the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of hands 324 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:15,880 for God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and 325 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:20,840 of love and of a sound mind. He's writing that to Timothy. 326 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:24,240 Timothy was the pastor at that time of Ephesus. 327 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:28,960 Where Paul was when he wrote one Corinthians and Timothy's 328 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:32,880 experiencing fear, maybe the increased persecution in Ephesus 329 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:37,840 at the time, maybe Timothy's perhaps got some, I don't know, 330 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:41,080 reservations or shame going on with the ministry or or what's 331 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:45,040 happened to Paul having been arrested, He's probably doubting 332 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:48,560 his own giftedness. So it makes sense that from 333 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:50,600 Ephesus here, Paul writes to the Corinthians. 334 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:54,960 He says, look, Timothy comes, see that he may be with you 335 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:58,040 without fear. You know, it's like he he's just 336 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:00,480 a timid guy. I remember fearful kind of 337 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:02,800 tightly strong. Just just be easy on the boy for 338 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:06,640 me, would you? And then verse 12 Now concerning 339 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:11,120 our brother Apollos, I strongly urge him to come to you with the 340 00:21:11,120 --> 00:21:12,880 brethren. But he was quite unwilling to 341 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,880 come at this time. However, he will come when he 342 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:19,800 has a convenient time. So apparently it looks like the 343 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:23,200 Corinthians in part of their communicator Paul through Chloe 344 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:25,760 and and these others maybe that we're about to meet in this 345 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:29,080 chapter that had been in contact with Paul had had requested for 346 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:32,400 Apollos to return to Corinth and and share in the ministry. 347 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:36,240 Now Paulus has been mentioned a bit as we've studied through, 348 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:41,600 but again, his background, he was converted to Christ from 349 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:46,000 Alexandria. He'd gone to Corinth, he'd met 350 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:50,760 Paul, but first he he met Aquila and Priscilla, who'd been kicked 351 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,760 out of Rome, moved to Corinth and Aquila and Priscilla 352 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:56,960 listened to Apollos and they saw that he had this incredible gift 353 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:59,280 of oratory and, and it was a great preacher and very 354 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:02,360 persuasive and, and knew the word of the Lord, but only up 355 00:22:02,360 --> 00:22:04,520 until the point, the baptism of John. 356 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:07,760 And so he, he hadn't heard or understood the rest of the 357 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:11,080 gospel story. And Priscilla and Aquila filled 358 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:13,520 him in on the rest. And he became this, this force 359 00:22:13,520 --> 00:22:16,800 to be reckoned with. Apollos was in Corinth. 360 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:21,280 And Apollos went on to Ephesus to help Paul the apostle. 361 00:22:22,360 --> 00:22:24,840 And Paul probably said, look, Apollos, they want you back in 362 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:28,160 Corinth. And Apollo said, no, I don't 363 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:30,680 want to go. I'll, I'll go later on, but I 364 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:34,360 don't want to go right now. So for whatever reason, Paul 365 00:22:34,360 --> 00:22:37,040 puts it here in our text and he's just look, let me tell you 366 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:39,000 the truth, Apollos didn't want to come. 367 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:43,000 Here's what Paul didn't go. He's he's not going. 368 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:45,760 You know, the Paulus didn't want to come to the Corinth, but he's 369 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:48,480 coming anyway because I am the apostle after all. 370 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:51,760 And I gave him a commandment and I'll use my Apostolic authority. 371 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:56,200 Now he just writes Paulus. He, he's, he's not wanting to 372 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:57,880 come. If he's going to come, he'll 373 00:22:57,880 --> 00:22:59,960 come later. So next item. 374 00:22:59,960 --> 00:23:04,120 He, he didn't force the issue. And really, I think this is the 375 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:07,680 the heart of a good leader in in what we see in Paul is he let 376 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:12,280 Apollos go according to the leading that he had from the 377 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:14,480 Lord and then the gifts that God had given to him. 378 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:17,960 And it wasn't time to go and and be in Corinth. 379 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:23,840 Let's jump ahead to verse 19. He goes on to speak of this this 380 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:26,560 issue of community. It says the churches in the 381 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:29,000 province of Asia send you greetings. 382 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:32,640 Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly again. 383 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:36,080 That's the husband, wife team who just did wonderful ministry 384 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:38,760 together and man, what a what a beautiful thing. 