2.1.22 pm JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING

[0:00] Good evening everybody once again and good evening to everybody who's online. We're pleased once again to have Reverend Thomas Davis preaching tonight and after hearing about the unchanging Christ this morning, looking forward to hearing how Christ does indeed change everything tonight. I'll just change, there's one change to the notices, there weren't too many this morning, but the prayer meeting on Wednesday is actually going to be Zoom only for the next couple of weeks. So that will be led this Wednesday by Farrakhar and that will be Zoom only. So you can remember that one, that will be great. And services next Sunday, God willing, Dr. Angus McKellar will lead the morning service and I'll lead the evening service. Okay, that's everything. Welcome once again to Thomas.

[0:57] Thank you very much indeed, Duncan, and thank you to you all for your warm welcome today. It's been such a blessing and a privilege for us to be with you today and we're so grateful for the opportunity to worship together. Our opening item of praise this evening is in Gaelic. We're going to sing from Psalm 40. We'll sing from the beginning.

[1:31] We'll sing verses 1 to 3, the first two stanzas, to God's praise. Chorus 1 to 3, the first two stanzas, to God's praise.

[2:05] Chorus 1 to 3, the first two stanzas, to God's praise.

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[7:26] I did not drink all the time! I did not drink all the time until I moved my friends! She came home by the home by the day, she was at the big dinner, the And I'm going to sing the hymn, And Can It Be.

[8:20] Amen. Let's sing again together. We're going to sing the hymn, And Can It Be. And so let's stand together as we sing these words.

[8:58] Died he for me who caused his pain, for me who him to death pursued.

[9:12] Amazing love, how can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

[9:24] Amazing love, how can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

[9:37] Tis mystery all the immortal dies, who can explore this strange design?

[9:50] Then, when the firstborn seraph tries to sign the depths of love divine.

[10:02] Tis mercy all the earth adore, let angel minds inquire no more.

[10:14] Tis mercy all the earth adore, let angel minds inquire no more.

[10:26] He left his Father's throne above, so free, so infinite his grace.

[10:39] Emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam's helpless race.

[10:51] Tis mercy all immense and free, for O my God, it find out me.

[11:03] Tis mercy all immense and free, for O my God, it find out me.

[11:15] O my God, it find out me.

[11:45] I rose, I rose, went forth and followed thee. My chains fell off, my heart was free.

[11:57] I rose, went forth and followed thee. No condemnation now I dread, Jesus, and all in him is mine.

[12:16] Alive in him my living head, and clothed in righteousness divine.

[12:27] Bold I approach the eternal throne, and claim the crown through Christ my own.

[12:39] Bold I approach the eternal throne, and claim the crown through Christ my own.

[12:52] And claim the crown through Christ my own. And claim the crown through Christ my own. Our reading this evening is from Hebrews chapter 13. We looked at verse 8 of this chapter this morning, and we're going to look at that verse again.

[13:07] But I'd like to read the whole chapter as a reading this evening. So that's Hebrews chapter 13. The words are on the screen, but please feel free to turn to it in your Bibles as well.

[13:20] Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing, some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

[13:32] Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering. Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure.

[13:45] For God will judge the adulterer and the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, because God has said, never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.

[13:58] So we say with confidence, the Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you.

[14:10] Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.

[14:23] It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them. We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

[14:36] The high priest carries the blood of animals into the most holy place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.

[14:50] Let us then go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

[15:02] Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

[15:16] Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that will be of no advantage to you.

[15:29] Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon. May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, that he may work in us what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.

[15:58] Amen. Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter. I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released.

[16:09] If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you. Greet all your leaders and all God's people. Those from Italy send you their greetings. Grace be with you all.

[16:22] Amen. This is God's word and may he add his blessing to it. Let's pray together again for a moment. Father, we thank you so much that we can come and pray to you.

[16:35] And we thank you especially that we have the opportunity to come together and pray for the particular needs that we see in the congregation and in the community around us. We know that we all have different contacts and different awareness of those in our communities here in North Harris and in Carloway and across the island, those who are in need or in difficulty.

[16:58] And we want to take this opportunity to bring them before you, praying that you would bring help and strength to those who are going through difficult times. We especially want to pray for those who struggle with addictions.

[17:09] And we pray for the ongoing work of Road to Recovery here in the community and also more widely across the island. And for those who are in the grip of addiction, we pray for them, praying that you would deliver them from the grip that their addiction holds them in and that you'd help them to indeed fully recover and to find healing and wholeness in your son, our Lord Jesus.

[17:34] We also want to pray for those who are unwell just now, those who are facing uncertainty about their own health or those who are maybe in hospital at the moment.

