1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,640 Please open your Bible at 1st Thessalonians in chapter 5 we come to the last in our series from Thessalonians today 2 00:00:08,300 –> 00:00:12,080 living like there’s no tomorrow in which we’ve been looking at some things that are 3 00:00:12,480 –> 00:00:15,580 Desperately needed in the church of Jesus Christ 4 00:00:16,240 –> 00:00:18,080 today and 5 00:00:18,080 –> 00:00:24,379 When we come to the end of the letter we’re saying that Paul is very specifically speaking about life in the Holy Spirit 6 00:00:25,280 –> 00:00:28,840 There’s a sense of which the whole letter has really been about this 7 00:00:28,879 –> 00:00:34,259 But it becomes explicit right here at the end and particularly in verse 19 8 00:00:34,259 –> 00:00:40,220 Which is our starting point today do not put out the spirits. Fire 9 00:00:40,860 –> 00:00:43,419 Do not put out the spirits fire 10 00:00:44,119 –> 00:00:49,020 now it’s very striking I think that Paul is speaking here to Christians and 11 00:00:50,279 –> 00:00:52,279 strong Christians at that 12 00:00:53,040 –> 00:00:57,380 Just thinking back through the letter as to how he’s described these people 13 00:00:57,660 –> 00:01:03,240 He has described them as folks who are living to please God. That’s chapter 4 in verse 1 14 00:01:03,619 –> 00:01:07,540 There are folks who have been taught by God chapter 4 in verse 9 15 00:01:07,879 –> 00:01:12,379 There are folks who are already encouraging each other chapter 5 and verse 11 16 00:01:12,379 –> 00:01:18,760 And they are folks who are standing firm in the Lord even through severe trial and strong temptation 17 00:01:18,879 –> 00:01:21,320 That is chapter 3 and verse 8 18 00:01:21,720 –> 00:01:26,660 We saw right at the beginning of this series in chapter 1 that Paul describes this as a model 19 00:01:26,940 –> 00:01:27,480 church 20 00:01:27,480 –> 00:01:29,480 The only church in the New Testament 21 00:01:29,599 –> 00:01:36,279 That he describes in this kind of a way and he says in chapter 2 in verse 19 that this church is his joy 22 00:01:36,480 –> 00:01:40,300 So he says some marvelous things about these particular people 23 00:01:40,300 –> 00:01:44,480 But at the end of this letter to these people he says 24 00:01:45,300 –> 00:01:47,300 Do not put out 25 00:01:47,919 –> 00:01:49,720 the spirits 26 00:01:49,720 –> 00:01:51,720 Fire 27 00:01:52,839 –> 00:01:55,900 Now think about the picture 28 00:01:58,000 –> 00:02:05,680 Putting out the fire you get your barbeque going at lunch time, you’re out grilling. You’ve got the coals warmed up and 29 00:02:06,760 –> 00:02:13,119 There’s a good glow and the fires got going and someone comes along with a bucket of water and pours it in the barbecue and 30 00:02:13,800 –> 00:02:16,339 And it all goes out. That’s the picture 31 00:02:17,259 –> 00:02:19,660 What he’s saying is that God has 32 00:02:20,979 –> 00:02:25,919 Ignited begun something very very wonderful among these believers and 33 00:02:26,899 –> 00:02:33,940 It is something that must be stewarded and he is saying be very very careful that you do not put out 34 00:02:34,860 –> 00:02:36,860 the spirits 35 00:02:36,899 –> 00:02:38,679 fire 36 00:02:38,679 –> 00:02:41,300 You say can that happen in a church? Yes, it can 37 00:02:43,360 –> 00:02:45,919 If you ever of the chance to visit, London 38 00:02:47,059 –> 00:02:49,059 and it’s raining in the 39 00:02:49,440 –> 00:02:51,440 afternoon, which it probably will be 40 00:02:52,259 –> 00:02:54,899 one of the things you might consider doing is 41 00:02:55,720 –> 00:03:03,520 Visiting madam two sods. Let me tell you about madam two sods in London. It is a marvelous vast 42 00:03:04,399 –> 00:03:06,399 fascinating collection of 43 00:03:07,080 –> 00:03:08,960 life-size models of 44 00:03:08,960 –> 00:03:12,520 famous people made from wax and 45 00:03:12,660 –> 00:03:15,559 And you can wander through these vast halls 46 00:03:15,559 –> 00:03:22,559 and you can have your picture taken next to life-sized John F. Kennedy or 47 00:03:23,559 –> 00:03:26,279 Marilyn Monroe or the Beatles 48 00:03:27,119 –> 00:03:29,339 the Queen and Prince Philip 49 00:03:30,000 –> 00:03:32,000 Tony Blair George W. Bush 50 00:03:32,679 –> 00:03:34,679 Henry they ate or 51 00:03:34,880 –> 00:03:36,880 Britney Spears whichever 52 00:03:37,119 –> 00:03:38,160 takes 53 00:03:38,160 –> 00:03:44,800 Your fancy it looks like real life if you get the picture taken you could fool anybody 54 00:03:46,399 –> 00:03:48,399 But it’s only wax 55 00:03:48,539 –> 00:03:49,839 and 56 00:03:49,839 –> 00:03:55,619 You see it can be like that in the church of Jesus Christ the appearance of life 57 00:03:56,119 –> 00:04:00,559 It can be like that amongst folks who gather on a Sunday morning the 58 00:04:01,240 –> 00:04:02,839 appearance of 59 00:04:02,880 –> 00:04:09,240 Spiritual life, but it’s like a painted tree that bears no fruit or 60 00:04:09,960 –> 00:04:13,479 a painted flower that has no fragrance or 61 00:04:13,899 –> 00:04:16,579 a painted fire that has no heat 62 00:04:17,899 –> 00:04:21,260 That’s the church without the spirit 63 00:04:21,940 –> 00:04:26,299 We saw last time as we began on this theme that the the Church of Jesus Christ 64 00:04:26,839 –> 00:04:29,799 hangs on the life of the Spirit 65 00:04:29,820 –> 00:04:36,100 So as he comes to the end of this passage, and he’s been speaking to us about joy and about prayer and thankfulness 66 00:04:36,140 –> 00:04:42,619 He’s saying to us now. