Other Sermons / Individual Sermons
[0:00] Well, it's great to have Isaac with us to preach to us as well, and he's going to be preaching from the book of Daniel, so perhaps you'd turn with me there now, and we're going to read together from Daniel chapter 3, which I think is about page 739, if you have one of our church Bibles, the dramatic story that many of you will know of the burning fiery furnace.
[0:33] So Daniel chapter 3, verse 1, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made an image of gold whose height was 60 cubits, and its bread, six cubits.
[0:44] He set it up on the plain of Jura in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
[1:03] Then the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and is to before the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the herald proclaimed aloud, you are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, the lyre, the trigon, the harp, the bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning, fiery furnace. Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Therefore, at that time, certain
[2:05] Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, O King, live forever. You, O King, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music shall fall down and worship the golden image. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning, fiery furnace.
[2:29] There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O King, pay no attention to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar, in furious rage, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.
[2:55] Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now, if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning, fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?
[3:26] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning, fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.
[3:54] Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.
[4:07] And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to cast them into the burning, fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning, fiery furnace.
[4:22] Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning, fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, did we not cast three men bound into the fire? They answered and said to him, true, O king. He answered and said, but I see four men, unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they're not hurt. And the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.
[5:03] Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning, fiery furnace. He declared, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angels and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any God except their own God. Therefore I make a decree, any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other God who is able to rescue in this way.
[6:15] And then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. Amen. May God bless to us this word.
[6:26] is is It's my great joy and privilege to be here once again, ministering God's word.
[7:05] And to see so many, so many familiar faces and more people whom we know since my first time and since my second time. And this is my third time here.
[7:17] And good to see Rupert, you know, the son of your minister. Your minister is looking older and older these days.
[7:28] I do not know what you are doing with him. At least I got the compliment this morning by Edward that I'm looking younger. Thank you. But it's good to see another colleague from Edinburgh and Phil here and Lynn, our dear colleagues in the work in North India.
[7:46] And it's wonderful to be here. Let's get into God's word this morning. Daniel chapter 3, as it was read before you. I do not know sitting here in 2012, as this chapter was being read to you, what were your response?
[8:06] What were your reaction? That this is something probably that does not happen now. This is something that happened in history. This is not the kind of price Christians have to pay.
[8:20] In our so-called modern world, educated world, reasonable world, this does not happen. But just because, friends, we live in 2012, you know, this view of God and this kind of a stand that we see here in Daniel chapter 3, you may think that this is not required or you may not be required to take a stand like this.
[8:54] C.S. Lewis has called some kind of this mindset a chronological snobbery. Our view, this view must be wrong because we live in times when we know best.
[9:10] And this may not happen in our lifetime. But right from the beginning, let me tell you. In most part of our free world today, every three minutes, some Christians are taking a stand like this and are not delivered.
[9:35] They are paying with their lives for what they believe. And I know that here in the church in Scotland, a church that was known for its clear biblical stance worldwide, you again have to take a stand.
[9:58] And that's why deliberately I'm going to Daniel chapter 3 with you this morning, which has been a source of great encouragement for the suffering church in India and for our churches, where people every day are paying prices like this.
[10:16] The Lord is building his church in North India and we are dependent on God's word. And we draw our convictions, directions of our ministry and life from God's word.
[10:31] And you have heard this phrase, this is not mine originally, where the word of God is faithfully proclaimed. The voice of God is clearly heard.
[10:44] And that is our desire even this morning, to hear clearly God speaking to us. And that is possible only when the word of God is faithfully proclaimed.
[10:59] We cannot take the same stand as these believers unless we are clear about the identity of our God.
[11:09] We are clear about the place of God's word. And we are clear about the standards of God's word in our lives.
[11:20] This is not for that generation in which the word was written. It was for that generation and it is for our generation as well.
[11:32] So when we go into Daniel chapter 1, Daniel chapter 1 points towards Christ and shows us how to live as godly men and women in an ungodly world, which always then and now is always trying to mold us in its own ways.
[11:53] The many lifestyle challenges which the Hebrews were facing in Babylon, the number one civilization of that time. Lifestyle challenges that face you and I to live as followers of Christ today.
[12:11] Daniel and his associates refuse to live the way of the world. And that is, there is a progression in the book of Daniel.
[12:23] And Daniel chapter 3 does not happen in a vacuum. Daniel chapter 3 happens in the context of Daniel chapter 1 and Daniel chapter 2.
[12:37] And then when we come to Daniel chapter 3, these men take a heroic stand for God. Heroic stand for God does not just happen.
[12:47] It is the small obediences of life family of God. The small obediences that lead to significant obediences and significant stand for God.