[17:46] We remember especially Ina, Angus Alec's wife, that you'd watch over her as she's unwell just now and pray for her and for her recovery and for the family. And for any others known to us who are unwell just now, we pray that you would look after them.

[18:01] We want to pray for the young people, for the children as they prepare to go back to school this week. We pray that you'd look after them and help them and keep them really close to you and bless all the different youth work that's going on in the congregation here.

[18:16] Bless the work of the Sunday school and Rooted and all the different things that are taking place. We pray that these would just be really blessed by you and that you'd look after the children and the teenagers and the young adults, that you would be their rock and their strength and that you'd guide them and help them.

[18:34] We also pray for people who are busy at work. Maybe they've enjoyed a break over Christmas, but many people this week are probably going back to a busy schedule or a lot of pressure or a lot of work.

[18:46] We just pray for your help with that and for everyone who's getting back into routine in the week to come, we just pray that they'd know your strength and peace and guidance.

[18:56] And we pray that our witness for you would be strong and consistent in the workplace and in all of our dealings with other people. And we pray for families, for homes, for friendships, that these would flourish in the congregation and in the community, that you'd bless the work that is being done here in North Harris, that you'd bless the community that the congregation here is serving.

[19:21] We also want to pray for the nation and we pray that you would be at work across the cities, towns and villages. We pray that 2022 would be a year where the church grows in a really powerful way, both numerically but also in terms of maturity.

[19:39] And we pray that you would be doing an amazing work across the nation and across denominational separations. We pray that your church would grow.

[19:51] And we pray for the church worldwide. We pray especially for our brothers and sisters who are suffering and we pray for them in different parts of the world. We think of sub-Saharan Africa.

[20:03] We think of Central Asia. And we pray for all those who may be facing persecution or opposition for their faith. We pray for work done among other religious groups, work done among Muslims, among Hindus, among Buddhists and other.

[20:22] And other belief systems. We pray, Father, that you would just bless all efforts to reach out to them. And we pray also that you'd bless mission work to the Jewish people.

[20:32] And pray that that work too would help them to see that the Messiah has come. And that he is Jesus Christ. And so we just pray for that ongoing work across the world.

[20:43] May we contribute that, contribute to that in our own way this week. That you take us and use us to show and tell the good news of Jesus to the people around us.

[20:55] So bless us, we pray. Bless the work of the gospel here. Lead us on in the year ahead. May we be a mutual encouragement to one another. And hand in hand, may we serve you so that you might be doing great things in our midst.

[21:09] We ask it all in the name of your Son, our Saviour Jesus. Amen. We're going to sing now from the Sing Psalms version of Psalm 103.

[21:21] And we're going to sing from verse 12. So it's the second half of that psalm. Psalm 103 from verse 12 to verse 22. Let's stand and sing together.

[21:32] Let's stand and sing together. Just as our Father loves his child, so God loves those who fear his name.

[22:10] For he remembers we are dust. And well he knows our feeble frame. And well he knows our feeble frame.

[22:24] Children, life is like the grass. And like a meadow flower it grows. Its place will never be recalled.

[22:37] What's over it the tempest blows. But everlasting is God's love. For those who fear him and their seed.

[22:49] For those who keep his covenant. And carefully his peace emceed. And carefully his peace emceed.

[23:02] God's kingly rule is over all. In heaven he has set his throne. All you his angels praise the Lord.

[23:15] Strong ones by whom his will is done. Oh praise the Lord you heavenly hosts. His servants who perform his word.

[23:27] Praise God his works throughout his realm. And you my soul oh praise the Lord. And you my soul oh praise the Lord.

[23:47] Let's just pray for a wee moment as we turn to God's word. Father we thank you so much for the opportunity we have to study your word together just now. Please help us to hear your voice speaking to us all.

[24:00] Amen. Well today we are looking at the wonderful words of Hebrews chapter 13 verse 8.

[24:15] where it says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. This is the text for both our services today.

[24:27] And we said this morning that we are so conscious that life is full of changes. We are aware of that especially as we go into a new year.

[24:39] But as we said this morning it's not just in January that we're conscious of change. All through the year the seasons are changing. New classes begin after the summer.

[24:50] And even if you look at the news you can see huge changes taking place in nations across the world. And we change too. We're all getting older.

[25:02] I'm going to be 40 this year which is a little bit of a milestone that I don't want to reach but never mind. We're conscious of this. It's not until December though so we won't worry for 11 months.

[25:17] Change as we said this morning is a massive part of life. It can be wonderful. It can be awful. It cannot be avoided. And in relation to that we're thinking about two things today.

