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my dear brother and sisters i bring to you greetings from the you greetings from the brethren sisters in england brethren sisters in england and their love to all of you here and their love to all of you here and at times such as this and at times such as this we are all reminded of the worldwide we are all reminded of the worldwide nature of our faith nature of our faith that we have one faith that we have one faith and we are constituted in one body in and we are constituted in one body in christ jesus christ jesus from many in varied circumstances and from many in varied circumstances and backgrounds backgrounds but able to gather together here through but able to gather together here through the one faith and the one hope and this the one faith and the one hope and this surely my dear brethren sisters surely my dear brethren sisters is indeed a great privilege for which we is indeed a great privilege for which we are all deeply thankful this week this series of addresses on discipleship is concerned to explore is concerned to explore the great issues the great issues and the great principles associated with and the great principles associated with our walk in christ issues that transcend our walk in christ issues that transcend the the particular historical circumstances particular historical circumstances and situations which first called them and situations which first called them forth principles which are timeless and forth principles which are timeless and eternal perpetual and abiding eternal perpetual and abiding ever-present realities ever-present realities continual truths continual truths not confined to particular situations not confined to particular situations ages or circumstances but always ages or circumstances but always relevant vital important relevant vital important interesting interesting and most importantly challenging and our aim this week my dear brethren sisters is to be both expositional and sisters is to be both expositional and exhortational in this series of studies exhortational in this series of studies that each of us that each of us might benefit from this consideration of might benefit from this consideration of discipleship discipleship and those issues in which we are all and those issues in which we are all involved involved what are their foundations and bases in what are their foundations and bases in scripture scripture no study of this nature is complete no study of this nature is complete unless it seeks to consider again the unless it seeks to consider again the fundamental and basic scripture teaching fundamental and basic scripture teaching associated with the true service of our associated with the true service of our god and his son the lord jesus christ god and his son the lord jesus christ without the foundations we are lost without the foundations we are lost left to drift aimlessly left to drift aimlessly and even subjectively and even subjectively through life through life with no chart with no chart no yardstick no yardstick by which we might evaluate it its by which we might evaluate it its experiences its opportunities and its experiences its opportunities and its challenges challenges but with the foundations we have but with the foundations we have objective and positive truth to help us objective and positive truth to help us and guide us to assist us and lead us and guide us to assist us and lead us this then is the primary purpose of our this then is the primary purpose of our exegesis exegesis and our exposition and our exposition and there are two aides my dear brother and there are two aides my dear brother and sisters which are of primary help to and sisters which are of primary help to us us first of all the word first of all the word and secondly and secondly the word made flesh the word made flesh firstly the word firstly the word this word this word is quick is quick and powerful and powerful it is living and active it is living and active it is perpetual and abiding it is perpetual and abiding it is efficacious and all sufficient it is efficacious and all sufficient with it with it we have hope and confidence we have hope and confidence with it we can have faith and trust in with it we can have faith and trust in god god but without it but without it we are doomed we are doomed and secondly and secondly the word made flesh the word made flesh the word made flesh who is ever-present the word made flesh who is ever-present and all-powerful and all-powerful an ever-present mediator at the father's an ever-present mediator at the father's right hand right hand faithful and sympathetic faithful and sympathetic to all our requests to all our requests we have not an high priest we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we but was in all points tempted like as we are are yet yet without sin without sin and all powerful too and all powerful too all power is given unto me all power is given unto me in heaven in heaven and in earth and in earth go ye therefore go ye therefore and teach all nations and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the father baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit and of the son and of the holy spirit teaching them to observe all things teaching them to observe all things whatsoever i have commanded you this word my dear brethren sisters and the word made flesh and the word made flesh are our basis are our basis this gracious revelation of the lord god this gracious revelation of the lord god in his word in his word and in his son and in his son is the foundation is the foundation for all our consideration for all our consideration revelation revelation directs our reason directs our reason and reason directs and interprets and reason directs and interprets our experiences our experiences in the life of discipleship in the life of discipleship and not the other way around and not the other way around experience experience does not direct does not direct our reasoning our reasoning and as we know only too well and as we know only too well this is one of the common evangelical this is one of the common evangelical pitfalls in the world around us pitfalls in the world around us for us brethren sisters revelation for us brethren sisters revelation directs and is the basis for our reason directs and is the basis for our reason and intelligent faith and intelligent faith and this intelligent faith directs and and this intelligent faith directs and interprets our experiences during the light of these bases in the light of these great teachings we can light of these great teachings we can derive much help and benefit by way of derive much help and benefit by way of exhortation exhortation we shall not be concerned to consider we shall not be concerned to consider these principles in an abstract way these principles in an abstract way still less as an end in themselves still less as an end in themselves merely that we might know more or merely that we might know more or understand more understand more but that we might be helped and but that we might be helped and encouraged to lives of greater and encouraged to lives of greater and stronger commitment stronger commitment in our individual discipleship in our individual discipleship this surely is one of the primary this surely is one of the primary purposes of bible school purposes of bible school but a consideration of this word first but a consideration of this word first of all should have a positive of all should have a positive practical practical beneficial effect beneficial effect upon each one of us that we might be upon each one of us that we might be edified instructed motivated and edified instructed motivated and encouraged encouraged so that henceforth so that henceforth we might live lives that are more we might live lives that are more pleasing pleasing to our heavenly father to our heavenly father lives characterized by greater lives characterized by greater selflessness loyalty steadfastness selflessness loyalty steadfastness devotion enthusiasm devotion enthusiasm and zeal i should make it clear brother and sisters sisters that we do not intend to cover that we do not intend to cover all the important principles of all the important principles of discipleship discipleship this study this study does not claim to be exhaustive does not claim to be exhaustive exhausting it may well be exhausting it may well be and proved to be and proved to be but exhaustive but exhaustive it is not it is not in other words a selection has been made in other words a selection has been made from a large number of possible topics from a large number of possible topics and i have selected subjects which i and i have selected subjects which i hope you will find instructive and hope you will find instructive and helpful helpful interesting interesting and challenging you may feel for example that we do not spend sufficient time considering the spend sufficient time considering the great blessings associated with the life great blessings associated with the life in christ in christ the hope that is ours the hope that is ours through christ jesus through christ jesus the confidence of present help in time the confidence of present help in time of need of need the blessings of friendship the blessings of friendship companionship and fellowship in the companionship and fellowship in the truth truth the great contribution the great contribution that the ecclesia can and does make that the ecclesia can and does make to the life of every disciple to the life of every disciple and also vice versa the great and also vice versa the great contribution that the life of every contribution that the life of every disciple can and does make to the disciple can and does make to the corporate life of the ecclesia corporate life of the ecclesia the blessing of sin forgiven the blessing of sin forgiven and of hope renewed and of hope renewed through the sacrifice of jesus christ through the sacrifice of jesus christ the power of prayer the power of prayer individually and communally individually and communally for all these things my dear brother and for all these things my dear brother and sisters sisters we are indeed deeply thankful we are indeed deeply thankful and if perhaps we do not seem to give and if perhaps we do not seem to give sufficient time to these sufficient time to these it is not because we think that they are it is not because we think that they are less important less important or even unimportant or even unimportant very much the reverse very much the reverse they are all as we know they are all as we know supremely important supremely important but a selection has been made but a selection has been made and we hope that this selection will be and we hope that this selection will be helpful but as we consider the great teachings of scripture on the the great teachings of scripture on the responsibilities and the challenges of responsibilities and the challenges of discipleship discipleship we each of us might be encouraged we each of us might be encouraged towards a greater utilization of our towards a greater utilization of our opportunities a firmer commitment to our opportunities a firmer commitment to our stewardship stewardship a more purposeful approach to our a more purposeful approach to our preaching preaching a more thorough going attitude to our a more thorough going attitude to our working in the ecclesia working in the ecclesia and a greater appreciation and a greater appreciation of the true and lasting issues of of the true and lasting issues of discipleship discipleship that discipleship that discipleship which seeks always which seeks always to follow the master to follow the master even unto the end well that brother and sisters was the introduction from fish's net from fig tree shade from fig tree shade god gathers whom he will god gathers whom he will touched by his grace touched by his grace such men are made his purpose to fulfill in today's class we are to consider we are to consider the call of the disciples the call of the disciples the conditions of the call the conditions of the call and the carrying out of the call first of all then can we go to the fifth chapter of the gospel of luke it came to pass that as the people pressed upon jesus pressed upon jesus to hear the word of god to hear the word of god he stood by the lake of ghaneseret he stood by the lake of ghaneseret and saw two ships standing by the lake and saw two ships standing by the lake but the fishermen were gone out of them but the fishermen were gone out of them and were washing their nets and were washing their nets and he entered into one of the ships and he entered into one of the ships which was simon's which was simon's and prayed him that he would thrust out and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land a little from the land and he sat down and taught the people and he sat down and taught the people out of the ship out of the ship and when he had left speaking he said and when he had left speaking he said unto simon unto simon launch out into the deep and let down launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a drought your nets for a drought and simon answering said unto him and simon answering said unto him master we have toiled all the night and master we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing have taken nothing nevertheless at thy word i will let down nevertheless at thy word i will let down the net the net when they had this done they enclosed a when they had this done they enclosed a great multitude of fishes great multitude of fishes and their net break and their net break and they beckoned unto their partners and they beckoned unto their partners which were in the other ship which were in the other ship they should come and help them they should come and help them and they came and filled both the ships and they came and filled both the ships so that they began to sink so that they began to sink when simon peter saw it he fell down at when simon peter saw it he fell down at jesus knees saying depart from me for i jesus knees saying depart from me for i am a sinful man o lord am a sinful man o lord for he was astonished and all that are for he was astonished and all that are with him with him at the drought of the fishes which they at the drought of the fishes which they had taken had taken and so was also james and john the sons and so was also james and john the sons of zebedee which were partners with of zebedee which were partners with simon simon jesus said unto simon fear not jesus said unto simon fear not from henceforth from henceforth thou shalt catch thou shalt catch men men or as the parallel account in matthew 4 or as the parallel account in matthew 4 verse 19 verse 19 follow me follow me and i will make you fishers and i will make you fishers of men of men peter peter andrew james andrew james and john it's very interesting my dear brother and sisters and sisters to notice to notice that these men who were called that these men who were called personally by the lord jesus were not personally by the lord jesus were not renowned for their scholarship renowned for their scholarship or their influence or their influence or their wealth or their wealth or their social background or their social background but they were lowly men but they were lowly men they were fishermen they were fishermen men whose working lives would be men whose working lives would be characterized by preparation characterized by preparation patience perseverance patience perseverance skill skill and courage in this picture that is presented to us in the early verses of the fifth chapter in the early verses of the fifth chapter of luke of luke i think we have a microcosm i think we have a microcosm of the purpose of god of the purpose of god let us consider let us consider these men who were called these men who were called called from their work upon the seas of called from their work upon the seas of catching fish catching fish to work upon the land to work upon the land work for the purpose of god work for the purpose of god to catch men to catch men for the gospel of his kingdom the choice of fishermen surely gives us an insight surely gives us an insight into the characteristics and the into the characteristics and the qualities that are required by the lord qualities that are required by the lord jesus jesus in all those in all those whom he graciously calls first of all there is patience a fisherman has to have patience has to have patience in the work that he seeks to do in the work that he seeks to do it is not accomplished in a moment it is not accomplished in a moment in an instant of time in an instant of time but it requires preparation but it requires preparation and patience and patience in order that that catch which is sought in order that that catch which is sought might finally be brought to land might finally be brought to land similarly for the true disciple similarly for the true disciple he too throughout his calling and he too throughout his calling and discipleship discipleship must be prepared to wait must be prepared to wait to wait patiently to wait patiently for god to act for god to act or to show the way and then there has to be perseverance in patience in patience prepared to go on prepared to go on waiting waiting prepared to go on watching prepared to go on watching just as the fisherman just as the fisherman in the task to which he sets his hand there has to be courage the fisherman is in a small boat is in a small boat often in a large ocean often in a large ocean a fisherman needs courage a fisherman needs courage in order to enter that ship in order to enter that ship to accomplish the task to accomplish the task so too for the true disciple even the aggregation of disciples even ourselves today even ourselves today know that we are in a very small know that we are in a very small minority minority in a very large and often hostile world in a very large and often hostile world and we like the fishermen and we like the fishermen need courage need courage in the task to which we set our hands the fishermen needed an eye for the right moment a judgment when the circumstances are exactly right exactly right for the catch to be made the maximum for the catch to be made the maximum catch catch that it might be brought safely back to that it might be brought safely back to land land so too for the true disciple it's strange isn't it my dear brother and and sisters we often use this quality sisters we often use this quality in the business world sensitive to other people's needs and conditions and conditions perhaps there's more harm being done perhaps there's more harm being done in our tr in the truth and in our in our tr in the truth and in our fellowship together fellowship together by failure by failure amongst ourselves to be sensitive amongst ourselves to be sensitive to one another's needs and conditions to one another's needs and conditions to have an eye for the right moment to have an eye for the right moment to have the word fitly spoken and fitting the bait to the fish to the fish i included this one because i thought i included this one because i thought you might find it interesting you might find it interesting and challenging what is true for fisherman is perhaps true also true also for disciples of the lord jesus for disciples of the lord jesus we too we too have to seek to fit the bait to the fish have to seek to fit the bait to the fish or as the apostle paul proclaimed to be or as the apostle paul proclaimed to be all things to all men all things to all men if by any means if by any means we might gain some and surely my dear brother and sisters these were some of the characteristics these were some of the characteristics and some of the qualities which the lord and some of the qualities which the lord jesus jesus saw saw in these men in these men who were to form as it were that closer who were to form as it were that closer nucleus nucleus of his larger group of his larger group of twelve disciples of twelve disciples these lowly fishermen these lowly fishermen these men who were to be used by the these men who were to be used by the lord jesus lord jesus to call men and women to call men and women to his kingdom disciples who would be willing to learn through through instruction and first-hand experience instruction and first-hand experience willing to learn from their master and willing to learn from their master and the gracious words which came from his the gracious words which came from his lips lips and from their experience and from their experience both with him both with him and with one another it's a very and with one another it's a very interesting matter this two-fold interesting matter this two-fold association association the lord jesus with the disciple the lord jesus with the disciple the disciple with the lord jesus the disciple with the lord jesus and secondly and secondly the disciple with the disciple the disciple with the disciple the disciples with one another the disciples with one another we notice we notice that there is no such thing as a that there is no such thing as a solitary saint solitary saint in the new testament scripture in the new testament scripture it is always used in the plural it is always used in the plural almost as if it was always envisaged almost as if it was always envisaged that there would always be a company of that there would always be a company of disciples that there would always be an disciples that there would always be an association association between the disciples between the disciples between themselves between themselves and then between themselves and then between themselves and their lord and their lord you cannot have the one you cannot have the one without the other without the other i know that some of us i know that some of us live our lives of discipleship perhaps live our lives of discipleship perhaps almost in isolation almost in isolation but events such as this at bible school but events such as this at bible school give us the confidence and the give us the confidence and the reassurance that nonetheless reassurance that nonetheless we are still part an integral part of we are still part an integral part of this larger body this larger body the body of christ the body of christ we cannot have the one we cannot have the one without the other without the other we cannot have the individual we cannot have the individual discipleship we cannot have the solitary discipleship we cannot have the solitary saint saint without that association first of all without that association first of all with the lord jesus christ people try from time to time to accomplish this from time to time to accomplish this but they will always fail secondly the conditions of the call the conditions of the call firstly firstly self-denial self-denial matthew chapter 16 matthew chapter 16 and verse 24. the crossroads in the ministry of the lord jesus lord jesus the place the place is caesarea philippi is caesarea philippi and from this time forward from this and from this time forward from this place onward he sets his face to go to place onward he sets his face to go to towards jerusalem towards jerusalem verse 21 from that time forth began jesus to show unto his disciples how that he must go unto his disciples how that he must go into jerusalem and suffer many things of into jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised again and be killed and be raised again the third day the third day and so that destination point of the and so that destination point of the lord jesus christ and the revelation of lord jesus christ and the revelation of that that culmination and consummation of his culmination and consummation of his ministry ministry is given in that very forceful way to is given in that very forceful way to his disciples his disciples there was of course that there was of course that misunderstanding misunderstanding jesus explains what is involved in all jesus explains what is involved in all those who would seek to follow him those who would seek to follow him verse 24 verse 24 then said jesus unto his disciples then said jesus unto his disciples if any man will come after me let him if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross deny himself and take up his cross and follow me and follow me for whosoever will save his life shall for whosoever will save his life shall lose it lose it and whosoever will lose his life for my and whosoever will lose his life for my sake sake shall find it and so the life to which the call is directed to which the call is directed is a life characterized by service of is a life characterized by service of the lord and the lord and of self of self so the aim is basically positive so the aim is basically positive self is denied and has to be denied in self is denied and has to be denied in order that the lord might be served order that the lord might be served first of all and each disciple has to take up his cross has to take up his cross and why is this and why is this well consider first the lord jesus well consider first the lord jesus himself himself we know that jerusalem was in view for we know that jerusalem was in view for him him and who was really prepared to follow and who was really prepared to follow him him on these terms how could the true disciple try and persuade his lord try and persuade his lord that it would be better to aim for a that it would be better to aim for a different destination different destination to be a faithful disciple to be a faithful disciple demanded an open and a full realization demanded an open and a full realization of what was going to happen of what was going to happen and a commitment in the individual life and a commitment in the individual life of an appreciation of those things the sons of zebedee came to jesus and the mother of zebedee's children they wanted to be on the side of jesus but their intention my dear brother and but their intention my dear brother and sisters sisters preceded their commitment preceded their commitment it had to be the other way around it had to be the other way around there had to be the commitment first there had to be the commitment first there had to be the understanding and there had to be the understanding and the comprehension of the suffering and the comprehension of the suffering and all its implications then there could be the looking forward to the prospect of what was yet to be to the prospect of what was yet to be the cross had to come before the crown the cross had to come before the crown both for the lord jesus both for the lord jesus and also for all his disciples and also for all his disciples or it was like the man who had to sit or it was like the man who had to sit down