we turn to the fourth chapter of timothy i just want to say a few words reference timothy that we have already read that timothy was chosen by the lord to be a minister in his that is God's church important for us to understand that those who minister should be those who are called by God if we haven't got a calling then there's no right to be in the pulpit it's a calling it's a it's a dreadful calling in a way because the responsibility of bearing the truth in humility is somewhat of a burden and I mean that in the good sense but we are granted help in time of need to minister and seek to be faithful to proclaim our risen saviour Jesus Christ and we see that with Timothy given this charge by Paul this charge I commit unto thee son Timothy according to the prophecies which went before on thee that thou by them mightest war a good warfare that's in verse 18 of 1 Timothy 1 according to the prophecies I don't know what the prophecies were but it would seem that there were still prophets in existence at this time. Remember that the scriptures weren't complete and we looked this morning at two prophecies concerning our Lord Jesus Christ in the temple. One by Simeon and one by Anna who is regarded as the prophetess.

And it may seem strange to us because Timothy as we read in 1 Timothy 4 in verse 12 let no man despise thy youth now I don't exactly know I don't think anybody does what the age of Timothy was but looking at what one of the commentators say it's highly likely he was under 20 years old as I say it may seem strange but remember not just Timothy being called at this age but we should be thinking about our young men in our churches those who are growing up amongst us whichever church you may be in that we consider them even now that it's possible that the Lord will have his hand on them to take over from as older ones as we depart this earth and it's a very sober sombering i should say thought as it must be to as i said at the beginning to carry the the ministry and what the minute what the minister is meant to be it's one thing to be a minister it's another thing to be a pastor but each one who preaches The Gospel of Christ has a responsibility to do so faithfully, to do so in humility and to do it in love. Love for Christ, we will come to that later. What our Christian men should be then, what they should be considering and what they should aspire to in years to come. if you name the name of Christ you bear if you call yourself a Christian I should say then you're calling yourself by the name of the risen God Christ the Son of God the only Son of God and we look back to Acts to see some record of Timothy in the members of the church amongst the members of the church Acts chapter 16 I read verses 1 to 3 then came he to Derby and Lystra and behold a certain disciple was there named Timothy the son of a certain woman which was a Jewess and believed but his father was a Greek which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium him would Paul have to go forth with him and took him and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters for they knew all that his father was a Greek Timothy wasn't just well-known but he was well spoken of he had a good reputation I don't know what that reputation was but as we go through we might consider that I would consider one of the things was for the truth known as one who held to the truth as Paul did he was noticed by the saints he stood out from amongst them as we read in verse 3 him Paul also would have with him to proclaim Christ to join him in the ministry and let us not forget the dangerous times that those who were involved in the ministry were engaged in and probably the greatest danger they had was from those who professed to be followers of God the Pharisees it was, I know it was the Romans who nailed Christ to the cross but it was those who professed to love God who got him there in the place, oh yes it was ordained, foreordained by the Lord that he should hang on the cross but it's never escaped my attention that it was the religious people of the day who were behind that nefarious work which was to the glory of God in the end what a strange thing that what men tried to destroy the Lord used to build up or to be the foundation I

should say of the church so he would have been with Paul growing in knowledge and in understanding and it would seem that Timothy was indeed converted under the ministry of Paul Timothy refers to him as my own son in the faith and that speaks to me of the ministry of the Holy Spirit through Paul bringing into a place of authority within the church but of authority not to rule as men do but to rule as Christ rose in gentleness in meekness seeking the good of others but above all bringing the truth of Christ notice in verse 3 of 1 Timothy 1 I besought thee I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus and it's quite interesting because he was still a young man and Paul besought or beseeched him to stay at Ephesus to continue in the ministry of God's Word what a great responsibility and for you youngsters in the congregation to anybody who's listening it is a great responsibility but it's a responsibility which brings its own blessing when we see the gospel proclaimed and sinners saved not through my words or through your words the Holy Spirit working in their soul but the Holy Spirit God uses ministers how shall they hear without a preacher it says in Romans preaching of the word is a vital aspect of the spread of the gospel and timothy though was not ignorant of the scriptures he had a great what i would call a blessed upbringing if we go to to timothy chapter 3 verse 15 Paul saying and is reminding him that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