385 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:41,680 And if you're married, you know this, that the joy of just 386 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:45,040 serving the Lord together. If you're single tonight, pray 387 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:47,760 for somebody who wants to do ministry with you, You know, to, 388 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:51,840 to open your home up, have Bible study to, to have people meet 389 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:55,560 Jesus in your house to, to pray with them to have dinner and 390 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,680 just be hospitable and build friendships in your home. 391 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,880 And, and that's what that's what this couple did. 392 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:05,960 Priscilla and Quilla were like this model married couple. 393 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:11,880 The New Testament is just filled with this meeting in homes. 394 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:14,760 And and they, Priscilla and Quilla were a part of that. 395 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:17,200 They're repeatedly mentioned. They're, they're helpful to Paul 396 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:20,040 and there's this godly husband and wife team. 397 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:24,120 And he says, so does the church also greet you that meets at 398 00:24:24,120 --> 00:24:27,120 their house? All the brothers here send you 399 00:24:27,120 --> 00:24:30,320 greetings, greet one another with a holy kiss. 400 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:33,440 There's this affectionate introduction and, and, and 401 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:35,560 language here. And like, you know, there's this 402 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:38,680 little church that meets in their house, kind of like the 403 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:41,080 early days of the church in Acts, where they would gather 404 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:44,000 together by the thousands for worship at the temple courts and 405 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:49,080 then break out into houses and, and homes and, you know, Bible 406 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:52,680 studies and prayer and meals and, and just love and, and 407 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:54,320 service and encouragement and support. 408 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:58,040 And so that's happening in in their home and and they they 409 00:24:58,040 --> 00:24:59,880 send a greeting to the people in Corinth. 410 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:04,160 But here's the the final individuals I want to focus on 411 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:05,680 in this. And I think it's pretty cool. 412 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:11,080 Stefanus and his household in verse 15 to 16, it says, devoted 413 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:13,680 themselves to the service of the Saints. 414 00:25:15,120 --> 00:25:18,120 And Paul says then to submit to people like this. 415 00:25:19,360 --> 00:25:22,280 Why? Because these people are doing 416 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:26,360 the work of the gospel with humility and dedication and the 417 00:25:26,360 --> 00:25:30,640 phrase devoted themselves in the Greek has this intensity to it. 418 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:34,040 It's not a a casual or part time thing. 419 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:38,040 It literally means this, that they appointed themselves or or 420 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:40,360 set themselves in place for this task. 421 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:44,880 Some commentators note that the word carries the idea of giving 422 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:48,440 oneself over so fully that it becomes like a holy addiction. 423 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:52,520 You could say they were addicted to service, but in the best 424 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:54,800 sense of the word, they weren't coerced. 425 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:56,800 They weren't guilted into ministry. 426 00:25:57,160 --> 00:26:00,280 No one twisted their arm. They simply couldn't help 427 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:02,720 themselves. They saw needs in the body of 428 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:05,320 Christ and, and like someone drawn to their favourite 429 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:08,200 passion, they leaned in with eagerness. 430 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:10,720 Ministry for them wasn't a burden. 431 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:13,720 It was this joy and and they lived to serve. 432 00:26:15,120 --> 00:26:19,400 You know, I think we all know what addiction looks like in in 433 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:21,280 the negative sense. Yeah. 434 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:23,920 We've seen, unfortunately, people so wrapped up in in 435 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:27,440 substances or destructive habits that it controls their lives. 436 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:34,720 But imagine that same intensity and obsession redirected toward 437 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:38,280 the things of God, towards serving others, toward building 438 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:41,240 the church, lifting up the downcast, strengthening the 439 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:43,720 weak. That's to find us. 440 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:46,200 And and that's his family. And that's what they were like. 441 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:51,080 And then imagine what if the church were filled with people 442 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:53,760 like that? What if he couldn't wait to show 443 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:56,080 up early to help? What if your your joy wasn't 444 00:26:56,080 --> 00:26:59,520 just intent in attending a service, but in in being a 445 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:02,080 service? What if helping others became 446 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:07,440 less of a duty and more of like a a holy craving In a world full 447 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:10,200 of consumers? We are called to be contributors 448 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:15,120 and service is such and and Paul says of such people that need to 449 00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:17,600 be recognised. And the word here means to 450 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:23,280 acknowledge, to appreciate and honour, not for ego's sake, but 451 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:25,960 encouragement. You know, these are people who 452 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:28,320 are pouring themselves out for the Saints. 