WEBVTT

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 8.

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 Ephesians 5, verse 8,

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 For at one time you were darkness,

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 but now you are light in the Lord.

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 Walk as children of light.

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 Paul often, as he wrote,

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 he did so by way of contrasts.

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 Very often he would say,

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 reminding Christians,

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 this is what you once were,

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 but this is now what you are.

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 You find that, in fact,

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 as you go through in Ephesians,

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 it went back to chapter 2,

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 we find that you were dead

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 in trespasses and sins.

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 You once walked according

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 to the course of the world.

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 You were children of wrath,

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 even us others.

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 But now, that's what he says in verse 4,

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 but God being rich in mercy,

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 where God comes into your life

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 and changes and transforms it.

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 Again, in verse 13 of chapter 2,

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 we have the same idea.

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 He says,

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 But now in Christ Jesus,

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 you who once were far off

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 have been brought near

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 by the blood of Christ.

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 So Paul often works

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 by these sort of contrasting pictures

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 of what once we were

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 and what now we have become.

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 And it's important for us

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 to remember that we,

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 just as it tells us

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 in this particular verse,

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 you were,

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 that's what he says,

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 for at one time

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 you were darkness,

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 but now are light in the Lord.

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 Not just you were in darkness.

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 We were in darkness.

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 But it's deeper than that.

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 We actually were darkness.

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 And when you think about it,

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 that's an awful picture.

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 And that's how everybody is

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 without Christ.

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 That's how we once were.

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 Darkness.

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 Not just in darkness,

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 but darkness.

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 Darkness.

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 So before we come to look

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 at positively,

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 let us look at first

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 what we were.

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 We were in darkness.

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 And this is, of course,

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 the darkness of sin.

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 That's what happened

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 whenever sin entered into this world.

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 And it's our,

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 what we use the expression,

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 a default position.

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 It's what we are.

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 And sadly,

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 it's what by nature we love.

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 Because we're told in scripture

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 that men love darkness

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 rather than light.

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 And whether we accepted it or not,

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 that was our preferred position.

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 Before we became Christians,

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 we preferred the darkness.

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 Yes, there might have been

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 leanings towards the light.

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 There might have been

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 drawings towards the light.

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 But the bottom line was

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 darkness was what ruled us

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 because we were darkness.

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 And it's not until we come to the light

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 that we realized just

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 how dark we actually were.

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 And this darkness is an awful thing.

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 Because in that darkness,

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 there is also

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 a sense of despondency

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 and a sense of despair.

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 People aren't aware of it.

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 But that's exactly how it is.

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 And I've seen,

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 I can still remember,

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 a couple of occasions

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 where this was brought

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 so forcibly home to me.

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 Where I was visiting people.

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 And there are two in particular

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 that come to my mind.

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 In the last week of their life,

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 it was not at the same time.

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 And I was trying to

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 say a little about Jesus

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 and didn't want to hear anything.

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 And I asked,

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 can I pray with you?

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 No, don't want prayer.

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 And what I found so extraordinary is

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 that there seemed to be just,

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 there was almost a darkness

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 you could feel.

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 And a sense of despair

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 and despondency.

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 That didn't want the light

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 in any shape or form.

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 And this is part almost

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 of the mystery of iniquity

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 where this darkness

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 wants to go deeper and deeper.

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 Doesn't want the light

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 in any shape or form.

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 And even when you're holding out light,

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 don't want it.

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 And it's,

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 it had a,

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 it had a real impact upon me,

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 this sense of

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 the hopelessness

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 and the despair

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 that is in that darkness.

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 But that's exactly,

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 these were sort of

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 where the,

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 where it was being displayed

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 in a very clear way.

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 And what I was thinking was,

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 just as a Christian

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 gets little glimpses

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 of glory along the way,

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 we get little,

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 little tears,

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 we,

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 we,

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 we snippets,

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 as it were,

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 little touches.

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 and as we get closer to glory,

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 our hearts seem to be going there

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 more and more

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 to reverse us through

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 for those out of Christ.

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 That darkness is beginning

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 to envelop them

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 more and more.

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 The,

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 the lostness,

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 the despondency,

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 the darkness,

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 because that's what hell

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 ultimately is,

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 is outer darkness.

