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you you you you good evening welcome back to free race baptist church and again just a reminder pastor butler is away uh he's in dryden ontario and uh we have pastor mike kirkpatrick from from the syria reform baptist church with us this evening and next lord's day lord willing we'll have ryan meljar's uh who's in um uh vernon uh today and they'll be right they'll be driving back and he'll be preaching next sunday as pastor butler does not does not return uh for a little while well please turn with me your in your bibles to begin worship this evening to psalm 122 psalm 122. psalm 122 a song of a sense of david i was glad when they said to me let us go into the house of the lord our feet have been standing within your gates o jerusalem jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together where the tribes go up the tribes of the lord to the testimony of israel to give thanks to the name of the lord for thrones are set there for judgment the thrones of the house of david pray for the peace of jerusalem may they prosper who love you peace be within your walls prosperity within your palaces for the sake of my brethren and companion and companions i will now say peace be within you because of the house of the lord our god i will seek your good amen well please turn with me in your hymn books to hymn number 166 166 i'll ask you to please stand foreign is is foreign so let's go to god in prayer our gracious and our loving heavenly father we once again come into your presence here in the for the afternoon evening service we thank you lord for having blessed us with with uh safety and arriving back together again here we are gathered as the people of god in this local church to to to bring praises and and honor to you uh the eternal king how we praise you father that you hear the praises of your people that you would that you would bend your holy ear to hear our praises this evening father truly we are grateful for such a wonderful god a god who would uh who would invite the prayers of his people thank you father we come to you not in any righteousness that we have in ourselves but rather through that perfect righteousness of your son the lord jesus christ we are grateful for such a savior as christ we're grateful for the fact lord that you had your hand as we're reminded this morning throughout the old testament uh you had your hand upon that lineage upon upon the prophecy that the lord jesus christ would come from the throne of david and how we praise you for that greater david that did come to this earth to live in a a perfect life before the law died as a perfect sacrifice and and was was buried and rose again on the third day and uh is a reminder that we too will be buried but we will be resurrected like the lord jesus christ on that great and final day when we will be in heaven forever and ever with you father may this evenings worship be but a down payment for such a for such a thing as such a wonder as worship we pray lord that we would be filled with all we would we would be filled with with wonder and and anticipation of what awaits us in the eternal state that we get to be around the throne room forever and ever and ever uh worshiping the the eternal god how we praise you father you give us but a taste of these things here in this lore world we pray that you would cause us with with with devotion this night with single-mindedness to have our have our eyes and our minds fixed upon the lord jesus christ that he would be that prize that we would that we would run this race in this lore world in order to gain that prize of eternal life with your son the lord jesus christ thank you father we are your children that you have adopted us as your as your very own that uh that that father what we what we anticipate what we look forward to is given to us because we are adopted by the beloved and we pray lord that you would cause us this night to to to be mindful of the god that we come before we pray that you would help the preacher help pastor mike as he brings the word to to to be owned by your holy spirit we pray lord that you would own the word as it's delivered this evening the lord we would hear from you that you'd be well pleased to add your blessing to the things that we hear this evening may not just be more knowledge more information but we do pray lord that would sanctify that or even save any individuals here amongst us that are not safe that that perhaps need encouragement this night we do pray lord that you be with your people and cause cause us to know the true and living god this night as we come to worship lord thank you that we are not by ourselves we think of other churches that we know and and are dear to us we think of the surrey church we we think of the vernon church and the preachers in both of those places we think of dryden and our pastor butler there this evening well we do pray that your word would go forth that we are part of that church universal that you are building your promise to build your church and the gates of hell will not prevail we will grow and even when the storm clouds appear to be darkening all around us father we take i mean we take hold of the promises that that you have given to us in your word that the church of christ will grow that uh that the gates of hell will not prevail against that that growing church and how we thank you father that we are part of that church universal bless those pastors those teachers this evening who gather together and as they open up the word of god we pray lord that you bless that word there as well and we do pray lord for just a a general revival of the churches across our nation lord how we pray that you would be pleased to call uh young men uh into that service of being elders and teachers and we pray lord for those who are presently in churches we pray they would be strengthened that father those who perhaps maybe are are not equipped not not qualified to be in those pulpits the lord you would remove them or qualify them cause them to be earnest in their in in their calling that they would declare the the word of god and the word of god only would be declared faithfully from their pulpits or revive the churches in our nation for truly we do need that we think of the sins of abortion that go on it's uh week after week month after month and how we pray against this the wickedness father that we've just become also unfortunately callous too we pray that your will would be done in heaven as it is on earth we know there is no death there's no killing of innocence and innocence in in heaven how we pray lord that these things would be spoken of as in the past uh lord we we we pray by faith believing that you were able to work in the hearts and and lives of individuals we do pray that it would be through the salvation of sinners through the tearing down of of strong places that ultimately we would see a a growth in in in in conscience a growth in christianity lord we do pray to that end and pray believing that uh that you are going to build your church and we pray that that as the as the knowledge or as the as the seas cover this earth father we do pray to that end that the knowledge of the lord would cover this earth in the same way lord we do ask your blessing this night also to be upon the church in honduras we thank you for john margarita pastor carlos and raoul who is helping with the building down there lord we know that it's it's an edifice not just an edifice but it is also a it is part of that church universal they are declaring faithfully the truth of god's word from that from that place and we pray lord this building as they build it that it would be but an opportunity to declare to a greater audience a greater number of of individuals there in honduras uh the the the the glorious name of the lord jesus christ and that they would present salvation uh that is rich and that is free uh from that pulpit lord how we pray that your blessing would be would be with them this night that they would be given good weather