WEBVTT

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 We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise in Psalm 63.

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! In the Scottish Psalter verse in Psalm 63, we're going to sing from verse 1 down to verse 8.

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! The tune is Jackson.

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 Lord, thee my God I'll early seek, my soul doth thirst for thee, my flesh longs in a dry parched

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 land wherein no waters be. Psalm 63, page 295, we stand to sing to God's praise.

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 Lord, thee my God I'll early seek, my soul doth thirst for thee, my flesh longs in a dry

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 large land wherein no waters be.

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 Psalm 63, page 295, verse 1.

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 As I thy power may be whole, and brightness of thy face, as I have seen thee clear to

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 forth within thy holy face.

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 Psalm 63, page 295, verse 1.

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 Since Bethany's time of the light, my lips be patient near.

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 Psalm 63, page 295, verse 1.

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 Psalm 63, page 295, verse 1.

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 Psalm 63, page 295, verse 1.

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 Even as with marrow and with fat my soul shall fill it thee,

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 then shall my blood with joyfulness sing graces unto thee.

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 When I do thee upon my bed, remember with delight,

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 and when on thee I meditate in watches of the night.

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 Then shadow of thy wings I'll join, for thou my wealth must be.

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 My soul re-follows far than me, thy light hand doth sustain.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer. Let us pray.

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 Our gracious Father in heaven, we come in your name this evening,

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 thankful for an opportunity again this day to gather in worship.

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 Thankful for your word to us.

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 Thankful to be able to sing your praises as we come.

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 With these words on our lips just now, that we would come with that longing, that desire,

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 coming into your presence, longing like the dry parched land, to meet with you as our true and living God.

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 That we would know, Lord, the power of your name in our midst this evening.

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 For we know that if we are just gathered here by ourselves, if we just come as the people that we are,

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 just seeking to talk with one another, to say words that maybe just come from our own lips.

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 We know that in ourselves there is no good, and in us there is no power.

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 But we thank you that as we come, we come in the knowledge and assurance that when we gather in your name,

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 that you are in the midst to bless.

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 And that is what we seek in you this evening, to know your presence with us,

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 to know in the quietness of our hearts your voice speaking to us,

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 ministering to us in every need that we have,

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 ministering to us, Lord, knowing that you have every concern and care that we carry,

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 sometimes we feel by ourselves that you already know them.

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 And so that we are not alone, even if we are sitting by ourselves in a pew,

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 even if no one has said a word to us, even as we have come in.

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 We thank you, Lord, that your voice is there to speak to us.

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 And that through it, Lord, we know that you are God and there is no other.

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 And so we come, Lord, yes, to meet together and fellowship with one another.

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 But we come especially to meet with you as the living God.

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 And so, Lord, be pleased to come. Be pleased to be with us, Lord.

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 Be pleased to hear our prayers, even at this time, and to hear us and encourage us in our hearts as we offer up our praise to you.

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 And as we read your word and as we share from it, Lord, that your spirit would help us to understand and to hear what God the Lord is saying.

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 And we do thank you, Lord, that we come with that prayerful spirit, that even as we are gathered here just now,

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 that it is not just one voice praying, but many, and many in their hearts.

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 And so, Lord, even quietly just pleading with you and praying to you for so many different things, personal things, very private things to ourselves, perhaps,

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 but also for our congregation, for our people here, even those who are at home, Lord, tuning in in their own quietness of prayer just now as well,

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 that we can offer that up together as the fellowship of your people, and that we can come, Lord, with the prayers for all around us as well,

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 praying for those who would say to us quite naturally that they want no prayer from us, that they want nothing to do with us.

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 But yet we thank you, Lord, that we can come praying for them, praying for them just as we were, in ignorance and darkness,

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 and yet praying, Lord, for your light to shine into their hearts, shine the beauty of Christ towards them,

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 that they might be overwhelmed and overcome by the sense of God and the sense of your power all around us.

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 For we see it in so many ways. We see it in the creation, in all the wonder of it,

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 whether it's the beauty of sunny days or even the clouds that come with the rain, the clouds that water the ground and give growth.

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 We see that just now, Lord, as we see plants and trees and grass begin to flourish.

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 We see new life in the fields around us. We see a freshness in it in so many different ways.

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 We thank you, Lord, for every season that you give and give with a purpose, whether it's winter, spring, summer or autumn.

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 We thank you, Lord, that each of them have a purpose in our life and in our years.

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 We thank you, Lord, that you have ordained all, that you have created it by your power, through your word and for your glory.

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 And we pray, Lord, that you would help the world in which we live to know that you are its God, its maker.

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 For when we see how much we've turned away and how much we've rejected you,

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 how much we see it in our day, Lord, as we thought of this morning,

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 and yet thankful that your voice goes out, thankful that you still call people to you,

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 to all ends of the earth, that you have the word preached in every nation, through every tongue, to every tribe.

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 And yet we know, Lord, that still your word reaches out to people who have not heard it yet.

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 But we thank you that it never returns empty or void.

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 And so we pray that that word gone out today would be blessed by you and accomplish great things for you.

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 And we pray that for this evening hour as well, that you would help us to be still before you,

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 to know you with us, and to hear our prayers, Lord.

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 And we do pray for our people here, Lord, thankful for everyone, thankful for your goodness to us,

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 thankful as we look ahead to the week before us, Lord, that you are with us in it, that you go before us,

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 that every plan and purpose that we seek to put into place, they're all ordained by you and given blessing by you.

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 We do pray, Lord, that you will be pleased to meet with us in the week ahead,

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 when we think of all the different things going on, whether it's groups meeting in the hall or prayer meetings going on,

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 whatever is taking place, Lord, that you would be pleased to bless.

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 We think of the WFM, thankful again for them and pray for the meeting tomorrow evening.

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 We commit the prayer meetings during the week to you as well in Laxdale, here in the hall and in the seminary on Thursday,

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 Lord, thankful for these opportunities that we have to call upon the name of the Lord together,

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 to share from your word, to encourage one another and to meet with one another.

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 We pray, Lord, for the opportunities we have to reach out to our community as well,

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 to invite people through our doors, whether it's to these services during the week,

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 to our services on the Lord's Day or to the Friday, the free, the over 55,

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 so the youth groups, the toddler groups, Lord, we thank you for all of these endeavours

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 and just pray to see your spirit working in them.

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 Thankful for every encouragement that you give us, Lord,

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 and thankful for all who come through our doors and the connections that that builds,

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 connections that we see growing and developing in different ways

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 and connections that help us, Lord, to be alongside people in times of need as well.

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 And so remember those in need at this time.

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 Remember those who are unwell, some seriously unwell, Lord.

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 We pray that you will surround them and uphold them and bless them.

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 We ask, O Lord, that in every tear that's shed or every prayer that's offered,

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 that you will hear and be near to all who need you in these ways.

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 Remember, too, Lord, those who grieve and mourn.

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 We pray that you will comfort us as only you can.

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 For we thank you that in the midst of mourning,

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 we thank you that there are times when we know just the peace of God,

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 that peace that passes understanding.

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 For when we know the Lord and when we know those who are being called by him home

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 have trusted in you,

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 we thank you for the comfort and the peace that that gives.

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 And we pray, Lord, that those who mourn will continue to know that for themselves.

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 We pray for our nation as a whole as well, Lord.

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 We thank you for the wider church.

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 We thank you for every place that meets in your name today

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 that proclaims the name of Jesus Christ as Lord

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 and that calls sinners to repentance.

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 We pray that you would be pleased to build your church throughout our land

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 and that in the midst of our nation and all that we're going through at this time

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 when there's so much confusion and turmoil,

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 so much anxiety and fear,

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 Lord, may you hear our prayers.

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 We pray for leaders,

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 whether it's our prime minister, our first minister,

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 our royal family, our governments,

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 whoever it might be, Lord,

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 in positions of authority and power,

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 we ask for your blessing,

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 your mercy upon them,

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 to be able to know your goodness

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 and to be able to know your name as a name that's to be called upon,

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 a name that's the foundation of our nation and this world,

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 the cornerstone that is Jesus Christ.

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 We pray that his name would be praised in the corridors of power

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 and throughout all our land and to the ends of the earth.

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 So we think, oh, nations in conflict

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 and nations with so many different needs,

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 persecution and famine and drought

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 and so many atrocities going on

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 and so many nations around the world

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 where your people are being put to the sword

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 in so many different ways.

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 We ask, oh, Lord, for mercy and grace

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 in the midst of all of these things.

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 We do pray, Lord, that you will just hear us now

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 and continue with us as we worship you,

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 as we sing your praise

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 and as we seek your presence.

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 Lord, may you be pleased to bless all that we do

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 and we ask all acknowledging our sin before you

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 and you seeking pardon for all things,

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 whether it's what we have forgotten to do

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 or what we shouldn't do at all.

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 Lord, we pray that you would have mercy upon us

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 and hear us as we pray in the name of Jesus,

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 asking all things for his sake and his glory.

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 Amen.

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 We'll again sing to Psalm 44.

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 We'll sing from verse 1 down to verse 8.

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 Psalm 44, verse 1 to verse 8.

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 O God, we without ears have heard,

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 our fathers told us so,

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 what you accomplished in their days,

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 in days of long ago.

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 We'll sing from verse 1 to 8 to God's praise.

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 Psalm 44, verse 1 to 9.

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 Psalm 44, verse 1 to 9.

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 Psalm 44, verse 1 to 9.

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 Psalm 44, verse 1 to 9.

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 We're going to read together in the New Testament

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 in Paul's letter to the Colossians.

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 Colossians chapter 1.

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 And we read from the beginning of the chapter down to verse 23.

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 Colossians chapter 1.

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 Find it around page 1182 of the church Bibles thereabouts.

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 Paul, we begin our reading of the church Bibles thereabouts.

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 We begin our reading at verse 1.

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 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

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 and Timothy our brother,

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 to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae,

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 grace to you and peace from God our Father.

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 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus,

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 and of the love that you have for all the saints,

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 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.

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 Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth,

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 the gospel which has come to you,

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 as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing,

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 as it also does among you since the day you heard it

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 and understood the grace of God in truth.

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 Just as you learned it from Epaphras,

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 our beloved fellow servant,

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 he is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,

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 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

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 And so from the day we heard,

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 we have not ceased to pray for you,

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 asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will

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 in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

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

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 fully pleasing to him,

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 bearing fruit in every good work

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 and increasing in the knowledge of God.

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 May you be strengthened with all power,

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 according to his glorious might,

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 for all endurance and patience,

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 with joy, giving thanks to the Father

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 who has qualified you to share

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 in the inheritance of the saints in light.

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 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness

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 and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

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 in whom we are redemption,

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 the forgiveness of sins.

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 He is the image of the invisible God,

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 the firstborn of all creation.

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 For by him all things were created,

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 in heaven and on earth,

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 visible and invisible,

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 whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.

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 All things were created through him and for him.

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 And he is before all things.

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 And in him all things hold together.

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 And he is the head of the body,

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 the church.

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 He is the beginning,

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 the firstborn from the dead,

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 that in everything he might be preeminent.

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 For in him all the fullness of God

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 was pleased to dwell,

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 and through him to reconcile to himself all things,

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 whether on earth or in heaven,

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 making peace by the blood of his cross.

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 And you who once were alienated and hostile in mind,

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 doing evil deeds,

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 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death,

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 in order to present you holy and blameless

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 and above reproach before him.

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 If indeed you continue in the faith,

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 stable and steadfast,

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 not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard,

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 which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven,

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 and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

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 And so on.

