1 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:07,280 Let's turn in our Bibles. First Thessalonians chapter 3. 2 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:16,560 First Thessalonians chapter 3. Let's hear God's word. 3 00:00:17,240 --> 00:00:19,560 We're reading, of course, from the King James Bible. 4 00:00:21,240 --> 00:00:25,240 I encourage all who are online to get a Bible and read for 5 00:00:25,240 --> 00:00:29,320 themselves, but the words will come up on screen for those who 6 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:32,720 are joining with us. We do welcome you in the Lord's 7 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,880 name. Let's hear God's word together. 8 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:49,470 First Thessalonians, chapter 3. Wherefore when we could no 9 00:00:49,470 --> 00:00:56,510 longer for bear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone, 10 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:01,880 and sent to Muthi as our brother and minister of God, and our 11 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:07,600 fellow labour in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and to 12 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:12,520 comfort you concerning your faith, that no man should be 13 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:17,400 moved by these afflictions for yourselves. 14 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,040 Know that we are appointed thereunto. 15 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:27,800 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we 16 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:34,000 should suffer tribulation even as it came to pass. 17 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:41,080 And you know, for this cause, when I could no longer for bear, 18 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:47,080 I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the temp there 19 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:51,200 have tempted you, and our labour being vain. 20 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:58,240 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good 21 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:03,280 tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good 22 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:09,320 remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as 23 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:15,120 we also to see you. Therefore, brethren, we were 24 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:20,520 comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your 25 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:25,560 faith. For now you live, if you stand 26 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:30,280 fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to 27 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:35,760 God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your 28 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:41,880 sakes before God, night and day, praying exceedingly that we 29 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:46,960 might see your face and make perfect that which is lacking in 30 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:51,920 your fear. Now God Himself and our Father 31 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:58,440 and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way unto you, and the Lord 32 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:03,120 make you to increase and abound and love one toward another and 33 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:06,920 toward all men, even as we do toward you. 34 00:03:07,920 --> 00:03:12,200 To the end He may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness 35 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:18,000 before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus 36 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:22,680 Christ with all His Saints. Amen. 37 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:25,760 We know God will stamp with His own approval and blessing this 38 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:31,400 reading of His own precious and infallible and inerrant Word. 39 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:37,360 This morning, for those who are visiting with us, we are 40 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:41,560 continuing our series of expository studies in the book 41 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:45,520 of First Thessalonians. And today we're turning our 42 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:51,760 attention to 1st Thessalonians chapter 3 verses one through to 43 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:55,920 seven. Now my text is taken from the 44 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:59,360 verse 5. Paul says, for this 'cause when 45 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,520 I could no longer for bear, I sent to know your faith, lest by 46 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:06,880 some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be 47 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,800 in vain. Now when titled this message, 48 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:15,720 are you fixed in your faith? Now let's think of the apostle 49 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:20,160 Paul as a burdened and concerned minister of the gospel. 50 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:23,920 Remember, he is a genuine loving care for the people of God. 51 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,040 Think of the context. Look at chapter 3, verse one, 52 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:32,040 wherefore we'll pause. That means in view of this, in 53 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:36,880 view of what, or in light of this, what he said in verses 19 54 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:41,720 and 20 of the previous chapter. For what is our hope or joy or 55 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,560 crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence 56 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:51,360 of our Lord Jesus Christ of his coming, For ye are our glory and 57 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,200 joy. You see, from this verse, 58 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:59,720 chapter 3, verse one, we learned that Paul was alone at Athens. 59 00:04:59,960 --> 00:05:04,040 Remember, they had left Thessalonanka for his own safety 60 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:05,920 at the behest of the congregation there. 61 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:08,720 They fled to Berea. He preached there. 62 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:10,880 He saw many converted. He was hardly there when the 63 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,160 unbelieving Jews of Thessalonanka showed up, stirred 64 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,200 up the people, and then there was more opposition and 65 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:21,160 persecution, and Paul fled from Berea to Athens. 66 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:26,080 Swaggy believed that Timotheus and Silas stayed on at Berea. 67 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:28,840 And you can read about this historical record of what 68 00:05:28,840 --> 00:05:32,160 happened in Acts 17, verses 1 to 15. 