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okay before we call on brother peter to give us his talk give us his talk he's asked we read together from he's asked we read together from colossians chapter four colossians chapter four we've asked brother randy schultz from we've asked brother randy schultz from the detroit novi collegiate to read that the detroit novi collegiate to read that for us colossians chapter four for us colossians chapter four colossians chapter 4 masters give unto your servants that which is give unto your servants that which is just an equal just an equal knowing that ye also have a master in knowing that ye also have a master in heaven heaven continue in prayer and watching the same continue in prayer and watching the same with thanksgiving with thanksgiving with all praying also for us with all praying also for us that god would open unto us a door of that god would open unto us a door of utterance utterance to speak the mystery of christ for which to speak the mystery of christ for which i am also in bonds i am also in bonds that i may make it manifest as i ought that i may make it manifest as i ought to speak to speak walk in wisdom toward them that are walk in wisdom toward them that are without redeeming the time without redeeming the time let your speech be alway with grace let your speech be alway with grace seasoned with salt seasoned with salt that ye may know how he ought to answer that ye may know how he ought to answer every man every man all my states shall tychicus declare all my states shall tychicus declare unto you unto you who is a beloved brother and a faithful who is a beloved brother and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the lord minister and fellow servant in the lord whom i have sent unto you for the same whom i have sent unto you for the same purpose purpose that he might know your estate and that he might know your estate and comfort your hearts comfort your hearts with onesimus a faithful and beloved with onesimus a faithful and beloved brother who is one of you brother who is one of you they shall make known unto you all they shall make known unto you all things which are done here things which are done here aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you you and marcus sister's son to barnabas and marcus sister's son to barnabas touching whom ye received commandments touching whom ye received commandments if he come unto you if he come unto you receive him receive him and jesus and jesus which is called justice who are of the which is called justice who are of the circumcision circumcision these also are my fellow workers unto these also are my fellow workers unto the kingdom of god the kingdom of god which have been a comfort unto me which have been a comfort unto me epaphras epaphras who is one of you a servant of christ who is one of you a servant of christ saluteth you saluteth you always laboring fervently for you in always laboring fervently for you in prayers prayers that ye may stand perfect and complete that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of god in all the will of god for i bear him record for i bear him record that he hath the great zeal for you that he hath the great zeal for you and them that are in laodicea and then and them that are in laodicea and then in hieropolis luke the beloved physician and demas greet you and demas greet you salute the brethren which are in salute the brethren which are in laodicea laodicea in memphis in the church which is in his in memphis in the church which is in his house house and when this epistle is read among you and when this epistle is read among you cause that it be read also in the church cause that it be read also in the church of the laodiceans of the laodiceans and that you likewise read the epistle and that you likewise read the epistle from laodicea from laodicea and say to er our archipus that heed to and say to er our archipus that heed to the ministry which there thou hast the ministry which there thou hast received in the lord received in the lord that thou fulfill it that thou fulfill it the salutation by the hand of me paul the salutation by the hand of me paul remember my bonds remember my bonds grace be with you grace be with you amen it is now my pleasure to call on brother peter to give us his talk entitled how peter to give us his talk entitled how is the world affecting us personally is the world affecting us personally brother peter before we get down to the serious business of the subject let me just say business of the subject let me just say that if the lights go out again and that if the lights go out again and everything goes dark everything goes dark we have taken pictures of who is sitting we have taken pictures of who is sitting where so that when they come back on if where so that when they come back on if there are empty seats we shall know there are empty seats we shall know who's missing who's missing [Laughter] i suggested we had a cardboard cut out up here but the committee wouldn't agree the committee you know were right in arranging the talks in this order how is the world affecting us personally how is the world affecting our families how is the world affecting our families how is the world affecting our eclipses how is the world affecting our eclipses individuals you see individuals you see tonight tonight next talk individuals as part of a next talk individuals as part of a family family next talk next talk individuals as part of an ecclesia individuals as part of an ecclesia families in ecclesias are made up of families in ecclesias are made up of individuals most excitation in the word of god brethren and sisters you must know this brethren and sisters you must know this is is directed at the individual is is directed at the individual for for very good reason for for very good reason whether we like it or not we lean toward whether we like it or not we lean toward the world the world we lean away from the vertical we lean away from the vertical it is easier to think evil thoughts than it is easier to think evil thoughts than it is good ones generally speaking not it is good ones generally speaking not on occasions like this i'm aware of that on occasions like this i'm aware of that that these that these this circumstance is artificial in a way this circumstance is artificial in a way we do most of our living in the real we do most of our living in the real world world not at ecclesial gatherings and not at ecclesial gatherings and certainly not ones of this size certainly not ones of this size the world then represents that which is the world then represents that which is alien to god alien to god that is the world as defined in the word that is the world as defined in the word of god anything relationships position of god anything relationships position money possessions which keeps us away money possessions which keeps us away from god is the world from god is the world and so we have the world on one side and and so we have the world on one side and god and righteousness on the other god and righteousness on the other on this side we have the broadway and on this side we have the broadway and this side we have the narrow way and if this side we have the narrow way and if you are not in the narrow way you are of you are not in the narrow way you are of necessity on the broadway because necessity on the broadway because there's no middle road there's no middle road there isn't a swinging gate there isn't a swinging gate you are either with the world or you're you are either with the world or you're with god with god the world is attractive the way of god the world is attractive the way of god is difficult the gospel describes the is difficult the gospel describes the way as narrow way as narrow it really means it's narrow when you it really means it's narrow when you start and it gets narrower as you go on start and it gets narrower as you go on doesn't get easier gets more difficult the world offers present possibilities visible now god's righteousness the narrow way the difficult way offers the kingdom through difficult way offers the kingdom through