1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:04,000 Scriptures we're going to read from the Bible. 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:14,000 Now turning to First Thessalonians chapter 5, First 3 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:21,400 Thessalonians chapter 5, and in this series of studies, of 4 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:25,080 course, this will be the penultimate reading with one 5 00:00:25,080 --> 00:00:30,160 more reading next Lord's Day. And then Thessalonians, as we 6 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:32,759 have sought to expound it, we'll be finished. 7 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:38,640 So First Thessalonians chapter 5, we'll read from the verse 14 8 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:45,040 once again. Now we exhort you, brethren, 9 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:51,680 warn them that are unruly. Comfort the feeble minded, 10 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:56,080 support the weak, be patient toward all men. 11 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:01,520 See that none render evil for evil unto any man, but ever 12 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:06,120 follow that which is good both among yourselves and to all men. 13 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:14,440 Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and everything give 14 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:18,520 thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning 15 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:23,600 you. Quench not the Spirit, despise 16 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:31,120 not prophesying, prove all things, hold fast that which is 17 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:35,840 good, abstain from all appearance of evil, and the very 18 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:40,080 God of peace sanctify you holy, and I pray God, your whole 19 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:44,240 spirit and soul and body we preserve blameless unto the 20 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:49,880 coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you 21 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:56,120 who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us. 22 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:01,000 Greet all the brethren with unholy kiss. 23 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:06,440 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all 24 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:10,120 the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus 25 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:13,880 Christ be with you. Amen. 26 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:16,320 Amen. Oh, God will stamp His own 27 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:19,480 approval and blessing this reading of His own precious and 28 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:27,520 infallible word at this time this morning as we continue with 29 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:30,600 our series of expository sermons in the book of First 30 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:35,080 Thessalonians. My text today is chapter 5, 31 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:39,440 verses 26 and 27. It reads as follows. 32 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:44,200 Greet all the brethren with unholy kiss. 33 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:48,640 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all 34 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:53,400 the holy brethren. Now, my theme today that I've 35 00:02:53,400 --> 00:03:02,800 entitled is this, Paul's Sacred Salutation and Solemn Scripture. 36 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:12,000 Notice at first glance, these closing words appear brief to 37 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:13,640 you. They might even appear 38 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:18,200 incidental. And sadly, many readers hurry 39 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:22,880 past them as though there were some kind of cultural formality 40 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:26,920 or a wee bit of Apostolic housekeeping at the end of the 41 00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:29,320 ladder. However, they're not. 42 00:03:29,920 --> 00:03:33,680 These verses are inspired by the Holy Ghost. 43 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,760 These verses are inspired Scripture, just like John 3 and 44 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,840 16. John 3 and 16, as you know. 45 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,920 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, 46 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:47,000 that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have 47 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:50,680 everlasting life. And these words are on a par 48 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,760 with John 3 and 16. Listen to them again. 49 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:56,640 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 50 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:00,400 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all 51 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:04,000 the holy brethren. And these words are profitable 52 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,800 for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in 53 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:10,920 righteousness. You see, even in these closing 54 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:17,959 commands coming at the very end of the book, the Holy Ghost is 55 00:04:17,959 --> 00:04:20,880 teaching us something very profound. 56 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:27,760 He's teaching us about the truth regarding Christian affection. 57 00:04:28,840 --> 00:04:32,720 He's teaching us a truth about Christian unity. 58 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:37,040 He's teaching us a truth about the public reading of the 59 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:40,040 scriptures. He's teaching us a truth about 60 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:43,800 the authority of the Apostolic Word. 61 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:51,200 You see, these verses reveal the true heart of a faithful Bible 62 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:54,960 believing, Reformed and Protestant church. 