WEBVTT

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 Let's turn again to what we read in 1 Peter chapter 1.

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 1 Peter chapter 1.

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 And reading at verse 4.

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 Well, we'll read from verse 3, but it's verses 4 and 5 in particular.

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 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 according to his great mercy,

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 he has caused us to be born again to our living hope

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 through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

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 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,

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 kept in heaven for you,

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 who by God's power are being guarded through faith

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 for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

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 Now, it's amazing when we can come to God's word

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 and we can compare and we can contrast

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 what this world's fame, fortune, glory, power is

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 and what the glory to come is going to be like.

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 I remember in school when, in English, there was a poem.

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 I'm sure you all remember that if you go back in your mind.

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 Thomas Gray's elegy written in a country churchyard.

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 And one of the verses went like this.

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 The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,

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 and all that beauty, all that wealth ever gave,

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 awaits are like the inevitable hour.

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 The paths of glory lead but to the grave.

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 And that is true.

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 Because at the end of the day,

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 whether a person is a king or a tramp,

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 at the end of the day, it is a grave.

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 The grave will take the king and take the tramp,

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 just the very same.

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 And that's what the glory of this world is,

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 irrespective of what a person amasses,

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 irrespective of what a person achieves.

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 It's all going to pass with the using.

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 Sometimes a person will have their glory,

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 their fame, their fortune throughout their life.

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 Sometimes it doesn't even last their lifetime.

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 But the one thing that is guaranteed,

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 it is only for this life.

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 Because everything in this world

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 is going to pass with the using.

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 But when we come to what Peter is writing about,

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 this great living hope that we have,

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 we see that we have this inheritance in heaven.

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 And that there's our glory awaiting us.

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 An eternal glory.

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 Not that we are eternal,

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 we will never become eternal.

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 Only God is eternal.

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 But we will live in eternity.

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 And we will receive all the glory

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 that Christ as mediator has won for us.

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 And I think in the apostle's mind,

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 because he is quoting from Isaiah

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 towards the end of the chapter there,

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 when he speaks there about all flesh is like grass

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 and all its glory like the flower of the grass and so on,

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 that Peter is obviously,

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 he's writing to people who have an understanding.

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 It's got to remember the Christians

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 are all scattered abroad.

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 And he's writing to those who will have a knowledge

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 of God's history,

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 the history of God's people.

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 And you remember when God took his people out of Egypt,

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 he promised them an inheritance.

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 In fact, even before they went into Egypt,

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 he had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

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 that he was going to make a great nation from them

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 and that this land that they were in

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 would become their land.

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 So as they journeyed from Egypt to Israel,

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 to the promised land, the land of Canaan,

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 it was to be God's inheritance to them.

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 They were to enjoy an inheritance there.

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 And it was a land flowing with milk and honey.

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 And they were told there were wonderful things there,

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 but there was a warning with it

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 that if they turned their back upon God,

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 if they defiled the land through idolatry,

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 if they turned from God,

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 then God's judgment would come upon the land

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 and the blessings that they had would fade.

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 The great things that they had would perish.

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 The land would be defiled, everything.

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 And all that came to pass

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 because God's people turned away.

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 So I think something of this is in the mind of the apostle

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 as he is writing now about the new inheritance,

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 the inheritance that God's people

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 are going to enjoy forever.

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 And that's what's ahead of you and me

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 as we follow the Lord Jesus Christ

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 because he describes something of this inheritance

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 and we're told that it's imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.

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 And imperishable means simply that it can't corrupt.

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 And that's why Jesus says,

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 have your treasure.

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 He doesn't say you don't have any treasure in this world.

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 But where your main treasure is,

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 Jesus tells us,

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 where your treasure is,

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 that which is above everything else,

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 that's where your heart is.

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 And if your treasure is in heaven,

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 your treasure is in a place,

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 he says,

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 where thieves can't break through or steal,

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 where moths and rust cannot destroy.

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 So that your treasure is something

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 that as we read here is imperishable.

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 All earthly treasures

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 will either get lost, broken, decay,

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 or we have to leave them behind when we go.

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 Here is a treasure that is imperishable.

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 And it's undefiled.

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 Now, as we know,

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 we live in a world that is full of defilement.

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 But there, it is a world that is pure,

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 clean, and stained.

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 This world is polluted.

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 Everything about it,

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 sin is on everything,

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 sin is in everything,

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 everything is stained,

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 and marred,

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 and spoiled,

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 and ruined by sin.

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 And in a sense,

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 it's impossible for us

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 to really understand

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 what has been told us about our future.

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 Because we cannot imagine

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 what it's like

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 to be in a place

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 that is imperishable

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 or that is undefiled.

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 Because it is beyond anything

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 that we have ever encountered,

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 anything that we ever are.

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 So, at one level,

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 while we accept and believe

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 and look forward to

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 and are persuaded of it,

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 yet it is hard for us to grasp

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 just what that really is.

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 And we also see that it's unfading.

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 It's like the picture of a flower

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 that's dying or fading.

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 And that will never happen in glory.

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 Because this is a,

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 the glory in Emmanuel's land

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 is a glory that will never run out.

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 Everything in this world runs out.

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 But the glory there is unending.

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 It's unfading.

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 It is forever and ever.

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 And that we're told,

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 as Peter tells us later on

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 in chapter 5,

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 that when Christ appears,

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 you will receive

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 an unfading crown of glory.

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 So, that's,

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 that's what's ahead of us.

