WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.000 In chapter 1, Colossians chapter 1, and reading again there at verse 5. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:11.419 ! Well, we can read from verse 3. 00:00:12.019 --> 00:00:21.000 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:28.260 and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. 00:00:28.260 --> 00:00:33.500 And particularly that last bit there in verse 5, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. 00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:37.760 Now, Paul, as we know, is a great encourager. 00:00:39.120 --> 00:00:46.700 And in this letter, we find that he's giving thanks for the life of the Christians in Colossae. 00:00:47.820 --> 00:00:53.160 And it is important that we recognize the gifts and graces that are evident in people. 00:00:53.159 --> 00:01:01.819 And that's what Paul was doing, because he's been hearing about their faith and their love and their hope. 00:01:02.319 --> 00:01:05.859 And so he's giving thanks to God for these very things. 00:01:05.859 --> 00:01:14.120 And we know that these are the great virtues, the great graces that are so often spoken of in Scripture. 00:01:15.719 --> 00:01:27.280 We find that faith looks upward, and love looks outward, and hope looks forward to the future. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:33.379 Paul spoke about these on another occasion, and where he said, 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:36.920 Now abides these three, faith, hope, and love. 00:01:37.340 --> 00:01:39.840 But the greatest of these is love. 00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:52.620 And the greatest of these is love because, well, we know that faith receives, hope expects, and love gives. 00:01:52.620 --> 00:01:57.200 And the word tells us that it's greater to give than to receive. 00:01:58.160 --> 00:02:04.200 But tonight I want us to focus on what Paul is saying here about the hope that is laid up. 00:02:04.340 --> 00:02:09.520 That's what it tells us, the hope that is laid up in heaven. 00:02:10.480 --> 00:02:14.099 Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. 00:02:14.860 --> 00:02:18.219 And that's one of the great blessings that we have in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:02:18.219 --> 00:02:24.419 Sometimes we forget, we know that we've been born again, that we've been saved. 00:02:24.539 --> 00:02:32.659 And sometimes we say to ourselves, we don't examine or really dwell on what is it that we actually have in Christ Jesus. 00:02:32.840 --> 00:02:38.639 What is there that we can really dwell on and become excited by? 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:41.960 And one of the things is the hope that is within us. 00:02:41.960 --> 00:02:45.740 So I want us to think tonight a little about this hope. 00:02:46.599 --> 00:02:50.100 And what first thing that we'd look at is what is our hope based on? 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:55.560 Now, as we know, the hope of the Christian and the hope of the world is very different. 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:56.719 We've often mentioned that. 00:02:57.240 --> 00:03:03.420 The hope of the world is not based on anything really substantial or anything really foundational. 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:08.300 The hope of the world is really no more than I hope so. 00:03:08.300 --> 00:03:12.540 I hope that if all the things come together that that's the way it'll work out. 00:03:13.640 --> 00:03:17.100 There's nothing in this world that is really safe, really secure. 00:03:17.200 --> 00:03:19.240 We used to talk about being as safe as a bank. 00:03:19.660 --> 00:03:25.100 But we know that banks can be broken into and we know that banks can actually collapse. 00:03:25.240 --> 00:03:27.100 We've seen things like that happen. 00:03:28.100 --> 00:03:34.100 But the hope of the world is, I might say, I'm going to Canada this summer. 00:03:34.099 --> 00:03:37.680 Well, I'm not, so don't ask me when are you going to Canada. 00:03:37.780 --> 00:03:38.900 But I'm just as an example. 00:03:39.239 --> 00:03:40.539 I'm going to Canada this summer. 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:44.379 And I booked the hotel. 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:46.639 I booked the flights. 00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:50.639 And I booked it through a reputable travel company. 00:03:50.879 --> 00:03:51.759 So it's all good. 00:03:52.299 --> 00:03:53.500 So that's where I'm going. 00:03:53.500 --> 00:03:56.819 And you've got this degree of certainty about it. 00:03:56.879 --> 00:03:58.520 And you're getting excited about it. 00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:05.439 But the thing is that it's possible that you may become seriously ill and not be able to go away. 00:04:06.379 --> 00:04:08.560 The hotel that you booked may go on fire. 00:04:09.539 --> 00:04:12.939 The airline company you're going might collapse. 