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 And may God bless that reading from his word.

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 And before we come back to this passage,

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 we're going to sing again to God's praise in Psalm 81.

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 The Singed Psalms version, Psalm 81,

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 page 109 of the psalm books.

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 We're going to sing from verse 8

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 down to the end of the psalm.

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 Psalm 81 at verse 8.

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 Hear, my people, let me warn you,

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 if you would but listen now.

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 No strange God shall be among you.

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 To a false God do not bow.

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 We'll sing from verse 8 to the end of the psalm,

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 to the tune Stuttgart we stand to sing.

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 To a false God do not bow.

00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:37.700
 I do not do love from Egypt,

00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:43.279
 your own God, the Lord, and I.

00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:50.779
 Open wide your mouth towards me,

00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:56.240
 and your food I will supply.

00:21:56.240 --> 00:22:04.660
 But my people would not listen,

00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:10.240
 would not do what I require.

00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:17.660
 So I gave them up to follow

00:22:17.660 --> 00:22:24.660
 what their stubborn hearts desire.

00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:31.660
 If my people would not heed me,

00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:37.080
 Israel followed my command.

00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:38.079
 I would soon,

00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:44.500
 I would soon subdue their enemies,

00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:51.079
 and against them turn my hand.

00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:58.079
 For to it the Lord would power,

00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:04.079
 and their doom would never end.

00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:09.079
 But with finest we die,

00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:11.079
 I feed you,

00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:17.079
 and me from the rock I send.

00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:17.500
 Amen.

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:25.500
 We can turn back to our reading in Colossians.

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.779
 Colossians chapter 1.

00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:33.119
 We're going to focus on verse 3 to verse 8

00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:34.779
 together this evening.

00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:38.099
 Colossians chapter 1.

00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:39.460
 We just read at verse 3.

00:23:39.619 --> 00:23:40.839
 We always thank God,

00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:43.279
 the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:44.460
 when we pray for you,

00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:47.940
 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus,

00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:51.339
 and of the love that you have for all the saints,

00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:53.160
 and so on.

00:23:53.160 --> 00:23:59.400
 As you read through the Bible,

00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:02.100
 as you go to the different parts,

00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:03.320
 whether it's the letters,

00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:05.740
 as we look at Paul's letters here,

00:24:05.840 --> 00:24:06.580
 or the Gospels,

00:24:06.620 --> 00:24:09.360
 or even back into the Old Testament,

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:11.000
 do you ever think to yourself,

00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:12.019
 there's a place,

00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:12.940
 if I had a choice,

00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.840
 if I could do it,

00:24:14.320 --> 00:24:15.880
 I'd love to go back,

00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:18.580
 and be in that place at this very time,

00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:21.420
 and just see what it was like.

00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:24.060
 Maybe you've had the privilege of visiting

00:24:24.060 --> 00:24:26.420
 some of these places in your own time,

00:24:26.620 --> 00:24:27.700
 whether it's the Middle East,

00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:29.980
 or different parts of Turkey,

00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:31.400
 as we see Colossae here,

00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:33.440
 as part of modern day Turkey,

00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.140
 or Rome,

00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:35.180
 places in Italy.

00:24:35.900 --> 00:24:38.019
 Maybe you've seen it as it is now,

00:24:38.120 --> 00:24:39.220
 but as you're there,

00:24:39.300 --> 00:24:39.640
 you've thought,

00:24:39.720 --> 00:24:41.560
 I wonder what it was like to be there

00:24:41.560 --> 00:24:44.539
 in the days that we read of in the scripture.

00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:47.140
 Well, I'm sure there's some places

00:24:47.140 --> 00:24:49.500
 that would maybe be up on the top of your list

00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:52.039
 of places you might want to go to Jerusalem.

00:24:52.660 --> 00:24:54.720
 It'd be fascinating maybe just to walk up,

00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:55.180
 as it is,

00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:55.900
 up to Jerusalem,

00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:59.380
 as we read of in the Old and New Testament,

00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:01.000
 as you see just what it would be like

00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:02.420
 to go back to those days

00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:03.940
 and walk up with a crowd

00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:05.599
 making their way up to the festivals

00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:06.960
 in Jerusalem.

00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:08.640
 Or to go to Corinth,

00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:11.559
 a city that was busy and bustling

00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:13.200
 in so many different ways,

00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:15.099
 where the gospel had come,

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:17.680
 and yet there were so many challenges in it.

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.860
 Or Rome,

00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:22.320
 another fascinating place to see,

00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:22.759
 and it would have been

00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:24.480
 to see the Colosseum

00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.920
 and all of these different things

00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:27.080
 in the day

00:25:27.080 --> 00:25:28.960
 that we read of in the scriptures.

00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:30.700
 You can't but wonder

00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:31.840
 what it would be like.

00:25:32.600 --> 00:25:34.680
 But where would Colosse come

00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:37.039
 on your list of places to go?

00:25:37.120 --> 00:25:39.100
 I'm sure it's maybe not up there

00:25:39.100 --> 00:25:41.000
 in the top places you'd like to see,

00:25:41.100 --> 00:25:42.860
 but it's interesting to think

00:25:42.860 --> 00:25:45.180
 of what these places were like at the time,

00:25:45.180 --> 00:25:47.019
 because it helps us to understand

00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:49.039
 the way Paul is writing

00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:50.660
 and the things that are going on.

00:25:51.100 --> 00:25:52.140
 And that's why we want to just begin

00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:53.120
 by looking at this evening,

00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:55.160
 is just to think of Colosseum,

00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:57.620
 what kind of place it was.

00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:00.120
 Paul was obviously writing to them,

00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:02.620
 but it's a place he'd never even been.

00:26:03.360 --> 00:26:05.080
 And yet the gospel had come to them

00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:07.279
 and was bearing fruit in their midst.

00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:11.100
 And Paul is writing to encourage them.

00:26:11.099 --> 00:26:14.579
 But what kind of place was it?

00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:16.679
 Well, if you go back

00:26:16.679 --> 00:26:18.299
 in the history of Colosseum,

00:26:18.379 --> 00:26:20.480
 the time of Paul's writing to it

00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.719
 was a time when that place

00:26:21.719 --> 00:26:24.019
 was very much in decline.

00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:26.079
 It wasn't as vibrant

00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:27.779
 as it had once been.

00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.699
 And in many ways,

00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.779
 it may sound strange,

00:26:30.879 --> 00:26:32.139
 but you could almost compare it

00:26:32.139 --> 00:26:33.459
 to Stornoway.

00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:35.839
 Colosseum and Stornoway

00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:37.679
 have things in common.

00:26:38.219 --> 00:26:39.859
 And what are they, you might ask?

00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:41.579
 It may not be the weather,

00:26:41.719 --> 00:26:43.259
 but they've certainly got other things

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.339
 in common.

00:26:45.219 --> 00:26:47.179
 Colosseum, when it was founded,

00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:49.399
 it was founded on industry.

00:26:50.139 --> 00:26:52.119
 And it was a textile industry

00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:53.819
 that it was founded on.

00:26:53.879 --> 00:26:55.619
 It was famous for wool,

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:58.039
 and especially purple wool.

00:26:58.459 --> 00:27:00.539
 And that's what it had thrived on,

00:27:00.599 --> 00:27:02.479
 that business of textile.

00:27:03.819 --> 00:27:05.399
 And yet, that was about

00:27:05.399 --> 00:27:06.740
 three or four hundred years

00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:07.899
 before Christ came.

00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:10.200
 But by the time Paul is writing to them,

00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:12.840
 it's a place that has seen decline.

00:27:13.560 --> 00:27:15.019
 That vibrant industry

00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:16.400
 is no longer there.

00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:18.720
 It's dwindled in many ways.

00:27:18.840 --> 00:27:19.380
 And people,

00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:21.360
 as we would see in our own town,

00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:23.240
 a textile town, if you like,

00:27:23.280 --> 00:27:24.440
 a place that was vibrant,

00:27:24.860 --> 00:27:26.200
 has seen a bit of decline.

00:27:26.340 --> 00:27:27.820
 And you think of many young people

00:27:27.820 --> 00:27:29.540
 having to go away from here

00:27:29.540 --> 00:27:30.960
 to the mainland for work

00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:31.900
 and different things.

00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:34.100
 Colosse went through that

00:27:34.099 --> 00:27:35.519
 itself as well.

00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:37.639
 Places nearby,

00:27:37.859 --> 00:27:40.299
 Laodicea was a more thriving place

00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:41.879
 that attracted people away,

00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:45.819
 that brought work away from Colosse.

00:27:45.959 --> 00:27:47.159
 They went away to work.

00:27:47.699 --> 00:27:49.199
 And all of these things were going on

00:27:49.199 --> 00:27:51.019
 because trade had moved around.

00:27:52.219 --> 00:27:54.579
 But as Paul is writing to them,

00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:57.019
 as if he was writing to ourselves today,

00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:58.619
 these aren't the things

00:27:58.619 --> 00:27:59.799
 that he's interested in.

00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.779
 What's important to him

00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.839
 is not the economy

00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:05.099
 or the politics of the place,

00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:07.099
 but the very fact that

00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:08.799
 God is in the midst.

00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:10.740
 That God was there

00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:12.759
 when the place was thriving and busy.

00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:13.980
 And that even though

00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:15.419
 there's a time of decline,

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.500
 God is still in the midst.

00:28:17.659 --> 00:28:19.919
 These people are still there.

00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.799
 And so that's why

00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:24.740
 Paul is writing to them.

00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:26.399
 And he's writing to them,

00:28:26.419 --> 00:28:27.619
 even though he's not been there,

00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:28.899
 he's writing to them

00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:30.720
 because he's heard about their faith.

00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:33.160
 Epaphras had come back,

00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:34.519
 I think from Ephesus it was,

00:28:34.600 --> 00:28:35.280
 and come back,

00:28:35.780 --> 00:28:37.100
 shared the gospel with them.

00:28:37.120 --> 00:28:38.820
 And the gospel had borne fruit

00:28:38.820 --> 00:28:39.620
 in this place.

00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:41.100
 And the church was established.

00:28:41.820 --> 00:28:43.100
 And the people of God

00:28:43.100 --> 00:28:45.900
 were positive in so many ways.

00:28:46.540 --> 00:28:48.519
 And yet there were challenges.

00:28:49.660 --> 00:28:50.780
 There were challenges.

00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:54.140
 And that's the reality

00:28:54.140 --> 00:28:55.960
 of the Christian life, isn't it?

00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:57.779
 When we think of history,

00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:58.920
 there's always been challenges.

00:28:59.019 --> 00:29:00.559
 And when we think of our own day today,

00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:02.480
 even our own town today,

00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:03.299
 as we look around,

00:29:03.840 --> 00:29:06.220
 we see vibrancy that was there once,

00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:07.840
 decline that's there now.

00:29:08.340 --> 00:29:09.259
 Even in the church,

00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:10.440
 we see it's so different

00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:11.620
 to what it once was,

00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:13.740
 but yet still with the hope

00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:15.779
 of God in our midst.

00:29:16.600 --> 00:29:17.400
 And so Paul,

00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.840
 as he's writing to them,

00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:21.680
 he's writing to encourage,

00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.759
 even though he's in prison,

00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:24.220
 even though he doesn't know

00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:26.279
 what the future holds for him,

00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:29.379
 he's writing to encourage them

00:29:29.379 --> 00:29:30.359
 because they have something

00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:31.480
 in common together,

00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:33.019
 the gospel.

