WEBVTT

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 Sarah lived to be 127 years old. She died at Kiriath Arba, that is Hebron, in the land of Canaan.

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 And Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.

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 Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites.

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 He said, I am a foreigner and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so that I can bury my dead.

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 The Hittites replied to Abraham, Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs.

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 None of us will refuse his tomb for burying your dead.

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 Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites.

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 He said to them, If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron, son of Zohar, on my behalf,

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 so that he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field.

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 Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you.

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 Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites

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 who had come to the gate of his city.

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 No, my lord, he said, listen to me.

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 I give or I sell you the field and I sell you the cave that is in it.

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 I sell it to you in the presence of my people.

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 Bury your dead.

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 Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land and he said to Ephron in his hearing,

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 Listen to me, if you will, I will pay the price of the field.

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 Accept it from me so that I can bury my dead there.

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 Ephron answered Abraham, Listen to me, my lord.

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 The land is worth 400 shekels of silver.

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 But what is that between you and me?

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 Bury your dead.

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 Abraham agreed to Ephron's terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites,

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 400 shekels of silver according to the weight current among the merchants.

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 So Ephron's field in Machpelah near Mamre, both the field and the cave in it,

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 and all the trees within the borders of the field,

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 was legally made over to Abraham as his property in the presence of the Hittites

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 who would come to the gate of the city.

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 Afterwards Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah near Mamre,

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 which is at Hebron in the land of Canaan.

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 So the field and the cave in it were legally made over to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site.

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 Interesting account.

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 Let's pray.

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 Father, we trust that every word written in Scripture is your word to us.

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 None of it is wasted.

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 All of it important.

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 And so we pray and ask that by your Holy Spirit's power

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 you would help us to concentrate

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 and to hear your voice to us afresh,

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 strengthening us

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 and blessing us today.

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 In Jesus' name we pray this.

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 Amen.

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 Well, it's a reality for us all, isn't it?

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 Look at verse 1.

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 Sarah lived to be 127 years old.

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 She died at Curious Arbor.

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 Sarah lived

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 and Sarah died.

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 It's the story of us all.

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 Our day, or one day, our names will appear in RIP.ie.

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 We mightn't live to be 127 years old,

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 but the same words will tell the same story.

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 Johnny lived

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 and Johnny died.

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 So the big question we all need to ask

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 and what I want us to think about this morning

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 is this.

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 Am I ready

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 to die?

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 Am I ready?

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 Is everything prepared

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 for your funeral?

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 You see, chapter 23

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 seems to be all about Abraham

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 looking for a grave

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 to bury

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 his wife Sarah.

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 And not from being from these parts,

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 he didn't have a family grave.

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 There was no plot

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 for him to go to.

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 So Abraham has to go through

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 the whole business

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 of asking the local town council

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 if he could buy some land.

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 And he's very respectful about it.

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 Look at verse 7.

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 Abraham rose and bowed down

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 before the people of the land.

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 Verse 12.

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 Again, Abraham bowed down

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 before the people of the land.

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 And finally,

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 after a bit of wheeling and dealing,

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 a place has been identified,

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 the cave of Machpelah.

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 And the price has been agreed,

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 400 shekels of silver.

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 Handshakes all round.

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 Abraham gets his grave

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 and Ephron gets his money.

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 And so,

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 verse 19,

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 afterwards,

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 Abraham buried his wife Sarah

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 in the cave of the field

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 of Machpelah.

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 Well, not much of a story, you say.

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 There's nothing really here

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 to hold our interest,

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 just the sale

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 of a piece of land.

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 Why don't we move on

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 to chapter 24,

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 to the love story

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 of Isaac and Rebecca?

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 Well, before we do this,

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 I think the whole story

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 teaches us

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 how we are to prepare

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 for our own funeral.

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 Not how we can go about

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 buying a grave

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 or how we can get

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 the best price

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 for our coffin,

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 but how we are to live

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 our life as we wait

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 for that inevitable day.

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 So, let's look at the text

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 together and see

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 how we can prepare

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 for our own death.

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 First,

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 in preparation,

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 live as strangers

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 in the world.

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 Live as strangers

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 in the world.

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 Abraham may have come

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 from out of town,

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 but he's been living

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 in these parts

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 for at least 80 years.

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 He's hardly a blow-in.

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 Yet, look how he sees himself.

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 Verse 4.

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 I am a foreigner

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 and a stranger

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 among you.

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 Now, a foreigner

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 was somebody

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 who didn't have

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 any rights.

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 He didn't carry

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 a passport.

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 And a stranger

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 meant that you had

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 no land.

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 He was at the mercy

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 of the landlord.

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 Now, we might think

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 Abraham is a bit extreme

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 in describing himself

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 as a foreigner

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 and a stranger.

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 Even the locals

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 saw him

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 as somebody

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 with greater honour.

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 Look at verse 6.

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 Sir, listen to us.

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 You are a mighty prince

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 among us.

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 Abraham,

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 you're one of us now.

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 You're one of the family.

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 No, Abraham understands

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 his status.

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 Verse 4.

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 I am a foreigner

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 and a stranger

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 among you.

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 He lives his life

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 like a refugee

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 or a displaced person.

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 Now, why would he do that?

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 Well, I think there's

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 two reasons.

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 Here's the first.

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 Because he sees

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 that life

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 is temporary.

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 For Abraham,

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 this is how

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 he viewed life.

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 He saw life

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 on this earth

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 as a temporary

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 dwelling place.

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 He was just

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 passing through.

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 You see,

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 Abraham and Sarah

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 knew that they only

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 had a fixed

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 number of years

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 to live.

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 They understood

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 that life was temporary

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 and Sarah's death

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 was a reminder

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 of that.

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 You see,

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 most of us

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 live

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 as if we're going

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 to be here

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 forever.

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 We plan our life

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 as if we're never

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 going to die.

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 And if we do

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 think about

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 the future,

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 we think about

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 all that we're

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 going to do

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 in our retirement.

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 No,

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 this account

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 reminds us

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 that we are

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 temporary

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 beings.

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 We live

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 and we die.

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 One day

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 our names

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 will appear

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 in R.I.P.

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 second reason

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 is that

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 Abraham knew

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 this was not

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 his home.

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 Being a foreigner

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 and a stranger,

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 this earth

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 was not

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 home for him.

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 In fact,

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 that is the

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 status and position

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 of all

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 of God's people.

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 Peter,

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 who was

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 a disciple

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 or apostle

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 of Jesus,

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 wrote a letter

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 to a bunch

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 of Christians

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 who were going

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 through a hard

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 time.

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 They were

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 finding it

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 difficult.

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 And this is

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 how he wrote,

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 this is how he

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 addressed them.

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 To God's

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 elect,

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 strangers

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 in the world,

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 scattered.

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 heard.

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 And as the

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 letter goes

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 on,

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 he encouraged

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 them to

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 live out

00:11:02.500 --> 00:11:03.220
 their lives

00:11:03.220 --> 00:11:04.740
 as foreigners

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 and strangers

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 here on

00:11:07.180 --> 00:11:07.540
 earth.

