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Hebrews chapter 12, we'll begin reading at verse 18 and read through the end of the chapter. Peter, you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire to darkness, gloom and storm, to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word would be spoken to them.
Because they could not bear what was commanded. If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear.
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels and joyful assembly to the church of the firstborn whose names are written in heaven.
You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?
At that time, his voice shook the earth. But now he has promised once more, I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens. The words once more indicate the removing of what can be shaken, that is, created things, so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
Amen. Would you take a Bible and turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 5. 2 Corinthians 5.
I want to speak to you tonight about evangelism, which can be a scary topic for us as Christians. And yet we're told in the Bible that we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, in order that we may proclaim, proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his light.
That is why we are here. We are living our lives. We are raising our families. We are pursuing holiness. We are pursuing holiness.
But ultimately, for the purpose that we might proclaim. His praises. And his goodness. That's the only thing that makes continuing history worthwhile.
The only redemptive act that remains to be done is the spreading of the good news as far as the earth is found. Despite that wonderful calling, that is something that we all, I would assume, knowing our continuing struggle, that this is something we struggle to do.
You struggle to do. It's something we struggle to do in Philadelphia. And there are a lot of reasons. Some understandable and some just bad.
We live in a busy and distracted world. We have neighbors who are busy and distracted people. And we are busy and distracted.
We live in a world where there's an increasing bias against Christianity, where spirituality is so often private. But honestly, one of the reasons we, the main reason I think so often we struggle to share is that we're afraid.
And we doubt that any good will come of it. And we lack a sense sometimes of urgency. And if we're honest, sometimes we're too focused on ourselves. And focused in on ourselves.
One writer says, Only those who have made the effort to develop firmly rooted biblical convictions about evangelism will be able to overcome the cultural undertow of convenience.
We have a current that is dragging against us. And if we're going to overcome it to be who God wants us to be, we need to develop firm convictions about evangelism.
Flannery O'Connor once said, More than ever now it seems that the kingdom of heaven has to be taken by violence or not at all. You have to push as hard as the age that pushes against you.
And by violence she does not mean that we need a new Christian crusade. She's referring, as you remember, to the words of Jesus.
That Jesus called for spiritual violence. Soul violence. That we are in a spiritual war. We're in an age that is pushing against us. And we need to develop the convictions that will help us push back.
And that's what I want to talk about tonight. I want us to talk about the biblical convictions. Some of them that drive the proclamation of the gospel. And to do that I want us to look at the example of the Apostle Paul.
And the convictions that drove him. So would you follow along as I read in 2 Corinthians 5 starting in verse 6. He writes,
For the love of Christ controls us.
Because we have concluded this. That one has died for all. Therefore all have died. And he died for all. That those who live might no longer live for themselves.
But for him. Who for their sake died. And was raised. This is God's word. To give you a little bit of a background to this passage.
There were false teachers. In the church in Corinth. Men who didn't like Paul. And didn't like his ministry. And his style of ministry. And they thought he was too radical of a preacher.
And he was way over the top. And Paul thought they were too set on their comfort. Too concerned about appearances. And they were missing the real meaning of the gospel and the Christian life.
And so Paul in this book is so often defending his ministry. He's explaining why he's so radical. In his evangelism. And in his preaching.
Why he's willing to live such a sacrificial lifestyle. He believes that when he is bold in evangelism. And urgent in evangelism.
The trials he's willing to suffer. Are actually proof of his life. And proof of the power of the gospel. His willingness to sacrifice. And maybe even be killed.
To share the gospel. Was proof. He had an eternal hope you could not take away from him. And that was not threatened by death. He had something worth living for.
And dying for. That's why he says. We are of good courage. We know we're at home of the body. We're away from the Lord. We are of good courage.
And we would rather be away from the body. And at home of the Lord. There's nothing that men can do to us. Because I have an eternal hope. And my hope is not here. There's nothing man can do to me.
There's nothing therefore that gets in the way. Of the goal of pleasing God. Whether by life. Or even by death. And so let me ask you.
Just in the beginning tonight. Do you believe. Do you believe. You have something worth. Living for. And dying for. Is that your goal?
Is the goal of your life. Whether by life or by death. To please. The Lord. Is pleasing the Lord for you. Worth living for.
And dying for. Is that worth. Your time. And your investment. In the world. Paul believed. It was worth. His time. And investment. The apostle Paul says.