69 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:39,000 Now while Paul was alone at Athos, we get a glimpse, another 70 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:44,200 glimpse into the heart of one who was a genuine pastor, one 71 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,960 who had a deep love for the people of God. 72 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:50,440 Let's paraphrase the word. Notice what he says. 73 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,600 He says where? For when we could no longer for 74 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,320 bear. Come down to verse 5 for this, 75 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:59,360 'cause when I could no longer for bear, the word for bear 76 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:04,200 means to cover or it means to conceal. 77 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:06,400 Now what does that mean if I paraphrase it? 78 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:12,520 When we could stand it no longer, when we were going crazy 79 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:17,440 in our heart and mind concerning your spiritual welfare, 80 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:22,720 concerning your spiritual walk with God, Paul says in that 81 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:26,400 context, I decided it was better for me to be left alone at 82 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,880 Athens and sent Timothy, our brother. 83 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:32,680 Notice the wording there in verse 2. 84 00:06:33,840 --> 00:06:39,120 And minister of God and our fellow labour in the gospel of 85 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:46,120 Christ, he was sent and what was he sent to do to comfort you 86 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:52,160 concerning your faith? Now that's important that you 87 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:57,800 grasp that the chief lesson and reason for this was that lest 88 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,640 you be overcome with these afflictions that you're facing, 89 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:04,160 lest you be overcome with persecution that you're facing, 90 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:09,080 lest you be overcome with the tempter getting the better of 91 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:10,960 you. And if that were to happen, he 92 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:18,560 says there in verse 5, lest our labour had been in vain. 93 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,680 Now Timothy of course, is a wonderful individual in the 94 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,880 Bible, I believe a minor member of Team Paul. 95 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,040 He had a Greek father. He wasn't a Jew. 96 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:31,520 He was less likely to be recognised in Thessalonica or 97 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,000 opposed. So he was sent in this important 98 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,200 mission. Timothy, have a job for you. 99 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:39,400 Go and find out what is happening in Fest and I think go 100 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,720 and find out about the state of the church. 101 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:44,640 Come back and give me a personal report. 102 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:49,880 You see, Paul had a big burden and a big concern for the care 103 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:53,240 of the church. And eventually, Timothy, they 104 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:57,080 come back with good news of their perseverance and the faith 105 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:00,560 we read in verse 6. Now when Timotheus came from you 106 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:03,320 unto us and brought us good tidings of your faith and 107 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:07,080 charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us, always 108 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:12,240 desiring greatly to see us as we also to see you. 109 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:15,320 And what does he say in verse 7? Therefore, again, in light of 110 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:19,680 this, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our 111 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:25,120 affliction and distress. How were they comforted by your 112 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:28,960 faith? And as a result, the apostle 113 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:33,000 Paul wrote First Thessalonians on the basis and back of 114 00:08:33,039 --> 00:08:38,280 Timothy's good report. So understand this in order 115 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:43,600 chronologically. First Thessalonians was the 116 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:48,560 first epistle. Paul wrote under the inspiration 117 00:08:48,560 --> 00:08:53,280 of the Holy Spirit, the first epistle in the New Testament 118 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:55,240 Scriptures, and that's what we're expounding. 119 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:57,360 That's what we're learning today. 120 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:03,840 And 1st Thessalonians chapter 3 is primarily with these new 121 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:10,920 converts, and Paul wants to encourage them to continue to to 122 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:13,440 go on and to go through with God. 123 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:17,400 Keep in mind, as I've said, Paul had a genuine love and concern 124 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:20,560 for their spiritual well-being. He's not so much bothered 125 00:09:20,560 --> 00:09:23,640 whether they're rich or poor, educated or uneducated, not 126 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:26,320 concerned about the type of the house they live in or how much 127 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,120 money they have in their bank or what their station is in life. 128 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:32,400 His chief concern was about their faith. 129 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:39,000 It's not what he says in verse 2 concerning your faith. 130 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:43,160 Verse 5, I sent to know your faith. 131 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:48,160 I repeat, Paul was a burdened minister for the people of God. 132 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,840 He was a true shepherd and pastor of the people, not on 133 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:54,160 hireling. Remember this was the man that 134 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:59,840 wrote to the church at Ephesus, and he said this in Acts chapter 135 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:03,840 20 and verse 28. Take heed therefore unto 136 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:08,080 yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost had 137 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:12,080 made you overseers to feed the Church of God, which He had 138 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:17,360 purchased with His own blood. Take heed and pay attention to 139 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:19,600 all the flock. What's he really saying here? 140 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:23,560 Make sure you care for your congregation that Christ 141 00:10:23,560 --> 00:10:27,280 purchased with His own blood. Because every believer so 142 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:35,680 precious a sovereign gift to the Pastor Paul wanted to be with 143 00:10:35,680 --> 00:10:37,120 them. He missed them. 144 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,240 He had a heart for them. He was willing for a life of 145 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:43,760 self denial. Alone at Athens. 