It's not just the Word but it involves the Word. It involves the Word preached. It involves the work of the Spirit. But let's not sideline the Word. let's see the importance of the word but let's see the importance of learning God's word unfortunately I speak for myself that I never had this blessed upbringing that Timothy had didn't know the scriptures in fact it was quite some time before I actually came to the scriptures and by that I mean the AV I won't tell you the sort of versions that I had in my hand as I went to as I thought to worship the Lord on the Lord's day but blessed be the Lord that through trustworthy men my attention was brought to the fact that this is God's holy word he had a good upbringing then by faithful and I mean that in a biblical sense grandmother and mother to Timothy 3 verse 10.

That was fully known by doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity and patience. He's known the doctrine of Christ but he's known it from Paul, an apostle, a messenger of Jesus Christ. He's heard it and he's learnt it and the Spirit has applied it to his soul. Which doctrine? Well it's the doctrine of Christ. Paul's doctrine is Christ and Christ alone. There is only one doctrine in the scripture and that is the doctrine of Jesus Christ.

I'll say more on that a bit later on I trust.

It's safe to say that he had a knowledge and also a spiritual gift to uphold the faith once delivered to the saints and as I say it's a massive responsibility for any man or woman when you consider the gift that are given to some ladies to be able to teach younger ones speak of those who sometimes are able to go into schools and the schools are amenable to them taking Bible classes Bible clubs I should say in that school or in Sunday schools there is a responsibility for the ladies who engage in such good works to also know the scriptures and indeed with their own families to bring their children up that is the responsibility of the man they are responsible to him but the wife under the man bears a privilege to speak to youngsters impressionable youngsters of the things of Jesus Christ when we think of what they're going to learn in schools it's a daunting challenge in a way because when they go to school as parents who've gone through this my wife and I and you here too you know what's going to come back sometime from the school and it's not sometimes going to be very pleasant either but we must bear these things in mind and this is something to bear one another up in prayer let us be mindful then of the maintaining of the church of Christ with the truth once delivered to the saints but there is a standout point I eventually got to it but in chapter 4 in verse 12 about Timothy's conduct now I'll say this as one prepares these things to preach to encourage each other I'm very mindful of the things of which I've read and I've had to take note of for my own life I'm not going to ask you to join up the dots of my life but to be very mindful that it's a responsibility when we preach is to preach but also to learn to have understanding and to grow not to set these things aside and say well you should do this but it's for me as well so I'm not stand my Father-in-law used to say all the people in the pulpits are six foot above contradiction I do understand what he meant

but anybody who's preached the word of God should be mindful that they stand in front of others who see them day to day not just here I can put on a good suit tie whatever but it's not just about being here It's my daily living as we will come to. It's not just my doctrine. It's how I live the doctrine of Christ. So as we've seen to preach, to teach, to refute error faithfully as we've read in our readings to stand faithfully but also to live as we should as an example to others but also we must consider not to bring the Lord's name into disrepute it's a very somber thing so 1 Timothy 4 verse 12 just start with let no man despise thy youth but be thou an example of the two believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity let no man despise thy youth as older ones know what it's like to be sometimes put down when we were younger by the older ones of previous generations I don't mean in our spiritual lives but as sometimes we have grown in our sphere whatever that may be we've come across information that is useful And it's quite common for those who are older and who think they're wiser to look down on youngsters.

And sometimes it's the youngsters fault because they've not behaved themselves sensibly. But let us not think that just because somebody has age in their bones and grey hair that they are always wise. I can testify to the fact that it's not always so. I can say it of myself, but I can also say it to do with people I've had to deal with in the past. I don't say it in pride, I say it just to acknowledge the fact. Timothy was to let no man despise his youth. He wasn't to give way to those who might stand against him.

And there would have been a lot, I should imagine, especially in the synagogues. but also he wasn't to act in such a way that men might despise him we will look at that shortly but we should live as an example as I said to others and remembering those young men from the Old Testament and it's a good example for us to look at in Daniel you know that we know them as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego i just i think i can remember to call them by their hebrew names but i've just slipped me as i've opened at Daniel 3 but these three men stood against probably one of the most powerful sovereigns in human history Nebuchadnezzar and they were not going to bow down to his gods from verse 14 onwards we see the exchange between them Nebuchadnezzar demanding that they should bow down to an idol and worship the image which I have made, verse 15. And if you worship not, you shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning, fiery furnace.