Yes. It's worth it. The Bible says. It's worth it. And Paul says. Actually. If we're not living that way. We're missing. Some of the most crucial facts. Of this universe.
And then. In verse 11. Through 15. Then. Paul gives. Two fundamental convictions. Convictions. That drove his perspective. On this world. Drove his ministry.
And that he thinks. Should drive you as well. And they're the convictions. That. We need to develop. And if I can put it this way.
There's. There's an. Extrinsic conviction. And an intrinsic conviction. Meaning. There's an. An extrinsic conviction. There's a conviction. That's outside of you. That should drive you.
And there's an intrinsic conviction. There's a. Conviction. Inside of you. That should drive you. And the first. Is in. Verse 11.
Paul says. Therefore. Knowing. The fear. Of the Lord. We. Persuade. Others. I'm driven by something. Outside of me.
By a reality. Outside of me. And the reality. Outside of me. Is. There is a God. Now.
What is. The fear. Of the Lord. We. We live in a. In a generation. That. Likes to. Say. We're. We're. Generation of.
No fear. I don't know. If you have. Bumper stickers. Here. In Bremen. On the back of people's car. Where they say. No fear. If you're in the. In the south. There's bumper stickers.
That say. Not scared. That's the culture. We live in. I think. In this text.
Paul tells us. Though. That fear. Can be a good thing. And he tells us. What this fear is not. And what the fear is. In the second half. Of verse 11.
He goes on to tell us. What the fear is not. And back in verse 10. He tells us. What it is. In verse 11. He says. Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord.
We persuade others. But what we are. Is known to God. And I hope. Is known also. To your conscience. Now that phrase. What we are. Is known to God.
Can be a little confusing. What. What is he. Why is he bringing that up. What is he saying. And let me tell you. What I think it means. When. When Paul says. Knowing the fear of the Lord.
That's not. A. Servile. Slavish. Groveling. Cringing. Kind of fear. To say he's driven by fear.
Is not to say he's. Insecure. Before God. It's not. Because he's insecure. Of what God. As to what God. Thinks of him. That he's doing evangelism.
And it's not because. He's insecure. Before people. Desiring. The approval of men. That he's doing evangelism. He says. What we are. Is known to God. And I hope. Is known.
Also to your. Conscience. It's not like. He's doing evangelism. To convince God. Or convince others. That he's a Christian.
We are not. Commending. Ourselves. To you. But giving you. Reason. To boast. About us. He's not doing this. To impress God. Or impress them. But. I've. Known people.
Sadly. Who were doing that. And they didn't know. They were doing that. I've known. People.
Who were in Christian. Ministry. Who had a fundamental. Insecurity. About where they stood. Before God. And. They were. They were very active.
Very sacrificial. Doing more. Being more active. Than anybody else. Sacrificing more. Bolder than many other people. But ultimately. What drove it in them.
Was an insecurity. It was to convince themselves. And maybe even to convince others. And maybe even to convince God. That they were actually Christians.
And that's not the kind of fear. That Paul is talking about. A fear that. Is trying to worry about. What God. Thinks of me. And trying to gain.
God's approval. That's. In fact. What some of the teachers. In Corinth. Were accusing Paul of. That he's somebody. Who's just out. To impress people. And Paul says.
Well that may have been. The way I used to live. I used to be very active. And very zealous. Before I became a Christian. But it was really. Out of insecurity. But that's not the way.
It is now. That's why he says. What we are. Is known to God. It's not that I'm unsure. Of where I stand. Before God. Where I stand.
Is known to him. I'm not trying to impress him. Or impress you. That's not the kind of fear. I'm talking about. The Bible says. Perfect love. Casts out that kind of fear.
I have an assurance. That is the root of my life. Nevertheless. There is still. A fear of God.
That does drive the Christian life. What is it? And I would say. The kind of fear. Paul is talking about. Is a sober.
Serious. Respect. For the holiness of God. And the desperate condition. Of humanity. A sober.
Serious. Respect. For the holiness of God. And the desperate. Conviction. Of humanity. It is a sober. Reflection.
On the reality. Of final. Judgment. That we are all. Going to stand. Before the judgment seat. Of Christ. Verse 10. We must all.
Appear. Before the judgment seat. Of Christ. So that each one. May receive. What is due. For what he has done. In the body. Whether good. Or evil. The word there.
