It is good to have with us this evening our brother Matthew from the Bible College. I think he's a second year student and this is his first time in Garva, a pre-presbyterian church, so afterwards be sure to give him a garter welcome and encourage him. But it is really good to have our brother with us this evening and we trust the Lord will bless him and encourage him as he comes to bring to us his testimony. I want you to turn in with me in the Word of God to 2 Peter chapter 3. just as we begin tonight, 2 Peter 3. I want to thank you, Minister, for the welcome here to Gava, and it is good to be with you here tonight just to share a little of what God has done in my life and to trust that it's encouraging to you, but it also challenges us all about what God can do in a person's life. We often think in life the way we're going is the way that we'll most probably end up. That's not always true, because God can step into a person's life and completely change that person and make them a new creature. And if you're unconverted, that's what can happen to you. You might feel tonight like sin has a grip on you. You're not going to be able to break that grip. You feel like nothing can help you. Well, that's not true. The Lord can change you, can save you, make you a new creature. In 2 Peter 3, verse 9, I want to begin with this verse tonight. It says, The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness. But His longsuffering to us would, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. I'm thankful to the Lord for His longsuffering to me. I lived through my young early years into my teenage years rejecting the Lord, and yet God was long-suffering to me. He's been long-suffering to me to the extent of saving me, even at that late age, even though I grew up with such a great privilege of a godly home. And when I look at this verse, we have here wonderful words. Because here we see the heart of God for the sinner. If you're here tonight and you wonder, what is God's attitude towards me? How does God view me? Obviously, God sees you as a sinner because you are. You've broken God's law. You've sinned against God. But what is God's attitude towards you? We see it here in this verse. He's not willing that any should perish. but that all should come to repentance. And therefore we see that God's desire for you tonight is that you might come to know Christ as Savior. And His desire for you is that you might come into a relationship with Him. God wants you to come to that place where you confess your sin, you repent and acknowledge that you've sinned against God, and put your faith and trust in Christ. And you know, it's only because of God's long-suffering that any of us can be saved. Those of you here who've been saved for many a year can testify of God's long-suffering. You know, it's true for you tonight, if you're unconverted, that God has been long-suffering to you. You're here tonight in God's house, have an opportunity to hear the Word, have a chance to get right with God. You see, this is all ways in which we see God's long-suffering to us. But as I say, God was long-suffering to me. I was privileged with godly parents. Both my mum and dad were saved and grew up with the Word of God read to us every day. And we went to church each Sunday and I had a very godly upbringing and taught verses. I never went to Sunday school. They don't have them in Australia. But At home, I was taught the Bible, grew up soaked in the Word of God, and so I had no excuse really. At the age of six, I made a profession to Christ, but I don't believe I was converted at that time because there was no fruit in my life whatsoever of conversion. And that was seen in a number of ways. One of the big things growing up that I remember distinctly was I hated prayer meetings. I really hated them. I think that was probably the worst place in the world that I could be was a prayer meeting. And I can remember sitting in prayer meetings as a child and being so bored and thinking about sport and thinking about anything I could imagine other than listening to God's people praying. And it was the worst place in the world for me And as I said, I would have avoided the prayer meeting like the plague. And there was another thing that stood out for me as well is I never read my Bible, never really wanted to be in God's Word. I was taught it, yes, but it never really was a personal love for me at all. If it wasn't for the fact that mum and dad read to us the Bible each night, I never even would have touched my Bible. Unfortunately in Australia very often the preaching is very dry and very boring to be honest. There's not many good preachers. And it was very easy to turn up week after week after week and just leave the Lord's house unaffected. To hear preaching that is really just pathetic never challenged my heart, never challenged me over my sin, never showed the fact that sin results in death and hell, the need to come to Christ. These things were never preached with power or with any sort of conviction from the pulpit and so it was very easy for me to just come along week after week and leave and continue on in my life of sin. And then there was something else that stood out to me as well at that time. I hated questions about my salvation. And there were some godly old men in the church we used to attend. And it was their habit at times to ask the young people of the church, well, are you saved? Or do you love Jesus? They're pretty simple questions, aren't they? You know, those questions used to really prick my heart and convict me. You know, I'll ask