to meet under uh that that they would that they would be able to meet and and be faithful in their in their uh in their attendance we pray lord that you bless pastor pastor carlos cause him lord to to to know your help and your aid as he brings the word and we do pray lord for the safety and well-being of those who will construct this church who are in the process of constructing we pray lord would do that would it would go well and be done well and properly and that it would ultimately bring glory to you in that part of the world lord we think of the situation in myanmar this night as well where we we we just start we call upon you and ask that you would be pleased on behalf of the christians there lord to to to bring peace to that nation we read and hear regularly through our prayer contacts of just the the wickedness that abounds on every level and and the genuine fear and threat that is at every every turn every day lord how we pray that you would bring peace that nation through the gospel of our lord and savior jesus christ we pray that things that uh that have gone on that they would that they would stop that that there might be a sense of peace and and a pence and a sense of uh just normalcy in that country lord for those who war war against one another how we pray that you would just bring peace uh to them and and cause to cause these things to uh to settle down give to peter and the the other leaders in the compound that we pray for give them wisdom on a daily basis as they make decisions and and feel that the weight of the uh of the responsibility for for all the children under their care we pray lord that you would give them that wisdom you've told us that when any man lacks wisdom he should call upon you and you will give it to him without measure and so let me pray that that that they would know what that means on a daily basis we pray lord you bless the word of god as it's opened up to those children as well we pray lord that you give them hearts to respond and hearts to uh hearts hearts that would entertain the things of christ for their own eternal uh never dying souls lord do a work of grace in the hearts of those individuals those children they have been brought into that compound for a reason we trust that that reason would be that they would meet with christ and know the forgiveness of sins knowing that that their eternal destiny is secure in christ even when living in a war-torn uh area during during this part of their lives lord just bring peace and whether that be salvation spiritual peace or or or physical peace we do pray that you would just minister amongst that people group lord we we do just ask that you'd be blessed that you would be pleased to bless us as a congregation uh into the coming week as well as we all uh go to our different uh responsibilities and jobs and and all that that entails in the week ahead we pray lord that we would go as as salt and light into this world and cause us where we live and within our own homes lord to to to evidence the things of christ in the way in which we would deal with one another speak to one another and we do pray lord that we would be truly ambassadors for you help us now and our worship lord to to to not have small thoughts of you but rather to think and be mindful of who you are the great god that you are and give to us not not human thoughts of you but but rather the grand biblical thoughts of the god that we serve and worship this night so bless us now forgive us of all of our sins cleanse the fresh in that precious blood of your son the lord jesus christ and it's in his name we pray amen well please turn with me your hymn books once again to him number 403 4403 and i'll ask you to please stand is is bye is [Music] so oh uh me is is is and please turn with me in your bibles to exodus chapter 39. exodus chapter 39. and we'll read the entire chapter excuse me of the blue purple and scarlet thread they made garments of ministry for ministering in the holy place and made the holy garments for aaron as the lord had commanded moses he made the ephod of gold blue purple and scarlet thread and of fine linen and they beat the gold into thin sheets and cut into threads to work it in with the blue purple and scarlet thread and the fine linen into artistic designs excuse me they made shoulder straps for it to couple it together it was coupled together at its two edges and the intrica interest the intricacity woven band of his ephod that was on it was of the same workmanship woven of gold blue purple and scarlet thread and a fine woven linen as the lord had commanded moses and they set on stones onyx stones enclosed in settings of gold they were engraved as signets are engraved with the names of the sons of israel he put them on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of israel as the lord had commanded moses and he made the breastplate artistically woven like the workmanship of the ephod of gold blue purple and scarlet thread and of fine woven linen they made the breastplate square by doubling it a span was its length and a span its width when doubled and they set it in four rows of stones a row with a uh sartius a topaz and an emerald was there was was the first row the second row at turquoise a sapphire and a diamond the third row a jason an agat and an amnest and the fourth row a barrel and onyx and a jasper they were enclosed in settings of gold in their mountains there were twelve stones according to the names of the sons of israel according to their name engraved like a signet each one with its own name according to the twelve tribes and they made chains for the breastplate at the ends like braided cords of pure gold they also made two settings of gold and two gold rings and put the two to put the two gold rings uh on the two ends of the breastplate and they put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate the two ends of the two braided chains they fastened into the two settings and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in the front in the front and they made two rings of gold and put them on the two ends of the breastplate on the edge of it which was on the which was on the inward side of the ephod they made two other gold rings and put them on the two shoulder straps underneath the ephod toward its front right at the seam above the intricately woven band of the ephod and they bound the breastplate by means of its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord so that it would be above the intricately woven band of the ephod and that the breastplate would not come loose from the ephod as the lord had commanded moses he made the robe of the ephod of two of woven work all of blue and there was an opening in the middle of the robe like the opening in a coat of mail with a woven binding all around the opening so that it would not tear they made on the hem of the robe pomegranate pomegranates of blue purple and scarlet and a fine woven linen and they and they made bells of pure gold and put the bells between the pomegranates on the hem of the robe all around between the pomegranates a bell and a pomegranate a bell and a pomegranate all around the hem of the robe to minister in as the lord had commanded moses they made tunics artistically woven of fine linen for aaron and his sons a turban of fine linen exquisite hats of fine litten linen short trousers of fine woven linen and a sash of fine woven linen with blue purple and a scarlet thread made by a weaver as the lord had commanded moses then they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold and wrote on it an inscription like the engraving of a cygnet holiness to the lord and they tied it sir and they tied to it a blue cord to fasten it above on the turban as the lord had commanded moses thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished and the children of israel did according to all that the lord commanded moses so they did and they brought the tabernacle to moses the tent and all its furnishings its clasps its boards its bars its pillars and its sockets the