For judgment seat. Is a word in the Greek. That's the word. Bema. And in. In Corinth. There was a big stone. One platform. In the middle of the city.
Where the governor. Would sit. Before the assembly. Of the people. And give judgments. On court matters. And that. That giant stone. That he would sit on. Was known as the Bema. And the ruins of it.
Are still in. The place where Corinth. Is today. We don't think about. This. A lot.
Probably. It's not fun. To think about. Final judgment. But I think everyone. Knows.
That it's true. Even people. Who avoid religion. And avoid thinking. About God. The Bible. Seems to say. That everyone.
Has. Some echo. In their heart. And some. Nagging. Sense. That they're going. To be judged. Because there's. Constantly. Things. In everyone's life.
That you're going. To try to hide. And cover up. From people. And make yourself. Appear. Better than you are. And everyone. In this world. On some level. Even if they. Say they don't believe. In God. At all.
Or one day. They have a nagging. Sense. And worry. That they're going. To be exposed. And found out. It's a consciousness. You can see. In every religion.
In some form. Every religion. That's ever been. On the face of the earth. Has had some sense. Of final. Judgment. And so it's a reality. We have to think about. So let me.
Let me. Let's think about it. For a minute. The Bible says. There is going to be. A final judgment. And every single person.
Is going to be there. And Jesus. Is going to be seated. On the throne. And one by one. Every single person. Is going to be brought.
Before. That throne. And a book. Is going to be opened. And in the book. Is going to be recorded.
The details of your life. Everything you've done. Everything you've failed to do. Every disobedience. And not just the ones.
That everyone else knows about. And that your parents. Maybe know about. But the ones that. God knows about. And maybe only God knows about. And that book.
Is going to be read. As evidence. And the evidence. Is going to be judged. For good and evil. And we know that.
Else from elsewhere. In the Bible. That nobody. Is going to be found. Guiltless. Innocent. In their.
On their own. Everything right. Nobody's going to have. The details of their life read. And be able to say. I did everything right.
Sin. Is going to be exposed. And it's going to be judged. Guilty. And if you're not a Christian. The Bible tells you. There's going to be. No one there.
To stop. The judgment. No one there. To intercede. It's just going to be. Your life. And the Bible says.
By the works of the law. No human being. Will be found. Guiltless. Everyone. Will be found. Guilty. And it'll be just you.
You. But if you're. A believer. If you're a Christian. Someone's going to come out. And who it's going to be. Is Christ.
And he's going to say. I know what this one has done. But I've covered it. He's mine. I've paid for it. And he will intercede.
And the evidence. That will be read. In the book. Will not be. The basis. Of your salvation. But will be. A demonstration. Of the genuineness.
Of your faith. And it will serve. As the basis. Of your reward. That's reality. The Bible says.
And that is a serious. Thing. That is a fearful thing. Even for a Christian. Right? Now for a Christian.
That does not make us insecure. We say. What we are. Is known to God. And yet. It does make us serious.
I'm somebody who. If you knew me. I like to joke around. I like to be funny. People in my church. Know that about me. But when I'm preaching. They will tell you. I'm not often funny.
Because it's hard to joke around. And be funny. When the things you're talking about. Are deathly serious. They deserve seriousness. God is holy.
And every single person. Apart from Christ. Is in a desperate place. And that needs. To convict us.
It is a fearful. Thing. To fall into the hands. Of a holy God. Of the living God. Jason read earlier.
The book of Hebrews. Chapter 12. Where we're given. This picture of God. On the holy mountain. And it was a terrifying thing. It was a fearful thing. And yet. The writer of Hebrews. Is trying to encourage Christians.
And saying. We've come to. A mountain. That cannot be shaken. But he says. Nevertheless. Let us worship God. With reverence and awe. For our God.
Is a consuming. Fire. Some of. Some of you. Maybe. Have read. The chronicles of Narnia. People. And people.
And animals. In. The chronicles of Narnia. Loved. Loved. The lion. Aslan. He was wonderful. And yet. They were also afraid of him.
And what's the. The statement. That they say. Over and over again. He. He is not a tame lion. We love him. We worship him.
But with reverence and awe. For our God. Is a consuming. Fire. You. Love. A fire. You love it.
But you're careful with it. We know. That our God. Is the king. Of the universe. He's the creator. And lord of history.
He's the one. Who deserves. Our glory. And our obedience. And we're all going to have to answer. To Jesus. For the ways. We have invested. Our lives.
