WEBVTT

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 Well, if we could turn back together to a reading in the first chapter of Colossians.

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 Colossians chapter 1.

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 And we're going to look at in particular verse 9 to verse 12.

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 Just read these verses again.

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 Colossians chapter 1 at verse 9.

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 And so from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you,

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 asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

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 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him,

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 bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

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 May you be strengthened with all power according to his glorious might,

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 for all endurance and patience with joy,

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 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

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 Paul here speaks about living a life pleasing to God,

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 being filled in this manner, a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him.

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 And it's that I want to focus on for a time this evening.

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 It's been a time of firsts over these last few weeks for me and for you as a congregation,

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 as it's a privilege to minister to you as a congregation on Sunday morning together,

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 to start to see faces and to get to know people.

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 And this evening is no less a privilege,

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 our first time coming together in prayer in this way,

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 we join together in prayer and worship.

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 It's a delight always to worship God together.

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 And as we seek to serve him together as a people,

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 our focus can often be guided towards thinking about those who are outside of the church at the moment,

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 those who are strangers to God's grace.

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 It's a real burden we should have as a people when we know the great love of God towards us as a people,

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 that we would have a longing and a desire that others would come and know that great love for themselves.

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 We always pray that the lost will be found, that they will come to be saved.

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 But together as a people, that shouldn't be our only desire.

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 Of great importance too is that as a people,

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 we seek to grow together in our own knowledge and understanding of the Lord,

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 to come and understand more of his grace for ourselves,

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 to understand more of his love towards us as a people.

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 Because the more and the deeper our understanding,

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 the more we are able to express that and to share it with others.

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 So that is going to be our focus together as a people as well.

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 We have a great burden for the lost.

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 We will have a great burden for one another to grow in our knowledge and understanding of God

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 and his love towards us through his son, Christ Jesus.

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 And as we look at this passage this evening, as we look at Paul's letter to the Colossians,

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 and indeed as you look at other parts of scripture where Paul writes to the church in different parts,

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 whether it's in Ephesus or Philippi, Thessalonica,

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 when you read through his letters, they've got a real sense of pastoring care towards his people,

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 towards God's people.

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 They are rich and deep in theology in so many ways,

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 but it's a theology that the people long to grasp and to know more of.

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 And so you see there's the two going hand in hand together

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 to learn the depths of the riches that we have in Christ,

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 but to do it in a way too, as we see with Paul,

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 that shows a love and a pastoral care for the people,

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 longing to take all along with them.

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 And so it's good for us just to look at these letters and to learn of the riches,

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 but also to learn the way in which we are to share of these riches together and with those around us.

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 And he begins this letter by giving thanks,

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 giving thanks for what has already taken place among the people of Colossae,

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 how they have already come to faith and come to know the love of God.

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 And the love that, as it says in verse four,

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 that they have for all the saints as they have this hope laid up in heaven for them.

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 He is giving thanks for everything that has happened in the past for them.

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 He's giving thanks for what they are.

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 And even as we come together here tonight,

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 we're so thankful.

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 And as the men were praying,

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 they're thankful for ministries that have gone on.

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 Thankful for everything that has happened here.

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 Thankful for everyone here tonight and the work of the grace of God in your lives.

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 For the faithfulness you have,

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 for the desire that you have to show your love and worship towards the Lord.

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 We're always thankful for what God has done.

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 And as Paul is saying here,

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 he begins with a sense of thanksgiving for what they are,

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 what they have come to be through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 But then he goes on to speak about and pray for them in another way.

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 And now he's praying more for what they will become.

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 Because the Christian life is never one while we are here on earth that has an end point,

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 where we say,

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 we've made it.

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 We've reached our goal.

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 I've learned everything that I can possibly learn of the Lord and his love towards me.

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 We will never come to that point.

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 We will never reach that point in this life,

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 where we say,

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 that's it.

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 I know everything there is to know of God.

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 And so Paul is praying here for the people in Colossae,

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 just as we should be praying as well,

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 for what we will become.

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 What has already been done for us in Christ,

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 but also this desire to go on,

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 to go on individually,

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 to go on collectively,

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 seeking to know more of this.

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 And as he says here,

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 it's knowing this in a way where we come to live a life in the manner worthy of the Lord,

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 to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.

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 And perhaps we always,

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 well,

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 we ask ourselves from time to time,

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 am I living a life,

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 a walking in a manner worthy of God?

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 Am I living a life pleasing to God?

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 It's not just at a communion time that we're to ask these questions,

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 to examine ourselves,

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 but to do it on a regular basis,

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 to examine our lives,

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 to examine our hearts,

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 and to ask ourselves,

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 is my life showing that love of Christ?

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 Am I living in a manner worthy of the Lord fully?

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 He says here,

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 fully pleasing him.

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 And as soon as we ask that question,

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 immediately,

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 I'm sure your response is no,

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 because that's an automatic reaction.

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 When we think of a life worthy of the manner of the Lord,

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 or fully pleasing him,

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 we often know,

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 I cannot.

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 I cannot achieve that.

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 And never am I living in that way.

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 But he's not asking that question to make the people feel guilty.

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 He's asking them that question to put a desire in their heart,

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 to be a people who seek in all their strength,

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 and in all God's strength,

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 to live this kind of life.

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 There are so many people in this world who would say,

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 they're living good lives.

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 And the danger with asking that question,

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 with the wrong focus,

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 when the focus is on self,

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 is that we begin to say,

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 judge ourselves by our own standards.

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 There are things that we say we do,

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 or there are things that we say that we don't do,

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 and that that is what means that we are living a life pleasing to God.

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 The things we do might be to say,

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 I go to church.

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 I pray.

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 I give generously to the church.

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 I help people.

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 I help in the work on the cause of Christ.

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 The things that we don't do,

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 we could say,

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 well,

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 you know,

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 I don't swear.

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 I don't steal.

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 I don't slander people.

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 There are standards that we look at and we think,

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 well,

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 if we don't do this,

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 or if we do do that,

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 then I must be living a life pleasing to God.

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 But the good as these things are,

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 they are not in and of themselves what it is to live a life pleasing to God,

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 because there is a danger in them.

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 And the danger is spelled out for us in scripture,

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 where it becomes,

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 or it actually can become a bit self-righteous.

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 And we become like the Pharisee in Luke's gospel in chapter 18.

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 The Pharisee who was praying,

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 and you will know about that time when the Pharisee stood up to pray.

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 And he said this,

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 he said,

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 God,

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 I thank you that I am not like other men,

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 robbers,

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 evildoers,

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 adulterers,

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 or even like this tax collector.

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 As he looked beside him,

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 he said,

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 I fast twice a week.

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 And I give a 10th of all that I get.

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 And they are all commendable things.

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 But what was the outcome of that time when the tax collector and the Pharisee both prayed?