first down first and make preparations and make plans and make preparations and make plans to build a tower to build a tower if he was going to be successful if he if he was going to be successful if he was going to accomplish the work to was going to accomplish the work to which he set his hand which he set his hand otherwise it was going to be otherwise it was going to be embarrassing wasn't it embarrassing wasn't it if the tower was left off half finished and so to faithfully follow the lord required giving his cause required giving his cause first first priority priority chapter 10 chapter 10 and verse 37 matthew 10 verse 37 he that loveth father or mother more than me is not father or mother more than me is not worthy of me worthy of me and he that loveth son or daughter more and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me than me is not worthy of me and he that taketh not his cross and and he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me followeth after me is not worthy of me he that findeth his life shall lose it he that findeth his life shall lose it and he that loseth his life for my sake and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it shall find it and the great paradox is my dear brother and the great paradox is my dear brother and sisters of the life of discipleship and sisters of the life of discipleship that every attempt to consolidate our that every attempt to consolidate our life our existence in this present world life our existence in this present world by whatever means by whatever means or whatever root or whatever root is finally and ultimately is finally and ultimately self-defeating self-defeating it is only with the denial of self that it is only with the denial of self that the true self the true self can finally can finally and ultimately be realized through and ultimately be realized through christ jesus and so for each of us both at the start of our discipleship both at the start of our discipleship and continue continually throughout its and continue continually throughout its progress progress there will come the times there will come the times and we'll have to put aside our own will and we'll have to put aside our own will consciously consciously and deliberately and deliberately that we might take upon ourselves that we might take upon ourselves his will his will go to gethsemane go to gethsemane and to calvary with him and to calvary with him for he is the pattern for he is the pattern for every disciple the second condition of the call of the call is that is that of renunciation mark chapter 10 and verse and verse 28. mark 10 28 then peter began to say unto jesus lo we then peter began to say unto jesus lo we have left all and have followed thee have left all and have followed thee jesus answered and said verily i say jesus answered and said verily i say unto you unto you there is no man that hath left house or there is no man that hath left house or brethren or sisters or father or mother brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake or wife or children or lands for my sake and the gospels and the gospels but he shall receive 100 fold now in but he shall receive 100 fold now in this time houses and brethren and this time houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions lands with persecutions and in the world to come and in the world to come eternal life eternal life many that are fur shall be last many that are fur shall be last and the last and the last first disciples in those days had left first disciples in those days had left all in order that they might follow the all in order that they might follow the lord jesus were there to be lord jesus were there to be compensations indeed there were compensations indeed there were not only the blessing not only the blessing of a life of a life as a companion of the lord as a companion of the lord but the added blessings in their daily but the added blessings in their daily lives lives and the ultimate blessing and the ultimate blessing of being granted of being granted eternal life and so the friendship of the lord jesus our association with him our association with him is surely is surely greater greater than all other friendships than all other friendships his is the preeminence his is the preeminence our friendship and our love for him our friendship and our love for him and his friendship and his love and his friendship and his love towards us towards us it is of a reciprocal nature it is of a reciprocal nature my dear brethren sisters my dear brethren sisters and we are each called upon to enter and we are each called upon to enter into it into it matthew 19 matthew 19 and verse 27 reminds us of the future and verse 27 reminds us of the future aspect aspect of this renunciation matthew 19 verse 27 then answered peter and said unto him then answered peter and said unto him behold we have forsaken all and followed behold we have forsaken all and followed thee what shall we have therefore thee what shall we have therefore jesus said unto them verily i say unto jesus said unto them verily i say unto you that ye which have followed me in you that ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the son of man the regeneration when the son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory ye shall sit in the throne of his glory ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones also shall sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of israel judging the twelve tribes of israel and so to be a disciple then and so to be a disciple then was indeed to be in a very privileged was indeed to be in a very privileged position position it was to have this gracious hope this it was to have this gracious hope this prospect in view for the future prospect in view for the future but what of ourselves my dear brethren but what of ourselves my dear brethren sisters this is the crux isn't it this sisters this is the crux isn't it this is the central issue of our series this is the central issue of our series this week how much of this for example is week how much of this for example is relevant to ourselves as disciples today relevant to ourselves as disciples today the circumstances have changed the the circumstances have changed the environment environment is different the lord jesus has ascended is different the lord jesus has ascended to his father's right hand you recall his words if any man if any man will come after me will come after me let him deny himself let him deny himself and take up his cross and take up his cross and follow me and follow me for whosoever for whosoever shall save his life shall save his life shall lose it shall lose it and whosoever will lose his life for my and whosoever will lose his life for my sake sake shall find it shall find it any man any man whosoever whosoever words that come down across the ages words that come down across the ages words that contain an eternal principle words that contain an eternal principle a perpetual truth a perpetual truth not confined to the initial set of not confined to the initial set of circumstances and environment which circumstances and environment which first call them forth first call them forth but transcend and go beyond but transcend and go beyond and come down and challenge each one of and come down and challenge each one of us us here today another example luke 17 and verse 28 the calling of lot out of the destruction that was shortly out of the destruction that was shortly to overtake the cities of sodom to overtake the cities of sodom and gomorrah luke 17 verse 28 likewise also as it was in the days of likewise also as it was in the days of lot they did eat they drank they bought lot they did eat they drank they bought they sold they planted they built it they sold they planted they built it but the same day that lot went out of but the same day that lot went out of sodom it rained fire and brimstone from sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all heaven and destroyed them all even thus shall it be in the day when even thus shall it be in the day when the son of man is revealed the son of man is revealed it's a clarion call from history it's a it's a clarion call from history it's a warning of a future time when the lord warning of a future time when the lord jesus christ is going to be revealed jesus christ is going to be revealed and there was a warning particularly and there was a warning particularly associated with the wife of lot associated with the wife of lot in verse 31 i think there is an in verse 31 i think there is an indication as to the true state of her indication as to the true state of her heart she didn't just look back in the heart she didn't just look back in the sense of a fleeting glance sense of a fleeting glance it revealed that her heart was in sodom it revealed that her heart was in sodom the very things from which god was the very things from which god was seeking to save her and because her seeking to save her and because her heart was there heart was there she was destroyed as if she had been she was destroyed as if she had been there there and that pillar of salt and that pillar of salt became a monument became a monument to all those like ourselves to all those like ourselves who follow after who follow after who seek to escape who seek to escape from the judgments that are coming upon from the judgments that are coming upon the world the world who seek to commit ourselves into the who seek to commit ourselves into the cause of the lord god and his son cause of the lord god and his son the lord jesus christ the lord jesus christ that we might escape that we might escape the judgments that are to be poured out the judgments that are to be poured out on the earth and so remember on the earth and so remember lots why lots why verse 33 verse 33 whosoever whosoever shall seek to save his like life shall shall seek to save his like life shall lose it lose it and whosoever shall lose his life and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it shall preserve it a lesson from history a lesson from history but a lesson that contained a perpetual but a lesson that contained a perpetual principle principle whosoever whosoever whatever circumstances whatever circumstances or whatever age thirdly steadfastness the parable of the sower implies that there would be a varied implies that there would be a varied response to the word of the lord response to the word of the lord that there are indeed different kinds of that there are indeed different kinds of ground ground but the lord jesus proclaimed if ye but the lord jesus proclaimed if ye continue in my word continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed then are ye my disciples indeed and you shall know the truth and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free and the truth shall make you free we know that many disciples start well we know that many disciples start well but love but love and commitment and commitment often wane often wane no steadfastness of purpose no steadfastness of purpose but true discipleship but true discipleship always steadfastly puts christ first always steadfastly puts christ first for all of us my dear brother and for all of us my dear brother and sisters there has been that initial sisters there has been that initial promise promise but what of today is there still today that same loyalty that same enthusiasm that same that same enthusiasm that same commitment that same steadfastness of commitment that same steadfastness of purpose purpose as we had on the day of our baptism as we had on the day of our baptism or has the loyalty being compromised has or has the loyalty being compromised has the enthusiasm faded the enthusiasm faded has the commitment diminished what a tragedy it is when previously loyal and full-hearted when previously loyal and full-hearted disciples begin to falter disciples begin to falter and fail and fail but all of us but all of us without exception without exception are dependent upon are dependent upon his forgiving mercy his forgiving mercy through the lord jesus christ through the lord jesus christ and we are able to return with new and we are able to return with new resolution and with a fullness of heart resolution and with a fullness of heart but what if we begin to walk distantly but what if we begin to walk distantly holding on by the tips of our fingers holding on by the tips of our fingers only just only just able to continue able to continue in the way of life in the way of life well if perhaps there are any here this well if perhaps there are any here this day day who feel that they are in that position who feel that they are in that position may i bring you to the sixth chapter of may i bring you to the sixth chapter of john's gospel and verse 65 there had of course been many hard sayings that day many hard sayings that day the bread which came down from heaven the bread which came down from heaven they were invited to lift their minds they were invited to lift their minds from the temporal from the temporal the physical and the material the physical and the material to consider the eternal things centered to consider the eternal things centered in jesus christ jesus said verse 65 therefore said i unto you that no man therefore said i unto you that no man can come unto me except it were given can come unto me except it were given him of my father him of my father from that time many of his disciples from that time many of his disciples went back went back and walked no more and walked no more with him with him what a tragedy it was what a tragedy it was so close to the son of man so close to the son of man the savior of the world the savior of the world they'd heard his gracious words they'd heard his gracious words they'd seen the miracles that had been they'd seen the miracles that had been performed performed and yet they turned away verse 67 then said jesus entered unto the twelve the twelve will ye also will ye also go away go away and simon peter answered him and simon peter answered him lord lord to whom shall we go to whom shall we go thou hast the words thou hast the words of eternal life of eternal life will ye will ye also also go away today brethren sisters it could be for you or for me it could be for you or for me the experience or the witness the experience or the witness of apparently meaningless of apparently meaningless and arbitrary suffering and arbitrary suffering or nagging intellectual doubts or nagging intellectual doubts that could cause otherwise loyal that could cause otherwise loyal disciples to ask themselves the fateful disciples to ask themselves the fateful question question why stay disciples it could be a feeling of disillusionment disillusionment with our lot with our lot a feeling of futility as we contemplate a feeling of futility as we contemplate the feeble influence of the message of the feeble influence of the message of salvation salvation of a world wracked with violence and of a world wracked with violence and hopelessness hopelessness why stay disciples why stay disciples if in a moment of despair if in a moment of despair or of suffering or of suffering or of tribulation or of anguish this is or of tribulation or of anguish this is our question our question then let us realize then let us realize that in reality that in reality we have given up all hope we have given up all hope that there is any meaning to life that there is any meaning to life or any belief that it is within our or any belief that it is within our power power to help to lift the burdens from others to help to lift the burdens from others and there was one disciple who heard and there was one disciple who heard that question of the lord jesus and ultimately made up his mind to go to go and when the time came and when the time came at that first last supper in jerusalem at that first last supper in jerusalem judas received from the lord a piece of judas received from the lord a piece of bread dipped in wine bread dipped in wine then says the apostle john then says the apostle john he immediately went out he immediately went out and it was night yes my dear brother and sisters it was night for judas it was night for judas it was the end not of ourselves is there anyone who you would exchange is there anyone who you would exchange for the lord jesus for the lord jesus as the lord and master as the lord and master as the pattern for your discipleship surely we all make the discovery that once we have known him through this that once we have known him through this word word there is no one there is no one for whom we would desert him for whom we would desert him you may hear you may hear of those who you may hear you may hear of those who have left the path of discipleship have left the path of discipleship for this reason for this reason or for that or for that but i've never heard of anyone who was but i've never heard of anyone who was left left because they have found someone better because they have found someone better than the lord jesus christ than the lord jesus christ we stay disciples we stay disciples and we stay forward-looking disciples and we stay forward-looking disciples because we see no rival lord because we see no rival lord this is the great hope brethren sisters this is the great hope brethren sisters and this is the confidence that we have and this is the confidence that we have through him and fourthly fruitfulness fruitfulness that great picture presented by the lord that great picture presented by the lord jesus in the figure of the vine jesus in the figure of the vine obviously there's too much material here obviously there's too much material here to to go into any detail just one verse john go into any detail just one verse john chapter 15 and verse eight chapter 15 and verse eight herein is my father glorified that ye herein is my father glorified that ye bear much fruit bear much fruit so shall ye be so shall ye be my disciples and so fruit-bearing my disciples and so fruit-bearing fruitfulness fruitfulness was closely and integrally associated was closely and integrally associated with the path of discipleship with the path of discipleship but once again these words were clearly but once again these words were clearly addressed to his immediate disciples we addressed to his immediate disciples we can ask ourselves the question how much can ask ourselves the question how much of this of this is true for ourselves today is true for ourselves today well we know that john chapter 15 is well we know that john chapter 15 is part of a fairly long section in john's part of a fairly long section in john's gospel and in john 17 and verse 20 we gospel and in john 17 and verse 20 we have these words in the prayer of jesus have these words in the prayer of jesus neither pray i for these alone neither pray i for these alone but for them also which shall believe on but for them also which shall believe on me through their word me through their word so we today so we today are associated with that great prayer of are associated with that great prayer of the lord jesus the lord jesus we too are called upon to enter into the we too are called upon to enter into the principles of these things principles of these things blessed are they that have not seen blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed and so from the local to the universal to the universal is a very interesting theme and perhaps is a very interesting theme and perhaps is a very interesting study in its own is a very interesting study in its own right right and it continually reappears in the new and it continually reappears in the new testament scriptures testament scriptures let's just look at one or two examples let's just look at one or two examples this is a very small selection of the this is a very small selection of the ones that are available but i think ones that are available but i think these will demonstrate the point these will demonstrate the point matthew chapter 5 matthew chapter 5 and verse 1. the great teaching of the sermon on the mount mount clearly we might think clearly we might think addressed to the immediate disciples of addressed to the immediate disciples of the lord jesus matthew 5 verse 1 seeing the lord jesus matthew 5 verse 1 seeing the multitude jesus went up into a the multitude jesus went up into a mountain and when he was set his mountain and when he was set his disciples disciples came unto him so we have a picture of came unto him so we have a picture of the lord jesus upon the mountain and the lord jesus upon the mountain and immediately around him there are those immediately around him there are those disciples who are listening attentively disciples who are listening attentively to the words to the principles that he to the words to the principles that he has solely for them so perhaps he was never envisaged that these principles will be put into these principles will be put into practice by the world it essentially is practice by the world it essentially is the manifesto of the king the coming the manifesto of the king the coming king king for his loyal disciples for his loyal disciples but chapter 7 but chapter 7 and verse and verse 28 indicates that there is a wider 28 indicates that there is a wider audience audience it came to pass when jesus had ended it came to pass when jesus had ended these sayings the people were astonished these sayings the people were astonished at his doctrine at his doctrine for he taught them as one having for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes so authority and not as the scribes so perhaps there were others there too perhaps there were others there too and the traditional picture of the lord and the traditional picture of the lord jesus upon the mount surrounded jesus upon the mount surrounded immediately by his twelve disciples and immediately by his twelve disciples and then by a great congregation is perhaps then by a great congregation is perhaps not very far from the truth but throughout these words and let's just take these words as an example just take these words as an example there are many principles there are many principles which jesus clearly expresses to the which jesus clearly expresses to the immediate jewish circumstances immediate jewish circumstances there are many occurrences of the word there are many occurrences of the word ye ye and you and you we're not going to look at them we're not going to look at them verse 11 verse 12 13 14 16 of chapter 5 verse 11 verse 12 13 14 16 of chapter 5 but there are many other words also but there are many other words also which indicate that a wider audience was which indicate that a wider audience was intended intended whosoever whosoever matthew 9 matthew 5 verse 19 matthew 9 matthew 5 verse 19 whosoever therefore whosoever therefore shall break one of these least shall break one of these least commandments and shall teach men so commandments and shall teach men so so he shall be called the least in the so he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven kingdom of heaven but whosoever shall do and teach them but whosoever shall do and teach them the same shall be called great the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven similar examples verse 22 verse 28 chapter 7 verse 24 chapter 7 verse 24 and verse 26 and verse 26 the use of the word the use of the word all all moving on now to chapter 28 and verse moving on now to chapter 28 and verse 18. and teach all nations verse 19 baptizing them in the name of the father baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son of the holy spirit and of the son of the holy spirit teaching them to observe all things teaching them to observe all things whatsoever whatsoever i have commanded i have commanded you you so it becomes very difficult my dear so it becomes very difficult my dear brother and sisters to seek to drive a brother and sisters to seek to drive a wedge of distinction between the words wedge of distinction between the words of jesus addressed to the immediate of jesus addressed to the immediate twelve and the words addressed to the twelve and the words addressed to the whosoever whosoever because by this because by this commission commission all these words of the lord jesus all these words of the lord jesus come down to us some more examples mark 13 verse 37 matthew 16 and verse 24 matthew 16 and verse 24 and in that warning of the return of the and in that warning of the return of the lord jesus lord jesus about how he can return unexpectedly and about how he can return unexpectedly and suddenly suddenly as a burglar coming into your house as a burglar coming into your house jesus says what i say unto you jesus says what i say unto you immediate 12 immediate 12 i say unto all i say unto all watch watch so the commission the warning the so the commission the warning the principle comes down to ourselves in principle comes down to ourselves in these days finally the carrying out of the call just two aspects that have been selected there are many there are many issues and principles associated with issues and principles associated with the faithful carrying out of the call the faithful carrying out of the call the faithful response to the call of the the faithful response to the call of the lord jesus i have just selected two lord jesus i have just selected two for our consideration for our consideration romans chapter 10 romans chapter 10 and verse 14. the letter to the romans concerned with the great theme of justification by the great theme of justification by faith contrasted with the works of the faith contrasted with the works of the law law nevertheless towards the end of the nevertheless towards the end of the epistle we are reminded of the practical epistle we are reminded of the practical implications of being associated with implications of being associated with this great doctrine this great doctrine the practical effect that is intended to the practical effect that is intended to have in our individual lives so there's the need for each one of us to consider to consider the subject of witnessing the need for the subject of witnessing the need for we ourselves to be fishers of men we ourselves to be fishers of men in turn in turn as we have been graciously called as we have been graciously called so we should endeavor to pass on that so we should endeavor to pass on that calling to others calling to others romans 10 verse 13 romans 10 verse 13 whosoever shall call upon the name of whosoever shall call upon the name of the lord shall be saved the lord shall be saved how then how then shall they call on him how then how then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher shall they hear without a preacher and how shall they preach and how shall they preach except they be sent as it is written except they be sent