00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:09.480
 This is how

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 God's people

00:11:10.780 --> 00:11:11.620
 are to think

00:11:11.620 --> 00:11:12.259
 of themselves.

00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:13.400
 Now,

00:11:13.460 --> 00:11:13.840
 I'm not

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 suggesting that

00:11:14.560 --> 00:11:15.120
 it's wrong

00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:15.860
 to buy a

00:11:15.860 --> 00:11:17.160
 house or

00:11:17.160 --> 00:11:17.460
 that we

00:11:17.460 --> 00:11:18.000
 should sell

00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:18.379
 up all

00:11:18.379 --> 00:11:18.920
 our goods

00:11:18.920 --> 00:11:19.460
 and go

00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:19.860
 and live

00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:20.580
 off grid.

00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:21.900
 No,

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 it's about

00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:23.360
 an attitude

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 of our

00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:24.400
 heart.

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 One

00:11:25.660 --> 00:11:26.800
 writer put

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 it like

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 this.

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 Christians,

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 that is

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 followers of

00:11:32.319 --> 00:11:32.639
 Jesus,

00:11:32.839 --> 00:11:33.259
 are like

00:11:33.259 --> 00:11:34.000
 immigrants,

00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:35.339
 foreigners,

00:11:36.199 --> 00:11:36.639
 temporary

00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:37.439
 residents,

00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:38.579
 refugees.

00:11:39.240 --> 00:11:39.779
 We do

00:11:39.779 --> 00:11:41.240
 not belong.

00:11:41.419 --> 00:11:41.819
 We are

00:11:41.819 --> 00:11:42.819
 outsiders.

00:11:46.319 --> 00:11:47.539
 The death

00:11:47.539 --> 00:11:48.859
 of Sarah

00:11:48.859 --> 00:11:49.939
 was hard

00:11:49.939 --> 00:11:50.899
 for Abraham.

00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:51.979
 Look at

00:11:51.979 --> 00:11:52.279
 the end

00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:52.620
 of verse

00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:52.979
 two.

00:11:54.779 --> 00:11:55.240
 Abraham

00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:56.219
 went to

00:11:56.219 --> 00:11:56.679
 mourn

00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:57.419
 for Sarah

00:11:57.419 --> 00:11:58.699
 and to

00:11:58.699 --> 00:11:59.279
 weep over

00:11:59.279 --> 00:11:59.559
 her.

00:12:00.719 --> 00:12:01.439
 Of course

00:12:01.439 --> 00:12:01.839
 he would

00:12:01.839 --> 00:12:02.120
 miss

00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:02.479
 Sarah.

00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:03.500
 They had

00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:04.120
 been married

00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:05.679
 for years.

00:12:06.859 --> 00:12:07.299
 Yet in

00:12:07.299 --> 00:12:07.919
 the sorrow

00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:08.859
 he knew

00:12:08.859 --> 00:12:09.659
 this was

00:12:09.659 --> 00:12:10.179
 not the

00:12:10.179 --> 00:12:10.639
 end.

00:12:11.259 --> 00:12:11.719
 They were

00:12:11.719 --> 00:12:12.879
 strangers

00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:13.779
 on earth,

00:12:14.699 --> 00:12:15.239
 temporary

00:12:15.239 --> 00:12:16.299
 residents,

00:12:16.839 --> 00:12:17.139
 longing

00:12:17.139 --> 00:12:18.259
 for their

00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:18.779
 eternal

00:12:18.779 --> 00:12:19.259
 home.

00:12:21.199 --> 00:12:22.120
 So let's

00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:22.899
 ask ourselves

00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:23.639
 the question

00:12:23.639 --> 00:12:25.959
 how do

00:12:25.959 --> 00:12:27.500
 you live

00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:28.220
 your life?

00:12:29.559 --> 00:12:30.299
 If you

00:12:30.299 --> 00:12:30.959
 see this

00:12:30.959 --> 00:12:31.720
 world as

00:12:31.720 --> 00:12:32.519
 your only

00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:32.980
 home,

00:12:33.620 --> 00:12:34.199
 then life

00:12:34.199 --> 00:12:34.539
 will be

00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:35.039
 lived as

00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:35.659
 one big

00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:36.600
 bucket list.

00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:37.899
 We live

00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:38.340
 our life

00:12:38.340 --> 00:12:39.019
 focused on

00:12:39.019 --> 00:12:39.579
 what I

00:12:39.579 --> 00:12:40.100
 want and

00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:40.399
 doing

00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:40.980
 everything

00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:41.439
 that I

00:12:41.439 --> 00:12:41.779
 please,

00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:42.879
 planning our

00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:43.759
 life all

00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:44.299
 around the

00:12:44.299 --> 00:12:45.079
 things I

00:12:45.079 --> 00:12:45.799
 want to

00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:46.079
 do.

00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:48.080
 But if

00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:48.840
 life is

00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:49.600
 temporary,

00:12:50.420 --> 00:12:50.960
 and if

00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:51.759
 we understand

00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:52.360
 that this

00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:52.820
 earth is

00:12:52.820 --> 00:12:53.220
 not our

00:12:53.220 --> 00:12:54.020
 true home,

00:12:54.940 --> 00:12:55.560
 then we

00:12:55.560 --> 00:12:56.060
 will be

00:12:56.060 --> 00:12:56.720
 outward

00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:57.420
 focused.

00:12:58.320 --> 00:12:58.980
 Instead of

00:12:58.980 --> 00:12:59.840
 serving self,

00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:00.740
 we will be

00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:01.580
 serving others.

00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:02.620
 We will be

00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:03.379
 a generous

00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:04.480
 and a kind

00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:05.120
 person.

00:13:05.300 --> 00:13:05.580
 Why?

00:13:06.800 --> 00:13:07.460
 Because we

00:13:07.460 --> 00:13:07.940
 know that

00:13:07.940 --> 00:13:08.800
 everything that

00:13:08.800 --> 00:13:09.360
 we have on

00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:09.800
 this earth

00:13:09.800 --> 00:13:10.580
 we're not

00:13:10.580 --> 00:13:11.020
 going to

00:13:11.020 --> 00:13:11.560
 take with

00:13:11.560 --> 00:13:11.800
 us.

00:13:12.020 --> 00:13:12.740
 It is all

00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:13.480
 temporary.

00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:14.259
 It will

00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:15.240
 vanish in a

00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:15.720
 puff of

00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:16.259
 smoke.

00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:18.180
 We are

00:13:18.180 --> 00:13:18.580
 looking

00:13:18.580 --> 00:13:20.620
 forward to

00:13:20.620 --> 00:13:21.340
 our eternal

00:13:21.340 --> 00:13:21.800
 home.

00:13:25.420 --> 00:13:26.340
 So how

00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:26.700
 do you

00:13:26.700 --> 00:13:27.480
 prepare for

00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:28.279
 your funeral?

00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:30.639
 Well,

00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:31.200
 first,

00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:33.340
 live as a

00:13:33.340 --> 00:13:35.240
 stranger here

00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:35.820
 on earth.

00:13:38.019 --> 00:13:38.700
 Second,

00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:39.840
 in preparation,

00:13:40.740 --> 00:13:42.160
 live by

00:13:42.160 --> 00:13:42.920
 faith in

00:13:42.920 --> 00:13:43.560
 God's

00:13:43.560 --> 00:13:44.639
 promises.