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 And so, then Peter adds,

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 being kept in heaven for you.

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 So, that's one of the great

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 and wonderful things

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 that we, we have this reservation,

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 as it were, in heaven.

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 Now, you and I know very often

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 when we go to weddings

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 or things,

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 some, maybe some function like that,

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 very often your place is reserved.

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 Your name is at the table.

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 And that's your,

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 that's your spot.

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 It's been reserved for you.

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 Or maybe you're going away somewhere

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 and you're,

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 you, you, you, you pay for

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 and you reserve a place,

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 whether it's in a hotel

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 or on a train

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 or whatever.

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 That's your place.

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 It's reserved for you.

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 That's your number.

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 That's you.

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 Because it's paid for.

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 And that's what the Lord

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 is saying to us.

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 Your place is reserved

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 because it's been paid for.

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 And we know that Jesus

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 is the one who paid for it.

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 He paid the price.

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 We hadn't anything to pay.

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 We couldn't pay.

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 We didn't have

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 in any shape or form

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 what could pay,

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 what was required.

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 But Jesus did.

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 And he did so by

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 giving of himself,

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 giving his life,

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 giving his all for us.

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 And so the Lord

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 has reserved this place for us.

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 And the great thing

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 that we read here

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 is that not only

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 is the place

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 being kept for us,

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 because, you know,

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 it's one thing to know

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 there's a place being kept.

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 But then you say to yourself,

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 what if,

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 there's a place there,

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 but what if I don't make it?

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 It's all very well being told

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 there's a place in heaven.

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 But what if I don't make it to heaven?

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 Well, that's what the Lord

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 is telling us.

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 Not only is there a place

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 being kept for you,

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 but you and I in this world

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 are being kept for that place.

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 Works both ways.

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 And so that's a great encouragement

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 that we have here.

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 For you are being kept,

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 that's what it is,

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 are guarded.

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 It's the same word,

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 who by God's power

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 are being guarded through faith.

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 So this is a wonderful thing.

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 But, you know,

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 sometimes we read that

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 and what an encouragement,

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 because there are lots of

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 encouragements like that

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 in the word of God.

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 But, you know,

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 a lot of God's people,

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 I would say most of God's people,

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 possibly all of God's people,

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 sometime or other,

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 maybe frequently,

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 maybe seldom,

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 but they do.

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 They have their doubts.

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 They have their fears.

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 Despite what the word says,

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 we don't doubt the word,

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 not in any shape or form.

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 Never doubt the word.

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 Sometimes we doubt ourselves.

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 And so we've always got to remember

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 that God's word

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 is what we're to base things on.

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 But, you know,

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 sometimes we doubt ourselves

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 in different reasons.

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 For instance,

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 maybe you're a Christian

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 and you're looking back

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 over your life

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 and you say to yourself,

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 you know,

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 I came,

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 I went through

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 a really difficult time

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 and I ended up,

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 I was beaten,

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 I said to the Lord,

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 Lord,

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 you have to take over here.

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 I'm finished.

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 I can't,

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 I can't do any more.

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 And it's like you handed

00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:12.640
 everything over to the Lord.

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 Time has gone on

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 and you're still following

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 and you love the Lord

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 who you haven't seen.

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 But you sometimes say to yourself,

00:11:23.700 --> 00:11:24.040
 maybe,

00:11:24.160 --> 00:11:26.000
 maybe it wasn't a work of grace.

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 Maybe it wasn't a real work of grace.

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 Maybe it was just because

00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:31.139
 of that particular situation

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 and I felt I was

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 in distress and trapped

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 and I,

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 I looked to the Lord

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 and asked him to help me

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 and what if it wasn't

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 a real work of grace?

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 Sometimes

00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:45.680
 the Lord's people get troubled

00:11:45.680 --> 00:11:47.600
 by the likes of that.

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 but we've got to remember

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 that the proof is in the pudding,

00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:54.159
 the fact that you're still following

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 and that you want to follow

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 because you've got to remember

00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:59.120
 that most people

00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:00.120
 don't want to follow.

00:12:01.019 --> 00:12:01.899
 The Lord tells us

00:12:01.899 --> 00:12:03.899
 that the broad is the road

00:12:03.899 --> 00:12:06.240
 and many go on that,

00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:07.300
 narrow is the road

00:12:07.300 --> 00:12:08.960
 and few go on that

00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:10.279
 as he's comparing

00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:11.159
 and contrasting

00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:11.840
 how it is

00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:13.399
 with regard to salvation.

00:12:14.420 --> 00:12:15.639
 You're still following

00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:17.199
 because you want to.

00:12:17.580 --> 00:12:18.759
 That's where your heart is

00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:21.460
 and that in a sense

00:12:21.460 --> 00:12:22.299
 is an evidence

00:12:22.299 --> 00:12:24.019
 of the reality

00:12:24.019 --> 00:12:24.980
 of that work.

00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:26.360
 But again,

00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:27.059
 sometimes

00:12:27.059 --> 00:12:28.759
 people have their fears

00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:29.399
 and their doubts

00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:30.199
 because they say,

00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:30.480
 you know,

00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:32.120
 I can't pinpoint

00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:33.840
 to a day.

00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:35.620
 I can't pinpoint

00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:36.419
 to an hour

00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:39.439
 when I was actually saved.

00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:40.439
 I hear people

00:12:40.439 --> 00:12:41.379
 give their testimony

00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:43.000
 and it's so clear

00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:43.740
 and so vivid

00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:44.720
 and they can pinpoint

00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:46.320
 exactly to where

00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:46.980
 and when.

