[0:00] Well good evening, it's nice to see so many of you here this evening on such an inclement night and we pray that God will bless us as we come together. Just one point I would like to clear up.
[0:16] I sent out an email this week, I've been getting a lot of thanks for it and that everybody appreciates it. I do have to say it's actually Richard Killer that did all the work, I just sent out the email.
[0:28] If you haven't received the email, please speak to me afterwards. If you've got a BT internet address, for some reason it bins it right away, so please come and speak to me. There will be another email coming out tomorrow morning in relation to the National Day of Prayer and I'd ask you to look out for that, there's a lot of prayer points within it about local church, national church and the work that has been done across the church. So that's just a warning. If it isn't in your inbox, please check your junk mail because I appreciate that one or two didn't get the email notifying that the prayer meeting had been cancelled or put online on Wednesday night and I apologise for that.
[1:16] We'll now worship God. We'll sing to God's praise in Gaelic, so we'll remain seated and we'll sing the first two verses in Psalm 23. Hopefully the words will appear on the screen, might not be so stuck for the Gaelic.
[1:37] The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want, he makes me down to lie, in pastures green he leadeth me the quiet waters by, my soul he doth restore again, and me to walk doth make within the paths of righteousness, e'en for his own name's sake.
[1:57] Sing these verses to God's praise. Sing these verses.
[2:29] NING Thank you.
[3:29] Thank you.
[3:59] Thank you.
[4:29] Thank you.
[4:59] Thank you. May the old sky come. Bow in prayer.
[5:17] Our gracious and ever-blessed Lord, we thank you that we can come into your presence this night. And as we come and as we gather, we pray that our hearts would indeed be still before you. Heavenly Father, that we would know what it is to be in your presence, to know what it is to be still and know that thou art God.
[5:38] We come this night, Heavenly Father, recognising that there are many at this time that are concerned, are worried, and come with their own burdens. We thank you that your word teaches us to come to you and to cast all our cares and all our anxieties upon you.
[5:57] For you do indeed care for us. We pray this night, Heavenly Father, for those, Heavenly Father, that are anxious, that are worried for loved ones.
[6:11] We pray, Heavenly Father, that you would be with them, that you would uphold them, that they would know you as their God of refuge and their God of strength. You have promised, Heavenly Father, that you will never leave us, that you will never forsake us.
[6:29] And even as the psalmist taught us, Heavenly Father, that even as we go through the shadows of the valleys of death, that you are with us. And your rod and your staff, they comfort us and they guide us.
[6:43] And we pray that each one, Heavenly Father, would know your comfort and your guidance at this time. We pray, Heavenly Father, for those that are going through circumstances just now that none of us would want to go through.
[7:01] And we commit them to you, Heavenly Father. We pray, Heavenly Father, for families in Uist, families in Lewis, and Heavenly Father, that have real concerns at this time for loved ones.
[7:16] And we pray that your hand would be upon them and that you would guide them. And for those, Heavenly Father, that have received bad news even on this day, that they would know your comfort.
[7:30] We hear the storm round about us here. And we recognize, Heavenly Father, that your son walked in the water and was able to calm the storm.
[7:42] And we pray that as time goes on, that those that are going through the storm at this time would indeed know the calmness that can only be found in coming to Jesus and hearing his voice that says, Be still.
[7:57] Heavenly Father, we remember our emergency services at this time. We pray for them, how they'll be stretched and the difficult circumstances that they'll be facing at this time.
[8:11] We thank you for them. And we pray, Heavenly Father, that you would uphold them and that you would strengthen them and that they would know refreshment in the days ahead.
[8:21] We thank you, Heavenly Father, at this time for the medical services that we have on the island. We thank you for the facilities that are provided for us and that we can make use of.
[8:36] And we pray, Heavenly Father, for those within our own community that are in hospital at this time. We pray that they would know your comfort, that they would know your blessing. And we pray for wisdom for doctors and nurses that look after them there as we commit each one of them to you.
[8:55] And we pray, Heavenly Father, that as we gather in this place, we recognize and thank you for the young ones that are here. And as we will read in your word, Heavenly Father, we pray that as each one of them grows and even in their young years, that they would remember you.
