WEBVTT 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:03.839 Thank you, Katie. Good evening, everyone. Really good to have you with us tonight. 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:10.220 On the back pew of this church, there's a plaque in memory of David McBride. 00:00:11.120 --> 00:00:14.480 Mr. McBride was a very gentle, unassuming man. 00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:18.460 I don't think I ever heard him taking part publicly in a church service. 00:00:19.400 --> 00:00:23.900 But every week until a very old age, Mr. McBride would check the heating was on on a Sunday morning. 00:00:24.460 --> 00:00:27.400 He would put the notes of the hymn boards up with the hymn numbers. 00:00:27.399 --> 00:00:29.699 He would welcome latecomers at the door. 00:00:29.799 --> 00:00:31.839 He would tidy the books away at the end of the service. 00:00:32.359 --> 00:00:35.399 And lots and lots of other things that went unseen. 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:39.060 He was a fine role model to many of us. 00:00:40.200 --> 00:00:47.019 On Hockman A in 1995, fairly late in the evening, we got a call from Sheila McBride, David McBride's daughter, 00:00:47.619 --> 00:00:50.739 saying that he had passed away at the age of 101. 00:00:52.039 --> 00:00:55.060 I went over with a number of other close friends. 00:00:55.060 --> 00:01:01.440 And we sat around and we reflected on a long life that was well lived for the Lord Jesus. 00:01:02.400 --> 00:01:06.640 We were sad because someone we loved and knew had gone. 00:01:07.820 --> 00:01:10.000 But we were also thankful. 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:13.800 Thank you for thankful for a good life, live for the Lord Jesus. 00:01:14.500 --> 00:01:20.700 Thank you for thankful that its end ended in a fairly straightforward way without a lot of suffering. 00:01:20.700 --> 00:01:26.939 And I think we could identify with what Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4, 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:32.520 that we don't grieve like the rest of mankind who have no hope. 00:01:33.879 --> 00:01:37.579 But a year and a half before that, we got a call on Sunday morning. 00:01:38.579 --> 00:01:42.820 The 10-month-old son of a close relative had died in his cot. 00:01:42.819 --> 00:01:46.639 Bridget and I went with other family to the house. 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:49.799 And naturally, the parents were distraught. 00:01:50.419 --> 00:01:57.439 And we were asking, how and why could such a thing happen to a baby who was so loved and had so much potentially before him? 00:01:58.299 --> 00:02:02.039 And the grief was almost unbearable. 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:10.400 I think for me, these two deaths represent the extremes of grief that I've witnessed. 00:02:10.540 --> 00:02:15.300 There was a further family tragedy a few years later, which would also be in that category. 00:02:16.360 --> 00:02:23.580 But it illustrated to me, as I was thinking about this evening, that there's no one experience of grief. 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:29.140 Every death is different, and our response to it is different. 00:02:29.139 --> 00:02:35.339 And you can probably think back and think of loved ones or friends that you've lost, 00:02:35.979 --> 00:02:41.839 and the effect, the impact that it had on you immediately and over time. 00:02:43.459 --> 00:02:45.779 Every death is different. 00:02:46.359 --> 00:02:49.599 Every experience of grief is different. 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:53.939 It depends a bit on how close we were to the person. 00:02:53.939 --> 00:03:04.199 The death of a child or a spouse is probably the most traumatic thing that will happen to many people in their lives. 00:03:04.859 --> 00:03:08.300 But the more distant the relationship or the friendship becomes, 00:03:09.079 --> 00:03:13.259 the less we are affected by grief on someone's death. 00:03:13.960 --> 00:03:15.639 It also depends on the circumstances. 00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:20.219 Some people like Mr. McBride go peacefully, having a long life, 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:22.780 and we can be thankful for that. 00:03:22.780 --> 00:03:26.379 Some people are taken suddenly, perhaps in an accident, 00:03:27.159 --> 00:03:33.099 and there's enormous pain and questioning immediately as a result of it. 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:37.400 Some people die after long and difficult illnesses. 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:41.280 And in some ways our grieving has started sometime before, 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:44.159 as we knew that they were going to die. 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:47.599 And yet, when the actual moment comes, 00:03:47.900 --> 00:03:49.859 there is still that great feeling of loss, 00:03:49.919 --> 00:03:54.639 that we're never going to see them or be able to speak to them again. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:58.439 Our response probably also depends on ourselves, 00:03:58.539 --> 00:03:59.439 our own character, 00:04:00.079 --> 00:04:02.139 and perhaps our own mental health. 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:05.159 So everything is different. 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:08.259 And even in our own reactions, 00:04:08.859 --> 00:04:12.199 perhaps they're not always as we would expect. 00:04:13.139 --> 00:04:18.279 King David in the Bible lost three sons during his lifetime in quick succession. 00:04:19.399 --> 00:04:25.180 The first was the son who was born as a result of his adultery with Bathsheba. 00:04:25.180 --> 00:04:29.379 And you remember that Nathan had told David that the son would die. 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:32.939 And as the boy, his baby grew very ill, 00:04:33.400 --> 00:04:34.900 David was inconsolable. 00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:37.100 He was face down to the ground, 00:04:37.240 --> 00:04:39.920 praying to God, not eating, and so on. 00:04:40.660 --> 00:04:41.840 And when the boy died, 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:44.319 his servants were really worried about what would happen. 00:04:44.860 --> 00:04:47.060 If David was like this when the boy was ill, 00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:50.600 what would he be like knowing that he had died? 00:04:51.460 --> 00:04:53.760 But David's response, of course, as you may well remember, 00:04:54.320 --> 00:04:56.980 is that he got up and he cleaned himself 00:04:56.980 --> 00:05:02.939 and he got back into a normal situation of living. 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:06.000 Because he recognised that God's will had been done. 00:05:06.840 --> 00:05:08.500 He had hoped that the boy would live. 00:05:09.080 --> 00:05:12.720 The boy had died and he accepted that was God's will for him. 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:15.200 I'm sure he was very sad, full of grief, 00:05:15.320 --> 00:05:17.820 but it wasn't what people expected. 