as it is written how beautiful are the feet of them that how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of glad tidings of good things good things there's a progression of thought here an there's a progression of thought here an argument and we ourselves are called argument and we ourselves are called upon to enter upon to enter into this into this to play our part in being the beautiful to play our part in being the beautiful feat feat in bearing the gracious message of the in bearing the gracious message of the gospel of salvation to those who are yet gospel of salvation to those who are yet in darkness isaiah had to do it in his in darkness isaiah had to do it in his day and these words call to mind that day and these words call to mind that situation and that circumstance situation and that circumstance there was very little response but it there was very little response but it didn't affect the commission it didn't didn't affect the commission it didn't affect the message that had to be given affect the message that had to be given so too in the days of the apostle paul so too in the days of the apostle paul and so too and so too in our day today in our day today each one of us my dear brethren sisters each one of us my dear brethren sisters is called upon to show our appreciation is called upon to show our appreciation and our thankfulness for the message of and our thankfulness for the message of the gospel that has first come to us the gospel that has first come to us by sharing it by sharing it with those who have not yet received it with those who have not yet received it we remember that the command go into all we remember that the command go into all the world and preach the gospel to every the world and preach the gospel to every creature was originally spoken to the creature was originally spoken to the eleven disciples eleven disciples and yet you might like to look at this and yet you might like to look at this afterwards in acts chapter 8 the first afterwards in acts chapter 8 the first four verses it was obviously not the four verses it was obviously not the apostles who were then following the apostles who were then following the command at this particular point it was command at this particular point it was the ordinary brethren sisters who were the ordinary brethren sisters who were witnessing here they weren't leaving it witnessing here they weren't leaving it to though for those to whom the to though for those to whom the commission had originally been given commission had originally been given be ready always to give an answer to be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness the hope that is in you with meekness and fear to all men and fear to all men we are ambassadors my dear brethren we are ambassadors my dear brethren sisters sisters surely one of the issues that we'll have surely one of the issues that we'll have to face at the last is this how have we to face at the last is this how have we witnessed to the word of life not just witnessed to the word of life not just in the development of a christ-like in the development of a christ-like character not just in the development of character not just in the development of the faithful life of discipleship but in the faithful life of discipleship but in the proclamation of that character and the proclamation of that character and in the proclamation of that life to in the proclamation of that life to those in the world around us so the path of discipleship is not simply a call and conditions but we have simply a call and conditions but we have to live the call to live the call true witnesses true witnesses are not just talkers evangelists or are not just talkers evangelists or preachers preachers but martyrs but martyrs for that's the word for that's the word willing to suffer death willing to suffer death to stand up and be counted for the to stand up and be counted for the gospel of the kingdom to live the truth gospel of the kingdom to live the truth in all its aspects but finally my dear brothers and sisters there is one aspect that we should never there is one aspect that we should never forget forget that great fisher of men that great fisher of men was told in the end as recorded in john was told in the end as recorded in john chapter 21 chapter 21 to care for the flock of god to care for the flock of god feed feed my sheep my sheep and he himself reiterates this to us and he himself reiterates this to us in 1st peter 5. in 1st peter 5. in the truth in the truth we should never have an attitude like we should never have an attitude like this this if we are preachers if we are preachers right right you've been through the course you've been through the course you've been baptized you've been baptized now get on with it now get on with it we're going over here we're going over here to continue the preaching to continue the preaching it should never be sink it should never be sink or swim fish that have been caught should never be left to die should never be left to die we who catch men for christ by the power we who catch men for christ by the power of the gospel of the gospel should never leave them to die should never leave them to die but feed them but feed them lead them lead them guide them guide them restore them and uphold them restore them and uphold them feed the flock of god which is among you feed the flock of god which is among you being examples to the flock being examples to the flock and when the chief shepherd shall appear and when the chief shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away

Transcript

jesus thou son of righteousness shed forth thy living rays forth thy living rays stir up thy strength thy mightiness and stir up thy strength thy mightiness and manifest thy praise manifest thy praise send down thy blessing from on high and send down thy blessing from on high and cause thy word below the good seed of cause thy word below the good seed of thy kingdom nigh thy kingdom nigh in faith and hope in faith and hope to grow to grow i think brother david brown my dear i think brother david brown my dear brother and sisters captures the spirit brother and sisters captures the spirit and essence of our class together this and essence of our class together this day today's subject the mystery of the kingdom kingdom is is a much more difficult subject than the a much more difficult subject than the one that we one that we presented yesterday presented yesterday and i hope in the light of this that and i hope in the light of this that you will bear with my measured words you will bear with my measured words as we as it were walk amongst precipices or perhaps or perhaps take the canoe towards the take the canoe towards the edge of the abyss as we did last night edge of the abyss as we did last night and those of you who've read work right and those of you who've read work right widely widely will indeed appreciate that this is a will indeed appreciate that this is a difficult subject but it is one that is difficult subject but it is one that is integrally related to the theme of integrally related to the theme of discipleship discipleship and it is one i think that we should and it is one i think that we should face up to the challenge when jesus was alone they that were about him with the twelve they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable asked of him the parable and he said unto them and he said unto them unto you it is given to know the mystery unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of god of the kingdom of god but unto them are without that are but unto them are without that are without without all these things are done all these things are done in parables in parables so the first question my dear brother so the first question my dear brother and sisters and sisters is to seek to elucidate the meaning of is to seek to elucidate the meaning of this term mystery this term mystery now of course in our present usage now of course in our present usage this means something deep profound this means something deep profound obscure obscure and perhaps even very difficult to and perhaps even very difficult to elucidate elucidate but i think when we turn to the but i think when we turn to the scriptures the center of gravity of its scriptures the center of gravity of its meaning is rather different to the meaning is rather different to the normal english usage normal english usage the same flavor of the deepness the same flavor of the deepness and profundity is still there and profundity is still there but perhaps the idea of obscurity and but perhaps the idea of obscurity and difficulty of elucidation difficulty of elucidation is no longer there is no longer there there are many passages which support there are many passages which support the general view the general view that the mystery especially in the new that the mystery especially in the new testament is not something that we testament is not something that we should understand as being mysterious should understand as being mysterious but rather as a further portion of but rather as a further portion of divine revelation divine revelation and there is a number of passages here and there is a number of passages here which support this general thesis which support this general thesis romans 16 verse 25 and 26 romans 16 verse 25 and 26 now to him that is of power to establish now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel and the you according to my gospel and the preaching of jesus christ preaching of jesus christ according to the revelation of the according to the revelation of the mystery mystery which was kept secret since the world which was kept secret since the world began but is now made manifest and by began but is now made manifest and by the scriptures of the prophets according the scriptures of the prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting to the commandment of the everlasting god made known to all nations for the god made known to all nations for the obedience of faith obedience of faith something something formally hidden formally hidden but now made known but now made known by further revelation by further revelation colossians 1 verse 26 and 27 colossians 1 verse 26 and 27 the mystery which hath been hid from the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations but now is ages and from generations but now is made manifest to his saints to whom god made manifest to his saints to whom god would make known what is the riches of would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the the glory of this mystery among the gentiles which is christ in you gentiles which is christ in you the hope the hope of of glory there the idea of mystery is glory there the idea of mystery is linked with the supreme revelation of linked with the supreme revelation of god in and through jesus christ and the god in and through jesus christ and the way in which believers disciples are way in which believers disciples are called upon to be associated with god called upon to be associated with god through him and thereby with the hope of through him and thereby with the hope of glory centered in him ephesians 1 verse 2 you have heard of the dispensation of you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of god which is given me to the grace of god which is given me to you ward how that by revelation he made you ward how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery known unto me the mystery as i wrote a four in few words whereby as i wrote a four in few words whereby when ye read you may understand my when ye read you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of christ which knowledge in the mystery of christ which in other ages was not made known unto in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed the sons of men as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by unto his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit the spirit so great though the former revelation so great though the former revelation was was its magnificence the word of the lord its magnificence the word of the lord nevertheless nevertheless in the end it was fragmentary and in the end it was fragmentary and incomplete incomplete only in god's revelation in his son only in god's revelation in his son did his revelation become definitive and did his revelation become definitive and final so i think we should bear in mind this general idea this general teaching general idea this general teaching associated with the word mystery in the associated with the word mystery in the new testament new testament something kept secret throughout past something kept secret throughout past ages but now disclosed by men of god as ages but now disclosed by men of god as they were moved by the holy spirit they were moved by the holy spirit a mystery is a divine purpose hidden in a mystery is a divine purpose hidden in the divine counsels of god for long ages the divine counsels of god for long ages but finally disclosed in a new but finally disclosed in a new revelation of god's redemptive work but there's also the feeling associated with this teaching with this teaching that the way it affects us that the way it affects us is is associated with our walk our commitment associated with our walk our commitment and our discipleship this mystery will and our discipleship this mystery will perhaps be something that will only be perhaps be something that will only be finally and fully comprehended finally and fully comprehended by those who are endeavoring to serve by those who are endeavoring to serve the father the father matthew chapter 13 matthew chapter 13 and verse 10 and verse 10 his disciples came and said unto him his disciples came and said unto him why speakers though unto them in why speakers though unto them in parables parables he answered and said unto them he answered and said unto them because it is given unto you to know the because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven but mysteries of the kingdom of heaven but to them it is not given to them it is not given for whosoever hath to him shall be given for whosoever hath to him shall be given and he shall have more abundance and he shall have more abundance but whosoever hath not but whosoever hath not from him shall be taken away even that from him shall be taken away even that he hath he hath therefore i speak to them in parables therefore i speak to them in parables because they seeing see not and hearing because they seeing see not and hearing they hear not they hear not neither do they understand neither do they understand so there is a polarizing power in this so there is a polarizing power in this teaching teaching in this in these parables of the lord in this in these parables of the lord jesus christ jesus christ potential unbelief refuses to see the potential unbelief refuses to see the message message belief understands new truth belief understands new truth understanding is deepened comprehension understanding is deepened comprehension is increased is increased i think we may consider those words of i think we may consider those words of the lord jesus alongside the additional the lord jesus alongside the additional words recorded in john chapter 7. words recorded in john chapter 7. he that willeth to do his will he that willeth to do his will he shall know he shall know of the doctrine of the doctrine in other words there is a degree of in other words there is a degree of moral commitment required in order that moral commitment required in order that we might fully understand those things we might fully understand those things in which we are involved so let's first of all consider the kingdom the old testament foundations are very clear perhaps john what just are very clear perhaps john what just one passage in this connection will one passage in this connection will summarize the flavor of them all summarize the flavor of them all daniel chapter 2 and verse 44 daniel chapter 2 and verse 44 in the days of these kings shall the god in the days of these kings shall the god of heaven set up a kingdom which shall of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed never be destroyed and the kingdom shall not be left to and the kingdom shall not be left to other people but it shall break in other people but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms pieces and consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand and it shall stand forever that great and glorious forever that great and glorious consummation of the purpose of god in consummation of the purpose of god in the establishment of the kingdom of god the establishment of the kingdom of god upon the earth a kingdom that will upon the earth a kingdom that will manifest and reflect manifest and reflect his glory his glory and so the old testament prophets looked and so the old testament prophets looked forward to the day forward to the day when god would set up his reign upon the when god would set up his reign upon the earth earth his kingdom will displace all other his kingdom will displace all other reigns all other kingdoms and all other reigns all other kingdoms and all other authorities authorities it will break the proud sovereignty of it will break the proud sovereignty of man man that has been manifest throughout the that has been manifest throughout the ages of the earth's history ages of the earth's history god's reign and god's rule will finally god's reign and god's rule will finally and definitively sweep away and definitively sweep away all all opposing rule all all opposing rule in this single great event in this in this single great event in this mighty manifestation of power mighty manifestation of power the wicked kingdoms of the earth will be the wicked kingdoms of the earth will be swept away and the earth filled swept away and the earth filled with righteousness and there is new testament confirmation of this great teaching we could think of this great teaching we could think for example for example of the parable of the nobleman who is to of the parable of the nobleman who is to go into a far country and to receive for go into a far country and to receive for himself a kingdom and to return himself a kingdom and to return and by implication if you look carefully and by implication if you look carefully at the parable the nobleman is the lord at the parable the nobleman is the lord jesus christ himself jesus christ himself jesus builds upon and confirms that jesus builds upon and confirms that teaching of the old testament prophets teaching of the old testament prophets the last book in the new testament looks the last book in the new testament looks forward to the time when the kingdoms of forward to the time when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our lord and of his christ and he shall our lord and of his christ and he shall reign forever reign forever and ever and ever the same great and glorious consummation the same great and glorious consummation when the glory of god will finally be when the glory of god will finally be revealed revealed and will fill the earth but then my dear brethren sisters is the is the revelation revelation in the new testament perhaps especially in the new testament perhaps especially in the in the new testament parables new testament parables what is this new revelation with regard what is this new revelation with regard to the to the gospel of the kingdom of to the to the gospel of the kingdom of god god i think there are two points one of i think there are two points one of which i've already mentioned firstly it all hinges it all hinges around the concept of time around the concept of time when the gospel of the kingdom of heaven when the gospel of the kingdom of heaven the gospel of the kingdom of god was the gospel of the kingdom of god was preached by jesus and the disciples and preached by jesus and the disciples and the apostles the apostles it was very clear that now was the time it was very clear that now was the time of opportunity to receive this gospel of of opportunity to receive this gospel of the kingdom the kingdom now is the time to choose between now is the time to choose between serving christ between taking up one's serving christ between taking up one's cross cross or denying him or denying him a time to choose between accepting god a time to choose between accepting god or rejecting him or rejecting him the gospel of the kingdom was present in the gospel of the kingdom was present in both the words the teaching and the both the words the teaching and the actions of the lord jesus actions of the lord jesus but although it was there but although it was there it could still be accepted or rejected it could still be accepted or rejected the good news was there the good news was there but it was with persuasion but it was with persuasion and not with power and not with power only at the last day would there be that only at the last day would there be that unavoidable confrontation the day of unavoidable confrontation the day of vengeance of god vengeance of god but that confrontation presupposed that but that confrontation presupposed that at that day it would be too late to at that day it would be too late to accept accept or reject or reject the decision would have had to have been the decision would have had to have been made earlier made earlier the decision the decision would effectively have been decided by would effectively have been decided by one's earlier response to the message of one's earlier response to the message of the gospel of the kingdom i'd like now very briefly to look at the parables parables of the kingdom these are mainly contained in matthew chapter 13 chapter 13 i've given the verses there on the i've given the verses there on the transparency transparency and there's one of them the parable of and there's one of them the parable of the seed in the ground in mark chapter the seed in the ground in mark chapter 4. 4. these are parables my dear brother and these are parables my dear brother and sisters that we know very well sisters that we know very well so i don't think it necessary for me to so i don't think it necessary for me to go through the verses go through the verses so let's just summarize the truths so let's just summarize the truths that come from these parables the that come from these parables the parable of the sower parable of the sower remember the remember the proclamation of the lord jesus proclamation of the lord jesus associated with these parables it is associated with these parables it is given unto you to know the mysteries given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven of the kingdom of heaven these parables that the lord jesus these parables that the lord jesus christ gives to his disciples christ gives to his disciples encapsulate this mystery of the kingdom encapsulate this mystery of the kingdom of heaven of heaven the parable of the sower the parable of the sower here is the mystery of the kingdom the here is the mystery of the kingdom the gospel of the kingdom is here but not gospel of the kingdom is here but not with irresistible power with irresistible power the word of the gospel is preached but the word of the gospel is preached but it is not like a stone grinding the it is not like a stone grinding the image to powder image to powder it is not now destroying wickedness it is not now destroying wickedness it is rather giving men and women a it is rather giving men and women a gracious time of opportunity gracious time of opportunity it does not force itself upon men it does not force itself upon men there are some like the good soil who there are some like the good soil who receive it receive it but there are many others who choose not but there are many others who choose not to receive it to receive it some hear the word some hear the word but it does not enter into their heart but it does not enter into their heart they hear the word but they do not fully they hear the word but they do not fully appreciate it appreciate it the adversary comes and snatches it away the adversary comes and snatches it away there is no root there is no root and so there is no life and so there is no life others are shallow others are shallow they hear the gospel of the kingdom they hear the gospel of the kingdom they seem to receive it they seem to receive it and they make the appropriate response and they make the appropriate response there is semblance of true life there is semblance of true life but there is no depth but there is no depth perhaps the intellect or the emotions perhaps the intellect or the emotions have been stirred by these gracious have been stirred by these gracious words of jesus words of jesus but the will has not been moved but the will has not been moved there is no real life there is no real life when trouble arises when trouble arises they find that the gospel that they have they find that the gospel that they have received received does not immediately deliver them from does not immediately deliver them from evil or suffering evil or suffering they wither and die they wither and die when they meet persecution and evil and when they meet persecution and evil and tribulation tribulation for the very reason that they embrace for the very reason that they embrace the hope of the kingdom they do not grow the hope of the kingdom they do not grow because there is no life because there is no life their professed belief their professed belief is shown to be false is shown to be false still others are like the thorny ground still others are like the thorny ground they seem to receive the word they they seem to receive the word they appear to believe it and to give appear to believe it and to give evidence of life evidence of life but they are not prepared to accept the but they are not prepared to accept the necessary disciplines necessary disciplines involved to be a true disciple of involved to be a true disciple of necessity necessity means that they must accept the means that they must accept the disciplines of that life disciplines of that life the cares of the age the love of riches the cares of the age the love of riches the ambition the ambition the pressure of conformity to this age the pressure of conformity to this age in which we live choke the word and it in which we live choke the word and it becomes unfruitful becomes unfruitful jesus brings the gospel of the kingdom jesus brings the gospel of the kingdom and yet men are free to reject it and yet men are free to reject it the gospel will not experience uniform the gospel will not experience uniform success success not all will receive it not all will receive it one day the kingdom will come with power one day the kingdom will come with power but now is the time of opportunity but now is the time of opportunity one day one day god