00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:49.259
 And you say,

00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:50.340
 but I can't.

00:12:51.680 --> 00:12:52.720
 I know that

00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:53.759
 there was a day

00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:55.340
 I wasn't following

00:12:55.340 --> 00:12:55.879
 the Lord.

00:12:56.980 --> 00:12:58.180
 But I also know

00:12:58.180 --> 00:12:58.600
 a day

00:12:58.600 --> 00:12:59.980
 where a period

00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:00.639
 in my life

00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:01.259
 where I came

00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:03.180
 to a persuasion

00:13:03.180 --> 00:13:05.779
 and as we've often said,

00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:07.500
 we're like the blind man

00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:08.919
 when asked what happened.

00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:09.259
 He says,

00:13:09.299 --> 00:13:10.019
 I can't tell you

00:13:10.019 --> 00:13:10.960
 but one thing I know

00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:11.759
 I was blind

00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:13.040
 and now I see.

00:13:14.280 --> 00:13:15.000
 So sometimes

00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:15.840
 we're like that.

00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:18.240
 But because we don't have

00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:21.100
 a clear testimony

00:13:21.100 --> 00:13:22.120
 of day or hour,

00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:23.680
 the devil can have

00:13:23.680 --> 00:13:24.440
 a field day

00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:26.060
 and bring you

00:13:26.060 --> 00:13:26.940
 to have your doubts

00:13:26.940 --> 00:13:28.940
 and to have your fears

00:13:28.940 --> 00:13:30.600
 and all these things

00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:32.580
 that go along with it.

00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:34.400
 And again,

00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:35.840
 sometimes a young convert,

00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:37.940
 a person who's become

00:13:37.940 --> 00:13:38.560
 a Christian

00:13:38.560 --> 00:13:40.220
 and to begin with

00:13:40.220 --> 00:13:41.460
 everything is so new.

00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:42.220
 You remember

00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:43.200
 what it was like?

00:13:44.220 --> 00:13:45.580
 Prayer was just so,

00:13:45.680 --> 00:13:46.820
 so amazing.

00:13:47.540 --> 00:13:48.780
 You were constantly

00:13:48.780 --> 00:13:49.840
 speaking to the Lord.

00:13:49.920 --> 00:13:51.500
 The word was so fresh.

00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:53.180
 Christian fellowship

00:13:53.180 --> 00:13:54.040
 was so wonderful.

00:13:54.220 --> 00:13:54.520
 You just,

00:13:54.680 --> 00:13:55.900
 you couldn't get enough.

00:13:56.920 --> 00:13:57.660
 And there was this

00:13:57.660 --> 00:13:58.720
 just vibrancy

00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:00.320
 and joy in your soul.

00:14:01.660 --> 00:14:03.360
 But as time has gone on,

00:14:04.280 --> 00:14:05.360
 it's like the sparkle

00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:06.540
 has gone somewhat.

00:14:06.539 --> 00:14:08.360
 And then you begin

00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:09.699
 to find that it's a struggle.

00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:11.620
 You weren't expecting that.

00:14:12.579 --> 00:14:13.399
 And there's battles

00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:14.219
 and struggles

00:14:14.219 --> 00:14:15.139
 and difficulties

00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:15.919
 and trials

00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:16.719
 and opposition

00:14:16.719 --> 00:14:18.059
 and things that you

00:14:18.059 --> 00:14:19.019
 weren't expecting.

00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:20.579
 Sometimes you begin

00:14:20.579 --> 00:14:21.539
 to doubt yourself.

00:14:22.319 --> 00:14:23.219
 You begin to wonder,

00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:24.620
 was it really,

00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:25.659
 was it really

00:14:25.659 --> 00:14:27.299
 a work of grace at all?

00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:29.059
 And then maybe

00:14:29.059 --> 00:14:30.120
 as an old Christian,

00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:31.959
 you look at yourself

00:14:31.959 --> 00:14:32.899
 and you say to yourself,

00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:33.379
 you know this,

00:14:33.439 --> 00:14:34.399
 I'm worse than I was

00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:35.179
 when I started.

00:14:35.179 --> 00:14:37.079
 And you begin

00:14:37.079 --> 00:14:37.759
 to look in

00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:39.179
 and you see

00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:39.799
 a darkness

00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:40.699
 in your soul

00:14:40.699 --> 00:14:42.079
 that's frightening.

00:14:42.219 --> 00:14:42.559
 You see

00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:44.719
 something of the corruption

00:14:44.719 --> 00:14:45.919
 of your own heart.

00:14:46.859 --> 00:14:47.659
 And you see

00:14:47.659 --> 00:14:48.579
 that you go

00:14:48.579 --> 00:14:49.539
 to the New Testament

00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:50.259
 and you see

00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:51.519
 how the Lord

00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.479
 is saying to us

00:14:52.479 --> 00:14:53.620
 how we should be

00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:54.319
 maturing

00:14:54.319 --> 00:14:55.719
 and becoming holier.

00:14:56.439 --> 00:14:57.139
 And you feel

00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:58.019
 you're anything but.

00:14:58.659 --> 00:14:59.539
 And you say to yourself,

00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:00.419
 I must be the most

00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:01.959
 immature Christian going.

00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:03.359
 I must be the most

00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:03.919
 unholy.

00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:04.539
 And you go through

00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:05.539
 all these thoughts.