faith faith so the battle is joined so the battle is joined we give lip service to we give lip service to the kingdom the kingdom and its ambitions but in our hearts we often lean toward the broad way lean toward the broad way or or with a measure of disaster with a measure of disaster try to accommodate both i think if we have 10 seconds honesty time and i'm going to propose that now time and i'm going to propose that now um um and the the question which i ask you to and the the question which i ask you to address to yourself is this address to yourself is this do you think that the world is affecting do you think that the world is affecting you you you personally you personally are you affected by the world are you affected by the world well let me tell you this if you read well let me tell you this if you read newspapers and i sometimes do you're newspapers and i sometimes do you're affected by the world affected by the world if you listen to radio and i sometimes if you listen to radio and i sometimes do if i'm in somebody else's car do if i'm in somebody else's car then you are then you are and if i would watch television and i and if i would watch television and i sometimes do if i'm in somebody else's sometimes do if i'm in somebody else's house and it's on house and it's on then you are affected by the world then you are affected by the world whether you like it or not you are whether you like it or not you are affected by the world and its standards affected by the world and its standards we would like not to be but in all truth we would like not to be but in all truth we are and so this evening rather than we are and so this evening rather than underline the bad news underline the bad news how bad you are affected by the world oh how bad you are affected by the world oh that you are affected by the world i that you are affected by the world i know you are tell me what you're doing know you are tell me what you're doing wrong we we acknowledge that what i wrong we we acknowledge that what i propose we do tonight is look at the the propose we do tonight is look at the the antidote from scripture to to see what antidote from scripture to to see what we do to overcome the world in our we do to overcome the world in our individual lives individual lives the battle is joined the battle is joined our father hasn't left us without our father hasn't left us without instruction or encouragement instruction or encouragement romans chapter 12 please romans chapter 12 i beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of god therefore brethren by the mercies of god that you present your bodies a living that you present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto god which sacrifice holy acceptable unto god which is your reasonable service is your reasonable service of course you can't have a half a of course you can't have a half a sacrifice can you sacrifice can you so it has to be complete so it has to be complete and it has to be reasonable which is and it has to be reasonable which is pressed the word present it has to be pressed the word present it has to be done now done now and be not conformed to this world but and be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of good and acceptable and perfect will of god this is where it starts brethren and god this is where it starts brethren and sisters in this is where the battle is sisters in this is where the battle is joined in the mind we talk about the joined in the mind we talk about the heart heart being desperately wicked and sick which being desperately wicked and sick which we acknowledge that it is but that's we acknowledge that it is but that's only a bible metaphor for the the seat only a bible metaphor for the the seat of evil and the seat of evil is not of evil and the seat of evil is not there it's here there it's here it all starts in the mind it all starts in the mind by the renewing of your mind there has by the renewing of your mind there has to be a metamorphosis that has to a to be a metamorphosis that has to a change has to take place to change change has to take place to change something that is evil into something something that is evil into something that is good you know that the old that is good you know that the old example of the caterpillar and the example of the caterpillar and the butterfly butterfly we have to we have to submit to metamorphosis that which is submit to metamorphosis that which is ugly has to become that which is ugly has to become that which is beautiful and we can only do it by beautiful and we can only do it by letting the word of god affect our minds letting the word of god affect our minds by the renewing of your mind well let's by the renewing of your mind well let's ask the father some questions how often ask the father some questions how often should our minds be renewed should our minds be renewed every sunday morning maybe when we come every sunday morning maybe when we come to the memorial service well the apostle doesn't leave us in any doubt he says to the corinthians for doubt he says to the corinthians for which cause we faint not but though our which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man outward man perish yet the inward man that's the mind is renewed that's the mind is renewed day by day day by day it's a daily thing it's a daily thing it's a daily battle you cannot quit the metamorphosis process process if you do reversion will take place and if you do reversion will take place and that which is becoming beautiful is that which is becoming beautiful is again going to become very evil you again going to become very evil you cannot stand still your mind has to go cannot stand still your mind has to go forward it has to be renewed day by day forward it has to be renewed day by day and you can only do that and you can only do that with the word of god in your hand with the word of god in your hand which is why if we have any sense at all which is why if we have any sense at all our bibles are open on a daily basis our bibles are open on a daily basis and we read as faithfully as we can i want to bring you brethren and sisters to four steps to four steps which bring us which bring us to exaltation to exaltation and to do this we need to come to the and to do this we need to come to the book of chris philippians book of chris philippians and chapter 2. while you're finding that i shall start reading and i'm going to read that verse reading and i'm going to read that verse five of chapter two philippians five of chapter two philippians let this mind there it is again let this let this mind there it is again let this mind be in you which was also in christ mind be in you which was also in christ jesus who being in the form of god jesus who being in the form of god thought he not robbery to be equal with thought he not robbery to be equal with god but made himself of no reputation god but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man he and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross death even the death of the cross wherefore god also hath highly exalted wherefore god also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above him and given him a name which is above every name every name that at the name of jesus every knee that at the name of jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the things in earth and things under the earth and that every tongue should earth and that every tongue should confess that jesus christ is lord to the confess that jesus christ is lord to the glory of god the father i bring your glory of god the father i bring your brother and sisters to four steps brother and sisters to four steps which bring us which bring us directly to the exalted position of the directly to the exalted position of the kingdom and it doesn't matter whether kingdom and it doesn't matter whether your name is paul the apostle or jesus your name is paul the apostle or jesus christ the son of god there is no change christ the son of god there is no change to the recipe and these are what then we've just read them and this is what it is and it's in them and this is what it is