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire. Let me quote to you something 67 00:04:42,619 –> 00:04:48,540 I read this week from Dr. Jim Packer. He says evaluating the scene in the Western world today 68 00:04:48,540 –> 00:04:50,540 He says it is hard to deny 69 00:04:51,059 –> 00:04:55,899 That we inherit today a situation in which the Spirit of God has been quenched 70 00:04:57,239 –> 00:05:02,540 Unnatural as it may be the spirits power is absent from the majority of our churches 71 00:05:03,160 –> 00:05:10,320 It should be noted. He continues the while one may effectively put out of fire by dousing it 72 00:05:10,940 –> 00:05:13,380 One cannot make it burn again 73 00:05:13,820 –> 00:05:15,820 simply by stopping pouring water 74 00:05:16,660 –> 00:05:19,220 It has to be lighted afresh 75 00:05:20,700 –> 00:05:25,859 Similarly when the Spirit has been quenched it is beyond our power to undo the damage 76 00:05:25,940 –> 00:05:29,420 We have done we can only cry to God in penitence 77 00:05:30,100 –> 00:05:33,540 Asking that he will revive his work 78 00:05:35,320 –> 00:05:37,320 Do not put out 79 00:05:38,500 –> 00:05:40,500 The spirits fire 80 00:05:41,579 –> 00:05:45,640 Now you think of that image of the barbecue the grill and 81 00:05:47,260 –> 00:05:52,859 The fire has started and in the early stages you see the glow in the coals at the center 82 00:05:53,700 –> 00:05:59,179 There are other coals that still seem very black on the outside 83 00:05:59,200 –> 00:06:03,779 It seems as if the fire has not affected them yet 84 00:06:05,399 –> 00:06:07,399 But the fire is burning and 85 00:06:08,179 –> 00:06:13,579 as long as it keeps burning its influence will spread and 86 00:06:14,940 –> 00:06:17,420 That’s what we want in the life of the church, isn’t it? 87 00:06:17,420 –> 00:06:24,399 We want to keep the fire of the spirit burning we don’t want to pour water on this fire 88 00:06:24,420 –> 00:06:27,140 In fact, we want to blow on this fire 89 00:06:27,140 –> 00:06:29,559 We want to add fuel to this fire 90 00:06:29,619 –> 00:06:34,160 We want more more of this wonderful life of God 91 00:06:34,359 –> 00:06:39,519 Among us by the presence of his Holy Spirit more of his purity 92 00:06:39,760 –> 00:06:44,160 More of his love more of his life more of his power 93 00:06:44,779 –> 00:06:50,320 Do not put out the spirits fire now as we want to see this fire 94 00:06:51,000 –> 00:06:56,339 sustained and kindled and burning with increasing fervor among us 95 00:06:57,040 –> 00:06:59,500 How do we pursue that? That’s the question? 96 00:06:59,500 –> 00:07:06,140 that’s before us and that’s why I’ve asked you to open your Bible at first Thessalonians in chapter five because 97 00:07:06,559 –> 00:07:10,059 Paul writing under the inspiration of the Spirit he’s not 98 00:07:10,579 –> 00:07:12,299 putting down thoughts aimlessly 99 00:07:12,299 –> 00:07:17,279 There’s progression here. And as he tells us that we’re not to put out the spirits fire 100 00:07:17,279 –> 00:07:24,799 he goes on immediately to speak of the things that we must pursue and the things that we must grow in if 101 00:07:24,959 –> 00:07:27,540 We are to follow in this way 102 00:07:27,540 –> 00:07:33,880 I wanted to notice in verses 20 to 22 that he urges us as those who want to 103 00:07:34,760 –> 00:07:38,660 Cultivate this life in the spirit that we are to grow in 104 00:07:39,440 –> 00:07:40,540 discerning 105 00:07:40,540 –> 00:07:42,540 human words 106 00:07:42,579 –> 00:07:44,579 Look at verse 20 107 00:07:44,779 –> 00:07:47,980 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 108 00:07:49,320 –> 00:07:50,799 test 109 00:07:50,799 –> 00:07:52,160 everything 110 00:07:52,160 –> 00:07:54,160 hold on to the good and 111 00:07:54,339 –> 00:07:56,339 avoid every kind of 112 00:07:56,820 –> 00:07:58,880 evil do not treat 113 00:07:59,399 –> 00:08:01,399 prophecies with 114 00:08:01,540 –> 00:08:05,880 Contempt now, what does he mean when he’s talking about prophecies here? 115 00:08:06,480 –> 00:08:07,600 Yeah 116 00:08:07,600 –> 00:08:12,140 Well, let me give you this working definition, which I think we’ll see and fill out as we go 117 00:08:12,720 –> 00:08:16,480 That when he talks about prophecy here or prophecies here 118 00:08:17,160 –> 00:08:19,160 He is talking about words 119 00:08:19,579 –> 00:08:21,880 that a person feels or claims 120 00:08:23,040 –> 00:08:25,040 Come from God 121 00:08:25,519 –> 00:08:28,279 words that a person feels or 122 00:08:28,920 –> 00:08:30,119 claims 123 00:08:30,119 –> 00:08:31,200 come 124 00:08:31,200 –> 00:08:33,059 from God and 125 00:08:33,059 –> 00:08:40,400 the first thing that Paul says to us as believers about this is that if a person has an insight an 126 00:08:41,280 –> 00:08:43,280 Encouragement a word 127 00:08:43,780 –> 00:08:50,119 For you, then do not despise it do not treat prophecies with 128 00:08:50,799 –> 00:08:52,440 contempt 129 00:08:52,440 –> 00:08:56,840 one of the wonderful gifts that God gives to us in our 130 00:08:57,520 –> 00:09:00,640 Fellowship as Christian believers is that he often? 131 00:09:01,159 –> 00:09:02,979 guides us and 132 00:09:02,979 –> 00:09:06,159 speaks to us through other people I 133 00:09:06,679 –> 00:09:11,359 look back honestly on the major decisions of my own life and 134 00:09:12,440 –> 00:09:13,940 alongside the 135 00:09:13,940 –> 00:09:18,260 prompting of the spirit in my own prayers. I can look back with 136 00:09:18,659 –> 00:09:22,820 thankfulness to the promptings of the spirit through the candor and 137 00:09:23,539 –> 00:09:25,500 honesty and 138 00:09:25,500 –> 00:09:30,780 perceptiveness of other Christians who spoke clearly at a critical time 139 00:09:31,419 –> 00:09:37,799 Folks who knew me really well and it is a gift from the Lord. It is something not to be despised 140 00:09:39,299 –> 00:09:41,299 Wise Christians 141 00:09:41,580 –> 00:09:44,059 never make big decisions in 142 00:09:45,000 –> 00:09:46,340 isolation 143 00:09:46,340 –> 00:09:51,919 God’s Spirit lives in other people who know you and love you as well as in you 144 00:09:52,479 –> 00:09:56,739 So if you find yourself in a position where you’re praying to God for guidance 145 00:09:57,059 –> 00:10:02,239 Make sure that your ears are open to what he is maybe saying through other people 146 00:10:02,580 –> 00:10:07,000 Who are close to you who love you and who are walking with him? 147 00:10:07,020 –> 00:10:08,099 and 148 00:10:08,099 –> 00:10:13,419 This principle of course applies not only in our personal life, but also to the whole church 149 00:10:14,580 –> 00:10:16,780 I have to tell you that I thank God 150 00:10:18,140 –> 00:10:21,119 That at key moments in the life of our church 151 00:10:22,099 –> 00:10:24,020 godly men 152 00:10:24,020 –> 00:10:26,020 Who see clearly? 