Sermon

Faith and the Danger of Finishing Badly

October 19, 2024 Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise from Psalm 95 in the Scottish
! It's on page 357 and we're singing at verse number 6. Psalm 95 at verse number 6 and we're going to sing to the end of the psalm.
O come and let us worship him. Let us bow down with all and on our knees before the Lord our maker let us fall.
We stand to sing from verse 6 to the end of the psalm.
Our maker let us fall.
For he's our God, the people we, of his own pasture and hand, and of his hand, the sheep, today if he is born.
Then harden not your hearts as in the provocation, as in the desert on the day,
of the temptation.
When me, your father, stepped and grew, and did my working see,
He lived for the space of forty years, the traits that beeth me.
I said,
I said,
I said,
I said,
I said,
I said,
I said,
I said,
I said,
I said,
I said,
I said,
But to my rest they should not go
Let us bow our heads in prayer. Let us pray.
Almighty and most gracious God,
we rejoice in you this evening as the only true and living God.
As we come to worship you, we give thanks to you
that you are the sovereign God who rules and who reigns
in every aspect of this world in which we live.
We give thanks to you that you are the God of the storm
and the God of the calm,
and that whatever changes take place around us
that affect our everyday lives,
that you are the God who sits on your throne
and to seize everything from the beginning to the end
and to direct the course of this world
for the glory of your name,
to fulfill your purposes and to save your people.
And we are thankful to you for your word
that once more we sing as we begin this time of worship,
a word that reminds us of the history of your people,
a word that reminds us of their waywardness
and their falling away from the paths
that you set out for them.
We pray you, O Lord our God,
to help us to hear these words
and to give thanks to you
that you are the great shepherd of your people
and that you call those who do go astray,
that you claim them for yourself anew,
that you bring them back,
that you heal them and that you restore them,
and that you give them once more
that sense of spiritual health and well-being,
living as the children of God
in this dark world in which we live.
And we pray, O Lord our God,
that we may sense always
such a shepherding hand upon our lives,
guiding us and steering us,
supplying our need,
giving us comfort in the trials
and the sufferings of this life,
and giving us a sense of believing
and understanding
that everything that takes place
in the lives of your people
works together for their good
in accordance with your purpose.
We pray your blessing to be upon all of us
as we do worship you together here.
We pray for your blessing to be upon those
who are joining us online as well.
We give thanks to you
for the many different ways
in which the gospel reaches
the hearts and minds
of people in this world
today and this evening.
And we pray that your Holy Spirit,
that breath of life,
that alone will bring about change,
will make your word
the living word
in the hearts and minds
of all who do here,
and so that we may see
and know
and see evidence
of your work
going on
in this world
in which we live.
As we reflect on
the wider Christian community
in our own nation
and across the nations
of the earth,
we do give thanks to you
that you are the God
who is working,
the God who is building
your church.
And we pray that you help us
to be aware
of such encouragements,
help us to be aware
of your great work
in the midst of
different corners
of our own land
and the different nations
of the earth.
And help us to be encouraged
in our hearts
that you are indeed
building your church.
And as we reflect
on your word
and see the different ways
in which
your people
turned their backs
upon you
and you turned
your backs
upon them,
help us to be encouraged,
O Lord,
because of the fact
that you are working
and that you continue
to build
and to save
those who are lost.
Continue to build up
your children
into the maturity
of faith
and giving all
of your people
to grow in appreciation
of the preciousness
of your grace,
of the supreme cost
of their salvation
and rejoicing
and marvelling
day by day
in the gift
of your Son
and in every way
in which
the riches
that come to us
as your people
are because of
the poverty
that he endured.
And help us,
O Lord our God,
to truly sense
that we are rich
in the grace of God
and help us,
therefore,
to ensure
that day by day
our treasure
is in heaven
where Christ is.
We pray for your
blessing to be upon
the homes
of our congregation.
We pray that you will
remember all of your people,
remember all of those
who are in need
this evening.
We pray for your
comforting presence
for those who continue
to mourn the loss
of loved ones
and to have that sense
of emptiness
in their hearts
and that sense
of emptiness
in their homes.
We pray you
that you will
draw near to them,
that you will
comfort them
with your gracious
presence,
that you will give
peace to them
and strength
to them
and give them
to lift up
their heads
in the knowledge
that you are
their God,
the God who promises
to be present
with your people
in every situation
and in every trial
of life.
