WEBVTT

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 Friends, I'm so thankful that I can unpack this passage with you.

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 Whilst I'm untangling myself, I want to add my special welcome to you.

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 But a particular special welcome to our Year 7-8s into our room

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 as they continue on the journey of discovering what it looks like to be lifelong disciples

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 and particularly as they worship with us on Sundays.

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 So I'm really glad that I can tie a neat bow.

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 I try to, hopefully.

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 To finish one Thessalonians.

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 And if you've got a St Paul's app with you, there is an outline for notes.

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 But if you're a note taker, I've got them on the screen for you.

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 These are the three points.

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 Number one, the heart of worship.

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 Number two, the inputs for worship.

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 And steadfast worship.

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 But before we do, let's pray.

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 Gracious Father, your kindness in Christ means that we can come before your throne

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 with full confidence that you will deliver on your promises.

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 And today I pray that you show us those promises evidently.

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 The promises that your spirit is unveiling the glories of this text to see you clearly.

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 And the promise that you are chipping away at our hearts so that we can become more like our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

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 Amen.

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 I remember a while ago I was walking with a friend of mine to Macca's.

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 And we were determined to get a really, really good feed.

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 And as we were chatting, he kind of stopped me because he had received a text.

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 And it was a text that kind of shocked him.

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 And it was about a sad occurrence that had happened for a friend of his.

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 And he said, let's just stop now.

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 Let's just pray for this person.

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 And I was like, wow, okay.

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 Like, this is the first time I've ever gone like, okay, let's just stop in the middle of the path

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 and just pray because my heart is convinced and convicted that it needs to get chicken nuggets.

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 And as we continued hanging, I just noticed him talk about how cool it was for God to be his creator.

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 Every third sentence was like speckled with, I thank God that, or in God's kindness, by God's grace.

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 And as I was hearing these things, like, did he just want to show that he was, you know, more holy, more overtly religious than me?

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 And what I'd begun to realize was that he was so convinced, so convinced that God is the true and living God,

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 that he was confident about the presence and work of the living God, that he had to talk to him, that he had to talk about him.

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 This is worship.

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 This is worship.

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 What's your picture of worship?

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 Is worship connected to singing songs or when we open the Bible, when we pray?

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 Perhaps all the things that seem uber churchy.

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 Maybe we see that worship is only a matter of time in our calendars, a Sunday, maybe a midweek,

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 or maybe even certain seasons.

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 When seasons are hard, you come to church for hope and assurance.

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 And what I want to say is that the scriptures, particularly the passage that we're going to unpack today,

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 is much, much greater in its depiction of worship, much greater on a grander scale.

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 And we might have a small view of what worship is or what it even can be.

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 And it's limited, perhaps because the way that we give devotion and adoration to God

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 is confined by the resources that we can give him that we think are limited.

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 But maybe that's not the case.

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 Maybe God joyfully says you actually have more to offer than you think.

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 But this passage captures the essence about worship.

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 If last week's passage that Nick looked at was the horizontal nature of what it looks like

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 to be a follower of Jesus until Christ returns, this speaks of the vertical nature, our devotion to God.

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 Paul's very first point in regard to worship is that worship is an all-of-life matter.

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 If you've got your Bibles open, keep it at verse 16.

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 It says,

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 Be joyful always.

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 Pray continually.

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 Give thanks in all circumstances,

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 for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

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 Notice the language.

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 Notice that Paul uses to describe the action words with always, continually, all circumstances.

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 Worship is not a matter that is a start and stop.

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 It's not a compartmentalised life where I do this, this, and worship is here.

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 Worship is all of life.

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 And this might sound overwhelming to you.

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 How am I supposed to juggle being a parent, a child, a student, an employee, a boss, do chores, find time to sleep,

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 a member of a church, let alone be an all-of-life worshipper of Jesus?

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 Friends, that perhaps the question is not the what or how we do worship,

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 but our first question ought to be the who, the object of our worship.

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 Whom do you worship?

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 Friends, who or even what do you devote your time, affections, and praise to?

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 The matter at hand isn't that maybe you need more church or more Bible.

