1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:04,640 What a tremendous hymn. Our Bible reading this morning 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:07,720 is taken from First Thessalonians chapter 5, and 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:13,000 we're going to read again from verse 12 through to the end. 4 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:17,280 Let's hear the Word of God, reading, of course, as we've 5 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:23,760 often emphasised from the King James Bible, a most faithful, 6 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:28,360 reliable translation of the Holy Scriptures. 7 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,200 First Thessalonians, chapter 5, we'll read from verse 12. 8 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:41,760 Let us hear the word of God. And we beseech you, brethren, to 9 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:45,760 know them which labour among you, and are over you in the 10 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:52,200 Lord, and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love 11 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:57,520 for their work's sake, and be at peace among yourselves. 12 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:04,080 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, 13 00:01:05,519 --> 00:01:11,680 comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient 14 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:16,720 toward all men, See that none render evil for evil unto any 15 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:23,000 man, but ever follow that which is good both among yourselves 16 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:30,840 unto all men rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and 17 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,840 everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ 18 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:39,400 Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit, despise 19 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:44,040 not prophesying, prove all things, hold fast that which is 20 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:47,200 good, abstain from all appearance of evil. 21 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,880 And the very God of peace sanctify you holy. 22 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:56,000 And I pray God, your whole spirit and soul and body be 23 00:01:56,000 --> 00:02:00,480 preserved, blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:06,120 Faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it. 25 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:12,800 Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with 26 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:17,800 unholy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that 27 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,600 this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. 28 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:27,400 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 29 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:32,680 Amen and Amen. We pray that God will stamp with 30 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,680 His own approval and blessing this is reading of His own 31 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:40,000 precious and infallible Word. Amen. 32 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:46,440 Now this morning we are continuing with our studies in 33 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:51,080 the book of First Thessalonians, and my text today is found in 34 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:56,920 First Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 14 and 15. 35 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:02,200 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, 36 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:06,520 comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient 37 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:11,080 toward all men, See that none render evil for evil unto any 38 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:16,000 man, but ever follow that which is good both among yourselves 39 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:19,840 and to all men. They have entitled the message 40 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:26,520 today, the pursuit of peace in the Church, the duty of every 41 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:30,360 member. Now when men speak of peace in 42 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:34,560 the Church, they often mean something very shallow. 43 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,320 They mean the absence of disagreement, the absence of 44 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:41,960 difficulty and tension and conflict. 45 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:47,080 However, the Bible teaches something about peace in the 46 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:52,080 church in a far deeper and in a far greater level. 47 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:55,960 You see, true peace is not silence. 48 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:01,760 It is not the avoidance of sin. It's not the toleration of 49 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:06,200 sinful practises. It is not even pretending that 50 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:10,720 all is well when it is not true peace. 51 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:16,399 The piece that Paul stated at the end of First Thessalonians 52 00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:23,280 513 as a holy harmony in the church, It is produced by the 53 00:04:23,280 --> 00:04:28,840 Spirit of God, it is grounded in the Word of God, it is guarded 54 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:34,240 by the love of God, and it's maintained by the act of 55 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:38,880 obedience of God's true people. Now, here's a great message in 56 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:44,440 our text. The true piece of the church is 57 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:49,240 not merely the work of the leadership of the church, the 58 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,520 minister, the elders, and the deacons. 59 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:56,960 No, it is the duty of every member of the local church. 60 00:04:57,280 --> 00:05:02,320 Here is a basic exemption behind Paul's exhortation. 61 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,800 And we exhort you, brethren. You see, he's writing to the 62 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:08,600 whole church. Think in the reading of the 63 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:15,000 repetition of the word brethren, the leadership and the 64 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:20,280 membership. Here's the basic assumption. 65 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:28,320 Every true born again believer is a gifted spirit filled 66 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:33,720 Christian with a ministry to fulfil. 