WEBVTT

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 Our scripture reading this morning is taken from Hebrews chapter 13.

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! Don't have any announcements or notices this morning, just to say that we gather on Sunday morning

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! at half past 10 for morning worship, no evening service this week at St. Columbus.

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 Our reading, Hebrews 13. We're going to read the whole of the chapter. Well, really the first 21 verses of the chapter.

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 And our focus will be on verses 20 and 21. So, I'm not going to treat the whole of Hebrews 13 this morning.

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 You'll be glad to know. But let's read that passage together. Hebrews 13 from verse 1.

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 The writer says this,

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 Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,

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 for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison,

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 as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.

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 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled,

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 for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

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 Keep your life free from the love of money. Be content with what you have. For he has said,

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 I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we can confidently say,

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 The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?

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 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God.

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 Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

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 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

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 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be

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 strengthened by grace, not by foods which have not benefited those devoted to them.

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 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.

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 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest

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 as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.

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 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.

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 Therefore, let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.

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 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

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 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God.

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 That is the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

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 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

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 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls,

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 as those who will have to give an account.

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 Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

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 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.

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 I urge you the more earnestly to do this, in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.

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 Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep,

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 by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will,

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 working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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 Well, I'd like to begin this new year with a benediction.

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 Normally, of course, when we think of a benediction, we think of it coming at the end of a worship service.

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 The Westminster Directory of Public Worship says this,

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 let the minister dismiss the congregation with a solemn blessing.

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 And that is, in effect, what a benediction is.

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 Yes, the benediction at the close of worship is not just a kind of thoughtless add-on to signal the end of the service,

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 that it's time for a coffee and a ginger snap or a time for us to go home.

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 It's really a powerful statement or declaration of blessing upon the people of God.

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 It's the announcement of the blessing of God on the people of God from the Word of God.

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 And here in these closing verses of the letter to the Hebrews, we discover a magnificent benediction of God,

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 pronounced over the people of God by the writer.

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 May the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,

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 the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant,

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 equip you with everything good that you may do his will,

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 working in us that which is pleasing in his sight,

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 through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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 And I think those words seem appropriate for us to consider on a day like today,

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 as we stand on the threshold of a new year.

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 They are designed to get us to lift our eyes to our great and sovereign Lord.

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 A reminder that he is the one who is the source of all blessing.

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 And he is the one who is promised to lead, guide, and protect his people.

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 The letter to the Hebrews is really, I'm going to try and sum it up in just about two or three words,

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 an exposition or revelation of Jesus Christ and all the glory of his person and work.

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 If we were to sum up the burden of this great letter, it would be this.

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 If you really know the wonder and glory of Jesus, you will never want to leave him.

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 No matter how difficult and how challenging things may be,

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 you will never want to be disloyal to this great and wonderful Savior.

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 And so here at the close of the letter, the writer prays and asks for God to continue to bless and equip his people

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 that they might persevere in the way of faith and bring glory to God.

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 And that, I think, is precisely what we need as we look forward into a new year.

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 We all stand in need of God's help and presence to carry us forward in faith.

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 Without his benediction upon our lives and left to ourselves, to our own devices,

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 we are doomed only to fail.

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 And you'll notice here how the writer roots his request in the character of God.

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 Now may, he says, the God of peace.

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 That's the title he uses here.

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 It's an important, significant way of speaking about God.

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 We find that used elsewhere in the New Testament.

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 Paul, for example, uses it in Romans.

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 Romans 15, 33, he says,

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 Now may the God of peace be with you all.

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 And in chapter 16, verse 20,

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 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

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 He tells the Philippians 4, 9,

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 The God of peace will be with you.

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 And over the season of Advent here at St. Columbus,

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 we've been thinking a little bit about what it means to have peace with God

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 and to enjoy the peace of God.

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 Because God is the one who gives or brings peace.

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 He bestows peace upon our troubled and disordered hearts.

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 He is the great peacemaker.

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 And the message of the gospel itself is one of reconciliation and peace.

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 We live in a world that does not know peace.

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 We live in a fractured world.

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 Discord, disharmony, broken relationships.

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 A world often enmeshed in hostility and all manner of conflict.

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 We have no peace among the nations.

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 No peace between peoples.

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 No peace in many communities.

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 No peace sometimes in our families.

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 No peace sometimes even in our own hearts and in our own lives.

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 And so the writer here wants us to look away from ourselves

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 and to the only one in whom real peace can be found.

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 The only one who can bring us peace.

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 The only one who can establish that peace that passes all understanding.

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 So notice with me briefly this morning

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 what this benediction tells us about the God of peace.

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 Let me highlight three things from our text.

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 The first is this.

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 He is mighty to save.

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 He is mighty to save.

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 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,

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 the great shepherd of the sheep,

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 by the blood of the eternal covenant.

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 One of the features of this letter, Hebrews,

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 is the way in which it frequently references the exodus

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 and the journey taken by God's people out of Egypt

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 towards the promised land under the leadership of Moses.

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 And if you recall, that was not a trouble-free journey.

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 People were often tempted to go back to Egypt,

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 to the slavery of their former way of life.

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 But nonetheless, Moses led them as God's appointed shepherd.

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 He renounced Egypt.

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 He looked to the future with God.

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 He considered, the writer of the Hebrew says,

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 the reproach of Christ, greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt,

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 for he was looking to the rewards.

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 And so, likewise, these Hebrew Christians were tempted,

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 being tempted to go back,

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 back to a former way of life, back to slavery,

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 back to Judaism, back to Egypt.

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 And we too may know something of that same pressure in our own day

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 and to, you know, that pressure to return to old patterns of living,

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 living or to the ways of this world.

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 But to press on in the way of faith,

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 to make progress in the Christian life,

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 these Hebrew Christians needed to have their eyes fixed,

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 not upon Moses, but upon Jesus.

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 Because he is the shepherd that they needed to look to and follow.

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 They are to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of faith.

