giving all a very warm welcome to this evening's worship service. We're again grateful to our pastor for leading this time and bringing to us God's word. Just a reminder to everyone this coming Wednesday we have our ladies prayer meeting in the morning and in the evening there is a church members meeting. This coming Friday O sing unto the Lord a new song, for he hath done marvellous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him the victory. The Lord hath made known his salvation. His righteousness hath he openly shown in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Let us come now to the Lord in prayer. Let us pray. O gracious God, we do come tonight to sing unto thee, thou art worthy, O Lord. We come to join in with so many in this world, on this thy name, but many more in heaven. and we pray that thou wouldst have all the glory tonight. And if thou art listening to so many in this world and in heaven, do listen to us. Lord, we pray, not because we are worthy, but we desire to worship thee. Thou hast done marvellous things, and we give thee a praise for what thou hast done in our own lives, what thou art continuing to do. O Lord, thou hast done marvellous things, Help us, O Lord, to think of thy great glory and majesty as we worship thee. Help us to remember that thou art holy, and help us then to make a joyful noise unto thee. We do come to thee through the name of our Saviour. We thank thee that heaven is open, that there is a way, that there is access and fellowship with thee because of him. Hear us now, for Christ's sake. Amen. Amen. We turn to our first praise, verse 66 in the Psalter, and we're going to sing from verse 1 to verse 6, and the tune is Andrew, who learns to God in joyful sounds, and of your voices raised, sing forth the honour of his name, and glorious make his praise. O come to God in joyful sound, O come, O come, all ye faithful, He bore the honor of His name, and glorious made His praise. Stray not to the contrary world. In all thy works bow down. Through thy great power, life flows to thee. shall be the saints who bow. All on the earth shall worship thee. They shall thy praise proclaim. If songs they shall bring cheerfully unto thy holy name, Come learn the works that God hath wrought, with admiration see. His workings through the sons of men, ♪ Blosser in the home is he ♪ Into Thy land proceeded, And made a man as its child. In marching through the flood of good, There we hear them one by one. If you would turn with me for our consecutive reading tonight to Proverbs chapter 6. Proverbs chapter 6 and we're reading from verse 20 through to verse 35. Let us hear God's Word. Proverbs 6 and verse 20. My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou thirst, it shall lead thee. When thou sleepest, it shall keep thee. When thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. and reproofs of instruction are the way of life. To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman, lust not after her beauty in thine heart, neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman is a man, a man is brought to a piece of bread, and the adulterous will hunt for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom? and his clothes not be burnt? Can one go upon hot coals and his feet not be burnt? So he that goeth into his neighbour's wife, whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. Men do not despise a thief, if he stole to satisfy his soul when he is hungry. But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold, he shall give all the substance of his house, But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding, he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound in dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall not be wiped away. For jealousy is the rage of a man, therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will not regard any ransom, neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts. May the Lord bless the reading of his precious words. We'll have turned to our second praise, and there's a particular psalm that comes directly to mind as you read those words, and that's Psalm 119, verse 105 to verse 112. The tune is Grafuberg, and you'll notice the first verse, it just fits so well in with what we've just read there in Proverbs. Psalm 119, verse 105, thy word is to my lamp a field, and to my path a light. 119 in Psalter, verses 105 to verse 112, and the tune is Grafenberg. Thy Word is to my feet, O Lamb, and to my heart, O Light. Eyes for heaven's eye will perform to Thee Thy judgment's light. I am with sore affliction, in overwhelm, O Lord. In mercy, raise and quicken me, and put it to my will. The free will of praise of my mouth, accept I thee beseech, and unto thee, my servant Lord, thy judgment will indeed. But till my soul be in Thy hands, Thy laws I'll not forget. I am a common thought for me, The wicked set it set. I of Thy testimonies have, above all things, made joys. To Thee, my parents, exhorting, for They my heart rejoiced. I never leave thy bed, and my heart's ill to attend, that I thy statutes may perform all the way unto the end. Our New Testament readings to be found in 1 Peter chapter 2. 1 Peter chapter 2. And this week we're reading from verse 11. We come now to the second part of the chapter in our series in Peter. 