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 The tax collector prayed just a short prayer.

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 Lord,

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 have mercy on me,

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 a sinner.

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 And who went away right from God?

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 I mean,

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 people would look at the tax collector and say,

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 he's not worthy.

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 He's a wicked man.

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 He steals.

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 He does all of these things.

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 This Pharisee is such a good man.

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 He's done all of these good things,

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 but God sees the heart.

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 And who went away right with God?

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 It was the tax collector.

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 Because he asked mercy of God.

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 He was looking away from himself to God,

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 instead of looking within himself and saying,

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 I have done this,

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 but I haven't done that.

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 And so we have to ask ourselves,

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 as we're living a life pleasing,

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 or seeking to live a life pleasing to God,

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 are we depending on ourselves,

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 or are we depending on God?

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 And so Paul outlines for us here,

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 in order to live and walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,

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 fully pleasing to him,

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 he gives us an insight as to what it looks like.

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 And there are four things,

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 briefly,

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 we just want to look at here,

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 that he says in these verses,

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 that show what a life pleasing to God is like.

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 And that's what we see,

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 as we go on through verse 10,

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 down to verse 12.

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 So as you look at verse 10,

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 he says,

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 to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,

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 fully pleasing to him,

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 the first thing he comes to there is,

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 bearing fruit in every good work.

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 Bearing fruit in every good work.

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 The chapter begins by outlining

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 how Paul is seeing the people full

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 in what they have already become.

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 How they've become faithful

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 in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 They know the grace and peace

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 that comes from God.

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 And now he's asking

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 that they continue to be filled

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 in this way,

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 in order that they will live lives

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 transformed,

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 transformed by this grace,

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 an ongoing transformation taking place,

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 that they will please God.

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 And in highlighting these positives here,

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 it's a reminder of how we often think

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 of these things in a negative way,

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 ourselves as well.

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 You just think of the words

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 that Paul uses here,

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 when he says about walking in a manner

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 worthy and fully pleasing him,

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 he is saying,

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 you can please God.

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 We can often get bogged down

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 in all that we do wrong.

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 In every way,

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 we fail God

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 and have a sense of guilt

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 about this.

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 And there are certain times

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 where that is right,

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 where that is good for us.

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 We know we sin

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 and fall short of the glory of God.

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 But God never wants us

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 to remain in that way,

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 where our sins just weigh us down.

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 God sent his son into this world

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 that our sins might be forgiven,

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 that we might be restored,

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 that we might walk

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 in a manner worthy of the Lord,

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 pleasing him.

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 He's saying,

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 when you come into this relationship,

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 you can go on in this strength,

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 not weighed down,

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 but rejoicing in the forgiveness

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 of your sins.

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 Paul,

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 he does it in such a positive way,

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 in a pastoral way.

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 He brings his people,

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 God's people on.

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 He shows them their sin,

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 but he doesn't leave them there.

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 He lifts them up

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 to show them

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 what they have in Christ

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 and what the works of Christ

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 has prepared in advance

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 for them to do.

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 And so he shows them

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 that you can rejoice in God

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 and seek to live

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 a life pleasing to him.

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 And another thing is,

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 we can often have a problem

00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:57.340
 with the idea of pleasing God

00:14:57.340 --> 00:14:59.399
 by bearing fruit,

00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:02.100
 that it's more of

00:15:02.100 --> 00:15:06.299
 the little that we've achieved

00:15:06.299 --> 00:15:07.080
 for God.

00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:08.519
 And again,

00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:09.560
 you ask yourself

00:15:09.560 --> 00:15:10.860
 the question,

00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:13.919
 how has my life borne fruit?

00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:16.000
 Maybe you say to us,

00:15:16.079 --> 00:15:17.259
 I've not brought anyone

00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:17.979
 to the Lord.

00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:20.899
 My witness has been poor.

00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:22.259
 I have failed

00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:23.759
 in so many ways.

00:15:24.179 --> 00:15:25.259
 I've done nothing.

00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:27.179
 But again,

00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:28.459
 that's not what Paul

00:15:28.459 --> 00:15:29.419
 is getting at here

00:15:29.419 --> 00:15:29.939
 when he says,

00:15:30.459 --> 00:15:31.259
 bearing fruit

00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:32.659
 in every good work.

00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:34.120
 Paul is here speaking

00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:35.240
 about a transformation

00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:36.319
 that comes

00:15:36.319 --> 00:15:37.399
 in the heart

00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:38.179
 of the believer.

00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:39.860
 As we go on

00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:41.360
 in the strength

00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:42.399
 of God,

00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:44.159
 and we see this

00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:44.939
 in verse six

00:15:44.939 --> 00:15:46.639
 before we came

00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:47.360
 to this section,

00:15:47.439 --> 00:15:49.600
 he says that the gospel

00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:51.240
 is bearing fruit

00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:52.459
 and growing.

00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:54.159
 And it's doing this

00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:56.159
 in the whole world.

00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:57.860
 It is bearing fruit

00:15:57.860 --> 00:15:58.899
 and growing.

00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:00.220
 Now,

00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:01.019
 it's not to say

00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:02.419
 that God

00:16:02.419 --> 00:16:03.259
 is using people

00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:04.699
 to convert others

00:16:04.699 --> 00:16:05.620
 all the time.

00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:06.799
 What he's saying

00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:07.620
 in bearing fruit

00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:08.699
 is that people

00:16:08.699 --> 00:16:09.460
 are growing

00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:10.799
 in their knowledge

00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:11.339
 of God.

00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:12.279
 People are going

00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:14.219
 on in the strength

00:16:14.219 --> 00:16:15.240
 of God.

00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:16.699
 And since the day

00:16:16.699 --> 00:16:17.779
 that the gospel

00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:19.159
 came to Colossae,

00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:21.139
 its ongoing work

00:16:21.139 --> 00:16:23.059
 is transforming people.

00:16:23.459 --> 00:16:25.139
 It is bearing fruit.

00:16:25.939 --> 00:16:26.639
 The Christians

00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:28.120
 are not staying still.

00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:30.019
 What they understood

00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:31.579
 when they were first believed,

00:16:32.219 --> 00:16:33.139
 they're not still

00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:34.500
 at that same point.

00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:35.939
 It's just like

00:16:35.939 --> 00:16:36.439
 when you're going

00:16:36.439 --> 00:16:37.379
 through school.

00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:39.120
 You don't stay

00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:40.639
 in primary one forever.

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:42.500
 You learn the basics

00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:44.039
 and you're building on it.

00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:45.000
 You go through

00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:45.700
 to secondary,

00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:46.840
 you go to college

00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:47.700
 or university.

00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:49.139
 It's an ongoing

00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:50.340
 learning experience.

00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:51.879
 You leave university,

00:16:52.019 --> 00:16:52.939
 you go into work,

00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:54.500
 you're still learning.