[13:02] These are the small obediences of life. What are the small obediences of life? You see Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel chapter 1, refusing to succumb to the lifestyle challenges that are there before them.
[13:18] They said, we will not eat this kind of food. Why? Because we have been given what we should eat and what we should drink.
[13:29] They are away from Israel. They can do what they want to, but they refuse to do what they want to, because the presence of God Jehovah is as much in Babylon as it is in Jerusalem.
[13:44] They are away from Jerusalem, but they are still obeying the law and their God. What happens in Daniel chapter 2? We see the contrast between the limits of men and the infiniteness of God.
[14:00] God is always the same, and man also never changes. And man without God remains a sinner anywhere in the world.
[14:11] Family of God, our lives are crowded with so many distractions that take us away from enjoying God, from enjoying Jesus.
[14:22] Our walk is determined not by the gadgets that are available, not by the new movie that is coming on, not by the next holiday or the next golf game.
[14:36] Our lives are determined by our destinations, not by our current circumstances. Many times when we are not clear who we are following, our lives reflect that.
[14:55] If you are not clear who you are following, is it God or money or power or position or influence or comfort? Christian life is about suffering now.
[15:09] But many times we think entertainment now, ball games now, and in all eternity. We many a times think that when we arrive in heaven, God is going to ask us the score of our favorite cricket team or soccer team.
[15:26] Or he may ask us, you know, how was our last golf game? We think he is going to ask that. I don't find that anywhere in the scripture.
[15:38] But I find from the scriptures that it is always suffering. And then there will be a glory. And then we are anticipating that.
[15:51] I was sitting with someone just two days ago who had a heart attack. And he says, Oh, I was so close to be with Jesus. He says, 70 years I've been in this life.
[16:03] I am ready to meet with Jesus. You know, that anticipation of the coming kingdom. And that what we see, a reflection of that given to us in Daniel chapter two.
[16:17] What does focus on the living God really look like then? What does focus on the living God really look like in our, in our life? His word determines the way we walk in our life.
[16:31] Otherwise, we will be fine people as we look very wonderful on this Sunday morning. And we will be something else on Monday as we go to our works and our schools.
[16:42] The cross and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ defines to us the death of all distractions.
[16:54] The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ determines to us the trajectory of our life every week.
[17:06] Let's get into this chapter. My time is rapidly running. You know, in my church, I normally speak for an hour, but you know, I must say, really, you were very generous with time this morning, giving us all the time for interview and for us to tell all our stories so we can concentrate on God's word.
[17:23] When we are focused on Jesus, our life look like these three men. That is what focus on Jesus looks like.
[17:37] Standing for God in the marketplaces of our lives. Daniel chapter 3 is the story of these three Hebrew believers who refuse to bow down to the gods of the age, resulting in near death suffering.
[17:55] Suffering, which takes us closer to God in a way that blessing does not take us. And they were face to face with Jesus.
[18:05] Where? Not in their promotions, not in the victory of their ball games, but in the fiery furnaces of life they saw Jesus.
[18:18] Nebuchadnezzar rejected what he acknowledged in Daniel chapter 2 and verse 47, as the God of gods and the Lord of kings. And in the dream in chapter 2, when Daniel explained to him the dream in chapter 2, he said, you are the head, the golden head.
[18:39] So what does Nebuchadnezzar do in Daniel chapter 3? He erects a full statue of gold of himself. Can you believe the blindness of the rulers of the age?
[18:52] And what he does in verses 4 and 5, he says, you are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, and all that music, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
[19:08] Clear a dict. Very, very clear. This is in full rebellion of the living God. In chapter 1, the hazard was the lifestyles and values of the pagan world.
[19:19] Now it is blatant idolatry. A direct challenge to our understanding of who God is. Daniel chapter 2, verses 44 and 45.
[19:32] I must read this. They were read briefly at the beginning. And in the days of those kings, the God of heaven, will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, and it shall stand forever.
[19:46] Just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold.
[19:59] Did he accept it? Did he accept the kingdom, the coming kingdom of our Lord? Did he live it? No. Nebuchadnezzar's response was just the utter and deliberate rejection of this kingdom, and complete idolatry.
[20:15] What is the position of believers today? You and I live in the messianic hope of the kingdom that is going to come.
[20:28] The citizenship of that kingdom is our goal, and our eyes are on that citizenship of that kingdom. As church of Christ, what do we cherish most?
[20:44] What do you and I cherish most in our lives? We wait and cherish for the kingdom of God. You saw the progression in the book of Daniel.
