Encouragement for Godliness

[0:00] Well, we are coming to the, this is the conclusion of our Sunday school series on the godly man's picture. I found it amusing that who knew on February 2nd, 2020, we would be embarking on what has become the longest Sunday school series in Grace Fellowship Church history.

[0:23] I tried to do the math. It was 70 some weeks ago that we began this series with a small hiatus in the beginning. But godly men and godly women, they don't live there.

[0:39] They don't live out their godliness in times of ease and unabated tranquility. We wish it was that way, but it's not.

[0:50] Thomas Watson, who's been our guide, the author of our book, spent time in prison for a most unusual reason.

[1:01] He may or may not have been involved in a political move to bring back King Charles II. Later, he was ejected from his church for not conforming to the Church of England standards.

[1:17] Thomas Watson lived in politically and religious, in a time of turmoil, politically and religiously. But that's often where godly men live.

[1:30] That's often. That's where god calls us to live out our days. That's where all of those categories that we have been looking at over the past how many ever weeks is actually lived out.

[1:47] That's where we live out our faith. That's where our love is active. That's where we pray and are patient and are humble and we love the saints. And God uses us as an instrument to make others godly.

[2:04] It's in days like that. And so, in many respects, 2020 and not everything that was involved with that, not unusual at all.

[2:15] Not even within, outside of the bounds of what's normal. God does not grow his flowers in beds of ease. He instead grows them out on the high seas in times of storm and trouble.

[2:32] And so, brothers and sisters, we want to say, these days are the days that God has called you to live out your godly life in.

[2:43] Not in some sort of nostalgic, romanticized past that never existed, nor some future day. But today, here, now.

[2:55] God has put you here now that you might bear much fruit. I find it helpful to realize that the dead, the dead in Christ, they've had their day.

[3:06] And those to come after us, if the Lord should tarry, they're going to have their day. Today is our day. Today is our turn to live out godly lives.

[3:16] So, Watson says, if you've been enriched with the treasures of godliness, if you in any way resemble the godly man's picture, you should be thanking God.

[3:30] So, as we conclude, if you can say, yeah, yeah, I have lots to grow in. There's lots I need to do. Lots of that I'm falling short in. But if in any way you are resembling that godly man's picture, then Watson says, bless God, thank God for it.

[3:49] Because this flower that is in you, it doesn't grow by nature. It's not natural to you. We instead had enlisted ourselves under the devil.

[4:04] You were in his payroll. You were doing his work. You were fighting against God and your own happiness. And then God came with supernatural converting, turning grace.

[4:17] And so he put forth his loving, gentle violence and turned you against your enemy or against your master.

[4:29] So, if you resemble this godly man's picture in any way, you have to ask yourself, what is it that caused me to be different? Well, it was the grace of God, the goodness of God.

[4:39] And the work he has begun, he is going to complete. He's going to complete. And so we want to take comfort. And that is how we want to end this series.

[4:53] With comfort for the godly. I think you see something of Watson's sweetheart and gentleness. He wants to end with comfort.

[5:04] And so let's say, and this is all of us to some degree or other, some more than others. You say, I'm limping along. I'm tired.

[5:15] I'm worn out. I have a thorn in my flesh, just like the Apostle Paul did. And it's hard for me to go. The world's hostility is something I feel.

[5:25] I am like a ship in the sea and a hurricane is blowing on me. That's how I feel. I've come so far. I've been through so much. And maybe you say, it's not even outside my imagination to just throw it all away.

[5:44] Because I know how difficult and hard it gets. Well, Watson ends with comfort. So if that's how you feel. If that's how you feel.

[5:54] You're tired. You feel broken. You feel beat up. Well, Watson ends with comfort. So turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 12. Matthew chapter 12.

[6:07] And we're going to look at verse 20. Matthew 12, 20.

[6:17] This is part of a longer quote from one of the suffering servant songs from the book of Isaiah. That Matthew says, Jesus fulfills this.