00:05:17.819 --> 00:05:20.639 The second son who died was Amnon. 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:23.240 Now, Amnon had fallen in love with 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:25.000 and raped his half-sister Tamar. 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:30.339 And another of David's sons, Absalom, then murdered him. 00:05:31.480 --> 00:05:35.000 And David's response to that was one of grief, of sorrow, 00:05:35.819 --> 00:05:37.920 but also of kind of evading things. 00:05:38.019 --> 00:05:40.360 He hadn't dealt with the original problem with Amnon, 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:42.420 nor did he deal with Absalom 00:05:42.420 --> 00:05:46.339 well after his killing of his brother. 00:05:46.339 --> 00:05:50.979 And that then led to all sorts of problems with Absalom. 00:05:51.379 --> 00:05:52.560 And he's the third one who died. 00:05:52.679 --> 00:05:54.159 Absalom rebelled against David, 00:05:54.759 --> 00:05:56.179 almost took the throne over. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:58.099 David eventually prevailed 00:05:58.099 --> 00:06:01.120 and Absalom got his head stuck in a tree 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:05.120 and Joab put three spears through it to kill him. 00:06:05.859 --> 00:06:07.799 And as the people told David about that, 00:06:07.799 --> 00:06:10.859 perhaps they thought, well, he said not to kill Absalom, 00:06:10.979 --> 00:06:13.559 but actually he'll be quite pleased that we have. 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:17.160 And David was absolutely inconsolable. 00:06:18.040 --> 00:06:21.980 He wished that he had died rather than Absalom. 00:06:22.899 --> 00:06:25.600 Three different experiences in one life in the scriptures. 00:06:25.860 --> 00:06:26.920 They're fairly close together, 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:29.360 probably a few years in practice between them. 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:31.699 Different experiences of death 00:06:31.699 --> 00:06:35.519 and different reactions from the same person to them. 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:41.339 So I think one of the key things I want us all to take away this evening 00:06:41.339 --> 00:06:44.799 is that every experience of death is different. 00:06:45.459 --> 00:06:49.639 And if we're trying to help and support people in the church who are grieving, 00:06:50.180 --> 00:06:54.919 we need to be very careful with making assumptions about how they'll be. 00:06:55.719 --> 00:07:00.000 They might well be very different from what we expect. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:04.060 And we have in every circumstance to be sensitive to how the person is 00:07:04.060 --> 00:07:10.980 and to be for the Lord that we may be able to help and support them in the best way possible. 00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:16.480 Psychiatrists tell us that there are a number of stages in grieving. 00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:18.839 I've seen several different lists, 00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:23.980 but I think this is a reasonable one when the grief is a result of someone dying. 00:07:23.980 --> 00:07:26.620 There's often initial numbness, 00:07:27.160 --> 00:07:30.200 just not being able to quite grasp what's going on. 00:07:30.860 --> 00:07:33.240 Then there's maybe a time of denial, of disbelief. 00:07:33.319 --> 00:07:35.540 This can't possibly be happening. 00:07:36.660 --> 00:07:39.960 Sometimes there's anger, anger against God. 00:07:40.040 --> 00:07:41.780 Why does God allow this to happen? 00:07:42.200 --> 00:07:45.040 Why has God allowed this person to die? 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:48.920 Maybe even a bit illogically anger with the person themselves 00:07:48.920 --> 00:07:50.720 for having died. 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:55.160 There's then sadness, a deep sadness about the person who's gone. 00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:59.220 And in the end, acceptance of the situation. 00:07:59.460 --> 00:08:03.020 Not total forgetting about the person, 00:08:03.200 --> 00:08:06.380 but getting over the initial stages of grief. 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:08.320 I think that's helpful. 00:08:08.880 --> 00:08:12.400 But again, I think it's probably a bit too simplistic. 00:08:12.920 --> 00:08:18.060 So I thought of a number of other emotions that we might have with someone dying. 00:08:18.060 --> 00:08:23.519 In some cases, there actually might be some relief of what's happened. 00:08:24.220 --> 00:08:28.680 If the person has been suffering and going through a really difficult time 00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:30.079 and they're a Christian, 00:08:30.600 --> 00:08:31.860 we may well be saying, 00:08:32.179 --> 00:08:33.419 well, they're now with the Lord. 00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:35.899 It's much better for them. 00:08:36.440 --> 00:08:38.620 Or if the person has caused us great hurt, 00:08:38.840 --> 00:08:42.419 we might have relief that they're no longer with us. 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:45.259 We might also have feelings of guilt. 00:08:45.259 --> 00:08:49.539 Could I have done more to help the person? 00:08:50.120 --> 00:08:53.799 Could I have been more supportive of them while they were alive? 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:57.740 Perhaps even sometimes guilt that we don't feel sadder than we do 00:08:57.740 --> 00:09:00.240 at the fact that they've died. 00:09:01.960 --> 00:09:03.559 And then I think a very important one, 00:09:03.620 --> 00:09:05.559 if we're thinking pastorally about this, 00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:10.299 is the loneliness that many people suffer after a loved one dies. 00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:14.240 Perhaps particularly after a spouse or someone really close to them. 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:18.659 And that is the part of grief that goes on and on. 00:09:19.460 --> 00:09:24.320 In most people, the immediate pain of grief will diminish over time. 00:09:24.379 --> 00:09:25.620 Probably over a period of months, 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:28.860 but it will diminish over time. 00:09:29.620 --> 00:09:31.820 But the loneliness for many people, 00:09:32.220 --> 00:09:35.060 the missing, the one who they love so much, 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:38.279 that can go on for years and years. 00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:42.279 And if we're looking to care for members of the church who have lost others, 00:09:42.579 --> 00:09:48.639 we need to be aware that many of them could be deeply lonely over a period. 