00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:47.060
 live by

00:13:47.060 --> 00:13:47.700
 faith.

00:13:49.259 --> 00:13:49.740
 Our first

00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:50.220
 reading,

00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:51.420
 chapter 23,

00:13:51.700 --> 00:13:52.320
 seems to be

00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:52.940
 all about

00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:53.840
 Abraham just

00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:55.240
 buying a

00:13:55.240 --> 00:13:55.740
 grave.

00:13:56.600 --> 00:13:57.259
 A plot

00:13:57.259 --> 00:13:57.740
 has been

00:13:57.740 --> 00:13:58.700
 identified,

00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:00.519
 negotiations

00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:01.720
 take place,

00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:02.960
 the price

00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:03.580
 is agreed,

00:14:04.540 --> 00:14:05.860
 but finding

00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:06.800
 a grave in

00:14:06.800 --> 00:14:07.560
 the right

00:14:07.560 --> 00:14:08.899
 place is

00:14:08.899 --> 00:14:09.180
 all

00:14:09.180 --> 00:14:09.740
 important.

00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:11.600
 not because

00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:11.980
 of the

00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:12.379
 view,

00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:14.120
 but because

00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:14.460
 of the

00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:15.019
 promises

00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:16.159
 that have

00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:16.820
 been made.

00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:18.799
 Remember

00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:19.399
 God's

00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:19.860
 promises?

00:14:21.419 --> 00:14:22.220
 Let's go

00:14:22.220 --> 00:14:22.740
 back to

00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:23.600
 chapter 12

00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:25.399
 to remind

00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:26.460
 ourselves just

00:14:26.460 --> 00:14:27.180
 what God

00:14:27.180 --> 00:14:27.899
 had promised.

00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:30.980
 Chapter 12,

00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:31.340
 there were

00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:32.720
 three main

00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:33.820
 promises that

00:14:33.820 --> 00:14:34.639
 God made.

00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:39.179
 chapter 12,

00:14:39.299 --> 00:14:39.939
 verse 2,

00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:41.699
 there was

00:14:41.699 --> 00:14:42.319
 the promise

00:14:42.319 --> 00:14:43.159
 of a

00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:43.600
 people.

00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:45.000
 God was

00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:45.779
 going to

00:14:45.779 --> 00:14:46.840
 bring about

00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:47.480
 a people

00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:48.439
 for himself

00:14:48.439 --> 00:14:49.899
 through the

00:14:49.899 --> 00:14:50.480
 family of

00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:50.840
 Abraham.

00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:51.419
 Verse 2,

00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:52.100
 I will make

00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:52.779
 you into a

00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:54.439
 great nation

00:14:54.439 --> 00:14:55.019
 and I will

00:14:55.019 --> 00:14:55.659
 bless you.

00:14:57.299 --> 00:14:58.080
 Then there

00:14:58.080 --> 00:14:58.399
 was the

00:14:58.399 --> 00:14:58.980
 promise of

00:14:58.980 --> 00:14:59.559
 the people

00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:00.799
 being blessed,

00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:01.960
 end of

00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:02.540
 verse 3,

00:15:03.180 --> 00:15:03.960
 and all

00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:04.800
 peoples on

00:15:04.800 --> 00:15:05.259
 earth will

00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:06.460
 be blessed

00:15:06.460 --> 00:15:07.700
 through you.

00:15:07.820 --> 00:15:08.180
 There would

00:15:08.180 --> 00:15:08.960
 be a

00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:09.980
 son coming

00:15:09.980 --> 00:15:10.460
 from the

00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:11.000
 line of

00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:12.019
 Abraham who

00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:12.500
 would bring

00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:13.620
 blessing to

00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:14.240
 all the

00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:14.660
 nations.

00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:17.920
 And then

00:15:17.920 --> 00:15:18.340
 third,

00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:18.780
 there was

00:15:18.780 --> 00:15:19.300
 the promise

00:15:19.300 --> 00:15:19.700
 of a

00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:21.040
 place to

00:15:21.040 --> 00:15:21.500
 live.

00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:22.840
 Let's pick

00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:23.280
 it up in

00:15:23.280 --> 00:15:24.040
 verse 5.

00:15:25.420 --> 00:15:25.879
 Abraham

00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:26.540
 took his

00:15:26.540 --> 00:15:27.379
 wife Sarai

00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:27.780
 and his

00:15:27.780 --> 00:15:28.639
 nephew Lot

00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:29.960
 and all the

00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:30.400
 possessions

00:15:30.400 --> 00:15:30.879
 they had

00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:31.540
 accumulated

00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:33.179
 and the

00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:33.799
 people they

00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:34.459
 had acquired

00:15:34.459 --> 00:15:35.139
 in Haran

00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:36.339
 and they

00:15:36.339 --> 00:15:37.000
 set out

00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.360
 for the

00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:37.980
 land of

00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.980
 Canaan.

00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:40.000
 Now

00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:40.539
 underline

00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:40.980
 that.

00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:42.819
 Canaan.

00:15:43.459 --> 00:15:43.899
 And they

00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:44.759
 arrived there.

00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:45.839
 Verse 7,

00:15:46.339 --> 00:15:46.899
 The Lord

00:15:46.899 --> 00:15:47.719
 appeared to

00:15:47.719 --> 00:15:48.519
 Abraham and

00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:48.860
 said,

00:15:49.079 --> 00:15:49.599
 To your

00:15:49.599 --> 00:15:51.139
 offspring I

00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:51.779
 will give

00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:52.639
 this land.

00:15:54.379 --> 00:15:55.659
 So God's

00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:57.399
 people will

00:15:57.399 --> 00:15:57.919
 be in

00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:58.639
 God's

00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:00.599
 place and

00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:00.899
 they will

00:16:00.899 --> 00:16:01.620
 be blessed.

00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:03.480
 Now it's

00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:04.360
 important to

00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:05.120
 understand that

00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:05.940
 this promise

00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:07.279
 was crucial

00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:08.480
 and Abraham

00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:09.820
 needed reminded

00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:10.300
 of it.

00:16:10.420 --> 00:16:11.379
 So look at

00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:12.379
 chapter 17

00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:13.120
 verse 8.

00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:16.820
 God reminds

00:16:16.820 --> 00:16:17.899
 him again of

00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:18.860
 this promise.

00:16:19.040 --> 00:16:19.920
 Chapter 17

00:16:19.920 --> 00:16:20.620
 verse 8.

00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:25.639
 The whole

00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:26.340
 land of

00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:26.940
 Canaan

00:16:26.940 --> 00:16:27.419
 where you

00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:28.299
 now reside

00:16:28.299 --> 00:16:29.220
 as a

00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:29.960
 foreigner

00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:31.460
 I will

00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:32.060
 give as

00:16:32.060 --> 00:16:32.720
 an everlasting

00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:33.720
 possession to

00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:34.320
 you and to

00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:35.080
 your descendants

00:16:35.080 --> 00:16:35.879
 after you

00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:37.019
 and I will

00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:38.240
 be their

00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:38.759
 God.