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 darkness.

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 And it's an incredibly

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 solemn thought,

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 but that,

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 that is the nature,

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 that's how we were

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 before the light.

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 And it's also a darkness

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 of ignorance,

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 because light,

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 light speaks to us

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 of knowledge,

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 of understanding.

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 And chapter four,

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 verse 18 tells us,

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 they are darkened

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 in their understanding,

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 alienated from the life

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 of God,

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 because of the ignorance

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 that is in them

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 due to the hardness

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 of their heart.

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 And you know,

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 it's an awful thing

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 to have our understanding

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 darkened by sin.

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 This ignorance

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 that is spoken of here

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 is not the ignorance

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 of intellect,

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 because there are many

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 intellectual giants

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 in this world

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 who,

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 as far as spiritual

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 understanding is concerned,

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 have none.

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 They are in darkness.

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 In fact,

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 I'm sure it's the same

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 with you.

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 I've had very clever people

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 tell me when I became

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 a Christian

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 to get rid of that nonsense.

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 That's what,

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 that was the actual word used.

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 Clever people,

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 far smarter

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 than I ever would be.

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 But that's because

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 of this word ignorance,

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 which is a spiritual blindness

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 that envelops the mind.

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 And they actually think,

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 genuinely think,

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 that the whole Christian,

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 that it's foolishness.

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 But the Bible tells us

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 that that's exactly

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 what they think.

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 Remember how Paul writing elsewhere,

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 he talks about

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 the preaching of the gospel,

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 that for some,

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 it's a stumbling block,

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 for others,

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 it's foolishness.

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 There are people tonight

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 who actually would look at you

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 coming to the prayer meeting

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 and think,

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 how foolish is that?

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 And the reason is

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 because of the ignorance,

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 the spiritual ignorance

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 that is brought about

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 by the darkness

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 that has enveloped

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 their heart

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 and their mind.

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 And you know,

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 it's an incredibly

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 solemn thing.

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 And then there's also

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 the darkness

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 of the curse.

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 You see,

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 there's the curse and sin.

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 And you remember

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 how God's judgment

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 came on Israel.

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 Remember how the plagues,

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 and one of the plagues

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 was darkness.

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 An incredible darkness

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 enveloped the land,

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 the whole land of Egypt

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 with an exception,

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 the land of Goshen.

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 The part of Egypt,

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 Goshen,

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 was in light.

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 That's where God's people were.

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 The rest of Egypt

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 was plunged

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 into the most

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 extraordinary darkness.

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 darkness.

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 And so,

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 that's where we once were,

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 under the curse,

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 because of sin,

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 ignorant

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 to the things of God.

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 But thankfully,

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 that has changed

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 because we're told here,

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 for at one time

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 you were darkness,

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 but now

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 you are light

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 in the Lord.

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 And that light

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 in the Lord,

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 it brings various things.

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 The first thing it does,

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 it brings reconciliation.

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 When the light

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 comes into your experience,

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 and as we know

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 that the dawning

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 of the light

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 can be so different

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 for different people,

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 not everybody

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 is a Saul of Tarshish,

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 not everybody

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 has a clear moment

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 when they know

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 they've passed

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 from death to life.

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 Many people,

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 as we've often said,

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 it's like the dawn

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 of the day.

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 And if you've ever

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 been out through the night

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 and experienced

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 coming in

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 from the darkness

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 and see just that

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 I've done so

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 on two or three occasions,

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 you've been out

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 through the night

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 and you just,

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 you can't say

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 at any particular moment

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 now it's light.

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 There is a particular time

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 when everything

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 is dark and black

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 and then gradually

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 it moves into

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 a world of shadows

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 and then growing shapes

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 and things,

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 there's a growing clarity

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 and eventually

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 everything becomes clear.

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 And that's how it is

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 sometimes

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 in the spiritual journey

00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:25.659
 for people.

00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:26.779
 They can't put

00:09:26.779 --> 00:09:27.799
 a particular day

00:09:27.799 --> 00:09:28.100
 or time,

00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:29.019
 but they do know

00:09:29.019 --> 00:09:30.439
 that they're on

00:09:30.439 --> 00:09:31.639
 a spiritual journey

00:09:31.639 --> 00:09:33.259
 where they were darkness

00:09:33.259 --> 00:09:35.860
 and now they are light.