146 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:47,080 Wasn't easy to be alone at Athens, the intellectual centre 147 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:50,480 of the world, a very cultured place of learning and education, 148 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:54,080 a place of great oratory philosophy and gifts, a place 149 00:10:54,080 --> 00:11:00,120 full of idols and superstition, few converts, no church. 150 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:02,560 And Paul had to face these things alone. 151 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,120 That's hard, especially when you're in a place and you see 152 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:10,080 very little success. If we contrast Thessalonanka, 153 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:12,800 where he had many converts, where there was a flourishing 154 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:18,040 church, the very same preacher, and it's all connected to the 155 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:20,200 sovereign will of a sovereign God. 156 00:11:20,680 --> 00:11:23,920 And God's sovereignty operates in these things. 157 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:28,800 And I was taught this week, even from Acts 2028, that we're not 158 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:33,960 called to be successful, but we're called to be faithful and 159 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:37,080 have a care of the church that Christ purchased with his own 160 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,840 blood. Yet Paul is human. 161 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:45,400 Paul is alone at Athens and it's hard and he needed support. 162 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:49,840 He needed the help of others. He says when I could no longer 163 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:54,080 for Berry, he tells us twice. No longer conceal my mind, no 164 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:58,440 longer conceal my mood, no longer conceal my my anxiety and 165 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:03,200 worry about your spirituality. I sent Timothy to know about 166 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:04,600 your faith. Let me give you a little 167 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:06,160 illustration that I thought about. 168 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:10,560 Here's little Johnny. Here's me Sarah and they're 169 00:12:10,560 --> 00:12:12,680 going to school. It's the first time, the big 170 00:12:12,680 --> 00:12:18,840 school first day they're left at the school door or the school 171 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:20,280 deed. There's a few tears. 172 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:22,840 Maybe they're shedding tears. Maybe Mummy's shedding tears. 173 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:25,520 Mummy goes home. She tries to do the housework, 174 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:27,240 she tries to make a few phone calls. 175 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:31,600 But as the hours tick by, she becomes anxious. 176 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,640 She's worried. She's fearful that we Johnny 177 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:42,680 settle that that's Sarah Settle. I hope they're not sick, I hope 178 00:12:42,680 --> 00:12:46,200 they're OK and eventually Mummy can stick it no longer 'cause 179 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:47,600 maybe Granny's been on the phone. 180 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:50,560 Well, any word? And at lunchtime they phoned the 181 00:12:50,560 --> 00:12:54,840 school office to ask about Johnny or to ask about we Sarah, 182 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:58,080 and they're just asking to hope that everything's OK and they 183 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:01,280 get a wee bit of reassurance from the secretary or maybe from 184 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:04,440 the principal themselves. See, they can't wait till 2:00 185 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:09,080 PM. See, that's a faint picture of 186 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:14,640 what is going on here. Paul has great compassion, great 187 00:13:14,680 --> 00:13:19,160 care for the church. He's chiefly concerned about 188 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:23,960 their spirituality. That's the point. 189 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:30,640 His chief concern was this. Are you fixed in your faith? 190 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:35,360 Notice three things here very quickly. 1520 minutes. 191 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:41,560 One the evidence of your faith. Notice the word faith. 192 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,960 I wonder did you count them as I did the Bible reading? 193 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:47,840 I love counting words in the Bible. 194 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:51,120 It's mentioned five times in this chapter. 195 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:57,040 Look at verse 2 to establish you and to comfort you concerning 196 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:00,280 your faith. Verse 5. 197 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:08,560 I sent to know your faith verse 6 and brought us good tidings of 198 00:14:08,560 --> 00:14:16,120 your faith and charity verse 7 by your faith. 199 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:21,760 That's how they were comforted and look with me at verse 10. 200 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:27,760 He says that we might see your face and might perfect that 201 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:34,800 which is lacking in your faith. Now five times, five in biblical 202 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:37,680 numerics. That's the number of grace and 203 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:40,840 these dear folks and theft, Alanka, they had tasted the 204 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:44,440 grace of God. How do I know they were saved? 205 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:47,560 Well, he writes to them. Look at verse 7. 206 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:52,320 Therefore, brethren, they were part of God's family. 207 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,360 God was their heavenly Father, Christ was their Saviour. 208 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:58,240 They were born of this birth. These were true believers, born 209 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:00,680 again of the Holy Spirit and Washington, the blood of Christ. 210 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:05,800 They profess faith in Christ. See, we'll ask the question how 211 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:10,520 can 11 month year old church be spiritually strong that they 212 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:13,360 didn't have the Bible, the New Testament that we have. 213 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:18,000 They had no full time minister. They perhaps did have Old 214 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:21,600 Testament scriptures. They had no fancy church 215 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:27,360 building to meet in. There were in a thriving town. 216 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:30,200 It was a a commercial tort. Remember Thessalonanka? 217 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:35,120 But it was full of opposition. It was full of persecution. 