And who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Just stop there a minute. This was supposedly a king, a great king, but can we ever accuse him of being wise in saying such a thing? or he was made wise later on he was properly humbled but he put himself above God and any God who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands man that was a fool not just a foolish statement but a fault because he's denying God he's made himself God but we look at the reply of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and they said oh Nebuchadnezzar we're not careful to answer thee in this matter what they mean is we're not going to equivocate we're not going to go halfway we're going to say the truth i don't think they were rude not for one moment but look at their testimony if it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand O King they knew the God of Israel they didn't just have knowledge of God they had an experience of God God has been merciful to them and revealed himself to them but They were honest enough and realistic enough to know it might not be the Lord's will. And they continue, But if not, be it known unto thee, O King, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

That's faith. Call it faith in action, if you will. That's a stand made for the truth. Nebuchadnezzar, as we know, had the furnace heated up so much that those who were entrusted with throwing them into the furnace were slain by the heat but it's the testimony of them and the way they conducted themselves in front of this monarch that might come to us might come to me it might come to you especially you youngsters it is not getting any better in this country of ours the Lord is still on the throne he still knows what's going on and all things work to the counsel of his will the governments may do this do that and do the other but it's only as the Lord allows but one day he will bring it to an end and what will their end be Azariah, Hananiah and Mishael then Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew what the Lord could do if it was His will and their conduct is we will not bow down. What a testimony to the grace of God and as I said we can also consider the unwise words of Achim.

I don't think I need to say any more. Timothy and we are required to walk in that same way. Titus chapter 2 verse 6 to 8. Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded in all things showing thyself a pattern of good works in doctrine showing uncorruptness gravity sincerity sound speech that cannot be condemned that he that is of the contrary part and there'll be plenty of them may be ashamed having no evil thing to say of you see how it fits together with Paul's exhortation just in verses 12 and 13 but you see how we don't give any cause to others to despise to despise us whatever our age but especially for those who are privileged to carry the gospel light aloft in these last days what are we teaching? our youngsters. It's a question we should ask.

I can't compare what happens in congregations throughout the length and breadth of this country. In other chapels, denominations, call it what you will. But I've seen some of the evidence of what must go on with drum kits and things like that and I think I've seen gospel, I have seen them, in Newport, the streets of Newport, gospel comedians. Yeah, gospel comedians. That sort of thing brings the Lord's name into disrepute. There's nothing funny about the Word of God. There's nothing funny about preaching Christ.

It's a serious business. It's men's lives. It's men's souls. How are we going to react? We're not to be in the world and of it. We're to be in the world, but not of it. 1 Corinthians chapter 5. Sorry, it's James. But in looking at John 17, we see how the Lord when he prayed for his own he prayed for them and he acknowledged before God from verse 14 I have given them thy word and the world hath hated them because they are not of the world even as i am not of the world i pray not that thou should take them out of the world but that thou should keep them from the evil bear that in mind as we stand for christ i've been very fortunate myself when i was working in my my last firm as a as an electrician i was right from the beginning when they asked me to not to apply but to carry on with them I said to them look I'm not going to work on the Lord's day it's the Lord's day if there's something really urgent and the people's lives or whatever you know something really urgent like people are working in hospitals Electricity sometimes goes down.

Am I happy to do that? Yes, no problem at all. But I will not work for the sake of wages, just to do a job on the Lord's Day. And it was accepted. It made a stand right at the beginning. I felt uncomfortable about it, but as I knew, it had to make a stand there and then.

And I just use it as an example to you, for you in later life, to you young ones, that if you make a stand to start with, it ain't always going to be pleasant but it gives you a it helps that's just my experience so we're in the world we're not of it and Christ pray for us doesn't give us an easy way out rather that we should be kept from the evil we have a great high priest who knows our infirmities he knows the problems that we have let us avail ourselves of the access unto the father that we have through christ excuse me 1 corinthians 5 verses 9 to 11 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world or with the covetous or extortioners or with idolaters for then must ye needs go out of the world quite logical isn't it But now I have written unto you, not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother, be a fornicator, or a covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such and one, no, not to eat.