00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:37.179
 And so there is,

00:09:37.559 --> 00:09:38.439
 this is a great thing

00:09:38.439 --> 00:09:39.799
 is there is reconciliation

00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:41.439
 because now

00:09:41.439 --> 00:09:42.620
 we are at one

00:09:42.620 --> 00:09:43.240
 with the Lord

00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:46.059
 and we feel at home

00:09:46.059 --> 00:09:46.679
 with the Lord.

00:09:46.679 --> 00:09:48.559
 that's why in Romans

00:09:48.559 --> 00:09:49.299
 we're saying

00:09:49.299 --> 00:09:50.439
 now we call him

00:09:50.439 --> 00:09:51.399
 Abba, Father.

00:09:52.179 --> 00:09:53.139
 We can go straight

00:09:53.139 --> 00:09:54.459
 maybe as children

00:09:54.459 --> 00:09:56.459
 we recited the Lord's Prayer

00:09:56.459 --> 00:09:57.179
 our Father

00:09:57.179 --> 00:09:58.039
 which art in heaven

00:09:58.039 --> 00:09:58.779
 repeated it

00:09:58.779 --> 00:10:00.120
 knew it of by heart.

00:10:01.219 --> 00:10:02.099
 But when you become

00:10:02.099 --> 00:10:02.620
 a Christian

00:10:02.620 --> 00:10:03.439
 you can say

00:10:03.439 --> 00:10:04.459
 our Father,

00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:05.279
 my Father.

00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:06.979
 Because

00:10:06.979 --> 00:10:09.659
 you feel this acceptance.

00:10:09.979 --> 00:10:10.199
 How?

00:10:10.699 --> 00:10:11.579
 Have you made that

00:10:11.579 --> 00:10:11.939
 in yourself?

00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:12.339
 No.

00:10:12.979 --> 00:10:14.079
 It is the ministry

00:10:14.079 --> 00:10:14.979
 of the Spirit

00:10:14.979 --> 00:10:16.419
 assuring us

00:10:16.419 --> 00:10:18.459
 the Spirit

00:10:18.459 --> 00:10:19.240
 ministered

00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:20.399
 to our spirit

00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:21.579
 that we are

00:10:21.579 --> 00:10:22.719
 children of God.

00:10:23.779 --> 00:10:24.360
 And it's one of the

00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:25.319
 most liberating

00:10:25.319 --> 00:10:27.079
 experiences

00:10:27.079 --> 00:10:27.899
 that we have

00:10:27.899 --> 00:10:28.620
 where we've come

00:10:28.620 --> 00:10:29.519
 from the darkness

00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:30.639
 and now we have

00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:31.919
 this sense of belonging.

00:10:32.740 --> 00:10:33.740
 We know who we are.

00:10:33.819 --> 00:10:34.399
 We're family.

00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:35.779
 We belong to one another.

00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:37.219
 You remember that

00:10:37.219 --> 00:10:37.799
 when you became

00:10:37.799 --> 00:10:38.459
 a Christian?

00:10:39.299 --> 00:10:40.240
 All of a sudden

00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:40.599
 there was

00:10:40.599 --> 00:10:41.939
 you felt one

00:10:41.939 --> 00:10:43.120
 with your brothers

00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:43.860
 and sisters.

00:10:44.019 --> 00:10:44.919
 People you used to see

00:10:44.919 --> 00:10:45.480
 over there

00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:46.120
 you didn't really

00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:46.539
 know them

00:10:46.539 --> 00:10:47.940
 but all of a sudden

00:10:47.940 --> 00:10:49.279
 there's this bond

00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:50.279
 this link

00:10:50.279 --> 00:10:52.539
 and this is all

00:10:52.539 --> 00:10:53.720
 through the Spirit

00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:55.240
 ministering within us

00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:56.039
 that we are all

00:10:56.039 --> 00:10:56.980
 children

00:10:56.980 --> 00:10:58.800
 all family.

00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:00.100
 We all belong

00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:00.820
 to the Lord.

00:11:01.740 --> 00:11:02.100
 And so

00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:04.080
 this is a wonderful

00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:04.600
 time

00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:05.519
 where we're

00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:06.800
 brought into the light.