00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:55.919
 And that's

00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:57.159
 the Christian life.

00:16:57.820 --> 00:16:59.700
 We never stood still.

00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:00.879
 The work

00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:01.740
 of transformation,

00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:02.559
 the work

00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:03.500
 of God's grace

00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:04.240
 in our hearts

00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:05.539
 is always

00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:06.619
 ongoing.

00:17:07.380 --> 00:17:09.180
 We should see

00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:10.440
 a transformation.

00:17:10.820 --> 00:17:11.300
 We should be

00:17:11.300 --> 00:17:12.460
 bearing fruit

00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:13.920
 in this way.

00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:15.580
 We should change

00:17:15.580 --> 00:17:16.620
 and continue

00:17:16.620 --> 00:17:17.520
 to change

00:17:17.520 --> 00:17:18.440
 over time

00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:19.520
 and mature

00:17:19.520 --> 00:17:20.760
 as Christian brothers

00:17:20.760 --> 00:17:22.000
 and sisters

00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:23.520
 in Christ.

00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:26.640
 So are we

00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:27.740
 bearing fruit?

00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:29.940
 Is that our longing

00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:31.500
 to bear fruit,

00:17:31.660 --> 00:17:32.380
 to go on

00:17:32.380 --> 00:17:33.380
 learning

00:17:33.380 --> 00:17:34.920
 with a hunger

00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:36.220
 and a thirst

00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:37.580
 for the things

00:17:37.580 --> 00:17:38.480
 of God?

00:17:40.800 --> 00:17:41.980
 Paul later on

00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:43.340
 in another chapter

00:17:43.340 --> 00:17:44.060
 in Galatians,

00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:44.900
 he speaks of

00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:45.880
 the works

00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:46.779
 of the flesh

00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:48.740
 and how they are

00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:49.259
 evident.

00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:50.640
 He speaks about

00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:51.800
 sexual immorality,

00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:52.539
 impurity,

00:17:52.800 --> 00:17:53.600
 sensuality,

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:54.420
 idolatry,

00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:55.519
 sorcery,

00:17:55.600 --> 00:17:56.000
 enmity,

00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:56.680
 strife,

00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:57.259
 jealousy,

00:17:57.920 --> 00:17:58.680
 fits of anger,

00:17:58.920 --> 00:17:59.440
 rivalries,

00:17:59.560 --> 00:18:00.160
 dissensions,

00:18:00.380 --> 00:18:00.779
 divisions,

00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:02.259
 all of these

00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:02.579
 things.

00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:03.339
 If you remain

00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:04.119
 in all of these

00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:04.539
 things,

00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.639
 you're not living

00:18:05.639 --> 00:18:06.579
 a life pleasing

00:18:06.579 --> 00:18:07.019
 to God.

00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:07.519
 You're not

00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:08.639
 bearing fruit.

00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:10.000
 But he says

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:10.859
 the fruit of the

00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:11.859
 Spirit is love,

00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:12.660
 joy,

00:18:12.980 --> 00:18:13.399
 peace,

00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.220
 patience,

00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:14.899
 kindness,

00:18:15.619 --> 00:18:15.920
 goodness,

00:18:16.359 --> 00:18:16.980
 faithfulness,

00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:17.680
 gentleness,

00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:18.799
 self-control.

00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:22.279
 is to long

00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:22.980
 for these

00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:23.819
 things in our

00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:24.359
 lives,

00:18:24.919 --> 00:18:26.759
 to bear fruit

00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.419
 in that way

00:18:27.419 --> 00:18:28.059
 of the love,

00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:28.419
 joy,

00:18:28.639 --> 00:18:28.940
 peace,

00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:29.599
 patience,

00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:30.919
 so on.

00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:34.039
 So we want

00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:35.059
 to bear fruit,

00:18:35.139 --> 00:18:36.019
 not in the sense

00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:37.200
 of all the

00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:38.099
 works that we

00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:38.599
 have done

00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:39.799
 or seek to do

00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:40.519
 or to help

00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.279
 save other

00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:41.779
 people.

00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:42.440
 That's not what

00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:43.039
 he's talking

00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:43.500
 about.

00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:45.359
 But every one

00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:45.960
 of us can

00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:46.799
 bear fruit

00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:48.159
 in this hunger

00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:48.779
 and thirst

00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:49.700
 for righteousness

00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:51.380
 and seeking

00:18:51.380 --> 00:18:52.660
 to bear fruit

00:18:52.660 --> 00:18:53.400
 as we grow

00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:54.660
 and learn

00:18:54.660 --> 00:18:55.340
 and develop

00:18:55.340 --> 00:18:55.960
 together and

00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:56.740
 mature as

00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:57.320
 Christians,

00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:58.240
 never reaching

00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:59.000
 that point

00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:59.880
 where we know

00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:00.400
 it all,

00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:01.820
 but always

00:19:01.820 --> 00:19:02.700
 seeking day

00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:03.240
 by day

00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:04.500
 to go on

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.340
 with him.

00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:07.060
 So there's

00:19:07.060 --> 00:19:07.880
 bearing fruit,

00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:08.340
 then he goes

00:19:08.340 --> 00:19:09.040
 on to say

00:19:09.040 --> 00:19:09.820
 increasing in

00:19:09.820 --> 00:19:10.420
 the knowledge

00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:11.380
 of God.

00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:11.759
 And you see

00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.040
 that they're

00:19:12.040 --> 00:19:13.240
 very closely

00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:13.779
 linked.

00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:14.920
 But knowledge

00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:15.700
 is often a

00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:16.580
 key teaching

00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:18.000
 in Paul's

00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:18.539
 letters.

00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:20.139
 In Romans

00:19:20.139 --> 00:19:21.399
 1, he speaks

00:19:21.399 --> 00:19:21.859
 about the

00:19:21.859 --> 00:19:23.199
 rejection of

00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:23.819
 knowledge as

00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:24.240
 the root

00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:24.919
 of evil.

00:19:25.639 --> 00:19:26.179
 In Romans

00:19:26.179 --> 00:19:26.980
 chapter 1,

00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:27.659
 verse 28,

00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:28.179
 he says,

00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:29.399
 furthermore,

00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:29.939
 since they

00:19:29.939 --> 00:19:30.359
 did not

00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:30.859
 think it

00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:31.339
 worthwhile

00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:32.399
 to retain

00:19:32.399 --> 00:19:33.460
 the knowledge

00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:34.159
 of God,

00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:35.039
 he gave

00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:35.579
 them over

00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:35.960
 to a

00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:36.619
 depraved

00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:37.699
 mind to

00:19:37.699 --> 00:19:38.259
 do what

00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:38.960
 ought not

00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:39.319
 to be

00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:39.699
 done.