covering of ram skins dry uh dyed red the covering of badger skins and the veil of the covering the arc of the testimony with its poles and the mercy seat the table all its utensils and the showbread the pure gold lampstand with its lamps the lambs the lamps set in order all its utensils and the oil for light the gold altar the anointing altar and the sweet incense the screen for the tabernacle door the bronze altar it's great of bronze its poles and all its utensils the lava with its base the hangings of the court its pillars and its sockets the screen for the court gate its cords and its pegs all the utensils for the service of the tabernacle for the tent of meeting and the garments of the media of the ministry to minister in the holy place the holy garments for aaron the priest and his sons garments to minister as priests according to all that the lord commanded moses so the children of israel did all the work then moses looked over all the work and indeed they had done it as the lord commanded just so they had done it and moses blessed them well you may wonder well what is all that about it well i think you understand what it's about but how does it relate to us in 2021 uh well certainly we we recognize as pastor bell has been reading these previous chapters they've all been dealing with the tabernacle the furnishings well they're all complete and we now get here to chapter 39 where the last things to be prepared where the the holy garments uh the holy garments they're called actually in verse one uh one and um you know just just just in verse one they're actually called garments of service garments of ministry uh that they were that the the priest uh aaron and his sons were where to uh were to wear uh so they weren't to sleep in them they weren't just strut about in them they were to service they were they were in service they were to minister in these in these garments and uh who but jesus well we we think of jesus the lord jesus christ he didn't come to be served but he came to serve right so the lord jesus christ obviously envisioned here in in in the priesthood the holy priesthood of aaron uh and um and and his sons uh so we see here the lord jesus christ definitely uh as as he who would who would not come to be served but to serve just as these priests were to serve and note i don't know if you noticed but all six chapters or all six paragraphs ended with these with these words uh uh the um they did as the lord had commanded moses i think that's the important thing is the previous chapters in the building of the the building of the tabernacle the furnishings of the tabernacle that that statement is not to be found it's only here in the clothing of uh that was being made uh for the uh for the priest for the high priest and his son aaron and his sons well what are we to take from that well i would suggest that we could take that that uh god certain gods ministers stand in pulpits not to give their own suggestions not to give their own ideas but to declare faithfully what god has given in his word as the lord commanded we don't want to hear but the pastor's family we don't want to hear about the the pastors um his uh his his sports his his likes his dislikes we want to hear what does god's word say and i think that's maybe what we could take from that simple statement they did exactly as the lord did when it came to dressing uh aaron and his sons as the high priest so it's the observance of god's word that is is paramount in the person who stands to declare god's word before god's people and uh certainly christ is our great high priest aaron here is the is the priest his sons would become the priest well the lord jesus christ is our great high priest and he undertook uh the work of our redemption and it was a work uh just as these uh these these uh these um uh aaron and his sons they were in these clothing they were dressed in these clothes that are so so finely described here in intricate detail but they were ministering they were working clothes they were they were meant uh to to minister to in service to the people of god and uh certainly the lord jesus christ is a servant in in our salvation he didn't come just to be served but he came to serve and ultimately laying down his life for sinners such as us and a lot just a couple more points if you look at verse um 32 uh this this tabernacle was completed about five months which was a a fairly quick uh pretty quick amount of time that doesn't say that here but just in looking it up it was completed in about five months time well um moses and and aaron they didn't do it by themselves they did it with the help of people because what does verse 32 say it says and the children of israel did according to all the lord who commanded moses so a church today is not based on the man up here the preacher as important as he is as important as mike is in his pope as important as pastor butler is in our pulpit the church is not built just by one man we all need to work together we all need to we we all have different gifts we all have different abilities uh some were weavers some were builders some were work with fine linen but they all contributed uh to the to the working of this tabernacle for the glory of god and i think we can take something from that as well just lastly looking at verse 42 so the children of israel did all the work so they all pitched in just again that same theme they all pitched in it wasn't just a few it was everyone pitching in and sometimes we may say well how do we pitch in as pastor butler would say he's got very low low standards just by showing up uh is pitching in that's giving glory to god that's that's participating in the worship of god so all pitching in um that that ultimately is and also making the main things the main things as we see here uh they were instructed by the commands of uh the command of the lord the the command that moses had given them while they were keeping the main things the main things they weren't getting off on tangents into other things and they were they were taught of god here uh the children of israel did all the work that the lord had taught them that the lord had commanded them and i think we see a just a great example there and the last thing is they were zealous they were enthusiastic the children of israel did all the work you get that sense in throughout the whole chapter especially that last verse that they were enthusiastic in their work they weren't dragging themselves they weren't dragging themselves to church they weren't dragging themselves to to to to help and participate in and give of their gifts in the local church in in the tabernacle or we in the new testament church uh that we do it enthusiastically we see a church plant we saw a church plant in surrey we're enthusiastic to send mike off and see that church planted we have the wonder the wonderful opportunity to see in a church planted perhaps in vernon to see one planted in dryden well those ought to enthuse us we all we all ought to become enthusiastic about that about those opportunities and uh and pray for it and we've given uh we've given to those works and those are good things and i think god is well pleased when when we do those things and and i trust that you know we we can take from this there's a lot of detail about the clothing of the priest but what can we get gained from it i trust there's some thoughts there that will encourage you not to not to beat you down but in a sense to encourage us that we get to do these things in the new testament aged church and uh these are these are wonders these are privileges that are ours so let's with enthusiasm come into the house lord let's worship our god and let's pray for our pastors they are the they are the aarons they are the priests uh the high priest that that that that lead us in worship and and uh they do need our prayers they do need our support they do not they do need our encouragement but to encourage them as we we ought to be berean to encourage them to um to do as the lord had commanded moses as i say that