00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:08.879
 You know

00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:10.200
 you could be out

00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:11.539
 on a really cold

00:11:11.539 --> 00:11:12.420
 windy night.

00:11:12.580 --> 00:11:13.440
 It's really dark.

00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:14.540
 the wind is howling.

00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:15.320
 You're going to visit

00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:15.800
 someone.

00:11:16.140 --> 00:11:16.960
 It's a good friend

00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:18.300
 and you're struggling

00:11:18.300 --> 00:11:18.980
 with the wind.

00:11:19.140 --> 00:11:20.120
 It's pouring rain.

00:11:20.260 --> 00:11:21.100
 Everything is dark.

00:11:21.220 --> 00:11:22.020
 Everything is black.

00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:23.320
 You reach the door.

00:11:23.400 --> 00:11:24.160
 The door's locked.

00:11:24.280 --> 00:11:25.060
 You ring the bell

00:11:25.060 --> 00:11:25.840
 and knock the door

00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:27.620
 and they come to the door

00:11:27.620 --> 00:11:27.900
 and they,

00:11:27.980 --> 00:11:28.980
 oh, come on in.

00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:30.960
 And if that's happened

00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:31.340
 to you

00:11:31.340 --> 00:11:31.980
 you remember

00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:32.700
 the warmth,

00:11:32.940 --> 00:11:33.520
 the light,

00:11:34.100 --> 00:11:35.160
 the friendship.

00:11:35.640 --> 00:11:36.360
 And it's so good

00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:36.880
 to get out

00:11:36.880 --> 00:11:38.220
 of the pouring rain

00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:39.220
 and the wind.

00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:41.060
 And in a sense

00:11:41.060 --> 00:11:42.180
 that's how it was

00:11:42.180 --> 00:11:43.600
 in our journey

00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:44.379
 in salvation.

00:11:45.700 --> 00:11:46.620
 This sense

00:11:46.620 --> 00:11:48.279
 of the warmth,

00:11:49.060 --> 00:11:49.920
 the love,

00:11:50.460 --> 00:11:51.220
 the friendship.

00:11:52.420 --> 00:11:52.899
 Just the,

00:11:53.460 --> 00:11:54.080
 I'm home.

00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:55.540
 This is where I belong.

00:11:56.860 --> 00:11:57.879
 Can you remember it?

00:11:57.960 --> 00:11:59.120
 The sense of belonging,

00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:00.519
 the sense of realization.

00:12:01.300 --> 00:12:02.160
 This is me.

00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:03.519
 I'm now at home.

00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:05.399
 And also

00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:06.699
 it's a state of knowledge

00:12:06.699 --> 00:12:08.939
 because light

00:12:08.939 --> 00:12:10.740
 brings knowledge.

00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:11.519
 Light opens

00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:12.519
 our understanding.

00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:14.460
 We have now

00:12:14.460 --> 00:12:15.340
 come to see

00:12:15.340 --> 00:12:17.500
 while we were dark,

00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:20.019
 when we were in darkness

00:12:20.019 --> 00:12:20.519
 and dark,

00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:22.100
 yes,

00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:22.919
 we may have

00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:24.600
 grasped certain things

00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:25.240
 and understood

00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:26.179
 certain things,

00:12:26.579 --> 00:12:28.019
 but our understanding

00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:29.000
 was so limited.

00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:29.699
 But now,

00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:31.819
 and I'm sure

00:12:31.819 --> 00:12:32.379
 like me,

00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:33.019
 you lament

00:12:33.019 --> 00:12:33.460
 and say,

00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:34.620
 I wish I knew more.

00:12:35.539 --> 00:12:35.799
 Well,

00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:36.980
 be encouraged.

00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:38.600
 You know a lot more

00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:40.220
 than you used to know.

00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:42.480
 Because when you become

00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:43.039
 a Christian,

00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:43.819
 you grow

00:12:43.819 --> 00:12:44.879
 in grace

00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:46.220
 and in the knowledge

00:12:46.220 --> 00:12:47.659
 of the Lord Jesus.

00:12:47.939 --> 00:12:49.059
 Both these things

00:12:49.059 --> 00:12:49.819
 take part.