[25:31] This morning we said that Jesus isn't changing. He's the same yesterday and today and forever. That's true in terms of who he is.

[25:42] He is God the Son and he is a fellow human. He has come to be one of us. That's true in terms of what he's achieved in his death and his resurrection. And that's true in terms of what he's doing now as our great high priest interceding for us at the right hand of God.

[25:59] Jesus isn't changing. And as you go into this week I want you to take that with you as a comfort and as a security for you.

[26:10] As I'm sure this week will bring many challenges and difficulties. Tonight though I want us to focus on the second big point that we want to make. The fact that Jesus changes everything.

[26:24] In everybody's house here both here in the building and watching online at home. In all of our houses there's two main types of glass that we all look through.

[26:38] One of them is a window. And we can go to the window and we can see far and wide. The other type of glass however is a mirror. And when we look into that we don't see far and wide.

[26:53] We see ourselves. And these two types of glass are an illustration of what I want to do in our sermon this evening. I want us to look out the window and to see the big picture of how Jesus changes everything.

[27:11] But even more than that I want us to look in the mirror. Because when we say that Jesus changes everything.

[27:23] That means that he changes us as well. So first of all out the window Jesus changes everything. And I want to just briefly highlight four things.

[27:37] First of all Jesus has changed. The Old Testament's religious system. That was the crucial issue for these Hebrew believers.

[27:49] As we said this morning they were Jews who had become Christians. And that meant that they had left behind much of their previous religious life as Jews.

[27:59] But as we said this morning this seems to have led to opposition. So things maybe started off really positively and not too difficult. But over time trouble arose.

[28:10] It looks as though they were facing persecution. And as a result they're tempted to go back. But going back would be a massive mistake.

[28:22] Because what Jesus has done has made such a massive difference to their lives. To their religious lives as those who want to have a relationship with God.

[28:34] So just to compare a few things. The Old Testament system had many many sacrifices. Which were never ever enough. In Jesus all of that changes.

[28:46] Because the cross is a perfect once for all satisfaction for sin. The Old Testament was full of restrictions and requirements.

[28:59] So the men, the boys had to be circumcised. Everybody had to follow strict food laws. Things you could eat. Things you couldn't eat. There was all these issues around ceremonial purity to do with illness.

[29:12] And all sorts of other things. There were so many restrictions and requirements. That were dominating the day to day lives of people. Jesus changed everything.

[29:23] Because all of that came to an end. And in Jesus there is now a wonderful freedom. For all these men and women, boys and girls.

[29:36] Who are trusting in him. And perhaps most amazingly of all. The Old Testament divided humanity. Between Jew and Gentile.

[29:47] In Jesus everything changes. In him all the families of the earth are blessed. There is a new humanity. United as one.

[30:00] Through Jesus the shadow of the Old Testament has now been fulfilled. The old has gone. The new has come. Now there is full forgiveness. Full freedom.

[30:11] And beautiful unity. It is described wonderfully for us in Hebrews 10.19. Where the writer says. Therefore brothers. Since we have confidence to enter the holy places.

[30:21] By the blood of Jesus. By the new and living way. A new and living way that he opened up for us. Through the curtain. That is through his flesh.

[30:32] Jesus has changed the whole Old Testament religious system. He has brought it to completion. Number two. It is not just for the Jews.

[30:43] That things have changed however. Jesus has changed the whole of history. So you stand at that window. You are not just looking at Jewish territory. You are actually looking at the whole of history.

[30:56] From the fall of humanity. Right through to the coming of Jesus. The creation has been in slavery. And in bondage. Satan has been causing havoc.

[31:07] As the ruler of this world. When Jesus comes. Everything changes. Throughout the whole Old Testament. You had the promise.

[31:18] And hope. And expectation. That someday the Messiah would come. Someday God's king would appear. Jesus comes. And he is able to say. The kingdom of God has arrived.

[31:29] He is king. Satan isn't. And as a result. The kingdom of evil is defeated. And conquered. Death. Is swallowed up. In victory.

[31:40] Hebrews 2 speaks about that. At verse 14. Where it says that. Since therefore the children. Shared in flesh and blood. He himself likewise partook of the same things. That through death.

[31:51] He might destroy the one. Who has the power of death. That is the devil. And deliver all those. Who through fear of death. Were subject. To lifelong slavery.

[32:01] We must never forget. That history changed forever. When Jesus came. Lived. Died. And rose again. So Jesus is changing.

[32:14] The whole religious system. Of the Old Testament. Jesus has changed. The whole of history. Number three. Because of all that. Jesus is changing.

[32:25] The whole universe. Church. And so when you stand. At your window. You need to look. As far. And as wide. As you possibly can. Because Jesus' goal.