1 Peter chapter 2. And we'll commence the reading now at verse 11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourself to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king as supreme, or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well-doing he may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. As three, not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God, Honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy. If a man, for conscience toward God, endure grief, suffering wrongfully, For what glory is it if, when ye be bufted for your fault, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye caught, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him the judge of righteously. Who, his own self, bear our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness, by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your sons. Amen. May the Lord add the blessings, the reading of his precious word. Let us turn again now to the Lord in prayer. Let us pray. O gracious God, we thank thee again for the reminder tonight of my word, of our precious Saviour, his example, May we give heed to his example, may we seek to walk in his steps this coming week. We thank thee for his great example of humility and his great love to us that he went all the way to the cross of Calvary. And Lord, as we think of these things as we have read them tonight, O keep us from any pride. May we humbly walk on with thee, that is what thou has revealed to us in my word. Help us to walk on humbly. We are nothing, Thou art everything. We are so small, Thou art so great. We are sinners, Thou art so pure. Oh, help us to admire Thee, to give Thee the glory as we humbly walk with Thee. Help us to be those who conduct ourselves in a way that is for Thy glory, as we consider these things in this series at the moment of A Good Conversation Before Men, help us to so walk in a way that glorifies thee, that points others to thee, that is for their benefit and is for the benefit of our own soul. Help us to be concerned about holiness, Lord, to be perfecting holiness in the fear of thee, O Lord, help us as the days pass to be a little more like Jesus in the way we conduct ourselves. Help us to be much at his feet, much in the word, that we might consider his example and know the way wherein we should walk. Be blessed, I read to us tonight. May the Spirit come, help in the preaching and in the hearing and then in the walking. O Lord, may we be a good example to this community and the communities we live in, O Lord, and further afield. O Lord, help us in these things. Help us not to let thee down. May people look at this congregation. There is a people that love God and walk in his ways. Help us, O Lord, individually and collectively, Lord. We do pray for her. By words it goes forth in the nation to light. We thank thee still there are many faithful lights in the nation. Oh, may they shine out in the darkness, not only in the darkness of a winter's evening, but in the darkness of sin in this country. Oh Lord, as we think of this country, have mercy upon us. How we long for better days. We watch with thoughtfulness in what is happening over the water in the United States of America. Lord, we have our concerns, but we do thank thee that freedoms have been restored to a greater measure this past week. And we do pray, O Lord, that thou would restore such freedoms to us in this country. O Lord, that our Prime Minister might say such things that have been said by the President this past week. How we pray for their souls, O Lord. Open their eyes. Have mercy upon them. May they yet be used. May thy word be loved in this country. We long to see freedom restored in a greater way in this country. Lord, we see what is happening through the woke culture, through ungodliness, O Lord. Lord, do what we so need in this country, O Lord. Protect our freedoms, O Lord. May laws be undone, reversed, that were made against the truth in this nation, O Lord. We pray for this. Give us a leader who is concerned about the truth and not his own reputation. Lord, we pray for this. We earnestly pray. We do pray for the work of the Christian Institute and what they seek to do. And we thank thee for their stand. We thank thee for their witness of informing and speaking to MPs. O Lord, bless their testimony, we pray. Help us, O Lord, as a nation. We need thee, O Lord. Turn us again. Lord, we need thee to turn this nation. O Lord, but first of all, turn the church. Lord, we recognise that judgement must begin in the house of God. We look out on a nation that has forsaken thee, but, Lord, sadly the Church in many ways has forsaken thee. Have mercy, O Lord, may thy day be loved again. O Lord, where is the delight of the soul and a blessing for the body. Oh, we pray for this, Lord. We pray that many more again would gather, that they would leave certain things of the world, they would leave lawful O Lord, that they do not need to do on thy day, and that they would come and worship thee. Lord, have mercy on the church. We need thee, O Lord. Remember us, O Lord, we pray. Come and revive us, we pray. We've not seen revival in such a wonderful and glorious way which we have read of and seen thy word. May we yet live to see it. May the children here live to see a day in which there is such a feel of thee When in the schools they talk of thee more readily, in the workplace there is less blasphemy and swearing. We pray for this, O Lord. Our hearts go out to the children, young people, for all that they have to hear. Lord, things that are spoken of today were seen as shame years ago and not spoken of. Do protect the young people and the children. Lord, may there be better days. We do pray for many children in this nation to be blessed by the Saviour. Oh Lord, how we pray for this. May it be the majority of children have found believing in Jesus yet in this nation. Oh, we pray for that, Lord. We pray for it earnestly. Remember the nation. Remember the church, Lord. We do pray for others serving thee in other places. We thank thee for thy servant, Pastor Haile, in Ethiopia. We thank thee for what thou art doing. Years ago, he had to flee. Now thou art using him in that country for the cause of truth, the distribution of thy word, what thou art able to do. Lord, men would have thy servants, have thy word thrown out of the country. but Lord they forget