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 They could be, in fact, what you might need.

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 But the reason you worship is the object.

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 And the object in 1 Thessalonians that he starts and begins is that we worship the true and living God

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 who's made visible in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

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 So do you see God for who he is?

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 Do you see him as the creator of the universe?

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 Two years ago, I picked up tennis, and I had played as a child for about 10 years,

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 and I was really genuinely, I'm not trying to be humble, not good at all.

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 Couldn't hit a ball for the life of me.

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 And I just noticed, as I was hitting my forehands and backhands, my coach said something to me,

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 and he was screaming repeatedly from the other side of the net.

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 And he said, eyes on the ball, like a million times.

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 Because I thought I had my eyes on the ball, but what I realised was I had my eyes on the opponent,

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 the coach, spectators, where I was trying to aim,

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 but what I needed to have my eyes fixed on was the ball.

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 And the three actions that Paul refers to in worship that he calls you to do all times,

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 all circumstances is pray, rejoice, give thanks.

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 For the Christian, this is what the heartbeat of the person does,

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 and it only is worship that is pleasing and true

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 when the worship has our eyes fixed on the right thing.

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 Pray to God in Christ Jesus.

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 Give thanks to God for Christ Jesus.

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 Rejoice in the Lord.

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 That's where your eyes should be fixed, friends.

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 It's because Christ is worthy of your praise.

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 He is the only living, true God who created all things to give thanks to.

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 Worship is made right and perfect when our eyes are fixed with Jesus.

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 And the rejoicing here that Paul talks about as well is not this matter of being happy.

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 John Piper puts joy as being Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul produced by the Holy Spirit

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 as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the word and in the world.

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 Happiness hangs on what happens.

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 Joy doesn't.

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 I won my soccer game.

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 I got a promotion.

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 If that's not happening, I'm not happy.

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 But joy?

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 Joy can be a matter of when life is frustrating.

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 Joy can be experienced and felt in the midst of grief.

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 Joy can be felt when you don't know even what the Lord is doing in your life at this present moment.

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 Think about the times that Paul himself talks about joy.

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 He says in 2 Corinthians 12 verse 9 on the screen,

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 Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

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 Romans 5, 2-3,

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 We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

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 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings.

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 Notice that Paul often talks about joy in times when it is hard.

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 If you are wanting this steadfast and ongoing joy that doesn't buckle when you are crushed and afflicted,

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 look to Jesus.

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 Have your gaze firmly fixed on him.

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 Because what we saw earlier in the chapter that Paul gets them to look forward to the day of the Lord.

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 For those of you who are playing at home, that is the day that Jesus will come back

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 and bring an end to all things and renew them and restore them to how everything will be.

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 Because joy is confidence that he will make you all that you were meant to be in every fashion.

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 Physically, mentally, spiritually, existentially, on the day that Jesus returns.

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 Because do you see it?

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 God made you to be an awe maker.

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 You were created to have awe at things.

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 And when our awe of Jesus is diminished, what we cannot do in renewing our awe,

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 Jesus does it for us and will complete it when we are with him forever.

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 Revelation 19, verse 1 says,

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 After this, I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting,

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 Hallelujah.

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 Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.

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 The end for the Christian, in fact, the end for all people, is that they worship God.

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 What our life, the world, is hurling towards is the adoration of the one who made us

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 and is the only one who is worthy of our praise.

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 And so to answer that question at the beginning, how am I meant to do all of life worship?

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 Worship is when your life becomes more about Jesus than this world.

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 Worship isn't just singing praise to our God, being in the Word as they are and is a pinnacle of what we are on about.

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 But worship is also when you willingly vacuum after Sunday kids when there is glitter all over the floor

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 because you were convinced that the glitter was going to help them understand the Bible.

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 It's when you sit under your boss talking about your work performance and listen humbly like Christ.

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 When you pray for the Lord's patience not to scream at your child.

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 It's when you keep coming to church in the hard, hard seasons or even when church is hard.

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 Because it's all about Jesus.

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 For is that not what Jesus does when he is on agony on the cross?