And as we've looked at before from Romans chapter 16, note them which cause divisions, and offences contrary to the doctrine he have learnt and avoid them we're talking about religious people those who call themselves brethren the Lord Jesus Christ sat down with publicans and sinners but he didn't alter his life to fit in that's the problem with some methods of evangelism we're giving ourselves into the world's way to try and communicate we're not dealing with worldly communication we're dealing with not flesh and blood we're dealing with the powers, dominions, evil we're dealing with the work of Satan and of devils it's a spiritual warfare Paul as you noted, I trust you might have noted Paul says to Timothy that he might war a good warfare. I know what it is to war a good warfare. Thankfully I haven't been dragged into any conflicts as such. But I know what it is. I know what it means. So you get prepared. And as we saw, he knew the Scriptures from you. What a blessing that is.

To be brought up in a good chapel. where there's good ministry but also to be brought up by christian parents and grandparents as we can see from timothy's mother eunice and his grandmother lois not to be entangled with the world and its ways colossians 2 which is verse i couldn't find a little while ago, verse 8.

Beware, lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, are not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power, dominion even over the wicked one. and his followers James speaks of spiritual adulterers and adulteresses and says friendship with the world is enmity enmity is a strong word it's hatred against God and Timothy has to be mindful of these things as he's called to be a witness and a preacher a minister of God's holy word 1 Corinthians 11. Paul says to the Corinthians, Be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ. Philippians 3, 17 and 18. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. for many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.

Who are they? We don't need to know. We might think of people that we know. I get frustrated. Have I got to the point of weeping for them in desire to see them brought back? I need to that is part of the ministry that we have is prayer teaching each other admonishing one another in the things of Christ that we might grow and preaching for those who have turned away and I know some you probably do as well now we pray that they may come back amongst us are we any better than any man no but we have the truth and if we don't have the truth What are we? We can't all be right, when we're all going in different directions. There is only one way, there is only one way to God and that is through Christ, through sovereign grace and through his sovereign mercy. We have a similar passage in Hebrews chapter 6, that we mark Paul. and we should mark Timothy we don't much know much about Timothy but we do know much about Paul and how he suffered for the Lord's name's sake how many times was he shipwrecked how many time was he stoned and left for dead whipped, scourged all for the sake of Christ and he counted everything as nothing his Pharisaical upbringing all those things that gave him advantage Amongst the Jews, he counted as dross.

What is dross? It's a stuff that you see, I don't know if you've ever seen in when they melt metal, or things like I've seen it in steelworks, where you get all the metal and then you get black stuff on the top. It's dross, it's skimmed off. It's no good for anything, apart from maybe as building materials. It's not even very good for that. But to get at the pure metal, you get rid of the dross. Pure religion is no dross, it's the pure and holy word of God.

So put Timothy's to be an example. What in? I did read them earlier. In word, conversation, charity, spirit, in faith and purity. In the word. I'm looking at the context and I'm thinking that this is how he walks, his deportment. in the church or in life that the word how he speaks to people Titus 2 verse 7 and 8 i believe gives us understanding of what Paul means by in the word Titus 2 seven and eight in all things showing thyself a pattern of good works in doctrine showing uncorruptness gravity sincerity sound speech that cannot be condemned that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed having no evil thing to say of you now we speak God's word how do we communicate Colossians 4 says seasoned with salt seasoned with salt, not just to give it taste, a bit of a tang, and the word of God does give a tang when you speak of the law. It's meant to.

That's the job of preaching the law, is to convict sinners of their sin. But it's also a preservative against mould, fungus, all those things that invade your food and make it, well, you've got to throw it away. Well, our speech should also be seasoned with salt, not throw away lines that best thing to do with them is to throw them away but to preach faithfully Christ and to stand faithfully upon God's holy word of course as I said you've got to know it first needest not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of God not twisting it Peter in his second letter 2 Peter 3 verse 15 and 16 and account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation even as our beloved Paul sorry beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you as also in all his epistles speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to understand which they that are unlearned and unstable rest as they do also the other scriptures it's not just the hard things they do it with everything unto their own destruction they're somber words their own destruction blue on blue is a military term own goal is another term They're not shooting themselves in the foot. They're blasting themselves in their spiritual head, in their soul. Oh, that we are very mindful about handling the Word of God aright. Then he mentions conversations, behaviour. It includes speaking.