63 00:04:55,800 --> 00:05:03,640 They reveal a Christ centred, loving people gathered together 64 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:08,760 out of the world, gathered together in Christ through the 65 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:14,960 Gospel, and they're gathered together under the power and the 66 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:20,040 preciousness of the Word of God. It was one of the old Puritans, 67 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:25,880 John Owen, who wrote the Apostle Paul commands us in a few words 68 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:31,640 to the true and real unity of the Church and the pure 69 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,800 reverence due to the Word of God. 70 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:39,840 It was another commentator by the name of Matthew Henry who 71 00:05:39,840 --> 00:05:45,720 wrote that true religion before God should knit the hearts of 72 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:51,520 the Christians together in the strongest bond of a holy love. 73 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:56,600 So with that introduction, look at the text and I want you to 74 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,200 think of three things. There's always three things or 75 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,960 maybe 4 with me, but three things this morning, right? 76 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:06,600 Here's the first thing, the sacred affection. 77 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:12,280 Notice these words, verse 26. Greet all the brethren with 78 00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:16,840 unholy kiss. Now this was a common practise 79 00:06:16,840 --> 00:06:20,600 in Paul's day. It was a customary form of 80 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:24,640 affectionate greeting in the ancient world, especially among 81 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:30,120 family members, among close friends and relatives. 82 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:36,240 It signified a close, deep friendship. 83 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:42,840 Now in this sacred affection, notice the reality of Christian 84 00:06:42,840 --> 00:06:48,560 brotherhood. Paul says greet all the brethren 85 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:52,520 with a holy kiss. Now pause at the word greet. 86 00:06:54,160 --> 00:07:03,720 You see, this was a seal, an expression of real Christian 87 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:09,920 friendship and affection. It was a a symbol of kindness 88 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:13,040 and love. The word greet is more than just 89 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:15,960 speaking, more than just saying hello. 90 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:19,720 How are you mentioning your name? 91 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:25,440 OK, it's going a bit further because the word Greek means 92 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,640 more than speech. It means that you're drawn to 93 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:33,560 the person. It means that you class them in 94 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:39,600 a a firm embrace. So in our world, if we meet 95 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:44,640 someone, an old friend or meet someone for the first time, 96 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:47,360 we'll give them a warm handshake. 97 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:53,200 We might even give them a hug. You see this word Greek is used 98 00:07:53,200 --> 00:08:01,360 16 times in the book of Romans in chapter 16, and it means a 99 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:06,600 mark of affection. It's a a gesture of deep 100 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:10,120 respect. The apostle Paul says this in 101 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:14,080 the book of Romans, in Romans chapter 12 and in the verse 10, 102 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:18,400 be kindly affection 1 to another with brotherly love and honour, 103 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:25,000 preferring one another. And when Paul urges them to 104 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:31,800 greet each other, he's saying to them, I want you to do it on my 105 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:37,640 behalf as if I was in there with you in person. 106 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:42,159 So this word Greek is all about establishing a friendship. 107 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:46,160 It's all about making friends. It's all about the beginning of 108 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:49,800 a friendship. And remember what Solomon was 109 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:54,960 able to teach there in Proverbs 17 and verse 17. 110 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,960 He said a friend loveth at all times and a brother is born for 111 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:04,120 adversity. Listen to verse 24 of the very 112 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:12,160 same chapter, Proverbs 17, Sorry, Proverbs 18 and verse 24. 113 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:15,600 A man that of friends must show himself friendly, and there's a 114 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,920 friend that sticketh closer than a brother. 115 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:25,680 You see the word greet significant, but also you've got 116 00:09:25,680 --> 00:09:30,440 here a sign of real grace. Notice these words greet all the 117 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:35,320 brethren, the rich, the poor, the sick, the healthy, the 118 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:39,840 educated, the uneducated. See the gospel created a family. 119 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:44,760 The the the church is a supernatural family of sea of 120 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:47,480 sinners born again by the Holy Spirit. 121 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:51,160 I know it's a hospital for six sinners, but it's also a 122 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:54,960 supernatural family of sea of sinners born again by the Holy 123 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,640 Spirit. We this morning as true 124 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:03,560 believers are united not by a bloodline, but by a blood tie, 125 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:08,880 united not by social class, but united by a saving Christ, 126 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:15,000 United not by race of the world members of the human race, but 127 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:20,840 by the Redeemer, united in a holy nationhood, united in a 128 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:25,600 holy brotherhood. Remember Galatians 326 says for 129 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:30,600 your All the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, all the 130 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:35,200 brethren, Jews, Gentiles, servants, masters, rich or poor, 131 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:41,600 educated, uneducated, all are addressed, All are brethren. 132 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:45,000 Doesn't the gospel wonderfully demolish pride? 