[6:31] This was written a long time ago, but Jesus fulfills this. And so this verse is just a part of this longer quotation. And we're going to just dive right in. 12, 20.

[6:42] And as I read it, I want you to don't refuse to be comforted. The psalmist says that sometimes. My heart just refused to be comforted.

[6:54] I couldn't find comfort. Well, don't don't refuse to be comforted. Be comforted. A bruised reed. He will not break. And a smoldering wick. He will not snuff out till he leads justice to mercy.

[7:08] So take comfort. Brothers, sisters, take comfort. We're going to look at two things. Take comfort from the promise itself and take comfort for the reasons for the promise.

[7:21] So we're going to look at the promise itself. And then we're going to sort of turn the promise over and look at God's heart behind it. The reasons why there's this promise.

[7:34] And there's comfort in both things. So take comfort in the promise itself. A bruised reed he will not break. And a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. What's the commonality between those two pictures?

[7:46] Why does he put those two pictures of a bruised reed? And you're picturing a stalky plant that lived by the water.

[7:59] A reed that's bruised. And a smoldering wick. What's the commonality there? Why do those two pictures go together? Anyone?

[8:11] Dad? Either one is strong. The bruised reed can break easily. And the smoldering wick can go out because it doesn't have much heat or fuel.

[8:23] Yeah. They're not. Both of these things are not strong. They're both barely hanging on.

[8:36] They're two very weak things. So are you a bruised reed? You're bruised from life. Bruised by heartache.

[8:48] Bruised by sin. Bruised by your own sin. Maybe you've been sinned against. Or are you a smoldering wick where the flame is almost out? And it seems like there's a lot of smoke from your sin.

[9:03] But there's not a lot of fire from the grace within. You say my godliness feels so small and faint. It's just flickering. And it's producing a lot of smoke.

[9:16] I'm producing a lot of smoke but not a lot of heat. It's well I want to be strong. I want to blaze for the Lord. But the devil is at me again and again.

[9:27] And every time I try to flame up he rains on that. Every time I get up he knocks me down. So when I want to do good evil is right there with me.

[9:40] When I have good plans Satan has evil plans. And when I have opportunity I feel like I don't have any strength. And then sometimes it's the exact opposite.

[9:52] I feel like I have strength but yet I don't have opportunity. And that's where I am. And after a while I'm discouraged and I'm done. So I'm like Elijah.

[10:05] Remember Elijah under the broom tree after the whole Mount Carmel event. And he's running from the Lord and he's out in the wilderness. And he's under that broom tree. And he says I want to die.

[10:18] Let me just ask you. How did Elijah feel in that moment? What are some words that we would say? That's how Elijah felt.

[10:29] That's what he was going through. Depressed. Go on. Hopeless. Go on.

[10:42] Alone. He's all alone. Discouraged. Downhearted. He's broken. And he says just let me die.

[10:55] Do you ever say that? Lord I'm just. I'm done. Just let me graduate to heaven. Please. Well that's the bruised reed. That's the smoldering wick. Now here's the promise.

[11:07] Jesus will not break that bruised reed. Jesus will not snuff out that smoldering wick. So whatever is discouraging you.

[11:19] Christ isn't discouraging you. Whatever is against you. Christ. Isn't. Against you.

[11:30] Christ will not lift a finger. To hurt you. And it doesn't matter how slow you go. He's not going to throw up his hands. And be done with you. He's not going to get fed up with you.

[11:42] And just chuck you. Or break you. Leave you. No matter how much smoke there is. And how little fire there is. He's not going to snuff you out. And go somewhere else. And start over with someone else.

[11:54] That's what this promise is. Now. Watson points out. That this promise is actually. A bit of an understatement. It's an understatement.

[12:05] And what he's saying is. He will not break you. That is. He's going to bind you up. He will support you. He will encourage you.

[12:17] He'll. If you're that reed. He'll put. Put splints on that reed. And make it strong. And heal it. If you're that. Barely. Hanging on fire. He's going to feed that fire.