00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:35.539
 The gospel is in his heart,

00:29:35.619 --> 00:29:36.680
 it's in their hearts.

00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:39.259
 It's in the place of Colossae

00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:41.879
 as it is in Paul's prison cell

00:29:41.879 --> 00:29:43.200
 as he writes.

00:29:44.359 --> 00:29:46.579
 We often speak about people

00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:49.180
 that can be in two different ways

00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:49.799
 described.

00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:52.019
 One person can be described

00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:54.319
 as a glass half empty person.

00:29:54.899 --> 00:29:56.240
 Somebody else can be described

00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:58.139
 as the glass half full person.

00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:00.559
 And we can know ourselves

00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:02.419
 where we maybe fall into that.

00:30:02.859 --> 00:30:04.740
 We know the glass half empty

00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.680
 is things are looked at

00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:06.819
 a little bit more negatively.

00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:08.000
 The glass half full,

00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:10.379
 it's got a more positive outlook.

00:30:11.619 --> 00:30:13.659
 But Paul wasn't either of these.

00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:17.099
 He wasn't just half full glass.

00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:19.399
 He was the fullness

00:30:19.399 --> 00:30:21.519
 of the glass entirely

00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:22.619
 to overflowing.

00:30:23.579 --> 00:30:24.559
 And that's what he was seeking

00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:26.059
 to encourage the church,

00:30:26.179 --> 00:30:27.619
 whatever it was to be like.

00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:29.219
 To be a people who knew

00:30:29.219 --> 00:30:31.000
 God is with us.

00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:32.619
 Therefore, we don't have to look

00:30:32.619 --> 00:30:34.099
 at things glass half empty

00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:35.539
 negatively and think,

00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:37.259
 well, God can't do.

00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:39.699
 Or just to be just half full

00:30:39.699 --> 00:30:41.199
 where we're looking more positively,

00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:43.199
 but still only halfway.

00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:44.779
 But to be overflowing.

00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:47.480
 To be overflowing with that hope

00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:49.980
 that God is with us.

00:30:50.059 --> 00:30:50.720
 And that's what we want to think

00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:51.240
 about this evening.

00:30:51.340 --> 00:30:52.460
 It's this fullness

00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:54.519
 that Paul speaks of here.

00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:57.180
 And when we think of the word full,

00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:58.799
 it can be looked at both positively

00:30:58.799 --> 00:31:00.160
 and negatively as well.

00:31:01.299 --> 00:31:02.299
 It can be looked at

00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:04.400
 being full of the joys.

00:31:05.539 --> 00:31:06.420
 We can see that,

00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:08.000
 but we can also be full of sorrow.

00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:10.220
 Or we can think of it

00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:11.319
 full of love

00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:12.299
 in a positive sense

00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:13.799
 or full of hate

00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.720
 in a negative sense.

00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:16.720
 There's this fullness in life.

00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:19.200
 It's an overwhelming experience,

00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:21.019
 whether it's in a positive way

00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:22.019
 or a negative way.

00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:24.359
 But when the Lord Jesus

00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.339
 is in our hearts,

00:31:25.379 --> 00:31:26.359
 we have that fullness

00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:29.200
 that goes beyond anything else.

00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:31.159
 An abundance of good things.

00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:33.220
 An abundance that the psalmist

00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:34.859
 speaks of in Psalm 23,

00:31:35.559 --> 00:31:36.559
 when he speaks of

00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:38.240
 the table being set

00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:39.859
 in the presence of an enemy.

00:31:39.859 --> 00:31:42.019
 And yet even so,

00:31:42.099 --> 00:31:42.699
 what does he say?

00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:44.579
 And yet my cup overflows.

00:31:45.379 --> 00:31:46.559
 My head, he does anoint.

00:31:47.079 --> 00:31:48.799
 And my cup overflows.

00:31:49.199 --> 00:31:51.299
 What springs up from the hope

00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.479
 that we have in the gospel,

00:31:52.679 --> 00:31:54.219
 it speaks of here

00:31:54.219 --> 00:31:56.159
 in verse 5

00:31:56.159 --> 00:31:57.599
 of the hope of the gospel,

00:31:58.439 --> 00:31:59.539
 this foundation

00:31:59.539 --> 00:32:01.659
 that's laid up in heaven for us,

00:32:02.099 --> 00:32:02.799
 that we have heard

00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:03.719
 the word of truth,

00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:04.539
 the gospel.

00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:06.220
 That's what helps us

00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:07.500
 to remain full

00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:09.440
 and to have that focus

00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:11.440
 on the fullness of Christ

00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:12.379
 that you see running

00:32:12.379 --> 00:32:14.619
 throughout this first chapter

00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:15.099
 as you read

00:32:15.099 --> 00:32:17.259
 the preeminence of Christ.

00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:19.039
 There's so much imagery

00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:20.119
 there for us

00:32:20.119 --> 00:32:21.960
 as Paul writes to them.

00:32:22.420 --> 00:32:23.139
 He is the image

00:32:23.139 --> 00:32:24.420
 of the invisible God,

00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:25.379
 the firstborn

00:32:25.379 --> 00:32:26.960
 of all creation

00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:27.920
 for by him

00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:30.359
 and all things were created.

00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:32.480
 This richness here of Christ,

00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:33.440
 and that's the fullness

00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:35.539
 that he's speaking of

00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:37.240
 in these verses as well,

00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:39.440
 verse 3 to verse 8.

00:32:40.039 --> 00:32:43.240
 So there's three fullnesses

00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:44.019
 that we want to know.

00:32:44.059 --> 00:32:45.039
 That's a word, fullness.

00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:46.360
 The fullnesses

00:32:46.360 --> 00:32:47.480
 that we want to speak of,

00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:51.460
 thankful, boastful, and faithful.

00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:53.360
 And that's the fullness

00:32:53.360 --> 00:32:55.620
 that we see in these verses,

00:32:55.799 --> 00:32:58.200
 verse 3 to verse 8.

00:32:59.099 --> 00:33:00.799
 So we think first of all

00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:02.259
 of thankful.

00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:03.839
 Being thankful.

00:33:04.779 --> 00:33:06.700
 And you see that in verse 3.

00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:08.860
 We always thank God,

00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:11.880
 the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:13.460
 when we pray for you.

00:33:14.120 --> 00:33:16.500
 It's rich in thanksgiving.

00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:18.599
 Not just this verse,

00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:20.680
 but really throughout the letter

00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:22.799
 there's so much thanksgiving

00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:25.180
 that Paul gives for them.

00:33:26.420 --> 00:33:28.400
 Imagine, or maybe you've had this,

00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:29.599
 you've had work done

00:33:29.599 --> 00:33:30.980
 in your house.

00:33:30.980 --> 00:33:33.319
 Perhaps it's been a major work

00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:34.079
 that's been done,

00:33:34.579 --> 00:33:36.480
 a whole rewiring of the house

00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:38.519
 or a whole new heating system

00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:40.039
 put into the house.

00:33:41.140 --> 00:33:43.819
 There's always a little anxiety

00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:45.099
 that comes with it.

00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:47.700
 The old is taken out

00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:48.940
 and the new is put in,

00:33:49.500 --> 00:33:50.500
 and you're wondering,

00:33:51.360 --> 00:33:52.039
 will it work?

00:33:52.460 --> 00:33:53.519
 Will it be efficient?

00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:55.019
 Will it be as good

00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:56.319
 as they say it will be?

00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:57.740
 And I'm sure

00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.960
 if you've had it done,

00:33:59.059 --> 00:33:59.559
 there'll be others

00:33:59.559 --> 00:34:00.259
 who will come and say,

00:34:00.339 --> 00:34:01.799
 oh, you should have done it this way.

00:34:01.940 --> 00:34:03.940
 You should have gone with that instead.

00:34:04.440 --> 00:34:05.559
 There'll be all of these

00:34:05.559 --> 00:34:06.779
 different opinions

00:34:06.779 --> 00:34:07.980
 coming in.

00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:11.019
 When does it get to the point

00:34:11.019 --> 00:34:11.900
 where you know

00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:13.280
 that it's working?

00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:15.620
 Only when it's up

00:34:15.620 --> 00:34:16.560
 and running

00:34:16.560 --> 00:34:18.220
 and put to the test.

00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:19.920
 Checking,

00:34:20.040 --> 00:34:20.720
 double checking,

00:34:21.220 --> 00:34:21.860
 making sure that

00:34:21.860 --> 00:34:23.580
 everything's working all right.

00:34:23.640 --> 00:34:24.540
 And then you get to the point

00:34:24.540 --> 00:34:25.800
 where you have peace of mind

00:34:25.800 --> 00:34:27.100
 because you know

00:34:27.100 --> 00:34:29.040
 it's all working.

00:34:30.740 --> 00:34:32.700
 Well, the church at Colossae

00:34:32.700 --> 00:34:34.380
 had gone through a renovation.

00:34:35.660 --> 00:34:38.220
 It had gone from having no faith

00:34:38.220 --> 00:34:39.540
 to being a people

00:34:39.540 --> 00:34:40.880
 who were in darkness

00:34:40.880 --> 00:34:42.380
 to being a people

00:34:42.380 --> 00:34:43.340
 who were in light.

00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:46.800
 A people who had heard the gospel

00:34:46.800 --> 00:34:48.660
 and they were transformed

00:34:48.660 --> 00:34:50.480
 by the gospel.

00:34:51.619 --> 00:34:54.460
 But remembering the kind of place it was,

00:34:54.619 --> 00:34:57.079
 a place that wasn't as vibrant

00:34:57.079 --> 00:34:58.360
 as it once used to be,

00:34:58.400 --> 00:34:59.860
 a place that was in decline,

00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:01.840
 it was also a place

00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:03.900
 that hadn't totally abandoned

00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:04.740
 other religions.

00:35:06.240 --> 00:35:08.280
 And so those who had been converted

00:35:08.280 --> 00:35:09.180
 by the gospel

00:35:09.180 --> 00:35:10.460
 who had come to faith

00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:12.880
 they faced many challenges.

00:35:14.300 --> 00:35:16.139
 And the biggest challenge of all

00:35:16.139 --> 00:35:17.119
 was people saying,

00:35:17.780 --> 00:35:19.539
 you may have that gospel

00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:21.119
 but that's not enough.

00:35:22.179 --> 00:35:23.059
 You need more.

00:35:24.139 --> 00:35:25.800
 You need more than just that gospel

00:35:25.800 --> 00:35:26.860
 of Jesus Christ.

00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:28.960
 You need to bring other things in.

00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:31.280
 And there's so many different opinions

00:35:31.280 --> 00:35:32.980
 that are being offered to them.

00:35:34.159 --> 00:35:35.659
 And so Paul is writing

00:35:35.659 --> 00:35:37.300
 with this sense of

00:35:37.300 --> 00:35:38.720
 thanking God,

00:35:38.840 --> 00:35:41.160
 the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:35:41.720 --> 00:35:43.320
 that he is with them.

00:35:44.180 --> 00:35:46.780
 That he is in their midst.

00:35:48.039 --> 00:35:49.900
 That through their relationship

00:35:49.900 --> 00:35:51.940
 that they have in Christ,

00:35:52.080 --> 00:35:52.980
 that they have

00:35:52.980 --> 00:35:55.240
 the fullness of Jesus,

00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:56.780
 the fullness of Christ

00:35:56.780 --> 00:35:57.900
 in their hearts.

00:35:58.560 --> 00:35:59.780
 And there is nothing else

00:35:59.780 --> 00:36:00.420
 that they need.