153 00:10:26,219 –> 00:10:30,020 Have spoken wisely and given guidance 154 00:10:30,020 –> 00:10:36,940 Which has been for the good of the church and that is a gift from above for which we should be profoundly thankful 155 00:10:37,799 –> 00:10:44,039 Now Paul says do not despise what God may be giving to you through other members of the body 156 00:10:44,239 –> 00:10:46,299 Don’t ever be a lone-ranger 157 00:10:46,880 –> 00:10:53,580 Christian because lone ranger Christians sooner or later get it wrong and get off the right track 158 00:10:54,320 –> 00:10:56,320 welcome the counsel and the 159 00:10:56,880 –> 00:10:58,880 candor of other 160 00:10:58,960 –> 00:11:00,679 Christians 161 00:11:00,679 –> 00:11:02,280 so someone has a word for you 162 00:11:02,280 –> 00:11:04,479 someone has some council for you someone has 163 00:11:04,599 –> 00:11:10,580 Something laid upon their heart that they think or feel may be from the Lord and they’re sharing it with you. Don’t dismiss it 164 00:11:11,200 –> 00:11:13,200 out of hand on 165 00:11:13,559 –> 00:11:15,440 the other hand 166 00:11:15,500 –> 00:11:17,200 Paul says 167 00:11:17,200 –> 00:11:19,479 Don’t just accept it at face value, either 168 00:11:20,500 –> 00:11:27,179 Don’t despise it. But on the other hand, what does he say test everything test everything? 169 00:11:27,440 –> 00:11:29,960 So you don’t dismiss it out of hand 170 00:11:29,960 –> 00:11:37,080 But you don’t just accept it because another person says it or claims that they have the mind of the Lord 171 00:11:37,840 –> 00:11:39,840 either test 172 00:11:40,440 –> 00:11:42,900 Everything let me tell you a personal story. I have 173 00:11:43,859 –> 00:11:46,700 Permission to tell you this one because as a personal story 174 00:11:47,419 –> 00:11:49,200 for my wife 175 00:11:49,200 –> 00:11:54,020 Karin and I studied at the same College in London England and 176 00:11:54,880 –> 00:11:59,479 We were from opposite ends of the country and in the Lord’s goodness. That is where we met. I 177 00:12:00,820 –> 00:12:03,640 Spotted her on the first day 178 00:12:06,320 –> 00:12:08,340 But others did too and 179 00:12:09,020 –> 00:12:16,559 And speaking candidly, I did not have the speed or the confidence to get myself in pole position 180 00:12:18,659 –> 00:12:22,039 Well during the first weekend that we arrived as 181 00:12:22,719 –> 00:12:29,340 Freshmen at college a guy asked her to go for a walk, you know that deal 182 00:12:29,340 –> 00:12:31,739 You know every college has its walk, doesn’t it? 183 00:12:31,780 –> 00:12:39,280 And ours was around a place called Dean Road that was about a miles walk round the college and surrounding area and 184 00:12:40,299 –> 00:12:42,440 carn was just 19 and 185 00:12:43,679 –> 00:12:46,679 This guy was 30 and pretty impressive 186 00:12:46,679 –> 00:12:51,179 I gotta say I know he was impressive to many people because two years later 187 00:12:51,179 –> 00:12:57,679 I ran against him at a in a college election, and I lost so he must have been impressive 188 00:13:01,799 –> 00:13:03,760 Well he took carn on 189 00:13:03,760 –> 00:13:05,979 This walk and he said to her 190 00:13:06,539 –> 00:13:08,539 That although he didn’t know her well 191 00:13:09,260 –> 00:13:12,520 The Lord had told him that he should marry her 192 00:13:13,640 –> 00:13:20,140 And I have always been thankful for my wife’s spiritual discernment 193 00:13:21,979 –> 00:13:24,559 Because she said to him well 194 00:13:25,919 –> 00:13:27,919 The Lord may have told you 195 00:13:28,719 –> 00:13:31,000 But he hasn’t told me 196 00:13:32,539 –> 00:13:34,539 Now 197 00:13:34,679 –> 00:13:37,919 You must never allow yourself to be 198 00:13:38,599 –> 00:13:44,299 Manipulated in any circumstance by other people that is not God’s will for you in Christ Jesus 199 00:13:45,599 –> 00:13:53,320 Especially you must never allow yourself to be manipulated by people who claim spiritual authority as 200 00:13:53,539 –> 00:13:54,700 a 201 00:13:54,700 –> 00:13:58,159 Reason for what they are trying to get you to do 202 00:13:58,780 –> 00:14:03,380 Remember the Third Commandment goes right to this issue 203 00:14:04,239 –> 00:14:06,239 You shall not 204 00:14:06,299 –> 00:14:07,760 Misuse 205 00:14:07,760 –> 00:14:13,960 The name of the Lord your God and God has not given to any of us 206 00:14:14,840 –> 00:14:22,080 Liberty to attach his name to the impulses and ideas of our hearts 207 00:14:22,559 –> 00:14:28,260 Now you see one danger amongst newer Christians coming into the church is that you think well now 208 00:14:28,260 –> 00:14:32,919 You know here I am amongst all of these Christian people and they all have the Holy Spirit 209 00:14:33,359 –> 00:14:39,520 And some of them have been walking with the Lord for many years so I can trust what they say 210 00:14:40,440 –> 00:14:47,299 And then you find as a new Christian after you’ve been around for a while that sometimes these Christians disagree 211 00:14:48,159 –> 00:14:51,739 And then you think to yourself. Well, what in all the world then is this? 212 00:14:52,320 –> 00:14:56,440 I thought the Holy Spirit was here. How can this be? 213 00:14:58,000 –> 00:15:05,140 Well now listen you also have the spirit if you’re a Christian believer and 214 00:15:06,640 –> 00:15:10,820 For that reason you are able to discern 215 00:15:12,320 –> 00:15:15,059 This is part of your freedom as a Christian 216 00:15:15,799 –> 00:15:21,799 God does not want you to be manipulated by any other person does not want you to be controlled by 217 00:15:22,559 –> 00:15:29,659 Pusture or a priest or a preacher or a counselor or a girlfriend or a boyfriend or a family member? 