will manifest his mighty power god will manifest his mighty power to purge the earth of wickedness sin and to purge the earth of wickedness sin and evil evil but not now but not now now now is the time to receive the good news of is the time to receive the good news of the kingdom the kingdom and this response must come from a and this response must come from a willing heart willing heart and a submissive will the next parable the parable of the wheat and the tares the parable of the wheat and the tares illustrates a parallel truth illustrates a parallel truth a man sowed wheat in his field but his a man sowed wheat in his field but his enemy sowed tears and weeds enemy sowed tears and weeds when the weeds were discovered the when the weeds were discovered the servants wanted to pull them out servants wanted to pull them out but they were told to let both wheat and but they were told to let both wheat and tears grow until the harvest tears grow until the harvest then the separation would take place then the separation would take place until the harvest time until the harvest time we we tears and wheat must grow together tears and wheat must grow together the sons of the kingdom the sons of the kingdom those who have received the gospel of those who have received the gospel of the kingdom the kingdom and the children of the world are to and the children of the world are to live together in the world live together in the world until the end of the age until the end of the age now both you and i know brethren sisters now both you and i know brethren sisters that this parable that this parable has sometimes been used in the context has sometimes been used in the context of the ecclesia of the ecclesia but i think this is foreign to the but i think this is foreign to the context here context here it's talking about it's talking about the believers the disciples of the lord the believers the disciples of the lord jesus christ living jesus christ living in the world the two groups in the world the two groups the saints the saints and the world and the world and i think if you consider the teaching and i think if you consider the teaching of that parable in the light of the of that parable in the light of the teaching of the gospel of the kingdom teaching of the gospel of the kingdom you will find added confirmation of this you will find added confirmation of this fact the parable of the mustard seed demonstrates a further truth about the demonstrates a further truth about the kingdom kingdom in ancient semitic idiom the mustard in ancient semitic idiom the mustard seed was a proverbial symbol for that seed was a proverbial symbol for that which was tiny and insignificant which was tiny and insignificant and the mustard grew rapidly and the mustard grew rapidly into a very large plant into a very large plant so the gospel of the kingdom is present so the gospel of the kingdom is present among men in a form not previously among men in a form not previously revealed revealed it is here as something tiny and it is here as something tiny and insignificant insignificant as something as small as something as small as a mustard seed as a mustard seed but although it is small but although it is small although it is tiny although it is tiny it is very important it is very important it is the kernel it is the kernel and it is the guarantee and it is the guarantee of that which is to come now the message of this parable i think is not concerned with the way is not concerned with the way in which the tiny seed will become a in which the tiny seed will become a tree tree many have placed great emphasis in their many have placed great emphasis in their expositions expositions upon the element of growth upon the element of growth and have used it to illustrate the and have used it to illustrate the gradual extension gradual extension of the church's influence in the world of the church's influence in the world but i don't think this is really in the but i don't think this is really in the parable parable if the lord had wished to teach if the lord had wished to teach slow growth and gradual expansion slow growth and gradual expansion i think the i think the choice of the mustard seed which quickly choice of the mustard seed which quickly becomes a large shrub would have been becomes a large shrub would have been quite inappropriate quite inappropriate the slow growth of the oak the slow growth of the oak would have been far more suitable to would have been far more suitable to demonstrate slow growth and influence demonstrate slow growth and influence and consolidation and consolidation growth i think growth i think is not the point of the parable here is not the point of the parable here it is not teaching anything about how it is not teaching anything about how the kingdom will come in the future the kingdom will come in the future we know from other scriptures that the we know from other scriptures that the kingdom will come kingdom will come in mighty power in mighty power it will possess the earth it will possess the earth only when the lord jesus christ returns only when the lord jesus christ returns in majesty and glory in majesty and glory the form of the coming of this kingdom i the form of the coming of this kingdom i suggest to you is not really an element suggest to you is not really an element in this parable in this parable one truth one truth one primary truth one primary truth is set for is set for the message of the kingdom the gospel of the message of the kingdom the gospel of the kingdom will appear totally the kingdom will appear totally insignificant to men now insignificant to men now but in that day but in that day its majesty will fill the earth the parable of the leaven illustrates a similar truth illustrates a similar truth and once again this parable i think has and once again this parable i think has been widely misinterpreted in two been widely misinterpreted in two directions directions firstly that the gospel is destined to firstly that the gospel is destined to conquer the whole earth by gradual conquer the whole earth by gradual permeation and penetration permeation and penetration and that this is represented by the and that this is represented by the action of the leaven on the unleavened action of the leaven on the unleavened dough dough or secondly or secondly the leaven symbolizes evil and the leaven symbolizes evil and demonstrates that the church the demonstrates that the church the ecclesia ecclesia the aggregation of disciples would the aggregation of disciples would rapidly become apostate but neither of these my dear brethren sisters is necessarily revealed in this sisters is necessarily revealed in this parable of the leaven parable of the leaven indeed what the leaven indeed what the leaven represents may not be a valid represents may not be a valid consideration at all consideration at all we know that a parable we know that a parable is a story drawn from familiar is a story drawn from familiar experiences of everyday life experiences of everyday life and it may well be that some of the and it may well be that some of the details are only incidental to the details are only incidental to the setting forth of the principal truth of setting forth of the principal truth of the parable and of course a very good the parable and of course a very good example of that is the parable of the example of that is the parable of the unjust steward unjust steward i suggest to you i suggest to you that this parable sets forth the single that this parable sets forth the single truth truth that men should be wise in their use of that men should be wise in their use of substance substance they should invest it they should invest it so that it will help them in their day so that it will help them in their day of spiritual need of spiritual need all else all else is incidental to the story is incidental to the story if we try and attach specific meanings if we try and attach specific meanings to other details of this parable then we to other details of this parable then we may begin to think that jesus was may begin to think that jesus was perhaps teaching that the end justifies perhaps teaching that the end justifies the beings the beings or sharp practice or sharp practice unlawful method is not really wrong if unlawful method is not really wrong if good comes from it the lord my dear good comes from it the lord my dear brother and sisters clearly did not brother and sisters clearly did not teach this teach this for him for him underlying motive was more important underlying motive was more important than external behavior this was the than external behavior this was the source the basis the foundation source the basis the foundation for everything else so i think this principle this observation is relevant in our observation is relevant in our consideration of the parable of the consideration of the parable of the leaven leaven the truth is not that of gradual the truth is not that of gradual permeation of the world by the ecclesia permeation of the world by the ecclesia the scripture nowhere teaches this the scripture nowhere teaches this the truth is like that of the parable of the truth is like that of the parable of the mustard seed the mustard seed in its present manifestation the gospel in its present manifestation the gospel of the kingdom is like a handful of of the kingdom is like a handful of leaven in a bowl of dough leaven in a bowl of dough the dough swallows up the leaven so that the dough swallows up the leaven so that one is scarcely aware of its presence one is scarcely aware of its presence instead of the power of god shaking the instead of the power of god shaking the earth earth his purpose was manifested in the lamb his purpose was manifested in the lamb of god who was meek of god who was meek and lowly and lowly who was destined to be put to death who was destined to be put to death one who had only a handful one who had only a handful of supporters of supporters from the world's point of view from the world's point of view what was centered in him what was centered in him was totally and completely was totally and completely insignificant insignificant indeed the roman historians of the time indeed the roman historians of the time hardly mentioned the life of hardly mentioned the life of jesus but those who had jesus but those who had true eyes to see true eyes to see would realize that out of these would realize that out of these apparently totally insignificant apparently totally insignificant beginnings would spring the continuation beginnings would spring the continuation and finally the culmination of god's and finally the culmination of god's purpose with the earth leaven may indeed appear to be a small and may indeed appear to be a small and insignificant thing insignificant thing despised ignored and rejected by men but despised ignored and rejected by men but god's purpose is sure god's purpose is sure nonetheless the parables of the treasure and the costly pearl and the costly pearl the gospel of the kingdom the gospel of the kingdom is of inestimable value is of inestimable value its value its value will ultimately transcend all other will ultimately transcend all other possessions possessions it is like a pearl it is like a pearl whose acquisition merits the loss of all whose acquisition merits the loss of all other goods other goods yet we must notice again yet we must notice again the fact that the man buys the field the fact that the man buys the field or the merchant buys the pearl or the merchant buys the pearl does not mean my dear brother and does not mean my dear brother and sisters that salvation can be bought or sisters that salvation can be bought or that it can be earned that it can be earned ultimately it is the gift of god ultimately it is the gift of god and yet even though it is and yet even though it is god's gracious gift god's gracious gift it is also it is also costly salvation may be free to we who are undeserving to we who are undeserving but it is never cheap but it is never cheap and we are each called upon and we are each called upon to count the cost to count the cost of our association with these things it may cost a man his earthly possessions possessions it may cost him his friends it may cost him his friends it may cost him the affections of his it may cost him the affections of his family family and his children and his children it may cost him his very life it may cost him his very life but whatever the cost but whatever the cost its possession its acquisition its possession its acquisition justifies justifies all that is sacrificed the parable of the net those who have been caught up in the those who have been caught up in the call of the gospel call of the gospel will include both good will include both good and bad and bad the parable of the wheat and the tares the parable of the wheat and the tares describes the world at large but perhaps describes the world at large but perhaps in this parable in this parable we have a narrower reference a description of the circle of men and women of the circle of men and women who have been influenced by and have who have been influenced by and have accepted the gospel of the kingdom accepted the gospel of the kingdom even evil men and women even evil men and women would be found amongst the fellowship of would be found amongst the fellowship of this relatively small group this relatively small group and we know that just as a fact of and we know that just as a fact of history there was one of the twelve history there was one of the twelve who later showed that he had interests who later showed that he had interests that were alien to the cause of his that were alien to the cause of his master master it's interesting to notice that jesus it's interesting to notice that jesus did not go out searching such did not go out searching such or pointing the long finger of suspicion or pointing the long finger of suspicion but it was a fact but it was a fact that there was one in his midst that there was one in his midst who turned out to be evil who turned out to be evil we remember that the apostle paul we remember that the apostle paul warned that perverse men warned that perverse men would enter the ecclesia itself and turn would enter the ecclesia itself and turn others away from the lord jesus christ others away from the lord jesus christ and so by implication and so by implication ecclesiastes ecclesiastes can turn out to have members who have can turn out to have members who have interests which are interests which are ultimately alien to a seeking first of ultimately alien to a seeking first of the kingdom of god and his righteousness the parable of the seed in the ground the kingdom of god is like a seed the kingdom of god is like a seed in this one point in this one point the seed contains a principle of life the seed contains a principle of life within itself there is nothing that the within itself there is nothing that the farmer can do farmer can do to add to the intrinsic life of the seed to add to the intrinsic life of the seed his one task is to sow the seed his one task is to sow the seed then he may go about his other tasks then he may go about his other tasks while he is busy with other things even while he is busy with other things even while he is asleep while he is asleep the life that is resident within the the life that is resident within the seed and the powers that are resident in seed and the powers that are resident in the earth the earth combined together to produce fruit combined together to produce fruit it is a miracle it is a miracle my dear brethren sisters my dear brethren sisters and so it is with the kingdom of god and so it is with the kingdom of god this too this too in like manner will be a miracle it will in like manner will be a miracle it will be supernatural be supernatural men and women cannot build the kingdom men and women cannot build the kingdom they cannot erect the kingdom it will be they cannot erect the kingdom it will be brought by god brought by god but it is our responsibility but it is our responsibility to proclaim the good news about this to proclaim the good news about this kingdom kingdom but the actual working of the kingdom but the actual working of the kingdom will be will be by a divine hand the relationship between the gospel of the kingdom and the future reality the kingdom and the future reality of the kingdom of the kingdom remember the beginning of the ministry remember the beginning of the ministry of the lord jesus of the lord jesus jesus came into galilee preaching the jesus came into galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of god and saying gospel of the kingdom of god and saying the time is fulfilled the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of god is at hand and the kingdom of god is at hand repent ye repent ye and believe and believe the gospel the gospel here my dear brethren sisters very here my dear brethren sisters very clearly is a clearly is a focal point in the purpose of god it's focal point in the purpose of god it's the lord jesus christ at the crux of the lord jesus christ at the crux of history history as for the lord jesus so also for his as for the lord jesus so also for his disciples disciples they have the commission they have the commission into whatsoever city you enter and they into whatsoever city you enter and they receive you receive you eat such things as are set before you eat such things as are set before you and heal the sick that are therein and and heal the sick that are therein and say unto them the kingdom of god is come say unto them the kingdom of god is come nigh nigh unto you unto you it was the focal point it was the focal point there was a sense of urgency there was a there was a sense of urgency there was a sense of immediacy sense of immediacy not only about the message associated not only about the message associated with this kingdom but about the fact of with this kingdom but about the fact of the kingdom itself the kingdom itself and yet nonetheless and yet nonetheless the fullness the fullness and the reality of that kingdom and the reality of that kingdom was still future this day is salvation come to this house for the son of man has come to seek and for the son of man has come to seek and to save to save that that which was lost the very central feature which was lost the very central feature for the ministry of the lord jesus his for the ministry of the lord jesus his self-giving his self-sacrifice self-giving his self-sacrifice associated with those who came to him is associated with those who came to him is followed by a looking forward to the followed by a looking forward to the consummation of all things consummation of all things and as they heard these things he added and as they heard these things he added and spake a parable because he was nigh and spake a parable because he was nigh to jerusalem and because they thought to jerusalem and because they thought that the kingdom of god should that the kingdom of god should immediately appear immediately appear what more natural what more natural than that they should think than that they should think but in the presence of the future king but in the presence of the future king he would immediately he would immediately take his kingdom and set up the kingdom take his kingdom and set up the kingdom of god of god but their understanding has to be but their understanding has to be enlarged enlarged about the purpose of god about the purpose of god that it's only going to be finally that it's only going to be finally consummated at that great day what then about the relationship between the theme of discipleship and the gospel the theme of discipleship and the gospel of the kingdom of the kingdom this is really the crux of our subject this is really the crux of our subject today well we know all too well that the kingdom of god is clearly and that the kingdom of god is clearly and unequivocally unequivocally identified with the goal of our identified with the goal of our discipleship discipleship for each one of us there is the primary for each one of us there is the primary and first objective and first objective seek ye first the kingdom of god and his seek ye first the kingdom of god and his righteousness righteousness our father which art in heaven our father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name hallowed be thy name thy thy kingdom kingdom come so the very next thing after our awareness of the majesty and after our awareness of the majesty and the greatness of god is our prayer that the greatness of god is our prayer that his kingdom might come and be manifested his kingdom might come and be manifested in the earth in the earth this is our goal this is our goal this is our objective but the kingdom of god is also identified with the course is also identified with the course and the pathway and the pathway by which it is to be finally achieved by which it is to be finally achieved and this course and pathway is our and this course and pathway is our association with the ecclesia the body association with the ecclesia the body of christ think of these words of the lord jesus and he was speaking to the chief priests and he was speaking to the chief priests and elders and elders the kingdom of god the kingdom of god shall be taken from you shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof fruits thereof so there is not only brother and sisters so there is not only brother and sisters the goal of the kingdom the destination the goal of the kingdom the destination of the kingdom of the kingdom but there is the bringing forth of the but there is the bringing forth of the fruits fruits of the kingdom of the kingdom and by implication these fruits are born and by implication these fruits are born along the way to the kingdom along the way to the kingdom not after the kingdom is established not after the kingdom is established the chief priests and elders and the the chief priests and elders and the scribes scribes had proved by their attitude their had proved by their attitude their beliefs their motivations beliefs their motivations that they had interests that were alien that they had interests that were alien to this future kingdom of god and so it to this future kingdom of god and so it was to be taken from them and given to was to be taken from them and given to someone else and so we have here something that is more than just an abstract a distant more than just an abstract a distant hope hope but it is for each one of us but it is for each one of us an opportunity a gracious opportunity to an opportunity a gracious opportunity to manifest its values even now manifest its values even now to bring forth the fruits that are to bring forth the fruits that are acceptable to god acceptable to god and that are consistent with and that are consistent with the possession of the kingdom the possession of the kingdom the possession of the gospel of the the possession of the gospel of the kingdom a number of other passages which i put in parenthesis here in parenthesis here relate this relate this hope to the bearing of the fruits hope to the bearing of the fruits thereof romans 6 22 thereof romans 6 22 but now but now being made free from sin and become being made free from sin and become servants to god servants to god you have your fruit unto holiness and you have your fruit unto holiness and the end the end everlasting life there's the goal everlasting life there's the goal the end the objective and there is the the end the objective and there is the root that leads us towards that goal root that leads us towards that goal the servant of god the servant of god and bearing fruits unto holiness and bearing fruits unto holiness galatians 5 22 galatians 5 22 the fruit of the spirit is love joy the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace peace long suffering gentleness goodness faith long suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness meekness temperance temperance ephesians 5 verse 9 ephesians 5 verse 9 the fruit of the spirit is in all the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness and righteousness goodness and righteousness and truth and truth philippians 1 verse 10 philippians 1 verse 10 that ye may be sincere that ye may be sincere and without offense and without offense till the day of christ till the day of christ being filled with the fruits of being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by jesus christ righteousness which are by jesus christ unto the glory and praise of god unto the glory and praise of god and so there is not my dear brethren and so there is not my dear brethren sisters sisters void void between the present time between the present time and the day of christ and the day of christ there has to be the path of discipleship there has to be the path of discipleship and the being filled with the fruits of and the being filled with the fruits of the spirit the spirit first peter 2 first peter 2 and verse 9 and verse 9 ye are a chosen generation ye are a chosen generation a royal priesthood a royal priesthood and holy nation and holy nation a peculiar people a peculiar people that you should show forth the praises that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of of him who hath called you out of darkness darkness into his marvelous light into his marvelous light which in time past were not a people which in time past were not a people but are now but are now the people of god the people of god the apostle peter is talking about the the apostle peter is talking about the disciples the saints disciples the saints those who have been called out from the those who have been called out from the world world to an inheritance in the kingdom of god to an inheritance in the kingdom of god and he proclaims that the saints and he proclaims that the saints are a kingdom of priests are a kingdom of priests even now even now both in principle both in principle and in prospect and in prospect priests who appreciate the principles of priests who appreciate the principles of that kingdom that kingdom verse 10 of chapter 2 who manifest the verse 10 of chapter 2 who manifest the values of that kingdom verses 11 to 25 values of that kingdom verses 11 to 25 and who proclaim the fact of that and who proclaim the fact of that kingdom kingdom verse 12. ephesians chapter 4 one lord one lord one faith one faith one baptism one baptism one lord one faith in the things pertaining to the kingdom in the things pertaining to the kingdom of god of god and the name of jesus christ and the name of jesus christ what is that but the things pertaining what is that but the things pertaining to the king to the king and the things pertaining to the kingdom and the things pertaining to the kingdom one