was stated six times at the end of those six paragraphs and i think there's something when god state reminds us something of once or twice or three times six times well then i think we ought to listen uh very carefully and clearly well let's pray our gracious and our loving heavenly father once again lord we are thankful for the fact that that we we do not come to you through a great high priest of human origin but rather we come to you now through your son the lord jesus christ who is our great high priest and how grateful we are that that we have access into your throne room because of his precious blood thank you father you've given to us pastors teachers uh both in the present and you've given to us pastors and teachers in the history as well good gifts to your church and how we pray lord that these gifts would be used to build up our local churches that they would preach and teach only the word of god cause the men that we know that we speak of that we are familiar with in the churches that we've seen raised up cause us lord to encourage them to to stay with the main things uh keep the main things the main things to to encourage them with our attendance to encourage them with our words and our prayers and and uh and and the things that we were able to uh to give to them so lord how we pray that you would be pleased to continue to to to grow your churches here uh throughout british columbia and all around this world father ultimately so that you would receive all the glory and all the praise uh for for places of worship that that that are mindful and respectful of the way in which you want to be worshipped thank you that is the lord jesus christ that is the head of his church and and his instructions that we that we get from christ alone and not our own human instructions but rather it's the lord jesus christ that leads us on and so we pray you would lead us now and direct us as we look to your word bless you bless the worship as we open up the word of god may it be done to your honor and your glory and may you be pleased to add your spirit here this this night and it's in jesus name we pray amen well please turn with me in your hymn books to the last hymn which is hymn number 119 119 r as in robert and i'll ask you to please stand you your is is tonight well good evening everyone it's good to see you once again you can turn with me your bibles to the book of second timothy chapter two sorry chapter one second timothy chapter one we're going to look at verses 8 through 12 this evening but i will read all the way to verse 18 to set the context so ii timothy 1 we'll begin reading at verse 8. therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our lord nor of me his prisoner but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of god who has saved us and called us with a holy calling not to our works according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which is was given to us in christ jesus before time began but has now been revealed by the appearing of our savior jesus christ who is above abolish death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel to which i was appointed a preacher an apostle and a teacher of the gentiles for this reason i also suffer these things nevertheless i am not ashamed for i know whom whom i have believed and persuaded that he is able to keep what i have committed to him until that day hold fast the pattern of sound words which you've heard from me in faith and love which are in christ jesus that good thing which was committed to you keep by the holy spirit who dwells in us this you know that all those in age asia have turned away from me among whom are jealous and hermogenes the lord grant mercy to the household household of unescephrus for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain but when he arrived in rome he sought me out very zealously and found me the lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the lord in that day and you know very well how many how uh how many ways he ministered to me at ephesus amen well let us pray our lord of hosts thank you god that you turn the sands of time and we're thankful oh god for the clarity with which you give us in the scriptures concerning the realities of your people we know oh god that we are elect exiles in the land we know that this world is not our home and we know oh god that you promised through many tribulations we shall enter the kingdom of heaven thank you god that you prepare us for sufferings that you prepare us for persecution and we're thankful o god that we can rejoice in such times because we are found in christ thank you god for this gospel that saves thank you god for this gospel that changes thank you god that our savior has defeated death and brought life and light and we pray o god that we would consider christ all together lovely and chief among ten thousand that we would be even be faithful unto death because of our great and glorious savior who died for us and we know oh god that we need strength to do so we know that we need your power we need your spirit and even today oh god as we walk this world we know that we need your spirit to help us in our daily battles and so we ask o god even tonight that you would send forth your spirit that you would speak to us concerning these things that we would not be ashamed of the gospel that we would not be ashamed of those who suffer that would not be ashamed of your worship and who you are o god they would seek to stand fast in such trying times we also pray oh god that you be pleased to save sinners and call them out of darkness into marvelous light for you are a god who is mighty to save and you save great great sinners because you are a great savior so we ask oh god that you'd send forth your spirit be pleased to bless the preaching and the teaching as it goes forth and we pray oh god in all things you would be glorified and we pray these things in the name of christ amen well perhaps sometimes for the church in north america perhaps sometimes we like to romanticize suffering perhaps we sometimes like to romanticize persecution wouldn't it be great to suffer in such a way like other people do around the world maybe you don't think that way but sometimes i have thought that way in the past and it's absolutely wrong thing to think and perhaps even we read church history as well we read perhaps the ones who did not stand up in such times and we think i would never ever do what they did i would never kowtow i would never bow down well brethren it's best we never say the i would nevers because the time we say the eyewitness is usually when god teaches us a very important lesson and you see even though we aren't supposed to go looking for persecution we're not necessarily looking for pain and suffering nonetheless we need to be prepared for it when it does come persecution in the body and the mind is extremely painful i don't know that i know what that's like personally but when you read about what the brethren go through around the world it's trying it's difficult and what others have said concerning it and i don't have a lot of hope in man because we've had a bit of a precursor haven't we we've had a bit of a test we've had finally oppression from the government from without and most people bent the knee and bowed to caesar even if it was just a threat of a fine threat of psychological social shame in this instance the church has failed i must confess i'm going to be a bit candid this evening because we need to be candid concerning suffering and shame and what that looks like we need to be reminded who our christ is and what the gospel says and how we are called to suffer and told we are going to suffer for such a cause and the only way that we stand firm in such times is not by our own strength but by the power of god most high because we in reality are going to suffer for the sake of the gospel that's what paul has done that's what paul is doing right now as he writes his last letter the last letter although the last thing that paul writes is while he's about