The book of Proverbs. Tells us. The fear. Of the Lord. Is the beginning. Of wisdom. It's wisdom. Because it's understanding. God is the biggest reality. In the universe. It's understanding.
His character. And his purpose. For the world. And understanding. That most people. Around you. Don't have a clue. They don't understand.
This universe. At all. People in. I have people in my family. Good people. From a human perspective. And they don't have a clue.
About God. Sometimes I don't know. That I have a clue. What is actually worth.
My time. My life. My interest. My investment. Where is my treasure. Really. On a day to day basis. The fear.
Of the Lord. Rightly understood. Drove. The apostle Paul. It drove. The early church. Jesus had told his church. All authority. In heaven.
On earth. Has been given to me. Go therefore. And it's that consciousness. Of his authority. That drove. The early Christians. He had been given.
He had been given a name. That is above every name. Why? So that at the name of Jesus. Every knee should bow. And that drove them. They believed.
Every knee. Should bow to Jesus. He's king. The early church. They saw the Lord ascend. They knew. This one they'd walked with.
Was seated on a throne. And that truth. Changed their lives. It turned. Wimpy men. Shy men. Stumbling. Bumbling men.
Into men. Who were willing to be. Bumbling fools. For Christ. They knew. He was seated on the throne. They knew. The only hope. For the world. Was to bow before him.
To kiss the son. Lest he be angry with you. There's a famous quotation. From John Piper. Where he.
He said. Missions exists. Because worship doesn't. Missions. Exists. Because worship doesn't. The whole reason.
Why evangelism is needed. And missions is needed. Is because there are people. Out there. Who are not. Worshipping. The one who deserves. Their worship. There is not one inch.
Of this universe. Of which God does not say. This is mine. Therefore. Knowing. The fear.
Of the Lord. We. Persuade. Others. And Paul. Doesn't just say that. For himself. Does he say it. Is that statement.
That something should be relevant. For you. Knowing the fear. Of the Lord. We persuade others. Is the great commission. That we are to. Go into all the world. And preach the gospel. And make disciples.
Baptizing them. Teaching them to obey. All that I have commanded you. Was that just for. A handful of people. How could it be. It was the purpose of God.
It is the purpose of God. And if it is God's purpose. How is it not. Your purpose. That is the first conviction.
That drove Paul. That Paul thinks. To drive you. That is the reality. That is the reality. Outside of him. That drove him. There is a God. Knowing the fear. Of this God.
We persuade. Others. Now what about the reality. Inside of him. Look in verse 14. He says.
For the love of Christ. Controls us. Because we have concluded this. That one has died for all. And therefore all have died. And he died for all.
That those who live. Might no longer live for themselves. But for him. Who for their sake died. And was raised. The fear of the Lord is important.
But it's not enough. If there are any young people. Or kids in the audience.
It's important for you to fear the Lord. But it's not enough. It's good for you to be afraid of sin.
And afraid. I don't want to go to hell. But that's not enough. My daughter. I have three daughters.
Two of them can talk. One of them came to me recently. And she'd been struggling. And we'd confronted her with some sin in her life.
And in a moment of transparency. She came to my wife. And said to her. I don't want to sin anymore. How can I stop sinning?
And every adult in the room says. There's a great question. I wish I knew that. We're all sinners. And as long as we're in this life.
We're never going to fully be. What we should be. We're going to struggle. We're weak. But how do you answer that? I don't want to sin anymore. How can I stop sinning?
And what we tried to tell her is. Well what you need. Really is a savior. Who will forgive you. And a savior who will put a new desire in you.
Not just to be afraid of hell. But a desire to do what is right. And the desire is the love of Christ. Paul says.
The love of Christ. Controls him. Specifically a love created. In his heart. By a consciousness. Of the sacrifice of Christ.
That he had looked and seen. That Jesus had died for him. And it changed everything. I'm convinced one died for all. And all died. He was a substitute.
And that has created a whole new reason. For living. So that I no longer live for myself. But I live for him. If a meteor.
Was flying towards the earth. And the scientists said. This meteor is going to destroy the earth. And the only way to stop it.
Was to send some nuclear super bomb. And a spaceship. To the meteor. And the only way to make sure. That it got there. Was somebody had to pilot the ship. And one man volunteers.
And says. I'm going to pilot the ship. And he goes. And the spaceship goes. And it hits the meteor square. And it blows up. And the earth is saved.
