Redeemer Live - January 26th, 2025 (Full Worship Gathering)

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, yeah, that's it.

Hey, hey Jim morning.

Well, welcome everyone. Grab a seat or take your seat with you or whatever you want to say.

Church Announcements and Call to Worship

Welcome to Redeemer Bible Fellowship. My name is Doug. I'm one of the brothers here. We have the privilege of leading this service today. Just want to make sure that you're aware of a variety of things we have going on at the church and actually Today there's actually quite a lot to announce for one.

Tonight is our women's monthly women's Bible study and there should be some information in the bulletin about that. Hopefully you have a bulletin if you need one and don't have one raise your hand. We'll make sure you get one.

But women's Bible study will be tonight and you're all those that qualify in the Category that I mentioned are welcome and look forward to seeing you there. The other thing staying on that same very topic.

This next I believe it's Saturday the February the first. Is that correct? We are having a women's tea and Here is a an invitation for anyone who doesn't have an invitation at this not you. You're looking at me.

So So we have some invitations and we If you are interested, we'd love to have you attend that women's women's tea and a wonderful time for fellowship and encouragement. Also, we just received by special courier.

In other words Kofi brought the box in we have a count of the new newest copy of table talk the February 2025 edition Explaining well-known Bible stories. There are copies out on the little table where you pick up the bulletins.

You're more than welcome to take one. That's courtesy of The folks at Ligonier and our gift to you as well. One more thing to mention. We also have copies of our churchwide Bible reading plan Bible in a year.

I know we're Into a number of weeks here in January. If you you bet there's still time to participate if you do a little bit of a sprint, you'll be able to catch up. And join us all in reading through a Bible reading through the Bible in a year.

I think you'll find it to be a wonderful blessing so with that Let's go to our time of worship and And as we we know God is the one who calls us to worship and as we come to him as a result of his call it's important for us to start our call with words from his word to us and today our call to worship is from Revelation chapter 19 verses 6 7.

Follow along with me as I read these words Revelation 19 verses 6 7 then I Heard something like the voice of a vast multitude. Like the sound of cascading waters and like the rumbling of loud thunder saying Hallelujah because our Lord God the Almighty reigns.

Let us be glad Rejoice and give him glory. Because the marriage of the Lamb has come and his bride has prepared herself. Will you join me in prayer gracious sovereign creator God. We're thankful for your care for us.

Which includes. You're wanting to have worship with us for us to worship you to have fellowship with us and We're now joined together in one of many around this community around this state around this country in the world around the world many have gathered and have gathered to worship you and we in our Small little place are joining in that multitude just like it explains in this text a multitude that will one day contain Those from every tribe tongue and nation and We are a small little poor taste of that here.

We're grateful for that. We're grateful for your reigning and ruling over all things. And while there are things about this world that are troubling and disturbing we're grateful for your grace in our lives and for the promises of at one day joining with many others because all things will be made right and your rule and reign will be fully completed and in place and You have will have called us to the marriage supper of the lamb but in the meantime, we Take our place along many others over the centuries Who have come together in?

Small fellowship groups to worship you around your word sit in song and around your table. We're grateful for this time together may it be pleasing to your sight and be by your spirit we'd be encouraged blessed exhorted instructed and Fit and strengthened for the week ahead in Jesus name.

We pray. Amen. All right. Well, if you're able, please stand and join us in song and by the way, just as a note in your Bulletin package are the words to our songs just in case so I just want to make you aware of that.

Let's join together in song.

Dark is the path on the wings of the soul the matchless King. You alone be all Majesty your glories and wonders what some can recite breathe in the air and in the bliss might ineffable love. All angels delight to worship above Mercy's out tender how firm to the air our maker defender Redeemer and friend matchless King.

Beyond.

Majesty your glories and wonders what some can recite you breathe in the air Shining the Alone the matchless King be all. Majesty your glories and wonders what some can recite Shining the Worship the King worship the King all glorious of Gravely seen his wonderful love.

Defender the ancient of days villain in splendor and.