00:12:51.179 --> 00:12:52.279
 Grace and knowledge

00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:53.480
 are working together

00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:54.759
 and we need to seek

00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:55.980
 to grow more and more

00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:56.460
 in grace

00:12:56.460 --> 00:12:57.939
 and in knowledge.

00:12:58.939 --> 00:12:59.860
 And as we grow

00:12:59.860 --> 00:13:00.379
 in knowledge,

00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:01.939
 we do so with the word

00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:03.440
 and we do so

00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:05.180
 married to the experiences

00:13:05.180 --> 00:13:06.080
 that we go through.

00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:06.740
 You know,

00:13:06.820 --> 00:13:07.480
 as a Christian,

00:13:08.160 --> 00:13:09.060
 the experiences

00:13:09.060 --> 00:13:09.780
 that you go through

00:13:09.780 --> 00:13:10.280
 today,

00:13:11.280 --> 00:13:12.340
 you're able to

00:13:12.340 --> 00:13:13.140
 understand them

00:13:13.140 --> 00:13:14.000
 far more.

00:13:14.820 --> 00:13:15.160
 Yes,

00:13:15.220 --> 00:13:15.820
 because you've been

00:13:15.820 --> 00:13:16.340
 on the journey

00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:16.660
 longer,

00:13:16.920 --> 00:13:17.660
 but your knowledge

00:13:17.660 --> 00:13:18.240
 of the word

00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:18.900
 is greater.

00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:20.540
 And the word

00:13:20.540 --> 00:13:22.500
 tied and married

00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:24.640
 to the experiences

00:13:24.640 --> 00:13:25.400
 you go through

00:13:25.400 --> 00:13:26.800
 help your knowledge

00:13:26.800 --> 00:13:27.440
 to grow

00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:28.400
 so that you have

00:13:28.400 --> 00:13:29.700
 a greater understanding

00:13:29.700 --> 00:13:30.820
 of God's ways,

00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:31.860
 God's purposes,

00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:33.820
 of who God is.

00:13:34.880 --> 00:13:35.420
 And so there's

00:13:35.420 --> 00:13:36.720
 this great sense

00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:37.820
 of knowledge.

00:13:37.940 --> 00:13:38.620
 You know who you

00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:39.300
 belong to.

00:13:39.420 --> 00:13:40.600
 You know why you're here.

00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:41.920
 You know where you're going.

00:13:42.380 --> 00:13:43.580
 You have an understanding

00:13:43.580 --> 00:13:45.680
 of God's love to you.

00:13:45.900 --> 00:13:46.920
 You have a knowledge

00:13:46.920 --> 00:13:48.380
 of God's peace

00:13:48.380 --> 00:13:49.140
 in your heart.

00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:50.540
 There's an understanding

00:13:50.540 --> 00:13:51.500
 of the cross.

00:13:51.900 --> 00:13:52.820
 There's an understanding

00:13:52.820 --> 00:13:53.780
 of the resurrection.

00:13:54.380 --> 00:13:55.620
 All these things,

00:13:55.620 --> 00:13:56.879
 darkness,

00:13:57.879 --> 00:13:58.779
 is gone.

00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:00.440
 It's now light.

00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:01.100
 Now I know

00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:03.000
 there'll always be days

00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:04.840
 when we're not so conscious

00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:05.580
 of the light.

00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:08.100
 And sometimes we say,

00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:10.259
 I am in darkness.

00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:12.240
 But you won't be left there.

00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:13.539
 Micah said,

00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:14.399
 Micah says,

00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:16.120
 when I sit in darkness,

00:14:16.259 --> 00:14:17.440
 the Lord shall be a light

00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:17.799
 to me.

00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:19.680
 And you know the Lord will.

00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:21.539
 Even if there are times

00:14:21.539 --> 00:14:22.379
 we're struggling,

00:14:22.820 --> 00:14:24.060
 the Lord will reveal

00:14:24.060 --> 00:14:25.259
 himself again to us.

00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:26.559
 And so the fault

00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:27.840
 is never with the Lord.

00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:29.740
 It's never that his light

00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:30.700
 has ever dimmed.