thy powerful hand and thou hast turned things around how we long to see in this country what thou art now doing in Ethiopia but Lord we are mindful of parts of Ethiopia and Eritrea where there is great persecution O be with thy people there. Lord, we thank thee for what thou didst do in Korea over a hundred years ago, how the gospel so spread and swept through that land. and yet look at the state, oh, Lord, of what has happened in North Korea at this time. Oh, Lord, do for North Korea what thou hast done for other parts of the world. Lord, we pray for thy people there. Lord, some in prison tonight for doing what we've done, for owning a copy of thy word, for those in hard labor camps, those who know poverty because they won't be given promotion in the workplace. Lord, be with thy people. May they know grace and may there come a day of freedom for the people of God in North Korea. And as we think of North Korea, there are so many other places in this world where there is great persecution. Lord, help us to remember those that are in bonds, to pray for them. Lord, it's easy to forget. living in the West. Yes, there is trouble and difficulty but we still have our freedoms to a great measure. We pray for those who are so suffering for righteousness' sake this evening hour. Do be with us here, lead us and guide us. Bless the ladies as they gather on Wednesday and the members in the evening. We thank thee for thy goodness towards us and we would raise our Ebenezer at the beginning of the year. Bless the youth work. We thank thee for the Sunday school this morning. Continue to bless that work. All who help and the children who come along. We pray for the youth work on Friday. Bless that as well. O Lord, we pray for those who are coming. Do bring in others to the Sunday school and to the youth work, Lord. Lord, may many children be reached with the good news of Jesus Christ. We do pray for next Lord's Day. We do pray for thy servant coming. Undertake in every way. So hear us in our prayers. We do particularly pray for those who mourn. We pray for Atrena as she mourns the loss of her father and undertake for her in every way. Be a comfort to her at this time for all the experiences, the sorrows that she faces. We pray for Mrs. Gilbert, We pray for her. She mourns the loss of her husband and now her brother. O may there be comfort in all. May Christ, who is the friend that sticketh closer than the brother, reveal himself to her. We pray that she would be found with us. Lord, they mourning us. We pray for that, O Lord. We thank thee for the opportunity at Glyncourt today. We do pray for those that love thee there, encourage them in the latter days, months of their lives. And for those who are strangers to grace, we pray for them, that they would be those whose hearts are opened. Oh, we pray for that. So hear us now, we give thee the praise and the glory. Lord, thou art so worthy. Lord, we are so privileged to be in the kingdom, in the church, and oh what a great kingdom, a kingdom that is growing. Oh Lord, this lost evening the kingdom has expanded to such an extent and it will continue to do so. Oh Lord, we thank thee for the Saviour who is building the church and the gates of hell will not prevail. Have all the glory for Christ's sake. Amen. Before we come to the preaching of God's Word, if you would turn with me to number 23, the 21st Psalm. The Lord's my shepherd, I am not one. He makes me down to lie. In pastures green he leadeth me, the quiet waters by. Number 23 in the Psalter, and we turn the section for a minute. The Lord, my shepherd, thou dost watch, He leads me down to thy imposter's reach, He gave me the drive and fortified My soul He doth restore again, And He is to all done made. With the angels above, all righteousness before his own may say. Yea, though I walk in death's dark hell, yet will I fear not ill, O Thou my dreaming admirer, and stuffy comfort still, my table Thou hast furnished, In breasts of my foes, My head outta with oil anoint, And my cup overflows. Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me, and in God's house Forevermore my dwelling place shall be. Next Lord's Day, the Lord willing, I shall be away in North Wales preaching at Holywell Evangelical Church. I will take your greetings to the congregation there in the north. I will be away then next Lord's Day. I look forward to having here the Reverend Richard Turner from Southampton, one of the ministers that has retired. He was in Winchester. Now he is in Southampton. So next Lord's Day, the Reverend Richard Turner will be with you here in the morning and in the evening. We pray the Lord's blessing upon him as he comes here again and the ministry of God's Word. Well, tonight we continue in our series in Peter. We come to verse 17. First epistle, General of Peter. Chapter 2 and verse 17. Honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the King. Honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the King. The congregation, certain Pharisees, came to catch our Lord in his words. When Jesus said unto them in Mark 12 verse 17, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's, and they marveled at him. You see, they came to catch him, but he answered them, he knew their hearts, he knew what they were doing, and he so responds to them, and they're taken back. He makes plain, respect is to be shown to those who are lawfully appointed and are in authority over us. But then, the greatest respect The greatest revere is to be to the Lord himself. Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at him. On a practical level, we're to pay our taxes. However, if a government, someone over us, asks us to do something that is against God's law, we must respond. It is God we love, it is God we serve, and He must come first. You recall before the council, the apostles were told by the high priests, saying, Did not we strictly command you that ye should not teach in His this name? And behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. They were not pleased. We read in verse 29, then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, we ought to obey God rather than men. They were told not to preach, not to preach Christ. They wouldn't listen. It was wrong. And they make this claim, we ought to obey God rather than men. God first, yes, we're to pay our taxes, we're to be good citizens. But if we're asked to do something which is contrary to God's law, we must respond, it is God first. We ought to obey God rather than them. Now, if you recall last week, we began to consider the exhortation of Peter, how he exhorted the brethren in verse 11, To abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conversation honest among the Gentiles. An honest conversation, that's what they were to be concerned about and that's what we're to be concerned about. The word honest, worthy, and so we can consider a walk, a conversation which is worthy of the Lord. You think of the word conversation, mode of life, behavior, conduct. So, conduct that is worthy of the Lord and honest, good conversation. Well, that's where the apostle begins, verse 12. Well, having given this summary, he then from this point gives various exhortations on how we are to conduct ourselves, how we are to behave ourselves, We have the introduction in verse 12, verse 11 and verse 12 rather. From there, from verse 13, he gives various exhortations. And we notice this in verse 13, submit yourself to every ordinance of man. We're going to consider some of these things tonight. But then verse 18, servers, be subject to your masters. How you are to conduct yourself in the workplace, in the community, in the nation as good citizens, In the church, we could say also in verse 17, for love the brotherhood, but then also in the workplace. And then he gives the great example of the Lord Jesus Christ. But then it goes on further into the next chapter. Notice verse three, like verse one of chapter three, likewise ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands. And so now he considers the home, the marriage, how the Lord's people are to conduct themselves. So from the introduction in verse 11 and verse 12, the exhortation to so walk that our conversation might be honest, he gives various exhortations to show in different circumstances how we are to so conduct ourselves. Well as we come to this first section, verse 13 through to verse 17, here we are led to consider how we are to honour, fear the Lord and to respect others as we walk in this world. There is to be honour shown to those in authority, verses 13 through to verse 17. Well, let's come directly now to verse 17. Here's a summary of this section, and I'd like us to begin by considering fear God, because he's to be first, isn't he? Yes, we're to show honor to others, all unlawful commands, but if there's an unlawful command, what must be seen most of all is that we put God first, and we say no in saying yes. to God's laws. So we begin by considering fear of God. Secondly, honour all, and that includes honouring the king. And then we'll consider, thirdly, love the brotherhood. So first of all, fear God. Secondly, honour all. Thirdly, love the brotherhood. Well, the apostle wrote, honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king. Well, let's consider first of all then, fear God. We begin here. For it is God who is to have the greatest respect. Here in your life is to come first. Now listen to Matthew Henry the Puritan. Fear God with the highest reverence, duty, and submission. Each day we are to walk in the fear of God. Fear God. Now consider he speaks through his word and he shows that we are to have a respect to others. Well showing this respect is part of fearing God. That's why also we begin here tonight. Fear God. God would have us show honor to those who have been placed in authority in a lawful way and their lawful commands. God would have us do so. We can consider also he would have us honour the king and he would have us love the brotherhood. We'll consider this a little later. Well we begin with God. We are to walk in the fear of God. Now we're considering here a filial fear, not a slavish I used to be fearful at school because there were a number of bullies and at playtime I used to try and avoid them. They put me in fear. There used to be a paper round I used to do every Thursday after school and part of the paper round took me into this estate, a council estate and it was the roughest in Tottenham. And I was fearful going down each path. That was a slavish fear. Fear would grip me. Yes, I knew I would get the money, but fear gripped me as I went down the pathways. A slavish fear. But here we're considering what we call a filial fear. This awe of God. And let me begin by saying, how can one have this true awe of God if they do not believe in him? many in this country do not fear the Lord, they do not believe in Him, they do not love Him. We're to fear God, looking up to Him by way of faith, looking to Him, respecting Him, having this holy affection in our hearts. God is to be feared. All of God will be feared in this nation. If we would have a Prime Minister who would speak the truth about man, male and female. Oh, we pray for such a day. May God give us leaders who have a respect for God's word. You only have to go through problems. When the wicked are over us, it won't go well. But when there are godly men, it will go far better. It won't be perfect, will it? But it will be far better. Oh, that there would be such a fear of God in this nation, but oh, it must be in the Church of Jesus Christ first. This fear, this awe of God. Psalm 89 verse 7, God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. Let the world look