00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:40.820
 Back to

00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:41.860
 chapter 23.

00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:43.860
 So there we

00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:44.299
 have it.

00:16:44.419 --> 00:16:44.960
 God's

00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:46.019
 great promises

00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:47.120
 that he

00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:47.799
 will have a

00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:49.139
 people who

00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:49.699
 will have a

00:16:49.699 --> 00:16:50.319
 place to

00:16:50.319 --> 00:16:50.819
 live in

00:16:50.819 --> 00:16:51.620
 and they

00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.120
 will be

00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:53.039
 blessed.

00:16:54.419 --> 00:16:55.340
 Yet despite

00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:56.559
 all of these

00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:57.220
 promises

00:16:57.220 --> 00:16:59.179
 Abraham still

00:16:59.179 --> 00:17:00.100
 has no

00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:00.899
 land.

00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:02.559
 He doesn't

00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:03.220
 own anything.

00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:05.139
 In fact he's

00:17:05.139 --> 00:17:05.619
 having to

00:17:05.619 --> 00:17:06.619
 negotiate with

00:17:06.619 --> 00:17:07.359
 the locals

00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:09.500
 to try and

00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:10.319
 buy a

00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:11.240
 small field.

00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:13.720
 Now just

00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:14.579
 because Abraham

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.299
 has no

00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:17.019
 land doesn't

00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.879
 mean that God

00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:18.800
 has forgotten.

00:17:19.280 --> 00:17:20.020
 What God

00:17:20.020 --> 00:17:21.460
 says God

00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.100
 does.

00:17:22.380 --> 00:17:23.040
 What God

00:17:23.040 --> 00:17:24.500
 promises God

00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.200
 will fulfil.

00:17:25.540 --> 00:17:26.440
 It mightn't

00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:27.120
 be according

00:17:27.120 --> 00:17:27.660
 to our

00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:29.360
 timing and

00:17:29.360 --> 00:17:29.860
 it mightn't

00:17:29.860 --> 00:17:30.260
 be in the

00:17:30.260 --> 00:17:30.860
 way that we

00:17:30.860 --> 00:17:33.200
 expect but

00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:34.020
 God will

00:17:34.020 --> 00:17:34.900
 fulfil his

00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:35.440
 promises.

00:17:36.560 --> 00:17:37.500
 So armed

00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:38.120
 with that

00:17:38.120 --> 00:17:39.860
 promise Abraham

00:17:39.860 --> 00:17:41.400
 now claims

00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:42.840
 the promise.

00:17:44.100 --> 00:17:45.020
 Remember the

00:17:45.020 --> 00:17:46.120
 land that God

00:17:46.120 --> 00:17:46.940
 had promised to

00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:47.880
 Abraham was

00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:48.539
 the land

00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:50.080
 of Canaan.

00:17:51.640 --> 00:17:52.279
 Now look

00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:52.880
 where Sarah

00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:54.360
 dies in

00:17:54.360 --> 00:17:55.000
 verse 2.

00:17:56.320 --> 00:17:57.039
 She died

00:17:57.039 --> 00:17:57.840
 at Kirias

00:17:57.840 --> 00:17:58.380
 Arba,

00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.000
 that is

00:17:59.000 --> 00:17:59.680
 Hebron,

00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:01.360
 in the land

00:18:01.360 --> 00:18:02.500
 of Canaan.

00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:04.279
 And where

00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:04.620
 is she

00:18:04.620 --> 00:18:04.960
 buried?

00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:06.920
 Well look

00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:07.880
 at verse 19.

00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:09.519
 Afterwards

00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.600
 Abraham buried

00:18:10.600 --> 00:18:11.480
 his wife Sarah

00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:12.059
 in the cave

00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:12.580
 in the field

00:18:12.580 --> 00:18:13.380
 of Machpelah

00:18:13.380 --> 00:18:14.080
 near Mamre

00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:15.079
 which is at

00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:15.519
 Hebron

00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:17.059
 in the land

00:18:17.059 --> 00:18:18.379
 of Canaan.

00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.159
 You see

00:18:20.159 --> 00:18:21.259
 Abraham is

00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:22.439
 looking forward

00:18:22.439 --> 00:18:23.619
 in faith

00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:25.039
 to what God

00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.699
 had promised.

00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:27.919
 And as a sign

00:18:27.919 --> 00:18:28.799
 of his faith

00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:29.859
 in God's

00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:30.299
 promise

00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.919
 he buys up

00:18:31.919 --> 00:18:32.619
 a piece of

00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:32.980
 land.

00:18:33.419 --> 00:18:34.439
 He buys a

00:18:34.439 --> 00:18:35.460
 burial site

00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:36.359
 in Canaan.

00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:38.279
 It's not a lot

00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:38.819
 of land,

00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:40.720
 it's just a field

00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:41.879
 with a cave

00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:42.500
 at the end,

00:18:42.600 --> 00:18:43.820
 a few rocks.

00:18:44.820 --> 00:18:45.620
 But it is

00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:46.240
 a piece

00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:47.100
 of the land

00:18:47.100 --> 00:18:48.180
 that God

00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:48.840
 had promised.

00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:50.600
 You wouldn't

00:18:50.600 --> 00:18:51.080
 call it

00:18:51.080 --> 00:18:52.500
 prime real estate

00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:53.500
 but it is

00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:54.600
 a foretaste

00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:55.300
 of what will

00:18:55.300 --> 00:18:55.860
 one day

00:18:55.860 --> 00:18:56.780
 be received

00:18:56.780 --> 00:18:57.860
 and one day

00:18:57.860 --> 00:18:58.680
 enjoyed.

00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:01.080
 You see

00:19:01.080 --> 00:19:01.620
 Abraham

00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:03.160
 was investing

00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:04.740
 in his

00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.520
 promised

00:19:05.520 --> 00:19:06.700
 inheritance.

00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:08.740
 Verse 14.

00:19:10.360 --> 00:19:11.120
 Ephron

00:19:11.120 --> 00:19:11.820
 answered

00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:12.559
 Abraham,

00:19:13.159 --> 00:19:14.240
 Listen to me

00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:14.879
 my lord,

00:19:15.419 --> 00:19:15.980
 the land

00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:16.519
 is worth

00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:18.200
 400 shekels

00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:18.659
 of silver.

00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:19.759
 That's over

00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:20.879
 a year's

00:19:20.879 --> 00:19:21.279
 wages.

00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:22.720
 That's a lot

00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.319
 of money.

00:19:24.639 --> 00:19:25.559
 But what is

00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:26.279
 that between

00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:27.519
 you and me?

00:19:27.879 --> 00:19:28.240
 Come on,

00:19:28.299 --> 00:19:29.159
 let's do the

00:19:29.159 --> 00:19:30.059
 deal and you

00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:30.619
 can bury

00:19:30.619 --> 00:19:31.259
 your debt.