[32:36] Is not to create. A nice society. A nice little society. On earth. Called the church. Jesus' goal. Is to restore. The whole. Of creation.

[32:49] Because when sin. Came into the world. Everything. Was broken. The whole. Of creation. Jesus. Has come. To fix it.

[33:01] He's come. To put everything. Back together. That restoration. Work. Began. At his resurrection. And it'll be completed. When he comes. Again.

[33:12] But that's his goal. His goal. Is to establish. A new heavens. And a new earth. And we must always remember. That heaven. Is not some. Kind of. Place full of clouds.

[33:22] And hearts. Way, way, way. Over somewhere. Miles away. Heaven. The ultimate goal. Is a new earth. This earth. Restored. This universe. Restored. A new creation.

[33:33] And again. Hebrews speaks about that. You can see it. In chapter 12. Just reading. At verse 26. It says there. At that time. His voice shook the earth. But now he's promised.

[33:44] Once more. I will shake. Not only the earth. But also the heavens. The words. Once more. Indicate the removing. Of what. Can be shaken. That is. Created things. So that what cannot be shaken.

[33:56] May remain. There's this permanent renewal. Of the universe. Ahead. Jesus. Is changing. The whole.

[34:06] Of creation. So he's changed the old testament system. He's changed the whole of history. He's changed the whole. Destiny of the universe. And all of that means.

[34:19] That for every single person. Who trusts in Jesus. And follows him. Jesus. Has changed.

[34:30] Dying. And this is really what the heart of the gospel is all about. Death. Is. Is a great constant. Of humanity.

[34:41] It is the one thing. That lies ahead of every one of us. It's the guaranteed event. That we all face. That we all dread. Jesus.

[34:53] Changes it. For everyone who trusts in Jesus. Death stops being that awful event. That we try to avoid at all costs.

[35:05] And it becomes the doorway to paradise. Yes. And that's where it's good to think. You know. You think about. You think about Harris. And all the beautiful scenery. And you think of the.

[35:16] The villages. Tarbert. And all the other little villages scattered. Over the. Over the island. And ask yourself the question. Which location in Harris.

[35:27] Has been transformed most. By Jesus. Is it the church building. Is it. The manse. Is it the beaches.

[35:38] The mountains. No. The one location. That's been transformed. The most. By Jesus. Is the cemetery. That is where.

[35:53] We really see the difference. That Jesus. Makes. Because Jesus. Has changed. Dying. For everyone who trusts.

[36:04] In Jesus. Us. The cemetery. The cemetery is not the end. And the cemetery is not the place. Of bleak. Mourning. Jesus. Gives us a hope. And a salvation.

[36:15] That is stronger. Even. Than death. And all of that. Is reminding us. Of the crucial point. That. Christianity.

[36:26] Is a waste. Of time. If it doesn't. Make. A massive. Difference. We're not. Following Jesus. And proclaiming Jesus.

[36:37] In order to make a wee difference. To your life. We are proclaiming Jesus. Because he changes. Everything. Jesus is not some kind of. Smart. Wise. Lifestyle.

[36:48] Guru. He's not a kind of. Convenient. Crutch. For weak people. To hang on to. He's not someone. To just give us a ticket. To heaven. Jesus. Is lord.

[36:58] And king. Over everything. He's the one. In whom the whole. Universe. Now. Finally. Makes sense. He's the one.

[37:10] Who's changed. Everything. And that of course. Is why. It is no surprise. That Jesus. Is the single. Most influential figure.

[37:21] In the whole. Of human history. And you don't need to be religious. To believe that. It's just a fact of history. He's the single. Most individual. Most influential figure. That has ever.

[37:33] Arisen. And he is the same. Yesterday. Today. And. Forever. Forever. So. That was just. A very brief.

[37:44] Summary. Of. Of some of the things. That you see. When you look out the window. If you. If you. If you look. At the broad. Picture. You see. That. Jesus. Changes.

[37:55] Everything. Across the whole bible. Across the whole of history. In terms of the whole universe. And in terms. Of life. And death. Stand at the window. Look out far. Jesus.

[38:06] Changes. Everything. But what I really. Want to focus on. Is what we see. When we look in.

[38:16] The mirror. If Jesus. Changes. Everything. That means. That he's changing. Us. As well. So.

[38:27] We need to look. In the mirror. And think about. How Jesus. Changes. Everything. Verse 8. Of chapter 13. Is a very famous. Verse. Verse. And these. Words.