133 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:49,840 Doesn't the gospel strip us of everything and anything to boast 134 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:53,920 in except for Christ Jesus? What do you boast in today? 135 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,960 I will boast in nothing but Christ and His personal work. 136 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:03,120 It was Spurgeon that said this. There is no aristocracy in 137 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:08,040 Christ's Kingdom except the aristocracy of grace. 138 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:11,760 So are you in Christ? Have you trusted him as your 139 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:14,920 Lord and Saviour? Have you a testimony to a saving 140 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:18,000 and keeping power? Can you say today gladly? 141 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,840 For by grace are you see it through faith, and not, not of 142 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:24,440 yourselves as gift of God, not of works, lest any man should 143 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:29,880 boast in Christ. There's not only the reality of 144 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:34,000 Christian brotherhood, but in Christ there's the requirement 145 00:11:34,680 --> 00:11:39,400 of the brotherhood. You see, Paul is not merely 146 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:45,360 commending toleration of each other, but he's commending a 147 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:52,560 deep affectionate fellowship. Suppose in the family there's 148 00:11:52,560 --> 00:11:57,360 someone you can't stand, someone's upset you, someone you 149 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:00,120 don't really get on with and you're maybe a bit mad at them. 150 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,720 See at times in every organisation, and this is true 151 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,240 of the church families, it's true of our own families. 152 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:07,720 They can be a clash of personalities. 153 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:12,640 People are not speaking, not speaking to horror, not speaking 154 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:15,360 to him. Well, how do you overcome that? 155 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:23,280 Paul says greet all the holy brethren with a holy kiss. 156 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:26,800 Here's the way to overcome Go and greet them. 157 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:30,000 Greet them as if they're your best friend. 158 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:34,000 Greet them as if you're their bosom buddy. 159 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:36,640 And maybe you're thinking, but that's hard. 160 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:40,200 They did something to offend me. I'm upset. 161 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,760 That may be true, but you can pray and ask for grace. 162 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:49,920 You can go and greet them and you can greet them with this 163 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:56,360 holy kiss That will explain in a moment some churches of sound 164 00:12:56,440 --> 00:13:00,680 doctrine. But sadly, far too many churches 165 00:13:00,680 --> 00:13:03,680 have frozen hearts. People can come in a night of 166 00:13:03,680 --> 00:13:05,720 church and nobody will even ask them their name. 167 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:08,880 And that is very sad. And I know it doesn't happen 168 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:12,640 here, but that is very sad when it does happen. 169 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:20,560 You see, true sound orthodoxy without true love can become a 170 00:13:20,560 --> 00:13:27,760 very cold icy formulism. In the early church it was 171 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:32,440 marked by a visible love. The ungodly looked at it and 172 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:36,200 said, see how these Christians love one another? 173 00:13:36,560 --> 00:13:41,880 It was the apostle Peter and of course he was there ministering 174 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:47,400 in the same time as Paul and he said this in first Peter 5 and 175 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:51,120 verse 14. Greet ye one another with a kiss 176 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:53,800 of charity. The word charity means of 177 00:13:53,800 --> 00:14:00,240 course, love, and this was in the Pagan world. 178 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:08,880 This kiss of loving affection was a testimony to a Pagan 179 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:12,920 world, a a world of iniquity and idolatry and and and and 180 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:16,680 immorality in a world of backstabbers and A and a world 181 00:14:16,680 --> 00:14:19,920 of backbiters. The Lord Jesus said this in John 182 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:22,520 1335. By this should all men know that 183 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:26,160 you're my disciples. If you have love one for another 184 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:31,840 and you think of a fire this morning, the fire's strongest 185 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:36,600 and hottest when when all the coals are together in the green, 186 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:42,320 whenever they're lit. But you separate 1 cold, lift it 187 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:44,560 out with the tongs from the rest, what'll it do? 188 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:50,400 It'll smoke, it'll cool quite quickly, then eventually it'll 189 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:54,120 grow cold. And you see, when we're out of 190 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:59,880 fellowship with one another, then we can become and grow 191 00:14:59,920 --> 00:15:03,600 spiritually cold very quickly. We're not meant to be isolated. 192 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,440 We're meant to be insulated inside the fellowship. 193 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:10,880 And of course, even our doctrine of separation, and I want to 194 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:15,680 stress this this morning, it's not about isolation. 195 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:20,000 We're not isolationists. We're separatists unto God. 196 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:27,880 But in that separation unto God, we have to maintain a loving 197 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:33,720 fellowship with all the brethren, all the sisters, all 198 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:36,640 who are part and parcel of the family of God. 199 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:40,920 Not just the reality of the brotherhood and the requirement, 200 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:43,400 but think of the regulation of the brotherhood. 