218 00:15:30,080 –> 00:15:37,080 God does not want you to be under the control of another person because the freedom of a Christian is that you live by the spirit 219 00:15:37,200 –> 00:15:43,460 Under the Lordship of Jesus Christ you have the spirit so you are able to discern 220 00:15:45,000 –> 00:15:49,640 It’s very important, and we all need to grow in this 221 00:15:49,799 –> 00:15:50,840 but worry less 222 00:15:51,840 –> 00:15:59,000 Because Jesus warns us you remember that there will be wolves in Sheep’s clothing 223 00:16:00,359 –> 00:16:04,239 Now if you think about that, wolves and sheep are roughly the same size 224 00:16:04,239 –> 00:16:11,080 So if you put a fleece over the back of a wolf and looked at it from the distance you probably couldn’t tell the difference 225 00:16:11,799 –> 00:16:21,239 it’s only when you get up close to this animal, and see that underneath what is very fleecy and cuddly and warm 226 00:16:21,239 –> 00:16:28,960 there is actually the nature of a wolf that will actually do great damage to the flock 227 00:16:30,119 –> 00:16:32,719 Christ said on the last day 228 00:16:33,559 –> 00:16:43,200 there will be many, not a few but many, who say, did we not prophesy in your name? 229 00:16:44,640 –> 00:16:51,239 And folks who have said many things in the name of Christ, we’ll hear Christ say to them, 230 00:16:51,239 –> 00:16:56,119 depart from me, because I never knew you 231 00:16:57,080 –> 00:17:05,479 Now the surest way to put out the spirit’s fire is to listen to the wrong 232 00:17:05,479 –> 00:17:13,920 voices and to follow the wrong people that is why it is critical in the life 233 00:17:13,920 –> 00:17:21,500 of a spiritual church, that God’s people grow in this capacity of discernment 234 00:17:22,359 –> 00:17:30,880 which is given to you because the Holy Spirit lives within you. Grow in 235 00:17:30,880 –> 00:17:39,699 discerning human words in your private life and in our shared life together. Now 236 00:17:39,699 –> 00:17:46,939 you say, how do I do that? John Stott in his commentary on Thessalonians gives 237 00:17:47,260 –> 00:17:54,260 five tests from the Bible that we can use in relation to this whole matter of 238 00:17:54,260 –> 00:18:00,859 discerning other people’s words. And you might like to note them down and 239 00:18:00,859 –> 00:18:03,979 remember them. I’ve found them to be very very helpful indeed. They’re quite 240 00:18:03,979 –> 00:18:08,660 simple and I think as you see them, fairly self-evident and clearly from the 241 00:18:08,660 –> 00:18:13,540 Bible itself. These are the five that John Stott suggests, the ways in which we 242 00:18:13,660 –> 00:18:21,359 test the ways in which we discern. Number one, the plain truth of the Scripture. Now 243 00:18:21,359 –> 00:18:25,219 that’s taken from Acts chapter 17 and verse 11, where we’re told about a group 244 00:18:25,219 –> 00:18:30,140 of New Christians in a place called Berea and Acts tells us that the 245 00:18:30,140 –> 00:18:34,619 Bereans received the message of the gospel from Paul, but they examined the 246 00:18:34,619 –> 00:18:40,540 Scripture every day to see if what Paul said was true. And they’re a wonderful 247 00:18:40,859 –> 00:18:46,400 model in that regard, because the first way in which you discern is you test 248 00:18:46,400 –> 00:18:50,699 what people are saying against everything that you know and confined 249 00:18:50,699 –> 00:18:57,479 that relates to this from the Scriptures. Do you know that almost every sermon 250 00:18:57,479 –> 00:19:02,040 that has been preached from this pulpit, at least for the last 10 years, has 251 00:19:02,040 –> 00:19:08,640 begun with identical words. I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed that? Always begins 252 00:19:08,780 –> 00:19:16,920 with saying, will you please open your Bible at? Now, the reason for that is not 253 00:19:16,920 –> 00:19:24,680 that the speaker was unable to think of a more imaginative beginning. It is very 254 00:19:24,680 –> 00:19:34,219 intentional. I want you to sit with your Bible open so that you can assess from 255 00:19:34,219 –> 00:19:40,300 the Scripture what is being said from this pulpit by me or by anybody else 256 00:19:40,300 –> 00:19:46,760 whoever stands here. Because in any human words that may come from any human 257 00:19:46,760 –> 00:19:50,839 speaker there’s going to be some mixture of wheat and chaff and you are going to 258 00:19:50,839 –> 00:19:56,280 have to discern that and, and sometimes you may look at your Bible and say, I 259 00:19:56,280 –> 00:20:01,239 think that’s a little bit of a stretch. Well, just discard it, but where you see 260 00:20:01,420 –> 00:20:08,160 that what is being said is a reasonable explanation and application of what is 261 00:20:08,160 –> 00:20:11,800 written there before you, then you are to receive it. And then you are to say now 262 00:20:11,800 –> 00:20:15,739 how do I respond into this, because I see it here, so it’s not just human words, 263 00:20:15,739 –> 00:20:18,900 this is the Word of God, and therefore I have to respond to it in that way. 264 00:20:18,900 –> 00:20:21,540 Is this faith or repentance or obedience? 265 00:20:21,540 –> 00:20:26,439 What am I being called to? And how should I be different? 266 00:20:26,479 –> 00:20:34,219 Honestly, you see, you cannot listen with profit to preaching with a kind of 267 00:20:34,219 –> 00:20:39,239 sat-back glaze on your eyes and counting the panels in a stained glass window. 268 00:20:39,239 –> 00:20:44,579 There is an engagement that you’re called to make in relation to this opening 269 00:20:44,579 –> 00:20:49,439 up of the Word of God that we do together. It is my responsibility as the speaker, 270 00:20:49,439 –> 00:20:54,640 normally on a Sunday morning, to study in such a way as to be as 271 00:20:54,920 –> 00:21:00,020 confident as I can be that what I say to you is a reasonable explanation 272 00:21:00,020 –> 00:21:06,140 and application of what God has said here. But you must be the ones to discern that. 273 00:21:06,140 –> 00:21:09,579 You can’t do that without an open Bible and an engaged mind. 274 00:21:09,579 –> 00:21:14,020 And it is in this way that you will grow in discernment, and guess what? 275 00:21:14,020 –> 00:21:17,199 If you grow in discernment here every week on a Sunday morning, 276 00:21:17,199 –> 00:21:20,739 you’ll find that you are growing in discernment in every other area of your 277 00:21:20,760 –> 00:21:25,780 life as well. And it is absolutely critical to your growth as a 278 00:21:25,780 –> 00:21:31,540 Christian believer. So, don’t misunderstand that opportunity 279 00:21:31,540 –> 00:21:37,479 and that calling, and bring your Bible. The plain truth of Scripture. 280 00:21:37,479 –> 00:21:44,719 Second, the human divine person of Jesus Christ. Here the second test is based 281 00:21:44,719 –> 00:21:50,160 on 1 John chapter 4, and verses 1 to 3, first of John chapter 4. 282 00:21:50,160 –> 00:21:55,319 Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they 283 00:21:55,319 –> 00:22:01,619 are from God. This is how, John says, you can recognize the spirit of God. 284 00:22:01,619 –> 00:22:06,060 Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 285 00:22:06,060 –> 00:22:09,579 and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. 