[12:30] He's going to feed it. So it grows. So take comfort. This is the promise. Jesus. He earns for you. He's going to deal with you.

[12:41] Ever so gently. Ever so kindly. Psalm 147. Three. He binds up. Their wounds. He is the good Samaritan.

[12:58] That when he sees his people. Beaten up along the side of the road. He gets off. And he binds up their wounds. His heart goes out to them. That. That's the actual very.

[13:09] Commission. That's the very thing. God. Equipped him. And sent him. In the world to do. He received from his father. That's the very reason.

[13:20] The Holy Spirit. The spirit of love. Was poured out on him. To bind up. The broken hearted. So. He goes to the earth. And he's on a mission.

[13:31] Yes. The cross is there. That's the ultimate binding. And healing. But as he goes through his whole life. He's running into broken hearted people. Broken people.

[13:41] Wounded people. Hurt people. Damaged people. And he's binding them up. You know what the most common. Emotional. Word. Ascribed to Jesus is.

[13:53] In the Bible. The most common. Emotion. That the Bible points out. That's how Jesus was feeling. At this moment. Do you know what it is?

[14:06] Compassion. He had compassion on that man. He saw him. And had compassion on that woman. He looked on the city. And had compassion on the city. This was the.

[14:18] This was the emotional. Content of his heart. On a normal and regular basis. He goes into the world. And he binds up. He's moved by compassion.

[14:29] And so that's the promise. No matter how weak. And halting you are. No matter how. How low the flame burns. Christ has nothing but mercy. For his people.

[14:40] Nothing but love for you. Your very sins. Move him. To pity. Because. They're your enemy.

[14:52] Your weakness. Moves him to pity. He sees you. Under the devil's attack. And it moves him to pity. John Bunyan's most famous.

[15:07] Allegory was. Pilgrim's Progress. He wrote. Several other allegories. The second most famous. Is. The Holy War. And it involves. A city called Man's Soul.

[15:19] And. It's a picture. Our hearts. Our souls. Man's Soul. Man's Soul.

[15:30] Man's Soul is surrounded by the devil. By devils. By the world. And there's traitors within. And the city is shaking. And the Lord Emmanuel. His response to the city.

[15:44] That's under attack. That has enemies within. And enemies without. And the people are afraid. Is. He is moved. To pity. He moves towards them.

[15:55] He sends messengers. To the weak. With words of comfort. That's what pastors are. In parts. We're messengers.

[16:05] From the Lord Emmanuel. To Man's Soul. To say. Be comforted. And he sends. Wagon trains of help. And he comes himself.

[16:16] To defend the city. He sends his angels. And he himself. En camps around them. And he sends the spirit of. Truth. And love.

[16:27] And grace. And he strengthens. That Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit. Strengthens. Weak places. In the city. And he sends comforters. So.

[16:37] These are all comforters. Some of them divine. Some of them heavenly. Angelic. And some of them human. And he's sending comfort. To the city of Man's Soul.

[16:48] Now that's the promise. He's not. Going to break you. Instead. He's going to bind you up. And comfort you. And help you. Berlin.

[17:01] 1948. The city was completely. Surrounded by the Soviets. And cut off. Remember. This is three years. Removed from World War II. This is three years. Removed from Germany.

[17:11] Fighting everyone else. And. This is what happened. And. The allied powers. United States. Britain. In France. I'm sure there was a lot of. Impetus in their hearts.

[17:22] To say. You know what. These people. These evil people. Three years ago. They were fighting us. Killing us. And. They were fighting for Hitler. So let's not help them. Just let them go. But you know what happened.

[17:33] Instead. Sent in. Supplies. They were moved. To mercy. To pity. And. That's the picture here. We were once enemies. But now.

[17:44] He's taken us. Under his protection. And he's going to provide. For us. And he says. They will not die. Our weakness. Our need.

[17:54] And yes. Even our sin. Moves him. To pity. And so. A bruised reed. He will not. Break. Now. That's the promise.

[18:05] God. Now. The thing. About God's promises. Is. If. If the promise fails. God fails.