00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:40.599
 They have

00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:41.439
 become filled

00:19:41.439 --> 00:19:42.240
 with every

00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:43.500
 kind of

00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.279
 wickedness.

00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:46.319
 rejection of

00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:47.480
 knowledge is

00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:47.819
 not a

00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:48.799
 life pleasing

00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:50.160
 to God.

00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.160
 And so a

00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:51.940
 life pleasing

00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:52.619
 to God is

00:19:52.619 --> 00:19:54.019
 to grow in

00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:54.740
 the knowledge

00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.639
 of God,

00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:56.819
 increasing in

00:19:56.819 --> 00:19:57.539
 the knowledge

00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:58.839
 of God.

00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:00.859
 And again,

00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:01.399
 you see how

00:20:01.399 --> 00:20:01.720
 it's just

00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.379
 closely linked

00:20:02.379 --> 00:20:02.839
 to bearing

00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:03.259
 fruit.

00:20:03.399 --> 00:20:03.859
 The two

00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:05.259
 go hand

00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:06.240
 in hand.

00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:07.160
 The more

00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:07.740
 we know

00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:08.440
 of God,

00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:09.420
 the more

00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:09.779
 we will

00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:10.700
 bear fruit.

00:20:11.879 --> 00:20:12.259
 If you're

00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:13.599
 into gardening,

00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:14.199
 if you like

00:20:14.199 --> 00:20:15.699
 growing fruits

00:20:15.699 --> 00:20:16.659
 of different

00:20:16.659 --> 00:20:17.319
 kinds,

00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:18.639
 you know,

00:20:18.659 --> 00:20:19.139
 in order to

00:20:19.139 --> 00:20:19.859
 bear fruit,

00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:20.599
 you have to

00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:21.399
 tend and

00:20:21.399 --> 00:20:22.139
 water the

00:20:22.139 --> 00:20:22.719
 plant.

00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:23.619
 You can't

00:20:23.619 --> 00:20:24.179
 just leave

00:20:24.179 --> 00:20:24.819
 it to

00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:25.939
 develop itself

00:20:25.939 --> 00:20:26.359
 without

00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:27.599
 tending to

00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:27.839
 it.

00:20:28.459 --> 00:20:28.799
 And the

00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:29.199
 same is

00:20:29.199 --> 00:20:30.019
 true for

00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.699
 the Christian.

00:20:31.459 --> 00:20:32.119
 In order

00:20:32.119 --> 00:20:32.699
 to grow,

00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:33.519
 in order

00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:33.959
 to bear

00:20:33.959 --> 00:20:34.339
 fruit,

00:20:34.419 --> 00:20:34.679
 we have

00:20:34.679 --> 00:20:35.379
 to increase

00:20:35.379 --> 00:20:35.699
 in our

00:20:35.699 --> 00:20:36.079
 knowledge

00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:36.539
 of God.

00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:36.859
 We have

00:20:36.859 --> 00:20:37.799
 to feed

00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:38.559
 our souls.

00:20:38.699 --> 00:20:38.959
 We have

00:20:38.959 --> 00:20:39.939
 to water

00:20:39.939 --> 00:20:40.839
 our hearts.

00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:42.359
 We need

00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:43.039
 the fruit

00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:43.699
 of the

00:20:43.699 --> 00:20:44.319
 Lord in

00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:44.980
 our hearts

00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:45.419
 too.

00:20:47.139 --> 00:20:48.019
 In a

00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:48.599
 similar way

00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:48.799
 in

00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:49.339
 Philippines,

00:20:50.139 --> 00:20:51.019
 Paul writes

00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.220
 very

00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:52.000
 pastorally

00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:52.899
 towards them

00:20:52.899 --> 00:20:53.379
 as well,

00:20:53.399 --> 00:20:53.619
 and he

00:20:53.619 --> 00:20:53.980
 says,

00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.819
 it is my

00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:55.559
 prayer that

00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:56.139
 your love

00:20:56.139 --> 00:20:56.799
 may abound

00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:57.399
 more and

00:20:57.399 --> 00:20:57.859
 more with

00:20:57.859 --> 00:20:58.799
 knowledge

00:20:58.799 --> 00:20:59.699
 and all

00:20:59.699 --> 00:21:00.619
 discernment,

00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.279
 so that you

00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:01.899
 may approve

00:21:01.899 --> 00:21:02.279
 what is

00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:02.740
 excellent,

00:21:02.859 --> 00:21:03.299
 and so be

00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:03.980
 pure and

00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:04.500
 blameless

00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.279
 for the

00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:05.679
 day of

00:21:05.679 --> 00:21:06.119
 Christ,

00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:07.299
 filled with

00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:07.819
 the fruit

00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:08.740
 of righteousness

00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:09.619
 that comes

00:21:09.619 --> 00:21:10.819
 through Jesus

00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:11.419
 Christ,

00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:12.259
 the glory

00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:13.579
 and praise

00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:14.519
 of God.

00:21:15.979 --> 00:21:16.539
 Do you

00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:17.359
 crave

00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:18.359
 this

00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:19.019
 knowledge?

00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:20.639
 Is that

00:21:20.639 --> 00:21:20.919
 what you

00:21:20.919 --> 00:21:21.699
 hunger for

00:21:21.699 --> 00:21:22.399
 day after

00:21:22.399 --> 00:21:22.879
 day,

00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:24.099
 to realize

00:21:24.099 --> 00:21:24.919
 this knowledge

00:21:24.919 --> 00:21:25.419
 and truly

00:21:25.419 --> 00:21:26.179
 be filled

00:21:26.179 --> 00:21:27.500
 to satisfaction

00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:28.479
 with it?

00:21:29.439 --> 00:21:29.899
 A lovely

00:21:29.899 --> 00:21:30.939
 story told

00:21:30.939 --> 00:21:31.959
 of a

00:21:31.959 --> 00:21:32.459
 little girl

00:21:32.459 --> 00:21:33.059
 in Wales

00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:33.779
 during the

00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:34.659
 18th century.

00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:35.019
 It was a

00:21:35.019 --> 00:21:35.559
 time of

00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:36.799
 great revival

00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:37.159
 in the

00:21:37.159 --> 00:21:37.839
 valleys in

00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:38.179
 Wales.

00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:38.939
 This

00:21:38.939 --> 00:21:39.539
 little girl

00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:40.139
 called

00:21:40.139 --> 00:21:40.639
 Mary

00:21:40.639 --> 00:21:41.319
 Jones.

00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:42.539
 She came

00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.220
 to faith

00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.099
 at the

00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:44.980
 age of

00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.299
 eight.