and it's in absolutely the right order have you ever absolutely the right order have you ever noticed the orderliness of the word of noticed the orderliness of the word of god it's a staggering it's a staggering god it's a staggering it's a staggering bible study those young brethren who are bible study those young brethren who are looking to get your head into the book looking to get your head into the book to to talk to your ecclesiast maybe for to to talk to your ecclesiast maybe for the first or second time and you you're the first or second time and you you're pondering a subject to use will you look pondering a subject to use will you look at this at this the orderliness in the things of god the orderliness in the things of god it's a wonderful concept it's a wonderful concept i was i was a long way away from here a i was i was a long way away from here a little a little while ago talking to 83 little a little while ago talking to 83 people in an evangelical church nothing people in an evangelical church nothing to do with us i was invited to to speak to do with us i was invited to to speak there they asked me to break bread also there they asked me to break bread also which obviously we couldn't do which obviously we couldn't do but i was invited to speak at an but i was invited to speak at an evangelical church in the in the west evangelical church in the in the west indies and i did so gladly indies and i did so gladly and if we think we have exclusive rights and if we think we have exclusive rights on the love of the word of god we'd on the love of the word of god we'd better start thinking again because we better start thinking again because we haven't haven't and these people said to us would you and these people said to us would you preach to us please and i asked them what they wanted me to preach about and they said talk to us preach about and they said talk to us about about the parables in the gospel we're fairly the parables in the gospel we're fairly simple folk simple folk and i said well i i i need to know how and i said well i i i need to know how much you know about the word of god much you know about the word of god otherwise i might just possibly go over otherwise i might just possibly go over your head or more likely i should be your head or more likely i should be telling you stuff you knew when you were telling you stuff you knew when you were five years old and i want to avoid five years old and i want to avoid either and ask me to talk about the parable of the prodigal the prodigal there were 83 people present there are there were 83 people present there are more than that in this house this more than that in this house this evening evening and i said to them can you please tell and i said to them can you please tell me me what gifts what gifts the father gave the son on his return the father gave the son on his return home home and in what order they were given and in what order they were given we're talking about the ordinance of the we're talking about the ordinance of the word of god and if you get the order word of god and if you get the order wrong in the parable you've ruined the wrong in the parable you've ruined the parable the parables have you you've parable the parables have you you've shut the meat out of the paddle if you shut the meat out of the paddle if you if you get the order wrong if you get the order wrong and out of the 83 and out of the 83 more than half but it did right uh i won't embarrass you by asking you to put your hands up if by asking you to put your hands up if you can say with that without opening you can say with that without opening your books your books don't open your books don't open your books but just imagine i've asked you will you but just imagine i've asked you will you and you can only raise your hand if you and you can only raise your hand if you can say without fear of being wrong can say without fear of being wrong the order in which those gifts were the order in which those gifts were given and how many there were given and how many there were and i just wonder if more than half of and i just wonder if more than half of us would get it tonight us would get it tonight and these dear simple people with little and these dear simple people with little possession possession read the word of god with such care and read the word of god with such care and such affection that more than half of such affection that more than half of them got it dead right them got it dead right the robe has to be given first doesn't the robe has to be given first doesn't it it because if you haven't got the robe the because if you haven't got the robe the ring and the sandals are useless ring and the sandals are useless first you must be covered by the first you must be covered by the righteousness of the lord jesus christ righteousness of the lord jesus christ and then given the ring of authority and then given the ring of authority and then given the sandals the shoes and then given the sandals the shoes which will prove that you have a which will prove that you have a possession in god's land possession in god's land you can't have the sandals before you're you can't have the sandals before you're covered by this sacrifice and the covered by this sacrifice and the righteousness of jesus righteousness of jesus so the orderliness yeah there you are so the orderliness yeah there you are young brethren if you if you're looking young brethren if you if you're looking if you're looking for something into if you're looking for something into which to get your teeth to bring the to which to get your teeth to bring the to the ecclesias have a look at the the ecclesias have a look at the orderliness in the word of god and the orderliness in the word of god and the way things are presented and that brings way things are presented and that brings us back to philippians chapter two and us back to philippians chapter two and the order that brings us to exaltation the order that brings us to exaltation and there is no deviation from it and there is no deviation from it and the first word is in verse 8 he and the first word is in verse 8 he humbled himself humbled himself and that's where it all starts we cannot and that's where it all starts we cannot come to god and bang the table and come to god and bang the table and demand our rights we might just possibly demand our rights we might just possibly get it and it's called death it begins with humility and the lord jesus christ jesus christ clothed himself with it and after that the next word again in the same verse he became obedient the same verse he became obedient and he became obedient unto death that's and he became obedient unto death that's the third word the third word wherefore god also hath highly exalted wherefore god also hath highly exalted him and there is no deviation from that him and there is no deviation from that divine recipe divine recipe it goes it goes humbling humbling obedience obedience death in baptism death in baptism and exaltation from the father himself this is the mind of the lord jesus christ christ and we are encouraged to put it on and we are encouraged to put it on ourselves would you like to see the ourselves would you like to see the other side of the coin would you like to other side of the coin would you like to see the other four steps that bring us see the other four steps that bring us from life to death from life to death these four steps in philippians 2 bring these four steps in philippians 2 bring us from death to life us from death to life let's have a look at the other side of let's have a look at the other side of the coin because it's one or the other the coin because it's one or the other to bring us from to bring us from life to death and for this we need to life to death and for this we need to come to the book of ruth and chapter one ruth chapter one the story will be well known to you how that known to you how that a certain man of bethlehem judah went a certain man of bethlehem judah went down to the country of moab a place down to the country of moab a place where he should not have been where he should not have