What would the reaction be. On this earth. This guy. Would be remembered forever. Right? He'd be in all the history books.
People would pick pictures of him. Up on the walls. He would be celebrated. A hero. To the whole earth. We believe somebody's done that.
And most of the earth is yawning at him. And some of you are yawning at him.
We have a savior. We believe somebody's saved the world. He has conquered death. He's conquered your sin. He took your place.
When Paul says. The love of Christ controls him. The word there controls. Is a word that means. To surround.
Encircle. Hold together. Hold prisoner. Be under tension. Be absorbed in. Be constrained by it.
Has all of those meanings. To encircle. Surround. Hold prisoner. He's saying. The love of Christ. Has a vice grip. On his heart. It's squeezing.
His heart. I don't know if you've ever felt. The love of Christ. Squeeze. Your heart. I hope you have. The only rational response.
To that. Feeling. Is to give your whole life to him. To not live for myself anymore. To live for him.
Who really. Loved me. Sinclair Ferguson. Sinclair Ferguson. Once said. When we think of Christ. Dying. On the cross. We are shown.
The lengths. To which God's love. Goes. In order to win us. Back. To himself. He says. We would almost.
Think. That God. Loved us. More. Than he loved his son. We would. We would. Almost. Think. God.
Loved us. More. Than he loved his son. We cannot. Measure. Love. By any other standard. He is saying to us.
I love you. This. Much. The cross. The cross. Is the heart. Of the gospel. It makes the gospel. Good news. Christ. Died for us. He has stood in our place.
Before. God's judgment seat. He has borne our sins. God has done something. On the cross. We could never do. For ourselves. But God. Does something.
To us. As well as for us. Through the cross. He persuades us. That he. Loves us. You could almost.
You could say too. We would almost think. Jesus. Christ. Loved. Us. More. Than he loved himself. Why would you think.
Anything else? Christ. Loved you. More. Than he loved himself. Has that. Ever. Gripped. Your heart. D.L.
Moody. Moody. Was a great. Evangelist. In the 19th century. And he preached. A series of meetings. At a certain community. And that community. Asked him to come back.
Or was planning. Another series of revivals. And wanted to ask him back. And one person. In the community. Said. Why get Moody again? Does he have a monopoly. On God?
And another man replied. No. God has a monopoly. On him. And we need to be. The kind of people. That God has. A monopoly. On us.
Gripping. Our hearts. Without that. Without the love of Christ. All Paul would have been left with.
Was an insecure fear. But with the love of Christ. His fear. Is transformed. Into an overwhelming. Burden. And love. For the lost.
He believes. And knows. There is no hope. Outside of Christ. There is no hope. Outside of Christ.
No. Hope. Outside of Christ. For any of you. There is no hope. Outside of Christ. For your children. There is no hope. Outside of Christ.
For your neighbors. And if there is any. Love. And kindness. And compassion. In you at all. That should.
Grip. Your heart. For people. Paul. The apostle Paul. Went so far. As to say. I could wish myself. Accursed.
And cut off from Christ. For the sake of my people. I don't. I don't know about you. But. You know. I've. I'd read that for years. And thought. I don't know that I could say that. I could wish myself.
A curse. And cut off from Christ. For the sake of my. My brethren. I didn't think I could say that. Until I had children. And now that I've had children.
I have thought. If. My children. Could go to heaven. If I were cursed.
Would I be willing to do that? I think I would. If I could know. That they would be there. Because I love them.
I want them. To be there. I want. That kind of love. To grit my heart. That's the love of Christ.
Isn't it? That's the kind of conviction. That must grip us. Those.
Two truths. Are the truths. That inform. They inform one another. They're the convictions. That we need to develop. That need to drive us. There is a God.
He is. A reality. There is a fear. Of him. There's fear. Outside of us. That. Needs to drive us. Knowing the fear of the Lord. That's the reality.
Out there in the world. There's a God. This world is going to have to deal with. But there also needs to be reality. Here in my heart. The love of Christ. Needs to control me.
Is anyone here. Who has not been changed.
By the fact. That outside of you. There is a God. You're going to have to deal with. And that's scary. You're going to have to deal with. You're going to have to deal with.
But it's not enough to be scared. You need your heart drawn. Not just to be scared of the Lord. But to see how good.
And loving. This God is. To you. Some of you. Have grown up all your life. In church.