that to you tonight. It's a pretty simple question, are you saved? But does that question cause you you to be concerned, to make you doubt. These questions come up in your mind and you begin to think, well, am I really saved? Or perhaps I'm really not. I'm just attending church week by week, but I've never come to that point where I've acknowledged Christ as Saviour. And do you love the Lord? I mean, truly love Him? You know, these questions used to fill me with fear and dread. I didn't even want to answer that question. And these things, as I look back on my life, and I remember them distinctly, and it shows to me, I never knew the Lord. And in the year 2012, a group of street preachers came to my local town. And I know that street preachers are kind of the norm over here, but in Australia they're very rare. I'd never even seen a street preacher in my life, didn't even know you could do it. and it was quite a shock, I can tell you. I'd be walking down the street and there's these men on the old soapbox preaching away and I was shocked. And as a young man attending church where it was all quite boring, here I was faced with preaching that actually had some power and conviction in it and it was a real wake-up call for me. But they did a few open air meetings in the town and they came to our church and after the Sunday morning meeting they asked my family if we would like to come down to the town and to stand with them at the open air. And I went along because I had to. And we were standing there and Australians are a pretty abusive bunch when it comes to But I was standing there and I can remember as the people were walking past and I knew that I was identified with this group and I really didn't want to be there. I was ashamed to stand with these people and as I stood there and The preaching was in my ears and I was hearing about sin and the need to come to Christ and that whole scene there for me as I stood there was the first time I really realised I'm not converted. I knew I couldn't do what they were doing. I knew that I didn't want to be there, that I didn't have a love for the Lord in my heart. The preaching of the word was convicting to my soul and I realised I wasn't converted. And in the providence of God these men they went away for three months. To this day I still don't know why. I came to know them quite well and there wasn't a reason for it. But they went away for three months and it was during those three months that the Lord was really dealing with my heart. And there wasn't a particular night where I can say I know that I came to Christ but I know it was during that time. Because It was during that three months that I was crying out to God. Remember nights of being in tears, knowing my own sin, knowing that I didn't know the Lord. And the verse that I kept going back to during that time, and you know it all, Romans 10 and verse 13, for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. I kept going back to that, and I kept crying out to God, for salvation, and I knew that the Lord needed to save me. And it was during that time that God did save me. Because after that three month period, my life just changed completely. Completely. All the things that I once despised, now I had a different attitude on them. I'll deal with that in a minute, but let me ask those of you here tonight, that are unconverted. You know that verse Romans 10 verse 13, for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. When is it that a person cries out for help? You parents here have children. When is it that your child cries out for your help? It's when they can't help themselves. When they know, I need help that's above and beyond myself. That's what it means to become a Christian. Do you understand that tonight? You realize that within yourself you cannot help yourself. There's no righteousness that you have before God. You realize you're a sinner, you condemn before God. You look to one who can save you. You cry to help, to God, to come and to rescue you, to redeem your soul. You see, that's what it means to become a Christian. It's to look to Christ, to Him alone. Let me ask you, have you done that? Have you got to that stage in your life where you realise, I am undone, I am lost, I cannot help myself, I need a Saviour. I need the Lord Jesus Christ to save me. You see, that's what the prodigal son came to. There in the pigsty, there in the very pits of sin, He realized, I need a savior. He remembered his father. And he went back and said, father, I've sinned. That's what you need to do tonight if you're unconverted. Acknowledge your sin and cry out to God and let me tell you, as that verse says, whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. It's true. Salvation is a very simple matter. It's between you and God. Let me say to you tonight, it's wonderful. I am a testimony of the truth of that verse. Would you cry out to God tonight if you're unconverted? You need the Lord to save you. As I said, my life changed completely. And one of the big things that changed for me was before I'd hated prayer meetings. Now, it was the best place to be, really was. I remember my first prayer meeting after I got saved and we were meeting up to go out and to witness in Adelaide. It's the capital city of South Australia. It's a big city and we had a two-hour prayer meeting before we went out and it was an amazing time for me because it was the first time in my life where I really sensed the presence of God. I'm praying with other believers and Hearing God's people lift up their cry to God, it was a special, special