Yeah. So, Good morning, everyone. Come on in. Find your seats. This morning we're going to read Psalm 51 as a call to worship. But before I read Psalm 51, I wanted to share with you one sentence that I heard as we concluded Sunday school this morning, because it makes total sense with David's prayer in Psalm 51. This was from Ryan from somebody else. And it's simply God's grace is based on his character rather than on anything outside of himself. And I wanted to share it because we see David appealing to God and God's grace. And it's not because of his merit, it's because of God and who God is. So as we start our service this morning with Psalm 51, Let's just listen carefully as we see David coming to God after Nathan, the prophet, exposed some of David's sin. And it's very interesting, as we are saved by God's grace, we still also will sin. And it was wonderful for me, as I prepared for reading it this morning, just to reflect on this psalm, this prayer of David. And so I just invite you to listen carefully as we open up our worship service this morning. So the blurb in the SV is a psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him after he had gone into Bathsheba. Verse one. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love, according to your abundant mercy. Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness. Let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from blood guilt, blood guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation. And my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice or I would give it. You will not be pleased with the burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure. Build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight in right sacrifices. In burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings, then bowls will be offered on your altar. I pray as we are about to go into song that because of the sin that God forgives us, verse 12, that we would be restored the joy of our salvation and that God would uphold a willing spirit in us. Let's pray. God, we thank you that we can come to you and ask for forgiveness of our sins, God. And it's not by our merit, it's not by what we need to do, God, to be forgiven, but it's what you have done, God, that allows us to come boldly before you. and that God, you will blot out our transgressions. God, I pray that this morning, we would take great delight in hearing from your word, in learning about who you are, in worshiping you, God, and in fellowshipping with one another. That God, you would renew within us the joy of our salvation, that as sinners, God, we come to you and are made clean. I pray, God, that that point would not be easily forgotten, that you would use it to stir within us, God, just a love for you. Amen. Good morning, everyone. Good morning to any visitors that we have with us this morning. We're going to stand right now, and we're going to sing to the Lord Jesus Christ, and we're going to sing to the Triune God, and give thanks. And we're going to sing Psalm 51 together. God be merciful to me, ♪ And I'll sing of passion now ♪ ♪ But have my dreads, wretches, now ♪ ♪ Watch me, make me worthy ♪ ♪ Then so let me come back to thee ♪ For my transgressions I confess, Regret killed my soul of rest. I have sinned against thy grace, And proposed thee to thy grace. I am flexed, I'm judged, rejust. Speechless, I, thy mercy trust. I am evil, poorly sinned. Thou teach'd my race to live in. Teach thy wisdom to my heart. Make me, Lord, thy praising soul. I. you. and eternal God to thee. Amen. May the Lord give us a heart of repentance, just like we just sang. Let's sing our next song. Brother Major's glad for me Letting me find myself in thee ♪ Let the water and the blood ♪ ♪ From thy rivers I bestow ♪ ♪ Be our synagogue, O Lord ♪ ♪ Let it crown this field and park ♪ ♪ Of the labors of thy hands ♪ ♪ Then, O Phil, my lost defense ♪ ♪ Could I still ask thy help? ♪ ♪ Could my tears forever flow? ♪ ♪ All for sin could not atone ♪ ♪ Thou dost save and Thou alone ♪ ♪ Loving in my hand I bring ♪ ♪ Simply to thy cross I cling ♪ ♪ Praying in love to thee for dress ♪ ♪ Helpless love to thee for grace ♪ ♪ Thou light to the mountain high ♪ Watch me save her or I die. While I try this bleeding breath, when my eye is closed in death, When I spoke to the world unknown, see the undigested throat. All the pictures left for me, let me find myself in thee. Please sit down. Well, this morning Marvin was slated to do announcements and the reading, but Dini was not feeling very good this morning, so we just asked that you keep them in your prayers. There's just been a lot going on in Marvin's life, and he needs strength from the Lord, he needs our prayers, and so I think Dini is doing okay now this morning, but Just, when you think of them, ask for God's grace to be evident in their life and help Marvin to be strong. Because it's not easy. I do have some announcements this morning. We are going to do the Lord's Table at the end of our service this morning, so if you are a visitor with us, we just ask that unless you have talked with the elders previously, that you'd refrain from the table this morning. We just like to do a bit of an interview and just make sure that everyone who participates in the table here on any day is truly part of the blood-bought covenant of Christ. And so we do fence the table here, but we do it with discretion. And so we don't want to bar believers from the table by any means, but we do want to make sure. So that's for any visitors. We are planning and hoping that sometime in the not too distant future to have a hymn sing here. one evening. So that's just something to keep in the back of your mind and more details will come out on that. Also, I just kind of want to keep updating you to refer to the website for just general questions about church events. I uploaded this week, I uploaded Grace Group material on there, so as we move through working through the church manual, the study lessons are on the website, the church manual is on the website under Grace Groups. I've also added a section for Grace Community Church and COVID, just some articles, letters that Ryan has, that us as elders have put out. So they're there to view and we're always just trying to add things. Sunday school verses are also there now too and hope to be updated weekly. So the memory verses are there for parents. And the ladies study, all of that material is there too and also being updated and changes will continue to happen. But make that your primary source if you have questions. And if you notice something that is off, let me know. Or if you think, I have an idea, something that might be very helpful to have on the website, let me know. We want to make it as user-friendly and as accessible as possible. Keep me in your prayers this week. I'll be preaching next Sunday, and I'm looking forward to it very much, and hopefully it gives Ryan a little bit of, not time off, but a little more relaxing week. And yeah, I think that's all I have for announcements. At this time, we are going to call up Warren and Amanda and Mariah, and we are going to bring them into membership this morning. So for guests who may be wondering what's going on right now, at Grace Community we have a high view of church membership. And so we would link actually baptism, Lord's Table, and church membership sort of into this strand that cannot be easily broken. And so this is going to seem very legalistic, what is happening. I pray that if you feel that way you would come talk with one of the elders or even some of the other members. we're not trying to lord it over anyone's faith, but we do sense and believe that from the New Testament that there was a known entity called the church. And what we're doing here through baptism or membership of our brothers and sisters saying we as a church and the leadership of this church are recognizing and publicly declaring that these are brothers