1 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:06,240 Amen. Let's turn in God's Word. 2 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:18,480 First Thessalonians chapter 5. We're reading today from verse 3 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:24,960 19 right through to verse 28. First Thessalonians chapter 5, 4 00:00:26,080 --> 00:00:31,560 verse 19. Let's hear the word of God. 5 00:00:38,500 --> 00:00:49,380 Quench not the spirit, despise not prophecy, prove all things, 6 00:00:50,260 --> 00:00:55,180 hold fast that which is good, abstain from all appearance of 7 00:00:55,180 --> 00:01:00,720 evil, and the very God of peace. Sanctify you holy, and I pray 8 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:03,960 God, your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved. 9 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,640 Blameness unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:12,520 Faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it. 11 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:19,520 Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with an 12 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:23,680 holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that 13 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,640 this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. 14 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:32,040 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. 15 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:42,200 Amen. Amen. 16 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:47,920 Now this morning we are continuing with our series of 17 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:53,320 expository sermons in the book of First Thessalonians Today. 18 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:59,400 My text is taken from First Thessalonians 5 verses 19 and 20 19 00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:05,280 and it reads as follows. Quench not the Spirit, despise 20 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:11,720 not prophesying. Here's the call to the church to 21 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:16,280 a life of Christ centred consistency. 22 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:21,400 Notice, as the Apostle Paul brings his letter to this young 23 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:27,360 persecuted church to a close, he does so with a series of short, 24 00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:33,280 Christ centred, spirit LED, urgent exhortations that help 25 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:37,120 define and shape the ordinary Christian life. 26 00:02:37,920 --> 00:02:40,560 Now, as I pointed out last Lord's Day morning, these are 27 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:46,080 not just random commands. Instead they are righteous 28 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:53,240 commands, not just spontaneous exhortations, but spirit LED, 29 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:58,720 Spirit guided exhortations. The last Lord's Day I set before 30 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:07,480 you 3 commands to this Christ centred church, namely REPWC. 31 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,960 And in everything give thanks. Why? 32 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:16,720 Because this is the will of God for the true born again believer 33 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:23,440 individually and for the true church congregationally and 34 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:26,720 universally. The will of God for all in 35 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:29,320 Christ Jesus is to rejoice evermore. 36 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,240 And I've explained that last week, but it's not what it is. 37 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,720 And also it's the will of God to pray without ceasing. 38 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,280 And I did the same, set it forth negatively and positively. 39 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:44,120 And the third command is to give thanks. 40 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:48,520 Then Paul adds to those 3 commands two additional 41 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,840 commands. Quench not the Spirit, Despise 42 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:58,280 not prophesying. Now notice these 5 commands are 43 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:03,400 all interconnected. They are not isolated commands. 44 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:08,720 You see, let me put it this way. A joyless church that's a 45 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:14,920 prayerless church will not only be a thankless church, but a a 46 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:18,200 joyless, prayerless, thankless church will end up becoming a 47 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:22,160 spirit quenching church, and then it will become a word 48 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,880 denying church. And that's the big danger. 49 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:31,040 And that's a real danger for the Free Presbyterian Church of the 50 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:34,960 75th anniversary year. It's interesting that Doctor 51 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:42,120 Martyn Lloyd Jones 75 years ago stated in preaching this text is 52 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:47,960 the tax for the church that was true in his day 75 years ago. 53 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:54,600 And if it was true back then, 75 years ago, surely it's even more 54 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:58,760 true now. What are we called to do in the 55 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:01,280 ordinary Christian life? Rejoice evermore. 56 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:03,440 Pray without ceasing in everything. 57 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:06,000 Give thanks, for this is the will of God and Christ Jesus 58 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,480 concerning you. And then he throws in two 59 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:12,040 additional commands. Quenched not the Spirit, Despise 60 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:18,720 not prophesying. You see, the true Church must 61 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:25,760 never ever be found guilty of quenching the Spirit and 62 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:31,880 becoming a word denying church. The moment it does that, it 63 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:36,080 ceases to be a true church. Look at the text. 64 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:41,440 Listen again to the words. Quench not the Spirit, the spies 65 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:47,120 not prophesying. What can we learn from these 7 66 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:50,880 words this morning? You know, when we look at these 67 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:55,160 words, think about them. We should pray even as David 68 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:59,440 prayed. Teach me, teach me as a prayer. 