201 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:47,320 What does Paul call it here? Greet all the brethren. 202 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:50,280 With what? And holy kiss. 203 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:56,520 That means it must be genuine. The adjective holy here 204 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:03,040 sanctifies the custom by calling it unholy kiss, none to do with 205 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:08,080 sensual affection it it has to be sanctified affection. 206 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:11,560 This affection for one another must remain holy. 207 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:19,640 This commands, forbids impurity, it forbids favouritism, it 208 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:28,240 forbids hypocrisy, it forbids guilt it against, it forbids 209 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:32,520 pretended affection. You see, not all affection, not 210 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:36,720 every handshake, not every hello, great to see you, not 211 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:41,800 every hug and embrace. There's a wholly pure, genuine 212 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:46,120 handshake and nice to see you and embrace. 213 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:51,560 Let me point to a scripture, if we have time, Second Samuel. 214 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:55,360 If you turn to Second Samuel this morning and look with me at 215 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:58,360 verse 9, I want you to think of Joab. 216 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:03,560 Now Joab is the commander in chief of David's army, and 217 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:12,079 they're in battle. Second Samuel chapter 20, and 218 00:17:12,079 --> 00:17:17,599 we'll read from verse 8. Second Samuel chapter 20, verse 219 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:21,000 8. Let's listen to the Word of God, 220 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:27,680 Second Samuel, chapter 20, verse 8, reading, of course, in the 221 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:34,240 King James Bible when they were at the great stone, which is in 222 00:17:34,360 --> 00:17:37,040 Gibbeon. You've heard of the big stone 223 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:39,080 down in Ross Trevor. It's a lovely place. 224 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:41,840 I know somebody went there and got engaged. 225 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:44,080 Brilliant. But there's a great stone in the 226 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:46,680 Bible. When they were at the great 227 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:54,160 stone which has a gibbeon, Amasa went before them, and Job's 228 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:59,960 garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a 229 00:17:59,960 --> 00:18:03,520 girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath 230 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:07,720 thereof. And as he went forth, it fell 231 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:12,360 out. Joab had dressed Amasa in his 232 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:18,240 own garment, and provided A girdle and a sword. 233 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:26,760 And listen to verse 9. And Joanne said to Amasa, art 234 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:32,360 thou in health, my brother? So he's asking me the question, 235 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:34,880 are you well, what are you up to? 236 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:43,080 And Joanne took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to 237 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:50,000 kiss him as if he was in fraternal affection relationship 238 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:55,240 with him. But Amasa took no heed to the 239 00:18:55,240 --> 00:19:00,920 sword that was in Job's hand. So he smote him there with in 240 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:06,000 the 5th rib and shed out his bowels to the ground and struck 241 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:11,720 him not again and he died. So Joab and Abishai, his 242 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:19,560 brother, pursued after Sheba, the son of Birka. 243 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:25,600 Now think of this. Job was guilty here of her 244 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:30,040 pretended affection. He called him brother. 245 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:33,840 He asked him, are you in health? My brother? 246 00:19:34,360 --> 00:19:38,000 He, he took him by the beard. He he, he kissed him. 247 00:19:38,120 --> 00:19:40,200 But this was not the kiss of a friend. 248 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:44,400 This was the kiss of a foe. This was not a a genuine kiss. 249 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:48,040 This was a kiss of murder. This was a kiss of betrayal. 250 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:52,720 This was a saying. Remember another character in 251 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:55,480 the Bible who stepped forward to kiss someone. 252 00:19:56,400 --> 00:20:00,200 His name is not Joab. His name is Judas. 253 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:03,920 And Judas, remember, came into the Garden of Gethsemane with 254 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:10,960 the mob and the Lord Jesus asked Judas to scary at this question. 255 00:20:11,120 --> 00:20:16,360 Betray us thy the Son of Man with a kiss, because Judas 256 00:20:16,360 --> 00:20:18,560 kissed. The door of heaven and went to 257 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:23,800 hell. The Lord is saying to Judas, 258 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:26,800 you're betrending to be my friend. 259 00:20:27,360 --> 00:20:30,200 You come to me with the kiss of friendship. 260 00:20:30,360 --> 00:20:32,160 Yet it's the not the kiss of a friendship. 261 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:37,040 It's the kiss of a foe. It's the kiss of murder and 262 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:40,600 betrayal. It's it's not pure. 263 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:43,920 Now listen to me carefully this morning and carried off and 264 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:49,400 those on the Internet. This verse is not teaching that 265 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:53,400 churches are universally required to practise little 266 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:58,840 kissing with one another. This verse is not teaching that 267 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:03,360 physical affection, whether a handshake or a hug, is 268 00:21:03,360 --> 00:21:08,840 inherently spiritual. This verse is not teaching that 269 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:14,360 the customary greeting becomes a permanent ordinance, but what 270 00:21:14,360 --> 00:21:18,440 this church is teaching that there's a principle here, and 271 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:22,160 the principle as it come from Paul is timeless. 