and sisters and they're part of this family I want to encourage, perhaps some who have been attending for some while, to perfectly consider membership. It's a church covenant. It's a family. And, you know, there's a great need of help in our church right now. And we would encourage those who are attending regularly but have not maybe taken that step of commitment to come and talk to us. Maybe you have questions. Maybe you don't think church membership is biblical. We would love to show you our understanding of it. Just like we saw on Sunday School this morning, Trinity, it's not in the Bible, but it's everywhere seen. I believe in the New Testament, though you can find the word members actually quite often. But you might not find church membership. we would love to talk to you about that. And that there would be this commitment, not just to Christ, but to a local congregation to be able to help us out. So we have up on the overhead a church covenant. You can read it off the website if they can't get it up. I'm not going to spend time reading it now. But what we do is we have members, or prospective members, read it and sign it. We've sent the testimonies out of Warren and Amanda, and I would encourage you, talk to them. Encourage them. Ask them, say, welcome. Welcome to the family. As well as Mariah, who we baptized last Lord's Day. And of course, Renee is not here. They're on vacation, so pray for the Copperts. But I'm going to have them sign two copies, one for themselves and one for us. But this is something like wedding vows. And as shepherds of the congregation, by God's grace, we can say, you committed to these things publicly. Things like praying for the church, encouraging your brothers. There's nothing unbiblical in this covenant. All of these agreements could be found within the New Testament. Like you could say this, we will work together for the continuance of a faithful evangelical ministry in this church. And so what we want to do in membership is to encourage not just a Sunday-only attendance, and I'm not implying that if you're not a member that you're not ministering, but this way there can be more of an official, as it were, working together under the leadership. of this church, and so I'm gonna ask our brother and sisters to sign this, and then Charles and myself will pray over them, and if you have questions about membership or are interested, talk to myself or Pastor Charles. Nathan and Marvin are not here, but talk to them, and come talk to us. It's not as a frightening thing as you might think. I promise you it's not. So if you could sign it, Christie's, Warren, and Amanda, Sign it, date it, and then maybe sign two copies in. You can have one so that it's official. Just for the family? Or just mine? Just your name, yeah. And then Amanda will sign hers as well. You could be a doctor. Right. Oh, that's fun. Perfect. Come on up. You can take one of those. All right. Come on, Amanda. We'll get you to sign one. Actually two, and you can keep one. Sure. She's all about dating you. Yeah. Takes care of my paperwork. Last but not least, come on, Mariah, you can sign as well. The reason we do this publicly is they have now taken this oath in front of the congregation, and so you see one of them living in sin, you can say, wait a minute, you covenanted with us that you would allow us to speak into your life and to encourage you. And whilst Mariah's signing, remember that the children are a part, not members, but We want to love on Elliot, and we want to love on families as well. So this is a glorious moment. Well, come over here, Mariah. I'm going to pray over you guys that you'd be a blessing that God would use your gifts in this congregation for the extension of Christ's gospel. Would you join me in prayer? Father, we want to thank you for your goodness, Lord, in saving a people and your son into his body. But Father, we see even in 1 Corinthians that to be saved into the body of Christ also means to be saved into a local church. And so Father, I thank you for our brother and sisters, Lord, who have been called to you irresistibly by your grace. They put their faith in Christ and have been baptized in obedience, that they've publicly identified with Christ in their baptism, and now they want to publicly identify with Christ's body through church membership. And I ask, Lord, for Warren, for Amanda, that you would bless them here. And I thank the Lord for bringing them here, all the way from Clare's home. We as a church, Lord, with the multifaceted giftings and body parts and blessings, be able to just be used integrally in their own sanctification. And Lord, may Elliot find a family here that loves him, and friends here who love him and pray for him and encourage him, May he find godly men who will mentor him. So Father, we just pray that the giftings that you've endowed naturally and supernaturally upon the Christi's, Lord, would be used here for your kingdom and for your glory and for the extension, Lord, of your reign. And so, Lord, we pray a blessing on the Christi's. And Father, we're thankful for Moriah. Thank you, Lord, believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, not only in her heart, but proclaimed it with her lips and demonstrated it in the ordinance of baptism. And I pray, Lord, even as we celebrate the table, Lord, that it would taste sweet as members of this body. And Lord, even for a teenager, may Mariah know she has been granted giftings, Lord, for the common good, that as each part works together, And so even, Lord, help Mariah to identify her gifts and to use them, whether in youth group or, Lord, in grace group. Lord, we are so thankful that usefulness in the church isn't dependent on age. It's dependent upon your grace and one's willingness to serve sacrificially the body of Christ. So, Lord, thank you and pray that many more, Lord, would think about church membership. and would even seek to become members here, and to serve here, Lord. We're so needy, and we need all the members working. So, Father, just work. I pray that it wouldn't be seen as some kind of legalistic, man-made tradition, but a blessing, a conduit through which, Lord, you work in this church. Continue with us the remainder of the service, Father. Oh, how we thank you for moments like this. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. Welcome to Grace Community. I'll put them out to the server. I remember when Caitlin and I came into membership many years ago, and it's a fearful thing in some ways, and it's a joyful thing in some ways, and to stand up here, it is a vulnerable thing. But that is very often the essence of being in a family. There's a vulnerability when you are in a family, and this is the family of Grace Community Church. And I felt very much that I had now put myself into a position where I knew that if I was out of line, well, I fully expected someone to lovingly confront me on it. And that was actually quite a comfort, because I know the sinner that I am. And it was a comfort, and I believe that it is a grace of God that keeps us in line to some extent. But also to know that there's a family there who will be there for me and my family in our deepest needs. And we want to be that here at Grace Community. Well, let's continue on in our service this morning with our consecutive reading. We're going to read Matthew chapter 10, 1 to 23. We're going to break things up into little smaller, more manageable bite sizes. And Jesus called to him the twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these. First, Simon. who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, Philip, and Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew, the tax collector, James, the son of Elpheus, and Thaddeus, Simon, the zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who would betray him. These 12 Jesus sent out, instructing them, go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. you received without pain. Give without pain. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it. and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet. And when you leave that house or town, truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town." Why is that? Well, the disciples were commanded to go to the house of the lost sheep of Israel. They were commanded to go to the ones who should have known and understood and recognized the coming of the Messiah. They had the enlightenment of the writings of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms. They should have known. And yet, the Lord says that for those Jewish towns who would reject His disciples, who would reject the Messiah, that it would be more, it would be worse for them than the land of Sodom and Gomorrah, and we know what the land of Sodom and Gomorrah was all about. The point is, the more light, the more understanding that God graciously gives to people, there is more responsibility in turning and coming to Christ. And as I thought of this, There's many applications for this little piece here, but I thought particularly of our young people this morning, and the grace that we saw last week in baptisms. But I was reminded of also the three years that I chaplained at a high school. And I thought in those three years I saw young, seemingly innocent, Teenagers, adolescents come into the high school. They were so nice. And it was amazing how cold their hearts revealed themselves to be in just three years. And these were kids from Christian homes. They heard the gospel every Sunday. And yet, they rejected it. And there's a warning from our Lord here for everyone who has had light, and I think this morning I would like to pose that to the young people of this church. Where are you going as far as Christ is concerned? Are you drawing near to Him? What are you doing with the gospel messages that you hear Sunday after Sunday? What are you doing with the devotions that your parents read to you after supper. What are you doing with the Sunday school lessons that you have heard? Young people, ask the Lord that he would grant you a heart of repentance like David in Psalm 51. You need the Spirit of God as much as anyone else in this room does. And so young people, It's a blessing from the Lord that you've been born into Christian families, but that won't do you any good. You need the Spirit. You need to be born again. Otherwise, there may become a day when it's worse for you in the land of Sodom and Gomorrah. We continue in verse 16. Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, So be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues. And you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake to bear witness before them and Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not to you who speak, but the spirit of your father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death. and father his child and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death and you will be hated by all for my name's sake." Isn't that exactly what's been happening? We're hated not just because we told people that there can be forgiveness found in Christ. We are hated for the namesake of Jesus, because we represent everything that Jesus has taught, everything that Jesus has lived. And so, for followers of Christ, we imbibe a worldview that is driving in the wrong lane as we go through this life. And the banner over our vehicle in the wrong lane is the Lord Jesus Christ. And that's why we will be hated for his namesake. But to the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in the town, flee to the next. For truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. Lord, would you bless the reading of your word this morning. Let's go to prayer. Lord Jesus, we come to you this morning and we thank you that by your spirit you have made us born again. Father, you sent your only son into the world and it is the greatest gift. On this Thanksgiving weekend, we have so much to be thankful for. We still live in a land of tremendous blessing and wealth and goodness, and it is all of your grace, Father, and so we give you thanks. But Lord, may the things of this life, the blessings that you can give and take away in a heartbeat, may they never outshine the blessing of your son. May they never outshine the reality of the forgiveness that we've received through the blood of Christ. And what a wonderful thing it is. Father, we are so thankful for your son. We thank You, Jesus, and we thank You, Holy Spirit, for opening our hearts and giving us new life to see Him for the glory that He is. Father, this morning, we with David, we confess our sin. It's been a sinful week, and we thank You that Christ's sacrifice has eaten it all up, that there is now no condemnation for us, because we are in Christ. Father, we thank you that you have brought us together this morning. We thank you that we have gathered Sunday after Sunday after Sunday for coming on over a year and a half now, Lord, and you have kept us safe. You have protected us. You have allowed us to come and go, and Father, we haven't even known a major outbreak or transmission of COVID in our church, you have been so good to us, Father. May we ask with humble hearts that this favor continues here. Father, we thank you for our opportunity to give monies to this church and that they are used in a variety of things. We We thank you for the generous gifts that people give Sunday after Sunday, and we ask a blessing on the tithes and offerings that come in, whether through the offering box or through digital ways, Lord. We want to recognize that people give Sunday after Sunday, and we want to thank you and ask your blessing on them. Lord, that those monies are used for the building up of this church and even for missions locally and in different parts of the world. We pray for the mission committee as they manage and make decisions on who and how we support different missionaries. And Lord, I pray for the group of ladies and men who who had that up that you would give them wisdom and that grace community could be a blessing to other faithful brothers and sisters around the world trying to share the gospel. We again this morning we pray for the Lethbridge Pregnancy Care Centre and we ask Lord that you would use it, you would continue to use it and that women would come there and that they would hear the words of life, that they would know the love and care that Jesus can give and that they would have opportunity to have their burdens laid at the foot of the cross. Lord, we pray that not only would you save the lives of infants there, but it would be a means of repairing broken relationships and families. Father, we pray for Marvin and Dini this morning. how we love them, and it burdens us and hurts our hearts to know that things are difficult for them right now, but we ask that by your grace that you would give them strength, and you would raise them up as it were on the wings of eagles, that they would look to Christ, as Marvin always tells us, to just look to Christ, and would he know his own advice this morning, and find peace in it. Father, we pray for our leaders and we ask that your hand of mercy would be on Canada. Father, things are rapidly taking place in our country that could strike so much fear into us if we did not know who you are and that you were in control of all things. But Lord, we pray that as the King's heart are waters to you, that you can direct wherever you please, that you would direct our leaders in a righteous way. God, we pray for their conversions. We pray that our leaders would become born again, many of them, Lord, and that they would see your word as the ultimate guiding principle for a good society. Father, have mercy on our country. Father, we thank you for what we just witnessed this morning. brothers and sisters committing to this local church, and we pray that it would happen more. We pray, Lord, that the many areas of service would be filled