baptism one baptism into that faith into that faith which is a submission in symbol which is a submission in symbol to the government of the lord whereby to the government of the lord whereby the believer becomes part of the one the believer becomes part of the one body luke chapter 12 and verse 32 and verse 32 fear not little flock fear not little flock for it is your father's good pleasure for it is your father's good pleasure to give you to give you the kingdom the kingdom the ecclesia the ecclesia the aggregation of the saints the aggregation of the saints is the embryonic form is the embryonic form of the coming kingdom of god of the coming kingdom of god it is that root it is that root and that pathway and that pathway by which for the saints the objective is by which for the saints the objective is finally realized finally realized notice the context of those words verse notice the context of those words verse 31 of luke 12. seek ye 31 of luke 12. seek ye the kingdom of god as well as bearing the fruits of the kingdom kingdom there is present hope and confidence there is present hope and confidence for each one of us this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness preached in all the world for a witness and to all and to all nations nations now we are not concerned with seeking to now we are not concerned with seeking to define define how far the terms world or nations are how far the terms world or nations are to be understood to be understood we are concerned to notice we are concerned to notice that the gospel of the kingdom was and that the gospel of the kingdom was and is preached is preached and a witness was made and is still and a witness was made and is still being made being made it is therefore a central feature it is therefore a central feature of the message of the message the gospel the gospel of the kingdom of god of the kingdom of god and we have ample confirmation of this and we have ample confirmation of this in the following new testament in the following new testament scriptures just take the example of the scriptures just take the example of the apostle paul he expounded and testified apostle paul he expounded and testified the kingdom of god persuading them the kingdom of god persuading them concerning jesus both out of the law of concerning jesus both out of the law of moses now to the prophets from morning moses now to the prophets from morning till evening interesting to notice the till evening interesting to notice the sequence there isn't it we might have sequence there isn't it we might have thought that jesus would be first thought that jesus would be first but no but no the kingdom of god the kingdom of god and also and also persuading them concerning jesus persuading them concerning jesus he was preaching the kingdom of god and he was preaching the kingdom of god and teaching those things which concern the teaching those things which concern the lord jesus christ with all confidence lord jesus christ with all confidence no man forbidding him i think therefore my dear brother and sisters sisters that these passages that these passages and their attendant lessons and and their attendant lessons and implications implications this perspective this perspective helps us towards a fuller understanding helps us towards a fuller understanding of a number of very interesting perhaps of a number of very interesting perhaps rather difficult passages in the new rather difficult passages in the new testament testament and i think and i think they can now be seen to confirm this they can now be seen to confirm this picture that we have presented to you picture that we have presented to you today today colossians chapter 1 and verse 12 colossians chapter 1 and verse 12 giving thanks unto the father which hath giving thanks unto the father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light inheritance of the saints in light who hath delivered us from the power of who hath delivered us from the power of darkness darkness and hath translated us and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son into the kingdom of his dear son notice the tense there is the past tense notice the tense there is the past tense it is our association it is our association with the gracious hope of salvation with the gracious hope of salvation and the word translate in that passage and the word translate in that passage is a word that is closely associated is a word that is closely associated with the word used in the translation of with the word used in the translation of enoch in hebrews chapter 11 and verse 5. enoch in hebrews chapter 11 and verse 5. in other words we have been called out in other words we have been called out of the world we have been called into of the world we have been called into the ecclesia the ecclesia and in the mercy and grace of god we are and in the mercy and grace of god we are destined for the kingdom of god romans 14 and verse 17 and verse 17 for the kingdom of god is not meat and for the kingdom of god is not meat and drink but righteousness and joy in the drink but righteousness and joy in the holy spirit holy spirit for he that in these things serveth for he that in these things serveth christ is acceptable to god christ is acceptable to god and approved of man and approved of man and the context here is the relationship and the context here is the relationship between considering the weak brothers between considering the weak brothers conscience and the need to show love and conscience and the need to show love and consideration consideration the need to build up and to edify the need to build up and to edify rather than to cut down and to destroy rather than to cut down and to destroy the relationship between all these the relationship between all these things things and the values and the values of the kingdom of the kingdom it's sacrificial love it's sacrificial love in action in action in the context of the ecclesia matthew 12 and verse 28 if i cast out devils by the spirit of if i cast out devils by the spirit of god then the kingdom of god god then the kingdom of god is come nigh is come nigh unto you in the presence of jesus in the presence of the future king in the presence of the future king his character his character his disposition his disposition and his values and his values and the power and the power that was manifested in his works that was manifested in his works the word was made flesh with undeniable the word was made flesh with undeniable historicity historicity i came to do thy will oh god yea thy law i came to do thy will oh god yea thy law is within is within my heart my heart so it was surely in that sense so it was surely in that sense that the kingdom of god had indeed drawn that the kingdom of god had indeed drawn nigh nigh in the manifestation of power in the manifestation of power in the works that were accomplished by in the works that were accomplished by him in mark chapter 10 there's a record of the disciples there's a record of the disciples rebuking those who brought young rebuking those who brought young children to jesus that he might touch children to jesus that he might touch them them in verse 14 it is recorded when jesus in verse 14 it is recorded when jesus saw it he was much displeased and saith saw it he was much displeased and saith unto them suffer the little children to unto them suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not come unto me and forbid them not for of such is for of such is the kingdom of god the kingdom of god verily i say unto you verily i say unto you whosoever shall not receive the kingdom whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of god as a little child he shall not of god as a little child he shall not enter enter therein therein a very definite relationship a very definite relationship between the necessary childlike trust between the necessary childlike trust faith and humility faith and humility and the entrance and the entrance into the kingdom of god matthew chapter 21 the parable of the two sons the parable of the two sons once said he would go to work in the once said he would go to work in the father's vineyard father's vineyard and didn't and didn't one said he wouldn't one said he wouldn't but later repented but later repented and did and did who did the will of god who did the will of god well clearly the latter well clearly the latter jesus saith unto them verse 31 jesus saith unto them verse 31 verily i say unto you verily i say unto you that the publicans and the harlots go that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of god into the kingdom of god before you the context there is the chief priests and scribes and elders and scribes and elders once again matthew chapters 16 and 17 and 17 the great chapters considering the great chapters considering the theme of cross cross-bearing the the theme of cross cross-bearing the ultimate issues of saving one's life or ultimate issues of saving one's life or losing it and then losing it and then at the beginning of chapter 17 at the beginning of chapter 17 the transfiguration the transfiguration there's a very interesting juxtaposition there's a very interesting juxtaposition of thought here presented to us in the of thought here presented to us in the record the association of future glory and also and also present hope present hope and aspiration and aspiration the characteristics and qualities that the characteristics and qualities that are needed in those who would be are needed in those who would be disciples in order to achieve and aspire disciples in order to achieve and aspire to that future glory to that future glory the son of man chapter 16 and verse 27 the son of man chapter 16 and verse 27 shall come in the glory of his father shall come in the glory of his father with his angels and then shall he reward with his angels and then shall he reward every man according to his works every man according to his works verily i say unto you verily i say unto you there be some standing here there be some standing here which shall not taste of death which shall not taste of death till they see the son of man coming till they see the son of man coming in his kingdom so finally my dear brother and sisters may we summarize may we summarize what we have said today what we have said today the mystery of the kingdom is the the mystery of the kingdom is the revelation of god through jesus christ revelation of god through jesus christ of the things pertaining to the kingdom of the things pertaining to the kingdom its nature its character its hopes and its nature its character its hopes and its values its values it is centered in the lord jesus christ it is centered in the lord jesus christ and in all those who are and in all those who are and will be at that day and will be at that day part of his body part of his body all those who have seen heard all those who have seen heard believed believed and entered into the things concerning and entered into the things concerning the kingdom of god the kingdom of god and the name of jesus christ and the name of jesus christ and who thereafter have as the primary and who thereafter have as the primary guiding force in their lives guiding force in their lives that seeking first of the kingdom of god that seeking first of the kingdom of god and his righteousness and his righteousness lives that give this girl lives that give this girl their undivided attention their undivided attention seeking even now to manifest its values seeking even now to manifest its values in a consecrated life in a consecrated life in the treasuring of his word in the treasuring of his word in a ready receptivity to his in a ready receptivity to his commandments commandments in humble service seeking his will above in humble service seeking his will above our own our own in the giving of ourselves for the flock in the giving of ourselves for the flock of god of god in persistent preaching in continual in persistent preaching in continual teaching teaching in a patient waiting for the coming of in a patient waiting for the coming of the lord jesus christ the lord jesus christ even so come even so come lord jesus

Transcript

know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into jesus christ were baptized baptized into jesus christ were baptized into his death into his death therefore we are buried with him by therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death baptism into death that like as christ was raised up from that like as christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father the dead by the glory of the father even so we also should walk even so we also should walk in newness of life in newness of life for if we have been planted together in for if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection also in the likeness of his resurrection my dear brother and sisters my dear brother and sisters if we wanted to know something about the if we wanted to know something about the great theme of justification by faith we great theme of justification by faith we would go surely to the letter to the would go surely to the letter to the romans romans if you wanted to know something about if you wanted to know something about the supremacy of the lord jesus christ the supremacy of the lord jesus christ we would go to the letter to the hebrews we would go to the letter to the hebrews or the letter to the colossians or the letter to the colossians if we wanted to know about the contrast if we wanted to know about the contrast between the old way of life under the between the old way of life under the law law and the new way of life centered in and the new way of life centered in jesus christ jesus christ we would go to the letter to the we would go to the letter to the galatians galatians if we wanted to know about the if we wanted to know about the fundamental issues of discipleship fundamental issues of discipleship we would go to the letters of john we would go to the letters of john and the letter of james if we wanted to and the letter of james if we wanted to know about the pastoral care of the know about the pastoral care of the flock of god we would go to the letters flock of god we would go to the letters to timothy and to titus to timothy and to titus if we wanted to know about the practical if we wanted to know about the practical problems of life problems of life in the ecclesia in the ecclesia on their prayerful solution on their prayerful solution we would perhaps go to the letter to the we would perhaps go to the letter to the corinthians corinthians if we wanted to know about life if we wanted to know about life and new life and new life i think a good place to start i think a good place to start would be would be the gospel of john the gospel of john and also and also the epistles of john just a very brief investigation with the tools available for bible study with the tools available for bible study tell us these this very interesting fact tell us these this very interesting fact that out of the total usages of the that out of the total usages of the words life words life eternal life or life eternal eternal life or life eternal everlasting life and life everlasting we everlasting life and life everlasting we have the following proportion have the following proportion in john's gospel and john's epistles in john's gospel and john's epistles the word life the word life in john's gospel and john's epistle in john's gospel and john's epistle occurs 30 percent occurs 30 percent of its total number of times in the new of its total number of times in the new testament testament eternal life eternal life or life eternal or life eternal in john's gospel and his epistles in john's gospel and his epistles occurs 50 percent of its total occurs 50 percent of its total occurrence in the new testament occurrence in the new testament and everlasting life and life and everlasting life and life everlasting once again 50 everlasting once again 50 of its total occurrence of its total occurrence in the new testament in the new testament so of course there were talking about so of course there were talking about words words life life or phrases eternal life life eternal or phrases eternal life life eternal and so on and so on so i think brothers and sisters for our so i think brothers and sisters for our purposes today we shall begin with the purposes today we shall begin with the gospel of john gospel of john perhaps we could begin in the 20th perhaps we could begin in the 20th chapter chapter where there the where there the apostle gives to us a very clear apostle gives to us a very clear indication of what the purpose was for indication of what the purpose was for the overall writing of this gospel john chapter 20 and verse 30 and verse 30 many other signs truly did jesus in the many other signs truly did jesus in the presence of his disciples which are not presence of his disciples which are not written in this book written in this book but these are written that you might but these are written that you might believe that jesus is the christ the son believe that jesus is the christ the son of god and that believing ye might have of god and that believing ye might have life through his name life through his name we mentioned at the beginning of this we mentioned at the beginning of this series my dear brother and sisters that series my dear brother and sisters that your speaker had made a selection of your speaker had made a selection of topics to present to you topics to present to you this was also true of the apostle john this was also true of the apostle john when he wrote his gospel he made a when he wrote his gospel he made a selection but it was an important selection but it was an important selection for it had a very important selection for it had a very important goal in view goal in view these are written these are written that you might believe that jesus that you might believe that jesus is the christ is the christ so this is the reason behind the so this is the reason behind the inclusion in this gospel of those seven inclusion in this gospel of those seven or perhaps eight if you include the or perhaps eight if you include the resurrection of the lord jesus christ resurrection of the lord jesus christ himself those eight signs that jesus himself those eight signs that jesus might be recognized as the christ the might be recognized as the christ the son of god son of god secondly secondly that by or through believing that by or through believing life through his name might be possible life through his name might be possible who can receive this who can receive this well surely the twelve disciples at well surely the twelve disciples at immediate circle of the followers of the immediate circle of the followers of the lord jesus lord jesus but perhaps not only them but perhaps not only them we ourselves also we ourselves also i'd like to propose to you that this is i'd like to propose to you that this is one of those whosoever passages which i one of those whosoever passages which i mentioned in outline in an earlier class mentioned in outline in an earlier class these are written that ye these are written that ye might believe might believe in other words any reader who reads the in other words any reader who reads the gospel of john in whatever age or in gospel of john in whatever age or in whatever circumstances whatever circumstances it is to the reader it is to the reader that the message is and directed think there's confirmation of this think there's confirmation of this in the context in the context if we look back at verse or two verse 29 if we look back at verse or two verse 29 i know this is a i know this is a different subject but nevertheless there's a juxtaposition of ideas in these verses juxtaposition of ideas in these verses thomas because there has seen me there thomas because there has seen me there has believed blessed are they that have has believed blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed and so not seen and yet have believed and so arising out of this immediate context arising out of this immediate context there is the all-inclusive character of there is the all-inclusive character of the purpose of this of this revelation the purpose of this of this revelation included are those who were not included are those who were not first-hand witnesses of these things first-hand witnesses of these things this includes ourselves my dear brethren this includes ourselves my dear brethren sisters so the full force of this sisters so the full force of this witness of the apostle john and his witness of the apostle john and his teaching comes down to us to challenge teaching comes down to us to challenge us to instruct us to guide us us to instruct us to guide us and to lead us considering these occurrences of the word life word life and the phrase eternal life and life and the phrase eternal life and life eternal everlasting life and life eternal everlasting life and life everlasting i think it would be wrong for us to suppose that the use of the word life by suppose that the use of the word life by john in his gospel john in his gospel was meant to mean only was meant to mean only ordinary life ordinary life ordinary human existence ordinary human existence as if perhaps in view of this table we as if perhaps in view of this table we might be entitled to draw a line might be entitled to draw a line underneath the word life and separate it underneath the word life and separate it from eternal life and life eternal and from eternal life and life eternal and draw another line after the second group draw another line after the second group and separate that from everlasting life and separate that from everlasting life and life everlasting and life everlasting consider these words consider these words in the gospel in the gospel except you eat the flesh of the son of except you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood man and drink his blood ye have no life ye have no life in you in you just a simple use of the ordinary word just a simple use of the ordinary word life life john 6 53 john 6 53 but it's not saying you will die but it's not saying you will die literally is it literally is it it's talking about a certain kind of it's talking about a certain kind of life isn't it life isn't it needs defining of course but it's needs defining of course but it's certainly more than ordinary life certainly more than ordinary life it's certainly more than ordinary human it's certainly more than ordinary human existence existence or again the words that i speak unto you or again the words that i speak unto you they are spirit and they are life they are spirit and they are life chapter 6 verse 63 he that believeth not chapter 6 verse 63 he that believeth not the son shall not see life the son shall not see life but the wrath of god abideth in him but the wrath of god abideth in him chapter 3 verse 36 chapter 3 verse 36 in jesus was life and the life was the in jesus was life and the life was the light of men light of men chapter 1 verse 4 chapter 1 verse 4 as the father hath life in himself as the father hath life in himself so hath he given to the son to have life so hath he given to the son to have life in himself in himself chapter 5 verse 26 chapter 5 verse 26 jesus words you will not come to me that jesus words you will not come to me that ye might have life chapter 5 verse 40. ye might have life chapter 5 verse 40. i am come that they might have life and i am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly have it more abundantly or again i am the way or again i am the way the truth the truth the life the life just a simple use of the ordinary greek just a simple use of the ordinary greek word for life word for life yet we know just by the context of those yet we know just by the context of those words that there's much more to it words that there's much more to it for john is not presenting to us a for john is not presenting to us a picture of ordinary life at all picture of ordinary life at all but life filled with a new dimension of but life filled with a new dimension of meaning meaning in all these passages where this word is in all these passages where this word is used as it were on its own but you might you may compare some of those passages which i've just quoted those passages which i've just quoted with these further parallel passages with these further parallel passages whosoever eateth my flesh and drinketh whosoever eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life and i will my blood hath eternal life and i will raise him up at the last day raise him up at the last day lord thou hast the words of eternal life lord thou hast the words of eternal life chapter 6 chapter 6 68 68 he that believeth on the son hath he that believeth on the son hath everlasting life everlasting life chapter 3 verse 36 chapter 3 verse 36 everyone which seeth the son and everyone which seeth the son and believeth on him may have everlasting believeth on him may have everlasting life life and i will raise him up at the last day and i will raise him up at the last day chapter 6 and verse 40 chapter 6 and verse 40 i give unto them eternal life and they i give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand my hand the father's commandment is life the father's commandment is life everlasting everlasting whatsoever i speak therefore even as the whatsoever i speak therefore even as the father said unto me so father said unto me so i speak i speak so i think there brethren sisters is so i think there brethren sisters is ample evidence ample evidence that there is perhaps no easy clear-cut that there is perhaps no easy clear-cut division division between those words life eternal life between those words life eternal life and everlasting life and everlasting life not so easy to compartmentalize them not so easy to compartmentalize them when we consider the fullness of when we consider the fullness of teaching in the gospel of john teaching in the gospel of john perhaps you want to say to me perhaps you want to say to me aren't we getting too technical aren't we getting too overloaded with statistics with categorizations with statistics with categorizations with observations and with deductions observations and with deductions perhaps you want to say to me perhaps you want to say to me it's not all that involved it's really it's not all that involved it's really quite simple quite simple we know what jesus means by new life we know what jesus means by new life life through his name life through his name we believe we believe we have been baptized into him we have been baptized into him and we now live in him and we now live in him indeed that phrase in christ indeed that phrase in christ is on its own a very interesting and is on its own a very interesting and