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 When he says, Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.

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 The true living God perseveres on the cross for his Father's will.

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 He doesn't scorn at you.

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 He doesn't sit in silence.

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 He prays.

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 He prays.

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 He prays that your soul might know the depths of your sin, your inability to worship him,

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 and that your gaze may be reaffixed to his heart for you.

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 Because of Christ, you are free to worship.

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 You are free to worship anytime, anyplace, and you get to do what you were made for.

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 Friends, isn't that good?

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 Isn't it a joy that in Jesus you get to worship who you were made to worship?

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 I've had this question a lot from youth over the years, and it's this.

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 No judgment.

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 Ash, I understand.

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 God is the creator of the heavens and the earth.

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 Jesus died for me.

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 He's everything.

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 But I just don't want to learn about Jesus today.

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 Is that okay?

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 Have you ever felt sometimes weary about worship?

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 Have you felt that what the kid is saying is what you feel sometimes?

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 I wonder if Paul continues on reminding us that our devotion to God doesn't just start with what you put out,

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 but what you put in.

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 The inputs in your heart matter as much as your outputs.

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 Have a look at verse 19.

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 Do not quench the spirit.

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 Do not despise prophecies, but test everything.

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 Hold fast to what is good.

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 Abstain from every form of evil.

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 Why does Paul say this?

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 The Thessalonian church might have been constantly hearing prophecy maybe.

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 Maybe there was a really bad instance of prophecy.

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 And so Paul says, don't despise it.

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 And what we need to say about prophecy is that often biblical prophecy, particularly in the Old Testament,

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 was not just a future prediction, but a message from God.

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 It could be God's law, as he did with Moses.

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 And perhaps Paul is calling for some discernment of what they hear.

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 And it's worth noting briefly that prophecy is quite a divided matter between Christians today.

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 And I don't think scripture is quite definitive of what prophecy for us today is.

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 Particularly in this passage, Paul does not tell us what the prophecies are

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 or why he brings the matter of prophecy in verse 19 to 22.

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 Some people say that prophecy today is this unprompted thought that God has suddenly brought to mind.

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 Some people say it's the powerful preaching of the word.

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 But I want to park the debate.

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 You can speak to me or you can speak to Steve.

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 Sorry, Steve.

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 Over about morning tea.

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 But what I want us to listen carefully here to is the principle.

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 The principle is if prophecy is rooted and always rooted that it is from the word of God,

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 it must always be tested by the scriptures.

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 And I think what is clear in this passage and others what Paul writes is that these prophecies are about holding what is good

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 and what is in light, what is affirmed in scripture.

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 In other words, the principle is that whatever you hear, does it ring out the glories, the majesty, the beauty of our great God.

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 So that means we can apply this principle to everything.

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 We can apply it to our social media.

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 Because sometimes we take matters that we hear in our phones and podcasts as gospel.

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 You've heard it before, you know, the gospel of self-actualization, I am enough.

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 The gospel of self-care.

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 The gospel of health and fitness.

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 And I'm not saying those things aren't good things.

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 But have you ever considered all of the things that you hear from this world, the media, your friends,

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 whether you place them under the microscope and look them through a gospel lens?

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 Do we let the spirit work as we let him witness to the truth that aligns to his word?

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 If Jesus is the most ultimate thing and the ultimate matter I am to gaze my mind on,

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 if he is coming back, shouldn't everything I do, read and hear,

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 fall under my understanding and worship of him?

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 And I wonder if the people in our modern era, like me, despising of prophecy isn't the issue.

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 The thing that our brain and mind is subsumed by is the world, the internet and the media.

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 And so friends, let us train our eyes to look towards Jesus and his word because he is worthy.

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 The heart of worship is that you let all that you take in and all that you put out be shaped about Jesus.

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 God wants your heart.

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 It is his will for you in Christ Jesus.

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 The object of our affections in worship.

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 The heart of worship is Christ Jesus.

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 And you might say to me, it's all good and well for me to pat you on the back.

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 Go on, brother.

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 Go on, sister.

