Well I've thought and prayed
long and hard about tonight's service with the knowledge that
this would be the last time I preach here as a member of this church
and felt that it was right many ways to mark that and to think
how one would mark that and what could be said. This is In one
sense, a very hard time, a very strange time, a time I never
thought would come. Well, perhaps I never thought
that I would stand in this pulpit in the first place, but I certainly
didn't think that I would ever come to the point of vacating
and going. I've been a member of this church
coming up now for 15 years. It's where I was converted or
at least set at liberty is where we were baptized with me and
Allison and where we have both grown in our faith. It's been
a church where we've been nurtured and where we have served the
Lord with joy. And perhaps myself and Paul as
well have had the unique opportunity of seeing the church from two
sides. of sitting under the ministry
of our pastor and sitting under the ministry of others, we've
been partakers of the blessings here. And yet have had a little
taste of what it is to minister here as well. To bring God's
word as we have from time to time, but also just a little
taste of what our pastor goes through week by week by week
as he preaches amongst us. And so with that experience of
sitting under the ministry and having a little insight of what
it is to be in the ministry, I felt it was right to look at
these times when we read these words, finally brethren, because
it is a finally in one sense. In one sense it is not final,
I still hope to be preaching here at times during the coming
year and hope that we'll continue to have good fellowship with
you. We are really not going far.
So it is not a finally, but it is a new chapter. It's a closing
of a chapter and the opening of another. And so it's appropriate
to look at these times when we read these words in these epistles,
finally, Brethren, because we read this six times in the New
Testament, five of them are found in Paul's
epistles, once in Peter's first epistle. And generally speaking,
they come at or towards the end of the epistles when they have
been given much instruction encouragement, advice from the apostles in different
ways and they're drawing to a close either wanting to sum up what
they have said or wanting to to emphasize these final points. They say brethren, finally brethren. And so as I from my point of
view reflect on the church here and reflect on my desire for
your prosperity and well-being. So we can draw these encouragements
that the Apostle seeks to lay before the people that they write
to. We also can draw these instructions and encouragements from them
and we can really see five points as we look at these times that
these words are said, there are five central things that the
apostles lay down to the churches. That the things they should be
doing, the things they should be desiring. Firstly, that they
should be striving for unity. Secondly, that they should be
strong in the things of God. Thirdly, that they should be
worshipping as a church. Fourthly, that they should be
striving for holiness in the church. And then finally, fifthly,
that they should be a praying church. And so, that is what
I believe God would command, desire of every true Church of
Christ, and true here as well. And so, firstly then, that the
Church should be striving for unity. We see this in the second
epistle to the Corinthians. This is the first time we read
of these words, the second epistle to the Corinthians in chapter
13. So at the end of that epistle, to Corinthians 13 and verse 11
where Paul says, finally brethren farewell be perfect be of good
comfort be of one mind live in peace and the God of love and
peace shall be with you. You see when you read the epistle
and both epistles in fact to the Corinthians you realize that
the Apostle has been dealing with many many issues He has
been instructing them, correcting them for many things and as you
read, particularly through the first epistle, he goes from point
to point addressing different things. He has addressed the
issue of disunity when he speaks of how some will say of the Apollos
and some will say they're of Cephas and so forth. He addresses
the different roles in the church. He addresses the importance of
marriage, the importance of right views regarding sacrifices to
idols. He addresses the head covering,
the Lord's Supper, the use of spiritual gifts, all of these
different things which he goes through in the particularly first
epistle and then in the second epistle about his own role as
apostle and as servants of the Lord. And so it's like he wraps
all of this together. and closes with this exhortation
to the church at Corinth. Be perfect. Be perfect. That is, be complete. Clearly he wasn't commanding
them to be sinless, that was not possible. He is exhorting
them to be complete, that is, to be not lacking in anything. Do not lack in your growth, do
not lack in your development, do not lack in your maturing
in the things of God. Strive to have that right knowledge,
that right way. Be of good comfort, not being
agitated, not being overworried, resting in the Lord, relying
on the Lord. comforting yourselves in the
things of God. Be of one mind, have a common
focus, have a common goal, a common aim for the glory of God and
for the ministry of His word. Have one mind. Yes, there may
be differing opinions and differing emphases among the people, but
strive for that focus together. Hold Christ central, hold His
word at the forefront. Be of one mind for His glory.