00:09:50.259 --> 00:09:52.199 Now again, perhaps even with that, 00:09:52.659 --> 00:09:56.519 it all looks a bit simplistic and neat. 00:09:57.559 --> 00:09:59.579 C.S. Lewis, the author C.S. Lewis, 00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:02.019 married quite late in life. 00:10:02.019 --> 00:10:05.299 And a fairly short time into his marriage, 00:10:05.639 --> 00:10:08.360 his wife had cancer and she passed away. 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:15.059 And C.S. Lewis kept a journal after her death of his thoughts and feelings. 00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:19.500 It was eventually published as a book called A Guilt Observed. 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:22.820 And it is brutally honest. 00:10:23.860 --> 00:10:27.179 This most logical of men in most circumstances 00:10:27.179 --> 00:10:31.580 recognises that his reaction to the death of his wife 00:10:31.580 --> 00:10:33.620 is in many ways illogical, 00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:37.059 and he finds it really difficult to understand. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:39.620 The start of chapter two, I think, 00:10:39.700 --> 00:10:40.700 probably a second journal, 00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:42.379 he looks back over his first journal 00:10:42.379 --> 00:10:43.279 and said, 00:10:43.419 --> 00:10:46.080 I'm appalled at what I read, 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:49.900 at my response to what happened. 00:10:51.080 --> 00:10:53.160 And he questions God, 00:10:53.259 --> 00:10:55.300 he questions how a God of love 00:10:55.300 --> 00:10:58.200 could allow such suffering. 00:10:58.740 --> 00:11:00.940 He questions himself and his response is, 00:11:01.040 --> 00:11:02.360 is he too self-centred? 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:04.520 Should he be more concerned about his wife 00:11:04.520 --> 00:11:06.540 and particularly concerned about God 00:11:06.540 --> 00:11:09.320 and turning to God in his situation? 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:12.960 And eventually, he does come to accept things 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:16.519 and his faith in God remains strong. 00:11:17.080 --> 00:11:18.800 But that really illustrated for me 00:11:18.800 --> 00:11:20.920 that the feelings that we have 00:11:20.920 --> 00:11:22.900 following the death of a loved one 00:11:22.900 --> 00:11:25.620 may not be that logical, 00:11:26.440 --> 00:11:29.340 may not make sense to us or to others. 00:11:29.420 --> 00:11:30.680 There's nothing wrong with that. 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:34.500 That is simply us coming to terms with what has happened 00:11:34.500 --> 00:11:38.560 and getting to the stage where we can accept it. 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:42.079 So with that kind of background, 00:11:42.819 --> 00:11:46.459 let's think about what the Bible has to say then 00:11:46.459 --> 00:11:48.759 to those who are grieving. 00:11:49.719 --> 00:11:51.639 And really just two simple things 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:53.819 that I want to say this evening. 00:11:54.599 --> 00:11:57.799 One is that death is our enemy. 00:11:59.139 --> 00:12:01.439 Death is something that shouldn't be there. 00:12:01.559 --> 00:12:03.379 It's only there because of our sin. 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:06.319 And it's not something that we should accept 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:08.040 as being good and right 00:12:08.040 --> 00:12:10.560 and just kind of part of the way things are. 00:12:11.660 --> 00:12:13.620 Death is our enemy. 00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:14.420 And Paul says, 00:12:14.660 --> 00:12:15.820 we'll come back to it in a few minutes, 00:12:15.920 --> 00:12:17.320 in 1 Corinthians 15, 00:12:17.640 --> 00:12:21.820 the last enemy to be destroyed is death. 00:12:22.640 --> 00:12:24.680 Now thinking of that, a few thoughts. 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:30.440 Every death is a reminder of our human failure. 00:12:31.720 --> 00:12:33.460 Sin entered the world, says Paul, 00:12:33.540 --> 00:12:35.260 through one man and death through sin. 00:12:35.259 --> 00:12:38.439 And in this way, death came to all people 00:12:38.439 --> 00:12:41.600 because all sinned. 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:44.480 And in a sense, every death, 00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:46.519 every time someone dies, 00:12:46.919 --> 00:12:50.700 that is a small victory for the enemy. 00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:54.240 It's a reminder to us of the strength of the enemy, 00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:55.659 of death, 00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:57.840 and our own weakness. 00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:01.220 You remember in John 11, 00:13:01.300 --> 00:13:02.759 I think Corey referred to it in prayer, 00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:06.899 where Jesus is talking at the grave of Lazarus. 00:13:06.940 --> 00:13:09.160 He's been talking to Martha and Mary. 00:13:09.660 --> 00:13:10.580 And it says, 00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:12.680 Jesus wept. 00:13:13.320 --> 00:13:16.019 Do you ever wonder why Jesus wept? 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:20.100 He knew that Lazarus was going to be raised back to life. 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:22.700 So it wasn't the same kind of weeping 00:13:22.700 --> 00:13:24.300 that the family and others would have. 00:13:24.299 --> 00:13:27.019 He knew what the outcome was going to be. 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:30.399 Perhaps it was just this, 00:13:31.199 --> 00:13:33.639 that as he stood at that gravesite, 00:13:34.079 --> 00:13:35.699 he was reminded of sin 00:13:35.699 --> 00:13:39.479 and was reminded of its terrible consequences. 00:13:40.479 --> 00:13:42.339 Perhaps also he's looking forward 00:13:42.339 --> 00:13:45.859 to when he would himself take the consequences for sin, 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:48.939 when he would die for our sins. 00:13:48.940 --> 00:13:53.420 Every death is a reminder that we are sinful people 00:13:53.420 --> 00:13:59.060 and that death has come as a result of our sin. 00:13:59.540 --> 00:14:02.260 I'm not saying that every death is right to specific sin, 00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:03.220 it's not clearly, 00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:07.380 but it is the result of the sinfulness of all of us. 00:14:09.760 --> 00:14:12.080 Second thing to be aware of in this 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:15.780 is that Christ has overcome death. 00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:18.539 Peter's first sermon in Acts chapter 2, 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:19.459 he said, 00:14:19.779 --> 00:14:21.139 God raised him from the dead, 00:14:21.819 --> 00:14:23.899 freeing him from the agony of death 00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:27.539 because it was impossible for death 00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:30.459 to keep its hold on him. 00:14:31.339 --> 00:14:34.019 Christ has overcome death. 