We pray also
for those who are
unwell
and especially
those who are
seriously ill.
We ask for your
blessing to be upon
them in the midst
of the trauma
that comes into
people's lives
through serious
illness.
Help them,
O Lord our God,
to cope with
such trauma,
to cope with
such change
in their lives
and even
in the storms
of the trauma
of serious
illness.
May they sense
that inner peace,
the knowledge
that you are
with them,
your gracious
hand upon them,
giving strength
to them each day
to face whatever
each day brings
to them
and to do so
in the strength
of our God
to know your
grace and the
sufficiency
you offered.
Bless them
in their illnesses,
bless them
in their treatment
that they receive
and may you
grant your healing
hand to be upon
them and to
may you give
to them and to
all of their
families a sense
of your love
and your presence
with them,
carrying them
through such
trials in life
and giving them
together strength
day by day
in the knowledge
that God is
a refuge
and their strength
and in straits
a present aid.
we pray for
your blessing
to be upon
the church
to which we
belong,
that you will
bless our
witness,
that you will
bless the
ministry of
the gospel,
that you will
bless all of
our congregations
and all of
our ministers
and all of
our people,
that you will
bless the
seminary in
Edinburgh,
that you will
bless those
who are training
for ministry,
pray that you
will bless those
who are already
working in their
studies and we
do pray that
you will also
call others
to yourself
to serve you
and to serve
you in the
gospel across
our land and
beyond.
We are thankful
to you that you
are the God
who does indeed
prepare workers
for the harvest
which is yours
and we pray that
you will lay your
claims on the
hearts and minds
of men here
and elsewhere
even this evening
to lay upon
their shoulders
the burden of
your calling
and to give
them a sense
of their need
to respond
in obedience
to your claims
upon them
and to may
they be truly
equipped and
gifted and
prepared by you
to be mighty
instruments in
your hand
in the preaching
of your word
and in the
advancement of
your kingdom
in the days
that are to
come.
Have mercy upon
us we do
pray and
we pray for
ourselves we
pray for the
wider church
across the
world blessing
upon her
ministry blessing
upon your
people that
you will give
to us all
across the
world lives
that are
honouring to
you that are
faithful to
the gospel
and lives
that are
lived in
this world
where there
are so many
distractions
so many
things to
take our
minds away
from you
so many
things to
invade our
thinking and
to displace
the glory of
your truth
we pray that
you will help
us oh lord
god in
these days
to know
your protection
and to
know what
it is to
remain in
your paths
and to
walk in
your truth
as you have
called us
so to be
help us to
be wise in
the day in
which we
live and
give to us
that wisdom
day by day
to understand
to know
to put your
word into
practice and
to know what
it is to
have your
strength in
our hearts
day by day
to continue
to live
faithfully
as you have
called us to
be as your
people here in
this world
we pray for
your blessing
upon the
parts of the
world tonight
and you
where there
is conflict
and strife
and war
there is so
much destruction
of innocent
life
lord our
god we do
pray that
you will
stretch out
your hand
and that
you will
bless those
who are in
leadership in
these parts of
the world
and elsewhere
those who
have influence
on these
parts of the
world
we do pray
oh lord
our god
for your
hand to
be upon
them
that they
may have
the wisdom
to lead
to these
parts of
the world
to a
peace that
will be
maintained in
the future
a peace which
will be embraced
by all
involved
and a peace
which will
show your
peace as
the god
who is the
god of
peace
who lays
your hand
upon the
hearts of
kings and
of leaders
and who
directs them
and turns
them around
to follow
in your
paths
we pray
for your
intervention
we pray
for peace
to be
restored
and we
pray for
your
people
to
continue
to have
strength
and grace
to remain
faithful to
you
in the midst
of such
suffering
and also
in the midst
of persecution
bless your
people
we do pray
and to make
your own
name great
in this
world in
which we
live