[18:17] And. That means. A whole world. Of. Change. It means. God now. Is unfaithful. God is a liar. God.

[18:29] God will become Satan. The devil. And if the promise fails. Satan will take the throne. And if the promise fails. God will not be God. And the Trinity. Will not be a community. Of love. And. Commitment.

[18:41] And steadfast love. It will instead. Be a community. Of hatred. And backstabbing liars. So. You understand. God. Puts himself. On the line. He puts.

[18:52] Everything. On the line. When he makes a promise. And that's what he's doing. So the promise. Holds. It holds.

[19:02] By the character of God. That he will not change. It holds. By the. The blood. Of Jesus. Which in him. Every promise. Is yes. And amen. God would have to throw away.

[19:13] The whole sacrifice. Of Jesus Christ. If he's going to break. This promise. So this promise. Holds your child of God. No matter how weak you are. And we feel it.

[19:24] God will be God. He will not fail. He will not let you go. And so. Take. Comfort. From the promise. Take it.

[19:35] Drink it. Receive it. Let. Let the Holy Spirit. Come into your ears. And into your heart. With this comfort. So there's the promise. You should believe it. So take comfort.

[19:47] Not just in the promise. But the reasons for it. There's comfort in the promise. But again. We're going to turn it over. And say. You know what? There's also comfort. Because of.

[19:58] What this says about God's heart. Behind it. For the reasons. God is making it. And so. If you're a. A bruised reed. And you're tired.

[20:11] And you're hurt. And you're injured. Well there's comfort here too. So who's making this promise? And why does he make it? James 5.11.

[20:23] I just prayed this. The Lord is full. Of compassion. And mercy. The full extent of God's character. Is filled.

[20:33] Full extent of God's being. Is full of compassion. And so. Why doesn't he just snap bruised reeds? Because. Of something that's inside. Of his own heart.

[20:45] He is full. Of compassion. And mercy. His heart. Is an ocean. Of mercy. Second Corinthians 1.3. God is the father.

[20:56] Of compassion. And the God. Of all comfort. To be the father. Of something. Is to be the ultimate. Source of it. Fathers.

[21:09] Bear children. Is to be the source. So. As the father. He gives. Birth. To. All compassion.

[21:20] There is no. Compassion. In the universe. That didn't find. Its origin. Or its ultimate. Beginning. In God's. Heart. Heart. So.

[21:31] Every. Mother. Who has. Ever. Had. Compassion. On her. Sick. Child. Got. That compassion. From God.

[21:43] He put it. In her. He imparted. It. To her. Every. Little. Child. That has. Held. A sick. Hamster. In her. Hands.

[21:53] And cried. And prayed. That that little. Hamster. Would get. Better. And wants. To make it. Feel better. That compassion. And that mercy. Came from God. You have never.

[22:04] Experienced. Any comfort. Or compassion. That God's. Fingerprints. Are on it. In some way. So. Wothers and fathers.

[22:16] Who. Who. Gone. And followed. Their prodigal. Children. Into jails. Into homeless. Shelper. Shelters. To fetch.

[22:28] Their children. And give them. One more chance. To give them. More chances. Got that. Compassion. From him. So. He's the father. He's the fountain. He's the source.

[22:38] Of all compassion. And mercy. Now. So. What is the saying? Is that. Compassion. In us. Lives. It's a derivative. Of. From him. It comes down.

[22:48] From him. And that's. Why. He will not. Break you. Child of God. Watson. Says. When a poor soul. Is afflicted.

[22:59] In spirit. God. Will not. Exercise. Hardness. Towards it. Lest. He lay. Aside. His own. Tender. Disposition. He will not.

[23:10] Exercise. Hardness. Towards it. Lest. He lay. Aside. His own. Tender. Disposition. So. When they. Can't walk. Hebrews. Our. Isaiah. 40. Says. He. He. Carries.

[23:21] Them. And when. They can't. Talk. He. Holds. Them. And when. They're. Bruised. And they're. Unable. To hold. Themselves. Up. He. Holds. Them. Because.