286 00:22:09,579 –> 00:22:14,979 So, it is a very clear test that John lays out here with regards to our discernment. 287 00:22:15,680 –> 00:22:23,040 So, when you’re listening to any teaching, or any counsel, or you’re 288 00:22:23,040 –> 00:22:25,880 listening to something that you’re hearing on television, or you’re reading 289 00:22:25,880 –> 00:22:31,239 some new Christian book, or whatever it is, you ask the question, 290 00:22:31,260 –> 00:22:41,459 where is Jesus Christ in this? How is he being lifted up? Is he being presented in 291 00:22:41,500 –> 00:22:48,380 his fullness as God and man? Is this drawing us to Jesus Christ? Is this 292 00:22:48,380 –> 00:22:56,180 lifting Jesus Christ up or is it lifting up something or someone else? 293 00:22:56,180 –> 00:23:00,199 And then, here’s a third test, the gospel of God’s saving grace. Let’s take this one 294 00:23:00,199 –> 00:23:04,420 from Galatians chapter 1. One of the strongest verses in the Bible, Galatians 295 00:23:04,420 –> 00:23:09,219 1,8. Even if we are an angel from heaven, Paul says, should preach a gospel other 296 00:23:09,380 –> 00:23:12,619 than the one we preach to you, let him be eternally condemned. 297 00:23:12,619 –> 00:23:17,260 The greatest trust that we have in this world is the trust of the gospel, the 298 00:23:17,260 –> 00:23:24,339 gospel of God’s grace and honestly so much that you can hear in Church world 299 00:23:24,699 –> 00:23:40,439 today is just law, exhortation to do better, ethics how great you are, and it 300 00:23:40,439 –> 00:23:48,099 does not touch nor feed from the need that we have of Jesus Christ and the 301 00:23:48,099 –> 00:23:54,920 fullness that we find in Jesus Christ. It’s not gospel and that’s how you 302 00:23:54,920 –> 00:23:59,060 discern. That’s how you find the fountains from which you should be 303 00:23:59,060 –> 00:24:04,579 drinking that we’ll be healthy so that you will not quench the spirit. 304 00:24:04,579 –> 00:24:13,739 Here’s the fourth test. The known character of the speaker. This is taken directly from 305 00:24:13,739 –> 00:24:19,180 the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter 7, watch out for false prophets Jesus says 306 00:24:19,180 –> 00:24:23,839 they come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they are ferocious wolves and 307 00:24:23,839 –> 00:24:35,239 here’s the test by their fruit you will recognize them. So you look at the life I 308 00:24:35,239 –> 00:24:41,020 have a friend who just in the middle of this issue of trying to discern 309 00:24:41,020 –> 00:24:46,420 something that’s being said he often just gives me a phase he says consider 310 00:24:46,420 –> 00:24:56,079 the source consider the source consider the source it’s absolutely right 311 00:24:56,079 –> 00:25:03,459 absolutely biblical by their fruit you will know them so the known character of 312 00:25:03,459 –> 00:25:06,880 the speaker and here’s the fifth test the benefit 313 00:25:06,880 –> 00:25:12,099 of the church 1 Corinthians chapter 14 in verse 3 everyone who profess I speaks 314 00:25:12,099 –> 00:25:16,699 to men for their strengthening encouragement and comfort verse for he 315 00:25:16,699 –> 00:25:21,540 who prophesies edifies the Church now what comes from God builds up the Church 316 00:25:21,540 –> 00:25:28,699 it encourages it strengthens it edifies and so this is a good question to ask 317 00:25:28,699 –> 00:25:34,160 does what is being said here bring a building up does it help us to to see 318 00:25:34,219 –> 00:25:38,900 our own need and Christ’s provision is it conducive to peace and is it 319 00:25:38,900 –> 00:25:52,760 conducive to love so scripture Christ gospel character church and apply these 320 00:25:52,760 –> 00:25:59,160 tests get used to thinking this way almost as it were subconsciously apply 321 00:25:59,420 –> 00:26:07,359 in in relation to preachers to all that you hear from any pulpit apply it to 322 00:26:07,359 –> 00:26:14,839 what you may be hearing from counselors or a therapist there are some folks who 323 00:26:14,839 –> 00:26:20,719 live in a world of confusion because they hear one thing that moves in one 324 00:26:20,719 –> 00:26:24,959 direction on a Sunday and they hear another thing from someone who may not 325 00:26:25,040 –> 00:26:30,900 believe the gospel and may not be basing what they say on the truth of God’s Word 326 00:26:30,900 –> 00:26:35,680 and it goes in a different direction and they just live in a world of confusion 327 00:26:35,680 –> 00:26:40,319 and the fire of the spirit is being dampened down and dampened down and 328 00:26:40,319 –> 00:26:44,719 dampened down all the time so you need to discern discern in relation to what 329 00:26:44,719 –> 00:26:50,000 your friends say your friend may indeed have some prompting from the Lord that 330 00:26:50,160 –> 00:26:55,319 really helps you and they may be other times when your friend is just saying 331 00:26:55,319 –> 00:27:01,680 what they think you want to hear so you need to discern and why does God call 332 00:27:01,680 –> 00:27:06,300 you to do this? because he wants you to grow because he wants us to be sons and 333 00:27:06,300 –> 00:27:10,180 daughters who grow in wisdom and gain maturity and can be trusted with 334 00:27:10,180 –> 00:27:14,819 responsibility not only in this world but in the new creation for of which we 335 00:27:14,859 –> 00:27:21,180 will be stewards forever and forever now do you see what Paul is saying here as 336 00:27:21,180 –> 00:27:24,859 we put these things together don’t quench the Spirit do not put out the 337 00:27:24,859 –> 00:27:31,859 spirit’s fire and if you listen to the wrong voices you will quench the spirit 338 00:27:31,859 –> 00:27:37,880 you will inhibit what he is doing in your life and that has happened to many 339 00:27:37,880 –> 00:27:43,800 Christians and it has happened too many churches and Paul says now keep the 340 00:27:43,859 –> 00:27:48,699 spirits fire burning and if you’re going to do that individually and we’re going 341 00:27:48,699 –> 00:27:55,780 to do that together we need to grow in this whole area of discernment in this 342 00:27:55,780 –> 00:28:05,739 world of so many human words that’s the first thing and it’s so important 343 00:28:05,739 –> 00:28:15,660 Here’s the second. If we are to keep these fires burning we must grow not 344 00:28:15,660 –> 00:28:20,979 only in discerning human words but grow by responding to God’s words. Now I want 345 00:28:20,979 –> 00:28:26,160 to draw your attention for just a few moments to verse 27 because right at the 346 00:28:26,160 –> 00:28:32,660 end of the letter there is a distinct change of tone and there’s a very good 347 00:28:32,660 –> 00:28:44,079 reason for it. Verse 27, I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read 348 00:28:44,079 –> 00:28:51,760 to all the brothers. Now he’s been talking the language of discernment and 349 00:28:51,760 –> 00:28:56,819 testing and sort of discarding what’s not of value and only holding to what is 350 00:28:56,859 –> 00:29:03,140 good and sifting and sorting it all out and suddenly you find the Apostles that 351 00:29:03,140 –> 00:29:07,780 are coming on real strong here with the note of authority, it’s quite stark the 352 00:29:07,780 –> 00:29:12,300 difference isn’t it after all that he’s been saying I charge you and not just I 353 00:29:12,300 –> 00:29:19,420 charge, I charge you before the Lord to have this letter, First Thessalonians 354 00:29:19,619 –> 00:29:27,099 read to all the brothers, now it was normal of course for the Old Testament 355 00:29:27,099 –> 00:29:31,180 scriptures to be read in any Jewish synagogue 356 00:29:31,180 –> 00:29:36,859 and Christian gatherings of believers Christian churches adopted from the 357 00:29:36,859 –> 00:29:45,040 very earliest time that pattern also the Word of God being read among them and 358 00:29:45,040 –> 00:29:50,619 given central place but you see what Paul is saying here he’s putting the 359 00:29:50,619 –> 00:29:56,520 words of this letter first Thessalonians on the same level 360 00:29:56,520 –> 00:30:03,800 as the Old Testament scriptures he’s making it very clear that while human 361 00:30:03,800 –> 00:30:10,199 words are to be tested and discerned that these words in this letter are not 362 00:30:10,199 –> 00:30:14,319 human words they are on a different level they’re a different kind of word 363 00:30:14,339 –> 00:30:18,819 they’re on the same level as the old testament scriptures and therefore are 364 00:30:18,819 –> 00:30:28,000 to be read by the Lord’s command to all of the brothers now the words of 365 00:30:28,000 –> 00:30:31,780 scripture being in a different category from other 366 00:30:31,780 –> 00:30:37,579 human words that theme is reflected many many places throughout the scripture 367 00:30:37,579 –> 00:30:42,239 let me give you just one example this morning from 2nd Peter chapter 1 368 00:30:42,839 –> 00:30:47,780 20 second Peter chapter 1 in verse 20 because Peter there uses the word 369 00:30:47,780 –> 00:30:54,540 prophecy but he uses it in a special way he says there second Peter 120 no 370 00:30:54,540 –> 00:31:03,060 prophecy of scripture came about by the prophets own interpretation no prophecy 371 00:31:03,060 –> 00:31:07,959 of scripture now you see he’s using this word in a completely different way in 372 00:31:08,020 –> 00:31:13,979 Thessalonians Paul’s talking about human words that a person may feel or claim 373 00:31:13,979 –> 00:31:18,339 come from the Lord and he says when that happens don’t despise it but whatever you 374 00:31:18,339 –> 00:31:24,579 do test it and discern it and we’ve looked at how we might go about that but 375 00:31:24,579 –> 00:31:29,660 Peter talks about prophecy of scripture and that’s in a different category 376 00:31:29,660 –> 00:31:34,780 prophecy of scripture never came from human imagination or from human 377 00:31:34,780 –> 00:31:40,219 interpretation the words of the Bible in other words the Old and the New 378 00:31:40,219 –> 00:31:45,300 Testament scriptures and Paul is putting his letters written under the inspiration 379 00:31:45,300 –> 00:31:50,439 of the scripture and the same level of authority as the Old Testament these are 380 00:31:50,439 –> 00:31:55,280 different from any other words that we hear today that’s the point so you do 381 00:31:55,280 –> 00:32:08,040 not test the words of Isaiah or Jeremiah or John or Paul or Jesus what you do 382 00:32:08,040 –> 00:32:13,800 with these words is that you respond to them and you respond to them in 383 00:32:13,800 –> 00:32:19,760 repentance and in faith and in obedience that’s our calling as Christian 384 00:32:19,819 –> 00:32:26,699 believers because we have received the word of God now put these two things 385 00:32:26,699 –> 00:32:35,959 together the spiritual temperature of any local church can be determined in 386 00:32:35,959 –> 00:32:43,079 large measure by the discernment among God’s people in relation to human words 387 00:32:43,439 –> 00:32:53,859 and the responsiveness of God’s people in relation to God’s words the question 388 00:32:53,859 –> 00:32:59,079 as we come to the end of the series is well now how are we going to respond to 389 00:32:59,079 –> 00:33:06,000 God’s word to this letter of scripture given to us by the inspiration of the 390 00:33:06,000 –> 00:33:10,459 spirit the same level of authority as all of the Old Testament scripture and 391 00:33:10,479 –> 00:33:15,900 all of the rest of the words of your Bible how are we going to respond to it 392 00:33:15,900 –> 00:33:21,099 I’m not asking how do you respond to every word that the preacher has said 393 00:33:21,099 –> 00:33:24,660 over these last two months because I’m sure that in that there’s chaff as well 394 00:33:24,660 –> 00:33:33,500 as wheat and you have to sift it and some things can just be left but with an 395 00:33:33,500 –> 00:33:47,199 open Bible surely you have seen as I have seen that God’s Word is pointing us 396 00:33:47,199 –> 00:33:59,000 to the urgency of gospel-centered ministry and in Chapter two as we saw 397 00:33:59,000 –> 00:34:05,239 it he’s calling us to push beyond our own comfort level and desire for 398 00:34:05,239 –> 00:34:14,300 approval which is natural to us and he’s calling us to stand firm even when we 399 00:34:14,300 –> 00:34:22,780 like the Thessalonians face severe trials and strong temptations and surely 400 00:34:22,780 –> 00:34:27,679 you have