272 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:25,800 And the form of the holy kiss may vary. 273 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:28,920 The abiding principle is the same. 274 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:32,640 When we greet one another with a handshake or a hug. 275 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:38,160 It has to be 1 of love. There has to be holy affection 276 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:43,320 among all the true brethren. So let that form be a hug, a 277 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:49,600 handshake, a warm embrace. The substance of the exhortation 278 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:56,040 lies in mutual love for the individual and cordial 279 00:21:56,040 --> 00:22:00,760 salutation. So that's really what I'm 280 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:06,120 calling the secret affection. Very quickly, if you go on in 281 00:22:06,120 --> 00:22:10,000 the text, look again at verse 27. 282 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:15,360 Now here's the solemn authority. I charge you by the Lord. 283 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:21,440 Now we'll pause there. Notice Paul changes the tone in 284 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:24,040 verse 26. He's been affectionate. 285 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:28,440 You have a greeting, and he changes the tone from 286 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:32,440 affectionate greeting to Apostolic urgency. 287 00:22:33,120 --> 00:22:37,000 Here's strong language. I charge you by the Lord. 288 00:22:37,120 --> 00:22:42,040 In other words, I endure you, I solemnly command you before God. 289 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:45,640 Not a suggestion, not a piece of advice to take and leave. 290 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:50,600 This is a divine command. This is connected to God's 291 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:53,000 authority. I want you to think of the 292 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,280 authority here. You see, Paul understood that 293 00:22:56,280 --> 00:23:00,800 his writings and he wrote 14 out of the 27 books of the New 294 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:04,200 Testament, including this letter, the 1st letter to the 295 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:08,480 Church of Thessalonica. This letter was not his opinion. 296 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:11,680 It was not the machinations of Paul's mind. 297 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:18,280 It was not even Paul's words. What Paul wrote were in fact the 298 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:22,520 very words of God. Remember what he says in already 299 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:25,240 in this epistle, First Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 300 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:29,680 13. He says this for this cause. 301 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:32,280 Also Thank me God without ceasing, because when you 302 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:35,600 received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it 303 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:39,680 not as the word of men, but as it is in truth the word of God, 304 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:44,120 which effectually worketh also in you that belief. 305 00:23:44,120 --> 00:23:48,640 And remember Paul writing to Timothy, said to young Timothy, 306 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,040 whom he left to pass to the church at Ephesus. 307 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:54,880 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and as 308 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:57,360 profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for 309 00:23:57,360 --> 00:23:59,960 instruction and righteousness, that the man of God may be 310 00:23:59,960 --> 00:24:03,840 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 311 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:08,080 And this destroys the heresy of modern liberalism. 312 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:14,720 This destroys the identity of modernism. 313 00:24:17,120 --> 00:24:24,480 The Bible, the Holy Scripture, is not to be treated as a mere 314 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:28,920 human reflection of the mind or the mouth of a man. 315 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:35,400 When the apostles speak, they speak under the anointing and 316 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:37,960 the superintendents of the Holy Ghost. 317 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:43,040 When the apostles wrote and wrote the words of Christ, they 318 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:45,760 speak and wrote under the supervision and power of the 319 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:49,040 Spirit and therefore the words are powerful, they're alive, the 320 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:51,400 words are pure, the words are precious, the words are 321 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:53,600 preserved. That's the authority here. 322 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:56,240 Very quickly. Think about the spirituality 323 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:59,440 here. Paul writes with an urgency. 324 00:25:00,120 --> 00:25:02,840 What does he write? If you go back to our text, look 325 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:06,960 again at it very carefully. He says there, I charge you by 326 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:11,440 the Lord that this epistle, the epistle has to do with this 327 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:16,600 ladder be read now. We'll we'll pause there. 328 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:23,040 Why such a command? Why does he want this read among 329 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:26,000 all the holy brethren? Because he knows that the 330 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:29,360 neglect the word of God is spiritually deadly. 