00:14:34.079 --> 00:14:36.360 That's the whole thing in 1 Corinthians 15, isn't it? 00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:38.480 Paul is talking about the resurrection 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:41.939 and he's saying because Jesus has been raised from the dead, 00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:43.679 then we don't need to fear death 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:45.899 because if we die, we too will be raised 00:14:45.899 --> 00:14:47.439 and we'll go to be with them. 00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:49.979 Again, it's there in 1 Thessalonians 4 00:14:49.979 --> 00:14:51.659 that Katie read to us earlier. 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:56.559 That those who die don't need to, 00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:58.339 we don't need to worry for them, 00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:01.159 we don't need to grieve as other people do 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:04.039 because we know Christ has overcome death 00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:06.219 and they will one day be raised 00:15:06.219 --> 00:15:08.579 and will be restored to life 00:15:08.579 --> 00:15:10.699 and will go to meet him in the air. 00:15:10.700 --> 00:15:13.780 Christ has overcome death. 00:15:15.780 --> 00:15:18.560 Third thing is because Christ has overcome death, 00:15:18.900 --> 00:15:21.120 we don't need to fear it. 00:15:22.460 --> 00:15:24.620 These are wonderful verses in Philippians chapter 1. 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:26.460 Paul with this tremendous dilemma. 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:30.520 Is it better that I stay alive and I work for Jesus 00:15:30.520 --> 00:15:34.600 or that I die and go to be with him? 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:35.800 And he says, 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:38.899 For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. 00:15:38.979 --> 00:15:42.339 I desire to depart and be with Christ, 00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:46.299 which is better by far. 00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:48.919 Now we may be afraid of dying. 00:15:49.579 --> 00:15:51.779 Dying is almost always messy. 00:15:52.199 --> 00:15:53.419 It can be very painful. 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:56.319 It's not a good thing. 00:15:56.979 --> 00:16:00.419 But we shouldn't be afraid of what lies beyond death. 00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:02.579 If our trust is in the Lord Jesus, 00:16:02.939 --> 00:16:04.839 if we know him as our saviour, 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:08.099 then we can be confident that what lies behind us, 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:10.019 what is in front of us, 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:14.379 is much better than where we are now. 00:16:14.939 --> 00:16:16.620 To live is Christ, says Paul. 00:16:17.099 --> 00:16:19.079 To die is gain. 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:21.699 And then the final point here 00:16:21.699 --> 00:16:25.000 is that the enemy will be destroyed. 00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:29.079 Death will not be with us forever. 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:31.220 Christ will return. 00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:34.139 He will take those who love him to be with him 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:38.639 and he will have a reign over this earth. 00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:41.780 And he will destroy all his enemies. 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:47.340 And Paul says the last enemy to be destroyed is death. 00:16:47.400 --> 00:16:48.520 It's the ultimate enemy, 00:16:49.060 --> 00:16:50.860 but it's an enemy that has been defeated 00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:55.379 and that will be seen to have been comprehensively defeated. 00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:59.020 Death will be swallowed up in victory. 00:16:59.080 --> 00:17:00.660 Through the Lord Jesus. 00:17:01.660 --> 00:17:03.200 So yes, death is the enemy. 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:07.240 Death is something which is with us because of our sin. 00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:09.840 And yet if we know the Lord Jesus, 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:11.799 we don't need to fear it. 00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:14.860 And if people who know the Lord Jesus have died 00:17:14.860 --> 00:17:16.640 and gone to be with him, 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:19.100 we don't need to sorrow for them. 00:17:19.600 --> 00:17:21.940 We might sorrow for ourselves and what we've lost, 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:25.220 but for them it's much better. 00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:27.620 Now clearly if they don't know the Lord Jesus, 00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:29.120 the situation is very different. 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:31.319 I'm not going to go into great detail about that this evening. 00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:33.220 There is a judgment to come. 00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:35.079 But for those of us who know the Lord, 00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:36.920 where people die who know the Lord, 00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:41.440 we can rejoice that they've gone to be with him. 00:17:42.100 --> 00:17:42.980 So here's the first thing. 00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:45.120 Death is our enemy. 00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:47.900 And we are coming eventually to Psalm 46. 00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:51.519 But I will just do one thing before that. 00:17:51.860 --> 00:17:53.259 You may recognize Johnny Cash there. 00:17:53.340 --> 00:17:56.000 Johnny Cash's last recording of a song he wrote 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:59.519 was called 1 Corinthians 1555. 00:17:59.860 --> 00:18:02.060 Johnny Cash, you may know, was known as a Christian, 00:18:02.820 --> 00:18:06.700 but he lived a very troubled life in many ways. 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:10.519 And he wrote this song after the death of his wife June 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:14.480 and when his death was clearly reasonably close. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:17.640 And he was looking forward and thinking, 00:18:17.860 --> 00:18:19.640 well, what comes next? 00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:21.440 Here are the words he wrote. 