to face the death penalty and have his head lopped off and as he writes there's two main themes we see in second timothy mainly the themes of suffering and the themes of succession and the one who's going to succeed paul namely timothy is also going to suffer just like paul did as well he's giving timothy a warning before that comes and when it comes he will face suffering but he gives him his marching orders and he gives him encouragement as this time does come and that really is the main problem that we see especially in these verses in ii timothy the problem of suffering and shame for christ that's why it's important for god's people to be prepared isn't god good that way he prepares us and gives us clarity and tells us we're going to suffer we suffer in many ways dear brethren perhaps the suffering tonight we can draw of draw out is the suffering of persecution even shame to the extent of imprisonment we need god to help us in such times god to strengthen us to endure such suffering we need god to be near us to stand firm in such times when our lives livelihoods and reputations are threatened that's what we see here in this exhortation in these five verses paul exhorts timothy to what not be ashamed and he gives us two things we ought not to be ashamed of which are our main points the gospel that shames in verses 8 through 10 and we see one who suffers shame or we can call an example of suffering in verses 11 and 12. so we're going to see the gospel that shames in verses 8 through 10 and an example of suffering in verses 11 and 12 and there's a lot of suffering in this book as well but we'll draw in on these verses this evening so first of all the gospel that shames and notice we see that commandment there for us in verse 8 therefore do not be ashamed he's already gone on to talk about our prior two in verse seven he says for god has not given us a spirit of fear but a spirit of love and of a sound mind we already have a spirit given boldness when we suffer and perhaps the opposite effect of fear interesting he says that right we're not supposed to have a spirit of fear we're not supposed to fear men which unfortunately i must confess sometimes i do and i perhaps surmise that you do as well but we're not supposed to we're supposed to not fear man not fear suffering but fear god and recognize what power that we do have the power of the spirit the power of love and the power of sound mind that only comes from the power of the holy spirit you see paul even before he gets into the exhortation in verse 8 reminds timothy of what he has already in the savior what he has already as that gift and down payment of the holy spirit and the holy spirit shall be with all of us in this christian life and also when we suffer as well he goes on to say in verse 14 talking about the pattern of sound words he must hold to not innovation not anything new but the words that have been handed down he says that good thing which was committed to you keep by the holy spirit who dwells in us who only comes from the holy spirit we have the spirit of god and as such we ought not to have a spirit of fear that's what the therefore is therefore therefore verse 8 do not be ashamed now in the greco-roman world the common currency wasn't so much finances although that played a part it was the idea of honor and shame and we see that a lot in our modern context as well peer pressure whatever the world says we kowtow to it let's be honest we feel that pressure sometimes don't we to wear something to inject something you have personal choice i believe in those areas but when it's coerced you feel that pressure don't you peer pressure the world determines culture determines what is shameful and what is honorable and that same language and that same idea was also found here in the greco-roman world as well that's why he says therefore timothy do not be ashamed and the implication is there's going to be things that he's about to mention for which people are ashamed of he's going to talk about the gospel he's going to talk about servants who suffer sometimes people are ashamed of those two things and as such we ought not to be in this idea of suffering and shame or that the words for shaming does come up again in verse 12 and in verse 16. we'll unpack that a little bit more as we go through but the reality is we're going to face ridicule and rejection for the following things and notice those two things that we ought not to be ashamed about but things we will face shame and ridicule over he says therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our lord this is that reference to the gospel and its message in its entirety this is that deposit that has been handed down that paul and timothy and the ministers of god's word must pass down regardless of the situation what's interesting is later on in the book in second or second timothy 4 he says preach the word in season and out of season you know what that means when it's convenient and when it's inconvenient and when the police come knocking on the door that's an inconvenient time isn't it to be preaching the word of god and so what are we supposed to do preach the word of god and not waver or kowtow or pander the message of the state we must preach christ in all its glory and even to when you think about that idea of honor and shame in the greco-roman world when we think about christ's death and what that meant and the shame that he went through at that time brethren he suffered as a terrorist didn't he there is a question answer in the children's catechism that says what kind of death did christ die painful shameful of the cross is lucy's answer painful shameful of the cross he hung on that cross naked dear brethren and everybody walked by so when they saw that they would not do the same thing and so this message really is scandalous isn't it this message is a stumbling block when paul would go preach christ you mean the guy who died as a terrorist it brings great honor and great joy sorry it brings great shame when you consider what he did and how he died bearing shame and scoffing rude in my place condemned he stood this gospel is shameful but it's also a gospel for which god's people shall be shamed over as well and it's something we ought not to be ashamed of for only in it is their eternal life only in it is their hope only in it is their true peace that comes from above so we ought not to be ashamed of that testimony of our lord but notice also what he says nor of me his prisoner we ought not to be ashamed of those servants of christ who are thrown in prison right think about all that we went through this past year think about all that some men went through this past year and think about that in the context of what's going on perhaps there were heretics at that time men who call themselves christians would have said paul has must be cursed because he's in prison right he doesn't have the blessings from on high look what's happening to him he's in prison we are not to believe that message in fact that's the main issue in the book of second corinthians these super apostles so to speak that's why paul writes and tells all that he went through for the sake of the gospel all the suffering that he went through for christ and him crucified he's not some super apostle suffering is part and parcel of the christian life and part and parcel for one who is called to be a minister of it as well they would say paul has no influence but timothy you must know those who are christ's shall suffer and those who do not waver in that truth shall suffer so do not be ashamed of the testimony of our lord nor of me christians shame other christians right when we don't like what they're doing and maybe we shame them because we perhaps recognize we don't have such faith as they do have think about james coats did you hear a lot of references to him as one who was arrogant and selfish and one who just wanted detention yeah because he loved being away from his family for a month that was wonderful not being next to his wife and child children he did not