profitable study in the new testament profitable study in the new testament or the phrase through christ or the phrase through christ and we know what this means and we know what this means its connection with the high priesthood its connection with the high priesthood of the lord jesus of the lord jesus surely perhaps therefore you wish to say surely perhaps therefore you wish to say to me to me this new life and its definition is very this new life and its definition is very simple simple it means firstly our life of it means firstly our life of discipleship in him discipleship in him founded upon belief in jesus as the founded upon belief in jesus as the christ christ and all its attendant implications in and all its attendant implications in the promises and the prophecies that the promises and the prophecies that were revealed in him and will be finally were revealed in him and will be finally consummated in him consummated in him this is the foundation stone the basis this is the foundation stone the basis of our belief of our belief secondly our life secondly our life of following his example of following his example taking up our cross and following in his taking up our cross and following in his footsteps footsteps thirdly our association continually with thirdly our association continually with his sacrifice his sacrifice not only in the important way in the not only in the important way in the breaking of bread and in the drinking of breaking of bread and in the drinking of wine wine except the flesh of the son of man and except the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood you have no life in you drink his blood you have no life in you not only in that important way but in not only in that important way but in the carrying out of that principle day the carrying out of that principle day to day to day and week to week and week to week in an individual life of commitment in an individual life of commitment and sacrifice that endeavors to mirror and sacrifice that endeavors to mirror that of the lord jesus christ himself that of the lord jesus christ himself and fourthly and fourthly our expectation of his return our expectation of his return and the consummation of all things in and the consummation of all things in him him this is what is involved in the new life this is what is involved in the new life in life through his name in life through his name well of course my dear brother and well of course my dear brother and sisters this is true sisters this is true but i think the message of the apostle but i think the message of the apostle john to us john to us today today is that this is not all the truth is that this is not all the truth on this very important matter on this very important matter there is something more there is something more and it's something to do with the goal and it's something to do with the goal that we are aiming for that we are aiming for and not only that when we talk about life or age-abiding life or age-abiding life we usually think of it in terms of its we usually think of it in terms of its length length when it starts when it starts how long it goes on for how long it goes on for and if and when it concludes and if and when it concludes so we picture so we picture immortality immortality as best we can as best we can as a life of unending continuity my dear brethren sisters there's something more isn't there something more isn't there we know in our heart of hearts that this we know in our heart of hearts that this is so from the teaching of scripture is so from the teaching of scripture for immortality is not only a life of of for immortality is not only a life of of unending continuity unending continuity it is also a life of unsurpassed quality it is also a life of unsurpassed quality this was the proclamation of the apostle this was the proclamation of the apostle paul paul of those to whom he wrote so my proposition to you today is that when the apostle john talks is that when the apostle john talks about life about life and about new life and about new life he's not merely thinking about its he's not merely thinking about its length length but more importantly but more importantly its breadth and what do i mean by its its breadth and what do i mean by its breadth breadth well its characteristics well its characteristics its quality its direction its goal and its quality its direction its goal and its values and the supporting evidence is of course in the scripture and i'd is of course in the scripture and i'd like you to come with me to the first like you to come with me to the first epistle of john epistle of john and the first chapter and the first chapter there are many passages that could be there are many passages that could be used to confirm this observation but i'm used to confirm this observation but i'm just going to just going to give you one let's begin with the first chapter just to set the scene and the context first to set the scene and the context first john chapter 1 and verse 1 john chapter 1 and verse 1 that which was from the beginning which that which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with we have heard which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon and our eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the word of our hands have handled of the word of life life for the life was manifested and we have for the life was manifested and we have seen it and bear witness and show unto seen it and bear witness and show unto you the eternal life which was with the you the eternal life which was with the father father and was manifested and was manifested unto us unto us i'm sure my dear brother and sisters you i'm sure my dear brother and sisters you will agree with me will agree with me we have something here that is more than we have something here that is more than the written record about the word made the written record about the word made flesh that which we have seen with our eyes that which we have looked upon that which we have looked upon and our hands have handled surely here and our hands have handled surely here we have a direct reference to the person we have a direct reference to the person of the lord jesus christ himself of the lord jesus christ himself the life of jesus the life of jesus its example its example and its basis and its basis chapter 5 chapter 5 and verse 12 and verse 12 with that picture of the lord jesus in with that picture of the lord jesus in your minds your minds consider this teaching of john consider this teaching of john he that hath the son hath life he that hath the son hath life and he that hath not the son of god and he that hath not the son of god hath not life hath not life very clear cut isn't it very clear cut isn't it there is to be for each one of us there is to be for each one of us a spiritual life a spiritual life in this life in this life and that spiritual life and that spiritual life is centered and based upon the lord is centered and based upon the lord jesus christ jesus christ and this spiritual life and this spiritual life is the precursor to that life in the is the precursor to that life in the mercy of god that will be revealed in mercy of god that will be revealed in the future the future and so we see eternal life and so we see eternal life supremely manifested in the sun supremely manifested in the sun in the way that he lived in the way that he lived and in his complete responsiveness to and in his complete responsiveness to the father's will the father's will a consideration of the lord jesus a consideration of the lord jesus and his obedience to his father and his obedience to his father should give us a new dimension in our should give us a new dimension in our thinking thinking and it is a spiritual dimension so the living can be dead and the dead and the dead can live again can live again the strong the hail and the hearty can the strong the hail and the hearty can be described as dead be described as dead their life has gone out in spiritual their life has gone out in spiritual terms terms the scriptures are full of examples of the scriptures are full of examples of this this the prodigal son was dead the prodigal son was dead but he came to life again and it wasn't but he came to life again and it wasn't bodily resurrection bodily resurrection but it did reveal the kind of life that but it did reveal the kind of life that he had been leading he had been leading it was a cul-de-sac it was a cul-de-sac filled with all kinds of waste and filled with all kinds of waste and refuse refuse i think you have an even more dramatic i think you have an even more dramatic term in this country for our term term in this country for our term cul-de-sac cul-de-sac the term the term dead end dead end which even more graphically represents which even more graphically represents the kind of life in which the prodigal the kind of life in which the prodigal son was engaged son was engaged it was the terminus of life it was the terminus of life and it was the beginning of death to the man with the secular and the earthly interests the lord jesus christ earthly interests the lord jesus christ said let the dead bury their dead said let the dead bury their dead to the merry widow in first timothy 5 6 to the merry widow in first timothy 5 6 paul proclaims paul proclaims she that liveth in pleasure she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth is dead while she liveth to the ecclesia at sardis to the ecclesia at sardis jesus said jesus said i know that there has to name that thou i know that there has to name that thou livest livest and and are dead are dead no doubt it was a famous ecclesia no doubt it was a famous ecclesia it looked like a temple it looked like a temple but jesus saw inside but jesus saw inside and what did he see and what did he see he saw too he saw too a grave a grave the ecclesia was pulsating with life it the ecclesia was pulsating with life it was vibrant was vibrant it was memorable it was memorable but it was spiritually dead but it was spiritually dead in the sight of god in the sight of god in other words in other words death was a quality of life death was a quality of life it was life descending it was life it was life descending it was life temporal it was life transient it was temporal it was life transient it was life degenerating it was life decaying life degenerating it was life decaying it was a selfish life and a selfish life is a self-indulgent life is a self-indulgent life and a self-indulgent life and a self-indulgent life is a wasted life is a wasted life that my dear brother and sisters that my dear brother and sisters is the fullness of teaching of the lord is the fullness of teaching of the lord jesus on taking up the cross he that seeks to save his life shall lose it but the new life the life through the name of the lord the life through the name of the lord jesus christ jesus christ is life exalting ascending renewing is life exalting ascending renewing triumphing triumphing and victorious over the forces of sin and victorious over the forces of sin and temptation and temptation it is life at its highest and at its it is life at its highest and at its best it is life as it was potentially best it is life as it was potentially meant to be in the purpose of god and in essence my dear brethren sisters these two kinds of life are poles apart these two kinds of life are poles apart for that is the implication of the usage for that is the implication of the usage of these words in the scriptures of these words in the scriptures life life and death and death light light and dark and dark and so we are related to one or the and so we are related to one or the other this is the implications of this other this is the implications of this principle principle dead to sin dead to sin and alive unto god or living and alive unto god or living and still dead and there's one passage in the gospel of john john chapter five chapter five which will be well known to you which will be well known to you and we often use it in connection with and we often use it in connection with the resurrection of the lord jesus the resurrection of the lord jesus christ christ and the resurrection at the last day and the resurrection at the last day as a proof text as a proof text to encourage our friends towards this to encourage our friends towards this belief in the resurrection at the last belief in the resurrection at the last day but i think perhaps as we have day but i think perhaps as we have noticed there is further truth in these noticed there is further truth in these verses john chapter 5 and verse 24. verily i say unto you he that heareth my word and believeth on he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hat everlasting life him that sent me hat everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death is passed from death and to life and to life verily verily i say unto you the hour is verily verily i say unto you the hour is coming and now is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of when the dead shall hear the voice of the son of god the son of god and they that hear and they that hear shall live shall live so we know certainly and unequivocally so we know certainly and unequivocally that the lord jesus christ was talking that the lord jesus christ was talking about the last day about the last day go a little further down go a little further down verse 28 marvel not at this verse 28 marvel not at this for the hour is coming in the which all for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the grave shall hear his that are in the grave shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that voice and shall come forth they that have done good and to the resurrection have done good and to the resurrection of life and they that have done evil of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation unto the resurrection of damnation that great picture of the coming out of that great picture of the coming out of the graves at the last day the the graves at the last day the separation and the polarization between separation and the polarization between those who are faithful and those who are those who are faithful and those who are not but that's not the only truth my dear brother and sisters brother and sisters in this passage is it in this passage is it consider again the words in verse 25 consider again the words in verse 25 the hour is coming future tense the hour is coming future tense and now is present tense and now is present tense when the dead shall hear the voice of when the dead shall hear the voice of the son of god the son of god and they that hear and they that hear shall live shall live in other words in other words for the present tense application he for the present tense application he must be talking about the spiritually must be talking about the spiritually dead dead that they too can come out of that state that they too can come out of that state of death even in the present life of death even in the present life and come to a new life a fullness of and come to a new life a fullness of life life based upon the lord jesus christ and his based upon the lord jesus christ and his sacrifice there are further passages which i'm not going to turn to which i think confirm going to turn to which i think confirm this first peter 4 verses 5 to 6 and 1 this first peter 4 verses 5 to 6 and 1 john 3 john 3 verses 14 to 15. but an important question my dear brother and sisters for each one of us brother and sisters for each one of us is this is this can we determine can we determine to which category we belong do we belong to which category we belong do we belong to the old life the spiritually dead to the old life the spiritually dead or do we belong or do we belong to the new life to the new life those who are spiritually alive in the those who are spiritually alive in the sight of god sight of god i think we can and one very important i think we can and one very important test test is whether we see the spiritual beyond is whether we see the spiritual beyond the material the material whether we see those things that are whether we see those things that are associated with the new life the associated with the new life the spiritual life spiritual life whether we see the spiritual life above whether we see the spiritual life above and beyond the material life consider the experience of the lord jesus himself consider the lilies of the field he said how they toil not how they toil not neither do they spin neither do they spin yet i say unto you that even solomon in yet i say unto you that even solomon in all his glory all his glory was not arrayed was not arrayed like one of these wasn't just decoration that the lord jesus christ saw jesus christ saw not just an ornament not just an ornament or a pretty picture or a pretty picture but he saw the purpose of god in the but he saw the purpose of god in the past past he saw its connection with the present he saw its connection with the present and he saw its application and he saw its application to the life of the disciple therefore if god so clothed the grass of the field the field shall he not much more shall he not much more clothe you or again therefore take no thought saying what shall we eat take no thought saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we drink two things that the lord jesus christ two things that the lord jesus christ brought out from that observation of the brought out from that observation of the lilies in the field just ordinary lilies in the field just ordinary flowers flowers but his insight into the spiritual but his insight into the spiritual dimension associated with those things dimension associated with those things was related was related in teaching to the lives of the in teaching to the lives of the disciples so my dear brethren sisters go out into your gardens go out into your gardens go out into the fields go out into the fields and consider this and consider this these words of jesus surely their primary purpose is lost the flowers the fields and the gardens the flowers the fields and the gardens if they do not remind you of spiritual if they do not remind you of spiritual things of eternal things things of eternal things the flowers of the field the flowers of the field created created by the father's hand their freshness does not remain for long they soon lose their beauty they soon lose their beauty and return to the earth and they mirrored do they not the life of the one in whose memory they the life of the one in whose memory they have been given have been given so soon cut down so soon cut down and the spirit returns to god who gave and the spirit returns to god who gave it the transience of life always a reminder always a reminder to we who are living to we who are living that the opportunities are that the opportunities are so short-lived so short-lived and we so soon pass away and we so soon pass away so teach us to number our days so teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom that we may personally and individually that we may personally and individually search out and seek to cultivate the search out and seek to cultivate the christ-like life christ-like life while there is yet time his faithful friend lazarus had fallen asleep behold how he loved him said the jews but the lord jesus christ saw beyond the raising of a friend saw beyond the raising of a friend he saw the raising of all the faithful he saw the raising of all the faithful at the last at the last day and so that resurrection of lazarus day and so that resurrection of lazarus to a continuance of mortal life to a continuance of mortal life was but a foretaste wasn't it but martha's faith sealed it sealed it both the resurrection then both the resurrection then and the resurrection at the last day and the resurrection at the last day i know that he shall rise again i know that he shall rise again in the resurrection in the resurrection at the last day at the last day what a faith she had not only in the what a faith she had not only in the purpose of god as it had been revealed purpose of god as it had been revealed in the past in the past but the purpose of god is it was sent in but the purpose of god is it was sent in the lord jesus christ who was in her the lord jesus christ who was in her very presence very presence that it was to be indeed christ the that it was to be indeed christ the first first and afterward they that are christ's and afterward they that are christ's at his coming jesus looked up to heaven and saw the birds and saw the birds the sparrows the sparrows and he saw that not one of them fell to and he saw that not one of them fell to the ground the ground unnoticed by his father in heaven unnoticed by his father in heaven and from the sparrows and from the sparrows he considers ourselves he considers ourselves that all the hairs of our head that all the hairs of our head are numbered are numbered and we are of more value than many and we are of more value than many sparrows sparrows he saw the children playing in the he saw the children playing in the streets streets and what did he see and what did he see not just their games not just their games and their joyful association together and their joyful association together but he saw their angels in heaven but he saw their angels in heaven their angels do always behold the face their angels do always behold the face of my father of my father which is in heaven he saw a man and a wife and what did he see and what did he see he saw he saw in the beginning and he saw also christ christ and the ecclesia and the ecclesia we know that he did we know that he did because the apostle paul later proclaims because the apostle paul later proclaims this as a teaching and as a doctrine to this as a teaching and as a doctrine to the ephesians and the epistle of james when considering the principle of giving considering the principle of giving invites us to consider our gifts invites us to consider our gifts gracious though they may be gracious though they may be as but temporal things as but temporal things and that every good and perfect gift and that every good and perfect gift cometh down from above cometh down from above from the father of lights with whom is from the father of lights with whom is no variableness no variableness nor shadow of turning and in all these simple things my dear brother and sisters these temporal brother and sisters these temporal things and these transient things things and these transient things we are invited we are invited we are encouraged we are commanded we are encouraged we are commanded to see behind them to see behind them the fundamental and spiritual things the fundamental and spiritual things of the purpose of god the lord jesus always saw eternal things beyond temporal things beyond temporal things for his mind was in tune with the for his mind was in tune with the eternal eternal he seemed to have nothing by the he seemed to have nothing by the standards of the world standards of the world and yet we know he had everything what about the opposite kind of life the old life the old life those who can so easily be spiritually those who can so easily be spiritually dead dead well we know there are examples in well we know there are examples in scripture scripture and in giving this example to you and in giving this example to you we do not in any way wish to imply that we do not in any way wish to imply that we look down upon them from a great we look down upon them from a great height height as if we in any way are more superior as if we in any way are more superior more developed in our christ-like life more developed in our christ-like life but merely is a warning but merely is a warning that has been given to us in the word of that has been given to us in the word of god god there was the opposite kind of life there was the opposite kind of life in certain of the brethren sisters in in certain of the brethren sisters in corinth corinth who indulge themselves who pursued who indulge themselves who pursued private goals who neglected their private goals who neglected their brother or even worse brother or even worse would attempt to take him to law would attempt to take him to law they pursued a course of they pursued a course of self-aggrandizement self-aggrandizement i have better gifts than you i have better gifts than you they got involved in parties and they got involved in parties and infections they fell prey to immorality infections they fell prey to immorality eat what you like think what you like do eat what you like think what you like do what you like and be what you like what you like and be what you like and it was all and it was all centered in a temporal kind of existence centered in a temporal kind of existence eat drink and be merry almost so preoccupied with today and today's experiences and today's experiences and today's temporal life and today's temporal life that they forgot to look beyond that they forgot to look beyond to the spiritual the rich young ruler came to jesus one thing thou lackest he said one thing thou lackest he said sell all that thou hast and distribute sell all that thou hast and distribute unto the poor unto the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come and come follow me follow me and so it's got to be treasure on earth and so it's got to be treasure on earth or treasure in heaven or treasure in heaven that was the choice then and it's the that was the choice then and it's the choice today choice today it's one or the other in the end it's one or the other in the end not a little of each mixed until the not a little of each mixed until the blend is just right blend is just right it's not the blend that counts it's the it's not the blend that counts it's the end the goal the destination for jesus end the goal the destination for jesus said where your treasure is said where your treasure is there will your heart be there will your heart be also also along that central axis of our existence along that central axis of our existence the heart its affections its desires the heart its affections its desires its objectives the final issue will be its objectives the final issue will be decided decided where is our treasure where is our treasure my beloved brethren sisters my beloved brethren sisters for the heart cannot be in two places at for the heart cannot be in two places at once once for jesus says it would be like trying for jesus says it would be like trying to serve two masters to serve two masters you will either love the one and hate you will either love the one and hate the other the other or hate the one or hate the one and love the other and love the other it would be like a city it would be like a city divided against itself divided against itself it would not be able to stand it would not