218 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:38,000 They, they experienced trials and troubles. 219 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:40,920 You, you, you think of a, a town where there's idolatry and 220 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:44,760 iniquity and insurrection. And it's, it's spurred on by 221 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:47,000 unbelieving Jews who should know better. 222 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:49,000 And yet that the devil is the back of it. 223 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:53,720 And we'd asked what's the litmus test here for this church to be 224 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:57,960 spiritually strong? And the answer was this. 225 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:00,200 They had a true and genuine faith in Christ. 226 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:05,000 What is faith? Sure, the Catechism 86 gives the 227 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:07,600 answer to what is faith in Jesus Christ? 228 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:11,680 Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace whereby we receive 229 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:16,000 and rest upon Him alone for salvation, as He has freely 230 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:19,480 offered to us in the Gospel. The Bible exhorts us to have 231 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:22,280 faith in God. The Bible exhorts us. 232 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:26,120 Ephesians 289 For by grace are you saved. 233 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:35,520 Hi, through faith, for by greasy you see it through faith which 234 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:40,240 is not of yourselves. It's not an inherent to us. 235 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:46,680 It's the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should 236 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,600 boast. Hebrews 611 and six says, But 237 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:51,840 without faith it is impossible to please Him. 238 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:55,480 He that cometh to God must believe that He is and rewarder 239 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:57,200 of them that diligently seek Him. 240 00:16:57,200 --> 00:16:59,880 What is faith? I like to do the acrostic for 241 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:07,359 seeking all I trust Him, or will change it for seeking all I take 242 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:09,599 Him. See, you can receive Him, and 243 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:16,359 you can rest alone on Him. The big question is this. 244 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:22,920 Do you have faith in Christ? Remember the parable of the 245 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:28,040 sore, Matthew 13, Luke chapter 8. 246 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:33,320 Four types of soil. And those four types of soil 247 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:37,320 represent four types of responses of the human heart to 248 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,600 the Word of God. Remember the wayside ground. 249 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:45,040 The wayside is hard, the seed falls on top of the ground. 250 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:50,640 And what did the Lord Jesus tell us there in the Gospel of 251 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:57,480 Matthew, in Matthew chapter 13 and in the verse four, He told 252 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:02,560 us this Matthew chapter 13 and in the verse 4. 253 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:06,600 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the 254 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:11,040 fowls came and divoured them up. You can just get the picture. 255 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:16,560 Now what did that mean? Well, he then went on to give 256 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:21,480 the interpretation. Matthew chapter 13, verse 19, 257 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,200 verse 18. When hear ye, therefore the 258 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:28,880 parable of the sword, when anyone heareth the word of the 259 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:33,120 Kingdom and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one. 260 00:18:33,120 --> 00:18:36,480 That's a reference to the devil, and catches away that which was 261 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:40,120 sown in his heart. This is he which received word 262 00:18:40,360 --> 00:18:44,560 by the wayside. And if we explore that a wee bit 263 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:49,280 more, we read in Luke chapter 8 and verse 12. 264 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:54,840 These particular words, those by the way said are they that hear 265 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,400 then cometh the devil and taketh away the word out of their 266 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:02,520 hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 267 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:06,800 Think of the Stony ground. Someone receives the word with 268 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:08,440 joy. They're excited. 269 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:10,920 I've got a message from God. Wonderful. 270 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:14,560 And the, the, the, the green shoots appear in the ground and 271 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:17,920 then the sun arises. Trials and troubles come. 272 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:20,360 Persecution comes and they're offended. 273 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:23,800 It's too hard. They're not willing for a life 274 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:27,720 of self denial, not willing to suffer for the gospel's sake, 275 00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:32,000 not not like Paul, not willing to labour in a hard, lonely 276 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:35,480 place like Athens for a time. They're not prepared to go 277 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:39,480 without so that others have. I've known believers to give up 278 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:43,720 their dinner. I've known believers to not go 279 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:46,080 on holiday and give the money to the Lord's work. 280 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:49,960 They've seen it as a privilege. Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones, you 281 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:51,640 remember, was a medical practitioner. 282 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:53,600 Give it up to become a minister of the gospel. 283 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:56,520 And before he came into the ministry, he gave the money that 284 00:19:56,520 --> 00:20:00,360 he had to his poor mother. CT Stud was a millionaire, a 285 00:20:00,360 --> 00:20:03,320 great cricketer and he gave it all up for the honour and glory 286 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:06,840 of Christ. What type of hearer are you? 287 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:13,520 A wayside hearer, Stony ground hearer, A thorny ground hearer 288 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:15,840 is someone again who receives the word with joy. 289 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:20,240 But the riches of this world, the pleasures of this life, the 290 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:22,320 cares of this life, they, they choke. 