[9:15] And that, Heavenly Father, that as your word is read to us tonight and teaches us, that nobody should despise them for their youth. But that, Heavenly Father, that they should walk with you and that they should be guided by you and walk in faith.
[9:30] That they would indeed be encouraged. We thank you for the camp this weekend. We thank you for the enthusiasm of the young ones. We thank you for their willingness to learn.
[9:41] And we pray, Heavenly Father, that they would indeed each be encouraged. That as they have gathered around your word and learned from it, that they would go back, Heavenly Father, to their homes, to their schools.
[9:54] And that they would walk with you and walk for you and share the good news of Jesus and every opportunity that is given to them, that they would reflect you.
[10:07] So guide us as we come together this night. Be with Scott as he breaks down your word. We pray, Heavenly Father, that as your word is spoken, that our hearts would indeed be open to receive your word, that our ears would be open to hear, and that our minds would indeed be fixed on you.
[10:27] But, Heavenly Father, as we hear your word, as we think upon your word, that our hearts would indeed cry out, Lord, save me. So guide us now and direct us and continue with us in Jesus' precious name.
[10:43] Amen. We are going to sing together, but maybe get some hymn books. We are going to sing in Mission Praise 1075, Jesus, all for Jesus.
[11:07] And even as we think upon the words of this hymn, that we would live our lives for Jesus, that we would give ourselves to Jesus, that all our ambitions, our hopes, and our fears would be cast over to Jesus.
[11:23] So don't just think of it as a song that we sing. Think about the words that are there. That Jesus, all for Jesus. And once you have a hymn book, we'll stand and sing.
[11:36] Amen. Amen. 1-0-7-5 in Mission Praise.
[11:58] And if you're able, we'll stand and sing. Thank you.
[12:30] I'll never hope to be. Jesus, all for Jesus, all I am and I, I'll never hope to be.
[12:55] All of my ambitions, hopes and plans, I surrender these into your hands.
[13:16] All of my ambitions, hopes and plans, I surrender these into your hands.
[13:36] For if it's only in your will that I am free.
[13:47] For if it's only in your will that I am free.
[13:59] Jesus, all for Jesus, all I am and have and ever hope to be.
[14:20] Amen. 1 Timothy chapter 4 and we'll read in from verse 6.
[14:56] 1 Timothy chapter 4 and at verse 6.
[15:09] A good servant of Christ Jesus is the heading that's here. Paul says, As it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
[15:48] The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive because we have our hope set on the living God.
[16:00] Who is the Savior of God.
[16:30] NINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNING to the reading of his holy word.
[17:03] I'm going to sing again in Psalm 119 and sing Psalms. Psalm 119, verses 9 to 16.
[17:15] How can the young keep their life pure? By doing what your word demands. I seek you with my heart and soul.
[17:27] Let me not stray from your commands. Your word I've hidden in my heart to keep me from offending you. Praise be to you, O Lord my God.
[17:38] Teach me your statutes, firm and true. And down to the end of verse Mark 16. I meditate upon your ways and on your precepts I reflect.
[17:49] I take delight in your decrees. Your word I never will neglect. After we've sung this, Scott will come and take the rest of the service.
[18:00] O God, the young keep their life pure By doing what your word demands.
[18:26] I seek you with my heart and soul. Let me not stray from your commands.
[18:45] Your word I've hidden in my heart To keep me from offending you.
[19:05] Praise be to you, O Lord my God. Teach me your statutes, firm and true.
[19:23] NINGNINGNINGNING As others love to count their gold.
[20:05] I meditate upon your ways, and all your precepts I reflect.
[20:25] I take delight in your defeat.
[20:37] Your word I never will delay. We'll turn back to the passage that we read.
[21:00] 1 Timothy, chapter 4, and I'll read it verse 12. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
[21:27] Let us pray before we come to these words. Our Father in heaven, we pray that you would still our hearts as we come before your word.