we pray
by your
blessing
to be
upon
your word
to us
this evening
as we
share in
it together
once more
may you
guide us
and help
us
and bless
us in
our reading
and in
your study
offered
and as
we reflect
on our
being here
and reflect
upon the
ministry of
your word
we do pray
for your
blessing to
be upon
your servant
round
Calamurdo
at this time
of holiday
at this time
may you
grant him
to be
strengthened
and to
be refreshed
and to
return in
the strength
of your
grace
to continue
his work
of ministry
here in
our congregation
be with
himself
and with
his family
and bless
your
servant
and call
him a
clear as
well as
responsibility
for the
congregation
also at
this time
we pray
for strength
and grace
and blessing
upon him
in his own
congregation
and his
home and in
his family
and in his
work with
the congregation
here
so bless
them and
bless us
all and
hear our
prayer and
go before
us having
mercy upon
us for
we pray
these things
for Jesus
sake
amen
it's not
going to
turn to
praise God
this time
from sing
psalms
psalm
number 56
on page
73
psalm 56
at verse
number 9
and sing it
to the end
of the psalm
psalm 56
at verse
9
when I
call on
you to
help me
then my
foes will
turn aside
this is how
I will be
certain
that my
God is
on my
side
from
verse 9
to the end
of the psalm
to God's
praise
when I
call on
you to
help me
then my
foes will
turn aside
this is
I will
be
certain
that my
God
is
on my
side
in the
Lord
his word
I
honor
in my
God
I
praise
his word
I
will
I
will
trust
and
not
be
fearful
what
can
man
do
to
the
Lord
I
have
taken
vows
before
you
to
my
God
I
will
be
true
sacrifices
!
of
thanksgiving
!
I
will
gladly
give
to
you
for
you
kept
my
feet
from
stumbling
and
from
death
you
set
me
free
so
that
I
may
walk
before
you
and
the
light
of
life
receive
me
I
turn
again
now
to
hear
the
word
of
God
from
the
New
Testament
from
the
letter
to
Hebrews
and
chapter
number
3
Hebrews

Hebrews 3 chapter mention
chapter
3
I'm
going
to
read
the
whole
of
this
chapter
Hebrews
3
let
us
hear
the
word
of
God
therefore
holy
brothers
you
who share
in a
heavenly
calling
consider
Jesus
the
apostle
and
high
priest
of
our
confession
who
was
faithful
to
him
who
appointed
him
just
as
Moses
also
was
faithful
in
all
God's
house
for
Jesus
has
been
counted
worthy
of
more
glory
than
Moses
as
much
more
glory
as
the
builder
of
a
house
has
more
honor
than
a
house
itself
for
every
house
is
built
by
someone
but
the
builder
of
all
things
house
as
a
servant
to
testify
to
the
things
that
were
to
be
spoken
later
but
Christ
is
faithful
over
God's
house
as
a
son
and
we
are
his
house
if
indeed
we
hold
fast
our
confidence
and
our
boasting
in
our
hope
therefore
as
the
Holy
Spirit
says
today
if
you
hear
his
voice
do
not
harden
your
hearts
as
in
the
rebellion
on
the
day
of
resting
in
the
wilderness
where
your
fathers
put
me
to
the
test
and
saw
my
works
for
forty
years
therefore
I
was
provoked
with
that
generation
and
said
they
always
go
astray
in
their
heart
they
have
not
known
my
ways
as
I
swore
in
my
wrath
they
shall
not
enter
my
rest
take
care
brothers
lest
there
have
been
in
any
of
you
an
evil
unbelieving
today
that
none
of
you
may
be
hardened
by
the
deceitfulness
of
sin
for
we
share
in
Christ
if
indeed
we
hold
our
original
confidence
firm
to
the
end
as
it
is
said
today
if
you
hear
his
voice
do
not
harden
your
hearts
as
in
the
rebellion
for
who
were
those
who
heard
and
yet
rebelled
was
it
not
all
those
who
left
Egypt
led
by
Moses
and
with
whom
was
he
provoked
for
forty
years
was
it
not
with
those
who
sinned
whose
bodies
fell
in
the
wilderness
and
to
whom
did
he
swear
that
they
would
not
enter
his
rest
but
to
those
who
are
disobedient
so
we
say
that
they
were
unable
to
enter
because
of
unbelief
I
mean
this
God's
word
we
trust
they
were
blessed
to
us
that
reading
from
it
we
turn
to
praise
God
this
time
in
the
Scottish
Psalter
and
in
Psalm
number
37
Psalm
37
on
page
254
and
we're
singing
at
verse
23
Psalm
37
at
verse
23
a
good
man's
footsteps
by the
Lord
are
ordered
aright
and
in
the
way
wherein
he
walks
he
greatly
doth
delight
we
stand
to
sing
from
verse
23
to
the
verse
mark
30
to
God's
praise
a
good
man's
footsteps
by
the
Lord
and
ordered
aright
and
in
the
way
wherein
he
walks
!