place. You know, it's a bad sign, and let me say this to you. It's a bad sign when Christians don't wanna pray, really is. Let me challenge you tonight, if you don't wanna go to the prayer meeting, perhaps it's time for you to look within your heart, You know, it's important for God's people to pray because that's where we get in touch with God, that's where we do business with God. You've got unsaved friends and family members, you're praying for them. You see, this is something for me that changed where I wanted to be in the prayer meeting. I really wanted to be there and to pray and to be with God's people in prayer. Another thing that happened to me was all the verses that mum and dad had taught me growing up that had meant nothing to me, and I mean nothing. I'd learnt them, but who cares? You know, all of a sudden, all these verses that I'd learnt, I realised the value of what I had. I was like, this is wonderful. All these verses that I'd learnt and all the knowledge of the Bible that I had that had just been despised before, And I was like, wow, isn't this wonderful what I have. And I really wanted to read my Bible. And another thing that happened to me as well is I wanted to reach the lost. I realized how I had been reached by people with the courage and boldness preaching the word, going out of their way to preach the gospel. And that's how God had reached me. And I really wanted to do the same. And for me, my attitude was, I feel it was exactly the same as what we read of the apostles in Acts 4 and verse 20. You know, in Acts 4 and verse 20, the apostles have just been arrested. They've been commanded not to preach in the name of Christ anymore. They've been threatened with death. And they reply in verse 20, Acts 4 and verse 20, for we cannot but speak of the things which we have seen and heard. And that was their attitude. And that was how I felt I knew what God had done in my life and I couldn't help but reach out to others. It's a natural thing when you get saved and you're filled with joy, isn't it? You want to reach other people with the gospel. And that was how I felt. I really wanted to reach out to people and I began to get involved in the open air work and witnessing on the streets. And I love that work, and I still do. And so I went on for quite a while just doing that. I was working on the farm at home, my dad's farm. And I was quite happy, thought that's what God has for me. And then I came across on Sermon Audio the early history video of the Free Presbyterian Church that had been put together by Dr. Alan Kanz. It's about an hour and a half video and it goes through the whole history of the church and I watched this and I was quite impressed at what I saw and really the work that God had done. And there was a small clip in that video that talked about the Bible college over here. I'd never even thought about those things but as I watched I thought it was a seed sown in my heart. I thought that looks good, I'd like to go there one day. And I didn't realize it at that time, but God was beginning to work in my life, beginning to call me to full-time ministry. I had that desire to minister already, but I didn't realize that God would have me doing this full-time. And it was really through Romans 10 and verses 14 and 15. Again, these are familiar words, but these were the words that really challenged my heart When I thought about Australia, Romans 10 verse 14, 15, it says, how shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent? Now I thought about Australia and I realized there's millions never go to church. They don't bother. They're not religious or, you know, their family back so far has always gone to church and they just do it out of routine. They don't even bother with it. It's very difficult to get people into church. And so I thought, how are we going to reach these people? And these words struck me. How shall they hear without a preacher? We expect people to come to the Lord without preaching. It's not going to happen. He says, by the preaching of the word. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. And so I realised we need to get out there and reach people. And I thought, well how are we going to do that? And then I read on, how shall they preach except they be sent? And I felt the Lord speaking to me saying, I send you. I want you to preach. Those words struck me and I realised God was calling me to reach. Australia, that's where my heart is, that's my burden, even now I believe God's called me to that, my own country, I love my country, I've enjoyed being here but I'm looking forward to getting back because my heart is there, the burden on my heart is to reach that country. There's so many there who have never even heard the gospel, young people who have never even seen a Bible, never even heard preaching wouldn't know what sin is, wouldn't know who Jesus Christ is. They know nothing. They have such a need of hearing the gospel and we desperately need God to call people to reach out and we desperately need the Lord to move and save people. But that was how I felt and so began to work towards coming to Northern Ireland and I can't go into all tonight, the story of how I got here and the visa. It's all very complicated, very difficult. But I'll just share this with you to encourage you. I applied for one type of visa and I was refused. It's very difficult getting into this country from another foreign country. The government's very strict on who they let in. Well, apparently for me it was anyway. I know sometimes they let in others, but for me it was very difficult. And