by existing members and new members, that you would grow our church. Lord, we pray that you would provide and raise up by your hand men chosen by your hand for the office of deacon and the office of elder. Father, this is something that You must do. You must go before us in this area, hand-select the right men for this task. And so we ask that You would do it, Lord. And finally, Lord, we pray for the preaching of the Word. It has so much power. We do not recognize the power that it has Sunday after Sunday, but it is in the time that Your Word is brought to us, that it is exposed before us. through Ryan's preparation and study, that Father, that it would have great power and that the gospel would do deep work in our hearts. And so Father, work through Ryan. Send your spirit on him powerfully this morning. And as we receive the table later, would your presence be known among us in our hearts and in our minds as we celebrate what Christ has done. We pray all these things in your precious name. Lord Jesus, our King and our Savior. Amen. Well, let's stand and we will sing two more songs. We're going to sing Have Thine Own Way, Lord. And boy, do we need to take these lyrics in. I thought of James 4, 3, 13, and 15 as I read these lyrics. Come now you who say today or tomorrow we will go and do such and such to such and such a city and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit. Yet you do not know what your life will look like tomorrow. That's a fact. And so we need to say together, have thy own way, Lord, in every one of our plans. Have I no way, Lord? Have I no way? Thou art the water, Thine the clay. ♪ O ye that make me ever thy will ♪ ♪ While I am weeping, hear the answer ♪ ♪ Have I no way, O Lord, have I no way? ♪ as in thy presence how may I now Ruminant weary, healthy I pray. Power of power, surely is Thine. Touch me and heal me, Savior divine. For my need has been satisfied. Filled with Thy Spirit, it all shall be Christ only, always. Amen. Amen. ♪ That we come to you to receive the fruit of your holy word. ♪ ♪ Take your truth and live deep in us, shape and fashion us in your life. ♪ ♪ And the light of Christ might be seen today ♪ ♪ In our acts of love therefore ease our pain ♪ ♪ Sing O Lord and fulfill in us ♪ ♪ All your purposes for your glory ♪ ♪ Of obedience, holy reverence, humility ♪ ♪ Test our thoughts and our attitudes ♪ ♪ With the radiance of your mercy ♪ ♪ Cause our faith to rise ♪ ♪ Cause our eyes to see ♪ ♪ Your majestic love and authority ♪ ♪ Words of power that can never fail ♪ ♪ Let their truth prevail over us ♪ ♪ Speak, O Lord, and renew our hearts ♪ ♪ Help us grasp the heights of your plans for us ♪ ♪ Truths have changed from the dawn of time ♪ and we'll let go now to eternity. And while we still stand on the promises, and while faith will walk as one with us, O Lord, till your church is built, and the earth is filled with your glory. Good morning, if you're able. Open up your Bibles to 1 Peter, chapter four. We will be picking up the pace. God willing, we'll be finishing Peter by the end of November as we get closer and closer to Advent season. Once you've found it, please stand. As we give reverence, not only to the Word of God, but to the God of the Word. 1 Peter chapter 4, and I'll be reading the first six verses for our text this morning. 1 Peter chapter 4, beginning in verse 1. Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking. For whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh, no longer for human passions, but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensualities, passions, drunkennesses, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatries. With respect to this, They are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you. But they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached, even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the Spirit the way God does. Thanks be to God for his word. Please remain standing as we pray. Father, I ask that this morning your spirit would be moving, not only in the midst and hearts of the unbelievers, but also, Lord, in those who have come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, to those who have been sprinkled by his blood for obedience. Lord, would you help us to see Christ as high and lifted up. Father, that we would see him in all of his majesty and all of his glory. And that we would resolve to live lives of holiness and obedience and righteousness, even if that intensifies and increases reviling, being maligned, persecuted. Father, would you help us to have this eschatological perspective that there is a judgment coming. And if we call upon you, Father, who judges each one according to his deeds, Lord, that we would therefore live our short time as exiles in the fear of you. Would you help us not to lose sight not only of the sufferings of the Messiah, but also the subsequent glories. Would you help us, Lord, to go out preaching the gospel, even if that means persecution like we saw in Matthew 10? God, would you give us this wisdom to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves, but always obedient, following in the steps of Christ? And as we just sang, Would you fill with your spirit till all will see Christ always only living in me? Father, would you show us what that looks like? And would you expose so much of the errors of 21st century evangelicalism that says to follow Christ is one of ease and comfort. Would you show us from your word? Would you reconfigure our mind? Would you give us the mind of Christ? To see that triumph is often through suffering, not apart from it. So, Father, do your work this morning by your Spirit, pointing all to Christ. Oh, Father, how my heart needs this. I confess with David my sins, especially the one of a love for comfort and acceptance in a wayward world that rejects my Savior. Oh, Father, forgive me of that. Help us, Lord, to be a light, a city on a hill, salt in a corrupted, condemned world. Speak to us, O God. We sang it and we beg, O Lord, this morning you would speak to us and build your church, not apart from us, but even through our obedience to the head of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ. In whose name we pray, Father. Amen. Please be seated. Well, this morning I have three points for us and a sermon entitled Living Out Christ's Victory. And we have to always be renewing our minds. That's Paul's exhortation to the Romans. In light of the mercies of Christ, We need to offer our bodies, plural, as a church, as an individual sacrifice. And Paul expounds what it looks like to live now in light of Christ's sacrifice. Well, Peter's saying the same thing, but he's saying, how are we to now live in light of Christ's sufferings, resurrection, and exaltation? And it might not be the way we have heard it so often. When you think of the victorious Christian life, I would ask, what comes to mind? Is it the words of First Peter? Suffering for your obedience. Patiently enduring, reviling. Obediently following Christ, even if it means being the off-scouring of the world. We don't like this, and if you're anything like me, you struggle with it. It's hard to swim upstream, as Nathan's dad often reminded me, as your dad reminded me, Anthony. Dead fish flow with the current. Living fish have to struggle to fight upstream. Fourth, Charles' brilliant illustration out of Matthew 10. It's not easy to drive opposite of the way the world is driving. in the words of Peter we'll see this morning, they're running together into a flood of debauchery that will be judged headlong like blind foolish lemmings off a cliff. And Peter says, remember the gospel of Christ's suffering, but remember the gospel of Christ's subsequent glories and follow in his steps as hard as it is. follow in his steps, and his steps are counter-cultural. None of us likes to be rejected. We all want to fit in. But, says Peter, if we seek to avoid suffering, we will inevitably choose sin. And