do it when you read it see his interview same with tim stevens they did not do it for fame and attention they did it for christ and him crucified and god's people were ashamed of them and called them arrogant and called them ones who just did it for power and for notoriety brethren paul warns us here do not be ashamed nor of the testimony nor of me his prisoner that is reality those who are called god's people those who name the name of christ are going to shame one another and we thankfully there's forgiveness and mercy when we do such things christ is good but brother we are not to be ashamed of his prisoner and notice that his prisoner no amount of prison is going to separate him from god guthrie says men might imprison his body but they can never enslave his spirit to whom does he belong his prisoner he is do not be ashamed timothy of these things and you see in verse 15 this you know that all those in asia have turned away from me among whom are fighters and hermogenes there were men who were ashamed of paul and what he stood for so paul tells timothy do not be ashamed of these things but notice the succession of suffering in verse 8 but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of god the reality is timothy you're going to suffer just like i am for this message if i suffer such things so too will you suffer such things most assuredly you'll be in chains like me in fact he says that into three you therefore must endure hardship or perhaps similar word for sufferings as a good soldier of jesus christ the soldier enlists to serve the master and do what the master says and as such one may suffer and is likely going to suffer for such things share with me in the sufferings for that gospel for that christ and notice how we do it according to the power of god that's the only way we can stand up dear brethren in such times the only way when you hear men who have great faith and great might we must recognize that it was a great god who upheld them i'm sure they had their moments where their knees were a knock in brethren we did not have the same amount of influ or the same amount of crackdown that you guys had at you know here but we did have one knock one sunday and i admit my my knees were shaking i felt terrible that my knees were shaking at such times sometimes we do fear man but brethren we ought to fear god more we ought to trust in him and look to him and recognize that he warns us we are going to suffer in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of god and we do it by god's grace and mercy and power and then in verse 9 notice he goes the reason why we suffer such things he says his glorious gospel in verses 9 and 10 notice the salvation that comes from god almighty this is why we suffer there's nothing more glorious than christ in him crucified do we truly value him above all things have we treated him as the king he is even before covet hit those are things we have to consider and so notice the plan he recalls who saved us and called us with a holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given to us in christ jesus before time began it's almost like he can't contain himself anymore he goes on to talk about now the pro the plan of god saved us and called us it is christ who saves not us it is christ who works not us dear brethren and what's so interesting too i think sometimes it's a reform vote because we're so focused on election which is true and we believe it we forget the personal nature of it don't we christ died for me if you've believed on jesus christ and confessed your faith in him you can have assurance that christ died for you that is not wrong a wrong thing to think and he says that who has saved us and called us the power of christ's gospel the power of the word save sinners saves individuals calls them forth out of darkness into marvelous light and we can be assured of such things it is by god's grace he has called us and set us apart to live a holy life not our life but his life that he's called us to live according to his ways not according to our ways friend let's be honest sometimes we'd rather live our ways than christ's ways wouldn't we we'd rather live in ways that please ourselves than god but we are called to live a holy calling in a holy way so notice he says that not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given to us in christ jesus before time began god had a plan to save and that includes all the sufferings that god's people go through so notice we see that plan of salvation but notice it's revelation in jesus in verse 10. it has now been revealed by the appearing of our savior jesus christ who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel god's plan eternity revealed in history god's plan of salvation promised god's plan of salvation fulfilled in jesus christ it is manifested has now been revealed in this one the appearing of our savior jesus christ what's interesting that word appearing is only found six times in the new testament mostly in the pastorals three times in second timothy and in second timothy we see it talking about his first coming and also about his second coming later on in second timothy chapter four but this first part talks about his first coming it is that accomplishment that is found in christ the lord when he comes there is revelation about salvation accomplishment that there is forgiveness for sinners in this one who suffered a costly life for his people he accomplished and notice what he does when he comes it was abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel he is abolished death but is not as though death that we will not face death death has lost its sting that's why we don't need to you be afraid in the face of death sometimes we are afraid in the face of death we ought not to be there is no bridge over the river of death dear brethren but once crossed we are at that celestial city to live is christ to die is gain we ought not to fear what the world may do the world can kill the body but it cannot kill the soul christ has come and abolished such things and notice he's brought life and mortality to light through this blessed gospel christ is life christ is light christ is perfect christ is glorious and christ in his gospel has defeated death and brought life for his people and a life that shall not end even though we die we shall live with christ forever and ever that's why paul can say i'm not ashamed to suffer such thing because i know who my savior jesus christ is and again we are sometimes afraid and timid dear brethren that's why it's only by god's grace we stand even when there is oppression from without brethren you really ought to praise god for your pastor who stood up in such times such difficult situations the ridicule the public shame he stood up to honor his god but also to feed his flock and to feed his people to make sure you didn't spiritually starve i praise god i have such a mentor like him as well i know he's not a perfect man dear brethren but he was not afraid to die and not afraid to suffer such things because of christ christ brings life and light and immortality through his blessed gospel that's why we're not supposed to be ashamed of one another and ashamed to suffer and again there is mercy and forgiveness in the times that we are fearful but god nonetheless we are called not to be ashamed of our brethren if you stand fast and do not waver you will be ridiculed you will likely suffer you will be have emotional relational physical things that may be trying but there is a christ who walks with us god will be our help god believe with us every step of the way towner says what the spirit provides is power to endure the stress that comes from bearing witness to god not a removal to some safe place i guess another way to say that would be a safe space but any case god is the one who is with us he walks with us through the fires he walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death his rod and his staff they comfort us but it's very clear that we shall walk through such difficulties and