69 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:02,480 We've come to the House of God, we've come to worship the Lord. 70 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:05,920 We've come to offer praise to him. 71 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:09,200 We've come to pray even a silent prayer in our heart. 72 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:12,080 And you can pray in your heart right now, not even audibly. 73 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:14,160 You can just pray those two words. 74 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:18,200 Lord, teach me, teach me as a prayer. 75 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:21,640 May the Lord give us a teachable spirit. 76 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:24,280 Three things in the text that come to me. 77 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:29,760 One, the person that is mentioned, look at verse 19, 78 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:37,080 quench not the spirit. Now who is the apostle Paul 79 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:42,080 referring to the spirit. There's two options. 80 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:46,000 One, there's the human spirit or the Holy Spirit. 81 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:51,480 I do not believe it's a reference to the human spirit to 82 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:55,440 the spirit of man. I believe it's a reference to 83 00:06:55,440 --> 00:07:00,880 the Spirit of the Maker. This is a reference to none 84 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:06,080 other than the Spirit of God. Notice the capital S quenched, 85 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:12,320 not the Spirit. This is a reference to the third 86 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:15,560 person of the Holy Trinity, one who is Co equal. 87 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:20,080 It Co exists and Co eternal with the Father and with the Son. 88 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,360 Now, I believe that the doctrine of the Holy Spirit is one of the 89 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:27,640 most neglected doctrines in the church today. 90 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:32,680 The Holy Spirit is often ignored, misunderstood and 91 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:36,440 misrepresented. Yet, as I said on Friday night, 92 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:42,040 what we believe about the Holy Spirit is foundational and 93 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:45,640 fundamental to Bible believing Christianity. 94 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:50,200 If we are an error in connection to the doctrine of the Holy 95 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:56,000 Spirit, that will lead to false worship, lead to a false 96 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,480 assurance, and lead to false salvation. 97 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:03,280 Now let's learn what the Bible teaches about the Spirit. 98 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:09,000 The person that is mentioned, the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is 99 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:13,240 a actual person. The Holy Spirit is not merely an 100 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:19,520 influence or a spiritual force or an impersonal power. 101 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:25,160 The Holy Spirit is not an it. The Holy Spirit is a real person 102 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:29,920 and he possesses intellect. He displays emotions and he 103 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:33,559 exercises a will. I'm just going to quote the 104 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:35,159 references. I'm not going to turn to them 105 00:08:35,159 --> 00:08:38,679 for having time this morning. He has a will. 106 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:44,159 First Corinthians chapter 12 verse 11 he speaks. 107 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:49,480 Read Revelation chapter 2 and 37 references in those two chapters 108 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:53,000 to these words. He that appears to hear, let him 109 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,720 hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 110 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:00,960 You see the Spirit speaks. He intercedes for us. 111 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:06,000 Romans chapter 8 verse 26 He commands. 112 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:13,400 Acts 16-6 and seven separate me, Barnabas and Saul, for the work 113 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:19,200 pour unto I have called them. He guides us into all truth over 114 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:24,120 there in John chapter 16 and in the verse 13 we read. 115 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:26,800 How be it when he, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide 116 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,680 you into all truth, For He shall not speak of himself, but 117 00:09:29,680 --> 00:09:32,960 whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak, and He will show 118 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:37,880 you things to come. He can be lied to. 119 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:42,720 The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts chapter 5 and 120 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:46,520 verse 34. Why has Satan put it in your 121 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:52,320 heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? You've not lied to men, but 122 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:56,520 you've lied to God. He can be insulted. 123 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:03,360 The book of Hebrews and Hebrews chapter 10 and in the verse 29 124 00:10:03,680 --> 00:10:07,240 actually tells us something that's interesting. 125 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:12,800 It says, Of how much sore punishment suppose ye, shall he 126 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:16,360 be thought worthy, who have trodden under foot the Son of 127 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:20,000 God, and have counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he 128 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:24,720 was sanctified and holy thing, and have done despite unto the 129 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:29,200 spirit of grace. The word despite means contempt. 130 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:33,920 He can be insulted in a very contemptuous manner. 