1 Timothy 6 10 and 11 For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness, He goes on, fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and has professed a good profession before many witnesses. That's Timothy's confession, that's his testimony.

But notice that word, flee. Get out quick. If the house is on fire, unless you're a fireman, and even then you've got to use your head, you get out. It's a dangerous place. It's the same in the military. Come under effective, what we call effective enemy fire, you take action, so you don't get clobbered, don't get hit.

I mentioned this morning, evil communications corrupt good manners. And they certainly do. Those who've heard from the faith, they'll take us with them. They're very persuasive. I can't say I can stand up to every argument they have by some of these people but I do pray for grace that I shall never be ashamed to stand against them and that I won't be ashamed for the Lord's name sake I want to stand against it I want to stand against what is wrong Why?

In love for God Above all, love for God. And that's the next point. Charity or love. And I'm going to go in ascending order. First of all, love for souls. Prayers for sinners. Love thy neighbour, the Lord said. Love him as thyself. Seeking the salvation of those, even if they hate us.

I can remember the testimony of somebody from many years ago I read about him I think his name was Sergei Khodorkov a Russian he became a Christian and as far as I know I'm going on what the book says and I take it in good faith but how he was convicted of the evil things he was doing by a girl called Natasha now they were Russian Baptists and they used to meet undercover they had to and he was involved with he'd gone on from the Komsomol which is the youth it's like the youth wing of the Communist Party in days gone by and they were a group of youngsters who were bussed around and as soon as they got wind of a Baptist or any other congregation they went in and beat them up that was the process to put fear and this girl Natasha he gave her a beating up he was actually involved in it these things came out by people like brother Andrew you may have heard of him and they thought oh you're doing a good job sometime later they went to another area and that girl was there again what a testimony could we do it? could you do it? could I do it? that's just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and later on Daniel in front of Darius that is love love for the brethren i believe she prayed for his soul if i can remember i may have remembered that faulty but there was prayers put up by russian baptists that i'm aware of and they asked us to pray for those who persecuted them that they might be given light and there are as far as i'm aware many who have turned from their wicked ways because of the prayers of the lord's people for them interceding before the throne of grace who else Do we, should we have love for brethren in Christ?

It's probably one of the hardest. The frictions that occur in congregations. Are we aware of each other's problems? May not be, or we may be. Do we pray for each other? With concern for each other? In the difficulties? Health difficulties? Financial difficulties? Can we help or do we sit back?

I'm just putting this before you. It's a general thing. It's going out into wherever. But it's the truth. We should be concerned for one another and help where we can. Especially in prayer, but any other method that we can.

I can't remember where it is, but Paul was praising one of the churches because of the help that they gave to him while he was on his journey. because the congregations were where he was, were either too poor or just didn't do it. Love though, love for the brethren, it's a gospel precept to love one another. In one John, looking at it earlier on, I guess I'll be able to find it, Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love. If we go back to the previous chapter in 1 John 3 verse 23 and this is his commandment that we should believe on the name of his son Jesus Christ and love one another as he gave us commandment if we claim to have the spirit and if we are the Lord's people then we will have the spirit Holy Spirit how can we be at loggerheads with each other if we are at loggerheads it's a sobering thought isn't it we claim to have the same spirit do we have love for each other of course there's going to be difficulties and disagreements but it's what we do afterwards when we get into those disagreements we need to pray pray for grace it doesn't mean you've got to give way on everything times when you may be right but you've got to remember there's times when you may be wrong as well the lord grant us grace to see those things do we pray well love also for pastors elders deacons and ministers and their wives there is that saying isn't there behind every successful man is a good woman there's a lot of truth in that for ministers when they meet with other ministers and they go to each other's homes and their wives are there what do their wives have to put up with they might have young children as they get older those children flee the nest but those children will see the example of that wife and what a blessing to have good christian faithful wives and i mean faithful in the biblical sense it's a great privilege to bring up young men but also young women in the faith they may carry on the work of the gospel it's the work of the gospel to show love and above all the Lord how can we say love one another if we don't love the Lord and his truth them that love me keep my commandments the truth of Christ that's so important not to adulterate it to water it down spirit in spirit that comes down to I say of my personal experience it needs a lot of attention I can say that and I'll say it am I contentious?