00:21:45.859 --> 00:21:46.299
 She lived

00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:46.619
 with her

00:21:46.619 --> 00:21:48.220
 family on

00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:48.779
 a farm

00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:49.159
 out in

00:21:49.159 --> 00:21:49.579
 the valleys

00:21:49.579 --> 00:21:50.359
 and in

00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:50.720
 order to

00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:51.180
 get near

00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:51.720
 to anybody

00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.019
 else,

00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:52.240
 she had

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:52.799
 to walk

00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:53.359
 very often

00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:53.839
 a great

00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.460
 distance.

00:21:55.159 --> 00:21:56.019
 She loved

00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:56.700
 to hear

00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:57.339
 the word

00:21:57.339 --> 00:21:58.019
 of God,

00:21:58.920 --> 00:21:59.680
 but she

00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.139
 didn't have

00:22:00.139 --> 00:22:00.579
 a Bible

00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:00.839
 and they

00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:01.240
 didn't have

00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:01.720
 a Bible

00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:02.079
 in their

00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:02.599
 own home.

00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:03.899
 The nearest

00:22:03.899 --> 00:22:04.559
 one was

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.599
 two miles

00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:06.200
 away at

00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:06.500
 another

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.339
 farmhouse

00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:08.339
 and they

00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:08.740
 would often

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.039
 as a

00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:09.539
 family be

00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.639
 found going

00:22:10.639 --> 00:22:11.099
 there just

00:22:11.099 --> 00:22:11.740
 to hear

00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:12.500
 the word

00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:13.000
 of God.

00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:13.740
 But even

00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:14.079
 as an

00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:14.859
 eight-year-old,

00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:15.619
 she decided

00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:16.779
 to start

00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:17.680
 saving to

00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:18.119
 buy her

00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:18.819
 own Bible.

00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:20.599
 And she

00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:21.159
 started just

00:22:21.159 --> 00:22:22.180
 collecting the

00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:22.700
 little money

00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.079
 that she

00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:24.159
 could day

00:22:24.159 --> 00:22:24.899
 after day,

00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:25.819
 week after

00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:26.220
 week,

00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:27.079
 year after

00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:27.559
 year.

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:28.680
 She was

00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:30.659
 15 before

00:22:30.659 --> 00:22:31.059
 she could

00:22:31.059 --> 00:22:32.119
 finally afford

00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:33.720
 to buy a

00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:34.059
 Bible.

00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:35.279
 and in

00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:35.700
 order to

00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:36.119
 get the

00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:36.480
 Bible,

00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:36.899
 she had

00:22:36.899 --> 00:22:37.559
 to walk

00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:38.700
 barefoot

00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:39.299
 over the

00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:40.899
 hills 25

00:22:40.899 --> 00:22:42.419
 miles to

00:22:42.419 --> 00:22:42.819
 go and

00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:43.460
 buy this

00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:43.919
 Bible.

00:22:44.359 --> 00:22:45.079
 But her

00:22:45.079 --> 00:22:45.559
 longing,

00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:46.440
 her desire,

00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:47.419
 was to have

00:22:47.419 --> 00:22:47.899
 her own

00:22:47.899 --> 00:22:49.139
 copy of

00:22:49.139 --> 00:22:49.720
 the word

00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.319
 of God

00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:50.720
 and so

00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:51.399
 she bought

00:22:51.399 --> 00:22:51.679
 it.

00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:54.279
 Now today,

00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.740
 you can

00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:57.179
 download an

00:22:57.179 --> 00:22:57.839
 app on your

00:22:57.839 --> 00:22:58.599
 phone for

00:22:58.599 --> 00:22:59.019
 free.

00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:00.519
 In literally

00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.480
 seconds,

00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:02.359
 you can

00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:02.759
 have a

00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.480
 Bible on

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.079
 your phone,

00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:04.740
 you can

00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.160
 have all

00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:05.819
 kinds of

00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:06.599
 Bible study

00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:07.299
 tools on

00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:07.680
 your phone,

00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.500
 your computer

00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:09.500
 or whatever.

00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:11.099
 We have

00:23:11.099 --> 00:23:12.460
 a plethora of

00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:13.220
 books we can

00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:13.960
 choose from

00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:15.440
 to feed our

00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:16.240
 souls and to

00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:16.660
 grow in

00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:17.160
 knowledge.

00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:19.299
 But what

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:20.160
 use that if

00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:20.680
 we don't have

00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:21.559
 the desire of

00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:22.420
 Mary Jones,

00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:23.879
 a hunger

00:23:23.879 --> 00:23:24.779
 for the

00:23:24.779 --> 00:23:26.059
 knowledge of

00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:26.500
 God.

00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:28.240
 So may he

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:28.819
 give us

00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:30.099
 that hunger

00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:31.959
 to increase

00:23:31.959 --> 00:23:32.579
 in the

00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:33.519
 knowledge of

00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:33.980
 God,

00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:35.319
 an appetite

00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:36.219
 and a

00:23:36.219 --> 00:23:37.079
 desire to

00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:38.299
 crave the

00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:38.919
 word of

00:23:38.919 --> 00:23:39.339
 God,

00:23:39.719 --> 00:23:40.319
 just like

00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:41.099
 Mary Jones.

00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:43.359
 The third

00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:44.099
 thing we see

00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:45.259
 here is that

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:45.879
 we are being

00:23:45.879 --> 00:23:46.879
 strengthened.

00:23:47.719 --> 00:23:48.179
 May you be

00:23:48.179 --> 00:23:49.019
 strengthened with

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:49.839
 all power

00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:51.179
 according to

00:23:51.179 --> 00:23:52.339
 his glorious

00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:53.579
 might.

00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:57.740
 God gives

00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:58.299
 us the

00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:59.279
 strength to

00:23:59.279 --> 00:23:59.819
 go on.

00:24:00.099 --> 00:24:01.099
 God gives

00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:02.199
 us the

00:24:02.199 --> 00:24:03.099
 strength to

00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:03.679
 do it.

00:24:03.679 --> 00:24:04.079
 God gives

00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:04.539
 us the

00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:05.000
 strength to

00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:05.500
 do it.

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:05.839
 We sometimes

00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:06.359
 have to be

00:24:06.359 --> 00:24:07.339
 reminded of

00:24:07.339 --> 00:24:07.559
 it.

00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:08.839
 We don't

00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:10.240
 go on in

00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:10.879
 our own

00:24:10.879 --> 00:24:11.659
 strength.

00:24:12.419 --> 00:24:12.879
 To live a

00:24:12.879 --> 00:24:13.799
 life pleasing

00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:14.639
 to God is a

00:24:14.639 --> 00:24:15.699
 realization that

00:24:15.699 --> 00:24:16.019
 we are

00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:17.659
 dependent on

00:24:17.659 --> 00:24:18.059
 him.