God who is high and above is also drawn near to us and the Lord Jesus Christ Which means he's near to us and the suffering and the sorrow. This is the God that we worship one who is near to us. Let's praise the Lord together.

Well, thank you you may be seated as we continue our time in our worship service.

We come to the portion where there is the public reading of God's Word and. We are continuing to finish Psalm 68 that you began. We began last week and picking it up in verse 20. I'll be reading from Psalm 68 and if you have one of the red hardback Bibles that we give away.

It's on page 507. On page 507. Psalm 68 starting in verse 20. These are God's words. Our God is a God of salvation and escape from death belongs to the Lord my Lord. Surely God crushes the heads of his enemies.

The hairy brow of one who goes on his guilty acts. The Lord said I Will bring them back from Bashan. I will bring them back from the depths of the sea. So that your foot may wait in blood and your dog's tongues may have their share from the enemies.

People have seen your procession God the procession of my God my king in the sanctuary. Singers lead the way with musicians following. Among them are young women playing tambourines. Bless God in the assemblies.

Bless the Lord from the fountain of Israel. There is Benjamin the youngest leading them. The rulers of Judah in their assembly. The rulers of Zebulun the rulers of Naftali. Your God has decreed your strength.

Show your strength God. You who have acted on our behalf? Because of your temple at Jerusalem. Kings will bring tribute to you. Rebuke the beasts in the reeds. The herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.

Trample underfoot. Those with bars of silver scatter the people who take pleasure in war. Ambassadors will come from Egypt. Cush will stretch out its hands to God. Sing to God you kingdoms of the earth sing praise to the Lord to him who rides in the ancient highest heavens.

Look, he thunders with his powerful voice. Ascribe power to God. His majesty is over Israel. His power is among the clouds. God you are awe-inspiring in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people blessed.

Be gone. Again, would you join me in prayer? Sovereign powerful Omnipotent God we are grateful for your care on our behalf both protecting us from enemies that would want to do harm to us and also calling us to the fellowship around yours in your sanctuary and.

We're so grateful that in Christ We have that sanctuary for those that have trusted you as Lord and Savior and. As a result of that you in your power in your strength. Act on our behalf we can trust and depend on you.

Yes, you give power and strength to your people and as a result we bless you. Thank you. Now as we continue our time of Worship both in song and in the preaching of your word may it be pleasing to your sight and again Impactful to our souls.

We give all the praise and glory to you in Christ's name. Amen Again now if you're able, please stand and continue to join us in song. I'll bless your name. Oh God.

I'm down to setting Sun Your glory for exceed Oh human. So with each breath, I'll bless your name. Oh God Your name will be As generation There's you You're strong and mighty.

D.

Are always dear. Oh God most higher name will be The. Answered and said it is written Man shall not live every. Then kids you can be dismissed to.

Our kids you have a blessed time as you get to be in God's Word and we're gonna do the same thing here. As we come to God's word just one very quick announcement. This next Sunday at 9 o 'clock in place of our usual Sunday school hour.

We're gonna be having our monthly time of gathered prayer. Our focus is going to be the subject of revival. So 9 a .m. Next Sunday. We'll be in the kids Sunday school room off to the side there. Hope you can join us as we gather.

Seat the face of the Lord and ask for his blessing on his people which we so desperately need. Well, it's a joy to be with you once again as we come to worship if you're visiting I'm Kofi have the privilege of serving Lord as the pastor here at Redeemer and we come to our time in God's Word if you have a Bible and I hope you do take it and turn with me to First Timothy, that's where we've been first letter from Paul to Timothy.

First Timothy and We continue on with a sermon series that we've been in called God's house rules. God's house rules and This morning we come to first Timothy chapter 4. First Timothy and chapter 4. So first Timothy chapter 4 and we're going to look at the first 10 verses this morning.

So first Timothy chapter 4 and Verses 1 to 10 if you've got one of the red hardbacks we give away that's on page 10 52. First Timothy 4 from verse 1 through to verse 10 page 10 52 in the Bibles that we give away.

If you're able to do so, can I invite you to stand with me as we come to this reading from God's Word? First Timothy chapter 4 beginning in verse 1 and reading through to verse 10.