00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:07.480
 And then the doubts

00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:08.560
 and the fears come in

00:15:08.560 --> 00:15:09.060
 and you think,

00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:12.100
 am I a Christian at all?

00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:15.240
 And then on top of that,

00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:17.159
 you look at people

00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:18.000
 and you know people

00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:20.379
 who started so well,

00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:21.620
 they were brighter than you.

00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:24.240
 And they made a great profession.

00:15:26.180 --> 00:15:27.680
 And now they've wandered off.

00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:30.199
 Well, the thing is

00:15:30.199 --> 00:15:31.179
 that we know

00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:32.199
 that some Christians

00:15:32.199 --> 00:15:33.059
 backslide.

00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:34.799
 But the Lord

00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:35.859
 won't leave them there.

00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:37.539
 He'll bring them back.

00:15:38.699 --> 00:15:39.859
 And even just now,

00:15:39.979 --> 00:15:40.539
 if they're in a

00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:41.620
 backslidden state,

00:15:42.599 --> 00:15:43.399
 whatever they might

00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:44.479
 appear outwardly,

00:15:45.079 --> 00:15:46.299
 there's no contentment

00:15:46.299 --> 00:15:46.879
 inwardly.

00:15:48.099 --> 00:15:49.099
 If they are the Lord's,

00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:50.039
 he'll bring them back.

00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:52.159
 But we also know

00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:53.000
 that there are some

00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:55.000
 who had an experience

00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:56.879
 and appeared very bright.

00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:59.080
 But they are nowhere

00:15:59.080 --> 00:15:59.820
 to be seen

00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:01.259
 with no interest

00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:02.039
 or desire

00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:02.960
 or anything

00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:04.559
 for God's place

00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:05.720
 or God's house anymore.

00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.860
 And that reminds us

00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:08.879
 of what Jesus said

00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:10.220
 with the stony ground here.

00:16:10.299 --> 00:16:10.700
 As you remember

00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:11.960
 in the parable of the sower,

00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:13.580
 sometimes the sea

00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:15.740
 went on to stony ground.

00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:16.159
 There was only

00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:17.159
 a little bit of soil.

00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:18.559
 Couldn't take root.

00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:20.139
 It sprung up for a little

00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:21.820
 but then it withered away

00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:22.360
 and died

00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:23.919
 because it couldn't take root.

00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:25.539
 And he said,

00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:26.580
 sometimes there are

00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:27.720
 hearers like that.

00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:30.279
 So when you go through

00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:31.500
 all these kind of things,

00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:32.440
 you say in yourself,

00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:34.419
 what if I,

00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:35.559
 what if,

00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:36.639
 what if I'm,

00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:38.039
 what if I,

00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:39.659
 there isn't a real

00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:40.980
 work of grace

00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:42.720
 that's taken place

00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:43.799
 in my heart.

00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:47.080
 And so many of the Lord's people

00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:48.039
 have doubts and fears.

00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:48.379
 In fact,

00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:49.860
 I would go as far as to say

00:16:49.860 --> 00:16:51.620
 that it's probably

00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.879
 only the Lord's people

00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:54.860
 that have doubts and fears.

00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:57.820
 Because the non-Christian

00:16:57.820 --> 00:16:59.039
 doesn't think like that.

00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:00.639
 It's only the Christian

00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:01.279
 that worries.

00:17:02.980 --> 00:17:03.899
 And I would say that's,

00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:06.140
 or else it's somebody

00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:07.220
 that the Lord has begun

00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:08.000
 to work in

00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:09.740
 that has a fear.

00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:12.160
 Because those who

00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:14.400
 aren't looking for the Lord

00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:15.799
 or thinking about the Lord,

00:17:15.859 --> 00:17:17.039
 they don't think like that.

00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:18.859
 But the Christian does.

00:17:18.859 --> 00:17:20.139
 And that's why you'll find

00:17:20.139 --> 00:17:21.699
 over and over and over

00:17:21.699 --> 00:17:23.159
 and again in the Bible

00:17:23.159 --> 00:17:24.579
 that the Lord

00:17:24.579 --> 00:17:26.000
 is encouraging us.

00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:28.099
 There are so many verses

00:17:28.099 --> 00:17:29.719
 all the way through

00:17:29.719 --> 00:17:31.379
 to assure us

00:17:31.379 --> 00:17:32.579
 and to encourage us.

00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:34.459
 And so here we're told

00:17:34.459 --> 00:17:35.219
 very simply

00:17:35.219 --> 00:17:35.899
 that we are being

00:17:35.899 --> 00:17:38.039
 guarded or kept,

00:17:39.439 --> 00:17:41.279
 that we are being guarded

00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:43.899
 every single day.

00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:45.560
 And it's not us

00:17:45.560 --> 00:17:46.340
 who keeps ourselves.

00:17:46.600 --> 00:17:47.980
 If it was up to us,

00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:50.500
 not one of us

00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:52.240
 would keep ourselves.

00:17:52.560 --> 00:17:53.620
 It is impossible

00:17:53.620 --> 00:17:55.040
 for you and for me

00:17:55.040 --> 00:17:56.220
 to keep ourselves.

00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.600
 It is the Lord

00:17:57.600 --> 00:17:58.560
 who guards us.

00:17:59.000 --> 00:17:59.680
 It's the Lord

00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:00.560
 who keeps us

00:18:00.560 --> 00:18:02.120
 every single day.