453 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:31,200 They're they're living, breathing illustrations of Jesus 454 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:33,960 himself and we should highlight them. 455 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:36,840 Paul does that here. He celebrates them and he says 456 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:41,160 follow their lead. Then lastly, there's this 457 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:44,520 cultivation of gospel community. He ends with a few things that 458 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:47,320 are on his heart. You know, he's talked about 459 00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:54,040 finances, the the doors of ministry, the critics leaders. 460 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:57,200 He's honouring them. And now finally, you know, he's 461 00:27:57,200 --> 00:27:59,520 mentioned the community being built up in homes. 462 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:05,160 But then verse 21, I, Paul, write this greeting in my own 463 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:06,680 hand. Let's talk about this for a 464 00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:08,120 minute. There's, there's probably much 465 00:28:08,120 --> 00:28:11,880 to say on this verse, but the first thing I would say is that 466 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:14,800 it's curious that people will tell you that the New Testament 467 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:17,520 was written, you know, hundreds of years after the eyewitnesses 468 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:19,360 died. Yeah, that's myth. 469 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:23,080 That's actually legend. It's fable. 470 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:27,040 Paul tells us who wrote this letter. 471 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:31,680 He did. I want to remind you about Paul. 472 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:33,640 Paul. Who was he? 473 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:36,640 He was Saul initially. He was a murderer of Christians 474 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:40,120 and you're going, well, what's what's he doing writing the 475 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:43,240 Bible and, and pastoring Christians and believers. 476 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:46,760 Remember, he met Jesus. His heart was changed, his life 477 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:48,560 was changed. He realised that he was a 478 00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:51,920 Sinner. Jesus was God, that Jesus lived 479 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,000 the life that that Paul could never live. 480 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:57,120 It was a life without sin. And, and Jesus died the death 481 00:28:57,120 --> 00:28:59,960 that, that he deserved to die as a penalty for sin. 482 00:28:59,960 --> 00:29:03,920 And Jesus rose again to take away sin and, and Paul's heart 483 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:07,000 melts and he loves Jesus for the rest of his life. 484 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:10,120 All of this was, you know, on the road to Damascus. 485 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:12,000 With that conversion, he became a Christian. 486 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:16,880 And, and the moral of the story in that is this, it's less about 487 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:20,560 where you begin and it's where you end that really counts. 488 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:25,000 You might start as a person like like Paul or Saul, as he was 489 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:26,680 known with, with all kinds of sin. 490 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:30,040 But if you meet Jesus, who knows, you could end up being 491 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:32,840 used of God in significant ministry as Paul was. 492 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:37,480 The second thing I'd say is that he's actually penning this, 493 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:40,520 writing it, and, and that letter writing, I think it's a lost art 494 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:44,200 form, you know, for those of you under 20, letter writing 495 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:48,080 includes paper, which can be purchased at most major stores. 496 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:52,360 And you use a pencil or pen, write that stuff down. 497 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:57,800 You know, it's not text messaging, but when was the last 498 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:00,120 time you got a handwritten note from someone who loved you? 499 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:02,160 It's probably been a while, hasn't it? 500 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:05,640 When was the last time you wrote a handwritten letter to someone 501 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:09,120 you love? I think it's an art form that 502 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:11,920 Christians need to hang on to letter writing because there's 503 00:30:11,920 --> 00:30:14,240 this tenderness to it. And it really comes through in 504 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:18,400 Paul's writing here. He loved them so much he, he 505 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:20,720 couldn't help but write and he wanted to convey this. 506 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:25,120 And he's told us in one Corinthians 14 verse 37 that 507 00:30:25,720 --> 00:30:29,400 that he knows he's, he's writing the Bible, that he's writing the 508 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:32,400 the Lord's command and he's speaking for Jesus. 509 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:35,800 And, you know, he's their pastor and he's travelling and he's 510 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:37,760 gone. And, and so to receive a letter 511 00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:40,600 from him probably meant a great deal to this little church in 512 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:44,200 Corinth. Now the letter ends with warm 513 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:48,080 greetings, affection, love. And there's this one sort of 514 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:51,680 sharp warning that almost seems as a contrast for us. 515 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:55,320 He says if anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed. 516 00:30:56,880 --> 00:30:59,560 And you know, while it might sound harsh, it's actually a 517 00:30:59,560 --> 00:31:01,680 revelation of Paul's love for the church. 518 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:05,160 And it's very serious. You see, loving Jesus isn't 519 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:08,400 optional. It's essential for Christian 520 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:11,400 unity. To love Jesus is to belong to 521 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:14,920 him, and to belong to him is to be part of the family. 