First Timothy chapter 4 beginning in verse 10 page 10 52.

Brothers and sisters these are God's words to us this morning. Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith Paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons through the hypocrisy of liars whose Consciences are seared.

They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from food that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth. But everything created by God is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving since it is sanctified by the Word of God and.

Prayer.

If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus Nourished by the words of the faith and the good teaching that you have followed. But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths.

Rather.

Train yourself in godliness. But the training of the body has limited benefit. But godliness is beneficial in every way since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.

For this reason we labor and strive because we have put our hope in the Living God who is the Savior of all people especially of those who believe. The grass withers the flower fades, but the Word of our God will remain forever.

Let's pray ask for his help as we come to that Word this morning. Well, Heavenly Father we ask as we come to your Word and as we Come with our ears open we trust. Our hearts open we trust to hear you speak.

May your spirit do a work in helping us to hear and helping us to see and in helping us to understand. Father may the words that are said Do the work that you have purposed them to do not because they are my words But because I pray they are a reflection of your words.

And Father it's our habit to pray for other area churches during this time. And so we take a moment to pray for our friends at Cornerstone Christian Church back in Medford. Thank you for Pastor Quentin and just his faithful labor there Pastor Mark who serves by his side and pray for their entire elder and deacon team there at Cornerstone.

Pray for Pastor Quentin as he's preaching through the letters to the Hebrews this morning. Pray for their upcoming Cornerstone lectures in the month of March. What a wonderful ministry that is. Providing a concentrated time of teaching from God's Word.

Pray you bless all their ministry efforts for your glory. Father we thank you that we have brothers and sisters who are proclaiming the same Jesus and.

Are.

Seeking to uphold the same truths that we do. Pray that you bless their ministry there and bless the ministry of your Word here as we come to it. We ask it in Jesus name and for his sake. Amen. Please be seated.

The Gospel Must Be Central

In the last few years I've had the theme of gospel centrality very heavy on my heart and on my mind as a preacher of God's Word but when I say that I can't assume that everybody agrees with the language of Gospel centrality.

So for a moment, let me just ask the question. Should the gospel be central? Now we can all say yes, but let's I always. I never want us to just say things. I want us to think deeply about the things we say.

So let's think deeply about this for just a moment.

Should the gospel be central? I.

Would like to think that God thinks so after all he is the central character of the gospel. He's the one who gave the gospel without Father Son and Holy Spirit coming together. There would be no gospel message.

So I think we can agree God thinks the gospel is important. But have you ever thought about this? Do you realize the devil knows the gospel is important? You have to think about. If the devil didn't think the gospel was important. He wouldn't spend so much time trying to mess with it.

Would he. I mean you read the Bible and he does a lot of things in trying to mess with the gospel. Sometimes he will just try and flat-out distort it. So remember when Paul writes to the Galatians. Galatians 1 6 7 and He tells him I'm amazed that you are so quickly turning from the grace of Christ to another gospel.

There's a phrase he says that sometimes I think we can be tempted to miss. Galatians 1 7 he says not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

So sometimes the devil will try to distort the gospel if he can't distort the gospel. Well, he just tried to deviate us from it. That was the problem at the Corinthians faced. 2nd Corinthians chapter 11.

The 2nd Corinthians 11 3 4 Paul says but I fear that as a servant deceived Eve by his cunning your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. But if another person comes and preaches another Jesus who we did not preach or you receive a different spirit Which you had not received or a different gospel Which you had not accepted you put up with it splendidly.

If he can't distort it he'll try to deviate us from it and if he can't distort it and he can't deviate it from us. Well, he'll just try to distract you from it. So the lessons of Galatians. Galatians 2 4 Paul says to a church that was actually facing this very threat of distraction from the gospel.

Galatians 2 4 he says I'm saying this so that no one would deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable. That people wouldn't come and say things that sound good and would take you off course from the message of the gospel.

Again, if the gospel wasn't that important the devil wouldn't apply that much effort to messing with it. Would he? So heaven knows the gospel is central and even the kingdom of darkness knows the gospel is central.