he
greatly
doth
delight
!
although
he
fall
yet
shall
he
not
be
cast
down
utterly
because
the
Lord
with
his
own
hand
up
hand
up
also
!
might
!
he
he
I
have
been
young
and
never
old
yet
have
I
never
seen
!
the
just
man
left
!
he
is
ever
merciful
and
blessed
his
seed
is
blessed
therefore
!
he
is
many
days
depart
from
evil
good
dwell
forever
more
!
For
God
loves
and
his
sins
!
not
in
days
not
in
many
days
they
are
kept
ever
but
God
all
shall
be
the
sinner's
grace
the
just
inherited
shall
belong
and
ever
in
his
heart
and
ever
in
it
dwell
the
just
man's
mouth
doth
wisdom
speak
his
tongue
doth
judgment
tell
hell
let's turn together now to the end to Hebrews and chapter number three and we can read once more at verse number 12
Hebrews 3 at verse 12
take care brothers
lest there be in any of you an evil and believing heart leading you to fall away from the living God
but exhort one another every day as long as it is called today that enough you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin
for we share in Christ if indeed we hold our original confidence for him to the end and so on
and so on
i guess when we reflect on this letter and think of the hearers of it we can think of our people who faced perhaps the same difficulties as we do ourselves
the same challenges in the world in which we live of course they lived in a different age to us in the sense of science and technology and all of the other advancements
nevertheless
the crisis that they faced in life were similar to our own and when we do read the letter there are three particular crises that we can see highlighted
and the first of these is that there is a hearing crisis
they are not good at listening to what God has to say to them and that causes great difficulties for them
there is a hearing crisis
secondly there is
a faith crisis
their faith is at times it seems ready to begin to fail
they are not hearing well
they are not hearing well
and because of that their faith is in trouble
and the third aspect of the crisis is that there is a worship crisis
they are falling back into the religion the worship practice of the Old Testament
and losing sight of where they should be
and i guess these three things will impact our own lives from time to time
we are not hearing well
our faith is
stuttering and trembling
and our worship
may not be the way that God wants our worship to be
and the writer's response to that
is to highlight for them
the significance and the supremacy
of the Lord Jesus Christ
that's how the letter begins
Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God
the express imprint of his nature
he is the son of God
and the work that the son of God has taken on
is explained through the letter
to the beginning of the letter
and in the chapters that do follow
that's the answer
to all of their problems
that they do understand the passion and work of Jesus
alongside of that
we can see two other things
that are mingled in
that whole purpose
in showing the importance of the Lord Jesus
the emphasis on faith itself
and how that faith works
and along with that
we see list
five times in this letter
warning passages
key passages
that highlight to them
the danger that they are in
because of the crisis
and because they fail to appreciate
the importance of the passion and work of the Lord Jesus
and when we come into this chapter this evening
we are looking at the second of these warning passages
and we do want to look at the words especially in verses 12 to 14
and see what the writer has to say to the hearers
and see what these words have to say to ourselves
as the word of God together this evening
and we want to think of these verses
under the title
faith and the danger of finishing badly
you want to think first of all
that we see regard in the passage
that is to say
there are things that they need to consider carefully
and that's how verse 12 begins
take care
now if
I hear anybody saying that to me
I think immediately
the person that is saying this
is interested in my well-being
it usually comes from somebody
who is concerned for me
somebody who has love for me
in a particular way
they want me to take care
and when the writer is saying that
he wants first of all
to address them as who they are
it's really important that
the person who is going to
ask me to take care about something
that he recognizes who I am first of all
he is addressing them here as those
brothers
in the Lord
at the beginning of the chapter
they are holy brothers
and they are set apart
by God himself
in the life of the church of God
in the place where these people lived
that's where they belong
they are the people of God
that's who we are ourselves together this evening
we are under the banner of the gospel
we are under the ministry of the word of God
we are the people of God
and when he is addressing them
there is a particular characteristic
that he draws attention to
at the beginning of the chapter
the kind of people
and especially the direction of their lives
there are people in verse 1
who share in
a heavenly calling
they are doing something together
they are participating in something together
and it is not so much a thing
as a journey
they are sharing a journey together
it is a heavenly calling
and we hear the words of Paul
in Philippians chapter 3

Philippians 3 chapter mention
and he is being driven by this