00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:32.220
 But so often,

00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:34.700
 the clouds of our own sin

00:14:34.700 --> 00:14:36.259
 and all the other things

00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:37.819
 come in and block the way.

00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:39.519
 And just finally,

00:14:39.939 --> 00:14:41.879
 it tells us there

00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:43.360
 that we are to walk

00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:45.019
 as children of light.

00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:47.080
 And it tells us very simply

00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:48.360
 of three things there.

00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:50.580
 For the fruit of light

00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:52.240
 is found in all that is good

00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:53.439
 and right and true.

00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:56.740
 That idea of good

00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:57.480
 is goodness.

00:14:58.360 --> 00:15:01.340
 That should be our life

00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:02.740
 where we are seeking

00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:04.100
 the good of other people.

00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:05.920
 If God's goodness

00:15:05.920 --> 00:15:08.480
 is part of our lives,

00:15:08.640 --> 00:15:10.500
 if the Lord's light

00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.740
 is within us,

00:15:12.160 --> 00:15:14.020
 then it is only natural

00:15:14.020 --> 00:15:15.480
 that we are seeking

00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:16.340
 the well-being,

00:15:17.160 --> 00:15:18.120
 seeking the good.

00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:19.320
 So we're wanting

00:15:19.320 --> 00:15:20.039
 to encourage

00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:21.000
 and to edify

00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:21.919
 and to strengthen

00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:22.960
 and to build up

00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:24.460
 and to do good

00:15:24.460 --> 00:15:25.919
 at whatever opportunity

00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:26.679
 we have.

00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:29.519
 Right or righteousness.

00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:31.060
 In other words,

00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:33.019
 we are to be right

00:15:33.019 --> 00:15:34.139
 before God

00:15:34.139 --> 00:15:36.060
 and before one another.

00:15:36.460 --> 00:15:37.299
 A right man.

00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:37.840
 We talk,

00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:40.740
 we talk of a right,

00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:41.220
 well,

00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:42.659
 that's what the Christian

00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:43.360
 should be,

00:15:43.659 --> 00:15:44.799
 a right person

00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:47.259
 and a true person.

00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:48.519
 No deceit,

00:15:48.680 --> 00:15:49.480
 no dishonesty,

00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:50.379
 no deception,

00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:54.320
 but seeking to deal honestly

00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:55.419
 and to deal well

00:15:55.419 --> 00:15:56.919
 with everybody.

00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:58.519
 There shouldn't be

00:15:58.519 --> 00:15:59.399
 any hidden things.

00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:00.139
 Our lives

00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:02.220
 shouldn't have any hidden things.

00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:03.799
 Not that we can hide from God,

00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:05.719
 but our lives

00:16:05.719 --> 00:16:06.539
 should be open.

00:16:06.939 --> 00:16:08.019
 Paul so often

00:16:08.019 --> 00:16:08.779
 throughout says

00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:10.500
 that we are to live

00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:11.839
 in this sincerity,

00:16:12.079 --> 00:16:13.019
 which is meaning,

00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:14.639
 there's various meanings

00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:15.419
 that he gives,

00:16:15.539 --> 00:16:16.099
 but one of them

00:16:16.099 --> 00:16:17.519
 is we're searched

00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:18.779
 like under the spotlight,

00:16:18.939 --> 00:16:19.759
 under the sunlight.

00:16:21.959 --> 00:16:23.299
 And if our lives

00:16:23.299 --> 00:16:24.639
 are lived in a right way,

00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:26.500
 then we can live

00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:27.339
 comfortably

00:16:27.339 --> 00:16:28.599
 with one another.

00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:29.899
 You know if you're

00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:30.579
 at the airport

00:16:30.579 --> 00:16:31.379
 and you're going away

00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:31.719
 and you're

00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:35.180
 you know your baggage

00:16:35.180 --> 00:16:36.200
 goes through a scanner.

00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:38.139
 If you had something

00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:39.480
 that's in the

00:16:39.480 --> 00:16:41.259
 forbidden category

00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:42.779
 in your case,

00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:44.580
 you'd be kind of sweating

00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:45.160
 a wee bit

00:16:45.160 --> 00:16:45.320
 saying,

00:16:45.420 --> 00:16:46.940
 I wonder if they'll find that.