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 But how do I keep going in worship until Jesus comes back?

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 How do I keep going?

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 How can I be steadfast, perseverant for the next 5, 10, 20, 50 years,

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 however long God has got me on this earth?

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 Take a look at verse 23.

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 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely.

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 And may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 He who calls you is faithful.

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 He will surely do it.

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 Paul starts ending this chapter with what he begun this chapter with.

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 The hope of the day that Jesus is coming back.

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 Because this is what will keep them steadfast in worship.

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 This is what they are to persevere in lifting their eyes to Jesus.

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 I was speaking to a parent recently who was considering how they parent their children

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 and how they always have their eyes on equipping them as individuals beyond living in the household.

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 So by the time that they become empty nesters,

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 their children are able to live in a way that they can be self-sufficient and independent as adults.

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 Not just doing everything for them or fixing all their problems or making them happy,

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 but equipping them for the future.

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 They've always, they're always, always thinking about the future as they love, parent and nourish their children.

00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:59.480
 They've got their eyes on the future.

00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:05.299
 And for the Christian, as you have your eyes fixed in Jesus,

00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:11.659
 you have your eyes fixed on the future that Jesus has secured for you.

00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:15.940
 For the Christian, you are always thinking about that future.

00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:19.559
 If you want worship that is steadfast,

00:21:19.919 --> 00:21:22.019
 don't take your eyes off the target.

00:21:22.639 --> 00:21:24.200
 That is the promise

00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:26.680
 that God,

00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:28.379
 in Christ Jesus,

00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:30.839
 works powerfully in you

00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:32.220
 to complete you,

00:21:32.639 --> 00:21:34.779
 to make you who you were meant to be

00:21:34.779 --> 00:21:36.159
 until he returns.

00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:38.799
 And did you see that word sanctify?

00:21:39.439 --> 00:21:40.539
 What does it mean?

00:21:41.959 --> 00:21:43.019
 Sanctify is,

00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:45.159
 sanctifying or sanctification

00:21:45.159 --> 00:21:48.319
 is the process of being set apart for God,

00:21:49.139 --> 00:21:50.980
 being made more like Christ Jesus,

00:21:51.439 --> 00:21:52.519
 set apart for worship.

00:21:53.159 --> 00:21:54.720
 And what is God sanctifying?

00:21:56.179 --> 00:21:57.579
 What is he sanctifying?

00:21:57.579 --> 00:22:00.119
 your whole spirit

00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:02.039
 and soul

00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:03.799
 and body.

00:22:05.619 --> 00:22:06.919
 Paul yearns for the church

00:22:06.919 --> 00:22:09.279
 to not be those who are idle people.

00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:11.399
 We saw that earlier in verse 14 last week.

00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:13.099
 But what he wants

00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:13.980
 is mature,

00:22:14.619 --> 00:22:15.399
 sanctified,

00:22:15.699 --> 00:22:16.919
 transformed Christians,

00:22:17.879 --> 00:22:18.699
 lovers of Christ

00:22:18.699 --> 00:22:20.480
 who are both transformed horizontally

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.980
 and vertically.

00:22:23.159 --> 00:22:24.399
 He wants you to be

00:22:24.399 --> 00:22:25.299
 all in,

00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.480
 full throttle,

00:22:26.699 --> 00:22:27.559
 self-abandoned.

00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:30.439
 And the question now is,

00:22:30.679 --> 00:22:32.299
 how does God sanctify us?

00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:34.659
 Paul tells us

00:22:34.659 --> 00:22:35.659
 that the how

00:22:35.659 --> 00:22:36.519
 is in the who

00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.220
 will sanctify.

00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:39.379
 Yes,

00:22:39.579 --> 00:22:39.879
 Jesus

00:22:39.879 --> 00:22:40.740
 is

00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:41.619
 our object

00:22:41.619 --> 00:22:42.240
 of worship.

00:22:43.179 --> 00:22:44.419
 But he's not just

00:22:44.419 --> 00:22:45.220
 our object

00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:45.720
 of worship.