[38:38] Are very easy. To take. In isolation. It's a good example. Of. What you could maybe call. A fridge magnet. Verse. You know. The kind of. Verses that you'll get. On a fridge magnet. That you stick in your kitchen.

[38:49] And these are great. It's so good to have. God's word. Stuck. In various places. In your house. And this is. This is definitely. An example. Of. Of a. A verse. That you know. That would. Be great to have.

[39:00] Hanging on our wall. Somewhere. But. While that's a very helpful thing to do. It's also really important. To remember. That whenever we take a verse of the Bible. We need to think about the context.

[39:11] Around it. So we don't just dive in. And pluck out verse 8. And think about what it says. Without considering. The verses that come before it. And that come after it.

[39:22] In Hebrews chapter 13. And in many ways. Verse 8 here. Is giving us a big theological statement. That Jesus is the same. Yesterday.

[39:32] Today. And forever. So in many ways. This is very much. Like a doctrine kind of verse. It's big theology. In terms of. Who Jesus is. But the astonishing thing.

[39:43] That we discover. When we look at the context. In Hebrews 13. Is that this verse appears. Right in the middle. Of a long list. Of practical.

[39:56] Ethical. Instructions. And that's telling us. Something crucial. It's telling us. That we need to remember. That Jesus is the same.

[40:08] Yesterday. Today. And forever. Not just. In terms of our theology. But also. In terms of our behavior.

[40:18] We are. So let's look at this. In more detail. The key point. Is that. If Jesus is the same. Yesterday. Today. And forever. And if Jesus.

[40:29] Has changed history. And brought us. Into a relationship with God. And transformed our lives. And transformed. Our future. That means. That it's. Got to have an effect.

[40:40] On the way. Every single one of us. Lives. Our lives. This week. And. We can see that. In the practical instructions. That we have here.

[40:51] In chapter 13. And I just want to go through. Each section. Bit by bit. And see the things. That we're being taught. So. Let's look first. At verses. One. To three.

[41:02] Keep on loving each other. As brothers. Do not forget. To entertain strangers. For by so doing. Some people have entertained. Angels. Without knowing it. Remember those in prison. As if you were their fellow prisoners. And those who are ill treated.

[41:13] As if you yourselves. Were suffering. These verses are reminding us. That. The fact that Jesus is the same. Yesterday. Today. And forever.

[41:24] Changes. How. We treat each other. So Jesus has offered. A once and for all. Sacrifice for sin. On the cross. By doing that.

[41:35] He has restored. Our vertical relationship. With God. We've been reconciled to God. Through the atoning work of Jesus. On the cross. But that's not the only thing. That the cross has done.

[41:45] It's not just brought us. Into a vertical relationship. With God. The cross. Also brings us. Into a horizontal relationship. With one another. As believers.

[41:57] He's brought us. Into a family. As brothers and sisters. And that's why. That's why it says. Keep on loving one another. As brothers and sisters.

[42:08] As you can see. In verse one. So as we think of Jesus. Exalted at the right hand of God. And interceding for us. We mustn't just think to ourselves. Oh wow.

[42:19] That brings me. Into a relationship with God. And isn't that wonderful. You know. So often we can think of that. You know. We're in an unbreakable relationship. With God. And we are. And that's wonderful. But that mustn't be.

[42:30] Where our thoughts stop. Because we must also remember. That that work. Brings us. Into an unbreakable relationship. With each other. And with every other Christian.

[42:42] In heaven. And on earth. That's why. Our love for one another. Our friendship in the gospel. And our unity as believers.

[42:53] Is so crucial. And this is a massive issue. For Christians. In 2022. Because. Here in the west.

[43:03] In a nation like. Like Britain. Every single one of us. Has been infected. By the spirit of the age. The fact that. Ever since the second world war. The west has been dominated.

[43:13] By individualism. And it's everywhere. And the church is no exception. We tend to focus. On our personal relationship. With God. We tend to fight. For our own preferences.

[43:26] In church. We tend to come. Focusing more. On what we get. Rather. Than on what. We offer. That's why. Division is such a.

[43:36] Big issue. In the Christian church. But if Jesus. Is the same. Yesterday. Today. And forever. That means that. There is never. A single second.

[43:46] When we're not united to him. And it means that. There is never. A single second. When we are not. United. To one another. And our behavior.

[43:58] Must. Reflect that. That's why. It's so important. To show hospitality. As you can see. In verse two. Even to people.

[44:10] That we don't. Know. Hebrews 13. Verse two. Is. Is a wonderful. Verse. Because. It's telling us all. To invite someone. For dinner. That's what we've got to do.

[44:22] As Christians. That should be a defining. Characteristic. Of us. As. A church. That's why. Going into verse three. It's so important. To remember those. Who are in prison.