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 They look to Jesus, who's bringing many sons to glory.

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 And look what the writer says here about Jesus, our mighty Savior.

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 He's the risen Lord, he says.

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 He led out from the dead our Lord Jesus.

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 By virtue of his resurrection,

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 he has sucked the fear and the terror out of death.

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 He's conquered death and drawn its sting.

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 Jesus has been led out from the realm of the dead.

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 And it's no surprise that the resurrection of Jesus

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 has lain at the very heart of the Christian message

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 from the earliest days.

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 And there's much in this life that we can evade and avoid,

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 but we cannot evade and avoid death.

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 We can't outrun it, we cannot defeat it.

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 But the good news is this.

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 The God of peace has led out our Lord Jesus from death.

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 He has triumphed over death.

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 He is its victor, its conqueror, its king.

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 And because Jesus has been raised,

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 so then all those joined to him by faith

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 will also be raised up.

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 As he has been led out from death,

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 so we who are joined to him will also be led out.

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 Robert Murray McShane

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 saw the peace of God in his dying brother's face,

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 and that led him to seek Christ.

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 He marked each and every anniversary of his brother's death.

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 And 11 years later, he wrote this.

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 This day, 11 years ago,

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 I lost my loved and loving brother

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 and began to seek a brother who cannot die.

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 And that is what we have in Jesus Christ.

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 We have a brother who cannot die.

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 A brother through whom and in whom we too shall not die.

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 Because Jesus Christ sets his people free

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 from that fear of death

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 that so profoundly grips the hearts of men and women.

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 He's the risen Lord.

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 Secondly, he's the great shepherd of the sheep.

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 It's a tender imagery here.

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 He's not just the good shepherd

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 who lays down his life for his sheep.

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 He's the great shepherd who is always with his flock.

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 He's the shepherd who leads and guides his people

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 through all the varied topography of life.

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 With us in the green pastures,

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 beside the still waters,

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 in the dark valleys.

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 He's with us when we're besieged by enemies.

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 His mercy and steadfast love

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 are with us all the days of our lives.

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 Because Jesus Christ is a great shepherd.

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 He's not a weakling.

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 His muscles are flexed.

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 He's ready to defend his flock.

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 No one, says the apostle John,

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 can snatch his sheep out of his hand.

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 The shepherd does not carry a club for nothing.

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 He's able to deal with all that the valley

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 may throw at us.

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 He can handle anything.

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 There's an old hymn that puts it like this.

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 I was lost, but Jesus found me,

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 found the sheep that went astray,

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 threw his loving arms around me,

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 drew me back into his way.

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 Days of darkness still come over me.

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 Sorrows path I often tread,

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 but his presence still is with me.

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 By his guiding hand I'm led.

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 He's the great shepherd.

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 He's the risen Lord.

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 And he's also the sacrifice who saves.

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 His is the blood,

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 says the writer here,

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 of the eternal covenant.

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 So one place in the letter

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 where the covenant is described as eternal.

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 There is no possibility of this covenant

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 being superseded,

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 becoming obsolete.

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 It is a forever covenant.

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 We know that the sacrificial system

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 of the Old Testament,

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 the old Mosaic covenant,

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 perpetual round of activity,

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 offering of sacrifices went on and on and on.

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 The ritual,

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 the ceremony never ceased.

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 The atonement they symbolized,

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 never complete,

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 never finished.

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 The high priest always on his feet.

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 Sin never decisively dealt with.

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 But now you see the blood

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 of the eternal covenant has been shed.

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 Jesus has accomplished

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 by sacrificing himself

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 on the altar of Calvary.

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 And that is why he sits down,

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 has sat down at the right hand of God.

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 That's language indicating

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 that his work is finished.

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 It's complete.

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 He's done it all.

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 Sometimes Christians are full of anxieties

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 that besiege by doubts and fears.

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 Have I done enough?

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 Am I good enough?

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 Am I holy enough?

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 Am I moral enough?

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 Often weighed down

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 by feelings of sin and guilt.

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 Friends, we need to be reminded

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 at the beginning of this new year

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 that the gospel tells us

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 that all our sin and guilt

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 has been taken care of

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 by Jesus Christ.

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 It has been atoned for

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 by the blood

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 of the eternal covenant.

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 He has wrought for us

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 a peace with God

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 that can never be taken from us.

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 And isn't that good news?

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 On this first day of a new year,

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 it isn't good to be reminded

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 of this wonderful truth.

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 If you're a Christian believer

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 this morning,

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 then God is reminding you

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 that your guilt

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 has all been paid for

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 completely and comprehensively.

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 In Jesus Christ,

00:16:16.140 --> 00:16:18.040
 in our mighty Savior,

00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:20.200
 in that fountain

00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:21.380
 filled with blood,

00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:24.299
 we lose all,

00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:25.759
 not just some,

00:16:26.179 --> 00:16:28.399
 all our guilty stains.

00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:30.799
 He is mighty to save.

00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:33.659
 Secondly,

00:16:33.899 --> 00:16:35.360
 He's ready to equip.

00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:37.639
 May the God of peace

00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:38.779
 equip you

00:16:38.779 --> 00:16:40.240
 with everything good

00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:41.899
 that you may do His will,

00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:43.019
 working in us

00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:44.039
 that which is pleasing

00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:45.159
 in His sight

00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:46.240
 through Jesus Christ.

00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:47.940
 not only

00:16:47.940 --> 00:16:49.500
 is He the God

00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:50.779
 who redeems His people,

00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:52.519
 He's also the God

00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:54.299
 who resources His people.

00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:56.139
 And the power of God

00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:57.560
 revealed in His mighty acts

00:16:57.560 --> 00:16:58.279
 of salvation

00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:59.580
 is the same power

00:16:59.580 --> 00:17:00.879
 that is at work within us.

00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:02.519
 He supplies and equips

00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:03.519
 all that we need

00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:05.500
 for this journey of faith.