131 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:39,080 He can be blasphemed Matthew chapter 12 verses 31 and 32. 132 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:42,280 He can be grieved. Ephesians 4 and 30. 133 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:45,360 Grieve not the Spirit of God, for by your sealed unto the day 134 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:47,240 of redemption, and he can be quenched. 135 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:53,480 First Thessalonians 519. Now all of these human actions 136 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:55,880 and responses describe personality. 137 00:10:56,040 --> 00:11:01,880 Only a real person can, will speak, teach, guide, be laid to 138 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:07,480 be grieved, quenched. The Holy Spirit is not a force. 139 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:13,480 He's not a force like gravity. He's a real person. 140 00:11:14,560 --> 00:11:23,160 And in the Bible he has about 15 titles that describe his person 141 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:27,200 and work. These are 15 names whereby He's 142 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:32,200 known by, and one of them is the lovely name Comforter. 143 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:39,480 And that title Comforter demands and displays personality in John 144 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:42,960 14, verse 16. And I will pray the Father, and 145 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:45,880 he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide 146 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:50,640 with you forever. And then in John 15 verse 26, he 147 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:52,840 says this. But when the comforter has come, 148 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,920 we will send unto you from the Father, even the spirit of 149 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:57,880 truth, which proceedeth from the Father. 150 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:01,280 He shall testify of me. And again in the upper room 151 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:04,400 discourse. This is the third time, John 16, 152 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,120 verse 7. Nevertheless, I tell you the 153 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:12,240 truth, it is expedient for you that I go away, For if I go not 154 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:16,680 away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, 155 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:22,800 I will send him unto you. Three times the Lord Jesus 156 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,440 called him the Comforter. No, that implies a person, 157 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:30,160 doesn't it? A person who comes alongside you 158 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:32,360 in your circumstance and situation. 159 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:39,160 A person who comes alongside you to help you, to counsel you, to 160 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:43,080 care for you, to comfort you. In other words, one who comes 161 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:49,600 alongside, who relates to you personally, who who understands 162 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:53,360 you despite your current situation and circumstance. 163 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:58,600 You see, a power can energise, but it cannot comfort. 164 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:03,720 Only a real person can take up that role. 165 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:09,280 True comfort is not mechanical, it's relational. 166 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:13,880 And of course, on top of that, there are personal actions of 167 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:17,080 the Holy Spirit. John 14, verse 26. 168 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:20,920 He shall teach you all things. He shall testify of Me. 169 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:23,520 He shall guide you into all truth. 170 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:30,240 These are not merely symbolic activities, but spirit LED 171 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:33,760 activities and they all require intelligence. 172 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:38,640 They all require will. They all require communication 173 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:42,760 and action. Now here's something I told them 174 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:44,640 on Friday night at the Bible study. 175 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:50,520 The personal work of the Holy Spirit in John 16, verses 7 176 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:52,520 through to 15. Read it carefully. 177 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:59,720 John 16 verses 7 through to 15 the Lord Jesus deliberately uses 178 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:05,640 the masculine demonstrative pronoun 12 times. 179 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:10,680 That masculine demonstrative pronoun is econos and it 180 00:14:10,680 --> 00:14:15,480 literally means that one he to refer to the Holy Spirit. 181 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:19,280 So 12 times the Lord Jesus in that positive scripture referred 182 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:25,480 to the Holy Spirit as that one he of John 16, seven through to 183 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:33,360 15, rather than use the neuter gender Puma, which means spirit. 184 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:37,000 I believe that the Lord Jesus was deliberate. 185 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:42,520 He was making a theological, grammatical statement. 186 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:51,040 The Holy Spirit is not in it. The Holy Spirit is that one he. 187 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:56,240 He's a real person very quickly. He's also a divine person. 188 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:59,160 The Bible explicitly calls him God. 189 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:02,760 John 424. God is a spirit. 190 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:08,520 Acts 5, three to five. Peter said to Ananias and 191 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:14,880 Sapphira that was not lied to men but unto God, making direct 192 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:20,200 reference to the Holy Ghost. In Second Corinthians chapter 3 193 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:25,040 verse 17, we read the Lord is that spirit. 194 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:29,400 We'll add to these references where he's explicitly called 195 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:31,480 God. He possesses divine attributes 196 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:37,080 of eternality, omnipresence, omnipotence, omniscience. 