291 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:25,080 The word love for Christ is crowded out. 292 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:28,480 What is evident is not a love for the Saviour, but a love for 293 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:31,440 self. They don't really love the 294 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:33,360 Saviour. Oh, the Saviour's there, but 295 00:20:33,360 --> 00:20:37,280 he's in the background. They have no genuine love for 296 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:40,760 Him, or for the Saints, or the souls of man, or the Sabbath of 297 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:43,120 the sanctuary. They have no deep love for the 298 00:20:43,120 --> 00:20:46,760 Scriptures of truth. That's the thorny ground hearer. 299 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:51,240 And isn't there many thorny ground hearers who profess to 300 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:55,080 know and love Christ? What about a good ground hearer? 301 00:20:56,800 --> 00:21:03,360 They receive the Word, but they bring forth fruit thirtyfold, 302 00:21:03,360 --> 00:21:07,280 sixtyfold, and 100. You see, the good soil always 303 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:13,320 brings forth some for it, not the same fruit, but some for it. 304 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:19,320 There's no good soil is without fruit, and we're talking about 305 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:25,240 the fruit of the Spirit here. The good ground hearer always 306 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:28,320 brings forth fruit. If he's born of the Spirit, he 307 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:33,680 will manifest at to some degree the fruit of the Spirit. 308 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:36,840 Remember what it says there in the book of Galatians. 309 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:42,000 In Galatians chapter 5 and verse 22, it says this. 310 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:48,000 But the fruit of the Spirit is Lovejoy, peace, long-suffering, 311 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:50,480 gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. 312 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:55,600 Against such there is no law and those that have true and genuine 313 00:21:55,600 --> 00:22:00,760 faith that is produced as a gift of God by the Spirit in the new 314 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:03,800 birth. You see, these individuals were 315 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:07,240 truly converted. They were good ground hearers. 316 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:10,680 So I asked this question, are you truly converted? 317 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:15,560 This morning is the real genuine evidence of true faith in your 318 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:18,240 life. You've tasted the grace of God 319 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:22,120 and the nature of your faith is it's real because you've got 320 00:22:22,120 --> 00:22:27,080 this fruit of the Spirit and you may have it to some degree, 321 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:30,800 others have it to a large degree, but at least you, you 322 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:34,680 have it manifested. You've received Christ, you 323 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:37,720 rested him alone for salvation and that faith is real. 324 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:40,080 And here's the evidence, at least in part. 325 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:44,560 There's some fruit that you're bringing forth, it seemed to the 326 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:49,120 glory of God very quickly. Not only the evidence of your 327 00:22:49,120 --> 00:22:53,280 faith, but think about the establishment of your faith. 328 00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:58,080 If you go back to Thessalonians here, what does Paul say when he 329 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:05,720 sent Timotheus to establish you and to comfort you concerning 330 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:10,280 your faith? You see in Thessalonica, the 331 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:13,960 people of God had to endure 3 things in particular. 332 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:18,360 Let me tell you what they were. They had to endure afflictions. 333 00:23:18,360 --> 00:23:20,880 Look at verse three, that no man should be moved by these 334 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:25,360 afflictions for yourselves. Know that ye are appointed there 335 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:28,560 unto you. And then they had to endure 336 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:31,560 tribulation. That was part of the affliction. 337 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:37,320 Verse 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before 338 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:42,040 that we should suffer tribulation even as it came to 339 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:46,400 pass. And ye know now sometimes when 340 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:48,680 we read the word tribulation, we think about the tribulation of 341 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,400 the end times. That's part of this, but only a 342 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:54,280 little tiny part, and I'll explain it in a moment. 343 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:58,880 These tribulations had an impact and an effect upon their faith, 344 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:02,920 and then they also had to endure temptations. 345 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:06,280 Look at verse 5 For this cause. When I can no longer for bear, I 346 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:10,080 sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have 347 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:13,520 tempted you and our labour being vain. 348 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:16,120 Paul knew that these three things were serious. 349 00:24:16,120 --> 00:24:19,640 He knew that it would impact and affect their faith. 350 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:24,160 And remember, the devil does his best to stop the people of God 351 00:24:24,360 --> 00:24:29,080 not only getting saved, but he does his best to stop the people 352 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:32,920 of God going on with God, going through with God. 353 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:38,200 The devil is out today to try and to destroy our faith in 354 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:41,080 Christ. Not only the faith that we 355 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:46,400 believe in, but the faith that we enjoy and experience by the 356 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:49,280 new birth. And here's what he uses. 357 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:50,800 They listen to me very carefully. 358 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:56,640 He uses afflictions, verse 2-3, that no man should be moved by 359 00:24:56,640 --> 00:25:00,720 these afflictions. That's a reference to trials and 360 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,480 troubles. Now listen to me carefully. 361 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:06,040 Trials and troubles are part of our lives. 