00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:33.639
 So Abraham

00:19:33.639 --> 00:19:34.579
 agreed to

00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:35.240
 Ephron's

00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:35.980
 terms and

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:37.059
 weighed out

00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:37.399
 for him

00:19:37.399 --> 00:19:38.019
 the price

00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.319
 he had

00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:38.839
 named in

00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:39.279
 the hearing

00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:39.619
 of the

00:19:39.619 --> 00:19:40.539
 Hittites

00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:43.119
 400 shekels

00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:43.740
 of silver

00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:45.539
 according to

00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:46.059
 the weight

00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:47.079
 current among

00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:48.299
 the merchants.

00:19:49.700 --> 00:19:50.160
 In other

00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:50.539
 words,

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.139
 the scales

00:19:52.139 --> 00:19:52.899
 were tipped

00:19:52.899 --> 00:19:53.839
 in favour

00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.559
 of the

00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:54.899
 seller.

00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.779
 Seems

00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:58.839
 crazy money,

00:19:58.980 --> 00:19:59.559
 doesn't it?

00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:01.420
 Surely Abraham

00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:01.980
 could have

00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:03.539
 negotiated a bit

00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:04.299
 better and got

00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:05.139
 a better price.

00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:05.920
 He could have

00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:06.440
 even gone

00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:07.279
 across the border

00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:07.799
 and found

00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:08.399
 something a

00:20:08.399 --> 00:20:08.819
 little bit

00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.259
 cheaper.

00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:12.399
 No, it may

00:20:12.399 --> 00:20:13.259
 seem a lot

00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:13.940
 of dosh,

00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:14.539
 a lot of

00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:15.059
 money to

00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:15.879
 spend on a

00:20:15.879 --> 00:20:16.619
 burial site,

00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:17.980
 but this was

00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.839
 an investment

00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:19.680
 in something

00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.819
 to come and

00:20:20.819 --> 00:20:21.579
 you couldn't

00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:22.559
 put a price

00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:23.339
 on that.

00:20:24.859 --> 00:20:25.920
 For Abraham,

00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:27.399
 this burial

00:20:27.399 --> 00:20:28.319
 site pointed

00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:29.119
 to something

00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:30.899
 greater and

00:20:30.899 --> 00:20:31.700
 far more

00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:32.299
 eternal.

00:20:32.299 --> 00:20:37.259
 come with

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:37.460
 me,

00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:37.879
 please,

00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:38.559
 to Hebrews

00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:39.599
 chapter 11.

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.079
 Hebrews

00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:42.899
 chapter 11,

00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:43.379
 as we've

00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:43.899
 seen over

00:20:43.899 --> 00:20:44.399
 the weeks,

00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.559
 is crucial

00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:47.079
 to our

00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:47.940
 understanding

00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:48.720
 the life

00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.940
 of Abraham.

00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.180
 Hebrews

00:20:53.180 --> 00:20:54.259
 chapter 11.

00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:54.339
 Hebrews

00:20:54.339 --> 00:20:54.359
 chapter 11.

00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:56.259
 Hebrews

00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:58.259
 chapter 11.

00:20:58.259 --> 00:20:59.259
 Hebrews

00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:02.259
 chapter 11.

00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:05.799
 Here the

00:21:05.799 --> 00:21:06.639
 writer helps

00:21:06.639 --> 00:21:07.619
 us understand

00:21:07.619 --> 00:21:08.519
 Abraham's

00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:09.279
 faith and

00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:10.579
 all that he

00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:11.319
 was looking

00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:13.039
 forward to.

00:21:13.879 --> 00:21:14.980
 We'll pick

00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.519
 it up in

00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:16.379
 verse 8.

00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:22.440
 By faith,

00:21:22.659 --> 00:21:23.039
 Abraham,

00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:23.940
 when called

00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:24.639
 to go to

00:21:24.639 --> 00:21:25.319
 a place

00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:26.379
 he would

00:21:26.379 --> 00:21:27.500
 later receive

00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:28.279
 as his

00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:29.480
 inheritance,

00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:29.779
 obedience,

00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:31.360
 obeyed and

00:21:31.360 --> 00:21:31.700
 went,

00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:32.500
 even though

00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:33.000
 he didn't

00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:33.460
 know where

00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:33.860
 he was

00:21:33.860 --> 00:21:34.259
 going.

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.680
 By faith,

00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:37.900
 he made

00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:38.420
 his home

00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:38.779
 in the

00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.720
 promised land,

00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:41.099
 like a

00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:42.980
 stranger and

00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:43.539
 in a

00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:43.960
 foreign

00:21:43.960 --> 00:21:44.700
 country.

00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:47.000
 He lived

00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:47.880
 in tents,

00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:49.059
 as did

00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:49.960
 his children,

00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:51.140
 Isaac and

00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:51.880
 grandchildren,

00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:52.480
 Jacob,

00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:53.519
 who were

00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.299
 heirs with

00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.059
 him of the

00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:56.519
 same promise.

00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:57.519
 life.

00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.220
 Why would

00:21:58.220 --> 00:21:59.039
 he live

00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.900
 like that?

00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.400
 Because for

00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:01.920
 Abraham,

00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:02.900
 life was

00:22:02.900 --> 00:22:03.900
 temporary.

00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:05.819
 This was

00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:06.519
 not his

00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:06.900
 home.

00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:07.660
 Why?

00:22:08.099 --> 00:22:08.700
 Verse 10.

00:22:09.339 --> 00:22:09.759
 For he

00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.420
 was looking

00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:11.559
 forward to

00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:12.180
 the city

00:22:12.180 --> 00:22:13.220
 with foundations,

00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:14.519
 whose architect

00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.440
 and builder

00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:16.839
 is God.

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:16.879
 God.

00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:18.559
 Look,

00:22:18.659 --> 00:22:19.759
 when Abraham

00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.939
 acquired the

00:22:20.939 --> 00:22:21.439
 piece of

00:22:21.439 --> 00:22:21.759
 land,

00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:22.720
 he was

00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.740
 claiming his

00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:24.859
 inheritance by

00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:26.079
 faith in

00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:26.639
 what God

00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:27.159
 had promised

00:22:27.159 --> 00:22:27.459
 him.

00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:28.139
 You see,

00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:28.919
 the physical

00:22:28.919 --> 00:22:29.579
 land of

00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:30.799
 Canaan pointed

00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:31.699
 to a better

00:22:31.699 --> 00:22:32.519
 and more

00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.480
 eternal land,

00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:35.139
 a city built

00:22:35.139 --> 00:22:35.919
 by God,

00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:36.980
 the land of

00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:37.480
 the new

00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:38.159
 heavens and

00:22:38.159 --> 00:22:38.500
 the new

00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:38.799
 earth,

00:22:39.139 --> 00:22:39.699
 the world

00:22:39.699 --> 00:22:40.319
 that God

00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:40.859
 will one

00:22:40.859 --> 00:22:41.299
 day put

00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:41.639
 right,

00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:42.319
 the world

00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:42.779
 where there

00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:43.379
 will be no

00:22:43.379 --> 00:22:44.240
 more suffering

00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:45.000
 or struggles

00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:46.019
 and no

00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:47.180
 more death.

00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:50.539
 This is

00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.079
 what God

00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:51.799
 has promised

00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:53.319
 to all

00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:53.920
 of God's

00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:54.319
 people.