67 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:39,400 And this very text. First Thessalonians 5 verses 14 68 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:46,200 to 15 teaches us how we can minister spiritually and 69 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:52,080 scripturally to one another both inside the church and out in the 70 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:55,600 world. You see, what is the church? 71 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,640 What is this church? This is part of the body of 72 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:02,600 Christ. This church is looked upon as a 73 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:08,680 family of born again believers, but it's not just part of the 74 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:10,360 body of Christ. It's not just a family of born 75 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:11,680 again believers. Let me tell you this. 76 00:06:11,840 --> 00:06:16,240 The church is also a hospital for people who know that they 77 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:20,760 are ill. It's a school for imperfect 78 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:25,600 people. It's a society or a community of 79 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:30,720 imperfect sinners. Now it is true, as we discovered 80 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:35,920 last week, that there has to be leadership over the church, but 81 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:40,040 there's also has to be a membership in the church. 82 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:48,000 Believing Christians decide and desire and dedicate themselves 83 00:06:48,280 --> 00:06:52,920 to joining the local church. And while we believe of course 84 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:58,960 in a born again membership, I'm well aware and 1st to recognise 85 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:05,040 that the Church is full of problem people and I'm the head 86 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:10,560 of those problem people. Why yes, we're saved. 87 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,240 Yes, we're born again of the Holy Spirit. 88 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:16,480 Yes we know and love Christ as our Lord and Saviour. 89 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:19,360 But we are still problem people. Why? 90 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:21,120 Because we're still in the flesh. 91 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:24,840 Because we still are in a spiritual battle. 92 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:29,000 We're battling with the world and the flesh and the devil, and 93 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:32,440 daily we battle with the inward remaining sin. 94 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,680 Daily we battle with the world trying to squeeze us into his 95 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:38,040 mould. Daily we battle with the devil 96 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:42,080 who's trying to destroy us. The Bible talks about the sins 97 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:46,880 of the flesh and the sins of the Spirit, and the Apostle Paul 98 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:51,920 knows this, that the church is only as strong. 99 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:58,320 The church only blossoms and grows on the basis of how well 100 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:04,800 it deals and manages these problems, especially the problem 101 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:07,240 of sin. You see, there has to be a 102 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:11,240 process in the life of every church to eliminate the 103 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:15,600 manifestation of sin and iniquity within the ranks, 104 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:19,160 whether it's in the pulpit or in the Pew. 105 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:24,360 And the more and more there's a manifestation of sin that's 106 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:29,800 being dealt with, the stronger and the better the church is. 107 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:36,440 The opposite is true. The less sin is dealt with or 108 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:40,400 not dealt with at all. The church doesn't grow strong 109 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:43,280 and blossom. The church grows weak. 110 00:08:43,919 --> 00:08:48,760 It's loses its purpose. It begins to lose its light and 111 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:53,400 the minute it does that, there's a process of decay and departure 112 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:56,840 from the word of God. And let me say this this 113 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,040 morning, I'm going to deal with this in a few weeks time. 114 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:04,680 Many churches have fallen prey to a spurt of backsliding and 115 00:09:04,680 --> 00:09:07,840 many churches are on the road to apostasy. 116 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:13,640 And when did that start? It started with a failure to 117 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:19,200 deal with sin in the pulpit and a failure to deal with sin in 118 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:23,080 the Pew. Now I've got three things this 119 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:24,920 morning. Bear with me. 120 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:31,960 One, the peace that is mentioned, you see in the 121 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:35,480 context here, and be at peace among yourselves. 122 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,200 Now exhort your brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort 123 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:40,400 the feeble mind that support the weak of peace, and toward all 124 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:43,680 men see that none render evil for evil unto any man, but ever 125 00:09:43,680 --> 00:09:47,480 follow that which is good both among ourselves and to all men. 126 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:53,680 Here's the peace that is mentioned, and I want you to 127 00:09:53,680 --> 00:10:00,120 notice this. The ground of peace is built on 128 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:05,720 God's order. Before we get to verse 14, look 129 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:09,680 at verse 12 and 13 again and these two verses. 130 00:10:09,680 --> 00:10:13,000 I told you this last week. Paul addresses the leadership of 131 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:16,680 the church, the teaching elder, the ruling elder, and the 132 00:10:16,680 --> 00:10:19,800 deacons. You're to know them. 133 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:22,480 You're to esteem them very highly. 