197 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:39,960 He He is the creator and giver of life. 198 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:44,360 Job said Job 33 and 4. The Spirit of God hath given me 199 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:47,640 life. He's involved in the doctrine of 200 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:52,480 the Trinity included. He is included in the baptismal 201 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:56,520 formula, Matthew 28 and 19. He's included in the Apostolic 202 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:59,760 benediction, Second Corinthians 13 and 14. 203 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:03,520 The Holy Spirit is not just a real person, he's a divine 204 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:07,520 person, and the Holy Spirit's an active person over there. 205 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:11,480 In John chapter 16, verses 7 to 9, we read this. 206 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:14,800 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth is, it's speeding for you 207 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:17,080 that I go away. For if I go not away, the 208 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:19,880 comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will 209 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:23,320 send them unto you. And when he has come, notice 210 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:28,880 those words, that one, he, when he has come, he will reprove the 211 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:33,200 world of sin and of righteousness and of judgement 212 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:36,160 of sin, because they believe not in me, of righteousness because 213 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:39,920 I go to my Father and you see me no more of judgement, because 214 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:42,560 the Prince of this world is judged. 215 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:47,360 It's the Holy Spirit's work to regenerate the dead Sinner into 216 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:50,440 newness of life. The Holy Spirit is the one who 217 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:55,080 applies Christ to the soul upon the gift of repentance and 218 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:57,880 faith. John Calvin said the Spirit is 219 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:03,680 not a dead thing, but a living fountain which must not be 220 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:08,480 obstructed. The Spirit of God is not a net, 221 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:13,880 He's not an impersonal force. The Spirit of God is none other 222 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:18,160 but God Himself, dwelling in the hearts of lies of His people 223 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:23,280 through faith in Christ. Remember Paul says in Romans 224 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:26,440 8:00 and 9:00, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he, if 225 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:29,360 none of his, how do you know that you're in Christ? 226 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:31,960 How do you know you belong to the Saviour? 227 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:36,440 Not just because you give personal witness and testimony, 228 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:41,480 but here's the seal of God, the witness of the Spirit. 229 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:44,760 The Spirit of God has indwelt your human body. 230 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:49,840 You're indwelt by the Spirit, not just born of the Spirit. 231 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,840 So that's the person that's mentioned in our text. 232 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:58,200 Now let's go back to the text. OK, Quench not the Spirit. 233 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:01,840 Here's the prohibition that is addressed. 234 00:18:03,120 --> 00:18:08,560 Quenched not the Spirit. Despised, not prophesying. 235 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:11,120 Now what does the word quenched mean? 236 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:18,520 Let me suggest. The word quenched means putting 237 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,480 out a fire. You you imagine a fire's lit in 238 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:28,600 your house and to quench it, you have to put it out. 239 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:34,840 Or maybe we'll simplify it. Think of without electricity and 240 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:39,280 you're going to bed and the candle's lit and you get into 241 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:43,920 bed and you've got the little flame in the candle and you want 242 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,480 to put it out. Well, rather than just blow it 243 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:48,680 out like what I would do, they used to have a little thing that 244 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:52,640 that smothered the flame on the candle, and then that quench 245 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:57,080 didn't put it out. You see, that's the picture 246 00:18:57,080 --> 00:19:00,360 here. The word quench means to smother 247 00:19:00,360 --> 00:19:05,840 the flame or to to put it out. Now the Holy Spirit's work in 248 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,440 the soul of man is like a a fire. 249 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:18,520 The word quench doesn't imply the Spirit's work like a fire is 250 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:24,080 powerful, yet it can be resisted. 251 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:28,520 It can be quenched. It can be smothered over. 252 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:30,920 Now we know what the Holy Spirit does. 253 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:33,600 He regenerates the dead Sinner and the newness of life. 254 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:35,800 That's one of his works. And you have they quickened who 255 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:37,640 were dead in trespasses and sins. 256 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:41,640 He can warm up a cold heart. Think of somebody going through 257 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:45,360 a winter time period in their Christian experience, and then 258 00:19:45,360 --> 00:19:47,560 they're brought into a summertime period. 259 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:50,280 The Spirit of God warms up that heart. 260 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:54,840 He's the one who can purify and subdue our sinful activities. 