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:17.560 The travel company that you've booked everything with might go under. 00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:22.339 There are all these ifs and buts and uncertainties that could happen. 00:04:23.519 --> 00:04:31.199 So our hope in the world never has an absolute utter foundation to it. 00:04:31.720 --> 00:04:35.319 It's always little more than I hope so. 00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:37.860 I hope that this is the way it will turn out. 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:42.259 But the hope of the Christian is something that is totally different. 00:04:42.259 --> 00:04:47.620 Because the Christian's hope is based upon God. 00:04:48.519 --> 00:04:50.139 It's based upon God the Father. 00:04:50.939 --> 00:04:55.300 God the Father has made the most amazing statements in his word. 00:04:55.420 --> 00:04:57.819 The most wonderful promises in his word. 00:04:58.539 --> 00:05:02.699 And there's one thing that we can say that every word of God is true. 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:06.920 There's a question asked in the Bible. 00:05:07.099 --> 00:05:08.860 Are all things possible with God? 00:05:08.860 --> 00:05:13.480 And it tells us that there's nothing impossible with God. 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:15.120 And that is absolutely true. 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:18.379 But there are two impossibilities regarding God. 00:05:18.620 --> 00:05:23.620 The word of God tells us it is impossible for God to deny himself. 00:05:24.400 --> 00:05:27.520 And it's impossible for God to lie. 00:05:28.460 --> 00:05:30.699 God is not a man that he should lie. 00:05:30.819 --> 00:05:32.720 Nor the son of man that he should repent. 00:05:33.100 --> 00:05:36.060 Hath he not spoken and shall he not make it good? 00:05:36.060 --> 00:05:40.519 Has he not revealed the word? 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:42.220 And will he not fulfill it? 00:05:42.459 --> 00:05:43.379 That's what God is. 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:47.160 He is utterly and altogether true to his word. 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:48.420 He cannot lie. 00:05:49.620 --> 00:05:54.120 So when we have God's word, we know that this has come from one who cannot lie. 00:05:54.939 --> 00:05:56.220 We also have the son. 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:01.660 And the son follows through everything that the father has said. 00:06:01.660 --> 00:06:06.120 The son is ratifying all the promises given to us by the father. 00:06:06.980 --> 00:06:08.020 And who is the son? 00:06:08.340 --> 00:06:12.280 Well, he tells us, I am the truth. 00:06:12.740 --> 00:06:14.580 Remember, he says, I am the way. 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:16.320 I am the truth. 00:06:16.600 --> 00:06:17.660 I am the life. 00:06:18.220 --> 00:06:21.600 So it is impossible for the son to lie. 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:30.360 And so every promise that we have in the word of God comes with the authority of the father and the authority of the son. 00:06:31.220 --> 00:06:40.280 And this is a pillow that we can lay our head down on and rest in complete security, knowing that every word is true. 00:06:40.279 --> 00:06:51.979 And then we have the ministry of the Holy Spirit, which ministers to our spirit, convincing us of the truth of what the word says. 00:06:52.519 --> 00:06:58.939 And the Holy Spirit convinces us and stirs up that hope within us. 00:06:58.939 --> 00:07:08.560 And the Holy Spirit in that way is ministering to our spirit and enabling us to lay hold upon the promises by faith. 00:07:08.680 --> 00:07:16.920 I'm sure all of you tonight have in the past and continue to do so, lay hold upon God's word. 00:07:17.019 --> 00:07:19.939 There are maybe some promises that are special to you. 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:21.579 There are promises you might have. 00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:23.420 You might have a promise up on your wall. 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:26.800 You might have a promise underlined in your Bibles. 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:28.920 You go back to it so often. 00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:31.020 It means so much to you. 00:07:31.340 --> 00:07:32.740 This is God's word to you. 00:07:33.139 --> 00:07:39.639 And God's spirit has given you the faith where you're able to cling to it and base your life upon it. 00:07:39.720 --> 00:07:41.160 So this is a great thing. 00:07:41.420 --> 00:07:44.360 This is this hope that we have in our hearts. 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:45.780 So it's foundational. 00:07:46.080 --> 00:07:46.600 It's true. 00:07:47.879 --> 00:07:53.439 So then I suppose we have to ask ourselves the question, what are we hoping for? 00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:55.780 What is a Christian tonight hoping for? 00:07:55.779 --> 00:07:59.439 Well, there's many things and just suggest a few. 00:08:00.539 --> 00:08:10.639 And the first thing as we look into the future, the first thing I would say that every Christian is looking for is to be forever with the Lord. 00:08:11.639 --> 00:08:13.219 I think that would be your number one. 00:08:14.019 --> 00:08:17.679 To be in the presence of Christ forever. 