134 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:30,240 Now do you see the connection? The ground of peace flows from a 135 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:34,480 right order. God has appointed the labour, 136 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:41,840 the leaders to labour, to oversee and to admonish, and the 137 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:47,000 membership of the church are called upon to know the leaders 138 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:51,000 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake 139 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:55,840 and submit to their oversight. And of course, this reflects the 140 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:59,480 teaching of the Bible. Remember we read in Hebrews 141 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:04,360 chapter 13, verse 17. Obey them that have the rule 142 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:09,520 over you and submit yourselves for they watch for your souls as 143 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:13,080 they that must give an account that they may do it with joy and 144 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:17,200 not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you. 145 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:23,640 You see, the leaders have been gifted and equipped to exhort 146 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:28,320 and to courage the Saints. And then of course, the Saints, 147 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:31,240 in light of that encouragement and exhortation, they're to 148 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:38,040 execute a spirit of peace within that local assembly or body. 149 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:41,880 Remember what Paul says in Ephesians 4? 150 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:45,080 And he gave some apostles and some prophets, and some 151 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:47,320 evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. 152 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,280 What purpose? Here's the answer for the 153 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:54,080 perfecting of the Saints, Ephesians 4 and 12, for the work 154 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:59,200 of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ, 155 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:03,480 till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge 156 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:07,000 of the Son of God onto a perfect man, onto the measure of the 157 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:10,120 stature of the fullness of Christ. 158 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:15,400 See John Calvin, one of the reformers, said in Geneva, 159 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:19,320 Pastors are not set over the church to do everything 160 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:24,080 themselves, but to train the whole body to act. 161 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:31,560 So verses 14 and 15 shift the focus from leadership 162 00:12:31,560 --> 00:12:36,760 responsibilities to the members responsibility. 163 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:40,800 Now, now, let's be clear. There's no true peace in the 164 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:50,240 church when and whenever God's order is despised. 165 00:12:51,680 --> 00:12:56,880 The confusion of the church often arises when the leadership 166 00:12:56,880 --> 00:13:02,800 is not recognised and regarded, or when the leadership is not in 167 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:04,720 a right relationship with the Lord. 168 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:08,760 And that can often happen, or even when the leadership is not 169 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:12,680 redeemed at all. And I know that there's a 170 00:13:12,680 --> 00:13:17,680 difficulty if the leadership is not recognised and regarded, not 171 00:13:17,680 --> 00:13:20,400 the right relationship with the Lord and not redeemed at all. 172 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:28,200 But let's suppose that it is. Then verses 14 and 15 take in, 173 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:33,000 because when the leadership is redeemed and recognised and 174 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:36,520 regarded and a right relationship with the Lord, then 175 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:41,040 the responsibility and duty of the church members follows on. 176 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:46,480 So that's the ground of peace is built in God's order that I'm 177 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,560 mentioning that. The second thing is this, the 178 00:13:49,560 --> 00:13:53,200 groups of people built in God's order for they're mentioned as 179 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:56,240 well. Look at the text, it says in 180 00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:58,640 verse 14. Now we exhort your brethren, 181 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:02,240 note the word brethren. So he's not really addressing 182 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:05,440 just the minister of the church alone or the elders. 183 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:07,760 This is addressed to the whole church. 184 00:14:08,560 --> 00:14:13,360 Every believer is addressed, I believe, in the mutual ministry 185 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:18,160 of the Saints. I minister to you, you minister 186 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:22,040 to me, and you minister one to another. 187 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:24,960 The word exhort here is a very strong word. 188 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,240 It it means more than comfort and courage. 189 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:34,280 It means admonish. It means come alongside each 190 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:38,440 other to help and to strengthen. Why? 191 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:42,200 Because we're all brothers and sisters in Christ. 192 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:43,880 We're part of the body of Christ. 193 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:47,600 Remember, we're a hospital of ill people. 194 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:52,640 We're all battling and struggling with sin in one form 195 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:55,280 or another. And in that sense, we're 196 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:58,280 spiritually ill. In that sense, we're spiritually 197 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:00,960 sick. And let me tell you, every 198 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:06,200 member has a responsibility for the spiritual well-being and the 199 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:08,280 good of others in this fellowship. 200 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:14,480 Notice there's a word for the wayward, he says here in the 201 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:18,120 text. Warn them that are unruly. 202 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:27,600 The word unruly means disorderly, undisciplined, out 203 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:36,760 of step with the leadership, and not in fellowship with the rest 204 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:39,400 of the community of God's people. 