and for the prosperity of his people. Live in peace. Be a peacemaker. Cease to bring
an end to any strife. Do not be the reason for strife. Live in peace together. And then
this promise, and the God of love and peace shall be with
you as you worship and serve him in this united way. And so you could say it the other
way, if you are actively working against and walking against these
things, if you are not striving for unity, if you are not of
good comfort, if you are not living in peace, then can we
expect God's blessing? And so he exhorts them to this
path of unity. There's a second time where this
is the main emphasis of God's Word, and that's found in the
epistle, first epistle of Peter. The first epistle of Peter, chapter
3. Chapter 3 in verse 8, and here
Peter says, finally, again finally, be ye all of one mind, having
compassion one of another, Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. Again you see the emphasis here
of unity. Be of one mind. Be having compassion, having
that sense of feeling, of concern of one another, having that sense
of resting, sorry, of helping them, of helping God's people. Have compassion upon those, the
weak, the poor, those who are struggling, those who perhaps
do not know as much as we do, those who are not as spiritually
mature as we are. Do not rail against them, do
not blame them, but have compassion upon them. Compassion one on
another. Love as brethren. As brothers
and sisters in Christ, brothers that stick closely together,
brothers that are not easily parted. You know, they say blood
is thicker than water, how families will stay together closer than
friends will. Well, here we have love as brothers,
love as brethren. Remember you are family in Christ. And so do not be easily parted,
do not be easily offended. Be pitiful, be sympathetic, be
understanding for one another, and be courteous, be of a friendly
mind, be of respect to God's people. Do you see how these
words in Peter and the words in Corinthians, their main emphasis
is how to maintain the unity of God's people. are striving
to keep the church together in Christ and working for those
who are struggling, who need our pity, our sympathy, our help,
just as much as those who are perhaps are maturing and striving
in the things of God. Finally, brethren, unity is something
to work for. It's not something that comes
automatically, it's not something which is an automatic thing in
a church because all our believers, it's something that has to be
worked at. Because though we may all be,
we hope, saved, we are saved sinners and we are still sinners
in ourselves. The sinful nature soon comes
in. The pride still soon comes in, our own views, our own way,
our own will soon comes in and it takes effort and humility
and patience to keep unity. I have to think of the poor,
the weaker, the younger in the faith, not despise them but in
a sense serve them, encourage them, Talk with them, hear them,
listen to them, instruct them, answer their questions when they
come. Think that perhaps there are those members there who are
there to be served. We hope that they will grow and
mature to be servants. But in due time, or this very
moment, maybe they're there to be served, to be nurtured, striving
for unity. Be there to encourage one another
when one is downcast, when one is struggling to hold on, when
one is looking down and cannot seem to grasp the things of Christ
like they could. Encourage them, point them to
Christ, point them to the privileges of being a Christian. Be patient. Remembering that
what we are, our own spirit, Our own pride can so quickly
come in. Oh, be patient and pray. Pray for one another. All of
these things brought together to strive for unity, something
to work for. You see, this is what the apostle
is saying. Finally, brethren, be of one mind and live in peace. And so the first point a striving,
a working for the unity of God's people. Secondly, the church desires
will be strong, will be strong. We have this in Paul's epistle
to the Ephesians chapter 6 in that well-known opening section
to the passage regarding the armour of God. Ephesians 6 and verse 10, he
says, finally My brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the
power of his might. Be strong. The Apostle in the
second half of the Episcopal to the Ephesians has been speaking
of how God's purpose in the church is practically worked out, a
more practical element of religion And here he speaks and he goes
on, of course, in speaking of the armor of God on how to fight,
how to stand against the devil, a strong foe. How are we to stand? Well, we
are, as he says, to take the armor of God and each piece of
that armor is important, is vital in the spiritual warfare. This
is how we stand, taking on the armor I'm sure you know the different
pieces of the armor and the relevance of them. We won't go through
that really this evening. But we are to hold on to the
things of God, the truths of God, of his righteousness and
of his truth and of the gospel. We are to be clothed in these
things, to remind ourselves of these things so that we can stand
against the devil. But you see, how are we to stand?