261 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:58,400 He's the one who enlightens our dark mind, brings us 262 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:00,880 understanding. He's the one who leads and 263 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:04,680 guides us into all truth, the truth according to the Holy 264 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:07,360 Scriptures. Only the truth according to the 265 00:20:07,360 --> 00:20:10,600 Holy Scriptures. He's the one who testifies of 266 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:13,880 Christ. He gives us an understanding of 267 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:15,840 who Christ is in his personal work. 268 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:18,520 And yet the amazing thing is this. 269 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:21,560 We've only discovered this, thought of this. 270 00:20:22,360 --> 00:20:27,360 The spirits work. Can be hindered, opposed, and 271 00:20:27,360 --> 00:20:30,680 quenched in the souls of men, even though it's operating like 272 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:35,080 a powerful fire. That fire can be smothered over 273 00:20:35,360 --> 00:20:38,600 almost to the point where it can be put out very quickly. 274 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:43,520 Our time has already gone. Think of ways to quench the 275 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:47,600 Spirit's work. You see, we can quench the 276 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:52,720 Spirit by tolerating any unrepentant sin. 277 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:56,760 That's true personally. That's true congregationally. 278 00:20:58,120 --> 00:21:02,400 For an individual to practise and persist in knowing sin by 279 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:05,000 indulging in open and secret sin. 280 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:11,640 That sin indulged in is like water thrown onto a fire. 281 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:16,960 The water puts the fire out. It was Thomas Watson who said 282 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:22,320 that sin is like the devil's sponge to wipe out the motion of 283 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:26,560 the spirit. Sin literally puts out the fire. 284 00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:30,960 Sin extinguishes the flame of God's presence and power. 285 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:33,280 Sin remembers the transgression of the law of God. 286 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:36,920 The law of God is summarised in the 10 commandments and in the 287 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:39,560 context here. Thinking of the last verse, 288 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:45,560 verse 18, the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you, you 289 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:50,080 see, to indulge in persistent and practise. 290 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:53,960 No one's sin is rebellion against the will of God. 291 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:59,120 And by refusing to obey God, by refusing to do his holy will is 292 00:21:59,120 --> 00:22:03,920 to resist that will to smother and dampen and extinguish the 293 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:07,160 fire of the Holy Ghost in our soul. 294 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:14,000 Here's another way. By resisting conviction, the 295 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:20,000 Holy Spirit convicts us. Conscience speaks to heart and 296 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:27,400 mind speaks the word of God to our soul, and then we silence 297 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:28,760 that word. Let me illustrate. 298 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:32,040 The Bible talks about Revelation 21 and eight, but the fearful 299 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:34,480 and unbelieving. Maybe you're here this morning. 300 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:37,360 You're not a born again Christian, but you know that you 301 00:22:37,360 --> 00:22:39,000 need to be saved. You know you're a Sinner. 302 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:40,720 You know you've gotten the mortal soul. 303 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:42,720 You know that only Jesus Christ can save you. 304 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:45,320 You know you need to repent. You know you need to receive 305 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:48,560 Jesus Christ as Lord and Redeemer as He's freely offered 306 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:50,760 in the Gospel. You've heard this. 307 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:54,840 You've heard it repeatedly, but you've never actually followed 308 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:59,640 through on what you've heard. In other words, you've heard but 309 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:03,600 haven't actually obeyed. It was John Owen who said, when 310 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:08,680 the Spirit calls us to duty and we delay, we do as much as is in 311 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:13,480 us to stifle his voice. Is that true of you? 312 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:16,080 You've stifled the call to repent and believe. 313 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:18,920 The Bible says, behold, now is the accepted time. 314 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:23,920 Now is the day of salvation. Lord Jesus we read in the Book 315 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:27,200 of Revelation in Revelation chapter 3 and the verse 20, 316 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:30,880 which of course is directed primarily to the legacy in 317 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,120 church, could be used in the gospel. 318 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:35,320 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. 319 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:38,560 If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into 320 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:41,000 him, and will Sup with him, and he with me. 321 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:45,600 And yet, often times, despite the Neil pierced hand knocking 322 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:49,280 at their heart's door to gain entrance, calling out for you to 323 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:53,800 repent and believe, you have stifled that voice by remaining 324 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:58,880 disobedient to that 'cause that's what we mean by resisting 325 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:02,760 conviction. Another way, of course, is by 326 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:07,440 neglecting the means of grace. A fire dies out, you know, by 327 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:09,760 pouring water on it. That's one of the ways. 328 00:24:10,120 --> 00:24:14,760 But a fire can also die out by withholding fuel, like a little 329 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:18,080 fire in your home. And don't keep adding logs or 330 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:21,040 fuel or peat. Then it goes out. 331 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:26,000 In other words, here's another way that we quench the Spirit. 