205 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:45,520 Now we're not saying this unruly person as a heretic, but he's an 206 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:48,560 individual or she's an individual who is spiritually 207 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:55,800 careless, spiritually idle, feeling to do their duty as a 208 00:15:56,120 --> 00:16:04,240 member, not interested in helping or serving in the work 209 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:08,560 of God. Someone has said that this 210 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:15,320 person's a loafer, not a labour. Someone who behaves disorderly. 211 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,680 Someone who's argumentative all the time. 212 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:22,680 Contentious, as we would say in Bushmills. 213 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:28,240 They're throng. That's a good Scots Irish word, 214 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:32,240 isn't it? Or, or they're difficult or or 215 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:34,760 they're crooked to work with. Why? 216 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:39,920 Because they want their own way. And when a person's like that, 217 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:43,480 they're not living according to the word of God. 218 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:47,240 And how do we deal with such an individual in the church that's 219 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:49,840 like this? Will we warn them? 220 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,600 That's strong, isn't it? We lovely. 221 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:56,840 We lovingly confront them face to face. 222 00:16:56,840 --> 00:17:00,560 We do it not publicly, but we do it privately. 223 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:08,440 We refuse to ignore their sinful attitude and sinful behaviour 224 00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:11,720 for the sake of peace. It's not true peace. 225 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:15,680 And John Calvin said where there's no correction, there's 226 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:22,119 no care for salvation, and this wayward person is straying 227 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:28,119 spiritually from the Lord. And it was Richard Baxter that 228 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:31,600 said to leave a man and sin. There's not peace but cruelty. 229 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:36,720 Are you spiritually straying from the Lord? 230 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:42,840 Are you behaving disorderly and in a non disciplined way, out of 231 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:49,360 step with the Lord? There's not only a word for the 232 00:17:49,360 --> 00:17:51,800 wayward here, but there's a word for the worried. 233 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:55,480 Notice again in the text it says comfort the feeble minded. 234 00:17:56,640 --> 00:18:05,560 Now who are the feeble minded? The word feeble minded means 235 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:11,400 little. Sold a believer who is worried 236 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:18,520 sick or overcome by fear, motivated due to a lack of fear 237 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:23,360 and courage about things he or she feels to step out on the 238 00:18:23,360 --> 00:18:27,760 promises of God. Tells himself, tells herself we 239 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:31,600 can't do it. And they can give you 10 reasons 240 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:35,760 why a thing, project or programme should not be 241 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:39,320 attempted or can't be done. I remember being at the funeral 242 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:43,120 of the late Robert Graham, relative of CD Graham's. 243 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,120 The funeral was in Paris church at Saint Field. 244 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:48,760 He was a man with a big disability. 245 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:52,000 Some of you remember Robert Graham and I remember the 246 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:58,600 minister saying he was not a what if man, he was a why not 247 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:04,200 man And a why not man is the type of man that we need in the 248 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:12,200 church. Far too many are what if and 249 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:16,960 they are worried sick about things and they're struggling 250 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:23,600 with that and sin is a worry and we're to be anxious for nothing. 251 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:26,400 But in everything, by prayer and supplication, with Thanksgiving, 252 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:28,680 let your request be made known unto God. 253 00:19:29,120 --> 00:19:31,920 And many have no sense of adventure. 254 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:35,800 They have a fear of the unknown. They're not full of faith. 255 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,200 They'll not take a risk. And because they're full of 256 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:39,800 worry, they worry about everything. 257 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:43,920 My mother-in-law used to worry. I tell her about the grass 258 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:46,240 going. And many are like that. 259 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:50,000 Many in the church today are discouraged. 260 00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:53,640 They're full of anxiety for themselves, their family, the 261 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:56,360 church, the community and the future. 262 00:19:57,520 --> 00:20:00,880 And it's a big job. What are we to do with the 263 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:04,440 feeble minded? Or to comfort them or to 264 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:08,200 encourage those who doubt? Encourage those who are full of 265 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:13,840 fear and casting, Not rebuke them, but speak the promises of 266 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:15,280 God to them. Remind them. 267 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:19,560 Second Corinthians 1 and 24, All the promises of God and him are 268 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:21,840 yeah, and in him. Amen. 269 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:25,880 There are 7300 promises in the Bible, according to Herbert 270 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:29,800 Lockyer. And they're all in Christ. 