been god had said thou shalt not seek their god had said thou shalt not seek their possessions or their wealth all thy days possessions or their wealth all thy days forever forever moabite and an ammonite shall not come moabite and an ammonite shall not come into the congregation of israel until into the congregation of israel until the tenth generation have nothing to do the tenth generation have nothing to do with them they are evil people they are with them they are evil people they are the epitome of sin but elimelech said to his wife naomi there's a famine in the land there's a famine in the land i suggest we go down to moab we won't i suggest we go down to moab we won't stay stay we'll just go there until the famine is we'll just go there until the famine is over in israel verse one now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled that there days when the judges ruled that there was a famine in the land and a certain was a famine in the land and a certain man of bethlehem judah went to sojourn man of bethlehem judah went to sojourn in the country of moab there's the first in the country of moab there's the first word he went to sergeant when you word he went to sergeant when you suddenly somewhere it implies suddenly somewhere it implies that you're not going to stay i am that you're not going to stay i am suddenly in the united states of america suddenly in the united states of america for a few days i'll go back home by for a few days i'll go back home by god's grace on sunday and the name of the man was eliminated in the name of his wife naomi the name in the name of his wife naomi the name of his two sons marlon and chilean of his two sons marlon and chilean ephrath of bethlehem judah and they came ephrath of bethlehem judah and they came into the country of moab and into the country of moab and continued there continued there it's not a bad place after all this and it's not a bad place after all this and the people are half decent the people are half decent the boys have met two very nice girls um the boys have met two very nice girls um i said i i suggest we we hang around a i said i i suggest we we hang around a bit we'll stay here bit we'll stay here so first he went to sodium which implies so first he went to sodium which implies impermanence now he continues there impermanence now he continues there verse four and they took them wives of verse four and they took them wives of the women of moab the name of the one the women of moab the name of the one was orpah the name of the other ruth and was orpah the name of the other ruth and they dwelled there about 10 years they dwelled there about 10 years if when they went down you'd said to if when they went down you'd said to eliminate call to naomi because you're eliminate call to naomi because you're going to dwell there about 10 years they going to dwell there about 10 years they said don't be silly it's a filthy place said don't be silly it's a filthy place we wouldn't we wouldn't catch me being there for 10 years we're catch me being there for 10 years we're just going down there until the famine's just going down there until the famine's over over and they shot you in there and continued and they shot you in there and continued there and dwelled there there and dwelled there and marlon and tillian died and her husband died also did you see what's happened did you see what's happened they left the house of bread and praise they left the house of bread and praise bethlehem judah and went down to sin bethlehem judah and went down to sin downhill it's ever so easy to go down downhill it's ever so easy to go down that way that way and they went to sudjan but continued and they went to sudjan but continued and dwelled there and died there and dwelled there and died there four steps you see four steps you see if we want to flirt with sin that's the if we want to flirt with sin that's the way to do it why do you think brethren and sisters that israel that israel failed so abysmally failed so abysmally when they went into the land and they when they went into the land and they did did i i know what you're thinking oh for the i i know what you're thinking oh for the years under joshua they were godly years under joshua they were godly people people and for the the elders which outlived and for the the elders which outlived joshua they were good people fighting joshua they were good people fighting the lord's battles i know the lord's battles i know that but on a time scale relatively that but on a time scale relatively speaking it wasn't five minutes before speaking it wasn't five minutes before they could teach the bailature thing or they could teach the bailature thing or two about his worship two about his worship god is on record as saying you're worse god is on record as saying you're worse than the people you dispossessed they hadn't been in there by a few years by a few years and they were showing the molechites how and they were showing the molechites how to sacrifice their children why is this why should the people with the most why should the people with the most noble calling in the world noble calling in the world go to such depths of depravity as to go to such depths of depravity as to scorch their children scorch their children in the fire to molech i ask you to come with me to deuteronomy chapter six chapter six please [Applause] we need we need deuteronomy chapter 6 deuteronomy chapter 6 and and thou shalt teach them diligently that's the words and the commands that's the words and the commands thou shalt teach them diligently unto thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children thy children and shall talk of them when thou sittest and shall talk of them when thou sittest in thine house in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou liest down and when thou risest up and when thou risest up they talk about these things when you're in your house when you're in your house when you walk by the way when you walk by the way when you lie down when you lie down and when you rise up now then most people in this house this evening are well acquainted with the seminars are well acquainted with the seminars during this course of the seminar during this course of the seminar teaching the students there are asked to listen to bible echoes we say to them don't we i mean they're your notes that i've been using so you your notes that i've been using so you better know them better than i do better know them better than i do we say to them don't we the the the we say to them don't we the the the people who come to the seminar people who come to the seminar learn to listen to bible language and learn to listen to bible language and listen for bible echoes you read listen for bible echoes you read something here and you say ah that something here and you say ah that reminds me of something over here reminds me of something over here don't we don't we well we do and they're your well we do and they're your printed papers printed papers so presumably you're saying singing the so presumably you're saying singing the same tune same tune what listen for the bible echo that's what listen for the bible echo that's that what does it remind you about come that what does it remind you about come on i'm asking you you don't i know on i'm asking you you don't i know you're not going to tell me you never do you're not going to tell me you never do um um we've read this we've read this in in we've read this we've read this in in deuteronomy chapter 6 what is the echo deuteronomy chapter 6 what is the echo in the new testament and the answer is in the new testament and the answer is brother and sisters it's in mark chapter brother and sisters it's in mark chapter 13. 