[21:41] We pray that by the power of your spirit you would speak to us, speak into our hearts, our souls, our bodies, our minds. With this word. May your ears be unblocked to hear it.
[21:55] May your eyes be opened to see what you can teach us from it. And that we would stand in awe of the Bible, and what it teaches us about God, teaches us about Jesus, how much we are loved by our Lord.
[22:15] And that we can call upon him in prayer to help us whenever we are in need of help. And that we can bring others before you that we think of this evening.
[22:31] That we can pray for them. Pray that you would draw near to them. Pray that you would be a comfort to them. Pray that you would be an encouragement to them. So Lord, as we turn to this passage and this verse, we pray that we would find it as good instruction for our lives, to teach us how to live the Christian life.
[22:54] We pray that we would be examples that follow in the footsteps of Jesus, and how he shows us how to live. But most of all, we pray that we would put our hands in the hands of Jesus.
[23:11] That we would trust our lives to him. That we would be saved by Jesus. Knowing how much he loves us. And he died on the cross for each one here.
[23:23] So be with us, we pray, in all things we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. So we turn to this passage here that we have in 1 Timothy.
[23:40] And as a camp, we've been looking at the Christian life the last few days. We've been thinking about what is a Christian. And then last night, we were thinking about what it means to live as a Christian.
[23:55] And since we have the younger ones here, I thought this passage would be good to look at. It instructs a young person more about how they should think, how they should live.
[24:07] Think about how they live. But that's not to say that the older ones can tune out. Because it's just as applicable for the older ones. And really it involves you because this word comes from the elder to the younger.
[24:24] Timothy, we understand, is a younger man. He has been working alongside Paul, preaching the gospel.
[24:36] Going around with Paul, following Paul in his footsteps. So Paul was a teacher to Timothy, to young Timothy. Paul is the one that writes this letter to Timothy.
[24:48] Paul is the older one, the wiser one, that instructs Timothy. How he should live, how he should act, how he should behave around others. What his character should be like.
[25:01] Because I think Paul knew that his time was likely going to be short. Probably not that he expected to die, but probably that he knew that people didn't like the message that he was bringing.
[25:15] And he expected that people would try and silence him. People would maybe imprison him. So it's happened. So he identifies Timothy as this young man that can walk in his footsteps.
[25:28] That can follow behind him. And now, as we look at this passage, we're thinking, well, okay, Timothy, his talents was in ministry.
[25:39] Paul was preparing him to preach the gospel. And you might think to yourself, well, I'm not going to preach the gospel.
[25:50] I'm not going to be like Timothy. And maybe that is true, but first thing I would say is young men never say never to that thought.
[26:06] The second thing I want to say is that if it is good enough advice for Timothy as a leader, it is certainly good advice for each and every one of us to think about here.
[26:20] It is good advice, especially for a young Christian to listen to. Good advice for every old Christian to be reminded of, maybe.
[26:33] Paul identifies Timothy, this young person with gifts for ministry. But you know, as I look out here tonight, there's young and old people here that are very gifted.
[26:51] God has given each of us gifts. And I want you to think about what gifts you have. What are you good at? What is your talents? What gift has God given to you?
[27:05] It could be speaking, then. I say, speak in a way that honors God. It could be drawing. And I say, draw in a way that honors God.
[27:18] Playing football. Play football in a way that honors God. And in a wee while, as we walk through this passage, we're going to look at five ways that Paul tells Timothy to be a good example.
[27:32] Five ways that can help each and every one of us. Whether we're in school. I've been listening to, speaking to some of the younger ones here. And some are waiters.
[27:42] It's five ways that will help you to be a waiter. A carer. A shop assistant. A brother. A sister. Five ways to help each person here.
[27:55] To be a good example. In whatever you do. And in fact, everything you do. As a Christian. And if you're a good example.
[28:10] You're showing someone a pattern to follow. People will say, look at that example. Or look at that person as an example. Because they want you to follow that person.
[28:21] So if you're an example. Following this instruction of Paul. You can be someone that can show your friends how to speak.
[28:34] Show your friends how to conduct yourselves and behave. How to love. How to be faithful. How to live a pure life. And there's an unlimited element to this.