271 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:36,120 You can claim them by faith. So I'm asking today, are you one 272 00:20:36,120 --> 00:20:40,400 of the worried ones? Are you full of fear? 273 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:45,560 And if you are, I just want you to remember there's comfort for 274 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:49,440 the faint hearted in your discouragement and in your 275 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:53,040 anxiety and in your fear. Let the Lord come to your side. 276 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:57,480 Let the Lord say to you, fear not, I will help you. 277 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:01,080 And if you're a struggling believer, and I know there's 278 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:06,640 many are struggling and overwhelmed by stress, 279 00:21:08,360 --> 00:21:12,840 struggling and overwhelmed by a lack of assurance, struggling 280 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:18,280 and overwhelmed by fear. You see, there was fear in 281 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:23,040 Thessalonica. There was fear because believers 282 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:27,280 were overly concerned about their loved ones who had died 283 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:29,800 before the Lords returned. What's going to happen to their 284 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,480 bodies? What's going to happen at the 285 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:35,360 resurrection? Are they even going to be 286 00:21:35,360 --> 00:21:39,120 resurrected from the dead? And they were just worried sick 287 00:21:39,120 --> 00:21:41,960 about that. And they may have been 288 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:46,040 struggling as well through fear and worry due to the trials of 289 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:49,280 persecution and opposition. And what do they need? 290 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:51,640 They needed a wee word from the Lord. 291 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:56,640 And Paul writes to the membership and says comfort the 292 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:58,920 feeble minded. Remember the Lord Jesus gave 293 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:01,920 them a word, a bruised Reed. Shall he not break? 294 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:09,680 Are you a bruised Reed today? Can you receive and lean on the 295 00:22:10,120 --> 00:22:15,560 words of Christ? Receive and rest in His word of 296 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:19,360 promise. I say to you this day of you're 297 00:22:19,360 --> 00:22:22,440 a child of God, You're cast down. 298 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:27,960 You're not cast off. And if you're cast down, you 299 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:31,800 don't need me to correct you. You don't need me to come and 300 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:35,080 give you a slap along the the the back of the the head. 301 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:41,240 You need me to console you. And we as members must comfort 302 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:45,320 the feeble minded. We must be sympathetic. 303 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:52,600 We must be have a feeling for people in their trials. 304 00:22:57,160 --> 00:22:58,720 There has to be a word to the weak. 305 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:03,320 Notice he says support the weak. What does that mean? 306 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,800 The word support means to hold them up, to take them by the 307 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:11,160 arm, to cling to them and let them cling to us, to stay by 308 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:13,680 their side. Do not let them fall. 309 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:18,000 They are those who are weakened. Faith this morning we can 310 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:23,760 conscience we can understand, thing we can their battle with 311 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:27,280 sin we can assurance. And what are we told in 312 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:30,880 Galatians 6 and 2 bear one another's burdens. 313 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:37,360 We here strong, we are debtors to the weak, and the strength of 314 00:23:37,360 --> 00:23:43,960 the church is not seen in its gifted and it's minted members, 315 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:48,120 but in how we treat the weak ones. 316 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:51,400 We're to support the weak, we're not to slander them. 317 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:56,120 We're not to slaughter the weak. Remember, the Church is a 318 00:23:56,120 --> 00:24:05,200 hospital for sinners. Many are weak and easily succumb 319 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:09,360 and give in to temptations. They're tempted to send an 320 00:24:09,360 --> 00:24:14,480 iniquity that they're tempted to struggle with their disease and 321 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:17,320 and their physical disabilities and their, their, their 322 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:21,200 financial hardship and, and and all of these things are coupled 323 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:25,720 together because of someone's weak in faith and then they get 324 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:28,320 worried sick about themselves in the future. 325 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:30,760 Then they're prone to be wayward. 326 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:33,640 Notice. Also hear a word to the 327 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:37,760 wearisome. It says in our text, be patient 328 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:40,760 toward all men. What does that mean? 329 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:43,800 I, I, I want you to think of a race. 330 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:46,360 OK, And suppose I'm not in the race. 331 00:24:46,360 --> 00:24:51,240 OK, But you're running in the race and you're looking around 332 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:55,520 and you see some of the people that you know and love, and 333 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:59,400 they're very far behind. And they're like slow coaches. 334 00:24:59,960 --> 00:25:02,480 And you're thinking to yourself, well, I wish they would catch 335 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:05,680 up. These slow coaches seem to be 336 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:11,480 slow at everything. And some people are naturally 337 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:17,680 slow and some are also spiritually slow. 338 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:27,000 They're slow at growing, they're slow at going, and maybe even 339 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:30,520 slow in relation to the grace of God. 340 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:39,400 And when someone's like that, it's easy to get exasperated and 341 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:44,120 you have difficulty focusing on what that individual is doing. 