[23:31] That's. Who. He. Is. That's. His. Very. Nature. When. God. Acts. In. Compassion. And. Mercy. He. Is. Being. Himself.

[23:43] He. Is. Doing. What. Is. Most. Native. And. Natural. To. Him. So. Why. The. Promise. Well. Because. Of. Who. God. Is. Other.

[23:54] Reasons. Because. Even. A. Bruised. Child. Is. His. Child. Even. A. Bruised. Broken. Beaten. Up. Child. Is. His. Child. He's. Our. Father. He. Gave. Us. Life.

[24:05] And. Now. Can. He. Turn. Around. And. And. Let. Us. Die. So. Love. And.

[24:15] He's. Not. Going. To. Quench. His. Own. Work. And. So. He. Won't. Quench. A. Little. Grace. Because. A. Little. Grace. Is. Valuable. A. Small. Pearl. Is. Still. A. Pearl. And.

[24:27] It's. A. Pearl. Of. Great. Price. To. God. He. Bought. That. Pearl. And. Created. That. Pearl. So. A. Little. Faith. Can. Justify. A. Little. Faith. Lays. Hold. Of. A. Big. Christ.

[24:39] And. So. He's. Not. Going. To. Quench. It. He. Won't. Quench. It. Because. That. Light. Might. Get. Bigger. It. Might. Get. Stronger. Grace. Is.

[24:50] Like. A. Mustard. See. That. That. Starts. Small. And. Then. Grows. And. So. When. Something. Is. Small. Small. That. Doesn't. Mean. That. It. Doesn't. Have. Any. Potential. To. Be. Big. And.

[25:00] That's. Why. God. Will. Not. When. Something. Is. Small. Just. Rub. It. Out. Snub. It. Out. So. The. The. Oak. The. Oak. Tree. Was.

[25:10] Just. Once. One. Little. Acorn. You know. That. Oak. Tree. And. If. It. Comes. Down. Your. House. Will. Just. Totally. Destroy. Your. House. That. Used. To. Be. Something. That. A. Little. Kid. Could. Pick. Up.

[25:21] And. Throw. George. Whitfield. Jonathan. Edwards. Sarah. Edwards. Johnny. Erickson. Tata. Abraham. Isaac. Jacob. Hannah. Ruth.

[25:31] Mary. Joseph. The. Most. Renowned. Of. All. Believers. Whoever. They. Are. Whenever. They. Lived. Were. Once. Spiritual. Babies. They.

[25:43] Were. Once. Had. Small. Grace. That. Became. Big. The. Greatest. Forest. Fire. You know.

[25:54] It. Starts. As. A. Small. Spark. And. God. Sees. It. God. Sees. It. He. Cherishes. It. God.

[26:07] Cherishes. Small. Things. The. World. And. All. Of. Its. Creatures. Is. A. Very. Small. Thing. To.

[26:17] God. And. Yet. He. Fills. The. World. With. His. Love. So. When. Paul. Was. Crying.

[26:27] Out. In. Pain. Lord. Take. This. Thorn. Away. He. Said. My. Grace. Is. Sufficient. For. You. It's. Enough. For. You. It's. Going. To. Be. Enough. And. So. Do you.

[26:37] See. Do you. See. God's. Heart. Take. Comfort. In. The. Promise. But. More. Than. That. Take. Comfort. In. The. Promiser. You're. Going. To. Find. Jesus.

[26:47] Among. The. The. The. The. The. Sick. And. The. Hurty. Wasn't. The. Healthy. That. He. Came. Not. The. Righteous. But. The. Sick. The.

[26:58] We. Now. We. And. This. Is. This. Is. That. Good. Old. Cate. Category.

[27:09] Category. Of. Uses. So. He. Has. These. Uses. First. Use. If. God. Won't. Break. And. Won't. Snuff. Out. Then. You. Don't.