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:23.480 Oh, death, where is thy sting? 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:26.039 Oh, grave, where is thy victory? 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:29.039 Oh, life, you are a shining path 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:31.799 and hope springs eternal just over the rise 00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:36.720 when I see my Redeemer beckoning me. 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:40.880 The sting has been taken out of death. 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:44.519 The victory has been won by the Lord Jesus. 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:48.279 And one day he will beckon us to be with him, 00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:52.579 whether through death or if we're alive at his return. 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:55.240 Our Redeemer will beckon us. 00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:58.120 And now we're going to Psalm 46. 00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:01.180 I'm only going to look at the first couple of verses 00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:03.200 and the last couple of verses 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:06.259 for the sake of time this evening. 00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:09.380 And the second thing I want to remember, 00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:10.420 death is our enemy, 00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:13.259 but God is our fortress. 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:16.319 Now, one thing we need to remember 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:20.840 is that we by ourselves are powerless over death. 00:19:21.580 --> 00:19:23.680 And we can only be defended from it 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:25.380 and from its consequences 00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:27.500 through one who is stronger than us, 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:29.019 who is able to surround us 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:30.840 and be our fortress. 00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:33.519 And when we have this time of grieving 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:34.959 when someone has passed away, 00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:38.579 it is good to remember our God 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:40.779 and what he is to us. 00:19:42.379 --> 00:19:43.679 So a few thoughts on that. 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:44.299 Verse one, 00:19:44.419 --> 00:19:46.379 God is our refuge and strength 00:19:46.379 --> 00:19:51.399 and ever-present help in time of trouble. 00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:54.359 And when we go through times of sorrow, 00:19:54.459 --> 00:19:56.859 when we go through times of grief, 00:19:57.619 --> 00:19:59.259 God, if we know the Lord Jesus, 00:19:59.259 --> 00:20:01.940 God is with us. 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:04.420 God is there to protect us 00:20:04.420 --> 00:20:05.819 and to help us 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:07.480 and to bring us through 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:10.119 the most difficult of situations. 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:13.039 Even when the whole world 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:14.839 seems to be falling apart around us, 00:20:14.879 --> 00:20:16.160 that's the thought of verse two, 00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:17.879 the mountains falling into the sea, 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:19.900 the waters foaming and so on, 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:22.259 the mountains quake with their surging. 00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:25.059 Even when everything is falling apart 00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:26.680 round about us, 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:30.359 God is there with us, 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:33.500 even if we're not aware of it. 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:35.740 And in the time of grief, 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:37.460 perhaps it is sometimes difficult 00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:40.059 to see God at work. 00:20:40.779 --> 00:20:43.099 Perhaps it is difficult to come to him 00:20:43.099 --> 00:20:45.819 and to cast our troubles on him. 00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:46.480 Now, in some cases, 00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:47.099 it won't be. 00:20:47.339 --> 00:20:47.799 In some cases, 00:20:47.879 --> 00:20:49.839 people's faith will remain very strong 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:51.919 and they won't find it too difficult 00:20:51.919 --> 00:20:53.199 to accept God's will. 00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:54.139 But certainly, 00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:55.299 there are many cases 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:56.359 where people, 00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:59.220 as the world falls apart around them, 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:01.439 as they have lost someone 00:21:01.439 --> 00:21:03.019 who they dearly loved, 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:05.240 when they're not aware 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:07.619 that God is with them. 00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:10.000 And the important thing is that 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.039 over time, 00:21:11.399 --> 00:21:13.639 that awareness comes back. 00:21:14.399 --> 00:21:15.899 That is what I took from C.S. Lewis 00:21:15.899 --> 00:21:17.319 when I read his book. 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:18.980 For a long time, 00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:22.299 God seemed very distant from him. 00:21:23.159 --> 00:21:23.980 But eventually, 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:27.919 as he began to think, 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:30.379 perhaps more carefully, 00:21:30.859 --> 00:21:32.139 about what had happened, 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:34.639 he recognised that God was with him 00:21:34.639 --> 00:21:36.139 and that God, 00:21:36.419 --> 00:21:37.339 throughout his troubles, 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:39.500 was there to help. 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:41.799 And this evening, 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:43.079 if you're going through 00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:44.299 a situation of grief 00:21:44.299 --> 00:21:45.639 and perhaps you think, 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:46.519 well, where is God? 