00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:55.839
 We have

00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:56.720
 a glorious

00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.599
 inheritance,

00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:58.759
 God's

00:22:58.759 --> 00:23:00.019
 people in

00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.519
 God's

00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.519
 place in

00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:02.259
 a land,

00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.180
 an eternal

00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:04.519
 land full

00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:05.660
 of blessing

00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:06.859
 and you

00:23:06.859 --> 00:23:07.779
 can't put

00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:08.440
 a value

00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:09.720
 on that.

00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:12.000
 This is

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.740
 an inheritance

00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:13.960
 that no

00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:14.980
 money can

00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:15.319
 buy.

00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:17.299
 In fact,

00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:18.839
 if we

00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:19.299
 want to

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:19.920
 be part

00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:20.519
 of it,

00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:22.000
 we can

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.960
 claim that

00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:23.599
 inheritance

00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:25.360
 by faith

00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:26.640
 in God's

00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.140
 promise.

00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.460
 This is

00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:29.259
 something God

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:30.180
 delights in

00:23:30.180 --> 00:23:30.880
 giving freely

00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:32.160
 to all who

00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:32.700
 will trust

00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:32.920
 him.

00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:33.740
 Isn't

00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:34.200
 this

00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:34.799
 something

00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:35.319
 worth

00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:36.059
 investing

00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:36.980
 in with

00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:37.759
 all of

00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.440
 your life,

00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:39.860
 whatever

00:23:39.860 --> 00:23:40.819
 may come,

00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:42.500
 so that

00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:42.920
 you may

00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.440
 gain

00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.279
 eternity

00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:45.900
 and a

00:23:45.900 --> 00:23:46.320
 home

00:23:46.320 --> 00:23:47.019
 forever.

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:50.259
 So how

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:50.620
 do we

00:23:50.620 --> 00:23:51.360
 prepare for

00:23:51.360 --> 00:23:51.960
 our funeral?

00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:54.759
 Well,

00:23:54.840 --> 00:23:55.400
 we live

00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:56.660
 as strangers

00:23:56.660 --> 00:23:58.720
 and we

00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.320
 live by

00:23:59.320 --> 00:24:00.759
 faith in

00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:01.320
 the promise

00:24:01.320 --> 00:24:01.940
 of God.

00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:05.240
 And

00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:06.180
 continuing in

00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:06.779
 preparation,

00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:07.519
 we live

00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.000
 with the

00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:09.840
 hope of

00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:10.679
 the resurrection.

00:24:11.619 --> 00:24:12.119
 We live

00:24:12.119 --> 00:24:13.139
 with hope.

00:24:15.419 --> 00:24:16.399
 Let's go

00:24:16.399 --> 00:24:16.939
 back to

00:24:16.939 --> 00:24:18.019
 chapter 23

00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:19.759
 of Genesis.

00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:24.960
 Abraham

00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:26.059
 claimed the

00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:26.539
 promise.

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:27.640
 He

00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:28.299
 bought his

00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:28.779
 burial

00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.359
 site,

00:24:30.359 --> 00:24:30.960
 a cave

00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:31.299
 at the

00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:31.640
 end of

00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:32.140
 a field.

00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:33.599
 As far

00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:34.099
 as Ephron

00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:34.900
 was concerned,

00:24:35.420 --> 00:24:36.039
 this land

00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:36.740
 wasn't worth

00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.220
 keeping,

00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:37.839
 not much

00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:38.299
 value.

00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:39.960
 Yet to

00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:40.599
 Abraham,

00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:42.440
 this burial

00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:42.960
 tomb

00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:44.119
 filled him

00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:45.500
 with hope.

00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:47.180
 You see,

00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:47.859
 hope in the

00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:48.920
 Bible is not

00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:49.960
 wishful

00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:50.519
 thinking.

00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:51.779
 It's

00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:52.460
 absolute

00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:53.420
 confidence

00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:54.960
 and complete

00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:55.660
 assurance.

00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:56.460
 It's

00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.759
 100%

00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:58.380
 guaranteed.

00:24:59.060 --> 00:24:59.660
 And that's

00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.140
 what the

00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:00.519
 burial

00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.220
 site for

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:01.720
 Abraham

00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:02.519
 represented.

00:25:03.120 --> 00:25:03.580
 Sure

00:25:03.580 --> 00:25:04.820
 and certain

00:25:04.820 --> 00:25:05.680
 hope.

00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:07.400
 Look at

00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:08.240
 verse 17.

00:25:09.840 --> 00:25:10.940
 So Ephron's

00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:11.740
 field in

00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:12.460
 Machpelah

00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:13.320
 near Mamre,

00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.400
 both the

00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:15.519
 field and

00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.220
 the cave

00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:16.779
 in it,

00:25:17.860 --> 00:25:18.440
 and all

00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:19.000
 the trees

00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:19.519
 within the

00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.220
 borders of

00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:20.920
 that field

00:25:20.920 --> 00:25:22.160
 was legally

00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:22.900
 made over

00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:23.580
 to Abraham

00:25:23.580 --> 00:25:24.940
 as his

00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:25.600
 property

00:25:25.600 --> 00:25:26.900
 in the

00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:27.519
 presence of

00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:27.860
 all the

00:25:27.860 --> 00:25:28.320
 Hittites

00:25:28.320 --> 00:25:28.620
 who had

00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:29.019
 come to

00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:29.440
 the gate

00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:29.779
 of the

00:25:29.779 --> 00:25:30.120
 city.

00:25:31.120 --> 00:25:31.900
 Verse 20.

00:25:32.820 --> 00:25:33.259
 So the

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.900
 field and

00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:34.500
 the cave

00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:35.240
 in it

00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:36.799
 were legally

00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:37.620
 made over

00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:38.299
 to Abraham

00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:38.900
 by the

00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:39.460
 Hittites

00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:40.320
 as a

00:25:40.320 --> 00:25:40.660
 burial

00:25:40.660 --> 00:25:41.180
 site.

00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.779
 The legal

00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:44.660
 documents

00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:45.960
 were signed

00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:46.579
 and sealed.

00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:48.039
 The deal

00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:48.660
 has been

00:25:48.660 --> 00:25:49.039
 done.

00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:49.880
 It can't

00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:50.680
 be undone

00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.680
 or rewritten.

00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:53.100
 It's legally

00:25:53.100 --> 00:25:54.039
 binding.

00:25:54.600 --> 00:25:55.620
 This plot

00:25:55.620 --> 00:25:56.279
 of land,

00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.759
 this burial

00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:58.279
 site,

00:25:58.640 --> 00:25:59.360
 belongs to

00:25:59.360 --> 00:26:00.319
 him now

00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:00.880
 and forever.

00:26:01.360 --> 00:26:02.079
 He now

00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:03.220
 has a stake

00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:04.019
 in the

00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.840
 promised land.

00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:08.140
 You see,

00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:08.840
 for Abraham,

00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:10.880
 this grave

00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:12.259
 was a source

00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:12.619
 of a

00:26:12.619 --> 00:26:13.379
 strange

00:26:13.379 --> 00:26:14.160
 kind of

00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:14.660
 comfort.