be able to stand its treasure in heaven or treasure on its treasure in heaven or treasure on earth it's life through his name or life earth it's life through his name or life against his name against his name it's the new life it's the new life the spiritual life or it's the old life dressed up it's the old life masquerading old life masquerading as the new life as the new life he that is not with me said jesus he that is not with me said jesus is against me is against me and he that gathereth not with me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad scattereth abroad its life abundant its life abundant or its life descended to the dust or its life descended to the dust from which we came the apostle peter reminds us that we do indeed have a lively hope that we do indeed have a lively hope blessed be the god and father of our blessed be the god and father of our lord jesus christ lord jesus christ which according to his abundant mercy which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hath begotten us again unto a lively hope hope by the resurrection of jesus christ by the resurrection of jesus christ from the dead from the dead this surely my dear brethren sisters this surely my dear brethren sisters should be a great motivating force in should be a great motivating force in our life lives of discipleship our life lives of discipleship the lively hope the lively hope pointing us to an inheritance pointing us to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away fadeth not away reserved in heaven reserved in heaven for you for you and we remember and we remember in our association with the sacrifice of in our association with the sacrifice of christ christ in a sense a foretaste of these things in a sense a foretaste of these things for we were not redeemed with for we were not redeemed with corruptible things corruptible things such as silver and gold such as silver and gold but with the precious blood of christ but with the precious blood of christ the very act of partaking the very act of partaking should remind us of the should remind us of the inheritance that is yet to be inheritance that is yet to be the inheritance that is incorruptable the inheritance that is incorruptable and undefiled and undefiled that we eat this bread that we eat this bread and drink this cup and drink this cup until he come just a little word the until he come just a little word the word until word until but invites us to cast our minds back but invites us to cast our minds back across the ages across the ages to consider the present in the light of to consider the present in the light of the past the past and to consider the prospect of the and to consider the prospect of the future future in the light of the present in the light of the present and to aim always and to aim always for that future this is the goal and the for that future this is the goal and the destination destination it is reserved in heaven for those who it is reserved in heaven for those who are kept by the power of god through are kept by the power of god through faith unto salvation faith unto salvation ready to be revealed ready to be revealed in the last time the past the present the present and the future and the future associated with the great work of associated with the great work of salvation salvation is indeed a very interesting study is indeed a very interesting study and i remember it was an elderly brother and i remember it was an elderly brother in my own ecclesia who's now fallen in my own ecclesia who's now fallen asleep in jesus many years ago who first asleep in jesus many years ago who first suggested this to me as a topic suggested this to me as a topic for a bible class for a bible class for bible study for bible study that there are brothers and sisters that there are brothers and sisters these three tenses of salvation these three tenses of salvation used with all the great words associated used with all the great words associated with the salvation of god with the salvation of god it's very interesting to study them i'm it's very interesting to study them i'm not going to do so today i'm just really not going to do so today i'm just really reminding you of this fact reminding you of this fact it's very interesting how that some of it's very interesting how that some of the contemporary communities to the contemporary communities to ourselves ourselves only emphasize only emphasize perhaps two of these three tenses of perhaps two of these three tenses of salvation salvation perhaps the present and the past perhaps the present and the past perhaps the present and the future only perhaps the present and the future only and forgetting and forgetting the words of god through the old the words of god through the old testament testament and so on and so on we can only have a balanced picture a we can only have a balanced picture a full picture of the revelation of god if full picture of the revelation of god if we endeavor to keep all these three we endeavor to keep all these three tenses together tenses together intention the one intention the one with the other so the new life life through the name of the lord jesus the lord jesus leads to that fullest realize it leads to that fullest realize it realization of life at that great realization of life at that great harvest that is yet to be harvest that is yet to be you can't really tell the difference now you can't really tell the difference now between a man who lives the old life between a man who lives the old life or a man who lives the new life or a man who lives the new life the man who lives to himself the man who lives to himself so difficult isn't it for us to judge so difficult isn't it for us to judge one another's hearts one another's hearts the parable of the net that we the parable of the net that we considered yesterday considered yesterday demonstrates that you have to wait demonstrates that you have to wait till the end till the end for the separation to be made for the separation to be made jesus said jesus said that only then that only then would the final polarization take place would the final polarization take place but the end result my dear brethren but the end result my dear brethren sisters sisters is related is related to the time now to the time now to our present experience to our present experience it is related to the sowing it is related to the sowing that we may choose to do now that we may choose to do now and there's a law of sowing and there's a law of sowing we are either sowing to the lord we are either sowing to the lord or we are sowing to ourselves or we are sowing to ourselves one or the other one or the other if we wish to live that fullness of life if we wish to live that fullness of life in the kingdom in the kingdom we must be sowing to that kind of life we must be sowing to that kind of life now now but there's nothing really magical but there's nothing really magical about an inheritance in the kingdom of about an inheritance in the kingdom of god god we know what the qualities and we know what the qualities and characteristics and values of that characteristics and values of that kingdom will be kingdom will be and so even now we should be cultivating and so even now we should be cultivating and seeking to demonstrate in our own and seeking to demonstrate in our own lives lives those values those values these things are written said john these things are written said john that ye might believe that jesus is the that ye might believe that jesus is the christ christ the son of god the son of god and that believing and that believing he might have life he might have life through his name the disciples the twelve disciples were confronted with the message of the were confronted with the message of the lord lord and thomas and thomas that sturdy-minded empiricist said that sturdy-minded empiricist said except i shall see in his hands the except i shall see in his hands the print of the nails print of the nails i will not believe what a strange thing i will not believe what a strange thing but it didn't really matter what it was but it didn't really matter what it was did it did it it began with a little word it began with a little word except except and that was enough and we can say the same thing my dear brother and sisters we can attempt to have a kind of conditional discipleship conditional discipleship i will follow thee lord i will follow thee lord but with certain reservations but with certain reservations because i'm not quite sure what the because i'm not quite sure what the outcome is going to be outcome is going to be or what kind of tribulation or suffering or what kind of tribulation or suffering may lay before me may lay before me the answer of jesus is always the same the answer of jesus is always the same and it comes down across the ages and it comes down across the ages be not faithless be not faithless but believing but believing the great and central issue the great and central issue of faith of faith and doubt and doubt or perhaps more correctly or perhaps more correctly faithlessness faithlessness and doubt for is the hint in that word and doubt for is the hint in that word that faith is something more than that faith is something more than something that is static something that is static something more than a commitment that something more than a commitment that was made at a point in time in the past was made at a point in time in the past and is the basis and foundation for the and is the basis and foundation for the status quo status quo but is rather but is rather something that is continual something that is continual continually developing continually developing and growing and growing dynamic dynamic not static the apostle paul proclaimed i am crucified with christ crucified with christ nevertheless i live nevertheless i live yet not i yet not i but christ liveth in me but christ liveth in me and the life which i now live in the and the life which i now live in the flesh i live by the faith of the son of flesh i live by the faith of the son of god who loved me god who loved me and gave himself for me and gave himself for me so he could proclaim certainly so he could proclaim certainly i can do all things through christ i can do all things through christ who strengthens me so may we summarize my dear brother and sisters sisters what we're trying to say today what we're trying to say today in one sense in one sense we already have redemption we already have redemption romans 3 24 romans 3 24 ephesians 1 7 colossians 1 14 ephesians 1 7 colossians 1 14 but in another sense we have still to but in another sense we have still to wait for the redemption that is to say wait for the redemption that is to say the redemption of the body the redemption of the body in one sense we have already been in one sense we have already been justified justified romans 5 verse 1 romans 5 verse 1 but in another sense righteousness is but in another sense righteousness is something that we still await and hope something that we still await and hope to attain unto galatians 5 5 to attain unto galatians 5 5 we look forward to the glory that is yet we look forward to the glory that is yet to be revealed in us by the mercy of god to be revealed in us by the mercy of god romans 8 verse 18 romans 8 verse 18 but already we are being transformed but already we are being transformed from one degree of glory to another from one degree of glory to another 2 corinthians 3 verse 18. 2 corinthians 3 verse 18. we have already been granted new life we have already been granted new life romans 6 4 romans 6 4 2 corinthians 3 verse 6 2 corinthians 3 verse 6 but eternal life still remains an end but eternal life still remains an end and a goal to be striven for and a goal to be striven for romans 6 22 romans 6 22 galatians 6 8 galatians 6 8 we are already in the process of being we are already in the process of being saved saved first corinthians 1 18 15 2 first corinthians 1 18 15 2 2 corinthians 2 15 2 corinthians 2 15 but our salvation will only be complete but our salvation will only be complete at the last day at the last day romans 5 9 romans 5 9 1 thessalonians 5 8-9 1 thessalonians 5 8-9 we have already received the status of we have already received the status of adopted sons romans 8 15 galatians 4 5 adopted sons romans 8 15 galatians 4 5 but we still wait for the adoption as but we still wait for the adoption as sons sons romans 8 23 romans 8 23 in all in all these principles there is a tension these principles there is a tension between present fulfillment and future between present fulfillment and future hope there is a dual relationship hope there is a dual relationship between the part and the whole between the part and the whole and each word indicates that salvation and each word indicates that salvation is not something attained all at once in is not something attained all at once in this life or wholly reserved for the this life or wholly reserved for the next next it speaks of something begun in the it speaks of something begun in the present but not completed something present but not completed something participated in but not yet fully participated in but not yet fully possessed possessed and so it is and so it is with resurrection with resurrection and new life and new life in one sense the resurrection is already in one sense the resurrection is already passed passed for at our baptism for at our baptism we share in christ's resurrection we share in christ's resurrection colossians 2 12 colossians 2 12 and 3 1 and 3 1 but in another sense the resurrection is but in another sense the resurrection is clearly and definitively future clearly and definitively future for only then with the resurrection of for only then with the resurrection of the body the body will the whole man be made alive will the whole man be made alive romans 6 verse 5 romans 6 verse 5 first corinthians 15. so the future is first corinthians 15. so the future is related to the present glorious hopes of related to the present glorious hopes of present realities future prospects have present realities future prospects have for us for us an immediate foretaste an immediate foretaste the things that will be the things that will be are related inescapably to the things are related inescapably to the things which now are which now are so ponder this so ponder this my dear brethren sisters my dear brethren sisters as you consider his promises as you consider his promises on the precious on the precious privilege privilege even now even now of new life of new life in christ jesus

Transcript

there are six elements in the fourth chapter of the first epistle of peter chapter of the first epistle of peter which we can notice in a kind of which we can notice in a kind of overview fashion to begin our class overview fashion to begin our class today first of all the apostle peter reminds us of the day of reckoning verse 5 us of the day of reckoning verse 5 who shall give account to him that is who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead ready to judge the quick and the dead the day of reckoning for the life lived the day of reckoning for the life lived and the actions done secondly the possibility of trial the possibility of trial between the present time between the present time and that future time and that future time that last day that last day verse 12 verse 12 beloved think thinking not strange beloved think thinking not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to concerning the fiery trial which is to try you try you as though some strange thing happened as though some strange thing happened unto you unto you and therefore thirdly by implication and therefore thirdly by implication this trial should not come as a surprise this trial should not come as a surprise fourthly fourthly the disciple should remain unmoved nay the disciple should remain unmoved nay even more he should rejoice even more he should rejoice verse 13 verse 13 rejoice in as much as ye are partakers rejoice in as much as ye are partakers of christ's sufferings that when his of christ's sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also also with exceeding joy with exceeding joy to rejoice to rejoice both at the prospect of trial both at the prospect of trial and in the trial itself and in the trial itself the most remarkable thing the most remarkable thing a most unusual thing a most unusual thing by the standards of the world by the standards of the world fifthly fifthly there are there are at least in the context here at least in the context here two kinds of trial that brought upon two kinds of trial that brought upon oneself by evil doing verse 15 oneself by evil doing verse 15 let none of you suffer as a murderer or let none of you suffer as a murderer or as a thief or as an evil doer or as a as a thief or as an evil doer or as a busy body in other men's matters busy body in other men's matters and the other kind of suffering and the other kind of suffering that brought upon oneself by bearing the that brought upon oneself by bearing the name of christ name of christ verse 16. verse 16. if any man suffer as a christian if any man suffer as a christian let him not be ashamed but let him let him not be ashamed but let him glorify god glorify god on this behalf and both of those two kinds of trial two kinds of trial two kinds of suffering two kinds of suffering have their consequences have their consequences but the first is the wrong kind of trial but the first is the wrong kind of trial brought about by the consequences of sin brought about by the consequences of sin it's evil it's evil it's abhorrent it's unnecessary and it's it's abhorrent it's unnecessary and it's avoidable avoidable and the second kind is brought about by and the second kind is brought about by the world's natural hostility to christ the world's natural hostility to christ and all those who seek to bear the name and all those who seek to bear the name of christ of christ for dark and light in the end for dark and light in the end are at opposite poles just notice in passing how this theme of judgment judgment reappears again in verse 17 reappears again in verse 17 bracketing this consideration of trial bracketing this consideration of trial between verses 5 and sixteen and sixthly the trial should be a greater impetus the trial should be a greater impetus to faith and trust in god to faith and trust in god verse nineteen verse nineteen wherefore let them that suffer according wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of god commit the keeping of to the will of god commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing their souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful creator as unto a faithful creator true worship true worship and service of the faithful creator and service of the faithful creator should result in true should result in true and faithful disciples and faithful disciples particularly in the context of trial particularly in the context of trial and suffering and suffering so here my dear brethren sisters so here my dear brethren sisters are six elements are six elements to the subject of trial to the subject of trial and suffering and suffering which are apparent just which are apparent just from a careful reading of this chapter from a careful reading of this chapter we don't need any special ability we don't need any special ability to see the message to see the message and to derive help and guidance and to derive help and guidance and perhaps even courage from these and perhaps even courage from these words and so the whole passage and the context implies constancy consistency and implies constancy consistency and continuing in the faith continuing in the faith the circumstances of discipleship may the circumstances of discipleship may vary vary they may in fact not be conducive they may in fact not be conducive to discipleship in its truest and best to discipleship in its truest and best sense sense they may even be hostile they may even be hostile but the disciple on his part but the disciple on his part should never vary should never vary save to improve his faith save to improve his faith to improve his trust to improve his trust in god in god and his resolve resolve of the will to and his resolve resolve of the will to seek to perform the father's will the ship my dear brother and sisters that sets out from the port that sets out from the port and returns again when it encounters a and returns again when it encounters a storm storm never reaches the destination never reaches the destination and similarly and similarly the disciple having begun the journey the disciple having begun the journey must seek all ways to continue that must seek all ways to continue that journey journey until the harbor of the destination is until the harbor of the destination is reached reached but it will not be an easy journey but it will not be an easy journey we know that the storms of life we know that the storms of life are very like the storms at sea for example seasickness seasickness forces upon the mind forces upon the mind the horror the horror of continuing the journey of continuing the journey as all those who who have experienced it as all those who who have experienced it will testify will testify but the journey must go on but the journey must go on for in a sense it is out of our hands for in a sense it is out of our hands the captain steers the course he knows the captain steers the course he knows the way the way he knows the ultimate destination he knows the ultimate destination and he know that it is better to reach and he know that it is better to reach that destination that destination than to retrace one steps than to retrace one steps he knows that in retrospect he knows that in retrospect the journey is far better to be the journey is far better to be completed completed than to be abandoned and once on the far shore the one who perhaps was weakest at the the one who perhaps was weakest at the knees knees during the journey during the journey only complains of being slightly only complains of being slightly off color off color the strange thing it is the strange thing it is this difference between this difference between prospect the experience prospect the experience and looking back and looking back in retrospect in retrospect so it is with the way to the kingdom so it is with the way to the kingdom the captain of our salvation knows the the captain of our salvation knows the root the difficulties the trials and the root the difficulties the trials and the obstacles obstacles and he knows that in retrospect and he knows that in retrospect the journey will be the better the journey will be the better for being completed recall again the parable of the sower the parable of the sower and he that received the seed and he that received the seed into the good ground there was progression there was development there was development there was fruitfulness there was there was fruitfulness there was responsiveness and there was responsiveness and there was faithfulness faithfulness the seed the seed and the good ground and the good ground that which was capable of life that which was capable of life matched by the quality matched by the quality of that which received it the question for us my dear brother and sisters sisters is this do we value is this do we value truly value truly value that which we have received that which we have received is it a pearl of great price is it a pearl of great price do we treat the hope of salvation like do we treat the hope of salvation like that that or do we treat it or do we treat it as if it were an imitation leave it lying around unguarded and uncared for if we are conscious of the inestimable value of something of the inestimable value of something so that it is in reality completely so that it is in reality completely irreplacea irreplaceable irreplacea irreplaceable do we not take steps do we not take steps to ensure its continual safety we keep a watch over it night night and day or the other category when tribulation arises when tribulation arises or persecution or persecution because of the word because of the word by and by by and by he is he is offended only dureth offended only dureth for a while for a while and so in these words my dear brother and so in these words my dear brother and sisters and sisters there is a very clear teaching there is a very clear teaching that it is only the passage of time that that it is only the passage of time that tells the true story of the character tells the true story of the character the nature the nature and the quality of a man's discipleship and the quality of a man's discipleship it's not sealed it's not sealed in a moment of time in a moment of time it's only sealed at the last day when it's only sealed at the last day when the pilgrimage has run its course and so if there's no developing interest on our part now in spiritual things on our part now in spiritual things will there be an opportunity for us in will there be an opportunity for us in the kingdom of god the kingdom of god for that will be for that will be its primary preoccupation its primary preoccupation so the key idea is developing so the key idea is developing growth and development growth and development can be seen at every hand on the natural can be seen at every hand on the natural plane plane in the world sometimes it is good and sometimes it is bad and sometimes it is bad and so too in the spiritual world and so too in the spiritual world it is a spiritual thing to receive the it is a spiritual thing to receive the word word it must be it must be for it doesn't make a man bigger or for it doesn't make a man bigger or stronger stronger or more athletic necessarily or more athletic necessarily but this is but the beginning an acorn may say great oak trees great oak trees from little acorns from little acorns always grow always grow and we may say and we may say i will leave it to god i will leave it to god he will ensure he will ensure that i grow into an oak tree that i grow into an oak tree in his good time the law of nature my dear brethren sisters my dear brethren sisters but the law of discipleship but the law of discipleship is not the law of the acorn there are at least four laws four principles principles revealed to us in that parable of the revealed to us in that parable of the sower sower different courses that can be taken different courses that can be taken different results that can be the final different results that can be the final outcome but not automatically into good ground it is not a law of nature in spiritual things in spiritual things it is rather related to our choice it is rather related to our choice it is a matter of the will it is a matter of the will we decide what we are going to do we decide what