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:21.500 And to see him as he really is. 00:08:22.100 --> 00:08:24.920 You see, in this world, we've only seen by faith. 00:08:25.780 --> 00:08:27.560 And sometimes we don't see very clearly. 00:08:28.220 --> 00:08:36.240 And I'm sure it's one of the things, if you're anything like me, you say to yourself, I wish I could see the Lord Jesus more clearly. 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:39.919 I sometimes feel that my faith is so dim. 00:08:40.560 --> 00:08:42.879 And I want to see Jesus more clearly. 00:08:43.899 --> 00:08:49.320 We're like the Greeks that came, remember, to the disciples and they said, we want to see Jesus. 00:08:49.320 --> 00:08:59.220 And I'm sure that that is often the question or the desire that we express within our own hearts, within our own lives. 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:13.280 Now, the thing is, we know that supposing we said, wouldn't it be wonderful if Jesus was to come from heaven to earth and to spend a few days in our presence? 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:16.699 Well, the thing is, that couldn't happen. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:17.860 We couldn't look on him. 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:25.860 Our sinful humanity could not abide in the presence of Christ. 00:09:26.220 --> 00:09:32.759 Even as Christians, we couldn't look upon him because of the failure of what we are. 00:09:33.319 --> 00:09:39.480 There's examples given to us when Jesus gave a quick revelation of himself to the Saul of Tarshish. 00:09:39.720 --> 00:09:42.799 He fell to the ground blind. 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:50.279 He was dazzled by the glory and the brilliance of who he saw and the words that he heard. 00:09:51.419 --> 00:09:56.299 The other example is John, the great disciple of Jesus. 00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:58.659 And we find that in the book of Revelation. 00:09:58.659 --> 00:10:09.240 When Jesus, the exalted, glorified Jesus, revealed himself to John, John fell down at his feet as one dead. 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:14.340 That's the impact, the power of the risen Savior. 00:10:15.139 --> 00:10:22.000 And it's not until we die and we're told at death we're made perfect in holiness. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:29.720 It is only then that we have the capacity and the ability to behold Jesus as he really is. 00:10:30.919 --> 00:10:33.440 But it's a great mark of grace. 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:44.600 And I would say this, even if you're not somebody who has yet come to a place where you professed the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior. 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:54.060 If you can say hand on heart, my great desire above everything else is to see Jesus and to be in his presence forever. 00:10:54.059 --> 00:10:56.939 Then that is a true mark of grace. 00:10:57.439 --> 00:10:59.159 Because the world can't say that. 00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:08.799 The world, if you said to them, do you want, because the world has a very different idea of what heaven is. 00:11:09.099 --> 00:11:11.500 Heaven is being in the immediate presence of Christ. 00:11:11.500 --> 00:11:16.139 And it's logic when you think about it. 00:11:16.220 --> 00:11:24.659 If a person in this world says, I'm interested in the gospel, but I don't want Jesus to be king and lord in my life. 00:11:25.580 --> 00:11:28.059 And you're kind of holding him at arm's length. 00:11:29.559 --> 00:11:36.720 If you think that that's the way, how could you spend the whole of eternity in his immediate presence? 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:41.700 That logic itself tells you that that's how it is. 00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:50.480 So the world, as they are just now, do not want to live in the immediate presence of Christ forever. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:55.220 But if you do tonight, then that is an obvious mark of grace. 00:11:55.639 --> 00:12:03.500 Because only somebody who the Lord has touched in their heart is able to think in that particular way. 00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:11.019 And then again, we hope and long for the day when sin will be no more. 00:12:11.620 --> 00:12:16.259 Now you and I know that there's nothing that has bogged us down in this world. 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:18.580 That has shackled us. 00:12:19.179 --> 00:12:21.960 That has just frustrated us. 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:26.500 Like the sin that clings to us. 