13. keep your hand in deuteronomy we might keep your hand in deuteronomy we might possibly go back there if if we have possibly go back there if if we have time mark chapter 13 this cannot be a coincidence remember what the father said through moses through moses you must talk you must talk talk that's the word you must not forget talk that's the word you must not forget the word talk talk when you're in the the word talk talk when you're in the house when you walk by the way when you house when you walk by the way when you lie down and when you rise up now listen lie down and when you rise up now listen to the lord jesus christ verse 35 of to the lord jesus christ verse 35 of mark 13. mark 13. watch therefore for ye know not when the watch therefore for ye know not when the master of the house cometh at even or at master of the house cometh at even or at midnight or a crowing or in the midnight or a crowing or in the morning lest coming suddenly he finds morning lest coming suddenly he finds you sleeping and what i say unto you i you sleeping and what i say unto you i say unto all watch say unto all watch hey it's exactly the same times hey it's exactly the same times the same times in deuteronomy as it is the same times in deuteronomy as it is in mark that cannot be a coincidence god in mark that cannot be a coincidence god said said talk about these things when you're in talk about these things when you're in the house the house jesus says at even jesus says at even most people are in their house at even most people are in their house at even time time okay i never did look i know what you're okay i never did look i know what you're going to say to me afterwards i work going to say to me afterwards i work nights brother peter i'm never at home nights brother peter i'm never at home but not i know i've been down that road but not i know i've been down that road um i'm talking about um i'm talking about ordinary people you know people who work ordinary people you know people who work ordinary ordinary hours um ordinary ordinary hours um as they did in the time of the lord as they did in the time of the lord jesus christ agricultural folk so that jesus christ agricultural folk so that at seven o'clock in the evening they're at seven o'clock in the evening they're sitting down and god said talk about sitting down and god said talk about these things when you're in your house these things when you're in your house and jesus said well at even and jesus said well at even same time same time the father said talk about these things the father said talk about these things when you walk by the way the lord jesus when you walk by the way the lord jesus christ says in the morning christ says in the morning and in the morning in the day of the and in the morning in the day of the lord jesus christ people were walking to lord jesus christ people were walking to work the father said talk about these things when you lie talk about these things when you lie down down jesus says at midnight most normal people are lying down at midnight and the father said when you rise up when you rise up and the lord jesus christ says and the lord jesus christ says a crowing a crowing now i ask you is that a coincidence now i ask you is that a coincidence and the answer is no it is not i don't and the answer is no it is not i don't believe in him believe in him the the father father economy and jesus reiterates it economy and jesus reiterates it what are they asking us to do what are they asking us to do talk talk talk talk talk do you know why brethren and sisters ask yourself this ask yourself this which do you know best by wrote which do you know best by wrote or by heart or by heart the bible the bible or the hymn book if you were given a paper now and a pencil pencil and i said to you and i said to you write down as many verses anyone it write down as many verses anyone it doesn't matter you don't have to tell me doesn't matter you don't have to tell me the number of the hymn just write down the number of the hymn just write down the hymn verses you can the hymn verses you can i would be surprised if on the other i would be surprised if on the other side of the paper when i said to you side of the paper when i said to you write down as much scripture as you can write down as much scripture as you can there was as much scripture as there is there was as much scripture as there is hymn book hymn book and you know why that is and you know why that is of course you do of course you do because we verbalize the hymns because we verbalize the hymns the only way to get things into there the only way to get things into there is through here is through here which is why the father said talk talk which is why the father said talk talk talk talk but do we but do we do we talk about the things of god or or do we talk about the things of god or or are we prepared to turn a switch and be are we prepared to turn a switch and be entertained entertained kick the radio out of your motor cars kick the radio out of your motor cars brethren and sisters you don't need that get shot of the box that produces pictures and calls itself entertainment pictures and calls itself entertainment you don't need that you don't need that talk talk a bit violent i know i know and nobody a bit violent i know i know and nobody will do it i'm well aware of that i've will do it i'm well aware of that i've been down this road before and people been down this road before and people say nice talk brother peter and do say nice talk brother peter and do nothing about it nothing about it about being there about being there you you don't you don't need people in you you don't you don't need people in your motor car to tell you what you your motor car to tell you what you ought to think i was a quite a way away not all that far away from here a little while ago in far away from here a little while ago in somebody else's motor car and because somebody else's motor car and because they were the driver it was their car i they were the driver it was their car i was compelled to listen to the radio and was compelled to listen to the radio and we had two-minute news and three minutes we had two-minute news and three minutes music music and then two minutes news or and then two minutes news or announcements and another three minutes announcements and another three minutes music and i said to the driver why did music and i said to the driver why did the music i don't mind mozart's on the music i don't mind mozart's on beethoven beethoven i don't like any music that's less than i don't like any music that's less than about 300 years old but that's just the about 300 years old but that's just the way i am i quite like this music why do way i am i quite like this music why do we keep being interrupted and he said oh we keep being interrupted and he said oh well the important thing is the words well the important thing is the words the verbals the news and but uh the verbals the news and but uh scientists in this country not united scientists in this country not united states don't worry scientists in this states don't worry scientists in this country have proved beyond reasonable country have proved beyond reasonable doubt that we can only concentrate for doubt that we can only concentrate for about two or three minutes at a time so about two or three minutes at a time so they give us two or three minutes words they give us two or three minutes words and then they give us two or three and then they give us two or three minutes music minutes music god help us and i really mean that if we god help us and i really mean that if we fall into that category we are not born fall into that category we are not born able to concentrate it's something which able to concentrate it's something which we have to work at we have to work at i i take my turn sitting where you are i i take my turn sitting where you are and i know it's difficult sometimes to and i know it's difficult sometimes to concentrate on what the speaker's saying concentrate on what the speaker's saying you wonder where he's going and if if you wonder where he's going and if if there are hymns there are hymns behind you tempted to add them up and behind you tempted to add them up and multiply them all i've been down that road and i know i know that i know that i know i know that i know that but we don't find concentration easy we but we don't find concentration easy we have to work at it brethren and sisters have to work at it brethren and sisters and my submission to you tonight is that and my