[20:55] Note how people of God respond to earthly challenges and false gods. If they had failed in their stand in Daniel chapter 1, they would have fallen to the ground like everybody else in Daniel chapter 3.
[21:14] They would have fallen certainly. If they had slipped into the ungodly lifestyle of exile, they certainly could not take a stand now. If they had failed in Daniel chapter 1 to mark themselves as pilgrims in exile, they would have no chance of standing in Daniel chapter 3 as worshippers of living God under suffering.
[21:37] How do people face up to opposition and persecution in their Christian lives? By persevering in their faith and holding to the word of truth.
[21:49] Verse 12, they are reported, there are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
[22:06] These men, O king, pay no attention to you. Do not serve your gods and do not worship the golden image. Very clear. Please see what's happening.
[22:19] Compromise lifestyles with the world. Disables any possibility of taking a heroic step for Jesus. A heroic stand for Jesus in times of severe opposition just does not happen automatically.
[22:38] It is built up on consistent daily walk and trust in the Lord. You cannot start witnessing to strangers in airplanes, trains, buses unless you have been doing it all the time of your life.
[22:54] You know how conversation at workplace turns to Christianity at work? I was sitting in an airplane and as soon as I sat down, I know unless you start witnessing in the first two minutes, you will never open your mouth.
[23:12] Okay? So right in the first two minutes, you have to say something so you can pick up. I sat next to this man and I was just recovering from tuberculosis. I was flying again.
[23:23] So I basically sat down and I said to him, Jesus has healed me from a deadly disease. And this man was sitting next to me and he said, Buddha has healed me from such and such.
[23:35] And there was another man who was sitting there and he heard that and he looked at me and he said, you know, Muhammad has healed me. And oh my goodness, Jesus, Muhammad and Buddha are all standing on the same stand.
[23:47] They're all same equal. Okay, well, if somebody else was listening, they said, ah, this is a wonderful conversation. Isn't that what we want? This is perfect peace in the world which we are desiring. This is what we want.
[23:58] And I looked at these two men. I said, you know, I'm sorry what I said to you just now, guys. He said, no, no, you didn't say anything wrong. I said, I want to withdraw what I said. They said, why?
[24:11] Why do you want to do that? I said, because Jesus is the only God and King. What do you think happened after that?
[24:23] Everything froze around me. And these two men were then talking very warmly for the rest of the journey and completely ignored me. But friends, that is the truth.
[24:38] If I've never opened my mouth and witnessed to my work colleagues, relatives and neighbors, how will I suddenly love Jesus enough to stand for him in the face of severe persecution?
[24:49] Am I really going to lay down my life for the Lord if I have refused to forsake my basic evil instincts and love for comfort, entertainment and convenience?
[25:04] How am I going to suddenly take a radical stand for Jesus? Maybe I'm making you very uncomfortable this morning. Faithfulness in small things.
[25:18] is the foundation for faithfulness in big things. Small obediences. Small obediences.
[25:31] What are small obediences? What are those small obediences I'm talking about to you this morning? Friends, dwelling in God's word is a small obedience. You don't have to take any heroic stand for that, but it's a small obedience that takes place in your personal private life.
[25:47] when you look up to the Lord and have a conversation with him as your dear, loving, heavenly father who is willing to listen.
[25:59] Small obedience. Isn't it? And thank you for your presence here in the house of God. Small obedience. obedience. This will result in significant obediences.
[26:13] But if these small obediences are not in place, how do you think one day you will take a heroic stand for the Lord? Imagine, imagine this scenario in this chapter.
[26:24] The grand city square, a towering 90 feet tall, golden statue at the center. Only the best and the finest of bands are present over there.
[26:37] And right at the time the music strikes and everybody falls down. And who is left standing? Three men.
[26:49] And they looked very odd group. And if you could enter the world of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when this happened, Shadrach and Meshach and Abednego, their buddies were there.
[27:03] Other people from exile, their neighbors. Maybe Shadrach was saying to Meshach, look at Ahad, he has fallen down also. And look at Azor, he has fallen down also.
[27:16] And Meshach said, oh my friend Zadok, he has fallen down also. Can you imagine everyone falling on the ground?
[27:28] How does it matter? How does it matter if you swing a little bit and you bow down a little bit? Why should anybody have to die for such a silly thing like this?
[27:43] Isn't that the question? Why should anybody die? Many times culture plays the tune and we are expected to bow down.
[27:56] Let me be politically incorrect because I come from a place where there is no political correctness. And who after all made political correctness? When the culture plays the tune of abortion, homosexuality, materialism, do-it-yourself morality, public opinion says to us, bow down.