[44:33] Those who are going through. Difficulties. Those. Who are mistreated. Now. Here in our nation. We are so blessed. That we can worship freely. Without oppression. But for so many Christians. It's not like that.

[44:45] And even. Here in Scotland. You can get mistreated. For your faith. Even if you're not going to be. Imprisoned. And so. If Jesus is the same. Yesterday. Today. And forever. That means that.

[44:55] We are one body. One body. In him. Yesterday. Today. And forever. That's why it's so important. To pray for each other.

[45:06] It's so important. To spend time. In each other's homes. It's so important. To text one another. Just words of encouragement. And help. Or you can write a letter. Once a week to somebody. Or send a card. Or whatever it may be.

[45:17] But we must. Must live. Every day of our lives. Thinking. About how we can support. And come alongside. One another. Jesus isn't changing.

[45:28] But that reality. Must change. The way we. Treat. Each other. Moving on to verses.

[45:39] Four. To six. These verses. Are one of these. One of these. Places. Where we find. That the Bible. Is so. Brilliantly. Relevant. Because here.

[45:50] The writer. Tackles. Two of the most. Powerful. Influences. In 21st century. Scotland. He talks about. Sex. And money.

[46:02] TVs. Movies. Newspapers. Books. Internet. They are all. Today. Saturated. With an obsession. With sex. And it's becoming.

[46:13] More. And more. Extreme. And that's caused. Huge problems. In today's world. The last few years. We've seen the Me Too movement. Highlighting. The awful way. In which men. Have abused power.

[46:23] In the pursuit. Of sexual pleasure. You see awful incidents. Where there's. There's attacks. On. People. Particularly on women.

[46:34] By. By what's known as. The incel movement. Men. Who are so. Frustrated. And angry. At the fact. That they're single. That they actually plan. And carry out.

[46:44] Acts of violence. Against. Women. And the fact. That Jesus is the same. Yesterday. Today. And forever. Means that. As Christians. Our attitude. To sex.

[46:55] Has got to be. Different. From the world. Around us. But that doesn't mean. Becoming all. Awkward. And frigid.

[47:06] Or celibate. Or anything like that. What it means. Is that. In a world. Around us. That is. Obsessed. With pleasure. Passion.

[47:17] Parties. Pornography. In that world. We. Are to be. Obsessed. With purity. And that's why. For the Christian.

[47:28] Marriage. Should be. Honored. By all. That's why. The intimacy. Of a sexual union. Is always. To be enjoyed. Within the security.

[47:38] Of a lifelong commitment. Between. A husband. And wife. If Jesus. Is the same. Yesterday. Today. And forever. Then. Every part of life. Including the most.

[47:50] Private. And the most. Intimate. They all. Need to be. Shaped. By what he wants. And what he instructs.

[48:01] So that things. Would be the way. He's created them. To be. It's the same. With money. The world. Around us. Is obsessed. With it. Everybody.

[48:12] Wants. Better pay. Better pensions. Lower taxes. Cheaper prices. But if Jesus. Is the same. Yesterday. Today. And forever. Then all of that. Changes. Because in him.

[48:24] We have everything. That we need. In him. We have a peace. And a joy. And a satisfaction. That money. Can never buy.

[48:35] We have a security. That no amount. Of possessions. Can ever give us. We have a hope. That is more. Precious. Than words. Can describe. And that is why.

[48:47] We can be content. With what we have. You can see that. In verse five. We can keep our lives. Free of the love of money. We can be content.

[48:59] With what we have. Why? Because God has said. I will never. Leave you. I will never. Forsake you. And so if Jesus.

[49:11] Is the same. Yesterday. Today. And forever. Even though. It can be very hard. If we are worrying. About things financially. Ultimately. It doesn't matter. If our bank balance. Goes up. Or down.

[49:22] And God forbid. That in the week ahead. We worry more. About possessions. Than we do about people. Or that we care more. About money. Than we do. About mission.

[49:36] Similar lessons. Apply to leadership. In verse seven. So often. Today. Leadership. Is about. Exercising power.

[49:47] And getting people. To do. What they want us to do. So. Everybody here. Who's got a harsh boss. Or who's had a harsh boss. In the past. Will know. What that is like. So often.

[49:58] Today. Leadership. Is about. Getting power. For yourself. And exerting that power. Over other people. For Christians. It is different. Leadership.

[50:10] Is about. Setting an example. That others. Are to follow. The writer here. Is able to say. Look at your leaders. Consider the outcome.

[50:21] Of their way of life. And copy them. Imitate. Their faith. And doing that. Is simply following. What Jesus himself did. Jesus washed.