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:48.039 Where is God in this situation? 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:51.480 God is there waiting for you. 00:21:52.139 --> 00:21:54.220 He is eager that you should come to him 00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:57.859 and seek comfort and strength from him. 00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.639 And if you're able to do that, 00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:01.019 when you're able to do that, 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:04.019 then he will be there to help 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:06.500 and to encourage you. 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:10.859 Then at the end of the chapter, 00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:11.940 at the end of the psalm, 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:13.599 there are these wonderful words, 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.420 verse 10, 00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:19.279 Be still and know that I am God. 00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:22.359 And perhaps that is what is sometimes 00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:23.799 very difficult for us 00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:25.779 in the time of crisis. 00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:28.339 Just to be able to be still, 00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:29.460 to still our hearts, 00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:32.660 to be able to gather our thoughts together 00:22:32.660 --> 00:22:36.779 and to meditate on our God. 00:22:37.580 --> 00:22:39.240 If you're in that kind of situation, 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:41.540 two suggestions for you. 00:22:42.540 --> 00:22:43.820 The first is, 00:22:44.100 --> 00:22:46.519 read your Bible and think about it. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:50.720 Meditate on what the words of Scripture say. 00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:52.440 Perhaps the words of the psalm, 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:53.900 like psalms like Psalm 46, 00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:56.440 that tell us about God. 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:58.580 Perhaps words of the Gospels, 00:22:58.980 --> 00:23:00.039 of the Lord Jesus, 00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:03.200 as he comes and he brings us 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:05.340 the wisdom and the love 00:23:05.340 --> 00:23:07.580 and the care of God. 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:09.140 Perhaps some of the words 00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:11.039 that we've read in the epistles this evening, 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:12.880 words that remind us 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:14.039 that the Lord Jesus 00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:16.680 has won the victory over death. 00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:18.600 Read these words. 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:21.100 Try to meditate on them. 00:23:21.660 --> 00:23:24.440 And God will speak to you through them. 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:28.200 And then the second suggestion, 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:29.299 pray. 00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:31.519 And if you find that difficult, 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:33.799 ask others to pray. 00:23:34.580 --> 00:23:36.000 Speak to one of the elders 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:38.000 or one of the pastoral staff 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:40.320 and ask them to pray with you 00:23:40.320 --> 00:23:42.279 or to pray for you. 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:44.559 And even if your prayer, 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:45.539 to begin with, 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:46.620 is faltering 00:23:46.620 --> 00:23:49.920 and you feel that God isn't very close 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:51.140 and you're not sure 00:23:51.140 --> 00:23:52.840 if it's going above the ceiling, 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:55.199 just persevere with it 00:23:55.199 --> 00:23:57.199 and God is there. 00:23:57.339 --> 00:23:58.740 God is wanting to hear 00:23:58.740 --> 00:24:00.259 and God is wanting 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:02.799 to answer your prayers. 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:04.819 And as a church, 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:07.579 when someone suffers a bereavement, 00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:09.859 it's good that we can come together 00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:12.179 and we can bring them before the Lord 00:24:12.179 --> 00:24:12.980 together 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:14.919 and bring their needs 00:24:14.919 --> 00:24:16.319 to the Saviour. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:17.759 good also 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.799 when there are opportunities 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:20.819 to pray with them 00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:22.099 when that's appropriate 00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:23.399 as well. 00:24:24.439 --> 00:24:25.539 God says to us, 00:24:25.919 --> 00:24:27.859 as you go through the deep waters, 00:24:28.599 --> 00:24:31.139 as you go through the difficult times, 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:32.679 be still 00:24:32.679 --> 00:24:33.980 and know 00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:35.240 that I 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:36.500 am God. 00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:42.019 There's a band, 00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:43.000 a heavy metal band 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:44.000 called Machine Head 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:45.460 and they had a song 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:46.160 that was called 00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:46.960 Be Still 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:48.079 and Know. 