00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:06.940
 He provides us

00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:08.000
 with everything good

00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:09.799
 that we may do His will.

00:17:11.339 --> 00:17:12.940
 And you'll notice there,

00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:14.279
 it matters here,

00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:15.019
 what matters here

00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:16.579
 is that we do the will of God.

00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:18.460
 Not enough just to know it,

00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:19.359
 we must do it.

00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:21.559
 Now, what is the will of God?

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:23.180
 Well, in the context

00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:24.099
 of this letter,

00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:25.440
 God's will for His people

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:27.039
 is that they cling

00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:28.379
 by faith to Jesus

00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:30.000
 and never give Him up.

00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:31.579
 No matter the opposition,

00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:33.940
 no matter the trials,

00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:35.759
 no matter the pressure,

00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:37.339
 they are to continue

00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:38.440
 to have their eyes

00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:39.420
 fixed on Jesus.

00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:40.480
 He doesn't want them

00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:41.420
 to be ashamed

00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:43.059
 and to walk away

00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:44.819
 from the Lord.

00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:47.359
 It's God's will

00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:48.500
 that they endure

00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.720
 and persevere

00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:51.599
 in the way of faith.

00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:53.720
 Earlier on in the letter,

00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:55.160
 chapter 10, verse 36,

00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:55.879
 he says this,

00:17:56.660 --> 00:17:57.579
 For you have need

00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:58.200
 of endurance

00:17:58.200 --> 00:17:59.940
 so that when you have

00:17:59.940 --> 00:18:01.240
 done the will of God,

00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:02.480
 you may receive

00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:03.379
 what is promised.

00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:04.960
 God's will

00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:06.119
 is that they continue

00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:07.460
 in faithful obedience

00:18:07.460 --> 00:18:08.319
 to Jesus Christ.

00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:09.420
 And that's God's will

00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:10.579
 for our lives also.

00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:11.900
 This is God's will

00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:14.300
 for you in 2026.

00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:16.420
 And doing the will

00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:17.100
 of God means

00:18:17.100 --> 00:18:18.160
 living for Jesus,

00:18:18.300 --> 00:18:18.880
 come what may.

00:18:19.320 --> 00:18:20.000
 Living for Him

00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:21.680
 maybe when nobody

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.320
 else is looking.

00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:24.220
 Living for Him

00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:25.540
 when things are tough.

00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:26.860
 Living for Him

00:18:26.860 --> 00:18:28.460
 when nobody around us

00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:29.440
 is interested.

00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:31.140
 Living for Him

00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:32.100
 when we're tempted

00:18:32.100 --> 00:18:33.920
 to throw in the towel.

00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:37.120
 In the army,

00:18:38.019 --> 00:18:39.440
 when soldiers are sent

00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:40.080
 on a particular

00:18:40.080 --> 00:18:41.820
 mission or exercise,

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.039
 they might be sent

00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:44.640
 to the quartermaster

00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.820
 to receive

00:18:45.820 --> 00:18:47.140
 the necessary equipment.

00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:48.220
 Now,

00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:49.620
 you wouldn't expect

00:18:49.620 --> 00:18:50.259
 a soldier

00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:51.560
 presented

00:18:51.560 --> 00:18:52.720
 with a particular

00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:53.380
 uniform

00:18:53.380 --> 00:18:54.759
 or battle dress

00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:56.140
 to say

00:18:56.140 --> 00:18:57.160
 to the quartermaster,

00:18:58.039 --> 00:18:58.400
 well,

00:18:58.680 --> 00:18:58.880
 you know,

00:18:58.920 --> 00:18:59.279
 haven't you got

00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:00.000
 something else?

00:19:00.660 --> 00:19:01.580
 Kaki really isn't

00:19:01.580 --> 00:19:02.100
 my color,

00:19:02.320 --> 00:19:02.580
 you know?

00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:03.220
 Don't you have

00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:04.259
 anything in powder blue?

00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:06.639
 The soldier

00:19:06.639 --> 00:19:07.079
 is given

00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:09.220
 what he needs

00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:10.019
 for the task

00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:10.859
 or mission in hand.

00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:11.460
 He's given

00:19:11.460 --> 00:19:12.159
 what he needs

00:19:12.159 --> 00:19:13.079
 and not what he wants.

00:19:14.159 --> 00:19:14.599
 And I think

00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:15.639
 that's the sense here.

00:19:15.919 --> 00:19:16.559
 God promises

00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:17.299
 to provide

00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:18.679
 what we need

00:19:18.679 --> 00:19:20.079
 not what we want.

00:19:21.099 --> 00:19:21.740
 He will give us

00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:22.319
 everything good

00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:23.299
 that we require.

00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:24.980
 And the word

00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:25.599
 equip here

00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:26.059
 is a word

00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:27.159
 that's used

00:19:27.159 --> 00:19:27.779
 elsewhere in

00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:28.460
 the New Testament

00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:30.339
 to describe

00:19:30.339 --> 00:19:31.039
 the disciples

00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:32.240
 mending their nets.

00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:33.639
 Used in Ephesians

00:19:33.639 --> 00:19:35.439
 where Paul speaks

00:19:35.439 --> 00:19:36.159
 of equipping

00:19:36.159 --> 00:19:37.379
 the saints

00:19:37.379 --> 00:19:37.980
 for the work

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.639
 of ministry.

00:19:39.399 --> 00:19:39.720
 Literally,

00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:40.199
 it means

00:19:40.199 --> 00:19:40.879
 to put something

00:19:40.879 --> 00:19:41.480
 together

00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:42.379
 so that it

00:19:42.379 --> 00:19:43.039
 can be used

00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:43.639
 effectively.

00:19:44.659 --> 00:19:45.519
 And the idea

00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:46.039
 is that God

00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:46.659
 will supply

00:19:46.659 --> 00:19:47.500
 what is missing.

00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:48.519
 He will correct

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.119
 what is wrong.

00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:49.740
 He'll repair

00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:50.779
 what is defective.