Hearing. Over and over again. Of the goodness of God. God. The love of God. But it's like an old story.
That you yawn at. And it needs to become a reality. To you. I don't know if you've ever heard.
The story of. John Harper. John Harper was born in Scotland. In 1872. He became a Christian.
At age 15. And began to evangelize. And over the years. He became a church planter. And became pretty well known. For evangelism.
And Mark Dever. Has a book. Called the Gospel. And personal evangelism. And he tells. Tells his story. He says. Harper's life. Was an eventful one.
He almost drowned. Several times. When he was two and a half years old. He fell into a well. But was resuscitated. By his mother. At the age of 26.
He was swept out to sea. By a reverse current. And barely survived. At age 32. He faced death. On a leaking ship. On the Mediterranean. If anything.
These brushes with death. Simply seemed to confirm. John Harper. And his zeal. For evangelism. Which marked him out. For the rest of the days. Of his life. He was so zealous.
An evangelist. That Moody Church. In Chicago. Asked him to come to America. For a series of meetings. He did. And they went well. A few years later. Moody Church.
Asked him back again. So it was. That Harper. Boarded a ship. One day. With a ticket. From Southampton. England. For a voyage. To America. Harper's wife.
Had died. Just a few years before. And he had with him. His only child. Nana. Age six. What happened after this. We know. Mainly from two sources.
One is Nana. Who died in 1986. At the age of 80. She remembered. Being woken up. By her father. A few nights. Into their journey. It was about midnight.
And he said. That the ship. They were on. Had struck an iceberg. Harper told Nana. That another ship. Was just about there. To rescue them. But as a precaution.
He was going to put her. On a lifeboat. With an older cousin. Who had accompanied them. As for Harper. He would wait. Until the other ship arrived. The rest of the story.
Is a tragedy. Well known. Little Nana. And her cousin. Were saved. But the ship. They were on. Was the Titanic. The only way.
We know. What happened. To John Harper. After that. Is because. In a prayer meeting. In Hamilton. Ontario. Some months later. A young Scotsman. Stood up.
In tears. And told. The extraordinary story. Of how. He was converted. He explained. That he'd been. On the Titanic. The night. It struck. The iceberg.
He clung. To a piece. Of floating debris. In the freezing waters. Suddenly. He said. A wave. Brought a man near. John Harper. He too.
Was holding. A piece of wreckage. He called out. Man. Are you saved? No. I am not. I replied. He shouted back.
Believe. On the Lord. Jesus Christ. And you will be saved. The waves. Bore Harper away. But a little later. He was washed. Back beside me again. Are you saved?
He called out. No. I answered. Believe. On the Lord. Jesus Christ. And you shall be saved. And losing his hold.
On the wood. Harper sank. And there alone. In the night. With two miles of water. Under me. I trusted. Christ. As my savior.
And I am John Harper's. Last. Convert. Brothers and sisters. We.
We need to be men. And women. Like that. With our last breath. Preaching to a dying world. From the fear of the Lord.
And with the love of Christ. That you must believe. On the Lord Jesus Christ. And you will be saved. Would you pray with me.
Our father in heaven. There is still so much. Selfishness. In each of us.
And lack of. Consciousness. Of the reality. Of you as our God. And you as our redeemer. We thank you father.
That. Even these weaknesses. You have. Covered by. Your blood on the cross. And yet we pray. That your life. Would be more and more in us.
We pray that you would be. Filling us up. To the fullness of you. That we would know. The length. And width. And breadth. And height. Of your love. That we would be filled up.
To the fullness of God. We pray that. We would be so full. Of love. That we would no longer. Live for ourselves. But for. You.
Who for our sake. Died. And was raised. Help us to be those. Who. With love in our hearts. And concern. For the souls of those around us.
Persuade. Men. And persuade. Ourselves. Daily. Father. To live for you. To love Christ. And to give our lives.
Into your hands. This is worth. Our life. And our death. We have been purchased. By Christ. And there is nothing. That man can do to us.
And there is nothing. That death. Can do to us. Except. Bring us. Into your presence. Where we ultimately. Long to be. Help us. We pray. To live.
And to know these things. And to persuade men. And give us fruit. For this labor. We know. You have told us. That. It is your desire.
Your delight. To answer prayers. For fruit. Because you have appointed us. That we should go. And bear fruit. So help us. We pray. In Jesus name.
Amen. Amen.