But here's the question. I want you to think about this morning. How many Christians would properly recognize that the gospel is central. Sure, we will say we believe the gospel. Sure. We'll say the gospel is important.

But is it central? There are lots of things that would like to compete for being central. But my contention over the last few years my conviction over the last few years is that there is nothing more important than the gospel.

This should be the thing that we judge everything by this should be the thing we judge churches by this should be the thing. You should judge those who preach in churches by this is the thing You should judge the ministries of a church by if a church does not have the gospel at its center.

It's suspect and I know that sounds harsh to say but it's the truth. If a church does not have the good news of Jesus Christ and him crucified and that Permeating its culture at the center if that is absent at very best.

We need to ask some questions. And so my question this morning I'm gonna be very earnest in this message because like I said, this is a matter that concerns me deeply. My question this morning is this if that is true if the gospel is central I'm gonna ask should it be it is central if the gospel is indeed central if the gospel is indeed the most important message that has ever been given to Humanity if that is true.

And if that's true if it deserves to be our center then the question becomes. I want to speak very specifically to our house.

This morning.

How does Redeemer Bible Fellowship? How does this church? become and stay a gospel centered church. If the gospel is indeed central then how can we quite frankly act like it is. How does God's house stay?

Gospel centered. Well this morning, that's what I want us to consider as we come to 1st Timothy chapter 4 and verses 1 through 10. I think Paul's going to give us some very helpful insight into how God's house stays gospel centered.

This morning, I really want to just put one central truth before your eyes one central idea I want you to think about this morning. It's very simple. It's that the church Must pursue everything it does made a slight typo there.

The church must pursue everything it does in life in ministry in the clear light of The gospel. The church must pursue everything it does in life and ministry in the clear light of the gospel. Again on the surface a very simple point, but I want to point out that as we come to this passage as simple as that should be.

I Was watching one of my favorite TV shows from the UK and there's a scene in the show where The character basically he's a criminal so the character is about to go pull off a crime and. But two characters and one speaking to the other one and the character is much more cautious and quite frankly more intelligent than the other.

Guy.

Says to his friend like there shouldn't be any problems with what we're trying to do here, right. And his friend Has he has one rare moment of genius where he says in theory it shouldn't be. But the theory has to match the practical.

Well, I'm gonna put it to you though when it comes to this the statement I just made that the church should pursue everything it does in life and ministry in the clear light of the gospel. There's a very clear danger that the theory Doesn't match the practical.

So, how can we ensure that the theory matches the practical that we don't just say the gospel should be central. But the gospel actually is central in the life of our body. That's what I want us to consider this morning the rest of our time.

I want to consider two directives that flow out of our text that will help us to become and I'm gonna add the words and stay gospel centered. So two directives that flow of our text that will help us become and stay gospel centered.

This passage is actually not that hard to break down in terms of structure it cuts actually quite evenly down the middle. So our first directive is gonna come to us in verses 1 through 5 our second directive will come to us in verses 6 through 10.

So 1 to 5 6 to 10 nice and simple two directors that flow of our text. How can we become and stay a gospel centered church? I'm gonna put you that can only happen when point number one this morning you reject demonic alternatives to the gospel.

You reject demonic alternatives to the gospel. So for a moment think back with me to our last message we were in 1st Timothy 3 14 through 16 and in our last message remember we ended with this Rousing reminder from Paul of the actual gospel message.

So the K in your Bible 1st Timothy 3 16 He says and most certainly the mystery of godliness is great. He was manifested in the flesh. Vindicated in the spirit seen by angels preached among the nations believed on in the world taken up in glory.

Again, I won't rehearse everything. I said last week you can go and catch the recording of that. But we ended last time with this glorious reminder of what the gospel message is. And that the gospel message ultimately centers on a person a person called the Lord Jesus and who he is and what he is done.

This is the message that the church is called to proclaim. This is the message that is supposed to be the church's center, but don't be fooled everyone. You see not everybody is on the same mission. Not everyone who claims to speak truth if I can put it plainly is actually about that life.