[28:49] Example that you can set. Because. You can be an example. To the whole world in fact. By the way you live your life. That'll often mean.
[29:02] Living your life maybe in a different way. To others around you. Because an example is often. Different. You can be an example to the whole world.
[29:14] That means. You can also be an example to other Christians. Even as a young person. You can be an example. You can be an example to me. You can be an example to the eldest person in this room.
[29:30] If you trust in God in everything that you do. If you obey the words that are written in the Bible. If you listen to what the Bible teaches us.
[29:53] If you rely on God to give you strength. Every single day. To be a good example. If you pray to God every day. And say Lord.
[30:05] Let me be a good example. In all that I do. Today. Now these five things. Do not make you a Christian.
[30:16] They're not building blocks. As we were thinking in the morning. To heaven. But these are five things. That almost. Come out of you as a Christian.
[30:28] They're good things that come out of you. Because you're a Christian. The passage here says.
[30:41] Let no one despise you. For your youth. I remember going to go. Or being asked to go around. Doing door to door. And to invite people to come to church.
[30:53] And I remember thinking. I don't think anyone really isn't here. Why should I go around. And help people. Because I'm just a young person.
[31:07] And it was this passage that I read. When I was thinking about that. And so I went. Spoke directly to me. Let no one despise you.
[31:19] For your youth. But set an example. We're told to share the good news. I had to go.
[31:29] I had to listen. You remember. Young David. Not that one. I was preaching in the morning. But young David. In the book of Samuel.
[31:41] When he went to fight Goliath. He was despised. Because he was so young. None of the soldiers. Would go to fight Goliath.
[31:52] And they probably all laughed. At this young man. He was brave enough. And confident. To go and fight him. Because it wasn't about.
[32:02] What he could do. He trusted in God. He trusted in God. To be his strength. And he defeated Goliath.
[32:14] And what an example he was. Because he trusted in his God. To do things that seemed impossible. But what an example he set.
[32:30] There's many young people here tonight. And really we don't have any control. Over how people react to us. If we're young.
[32:41] And people despise us. We don't have a lot of control over that. So. Can you change it? Can you change how people think about you.
[32:53] As a young person? Well I think. You can have an impact. By living your life.
[33:05] Following God's word. Trusting God. To give you strength. To do so. And when you set an example. That is grounded.
[33:16] In God's word. You know what? People will have no reason. To despise you. Because you're setting an example. To people.
[33:28] You're following. The instructions of the Bible. You're following what Jesus tells. Each and every one of us to do. And when you do that. People will have no reason.
[33:40] To despise you. So five ways here. In this passage. I want to just touch on each one. Speech. Watch my hand actually.
[33:53] As I do this. Speech. Conduct. Love. Love. Faith. Purity. And I want to use my hand.
[34:05] To help you to remember these things. Because as we become Christians. We put a hand. Into Jesus' hand as it were.
[34:16] And we grab hold of him. And each of these. Our thumb and fingers represent. What Paul is saying here.
[34:28] So the first one is speech. And that's going to be your thumb. Because your thumb. Is strong. Your thumb has a great effect.
[34:38] And the words that you speak. Can have a great effect. They can make a massive difference. For good. And for bad.
[34:50] And even. How you say things to one another. Can have a huge effect. You can make someone feel better. You can encourage one another. You can make someone feel worse. By the words that you speak.
[35:01] You can choose bad words. You can choose good words. But everything you say. Will have an impact. On how people feel. And it's very easy.
[35:14] To say bad things. It's all too easy. To be nasty. To one another. And you hear. Lots of people. Say horrible things. In horrible ways.
[35:26] You hear people swear. You hear people. Take the Lord's name in vain. But that's not how the Bible. Teaches us. It goes against the. Third commandment. To the Lord's name in vain.
[35:41] But that doesn't mean. Even if we try. To do our best. To listen. To God's word. That. Every day we will. Because. There will be days.
[35:52] Where you're going to say something. And you're going to wish. That you. Didn't say it. You're going to say it. By accident. And you're going to think. I should not have said that.