sense of the upward heavenly call of Jesus Christ
God's claims upon him
and he gives the image of a journey
on which he has embarked
from a particular time in his life
and a journey that carries him
nearer and nearer to where Jesus is
and that's the image that we have here
they are sharing in a heavenly calling
they are going in the direction of the people of God
they know what the outcome is
we see it in chapter 11
as those who have faith
they desire a better country
even a heavenly one
in this world
in this world
they are exiles and strangers
they know that this world is not their home
they are on a journey together
and they have the hope
and the expectation
that when that journey ends
they will be in heaven
where Jesus is at God's right hand
and where God is gathering his church
and tonight that's the hope that we share in ourselves
we are participating in the same thing
we are on the same journey
and to a greater or lesser degree
this evening we are here because
heaven is a place
to which God is calling his people
and to which he is gathering them
and we are journeying on those who are around us
because they are going to that place
we are sharing that moment with them
we are on a journey with them
we don't think of our life
in the church of Jesus Christ
as simply events dotted along life's way
it includes that
but they are events on our journey
and tonight we are going forward on that journey together
a step closer, a step further
to where we expect to be
the journey
and it is
to these people
on that journey
that the writer asks them
to take care
to consider something keenly
to see something
and to let what they see
impact upon their thinking
in such a way as to impact on their lives
and to take care
and what they are to take care of
and to consider is
that there is something they want to avoid
and surely anybody who has got
or interests in view
if there are things in life that should be avoided
the person who loves us most
will make sure that they will make us aware of the things
that we want to avoid
and what is the danger
for those who are on this journey to heaven to be where Jesus is
the danger is
that there be in any of you
an evil heart
an evil unbelieving heart
believing heart
it's all about
what our heart is really
we are driven by
we make these decisions in life
and we journey on in the light of
that makes us who we are
but here is
what they are to be concerned about
another movement
that could take place
it's a movement
that could take them away
from the direction of travel
and the destination to which they are going
and when you think of the people of God
the particular evil that they are guilty of
is turning their backs upon God
forsaking me the living God
says God
says God in Jeremiah chapter 2

Jeremiah 2 chapter mention
that was the first great evil
they forsook him
they turned away from him
and the turning away
here is
is the evil
unbelieving heart
the heart
that reaches the point
of stopping to believe
and when we understand that these people are not
we are looking at people
we are looking at people
and considering people
who are moved from a position of
to a position of
it is not as if
they were always characterized by unbelief
!
this is something
that they are to be aware of
that could
come in
something that could develop in their lives
the heart of unbelief
and for us
together this evening
as we
think of that journey
here is one of
the greatest dangers in life
that we can go from
a life of believing
to a life of unbelief
and perhaps you are saying to me
surely that's not possible
God tells us
that's what he highlights
in these chapters
about the people of the Old Testament
it can surely happen
and God wants us to
to consider
such a development
taking place in our own lives
that
there is
that side road
that we are going away from
the main direction of travel
and it is a side road
that is bringing us to a place
of
unbelief
in God
there is a loving concern
who is writing on behalf of a loving God
and he is asking them to take care
about this great danger
and the danger
is the outcome
it's the unbelieving heart
it's the unbelieving heart
in falling away
from the living
it's
place of standing
it's to be removed from one place
it's to lose their status
and be given a new status
it's the unbelieving heart
of unbelief
that takes them where they are
a journey
a journey
that they did not expect
to be on
a journey of
departing from God
a journey
that leaves them
departing from the way
to the rest
that is set before
and that
falling away
is exactly that
that they fall away from
the prospect
and the destination
of being
in heaven
where
Christ is
heart
is it a possibility
that kind of development
this evening
we may
ask
come from
because of
the kind of individuals
we are
because of our culture
that there may be blind spots
in our lives
and these blind spots
leave us
making mistakes
from time to time
and going down
a road that we
should not be on
and never intended
on being on
perhaps
their developments
because of the
busyness of life
that they take over
our thinking
perhaps their developments
simply because of
of the world
around us
the developments
that take us
down this road
and there's a book
written by
Susan Scott
it's called
Fierce Conversations
having conversations
that ensure that we
have a successful