00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:50.160
 But if everything's all right,

00:16:50.680 --> 00:16:52.180
 then you're okay,

00:16:52.300 --> 00:16:53.320
 you're not worried at all.

00:16:53.680 --> 00:16:54.840
 Well that's the kind of idea

00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:55.460
 we should be,

00:16:55.800 --> 00:16:56.580
 that our lives

00:16:56.580 --> 00:16:57.259
 are going through

00:16:57.259 --> 00:16:58.019
 this scanner

00:16:58.019 --> 00:16:58.580
 so that

00:16:58.580 --> 00:17:00.740
 before God

00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:01.960
 and before one another.

00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:02.720
 Now of course

00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:03.740
 that convicts us

00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:04.460
 because so often

00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.599
 as we look at our lives

00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:06.420
 we say,

00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:06.859
 oh,

00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:08.660
 because we all sin.

00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:10.059
 We all,

00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:11.279
 as we face up

00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:12.519
 to what it is saying here,

00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:14.559
 we all do wrong.

00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:16.440
 But we should walk

00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:17.079
 as a light.

00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:18.599
 Our lives should be

00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:19.519
 a living testimony.

00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:20.799
 Jesus said,

00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:21.559
 you are the lights

00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:22.160
 of the world.

00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:25.120
 The light of the Lord

00:17:25.120 --> 00:17:26.799
 should shine through us.

00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:27.680
 I read of a diamond

00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.099
 somewhere,

00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:29.420
 you probably read of that,

00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:30.900
 that if it's exposed

00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:31.759
 to the sunlight

00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.900
 for a while

00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:33.600
 and then you put it

00:17:33.600 --> 00:17:34.820
 into a darkened room,

00:17:35.080 --> 00:17:36.680
 it continues to shine.

00:17:38.120 --> 00:17:38.720
 In a sense,

00:17:38.800 --> 00:17:40.000
 that's how we should be

00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:41.460
 as we come from

00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:42.600
 the presence of the Lord.

00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:43.240
 Like Moses,

00:17:43.340 --> 00:17:44.039
 remember when he was

00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:44.700
 up on the mountain,

00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:46.380
 up with the Lord.

00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:47.500
 When he came back down,

00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:49.320
 his face so shone

00:17:49.320 --> 00:17:50.000
 that the Israelites

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:50.759
 couldn't look at him.

00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:52.240
 He had to put a veil

00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:53.580
 over his face.

00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:53.880
 They said,

00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:54.820
 we can't look at you

00:17:54.820 --> 00:17:56.940
 as he came from

00:17:56.940 --> 00:17:58.180
 the presence of the Lord.

00:17:58.180 --> 00:18:00.539
 So our lives

00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:02.140
 ought to be a light

00:18:02.140 --> 00:18:03.400
 that shines.

00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:06.120
 And you sometimes

00:18:06.120 --> 00:18:06.680
 say to yourself,

00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:08.039
 why are people so,

00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:08.920
 why is the world

00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:10.360
 so opposed to Christianity?

00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:12.039
 For that very reason.

00:18:13.420 --> 00:18:14.259
 That the world

00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:15.140
 can't handle

00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:16.940
 the light of the Christian.

00:18:17.600 --> 00:18:18.299
 The world

00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:19.560
 would want

00:18:19.560 --> 00:18:21.460
 the Christian removed.

00:18:21.560 --> 00:18:22.120
 That's why they want

00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:23.200
 the Bible removed.

00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.640
 Because the Bible

00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:25.340
 is a light

00:18:25.340 --> 00:18:26.220
 that bothers them.

00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.700
 the Christian

00:18:27.700 --> 00:18:28.579
 is often a light

00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:29.420
 that bothers them.

00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:31.319
 But the other side

00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:31.940
 to it is

00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:33.079
 that the Christian

00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:33.759
 as a light

00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:35.079
 is a huge influence

00:18:35.079 --> 00:18:35.640
 for good.

00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:38.279
 And I'm sure

00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:38.819
 as you and I

00:18:38.819 --> 00:18:39.319
 look back

00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:40.120
 over our lives,

00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:41.500
 we can remember

00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.220
 Christians

00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:43.079
 who shone.