00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:19.719
 But again,

00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:20.519
 Paul is giving

00:24:20.519 --> 00:24:21.379
 us a reminder

00:24:21.379 --> 00:24:22.139
 here that if

00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:23.039
 God asks us

00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:23.500
 to do

00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:24.079
 something,

00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:25.159
 he will give

00:24:25.159 --> 00:24:25.899
 us the grace

00:24:25.899 --> 00:24:26.599
 to do it.

00:24:26.939 --> 00:24:27.579
 He will give

00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:28.139
 us the

00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:29.179
 strength to

00:24:29.179 --> 00:24:29.639
 do it.

00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:30.919
 God doesn't

00:24:30.919 --> 00:24:31.359
 say I

00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:31.879
 will leave

00:24:31.879 --> 00:24:32.619
 you weak.

00:24:33.679 --> 00:24:34.299
 I won't

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:34.839
 give you

00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:36.139
 a hunger.

00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:37.279
 He says if

00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:38.019
 you will come

00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:39.259
 to me, I

00:24:39.259 --> 00:24:39.740
 will give you

00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:40.659
 the strength.

00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:42.159
 I will give

00:24:42.159 --> 00:24:42.939
 you the grace.

00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:44.319
 I will give

00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.500
 you the power.

00:24:46.139 --> 00:24:46.579
 May you be

00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.500
 strengthened, he

00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.179
 says, with

00:24:48.179 --> 00:24:49.779
 all power

00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:51.199
 according to

00:24:51.199 --> 00:24:52.859
 his glorious

00:24:52.859 --> 00:24:53.599
 might.

00:24:54.179 --> 00:24:54.899
 Not ours,

00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:56.780
 but God's.

00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:58.820
 That is the

00:24:58.820 --> 00:24:59.600
 power that is

00:24:59.600 --> 00:25:00.160
 complete.

00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:01.280
 It's all

00:25:01.280 --> 00:25:02.360
 power.

00:25:03.280 --> 00:25:03.780
 And God

00:25:03.780 --> 00:25:04.200
 has this

00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:04.840
 power to

00:25:04.840 --> 00:25:05.440
 give to

00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:05.860
 you.

00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:07.460
 So that as

00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.300
 we seek to

00:25:08.300 --> 00:25:09.040
 bear fruit,

00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.120
 as we seek

00:25:10.120 --> 00:25:10.820
 to increase

00:25:10.820 --> 00:25:11.140
 in the

00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:11.540
 knowledge,

00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:12.840
 God can

00:25:12.840 --> 00:25:13.680
 strengthen and

00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:14.720
 does strengthen

00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:15.840
 us in this

00:25:15.840 --> 00:25:17.060
 way with all

00:25:17.060 --> 00:25:17.620
 power.

00:25:18.580 --> 00:25:19.519
 Again, just to

00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.180
 go to another

00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:20.860
 letter of

00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:22.920
 Paul, a

00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:23.600
 pastor letter

00:25:23.600 --> 00:25:23.940
 to the

00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:24.660
 Ephesians.

00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:26.180
 In chapter

00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:26.800
 one, he

00:25:26.800 --> 00:25:27.280
 says in

00:25:27.280 --> 00:25:27.900
 verse 18,

00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:28.980
 having the

00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:29.560
 eyes of

00:25:29.560 --> 00:25:30.200
 your hearts

00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:30.800
 enlightened,

00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:31.740
 that you

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.160
 may know

00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:32.720
 what is the

00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:33.240
 hope to

00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:33.560
 which he

00:25:33.560 --> 00:25:34.140
 has called

00:25:34.140 --> 00:25:34.920
 you, what

00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:35.180
 are the

00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:35.820
 riches of

00:25:35.820 --> 00:25:36.519
 his glorious

00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.440
 inheritance in

00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:37.980
 the saints,

00:25:38.560 --> 00:25:39.040
 and what is

00:25:39.040 --> 00:25:40.019
 the immeasurable

00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:41.040
 greatness of

00:25:41.040 --> 00:25:41.720
 his power

00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:42.780
 toward us

00:25:42.780 --> 00:25:44.180
 who believe.

00:25:45.800 --> 00:25:46.800
 God gives

00:25:46.800 --> 00:25:48.340
 power and

00:25:48.340 --> 00:25:49.080
 grace to

00:25:49.080 --> 00:25:49.900
 his people

00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:50.920
 as they

00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:51.540
 have need.

00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:52.680
 So that

00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:53.840
 unlike the

00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:55.000
 Pharisee who

00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:56.139
 prayed in

00:25:56.139 --> 00:25:56.659
 his own

00:25:56.659 --> 00:25:57.459
 strength,

00:25:57.459 --> 00:25:58.500
 who felt

00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:58.899
 he was

00:25:58.899 --> 00:25:59.579
 strong,

00:26:00.139 --> 00:26:00.419
 but was

00:26:00.419 --> 00:26:01.279
 so weak,

00:26:01.939 --> 00:26:02.980
 that's not

00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:03.599
 the strength

00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:03.879
 that he

00:26:03.879 --> 00:26:04.199
 gives,

00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.119
 it's the

00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:05.639
 strength that

00:26:05.639 --> 00:26:06.259
 he gave to

00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:06.819
 the tax

00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:07.319
 collector,

00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:08.859
 the sinner,

00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.559
 to go away

00:26:09.559 --> 00:26:10.619
 justified and

00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:11.959
 right before

00:26:11.959 --> 00:26:12.500
 God.

00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.839
 As we come

00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:14.919
 weak before

00:26:14.919 --> 00:26:15.959
 him, he

00:26:15.959 --> 00:26:16.779
 gives us his

00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:18.159
 perfect strength

00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:19.400
 to go on.

00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:21.120
 This is a

00:26:21.120 --> 00:26:22.000
 young church,

00:26:22.120 --> 00:26:22.580
 the church

00:26:22.580 --> 00:26:23.400
 at Colossae,

00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:24.460
 the God's

00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:25.259
 people, young

00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:25.940
 in the faith

00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:26.420
 and facing

00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:27.340
 many trials

00:26:27.340 --> 00:26:28.600
 and temptations,

00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.600
 but he is

00:26:30.600 --> 00:26:31.180
 saying, Paul

00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:31.680
 is saying

00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:32.340
 through God,

00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:33.200
 God through

00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:33.920
 Paul saying

00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:34.300
 to them,

00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.380
 the Lord

00:26:35.380 --> 00:26:35.800
 will give

00:26:35.800 --> 00:26:36.640
 you strength.

00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:38.480
 You may

00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:39.220
 know his

00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:40.720
 power according

00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:41.200
 to his

00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:42.340
 glorious might

00:26:42.340 --> 00:26:43.160
 for all

00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:45.000
 endurance and

00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.640
 patience.

00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:47.259
 he will

00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:48.480
 give as

00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.120
 you have

00:26:49.120 --> 00:26:49.580
 need.