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.220 The guy there 00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:50.019 is Phil Demmel 00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:51.640 who is the lead guitarist 00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:52.720 for the band. 00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.759 Phil Demmel grew up 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:56.160 in a Christian family 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:57.599 and in particular 00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:59.480 he had a Christian grandmother 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:01.380 and his grandmother 00:25:01.380 --> 00:25:02.500 chose a verse 00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.200 from the Bible 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:04.799 for each of her grandchildren, 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:06.059 a kind of life motto 00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:06.659 for them 00:25:06.659 --> 00:25:07.799 if you like. 00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:09.619 And the verse she chose 00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:10.379 for Phil Demmel 00:25:10.379 --> 00:25:11.879 was Psalm 46 00:25:11.879 --> 00:25:13.000 verse 10. 00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:14.279 Be still 00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:15.379 and know 00:25:15.379 --> 00:25:16.359 that I 00:25:16.359 --> 00:25:17.500 am God. 00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:18.460 And every time 00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:19.519 you got a birthday card 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.859 or a Christmas card 00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:21.440 from her 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:22.559 this verse 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:23.279 would be in it. 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:24.440 Be still 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:25.500 and know 00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:26.440 that I 00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:27.539 am God. 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:30.159 As a young man 00:25:30.159 --> 00:25:30.940 you can probably see 00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:32.319 he got lots of tattoos 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:33.240 on his arm 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:34.200 and at other places too 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:35.019 he got lots of tattoos 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:35.720 on his arm 00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:37.420 and one of these tattoos 00:25:37.420 --> 00:25:38.259 was the words 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:39.200 his grandmother 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:40.380 had taught him. 00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:41.700 Be still 00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:42.860 and know 00:25:42.860 --> 00:25:43.700 that I 00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:44.819 am God. 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.460 So one day 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:47.460 when he had 00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:48.559 developed 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.440 a riff 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:50.400 on his guitar 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:51.720 that he was happy with 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:52.759 and he was trying 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:53.500 to think of some words 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.319 to put to it 00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:55.279 these words 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:56.200 must have come back 00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:56.640 to him 00:25:56.640 --> 00:25:58.100 and he and his other 00:25:58.100 --> 00:25:58.840 band members 00:25:58.840 --> 00:25:59.840 wrote a song 00:25:59.840 --> 00:26:00.299 called 00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:01.180 Be Still 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:02.640 and Know. 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:04.200 Now I don't think 00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:04.920 it's particularly 00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:06.060 written from a Christian 00:26:06.060 --> 00:26:06.700 perspective 00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:07.740 in many ways 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.660 but I think 00:26:08.660 --> 00:26:09.040 it's clear 00:26:09.040 --> 00:26:09.600 from the words 00:26:09.600 --> 00:26:10.080 of the chorus 00:26:10.080 --> 00:26:11.080 I'm about to put up 00:26:11.080 --> 00:26:12.259 that Phil Demmel 00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:13.600 remembered a lot more 00:26:13.600 --> 00:26:14.780 than just one verse 00:26:14.780 --> 00:26:15.780 from what he had been 00:26:15.780 --> 00:26:17.100 taught as a child. 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:17.880 Isn't it the power 00:26:17.880 --> 00:26:19.340 of a godly grandmother 00:26:19.340 --> 00:26:20.120 or grandparent 00:26:20.120 --> 00:26:21.020 or godly parents 00:26:21.020 --> 00:26:21.500 as well 00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:22.660 that later in life 00:26:22.660 --> 00:26:23.100 they can have 00:26:23.100 --> 00:26:24.520 a real influence? 00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:25.700 So this is the chorus 00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.259 of the song 00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:26.820 I think the words 00:26:26.820 --> 00:26:27.280 are terrific. 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:29.579 And the sun will rise 00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:31.759 Dawn will break 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:33.160 through darkest night 00:26:33.160 --> 00:26:35.160 distant in its glow 00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:37.500 This shall pass 00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:39.259 Be still 00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:40.920 and know 00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:42.460 Now we're thinking 00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:43.339 about what the Bible 00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:45.000 says to the grieving 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:46.940 perhaps this is it 00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:49.119 This shall pass 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:50.339 Be still 00:26:50.339 --> 00:26:50.940 and know 00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:51.980 that I 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:53.200 am God 00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:55.339 The grief that you feel 00:26:55.339 --> 00:26:56.959 will be intense 00:26:56.959 --> 00:26:59.199 but