00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:05.419
 And that word

00:18:05.419 --> 00:18:06.199
 guarded here

00:18:06.199 --> 00:18:07.899
 is a military term

00:18:07.899 --> 00:18:08.679
 where a person

00:18:08.679 --> 00:18:09.519
 is guarded

00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.759
 or shielded

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.519
 or protected

00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:12.239
 or kept.

00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:14.219
 Well, there are no guards

00:18:14.219 --> 00:18:14.500
 ever,

00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:15.719
 not at Buckingham Palace

00:18:15.719 --> 00:18:16.859
 or anywhere in the world

00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:18.759
 that have ever shielded

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:19.379
 or guarded

00:18:19.379 --> 00:18:20.979
 like the Lord

00:18:20.979 --> 00:18:22.019
 guards his people.

00:18:22.659 --> 00:18:23.519
 And we read here

00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.599
 of how we are kept

00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:26.299
 by the power of God.

00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:28.299
 Isn't that wonderful?

00:18:28.419 --> 00:18:29.319
 The power of God.

00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:31.299
 However great

00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:32.740
 the power of sin within,

00:18:32.899 --> 00:18:33.500
 however great

00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:34.599
 the power of Satan,

00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:35.680
 however great

00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.659
 the power and lure

00:18:36.659 --> 00:18:37.319
 of the world,

00:18:38.379 --> 00:18:40.639
 these three powers together

00:18:40.639 --> 00:18:42.099
 are nothing

00:18:42.099 --> 00:18:42.980
 in comparison

00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:44.779
 to the power of God.

00:18:46.159 --> 00:18:46.960
 Because, you know,

00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:47.619
 it's that power

00:18:47.619 --> 00:18:47.879
 that,

00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:49.579
 it's that power

00:18:49.579 --> 00:18:50.339
 that drew you

00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:51.159
 in the first place.

00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:52.899
 You didn't come

00:18:52.899 --> 00:18:53.879
 on your own accord.

00:18:55.379 --> 00:18:56.180
 First of all,

00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:57.019
 you wouldn't want to.

00:18:57.879 --> 00:18:58.279
 Secondly,

00:18:58.419 --> 00:18:59.000
 you couldn't.

00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:01.700
 it is God's power

00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:03.640
 that first drew you.

00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:05.240
 And the power

00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:06.099
 that drew you

00:19:06.099 --> 00:19:07.440
 is the power

00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:08.319
 that keeps you.

00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:10.099
 It is the word.

00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:12.059
 And when you think

00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:12.880
 of this power,

00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:14.720
 we think of the creation,

00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:15.759
 we think of the universe.

00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:18.359
 Everything was brought

00:19:18.359 --> 00:19:19.140
 into being

00:19:19.140 --> 00:19:20.960
 by the word.

00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:23.240
 And this same word

00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:24.220
 that brought

00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:25.000
 the very universe

00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:27.279
 and holds the stars

00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:28.059
 in their place

00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:29.259
 that guides

00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:30.039
 and rules

00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:31.180
 everything

00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:32.420
 in this world

00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:33.639
 and has the very

00:19:33.639 --> 00:19:34.200
 jury,

00:19:34.379 --> 00:19:35.700
 the end of this world

00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:36.359
 in sight

00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:37.700
 and knows when it will be.

00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:39.720
 It's the same power

00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:41.740
 that is keeping you

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:43.319
 and guiding you

00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:45.099
 and guarding you

00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:47.420
 every single day.

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:49.259
 You are being kept

00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:51.500
 by this power.

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:54.259
 And as I said,

00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.500
 it's unnatural

00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:57.599
 to follow Jesus

00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:59.700
 because when we

00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:02.380
 start to follow Jesus,

00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:03.000
 as we said,

00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.940
 we come into a place

00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:06.920
 where there is ridicule,

00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:07.920
 where there's opposition,

00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:09.440
 where there's enmity,

00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:10.319
 where there's hatred.

00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.619
 There's so much

00:20:11.619 --> 00:20:12.960
 that's against

00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.660
 the Christian.

00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:15.039
 You remember

00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:15.640
 when Jesus

00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:16.619
 was in this world

00:20:16.619 --> 00:20:17.660
 and he was ministering?

00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:18.779
 In the early days

00:20:18.779 --> 00:20:19.400
 of the ministry,

00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.579
 huge crowds

00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:21.220
 were following.

00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:21.799
 In fact,

00:20:21.859 --> 00:20:22.919
 they were so taken up

00:20:22.919 --> 00:20:23.439
 with Jesus,

00:20:23.659 --> 00:20:25.119
 they wanted to make him king.

00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:27.539
 But when Jesus

00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:28.859
 began to explain

00:20:28.859 --> 00:20:29.339
 to them

00:20:29.339 --> 00:20:31.460
 what discipleship

00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:32.099
 meant,

00:20:32.679 --> 00:20:33.259
 what happened?

00:20:34.379 --> 00:20:35.480
 They went away

00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:36.699
 in their droves.

00:20:36.919 --> 00:20:38.199
 Hundreds and hundreds

00:20:38.199 --> 00:20:38.839
 and hundreds

00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:40.339
 began to desert him

00:20:40.339 --> 00:20:41.199
 to the point

00:20:41.199 --> 00:20:41.759
 that Jesus

00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:43.199
 turned to the twelve

00:20:43.199 --> 00:20:43.619
 and said,

00:20:43.879 --> 00:20:44.639
 are you also going

00:20:44.639 --> 00:20:45.299
 to go away?

00:20:46.159 --> 00:20:47.199
 That's what it was like.