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:28.440 The sin, the besetting sin. 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:31.419 The sin that's just part and partial of our life. 00:12:31.419 --> 00:12:37.659 And like the apostles so often we've said, you know, the good that I want to do, I don't do. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:41.059 And the evil that I don't want to do, that's what I end up doing. 00:12:42.439 --> 00:12:45.740 You see, sin has such a grip on us. 00:12:46.139 --> 00:12:47.139 It sucks us. 00:12:47.459 --> 00:12:48.740 We're drawn by it. 00:12:49.219 --> 00:12:50.099 Because we have that. 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:53.419 Remember before describing it like if you're playing balls. 00:12:53.419 --> 00:12:56.120 And there's a bias in the ball. 00:12:56.719 --> 00:13:02.179 So that when you roll that ball, you obviously have to have the ability to do so. 00:13:02.259 --> 00:13:05.679 But you roll it in such a way so that the ball will go out like that. 00:13:05.939 --> 00:13:12.099 Working the bias which draws it in towards the jack, you call it. 00:13:12.379 --> 00:13:13.919 Well, we're like that ball. 00:13:14.719 --> 00:13:16.039 We cannot go straight. 00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:18.799 If you roll it down, it won't go straight. 00:13:19.459 --> 00:13:21.279 It's going to twirl this way. 00:13:21.319 --> 00:13:22.639 And that's the way we are with sin. 00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.980 We're inclined to it. 00:13:24.459 --> 00:13:25.079 It's there. 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:26.219 It's part of us. 00:13:27.699 --> 00:13:31.740 And if we love the Lord Jesus, we're so often frustrated with ourself. 00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:35.939 And so often we've gone to the Lord and say, Lord, forgive me. 00:13:36.179 --> 00:13:36.719 Forgive me. 00:13:36.779 --> 00:13:37.719 Here I am again. 00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:41.360 And we're so aware of how it bogs us down. 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:46.700 And so this is part of the hope that we have for the day when sin will be no more. 00:13:46.779 --> 00:13:48.200 It won't even be on the horizon. 00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:55.800 And side by side with that, we long for the day when Satan won't trouble us anymore. 00:13:56.820 --> 00:13:58.919 Because Satan's always snapping at our heels. 00:13:59.620 --> 00:14:02.180 Always firing his darts at us. 00:14:02.940 --> 00:14:04.279 He's always tempting us. 00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:09.399 He's always causing disruption in our lives. 00:14:09.539 --> 00:14:11.459 Things that hinder us and hurt us. 00:14:12.439 --> 00:14:23.779 And if we could see behind the scenes into the spiritual realm, where the angels are administering spirits around us, helping us, 00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:33.919 and also the evil spirits that are out in order to trip us up and to attack us, there are unseen forces at work all the time. 00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:40.079 And Satan so often, he discourages us. 00:14:40.699 --> 00:14:43.579 He brings all these accusations against us. 00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:47.100 He drags up our past to cripple us. 00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:48.180 All these things. 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:53.200 And we long for the day when none of these things will be any more. 00:14:53.800 --> 00:15:01.000 When we will have this freedom, this deliverance from all these things that are part and partial of our lives. 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:08.560 And then again, we long for the time when our service for the Lord will be perfect. 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:12.279 In this world, it is imperfect service. 00:15:12.860 --> 00:15:15.200 No matter what we do, it's always imperfect. 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:18.680 And there are so again, it's because of sin. 00:15:19.379 --> 00:15:23.140 But in glory, our service, there will never be any self-seeking. 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:26.640 There will never be any self-indulgence in it. 00:15:27.300 --> 00:15:31.500 There will never be any flaws or failings in our service. 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:33.560 It will be pure. 00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:35.280 It will be honorable. 00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:36.940 It will be right. 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:38.280 It will be perfect. 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:42.379 And we long for that when that's how it will be. 00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:49.759 And again, we long for the time when we'll be freed from all the troubles of this world. 