00:19:50.919 --> 00:19:51.619
 He will restore

00:19:51.619 --> 00:19:52.299
 what is broken.

00:19:52.939 --> 00:19:53.779
 He will make us

00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:54.799
 his effective

00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:55.319
 servants.

00:19:56.139 --> 00:19:56.639
 We cannot

00:19:56.639 --> 00:19:57.519
 do the will

00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:57.859
 of God

00:19:57.859 --> 00:19:58.359
 on our own.

00:19:58.439 --> 00:19:58.859
 We need

00:19:58.859 --> 00:19:59.699
 God's provision.

00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:00.299
 We need

00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:00.840
 his help.

00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:01.160
 We need

00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:01.500
 him to

00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:02.380
 correct us

00:20:02.380 --> 00:20:02.880
 and restore

00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:03.259
 us

00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:04.100
 and equip

00:20:04.100 --> 00:20:04.559
 us.

00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:06.299
 Here is the

00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:07.080
 God who supplies

00:20:07.080 --> 00:20:07.700
 all that we

00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:08.779
 need in and

00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:09.100
 through the

00:20:09.100 --> 00:20:09.559
 Lord Jesus

00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.120
 Christ.

00:20:10.840 --> 00:20:11.640
 He's worked

00:20:11.640 --> 00:20:12.180
 within us

00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:13.000
 in the power

00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.400
 of the Holy

00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:13.799
 Spirit.

00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:15.420
 And he works

00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:16.559
 in us to do

00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:17.319
 what is pleasing

00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:18.700
 in his sight.

00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:20.460
 In other words,

00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.539
 he's doing in us

00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:22.059
 what pleases

00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:22.559
 him,

00:20:23.080 --> 00:20:23.880
 not what pleases

00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:24.340
 us.

00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:26.039
 He's at work

00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:26.740
 in our lives

00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.299
 to shape

00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:27.700
 us and

00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:28.480
 to mold

00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:28.940
 us that

00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:29.579
 our lives

00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:30.680
 become pleasing

00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:31.380
 to God.

00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:32.279
 And that's a

00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:33.680
 somewhat scary

00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:34.200
 thought.

00:20:35.299 --> 00:20:35.960
 Who knows

00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:36.400
 what God

00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:36.960
 might do

00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:37.519
 in us

00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.079
 and through

00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:38.940
 us in

00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:39.380
 this coming

00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:39.819
 year.

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.079
 Nonetheless,

00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:42.940
 he calls

00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:43.359
 us.

00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:45.140
 He calls

00:20:45.140 --> 00:20:45.599
 you to

00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:45.980
 yield

00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:46.579
 yourself

00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.120
 completely

00:20:47.120 --> 00:20:47.819
 to him

00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:48.960
 and to

00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:49.559
 hold nothing

00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:50.660
 back from

00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.039
 him.

00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:53.220
 Sometimes

00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:53.920
 it is

00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:54.680
 in like

00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:55.120
 the Hebrews

00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:55.599
 of old.

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.200
 in the

00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:57.539
 crucible

00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:58.099
 of trial

00:20:58.099 --> 00:20:58.720
 and testing

00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.099
 that he

00:20:59.099 --> 00:20:59.599
 works out

00:20:59.599 --> 00:20:59.960
 his good

00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.519
 purpose.

00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:01.700
 And we

00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.059
 need to

00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:02.440
 know that

00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:02.799
 however

00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:03.480
 mysterious

00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:04.799
 and sore

00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:05.420
 sometimes

00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:05.720
 our

00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.460
 circumstances

00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:07.220
 can be,

00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:08.500
 they are

00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.099
 being woven

00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:09.819
 for our

00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:10.220
 good

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:11.099
 and for

00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:11.440
 God's

00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:11.759
 glory.

00:21:12.620 --> 00:21:12.960
 He's

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.339
 using

00:21:13.339 --> 00:21:13.779
 these

00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:14.200
 things

00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:14.440
 to

00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:15.140
 equip

00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:15.500
 our

00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:16.059
 lives

00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:16.900
 that

00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:17.059
 we

00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:17.319
 might

00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:17.660
 please

00:21:17.660 --> 00:21:17.960
 him.

00:21:19.099 --> 00:21:19.620
 Our

00:21:19.620 --> 00:21:20.240
 effectiveness

00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:20.759
 as

00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:21.259
 Christians

00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.720
 is not

00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:23.059
 about

00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:23.319
 whether

00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:23.880
 things are

00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:24.120
 going

00:21:24.120 --> 00:21:24.440
 well

00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:24.759
 in our

00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.240
 lives.

00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:25.819
 It's

00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:25.980
 not

00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:26.200
 about

00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:26.420
 our

00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:26.900
 health

00:21:26.900 --> 00:21:27.420
 or

00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:27.700
 our

00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:28.220
 wealth.

00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:29.380
 It's

00:21:29.380 --> 00:21:29.680
 about

00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:29.900
 the

00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:30.220
 God

00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:30.380
 who

00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:30.519
 is

00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:30.680
 at

00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:31.019
 work

00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:31.319
 within

00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:31.720
 us

00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:32.420
 shaping

00:21:32.420 --> 00:21:32.900
 us

00:21:32.900 --> 00:21:34.140
 to be

00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:34.519
 more

00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:34.920
 like

00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:35.259
 Jesus

00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:35.759
 Christ.

00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:37.779
 Are we

00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.380
 looking to

00:21:38.380 --> 00:21:38.579
 do

00:21:38.579 --> 00:21:38.940
 what is

00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:39.460
 pleasing

00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:40.380
 in his

00:21:40.380 --> 00:21:40.799
 sight?

00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:41.480
 Are we

00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:42.120
 living to

00:21:42.120 --> 00:21:42.420
 please

00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:42.900
 him?