00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:49.199
 And so,

00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:50.319
 it is only

00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:51.660
 the power of God

00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:53.960
 that can keep us.

00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:55.360
 And you look back

00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:56.600
 over your Christian life

00:20:56.600 --> 00:20:57.539
 and you know that,

00:20:58.420 --> 00:20:59.500
 that you're here tonight

00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.319
 simply because

00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.240
 of the power of God.

00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:02.360
 The number of times

00:21:02.360 --> 00:21:03.559
 that you could have

00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:04.220
 made shipwreck

00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:04.900
 of your soul,

00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:06.299
 the number of times

00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:07.480
 that disaster

00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.680
 loomed large,

00:21:09.100 --> 00:21:10.140
 but you're still following,

00:21:10.380 --> 00:21:11.259
 you're still here.

00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:12.840
 And it's for one reason,

00:21:13.120 --> 00:21:14.019
 not you,

00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.380
 but the Lord

00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:16.360
 in you.

00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:18.339
 And that's a wonderful thing

00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:19.839
 because this power

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:20.879
 is working,

00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.039
 the power of God

00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:23.159
 works in two ways.

00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.359
 The power of God

00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:25.119
 at one level

00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:26.319
 is shielding

00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.379
 and sheltering

00:21:27.379 --> 00:21:28.819
 and keeping you

00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:29.959
 and guarding you,

00:21:30.299 --> 00:21:31.179
 protecting you,

00:21:31.679 --> 00:21:33.219
 but the power of God

00:21:33.219 --> 00:21:34.699
 is also working in you.

00:21:35.459 --> 00:21:36.279
 That's what we're told,

00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:38.799
 that God works within us

00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:39.839
 both to will

00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:40.859
 and to do

00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:42.459
 of his good pleasure.

00:21:42.460 --> 00:21:43.940
 where the Spirit

00:21:43.940 --> 00:21:44.940
 is guiding us

00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:45.720
 and leading us

00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:46.680
 and teaching us

00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:48.600
 so that we're following

00:21:48.600 --> 00:21:50.140
 in the way of the Lord.

00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:52.420
 And so,

00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:53.620
 we see that

00:21:53.620 --> 00:21:56.180
 this divine power

00:21:56.180 --> 00:21:57.160
 that is influencing

00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:58.039
 and guiding us

00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.319
 through,

00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.680
 we see here,

00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:01.340
 who by God's power

00:22:01.340 --> 00:22:02.460
 are being guarded

00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:03.620
 through faith

00:22:03.620 --> 00:22:05.000
 for our salvation.

00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:05.980
 You see,

00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:06.680
 God's keeping

00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:07.620
 shows itself

00:22:07.620 --> 00:22:09.799
 in your faith.

00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:14.680
 faith is God's gift to us

00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:16.839
 where we receive

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.799
 his power.

00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:19.720
 But then it says,

00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:22.599
 kept through faith

00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:23.480
 for our salvation

00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:24.659
 ready to be revealed

00:22:24.659 --> 00:22:25.700
 in the last time.

00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:26.500
 Now,

00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:27.079
 you and I know

00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:28.899
 there are three aspects

00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:29.879
 to our salvation.

00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:30.839
 There's what we term

00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:31.859
 justification

00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:34.339
 and we term sanctification

00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:36.259
 and we term glorification.

00:22:37.419 --> 00:22:37.680
 Now,

00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:39.120
 we know that

00:22:39.120 --> 00:22:40.500
 justification,

00:22:40.620 --> 00:22:41.019
 if you remember

00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:42.019
 your shortest caddiction,

00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:42.840
 that justification

00:22:42.840 --> 00:22:43.740
 is an act,

00:22:43.820 --> 00:22:44.560
 it's a one-off.

00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:45.779
 It's a moment

00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:47.460
 when we are born again,

00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:48.720
 where we are

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:51.460
 made right before God

00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.060
 in his sight.

00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:53.900
 We are justified,

00:22:54.120 --> 00:22:56.100
 we are just before him

00:22:56.100 --> 00:22:57.840
 because of what Jesus Christ

00:22:57.840 --> 00:22:58.840
 has done for us.

00:22:59.840 --> 00:23:00.960
 And we can't become

00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:02.019
 any more justified

00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:04.740
 because in God's sight

00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.759
 we're as just

00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.779
 as Jesus,

00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:08.200
 as our mediator.

00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:10.539
 We would never dare say that,

00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:11.579
 but that's what the Bible

00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:12.319
 tells us.

00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:13.720
 That's what justification

00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:15.460
 has done for us.

00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:16.339
 We have been made

00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:17.440
 righteous

00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:19.359
 in the sight of God

00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:20.379
 through the righteousness

00:23:20.379 --> 00:23:21.539
 of Jesus Christ.

00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:25.019
 Sanctification is ongoing.

00:23:25.379 --> 00:23:25.519
 Now,

00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:27.039
 theologians talk about

00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:28.680
 what we term definitive

00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:29.980
 and progressive

00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:31.019
 sanctification.

00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:32.339
 and what they mean

00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:33.000
 very simply

00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:33.619
 and that is

00:23:33.619 --> 00:23:34.819
 a definitive

00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:35.639
 is a once,

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:37.500
 just once and for all.

00:23:37.639 --> 00:23:38.259
 And in a sense

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:39.319
 that's what happens

00:23:39.319 --> 00:23:40.500
 because to sanctify

00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:42.519
 is to set apart.

00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:45.500
 Set apart for something

00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.200
 to be holy.