[50:33] The disciples feet. As an example. For us to follow. Jesus humbled himself. And became obedient. To the point of death. On the cross. Jesus did not come. To be served. But to serve.

[50:44] And if he is the same. Yesterday. Today and forever. That means he is still. The model of leadership. That we all need. To follow. And that's one of the brilliant things.

[50:56] About Jesus. He is the best model. For how to be a boss. For how to be a colleague. For how to go from Monday to Friday. Working with other people.

[51:09] He gives us. He shows us. That leadership. Is ultimately about. Setting an example. About serving those. Who are placed.

[51:20] Under. Our care. Going on to verse nine. We see. This verse speaks about truth. It speaks about. Avoiding. Strange.

[51:30] Teaching. Making sure that we're not. Led astray. By things. That are false. That makes sense. If we're saying that Jesus is the same. Yesterday. Today. And forever. That means that we need to hold.

[51:42] Fast. To his teaching. So that we don't get carried away. And led astray. By all sorts of other things. And it's. A great reminder. That our understanding.

[51:52] Of the world. Needs to keep on changing. Until it's the same. As his. What Jesus has revealed. In his word. Is what we have to keep.

[52:03] On going back to. So that we're not. Led astray. But more. And more. And more. Our world view. Our understanding. Of. Of what happens. In the world. This week.

[52:13] Is. Is always. Through the lens. That he gives us. Through. His. Word. And then. Moving on to verses. 10. To 13. The writer talks.

[52:24] About suffering. Jesus. Again. As the example. Of that. Suffering. Outside. Of the camp. So often. We think. That suffering. Is something. To be avoided.

[52:35] At all costs. So we think. To ourselves. You know. Suffering. Suffering. Is something. That we do not. Want to happen. And there's a sense. In which that's true. Suffering. Is something. That we want. To avoid.

[52:46] That's. It's. You know. There's. A sense. In which that's. Natural. But yet. At the same time. Jesus. In his example. And the whole of scripture. Shows us. That actually. God can do amazing things.

[52:59] Through suffering. And I think that. I hope that that's a huge comfort. For anybody who's suffering. Just now. It's not wasted. And it's not pointless. And it's not because.

[53:11] There's something awful about you. It's actually an opportunity. For God. To do an amazing work. Either in you. Or through you. Or both. Jesus changes.

[53:23] Suffering. And he makes it an opportunity. For us to be. A witness. For him. And then. In verse 14.

[53:34] We see that Jesus. Changes. Our perspective. For here. We do not have. An enduring city. But we're looking. For the city.

[53:45] That is. To come. If Jesus is the same. Yesterday. Today. And forever. Then that has. Got to change. Our perspective. On life.

[53:56] If he's exalted. At God's right hand. If he is our great. High priest forever. That means that we must. Live today. In the light of. Eternity.

[54:07] We need to. Put all our frustrations. And difficulties. And struggles of now. And compare them. With everything.

[54:18] That God promises us. In the future. So often. We seek. Stuff now. And we want stuff now. I do that so many times. There's so many times.

[54:28] I want stuff. Right now. We put so much effort. Into making things. Perfect. Now. Whether that's our grades. If we're in school. Or we're studying. Whether it's in our job. Making sure that we've got everything perfect.

[54:40] Whether it's our house. Or our car. Our reputation. Our achievements. So often. I pour my energy. Into stuff. Now. When all the time.

[54:51] What really matters. Is the city that is to come. That's what really matters. That's where our treasure really lies.

[55:03] That's what we really need. To invest in. As Christians. Our perspective. Has got to be different.

[55:15] Because if Jesus is the same yesterday. Today and forever. We have got a whole lot more. To live for. Than just cars. Or houses. Or salaries. Or football results.

[55:26] Or Facebook likes. Or whatever it is. That we can often. Pour our energy. Into. But all of this. Raises.

[55:36] A final. And crucial point. That. That we all need. I think. To think about. And take on board. All of this. Is telling us. That Jesus.

[55:48] Changes. Change. Jesus. Changes. Change. Change. What do I mean by that? Well. When I was young.

[55:59] I was very afraid of change. I hated things changing. I didn't want. My parents to ever get a new car. I didn't want them to paint the room of the house. A different colour.

[56:11] I remember once. They got a new cover for the sofa. And it went from a kind of brown colour. To a blue colour. I was not happy. I actually started. I got scissors. And started cutting.

[56:23] The new upholstery. Thankfully. I didn't cause too much damage. Before I was stopped. But I hated change. Now. That was something. That was an insecurity. That I had. And the reason I felt like that.