00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:44.700
 If we

00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:44.940
 are,

00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.339
 then that's

00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:45.880
 a sign

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:46.980
 that the

00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:47.400
 God of

00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:47.779
 peace

00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:48.839
 is already

00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:49.420
 at work

00:21:49.420 --> 00:21:50.079
 in our

00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:50.500
 lives.

00:21:50.579 --> 00:21:50.759
 He's

00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:51.220
 mighty

00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:51.940
 to save.

00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:52.460
 He's

00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:52.920
 ready

00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:53.359
 to

00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:54.000
 equip.

00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:55.420
 Thirdly

00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:55.960
 and finally,

00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:57.099
 he's

00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:57.480
 worthy

00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:57.859
 of

00:21:57.859 --> 00:21:58.339
 praise.

00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.039
 That's

00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.180
 the

00:21:59.180 --> 00:21:59.380
 third

00:21:59.380 --> 00:21:59.700
 thing.

00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:00.519
 Through

00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:00.880
 Jesus

00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:01.420
 Christ,

00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.359
 to whom

00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:02.759
 be glory

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:03.119
 forever

00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:03.539
 and ever.

00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:04.240
 Amen.

00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:04.859
 The

00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:05.079
 God

00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:05.220
 who

00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:05.680
 redeems

00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:05.880
 his

00:22:05.880 --> 00:22:06.220
 people

00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:06.980
 is the

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:07.160
 God

00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:07.299
 who

00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:07.819
 resources

00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.180
 his

00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:08.539
 people

00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:09.599
 is also

00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:09.799
 the

00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:09.980
 God

00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:10.140
 who

00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:10.559
 receives

00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:10.759
 the

00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.180
 praise

00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:11.339
 of

00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:11.480
 his

00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:11.799
 people.

00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:12.759
 He

00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:12.920
 is

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.279
 worthy

00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:13.500
 of

00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:13.680
 all

00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.039
 glory.

00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.099
 That's

00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:15.240
 a

00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:15.500
 statement

00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:15.720
 of

00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:16.079
 fact.

00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:17.579
 We're

00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:17.720
 to

00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:18.000
 live

00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.160
 for

00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:18.339
 the

00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:18.720
 praise

00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:18.859
 of

00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:19.000
 his

00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.319
 glory.

00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:19.379
 glory.

00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:21.279
 Now,

00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:21.579
 we can't

00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:21.899
 be sure

00:22:21.899 --> 00:22:22.460
 here whether

00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:23.179
 this glory

00:22:23.179 --> 00:22:24.519
 refers to

00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:24.799
 the God

00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.220
 of peace

00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:25.519
 or to

00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:25.799
 Jesus

00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.299
 Christ.

00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:27.659
 It can

00:22:27.659 --> 00:22:28.019
 be read

00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:28.639
 both ways.

00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:29.679
 It's

00:22:29.679 --> 00:22:29.980
 perhaps

00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:30.619
 most likely,

00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:31.059
 I think,

00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:31.700
 it is a

00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:32.240
 reference to

00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:32.899
 Jesus who's

00:22:32.899 --> 00:22:33.240
 just been

00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:33.619
 mentioned.

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:34.700
 It's

00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:34.859
 through

00:22:34.859 --> 00:22:35.439
 Jesus that

00:22:35.439 --> 00:22:35.819
 God is

00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:36.339
 mighty to

00:22:36.339 --> 00:22:36.639
 save,

00:22:36.919 --> 00:22:37.079
 through

00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:37.740
 Jesus that

00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.000
 God

00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.839
 equips

00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:39.240
 us as

00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:39.439
 his

00:22:39.439 --> 00:22:39.839
 saints,

00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:40.619
 and it's

00:22:40.619 --> 00:22:40.799
 through

00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.539
 Jesus that

00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.119
 he receives

00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:42.439
 all the

00:22:42.439 --> 00:22:42.799
 praise and

00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:43.200
 the glory.

00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:45.179
 Glory

00:22:45.179 --> 00:22:45.740
 belongs

00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:45.980
 to

00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:46.299
 Jesus.

00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:47.500
 So,

00:22:47.579 --> 00:22:47.919
 one of the

00:22:47.919 --> 00:22:48.519
 great features

00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:48.819
 of the

00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:49.359
 New Testament

00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:49.919
 is the way

00:22:49.919 --> 00:22:51.059
 both the

00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:51.759
 Father and

00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:52.460
 the Son are

00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:53.339
 deemed worthy

00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.059
 of praise and

00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:54.379
 glory.

00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:55.099
 It's the

00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:55.639
 basis of

00:22:55.639 --> 00:22:56.299
 our doctrine

00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:56.619
 of the

00:22:56.619 --> 00:22:57.000
 Trinity.

00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:58.039
 In the

00:22:58.039 --> 00:22:58.700
 New Testament,

00:22:59.139 --> 00:22:59.799
 a person's

00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:00.339
 glory is

00:23:00.339 --> 00:23:01.319
 their good

00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:02.119
 reputation.

00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:03.460
 It's that

00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:04.059
 about them

00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:04.559
 that is

00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:05.339
 praiseworthy.

00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:06.700
 And,

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.379
 in a sense,

00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:07.940
 glory is not

00:23:07.940 --> 00:23:08.480
 something that

00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:08.940
 we can give

00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:09.440
 to God.

00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:10.720
 He already

00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:11.700
 possesses that.

00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:12.579
 We can't

00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:13.359
 make him more

00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:13.980
 glorious than

00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.399
 he already

00:23:14.399 --> 00:23:14.899
 is.

00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:16.060
 So,

00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:16.340
 when the

00:23:16.340 --> 00:23:16.580
 Bible

00:23:16.580 --> 00:23:17.220
 ascribes

00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:17.740
 glory to

00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:18.019
 God,

00:23:18.080 --> 00:23:18.380
 it's not

00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:19.759
 suggesting that

00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:20.300
 we can in

00:23:20.300 --> 00:23:21.280
 any way add

00:23:21.280 --> 00:23:21.880
 glory to

00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:22.100
 him.