362 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:11,160 The Bible says in Job 14 verse one man that is born of woman is 363 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:18,520 a few days and full of trouble. As the sparks fly upward, see 364 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:20,120 there's a day of trouble comes to us all. 365 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:23,480 I remember one time sitting in Coleraine in the town hall. 366 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:27,240 I think it was the second or third time I'd heard the late 367 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,560 Pastor Willie Mullen preach. Place was packed by the time I 368 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:32,240 got there. You know where they brought me? 369 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:35,960 Up into the front, right up into the stage, 3 feet from Willie 370 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,200 Mullen's feet. And I'm a young believer. 371 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:42,000 And this fiery wee man preached, and he preached in the power and 372 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:45,040 anointing of the Spirit. And his text was Nahum One and 373 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:46,480 seven. I never forgot it. 374 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:53,840 The Lord is a stronghold in the death trouble and knoweth then 375 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,040 that trusteth in him. And he talked about the death 376 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:59,400 trouble and he said there's a day of trouble comes to us all. 377 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:01,200 Young man, there's a day of trouble. 378 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:04,400 Young woman at middle age, there's a day of trouble coming. 379 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:07,200 The old and the infirm, there's a day of trouble coming. 380 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:12,080 And he applied that by the grace of God, the day of trouble comes 381 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:14,600 to us all. It's common to all men. 382 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:18,120 We're born to trouble. Many are the afflictions of the 383 00:26:18,120 --> 00:26:21,640 righteous and when no one experienced the problems and 384 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:26,560 pressures of life. Battling illness, breakdown and 385 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:34,920 relationships, loss of job, tears, heartache, death, 386 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:39,200 calamity. I had a calamity this week for 387 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:42,680 for Lily lay down and had to go back into the garage again. 388 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:46,400 And I I I'm at a loss as to what happened. 389 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:50,000 But there was an unmerciful bang in battling the hench when I was 390 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:55,480 going in to see the Spears. And you see in these things the 391 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:58,200 devil comes and whispers in your ear. 392 00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:04,680 Is this the real Christian life? I thought the Christian life was 393 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:08,840 supposed to make things better. The Christian life was supposed 394 00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:11,600 to solve problems. How can you be in trials and 395 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:13,800 troubles? How can you have these tears and 396 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:17,760 you're running down your face? Remember, they're part and 397 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:21,800 parcel of God's sovereign will for our lives. 398 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:26,280 They're not accidents, Paul says here in verse 3. 399 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:30,800 For you yourselves know that we are appointed there unto you. 400 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:34,080 Think of the word appointed. They're all part and parcel of 401 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:37,320 God's will for our lives, because God has a plan and 402 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:40,640 purpose, even in trials and troubles, to to strengthen us, 403 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:43,320 to help us, not to be better, but to be blessed. 404 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:47,240 Notice verse 4. Here's another thing. 405 00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:53,360 The devil uses tribulation. This is to do with intense 406 00:27:53,360 --> 00:27:57,240 persecution and pressure to quit the Christian life, to give up 407 00:27:57,240 --> 00:28:01,960 some aspect of our Christian faith, to give up some aspect of 408 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:07,400 our Christian principles. See, he comes and he says you're 409 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:09,200 only suffering this because you're a Christian. 410 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:11,840 You're only suffering this because of your Christian 411 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:14,800 convictions. If you give it all up, you're 412 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:18,520 not going to be persecuted, you'll not be harassed, you'll 413 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:21,240 not be agitated, you'll not be ridiculed, you'll not be mocked, 414 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:24,000 you'll not be laughed at. See, that's another lie of the 415 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:26,200 devil. This is what we have to endure 416 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:31,040 because the Lord Jesus said in John 16 verse 33, in the world 417 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:33,920 you should have tribulation, but be of good cheer. 418 00:28:34,360 --> 00:28:38,400 I have overcome the world. We we should expect to suffer 419 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:41,760 persecution and opposition and not be surprised. 420 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:46,960 There's been some serious tribulation in the periods of 421 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:52,320 the Christian Church. You see, in Thessalonica, like 422 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:58,240 in Jerusalem, some members had even been murdered, some had 423 00:28:58,240 --> 00:29:04,320 been imprisoned for their faith. I think it's 4476. 424 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:09,560 Open Doors have reported in 2024 that were martyred for the crown 425 00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:11,840 rites and covenant of King Jesus. 426 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:15,000 You only have to think of the murder of the late Charlie Cook. 427 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:16,920 Pray for his wife Erica and family. 428 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:21,080 Regardless of what anybody says that that would be the right and 429 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:23,000 proper and Christian thing to do, wouldn't it? 430 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:29,280 See, if you live a godly life, you live for God. 431 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:32,520 You should display a love to God. 432 00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:37,400 Display a likeness to God in Jesus Christ. 