Not everyone waving a Bible and talking about Jesus actually knows the Bible and knows the Jesus who is at the center of That Bible. As we come to chapter 4 the mood shifts a little in these opening verses.

Gone is the sort of triumphant tone and the resilient sound of the previous paragraph. The last paragraph was pretty positive. But as we come to this section Gone, gone is the light tone and the positive outlook instead.

There's a serious warning. So look at verses 1 2. Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith. Paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.

It's interesting that at the time of Paul writing he uses this language of the Spirit. Explicitly says that this was happening in the present at that time. Now we're not told how the Spirit did this. We're not told when the Spirit did this.

We're not told who the Spirit spoke through. There's an element of mystery as to what Paul means here. Or what Paul is talking about I should say when he says that the Spirit is explicitly saying What he says but can I put it to you that while there is some mystery to The how and the when and the who of all this.

The content of what the Spirit was saying again look at verse 1 that in later times some will depart from the faith. That reality. That there would be people who bring in false teaching that's not a mystery in the Bible actually.

So Jesus himself our Lord and Savior said Matthew 7 15 be on your guard. Against false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravaging wolves. Paul will pick up that language. In fact, he will use the same language Jesus did Acts chapter 28 20 excuse me verse 28.

Be on your guard for yourselves and for all the flock. Again, see that language Jesus talked about being on guard now. Here's Paul saying you should be on guard language of the flock. Language of the flock being used here.

Be on guard for yourself and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers to shepherd the church Of God which he purchased with his own blood. I know that after my departure Savage wolves will come in among you again.

Jesus talked about savage wolves. Savage wolves will come in among you not sparing the flock men will rise up even from your own number and distort the truth. To lure the disciples into following the hem.

As much as I fear the modern church tends to either ignore this or try to downplay this false teaching is real. The reality that there are people out there who are saying things that as Paul says in other places.

They should not be saying that reality is real. I've labored that point already a number of times in our study of 1st Timothy's. I'm not going to labor it again. What I do want to focus on however Is the dimension that Paul adds to this here because Paul does something uniquely that he hasn't done so far in this letter.

So again, look at verse 1. Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later time song would apart from the faith paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons. We can be tempted to think especially in our theological camp sometimes.

In our as I like to say cul-de-sac in the Christian neighborhood. We can be tempted to think that false teaching or better yet false gospels. We can be tempted to think that they're just the product of somebody just who got it wrong.

You know kind of like, you know. They started reading the Bible and then they started reading the Bible upside down and started reading it. In English we read left to right but they started reading it right to left.

You know, it was just they just misread things. They're just not paying attention.

Now.

Let's not downplay that there's an element of truth to that. So Peter himself says it in his day 2nd Peter 3 16. He talks about the people who took Paul's writings Not having the wisdom to understand them and he says that the untaught and the unstable Will twist them to their own destruction as they do the other scriptures.

So yes, there is a sense in which false teaching is the product of people who are untaught and unstable twisting the scriptures. Yes, that is true. But can I say that that is not the whole story? Yes, people will misunderstand the Bible, but there is another side to this.

And like I said is a side that I think at times especially in our camp. We don't talk about as often as we should. I can put it like this beloved. The reality is that false teaching at its core is not merely a matter of the mind.

It's not merely Intellectual it's not merely Somebody just didn't read something right? They misunderstood something. They didn't quite get the big picture. There's an element of truth to that, but there's more to it than that beloved false teaching is not just intellectual.

It's spiritual in nature. Put it plainly false teaching is truly.

Demonic.

You know, I have a lot of love in my heart for the Anglican commentator. Dr. John Stott. John Stott in his commentaries. Put it like this. He said we tend not to take this fact sufficiently seriously.

Scripture portrays the devil not only as the tempter enticing people into sin, but also as the deceiver seducing people into error. Like what John Stott said, but there was another John read something else to say about this first John chapter 4 in verse 1.

He said dear friends do not believe every spirit but test the spirits. To see if they are from God. He said John says don't believe every spirit that is out. It's interesting John doesn't say don't believe every teacher.