on the Church as a God-fearing group of men and women, boys and girls. or we think of a holy, honest conversation. Let men in this world see that we fear God, that we respect Him, that we're seeking to walk in His way. What a testimony that can be to a man or a woman who are without Christ. How they fear the Lord. They don't blaspheme in front of me. They don't swear. They don't laugh at the filthy jokes. What's the difference about them? Ah, they go to church, but it's because they fear God. That's the great difference. Fear God. We can consider what it is to fear God, and here's the exhortation, let's do it then. Fear God. As you get up tomorrow, have an aura of God in your heart. As you go out into the community or into the workplace, Have a fear of God. Consider God. When something comes up in the conversation and it's not good, fear God. Don't laugh at it. Fear God. To walk in the fear of God. We think of this fear, it's not in the heart by nature, is it? No. You have to look around. So many do not fear God. Oh, for a change. Oh, for a day when so many fear God in this nation. That there will be such a quietness in the streets. It will be safe for the children just to play in the streets. No fear of any ill coming. Oh, for such a day. There's not this fear in the hearts of men by nature. We just see it around, don't we? It needs to be put within, and it is in the New Birth. Turn with me to Jeremiah 32 verse 40. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good, but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. The heart is open, you think of Lydia. The Lord opened the heart. Faith was put within, and there was this godly When one comes to faith in a spiritual way, what do they do? They bow to King Jesus. They have this respect. They're lost in wonder, love and praise. There's an aura of Him. There's this Godly fear. He puts it within. I will put my fear in their hearts. They don't put it in, but God puts it within. Do you have this fear? God is God. He is the lawgiver. Now where there is true faith, there is fear. It goes together. Turn with me to Hebrews 11 verse 7. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house. You see there, by faith Noah. He was a man of faith. He looked to the Lord and he was moved with fear. Faith had been put within and this godly awe had been put within his heart. He looked to the Lord and he feared God and got on with the work that was set before him. Let's exercise faith. Let's fear the Lord and get on with the work that is before us. Exercising faith and living in the fear of God. having a high thought of Him. He's a great God. Oh, for high thoughts of Him. He's so holy. Oh, for a high thought of Him. He dwells with the humble. What a God He is. He dwells with you. He dwells with me. Oh, for a high thought of God. He's our portion. He tabernacles with us. How amazing is God! Oh, to be in awe of Him. Just consider the Lord Jesus Christ, so holy, so pure. Remember what Peter said, because he felt his unworthiness and his sin and his smallness. Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, said Peter, in view of Jesus. And that's what we say at times, isn't it? But oh, He's with us. Are we not in awe? Such a Saviour who loved me and gave Himself for me, who went to the cross of Calvary, who did no sin, we read that in our reading tonight, is with me, and he walks with me, and he talks with me. Oh, to be in awe of Jesus. Consider your companion. Consider the one that goes with you. He's so holy, he's so pure. Does that not encourage this godly fear in our hearts? Oh, for high thoughts of him, Keep your eyes upon Him, look to Him, and then exercise fear. If we're to fear the Lord in what we do, we need to think about Him, that's plain, isn't it? If we're not thinking about God and what He would have us do, if we're not considering His will, His word, how can we be acting in the fear of God? It's a humbling thing, isn't it? How often? Do we think about God each day or to think of him more often? When I was in my first employment I tried to make it a little rule that every hour I would stop, think of something about God, think of some verse of scripture, just for a few moments. Others didn't know I was doing it but that's what I tried to do, just to pause and it's good just to pause isn't it? You think of Mary, She heard of what the shepherds had said concerning the message of the angel, and there is the Lord before her as a little one. She ponders all these things in her heart. She takes time to ponder. Oh, be still and know that I am God, we read in Psalm 46. Oh, that the nation would be still and be warned. For God is just, as we see in Psalm 46. Oh, that God's people would be still. before the Lord. Think about Him. Be in awe of Him. Keep your eye focused. Psalm 34, verse 9, O fear the Lord, ye His saints, for there is no one to them that fear Him. This fear has been put within, but it's to be exercised, isn't it? I'm in wonder. I'm in amazement, O Lord. We thought this morning of the great things the Lord has done. Well, that helps us to be in awe of Him, doesn't it? Just think of what he has done for you and have this all. Act, live in the fear of God. The one who truly has this fear of God will respect his authority. And therefore his word, his commandments, they will esteem. In Deuteronomy 10 verse 12 we read, And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul? Now, it's interesting, isn't it? What's the first thing mentioned? The fear of God. The fear of God. And then if you consider walking, you ought to be walking in the fear of God. And then you consider loving, you ought to be loving in awe of God. Loving my neighbor, particularly loving the brotherhood as we will consider in a moment, in awe of God. You see why God comes first? Fear God. There's a respect for his authority. Ecclesiastes 12 verse 13, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Oh, so many do not fear God. They have no respect for his law. But what do we read? Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12 verse 14, it's our duty. Oh, the men, would fear the Lord. We who love the Lord, let's show them the way to fear the Lord by being in awe of Him and in awe of His Word, having a respect for Him. Psalm 119, verse 97, the psalmist said, oh, how love I thy Lord. It is my meditation all the day. I love it, why? Because it's the Word of my God, my great God. We love this book, why? Because it's the Word of God and we seek to so walk in the light of it. Verse 127 of Psalm 119, Therefore I love thy commandments above gold, yea above fine gold. It was a great encouragement to me on Monday to see these photos on the big screen in the committee room up in London of certain ones in Ethiopia just receiving the Word of God and what a joy it was to them to have a copy of the Word of God. Let us always know that joy. Let us be thankful. What a joy it was to them. The place where they had the annual general meeting in Ethiopia wasn't a posh place, a really nice place as perhaps the Annual General Meeting is in this country, but oh the delight on their faces to receive the Word of God. Let us be joyful, let us be glad that we have the Word of God and esteem it. Psalm 119 verse 167, my soul have kept thy testimonies and I love them exceedingly." There's a love, but it's such a love, isn't it? A love for the Word of God, because we're in awe of Him. Or just consider this book. There are some difficult things. There are things hard to understand. It's God's Word, isn't it? And have we not a love? The psalmist said, I love them exceedingly. Such a love let the people of the nation see that we're in awe of God by our love of the Israel. Where there is a love, there is a respect, isn't there? Psalm 119 and verse 6, then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy commandments. There's a love, there's a respect. There's an awe of God and therefore a love for his word and a respect for it. There's a regard. It's his word. This is what he would have us do. We see it in Micah 6, verse 8. He have showed the old man and he's shown us and here it is. So we have a respect for it. Fear God. And walking in his ways goes hand in hand. Deuteronomy 8 verse 6, Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. But Peter says here to the brethren, fear God. They were fearing God. The fear of God had been put in their hearts. But here's the exhortation, fear God. Let me use an illustration. Faith has been put in your heart. What a gift you have in your heart. Through faith you receive Christ, who is the unspeakable gift. What a gift! It's there. You have saving faith. Well, exercise faith. Looking unto Jesus. You look to Him now. Think of the fear of God that's put within. Will you exercise? Just be in awe of Him. There are some things hard to understand, isn't there? There's perplexing situations, but we know that all things work together for good, be in awe of God. When you cannot unriddle providence, as Thomas Watson says, you be in awe of God, for he is the God of all wisdom. But Peter says here, fear God. And as we think of fearing God, we're to honour all men. We haven't got time now, but in your own time, read through Romans 13, verses 1 to 7. You see, God has placed, and we are to honour those who are lawfully placed. Well, let's consider 2nd Emo briefly. Time is moving so quickly. Honour all. Fear God. But we read at the beginning of the verse, honor or mem. The word honor means to revere, to value. We'll come back to this in a moment. Now let me say right at the outset, we do not condone sin or excuse sin. Or are we to listen and to submit to something that is sinful. You have the testimony of the apostles in Acts 5. We ought to obey God rather than man. Now that can be costly. But did not our Lord say, take up the cross daily and follow me? God is to be first. Yet we read here of an honour. We consider first of all in this verse those in authority. Just notice the end of the verse, honour the king. And we can think of leaders. Now come with me to verse 13. We think of kings. honour the king. Those lawfully in office are to be respected and their lawful commands. And what is true of the king is to be true of a leader. Now we need to remember those words again. We ought to obey God rather than men and there will be times when we'll be tested. and we need to show to those who are over us that God is first in our life. Honour the king, honour all men, we can consider leaders as we notice in verse 18, rulers, governors, appointed and when it goes well, for the good of the nation. Now how we need to pray, remember those words in 1 Timothy 2 verse 1 and 2, I exhort you therefore that first of all supplications and prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and a peaceful life in all godliness and honesty. How we need to pray for our king. We're exalted to pray for our king. And we should readily pray for King Charles III. Listen to scripture. For kings, and for those in authority and we need to pray for our Prime Minister. How we need to pray first of all that eyes will be opened. You pray that. We pray for them, they're in a position of authority. We need to pray that their eyes will be opened and that they would seek heavenly wisdom. That's so important. If only if our Prime Minister got down on his knees Look to the Lord, confess his sins, and ask the Lord for wisdom like Solomon of old. It would be better for you all if he did, as citizens in this nation. Pray for him. We pray for kings, prime ministers, we pray for presidents, we pray for them. Those who are put into office lawfully, we need to so pray for them. Honor the king, you pray for him now. Have a respect to the prime minister, you