331 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:38,000 See a starving man needs bread. Matthew 4 and four, man shall 332 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:40,760 not live by bread alone, but by every word to proceedeth out of 333 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:45,040 the mouth of God. And A and a Sinner needs to 334 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:49,360 discover the bread of life. And Jesus said, I am the bread 335 00:25:49,360 --> 00:25:52,280 of life. And a church without an emphasis 336 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:55,840 on reading the word of God as a church that's weak, as a church 337 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:58,640 that's worldly, as a church that's woolly and a church 338 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:00,800 that's woke. And you see in the Protestant 339 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:04,520 Reformation, whenever it took place, they brought the pulpit 340 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:09,240 into the centre of the church and they put the word of God 341 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:14,920 central to the people. The Word was opened way back in 342 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:18,600 start of the Reformation in England. 343 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:22,440 They had such a thing as the chained Bible, and they chained 344 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:27,640 the Bible to the pulpit, not to hide it from the people, but to 345 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:32,480 honour it, to preserve the precious copy that they had 346 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:34,520 possessed. And that, you know that men and 347 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:38,200 women travelled miles to hear the Scripture read publicly. 348 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:40,560 They travelled in foot, they travelled in their horses, they 349 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:42,640 travelled on donkeys and carts. Why? 350 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:46,720 Because in those days, the English man and English woman, 351 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:50,400 the young people, the children, they treasured the word of God. 352 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:54,280 Like in the days of Samuel, the word of God was rare. 353 00:26:54,680 --> 00:27:00,560 In other words, it was precious. Today we have multiple of 354 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:02,560 Bibles. I have multiple of Bibles, and 355 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:05,560 I'm sure you have as well. But here's a question. 356 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:09,320 Not do we have a Bible, but do we read our Bibles? 357 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:14,720 How much time do we spend reading in the Holy Scriptures? 358 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:20,640 Sadly, I feel that many Bibles and fear that many Bibles in the 359 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:24,240 homes of many people, even many nominal Protestant people, 360 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:27,680 they're never opened. They're not read. 361 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:33,320 And yet we're commanded in the Scripture here to give attention 362 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:37,360 to reading. And then this solemn authority 363 00:27:37,360 --> 00:27:41,640 that the apostle issues, he issues a word about authority, 364 00:27:42,360 --> 00:27:44,600 and he issues a word about his spirituality. 365 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:48,120 And he says this, I charge you by the Lord, that this epistle 366 00:27:48,120 --> 00:27:50,240 be read unto all the holy brethren. 367 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:54,640 Now one other thing. There's a shared accessibility. 368 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:59,840 Notice the words, This epistle be read unto all the holy 369 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:01,720 brethren. And notice the adjective here 370 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:04,040 again, wholly describing the brethren. 371 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:07,520 Those that are in Christ are not only full and free and forever 372 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:10,120 justified, but they're also living a sanctified life. 373 00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:12,640 They're living a holy life unto God. 374 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:17,760 Whenever the Church of Rome was at its height, the 5th century 375 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:22,040 to the 1500s, before the Reformation, the Church of Rome 376 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:26,400 historically restricted the Scriptures from the common 377 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:28,720 people. Oh yes, they had the Bible. 378 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:32,760 It was In Latin, it's called the Latin Vulgate. 379 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:37,160 It was written by a man called Jerome. 380 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:43,720 Everything was in Latin. And the common people who didn't 381 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:47,160 speak Latin, who weren't educated, you come in and you 382 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:50,800 couldn't understand a word, not a word that was said, not a word 383 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:58,000 that was read. Rome refused for 1000 years to 384 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:02,120 translate it into the language of the common people. 385 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:07,760 And yet here in contrast, we have the holy apostle, the 386 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:12,040 apostle Paul writing to this church at Thessalonica, a young 387 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:16,240 church just newly established, and he's writing to them about 388 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:18,600 living in light of the Lord's return. 389 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:21,760 And at the end of the letter, one thing that he says, and he 390 00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:24,520 says this, I charge you by the Lord. 391 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:29,320 So he's commanding them that this epistle, this letter that 392 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:36,120 I've just penned to you be read not just by you, but by all the 393 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:38,280 holy brethren. That's all. 394 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:45,480 The churches in Asia Minor and beyond, Apostolic Christianity 395 00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:52,640 shared the Scriptures. They spread the Scriptures 396 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:59,160 publicly among the people. You see, the Word of God is not 397 00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:04,080 the preserve of the elite or the scholars. 