433 00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:42,960 Your life, your love, your living is a rebuke to ungodly 434 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:46,160 people, an ungodly world. And they don't like it and they 435 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:48,480 react. And here's one way they react 436 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:53,600 with persecution and opposition. And this time of Paul's writing, 437 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:55,480 it was a time of intense persecution. 438 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:58,800 And the nature of this persecution, while it's 439 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:02,640 connected to the end times, it's not really the the great day of 440 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:05,880 tribulation that's to come, but it's connected. 441 00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:08,400 The nature of this tribulation is this. 442 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:13,640 It's pressure to quit, pressure to compromise your Christian 443 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:16,080 principles and your Christian convictions. 444 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:18,160 And that's true for the individual Christian. 445 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:20,960 That's true for the individual church. 446 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:24,560 They hate Christ and the gospel and through persecution, God's 447 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:28,960 people can get discouraged and defeated and and despair and 448 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:32,240 even drop out. And that's exactly what a anti 449 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:37,360 God world system wants to do. We live in an ungodly world with 450 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:42,360 a, an ungodly political agenda and there there's a crackdown 451 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:48,440 on, on Christian conduct. And it's all designed to stop 452 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:52,200 the Christian to shut his mouth and to stop the church and to 453 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:56,600 pressurise it out of existence to, to squeeze the life out of 454 00:30:56,600 --> 00:30:58,120 it. That that's really what the 455 00:30:58,120 --> 00:31:01,280 tribulation's about. And young people at school and 456 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:03,680 the university, in the workplace, you've got peer 457 00:31:03,680 --> 00:31:06,160 pressure. And that peer pressure comes 458 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:10,440 from the spirit of Antichrist. And the strategy is to get you 459 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:15,040 to conform and live like them. Be a boozer, be be a a drug 460 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:18,920 addict, be be an ungodly person dressed like the world. 461 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:22,560 That's what the peer pressure is all about. 462 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:30,000 This is like a pressure cooker. Notice thirdly, here he uses 463 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:32,080 this as well. Temptations, the temp. 464 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:34,960 There comes subtle temptations. As I've said, he uses trials and 465 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:37,120 troubles, uses persecution and opposition. 466 00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:40,080 Pressure raises us to quit. He comes as a subtle serpent. 467 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:44,160 It comes like a roaring lion. It comes as an Angel of light 468 00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:48,640 and he does great damage. Remember, he tempted Jesus 469 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:51,600 Christ, the Son of God. See, behind all the evil 470 00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:56,080 suggestions that come into your heart and mind is the devil. 471 00:31:56,840 --> 00:32:04,280 They're all like fiery darts and they're real, and they're 472 00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:09,720 directed to the child of God, and the child of God has to 473 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:15,200 endure them. But the child of God in them can 474 00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:21,320 be established in his faith. See, no worldly pressure is 475 00:32:21,320 --> 00:32:25,040 going to lead them or no worldly pressure is going to lead to 476 00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:28,760 anything good for the Christian or for the Christian Church. 477 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:32,840 And what we face is designed to destroy the church and creates 478 00:32:32,840 --> 00:32:34,840 havoc. Here's the warfare that Paul 479 00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:36,720 exposes. We've got an enemy called the 480 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:40,560 tempter, and he accuses us. He's the accuser of the 481 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:42,680 brethren. His accusations are false. 482 00:32:43,160 --> 00:32:49,600 And in the midst of it all, God uses these things to establish 483 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:53,720 us, to strengthen our faith. See, if we're a good ground 484 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:57,560 hearer with a genuine faith, we'll be faithful. 485 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:03,800 We will also be fruitful even in the midst of all that's going on 486 00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:05,120 in my life. What did Paul say? 487 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:07,960 He said this. Look again at verse three, that 488 00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:11,880 no man should be moved. You know what that word moved 489 00:33:11,880 --> 00:33:14,560 means? It means to be wagged away. 490 00:33:15,600 --> 00:33:17,760 See, at times the devil doesn't come with fierceness. 491 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:20,920 He comes with flattery. The devil gets the world's 492 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:24,320 enemies to pretend to be our true friends with with smooth 493 00:33:24,320 --> 00:33:27,000 words. And what he's saying is don't 494 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:33,360 let the devil tribulation, temptation, or even trials and 495 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:36,320 troubles. Don't let the devil hoodwinky. 496 00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:41,320 The word established here has to do with a buttress. 497 00:33:42,360 --> 00:33:46,600 Think of a Boeing wall. It's wobbling, it's in danger of 498 00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:51,520 falling, and a buttress, whether it's steel or wood, is put up 499 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:55,640 against the wall to shore it up and the wall is strengthened and 500 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:57,360 supported. But that's the picture. 501 00:33:57,880 --> 00:34:01,280 Our faith has been strengthened and supported by the butlers of 502 00:34:01,280 --> 00:34:04,160 the word of God. Romans 10 and 17. 