trials we ought not to be ashamed to suffer we don't have to be ashamed of our brethren that's why we read about voice of the martyrs too hebrews 12 talks and we must remember those who are in chains if you want to be convicted about this listen to anything by albert martin but specifically his four sermons on remembering the prisoner very convicting and eye-opening what those people go through physical pain even point of the fact that husbands separated from wise for a long time away from the marriage bed for such a long time away from their family for such a long time torture for such a long time it's not an easy thing dear brother we need to again god must give us strength to endure such things that's why it's important we read the atrocities that our brethren go through even if it's unsavory for our modern con or our north american context we must remember our brethren who are in chains we are not to be ashamed of this gospel that does shame but we also not to be ashamed of those who suffer and notice in verses 11 and 12 we see an example of suffering to which i was appointed a preacher he was appointed to preach he was appointed as an apostle and as a teacher of the gentiles to which i was appointed a preacher an apostle and a teacher of the gentiles and notice where his authority is given or where his authority comes from this is important isn't it in that modern context to whom do pastors serve above all god christ to the point pastors must be prepared to be fired to do what's right according to jesus the soldier enlists to serve the master and hopefully as he serves the master then he then can serve his flock in such a way our allegiance and the pastors allegiant is not to the government but to jesus christ he says that to which i was appointed a preacher an apostle and a teacher of the gentiles perhaps the designations highlight that he is the one who preaches his message not his own as was reminded uh during the the reading he's an apostle appointed by god he's been given authority and a purpose to spread the message throughout the gen throughout the gentile world he's also a teacher one who teaches sound doctrine even if people don't like it he warns about there's going to be people who heap up and maze up men that they want men who perhaps are weak men perhaps pander men who preach you know you know touchy-feely things rather than the message of jesus christ he warns about those things it's not just the pastors but the people in the pew that's why we always all of us have to be on guard and ever watchful but paul has been appointed to which i was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher of the gentiles these specific things this is why i suffer this is why i'm not ashamed he goes on to say that in verse 12 for this reason i also suffer these things the message is scandalous people are not going to like what he says again that link with verse 8 he's prepared by jesus or by the risen lord in acts chapter 9 sinners don't want to hear this message you're a sinner and you need christ you're a wretch and you need jesus it is the greatest message and the greatest message of love we've ever heard that though the sun come down but people don't like that sin part right they want to they want to earn their way i'm a righteous person it's about myself it's about self-expression think about calling someone even our modern context that's all it's about my own self-expression so when you come and say to them hey you can't live like that what are you doing you're attacking their very personhood according to them so to speak that's why there's such volatility and hatred and that's going to only increase when you challenge someone on their personhood they will view that as a threat that's why we're like why are they tearing down statues of john a macdonald in statues like this because they're threats to their ideas now it's not just we don't know history there's a reason they're doing what they're doing because their very personhood is threatened and when someone's personhood is threatened even by our message it's going to be one that brings shame and perhaps one that brings persecution as well and so he understands he suffers for these things nevertheless i am not ashamed paul still says this in prison and as he faces death i am not ashamed of my christ and who he is and what he has done for me he says a similar it's the same word used in romans 1 16 and 17 considering that gospel for i am not ashamed of the gospel of christ for it is the power of god to salvation for everyone who believes he's not ashamed then when he's perhaps not under persecution and he's not ashamed of it when he is under persecution as well he's persuaded of it he goes on to say for i know that i believe of whom i have believed and i am persuaded that he is able to keep what i have committed to him until that day regardless of what the the the elites say regardless of what the government says regardless of what people might say his allegiance is to god and christ alone there is this famous quote from martin luther the one where he says here i stand although we don't know if that's actually in the original if he actually said that but nonetheless it was in the context they were asking him luther why aren't you toying the line and just doing what we've always done this is his response since then your majesty and your lordship's desire a simple reply i will answer without horns and without teeth unless i am convicted by scripture and plain reason i do not accept the authority of popes and councils for they have contradicted each other my conscience is captive to the word of god i cannot and i will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe god help me perhaps your eye stan was there amen he knows that gospel and he stood for it and he paid dearly for it as well but he knew what that gospel was and was persuaded of whom he has believed and notice even paul is persuaded of this message and he's persuaded as well that christ will keep it no matter what the church goes through there shall always be a true church in this world dear brother and again i know we sometimes go like boy the church doesn't look so there's always going to be a true church in this world always there's always going to be there's always going to be that gospel that goes forward and notice which is i have committed to him until that day until christ comes back there'll always be a true church regardless of how you know fearful and how crazy the world gets there's always going to be true churches there's always going to be salvation there's always going to be saving grace there's always going to be that gospel that goes forward think about in countries like china or afghanistan in places where you go how in the world are there churches there when there's such hatred god shall always have his church and even two it's in the context that he uses of eschatology isn't eschatology so wonderfully practical when you think about the hope that we look ahead to and even in the context that there shall always be a true church until that day and even in that context that day perhaps there is some illusion back to zephaniah chapter one in zephaniah chapter one perhaps talking about the coming destruction for the old covenant people in 586 under babylon but destruction is a precursor and type for the day of judgment when christ comes back and a few times he says in that day he prays that the lord would grant him that he may find mercy from the lord in that day verse 18 or and later on as he's about to die he says he knows there's going to be a righteous judge laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the lord will give to me on that day even though he dies he knows what he's going to receive on that day and it isn't because he is good it's because christ is glorious and merciful and kind i have committed to him that good deposit that word of commitment is similar to what we see in 6 20 and 114 as well at which i was committed that good thing which was committed to you keep by the holy spirit