00:15:50.299 --> 00:15:54.500 The Bible tells us the troubles that afflicted just in number many be. 00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:55.740 And they sure are many. 00:15:57.159 --> 00:16:03.480 And when you think of all the problems and the issues, the doubts, the fears, the anxieties, 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:11.320 the illness, the sickness, the crosses, the bereavements, all these things that are part and partial of life. 00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:13.720 Things that hurt us. 00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:19.180 Things that so often spoil everything about our life. 00:16:19.179 --> 00:16:23.779 So our hope in heaven is fixed upon us. 00:16:25.579 --> 00:16:29.659 And along with that, we long for the day when death will be no more. 00:16:31.099 --> 00:16:32.519 Scripture tells us that. 00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:34.739 That's part of the heavenly environment. 00:16:35.859 --> 00:16:37.839 Where the king of terror is removed. 00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:40.779 You'll never hear of anybody dying. 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:42.059 There'll be no death notices. 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:44.139 It's eternal life. 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:46.699 Hell is death. 00:16:46.700 --> 00:16:48.800 Hell is a second death. 00:16:49.400 --> 00:16:51.400 And everything associated with death. 00:16:52.660 --> 00:16:55.140 But heaven is the very opposite of that. 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:57.600 Everything that is pure. 00:16:57.940 --> 00:16:58.900 Everything that is lovely. 00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:00.720 Everything that is good. 00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:06.920 We're told that the Lord will wipe away all tears from our eyes. 00:17:07.600 --> 00:17:08.519 No more sorrows. 00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:11.539 Sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 00:17:11.539 --> 00:17:17.420 And finally, we see the security of our hope. 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:24.119 Because it tells us, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. 00:17:25.399 --> 00:17:29.159 If you have a particular treasure or something that's really precious, 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:32.200 you want to put it somewhere that's completely safe. 00:17:32.639 --> 00:17:35.299 Somewhere where nobody can get to it. 00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:38.940 Now we know we live in a world where there's so much stealing. 00:17:39.899 --> 00:17:41.740 Stealing used to just be from houses. 00:17:41.879 --> 00:17:44.659 But we know that constantly there's car thefts. 00:17:44.659 --> 00:17:45.399 There's stealing online. 00:17:45.779 --> 00:17:49.659 The amount of online stealing nowadays and the fraud and the deception. 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:53.040 In some ways you think there's nothing safe anymore. 00:17:54.259 --> 00:17:55.720 That's the kind of world we live in. 00:17:55.800 --> 00:18:00.200 Well, Jesus tells us of our treasure in heaven. 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:06.640 And we're told that our life is hid with Christ. 00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:10.060 That's one of the expressions that the Bible tells us. 00:18:10.300 --> 00:18:11.820 It's hid with Christ. 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:14.660 So here you have the special treasure. 00:18:15.800 --> 00:18:16.360 It's hidden. 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:17.380 Where is it hidden? 00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:18.779 It's hidden in Christ. 00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:18.859 Christ. 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:21.180 Your life is hidden in Christ. 00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:23.099 And this is where your hope is. 00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:26.720 Because our hope is in Christ who is in heaven. 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:30.420 And it can't be safer and more secure than that. 00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:39.599 Because no robber, no thief can in any way enter in there and steal Satan and all his legion of evil spirits. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:43.720 They can't enter in and take away your hope, my hope. 00:18:44.399 --> 00:18:46.000 Because it's fixed in heaven. 00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:47.700 It's secure forever. 00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:57.940 And again, Jesus talks about the security of it where no moth or rust can wear it out or corrupt it. 00:18:57.940 --> 00:19:01.860 And we know that many things in this world, they wear it out, they get spoiled. 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:05.220 We lose them, they break, there's all sorts of things. 