submission to you tonight is that we give in too easily we give in too easily really i'm deadly serious we give in too really i'm deadly serious we give in too easily easily god says talk talk talk talk god says talk talk talk talk you wake up in the night you wake up in the night hey hey talk about the things of god even if talk about the things of god even if you're talking to yourself talk about you're talking to yourself talk about the things of god you're in the motor the things of god you're in the motor car by yourself talk about the things of car by yourself talk about the things of god read the bible before you get in the god read the bible before you get in the car and think about that car and think about that the mind has to be changed the mind has to be changed vicious violent hard to do didn't think vicious violent hard to do didn't think he was quite that strange brother he was quite that strange brother thought he was a bit more gentle than thought he was a bit more gentle than that well he's not and that's what we that well he's not and that's what we ought to be doing brethren and sisters ought to be doing brethren and sisters our lives are at stake our lives are at stake talk talk talk talk talk talk the father said this to joshua the father said this to joshua i'll tell you what i'll leave a word out i'll tell you what i'll leave a word out i'll leave a word out you see whether i'll leave a word out you see whether you can put it in will you listen to you can put it in will you listen to this i won't tell you where it is this book of the lord shall not depart out of thy out of thy but thou shalt thank you but thou shalt thank you thou shalt meditate this that sounded thou shalt meditate this that sounded like an echo thou shalt meditate there like an echo thou shalt meditate there in day and night in day and night this book of the lord shall not depart this book of the lord shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate in it day and night in it day and night joshua joshua talk about it will you talk about it will you never mind the weather or where you've never mind the weather or where you've been for your holidays been for your holidays talk about the things the things that talk about the things the things that are important are important and and meditate you've still got some room on the paper that you wrote down various things for that you wrote down various things for me me now here's something else for you to now here's something else for you to write down on this imaginary paper write down on this imaginary paper how would you describe the word meditate how would you describe the word meditate i mean if you had if you had a sentence i mean if you had if you had a sentence to write down to write down a description of the word meditate what a description of the word meditate what would you put uh go into a nice dark room quite go into a nice dark room quite not necessarily dark but yeah sometimes not necessarily dark but yeah sometimes dark quiet room dark quiet room um or maybe um um or maybe um get get your books out get get your books out and you've got your concordance in your and you've got your concordance in your bible and some note peace and you think bible and some note peace and you think seriously about the things of god is seriously about the things of god is that how you describe that how you describe meditation or serious bible study meditation or serious bible study those of you clever people with uh those of you clever people with uh computers you put the disk in and all computers you put the disk in and all the answers come flashing back at you the answers come flashing back at you i'm much too old-fashioned for that now i'm much too old-fashioned for that now i just use the bible and no paper and i i just use the bible and no paper and i have two concordances i'm happy with have two concordances i'm happy with that old-fashioned i know that but that that old-fashioned i know that but that that's me that's me um um so how how are you going to meditate so how how are you going to meditate what are you doing to meditate what are you doing to meditate the chinese people have a strange way of the chinese people have a strange way of describing it that they say you must get describing it that they say you must get yourself into i've tried to ice them you yourself into i've tried to ice them you must get yourself into a very must get yourself into a very comfortable position so that you can try comfortable position so that you can try to get as much out of your mind as you to get as much out of your mind as you can to do with the world and get things can to do with the world and get things into your mind that you really want into your mind that you really want there that's meditation there that's meditation not bad not bad good try good try but that isn't what it means but that isn't what it means to me to me meditate means to talk so when we meditate on the things of god we're talking about it we're talking about it we we have the hymn don't we 22 is it we we have the hymn don't we 22 is it the old pianist i think he's 22 sister the old pianist i think he's 22 sister so i'm not absolutely sure i'm not very so i'm not absolutely sure i'm not very good with numbers in the book oh how good with numbers in the book oh how love i thy lord it is my study all the love i thy lord it is my study all the day it's straight from psalm 119 verse day it's straight from psalm 119 verse 97 97 but we had to stick the word studying but we had to stick the word studying because the word in the psalm is because the word in the psalm is meditating there are too many syllables meditating there are too many syllables for us to sing we can't sing oh how for us to sing we can't sing oh how lovely thy lord it is my meditation all lovely thy lord it is my meditation all the day we can say but we can't sing it the day we can say but we can't sing it so we take out the word meditate and put so we take out the word meditate and put the word study in and it's wrong the word study in and it's wrong oh how love i though it is my oh how love i though it is my daddy it is my meditation all the day daddy it is my meditation all the day and we all sing it flat out lovely tune and we all sing it flat out lovely tune nice tune him 22. we can only sing it if nice tune him 22. we can only sing it if we thinking of the lord jesus christ we thinking of the lord jesus christ brother and sisters because it was his brother and sisters because it was his meditation all the day and it isn't ours meditation all the day and it isn't ours oh how love i thy lord i talk about it oh how love i thy lord i talk about it all day long all day long and he did and he did every word that's recorded that the lord every word that's recorded that the lord jesus christ spoke is to do with jesus christ spoke is to do with preaching oh how love i thy lord talk talk talk talk talk talk colossians chapter four please this is such a very very serious matter brethren and sisters just two verses brethren and sisters just two verses from here little comment about them it's from here little comment about them it's very hot and sticky tonight i know that very hot and sticky tonight i know that and and and then and and and then then we're free to go out into the cool colossians chapter 4 verses 5 and 6 walk in wisdom toward verses 5 and 6 walk in wisdom toward them that are without them that are without redeeming the time redeeming the time let your speech be always with grace let your speech be always with grace seasoned with salt that you may know how seasoned with salt that you may know how you ought to answer you ought to answer every man ah this is vitally serious this is vitally serious and if the proposition that i'm going to and if the proposition that i'm going to put to you in just a couple of minutes put to you in just a couple of minutes is to be taken seriously and it's to be is to be taken seriously and it's to be believed and i may very well be wrong believed and i may very well be wrong the implications are staggering walk in wisdom toward them that are without without