if we choose sin, we will no longer be that light on a hill. It's the way of wisdom. Studying Proverbs this week. Proverbs is very simple. You have one of two choices. Worldly fall, he says, follow me. She cries. Here is the way of blessing. Fit in with the world, no persecution, follow me. Lady Wisdom, the way of Christ, says follow me. It is a hard way, fraught with difficulties. It's the way of weakness and rejection, but its end is the way to life. and ultimately acceptance by God. And so Peter, I think, is pulling a little bit of Old Testament wisdom out of his pocket and presenting it to the Christian church. Which way will you choose? So my three points from this text all begin with A. If we are to live the victorious life of suffering and rejection, Three things we must remember. One, there is an attitude we must adopt. Second, there is an abuse we must expect. And thirdly, we need to be reminded there is an account that will be settled. See, the Christian life is all about mind. Often, whether it's Romans 12 or Ephesians 4 or Colossians 3 or 1 Peter 4, We need to cultivate a mindset. And so can I encourage you afresh, get your nose into the word of God this week. For every 10 looks at what's going on in culture, look to Christ in all of his fullness. So let's look at it then. Firstly, the victorious Christian life, not apart from suffering, but through suffering into glory, begins with an attitude to be adopted, or if you like, an attitude we must arm ourselves with. Where do you get that from? Well, if you read the NIV, or the NLT, or the New American Bible, or there's another one, I forget, four of the translations say arm yourselves with the same attitude Christ had. The ESV translates it, same way of thinking, the LSB says the same purpose, My translation of choice is the Christian standard, with the same resolve. But to fit my alliterative sermon, we have to arm ourselves with an attitude. Therefore, and whenever you see a therefore, you have to ask, what is the therefore? Therefore. And you see, chapter three, ending with Christ's victory, not apart from suffering, but through suffering. That Christ is the exalted one, and everything is now under his reign. And that the Christ who sent his face like a flint to Jerusalem, what awaited Christ in Jerusalem? Suffering. Hebrews 5 says that he endured at the hands of sinners this reviling and suffering. But it was through suffering by which his ministry would be perfected. That's interesting. The perfect, sinless Christ could only perfect or culminate or conclude his ministry through suffering. And if we follow in his steps, Peter says, arm your minds with the same way, the same attitude, the same resolve. See, the Christian church in North America preaches against this. Do everything you can to avoid discomfort, which is why we have so many worldly churches. What are we gonna do? When the world pressures us into their mold, are we going to stand and say, a man is a man and a woman is a woman and marriage is for one man and one woman for life? Will we arm ourselves with the same way of thinking that to stand for righteousness and to stand on Christ's word brings suffering? but that God will use that obedience and that holiness and separateness to bring about his will. See, that's what Peter's saying. He's writing to a church that is the off-scouring of society. Do realize that it's not just in 21st century Canada, but all throughout church history, and even into the Old Testament, God's people were always mocked at and jeered as being those fuddy-duddies, those killjoys, those weird strange ones. We are strangers. I thought of Genesis chapter 18 and 19. Charles again alluded to them in Matthew 10 of Sodom and Gomorrah where Lot himself set his eyes and then turned his feet and then pitched his tent. See, Lot is often like a lot of us as Christians. We want to fit in with the world. To get that job, we might have to make a bit of a compromise. to fit in with our friends, we might have to kind of lower our standards. And eventually Lot was brought to a place of shame where eventually he had to lay down his cards. And you know what happened? He was rejected. See, the Christian life is a life of rejection from the world. Please, please, please understand that. To choose Christ is to not choose popularity. So not to allow, you can't be cool in the world's eyes and a follower of Christ. They're incompatible. You need to arm yourselves with this. That's what Peter's gonna say in two weeks from now. This isn't, don't think of it strange. That strangers are thought of as strange. Look at Christ. Or as I was driving here this morning, I thought of Moses in Hebrews 11. What happened when he finally laid down his cards? He was hated. by the world. Yet he had the mindset that it is more precious and treasurely to suffer for Christ than to have acceptance and quote unquote comfort in the world. See that's the mindset we need to cultivate once and for all as Christians. If you're going to live well, you must understand that suffering for the cross is a part of your discipleship. It's the entrance in. I was talking with a couple yesterday in my office and how they're discouraged from churches that make it so easy to be a follower. And of course it is! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, but count the cost. You know what Jesus said? Take up your cross and follow me. That's the mindset. That is the attitude. Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh. What does that mean? Well, you could say, yes, he suffered in his body, but we saw from the previous section that there's two realms. There's the fleshly realm, in the flesh, and the spirit realm. And so the NIV rightly translates this, that Christ suffered in the flesh, in this life, in this earthly existence. Do understand, you have to have this mindset that in this earthly existence, as we live, in our bodies, on this earth, as a Christian, you will suffer for the sake of the cross. But it is not enduring. It is for a breath. It is a short vapor of a time. Understand and set your hope fully on the grace that will be revealed to you when Christ returns for ages of ages. You will celebrate Christ, but in this life, and I wish it wasn't so, just as much as you wish it wasn't so. I don't like suffering, please don't hear that from me. But I need to count the cost and I need to arm myselves. Myselves? With this way of thinking. That's how Christ armed himself. He came into the world knowing, right? Listening to little Shiloh recite Isaiah 53. He was a man of great joy and gladness and accepted by everyone. No, Isaiah 53, he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we turned our face away from him and rejected him. The son knew that. He knew that. And he said, Father, here I am. I will do thy will. Hebrews 10, quoting Psalm 45. Here I am to do thy will. Your will for me involves suffering, and Peter says, if we follow in his steps, God's will for us will mean suffering. Not foolish suffering, we saw that in chapter two. Suffering for righteousness sake. Suffering as a follower of Christ. Suffering for the will of God. I don't like this, but this is why I believe in reform theology. that the Spirit is able to overcome Orion's propensities towards easiness and comfort. The Spirit can give us this resolve. Ask, oh ask. Lord, I don't want the way of the cross. Would you make me willing in the day of thy power? Would you give me the mind of Christ? Would you give me the mind of Peter? Would you give me the mind of an obedient servant? So Christ suffered in this earthly realm. The command is, arm yourselves. And it's in the present tense. It's not a once for all. Keep arming yourself. And the illustration I heard from a sermon by Alistair Begg, I unashamedly borrow, because it's brilliant. It's like what you do if you have an alarm system in your house. What good is it to have an alarm system if it's not armed? Right? That's what you