so there was only one other visa, the one I'm on now. It was a two-year visa that I had possible. And so I quickly reapplied for that. But it was getting very close to the time when I needed to be going. And indeed, that time went past. And I was thinking, how am I going to get over there in time? And normally visas take about three months to process. And yet this one, it processed in three weeks, amazingly. But still, I only had three weeks to completely cut off everything at home, sort that all out, catch a flight, arrive in Northern Ireland, settle down, find a house, get a car. You know, it was crazy, I can tell you. If you've ever had to do moving house, you know how complicated it is. And I was trying to do that halfway around the world and settle down and get ready for college in three weeks. And it was quite hectic, but the Lord brought me through. But I'll just share that, particularly for those of you here tonight, young people. Because so often for us, When we have something that we're praying about, we want God to answer it straight away. It's natural. I know as a younger person myself, we're impatient. We've got something that we're praying about, we want God to answer it straight away. And yet, as is very often the case, the Lord teaches us patience. Because, as I said, it would have been nice if I'd got the visa all early and had plenty of time. God really tested me right up to the very end and tested me to trust in the Lord and let me say that to you young people tonight. You might be thinking about your future, you might be worried about where does God have me. Let me encourage you tonight to just trust in the Lord, to pray and keep on praying and be patient and rest in what God has for you in the future. And it might not work out exactly how you want it, but it'll work out how God wants it, and that's the best for you. And so it's important for you to trust the Lord, but it's important for you to pray about what God has for you in the future. You know, it'd be terrible for you young people here tonight to not even seek God about your future. To not even be concerned about knowing God's will for your life. Let me ask you, you're praying about it. You're saying, God, here am I, use me in whatever way possible. That you be open to God's leading. And it's important for us, whether we're young or old, to trust the Lord for whatever is happening in our lives. And the Lord really taught me that at that time, to be patient, and to trust God for what he has for our lives. And the Lord has not let me down, I can tell you that. There's been difficulties. College is no easy road. Some people think, and well, maybe there's an aspect to this, but some people think college is this almost romantic place where you're going in and you're hearing the word of God every day. And it is a great blessing, but college is not an easy place. It's very easy to become discouraged and downcast in college. It's so much work week after week and you can just feel overwhelmed. We need the prayers of God's people, let me say that, and we appreciate that a lot. But God has been there with me and helped me through times. I can tell you this, one thing I'd say about college is you must be convinced that you're called because you won't get through otherwise. It's in the times when you feel like giving up and the work's too much. It's then that you're able to go back and go, the Lord has called me and I know that for sure. And so God will bring me through this and that's what gets you through. But God has been good to me. I'm in my second year now and again, it is tough work but it's enjoyable work and I'm learning a lot and it's been a great blessing to me And so, as I said before, my burden is to go back to Australia, to reach that country. No idea what I'm going to do, where I'm going to go, wherever God would have me. I'm not bothered with that. But Australia is such a needy country. It's just nothing like here where there's churches everywhere and people in general are sort of religious. It's not like that at all. There's only four. free Presbyterian churches in Australia. And to be honest, we could have 4,000 and we'd still need more. And so there's a great need in that country and it would be wonderful for people to pray for Australia, that God would raise up a people to serve the Lord and to reach out for the Lord in that country. And so that's a little of what God has done for me. But tonight I want to just finish and I want to challenge you tonight as we close, because I've shared with you my testimony. Let me ask you, what's your testimony? Whether you're saved or unsaved tonight, you have a testimony. Every one of us has a testimony. We all influence people. And sometimes we get this idea that we think, what we say and what we do is not really that important, that we don't influence people. That's actually not true. You know, just because of the way you behave and the way you speak in your workplace, in your home, it influences people. It's true. It's very important how we live and what we do, what sort of testimony people are seeing. What is it that your life is manifesting? The Bible says that the believer is to manifest Christ. And so what is your testimony tonight? If you're here and you're unconverted, your testimony is a life of sin, a life of rejection of God, a life of rebelling against God. You know, the Bible says that the sinner The unconverted is a rebel against God. And you know, that's the story of your life up to this point. And you think with me on that. Your life is rejecting the things of God. Rejecting