332 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:31,520 We quench the Spirit by neglect. And how many today in the 333 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:34,720 professing church are neglecting the means of grace? 334 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:37,480 And one of those means, of course, is prayer. 335 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:40,760 Prayerlessness is a big sin today. 336 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:45,800 One Samuel 12 and 23. There's little private or public 337 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:48,000 prayer. And when there's little prayer, 338 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:51,320 there's little sense of God's presence and God's power. 339 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:56,320 And it's his will that we pray. Matthew chapter 6 and six. 340 00:24:56,320 --> 00:24:59,960 When ye pray, enter in to the closet. 341 00:25:01,120 --> 00:25:04,160 You think this morning of those who are out of Christ in our 342 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:09,240 family circles, our family members, where is the wrestling 343 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:13,640 with God for their conversion? Where's the cry heavenward, 344 00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:20,280 Lord, save my children. Where's the pleading with heaven 345 00:25:20,360 --> 00:25:23,840 as we stand in His mighty promises, asking not only for 346 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:27,120 the souls of our children, but asking for the souls of our 347 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:32,080 community and fellow countrymen? What about prayer for the 348 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:35,360 well-being of our country? One of the great prayers of the 349 00:25:35,360 --> 00:25:39,240 past was John Knox. John Knox of Scotland and his 350 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:41,720 little house in the corner of Princess St there. 351 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:45,360 John Knox, a former converted Roman Catholic converted to 352 00:25:45,360 --> 00:25:48,840 Christ, often prayed. He was heard to pray as the 353 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:53,160 people tramped past the street. Give me Scotland or I die. 354 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:57,040 You know, it's great to have Bible studies, great to spend 355 00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:01,400 time and having fellowship and socialising, but we mustn't 356 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:03,400 neglect time at the throne of grace. 357 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:13,400 Sadly, today many souls are neglected and we neglect the 358 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:16,720 souls of our families and our children and our friends by 359 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:20,400 being prayerless in relation to their need. 360 00:26:21,120 --> 00:26:24,920 Have we so little interest in the children that we haven't 361 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:29,400 given ourselves to prayer? Prayerlessness is linked to 362 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:32,840 thanklessness. You see. 363 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:39,960 Prayers expected, prayers commanded to neglect it. 364 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:42,120 We're we're, we're, we're really guilty of sin. 365 00:26:43,360 --> 00:26:46,640 Another means of grace, of course, is Bible reading and the 366 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:48,760 study of the word and meditation. 367 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:50,840 King David said, oh, how I love thy law. 368 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:55,640 Psalm 119, verse 97. Job said, I've esteemed thy word 369 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:59,560 more than my necessary food. The Lord Jesus said, what are 370 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:01,520 Matthew chapter 4 and verse four? 371 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:04,360 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that 372 00:27:04,360 --> 00:27:06,200 proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 373 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:09,360 And I believe, of course, in the word of God. 374 00:27:09,360 --> 00:27:16,400 We have the word of God here in our English Bible, a God braved 375 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:20,200 word. And every word is pure and 376 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:23,320 precious, and, and, and, and plead and preserved and 377 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:29,000 powerful. And yet we often neglect it, we, 378 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:33,600 we misunderstand it. Queen Victoria said the secret 379 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:36,000 of England's greatness is the open Bible. 380 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:39,680 There should be room for Bible reading in our lives. 381 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:42,200 Maybe there should even be a room in the church for people to 382 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:46,320 come and and enjoy engage in Bible readings just in its own. 383 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:52,760 Another neglecting of the means of grace is absence from public 384 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:56,160 worship. Hebrews 10 and 25. 385 00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:00,160 Forsake not the assembling of yourself together as the manner 386 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:03,160 of some is. We have to be honest. 387 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:06,160 Some deliberately don't come to the House of God in the day of 388 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:09,120 God to worship God through the Lord Jesus Christ. 389 00:28:10,680 --> 00:28:15,240 They've got so careless that they really can't be bothered as 390 00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:17,760 another way. Not a a cool formulism and 391 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:20,560 worship without the power and presence of God. 392 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:27,760 A a mere outward ceremony and performance, a loss of a living 393 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:30,960 quality. We have religion today in 394 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:34,520 Northern Ireland, rites and ceremonies, Paul says, a form of 395 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:36,400 godliness, but denying the power thereof. 