[28:23] It is not God's word, it is public opinion. Or else you will face the ridicule and be ostracized. And how much afraid we are of ridicule.
[28:38] we do not want to be ostracized. Can I tell you, I am no different than yours, than you. My default mode is to be approved, accepted, fit in, feel good and normal.
[28:58] That is my default mode as well. I don't like isolation, loneliness, because it is very threatening. but you can take a stand like this, if you are daily in the small obediences of life.
[29:18] And the addict is clear. Family of God, I have faced nine assassination attempts on my life. I remember the first time when I was attacked.
[29:32] I wanted to run away. I didn't want to die. I was saying, why should I die? My career in missions in only three years. Now it's three decades at the moment.
[29:45] My career in mission is only three years. Some of the senior men must die. It's like Rupert being attacked and he says, my dad should die, why should I die?
[29:57] Somebody else should die. I'm just making a mark. Verse 6 says, and whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.
[30:09] How clear it can be. It says self-preserving instinct say bow down like everybody else. Faith and conviction say I can't do it. Common sense screams.
[30:22] Don't be crazy. Die another day. There is nothing to be gained by dying today. What about the recent promotions that you got? Work those positions.
[30:33] Get into power. Get into positions. I want to say the pressures were unbearable, but they remain standing. The idea of standing is terrifying to most people.
[30:50] How can anyone take a stand like this? Only if you have been so captivated by the love of Calvary and by the Lord Jesus Christ.
[31:02] Only then can you take a stand like this. You have knelt before King Jesus and you have pledged your complete allegiance to Jesus and you cannot give that allegiance to anyone.
[31:18] Your primary desire in your heart is the coming kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are called upon, family of God, to take the same kind of stand.
[31:34] The world constantly demands of us an allegiance which we cannot give it. All of us may not be called to situations like this. Some of us here may well go to situations where we will be called upon to make some kind of a stand that will cost of our jobs, our careers, and maybe our lives.
[31:53] We can only take such stands in pressure if we are trusting Jesus. day by day in our land, in our hearts. A stand like this or any other stand is not easy at all.
[32:07] Can I appeal to you, family of God, can I appeal to you on behalf of the suffering church? Take a stand. Take a stand. Most of the world today, becoming a Christian is a sure ticket to persecution.
[32:25] persecution. A sure ticket to persecution. Shadrach, Neshach, and Abed Nago stood up, not because they were brave men, not because they thought they could use their connections and get away, but because they believed in the vision of Daniel chapter 2, the coming kingdom of our God.
[32:43] That's why they could take a stand. They had a clear view of God. They knew that they were only pilgrims in this land. They had a clear understanding of God.
[32:56] Humanly speaking, it was a hopeless situation. What happens now? Taking a stand like this makes them stand eyeball to eyeball with the king.
[33:12] And what does he say to them? He says to them, is it true? I can't believe it. You guys know what the consequences of this is. Is it true that you are not falling down?
[33:26] Maybe, maybe Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we can organize an orientation class for you how to bow down. Maybe we can arrange that for you. Don't be silly.
[33:38] Don't die for something like this. Maybe there is a misunderstanding here which we can clear. Maybe you did not understand what it means to bow down. When the grand orchestra plays, it acknowledge at least that there are other gods.
[33:56] Acknowledge at least that there are other ways as well. I acknowledge your God in Daniel chapter 2. Now it's your turn to acknowledge my God in Daniel chapter 3. Isn't that the way the world goes?
[34:09] I acknowledge your God, you acknowledge my God, we are buddies. Don't be silly. Don't be ridiculous. Jesus, how can you be like this?
[34:22] But let me tell you, if you do not, after my little counseling session with you, okay, if you do not, then we will see who is God. Is there any God that can take you out of that fire?
[34:34] It's a huge question. Who is God who will deliver you? And their answer is one of the great statements that have encouraged believers throughout history. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in verse 16, 17, and 18.
[34:46] They answered and said to the king, we have no need to answer you in this matter. Stunning boldness and courage, isn't it? If this be so, our God, whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
[35:04] This is no health, wealth, prosperity, make you comfortable, God. Verse 18, but if not, be it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, or worship the golden image that you have set up.
[35:20] They do not act out of fear, but they act out of faith. This statue may be 90 feet tall, but it is still lifeless and an idol.
[35:33] You may kill us, but we will not bow down. What a stand. What a stand. these people take. Do you know, we think it is impossible for a young man, for a young person to be godly at school and at college.
[35:51] Look at these three men. You can be godly if you are a young person today, and the culture and the influence says, bow down. You can be godly if you are faithful in those small things.