[27:19] Be. A. Breaker. Or. A. Snuffer. Yourself. I. Put. That. In. My. Own. Words. If. God. Won't. Do. This. Then. You. Insightful.

[27:38] Here. This. Is. The. Difference. Between. God. And. Man. Men. For. A. Little. Smoke. Will. Snuff. Out. A. Lot. Of. Fire. God. For. A. Great. Deal.

[27:48] Of. Smoke. Will. Not. Quench. Even. A. Little. Light. That's. Watson. So. This. World. And. This. Miserly. Cruel. Heart. That. Lives. Inside. This. Chest. Will.

[27:58] For. A. Little. Failure. Discount. A. Lot. Of. Good. Have. You. Found. Yourself. Doing. That. They've. Got. This. Little. Problem. Here. And. So. I'm. Ready.

[28:08] To. Just. Say. Forget it. I'm. Ready. To. Paint. The. Whole. Picture. Black. Just. Because. We. Got. Some. Smudges. On. It. But. That's. Our. Nature. To. Blow. Up. A. Little. God.

[28:29] Doesn't. Act. Like. That. That's. Not. His. Nature. That's. Not. His. Character. And. What. Watson. Says. Is. Don't. Do. That. Yourself. Don't. Be. That. Don't.

[28:39] Do. This. To. Yourself. He. Applies. This. First. To. Us. Because. This. Is. Something. That. We. Can. Do. To. Even. Ourselves. Don't. Do. It. To. Yourself. In. Yourself. With.

[28:49] Yourself. Some. People. This. Is. Watson. Here. Some. People. Take. Satan's. Side. Too. Easily. And. Too. Quickly. So.

[29:01] Yes. We. Shouldn't. Think. Of. Ourselves. More. Highly. Than. We. Ought. That. Is. A. Sin. But. It. Is. Just. As. Evil. Just. As. In. Accurate. To.

[29:11] Deny. Grace. In. Ourselves. To. Diminish. What. God. Is. Doing. In. Our. Life. So. It's. Wrong. To. Make. Too. Much. Of. Ourselves. And. It's. Wrong. To. Make. Too. Little. Of.

[29:21] What. God. Has. Done. In. Us. It's. Just. As. Satanic. To. Accuses. Accuses. Accuses. Ourselves. As. Is. Others. So. To. Break. The. Read. To. Snuff. Out. The.

[29:31] Wick. Watson. Says. Some. Christians. Are. So. Skillful. At. This. Is. This. You. Some. Christians. Are. So. Skillful. At. This. Accusing. Themselves.

[29:42] For. Lack. Of. Grace. As. If. They. Had. Received. A. Fee. From. Satan. To. Plead. For. Him. Against. Themselves. Did.

[29:54] You. Catch. That. Some. Christians. Are. So. Skillful. At. Accusing. Themselves. For. Lack. Of. Grace. It's. Like. As. If. They. Were. On. Satan's. Payroll. Again. And. Their. Job. Was.

[30:04] Now. Accuse. Yourself. Point. Out. All. The. Bad. Things. Point. Out. All. The. Wrong. Things. Diminish. All. The. Good. Things. Keep. Going. Keep. Going. Keep. Going. So.

[30:15] Watson. Says. It's. A. Great. Mistake. To. Argue. From. The. Weakness. Of. Grace. To. Its. Absence. You know. It's. One. Thing. To. Be. Weak. In. Faith.

[30:26] It's. A. Totally. Totally. Different. Thing. To. Not. Have. Any. One. Is. Damning. One. Is. Saving. One. Is.

[30:36] Hell. One. Is. Heaven. One. Is. Life. One. Is. Death. So. Don't. Snuff. Out. Or. Break. Yourself. Then. Don't. Do. It. To. Yourself. And.

[30:46] Don't. Do. It. To. Others. First. Thessalonians. Five. Fourteen. It. Should. Be. Plastered. On. All. Of. Our. Hearts.

[30:57] Parents. Teachers. Pastors. Whoever. You. Are. First. Thessalonians. Five. Fourteen. Warn. The. Idol. Encourage. The. Timid. Help.