00:26:15.879 --> 00:26:16.279
 Yes,

00:26:16.359 --> 00:26:16.980
 he buried

00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:17.680
 and grieved

00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.119
 for his

00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:18.539
 wife,

00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:20.180
 but this

00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:21.019
 grave also

00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:21.740
 filled him

00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:22.259
 with hope.

00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:23.039
 It was a

00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.980
 reminder of

00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:24.759
 his glorious

00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:25.940
 and eternal

00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:26.680
 inheritance,

00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:27.940
 an inheritance

00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:28.940
 that belonged

00:26:28.940 --> 00:26:29.900
 to him and

00:26:29.900 --> 00:26:30.740
 it was secured

00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.900
 forever by

00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:32.859
 God's

00:26:32.859 --> 00:26:33.400
 promises.

00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:34.779
 Nothing and

00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:35.519
 no one could

00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.339
 undo what

00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:37.259
 God promises.

00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:38.480
 Nothing can

00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:39.160
 take away

00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:40.259
 with what

00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:41.279
 God will

00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:41.759
 fulfil.

00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:44.859
 Isn't it

00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:45.799
 strange

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:47.400
 how a

00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:47.819
 burial

00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.359
 tomb

00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:49.900
 can fill

00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:50.619
 a person

00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:51.879
 with such

00:26:51.879 --> 00:26:52.379
 great

00:26:52.379 --> 00:26:52.960
 hope?

00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:57.140
 Well,

00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:57.839
 for us,

00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:59.599
 there is a

00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:00.420
 greater hope

00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:01.160
 to be found

00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:02.099
 in another

00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:02.960
 burial

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.460
 tomb,

00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:05.160
 but this

00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:05.539
 one

00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:07.259
 is empty.

00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.119
 The

00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:09.819
 promise that

00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:10.740
 Abraham looked

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:11.480
 forward to

00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:12.500
 becomes a

00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:13.000
 reality

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.620
 through the

00:27:13.620 --> 00:27:14.200
 death and

00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:14.799
 resurrection

00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.480
 of Jesus

00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:15.940
 Christ.

00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:16.700
 You see,

00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.200
 Jesus,

00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.400
 the promised

00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:19.360
 son of

00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:19.900
 Abraham,

00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:20.940
 the God

00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:21.360
 man,

00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:22.380
 came into

00:27:22.380 --> 00:27:22.960
 the world

00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:23.920
 to live as

00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:24.620
 a foreigner

00:27:24.620 --> 00:27:25.240
 and a

00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:25.779
 stranger

00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.680
 amongst us.

00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:27.519
 He had

00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.360
 no rights.

00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:29.359
 God

00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:31.159
 He had no

00:27:31.159 --> 00:27:31.639
 home.

00:27:34.139 --> 00:27:34.939
 He came to

00:27:34.939 --> 00:27:35.639
 this world

00:27:35.639 --> 00:27:37.240
 with an

00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:37.599
 outward

00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:38.939
 focus,

00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:41.000
 not to be

00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:41.599
 served,

00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:42.979
 but to

00:27:42.979 --> 00:27:43.659
 serve.

00:27:44.939 --> 00:27:45.519
 And to

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.219
 serve by

00:27:46.219 --> 00:27:46.859
 giving his

00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:47.879
 life as a

00:27:47.879 --> 00:27:48.259
 ransom.

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.679
 He died

00:27:49.679 --> 00:27:51.419
 our death,

00:27:52.699 --> 00:27:53.259
 taking the

00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:54.119
 blame for the

00:27:54.119 --> 00:27:54.819
 wrong things

00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:55.519
 we have done.

00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.259
 and he

00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:57.059
 was placed

00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:58.079
 in a

00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:58.680
 cave,

00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.440
 a burial

00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:00.879
 tomb.

00:28:01.960 --> 00:28:02.440
 There

00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:03.019
 Jesus

00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:04.400
 was buried.

00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:06.460
 But this

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.279
 was only a

00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:07.779
 temporary

00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.240
 tomb,

00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:09.299
 because three

00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:10.160
 days later,

00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:11.579
 Jesus Christ

00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:13.000
 physically and

00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:14.460
 bodily walked

00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:15.500
 out of that

00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:15.819
 tomb.

00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:16.980
 He crushed

00:28:16.980 --> 00:28:17.639
 death,

00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:18.799
 he destroyed

00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.559
 the grave,

00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.799
 and he secured

00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:21.960
 for us our

00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:22.740
 eternal

00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:23.819
 inheritance.

00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:24.139
 inheritance.

00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:26.539
 Who would

00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:26.939
 have ever

00:28:26.939 --> 00:28:28.899
 thought that

00:28:28.899 --> 00:28:29.359
 you could

00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:30.240
 find such

00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:32.200
 hope in a

00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:33.119
 burial site?

00:28:35.159 --> 00:28:35.859
 You see,

00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:36.639
 faith in

00:28:36.639 --> 00:28:37.619
 Jesus Christ

00:28:37.619 --> 00:28:39.240
 gives us

00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:39.980
 absolute

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:41.599
 confidence and

00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:42.759
 complete assurance

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:44.119
 that our

00:28:44.119 --> 00:28:45.480
 eternal destiny

00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:47.119
 is secure.

00:28:47.659 --> 00:28:48.319
 What Jesus

00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:49.139
 has done on

00:28:49.139 --> 00:28:49.839
 the cross and

00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:50.359
 through his

00:28:50.359 --> 00:28:52.139
 resurrection seals

00:28:52.139 --> 00:28:53.359
 the deal.

00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:55.679
 it can't be

00:28:55.679 --> 00:28:56.319
 undone.

00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:58.200
 It can't be

00:28:58.200 --> 00:28:59.099
 rewritten.

00:28:59.559 --> 00:29:00.579
 It's secure

00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:01.759
 forever.

00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.939
 Sarah lived

00:29:06.939 --> 00:29:10.139
 and Sarah

00:29:10.139 --> 00:29:10.700
 died.

00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.639
 Johnny lives

00:29:14.639 --> 00:29:17.240
 and one day

00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:17.919
 Johnny will

00:29:17.919 --> 00:29:18.339
 die.

00:29:18.339 --> 00:29:18.399
 die.

00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:20.859
 But that's

00:29:20.859 --> 00:29:21.419
 not the end

00:29:21.419 --> 00:29:22.119
 of the story,

00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:22.659
 is it?

00:29:24.159 --> 00:29:25.139
 We have

00:29:25.139 --> 00:29:25.599
 hope,

00:29:26.899 --> 00:29:27.399
 absolute

00:29:27.399 --> 00:29:28.099
 confidence,

00:29:29.459 --> 00:29:30.319
 and complete

00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:30.879
 assurance.

00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:34.259
 So are you

00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:35.679
 ready to die?

00:29:38.199 --> 00:29:38.839
 Have you

00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:39.919
 made preparations

00:29:39.919 --> 00:29:40.839
 for your

00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:41.339
 funeral?

00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:41.399
 people?

00:29:44.399 --> 00:29:45.179
 Well, to

00:29:45.179 --> 00:29:45.879
 prepare for

00:29:45.879 --> 00:29:46.639
 that inevitable

00:29:46.639 --> 00:29:48.459
 day, we

00:29:48.459 --> 00:29:49.019
 are to live

00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:49.759
 as strangers.