00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:22.540
 It simply

00:23:22.540 --> 00:23:22.940
 means that

00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:23.280
 we are to

00:23:23.280 --> 00:23:24.200
 recognize it,

00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:25.160
 acknowledge it,

00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.160
 and declare

00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:27.900
 the worth

00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:29.180
 and the glory

00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:29.860
 that is already

00:23:29.860 --> 00:23:30.240
 there.

00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:32.019
 And here,

00:23:32.100 --> 00:23:32.560
 it's as if

00:23:32.560 --> 00:23:33.840
 the mention

00:23:33.840 --> 00:23:34.380
 of Jesus'

00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:35.840
 name sets

00:23:35.840 --> 00:23:36.440
 off the

00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:37.480
 writer's

00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.580
 praise instinct.

00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:40.900
 Most of us

00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:42.080
 will be aware,

00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:42.840
 perhaps in our

00:23:42.840 --> 00:23:43.660
 families or

00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:44.140
 amongst our

00:23:44.140 --> 00:23:44.660
 friends,

00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:45.940
 how just

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.540
 the mention

00:23:46.540 --> 00:23:46.940
 of a

00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:47.960
 certain name

00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:49.360
 can set

00:23:49.360 --> 00:23:51.360
 off a

00:23:51.360 --> 00:23:51.620
 kind of

00:23:51.620 --> 00:23:52.140
 immediate

00:23:52.140 --> 00:23:53.019
 and very

00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:53.680
 predictable

00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:54.460
 response.

00:23:55.340 --> 00:23:55.460
 You know,

00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:55.960
 if you drop

00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:56.560
 a certain

00:23:56.560 --> 00:23:57.440
 person's name

00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:58.200
 into the

00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:59.460
 conversation,

00:24:00.040 --> 00:24:00.480
 it's almost,

00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:00.720
 you know,

00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.900
 we're lighting

00:24:01.900 --> 00:24:02.340
 the blue

00:24:02.340 --> 00:24:03.060
 touch paper,

00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:04.220
 and you want

00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:04.560
 to stand

00:24:04.560 --> 00:24:05.320
 well back.

00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:07.140
 You know,

00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:07.780
 you stand

00:24:07.780 --> 00:24:08.280
 back and you

00:24:08.280 --> 00:24:08.680
 watch them

00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:09.180
 go off in

00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:09.400
 one.

00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:10.780
 You need to

00:24:10.780 --> 00:24:11.200
 mention,

00:24:11.340 --> 00:24:11.800
 you know,

00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:12.519
 Keir Starmer

00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:13.579
 or Donald

00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:14.980
 Trump or

00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.579
 Nicola

00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:16.099
 Sturgeon,

00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:16.740
 whoever it

00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:16.980
 is,

00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:17.839
 it doesn't

00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:18.079
 matter.

00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.019
 But you

00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:19.379
 only need

00:24:19.379 --> 00:24:19.680
 to make

00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:21.319
 mention of

00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:21.680
 the name.

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:24.019
 And whoosh,

00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.059
 people are

00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:28.460
 cannot help

00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:29.000
 themselves,

00:24:29.659 --> 00:24:30.779
 often launching

00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.279
 into a

00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:31.799
 well-worn

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.759
 diatribe.

00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:34.240
 Now,

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.259
 I wonder

00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:35.659
 if there's

00:24:35.659 --> 00:24:36.200
 something of

00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:36.700
 that going

00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:37.179
 on here.

00:24:37.679 --> 00:24:38.200
 It's just

00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:38.899
 the mention

00:24:38.899 --> 00:24:39.980
 of the name

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.399
 of Jesus

00:24:40.399 --> 00:24:40.919
 Christ.

00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.759
 And immediately

00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:43.339
 the writer

00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.119
 goes off

00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:45.919
 in praise

00:24:45.919 --> 00:24:46.639
 and adoration.

00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:48.379
 Jesus' name

00:24:48.379 --> 00:24:49.339
 calls forth

00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:50.279
 an ascription

00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:50.879
 of glory.

00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:52.179
 Actually,

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:52.700
 this is something

00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:53.299
 we see right

00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:53.720
 throughout the

00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:54.279
 New Testament.

00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:55.599
 It's a kind

00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:56.139
 of praise

00:24:56.139 --> 00:24:56.779
 instinct.

00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:58.299
 You know,

00:24:58.399 --> 00:24:58.960
 they just

00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.659
 cannot help

00:24:59.659 --> 00:25:00.179
 themselves.

00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:02.159
 I wonder

00:25:02.159 --> 00:25:02.720
 if you have

00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.179
 that kind

00:25:03.179 --> 00:25:03.700
 of praise

00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.259
 instinct

00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:05.579
 when Jesus'

00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:06.559
 name is

00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:06.980
 mentioned.

00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:08.839
 We're to

00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:09.539
 glorify the

00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.000
 God who

00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.799
 redeems and

00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:11.599
 resources us,

00:25:11.659 --> 00:25:12.240
 not only by

00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:12.659
 going to

00:25:12.659 --> 00:25:13.259
 church or

00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:13.919
 reading the

00:25:13.919 --> 00:25:14.559
 Bible or

00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.279
 praying or

00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.019
 sharing the

00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:17.379
 gospel or

00:25:17.379 --> 00:25:18.159
 praising His

00:25:18.159 --> 00:25:18.359
 name.

00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:19.079
 Of course,

00:25:19.179 --> 00:25:19.960
 all these

00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:20.339
 things are

00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:20.759
 good and

00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:22.279
 glorify Him.

00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:23.639
 But God

00:25:23.639 --> 00:25:24.399
 calls us to

00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:25.180
 glorify Him

00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:25.460
 in the

00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:26.060
 simple things

00:25:26.060 --> 00:25:26.480
 of everyday

00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:27.019
 life.