And how are we to fight? Be strong in the Lord. Be strong. So how can I be strong? It feels hard enough to wear
this armour at times. We so quickly forget it and quickly,
as it were, put pieces off from us. How am I to be strong in
wearing the armour? Well, it's not us, you see, that's
strong, is it? Finally, my brethren, be strong
in the Lord. And so the Apostle is saying
to the church at Ephesus, stand. Stand in the things of God. Stand
for the things of God, but stand in God. You are dependent upon
Him. Remember His blessings. Remember
His righteousness. Remember the faith that he has
given you. Exercise that faith. Remember
the gospel of peace and use the sword of the Spirit, the word
of God. But do so in dependence upon
him. Stand, be strong in the Lord. Oh, may your church stand. Not in
your own strength, Own knowledge, own wisdom, own ability. Not
in strength of numbers or in strength of money or anything
like that, in strength of God. To stand with and in the God
of the church. To stand against error. Oh, the multitude of error today. that we can so easily be taken
away, have our eyes taken off the focus of the Word of God. To stand, be given wisdom and
strength and understanding, to stand against error, to stand
for the truth, not just to rail against what's wrong, but to
preach what's right. to preach the gospel, to preach,
yes, the depravity of man, but preach the glory of the gospel
of God's grace as it is gone out to all nations. To stand
in the truth. To stand against these attacks
of the devil. We wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities and powers as the rulers of darkness
of this world, against spiritual wickedness. In high places, don't
underestimate the devil. The church door does not stop
the devil. He comes in. He works his way
into this one and that one and this situation and that situation
to try and bring out these problems, these divisions. And what is
his aim? His aim is to, as it were, to suck the life from the
gospel. To suck the gospel out of the
church. The devil will always strive,
he doesn't mind a church that is dead, doesn't mind people
sitting in pews that is dead. He works and he has worked so
successfully in our age to suck the real gospel out of the church. So stand in the Lord. We all feel weak so often. Weak in the face of the world
and all of the different views and arguments that are out there. We feel weak in the devil's attacks. We feel weak in number when we
see the multitude who would mock us for the things that we believe.
We feel weak in ourselves. Who are prone to unbelief and
wandering. But here is strength. Finally,
my brethren, be strong in the Lord. In his ways, in his truth,
in himself. Rest in him. Commit yourselves
to him and the power of his might, for he is almighty. He is all
truth and all knowledge and all wisdom and all strength. So don't take your mind, your
thoughts, your foot, an inch from him. Rest, be strong in
the Lord. Finally, my brethren, be united. Finally, my brethren, be strong
in God. Thirdly, be a worshipping church. Be a worshipping church. Paul says this in the epistle
to the Philippians, chapter 3. Philippians 3 and chapter 1 he
says finally my brethren rejoice in the Lord rejoice maybe I should say third
point a rejoicing Church I've put it as worship as well rejoice
in the Lord rejoice and again I say rejoice Rejoice in all circumstances. Rejoice in the times of blessing,
in the times of growth, in the times when God is gathering sinners
to himself and bringing them out as professing Christians.
Rejoice. But rejoice always. Rejoice at
the hard times. Rejoice when you're Struggling,
rejoice when you're finding it hard. Rejoice in the times perhaps
of division and the times of trial. Rejoice still, why? Aren't the times when we just
want to mourn? Maybe it's not always wrong to
mourn and to weep at the feet of God with our difficulties,
but one thing to rejoice in is this, your God hasn't changed. God hasn't changed. He's the
same yesterday and today and forever. The God who showered
down the Holy Spirit at the time of blessing is the same God who
has allowed a time of trouble to come. He's the same. He's
still wise. He's still almighty. He still is love. And so rejoice. Be a rejoicing
people. Be a worshipping people. Rejoice
in the Lord. You see, again, we might look
at the church and say, well, what reason is to rejoice? Rejoice
in the Lord, in the God of the church, in His blessings, in
His victory, in His grace, in His promises, and His faithfulness
to keep those promises. Rejoice in the Lord. Rejoice
in Christ. Rejoice in the Savior. Rejoice
in the friend of sinners. Rejoice in the intercessor at
the right hand of God. Rejoice in the head of the church. Never forget that. Christ is
the head of the church. He has appointed certain positions
of pastor, elder, deacons, but they are not the head of the
church. Christ is head. Christ has ultimate authority.