[31:07] The. Weak. Be. Patient. With. Everyone. Let me. Say. That. Again. Warn. The. Idol. Some. Are. Idol. Some.

[31:19] Need. Warned. That's. Not. Going. To. Look. Necessarily. Gentle. And. Full. Of. Pity. I mean. That's.

[31:29] What. It is. Ultimately. But. They. Need. Warned. But. Here's. The. Reality. And. This. Is. A. Difficult. Thing. That. I. Think. Some. Christians. Have. A. Hard. Time. Understanding.

[31:40] With. Themselves. And. With. Others. There. Are. Other. Reasons. People. Don't. Grow. In. The. Christian. Life. Why. They're. Slow. Why. They're. Limping. Sometimes. It's. Not. Laziness. And. Paul. Puts. His. Finger.

[31:50] On. It. Encourage. The. Timid. There. People. That. Are. Just. More. Afraid. Help. The. Weak. Help. Them.

[32:01] Don't. Snuff. Them. Out. So. How. Can. We. Break. Bruised. Reeds. And. Smoldering. Wicks. And. Snuff. Out. Smoldering. Wicks. Well. We. Can. Do. What. The. Pharisees. Do.

[32:11] Did. They. Loaded. Up. People. Full. Of. Things. To. Do. Full. Of. Duties. Loaded. Up. Their. Consciences. And. And. Didn't. Do. Anything. To. Help. Is.

[32:31] Supposed. To. To. Do. Do. This. Do. This. Do. This. And. Finally. It. Gets. To. The. Point. Where. The. Poor. Bruised. Reed. Snaps. And. Instead. Of. Progressing.

[32:41] In. The. Faith. They. Actually. Regress. They're. Just. Completely. They're. They're. Like. The. Camel. Or. The. Whatever. The. Horse. That. You. Just. Put. Too.

[32:51] Much. Expectation.

[33:01] Expectation. Demand. Demand. Demand. They need. Help. They need. Encouragement. Maybe. They need. To. You. To. Get in. There. With.

[33:11] Them. They need. Training. Wheels. They need. A hand. To. Push. Them. While. They're. Trying. To. Learn. To. Ride. Their. Bike. You know. Woe. To. The. Strong. Child. Of. God. Who. Condemns. The. Weak. Child. Of. God. Maybe.

[33:22] That. Child. Has. Fallen. A. Few. Times. Trying. To. Ride. Their. Bicycle. And. They. Don't. You're. Not. Going. To. Scream. At. A. Six. Year. Old. Who's. Trying. To. To. Learn. To. Ride. And.

[33:32] They're. A. Little. Timid. And. Afraid. And. Slow. And. Going. After. They've. Fallen. A. Few. Times. What. Do. You. Do. You. Help. Them. You. Hold.

[33:42] The. Handlebars. You. Hold. The. Bike. Seat. You. Help. The. Weak. You. Don't. Yell. At. Them. Chris.

[33:54] Stays. With. Children. With. His. Children. Whether. They. Never. Really. Get. Past. Training. Wheels. They. Ought. To. They. Should. But.

[34:07] He. Stays. With. Them. If. They. They. Use. Training. Wheels. Or. If. They. Become. Like. Lance. Armstrong. He. Stays. With. Them. And. So. In. Love. We.

[34:17] Should. Be. Patient. With. Everyone. Everyone. Is. Going. To. Need. Patience. So. Strong. Christians. Don't. Do. The. Devil's. Work.

[34:29] Don't. Do. The. Devil's. Work. Join. Jesus. And. Serving. And. Helping. The. Least. Next. Use. Will. The. Lord. Not. Break. The. Bruised. Reader. Snuff. Out. The. Smoldering. And.

[34:39] Wick. Then. Brothers. And. Sisters. We. Should. Love. Him. I know. This. Isn't. Something. Really. Well. It. Is. Something. To. Do. Love. Him. Is.