522 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:18,480 You know, you always say the best for last, don't you? 523 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:22,440 And here it's Jesus four times in three verses. 524 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:25,480 I think you know your pastor loves you when he talks about 525 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:29,600 Jesus, you know, and here he says, you know verse 22, if 526 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:32,960 anyone does not love the Lord, that's Jesus, a curse be on him. 527 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:39,880 If you're here today and you haven't repented of sin and 528 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:44,520 trusted in Jesus, then there is that curse of sin upon you. 529 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:54,040 God is like a judge for you. He's not going, you know, you're 530 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:57,200 going to encounter that in, in a, in a powerful way unless you 531 00:31:57,200 --> 00:32:01,720 repent, you're separated in sin and because of sin from God. 532 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:05,280 It's a serious thing to the holy and righteous God. 533 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:08,360 And if you don't repent of sin and turn to Jesus, because 534 00:32:08,360 --> 00:32:11,720 that's the only way to have sin forgiven, to be reconciled to 535 00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:14,840 God, to have peace with God, then then a curse is on you and 536 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:16,960 you're an enemy of God and you're going to hell. 537 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:20,720 In the original Greek, if you could read the Greek, it says he 538 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:24,600 who does not love the Lord, anathema be upon you. 539 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:27,960 And that and that anathema is very strong Greek word to 540 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:32,880 pronounce a curse upon. But then there's this other word 541 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:35,960 afterward in, in in Maranatha that's mentioned. 542 00:32:35,960 --> 00:32:38,920 It's Aramaic, the understood in Greek culture, they would know 543 00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:41,040 it. And Maranatha means come Lord 544 00:32:41,040 --> 00:32:44,720 and become a, a buzzword by this time, a greeting by this time, 545 00:32:45,560 --> 00:32:50,600 kind of code terminology for the early church and, and Maranatha 546 00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:54,440 Aramaic, they go, oh, Lord come or the Lord is coming as a 547 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:57,480 reminder to them. And if you're aware, but in the 548 00:32:57,480 --> 00:33:00,720 60s, seventies during the Jesus movement, they would say that to 549 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:02,680 each other. You know, bumper stickers had 550 00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:04,360 Maranatha. There were songs. 551 00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:07,960 Calvary Chapel had a music company, a label called 552 00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:11,600 Maranatha Music and you know, I, I think we do well to bring that 553 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:15,160 sense of anticipation back into our conversation that Jesus is 554 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:17,480 coming soon. Maron Arthur and old Lord come 555 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:21,800 quickly. Then verse 23 the the grace of 556 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:25,120 our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, my love be with you all in 557 00:33:25,120 --> 00:33:28,560 Christ Jesus, Amen. You know verse 22. 558 00:33:28,560 --> 00:33:31,320 He'd said if anyone does not love the Lord Jesus. 559 00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:35,640 This is the the simplest description of a Christian, 560 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:39,320 someone who loves Jesus. You know when people ask you, 561 00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:42,840 oh, you're a Christian? Well, you know, what kind what, 562 00:33:42,840 --> 00:33:44,520 what denomination do you belong to? 563 00:33:44,960 --> 00:33:47,200 Just tell them I'm the kind that loves Jesus. 564 00:33:47,920 --> 00:33:50,160 I love the Lord Jesus. He's my friend. 565 00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:53,160 He loves me. Tell them that and watch what 566 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:56,880 look they give on their face. I love Jesus and see how their 567 00:33:56,880 --> 00:34:00,320 face contorts. But Paul, he ends his letter 568 00:34:00,320 --> 00:34:03,400 with love and a final exhortation. 569 00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:05,640 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 570 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:08,560 You see, grace is what it's all about. 571 00:34:08,639 --> 00:34:11,040 It's it's the glue that holds the church together. 572 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:13,880 It's what we've been given. And so the community of 573 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:20,560 believers are to be marked by warmth, love and grace where 574 00:34:20,639 --> 00:34:23,840 Jesus is loved deeply and the gospel is alive in every 575 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:27,080 relationship. So there we are. 576 00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:30,320 We're finished One Corinthians. We've been what a study. 577 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:33,040 It's been awesome to go through. But you know, as this, this 578 00:34:33,040 --> 00:34:37,159 chapter folds, we, we, we look at the question, what does a 579 00:34:37,159 --> 00:34:39,080 resurrection shaped life look like? 580 00:34:39,880 --> 00:34:43,480 It's not about lofty ideas. It's not just about private 581 00:34:43,480 --> 00:34:47,960 devotions, but it's about generous giving, about faithful 582 00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:52,159 service, about gospel courage, about loving leadership, about 583 00:34:52,159 --> 00:34:54,560 deep community. And so this chapter that we've 584 00:34:54,560 --> 00:34:57,400 just gone through shows us that ordinary church life, you know, 585 00:34:57,400 --> 00:35:00,760 budgeting, planning, writing letters, encouraging leaders, 586 00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:03,320 honouring the Saints. It's actually holy ground. 587 00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:06,880 It's not the mountaintop, but it's the long road of 588 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:10,760 faithfulness. And as Paul says, let all you do 589 00:35:11,040 --> 00:35:14,600 be done in love. That's how you live in light of 590 00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:17,720 the resurrection. That's how you finish well.