Christ's word has ultimate authority. Jesus Christ bought His church,
Jesus Christ loved His church, Jesus Christ will gather His
church, they're His. And may those in any position
of authority remember this, that we are shepherds under shepherds
under Christ. So we rejoice in Him, in the
Lord. And so, oh I do pray, may the
Lord make us all people who are worshipping people, who regularly
are brought to fall down and worship the Lord. You know it's a good place to
be when the response to the ministry It's not always I've learned
this and I've learned that, though we want the teaching ministry,
we want to grow in our understanding and our knowledge of doctrine
and of the faith, we want that, we need that. It's not always
that the Lord has answered this question and this problem and
he's given me a word in a particular situation, though sometimes we
might desire that. But, oh may there be those times
when our response to the ministry is to humble ourselves and to
worship. Whereas the gospel and the truth
of God's free grace is proclaimed that all we can do is rejoice
in the Lord. Oh pray, pray that there will
be times under the ministry here when your response is to stand
in awe of the truth of God, where the gospel perhaps that you once
knew is made alive and real and liveliness again, and when you
can truly rejoice. Seek for times when there is
just a little foretaste of heaven in this room. Rejoice. in the Lord. Fourthly, be holy. Be holy. We have in the chapter
we read in Paul's epistle to the Philippians, chapter 4, this
verse, verse 8, where he says, Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things are honest, Whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue
and if there be any praise, think on these things. The true, the truth, God's word, God's truth, think
on these things. The honest things, not the things
that are light and empty and passing away and can be disputed
and debated. These solid, honest things, think
on these things. The just things, the right things. obeying of God's Word, seeking
justice between brethren, the right things, the good things.
Think on these things, the pure things that are in line with
God's Word, that are in line with God's truth. Think on these
pure things, the lovely things of Christ, the lovely things
of God's Word, the lovely things of Him and His person and His
character and of His grace and of His love. Think on these lovely
things. the things of good report, the
things that are well spoken of by the brethren, the things that
the brothers and sisters love to speak of and love to delight
in and love to bring to you in the ministry. Think on these
things of good report, the things that be of good virtue, that
will do us good, that will build us up in our faith, that will
encourage us in the things of God, that will increase our knowledge
and understanding of Him. Think on these things. If there be any praise, anything
that is worthy of praise, anything that's worthy of commendation,
anything that is in line with the things of God, think on these
things. Strive to have a holy mind. To focus our thoughts on these
good and true and honest and lovely things. Why? Why? Well, where our mind is
will affect what we do. It will affect the outworking. It will influence what our focus
is, it will influence what our motives are, it will influence
what we really enjoy and like. If our mind is focused on all
sorts of things other than the thing of God then it's not too
far a step to walk that out. And yet if we are striving to
focus on these things then our walk and steps are more likely
to be in line with these things that our mind is on. And we need to remember as individual
members of a church that an individual's conduct has a huge influence
on the number at large. One can have a big influence
on many. And so each individual, you could
say, has a responsibility to have their mind on these things,
that their walk may be reflecting this, that that might then be
a good example and influence on the church of others. So finally, brethren, think on
these things. Fill your mind with these things.
Fill your eyes with these things. May we be those who grow in the
things of God, His true and honest things. May our personal thoughts
and our personal life before God be a positive influence on
the Church, because the Church today has lost its
holiness. It's lost its distinctiveness. I wonder how many of you had
the opportunity of seeing what the new Bishop of London had
to say yesterday. I didn't see her, and yes, she
is a woman, I didn't see her entire speech, but just saw a
clip of it, but there was one very notable absence. No mention
of Christ. She's going to be the bishop
for all underness. She's going to care for the poor.