redeeming the time redeeming the time if you think brethren and sisters if you think brethren and sisters that by good example that by good example we can win souls for the lord jesus we can win souls for the lord jesus christ christ forget it at funerals which we attend and sometimes take sometimes take you often hear that the you often hear that the the facts stated that he or she the facts stated that he or she was living proof was living proof of a christian life of a christian life good time keepers at work honest good time keepers at work honest diligent diligent people saw this person in this box and people saw this person in this box and knew that jesus dwelt inside them knew that jesus dwelt inside them forget it forget it i mean it should be i mean it should be when we're in a box at the front of the when we're in a box at the front of the meeting room or at the cemetery where meeting room or at the cemetery where wherever it is you hold yours wherever it is you hold yours that ought to be said of us people ought that ought to be said of us people ought to know that we're different people to know that we're different people ought to know that that jesus christ ought to know that that jesus christ lives inside us lives inside us people ought to know that it's our people ought to know that it's our ambition to be like him never brought a knowledge of salvation you can be the kindest sweetest most you can be the kindest sweetest most diligent person in the world and by example alone by example alone people will never learn of salvation people will never learn of salvation you know what's missing you know what's missing the words the words you have to open your mouth and talk you have to open your mouth and talk which is what god said talk talk talk which is what god said talk talk talk and the lord jesus christ said watch and the lord jesus christ said watch watch watch watch redeeming the time says the apostle walk in wisdom toward them that are without in wisdom toward them that are without redeeming the time it's an expression redeeming the time it's an expression straight from the marketplace straight from the marketplace how can how it means to buy how can how it means to buy how can you buy time hey you can't go to how can you buy time hey you can't go to a shop a shop buy yesterday afternoon can you would buy yesterday afternoon can you would god you could but you can't god you could but you can't you can't buy time reading redeeming the you can't buy time reading redeeming the time he doesn't mean that what he means is use it wisely it's impossible to put the clock back it's impossible to put the clock back once an opportunity is lost it's gone once an opportunity is lost it's gone forever time is is irretrievable irretrievable so use it with care and then verse 6 so use it with care and then verse 6 let's well here we are again let your let's well here we are again let your speech speech be always seasoned be always seasoned with grace with grace it's a cracking bible word isn't it it's a cracking bible word isn't it grace i love it oh it's a real bible grace i love it oh it's a real bible word the apostle loved it so much he word the apostle loved it so much he began all his letters with it and began all his letters with it and concluded them the grace of the lord concluded them the grace of the lord jesus christ be with you all we don't jesus christ be with you all we don't use it today when did you last use the use it today when did you last use the word grace word grace might write me a letter saying your might write me a letter saying your brother or your sister by grace yes brother or your sister by grace yes that's very nice thank you i like that that's very nice thank you i like that you know why we don't hear the word you know why we don't hear the word grace mentioned because we don't live in grace mentioned because we don't live in a gracious society that's why the first time we read of the word grace in the word of god important principles in the word of god important principles are expressed and it's in the time of are expressed and it's in the time of noah that's the first time we hear of noah that's the first time we hear of grace but noah found grace in the eyes grace but noah found grace in the eyes of god and these are the two principles of god and these are the two principles set in stone brother and sisters which set in stone brother and sisters which cannot be moved the first is this grace cannot be moved the first is this grace is always shown to the people of god on is always shown to the people of god on an undeserved basis an undeserved basis you'll never perform works and then you'll never perform works and then receive grace ever receive grace ever god said to noah here's my grace now go god said to noah here's my grace now go and build the ark and build the ark he didn't say that's a fine ark you've he didn't say that's a fine ark you've built i'll show you some grace built i'll show you some grace never never first grace it's given on trust you see first grace it's given on trust you see whatever it is whatever it is and and and then you're supposed to do something and then you're supposed to do something with it with it and the other principle is this and the other principle is this it's always given for the benefit of it's always given for the benefit of other people other people as it was with noah as it was with noah build the ark build the ark make plenty of living space so that make plenty of living space so that folks might come in and they didn't force of course we teach the children nicely of course we teach the children nicely about grace don't we grace god's about grace don't we grace god's richie's at christ's expense that's a richie's at christ's expense that's a nice little way for for the children to nice little way for for the children to learn it grace but the grace of god learn it grace but the grace of god brethren and sisters really is the brethren and sisters really is the distillation of all god's goodness distillation of all god's goodness all god's kindness his compassion his all god's kindness his compassion his forgiveness especially his forgiveness forgiveness especially his forgiveness in the word grace you would expect the word grace to be all over the psalms all over the psalms it's only there twice it's only there twice both times heavily messianic both times heavily messianic and the first time it goes like this and the first time it goes like this thou art fairer than the children of men thou art fairer than the children of men grace is poured into thy lips therefore grace is poured into thy lips therefore thy god loves you forever thy god loves you forever grace poured into the lips of jesus now grace poured into the lips of jesus now what was the outworking of that what was the outworking of that luke chapter 4 verse 22 tells us don't luke chapter 4 verse 22 tells us don't look at it the time's gone look at it the time's gone they wondered at the gracious words they wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth but which proceeded out of his mouth but they wouldn't they they wouldn't they manifested you cannot get out what manifested you cannot get out what hasn't gone in hasn't gone in and if and if if you spend your time watching stupid if you spend your time watching stupid soap operas on a television set you your soap operas on a television set you your vocabulary will become like that and if you spend your time reading this reading this your vocabulary will become like this your vocabulary will become like this you cannot get out what hasn't gone in you cannot get out what hasn't gone in grace is poured into thy lips grace is poured into thy lips and gracious they all wondered at the and gracious they all wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth words you see he talking again his mouth words you see he talking again gracious words proceeded out of his gracious words proceeded out of his mouth mouth so that's grace let your speech be so that's grace let your speech be always seasoned with grace we're back to always seasoned with grace we're back