00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:28.560
 And drinking

00:25:28.560 --> 00:25:29.120
 a glass of

00:25:29.120 --> 00:25:29.420
 water,

00:25:29.540 --> 00:25:29.940
 eating a

00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:30.600
 sandwich at

00:25:30.600 --> 00:25:30.860
 work,

00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:31.600
 at recreation,

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.180
 at leisure,

00:25:32.340 --> 00:25:33.580
 all these and

00:25:33.580 --> 00:25:34.019
 more are

00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:34.420
 included.

00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:36.080
 There is no

00:25:36.080 --> 00:25:36.800
 division of

00:25:36.800 --> 00:25:37.380
 life into

00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:38.080
 that which is

00:25:38.080 --> 00:25:39.000
 religious and

00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:40.180
 spiritual and

00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:40.780
 that which is

00:25:40.780 --> 00:25:41.240
 not.

00:25:41.620 --> 00:25:42.740
 For God in

00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:43.640
 Christ has

00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:44.880
 redeemed all

00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:45.780
 of our lives.

00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:46.940
 Our whole

00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:47.960
 lives are to

00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:48.600
 be given over

00:25:48.600 --> 00:25:49.580
 to doing His

00:25:49.580 --> 00:25:50.980
 will and to

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.580
 doing what is

00:25:51.580 --> 00:25:52.420
 pleasing in His

00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:52.860
 sight.

00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:54.479
 And that's

00:25:54.479 --> 00:25:55.379
 what the

00:25:55.379 --> 00:25:55.799
 writer of

00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.500
 Hebrews wanted

00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:57.000
 his readers

00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:57.839
 to understand.

00:25:58.679 --> 00:25:59.119
 The God who

00:25:59.119 --> 00:25:59.899
 raised Jesus

00:25:59.899 --> 00:26:00.719
 from the dead

00:26:00.719 --> 00:26:01.539
 is well able

00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:02.299
 to keep them

00:26:02.299 --> 00:26:03.299
 and hold them

00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:04.459
 fast in troubled

00:26:04.459 --> 00:26:04.959
 times.

00:26:05.199 --> 00:26:05.839
 He'll resource

00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.639
 them so that

00:26:06.639 --> 00:26:07.179
 they can live

00:26:07.179 --> 00:26:07.839
 for His glory.

00:26:09.159 --> 00:26:09.859
 That's a vital

00:26:09.859 --> 00:26:10.719
 message for us

00:26:10.719 --> 00:26:11.419
 as we enter

00:26:11.419 --> 00:26:12.839
 this new year.

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.039
 The future lies

00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:15.059
 unknown before us.

00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:15.939
 Who knows what

00:26:15.939 --> 00:26:16.519
 trials and

00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.240
 troubles may come

00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:17.659
 our way?

00:26:17.879 --> 00:26:18.459
 Who knows what

00:26:18.459 --> 00:26:19.339
 temptations we

00:26:19.339 --> 00:26:20.000
 will face?

00:26:20.419 --> 00:26:21.259
 Who knows the

00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:22.000
 challenges we're

00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.380
 going to

00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:22.980
 encounter.

00:26:23.160 --> 00:26:23.619
 Bereavement,

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.000
 loss,

00:26:24.119 --> 00:26:24.380
 sickness,

00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:25.039
 death,

00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:25.559
 opposition,

00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:26.180
 trial.

00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:27.799
 Sometimes we

00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:28.480
 wonder if we

00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:29.039
 have what it

00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:30.140
 takes to make

00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:30.480
 it through

00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:31.180
 another year.

00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:34.180
 We question if

00:26:34.180 --> 00:26:35.099
 we have what it

00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:36.019
 takes to endure.

00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:37.160
 We're weak,

00:26:37.299 --> 00:26:38.019
 fragile human

00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:38.660
 beings.

00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:40.500
 How can we

00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:40.980
 make it?

00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:41.519
 How can we

00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.279
 make it to

00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:42.539
 heaven?

00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:44.059
 How can we

00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:44.799
 keep going in

00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.220
 the way of

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:45.700
 faith?

00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:48.599
 Friends, the

00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:49.220
 answer is that

00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:49.839
 God will keep

00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:50.539
 us by His

00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:50.919
 power.

00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:52.339
 He will

00:26:52.339 --> 00:26:53.099
 guard us.

00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:54.779
 Paul says to

00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:55.559
 the Philippians,

00:26:55.859 --> 00:26:56.579
 I'm sure of

00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:57.279
 this, that he

00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:58.039
 who began a

00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:58.639
 good work in

00:26:58.639 --> 00:26:59.619
 you will bring

00:26:59.619 --> 00:26:59.899
 it to

00:26:59.899 --> 00:27:01.339
 completion at

00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:02.399
 the day of

00:27:02.399 --> 00:27:03.159
 Jesus Christ.

00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:06.899
 There's an

00:27:06.899 --> 00:27:07.919
 apocryphal story

00:27:07.919 --> 00:27:09.859
 of a Scotsman

00:27:09.859 --> 00:27:12.379
 traveling across

00:27:12.379 --> 00:27:13.859
 the Atlantic,

00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:14.559
 I think, by

00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:14.980
 ship.

00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:16.920
 and in

00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:17.339
 order to

00:27:17.339 --> 00:27:17.920
 save money,

00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:19.019
 he was a

00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:19.240
 kind of

00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:19.960
 archetypal

00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:21.019
 Scotsman.

00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.079
 He liked to

00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:23.539
 hold on to

00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.500
 his pennies.

00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:25.500
 He had

00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.380
 resolved on

00:27:26.380 --> 00:27:26.900
 this journey

00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:27.640
 only to

00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:29.420
 eat cheese

00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:30.000
 and biscuits.

00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:31.500
 And so

00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:31.839
 morning,

00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:32.220
 noon, and

00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:32.779
 night, he

00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:33.559
 had only

00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:34.120
 some biscuits

00:27:34.120 --> 00:27:34.900
 and some

00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:35.220
 cheese.