00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:50.860
 And so

00:26:50.860 --> 00:26:51.340
 that is

00:26:51.340 --> 00:26:52.000
 true for

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:52.880
 ourselves as

00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:53.240
 we go

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:54.060
 forward to

00:26:54.060 --> 00:26:56.040
 know his

00:26:56.040 --> 00:26:56.920
 glorious

00:26:56.920 --> 00:26:58.380
 strength and

00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:58.920
 the hope

00:26:58.920 --> 00:26:59.259
 that he

00:26:59.259 --> 00:26:59.880
 gives to

00:26:59.880 --> 00:27:00.660
 his people.

00:27:01.780 --> 00:27:02.240
 Living a

00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:03.540
 life pleasing

00:27:03.540 --> 00:27:04.480
 to God is

00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.840
 being in

00:27:05.840 --> 00:27:07.860
 Christ, as

00:27:07.860 --> 00:27:09.060
 Paul wrote

00:27:09.060 --> 00:27:09.900
 at the start

00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:10.480
 of this

00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:12.780
 letter in

00:27:12.780 --> 00:27:13.380
 verse 2,

00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:14.160
 to the saints

00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:14.800
 and faithful

00:27:14.800 --> 00:27:15.400
 brothers,

00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:17.020
 in Christ

00:27:17.020 --> 00:27:18.420
 at Colossae.

00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:20.140
 That is the

00:27:20.140 --> 00:27:21.060
 kind of people

00:27:21.060 --> 00:27:21.900
 we are to

00:27:21.900 --> 00:27:23.400
 be rooted

00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:24.759
 in Christ,

00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:26.380
 in the

00:27:26.380 --> 00:27:27.460
 vine, as

00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:28.000
 John in

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.700
 his gospel

00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.520
 describes,

00:27:29.780 --> 00:27:30.660
 there bearing

00:27:30.660 --> 00:27:32.200
 fruit through

00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:32.640
 him.

00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:34.400
 So we are

00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:35.600
 to know

00:27:35.600 --> 00:27:36.600
 and seek

00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:37.360
 the power

00:27:37.360 --> 00:27:38.340
 of his

00:27:38.340 --> 00:27:39.000
 glorious

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.820
 might for

00:27:39.820 --> 00:27:41.100
 all patience

00:27:41.100 --> 00:27:42.660
 and endurance.

00:27:43.320 --> 00:27:43.960
 Finally,

00:27:44.040 --> 00:27:44.540
 and just very

00:27:44.540 --> 00:27:45.400
 briefly here,

00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:45.960
 the fourth

00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:46.360
 thing he

00:27:46.360 --> 00:27:47.100
 says is,

00:27:47.820 --> 00:27:49.040
 with joy

00:27:49.040 --> 00:27:50.340
 and giving

00:27:50.340 --> 00:27:51.460
 thanks to

00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:52.120
 the Father

00:27:52.120 --> 00:27:53.019
 who has

00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:54.000
 qualified you

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.720
 to share

00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:55.540
 in the

00:27:55.540 --> 00:27:56.300
 inheritance of

00:27:56.300 --> 00:27:56.940
 the saints

00:27:56.940 --> 00:27:58.200
 in light.

00:27:59.360 --> 00:28:00.100
 How often

00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:01.360
 are we full

00:28:01.360 --> 00:28:02.160
 of thanks

00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:03.360
 to God?

00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:05.459
 God, how

00:28:05.459 --> 00:28:06.219
 easy it is

00:28:06.219 --> 00:28:06.759
 for us to

00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:07.179
 go and

00:28:07.179 --> 00:28:08.059
 complain about

00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.759
 things.

00:28:09.439 --> 00:28:10.219
 It's easy.

00:28:11.059 --> 00:28:11.899
 It's second

00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:12.659
 nature to

00:28:12.659 --> 00:28:13.439
 us sometimes

00:28:13.439 --> 00:28:14.479
 just to

00:28:14.479 --> 00:28:15.299
 complain and

00:28:15.299 --> 00:28:15.899
 to grumble

00:28:15.899 --> 00:28:16.719
 about things

00:28:16.719 --> 00:28:17.500
 in this

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:17.979
 life.

00:28:18.979 --> 00:28:19.919
 But if that's

00:28:19.919 --> 00:28:20.639
 all we do,

00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:21.399
 we lose

00:28:21.399 --> 00:28:22.059
 our joy.

00:28:22.919 --> 00:28:23.839
 We lose

00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:24.419
 our joy and

00:28:24.419 --> 00:28:25.099
 we lose it

00:28:25.099 --> 00:28:26.359
 very quickly.

00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:27.359
 God, how

00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:27.979
 do we

00:28:27.979 --> 00:28:28.359
 do?

00:28:28.359 --> 00:28:28.939
 He's telling

00:28:28.939 --> 00:28:29.419
 us that

00:28:29.419 --> 00:28:29.959
 we're to

00:28:29.959 --> 00:28:30.619
 go on,

00:28:31.179 --> 00:28:31.719
 trusting as

00:28:31.719 --> 00:28:32.079
 we're looking

00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:32.740
 at on Sunday

00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:33.179
 morning,

00:28:33.679 --> 00:28:34.439
 trusting the

00:28:34.439 --> 00:28:35.859
 Lord, delighting

00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:36.339
 in the Lord,

00:28:36.399 --> 00:28:36.979
 and all of

00:28:36.979 --> 00:28:37.679
 these things.

00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.559
 It's a very

00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:39.659
 similar reminder

00:28:39.659 --> 00:28:41.139
 that we are

00:28:41.139 --> 00:28:42.279
 giving thanks

00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:42.759
 to the

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:44.159
 Father, that

00:28:44.159 --> 00:28:44.879
 everything that

00:28:44.879 --> 00:28:45.359
 we do,

00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:46.719
 everything that

00:28:46.719 --> 00:28:47.059
 we do, we

00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:48.119
 recognize it's

00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:49.000
 from God,

00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:49.879
 and that we

00:28:49.879 --> 00:28:50.539
 remember to

00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:51.319
 come back and

00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:52.059
 give thanks

00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:53.220
 to God.

00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:57.079
 It will

00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:58.279
 affect us in

00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.940
 how we bear

00:28:58.940 --> 00:29:00.419
 fruit, it'll

00:29:00.419 --> 00:29:01.159
 affect our

00:29:01.159 --> 00:29:01.899
 growth and

00:29:01.899 --> 00:29:03.259
 knowledge, it'll

00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:04.039
 affect our

00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:04.980
 strength in the

00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:05.839
 Lord if we do

00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:06.879
 everything with

00:29:06.879 --> 00:29:07.579
 a grumbling

00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:08.399
 spirit.