00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:44.380
 Christians

00:18:44.380 --> 00:18:45.319
 whose lives

00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:46.779
 influenced us.

00:18:48.100 --> 00:18:48.860
 Not just

00:18:48.860 --> 00:18:49.839
 by what they said,

00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:51.360
 but by what they were.

00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:51.500
 there.

00:18:53.059 --> 00:18:53.939
 So Paul

00:18:53.939 --> 00:18:54.839
 is saying here,

00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:56.319
 here's the acid test,

00:18:56.459 --> 00:18:57.559
 threefold acid test

00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:58.179
 for our life.

00:18:58.579 --> 00:18:59.740
 In order to live right,

00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:01.099
 ask yourself this,

00:19:01.619 --> 00:19:02.379
 is it good?

00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.719
 If it is,

00:19:03.899 --> 00:19:04.439
 it's right.

00:19:04.899 --> 00:19:05.859
 Is it good?

00:19:06.339 --> 00:19:07.159
 Is it right?

00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:08.379
 Is it true?

00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:09.979
 These are the three principles.

00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:11.579
 If it's good,

00:19:12.179 --> 00:19:13.039
 if it's right,

00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.439
 is it true?

00:19:14.899 --> 00:19:15.399
 May the Lord

00:19:15.399 --> 00:19:16.159
 help us then

00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:17.519
 to have this

00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:19.500
 governing our lives

00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:20.180
 in order that

00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:21.240
 we may walk

00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:22.759
 in the light,

00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:24.460
 displaying the light

00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.600
 as we have been

00:19:25.600 --> 00:19:26.300
 now delivered

00:19:26.300 --> 00:19:28.140
 from the darkness.

00:19:28.320 --> 00:19:28.860
 Let us pray.

00:19:29.580 --> 00:19:29.980
 Lord,

00:19:30.060 --> 00:19:31.220
 we give thanks

00:19:31.220 --> 00:19:32.340
 for our time together.

00:19:33.340 --> 00:19:34.040
 And as we

00:19:34.040 --> 00:19:35.680
 reflect on your word

00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:37.100
 and what it tells us,

00:19:37.800 --> 00:19:39.019
 so often we feel

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:40.540
 we come so far short.

00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:42.279
 But we give thanks

00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:43.140
 for your patience

00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:44.320
 how you deal with us.

00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:46.000
 And we give thanks

00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:46.920
 for the desire

00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:47.880
 within our heart

00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:49.480
 to walk in the light

00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:51.859
 and to be reflectors

00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:52.720
 of your light

00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:54.619
 so that the image

00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:55.240
 of Christ

00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:56.279
 may shine in us

00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.099
 more and more.

00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.779
 We pray then

00:19:58.779 --> 00:19:59.440
 to bless us

00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:00.420
 as a congregation.

00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:02.140
 Bless every home

00:20:02.140 --> 00:20:03.079
 and every family.

00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:04.220
 Again,

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.160
 we pray your blessing

00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:06.259
 upon our young people

00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:08.539
 and the holiday club

00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:09.599
 that's taking place.

00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.420
 And we give thanks

00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:11.460
 for the huge input

00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:13.440
 of Scott and Fiona.

00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:15.259
 And we pray for them,

00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:16.539
 for Scott and Fiona

00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:19.379
 and for Katie Bell

00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:20.180
 and Lily May

00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:21.559
 as they will be moving

00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:23.180
 down to North Harris.

00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:24.099
 We pray that

00:20:24.099 --> 00:20:25.879
 their time there

00:20:25.879 --> 00:20:26.740
 will be a time

00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.339
 of blessing

00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:28.099
 as it has been

00:20:28.099 --> 00:20:28.920
 with us here.

00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:30.259
 And watch over them,

00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:30.799
 we pray.

00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:32.279
 And we ask, Lord,

00:20:32.339 --> 00:20:33.039
 that you will watch

00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:34.140
 over all of us.

00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:34.980
 Do us good,

00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:35.579
 we pray.

00:20:36.299 --> 00:20:37.039
 Guide us

00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:37.720
 and keep us

00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:39.380
 and guard us

00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:40.160
 at every time.

00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:41.039
 Take away our sin

00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:41.880
 in Jesus' name.

00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:42.360
 Amen.