I don't mean tell me after the service but am I contentious? that's a question to ask yourself or do I earnestly contend for the faith? I need to examine myself oh I can get into arguments all right But do I seek argument? No, I don't actually seek argument. It's not in my nature to like an argument. But I do sometimes find it difficult to back down from something that's become a contentious argument. Not because I want to win.

I'm very mindful, as I said earlier, of the Lord's glory. I mean, other things they can come and go. But when we're concerned with spiritual matters, that is what we should pay attention to. Timothy did. We can see that from what we've been reading. And that's what we should do also.

It's not just Paul's word to Timothy, it's the Holy Spirit's word to all men who are or may likely be called into the ministry. do I seek other people's good in truth that's what matters in truth and in love says in faith does what we say match our profession I've recently heard somebody who I believe has said that they hold to particular redemption yet saying Everyone, whosoever they may be, men, women or children. I'm reading this as a quote because I wrote it down. Be they men, women or children, may have their consciences set at peace with God and that is through His blood. Everyone, whosoever they may be, men, women or children, may have their consciences set at peace with God. and that through his blood at the very very best I see this statement as foggy to me it's a smokescreen what else does he believe that's the sort of thing I would be asking myself if you disagree please tell me do I get abusive to people who disagree with me Do I shout them down?

Especially young ones. It's easy to shoot the messenger and not read the message that they're carrying. It's just as real in business as it is in spiritual matters. I don't want to hear that. I want to hear nice things. It's in the Old Testament, isn't it? Prophesy smooth things. Smooth things, what happened?

Israel went into captivity. Taken out from the place that they were to bear a witness with their worship to the reality of God, but they were taken because of their folly and their sin. Jeremiah, he wasn't on his own, but there weren't very many with him. In fact it looks at times like he was the only one who carried the torch of God, the truth. And that may be how you might feel. You're in good company.

Purity. Purity from the pollutions, spiritual pollutions of idolatry, covetousness, fornication and such like. Let these things not be named once amongst us. Till I come, verse 13, I'll try to wrap it up. Till I come, pay attention. Take heed. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Reading, reading the scriptures above all.

I know there's lots of books out there. I've got quite a few of myself and I've got rid of some. Quite a few. Because to me they're compromised. And I'll use an illustration. I'm not going to eat a birthday cake when somebody tells me it's half mud. You know what I mean. We got to... There was a book I came across. A book called Prove All Things. It nearly sent me back into the charismatic movement.

You don't read books like that. Put them aside. You might read them for reference. But there's better things to look for. better things to look into concerning Christ that's what our book should do, elevate Christ the Holy Spirit, there are many books written some 30 years ago on the Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit speaks of Christ doesn't speak of himself and I got sucked into that as well, why? because I was ignorant these are scriptures that are able to make us wise unto salvation and that revelation is now complete we do need the Holy Ghost but we do need to read as well Exhortation give attendance to reading to exhortation Acts chapter 17 verse two and three and Paul as his manner was went into unto them that's into the synagogues went in unto them and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures opening and alleging that christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead and that this jesus whom i preach unto you is christ what was he doing from the scriptures that were extant and that's not most of the New Testament I don't know how much was available in those days probably not a great deal but from the Old Testament probably mostly he was able to reason allege out of the scriptures that this Jesus whom he preached unto you is Christ he knew the Bible He knew his doctrine.

Doctrine helps us to understand the different passages of scripture. I've used the illustration of a jigsaw. It helps us to fit everything together. If it doesn't fit, then what you believe is wrong. Simple test. Exhortation, reasoning out of the scriptures, not according to philosophy and vain deceit, according to the rudiments of this world. He was preaching Christ.