00:36:01.420 --> 00:36:02.560
 There is nothing else

00:36:02.560 --> 00:36:03.880
 that is going to make

00:36:03.880 --> 00:36:05.440
 a difference to them.

00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:07.400
 And this is what is so

00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:09.019
 in giving thanks

00:36:09.019 --> 00:36:10.720
 to Paul himself

00:36:10.720 --> 00:36:12.720
 and that he's encouraging them

00:36:12.720 --> 00:36:13.880
 in their thankfulness

00:36:13.880 --> 00:36:15.460
 with a swell.

00:36:16.680 --> 00:36:17.380
 So in the midst

00:36:17.380 --> 00:36:19.160
 of all the problems

00:36:19.160 --> 00:36:20.599
 and Paul could have

00:36:20.599 --> 00:36:22.019
 come down hard on them

00:36:22.019 --> 00:36:22.880
 in the fact that

00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:25.079
 they were being swayed

00:36:25.079 --> 00:36:26.260
 away from the gospel,

00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:27.260
 but instead he comes

00:36:27.260 --> 00:36:27.780
 alongside

00:36:27.780 --> 00:36:29.800
 to encourage them

00:36:29.800 --> 00:36:31.800
 and to give thanks

00:36:31.800 --> 00:36:33.039
 for them.

00:36:33.760 --> 00:36:35.539
 We always thank God,

00:36:36.060 --> 00:36:37.160
 the Father of our Lord Jesus,

00:36:37.260 --> 00:36:38.019
 when we pray

00:36:38.019 --> 00:36:39.560
 for you.

00:36:40.740 --> 00:36:41.800
 There is this bond.

00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:44.700
 There is this relationship.

00:36:46.440 --> 00:36:47.340
 And that's a challenge

00:36:47.340 --> 00:36:48.920
 to ourselves today as well.

00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:50.180
 As we think of our own sense

00:36:50.180 --> 00:36:51.920
 of thankfulness,

00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:53.600
 are we glass half empty

00:36:53.600 --> 00:36:54.840
 or glass half full?

00:36:55.180 --> 00:36:56.560
 Or are we overflowing

00:36:56.560 --> 00:36:57.920
 with thankfulness?

00:36:57.980 --> 00:36:58.800
 Do we look at things

00:36:58.800 --> 00:37:00.680
 with that negative sense?

00:37:02.240 --> 00:37:03.840
 We have those days,

00:37:03.920 --> 00:37:04.960
 we have those times,

00:37:05.700 --> 00:37:06.740
 but do we look around

00:37:06.740 --> 00:37:07.620
 and give thanks

00:37:07.620 --> 00:37:09.420
 that God is working,

00:37:10.420 --> 00:37:12.680
 that God is with us?

00:37:12.720 --> 00:37:14.160
 Is that our attitude

00:37:14.160 --> 00:37:16.539
 that we are always

00:37:16.539 --> 00:37:18.080
 full of thanksgiving

00:37:18.080 --> 00:37:19.400
 to God

00:37:19.400 --> 00:37:21.120
 and what he is doing

00:37:21.120 --> 00:37:22.340
 in our midst,

00:37:23.140 --> 00:37:24.300
 in our congregation,

00:37:24.660 --> 00:37:25.760
 in our friends,

00:37:25.760 --> 00:37:26.980
 in our families,

00:37:26.980 --> 00:37:28.940
 in our denomination?

00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:31.500
 Do we have that sense

00:37:31.500 --> 00:37:32.900
 of thanksgiving,

00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:34.400
 that sense of thankfulness?

00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:35.039
 Even as we think

00:37:35.039 --> 00:37:36.380
 of joining together

00:37:36.380 --> 00:37:37.480
 on Wednesday evening,

00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:39.219
 a time of thanksgiving

00:37:39.219 --> 00:37:40.420
 for God's goodness

00:37:40.420 --> 00:37:41.619
 to our denomination

00:37:41.619 --> 00:37:43.219
 over these last number

00:37:43.219 --> 00:37:43.719
 of years,

00:37:43.820 --> 00:37:44.599
 there's been reasons

00:37:44.599 --> 00:37:45.559
 for encouragement.

00:37:46.440 --> 00:37:46.699
 Yes,

00:37:46.699 --> 00:37:47.500
 we can look at things

00:37:47.500 --> 00:37:47.820
 and think,

00:37:47.960 --> 00:37:49.320
 it's not what we would want,

00:37:49.420 --> 00:37:50.320
 we can look at it

00:37:50.320 --> 00:37:51.199
 in a negative sense,

00:37:51.240 --> 00:37:52.320
 but let's come together

00:37:52.320 --> 00:37:53.660
 in thanksgiving

00:37:53.660 --> 00:37:55.160
 that God is with us,

00:37:55.900 --> 00:37:57.559
 that God hears

00:37:57.559 --> 00:37:58.780
 his praying people

00:37:58.780 --> 00:37:59.740
 and God is able

00:37:59.740 --> 00:38:00.780
 to answer

00:38:00.780 --> 00:38:02.000
 his praying people.

00:38:03.280 --> 00:38:04.860
 If we see what Christ

00:38:04.860 --> 00:38:06.100
 has done for us,

00:38:06.140 --> 00:38:07.260
 and that's what Paul

00:38:07.260 --> 00:38:08.400
 goes on to describe

00:38:08.400 --> 00:38:09.900
 so wonderfully here

00:38:09.900 --> 00:38:11.280
 in this chapter,

00:38:11.820 --> 00:38:12.300
 how he has

00:38:12.300 --> 00:38:14.380
 his beloved son,

00:38:14.420 --> 00:38:15.780
 as he says in verse 14,

00:38:15.860 --> 00:38:16.340
 in whom we have

00:38:16.340 --> 00:38:17.800
 the forgiveness of sins,

00:38:18.519 --> 00:38:19.780
 if we see what we have

00:38:19.780 --> 00:38:20.600
 in Christ,

00:38:21.700 --> 00:38:22.640
 if we see what we have

00:38:22.640 --> 00:38:23.100
 in him,

00:38:23.540 --> 00:38:24.400
 there is reason

00:38:24.400 --> 00:38:25.940
 for thanksgiving.

00:38:27.019 --> 00:38:27.440
 Otherwise,

00:38:27.980 --> 00:38:29.340
 we just miss out

00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:30.840
 on so much.

00:38:31.740 --> 00:38:32.180
 I was reading

00:38:32.180 --> 00:38:33.340
 a sad story

00:38:33.340 --> 00:38:34.500
 about a sportsman

00:38:34.500 --> 00:38:35.880
 just the other day

00:38:35.880 --> 00:38:37.180
 who had made millions

00:38:37.180 --> 00:38:39.540
 during a sporting career,

00:38:39.640 --> 00:38:40.519
 a short career,

00:38:41.100 --> 00:38:42.680
 being a footballer it was.

00:38:43.460 --> 00:38:44.220
 He had got on

00:38:44.220 --> 00:38:45.240
 so well,

00:38:46.180 --> 00:38:46.660
 he had earned

00:38:46.660 --> 00:38:47.460
 so much money,

00:38:47.560 --> 00:38:47.980
 and during

00:38:47.980 --> 00:38:50.079
 those great days

00:38:50.079 --> 00:38:50.659
 when he was making

00:38:50.659 --> 00:38:51.119
 so much,

00:38:51.159 --> 00:38:51.760
 he had helped

00:38:51.760 --> 00:38:52.860
 so many people,

00:38:53.360 --> 00:38:54.280
 being so generous

00:38:54.280 --> 00:38:54.679
 to them,

00:38:54.880 --> 00:38:55.280
 family,

00:38:55.639 --> 00:38:56.019
 friends,

00:38:56.139 --> 00:38:57.159
 even strangers.

00:38:58.079 --> 00:38:58.800
 He had helped

00:38:58.800 --> 00:39:00.159
 out so many people.

00:39:01.300 --> 00:39:01.639
 However,

00:39:02.159 --> 00:39:03.340
 over the years,

00:39:04.179 --> 00:39:04.619
 addiction

00:39:04.619 --> 00:39:05.519
 took a hold

00:39:05.519 --> 00:39:05.900
 of him.

00:39:06.800 --> 00:39:07.699
 Gambling addiction,

00:39:08.440 --> 00:39:09.420
 and then drinking,

00:39:10.059 --> 00:39:11.420
 and all his money

00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:12.539
 was gone.

00:39:13.420 --> 00:39:14.599
 He hit rock bottom.

00:39:15.780 --> 00:39:16.320
 He lost

00:39:16.320 --> 00:39:17.280
 everything.

00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:18.280
 And some people

00:39:18.280 --> 00:39:18.640
 would say

00:39:18.640 --> 00:39:19.740
 it's his own fault.

00:39:20.740 --> 00:39:21.200
 And that's the way

00:39:21.200 --> 00:39:21.880
 many people

00:39:21.880 --> 00:39:22.540
 looked at him.

00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:24.540
 But one of the saddest

00:39:24.540 --> 00:39:25.519
 things he said

00:39:25.519 --> 00:39:25.840
 was,

00:39:26.680 --> 00:39:27.940
 of all the people

00:39:27.940 --> 00:39:28.980
 that I helped

00:39:28.980 --> 00:39:30.460
 when I had plenty,

00:39:31.420 --> 00:39:32.480
 not one of them

00:39:32.480 --> 00:39:33.140
 was there

00:39:33.140 --> 00:39:34.060
 when I was in need.

00:39:34.860 --> 00:39:35.620
 Not one of them

00:39:35.620 --> 00:39:36.280
 came back

00:39:36.280 --> 00:39:37.220
 with a sense

00:39:37.220 --> 00:39:38.160
 of thanksgiving

00:39:38.160 --> 00:39:38.780
 to him

00:39:38.780 --> 00:39:40.080
 that he had helped

00:39:40.080 --> 00:39:41.040
 them in their time

00:39:41.040 --> 00:39:41.440
 of need.

00:39:41.980 --> 00:39:42.720
 No one.

00:39:43.620 --> 00:39:44.740
 No one came.

00:39:44.739 --> 00:39:47.419
 And that's

00:39:47.419 --> 00:39:48.000
 a challenge

00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:48.539
 to us

00:39:48.539 --> 00:39:48.939
 as we think

00:39:48.939 --> 00:39:49.479
 of our own

00:39:49.479 --> 00:39:50.579
 thanksgiving

00:39:50.579 --> 00:39:51.439
 as well.

00:39:52.199 --> 00:39:52.719
 Are we

00:39:52.719 --> 00:39:53.619
 thanking the Lord

00:39:53.619 --> 00:39:54.319
 for all that

00:39:54.319 --> 00:39:54.899
 he has done

00:39:54.899 --> 00:39:55.399
 for us?

00:39:55.439 --> 00:39:55.659
 Are we

00:39:55.659 --> 00:39:56.500
 thanking the Lord

00:39:56.500 --> 00:39:57.319
 for his goodness

00:39:57.319 --> 00:39:58.479
 and mercies

00:39:58.479 --> 00:39:59.500
 new each day?

00:40:00.439 --> 00:40:00.819
 Or are we

00:40:00.819 --> 00:40:01.139
 choosing

00:40:01.139 --> 00:40:02.259
 to ignore

00:40:02.259 --> 00:40:03.379
 his goodness

00:40:03.379 --> 00:40:03.879
 to us

00:40:03.879 --> 00:40:04.439
 and therefore

00:40:04.439 --> 00:40:04.939
 in that

00:40:04.939 --> 00:40:06.439
 ignore others

00:40:06.439 --> 00:40:07.579
 in their need

00:40:07.579 --> 00:40:08.619
 as well?