with God's grace 00:26:59.199 --> 00:27:00.359 you will gradually 00:27:00.359 --> 00:27:01.500 begin to 00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.199 return 00:27:02.199 --> 00:27:03.259 to normal 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:05.099 And this shall pass 00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:06.139 in the sense too 00:27:06.139 --> 00:27:07.299 that one day 00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:08.579 sin and death 00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:09.819 will be behind us 00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:10.879 and we will be 00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:11.899 with the Lord Jesus 00:27:11.899 --> 00:27:13.639 and be with him 00:27:13.639 --> 00:27:14.679 forever 00:27:14.679 --> 00:27:16.399 And with that 00:27:16.399 --> 00:27:17.139 in our minds 00:27:17.139 --> 00:27:18.000 and knowing that 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.919 we need to be still 00:27:19.919 --> 00:27:21.379 and know 00:27:21.379 --> 00:27:22.399 that he 00:27:22.399 --> 00:27:23.679 is God 00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:26.019 Let's pray 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:27.720 I continue to pray 00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:28.580 for those who are 00:27:28.580 --> 00:27:29.640 grieving in our church 00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:30.360 A number of people 00:27:30.360 --> 00:27:31.500 over the last year or two 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.580 have lost 00:27:32.580 --> 00:27:33.380 close relatives 00:27:33.380 --> 00:27:34.820 and Christmas time 00:27:34.820 --> 00:27:35.700 will be particularly 00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.600 difficult 00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:37.759 for them 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:39.259 Let's support them 00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:39.900 as a church 00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:41.100 And if you are going 00:27:41.100 --> 00:27:42.000 through a time of grieving 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.799 and finding it 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:43.640 really difficult 00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:45.080 then seek the support 00:27:45.080 --> 00:27:45.820 of the church 00:27:45.820 --> 00:27:46.880 that we may pray 00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:47.299 with you 00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:48.400 and we may pray 00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:49.259 for you 00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:51.200 Let's just pray together 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:52.000 just now 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:54.539 Father we thank you 00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.099 for your word 00:27:55.099 --> 00:27:56.380 We thank you 00:27:56.380 --> 00:27:57.619 for the tremendous truth 00:27:57.619 --> 00:27:58.640 that although death 00:27:58.640 --> 00:27:59.319 is our enemy 00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:00.099 although it's the most 00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:01.160 powerful of enemies 00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:01.799 that last 00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:03.220 that will be destroyed 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:05.200 it has indeed 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:06.440 been defeated 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:08.299 Christ has risen 00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:08.900 victorious 00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:10.240 from the dead 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.819 and we know now 00:28:11.819 --> 00:28:12.779 that the dead 00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:13.460 in Christ 00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:14.579 will rise 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:15.480 to be with him 00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:16.920 when he returns 00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:18.480 that there is 00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:19.759 a life beyond death 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.160 that is 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:21.500 much much better 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.640 than anything 00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:24.200 in this world 00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:25.500 We pray that we may 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:26.800 be comforted with that 00:28:26.800 --> 00:28:27.900 when we go through 00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:28.860 times of grief 00:28:28.860 --> 00:28:30.519 and of bereavement 00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:32.320 We pray that you will 00:28:32.320 --> 00:28:33.160 help us to 00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:34.920 recognise that you are 00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:35.620 the God 00:28:35.620 --> 00:28:36.759 who protects us 00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:38.860 You are the God 00:28:38.860 --> 00:28:39.580 who is there 00:28:39.580 --> 00:28:40.340 for us 00:28:40.340 --> 00:28:41.960 and that we may be 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:43.019 still and know 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:44.100 that you 00:28:44.100 --> 00:28:45.279 are God 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.540 Thank you for this 00:28:46.540 --> 00:28:47.220 time together 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:49.079 we do pray for those 00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:49.880 who have lost 00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:50.519 loved ones 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.759 in recent times 00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.180 again 00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:53.200 and pray that 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:54.000 your strength 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:55.420 and your comfort 00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.640 may be a real 00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:57.180 encouragement 00:28:57.180 --> 00:28:58.120 to them 00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:59.339 We give you thanks 00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.039 and commit ourselves 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:00.539 to you 00:29:00.539 --> 00:29:01.740 in Jesus name 00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:02.960 Amen 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:04.860 !