342 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:49,880 And you'd wish, well, I wish they didn't try because I could 343 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:52,840 have it done in 5 minutes and they're taking an hour to do it. 344 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:59,560 We need a spurt of patience, and I say that to me. 345 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:05,680 We need understanding. You see, patience governs all 346 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:09,400 the rest, patient with the wayward, the worried, the weak, 347 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:13,280 the wearisome, Paul says in Ephesians 4 and 2. 348 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:16,760 With all loneliness and meekness, with long-suffering 349 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:21,400 for bearing one another in love. You see plainly, without a spurt 350 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:26,760 of patience, none of the words, none of the duties will be 351 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:30,320 fulfilled. And let me just say, Saints will 352 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:34,320 disappoint you. Saints will let you down, 353 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:39,240 they'll feel you, they'll frustrate you, and some will 354 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:40,840 even frighten the life out of you. 355 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:47,680 And yet we're called to be patient to all men, all kinds of 356 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:50,280 men. He says be patient toward all 357 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:52,240 men. Stephen Charnock said this. 358 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:56,160 We are never more like God than when we are patient. 359 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:01,800 There's a word to the wayward, the worried, the weak, and the 360 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:03,400 wearisome. But there's also a word to the 361 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:05,280 wicked. Notice these words. 362 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:08,360 See that none render evil for evil. 363 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:12,960 We'll just highlight the word evil professing Christians who 364 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:16,760 openly commit sin. And that could be the sin of 365 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:21,280 immorality. It could be the sin of lust and 366 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:25,000 slander, lies, defilement, could be a false accusation, could be 367 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:26,880 thrift. And every one of these, of 368 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:29,760 course, is a departure from the Word of God. 369 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:34,000 And this is not a failure. In a lot of churches, professing 370 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:37,920 Christians who openly commit sin, sinned against God, sinned 371 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:41,440 against the Word of God and some of the leadership event, they're 372 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:45,080 just errors into the church and that has not been stood against 373 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:48,080 and not been dealt with. You, you think of women 374 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:51,160 ministers being ordained women elders. 375 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:56,280 You think of a woman being an Archbishop of the Church of 376 00:27:56,280 --> 00:27:59,440 England. It's an abomination unto God. 377 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:01,840 It's contrary to the Holy Scriptures. 378 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:05,000 It's not in God's plan, it's not in God's order. 379 00:28:05,120 --> 00:28:07,960 And churches have changed. Why? 380 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:14,520 Because they haven't closed the door to the introduction of sin 381 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:18,160 and iniquity among their ranks. And of course, that's why many 382 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:19,720 churches have changed their Bible. 383 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:22,040 That's why many churches have thrown out their handbook. 384 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:24,320 That's why many churches have removed the pulpit and put a 385 00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:27,200 stage in its place. Not for the better, let me tell 386 00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:32,800 you. That's the peace that is 387 00:28:33,120 --> 00:28:35,560 mentioned. And that's only .1. 388 00:28:36,240 --> 00:28:39,480 Very quickly, the peace that is maintained. 389 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:45,120 You see, the church must guard against a false peace. 390 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:52,520 A false peace, a false tolerance has invaded the Church. 391 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:57,800 And that's true locally, but it's also true universally. 392 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:01,440 Look at verse 15 again. See that none render evil for 393 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:04,040 evil unto any man, but ever follow that which is good, both 394 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:09,440 among yourselves and to all men. Here's one of the big threats to 395 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:14,120 the Church's peace. See that none render evil for 396 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:19,200 evil unto any man. And one of the big destroyers in 397 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:31,000 the Church is retaliation, vadnais, or bitterness, a 398 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:37,120 personal vendetta. I don't get mad, I get even but 399 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:39,920 this peace, remember that we're talking about that produces 400 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:43,040 harmony in the church is produced by the Spirit of God 401 00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:46,400 who indwells us. It's grounded in the Holy 402 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:52,560 Scriptures and therefore this peace rejects sin in the pulpit 403 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:57,120 and in the Pew and it rejects even things like gossip and tale 404 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:00,720 bearing and, and, and backsliding and, and 405 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:04,120 indifference and, and also blatant open sins of the flesh. 406 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:07,920 And it, it, it says these are wrong to the leadership and 407 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:11,480 among the membership. What happens when someone hurts 408 00:30:11,480 --> 00:30:17,160 you, when someone sins against you, when someone wrongs you, 409 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:24,320 how do you repay them? Do you strike back? 410 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:29,880 Do you withdraw? Do you adopt the attitude? 