00:29:51.339 --> 00:29:52.259
 We are to

00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:52.619
 live in

00:29:52.619 --> 00:29:55.259
 faith and

00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:55.679
 we live

00:29:55.679 --> 00:29:56.359
 with hope.

00:29:59.059 --> 00:29:59.819
 As we

00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:01.039
 close, I'd

00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:01.579
 like us to

00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.259
 turn, please,

00:30:02.359 --> 00:30:02.859
 to 1

00:30:02.859 --> 00:30:03.359
 Peter.

00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:06.459
 1 Peter

00:30:06.459 --> 00:30:07.299
 chapter 1.

00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:11.039
 This is the

00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:11.779
 letter where

00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:13.779
 all God's

00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:14.339
 people are

00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:15.039
 referred to

00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:16.059
 as foreigners

00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:17.039
 and strangers.

00:30:18.899 --> 00:30:20.000
 We live our

00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.720
 life here

00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.720
 temporarily.

00:30:23.159 --> 00:30:24.180
 This world

00:30:24.180 --> 00:30:24.859
 is not our

00:30:24.859 --> 00:30:25.180
 home.

00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:25.579
 We are

00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:26.220
 longing for

00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:27.240
 something better

00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:28.619
 and greater.

00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.759
 And here

00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:33.099
 is a

00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:33.619
 promise

00:30:33.619 --> 00:30:36.139
 that is

00:30:36.139 --> 00:30:36.559
 worth

00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:37.539
 investing

00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:39.159
 your life

00:30:39.159 --> 00:30:39.419
 in.

00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.419
 Giving

00:30:41.419 --> 00:30:42.319
 your all

00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:42.639
 for

00:30:42.639 --> 00:30:43.220
 something

00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:45.139
 to

00:30:45.139 --> 00:30:45.519
 something

00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:46.000
 that you

00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:46.659
 can never

00:30:46.659 --> 00:30:47.619
 ever lose.

00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:49.440
 Let's

00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:50.139
 read 1

00:30:50.139 --> 00:30:50.619
 Peter

00:30:50.619 --> 00:30:51.859
 chapter 1

00:30:51.859 --> 00:30:53.259
 verses

00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:53.919
 3 to

00:30:53.919 --> 00:30:54.419
 5

00:30:54.419 --> 00:30:56.599
 as we

00:30:56.599 --> 00:30:57.419
 reflect and

00:30:57.419 --> 00:30:57.859
 meditate

00:30:57.859 --> 00:31:00.220
 on God's

00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:00.559
 great

00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:01.099
 promise.

00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:05.159
 Praise be

00:31:05.159 --> 00:31:05.579
 to the

00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:06.059
 God and

00:31:06.059 --> 00:31:06.759
 Father of

00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:07.240
 our Lord

00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:07.639
 Jesus

00:31:07.639 --> 00:31:08.259
 Christ.

00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:11.220
 In his

00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:11.839
 great

00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:12.440
 mercy,

00:31:13.700 --> 00:31:14.279
 he has

00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:15.019
 given us

00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:16.319
 new birth,

00:31:16.419 --> 00:31:16.859
 a new

00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:17.279
 beginning,

00:31:17.419 --> 00:31:17.779
 a new

00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:18.259
 life,

00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:19.940
 into a

00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:21.659
 living hope

00:31:21.659 --> 00:31:23.339
 through the

00:31:23.339 --> 00:31:24.359
 resurrection of

00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.220
 Jesus Christ

00:31:25.220 --> 00:31:25.599
 from the

00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:25.940
 dead,

00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:28.379
 and into

00:31:28.379 --> 00:31:29.379
 an inheritance

00:31:29.379 --> 00:31:30.960
 that can

00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:32.200
 never perish,

00:31:32.919 --> 00:31:33.519
 spoil,

00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:34.940
 or fade.

00:31:36.099 --> 00:31:36.900
 This

00:31:36.900 --> 00:31:37.839
 inheritance

00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:39.180
 is kept

00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:40.019
 in heaven

00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:40.740
 for you

00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:42.200
 who through

00:31:42.200 --> 00:31:43.379
 faith are

00:31:43.379 --> 00:31:44.379
 shielded by

00:31:44.379 --> 00:31:45.440
 God's power

00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:46.619
 until the

00:31:46.619 --> 00:31:47.259
 coming of

00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:48.079
 the salvation

00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:49.519
 that is

00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:50.400
 ready to be

00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:50.900
 revealed

00:31:50.900 --> 00:31:52.220
 in the

00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:52.960
 last time.

00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:55.360
 God

00:31:55.360 --> 00:31:55.900
 grew,

00:31:55.900 --> 00:31:56.720
 and

00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.700
 render

00:31:57.700 --> 00:31:57.960
 its

00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:10.539
 God's power

00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.279
 tiens.

00:32:11.840 --> 00:32:12.400
 and

00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:12.500
 we

00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:17.779
 praise you,

00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:20.920
 Lord God Almighty

00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:25.839
 Father, Son and Holy Spirit

00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:31.220
 for the life that we have received

00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:33.519
 by faith

00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:38.119
 for the promises that are now ours

00:32:38.119 --> 00:32:42.039
 because of Christ's resurrection from the dead

00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:47.980
 help us to live our life

00:32:47.980 --> 00:32:51.619
 as strangers

00:32:51.619 --> 00:32:55.759
 living our life temporarily

00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:58.859
 longing for our eternal home

00:32:58.859 --> 00:33:02.019
 walking each day

00:33:02.019 --> 00:33:06.759
 by faith in the sure and certain promises of God

00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:09.539
 looking forward

00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:12.940
 and longing for our eternal home

00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:15.079
 that will never perish

00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:17.759
 spoil or fade

00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:21.579
 thank you that heaven is kept for us

00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:25.940
 and that we are kept for heaven

00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:29.720
 help us to prepare

00:33:29.720 --> 00:33:31.920
 for our funeral

00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:34.579
 for our good

00:33:34.579 --> 00:33:37.599
 and for your glory

00:33:37.599 --> 00:33:39.799
 Amen

00:33:39.799 --> 00:33:51.159
 Well I'm sure there's many songs that we could sing in response

00:33:51.159 --> 00:33:53.799
 to what we've just thought about

00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:57.219
 but here's one that fits well

00:33:57.219 --> 00:33:58.959
 what is our hope

00:33:58.959 --> 00:34:01.139
 in life and death

00:34:01.140 --> 00:34:04.640
 if this is where your faith is

00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:07.640
 then you will want to sing

00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:09.079
 and answer

00:34:09.079 --> 00:34:10.860
 Christ alone

00:34:10.860 --> 00:34:12.940
 Christ alone

00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:16.480
 I encourage you if you're able to stand and sing

00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:18.720
 and to sing to one another

00:34:18.720 --> 00:34:20.119
 to encourage us

00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:22.200
 as we live our lives

00:34:22.200 --> 00:34:23.460
 here on this earth

00:34:23.460 --> 00:34:24.940
 God bless you

00:34:39.280 --> 00:34:39.559
 I need you

00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:40.860
 I need you

00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:43.280
 to bring you