00:40:09.619 --> 00:40:10.879
 Coming to faith

00:40:10.880 --> 00:40:11.900
 is not the

00:40:11.900 --> 00:40:12.559
 end of our

00:40:12.559 --> 00:40:12.980
 journey

00:40:12.980 --> 00:40:13.720
 and that's

00:40:13.720 --> 00:40:14.300
 what Paul

00:40:14.300 --> 00:40:15.300
 is so encouraging

00:40:15.300 --> 00:40:16.099
 with here.

00:40:16.480 --> 00:40:17.240
 He's encouraging

00:40:17.240 --> 00:40:18.019
 them to grow

00:40:18.019 --> 00:40:19.019
 in their faith.

00:40:19.860 --> 00:40:20.140
 They have

00:40:20.140 --> 00:40:20.840
 learned the

00:40:20.840 --> 00:40:21.619
 gospel as we

00:40:21.619 --> 00:40:22.820
 see in verse

00:40:22.820 --> 00:40:23.599
 7 there

00:40:23.599 --> 00:40:24.420
 just as you

00:40:24.420 --> 00:40:25.200
 learned from

00:40:25.200 --> 00:40:26.140
 Epaphras,

00:40:26.200 --> 00:40:26.700
 our beloved

00:40:26.700 --> 00:40:27.700
 fellow servant.

00:40:28.280 --> 00:40:28.780
 They learned

00:40:28.780 --> 00:40:29.400
 the gospel

00:40:29.400 --> 00:40:30.119
 from him.

00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:31.380
 And then in

00:40:31.380 --> 00:40:31.880
 verse 10

00:40:31.880 --> 00:40:33.940
 to walk in a

00:40:33.940 --> 00:40:34.619
 manner worthy

00:40:34.619 --> 00:40:35.059
 of the Lord

00:40:35.059 --> 00:40:36.240
 fully pleasing

00:40:36.240 --> 00:40:36.940
 in him

00:40:36.940 --> 00:40:37.960
 bearing fruit

00:40:37.960 --> 00:40:38.619
 in every good

00:40:38.619 --> 00:40:38.980
 work

00:40:38.980 --> 00:40:40.139
 and increasing

00:40:40.139 --> 00:40:40.480
 in the

00:40:40.480 --> 00:40:41.179
 knowledge of

00:40:41.179 --> 00:40:41.639
 God.

00:40:41.980 --> 00:40:42.780
 It's about

00:40:42.780 --> 00:40:43.579
 going on.

00:40:44.920 --> 00:40:45.039
 And

00:40:45.039 --> 00:40:45.920
 thanksgiving

00:40:45.920 --> 00:40:46.920
 is what

00:40:46.920 --> 00:40:47.820
 helps us

00:40:47.820 --> 00:40:49.079
 to go on.

00:40:50.340 --> 00:40:50.639
 I think it was

00:40:50.639 --> 00:40:50.940
 one of the

00:40:50.940 --> 00:40:51.800
 old Puritans

00:40:51.800 --> 00:40:52.559
 that had said

00:40:52.559 --> 00:40:54.000
 the thankful

00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:55.099
 heart has a

00:40:55.099 --> 00:40:56.000
 continual

00:40:56.000 --> 00:40:56.639
 feast.

00:40:58.059 --> 00:40:58.840
 The thankful

00:40:58.840 --> 00:40:59.599
 heart is a

00:40:59.599 --> 00:41:00.340
 continual

00:41:00.340 --> 00:41:00.860
 feast.

00:41:01.599 --> 00:41:01.900
 In other

00:41:01.900 --> 00:41:02.260
 words the

00:41:02.260 --> 00:41:02.840
 more we are

00:41:02.840 --> 00:41:04.360
 in thanksgiving

00:41:04.360 --> 00:41:04.760
 to God

00:41:04.760 --> 00:41:05.119
 the more we

00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.740
 are thankful

00:41:05.740 --> 00:41:06.260
 to him

00:41:06.260 --> 00:41:07.059
 the more

00:41:07.059 --> 00:41:08.179
 we are feasting

00:41:08.179 --> 00:41:09.059
 on his

00:41:09.059 --> 00:41:09.519
 goodness

00:41:09.519 --> 00:41:10.819
 to us.

00:41:11.839 --> 00:41:12.460
 So the

00:41:12.460 --> 00:41:12.879
 first thing

00:41:12.879 --> 00:41:13.359
 we see here

00:41:13.359 --> 00:41:13.779
 is Paul

00:41:13.779 --> 00:41:14.179
 is this

00:41:14.179 --> 00:41:15.319
 thankfulness.

00:41:16.500 --> 00:41:17.199
 The second

00:41:17.199 --> 00:41:17.699
 thing we see

00:41:17.699 --> 00:41:18.559
 is to be

00:41:18.559 --> 00:41:19.599
 boastful.

00:41:20.759 --> 00:41:21.139
 To be

00:41:21.139 --> 00:41:21.859
 boastful.

00:41:22.419 --> 00:41:22.919
 And this

00:41:22.919 --> 00:41:23.559
 immediately

00:41:23.559 --> 00:41:24.079
 thinks

00:41:24.079 --> 00:41:25.419
 surely that's

00:41:25.419 --> 00:41:25.960
 a negative.

00:41:26.919 --> 00:41:27.679
 Surely that's

00:41:27.679 --> 00:41:28.219
 a negative

00:41:28.219 --> 00:41:29.359
 to be boasting

00:41:29.359 --> 00:41:29.940
 in anything.

00:41:30.919 --> 00:41:31.639
 Because boasting

00:41:31.639 --> 00:41:32.619
 is often seen

00:41:32.619 --> 00:41:33.139
 as something

00:41:33.139 --> 00:41:33.659
 that's not

00:41:33.659 --> 00:41:34.879
 good to do.

00:41:35.019 --> 00:41:35.279
 And we can

00:41:35.279 --> 00:41:35.960
 think of people

00:41:35.960 --> 00:41:36.960
 who are boastful

00:41:36.960 --> 00:41:37.980
 in so many

00:41:37.980 --> 00:41:39.059
 arrogant ways.

00:41:40.199 --> 00:41:40.539
 Think of

00:41:40.539 --> 00:41:41.179
 these people

00:41:41.179 --> 00:41:41.860
 who boast

00:41:41.860 --> 00:41:42.300
 in their

00:41:42.300 --> 00:41:42.940
 riches or

00:41:42.940 --> 00:41:43.440
 boast in

00:41:43.440 --> 00:41:44.119
 what they've

00:41:44.119 --> 00:41:44.880
 done in

00:41:44.880 --> 00:41:45.619
 life.

00:41:45.740 --> 00:41:46.199
 They're boasting

00:41:46.199 --> 00:41:47.000
 in themselves

00:41:47.000 --> 00:41:47.880
 in so many

00:41:47.880 --> 00:41:48.199
 ways.

00:41:48.260 --> 00:41:48.639
 It can be

00:41:48.639 --> 00:41:49.199
 irritating.

00:41:51.119 --> 00:41:51.559
 And that's

00:41:51.559 --> 00:41:52.119
 not the kind

00:41:52.119 --> 00:41:52.740
 of boasting

00:41:52.740 --> 00:41:54.139
 that we want.

00:41:54.260 --> 00:41:54.599
 But what

00:41:54.599 --> 00:41:55.199
 Paul is

00:41:55.199 --> 00:41:55.639
 boasting

00:41:55.639 --> 00:41:56.159
 in is about

00:41:56.159 --> 00:41:56.840
 something

00:41:56.840 --> 00:41:58.300
 that for the

00:41:58.300 --> 00:41:58.840
 people of

00:41:58.840 --> 00:41:59.599
 God in

00:41:59.599 --> 00:42:00.019
 Colossae

00:42:00.019 --> 00:42:00.440
 would not

00:42:00.440 --> 00:42:01.260
 irritate

00:42:01.260 --> 00:42:01.679
 them at

00:42:01.679 --> 00:42:02.139
 all.

00:42:03.059 --> 00:42:03.880
 But really

00:42:03.880 --> 00:42:05.340
 encourage

00:42:05.340 --> 00:42:05.639
 them.

00:42:06.960 --> 00:42:07.420
 That's

00:42:07.420 --> 00:42:07.599
 what we

00:42:07.599 --> 00:42:07.940
 see in

00:42:07.940 --> 00:42:08.720
 verse 6.

00:42:11.099 --> 00:42:11.720
 Paul is

00:42:11.720 --> 00:42:12.119
 full of

00:42:12.119 --> 00:42:12.720
 thanksgiving

00:42:12.720 --> 00:42:13.039
 but then

00:42:13.039 --> 00:42:13.240
 there's

00:42:13.240 --> 00:42:13.599
 this

00:42:13.599 --> 00:42:15.079
 thanksgiving

00:42:15.079 --> 00:42:15.519
 because of

00:42:15.519 --> 00:42:16.059
 the hope

00:42:16.059 --> 00:42:16.500
 laid up

00:42:16.500 --> 00:42:17.059
 in heaven

00:42:17.059 --> 00:42:17.940
 in verse

00:42:17.940 --> 00:42:18.280
 5.

00:42:18.340 --> 00:42:18.679
 Of this

00:42:18.679 --> 00:42:19.039
 you have

00:42:19.039 --> 00:42:19.420
 heard

00:42:19.420 --> 00:42:19.860
 before

00:42:19.860 --> 00:42:20.440
 the word

00:42:20.440 --> 00:42:20.900
 of truth

00:42:20.900 --> 00:42:21.820
 the gospel

00:42:21.820 --> 00:42:22.920
 which has

00:42:22.920 --> 00:42:23.539
 come to

00:42:23.539 --> 00:42:23.940
 you as

00:42:23.940 --> 00:42:24.320
 indeed

00:42:24.320 --> 00:42:25.000
 in the

00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:25.300
 whole

00:42:25.300 --> 00:42:25.780
 world

00:42:25.780 --> 00:42:26.539
 it is

00:42:26.539 --> 00:42:27.019
 bearing

00:42:27.019 --> 00:42:27.720
 fruit

00:42:27.720 --> 00:42:28.760
 and

00:42:28.760 --> 00:42:29.159
 growing.

00:42:30.199 --> 00:42:30.619
 What is

00:42:30.619 --> 00:42:31.300
 he boasting

00:42:31.300 --> 00:42:32.320
 in?

00:42:33.220 --> 00:42:33.659
 He is

00:42:33.659 --> 00:42:34.179
 boasting

00:42:34.179 --> 00:42:35.179
 in the

00:42:35.179 --> 00:42:35.900
 power of

00:42:35.900 --> 00:42:36.320
 God.

00:42:36.960 --> 00:42:37.420
 That the

00:42:37.420 --> 00:42:37.900
 gospel

00:42:37.900 --> 00:42:38.639
 is

00:42:38.639 --> 00:42:39.139
 bearing

00:42:39.139 --> 00:42:39.820
 fruit

00:42:39.820 --> 00:42:40.780
 not

00:42:40.780 --> 00:42:41.380
 just

00:42:41.380 --> 00:42:42.159
 in

00:42:42.159 --> 00:42:42.599
 them

00:42:42.599 --> 00:42:44.019
 but

00:42:44.019 --> 00:42:44.240
 in

00:42:44.240 --> 00:42:44.440
 the

00:42:44.440 --> 00:42:44.940
 whole

00:42:44.940 --> 00:42:45.900
 world.