do. You arm it before you leave. Otherwise your house is vulnerable. So we have all of these Christian truths and promises and a mindset to be cultivated. And so Peter says, as you go out into the world, arm your mind with the word of God. Arm your mind with who Christ is and his sufferings in the earthly realm. If you do not arm your mind, you will think it's strange when the world laughs at you. So arm your mind with the same way of thinking. And I want you to quickly turn to John 15. It's the text that kept coming to my mind. And here's Jesus' words. He's preparing his disciples before his departure. He himself has set his face like a flint. Christ's mind is armed this way, and he's trying now to equip his disciples to have the same thinking, the same thoughts, the same mindset, the same resolve, the same purpose. the same attitude, look at it. John chapter 15, I'm only gonna read a couple verses, but look in verse 18. See, Christians live in such a way that we want the world to like us. Effective evangelism is to fit in with the world. Have a worship service that never mentions that people are sinners. Have a worship service that never exalts the name of Christ, but exalts the dead in sin transgressor, oh no. Jesus says, if the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you. Don't be surprised. When God incarnated, the world killed him. As God the Spirit dwells in us and moves us, how do you think they're going to react? If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. but because you are not of the world, but because I chose you out of the world, out of darkness, therefore the world hates you. Remember, arm your minds the word that I said to you, a servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, perhaps they might persecute you. No, no, no, Ryan, that's a future tense in the Greek. You need to read your Bible a little more literally. If they persecuted me, they will also, chi, also, also, same as in 1 Peter 4, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who has sent me. So Jesus, preparing his own mind and heart to go to the cross, is arming his disciples with the same attitude that he has. Peter's one of those listening. Peter himself needed to understand, this is the way of the kingdom. Last night I was thinking of Mark 8, Mark 9, Mark 10, three times, Jesus tells them, In a couple days from now, the Son of Man goes to Jerusalem, and He will be lauded and received and accepted. No, no, no, no. He will be rejected and handed over to the Gentiles, and He will be mocked and beaten and scourged and killed. But on the third day, He will rise again. See, we have to remember the totality of it. Jesus is arming their minds. And do you remember in Mark 8, Peter's response, also in Matthew 16. No way, Jesus. No way. And Jesus turns, and seeing the disciples, looks at Peter and rebukes him. He says, you're not thinking kata theon, and I promise I'm showing off for a purpose. You are thinking kata anthropon. You are not thinking according to God, you are thinking according to men. Exactly what Peter says in 1 Peter 4, 6. See, Peter needed to be taught what it means to be a follower of Christ. And I think so often we, in our comfortable evangelicalism, have forgotten the way of the cross, that it's not easy. Few find it. Broad is the way that many find, but it leads where? To destruction. It's not the way of the cross. It's the way of ease and comfort. And I can see on some of your faces probably how some of Jesus' disciples were like, no one wants to suffer. In this world you will have tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world. Let not your hearts be troubled. So I want to encourage you, therefore, to arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, the same thoughts, the same attitude, the same resolve. I like that. You need to have a resolve to obey God no matter what. And how thankful to God I am for men in churches that will do that. What an example they have been to me. They count not their lives as worthy so that they might obey Christ. Oh, for a church full of such thinkers and doers. Keep honoring yourselves. So men, when you go to work tomorrow, students, when you go to school tomorrow, parents, when you train your children up, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking. I know how it was. You think I just sit in my flowery office away from the world. I actually had a time in my life when I was not converted. And then when I had to work another job, I knew the pull of when men were using very blasphemous talk to not say anything. Or when they want to go to the pub after a hard week and throw down a couple of cold ones. I remember The rejection of my friends when I decided to follow Christ. I remember the scoffing of my family after I dropped out of dentistry. I remember that. And it still stings. But it's worth it to follow Christ. So arm yourselves. Let the world despise, forsake me. They have left my savior too. For whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. What? Peter, what do you mean by this? I love Peter, but there is so many things that I'm struggling with. You have no idea how many different interpretations there are of this. So let me explain to you what I think Peter's saying here. In the context of one through six, he's saying there's two ways of living. You can compromise and take the way of the world, Or you can arm yourselves with the same resolve and follow Christ. And if you choose to follow Christ, you have, as it were, severed the nerve center of sin. Cause he's going to say, right? So as to live the rest of this life, not for sin, but for Christ. And so understand that you have to actually, to have this attitude, this disposition of obedience. And if you are resolved to obey Christ, no matter the cost, you are showing the truthfulness of Roman sex. That you've died to sin. You're alive to righteousness. And by the power of the Spirit, you will follow Jesus even unto death. but you have to make that resolve in your mind. I have decided to follow Jesus, not just after I get dunked, but tomorrow when I go into a counter-cultural world that hates everything I love and loves everything I hate. I think that's what he's saying. Yes, suffering can have a sanctifying effect, but I think Peter's saying, whoever has made this resolve to suffer for Christ has cut at the nerve center of a love of ease, the nerve center of following the world, the nerve center of sin. Well, what is the result? Right, we have this attitude, this way of thinking, this purpose, Here's the result of it, psoas. I love that. The very thing that's gonna cause suffering or rejection or maligning is the very thing that you choose. What is causing the maligning? Living righteously. So the first point, adopt an attitude of obedience. If you do so, you will live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions, human lusts, but rather for the will of God. Now, I disagree with Schreiner. He says, don't make a big spiel about the plural and the singular. We're to have a singular mind. The eyes of the ungodly, the eye of the unbeliever, are on the ends of the earth. They're constantly pulled in so many directions, all kinds of different passions. The one who is resolved in his heart to follow Christ has a singular purpose, a singular attitude, and it is to live for the will of God. Now, if you were to study 1 Peter, you would notice that the will of God is often associated with suffering. Chapter 2 and chapter 3, we saw that three times. I will do the will of God, even if it means suffering. If that's God's will, I will do what He wants. I will do the good, I will do the righteousness. I will live the rest of my time not frittering it away, trying to fit in. I will live the rest of my life for the glory of God. Blessed are you when you suffer for righteousness' sake. For this is the kingdom of God. Well, let's move on to the second point. I think I've exhausted what I wanted to say for