we are going to do with the hope that we have received with the hope that we have received we decide what we are going to do with we decide what we are going to do with our time our time with our money with our money and with our energies our employer perhaps takes a third of our time our rest at night takes a further third but we decide takes a further third but we decide how we are going to use the remainder how we are going to use the remainder food transport shelter and clothing food transport shelter and clothing takes a certain proportion of our money takes a certain proportion of our money but we decide how we are going to use but we decide how we are going to use the remainder the remainder perhaps even then we've got it the wrong perhaps even then we've got it the wrong way around way around we should be thinking first we should be thinking first of that which should be devoted to god of that which should be devoted to god and then consider and then consider how we may utilize the remainder how we may utilize the remainder our energies our energies are partly devoted to our work are partly devoted to our work the necessary work the necessary work we decide we decide how we will use the remainder so constancy and discipleship implies implies perpetual perpetual steady steady abiding abiding with respect to time that is always with respect to time that is always passing passing how do you regard time my dear brethren how do you regard time my dear brethren sisters sisters is it your friend is it your friend your companion your companion or is it your enemy a faithful disciple is one who is a good steward of all his is one who is a good steward of all his resources resources which he recognizes are all god given which he recognizes are all god given in the first place in the first place this is the transforming perspective this is the transforming perspective which builds up today's disciple which builds up today's disciple and prepares him for the trials and the and prepares him for the trials and the tribulations tribulations that may come tomorrow that may come tomorrow its challenges its opportunities its challenges its opportunities and its perils and its perils particularly particularly in the context of our address today in the context of our address today its persecutions its persecutions and its tribulations there is no doubt my dear brother and sisters that the immediate application sisters that the immediate application of these words of these words in the fourth chapter of the first in the fourth chapter of the first epistle of peter epistle of peter anticipated the time of persecution anticipated the time of persecution shortly to come upon those disciples to shortly to come upon those disciples to whom the apostle peter wrote but these principles and these teachings and these teachings are surely no less true are surely no less true for subsequent generations verse 15 applied directly applied directly of chapter 3 rather of chapter 3 rather sanctify the lord god in your hearts and sanctify the lord god in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is within you with the hope that is within you with meekness and fear meekness and fear no doubt this applied directly to the no doubt this applied directly to the situation of giving an account situation of giving an account before the authorities something that before the authorities something that they immediately expected they immediately expected and wish to be prepared for and wish to be prepared for and we recall that the apostle paul and we recall that the apostle paul answered for himself before festus and answered for himself before festus and before before agrippa at my first answer agrippa at my first answer he wrote to timothy he wrote to timothy no man stood with me no man stood with me but all men but all men forsook me patrolling my dear brother and sisters these principles these principles are true in a wider context are true in a wider context be ready always be ready always to give an answer to give an answer for the hope that was that is within you for the hope that was that is within you not just in the first century context not just in the first century context but in any context of discipleship there are a number of other passages in the the first epistle of peter which relate to first epistle of peter which relate to this theme of endurance in the face of this theme of endurance in the face of impending trial impending trial tribulation and persecution perhaps we tribulation and persecution perhaps we could just look very quickly at them could just look very quickly at them chapter 1 chapter 1 and verse 6. wherein ye greatly rejoice though now for a season if need be we are in for a season if need be we are in heaviness through manifold temptations heaviness through manifold temptations that the trial of your faith being much that the trial of your faith being much more precious than a goal that perisheth more precious than a goal that perisheth though it betried with fire though it betried with fire might be found unto praise and honor and might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of jesus christ glory at the appearing of jesus christ once again once again this idea of suffering this idea of suffering and persecution and of testing and persecution and of testing must be seen in the context of that must be seen in the context of that which is yet to be the coming of the lord jesus chapter 2 chapter 2 and verse 19. this is thank worthy if a man for conscience toward god end your grief conscience toward god end your grief suffering wrongfully suffering wrongfully for what glory is it for what glory is it if when you be buffeted for your faults if when you be buffeted for your faults you shall take it patiently but if when you shall take it patiently but if when you do well and suffer for it you take you do well and suffer for it you take it patiently this is acceptable with god it patiently this is acceptable with god for even here unto were ye called for even here unto were ye called because christ also suffered for us because christ also suffered for us leaving us an example leaving us an example that you should follow that you should follow his steps his steps chapter 3 chapter 3 and verse 14 but and if ye suffer for righteousness sake happy are ye sake happy are ye and be not afraid of their terror and be not afraid of their terror neither be troubled neither be troubled verse 17 verse 17 it is better if the will of god be so it is better if the will of god be so that you suffer for well doing than for that you suffer for well doing than for evil doing evil doing for christ also hath one suffered for for christ also hath one suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to god might bring us to god being put to death in the flesh being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the spirit the time of persecution anticipated by the apostle peter anticipated by the apostle peter is no doubt a situation in a is no doubt a situation in a circumstance circumstance that was very different to our own times that was very different to our own times today today perhaps today perhaps today the primary the primary adversary adversary is indifference is indifference but which my dear brother and sisters but which my dear brother and sisters is the worse is the worse persecution persecution imminent persecution imminent persecution did mean that a resolution had to be did mean that a resolution had to be made made a tribunal meant that a decision had to a tribunal meant that a decision had to be made be made for or against christ for or against christ the issue was immediate the issue was immediate and the issue was clear-cut and so the day of christ could be looked forward to could be looked forward to one way one way or the other or the other in hope in hope and in confidence and in confidence or with a sense of foreboding perhaps our age of apathy of apathy and indifference and indifference is conducive to twilight discipleship never really in the light and never really in the dark and never really in the dark not constant not constant but fluctuating but fluctuating and i use the word twilight and i use the word twilight from man's viewpoint from man's viewpoint we know what the lord god's viewpoint is that there is only light or dark a twilight disciple one who sticks to the shadows one who sticks to the shadows between the meetings of the ecclesia between the meetings of the ecclesia not really in the light not really in the light not really in the dark whether it be tribulation tribulation suffering suffering or persecution will always sharpen the issues and i think we may distinguish ten principles ten principles associated associated with trial we know that through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of god but it cannot do us any real injury any real injury for the experience can lead to blessing first peter 3 and verse 14. thirdly thirdly the final issue the final issue can always be left with god can always be left with god first peter 4 first peter 4 and verse 19. fourthly for he watches over his children for he watches over his children and also their persecutors and also their persecutors chapter 3 chapter 3 and verse 12. and verse 12. fifthly fifthly suffering can be a test suffering can be a test to prove the reality of faith to prove the reality of faith first peter 1 and verse 7. first peter 1 and verse 7. sixthly sixthly god may try god may try or test or test and therefore strengthen our faith and therefore strengthen our faith first peter 1 verse 7 first peter 1 verse 7 seventhly seventhly it can also be a sharing it can also be a sharing a partaking a partaking a participation in a participation in the sufferings of christ the sufferings of christ first peter 4 verse 13 first peter 4 verse 13 eightly eightly as they were the pathway to glory as they were the pathway to glory for jesus himself for jesus himself so they can be also for his followers so they can be also for his followers first peter 4 verse 13 first peter 4 verse 13 and 16. such suffering is to be for us a reminder of the future is to be for us a reminder of the future god will begin his judgment with the god will begin his judgment with the saints saints and so they can look and so they can look beyond the persecution beyond the persecution the immediate situation to a glorious the immediate situation to a glorious future future but on the other hand but on the other hand the unrepentant sinner the unrepentant sinner has nothing to look forward to has nothing to look forward to first peter 4 verse 17 intently god the creator god the creator is also is also preserver consider this very interesting juxtaposition of idea juxtaposition of idea in first peter 4 19 and chapter 5 and in first peter 4 19 and chapter 5 and verse 10 verse 10 wherefore let them that suffer according wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of god to the will of god commit the keeping of their souls to him commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing in well-doing as unto a faithful creator as unto a faithful creator verse 10 of chapter 5 verse 10 of chapter 5 but the god of all grace but the god of all grace who hath called us into his eternal who hath called us into his eternal glory by christ jesus glory by christ jesus after that you have suffered a while after that you have suffered a while make you perfect establish make you perfect establish strengthen strengthen settle you and so the god whose marvels and wonders we have so recently last evening we have so recently last evening witnessed witnessed in the works of his hands in creation in the works of his hands in creation he's also revealed as preserver he's also revealed as preserver that those works of his hands that those works of his hands continue continue and they are as marvelous today and they are as marvelous today as they were when they were created as they were when they were created and what is true and what is true in the natural world in the natural world is true also is true also in the spiritual world and so persecution sharpens the issue adversity highlights the principles adversity highlights the principles tribulation tests and develops the tribulation tests and develops the character let us consider our blessings for a moment my dear brethren sisters moment my dear brethren sisters how many of god's blessings how many of god's blessings do we take for granted in today's do we take for granted in today's twilight world the fellowship together with our brethren and sisters with our brethren and sisters the lecture the lecture the bible class the bible class the fraternal weekend the fraternal weekend the bible school if you were in south africa and in prison and in prison you would not be able to go to any of you would not be able to go to any of these if you were in prison you wouldn't be concerned about the you wouldn't be concerned about the house house or the garden or the garden or the car or the car or the job and its possibilities or the job and its possibilities life would be reduced to its fundamental life would be reduced to its fundamental issues would we be constant then in those circumstances would we be able to see things to be thankful for thankful for in a dark and dingy dungeon we hope that we would the hope of the gospel the hope of the gospel life itself my dear brother and sisters fundamental things fundamental things associated with our calling and our associated with our calling and our discipleship discipleship are vitally important things are vitally important things we must endeavor we must endeavor to take away the trappings of our life to take away the trappings of our life and see what really lies beneath and see what really lies beneath what are we left with what are we left with are we left with a faith that is true are we left with a faith that is true constant constant vital vital and dependable first of all we must be retrospective we must be retrospective and consider the past i'd like for a few moments to consider the man joe the man joe i almost hesitate to do so i almost hesitate to do so in the context of this class in the context of this class for we all know how deep and profound for we all know how deep and profound are the principles and messages are the principles and messages contained in the book of job contained in the book of job but i think brethren sisters as his but i think brethren sisters as his experiences and as his words are so experiences and as his words are so intimately and closely bound up with our intimately and closely bound up with our theme today theme today it's only right and proper it's only right and proper that we should endeavor however briefly that we should endeavor however briefly to face up to the challenge that is to face up to the challenge that is presented to each one of us presented to each one of us in the book of job is suffering the central issue in this book is paying god's megaphone to rouse a deaf world may i suggest you that perhaps the real issue in the book of job is not so much issue in the book of job is not so much the problem of suffering the problem of suffering but rather the transcendence of god but rather the transcendence of god his almightiness his almightiness his majesty his majesty and the way that this impinges and the way that this impinges upon our world upon our world a finite world a finite world a world of mortal men and women so the speeches of god in chapters 38 to 41 41 speak of god's power speak of god's power his majesty and his almighty nets and does the almighty spend time seeking to answer the spend time seeking to answer the questions and charges of job questions and charges of job at first sight it appears not at first sight it appears not was job there in the beginning was job there in the beginning does he know where light dwells does he know where light dwells can he bind the stars can he bind the stars god speaks to job of hippopotamuses of god speaks to job of hippopotamuses of ostriches of whales ostriches of whales things in his creation things in his creation of meteorology astronomy of meteorology astronomy and cosmology and cosmology but suffering is never mentioned surely my dear brother and sisters because job has no right because job has no right to argue with god in this way to argue with god in this way in the first place in the first place shall not the judge of all the earth do shall not the judge of all the earth do right job in his suffering enquires of god and god does grant job that which he requests but the experience is not at all what job expected is not at all what job expected for he is put firmly in his place and the almighty deals mercifully with job job for he is humbled for he is humbled rather than humiliated he is vindicated rather than vanquished at all events he is vindicated against at all events he is vindicated against his friends his friends and their specious interpretations and their specious interpretations of the significance of the events that of the significance of the events that came upon him and i think at the end we do all get the feeling feeling that job that job is satisfied because the almighty has is satisfied because the almighty has answered him and as it were the problem of suffering is bypassed is bypassed why should all those things have come why should all those things have come upon this man job upon this man job this man who was so upright this man who was so upright and a man of god so job cannot solve the problems of suffering cannot solve the problems of suffering at least in a philosophical sense at least in a philosophical sense but because he has but because he has seen seen and heard and heard and witnessed that revelation of god and witnessed that revelation of god firsthand firsthand it does not matter now in the way that it does not matter now in the way that it mattered before it mattered before i have heard of thee by the hearing of i have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear the ear but now mine eye seeth thee but now mine eye seeth thee so my dear brethren sisters so my dear brethren sisters in the life and experience of the man in the life and experience of the man job job we have evidence of a man who bore the we have evidence of a man who bore the test test faithfully faithfully and a man who at the end and a man who at the end received more than he had received more than he had at the beginning at the beginning surely here we have a very graphic surely here we have a very graphic picture picture of the overall purpose of god of the overall purpose of god with each one of us with each one of us as disciples of the lord jesus christ as disciples of the lord jesus christ that we too might humbly accept what he that we too might humbly accept what he may choose to bring upon us may choose to bring upon us that in the end we may be the better that in the end we may be the better fitted for his kingdom fitted for his kingdom that he may be able to give us that he may be able to give us much more than we had at the beginning so the ways of god are in the end finally inscrutable finally inscrutable from the viewpoint of man from the viewpoint of man he may or may not see fit he may or may not see fit to give us reasons to give us reasons for our experiences and we cannot my dear brethren sisters hope to answer the problems of suffering hope to answer the problems of suffering one by one indeed i think one by one indeed i think if we think we can we ourselves if we think we can we ourselves paradoxically become insufferable paradoxically become insufferable to our brethren sisters to our brethren sisters only god knows the answers only god knows the answers and the final outcome and the final outcome the lessons from the life of job enable the lessons from the life of job enable us to meet the problems us to meet the problems to be able to cope with them to be able to cope with them and not to be crushed by them and not to be crushed by them in the midst of unexplained adversity in the midst of unexplained adversity the lord god still reigns supreme the lord god still reigns supreme as job himself came to realize as job himself came to realize behold behold we count them happy which end your we count them happy which end your ye have heard of the steadfastness of ye have heard of the steadfastness of job and have seen the end of the lord job and have seen the end of the lord that the lord is very pitiful that the lord is very pitiful and of and of tender mercy be ye therefore steadfast steadfast unmovable unmovable always abounding in the work of the lord always abounding in the work of the lord for as much as ye know that your labor for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain is not in vain in the lord think also of other events from the past god who delivered faithful men in old testament times faithful men in old testament times can deliver again can deliver again god who led the children of israel god who led the children of israel through the red sea through the red sea also led them to the promised land also led them to the promised land and we too have come out of egypt and we too have come out of egypt and are on the wilderness journey to the and are on the wilderness journey to the promised land promised land and the coming out and the coming out is the foretaste and the guarantee is the foretaste and the guarantee that the entering in can just as surely that the entering in can just as surely follow if we have faith follow if we have faith throughout the wilderness journey throughout the wilderness journey god who guided the children of israel god who guided the children of israel by the cloud and by the fire by the cloud and by the fire can still today can still today guide through the unknown guide through the unknown god who provided the manner god who provided the manner can provide again can provide again to sustain those who put their trust in to sustain those who put their trust in him him past deliverance assures us of future past deliverance assures us of future deliverance deliverance past salvation past salvation assures us of future salvation so my dear brothers and sisters we must always remember always remember that faith can that faith can and must be made stronger and must be made stronger as it passes through the trial as it passes through the trial soldiers soldiers are never proved are never proved in the military academy in the military academy students are never proved students are never proved in westfield college in westfield college this is the place where instruction is this is the place where instruction is given given and where measurements are made and where measurements are made measurements of intellect accomplishment measurements of intellect accomplishment and endeavor and endeavor students are not proved at bible school students are not proved at bible school teachers teachers are not approved at bible school are not approved at bible school the instruction may be the very best the instruction may be the very best that can be that can be given the equipment may be the finest given the equipment may be the finest that money can buy that money can buy but in the end but in the end a soldier a soldier is proved in action is proved in action he's proved in the battlefield he's proved in the battlefield a student a student is proved after he graduates is proved after he graduates in the employment in the employment and the success or failure that he makes and the success or failure that he makes of it and we all as bible students are proved on the battlefield of life as in the world as we leave this place as we leave this place we seek to apply the great issues of we seek to apply the great issues of discipleship discipleship to serve our lord and our master a man who is a theorizer only is no good is no good when it comes to the real world when it comes to the real world we must all my dear brother and sisters we must all my dear brother and sisters be men and women of action be men and women of action we must be dynamic in our discipleship we must be dynamic in our discipleship theory and practice theory and practice must go hand in hand and through must go hand in hand and through adversity trial and tribulation adversity trial and tribulation they are forged together they are forged together into an unbreakable unity into an unbreakable unity faith and action faith and action faith and faithfulness consider all those great examples of men and women in faith in hebrews chapter 11 and women in faith in hebrews chapter 11 all of them without exception are set all of them without exception are set forward in the context of men and women forward in the context of men and women whose faith whose faith was proved in action was proved in action out on the battlefield of life out on the battlefield of life prepared by the word of god indeed prepared by the word of god indeed fortified by the word of god yes indeed fortified by the word of god yes indeed but still proved in the application of but still proved in the application of that word that word in their lives my dear brethren sisters this life this life this life of discipleship this life of discipleship is the only opportunity that the lord is the only opportunity that the lord god has god has to prepare us to prepare us to fit us to fit us and equip us and equip us to shape us to shape us to mold us to discipline us to mold us to discipline us that we might be fit vessels that we might be fit vessels in his mercy in his mercy for his kingdom finally let us summarize the subject of faith on trial began as it were as an exposition it were as an exposition of the word words of the apostle peter as an example in the word of god himself the word made flesh not just a theorizer but a man who applied that word in all but a man who applied that word in all its aspects its aspects it must end as an example it must end as an example in the life of the lord jesus christ in the life of the lord jesus christ himself himself consider him consider him that endured that endured he learned obedience he learned obedience by the things which he suffered by the things which he suffered my dear brother and sisters as disciples my dear brother and sisters as disciples we are called upon we are called upon to follow him to follow him and to enter into his experiences and to enter into his experiences as he entered into ours and we remember that the lord jesus was constant that the lord jesus was constant throughout his ministry throughout his ministry constant constant in the trials that came upon him to the cross he was constant and he was constant in the trial in the trial father father if it be thy will harm yourselves therefore my dear brethren sisters brethren sisters with the same mind