00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:07.720 Well, our hope can't. 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:08.720 It is secure. 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.100 It is secure. 00:19:09.100 --> 00:19:10.100 It is fixed. 00:19:10.100 --> 00:19:12.579 It is there forever. 00:19:12.579 --> 00:19:22.939 There's no more precarious position to be in than to go through this world on our own and just to get everything that the world gives. 00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:27.099 Because as we've often said it, the world only gives on loan. 00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:32.359 And when you're loan, when something is on loan, you have to give it back. 00:19:32.359 --> 00:19:36.319 And that's what we have to do with everything that the world has given us. 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:39.199 At the end of the day, the world takes it back. 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:41.939 But Christ doesn't. 00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:44.459 What Christ gives you is forever. 00:19:45.459 --> 00:19:48.759 And what the Lord Jesus is saying to you, I give you eternal life. 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:50.799 But you know what I'm going to do for you? 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:54.539 I'm going to keep your life in me safe. 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:56.000 It's with Christ. 00:19:57.059 --> 00:19:58.559 So this is where our hope is. 00:19:58.639 --> 00:19:59.799 It's laid up in heaven. 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:05.259 Because we know why we're here and we know where we're going. 00:20:05.919 --> 00:20:09.059 Of all people in this world, we are the most privileged. 00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:15.559 And we wish that more could understand the benefits of being a Christian. 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:21.099 And as you go on in the Christian life, you discover more and more of what it means to be a Christian. 00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:26.319 What you get in and through following the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:29.399 So this is one of the great things that we have. 00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:30.779 Hope. 00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:36.019 So we said so different to what the world offers and what the world gives. 00:20:37.159 --> 00:20:40.299 The hope that we have is there. 00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:43.919 And nothing can take it away from us. 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:45.019 Let's pray. 00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:49.759 Lord our God, we give thanks for the hope that is within us. 00:20:50.679 --> 00:20:52.960 And that that hope burns bright. 00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:57.639 We give thanks for the expectation that the Christian has. 00:20:58.679 --> 00:21:07.279 And although there are days where the clouds of sin can dim our love and dim our faith and even dim our hope, 00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:09.259 yet it will never take it away. 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:17.279 And we give thanks, Lord, that you are steadfast, that you are sure, and you are eternal in your purposes. 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:21.319 And we pray that we will have the faith to rest upon you. 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:22.180 Come what may. 00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:25.380 And we pray to bless everybody here tonight. 00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:27.220 We give thanks for all who are here. 00:21:27.780 --> 00:21:36.980 Bless them, Lord, in their own homes, in their own families, in their own sphere of work, wherever they are, whatever they're involved in, whatever you're engaged in. 00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:40.079 Lord, we pray that your blessing will be upon them. 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:51.420 Grant us all safety on the way home and freed from any trouble, any accidents, because we know that life is so unsure and so uncertain. 00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:56.720 And we pray to bless us as a congregation as we heard at this time of vacancy. 00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:59.940 Oh, Lord, lead us in the right way. 00:22:00.360 --> 00:22:02.100 You've always done so in the past. 00:22:02.800 --> 00:22:06.200 And we pray that you will continue to do so in the present. 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:08.420 Our hope is in you. 00:22:09.120 --> 00:22:14.039 Watch over us and part us with your blessing, we pray, cleansing us from our every sin. 00:22:14.120 --> 00:22:15.500 In Jesus' name we ask it. 00:22:15.840 --> 00:22:16.140 Amen. 00:22:16.140 --> 00:22:19.020 We're going to conclude today.