seen with an open Bible from first Thessalonians and chapter 4 that 401 00:34:27,979 –> 00:34:34,620 is calling us through his word to the pursuit of practical purity in marriage 402 00:34:34,620 –> 00:34:40,760 and outside of marriage and surely you’ve seen with an open Bible that God 403 00:34:40,760 –> 00:34:46,100 is opening to us the hope of heaven and that in the light of it he’s calling us 404 00:34:46,100 –> 00:34:51,439 to willing work which is one of the marks of those who have grasped the 405 00:34:51,439 –> 00:34:56,320 gospel and been grasped by the gospel that we throw ourselves into service for 406 00:34:56,360 –> 00:35:00,939 Jesus Christ for as many days as he gives us until Jesus Christ shall return and 407 00:35:00,939 –> 00:35:07,020 surely you’ve seen from the Scripture that God is calling us to the pursuit of 408 00:35:07,020 –> 00:35:14,320 persistent prayer because what is accomplished is only accomplished by his 409 00:35:14,320 –> 00:35:21,939 power and not by our skills and our abilities. Now the Word of God always has 410 00:35:21,939 –> 00:35:28,120 an effect it always has an effect on us individually and as a church and it will 411 00:35:28,120 –> 00:35:37,719 always push us one of two ways. As you receive the Word of God with repentance, 412 00:35:37,719 –> 00:35:46,439 faith and obedience, that Word itself in being received will make you more 413 00:35:46,439 –> 00:35:57,360 receptive. And if we were to resist the Word of God just to push off not human 414 00:35:57,360 –> 00:36:03,500 words but what is being said to us here? If we just push that off resisting the 415 00:36:03,500 –> 00:36:11,360 Word of God actually makes us more resistant. It kind of hardens a shell 416 00:36:11,879 –> 00:36:22,040 which is why you can find people who’ve been in church for years who however 417 00:36:22,040 –> 00:36:28,699 clearly they hear the Bible expound it, and however often, it is just like water 418 00:36:28,699 –> 00:36:37,120 off a duck’s back, and they do not change because they’ve become used to passing 419 00:36:37,659 –> 00:36:44,020 it off, passing it off and so they become like the folks our Lord spoke of. They’re 420 00:36:44,020 –> 00:36:53,080 always hearing but never understanding, always seeing but never perceiving. That 421 00:36:53,080 –> 00:36:59,520 can be true of a church as well. So do not put out the Spirit’s fire, we want to 422 00:36:59,520 –> 00:37:06,699 see this fire kindled to a flame. We’ve got to be real discerning in relation to 423 00:37:06,699 –> 00:37:16,120 human words and we’ve got to grow in responsiveness to God’s Word. And these 424 00:37:16,120 –> 00:37:20,739 two things along with the things that we saw last week will really tell you a 425 00:37:20,739 –> 00:37:27,340 great deal about the spiritual temperature of any local church. Now 426 00:37:27,340 –> 00:37:30,540 there’s one more thing before we close, we’ve just got a few minutes to touch it 427 00:37:30,540 –> 00:37:33,600 here but it’s very wonderful. I want to draw your attention to verses 428 00:37:33,760 –> 00:37:42,760 23 and 24. Don’t put out the spirits’ fire, Paul says, and then he exhorts us to be 429 00:37:42,760 –> 00:37:48,080 discerning in relation to human words and responsive in relation to God’s Word. 430 00:37:48,080 –> 00:37:51,879 Then, here’s the last thing, that we should grow through trusting in the work 431 00:37:51,879 –> 00:37:58,620 of Jesus Christ, God’s work in us, through him. I want to read this prayer with 432 00:37:58,620 –> 00:38:05,520 which Paul ends the letter and there are two requests that Paul the Apostle 433 00:38:05,520 –> 00:38:10,800 brings before God in relation to these Christians who have been brought 434 00:38:10,800 –> 00:38:15,020 together under his ministry and he says, here’s the first prayer, 435 00:38:21,459 –> 00:38:23,300 Here’s the second prayer, 436 00:38:28,620 –> 00:38:39,479 the earlier in this series you may remember that we 437 00:38:39,479 –> 00:38:43,639 learned just a little bit about the two Bible words justification and 438 00:38:43,639 –> 00:38:50,239 sanctification. Remember that justification, Christ’s completed work 439 00:38:50,239 –> 00:38:58,280 for you on the cross. Sanctification, Christ’s continuing work in you 440 00:38:58,320 –> 00:39:02,199 by the Holy Spirit. These two together always 441 00:39:02,199 –> 00:39:08,179 joined as one in the life and experience of a Christian believer. I want you to 442 00:39:08,179 –> 00:39:13,459 notice how Paul brings these two beautifully together in this concluding 443 00:39:13,459 –> 00:39:19,179 prayer that he brings to the Lord for these Christians he loves so much. Notice 444 00:39:19,179 –> 00:39:24,379 that the first request relates to sanctification verse 23, may God himself 445 00:39:25,320 –> 00:39:30,840 the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. And then in the next verse 446 00:39:30,840 –> 00:39:39,439 he says, God who calls you is faithful and he will do it. Thank God for that. 447 00:39:39,439 –> 00:39:46,260 That is a wonderfully encouraging. Do you not have times in your Christian 448 00:39:46,260 –> 00:39:53,360 life when you look at yourself and after all the years that you may have been a 449 00:39:53,439 –> 00:40:01,820 Christian you say I am still so far from what God calls me to be. Actually 450 00:40:01,840 –> 00:40:07,939 that is not a bad thing because anyone who looks into the brightness of the 451 00:40:07,939 –> 00:40:13,860 glory of Christ will feel that everywhere else he looks is actually 452 00:40:13,860 –> 00:40:19,659 quite dark. And you will feel that often about yourself as a Christian believer. 