00:22:46.619 --> 00:22:47.639
 He is also

00:22:47.639 --> 00:22:48.759
 our agent

00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.799
 of change.

00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:51.199
 Verse 24,

00:22:51.419 --> 00:22:52.579
 he who calls you

00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:53.859
 is faithful.

00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:56.240
 He will surely

00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:56.819
 do it.

00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:59.919
 Jesus will

00:22:59.919 --> 00:23:01.759
 by his Holy Spirit.

00:23:02.679 --> 00:23:03.720
 Doesn't that give

00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.740
 anyone

00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:06.279
 more reason

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:06.859
 to rejoice,

00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:07.659
 more reason

00:23:07.659 --> 00:23:09.099
 to pray unceasingly

00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:10.460
 if he is the one

00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:11.779
 that you ask

00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:12.759
 and long

00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:14.079
 that he will sanctify you

00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:14.859
 and make him

00:23:14.859 --> 00:23:16.179
 more like him.

00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:18.279
 And I wonder

00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:19.199
 if you've come

00:23:19.199 --> 00:23:20.500
 weary today

00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.000
 thinking,

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.319
 I can't do it.

00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:23.939
 maybe you've heard

00:23:23.939 --> 00:23:24.659
 sermon

00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:26.279
 after sermon

00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:27.019
 this series

00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:27.879
 about the need

00:23:27.879 --> 00:23:28.899
 to be at peace

00:23:28.899 --> 00:23:29.539
 and community.

00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:31.000
 Maybe you haven't

00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:32.139
 even fully grasped

00:23:32.139 --> 00:23:32.679
 hold

00:23:32.679 --> 00:23:34.159
 of the gospel

00:23:34.159 --> 00:23:35.179
 in your heart.

00:23:35.659 --> 00:23:36.759
 The call to worship

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.480
 God with both

00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.039
 your bodies

00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:39.019
 and your work

00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:40.759
 and you just

00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.500
 sense that you

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.700
 are not strong

00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:43.099
 enough

00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:45.039
 to do more

00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:45.939
 or be more.

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:48.279
 the story

00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:49.100
 of the gospel

00:23:49.100 --> 00:23:51.039
 finds its hope

00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:51.860
 and beauty

00:23:51.860 --> 00:23:53.400
 in that there is

00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:54.019
 a stronger man

00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:54.460
 than you.

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.220
 There's a stronger

00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:57.480
 one than one

00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:58.240
 who can defeat

00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.460
 the giant apathy

00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:00.160
 in your heart.

00:24:00.380 --> 00:24:00.840
 There's a more

00:24:00.840 --> 00:24:01.519
 patient one

00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:02.100
 when you are

00:24:02.100 --> 00:24:03.320
 impatient at life

00:24:03.320 --> 00:24:04.160
 and impatient

00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:04.759
 with people

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.340
 around you.

00:24:05.880 --> 00:24:06.860
 There's a more

00:24:06.860 --> 00:24:07.980
 faithful God

00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:08.860
 when you feel

00:24:08.860 --> 00:24:09.820
 so faithless.

00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:12.380
 He will

00:24:12.380 --> 00:24:13.100
 do it.

00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:14.559
 not just might

00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:15.339
 do it someday

00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:17.519
 but certainly.

00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:19.399
 Paul says

00:24:19.399 --> 00:24:21.319
 surely do it

00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:22.679
 because he wants

00:24:22.679 --> 00:24:23.559
 the Thessalonians

00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:24.299
 to have that

00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:24.759
 certainty

00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:25.939
 to not mistake

00:24:25.939 --> 00:24:26.740
 that it will not

00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.099
 happen

00:24:27.099 --> 00:24:28.459
 but to be certain.

00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:29.279
 Friends,

00:24:29.379 --> 00:24:30.619
 you can be certain

00:24:30.619 --> 00:24:31.719
 that Jesus

00:24:31.719 --> 00:24:32.480
 will change you.

00:24:37.259 --> 00:24:38.199
 You don't have

00:24:38.199 --> 00:24:38.919
 to be blooming

00:24:38.919 --> 00:24:39.639
 to be growing.