396 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:41,600 How many love the ritual, the routine, the robes, the 397 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:45,880 possessions, the chants? And yet it's all meaningless. 398 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:49,880 What about a love for the world above the word? 399 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:53,320 James four and four first. John 215 and 16. 400 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:55,920 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. 401 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:58,840 If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in 402 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,360 him. A heart in love with the world, 403 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:05,640 the trinkets, the things of the world, but yet not full of a 404 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:09,840 love for the word of God. What about an evil tongue not 405 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:13,800 speaking the truth, cursing, lying, sowing discord? 406 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:16,760 The Bible says let no filthy communication come out of your 407 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:20,160 mouth by ignoring the inner promptings of the Spirit. 408 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,240 And here's another means, by despising the preaching of the 409 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:25,400 Word. You see, we cannot separate the 410 00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:28,480 Spirit from the Word, the Word from the Spirit. 411 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:30,840 They go together. They are interconnected. 412 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:34,960 To despise preaching is to quench the Spirit. 413 00:29:35,680 --> 00:29:39,200 The the Spirit works through the Word, never apart from the Word. 414 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:43,760 Charles Haddon Spurgeon said far too many, and he was in the 18th 415 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:45,920 century. Far too many today are sermon 416 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:49,200 tasters rather than truth receivers. 417 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:52,760 All of these means that I've mentioned are ways to quench the 418 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:56,600 Spirit very quickly. Warning against quenching the 419 00:29:56,600 --> 00:29:59,840 Spirit. You see, what is the result of 420 00:29:59,840 --> 00:30:04,320 quenching the spirit? Is there a serious consequence? 421 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:08,680 The answer is yes. The word quench means putting 422 00:30:08,680 --> 00:30:11,040 out the fire, extinguish the flame. 423 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:15,320 And what's the result quickly? A spiritual coldness in the 424 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:18,320 individual Christian life, The life of the church. 425 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:23,400 A love for Christ cools. A spiritual loss of real 426 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:27,360 assurance, the spur of adoption whereby we were sealed. 427 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:30,920 He has grieved Romans 815 and 16. 428 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:33,800 There's a spiritual decline in biblical holiness. 429 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:36,600 The process of sanctification slows down. 430 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:39,960 Sin gains the upper hand. Sin is manifested in the life 431 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:44,080 and witness of the individual. And in the church there's a 432 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:46,760 spiritual prayerlessness that prevails. 433 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:50,640 The attitude is elders and ministers. 434 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:52,080 We don't go in for that type of thing. 435 00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:58,880 A spiritual life within the soul and the life of the church 436 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:02,840 departs. It's all mechanics and and and 437 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:06,760 motions, but it's dry, it's cold, it's formal, it's lifeless 438 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:09,080 without the power of God, without the presence of the 439 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:13,320 Lord, a spiritual love for the truth of the word of God. 440 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:17,440 It's it's lost. You see, if if preaching of the 441 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:21,040 word is despised, and John Calvin took the word 442 00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:27,520 prophesying, and by that he says it means the public exposition 443 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:31,120 of Scriptures. And where is the faithful 444 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:34,680 preaching of the word of God? Men are called to preach the 445 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:36,880 Word. That's what I do every Sunday 446 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:42,520 night and morning. Preach the word on Wednesday 447 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:45,520 night. And yet preaching is despised. 448 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:51,040 How do we despise preaching? We neglect the means of grace, 449 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:57,920 be indifferent toward it, level criticism against it, become a 450 00:31:57,920 --> 00:32:01,560 selective hearer, accept the comfort that it brings, but 451 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:05,720 reject the challenge, reject the correction that it brings. 452 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:11,000 Many professing Christians can't say with David, Oh, how I love 453 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:14,880 thy law. They don't love every word. 454 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:19,120 To them it's not precious and pure and powerful and pleaing 455 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:24,640 and preserved. The Lord gave the word, every 456 00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:28,080 word. The third thing I want to say, 457 00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:31,280 and it's this, the prevention that is needed. 458 00:32:33,760 --> 00:32:41,120 Quench not OK. In other words, do not do this. 459 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:44,880 We need the fire of the Holy Ghost. 