00:42:47.800 --> 00:42:48.099
 And you

00:42:48.099 --> 00:42:48.599
 can imagine

00:42:48.599 --> 00:42:48.900
 what it would

00:42:48.900 --> 00:42:49.280
 be like

00:42:49.280 --> 00:42:49.559
 for the

00:42:49.559 --> 00:42:50.119
 people of

00:42:50.119 --> 00:42:50.800
 Colossae.

00:42:51.920 --> 00:42:52.240
 They would

00:42:52.240 --> 00:42:52.420
 have been

00:42:52.420 --> 00:42:52.920
 thinking about

00:42:52.920 --> 00:42:53.760
 other places

00:42:53.760 --> 00:42:54.280
 maybe like

00:42:54.280 --> 00:42:55.340
 Laodicea

00:42:55.340 --> 00:42:57.000
 or Ephesus

00:42:57.000 --> 00:42:57.579
 where

00:42:57.579 --> 00:42:58.519
 Epaphras

00:42:58.519 --> 00:42:59.039
 had come

00:42:59.039 --> 00:42:59.460
 from

00:42:59.460 --> 00:43:00.360
 and hearing

00:43:00.360 --> 00:43:01.039
 these great

00:43:01.039 --> 00:43:01.559
 things that

00:43:01.559 --> 00:43:02.119
 were happening

00:43:02.119 --> 00:43:03.460
 Paul has

00:43:03.460 --> 00:43:03.980
 been there

00:43:03.980 --> 00:43:04.900
 but he

00:43:04.900 --> 00:43:05.500
 hasn't come

00:43:05.500 --> 00:43:06.179
 to us.

00:43:06.960 --> 00:43:07.960
 Or these

00:43:07.960 --> 00:43:08.800
 places that

00:43:08.800 --> 00:43:09.340
 there's so

00:43:09.340 --> 00:43:09.800
 many more

00:43:09.800 --> 00:43:10.720
 people in

00:43:10.720 --> 00:43:10.960
 them.

00:43:11.639 --> 00:43:12.019
 So many

00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.579
 more things

00:43:12.579 --> 00:43:13.480
 going on

00:43:13.480 --> 00:43:15.039
 and yet

00:43:15.039 --> 00:43:15.720
 Paul is

00:43:15.720 --> 00:43:16.440
 here coming

00:43:16.440 --> 00:43:16.880
 to them.

00:43:17.340 --> 00:43:17.800
 Maybe they

00:43:17.800 --> 00:43:18.420
 are feeling

00:43:18.420 --> 00:43:19.179
 discouraged

00:43:19.179 --> 00:43:20.539
 to remember

00:43:20.539 --> 00:43:21.019
 what you

00:43:21.019 --> 00:43:21.480
 have in

00:43:21.480 --> 00:43:22.039
 your midst.

00:43:23.500 --> 00:43:24.059
 You have

00:43:24.059 --> 00:43:24.659
 that same

00:43:24.659 --> 00:43:25.480
 gospel that

00:43:25.480 --> 00:43:26.019
 is bearing

00:43:26.019 --> 00:43:27.059
 fruit in

00:43:27.059 --> 00:43:27.500
 the whole

00:43:27.500 --> 00:43:28.639
 world and

00:43:28.639 --> 00:43:29.000
 you have

00:43:29.000 --> 00:43:29.679
 it here in

00:43:29.679 --> 00:43:30.220
 your midst.

00:43:31.460 --> 00:43:31.800
 And that

00:43:31.800 --> 00:43:32.440
 is something

00:43:32.440 --> 00:43:33.240
 to be

00:43:33.240 --> 00:43:34.000
 boastful

00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:34.260
 in.

00:43:34.760 --> 00:43:35.099
 To

00:43:35.099 --> 00:43:35.820
 rejoice

00:43:35.820 --> 00:43:36.840
 in.

00:43:38.960 --> 00:43:39.320
 And they

00:43:39.320 --> 00:43:39.619
 could have

00:43:39.619 --> 00:43:40.340
 easily just

00:43:40.340 --> 00:43:41.820
 focused on

00:43:41.820 --> 00:43:42.740
 themselves and

00:43:42.740 --> 00:43:43.500
 become so

00:43:43.500 --> 00:43:44.539
 insular in

00:43:44.539 --> 00:43:45.039
 so many

00:43:45.039 --> 00:43:46.340
 ways and

00:43:46.340 --> 00:43:46.700
 just have

00:43:46.700 --> 00:43:47.360
 no thought

00:43:47.360 --> 00:43:47.960
 for anybody

00:43:47.960 --> 00:43:48.559
 else.

00:43:48.720 --> 00:43:49.200
 It's always a

00:43:49.200 --> 00:43:49.760
 danger when

00:43:49.760 --> 00:43:50.240
 you're feeling

00:43:50.240 --> 00:43:51.700
 discouraged or

00:43:51.700 --> 00:43:52.500
 glass half

00:43:52.500 --> 00:43:53.820
 empty that

00:43:53.820 --> 00:43:54.099
 we just

00:43:54.099 --> 00:43:55.519
 focus inwardly.

00:43:55.519 --> 00:43:56.019
 Let's just

00:43:56.019 --> 00:43:56.840
 look after

00:43:56.840 --> 00:43:58.099
 ourselves.

00:43:58.099 --> 00:44:00.219
 but what

00:44:00.219 --> 00:44:00.920
 Paul is

00:44:00.920 --> 00:44:01.420
 doing here

00:44:01.420 --> 00:44:01.860
 in

00:44:01.860 --> 00:44:02.759
 thanksgiving

00:44:02.759 --> 00:44:03.119
 and then

00:44:03.119 --> 00:44:03.679
 coming with

00:44:03.679 --> 00:44:04.639
 his boastful

00:44:04.639 --> 00:44:05.299
 side as

00:44:05.299 --> 00:44:05.699
 well,

00:44:06.279 --> 00:44:06.839
 remember

00:44:06.839 --> 00:44:07.699
 God is

00:44:07.699 --> 00:44:09.019
 working in

00:44:09.019 --> 00:44:09.659
 your midst.

00:44:11.719 --> 00:44:12.039
 And we

00:44:12.039 --> 00:44:12.500
 live in a

00:44:12.500 --> 00:44:13.059
 place, a

00:44:13.059 --> 00:44:13.799
 location and

00:44:13.799 --> 00:44:14.199
 even a

00:44:14.199 --> 00:44:15.039
 culture where

00:44:15.039 --> 00:44:16.119
 family is

00:44:16.119 --> 00:44:16.539
 important,

00:44:16.659 --> 00:44:17.319
 where friendship

00:44:17.319 --> 00:44:18.219
 is important

00:44:18.219 --> 00:44:19.559
 and very

00:44:19.559 --> 00:44:20.480
 strong and

00:44:20.480 --> 00:44:21.059
 is a great

00:44:21.059 --> 00:44:21.519
 thing.

00:44:23.319 --> 00:44:23.980
 But it

00:44:23.980 --> 00:44:24.619
 can also be

00:44:24.619 --> 00:44:25.179
 a barrier,

00:44:26.519 --> 00:44:27.679
 a barrier

00:44:27.679 --> 00:44:28.480
 to going

00:44:28.480 --> 00:44:28.980
 beyond

00:44:28.980 --> 00:44:29.739
 ourselves

00:44:29.739 --> 00:44:30.179
 and to

00:44:30.179 --> 00:44:30.460
 loving

00:44:30.460 --> 00:44:30.980
 others.

00:44:32.699 --> 00:44:33.460
 We can

00:44:33.460 --> 00:44:34.000
 be so

00:44:34.000 --> 00:44:34.779
 comfortable

00:44:34.779 --> 00:44:35.960
 loving our

00:44:35.960 --> 00:44:36.679
 own family,

00:44:36.799 --> 00:44:37.199
 loving our

00:44:37.199 --> 00:44:37.859
 own friends,

00:44:38.019 --> 00:44:38.399
 loving the

00:44:38.399 --> 00:44:39.419
 people that

00:44:39.419 --> 00:44:39.980
 we've grown

00:44:39.980 --> 00:44:40.639
 up with or

00:44:40.639 --> 00:44:41.059
 gone to

00:44:41.059 --> 00:44:41.739
 school with

00:44:41.739 --> 00:44:42.359
 or work

00:44:42.359 --> 00:44:42.779
 with.

00:44:44.099 --> 00:44:44.460
 We can

00:44:44.460 --> 00:44:44.819
 be so

00:44:44.819 --> 00:44:45.419
 comfortable

00:44:45.419 --> 00:44:45.940
 in these

00:44:45.940 --> 00:44:46.679
 things and

00:44:46.679 --> 00:44:47.359
 forget

00:44:47.359 --> 00:44:48.460
 others.

00:44:51.159 --> 00:44:51.879
 Those who

00:44:51.879 --> 00:44:52.440
 come through

00:44:52.440 --> 00:44:53.159
 our doors,

00:44:53.579 --> 00:44:53.799
 who we

00:44:53.799 --> 00:44:54.059
 don't

00:44:54.059 --> 00:44:54.899
 recognize or

00:44:54.899 --> 00:44:55.639
 are different

00:44:55.639 --> 00:44:56.719
 to us,

00:44:56.719 --> 00:44:58.179
 or those

00:44:58.179 --> 00:44:58.519
 who don't

00:44:58.519 --> 00:44:59.359
 even darken

00:44:59.359 --> 00:44:59.859
 our doors

00:44:59.859 --> 00:45:00.500
 at all.

00:45:01.579 --> 00:45:01.980
 We think

00:45:01.980 --> 00:45:02.239
 that we

00:45:02.239 --> 00:45:03.199
 have nothing

00:45:03.199 --> 00:45:03.739
 in common,

00:45:03.819 --> 00:45:03.939
 that we

00:45:03.939 --> 00:45:04.399
 have nothing

00:45:04.399 --> 00:45:05.119
 to say.

00:45:07.639 --> 00:45:08.279
 And yet

00:45:08.279 --> 00:45:09.039
 the gospel

00:45:09.039 --> 00:45:09.859
 is what

00:45:09.859 --> 00:45:10.379
 they need.

00:45:12.319 --> 00:45:13.239
 And Paul

00:45:13.239 --> 00:45:14.019
 in many ways

00:45:14.019 --> 00:45:14.679
 is reminding

00:45:14.679 --> 00:45:15.199
 the church

00:45:15.199 --> 00:45:15.879
 at Colossae

00:45:15.879 --> 00:45:16.219
 of what

00:45:16.219 --> 00:45:16.919
 they have

00:45:16.919 --> 00:45:17.699
 in their

00:45:17.699 --> 00:45:18.299
 midst.

00:45:19.419 --> 00:45:20.099
 The gospel

00:45:20.099 --> 00:45:21.159
 that has

00:45:21.159 --> 00:45:22.539
 come to

00:45:22.539 --> 00:45:23.379
 you as

00:45:23.379 --> 00:45:23.779
 indeed in

00:45:23.779 --> 00:45:24.239
 the whole

00:45:24.239 --> 00:45:24.679
 world,

00:45:24.799 --> 00:45:25.059
 it is

00:45:25.059 --> 00:45:25.939
 bearing fruit

00:45:25.940 --> 00:45:26.659
 and growing

00:45:26.659 --> 00:45:27.659
 as it

00:45:27.659 --> 00:45:28.599
 also does

00:45:28.599 --> 00:45:29.780
 among you.