[36:02] But you can also say sorry. You can say sorry. In what you say. And the Bible has loads of things.
[36:13] To say. About what we say. Lots of good things to say. And lots of bad things to say. Teaches us how to talk. You look through Proverbs. Lots of verses.
[36:25] About how you speak. And I'm going to give you. A Bible passage. For each. Finger. Thumb. Each of the five ones. Passage.
[36:37] That talks about speech. James. Chapter 3. Verses 1 to 12. I'm not going to read through them. But you can write them down. And you can read through them yourself.
[36:51] But in the Psalms. The Psalmist writes. About. Asking God. To set a guard over his mouth. And to watch his lips.
[37:02] Now. That's a good thing to ask. Because he knew that his words. Could. Be so dangerous. He knew that he could say the wrong thing.
[37:12] At the wrong time. And he asked God. To set a guard over his mouth. Keep a watch over my lips. And everything that I say. That's a good thing to pray for.
[37:25] Because. As we have been thinking about. None of us are perfect. And we all have sin in our lives. And if sin is in us. I can guarantee you.
[37:37] That one day. It's going to come out in your words. Even if you don't want it to. That badness. That badness. Will come out. But we can always say so.
[37:51] The Bible says. Whatever is in your heart. Will come out of your mouth. And if you are a Christian. And you love Jesus.
[38:03] That should be coming out of your mouth. As you speak to people. Should be coming out. Of your mouth. The way you see it. That you love Jesus.
[38:17] You should be speaking about him. If you love him. And there should be something different. About the way a Christian speaks. Now the greatest example.
[38:29] Of speeches. In Christ. Jesus spoke in ways. That were wise. Gentle. Honest. Helpful. Encouraging.
[38:39] And I think if Jesus was here. Tonight. I think we'd be glad. To sit and listen to him. I think his words.
[38:50] Would captivate us. And we would be in awe. Of what Jesus would be speaking. And how he would speak. So speech. Your words of.
[39:02] Great power. Use your speech. For God. Second thing. The second word is conduct. And that's your index finger.
[39:14] Because you use your index finger. In pretty much everything you do. Conduct means how you act. What you do. Pick something up. Your thumb.
[39:25] Your index finger. Index finger points. Your index finger. Is used all the time. To turn pages. What you do. And your conduct. Is how you behave. And like your speech.
[39:38] You can make mistakes. In the way. We behave too. You've heard the phrase. Actions speak louder. On words. That's true. It's easy to speak.
[39:50] About doing good things. And telling you. To do good things. But it's very hard. To actually go. And do them. It can be really difficult.
[40:03] To do these good things. And to set an example. In all that we do. And good things. Tend to be harder to do. But do you know what?
[40:13] I can guarantee you. People will notice. What you do. We thought last night. About. Usain Bolt.
[40:24] Running in the stadium. And everyone watching him. Run. And we were saying that. That man. Inspired others. To.
[40:35] Run. He was an example. To others. Everyone in the stadium. That was watching.
[40:46] So when people watch you. And what you do. I pray that you will be an example. To everyone. That sees.
[40:57] How you do things. And one of the most important things. About how you do things. Is your attitude. How you respond to things. Because your attitude. Your attitude changes everything.
[41:10] And that's something. That comes from within you. We touched on that. In our discussion groups. When we were discussing. About the things that we do. When we live as a Christian. That attitude.
[41:21] We can have positive attitudes. We can have negative attitudes. Towards things. What is your attitude. Towards your parents? What is your attitude.
[41:32] Towards people that need help? What is your attitude. When you are told to do something. You don't want to do. Do you have an attitude.
[41:42] Do you have an attitude. That is willing to forgive others. Do you have an attitude. That wants to read and pray every day. And to follow Jesus.
[41:55] You can be a great example. To others. By doing good things. Instead of bad things. And so often. So often in our lives. Maybe the older ones. Can appreciate this more.
[42:06] That we remember people. For the bad things they do. Which isn't good of us. But wouldn't it be great. As a young person.