411 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:31,760 I don't get mad. I I get even. 412 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:35,160 I'll set a trap for them. The Bible says no. 413 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:40,520 Romans 12 and 17 recompense to no man, evil for evil. 414 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:44,720 And I would urge you, guard against a personal grunge, guard 415 00:30:44,720 --> 00:30:46,880 against a personal mandata. Don't be. 416 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:50,640 Allow yourself to be filled with a spirit of bitterness, even if 417 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:54,040 someone has wronged you and genuinely wronged you and hasn't 418 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:59,720 yet repented. Sadly, a spurt of unforgiveness 419 00:31:00,360 --> 00:31:06,240 can eat into us, can destroy us, end up leaving a spiritually 420 00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:12,480 cold and destined, and destroys the fellowship of God's people. 421 00:31:14,560 --> 00:31:17,720 To return evil for evil is to behave in a British way. 422 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:23,480 To do good in the face of evil is the blessed Christian way. 423 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:31,600 I want you to think about a Muslim soldier and he captures a 424 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:37,560 brother and sister and they're Christians, and he murders the 425 00:31:37,560 --> 00:31:43,040 brother in cold blood in front of the sister and he violates 426 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:45,720 the sister in a very disgusting greeting way. 427 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:50,240 He leaves her in the state that he's left her. 428 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:55,360 Sometime later, she ends up she's working as a nurse in a 429 00:31:55,360 --> 00:31:59,400 military hospital. This soldier is brought in from 430 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:01,560 the battlefield and he's bleeding and dying. 431 00:32:02,040 --> 00:32:06,680 And she recognises him and she's thinking to herself of 432 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:09,880 vengeance. She's thinking of getting evil. 433 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:13,840 She's thinking, I, I, I'll do something that's maybe medically 434 00:32:13,840 --> 00:32:15,600 not right and he'll end up dying. 435 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:18,920 That's what he deserves, and that's what he did deserve. 436 00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:22,480 But you know, she chose love. She chose grace. 437 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:26,840 She chose kindness and she nursed that enemy soldier till 438 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:29,280 he was back enough to health and strength and he at least he 439 00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:31,960 could talk. And whenever he could talk, he 440 00:32:31,960 --> 00:32:37,120 recognised her. And he said, I, I, I, I, I, I, 441 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:41,760 I, I, I, I know you. And then speaking to him, she 442 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:43,120 told him that she was a Christian. 443 00:32:43,280 --> 00:32:47,160 She loved the Lord Jesus Christ. And the Bible says love your 444 00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:49,320 enemies. And she says, even though you're 445 00:32:49,320 --> 00:32:53,320 my enemy and command to, to, to love you in Jesus name. 446 00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:55,520 And I tell you to repent and believe the gospel. 447 00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:59,000 And before that man left the hospital, that Muslim man had 448 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:02,400 put his faith and trust in Christ as Lord and Saviour. 449 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:05,960 We're to follow that which is good, actively doing good, not 450 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:09,760 merely avoiding doing harm, but intentionally and deliberately 451 00:33:09,760 --> 00:33:14,640 and continually doing good. True peace is not passive, it is 452 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:18,680 pursued. Psalm 3414 says seek peace and 453 00:33:18,680 --> 00:33:22,640 pursue it. True peace must be chaste, it 454 00:33:22,640 --> 00:33:27,040 must be worked for, it must be maintained. 455 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:32,840 True peace in contrast to a false priest, because true peace 456 00:33:32,840 --> 00:33:37,000 doesn't consist in idleness, it doesn't allow sin to manifest 457 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:38,640 itself either in the pulpit or Pew. 458 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:43,400 True peace is in reality a state of doing good to all the 459 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:48,200 household of faith to all men. If we are truly love the Lord, 460 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:52,320 then that love will be seen in flow to all men. 461 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:57,720 The third thing is this. Some of us I finish the peace 462 00:33:57,720 --> 00:34:01,720 that is to be ministered. You see this ministry of peace 463 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:10,880 one must be personal. You see all of us this morning, 464 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:16,120 every believer, all of this assumes that we are connected, 465 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:21,320 that we are in a relationship to each other, that we are truly 466 00:34:21,320 --> 00:34:24,719 joined one to another, that we are brothers and sisters in 467 00:34:24,719 --> 00:34:26,480 Christ. Are you saved this morning? 468 00:34:26,600 --> 00:34:29,159 Do you know love Christ? Are you sanctified? 469 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:32,000 Are you seeking to be holy unto the Lord? 470 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:35,920 Are you serving the Lord? You see, the Bible knows nothing 471 00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:39,440 of isolated Christianity. We are members of 1 body. 472 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:44,719 We are accountable to our leaders, you to the elders, the 473 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:47,520 elders to the presbyty. We're responsible for one 474 00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:50,199 another. Remember, there is such a thing 475 00:34:50,199 --> 00:34:52,480 in the church as church membership. 476 00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:56,360 It's not a modern invention. It's it's a covenant reality. 477 00:34:56,639 --> 00:35:01,360 Acts 4 and 2. Not just a name and a role, but 478 00:35:01,360 --> 00:35:05,280 part of a a visible community of believers walking in mutual 479 00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:08,280 watchfulness unto the Lord. A shared lace of responsibility. 