00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:37.180
 However, by

00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:37.519
 the third

00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.000
 day into

00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:39.440
 the journey,

00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:40.400
 his resolve

00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:41.180
 started to

00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:41.440
 weaken.

00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:43.059
 The cheese

00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:44.599
 was hard,

00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:45.919
 the biscuits

00:27:45.919 --> 00:27:46.779
 were soft,

00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:47.919
 and he

00:27:47.919 --> 00:27:48.500
 looked through

00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:48.899
 the window

00:27:48.899 --> 00:27:49.339
 into the

00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:50.199
 dining salon.

00:27:50.419 --> 00:27:50.779
 He saw

00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:51.159
 all the

00:27:51.159 --> 00:27:51.639
 people there

00:27:51.639 --> 00:27:52.039
 eating.

00:27:53.379 --> 00:27:53.839
 And so

00:27:53.839 --> 00:27:54.539
 he approached

00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.179
 the steward

00:27:55.179 --> 00:27:56.500
 and asked

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.000
 them, how

00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.699
 much, you

00:27:57.699 --> 00:27:58.039
 know, how

00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:58.379
 much would

00:27:58.379 --> 00:27:59.119
 it be for

00:27:59.119 --> 00:27:59.980
 one meal?

00:28:00.719 --> 00:28:01.359
 How much

00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:01.599
 would it

00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:01.980
 cost?

00:28:02.939 --> 00:28:03.539
 And the

00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:03.719
 steward

00:28:03.719 --> 00:28:04.099
 looked at

00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:04.379
 him with

00:28:04.379 --> 00:28:04.959
 a quizzical

00:28:04.959 --> 00:28:06.000
 expression

00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:07.839
 before explaining

00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:08.359
 to him

00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:09.919
 that all the

00:28:09.919 --> 00:28:10.579
 meals were

00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:12.019
 included in

00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:12.459
 his ticket.

00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:15.399
 Friends, we're

00:28:15.399 --> 00:28:16.000
 to rest in

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:16.500
 the assurance

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.219
 that God's

00:28:17.219 --> 00:28:17.919
 power will

00:28:17.919 --> 00:28:18.719
 keep us and

00:28:18.719 --> 00:28:19.480
 preserve us

00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:20.279
 for heaven.

00:28:21.079 --> 00:28:22.119
 It's all

00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:24.319
 included in

00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:24.980
 the passage.

00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:27.179
 It's all

00:28:27.179 --> 00:28:27.859
 part of that

00:28:27.859 --> 00:28:28.699
 great salvation

00:28:28.699 --> 00:28:29.759
 won for us

00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.259
 by Jesus

00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:30.719
 Christ.

00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:33.139
 We may not

00:28:33.139 --> 00:28:33.799
 have what it

00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:35.359
 takes, but

00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:36.079
 Jesus Christ

00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:36.459
 does.

00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.919
 Remember on

00:28:38.919 --> 00:28:39.359
 this New

00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:39.939
 Year's Day

00:28:39.939 --> 00:28:41.279
 that he is

00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:41.819
 your risen

00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.219
 Lord.

00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:43.559
 Lord, he

00:28:43.559 --> 00:28:43.880
 is your

00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:44.480
 good shepherd.

00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:46.120
 He is your

00:28:46.120 --> 00:28:47.279
 great Savior,

00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:48.160
 mighty to

00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:49.460
 save, ready

00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:50.200
 to equip,

00:28:50.620 --> 00:28:51.339
 worthy of

00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:52.059
 our praise.

00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:53.799
 And as you

00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:54.400
 step into

00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:54.860
 this new

00:28:54.860 --> 00:28:56.259
 year, may

00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:56.779
 you, by

00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:58.860
 faith, receive

00:28:58.860 --> 00:29:00.259
 this great

00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:02.160
 benediction of

00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:02.539
 God.

00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:03.839
 Let's pray

00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:04.200
 together.

00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:10.900
 Lord, we

00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:11.519
 are weak

00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.019
 and frail

00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:12.819
 human beings.

00:29:15.600 --> 00:29:16.279
 We look

00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:16.740
 away from

00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:17.220
 ourselves.

00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.920
 We look to

00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:19.220
 you, the

00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.660
 living God,

00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:20.100
 the God of

00:29:20.100 --> 00:29:20.480
 peace.

00:29:21.340 --> 00:29:22.120
 We look to

00:29:22.120 --> 00:29:22.519
 our Lord

00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:23.319
 Jesus Christ,

00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.600
 the great

00:29:24.600 --> 00:29:25.019
 shepherd of

00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:25.480
 the sheep,

00:29:26.140 --> 00:29:27.039
 the one who

00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:28.400
 has shed the

00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:29.140
 blood of the

00:29:29.140 --> 00:29:29.980
 eternal covenant,

00:29:30.120 --> 00:29:30.600
 the one who

00:29:30.600 --> 00:29:31.920
 has risen from

00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:32.420
 the dead.

00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:33.920
 God, and we

00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:34.660
 rest our

00:29:34.660 --> 00:29:35.740
 faith in

00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.080
 him.

00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:37.360
 And we

00:29:37.360 --> 00:29:39.100
 pray that as

00:29:39.100 --> 00:29:40.539
 we step into

00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:41.200
 the rest of

00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:43.680
 2026, we

00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:44.779
 would draw

00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:46.720
 from you all

00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.300
 the resources

00:29:47.300 --> 00:29:48.039
 that we need

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:49.320
 to live for

00:29:49.320 --> 00:29:50.920
 you and to

00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:51.840
 live for your

00:29:51.840 --> 00:29:52.160
 glory.

00:29:52.900 --> 00:29:53.900
 We pray this

00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:54.539
 in Jesus'

00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:54.960
 name.

00:29:55.620 --> 00:29:55.960
 Amen.

00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:56.140
 Amen.

00:29:56.140 --> 00:29:56.180
 Amen.

00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:56.180


00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:56.180


00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:56.180


00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:56.180