00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:10.299
 But if we

00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:10.879
 seek to do

00:29:10.879 --> 00:29:11.379
 everything,

00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:13.059
 joyfully giving

00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:14.139
 thanks to the

00:29:14.139 --> 00:29:15.200
 Lord, I know

00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:15.819
 so good and

00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:16.559
 refreshing as we

00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:18.519
 hear, praying

00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:19.119
 together and

00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:19.440
 just being

00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:20.940
 reminded of

00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:21.539
 all that we

00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:22.039
 have together.

00:29:22.059 --> 00:29:22.960
 thanks for.

00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:25.679
 Every blessing

00:29:25.679 --> 00:29:26.879
 that we have

00:29:26.879 --> 00:29:27.720
 from the hand

00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:28.440
 of God who

00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:29.099
 has blessed

00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:30.960
 us so much,

00:29:32.339 --> 00:29:33.259
 and above

00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:34.700
 all, how we

00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.519
 are blessed

00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.399
 through his

00:29:36.399 --> 00:29:37.559
 beloved Son,

00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:39.119
 who has

00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:40.059
 brought us

00:29:40.059 --> 00:29:41.559
 from darkness

00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:43.240
 into his

00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:44.500
 glorious light.

00:29:46.460 --> 00:29:47.460
 Again, it

00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:47.819
 just comes

00:29:47.819 --> 00:29:48.500
 back to

00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.559
 fixing our

00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:50.980
 eyes on

00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:51.440
 Jesus.

00:29:52.059 --> 00:29:53.440
 making sure

00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:54.200
 that we

00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:54.599
 are doing

00:29:54.599 --> 00:29:55.919
 everything in

00:29:55.919 --> 00:29:56.799
 his will

00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.899
 and by

00:29:57.899 --> 00:29:59.720
 his strength.

00:30:00.879 --> 00:30:02.019
 God is a

00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:03.200
 God who

00:30:03.200 --> 00:30:04.139
 has richly

00:30:04.139 --> 00:30:06.000
 blessed, and

00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:06.679
 so may we

00:30:06.679 --> 00:30:08.159
 joy and

00:30:08.159 --> 00:30:09.399
 delight in

00:30:09.399 --> 00:30:09.779
 him.

00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:11.159
 There was a

00:30:11.159 --> 00:30:11.799
 book I once

00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:12.799
 read on the

00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:13.679
 study of the

00:30:13.679 --> 00:30:14.339
 gospel of

00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:16.099
 Luke, and

00:30:16.099 --> 00:30:16.419
 there was a

00:30:16.419 --> 00:30:17.259
 quote in that

00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:18.039
 book that said

00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:19.539
 this, when

00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.700
 we locate our

00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:22.279
 joy in our

00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:23.099
 holy and

00:30:23.099 --> 00:30:24.139
 loving God,

00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:25.859
 our joy can

00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:27.019
 always be out

00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:27.779
 of reach of

00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:29.079
 anything that

00:30:29.079 --> 00:30:30.079
 would seek to

00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:30.940
 harm us.

00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:33.779
 Locating our

00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:35.279
 joy in our

00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:35.980
 holy and

00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:36.899
 loving God

00:30:36.899 --> 00:30:38.399
 can take us

00:30:38.399 --> 00:30:38.859
 to be out of

00:30:38.859 --> 00:30:39.299
 reach of

00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:40.539
 anything that

00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.839
 would seek to

00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:42.579
 harm us.

00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:42.720
 love us.

00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.179
 Now, that's

00:30:44.179 --> 00:30:44.939
 not to say

00:30:44.939 --> 00:30:46.419
 that there's

00:30:46.419 --> 00:30:47.639
 nothing that

00:30:47.639 --> 00:30:48.159
 ever goes

00:30:48.159 --> 00:30:48.720
 wrong in

00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:50.899
 our life, but

00:30:50.899 --> 00:30:52.399
 we know that

00:30:52.399 --> 00:30:53.339
 whatever comes

00:30:53.339 --> 00:30:54.960
 our way, that

00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:56.399
 we have our

00:30:56.399 --> 00:30:57.379
 joy in the

00:30:57.379 --> 00:30:58.539
 Lord who

00:30:58.539 --> 00:31:00.299
 always sustains

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:00.759
 us.

00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:02.079
 As Paul said

00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:02.419
 to the

00:31:02.419 --> 00:31:02.960
 Philippians,

00:31:03.639 --> 00:31:04.759
 rejoice in

00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:05.299
 the Lord

00:31:05.299 --> 00:31:06.139
 always.

00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:07.699
 Again, I

00:31:07.699 --> 00:31:08.379
 will say,

00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:09.559
 rejoice.

00:31:09.559 --> 00:31:11.539
 Keep your

00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:13.079
 joy in

00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:13.559
 the Lord.

00:31:13.659 --> 00:31:14.019
 Let us

00:31:14.019 --> 00:31:14.539
 rejoice

00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:16.019
 together in

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:16.599
 our loving

00:31:16.599 --> 00:31:18.059
 Saviour and

00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:18.579
 seek to

00:31:18.579 --> 00:31:19.579
 live a

00:31:19.579 --> 00:31:20.779
 life pleasing

00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:22.399
 to him as

00:31:22.399 --> 00:31:23.159
 we endeavour

00:31:23.159 --> 00:31:24.440
 to grow in

00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:25.279
 our knowledge

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:26.599
 and our

00:31:26.599 --> 00:31:28.039
 understanding

00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:29.759
 of him.

00:31:30.700 --> 00:31:31.299
 That together

00:31:31.299 --> 00:31:31.700
 we would

00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:33.240
 grow and

00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:33.779
 the more we

00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:34.899
 grow, that

00:31:34.899 --> 00:31:35.579
 we would share

00:31:35.579 --> 00:31:36.000
 with one

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:37.200
 another and

00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:38.460
 then share

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:39.220
 with those

00:31:39.220 --> 00:31:40.039
 who have

00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:41.200
 nothing of

00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:41.900
 this knowledge

00:31:41.900 --> 00:31:42.940
 and understanding

00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:44.100
 of him.

00:31:44.579 --> 00:31:45.160
 The two

00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:46.420
 again go

00:31:46.420 --> 00:31:47.620
 hand in

00:31:47.620 --> 00:31:48.920
 hand, a

00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:49.940
 longing to

00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:50.700
 know God

00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.640
 and a

00:31:51.640 --> 00:31:52.420
 longing for

00:31:52.420 --> 00:31:53.759
 others to

00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:54.440
 know God.

00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:55.799
 So may God

00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:57.259
 bless us and

00:31:57.259 --> 00:31:58.620
 help us to

00:31:58.620 --> 00:31:59.339
 that end.

00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:02.000
 We're going

00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:02.440
 to

00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:03.480
 do

00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:14.340
 your

00:32:14.340 --> 00:32:14.700
 to

00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:15.600
 to

00:32:15.600 --> 00:32:16.640
 to

00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:17.080
 you