460 00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:52,080 The Spirit of God is the divine fire within the soul of the 461 00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:57,280 regenerated Sinner. And how can we fulfil this? 462 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:02,240 Quench not, despise not, let me suggest, as we finish, cherish 463 00:33:02,240 --> 00:33:05,840 communion with the Lord. There has to be a life of daily 464 00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:09,880 prayer, a daily reading from the Bible. 465 00:33:11,760 --> 00:33:15,840 God's presence and precepts should be sweeter and richer and 466 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:20,720 fuller and better. As we meditate in the Word, we 467 00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:24,240 enter into a life of daily dependence on the Lord. 468 00:33:24,440 --> 00:33:27,560 We grow in our relationship. As I said, the relationship gets 469 00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:29,680 sweeter and richer and fuller and better. 470 00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:33,880 Spurgeon never prayed for any more than 15 minutes at one 471 00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:36,240 time. But then he said he never went 472 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:42,000 15 minutes a day without prayer. You see, he lived a life of 473 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:45,040 daily prayer. He lived by meditating on the 474 00:33:45,040 --> 00:33:46,960 Word. He lived a life of daily 475 00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:49,760 dependence on the Lord. You and I should cherish 476 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:51,520 communion with the Lord very quickly. 477 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:53,600 We should cultivate consecration. 478 00:33:53,680 --> 00:33:56,280 We should present our bodies to Him dearly. 479 00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:58,480 That's what we're told in the book of Romans. 480 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:05,000 In Romans chapter 12 there and verses 1 and 2, Paul says this. 481 00:34:05,920 --> 00:34:09,639 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, 482 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:14,719 having preached or written 11 chapters in Romans, all about 483 00:34:15,080 --> 00:34:19,280 the work of Christ, he says, I beseech you therefore, brethren, 484 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:22,400 by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living 485 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:26,280 sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable 486 00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:30,199 service, if you go back to being indwelt by the Spirit. 487 00:34:30,480 --> 00:34:35,600 And where his and where his blood bought possession, where 488 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:42,280 his offspring, the blood marks upon us, and we testify, Well, I 489 00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:46,280 am his and He is mine. Then we will cultivate this 490 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:49,239 consecration. Our motto and mindset will be 491 00:34:49,239 --> 00:34:52,960 holding us unto the Lord. I'll tell you something else. 492 00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:56,080 As we come to a conclusion. There's constant confession. 493 00:34:56,440 --> 00:35:00,000 We pray in the Lord's Prayer. Forgive us our trespasses as we 494 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:02,440 forgive those who trespass against us. 495 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:07,960 Confession of sin is daily. I must do it daily. 496 00:35:08,760 --> 00:35:11,640 I must do it quickly. Let's learn to keep short 497 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:15,960 accounts with God. John Owen said be killing sin or 498 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:19,400 sin would be killing you. And we must kill sin daily. 499 00:35:19,800 --> 00:35:23,400 We must kill it quickly, and if we don't do it then we will 500 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:28,000 quench the Spirit. I'm not talking about the sin of 501 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:30,280 murder, drunkenness and adultery. 502 00:35:31,560 --> 00:35:37,400 What about the sin of pride, the sin of jealousy, the sin of 503 00:35:37,400 --> 00:35:42,960 envy, the sin of covetousness, the sin of gossiping, sowing 504 00:35:42,960 --> 00:35:46,040 discord? What about not loving the Lord 505 00:35:46,040 --> 00:35:48,280 with all our heart and soul and mind and strength? 506 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:51,880 What about the sin of being just fearful? 507 00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:56,600 Can't trust the Lord? He tells us to let go of our 508 00:35:56,600 --> 00:35:58,280 figures. Whatever situation, whatever 509 00:35:58,280 --> 00:36:01,440 struggles you have. What about the sin of unbelief? 510 00:36:02,840 --> 00:36:06,320 You see, all of these need to be confessed. 511 00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:10,320 We must cherish communion. We must cultivate consecration. 512 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:14,000 We must be constantly confessing our sins. 513 00:36:14,960 --> 00:36:19,480 And lastly, there has to be continuous conformity. 514 00:36:20,720 --> 00:36:23,840 If we're in Christ, as this text suggests. 515 00:36:24,520 --> 00:36:26,960 The will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 516 00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:30,200 In Christ we will learn quench not the Spirit. 517 00:36:30,280 --> 00:36:35,120 In Christ we will learn. Despise not prophesying where 518 00:36:35,120 --> 00:36:38,880 His were bought with the price, the precious blood we're born of 519 00:36:38,880 --> 00:36:43,280 the Spirit and for his then his goal is to conform us into his 520 00:36:43,600 --> 00:36:46,240 image. And again it was Calvin said 521 00:36:46,240 --> 00:36:51,720 what we behold we become. And if we become like him, then 522 00:36:51,720 --> 00:36:54,080 we will obey the Spirit's promptings. 523 00:36:55,760 --> 00:37:00,400 Can I say this morning, let's learn to never slight the 524 00:37:00,400 --> 00:37:06,000 sermon? If it's a word from God, don't 525 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:12,480 silence the Spirit who's prompting you to a richer and 526 00:37:12,480 --> 00:37:15,240 deeper and greater relationship with the Lord. 527 00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:21,760 And don't suffocate the grace of God in these ways that we quench 528 00:37:21,760 --> 00:37:29,560 the Spirit that I mentioned. Let's heed the warning and let's 529 00:37:29,560 --> 00:37:35,840 seek to it that we have the signs of grace in our heart. 530 00:37:36,680 --> 00:37:39,600 May the Lord take these few thoughts and bless them to us. 531 00:37:39,920 --> 00:37:44,400 We're going to sing in closing 465 and we're only going to sing 532 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:49,680 the first verse, and I'll pronounce the benediction 465.