career and life
and so on and so forth
and there's a sentence
in that book
which says this
our lives succeed
or fall gradually
then suddenly
one conversation
at a time
and you see
what she's saying
there's the gradual
from our
belief of faith
and it's one
conversation
at a time
influences that
bear upon our thinking
and step by step
we go gradually
we go gradually
away
and we don't realize
that we have gone
away until
suddenly there is
that drop
and there is that fall
life
and all of its influences
faith
and all of the
external influences
and all of the
external pressures
and every way
tonight we need to
take good heed
to regard
the danger
of
unbelief
and losing
not just our
sense of direction
but losing
our sense
of God
and of Christ
in our lives
the regard
secondly
we want to think of
the responsibility
in verse 13
we read
but exhort
every day
as long as it is
is called today
that none of you
be hardened
by the deceitfulness
of sin
every day
exhort
one another
it's the
responsibility
that they had
for each other
it's the responsibility
that you and I have
for one another
and for everybody
it is the responsibility
that arises
from being part
part of the church
of Jesus Christ
in the world
we are the body
of Christ
we are members
of his body
we are united
in him
we have a responsibility
for one another
and to one another
exhort
one another
every day
it's the image of
coming alongside
somebody
to help them
it's paracallio
paracallio
that's what it means
come alongside
to help
Jesus told the disciples
that the Holy Spirit
the paracallios
the helper
would come
and be with them
come alongside them
when he's no longer there
the writer
wants them
to come alongside
other people
to come alongside
to help them
and to help them
in the crisis
the crisis
that they are facing
to be an influence
for good
to show that
the love that comes
with your exhortation
is a love that works
through the people of God
to the rest of the people of God
it's a love that comes from
the loving heart of God himself
that filters through
and that should touch your life
from my life
that should touch the life of the next person
from your life
it's a love that filters through
that comes
to help
and of course
for us
to do that
we need to have
some knowledge
of the person
who needs help
and very often
when there is this
kind of development
in anyone's life
it begins to become obvious
if you or I tonight
were going to start drifting
from our faith
then eyes would see
that the people of God
who are alert
to the church of Jesus
will recognize that
and instead of
reflecting upon that
the exhortation here is
for the person
to go and help that person
who is in need
because the time is short
every day
as long as it is called
today
and today
the Bible is
God's favorable time
it's the day of salvation
we are in the world for
a limited amount of time
we know that the world will come
that this day
which is the day of salvation
will be overtaken by the day of the Lord
when Jesus will return
and then the opportunity
to help anyone
will be lost
there is an urgency
on two counts
there is the urgency because of the person
who has the need
and there is the urgency because of
the limited time
available to us
the responsibility
the responsibility
that God gives
to be sensitive
to the needs of others
to recognize those who are around us
to see changes in their lives
that suggest certain things to us
and to come alongside them
and to encourage and to help
I quoted that verse from the
the book
Fierce Conversation
the next sentence goes
while no single conversation
is guaranteed to change the trajectory
of a career
a business
a marriage
or a life
any single conversation
can
there are conversations
which influence our lives
or thinking
that lead us away from the Lord Jesus
the crisis is there
but it is through conversations
from the people of God
and the fellowship of the church of Jesus Christ
it is through these conversations
that we are brought back
and placed back in the groove
and walking
continuing our journey
with the people of God
it's a conversation
it includes prayer
it includes sharing the gospel
but it's your responsibility
and mine
to ensure
we help through our conversation
to ensure that
anyone in danger
may be rescued from it
because we don't want to see anyone
falling into a state of unbelief
and forsaking their God and their Savior
the responsibility
and the conversation is important
because
the second half of that verse
that none of you may be hardened
by the deceitfulness
of sin
something that's rock hard
it doesn't hear anything
God said to
the people in the Old Testament
and the book of Ezekiel
Ezekiel
that his work would be to
take away the heart of stone
doesn't feel anything
doesn't receive anything
doesn't respond to anything
he will take away that heart of stone
and give a living heart
a heart that is pumping with
with his own love and with his grace
and here there is the image of
of going back to that sense of hardness
that the person who loved the gospel
who loved to hear the word of God
whose heart responded positively to that word
can reach the stage in life
where the heart has once more become hardened
the gospel is dry
the minister had nothing to say to me
there is no attraction in the message of Jesus Christ
it's anyone else's fault
and my heart becomes harder and harder