She's going to try and help those who are downtrodden. All worthy
and respectable in one sense. But there is no gospel. There's
no Christ. There is no realization that
the church is there to preach actually a message that people
don't want to hear. Now the church has a responsibility
to tell people that they're under wrath. But that is good news
of salvation. The church is not just somewhere
to care for people, it may be that, but that's a very secondary
issue. So where's the holiness of the
church? Where's the distinctiveness of the church? I believe, and
this is my own personal view, that one of the reasons why the
church is so easily ignored today is because the church is not
distinct in any way from the rest of the world. It's almost
better, it is better, to be despised for holding the truth than to
be ignored for being irrelevant. And that's where the church,
certainly the national church, has come to. It's ignored because
it's irrelevant. Because nothing it says has relevance
to the people. And so here, be holy, be distinct,
preach the word and may each individual's thoughts and walk
be seen to be distinct and holy, and may, as each individual walks
that out, the church at large will walk that out. Finally, brethren, think on these
things. Fifthly, finally, be a praying
people. Be a praying people. Paul's second epistle to the
Thessalonians chapter three, verse one. To Thessalonians three, verse
one. Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of
God may have free course and be glorified. even as it is with
you. Be a praying church. Be a praying individual. Strive to pray, work at prayer. The devil hates to see you on
your knees and he'll do whatever he can to get you up. He will
do what he can to disrupt any personal prayer time. He'll do
what he can to stop your motivation. There will be every reason under
the sun not to pray. And so prayer is a discipline
as well as a delight. Prayer is something we have to
work at. But God honors those who stay on their knees and keep
praying. And so, as individuals, pray,
but as a church, pray together. Come and commit the way unto
him. Come and seek him and his wisdom first and foremost. Come
and seek his will and his way first and foremost. Come and
ask for his blessing. You know, it's very easy to blame
the man who stands in this pulpit, but have we asked for the blessing?
Have we sought that he would, God would speak? That God would
take his word and apply it with power? That God would take the
words of the man and give him liberty to speak them? Pray. Yes, pray for the church
and the church's prosperity. For each individual member. And
each member of the congregation. Pray for pastors. needs our prayers. Urgently and desperately needs
prayer. Paul's epistle here says pray
for us and if I can put a personal message in there, pray for us. In our changes, in our responsibilities,
pray. Pray that the word will be used
that the Word of God will have free course and be glorified
even as it is with you, that the Word of God will be used
in the hand of God for the blessing of souls and for the glory of
God. Pray that the Word that goes
forth will change hearts, souls, and lives for the glory of God. Pray that God will work miracles
in the hearts of His people. Pray. And you know this involves
prayer, for our pastor here. Much prayer for him. Prayer in many things, in his
responsibilities and the things that he does, both here and elsewhere. Prayer in that, but especially
in this, in the ministry of the Word of God. You know, everyone who has known
what it is only in preparing for the ministry but in Sunday
school work and other things will know what it is to sit at
the desk and earnestly need the prayer of the people. That they will be hungry, that
they will be thirsty for the word that is brought and that
your mind and your understanding will be opened as you turn to
God's word. And so pray for him. Pray that
he'll be given insight into the Word of God, an understanding
of the Word of God, that he will be taught that he can teach you.
Pray for his soul. Pray that his soul will be healthy
and strong in the things of God, that he will actually believe
the things that he preaches to you. Because believe you me,
there are times that you can stand here and speak things to
the congregation and wonder if you believe it yourself. Pray that he will receive it
and believe it and love it. Pray for him as he chooses under
God the subjects to bring to you, that he will have that full
counsel of God that's brought, and that you'll be able to expound
the Word of God to you. Because again, you know exactly
what it's like to have a dry Bible, as it were, and not know
what to bring. Pray for him in his study. Pray
that you have life and liberty and strength as he brings the
word. And pray for him as he prays
for you. As he strives, and I know he
does, to pray for the people here, pray that he will be helped
to pray. You see, pray for us because
all of this will result under God, that the word of God may
have free course, that it may freely flow into the prepared
hearts of the people and be glorified as a result. Pray for the blessing
of God on the word. Pray for the hearers that they
will hear with faith and receive the word with joy, both young
and old, in here and in the Sunday school. Wherever they hear the
word of God, pray. Finally, brethren, pray for us. So as I said in opening, this
is a strange time. I felt it feels appropriate to
bring a word like this to you. I hope in God's goodness this
won't be the last time I stand here. I don't think it will.
but it is a change, a new chapter, a new time. And so finally, brethren,
is appropriate. And so I exhort you, from God's
word, strive for unity. Be strong in the Lord and in
the power of his might. Rejoice in the Lord always, and
again I say rejoice. Be holy, be separate, Be faithful
and pray. Pray to the God of the church
that he will continue to reign here for the years to come. Can I leave as I close but this,
that the Apostle Paul spoke to the elders from Ephesus in Acts
20, one of my favorite chapters. So full of instruction to the
leaders and elders of the church, what was Paul's desire for them?
Now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of his
grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance
among all them which are sanctified. Brethren, I commend you to God. Amen.