[42:18] As a young person. That sets an example. To be remembered. For the good things. That you do. To be remembered.
[42:30] For listening. To God's word. And what it tells us. That's a great example. That people could see.
[42:42] And that people could follow. Now the greatest example. Is of course. In Christ Jesus. And the passage for that. Is Philippians 2.
[42:54] That tells us all about. Christ's example. And all that he did. He was obedient. He listened to his father. He conducted himself. Like no one else could. What did Jesus do.
[43:09] To show you. That he loved you. Does anyone want to answer that. What did Jesus do. To show you. That he loved you. Anyone. Died on the cross.
[43:25] Love was behind. All his actions. So speech. Conduct. Second. Third thing God. Love. Now.
[43:37] Love stands taller. Than any of your fingers. Love. Stands out. Stands over everything else. And love is central.
[43:48] On your hand. To love people. Is really important. Love is one of the best. And greatest. Things. That we can experience. In this life. Love stands out.
[44:01] As something special. Love. Love is central. Love is central. And love is central. In our lives. Because. We all love something. Whatever it is.
[44:13] We love something. Love is central. Love. Follows speech. And conduct.NINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNING It also tells us to love our enemy.
[44:55] But most of all it tells us to love God. And if we love God, that will teach us to love one another.
[45:10] Be an example by loving the people around you. Love is a sign in the Christian life that tells everyone that you are a Christian.
[45:28] People know you're a Christian because the way you love others. And a great passage to read about love is in 1 John 3, from verse 11 onwards.
[45:41] Even if you sin with your mouth, sin with your actions, we're told in the Bible that love covers a multitude of sins.
[45:55] It's almost if we love people and we love Jesus, that will drive you to do other things. That will outdo the mistakes that you have made.
[46:06] Our greatest example of love in this world is Jesus. He died on the cross for us because he loved us.
[46:18] And the Bible tells us there is no greater love than this. That's how much Jesus loves you. That he died on the cross for you.
[46:29] And that is a sign that stands higher and clearer than anything else in this world. And it's a sign that you should have central in your lives.
[46:45] The next word is faith. So that's our next finger. And I can't really put it up on its own either. This finger has the least movement in it.
[47:01] And your faith should be firm and steady. That's also the finger that you put a ring on if you get married. When you make a promise to someone else.
[47:15] This finger is steady and firm. But it's a finger that receives a promise. To have faith is to completely trust in someone else.
[47:27] And it is something that is important to the Christian life. Faith means to trust God and Jesus. All the time. In every circumstance.
[47:41] If we believe and trust in him. Firmly. Steady in our faith. But this finger.
[47:53] Symbolizes a promise. And faith in God has a great promise attached to it. Faith in God.
[48:05] Has a great promise with a reward. Faith in Jesus. Is what God asks us. To have.
[48:16] To believe in Jesus. To trust in Jesus. No matter what the circumstances are. Be firm in your faith.
[48:28] Even when you don't understand. What is going on in your life. Even in the most difficult of circumstances. Have faith in Jesus.
[48:39] The promise is. That if we have faith in Jesus. If we believe that Jesus has died on the cross for us.
[48:53] If we believe that Jesus. Rose from the dead. If we believe that Jesus can save me from hell. We believe in Jesus.
[49:06] He will welcome you into heaven. Faith has a promise of eternal life. What is it? What is it?