480 00:35:08,280 --> 00:35:14,160 Not a a spectator, but a participant and you know the 481 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:20,920 names and needs of the people. You're responsible to know one 482 00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:24,200 another and to know the needs of one another. 483 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:28,640 And then you're to be active. It must be practical. 484 00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:32,600 It must be done with a deep love and concern. 485 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:38,640 Do you love deeply and care one for another those that are 486 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:41,560 hurting? You see, when one hurts, we all 487 00:35:41,560 --> 00:35:44,600 should hurt. When 1 feels down and sad, we 488 00:35:44,600 --> 00:35:46,880 all should feel it. When another is happy, then we 489 00:35:46,880 --> 00:35:51,840 all should be happy and glad. It's done with the goal of being 490 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:55,640 spiritually mature in Christ, helping individuals to grow in 491 00:35:55,640 --> 00:35:59,160 Christ, to grow in grace, to grow in the knowledge of the 492 00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:04,280 Lord Jesus. This peace must be ministered in 493 00:36:04,280 --> 00:36:07,520 a personal way, in a practical way, but also in a pure way. 494 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:12,080 You see, not one ounce of this is possible without the Lord 495 00:36:12,080 --> 00:36:14,280 Jesus Christ. It says in Ephesians 2. 496 00:36:14,280 --> 00:36:17,840 For He is our peace. Out of Christ. 497 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:19,520 We're dead in trespasses and sin. 498 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:21,600 Out of Christ we're blind spiritually. 499 00:36:21,640 --> 00:36:23,640 Out of Christ we're diseased in our affections. 500 00:36:23,880 --> 00:36:26,600 We have no love and thought for Him or of Him. 501 00:36:26,680 --> 00:36:29,680 We are enemies of God. We're without strength to save 502 00:36:29,680 --> 00:36:31,840 ourselves. We're at war with Him and His 503 00:36:31,840 --> 00:36:35,560 law. Now listen to this, John Calvin 504 00:36:35,560 --> 00:36:39,240 said all gospel peace is purchased by the blood of Christ 505 00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:42,400 and because of the blood of his cross that was shed in Calvary, 506 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:45,720 we have peace, peace with God. You can know the peace of God 507 00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:50,080 that passes all understanding. Romans 5 and 1, Philippians 4 508 00:36:50,200 --> 00:36:53,160 verse six and seven. So I asked this question, is 509 00:36:53,160 --> 00:36:56,160 Christ your peace? Because you'll never personally 510 00:36:56,160 --> 00:37:01,360 minister peace, and you'll never practically minister peace until 511 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:04,320 you know the purity of this peace in your soul. 512 00:37:04,680 --> 00:37:06,880 The peace that must be ministered is personal, 513 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:11,120 practical, and pure. And lastly, it must be precious. 514 00:37:12,280 --> 00:37:14,800 Is the peace of the Church precious to you? 515 00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:18,320 Oh, it's not easy, let me tell you as I finish. 516 00:37:18,320 --> 00:37:22,840 It requires courage to warn the unruly and the wayward. 517 00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:27,760 It requires tenderness to comfort the worried. 518 00:37:27,760 --> 00:37:31,560 It requires strength to support the weak. 519 00:37:32,280 --> 00:37:34,880 It takes grace to bear with the wearisome. 520 00:37:34,880 --> 00:37:37,360 I wish she would hurry up or he would hurry up. 521 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:40,880 It takes patience and wisdom to confront the wicked. 522 00:37:40,880 --> 00:37:47,120 It takes a spirit of love and forgiveness and zeal to pursue 523 00:37:47,320 --> 00:37:50,720 this peace. Jeremiah Burry says the peace of 524 00:37:50,720 --> 00:37:54,280 the church is precious. I finish. 525 00:37:54,560 --> 00:37:56,280 You're being very patient. Thank you. 526 00:37:57,800 --> 00:38:00,920 Do we want a healthy church? And carried off FPC. 527 00:38:01,920 --> 00:38:05,320 Sin must be addressed, not ignored, not buried. 528 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:09,840 The weak and the worried and the wayward believer must be helped, 529 00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:12,240 not hindered, not sidelined, but strengthened. 530 00:38:12,480 --> 00:38:16,360 Conflicts must be resolved, not regurgitated. 531 00:38:16,360 --> 00:38:18,840 Let the past be in the past. We've all made mistakes. 532 00:38:18,880 --> 00:38:21,000 I have made mistakes in my ministry here. 533 00:38:21,600 --> 00:38:25,680 But mistakes can be rectified. An unhealthy church is the 534 00:38:25,680 --> 00:38:29,000 opposite. An unhealthy church is a church 535 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:33,760 where sin is not dealt with. An unhealthy churches of sin 536 00:38:33,760 --> 00:38:36,160 were tolerated. Sin is tolerated. 537 00:38:39,080 --> 00:38:42,960 There's silence. The leaders, of course, are not 538 00:38:42,960 --> 00:38:45,040 equipped. The members are not exercised. 539 00:38:45,680 --> 00:38:47,720 They withdraw from their responsibility. 540 00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:52,720 I would say this morning to us, do not be passive in your 541 00:38:52,720 --> 00:38:57,840 membership. Don't avoid responsibility. 542 00:38:58,360 --> 00:39:02,560 Taking this passage serious, a word to the wayward, a word to 543 00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:06,080 the worried, a word to the weak, a word to the wearisome, a word 544 00:39:06,080 --> 00:39:09,840 to the wicked. And don't mistake silence for 545 00:39:09,840 --> 00:39:12,520 peace. The church needs the peace of 546 00:39:12,520 --> 00:39:15,560 Christ. The peace of Christ is precious. 547 00:39:16,320 --> 00:39:19,000 But we must have truth over comfort. 548 00:39:19,840 --> 00:39:25,440 We must have love over ease. The Lord bless you today. 549 00:39:25,640 --> 00:39:29,000 Thank you for coming and thank you for taking the time to 550 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:32,360 listen to the Word of God. I'm just going to close in 551 00:39:32,360 --> 00:39:33,640 prayer. I'm not going to sing the 552 00:39:33,640 --> 00:39:36,880 closing hymn as our time is well gone. 553 00:39:37,040 --> 00:39:41,760 Let's just close in prayer. Heavenly Father, take what has 554 00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:44,680 been of thyself. Now we pray You'll write it on 555 00:39:44,680 --> 00:39:48,160 our heart by Thy Holy Spirit, and you'll use Thy word. 556 00:39:48,160 --> 00:39:52,200 We ask for Thy glory. Part us now in Thy fear and with 557 00:39:52,200 --> 00:39:54,800 Thy blessing take us to our homes in safety. 558 00:39:55,160 --> 00:39:58,680 We pray that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of 559 00:39:58,680 --> 00:40:02,600 God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit will be upon us both 560 00:40:02,600 --> 00:40:06,800 now and ever more. Amen, Amen. 561 00:40:06,800 --> 00:40:08,040 Thank you today.