00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:48.039
 And that's what God did

00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:48.980
 with you and with me.

00:23:50.339 --> 00:23:51.559
 He set us apart.

00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:53.240
 The moment that we're

00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:54.299
 set apart,

00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:55.359
 the moment we're justified,

00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:56.539
 we're set apart

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.519
 from this world.

00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:59.480
 This world no longer

00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:00.860
 has a claim on us.

00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:03.420
 This world no longer

00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.740
 loves us in the way

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:06.000
 that it loves its own.

00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:08.920
 We are set apart for God.

00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:11.759
 We have this inheritance,

00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:12.380
 but you know,

00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:13.660
 the other way around is

00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:15.360
 we are his inheritance.

00:24:16.120 --> 00:24:17.519
 Isn't that an incredible thing?

00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:19.140
 God tells us that

00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:21.700
 we are his inheritance.

00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:23.019
 His people

00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:24.980
 are his inheritance.

00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:27.460
 And so we wait

00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:29.160
 for the inheritance

00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:30.400
 that he gives us

00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:32.539
 to be with him forever.

00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:35.420
 So there is what we say

00:24:35.420 --> 00:24:36.240
 this definitive

00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:37.200
 sanctification

00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:38.660
 we're just set apart.

00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:39.900
 And then we talk

00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:40.539
 of progressive

00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:41.360
 sanctification,

00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:42.299
 which is simply

00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:44.579
 where God is at work

00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:45.980
 in us every day.

00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:47.740
 Making us,

00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.220
 shaping us,

00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:50.759
 remoulding us

00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:52.120
 more and more

00:24:52.120 --> 00:24:52.640
 and more

00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:53.940
 to resemble

00:24:53.940 --> 00:24:55.180
 our Savior,

00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:56.880
 the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:58.980
 But then at the end

00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:01.120
 comes the other stage,

00:25:01.320 --> 00:25:02.080
 glorification,

00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:05.779
 where we will be changed.

00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:09.039
 It's quite an extraordinary thing

00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:11.420
 because we're told then

00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:12.560
 in the end

00:25:12.560 --> 00:25:14.960
 that we shall see him

00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:16.600
 as he is.

00:25:17.320 --> 00:25:18.500
 Now that would be enough.

00:25:19.140 --> 00:25:20.480
 That would be more than enough.

00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:22.700
 But it doesn't just stop there.

00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:24.140
 We shall see him

00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:24.799
 as he is

00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:26.640
 and we shall be like him.

00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:28.360
 Probably the most amazing

00:25:28.360 --> 00:25:29.360
 words in Scripture.

00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:31.880
 You know,

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:33.140
 I'm sure

00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:33.920
 if you're like me,

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.740
 the one thing

00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:35.960
 that you

00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:36.980
 you want

00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:37.299
 to see,

00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:38.299
 you want a greater

00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:39.339
 vision of Jesus,

00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.400
 a greater sight

00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:40.980
 of Jesus.

00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:41.980
 You're saying,

00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.500
 I wish I

00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:44.440
 but you know,

00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:46.019
 the Bible keeps telling us

00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:47.620
 as we have here,

00:25:47.619 --> 00:25:49.619
 you'll see there

00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:52.819
 in verse 8,

00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:55.739
 though you have not seen him,

00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:56.619
 you love him.

00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:58.259
 That's how it is.

00:25:59.139 --> 00:26:00.579
 As Jesus said to Thomas,

00:26:01.919 --> 00:26:03.199
 just because you've seen me,

00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:04.359
 you believe.

00:26:04.919 --> 00:26:05.879
 Blessed are those

00:26:05.879 --> 00:26:07.759
 whom having not seen

00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.679
 yet believe.

00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:09.939
 That's where we are.

00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:12.779
 So we long for the day

00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:14.219
 when we will be

00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:14.880
 in the presence

00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:15.579
 of Jesus

00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:18.500
 and we will see him

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.880
 as he is.

00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.100
 How we've longed

00:26:21.100 --> 00:26:21.600
 for that

00:26:21.600 --> 00:26:23.559
 and we shall be like him.

00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.079
 Into this

00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:26.339
 unending glory

00:26:26.339 --> 00:26:27.259
 as it tells us

00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:28.600
 it's there

00:26:28.600 --> 00:26:29.579
 we will receive

00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:30.319
 the inheritance

00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:32.420
 which is imperishable,

00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:34.579
 undefiled

00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:36.420
 and unfading.

00:26:38.339 --> 00:26:39.380
 What a hope

00:26:39.380 --> 00:26:40.360
 the Christian has.

00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:40.640
 You know,

00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.600
 sometimes we can get

00:26:41.600 --> 00:26:42.240
 a bit down

00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:43.359
 because we live

00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:44.400
 in a world

00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:45.240
 which is becoming

00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:47.259
 growingly opposed

00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:47.940
 to Christ.

00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.579
 But then we go back here

00:26:50.579 --> 00:26:51.039
 and we read

00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:52.940
 what our future holds

00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:54.480
 and what's ahead

00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.700
 and we say,

00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:56.839
 oh my word,

00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:58.220
 it's wonderful

00:26:58.220 --> 00:27:00.039
 and there is

00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:01.319
 a growing desire

00:27:01.319 --> 00:27:03.920
 the further we go on

00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:05.279
 where the Lord

00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:06.279
 is preparing us

00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:06.700
 and I think

00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:07.960
 one of the things

00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:09.460
 is he loosens us

00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:10.140
 as we go along

00:27:10.140 --> 00:27:11.040
 he loosens us

00:27:11.040 --> 00:27:12.140
 a wee bitty more

00:27:12.140 --> 00:27:13.160
 and a wee bitty more

00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:14.660
 to this world

00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:16.420
 and our mind

00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:17.900
 begins to travel

00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:18.700
 more and more

00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.280
 our heart

00:27:19.280 --> 00:27:20.320
 begins to travel

00:27:20.320 --> 00:27:21.820
 where we're going.