[34:50] He. Going. To. Get. You. To. Heaven. He. Is. He. Going. Make. You. Strong. And. Established. He. Is. Going. To. Do. That. For. You. Then. Love. Him. I love.

[35:01] First. Peter. Five. Ten. And. The. God. Of. All. Grace. Who. Called. You. To. His. Eternal. Glory. In. Christ. After. You. Have. Suffered. A. Little. While. Will. Himself. Restore. You. And. Make. You. Strong. And.

[35:12] Firm. I.

[35:25] Want. You. To. To. Get. In. Your. Time. Machine. That. Lives. In. Your. Head. And. Go. To. The. Future. And. I. Want. You. To. Think. About. What. It's. Going. To. Be. Like. For. You. Perfect.

[35:38] Fearlessness. You. Never. Be. Afraid. To. Do. To. Try. To. Attempt.

[35:49] Anything. Again. Perfect. Courage. Perfect. Strength. Perfect. Health. No more weak body.

[36:01] No more sleepiness. No more flesh that says. Let's do something else. Forever joy. Forever firm. Forever confirmed.

[36:14] Beyond. Any. Failing. Or falling. So no more weakness. No more temptation. No more doubt. No more fear. Complete wholeness.

[36:25] No bruises. Nothing but love's. Pure flame. Burning in you. All the time. Without a flicker. Without dimming. That's where this promise.

[36:38] Is taking you. That's why this pursuit of godliness. Is going to end well for you. So love him. He loves you.

[36:49] Then love him. Love him. Last thing. Labor. Love and labor. This promise is not a reason to be lax.

[37:01] Instead it's a reason to strive for godliness. Strive for holiness. Make every effort to be holy. So yeah. We don't set. We don't sail to heaven on beds of ease.

[37:13] We instead face. Stormy. Bloody seas. So how do you get through a storm? That's where we are. That's where we're doing this.

[37:24] This. Godliness. This pursuit of godliness. All these categories. How do you get through a storm? Acts 27. Fits beautifully. Our situation.

[37:34] Remember. Paul. Is on his way to Rome. And this. The ship. And all of its. Everyone gets caught in this. I think it was a nor'easter. And they're blowing in 14 days. And they're.

[37:45] At their end. And the lord Jesus. Came to Paul. And he said. None of you are going to be lost. Not going to be lost. And Paul says.

[37:58] This is what he told me. But unless the sailors. Stay with the ship. You cannot be saved. Well which is it? It's. It's both. The promise is.

[38:09] You're going to get there. But you know what? If the sailors. Don't stay with the ship. The sailors. Don't do their work. They don't do the sailing. Then. You cannot be saved.

[38:22] So we are going to make it. To shore at last. We're finally going to look. Into the mirror. And you know what? We're going to see. The perfect picture. Of godliness. The godly man's picture.

[38:33] Christ Jesus. Staring back at us. That's the picture. That's the future. The picture complete. But. You have to use the means. We have to.

[38:46] Be active. We have to pursue. These things. Because in them. We're having dealings. And interactions. With our lord. Lord. So. Jesus says.

[38:58] None shall pluck them. From my hand. And then the same night. A couple hours later. He says. Watch and pray. Watch and pray.

[39:10] So love him. And then let that love. For him. Move you to labor. Let this promise. Encourage your heart.

[39:22] And encourage your work. Your labor. Well. Make every effort then.

[39:34] To be holy. Let's pray. And ask the lord. Jesus. To help us. To put on this picture. Of godliness. God.

[39:48] We thank you. For the promise. We thank you. For who you are. The promiser. Please help us. Each and all. To find encouragement. And help in this.

[40:01] To love you. To labor. To fight. Then for you. Knowing that we will. Make it one day. To. That golden shore.

[40:14] And we will. See him. And we will know him. And we will be like him. Please. Be with my brothers and sisters.

[40:27] You know where they each are. In this. On this journey. And wherever they are. Come. And be with them. And help them along the way. I pray. In.

[40:38] Jesus name. Amen. We're dismissed. We're dismissed.