And we see in Romans, Romans is a very good example. We went through it in quite some detail many years ago. But how the argument for salvation through grace alone is built up right from the beginning starts with the sinfulness of man and we get to chapter 8 where he says there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit but is the build up through it there's like subsections where it gets to a place, where is it? Chapter 5, therefore being justified by faith not by the works of the law we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and it builds through and that's an argument, that's opening, that's an alleging that's building the argument up of Christ exhorting one another in the faith doctrine 2 John 9 uses the word doctrine and i use it as an example it's something that somebody said to me it was or some of you know him Shane de Carter many years ago and despite where he is now and I don't really know where he is in his soul but he has been a great help to me I must testify to that 2 John 9 verse 9 Whosoever transgresseth and abide not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God.

He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. The doctrine of Christ. It's one unified doctrine. There's no doctrines of Christ. It's doctrine. It's like a prism. Put white light through a prism. It refracts it so you get the colours that white light is made of. But it's still one prism. And that's the best illustration I can give of the doctrine of Christ. That thing is very apt. Something is pure. We break it down into the different facets of that doctrine. But it all goes together to prove Christ. Doctrines, it says in the scriptures, is the doctrines of men. The doctrines of devils. Diverse and strange doctrines, Hebrews 13 says. But what is the doctrine of Christ?

I'll just mention a few. He's the only begotten of the Father. That's one. It's the imputed righteousness of Christ that makes us acceptable in God's sight. nothing to do with the law except Christ has kept the law for us that's where the law is met and that's where the law is useful in our salvation but not on our part on Christ's part but it's his righteousness imputed to us Christ is perfect man perfect God he is the Christ the promised one he's Emmanuel It's the only way to the Father. That's just a few.

You could go on for quite some time, trying to note down the different aspects and headings concerning Christ. Eternal Sonship is one. I can never remember all the arguments, but all I can remember is, if we've got an eternal Father, we must have an eternal Son. And I try to work from there. I'll end by looking at 1 Timothy 6 verse 20 and 21.

O Timothy, all the saints, this is Christ's word to us, all the saints, down through the ages, keep that which is committed to thy trust, whatever it might be, Avoid profane and vain babblings and oppositions of science falsely so-called. Not science. Science is wonderful testimony to God's creation. I'll say it. I don't know whether to or not. but we've often heard of the that thing which came first the chicken or the egg that's what people who believe in evolution say no no no don't deal with that ask them what came first DNA or the enzyme scientifically anybody you know you can't have DNA without an enzyme and you can't have an enzyme without a DNA you've got to have creation for life science falsely so-called says we were made and came out of the sludge that's essentially what it says anyway which some professing have heard concerning the faith there are those who talking of science falsely so-called believe in evolution they say that God guided it but it's still evolution.

Are they calling God a liar? In six days God created it and even the Lord Jesus Christ attests to the fact that in six days and that he made man and woman not that we sort of never mind it's mind-boggling sometimes what they come out with but this is what we're to do keep that which is committed to the trust that the Lord gives us and may his name be praised even if they lock us up whip us or whatever even if we have to go through what Paul went through it's only for a while and then it's glory I've no worries about looking to eternity the way the lord picks for me yeah because some ways just are not pleasant let's be factual but in the end it's a moment of time and then eternal bliss we can't really conceive of it but when you think of the alternative where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched I know what I'm going to stick with. May the Lord's name be glorified in the preaching of his word in mine and in your life too that we might bear a solid testimony to the grace of our mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen. number 73. The just by faith shall live, nor fear the powers of hell. All blessings that a God can give, in Christ most richly dwell. 605, tune 73. Nor fear the powers of hell, All blessings that the God can give, In Christ most richly dwell. Faith in Jesus' blood, the just shall live indeed, shall have a settled peace with God, and from their sins be free. When sense and reason fail And all things dark appear By faith the just shall say, "'Tis well Jehovah will appear If providence should frown and crosses still increase. By faith the just shall live, and of God their salvation is. I faith in Christ as God, as Prophet, Priest and King.

The just shall live and live to prove that death has lost its sting. Lord we thank thee for the word read and do pray that what has been said this night be to thy glory but also for the good of each one of us that are his souls and to those who listen. Lord we do pray then that as we go from this place that we should remember each other in love for all thy people whoever we know wherever they may be and ask that we might grow even apart but into the Church of Christ, love for one another, in the bond of peace. And now may the blessing of thee, our Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit be upon us now and forever. Amen.