00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:23.200
 That's how it is

00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:24.360
 because that's

00:27:24.360 --> 00:27:25.320
 where our inheritance

00:27:25.320 --> 00:27:25.920
 is

00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:27.759
 to be with him

00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.840
 forever.

00:27:29.300 --> 00:27:30.140
 Let us pray.

00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:33.380
 Lord, we give thanks

00:27:33.380 --> 00:27:34.620
 for the great encouragement

00:27:34.620 --> 00:27:35.420
 that your word

00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:36.240
 is to us.

00:27:37.280 --> 00:27:38.040
 We realise

00:27:38.040 --> 00:27:39.160
 as your word says

00:27:39.160 --> 00:27:40.240
 that we're just pilgrims

00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:40.980
 and strangers

00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:42.000
 here in our journey

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:43.640
 to an inheritance

00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:44.780
 that is beyond

00:27:44.780 --> 00:27:45.700
 our imagining.

00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:47.720
 But it's all true

00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.680
 because your word

00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:49.480
 has made it clear

00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:49.980
 to us.

00:27:50.800 --> 00:27:51.560
 So we pray

00:27:51.560 --> 00:27:52.520
 that you will bless us

00:27:52.520 --> 00:27:53.300
 and bless each

00:27:53.300 --> 00:27:54.180
 and every one of us

00:27:54.180 --> 00:27:54.860
 here tonight.

00:27:55.040 --> 00:27:55.820
 Bless our homes

00:27:55.820 --> 00:27:56.720
 and our families.

00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:58.320
 We give thanks

00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.519
 for this church family

00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.619
 that we have here

00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:02.059
 and for the love

00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:02.579
 and care

00:28:02.579 --> 00:28:03.299
 that we have

00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:04.039
 for one another.

00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:05.700
 Pray, Lord,

00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:06.879
 for those whose hearts

00:28:06.879 --> 00:28:08.099
 are heavy and sore.

00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:09.539
 We again remember

00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.619
 Margaret MacLeod

00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:12.200
 from the Cairns tonight

00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:14.079
 and we pray for her

00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:14.759
 as her heart

00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.319
 and we remember

00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:16.539
 herself and Anne as well

00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:18.799
 and all her same

00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:20.159
 mourn Catherine's passing.

00:28:20.899 --> 00:28:21.839
 Remember all

00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:22.839
 who are nursing

00:28:22.839 --> 00:28:23.779
 broken hearts

00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:26.119
 and it might not be

00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:26.799
 in the immediate.

00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:27.700
 It might have been

00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:28.960
 a long time ago

00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:31.000
 but it's still so sore

00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:31.940
 to this very day

00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:32.840
 and so we pray

00:28:32.840 --> 00:28:33.620
 that you will be

00:28:33.620 --> 00:28:35.340
 be with every broken heart.

00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:35.980
 Be with those

00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.680
 who are sick,

00:28:36.840 --> 00:28:37.779
 those who are

00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:38.600
 so unwell.

00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.380
 Remember we did

00:28:39.380 --> 00:28:40.600
 McDonald in hospital

00:28:40.600 --> 00:28:41.420
 so unwell.

00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:43.120
 We pray for all

00:28:43.120 --> 00:28:44.299
 and we give thanks

00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:45.200
 Lord for answers

00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:45.779
 to prayer.

00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.799
 We were praying

00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:47.900
 there for

00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:49.860
 Isabel son Derek

00:28:49.860 --> 00:28:50.840
 recently

00:28:50.840 --> 00:28:51.720
 and we give thanks

00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:52.960
 for how well

00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:53.740
 he has got on

00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:54.539
 hearing that he

00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:54.960
 and Heather

00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.600
 have got home

00:28:55.600 --> 00:28:56.200
 and we pray

00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:57.440
 your blessing upon us.

00:28:57.440 --> 00:28:58.140
 We give thanks

00:28:58.140 --> 00:28:59.799
 for answered prayer.

00:29:00.140 --> 00:29:00.820
 We pray Lord

00:29:00.820 --> 00:29:01.759
 that we will always

00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.680
 give you thanks

00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:04.340
 for all your

00:29:04.340 --> 00:29:05.380
 mercies and goodness

00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:05.940
 to us.

00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:07.480
 So we ask that

00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.240
 you will be with us.

00:29:08.320 --> 00:29:08.740
 Be with the

00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.480
 psalmody class

00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:09.960
 afterwards

00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:11.420
 and thanks for

00:29:11.420 --> 00:29:12.620
 James

00:29:12.620 --> 00:29:14.240
 in leading this.

00:29:14.420 --> 00:29:15.160
 Take away your sin

00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:15.940
 in Jesus name

00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:16.480
 we ask.

00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:17.019
 Amen.

00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:18.879
 Let us conclude

00:29:18.879 --> 00:29:19.440
 singing from

00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:20.440
 Psalm 116.

00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:21.799
 Let us conclude

00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:23.099
 singing from Psalm 116.