398 00:30:05,280 --> 00:30:11,360 It's not just for the priests or the Pope or the pastor or the 399 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:14,640 intellectuals of the day. It belongs to every true 400 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:19,720 believer, even the boys and the girls, even the babies in the 401 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:21,600 House of God. Remember what Paul wrote to 402 00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:23,280 Timothy? Remember what he said to 403 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:26,240 Timothy? First Timothy chapter 3 and in 404 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:31,400 the verse 15 he said this and that from a child from Timothy 405 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:37,240 was a baby and that from a child that was known what the Holy 406 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:40,800 Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation 407 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:43,000 through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 408 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:49,040 And to take a baby on your knee, even a baby in still in nappies 409 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:54,000 and to read to that baby the word of God and to whisper John 410 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:58,080 3 and 16 into its ear is one of the greatest things that you 411 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:01,200 could do whenever the old Jewish families gathered to read the 412 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:04,640 Scriptures in ancient time, they all gathered around the table, 413 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:06,880 babies and all and you know what they did? 414 00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:09,800 The granddad or the dad would have took the little baby's 415 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:12,960 hand, dipped the baby's finger in the wee bit of honey that 416 00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:16,440 would have been on the table, dabbed it in the corner of the 417 00:31:16,440 --> 00:31:20,200 Bible, and then put the baby's finger into the honey at the 418 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:22,160 corner of the Bible. And the baby knew there was 419 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:24,360 goodness there. And the baby was constantly 420 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:28,160 reaching out for the corner of the Scriptures. 421 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:33,760 Paul commands the public reading of the Word of God, and that is 422 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:37,000 fundamental and foundational and Christian worship. 423 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:40,720 He says to Timothy, first Timothy 4 and 13, Can I come 424 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:45,200 give attention to reading and remember what we read there over 425 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:47,800 in the Book of Revelation? It's a lovely verse of 426 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:50,000 Scripture. Revelation chapter 1 and verse 427 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:53,440 3. It says this Revelation chapter 428 00:31:53,440 --> 00:31:57,680 1 and verse 3. Blessed is he that readeth and 429 00:31:57,680 --> 00:32:01,760 they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things 430 00:32:01,760 --> 00:32:05,640 which are written therein for the time is at hand. 431 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:11,600 What a blessing the public reading and the private reading 432 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:14,840 of the Bible is. Why is it blessed? 433 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:17,680 Because it's God's infallible word. 434 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:22,520 I believe in plenary and verbal inspiration, and seven times 435 00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:27,480 John pronounces a blessing upon his people in this portion of 436 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:31,480 Scripture, and it's all connected to the reading of the 437 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:34,320 Word of God. How extensive that blessing is? 438 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:40,040 It involves listening, accepting, keeping, and applying 439 00:32:41,280 --> 00:32:46,040 the Word of God. The public reading of the Word 440 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:51,120 is not a filler. It's not to be disposed of or 441 00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:56,560 with during any service. It is an integral part of the 442 00:32:56,560 --> 00:33:00,400 worship service. And God speaks to us through His 443 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:02,760 Word. You see many churches today, and 444 00:33:02,760 --> 00:33:05,840 I emphasise this as I finish, many churches today menace 445 00:33:06,120 --> 00:33:09,480 minimise the public reading of the Holy Scripture. 446 00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:13,840 They want to maximise other things, but they minimise the 447 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:15,640 public reading of the Scriptures. 448 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:20,160 But in our Reformed worship this is true in every Free 449 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:23,200 Presbyterian Church. Our praise is shaped by the 450 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:27,400 Scriptures, Our praying is shaped by the Scriptures. 451 00:33:27,920 --> 00:33:32,280 Our readings are governed and shaped by the Scriptures. 452 00:33:32,280 --> 00:33:37,800 Our preaching is the same and our practising because public 453 00:33:37,800 --> 00:33:43,240 reading is not enough. The word that's heard must be 454 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:46,120 received. It has to be kept. 455 00:33:46,120 --> 00:33:49,600 It has to be obeyed. I think of the call to young men 456 00:33:49,840 --> 00:33:54,720 over there in Psalm 119. Remember what the psalmist says 457 00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:58,000 in Psalm 119. Wherewithal shall a young man 458 00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:01,400 cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto, 459 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:05,680 according to thy word, not just hearing it that's right and 460 00:34:05,680 --> 00:34:10,000 proper, but by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 461 00:34:10,239 --> 00:34:13,679 Listen to what David said, young men, thy word have I hid in 462 00:34:13,679 --> 00:34:17,239 thine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 463 00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:22,880 The word that's heard has to be received by faith, and then it's 464 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:26,120 got to be lived out in our practise. 465 00:34:26,679 --> 00:34:31,400 How many hear sermons, how many even read the scriptures? 466 00:34:32,199 --> 00:34:35,360 And yet they live and perish in unbelief. 