the attitude to be adopted for culture. The second thing we need to realize is there is an abuse to be expected. If you arm yourself with this way of thinking, if you live the remaining days and years of your life for the will of God, do know it's going to bring attention to yourself. For the time that has passed, suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do." Now it's interesting, every commentator I read said that Peter, writing to the church, who is made up of Jew and Gentile, says to Gentiles in this component of believers, don't live, as Gentiles, don't live like Gentiles. What is he saying here? You're no longer Gentiles if you're in Christ. You belong now to the covenant family. That's your old pagan distinction or definition. That's who you were. You were a Gentile, but not now. So, as a non-Jew, ethnically, live as a covenant member in the midst of the pagans, the NLT translates it. But when you live differently, when you swim upstream, when you drive against the flow, with that banner that says, Jesus is Lord, understand that it's not going to encourage the unbelievers to think of you well. The time that has passed suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do. I think Peter might be drawing again from Romans 6. where Paul is encouraging these baptized believers who are living by the newness of the Spirit to not live in sin any longer, but to live for righteousness. He says, those things you used to do, you're shamed of them. And that's what Peter's saying. Why would you want to do the very things you're shamed of? Can I answer you what I do it? Because I don't like suffering. Because I love the approval of men. And so Peter is not just preaching to you, he's preaching to your pastors. Especially this one. Ryan, you've lived long enough. Those first 21 years of debauchery, that's enough for you. I've not foreloved you and foreknown you so that you can go on living in sin. God forbid. I sprinkled you with the blood of my Son for obedience. Covenant obedience. and to be sanctified, to be different by the Spirit. You don't need to live in sin anymore, Ryan. You've done enough of that already. I've called you in holiness and unto holiness. And if you're a Christian, and you're thinking about sinning to fit in, God says, you've done enough of that now. Use the rest of your time to live for the will of God. This is what the Gentiles Do, or literally in the Greek, they work. Sin is work. Now you can say it's natural. But the verb that Peter uses in verse two is rest. When it says you've ceased from sin, it's that word pau. It's to rest. You can rest in your obedience to Christ, but the Gentiles, the pagans who don't know God, is toiling. It's like the churning of waters that Isaiah talks about. They do, but literally they work these things, which they will be judged for. You don't need to work for sin. You can rest in Christ, even in suffering, I think Peter's saying. Now, I don't want to get into all of these things, but as one commentator, Job, says, that basically all of these vices that Peter lists come down to a lack of self-control, a lack of self-restraint, or a desire of self-indulgence. You want to follow Christ, you must deny yourself. He's saying that Christians can struggle with these things. So here is this wayward world working in sin. And most of it has to do with just a lack of self-control. Which is why you must arm your minds. It all starts with the mind. It all starts with what you think about, how you think about things. Which is why you must preach yourself the gospel every day. They're all in the plural. You might have picked that up when I was reading that. Different kinds of sensualities. Most likely referring to sexual debauchery. I watched a couple of college football highlights yesterday and was just marveling at like 90,000 people crammed into a stadium, thinking about how we can have 20 people outside. But anyways, I saw all these young people and I thought, what would it be like? Is there, I don't live in the States, I don't know what the college football thing is, but is there a lot of sensualities there? I don't know, but I thought of it when I thought of this text. All kinds of sensualities and carousings. It was like that when I went to university. Passions or I would translate that lusts different kinds of drunkenness is at home with friends partying it up Orgies drinking parties and lawless idolatries In which or as the ESV says with respect to this They're surprised. I don't like that translation You know what the translation literally says they think it is Strange. You're a stranger. The way you live, in obedience to God, doing His will, is strange. They think it's strange. The world should look at us and not say, that's cool. They should look at us and say, that is radically strange, weird. You don't party Saturday night because you have to go to church on Sunday. No, I get to go to church on Sunday and I wanna have a sober mind. Those are the things I'm ashamed of. I have a new heart. The world should be radically, you use your money for missions? What's the matter with you? While I'm laying up treasures in heaven. Where's that? That's where my savior is. And he's coming down, and he's gonna break through, and he's gonna judge the living and the dead. So this is the abuse. See, you think, are they beating people? No, I agree with Schreiner that Peter's writing before the Nero persecution of 8064. But you don't have to be crucified to be persecuted. It's that, pfft. It's to be canceled. It's to lose tenure. It's to maybe lose your job. It's maybe to be ostracized from your family at dinners. Might be the topic of gossip when you're not there. That's just as much true. And I don't like it. That's why I need to arm myself with the same mind that Christ had. The smile of his father far surpassed the jeerings and frowns of men. Remember that. Think what love God has shown to you in Christ. And expect that as you follow in the footsteps of Christ who was rejected, you will be too. It's interesting. It says here, they are not surprised, or they are surprised, or they think it's strange when you do not join them. The Greek word means to run together with. I like that better. Right, that's sort of Charles' illustration, right? Drive together with them, right? They're all running this way. and you're running against the flow. You're not joining them. And where are they running? Literally, they're running together into a flood. Anyone think about a flood maybe in the near context of what Peter was talking about? The flood that God sent upon a wicked, God-rejecting world. They're running into it. Come out, come out, says John in Revelation 18. Come out, says Paul in 2 Corinthians 6. Come out. Do not dwell with them. They're running into judgment. Run against them. Fight. Have the same mind to run against the flow. This is easy. But take the path less traveled, take the narrow way that is confining, for it leads to life, whereas the broad way that is easy leads to judgment. They malign you, literally just as maligning. The Greek word is blasphemeo. They reviled and blasphemed Christ. You follow in his steps, they will revile you and blaspheme your Savior too. Finally though, you need to remember there's an account that will be settled. This is that eschatological, that end time perspective. You're judged now by godless men. Remember one day you will stand before the almighty Christ and he will declare to you not guilty. And you will see his nail prints and you will remember he died for your sins. That's the only judgment you need to think about. If I think about the judgment of the world on me, I will be tempted to follow in their steps. But if I remember that there's no condemnation now, and Christ will make that public, there will be a public vindication not only of the Lord Jesus Christ, but also of all of his people. Isn't that crazy? Christ is going to placard you who placarded him. Placard just means to have a sign. And He will say to all of those, these are my saints, you rejected them, I received them. You despised them, I honor them. You judged them, I vindicate them. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity. For those who are willing to follow in Christ's steps, they will give an account, but in a good sense. What is the account to be settled? Well, it's verses five and six. There's no but in the Greek. It just says who will give an account, will give a word, a logos. And that's intentional, because as you preach the logos, they will judge you. Those who judge you for preaching the logos will give a logos to God. I know that sounds really confusing, but that's what Peter's trying to say. Don't stop preaching the logos. because God's gonna require one of the world. They will give a logos. They will give an account to him who has readiness. That's the intensity. Christ is ready to judge. So don't compromise. Don't close your mouth. Preach to them Christ. Preach to them the only hope they have to pass through judgment, which was pictured in baptism. A flood is coming. And I mean it, of epic, unrepeatable proportions. Not of water, but of fire, says 2 Peter 3. Do know that those people blaspheming you will stand before God, so don't shut your mouth. Preach to them Christ, even if it means being persecuted and laughed at. Why do you preach the gospel? Because we know everyone will give an account to this Christ. That's what Paul said in Acts 17. God raised him, and he will judge who? The living and the dead. Now, the pagans thought judgment was only in this life. Once you die and you're dead, no more judgment. Peter says, absolutely not. They think that they can escape judgment through death. No, no, no, no. They will be raised, says John in Revelation, and they will stand before the throne and they will give an account. I should terrify you if you're not a Christian this morning. I should terrify you. I wish I could weep for your soul. Just shows that maybe my heart isn't as soft as it should be. I wish I could plead with you. Children, I wish I could plead with you. God's wrath is coming. And it's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Christ is ready to judge. He's not reticent. He's ready. He's waiting for the word. He's on the edge of the seat. Verse six. This is why the gospel was preached to even those who are dead. This is the note of encouragement. I know it's been a heavy sermon. I don't plan on this. I really don't. I know I'm a dour kind of preacher. I hate it. I really do. I don't know how else you can approach a text like this. Like, I can't swallow goldfish after reading this. Dance around like a clown. Why do we preach the gospel and endure suffering? Why? The reason why Christ lived a perfect life and endured the suffering that led to his death is because there are those who will live. This is why we preach the gospel to those who are dead. This is not, every commentator who writes it, this is not saying that you get a second chance, like the Mormons say, right? You die, and then maybe you'll get the gospel preached to you in some kind of weird spirit world. No, no, no. Those who are now dead, who died as Christians, the gospel was preached to them, right? We see that in chapter one, where it says here, things that have now been announced to you through those who preach the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels... So what happened is there were preachers who were willing to suffer, right? Just imagine. I think of Christina's sister, right? They give up everything and go to Indonesia. Everything. Thanksgiving dinners in the States are way better than Thanksgiving dinners in Canada. Now they're pretty good here too. But they give it all up. Now what happens if they preach the gospel and some reject them and laugh at them, but on that day they realize that some who died had believed on Christ before then and now live the way God does. That's why you do it. That's what Peter says. There's an account that will be settled. That though judged in the flesh the way people are, They might live in the spirit the way God does. I don't know how to translate that, to be honest. It literally says that though judged in the flesh according to men, they might live in the spirit according to God. And I think there's just that dichotomy. Don't worry about being judged by men. Worry about being given life by God. He's saying here, they might have been martyred in the flesh, rejected in the flesh, but now they live, truly live. They will truly have life come resurrection day because they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ when the gospel was preached to them. So, when you preach Christ and him crucified, when you live a righteous life, people will laugh at you. But some will believe. It's like Christian and faithful in the city of Vanity Fair. Remember that? Rejected. And after faithful is martyred, Christian is allowed more time in this life, and as he's descending down the hill, he sees another follower, hopeful, who upon hearing and seeing the testimony unto Christ became himself a believer. It's like Paul in Acts 17. Though rejected by the masses, there were some that said, we will listen to this matter again, and there were even some who believed, including not a few prominent women. So this is the account. Everyone in this auditorium, in the gym, will stand before Christ, and you will give an account, not before men. Trust me, I've said this to people. In church discipline, I remember a fellow said, I'm gonna write a book about you, about how wicked you are. I said, I don't know, God already knows that. But I said to him, I'll never forget this, as he cursed me out on the phone, I am so thankful That when I stand before God on Judgment Day, it is before Christ and not you that I stand. You may condemn me, rightly or wrongly. I'm so thankful that in Christ I can stand before God forgiven. And that's the message you preach to people. A flood is coming. The flood they're in will lead to a greater flood that they will never get out of. And it's the flood of God's fury. So come to Christ right now. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. but take up your cross because if you are saved, you will be rejected by the world. Father, we thank you for your goodness as we celebrate the table even this morning. Help us to remember to feed on Christ by faith as we eat of the bread that signifies a body that was broken. Blood that was shed is what we celebrate. And oh God, our hearts are fainting The prospect of being rejected and even losing all for Christ or even suffering physical pain for His sake, Lord, it's unnatural. And so we pray, Holy Spirit, help us to put off wrong ways of thinking, false gospels. Help us to put on this way of thinking, to have the mindset of Christ, this resolve, this purpose, this way of thinking, would you cause us to wash ourselves in the word of the gospel? And Father, we pray that you would use us in this world that rejects you to nevertheless be faithful witnesses of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that many who take their last breath, who have heard us, will do so as believers. Help us to have this end time mindset that we have already been declared righteous by God, even if we've been declared as losers by the world. Help us, Lord, to arm ourselves with this attitude. Help us to expect abuse and help us to remember an accounting will be given of everyone who has ever lived and died. Thank you, Father, for the victor we have in Christ. May we taste of it afresh by faith as we partake of the table. And Lord, even this morning, if there are any who feel, Lord, sense the Spirit working on their heart, may they come to Christ. Would you lead them, Lord, to the Savior? Would they talk to someone about their need to be forgiven and their desire to come to Christ? Oh, Father, do that we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.