pray for him now. But what do we read at the beginning of verse 17? All men, honor all men. And let me say again, straight at the beginning here as we think of this, we do not honor sin. We do not honor wickedness. Yet there is to be an honour for God made man after his own image. Genesis 1 verse 26. Yes sadly sin came into the world and what sin has done to man. Oh consider the state we're in as a nation because of sin. But there is to be respect for and honour to our fellow men. And do you know we think of the fifth commandment? What is the fifth commandment? The fifth commandment is, honour thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Honour thy father and thy mother. We can think of parents first of all, but as we know, as we go through scripture, that's just the beginning, isn't it? We can think of those in authority over us. We've already considered the king, governess, But there we begin with honour thy father and thy mother. The sort of catechism asks this question, what is required in the fifth commandment? The fifth commandment requires the preserving honour and performing the duties belonging to everyone in their settled places and relations as superiors, inferiors or equals. Honour. We can think of parents, can't we? But you consider others where there is to be respect, honour, show, a mutual respect. In Ephesians 5 verse 21 we read, submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. You see how it fits in there? The fear of God. And we think they are the mutual duties first of all of the husband and the wife. The mutual submission. in the fear of God. Your wife says to you, no, you can't do that. No, it's not right. You submit to her. That mutual submission in the fear of God. But then particularly as you go through Ephesians, we see the duty of the wife. the particular duty of the wife. Now we may think of the mutual duties both are to love and there's to be a mutual submitting as we see but then there are particular duties and the wife were told submit yourself unto your own husband as unto the Lord. You see the wife fearing God, I will submit to that which is right. so on and so forth. In Ephesians 6 verse 1 we consider children. Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is life. You see children are to have an honor, obey in the Lord. Where there is a lawful command it is to be followed. There's children and then going on in Ephesians 7 Servants be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling and singleness of your heart as unto Christ. There the servant is to honor the master. It's interesting, in all those things, in all those relationships there in Ephesians, it's to be done in the fear of God. Fear God, honor, oh, how we need to think about God. You who are husbands here, Fear God, and so act. You who are wives, fear God. You who are employees, fear God. It's not easy at times, is it, in the workplace? But where there's a lawful command, you fear God, and you show honor and respect. You see how the Word of God comes to us. We're thinking of the conversation, which is, to be honest, as we live in this world, and there is to be honor shown where honour is due. Think in the church. There's to be respect to the elders, the ministers. Hebrews 13 verse 17. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls as they must give an account, that they may do so with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you. They watch for their souls. What a responsibility. One day I have to give an account before the king. how I have watched over your souls." Well, there's to be due respect to the elders, the ministers of churches. Well, we read here, honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the King. This is how we're to so live. Well, let's conclude now, coming to our final point. Thirdly, love the brotherhood. Love the brotherhood. Literally it can be translated as a band of brothers, Christians, brethren, love the brethren, the band of brothers, we're brothers and sisters in Christ. Now it's interesting, if we consider honouring all men, we're to show honour, we're to show respect to the Lord's people. Are we not? And we're to love. We're to love our enemies, but we're to so love the brotherhood, the band of brothers, the brethren. There's to be great love. What did the Lord Jesus Christ say in John 13, verse 34? A new commandment, I give unto you, that ye love one another. And what the Lord is saying, because love was encouraged, it was a law in the Old Testament, but here it comes afresh. Here it's before you, spoken by myself, a new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. Love in the soul. Now consider first, it's fearing God first, isn't it? Then loving the brethren. Part of fearing God is showing love to the brotherhood, the band of brothers. the Lord's people. Now note what the Lord Jesus Christ said in John 13 verse 34, that he loved one another as I have loved you. What an example, how we need to be at the feet of Jesus. When I got to 16, I thought that's my school years behind, my education's behind me. We never get to the end of learning, do we, as the Lord's people? back to the master, considering his example. Consider how Jesus loved you. What an example. Now, you remember the particular duty for the husband. Husband, so love, as Christ loved the church. Love your wives. What an example. As we consider loving one another, let's go to Jesus, our Savior, who shed his precious blood for us. as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. What a great love. Fear God and have a great love for the brothers and sisters you have in Christ. A sacrificial love, an enduring love, a sincere love, What do we read in 1 Peter 1 verse 22? The Lord's people have a true love and they're to love with a pure heart. A real love, a sincere love. It's not a pretense, sadly, in the church, the visible church here upon earth. There can be those who look like a Christian, look like a Christian, but they haven't got true love in the soul. It's just outward. It's just an outward profession. And those people have love. Unfeigned love. With that love, let us love one another with a pure heart, fervently. Loving my brother or sister with my eye focused on Jesus. That's how we're to learn. Speaking to them, having considered the Lord. There's so much to do, isn't there? How much I fell on this. But there's so much to do fearing God, having an awe of Him before I speak, before I act. Experimental Christianity, fearing God, having this awe and loving the Brethren. And love is to be seen as we see in 1 John 3 verse 18. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. Let it be seen. A man can say they love you and there's no evidence of it. Many can say I love you, but they don't. What does John say? Let it not just be the words, let it be in deed and in truth. Now in this love, loving the brotherhood, the band of brothers, the brethren, there will be an esteem. Honour all men, love the brotherhood, There is a love and there is an honour, a respect and an esteem. Philippians 2 verse 2, Fulfil you my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in loneliness of mind. Let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. There's Paul, Fulfil you my joy, This is what brings joy to him, and it brings joy to the minister of the gospel, to see a like-mindedness, to see the same love, true, sincere, genuine, and an esteeming, a respect. Love the brotherhood. And in loving the brotherhood, there's an esteem. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. In lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves. We're all different, and I am sharpness iron. Some are easier to get on with. Let's all get on our knees in humility. in loneliness of mind and esteem one another. And as we think of this, oh, consider Christ. What did he say? Come unto me, learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart. Oh, we always have a high view of Jesus, don't we? We esteem him. But what do we learn now? That loneliness is a great aim. to living in this world and can help us to fear God and honour others. Well, we begin tonight with fearing God. Fear God this week. Exercise the fear of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Honour the King. May the Lord help us so to do. May we show to the world the right way of living. That's so important. this hiding in the world. The Church in some areas has become like a comedian. Oh, let us be like a shining light, a soul to the world. We are in awe of Him and we are walking in His ways and we have love to the brethren. May the Lord help us. In His name we say, Amen. Amen. Let us pray. O gracious God, we come to Thee. We thank Thee that Thou hast put this fear in our hearts. By nature it wasn't there. We'd be like so many in this community, in this nation, with no true fear of Thee. Some pay lip service, but there's nothing in the soul. Oh, we thank Thee for this fear of Thee. Help us to, this week, look to Thee by faith. and move in the fear of God. Help us to be like Noah. Help us to be in awe of Thee. O Lord, may there be times this week when we're just amazed at Thee and amazed at Thy grace and mercy and love that Thou shouldst be with us. O may the thought of Thee help us this week as we speak, as we act, as we think, O to think more of Thee. Thou knowest our frame, we struggle at times, and there are many things we must attend to, but may we, like Mary of old, be found pondering all these things in our hearts. Lord, we thank Thee for the love of the brethren here. May we be concerned to have a greater love, Lord, an esteeming, an honour. We do pray for our King, Open his eyes, Lord. We pray for our Prime Minister. Turn his life around. He's a wise man, but, oh Lord, he is so unwise. Lord, turn his life around, we pray. Give us leaders who fear thee. We pray for that. Be with those in the workplace. Help them, oh Lord, to shine. Lord, it can be difficult, but help them, oh Lord, help us who are husbands here, those who are wives, help us as we seek to esteem and honour. Lord, help us in these things we pray. O Lord, bless the young children, help them and thus those of us who are parents to so conduct ourselves worthy of respect and honour, O Lord. O hear us in these things, these practical things Help us to be perfect in holiness. Make us more like Jesus. And may people in our families, people in this community, people in this nation know there is something different about us. Help us, O Lord, for Christ's sake. Amen. Amen. Return to our final praise. Number 22, verses 26 to verse 31. And the tune is Contemplation. Number 22 in the Psalter, verse 26 through to verse 31. The meek shall eat and shall be filled. They also praise shall give. Unto the Lord that do him speak, your heart shall ever live. All ends of the earth, remember, shall and turn the Lord unto. All kindreds of the nations, to him shall homage do. Number 22, we're going to sing verses 26 to verse 31, and the tune is Contemplation. So things shall be, and shall be filled, they also may shall give. Unto the Lord, and to Him sing, Your harmon shall ever live. All ends of the earth remember shall, and turn the Lord unto you. O keepers of the nations, to thee shall all be true. Begot the kingdom to the Lord The power and fame that is Thine was among the nations The God of the Years But that one teach, and worship now, all who thus descend. Shall bow to him, none of them can, His soul from death give in. As he shall serve his King to be, Unto him the longings shall, Before a generation, reckons in ancient old. They shall come out and shall declare, in truth and righteousness. The Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace. Amen.