and he says that in verse 12 that he knows that it shall be committed until that day the truth shall be handed down there shall always be a true church kingdoms rise and fall and paul understood too even though he was a gift to the church as a pastor a preacher apostle teacher he knew that it would continue he knew that it would advance and he knew it would be handed down and he took great confidence in that because the gospel has unsurpassed value doesn't it there is nothing more glorious and good than christ and all that he has done and is for this gospel that god's people will suffer the basis for our suffering is that the gospel is of eternal value and thankfully the sufferings and persecutions do not compare to that eternal weight of glory we have to so be reminded of that the sufferings of this present age and god's people go through a lot of suffering even without persecution we all have daily sins daily battles daily sorrows that we all go through but they do not compare to the eternal weight of glory that awaits god's people the creation groans for the day of redemption god's people groan and sigh for that day of redemption we all ought to be reminded of the cost of suffering for the sake of knowing the eternal king it's the reason for which we suffer that's why i'm going to deal with some of the arguments perhaps we've heard during covet if i make you feel uncomfortable i'm really not that sorry because we have to be reminded and think about these things that come about so we're prepared for the next time that it will happen think of some of the things you've heard perhaps one you've heard is well they're not saying we can't preach the gospel and we're only supposed to suffer for the gospel sake and that is true but do you remember jesus words in the in matthew chapter 5 suffering for righteousness sake and that includes worship as well even when we gather hebrews 10 25 do not forsake the assembly even as you see that day approaching and how many of our forefathers did not forsake the assembling even though they were being crouched on by the government and told not to do such things mark 10 jesus says many will have left father and mother and family not just for them of the gospel's sake but for my sake think about our forefathers the particular baptists when the confession was being written 1677 as when it was actually written 1689 was the act of toleration but before that it was the act of uniformity you had to conform to the church of england and you know what our brethren were called the non-conformists what's interesting is they were buried in shame at a place called bun hill fields and perhaps i've mentioned that before be a great place to be on the day of redemption of the day of salvation that's where john owen is and john bunyan are i remember we were there a couple years ago and all these people it's a in a business district they're walking through bun hill fields and they have no idea what they're walking under right now i'm like i can't believe this all the history that's here all of these men went through and it's they're all just walking by like no big deal they were the non-conformists so that's not a very great argument we suffer for righteousness sake and throughout history people have suffered for the sake of worshiping and gathering together perhaps another one you've heard is well they aren't targeting christians so it's not persecution read about the roman empire dear brethren if you towed the line you wouldn't be persecuted what was the problem with the christians they didn't toe the line so they were persecuted weren't they and perhaps you hear some churches say well if we just do what the government says we're not going to be persecuted yeah that's true if you do what the government says you're not going to be persecuted which leads or raises the question what leads to persecution dear brethren i think it's disobedience to the world including the government for the sake of obeying christ isn't that what persecution is and whether it's persecution or not we obey god above all whether the government is encroaching or not we obey christ above all christ is our king and dare i say closed churches became state churches you want to know what they did dear brethren they starved the sheep to appease the goats didn't they do that is that loving your neighbor there's another argument that comes up doesn't it love your neighbor loving your neighbor is more than just putting on a mask and in fact i would dare i say the first neighbor we ought to love are our fellow brethren that's the first neighbor that we love and care for does not jesus say you will they will know you by your love for one another doesn't he say that i'm not saying we don't care for the world in proper situations but love your neighbor isn't this one one be-all and end-all shouldn't we good to love our neighbor to gather so the sheep do not starve shouldn't be good to love our neighbor so that god's people aren't wavering so that people can find hope and peace in the christian message or even think economically apparently lockdowns did 282 times more damage than kovid is that loving our neighbor dear brethren there's a lot of things to think about isn't there it's not just a one-size-fits-all be all and end-all and dare i say when you consider everything that went on in this past situation i don't think they hold up we have to obey god rather than man we have to obey christ rather than men and perhaps we all need to ask ourselves myself included prior during and after covet did we and do we highly prize christ his gospel and his people we ought to pray now in times when there's peace not to be complacent that happens i mentioned that this morning not to be complacent that's when it happens when things are good okay it's fine we can do this that or the other pray now when before the government begins beating down our doors that god would help us stand in such times got to pray with more fervency in times of peace that we do not fall in times of oppression and thankfully again there is a good god and a patient christ when we are fearful when we waver he is merciful and good but thankfully he caused us to stand in such times if you're an unbeliever this is the reason that many christians are persecuted in fact they're the most persecuted minority in the entire world is because of christ and his gospel hatred toward the king but they love christ and value him above all i pray that you look to him believe on him have everlasting life know that he has abolished death and brought immortality and peace that surpasses all understanding and that can't be found in any message but in christ alone believe on him you shall be saved and for god's people may help us not to be ashamed of the testimony of our lord nor of his prisoners let us pray our god we are thankful that you cause us to stand in difficult and trying circumstances we're even more thankful o god for the message of your word and your gospel and what that means for your people is christ altogether lovely and chief among ten thousand and we know oh god that we can only say such things and think such things because of your work and because of your spirit and so we ask o god that you would forgive us for the times we are ashamed we are ashamed of your message and ashamed of your prisoner and we ask oh god you'd help us to not be ashamed of your message or your prisoners thank you o god that you cause us to stand thank you god for clarity and reminders of your word and your truth and what it means and what it considers we pray o god that we would stand in such times because of that message and we know oh god only you can cause us to do so so help us encourage us give us strength that only comes from on high and we pray oh god that you would do a mighty work to save sinners and call them out of darkness into marvelous light thank you for your grace and for your love towards your people we pray these things in the name of christ amen we'll close the brief time meditation the piano is finished you are dismissed you