[56:33] Was because. I attached my happiness. To the stuff. That was around me. I thought. You know. It's with this car. And it's with this sofa. And it's with this colour of walls.

[56:44] That I'm happy. Therefore. That mustn't change. And I attached my security. To the wrong thing. And. My parents were wonderful. Because they helped me. To get over that.

[56:55] And to see that change. Was okay. But I thought to myself. If stuff changes. It will be bad. And we can all.

[57:06] Be like that. We can be like that. In terms of our homes. Our possessions. Our routines. Even in terms of what we do. On Christmas Day. Sometimes people.

[57:17] Sometimes that can be. Very controversial. To change. Someone's patterns. On Christmas Day. But. What I want us to. To recognize. Is that. Very often. We can be like that.

[57:28] In terms of church. As well. We can be very. Afraid of change. Very resistant.

[57:39] To change. We can. Easily think. That change. Is automatically. Bad. And.

[57:51] It's important. To recognize. That that fear. Very often. Comes. From insecurities. Because we like stuff. The way they are.

[58:02] And we don't want it to change. And we're nervous. That something different. Is going to be worse. And often. It's insecurities. That make us. Fearful of change. But if.

[58:12] Hebrews. 13. 8. Tells you. Anything. It tells you. That if you are a Christian. Or if you become one. Then you are. Totally.

[58:23] And utterly. Secure. Because. Jesus. Is the same. Yesterday. Today. And forever. That is the great.

[58:34] Unchangeable. Of Christianity. That's where we all. Need to go. For our security. Not to our routines. In life. In work. Or in church. But to Jesus. And that's why.

[58:46] When it comes to. Changes. In our lives. Jesus. Changes. Change. If change. Happens. In our health. If change. Happens. In our community. If change.

[58:57] Even happens. In. The routine. Of church. We do not. Need. To be afraid. Because the thing. That really matters.

[59:08] Is never changing. Jesus. Is the same. So for us. As Christians. As we seek. To follow Jesus.

[59:18] Going into 2022. I want you to remember. That Jesus. Isn't changing. And I want you to remember. That Jesus. Changes. Everything. If you look.

[59:29] Out the window. You'll see. That he is changing. The whole world. And the whole of history. For the better. And if you look. In the mirror. You'll see. That he's changing.

[59:40] You. For the better. As well. And for anyone. Who's maybe not yet. A Christian. Or not sure. Where you stand. With Jesus. This is what Jesus.

[59:52] Is offering you. He is the unchanging. Savior. Who will change. Your life. And who will change. Your eternity. And I cannot.

[60:02] Even begin. To describe. How amazing. Those changes are. I can't even. Begin to describe. What an amazing. Difference.

[60:12] Jesus has made. To me. And to every. Christian. That I know. And for anyone. Here who's maybe. Not yet a Christian. You just need. To follow him.

[60:24] And discover it. For yourself. Amen. Let's pray. Lord Jesus.

[60:34] We thank you so much. For the amazing. Difference. That you have made. To the whole of history. To the whole of the universe. And to us. As well. Help us.

[60:45] To change. In all the ways. That we need to change. So that we become. More and more. The people. And the church. That you want. And need us to be. Thank you so much.

[60:56] That you give us. Security. That nothing else. Can give. Amen. Our concluding item of praise.

[61:08] Is. Mission Praise 51. Be Thou My Vision. Let's stand. And sing together. Be Thou My Vision.

[61:32] O Lord of my heart. O Lord of my heart. Not be all else to me. Save that Thou art.

[61:45] Thou my best thought. By day or by night. Waking or sleeping.

[61:56] Thy presence my light. Be Thou my wisdom. Thou my true word.

[62:08] I ever with Thee. Thou with me Lord. Thou my great Father.

[62:19] I Thy true Son. Thou in me dwelling. Thou my soul. And I with Thee.

[62:29] Thou with Thee. Thou with Thee. Thou with Thee. Thou with Thee. Thou with Thee. Thou with Thee. Thou my battle. Shield sword for the fight. Thou with Thee.

[62:39] Thou my dignity. Thou my delight. Thou my soul's shelter. Thou my high tower.

[62:52] Thou with Thee. Thou with Thee. Thou with Thee. Riches I heed not.

[63:04] Thou man's empty face. Thou mine inheritance. Thou and always.

[63:16] Thou and O only first in my heart. High King of heaven.

[63:26] My pleasure Thou art. High King of heaven. After victory won.

[63:38] May I reach heaven's joy. So bright and sound. Heart of my own heart.

[63:49] Whatever befall. Still be my vision. O ruler of all.

[64:03] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The love of God. And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Be with you all. Amen.