[36:06] A pastor from Orissa where we have seen a lot of persecution and martyrdom who was beaten and whose church was destroyed and Bibles burned, said this to his oppressors in a TV debate, and I quote, you have burnt our Bibles, but you have not been able to take the Bible out of our minds.
[36:29] You have destroyed our churches, but you have not been able to destroy the worship of Jesus from our lives. You have beaten our bodies, but you have not been able to take the love of Jesus out of our hearts.
[36:44] You will never be successful in stopping us from following Jesus. What a heroic stand, looking the person in power.
[36:57] But can I tell you, one day you and I are going to eyeball God. God, we are going to stand before him, and he is going to require of us an account of our lives.
[37:14] Do you long for this kind of courage, this kind of stand? If you have not yet been tested in this manner, let's have the same uncompromising love for Jesus, the same surrender to him, the same courage in the face of death, the same commitment that many of our brothers and sisters who will die for Jesus today are showing.
[37:37] The world has got its fiery furnaces waiting for those who do not conform to the worship of his idols. We may have been so conformed to the lifestyles and the popularity gimmicks of the world that we think this kind of stand is not required.
[37:55] Can I say to you, we are exiled witnesses, whether we die today for him or live for him today. We live, work and study in situations which require self-sacrificial witness and service.
[38:16] It is costly to faithfully live for Jesus and follow him in a possession worshipping culture. It is costly to take a stand against a constant bombardment of worldly propaganda that insists that we trust in our momentary comforts rather than in Jesus and his future kingdom.
[38:38] My time is over and I must stop. I have still not gone to my third point, but that does not matter. You have got the point what I am saying.
[38:50] Stand is required as we follow Jesus in this world. each of us will pay some kind of a cost. We will face some level of opposition.
[39:03] Can I say this to you? A mysterious intimacy with Lord Jesus results from such fellowship with the Son of God. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed Nagel entered the fire, who was waiting there for them?
[39:19] Jesus. Recognized by the king himself. how did he recognize Jesus? Just the way we will recognize him. The scripture says, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess him as Savior and Lord.
[39:38] You may not physically see him today, but the God of all comfort and grace will be with you. That is the true focus of our life.
[39:48] Being with Jesus is the goal. let us closely embrace those time of fellowship with him in prayer and Bible reading. Know God's word, family of God, know God's word, so that you will not be deceived by the culture around you.
[40:07] Trust God's promises so you won't be fearful of people around you. Speak for Jesus in any circumstances. Purpose not to quit even when those closest to you fall.
[40:20] Expect life to be tough, hard, and full of trials. Trust God with your death. Do not fear. That is what we see in Daniel chapter 3.
[40:36] Let us closely then embrace those times, those little obediences because it equips us to stand as faithful witnesses when the world bows down to his false gods.
[40:53] Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we are grateful for these examples before us.
[41:13] We are grateful for the power of your word. We are grateful for the fellowship that we have with the Holy Spirit.
[41:25] We are grateful for Jesus Christ, our Savior. Relational Trinity has placed us right at the center of his purposes in this universe.
[41:36] God, help me this week to take a stand for you.
[41:50] I will not be intimidated. I will not be fearful. I want to thank you, Lord, for the fellowship that we have with this church and with you. We give you thanks in Jesus' precious name.
[42:05] Amen. We have these brochures at the back. If you want to take these, these are free, please take one. If you do not know the ministry of DBI, there are some papers there.
[42:19] Please write your name and your email and phone number clearly so that we can put you on the list. And finally, I wanted to say this right at the beginning. We are very grateful to you for lending us your minister last year and this year.
[42:35] Thank you so much. Please do keep sending your best to us so that the church in India may continue to mature and grow.
[42:46] Thank you for a next generation son like Rupert. Without joking, sons, there are our sons in the word. Keep sending them to us also.
[42:59] We are building, God is building in that part and your contribution is very, very much required. Thank you so much.
[43:17] Well, thank you, Isaac, for all your words from the scripture, for all your words of encouragement to us about the work in India. Let's end by singing number 732.
[43:31] A hymn which is a prayer to the Lord. Lord, be my vision, supreme in my heart. Bid every rival give way and depart. You my best thought in the day or the night, waking or sleeping, your presence my light.
[43:46] Number 732. 732. 732. 732. 732. 732. 732. 732. 732. 732. 732. 732. 732. 732. 732. 732. 732. 732. 732. 732. 732. 732.
[44:03] 445. 1032. zwischen your divineISH RAMP. 732. 832. 933. 633. i huge sing park.
[44:14] 733. i h 866. die en rief re 646. lie and cross 646. immensely ו Let's sing.