453 00:40:20,659 –> 00:40:27,479 So far still from what Jesus Christ calls me to be. 454 00:40:28,620 –> 00:40:35,300 Now Paul is saying be encouraged because God has begun by his spirit a work in 455 00:40:35,300 –> 00:40:41,280 your life and he will complete it. There will be a unique and wonderful 456 00:40:41,280 –> 00:40:44,719 reflection of the Lord Jesus Christ completed in you. That’s what 457 00:40:44,719 –> 00:40:49,239 sanctification means and God will take the good things in your life and even 458 00:40:49,260 –> 00:40:53,500 the bad things in your life as well and out of it he will forge 459 00:40:53,520 –> 00:41:00,219 a reflection of the glory of Jesus that will be for his honor and for your ever 460 00:41:00,219 –> 00:41:06,219 increasing joy. And God who called you God who brought you into this 461 00:41:06,219 –> 00:41:10,620 relationship with Jesus Christ so wonderfully he’s faithful and he will do 462 00:41:10,620 –> 00:41:15,040 it he’ll not abandon his own work halfway done he will bring it to 463 00:41:15,040 –> 00:41:20,939 completion I’m praying Paul says that God will sanctify you and I know that he 464 00:41:20,939 –> 00:41:26,800 who has called you is faithful and he will do it there will be a perfect 465 00:41:26,800 –> 00:41:33,560 complete reflection of the glory of Jesus Christ in you and it will be the 466 00:41:33,560 –> 00:41:39,959 work of God and it will be your everlasting joy. But I want you to notice 467 00:41:39,979 –> 00:41:47,320 that the second request relates I believe to justification the first is 468 00:41:47,320 –> 00:41:50,719 sanctification the second to justification look at this just for one 469 00:41:50,719 –> 00:42:00,760 moment with me. May your whole spirit soul and body be kept blameless at the 470 00:42:00,760 –> 00:42:08,439 coming of our Lord Jesus Christ kept blameless. Now look carefully at what He 471 00:42:08,439 –> 00:42:15,060 says he doesn’t say may God make you blameless 472 00:42:15,060 –> 00:42:21,399 he says may your whole spirit soul and body be kept blameless implying that 473 00:42:21,399 –> 00:42:27,719 that is the position you are already in! Kept blameless! 474 00:42:27,719 –> 00:42:35,360 You say well I don’t think that could be said for me I don’t feel I’m so far 475 00:42:35,459 –> 00:42:42,479 from being a perfect Christian I how could that possibly be said of me well 476 00:42:42,479 –> 00:42:47,879 look at what he says again he doesn’t say may you be kept sinless you and I 477 00:42:47,879 –> 00:42:52,560 are very far from being sinless that’s why every week when we gather in church 478 00:42:52,560 –> 00:42:56,100 and surely every time we come before the Lord personally in prayer we have to 479 00:42:56,100 –> 00:43:01,639 confess our sins because we all sin in many ways he doesn’t say may you be kept 480 00:43:01,979 –> 00:43:05,699 sinless he says may you be kept blameless what 481 00:43:05,699 –> 00:43:10,340 does that mean well I looked up the word blame in my 482 00:43:10,340 –> 00:43:20,939 dictionary and here’s what it says to blame to find fault with for an offense 483 00:43:21,020 –> 00:43:32,520 to fix responsibility on or to hold a person responsible now folks here is the 484 00:43:32,520 –> 00:43:42,699 very heart of the gospel we all sin in many ways but in Christ God has chosen 485 00:43:42,780 –> 00:43:53,260 not to fault you over that he has decided in his incredible mercy not to 486 00:43:53,260 –> 00:44:01,699 fix responsibility for that on you how could he do that because he put the 487 00:44:01,699 –> 00:44:11,139 blame for your sins on his son Jesus Christ God held Christ responsible for 488 00:44:11,379 –> 00:44:22,860 your sins he took the blame God faulted him he bore the wrath for you on the 489 00:44:22,860 –> 00:44:27,820 cross a Christian brother and sister 490 00:44:27,820 –> 00:44:35,500 the reason that on the last day you will enter into heaven is not because you are 491 00:44:35,500 –> 00:44:41,060 without sin but because in Jesus Christ you are without blame because the 492 00:44:41,060 –> 00:44:46,639 responsibility the faulting has been placed on him and what Paul is saying to 493 00:44:46,639 –> 00:44:51,580 us here is that God who placed that blame on Jesus the God who moved that 494 00:44:51,580 –> 00:44:59,239 guilt the God who faulted him will keep you so that at the coming of the Lord 495 00:44:59,239 –> 00:45:05,020 Jesus Christ you will be blameless not because you’re sinless but because he 496 00:45:05,260 –> 00:45:15,219 took the fault for you God reconciles us to himself how by not counting men’s 497 00:45:15,219 –> 00:45:20,840 sins against them that is why Jesus Christ who never sinned became sin for 498 00:45:20,840 –> 00:45:26,419 us so that in him we should become the righteousness of God now notice how 499 00:45:26,419 –> 00:45:29,899 these two things are so beautifully brought together at the end of this 500 00:45:29,959 –> 00:45:36,540 letter the security of the Christian believer through justification in Christ 501 00:45:36,540 –> 00:45:43,459 God counts you blameless and he keeps you blameless and the growth of the 502 00:45:43,459 –> 00:45:47,639 Christian believer through sanctification in Christ God will 503 00:45:47,639 –> 00:45:51,800 sanctify you through and through and what God has joined together 504 00:45:51,800 –> 00:45:58,520 justification and sanctification in Jesus Christ let no one ever separate 505 00:45:58,739 –> 00:46:07,340 so Paul says do not put out the spirits fire I wonder in this very last moment 506 00:46:07,340 –> 00:46:13,159 have you felt today and maybe during this series you know I’m beginning to 507 00:46:13,159 –> 00:46:21,879 feel I’m just a religious person I don’t really know this life of God in me I 508 00:46:22,060 –> 00:46:30,320 really know this spirit’s fire you could do nothing better today than begin with 509 00:46:30,320 –> 00:46:38,040 Paul’s prayer right here Lord Jesus Christ I need you to sanctify me through 510 00:46:38,040 –> 00:46:45,280 and through I need you to make me blameless and then to keep me blameless 511 00:46:45,280 –> 00:46:50,080 and I believe that you can do that because of what Jesus accomplished on 512 00:46:50,260 –> 00:46:58,000 the cross now apply that to me cleanse me forgive me wash me do not count my 513 00:46:58,000 –> 00:47:08,399 sins against me give me your spirit remake me light your fire within me and 514 00:47:08,399 –> 00:47:17,520 empower me to live a new life for your praise and glory and honor and as you 515 00:47:17,520 –> 00:47:21,879 come to him in that way he will answer that prayer there will be joy in heaven 516 00:47:21,879 –> 00:47:26,939 and among all your brothers and sisters as you come as a true living member into 517 00:47:26,939 –> 00:47:31,879 the family of God through faith in Christ there will be great joy also into 518 00:47:31,879 –> 00:47:36,320 that all of the people of God together said