00:45:29.840 --> 00:45:30.260
 He's saying

00:45:30.260 --> 00:45:30.480
 to them,

00:45:30.539 --> 00:45:30.960
 you are not

00:45:30.960 --> 00:45:31.440
 alone.

00:45:33.519 --> 00:45:33.920
 That I

00:45:33.920 --> 00:45:35.019
 have people

00:45:35.019 --> 00:45:35.619
 everywhere,

00:45:35.740 --> 00:45:36.240
 all over

00:45:36.240 --> 00:45:36.780
 the world,

00:45:36.900 --> 00:45:37.240
 who are your

00:45:37.240 --> 00:45:38.079
 brothers and

00:45:38.079 --> 00:45:39.320
 sisters in

00:45:39.320 --> 00:45:39.920
 Christ.

00:45:41.059 --> 00:45:41.480
 We can

00:45:41.480 --> 00:45:42.360
 boast in

00:45:42.360 --> 00:45:43.240
 this, in

00:45:43.240 --> 00:45:44.260
 the greatest,

00:45:44.440 --> 00:45:44.860
 in the right

00:45:44.860 --> 00:45:45.659
 sense of the

00:45:45.659 --> 00:45:46.179
 word, that

00:45:46.179 --> 00:45:46.920
 we rejoice

00:45:46.920 --> 00:45:48.320
 with thanksgiving

00:45:48.320 --> 00:45:48.940
 and boasting

00:45:48.940 --> 00:45:49.480
 that this

00:45:49.480 --> 00:45:50.820
 gospel is

00:45:50.820 --> 00:45:51.940
 bearing fruit.

00:45:51.940 --> 00:45:54.700
 do we

00:45:54.700 --> 00:45:55.579
 rejoice when

00:45:55.579 --> 00:45:56.019
 we hear

00:45:56.019 --> 00:45:56.300
 as we

00:45:56.300 --> 00:45:56.480
 have

00:45:56.480 --> 00:45:56.940
 updates,

00:45:57.380 --> 00:45:57.780
 even within

00:45:57.780 --> 00:45:58.220
 our own

00:45:58.220 --> 00:45:58.940
 denomination,

00:45:59.619 --> 00:45:59.920
 as we

00:45:59.920 --> 00:46:00.220
 are given

00:46:00.220 --> 00:46:01.480
 updates of

00:46:01.480 --> 00:46:01.780
 what's

00:46:01.780 --> 00:46:02.300
 happening in

00:46:02.300 --> 00:46:03.159
 other places,

00:46:03.460 --> 00:46:03.760
 as we

00:46:03.760 --> 00:46:04.139
 hear of

00:46:04.139 --> 00:46:04.800
 conversions,

00:46:05.519 --> 00:46:05.880
 as we

00:46:05.880 --> 00:46:06.220
 hear of

00:46:06.220 --> 00:46:06.920
 new members

00:46:06.920 --> 00:46:07.240
 in our

00:46:07.240 --> 00:46:07.579
 own

00:46:07.579 --> 00:46:08.559
 presbytery,

00:46:08.619 --> 00:46:08.900
 our own

00:46:08.900 --> 00:46:09.200
 islands,

00:46:09.260 --> 00:46:09.900
 we rejoice,

00:46:10.240 --> 00:46:10.800
 we boast

00:46:10.800 --> 00:46:11.780
 because God

00:46:11.780 --> 00:46:12.920
 is working

00:46:12.920 --> 00:46:14.500
 in the right

00:46:14.500 --> 00:46:15.220
 sense of

00:46:15.220 --> 00:46:15.720
 boasting.

00:46:15.719 --> 00:46:18.199
 or boasting

00:46:18.199 --> 00:46:18.519
 when we

00:46:18.519 --> 00:46:19.039
 hear of

00:46:19.039 --> 00:46:20.319
 new churches

00:46:20.319 --> 00:46:21.259
 being planted

00:46:21.259 --> 00:46:22.039
 or elders

00:46:22.039 --> 00:46:22.759
 and deacons

00:46:22.759 --> 00:46:23.480
 being made

00:46:23.480 --> 00:46:24.219
 or new

00:46:24.219 --> 00:46:25.199
 students coming

00:46:25.199 --> 00:46:25.719
 into the

00:46:25.719 --> 00:46:26.619
 seminary or

00:46:26.619 --> 00:46:27.299
 whatever it

00:46:27.299 --> 00:46:27.759
 is, it's

00:46:27.759 --> 00:46:28.480
 boasting in

00:46:28.480 --> 00:46:28.839
 the right

00:46:28.839 --> 00:46:29.379
 sense of

00:46:29.379 --> 00:46:30.259
 giving thanks

00:46:30.259 --> 00:46:30.919
 to God

00:46:30.919 --> 00:46:31.980
 that he is

00:46:31.980 --> 00:46:32.279
 in our

00:46:32.279 --> 00:46:32.799
 midst, that

00:46:32.799 --> 00:46:33.459
 the gospel

00:46:33.459 --> 00:46:34.739
 is bearing

00:46:34.739 --> 00:46:35.500
 fruit.

00:46:37.259 --> 00:46:38.019
 But it's

00:46:38.019 --> 00:46:38.459
 always with

00:46:38.459 --> 00:46:39.099
 that caveat

00:46:39.099 --> 00:46:39.619
 as Paul

00:46:39.619 --> 00:46:40.179
 says to

00:46:40.179 --> 00:46:40.959
 the Galatians,

00:46:41.459 --> 00:46:41.679
 may I

00:46:41.679 --> 00:46:42.439
 never boast

00:46:42.439 --> 00:46:43.219
 except in

00:46:43.219 --> 00:46:43.759
 the cross

00:46:43.759 --> 00:46:44.059
 of our

00:46:44.059 --> 00:46:44.699
 Lord Jesus

00:46:44.699 --> 00:46:45.359
 Christ.

00:46:46.379 --> 00:46:46.980
 That's

00:46:46.980 --> 00:46:47.679
 where boasting

00:46:47.679 --> 00:46:49.039
 comes from,

00:46:49.500 --> 00:46:50.579
 that Christ

00:46:50.579 --> 00:46:51.279
 has done

00:46:51.279 --> 00:46:51.539
 it.

00:46:52.699 --> 00:46:53.419
 We boast

00:46:53.419 --> 00:46:53.919
 in his

00:46:53.919 --> 00:46:54.739
 finished work

00:46:54.739 --> 00:46:55.379
 because that

00:46:55.379 --> 00:46:55.699
 is the

00:46:55.699 --> 00:46:56.719
 work that

00:46:56.719 --> 00:46:57.419
 is bearing

00:46:57.419 --> 00:46:58.299
 fruit.

00:47:00.099 --> 00:47:00.759
 There's

00:47:00.759 --> 00:47:01.219
 always a

00:47:01.219 --> 00:47:01.819
 danger of

00:47:01.819 --> 00:47:02.699
 jealousy or

00:47:02.699 --> 00:47:03.259
 a negative

00:47:03.259 --> 00:47:04.299
 attitude coming

00:47:04.299 --> 00:47:05.839
 through in

00:47:05.839 --> 00:47:06.480
 all that we

00:47:06.480 --> 00:47:06.839
 do.

00:47:08.119 --> 00:47:08.639
 It's been

00:47:08.639 --> 00:47:09.299
 there down

00:47:09.299 --> 00:47:10.599
 through all

00:47:10.599 --> 00:47:11.239
 the generations.

00:47:11.399 --> 00:47:12.000
 You find it

00:47:12.000 --> 00:47:12.699
 in Scripture,

00:47:12.899 --> 00:47:13.500
 you find it

00:47:13.500 --> 00:47:14.399
 in every

00:47:14.399 --> 00:47:15.279
 generation of

00:47:15.280 --> 00:47:15.720
 God's

00:47:15.720 --> 00:47:16.280
 people,

00:47:16.380 --> 00:47:16.940
 the danger

00:47:16.940 --> 00:47:18.100
 of jealousy

00:47:18.100 --> 00:47:18.980
 and rivalry

00:47:18.980 --> 00:47:19.620
 and all of

00:47:19.620 --> 00:47:20.480
 these things.

00:47:21.840 --> 00:47:22.260
 But what

00:47:22.260 --> 00:47:23.220
 Paul encourages

00:47:23.220 --> 00:47:24.400
 here is that

00:47:24.400 --> 00:47:25.580
 boastful nature

00:47:25.580 --> 00:47:26.960
 of rejoicing

00:47:26.960 --> 00:47:27.400
 that the

00:47:27.400 --> 00:47:28.620
 gospel is in

00:47:28.620 --> 00:47:29.260
 everything,

00:47:29.620 --> 00:47:30.360
 that we see

00:47:30.360 --> 00:47:31.160
 glory for

00:47:31.160 --> 00:47:31.880
 God in.

00:47:33.040 --> 00:47:33.620
 Whether it's

00:47:33.620 --> 00:47:34.160
 here,

00:47:34.700 --> 00:47:35.180
 whether it's

00:47:35.180 --> 00:47:35.519
 in our

00:47:35.519 --> 00:47:35.920
 nation,

00:47:36.060 --> 00:47:36.320
 whether it's

00:47:36.320 --> 00:47:36.880
 to all the

00:47:36.880 --> 00:47:37.460
 ends of

00:47:37.460 --> 00:47:37.880
 the earth,

00:47:38.180 --> 00:47:38.700
 to all

00:47:38.700 --> 00:47:39.680
 different people,

00:47:39.940 --> 00:47:41.019
 we can rejoice

00:47:41.019 --> 00:47:42.019
 that the

00:47:42.019 --> 00:47:43.360
 gospel is

00:47:43.360 --> 00:47:43.780
 bearing

00:47:43.780 --> 00:47:44.500
 fruit.

00:47:45.460 --> 00:47:46.179
 We boast

00:47:46.179 --> 00:47:47.920
 in Christ.

00:47:49.659 --> 00:47:50.460
 So we

00:47:50.460 --> 00:47:51.219
 have thankful,

00:47:51.860 --> 00:47:53.079
 we have boastful,

00:47:53.139 --> 00:47:53.420
 and then

00:47:53.420 --> 00:47:54.119
 finally we

00:47:54.119 --> 00:47:54.800
 have here

00:47:54.800 --> 00:47:55.980
 faithful,

00:47:56.980 --> 00:47:58.400
 being faithful.

00:48:02.460 --> 00:48:02.980
 And what

00:48:02.980 --> 00:48:03.380
 we see

00:48:03.380 --> 00:48:04.139
 here is

00:48:04.139 --> 00:48:05.500
 faithfulness

00:48:05.500 --> 00:48:06.000
 is at the

00:48:06.000 --> 00:48:06.820
 heart of so

00:48:06.820 --> 00:48:07.519
 much here

00:48:07.519 --> 00:48:07.940
 too.

00:48:09.360 --> 00:48:10.099
 We see

00:48:10.099 --> 00:48:10.380
 the

00:48:10.380 --> 00:48:11.139
 faithfulness

00:48:11.139 --> 00:48:12.099
 of Paul,

00:48:13.280 --> 00:48:13.759
 who is

00:48:13.759 --> 00:48:14.360
 remembering

00:48:14.360 --> 00:48:14.940
 the church

00:48:14.940 --> 00:48:15.699
 at Colossae,

00:48:16.039 --> 00:48:16.639
 who is

00:48:16.639 --> 00:48:17.420
 giving thanks

00:48:17.420 --> 00:48:17.860
 as he's

00:48:17.860 --> 00:48:18.940
 praying for

00:48:18.940 --> 00:48:19.440
 the church

00:48:19.440 --> 00:48:20.259
 at Colossae.