00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.439
 You don't have

00:24:40.439 --> 00:24:41.939
 to always be happy

00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:42.840
 or be in a good

00:24:42.840 --> 00:24:44.059
 season in your life

00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:44.920
 to be growing

00:24:44.920 --> 00:24:48.440
 because

00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:51.059
 you and yourself

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:52.000
 in your own striving

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:53.620
 cannot grow yourself

00:24:53.620 --> 00:24:54.860
 to the image

00:24:54.860 --> 00:24:55.759
 of Christ Jesus

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.940
 without his Holy Spirit.

00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:00.880
 Perhaps you are

00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:01.519
 growing in Jesus

00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.400
 because all you have

00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:03.559
 done is remained

00:25:03.559 --> 00:25:04.519
 in him

00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:06.620
 in the hard times

00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:08.660
 because he is

00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:09.779
 the one changing you.

00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:13.080
 Where have you

00:25:13.080 --> 00:25:13.660
 seen yourself

00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:15.220
 slowly but surely

00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:16.880
 grow closer

00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:17.640
 into the image

00:25:17.640 --> 00:25:18.220
 of Christ

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.820
 rather than your own?

00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:21.700
 Who in this room

00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:22.240
 have you seen

00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:23.340
 grow slowly

00:25:23.340 --> 00:25:25.059
 but surely

00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:26.660
 into the image

00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:27.539
 of Christ?

00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:28.840
 Who will you

00:25:28.840 --> 00:25:29.440
 encourage?

00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:31.160
 And I can imagine

00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:31.880
 as we talk about

00:25:31.880 --> 00:25:32.860
 these big concepts

00:25:32.860 --> 00:25:34.500
 what we can do

00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:36.759
 is get all

00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:37.320
 muddled

00:25:37.320 --> 00:25:38.400
 as what that looks

00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:39.080
 like in our

00:25:39.080 --> 00:25:39.700
 day to day.

00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:41.799
 and I think

00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:42.120
 it will be

00:25:42.120 --> 00:25:43.000
 helpful for us

00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.600
 to ground it

00:25:43.600 --> 00:25:45.240
 in our daily

00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:45.779
 reality.

00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:47.160
 So take this

00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:48.720
 group of flowers

00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:50.299
 imagine that

00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:51.220
 each flower

00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:52.279
 is made up

00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:53.120
 of all of

00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:53.640
 the things

00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:54.140
 you do

00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:55.660
 in one day.

00:25:55.840 --> 00:25:56.220
 Maybe

00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:57.259
 you are

00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:58.360
 packing your

00:25:58.360 --> 00:25:59.340
 school lunchbox

00:25:59.340 --> 00:26:01.819
 for you kids

00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:02.840
 doing it yourself

00:26:02.840 --> 00:26:03.279
 thank you.

00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:05.000
 Maybe you are

00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:06.340
 driving to work

00:26:06.340 --> 00:26:07.160
 through all that

00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:07.600
 traffic.

00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:08.879
 maybe you are

00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:09.519
 doing a load

00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:10.099
 of laundry.

00:26:10.919 --> 00:26:11.319
 Maybe you are

00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:12.299
 going for a walk.

00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:13.139
 Maybe you are

00:26:13.139 --> 00:26:13.699
 reading the Bible.

00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:14.939
 Maybe you are

00:26:14.939 --> 00:26:15.500
 attending a

00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:16.299
 community group.

00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:20.059
 It is done

00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:20.779
 in worship.

00:26:20.939 --> 00:26:21.480
 All of these

00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.619
 flowers is done

00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:23.419
 in worship

00:26:23.419 --> 00:26:25.659
 when you pray

00:26:25.659 --> 00:26:26.439
 that your kid

00:26:26.439 --> 00:26:27.319
 will shine

00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:28.859
 like a light

00:26:28.859 --> 00:26:29.459
 for Jesus

00:26:29.459 --> 00:26:31.339
 as you pack

00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:32.039
 their lunchbox.

00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:33.079
 it is when you

00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:34.039
 are patient

00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:36.420
 like our Lord

00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:37.159
 when someone

00:26:37.159 --> 00:26:38.180
 cuts you off.