and I go on my way
continuing to reject the gospel
which I previously loved
and arriving at that place
because of the deceitfulness of sin
in other words
the person who has been distracted from
following the proper path
on the journey to heaven
that person has taken a conscious decision
this person that has gone down that path
has not done so against their will
they have been deceived into thinking
that the path that they are following
is the right path
they wouldn't be on it otherwise
if we allow ourselves to
to think of the kind of person
the person that is on this path
they are happy to be journeying on it
they don't see their lives as having changed in any way
they continue to be satisfied in the life that they are living
they are deceived into thinking
that the path that they are on
is still the right path
they are persuaded
because of the wrong conversations
and the wrong information that floods their minds
that floods their minds
and they continue on their way
and that makes the conversation
even more important
your conversation with them and mine
because
with the blessing of God
and with the help of the Spirit of God
we must prayerfully persuade the person
who is on that path
that they are on the wrong path
and it takes God to
to switch something in their minds
to help them realize
where they ought to be
because they are there firmly persuaded
that they are still okay
when we have done wrong
and we realize it
it's bad enough doing the wrong
but if we realize we have done the wrong
then there is hope
there is light there
but when we have done the wrong
and we don't understand that we have done the wrong
and are persuaded that we have done the right thing
then that's challenging
and ultimately
only God can turn the person around
but God does it through his people
God sent Nathan to David
God uses his people
to bring his people back
the exhortation
what a wonderful
powerful witness it would be
of all of us this evening
we are able to show God's love
to any who are in need
and to any who may be distracted by this world
and to need to be restored to faithfulness
what a blessing
that we could help them
how honoring to God
that we are showing his love to them
as part of his process of recovery
don't let's forget
let's forget
our responsibility
your conversation
can change a person
can change the path that they are taking
and can change their path for the good
the regard
the responsibility
and finally the reassurance
he has addressed them
as those who are on their journey
and now in verse 14
he reminds them of
why they are on that journey
for
the explanation
in
we are not on this journey
simply
simply
or because
we know that
it has a good ending
we are not on this journey
heaven is a great place
we are on this journey
because
we share in Christ
!
because the day came
and in the mercy of God
when Jesus Christ met with us
and when
we sensed
the call of God
upon our lives
when we woke up
God's choice of us
as we referred to this morning
when we came to
to sense and to feel in our hearts
all of the love of God
through the passion of Jesus Christ
to me and my lostness
arrested along life's way
come to participate
to share in Christ
the Christ
the Christ who is
in the pages of this
the Christ who is
in the pages of
the whole of the New Testament
the one who was rich
for our sakes became poor
that we through his poverty
might be made rich
the unsearchable riches
the connection
the live link
that brings me into this relationship
with the Lord Jesus
the love of God
and the peace of God
and knowing God
and knowing that
through all of these things
that he who has
begun that work
will bring it on
to the day of Christ
why tonight
are we here?
why are we on this journey?
why do we expect
to be in heaven
and the people of God?
only because
Christ came into our lives
and in the day of our conversion
the day of our new birth
the day when life was changed forever
we came to know
the Lord Jesus
I know
I know
whom I have believed
says Paul
the one who came to
to help us in our need
and
had the gospel conversation
with us
when our minds were open
to the truths of salvation
he spoke to us
the living word of God
and he changed us forever
written
Jeremiah and Ezekiel
writing his laws
in our hearts
engraving them
on our minds
never to be erased
we share
in Christ
and the reassurance
tonight comes
to you
if you go
to a time in your life
or to a stage
in your life
when that great change
took place
a change
that gave you
Christ in you
that because
he lives
you shall live also
and united to him
that you will be
united with him
in the glory
which he now enjoys
the moment
the conversation
the new beginning
the intervention
of God
the new life
through faith
in Christ Jesus
the reassurance
the
that we ask ourselves
do we know that moment
do we know that stage
do we know that time
do we know what it means
to begin
our walk
to heaven
with Jesus
by the power
of the Holy Spirit
of God
and the reassurance
is conditional
we share in Christ
if indeed
we hold our
religion
our confidence
firm
to the end
there was a danger
the
there was a danger
the reassurance
for us this evening
is
lay hold
tightly
on Jesus Christ
as our Savior
to hold him
firmly in our
to embrace him
when it comes to
When it comes to holding Jesus fast in our hands,
we cannot juggle any balls.