I've always wondered about that. Why didn't John say? Don't believe every teaching. Don't believe every teacher don't believe every message for years. I've wondered why did John say? Dear friends, I'm gonna keep James Bible in the key.

James Bible says beloved. Believe not every spirit. Why does he say spirits? And I put it to you that he says spirit because catches teachings either come from the spirits of God Anchored in the Word of God or they come from some other spirit rejecting the Word of God.

Let me say that again teachings either come from the Spirit of God Anchored by the Word of God or they come from some other spirits Rejecting the Word for a moment. Let me let me pause for a second. This raises the stakes doesn't it?

If we rightly understand this doesn't this make the issue of false teaching just a little more serious than just somebody misunderstood something. We can't just bury our heads in the sand and think this will just pass us by can we?

If false teaching is truly demonic. If it truly is as Paul describes it. Come back to our passage. I see say in first John right if you're not there turn that she will be there in just a moment. I was pointing something out there, but if Paul is right in first Timothy and These people who depart from the faith do so because they're paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons if False teaching is demonic and if we can agree that the demonic is dangerous, please ignore what our culture tells you.

This I've just noticed it of late. It seems to be like this explosion of horror movies and messing around with the occult and stuff almost as though it's not that big. A deal according to the Bible. The demonic is actually a very big deal.

The demonic is not just a big deal. It's quite dangerous actually and if false teaching is demonic and the demonic is dangerous. Well, how do we determine? I think it's a fair question to ask. How do we determine if a teaching is Demonic or not?

Is there some way we can tell? Whether a teaching is the product of deceitful spirits and whether it's the teaching of demons. How can we know I think we can? Let me give you this. I think this is real easy.

This is not rocket science in my opinion. If you want to know if a teaching is demonic or not might I suggest one thing it's three words.

Check the.

Center. Check the sensor. In fact, I told you if you under first John 4 already turn there. We don't see something there first one. For In the Red Bibles, we give away that's page 1084 First John 4 1 so let me read that passage in full first John 4 1 through 3.

John says.

Dear friends do not believe every spirit. But test the spirits to see if they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you know the Spirit of God. Okay. So this is how we could know a teaching that comes from the Spirit of God, okay good to know.

How do we know John? Every spirit That confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard is coming even now it is already in the world.

Again in one sense. It really isn't that hard to determine if a teaching comes from God or it comes from somewhere else. All you have to do is in fact say it with me check the Center check the Center if Jesus's person and his work are the center.

You have a pretty good indication that it's coming from God. If something else is central at the very least we need to ask some questions. So again, how do you know if a teaching is demonic or if it's not?

Check the.

Center come back to first Timothy 4 with me because Paul doesn't just say where this teaching comes from again. Look at first Timothy 4 1. Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teaching of demons.

Through verse 2 the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. False teaching comes from the evil one. It's spiritual in its nature. But the evil one sends false teaching it comes through people who have abandoned the truth.

And notice how Paul describes his people. He says. Through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. The word for seed here is actually an interesting way. We still use it in English. If you ever heard of somebody who has a wound and the wound has been cauterized.

That's the word here. The cauterization is the process where you apply high heat to a wound. Usually it can be used negatively but it can be used positively. There's a sense in which some cauterization is good.

If you've got a wound from what I understand anyway. You typically can cauterize that wound to prevent further infection and to try and speed along the healing process. Cauterization is not bad when you've got a wound that needs it.

But think about this with me for a moment is your conscience a wound as God created it is your conscience a wound that should be cauterized.

No.

Cauterization is great. But there's a time and a place for it. It would be akin to me as you all know. I have an obsession with grilling and smoking things. It would be akin to me saying I want to make a steak for what it's worth.

I'm not a big steak person for a number of reasons, but It would be a confusing. I want to grill a steak or actually this happened this past summer. Some of you remember my mom and my sister came to visit made dinner for them one night.

I'm kind of whizzing around doing three different things. I was making barbecue chicken. I left it on the grill and I made the bonehead and mistake of leaving the chicken skin side down with a bunch of sauce.