to colossians 4 6 now colossians 4 6 now seasoned with salt the lord jesus christ said ye are the salt of the earth salt of the earth what do you think he meant what do you think he meant well well simplistically simplistically expressed salt flavors expressed salt flavors and we should be able to flavor people's and we should be able to flavor people's lives ah i suppose not much care for for lives ah i suppose not much care for for that thought but that thought but it's been expressed it's been expressed it preserves it preserves ah that's a bit better ah that's a bit better salty's a preservative salt cleanses a bit painful when you apply it but we a bit painful when you apply it but we will we'll cleanse as as will we'll cleanse as as does act as a cleansing agent does act as a cleansing agent but i suggest to your brethren and but i suggest to your brethren and sisters that that is not what why the sisters that that is not what why the lord jesus christ said it lord jesus christ said it he said it for this reason you are the he said it for this reason you are the salt of the earth salt has the unique salt of the earth salt has the unique capacity capacity to attract water to attract water and to retain it and to retain it it's incredible blood blotting paper now then if the lord jesus christ is the water of life water of life and he's on record as saying that he is and he's on record as saying that he is what is he telling me you must what is he telling me you must attract must be attracted to me and attract must be attracted to me and retain me you're the you're the salt of retain me you're the you're the salt of the earth the earth you're full of the lord jesus christ you're full of the lord jesus christ what a wonderful thing what a wonderful thing to be full of to be full of jesus so that we speak like him and we jesus so that we speak like him and we think like him and we live like him and think like him and we live like him and we pray like him this is the bottom line this is the bottom line this is the bottom line let your speech let your speech the apostle said the apostle said be seasoned with grace and so always be be seasoned with grace and so always be seasoned with grace seasoned with grace and salt and my submission to you this and salt and my submission to you this evening is this that all our words evening is this that all our words come before god come before god every one of them your speech should always be gracious seasoned with salt but all your words seasoned with salt but all your words come before god not the ordered ones come before god not the ordered ones with with which we greet each other in with with which we greet each other in the morning or as we pass each other on the morning or as we pass each other on the path good morning brother uh ted the path good morning brother uh ted good morning brother peter good to see good morning brother peter good to see you you those words are measured not these words those words are measured not these words that i'm speaking now they've been not that i'm speaking now they've been not rehearsed but that they've been prepared rehearsed but that they've been prepared may not sound as though they have been may not sound as though they have been but that that they've been they're being but that that they've been they're being prepared i'm not talking about these prepared i'm not talking about these words words i'm talking about the words that we i'm talking about the words that we might use when we're driving a nail into might use when we're driving a nail into the wall of mist and hit our thumb that the wall of mist and hit our thumb that that that's the real you that that's the real you this isn't the real me this isn't the real me this is me with the guards up giving you this is me with the guards up giving you the impression that i'm a half decent the impression that i'm a half decent fellow you come to my house and fellow you come to my house and hear what might be said when when a nail hear what might be said when when a nail head is missed and a thumbnail is hit those are the words that come before god just as surely just as surely as these do when the great apothecary in the days of aaron aaron made the incense for the morning and made the incense for the morning and evening sacrifice evening sacrifice this is what it contained and it was this is what it contained and it was placed placed by the altar of incense in the holy by the altar of incense in the holy place which represents our prayers place which represents our prayers this is what was is made of state annika this is what was is made of state annika galvanum frankincense galvanum frankincense of equal parts there shall be of equal of equal parts there shall be of equal types there shall be a measure types there shall be a measure 25 each and it was ground small 25 each and it was ground small and it was burned and it was burned on the altar of incense on the altar of incense and the gentle smoke ascended and the gentle smoke ascended and that's our prayers morning and and that's our prayers morning and evening but we've missed something out evening but we've missed something out i'm addicted to the king james version i'm addicted to the king james version as you may well know but occasionally we as you may well know but occasionally we have to look at the other versions or have to look at the other versions or the margin the margin and we find that something was missing and we find that something was missing if we leave it at that if we leave it at that stacked annika galvanum frankincense and stacked annika galvanum frankincense and salt and then it was acceptable to come before god to come before god in prayer in prayer and the apostle says let your speech and the apostle says let your speech always be seasoned with salt always be seasoned with salt because what you say because what you say whether you like it or not whether you like it or not is heard in heaven and recorded is heard in heaven and recorded idle words idle words frightening frightening frightening brother mike terrifies me to frightening brother mike terrifies me to think of it it really does think of it it really does idle words idle words prayer morning and evening brethren and prayer morning and evening brethren and sisters if we have any sense at all if sisters if we have any sense at all if we are capable we are capable and and and age and infirmity often and and and age and infirmity often makes us incapable we should be on our makes us incapable we should be on our knees in the morning and in the evening knees in the morning and in the evening and i'm not talking about scratchy and i'm not talking about scratchy 30-second prayers let your speech be always seasoned with salt be always seasoned with salt and as we seek brethren and sisters to and as we seek brethren and sisters to introduce introduce grace into our lives as individuals grace into our lives as individuals because that's what we've tried to because that's what we've tried to convey this evening convey this evening the world the world is pressing the world is attractive the is pressing the world is attractive the world is consistent it presses you every world is consistent it presses you every day of your life to conform day of your life to conform and we hear the still small voice saying and we hear the still small voice saying don't forget that your speech speech don't forget that your speech speech should be seasoned with grace will you should be seasoned with grace will you please don't forget that your speech please don't forget that your speech should be seasoned with salt because it should be seasoned with salt because it comes up to heaven comes up to heaven and as we seek to introduce grace into and as we seek to introduce grace into our lives as individuals we shall be our lives as individuals we shall be better people better people for our families for our families and for our ecclesiastes and for our ecclesiastes which by god's grace and your patience which by god's grace and your patience we shall learn about in two coming we shall learn about in two coming evenings amen