We can try and juggle balls in life
and we can never keep a firm hold of any of them.
They're all over the place
and no matter how much we master juggling the balls,
they're still all over the place.
We cannot use that image
when it comes to our faith in Jesus.
We have to throw everything else away
so that our hands,
the hands with which we embrace him,
so that they're empty
and that we use all of our strength
and all of our energy
in embracing the Lord Jesus
and in holding him firm in our lives.
That will ensure
what the writer is saying here.
We hold fast our original confidence
firm to the end.
There's a firm foundation
that there's the reality of being part of the foundation
which is Christ himself.
There is that sense of the firmness
and the steadfastness
that comes into our lives
by laying hold firmly
upon Jesus Christ.
and that's our greatest need
this evening
as we come to our close.
We may have our blind spots.
We may be tempted
by the busyness of life.
We may be tempted
by the pressures of the world around us
and the age
and the society
in which we live.
Our responsibility.
the urgency is that we
keep hold firmly
of Jesus Christ.
To go from this time of worship together
and to sense
in our hearts
the sheer importance
of ensuring
that our grip
upon the Lord Jesus
is always strong.
And we know that it is
his grip
that keeps us safe.
Nevertheless,
our grasp of him
is key to the relationship.
It's key to us living
the life that he calls us to live
and is certainly key
to us arriving at last
to the place
that he has prepared for us.
There is the regard then.
There's the responsibility
and there's the reassurance.
And let us journey on
along life's way together.
Having your conversations.
Encouraging each other.
Building each other up.
And ensuring that we don't
fall into this trap.
And I close with the words
of a hymn called
Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord.
And it summarizes
what we want to take with us
from God's Word
as we leave or serve us this evening.
Long as my life shall last,
teach me thy way.
Wherever my lot be cast,
teach me thy way.
Until the race is run,
until the journey is done,
until the crown is won,
teach me thy way.
Let's ensure
we get the crown.
Let's ensure
we finish our course.
And let's ensure
that at last
we shall be summoned in
to the everlasting joy
of our God.
The place
where Christ is in glory
awaiting for
his faithful people.
May God bless his Word to us.
Let us pray.
Most gracious God,
we give thanks to you
for your grace
and for your love
and for the way
in which
your love
will not let us go.
We are conscious
of the different ways
in life
in which our hearts
become called
to your Word
and we sometimes
lose our way
as we journey on
through life.
We are thankful to you
that you are the God
who lays hold of us
and who restores
and does recover.
Bless your Word to us
tonight.
Help us
to live in constant
awareness of
the dangers
that surround us
in life.
Help us to be
constantly aware
of the need
of walking
closely with you.
Help us to be aware
of the needs
of those who are
around us
that together
we may be
built up in the faith
and strengthened
and encouraged
as we share
this journey together.
So bless your Word
as we pray
and hear us
for we ask these things
for Jesus' sake.
Amen.
Our closing psalm
is psalm number 28
and sing psalms.
Psalm 28
it's on page 33
and we're singing
at verse number 5
down to the end
of the psalm.
Psalm 28
at verse 5
on page 33.
Because the Lord's works
they despise
and treat his actions
with disdain
and just as he will
tear them down
and never build them
up again.
We stand to sing
from verse 5
to verse 9
and after the benediction
I'll go to the main door.
Amen.
Because the Lord's works
they despise
and treat his actions
with disdain
injustice he will tear
them down
and never build
them up again.
praise to the Lord
for he has served
the plea for mercy
which I made
my heart uplifted
lifted leaps
for joy
my thanks
to him
I gladly
sing
the Lord
God is
his people's
strength
a saving
fortress
fortress
for his king
Lord
Savior
be
a
your own
flock
be
pleased
to
heritage
to
bless
be
their
good
shepherd
glory
forever
in
your
faithfulness
the grace
of the Lord
Jesus Christ
the love of God
the Father
and the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit
be with you all
now and forevermore
Amen
your
voy
!