00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:39.960
 It is when you

00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:40.879
 thank God

00:26:40.879 --> 00:26:44.319
 that you have

00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:45.460
 clothes to wear.

00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:47.279
 It is when you

00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:48.119
 are in awe

00:26:48.119 --> 00:26:49.460
 of your great

00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.359
 creator as you

00:26:50.359 --> 00:26:51.240
 see the trees

00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:51.920
 that you walk

00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:52.139
 through.

00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:52.899
 It is when you

00:26:52.899 --> 00:26:53.639
 walk past the

00:26:53.639 --> 00:26:54.099
 other runner

00:26:54.099 --> 00:26:55.980
 who is made

00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:56.740
 in God's image.

00:26:57.819 --> 00:26:58.579
 It is when you

00:26:58.579 --> 00:26:59.279
 see that God

00:26:59.279 --> 00:26:59.980
 has been so

00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:01.319
 so good to you

00:27:01.319 --> 00:27:03.339
 but so

00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:04.099
 so good

00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:04.960
 to generation

00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:05.960
 after generation

00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.980
 and his faithful

00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:08.079
 love for his

00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:08.500
 people.

00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:10.640
 It is when you

00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:11.279
 turn up each

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.279
 week to community

00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:13.980
 group to be

00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.799
 an encouraging

00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.480
 friend that

00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:16.039
 speaks the

00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:16.360
 gospel.

00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.759
 And all you

00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:20.420
 do is you

00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:21.279
 hold the vase

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:22.140
 up back to

00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:22.839
 God and give

00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:23.460
 it to him

00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.559
 saying thanks

00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:24.920
 God.

00:27:25.460 --> 00:27:26.160
 Thank you

00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:27.099
 that you have

00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:27.920
 given me a

00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:28.620
 life that was

00:27:28.620 --> 00:27:29.339
 made for

00:27:29.339 --> 00:27:29.740
 worship.

00:27:30.819 --> 00:27:31.240
 You have

00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:31.799
 given me

00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:32.660
 life to

00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:33.160
 live to

00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:33.599
 the full

00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:34.360
 and I

00:27:34.360 --> 00:27:35.039
 give all

00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:35.500
 this, the

00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.579
 experiences, the

00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:37.079
 thoughts, all

00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:37.539
 back to you

00:27:37.539 --> 00:27:38.279
 because I was

00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:38.620
 made to

00:27:38.620 --> 00:27:38.839
 worship.

00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:41.480
 Friends, what

00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:42.000
 is in your

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.380
 vase?

00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:44.380
 Let's pray.

00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:45.480
 Lord Jesus,

00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:47.200
 you are the

00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:47.900
 founder and

00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:48.640
 perfecter of

00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:49.180
 our faith.

00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:51.120
 We plead

00:27:51.120 --> 00:27:51.700
 with you

00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:53.079
 knowing that

00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:53.819
 you are good

00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:55.799
 and that you

00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:56.620
 are a promise

00:27:56.620 --> 00:27:57.000
 keeper.

00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:58.400
 That you

00:27:58.400 --> 00:27:59.099
 might help us

00:27:59.099 --> 00:28:00.039
 redeem every

00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:01.419
 moment, take

00:28:01.419 --> 00:28:02.419
 every thought

00:28:02.419 --> 00:28:03.980
 captive so

00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:04.419
 that we can

00:28:04.419 --> 00:28:05.019
 lay it down

00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:05.419
 at the foot

00:28:05.419 --> 00:28:05.839
 of the cross

00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:06.159
 and say

00:28:06.159 --> 00:28:06.879
 thank you

00:28:06.879 --> 00:28:08.279
 and just

00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:08.659
 say you

00:28:08.659 --> 00:28:09.199
 are worthy,

00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:09.599
 you are

00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:10.240
 worthy, you

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:10.699
 are worthy

00:28:10.699 --> 00:28:11.599
 of all our

00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:12.000
 praise.

00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:13.660
 holy

00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:13.660


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