[49:17] What they will say? When the believer enters through the gates of heaven. well done good and faithful servant faith has a great promise attached to it but we must be firm in our faith not let the world change us or affect us but hold fast to everything the bible tells us a great passage to read about faith is in hebrews 11 tells you about different bible characters who trusted god in the hardest of circumstances and the most strangest of circumstances but they had faith in god last finger the little pinky at the end and the last word we have of these five is purity and this is way more important than we think it is the pinky forms part of your grip and your hold i didn't know this till i looked it up and checked how important the pinky was if you lose your pinky they say that you will lose 50% of your hand strength and 33% of your grip your pinky is connected to all the muscles down your arm and in fact these three fingers are important to your grip they might not be obvious but they're really important for how well you can hold on to something very important to your hand function and it uses muscles that are deep within your arm to help you hold on and there's something you can do if you hold your hand if you hold just your hand at the bottom there and you squeeze them your speech and your conduct together it doesn't really change anything you squeeze it tight like that but if you squeeze these three tight in your hand like that you feel all the muscles down your arm working and responding these fingers have great effect love, faith and purity determine how well you hold on to God and these love, faith and purity are all things that are deeply rooted within you in your heart determines how well you hold on to Jesus how well you trust his word now purity means to be clean something that is pure it's not contaminated you have this glass of water here it's pure but if I were to put anything into it it would contaminate it it would be impure if it is something so purity is all about what's inside what's inside you but we all know that within me there is sin within each one of us there is sin we are all contaminated by sin and the only person that can make us pure is Jesus Christ how do you make your life pure?
[53:10] well we need to trust in Jesus to do it ultimately but we must live our lives not restricting all impurities from going into it it's as if we must restrict it as much as we can that all the things of this world all the sins of this world do not enter into your heart so easily the bad things of this world are kept at a distance and you exercise self-control to say no I won't do this no I won't watch this no I won't listen to this I won't let these sinful impurities enter into my heart a great passage to read about purity 2nd Timothy chapter 2 from verse 14 to the end but the greatest example of purity that we have is in Jesus Christ who was never tempted who did not receive sin into his heart but in every way remained pure so in conclusion we have our hands we're told to be a great example in our young lives is it easy to be a great example?
[54:51] no no will you make a mess of it sometimes? yes you will there's a passage where Paul speaks about doing things in Romans 7 that he wishes he wouldn't do he longs to do all the good things that he desires with his mind that he that sinfulness in him just keeps driving him to sin and he hates that he's doing these sinful things but he desires with all his heart to be a good example to conduct himself in such a way he trusts God in everything that he does just like David did he trusted God he was an example as a young man to everyone that watched him doesn't need to be a big battle if you're fighting but every single day in all that you do you can be a great example in your speech in your conduct in your love in your faith and in your purity put your hand in Jesus' hand and when you do that you follow him and when you follow
[56:25] Jesus you'll follow everything that is written in the Bible trust in Jesus every single day live following Jesus' example and when you do that people will see a difference in you and what they'll see is Jesus in you they'll see a bit of Jesus and I pray that you will be examples in your speech your conduct your love your faith and your purity as you follow Jesus Christ in this world you follow Jesus it says at the end of our reading in verse 16 keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching persist in this for by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers put your hand in Jesus his hand tonight follow him you will save yourself and who knows what impact your example can have when others see imagine if people saw Jesus in you and they were interested in Jesus and the difference he has made in your life they would come and also put their hand in Jesus what an example you could be what an example each of us could be follow Jesus put your hand in him
[58:29] I pray these thoughts will be blessed to us I'll conclude by singing the hymn Amazing Grace and then I'll pray Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me I once was lost but now I'm found was blind but now I see and we'll stand to sing these words to God's prayer I once was lost the missing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me I once was lost but now I'm found was blind but now I see it was grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved a precious day that grace appeared the earth
[60:23] I first believed through many danger toils and snares I have already come tis grace have brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home when we be there ten thousand years bright shining us the sun!
[61:34] we know there is to sing God's praise!
[61:46] than when we first began! our our father in heaven we pray that you would part us with your blessing we pray that you would speak into the depths of our hearts that we may follow your word and be great examples to each that is here to those that are around us in school and work.
[62:09] let us be examples to what it means to be a Christian showing what Christ has done for me and saved me. What an example it would be if we place our faith and trust in the Him every single day every single day every single day to part us with your blessing and what you would show us in the time of fellowship and the time of fellowship and the church that is here to be a Christian.
[62:23] that is here to those that are around us in school and work. let us be examples to this world of what it means to be a Christian showing what Christ has done for me and He has saved me. What an example it would be if we place our faith and trust in Him every single day.
[62:41] part us with your blessing and what you would show us in the time of fellowship and be with those who shall speak. forgive us our sins we ask in Jesus name. Amen.