467 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:41,639 The word can be a savour of life unto life, but the same word can 468 00:34:41,639 --> 00:34:46,239 be a savour of death unto death if it's not mixed with true 469 00:34:46,239 --> 00:34:49,600 faith. Someone has said the sun that 470 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:53,840 melts the wax hardens the clay, and that's true. 471 00:34:55,199 --> 00:35:01,520 And I read and listened to A Strange Thing last week and it's 472 00:35:01,520 --> 00:35:05,800 this a popular song that's on Top of the Pops. 473 00:35:06,360 --> 00:35:09,360 And I'm not advocating Top of the Pops, but it was on the 474 00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:13,160 radio and I heard it. And this was the title of the 475 00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:15,320 song, or at least one of the lines in the song. 476 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:19,360 I, I, I wrote it down. Run from the sun like Dracula. 477 00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:25,200 Now, what does that really mean? Run from the sun like Dracula. 478 00:35:27,120 --> 00:35:30,440 Dracula is a mythological figure, but couldn't stand the 479 00:35:30,440 --> 00:35:32,960 light. And when the sun would arose in 480 00:35:32,960 --> 00:35:35,800 the morning, shielded his face and ran to the darkness. 481 00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:39,720 And thousands in Northern Ireland are running from the Sun 482 00:35:39,720 --> 00:35:42,640 of Righteousness and they're running from the scriptures of 483 00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:44,640 truth. And they're running away from 484 00:35:44,640 --> 00:35:47,920 the only one who can help them. Because Christ is the answer. 485 00:35:48,720 --> 00:35:50,560 And what does Ulster need this morning? 486 00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:53,520 Needs the power of the written Word. 487 00:35:55,440 --> 00:35:59,360 The Word of God must be read to the whole congregation, and it 488 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:01,720 needs the power of illuminating spirit. 489 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:07,360 See, dead men have no power in and of themselves, no power in 490 00:36:07,360 --> 00:36:11,080 and of themselves to resurrect themselves spiritually under 491 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:14,560 God. No dead man has the power to 492 00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:19,000 raise himself from the grave. He's dead in trespasses and 493 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:22,320 sins, he's darkened in his understanding, he's diseased in 494 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:25,520 his affection, and he needs the infusion of life. 495 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:30,320 It's interesting that Paul said this. 496 00:36:30,320 --> 00:36:34,720 As I finish this epistle, be read unto all the holy brethren, 497 00:36:34,720 --> 00:36:39,800 this letter, these inspired words put together by the Holy 498 00:36:39,800 --> 00:36:43,600 Spirit, even though my pen has been used. 499 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:45,960 He doesn't point to human tradition. 500 00:36:46,840 --> 00:36:49,200 He doesn't point to mystical experiences. 501 00:36:49,560 --> 00:36:52,080 He doesn't point to an ecclesiastical hierarchy. 502 00:36:52,200 --> 00:36:55,080 He doesn't point to charismatic personalities. 503 00:36:55,360 --> 00:36:58,120 He doesn't point to celebrity leaders. 504 00:36:58,640 --> 00:37:01,520 He's not making reference to the charm of the preacher. 505 00:37:01,960 --> 00:37:04,840 He's not even making reference to any kind of emotional 506 00:37:04,840 --> 00:37:08,720 manipulation, a popular opinion, or religious ceremony. 507 00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:14,840 No, he's directing us to the purity and the power of the Word 508 00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:18,160 of God. It was John MacArthur that said 509 00:37:18,160 --> 00:37:23,760 this power in the ministry is not in man, it's in the Word of 510 00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:27,760 God. And the authority today rests in 511 00:37:27,760 --> 00:37:32,080 the inspired Word. And I say this as we finish the 512 00:37:32,080 --> 00:37:34,800 inspired word must not be sidelined. 513 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:38,720 We in the Free Church, we must keep the Word of God centre 514 00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:43,240 because as the Word of God is read, the voice of God is heard 515 00:37:43,320 --> 00:37:45,120 and the voice of God can be heeded. 516 00:37:48,560 --> 00:37:51,840 This word that's read does a couple of things as we wrap up. 517 00:37:53,040 --> 00:37:56,800 It proclaims the gospel. Go into all the world and preach 518 00:37:56,800 --> 00:37:59,880 the gospel to every creature, preach the word. 519 00:38:00,720 --> 00:38:05,120 It also protects the gospel. It protects the gospel and the 520 00:38:05,120 --> 00:38:10,000 church from doctrinal corruption because when the Bible is read 521 00:38:10,400 --> 00:38:15,160 before all the congregation, error is exposed and the 522 00:38:15,160 --> 00:38:18,080 believers then are anchored in the truth of the Word. 523 00:38:18,880 --> 00:38:22,920 We believe, of course, in Sola Sapcura, Martin Luther said the 524 00:38:22,920 --> 00:38:26,320 Word of God shall establish the articles of faith. 525 00:38:27,000 --> 00:38:29,560 The church must keep the Word central. 526 00:38:29,960 --> 00:38:34,280 We believe in the primacy and sufficiency of the Scriptures. 527 00:38:35,280 --> 00:38:38,480 And Ulster's great Christ, as I want to tell you at this time, 528 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:43,320 is not political, and it's not merely societal or cultural. 529 00:38:44,280 --> 00:38:49,640 It's not even a methodology. The crisis is spiritual because 530 00:38:49,640 --> 00:38:53,840 there's been a forsaking and an abandonment of the Word of God. 531 00:38:54,560 --> 00:39:01,400 And the only thing that's going to proclaim the gospel and 532 00:39:01,400 --> 00:39:06,160 protect the gospel is the Word of God clearly read as it's 533 00:39:06,160 --> 00:39:09,480 revealed in our King James Bible. 534 00:39:11,240 --> 00:39:16,280 The purity of the gospel must be maintained. 535 00:39:16,880 --> 00:39:21,120 The profession of the gospel is when we hear the word of God. 536 00:39:21,880 --> 00:39:25,440 God has spoken to me, and it's great to get a word from God. 537 00:39:25,640 --> 00:39:27,200 I've gotten a word from the Lord. 538 00:39:27,320 --> 00:39:30,280 And when we get that word, it excites us and encourages us. 539 00:39:30,320 --> 00:39:33,480 It helps us through the week and through the day and all the 540 00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:38,400 troubles that we face. So there's three reasons why the 541 00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:40,760 Word of God should be read and heard. 542 00:39:41,800 --> 00:39:45,360 Claims the gospel, protects the gospel, but it professes the 543 00:39:45,360 --> 00:39:48,680 gospel. Psalmist said, oh, how I love 544 00:39:48,680 --> 00:39:51,760 thy law. And I ask as I challenge my own 545 00:39:51,760 --> 00:39:57,480 heart, if we think of this closing words of Paul that will 546 00:39:57,480 --> 00:40:01,160 come to next week, have we got this sacred affection? 547 00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:09,480 Have we heard this solemn authority? 548 00:40:10,960 --> 00:40:14,760 Have we got this shared accessibility to the Word of 549 00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:15,120 God?