503 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:06,840 Faith come by hearing and hearing by the word of God. 504 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:11,320 Think of a another illustration. Think of a sapling of a tree. 505 00:34:12,040 --> 00:34:15,920 A lot of wind yesterday and the sapling of the tree needs a 506 00:34:15,920 --> 00:34:20,639 stake. And you, you tie the stake and 507 00:34:20,639 --> 00:34:25,400 the tree together and the stake holds the tree upright and it 508 00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:28,480 gives us a better chance for the roots to go down into the ground 509 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:31,880 and for the little tree to grow. In other words, it's, it's 510 00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:37,560 fixed. The word of God will build us 511 00:34:37,560 --> 00:34:41,199 up. Don't be discouraged by these 512 00:34:41,199 --> 00:34:44,040 things. We have to endure them. 513 00:34:44,440 --> 00:34:48,639 Expect trials and troubles. Expect persecution, an 514 00:34:48,639 --> 00:34:51,400 opposition, expect the fiery darts of the devil. 515 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:54,880 We're in a warm in a war. Don't be alarmed. 516 00:34:55,239 --> 00:34:59,400 Have a sense of peace even in the midst of the storms of life. 517 00:34:59,560 --> 00:35:04,240 For these storms are not from the hand of God in a sense to 518 00:35:04,240 --> 00:35:08,800 weaken you or to destroy you, not to break you, but they're 519 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:10,480 actually designed to strengthen you. 520 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:14,480 Remember Paul says this in Ephesians and Ephesians chapter 521 00:35:14,480 --> 00:35:19,400 4, and he tells us this in the verse 14. 522 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:25,720 Ephesians 4 and 14. Listen to these words, Ephesians 523 00:35:25,720 --> 00:35:30,840 4 and 14. He tells us that we henceforth 524 00:35:30,920 --> 00:35:34,160 be no more children, tossed to and fro when carried about with 525 00:35:34,160 --> 00:35:37,080 every wind of doctrine by the sleight of man and cunning 526 00:35:37,080 --> 00:35:40,440 craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive. 527 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:47,680 We're not to be tossed about. We're not to be taken in. 528 00:35:49,680 --> 00:35:54,120 We're to be fixed. I finish with this where time 529 00:35:54,120 --> 00:35:56,680 has gone, the expression of your faith. 530 00:35:59,080 --> 00:36:01,520 We, we live in an ungodly world. You'll agree with that. 531 00:36:03,040 --> 00:36:06,160 You'll agree that it's hard in the 21st century in a true sense 532 00:36:06,160 --> 00:36:12,240 to confess Christ, to break the news that you're saved, that you 533 00:36:12,240 --> 00:36:14,280 go along to a Bible believing church. 534 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:18,080 You tell someone, you go to the Free Presbyterian Church and 535 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:19,600 carried off. They probably rolled their eyes 536 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:24,240 at you, but you're there to maintain a witness. 537 00:36:24,800 --> 00:36:26,480 See, See. Many have stopped witnessing. 538 00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:30,840 Many have stopped worshipping. Many have decided to stay at 539 00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:34,360 home because they've forgotten that we're in a spiritual war. 540 00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:40,280 And these are appointed and appointed by God and all the 541 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:44,080 help and grace that we need is appointed by God. 542 00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:47,600 God will not appoint trials and troubles and tribulation and, 543 00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:50,920 and, and, and the tempter to come and tempt us without also 544 00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:53,760 appointing a way of a scheme, but without appointing help. 545 00:36:53,960 --> 00:36:55,480 And that's where the word of God comes in. 546 00:36:55,480 --> 00:36:59,120 We're to receive the Word with meekness, but we're to resist 547 00:36:59,120 --> 00:37:02,960 the wicked one. We're not just to memorise the 548 00:37:02,960 --> 00:37:06,000 Word. Memorisation is important. 549 00:37:06,720 --> 00:37:10,080 We're not just to observe the Word and the reading and the 550 00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:14,480 study of it is also very important, but we're to have an 551 00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:19,280 experimental learning of the Word, so much so that we're 552 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:22,960 we're leaning upon it. I remember speaking to a man in 553 00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:26,280 hospital one time that I was visiting someone else and he 554 00:37:26,280 --> 00:37:28,960 turned out it was a believer. He's from the assemblies in the 555 00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:31,800 Gospel Hall. Thank God for the Gospel Hall, 556 00:37:31,800 --> 00:37:35,280 men and women and young people. And this is what he said. 557 00:37:36,120 --> 00:37:40,920 I was brought low pastor, but he helped me. 558 00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:43,280 You see, what was that man doing? 559 00:37:44,400 --> 00:37:46,680 He he hadn't just memorised the Scripture. 560 00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:51,760 He wasn't just observing it. He he was experimentally leaning 561 00:37:51,760 --> 00:37:55,360 upon that word and that brought him tremendous comfort. 562 00:37:57,200 --> 00:37:58,960 Timothy brought tremendous comfort. 563 00:37:58,960 --> 00:38:01,800 He was sent as a helper. He he went as a brother. 564 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:04,920 He was saved. He went as a fellow minister 565 00:38:04,920 --> 00:38:08,240 because he was saved. He served, he went as a fellow 566 00:38:08,240 --> 00:38:12,520 labourer. He he sacrificed so that the 567 00:38:12,520 --> 00:38:15,880 Church of God could benefit and be enriched. 568 00:38:17,320 --> 00:38:19,840 If you're saved, I call upon you to serve the Lord. 569 00:38:20,600 --> 00:38:23,440 If you're saved, I call upon you to sacrifice. 570 00:38:23,680 --> 00:38:27,400 Live a life of self denial. Do everything you can for the 571 00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:30,560 welfare of the work of God. Souls are in need. 572 00:38:30,760 --> 00:38:33,640 Souls are in danger of Hellfire and perishing. 573 00:38:35,120 --> 00:38:38,920 We need boldness, we need courage. 574 00:38:39,720 --> 00:38:43,440 So rather than staying at home and hiding away and refusing to 575 00:38:43,440 --> 00:38:46,760 witness and refusing to worship and refusing to work, I, I thank 576 00:38:46,760 --> 00:38:49,320 you for coming today. I bless you for being in the 577 00:38:49,320 --> 00:38:52,320 House of God. Let's go out into this ungodly 578 00:38:52,320 --> 00:38:58,800 world and let's express our faith and say we be Christ, and 579 00:38:58,800 --> 00:39:03,320 it's Christ for me, only Christ for me. 580 00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:10,440 Are you fixed in your faith? Is there evidence that it's 581 00:39:10,440 --> 00:39:13,840 real? Is it being established through 582 00:39:13,840 --> 00:39:17,960 these things? And are you willing to express 583 00:39:17,960 --> 00:39:21,640 it? See, these people express their 584 00:39:21,640 --> 00:39:24,960 faith to Timothy. They don't want to say it, but 585 00:39:24,960 --> 00:39:27,720 he's seen it. And he brought back a good 586 00:39:27,720 --> 00:39:29,600 report. And what did Paul say? 587 00:39:30,160 --> 00:39:33,480 Paul said this as I finished first Thessalonians 3 and seven. 588 00:39:33,720 --> 00:39:36,640 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you and all our 589 00:39:36,640 --> 00:39:41,480 affliction and distress by your faith. 590 00:39:42,680 --> 00:39:47,000 There's nothing gladdens the heart of a pastor to see true 591 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:50,720 and genuine faith in the people of God the Lord. 592 00:39:50,720 --> 00:39:54,600 Take these few words. Bless them to you as I have 593 00:39:54,760 --> 00:39:57,360 tried with the help of God to deliver this.