His laws. Rejecting His commandments. That's why you live in sin. Because there is that rejection of God. What is your greatest need tonight? Oh yes, you're on the path of destruction. You're on the way to hell. That's the facts. You see, there is a place called hell. It is real. And it is a place where men and women who reject God will be sent. It's no nice place, let me tell you. And you don't want to end up there, no matter how much you think that you don't care. You see, tonight, hell is there, it is real, and it is where you'll end up if you continue on in sin. And so what's the hope for you tonight? What's the message that the Bible brings? When it's this, Christ died for the ungodly. It's this as a way of escape. There's a way of salvation. There's a way to be saved from hell. But there's only one way. There's not many ways to heaven as many religions teach today. There's not all roads lead to the same God. There's only one way. You see, Jesus said very simply, I am the way, the truth and the life. You see, if you reject Jesus Christ, you reject the only way that you can be saved. And can you see tonight how foolish that is? When you begin to see your sin and your need of salvation. And here's the way of salvation in Jesus Christ. The one who has come to this earth, died for sinful men. the one who can save you and yet you would say tonight I have nothing to do with this righteous man and that's what sinful men do day after day reject the only way that can be saved or don't be a fool tonight let me urge you you see the truth is for you what is your greatest need you see acts 20 And verse 21, it describes the apostles preaching. And it says they preached repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. If you're here unconverted, listen to me tonight. That is the message for you. What do you need to do tonight? Repentance towards God. Why do we need to repent? It's because we sinned against God. He's the one who's offended by our sin. Let me say that to you tonight. God is offended because you've broken His laws. And so you need to come to the one who you have offended and seek forgiveness and repent. Acknowledge your sin. Say, God, I have sinned against you. I've broken your laws. Or yes, you need to repent. But that verse goes on that says, "...and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ." What does it mean to have faith in Christ? It means that you see Him alone as the one that can save you. And you put your complete and utter trust in Him. You know, that's what a person who jumps out of an aeroplane with a parachute does. They strap the parachute on. And they put their life into that parachute. And they believe when they pull the ripcord that the parachute will open and they will be saved. You know, that's what it means to have faith. And you need to do that tonight. Put your faith in Jesus Christ. Trust Him alone for your salvation. That is your greatest need. All that might be said of you, Christ the solid rock I stand it says all other ground is sinking sand let me tell you this if you have lived any sort of length of life you will know that there's many many ways that people live and yet they're all sinking sand and the sooner you realize that the better because it's Christ alone who's the solid rock or is your life tonight described like that hymn writer who says Out of Christ, without a Savior, like a ship without a rudder on a wild and stormy sea. You think with me, what happens to a ship without a rudder on a wild and stormy sea? It's dashed by the waves. It has no control. Ultimately, it will be broken by the strength of the waves. That is what will happen to you. The billows of God's wrath will fall upon you and you will be destroyed. But what's your foundation? You see first Corinthians 3 and verse 11 it says there's only one foundation that a man can lay And that is on Jesus Christ alone Is that where you're found tonight in? Christ believing on him is he your basis Or is it material things? You're living for the things of this world. Living for what you can get out of this life. You know, that's so often the case with young people these days. The whole of life is about getting things. When I finish school, I'm going to go to university and get a good job so I can get lots of money and a house and a car. All these things. You tell me, what does it profit when they face death? It's just a waste of time, isn't it? You see, Jesus said, what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? What does that teach you and me tonight? It means your soul and your eternal destination is the most important thing for you. Let me ask you, you occupied your life so far on things that hardly matter and forgotten the most important thing. I hope that tonight you begin to think about these things. Think about eternity. Think about your soul. Think about whether or not you're saved. Think about Christ who's come and suffered and provided a way of salvation. Think about your need to come to Christ. Think about it. Realize, I need to be saved. And then in humbleness, come to God, acknowledge your sin, say, God save me. You know, He will. It's promised in the Word of God. As Jesus said, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life. Let me ask you tonight, would you believe on Him tonight for the salvation of your soul? Don't leave this place unsaved. If you know that you're not right with God, right where you are now, get right with God. Acknowledge your sin, put your faith in Christ, and believe in the Lord with all of your heart. May God bless his word to our hearts. Amen.