00:48:20.880 --> 00:48:21.320
 There is

00:48:21.320 --> 00:48:22.420
 that faithfulness

00:48:22.420 --> 00:48:23.599
 of him.

00:48:24.619 --> 00:48:25.039
 There is

00:48:25.039 --> 00:48:25.920
 the faithfulness

00:48:25.920 --> 00:48:27.280
 of Epaphras,

00:48:27.539 --> 00:48:28.980
 as it speaks

00:48:28.980 --> 00:48:29.699
 of in

00:48:29.699 --> 00:48:30.539
 verse 7.

00:48:31.559 --> 00:48:31.780
 Our

00:48:31.780 --> 00:48:32.400
 beloved

00:48:32.400 --> 00:48:33.320
 fellow

00:48:33.320 --> 00:48:33.980
 servant,

00:48:34.159 --> 00:48:34.860
 he is a

00:48:34.860 --> 00:48:35.400
 faithful

00:48:35.400 --> 00:48:36.059
 minister

00:48:36.059 --> 00:48:37.420
 of Christ.

00:48:37.519 --> 00:48:38.500
 on your

00:48:38.500 --> 00:48:39.159
 behalf.

00:48:40.940 --> 00:48:41.280
 And they

00:48:41.280 --> 00:48:41.659
 have the

00:48:41.659 --> 00:48:42.219
 people.

00:48:43.780 --> 00:48:44.179
 In verse

00:48:44.179 --> 00:48:44.739
 2 it

00:48:44.739 --> 00:48:44.960
 says,

00:48:45.079 --> 00:48:45.400
 to the

00:48:45.400 --> 00:48:45.880
 saints

00:48:45.880 --> 00:48:46.639
 and faithful

00:48:46.639 --> 00:48:47.559
 brothers in

00:48:47.559 --> 00:48:48.920
 Christ at

00:48:48.920 --> 00:48:49.519
 Colossae.

00:48:49.559 --> 00:48:49.880
 There is a

00:48:49.880 --> 00:48:50.480
 sense of

00:48:50.480 --> 00:48:51.259
 faithfulness

00:48:51.259 --> 00:48:52.300
 right throughout

00:48:52.300 --> 00:48:53.119
 all that is

00:48:53.119 --> 00:48:54.259
 taking place.

00:48:55.519 --> 00:48:55.699
 And

00:48:55.699 --> 00:48:56.440
 faithfulness is

00:48:56.440 --> 00:48:57.119
 such a key

00:48:57.119 --> 00:48:57.820
 feature for

00:48:57.820 --> 00:48:58.880
 any Christian's

00:48:58.880 --> 00:48:59.259
 life.

00:49:00.400 --> 00:49:00.840
 Faithfulness

00:49:00.840 --> 00:49:02.679
 towards God,

00:49:02.860 --> 00:49:03.519
 towards his

00:49:03.519 --> 00:49:03.980
 word,

00:49:04.219 --> 00:49:05.119
 towards prayer,

00:49:05.320 --> 00:49:06.179
 towards his

00:49:06.179 --> 00:49:06.780
 people.

00:49:06.780 --> 00:49:07.580
 It is a

00:49:07.580 --> 00:49:08.200
 life of

00:49:08.200 --> 00:49:09.000
 faithfulness.

00:49:10.500 --> 00:49:10.860
 And no

00:49:10.860 --> 00:49:11.440
 matter what

00:49:11.440 --> 00:49:11.900
 is going

00:49:11.900 --> 00:49:13.040
 on around

00:49:13.040 --> 00:49:13.480
 us, we

00:49:13.480 --> 00:49:14.640
 remain faithful

00:49:14.640 --> 00:49:15.360
 and sure

00:49:15.360 --> 00:49:16.320
 and steadfast

00:49:16.320 --> 00:49:17.060
 in the

00:49:17.060 --> 00:49:17.440
 Lord.

00:49:18.580 --> 00:49:18.920
 When you

00:49:18.920 --> 00:49:19.320
 look at the

00:49:19.320 --> 00:49:20.140
 Old Testament,

00:49:20.340 --> 00:49:21.460
 you find so

00:49:21.460 --> 00:49:21.960
 many of

00:49:21.960 --> 00:49:22.820
 God's people

00:49:22.820 --> 00:49:23.200
 who were

00:49:23.200 --> 00:49:24.500
 faithful in

00:49:24.500 --> 00:49:25.080
 the midst of

00:49:25.080 --> 00:49:25.900
 very challenging

00:49:25.900 --> 00:49:26.519
 periods.

00:49:26.680 --> 00:49:27.120
 We think of

00:49:27.120 --> 00:49:27.860
 Jeremiah we

00:49:27.860 --> 00:49:28.180
 were looking

00:49:28.180 --> 00:49:28.560
 at this

00:49:28.560 --> 00:49:28.980
 morning.

00:49:29.640 --> 00:49:30.000
 So many

00:49:30.000 --> 00:49:30.220
 of the

00:49:30.220 --> 00:49:30.760
 people are

00:49:30.760 --> 00:49:31.540
 turning away

00:49:31.540 --> 00:49:32.180
 from God

00:49:32.180 --> 00:49:32.519
 and yet

00:49:32.519 --> 00:49:33.720
 Jeremiah was

00:49:33.719 --> 00:49:34.439
 faithful,

00:49:35.359 --> 00:49:35.879
 faithfully

00:49:35.879 --> 00:49:36.719
 proclaiming

00:49:36.719 --> 00:49:37.559
 the message

00:49:37.559 --> 00:49:38.139
 that God

00:49:38.139 --> 00:49:38.659
 gave.

00:49:40.099 --> 00:49:40.459
 And you

00:49:40.459 --> 00:49:41.000
 see it

00:49:41.000 --> 00:49:41.559
 as you

00:49:41.559 --> 00:49:41.859
 look in

00:49:41.859 --> 00:49:42.119
 the book

00:49:42.119 --> 00:49:42.839
 of Hebrews

00:49:42.839 --> 00:49:43.779
 chapter 11,

00:49:43.899 --> 00:49:44.319
 that great

00:49:44.319 --> 00:49:44.839
 book of

00:49:44.839 --> 00:49:45.339
 faith,

00:49:46.179 --> 00:49:46.659
 and those

00:49:46.659 --> 00:49:46.959
 who were

00:49:46.959 --> 00:49:48.019
 faithful to

00:49:48.019 --> 00:49:49.019
 God in

00:49:49.019 --> 00:49:49.359
 the midst

00:49:49.359 --> 00:49:49.819
 of all

00:49:49.819 --> 00:49:50.599
 kinds of

00:49:50.599 --> 00:49:51.359
 situations.

00:49:52.639 --> 00:49:53.239
 Situations

00:49:53.239 --> 00:49:53.839
 that seemed

00:49:53.839 --> 00:49:54.519
 absurd,

00:49:55.259 --> 00:49:55.739
 situations

00:49:55.739 --> 00:49:56.259
 that seemed

00:49:56.259 --> 00:49:57.139
 crazy to

00:49:57.139 --> 00:49:57.839
 others around.

00:49:57.959 --> 00:49:58.159
 You think

00:49:58.159 --> 00:49:58.980
 of Noah

00:49:58.980 --> 00:49:59.739
 building an

00:49:59.739 --> 00:50:00.219
 ark when

00:50:00.219 --> 00:50:00.419
 there was

00:50:00.419 --> 00:50:01.219
 no sign

00:50:01.219 --> 00:50:02.219
 of water

00:50:02.219 --> 00:50:02.879
 or rain

00:50:02.879 --> 00:50:03.439
 or anything

00:50:03.439 --> 00:50:04.659
 and yet

00:50:04.659 --> 00:50:04.939
 he was

00:50:04.939 --> 00:50:05.519
 faithful,

00:50:05.859 --> 00:50:06.500
 he listened

00:50:06.500 --> 00:50:07.339
 to God.

00:50:08.079 --> 00:50:08.399
 You think

00:50:08.399 --> 00:50:09.079
 of Daniel

00:50:09.079 --> 00:50:10.079
 and his

00:50:10.079 --> 00:50:10.939
 faithfulness

00:50:10.939 --> 00:50:11.179
 in the

00:50:11.179 --> 00:50:11.659
 midst of

00:50:11.659 --> 00:50:12.519
 great

00:50:12.519 --> 00:50:13.119
 challenges

00:50:13.119 --> 00:50:13.639
 when he

00:50:13.639 --> 00:50:13.959
 was being

00:50:13.959 --> 00:50:14.659
 told to

00:50:14.659 --> 00:50:15.199
 bow down

00:50:15.199 --> 00:50:15.559
 to the

00:50:15.559 --> 00:50:15.899
 king

00:50:15.899 --> 00:50:16.619
 instead

00:50:16.619 --> 00:50:17.239
 of God

00:50:17.239 --> 00:50:17.480
 with the

00:50:17.480 --> 00:50:18.099
 very threat

00:50:18.099 --> 00:50:18.379
 of his

00:50:18.379 --> 00:50:20.000
 life and

00:50:20.000 --> 00:50:20.199
 yet he

00:50:20.199 --> 00:50:20.899
 was faithful

00:50:20.899 --> 00:50:21.459
 to God

00:50:21.459 --> 00:50:21.779
 and was

00:50:21.779 --> 00:50:22.359
 blessed.

00:50:23.859 --> 00:50:24.359
 Faithfulness

00:50:24.359 --> 00:50:25.359
 is so

00:50:25.359 --> 00:50:26.179
 important.

00:50:26.980 --> 00:50:27.559
 Epaphras,

00:50:27.639 --> 00:50:28.079
 it wasn't

00:50:28.079 --> 00:50:28.879
 easy for

00:50:28.879 --> 00:50:30.239
 him and

00:50:30.239 --> 00:50:30.599
 yet he

00:50:30.599 --> 00:50:31.460
 was faithful.

00:50:31.839 --> 00:50:32.219
 He was

00:50:32.219 --> 00:50:32.819
 faithful with

00:50:32.819 --> 00:50:33.360
 the gospel

00:50:33.360 --> 00:50:33.739
 that he

00:50:33.739 --> 00:50:34.259
 had heard

00:50:34.259 --> 00:50:35.299
 himself and

00:50:35.299 --> 00:50:35.819
 he brought

00:50:35.819 --> 00:50:36.480
 it to his

00:50:36.480 --> 00:50:37.279
 beloved brothers

00:50:37.279 --> 00:50:38.099
 and sisters

00:50:38.099 --> 00:50:38.699
 here in

00:50:38.699 --> 00:50:40.179
 Colossae that

00:50:40.179 --> 00:50:40.659
 they might

00:50:40.659 --> 00:50:41.900
 hear of the

00:50:41.900 --> 00:50:42.480
 wonder of

00:50:42.480 --> 00:50:43.360
 this Christ.

00:50:44.920 --> 00:50:45.339
 He was

00:50:45.339 --> 00:50:47.960
 faithful and

00:50:47.960 --> 00:50:48.460
 all our

00:50:48.460 --> 00:50:50.539
 faithfulness is

00:50:50.539 --> 00:50:51.119
 built on the

00:50:51.119 --> 00:50:52.559
 fact of Jesus'

00:50:52.880 --> 00:50:54.079
 faithfulness to

00:50:54.079 --> 00:50:56.039
 us and what

00:50:56.039 --> 00:50:56.819
 he has done

00:50:56.819 --> 00:50:57.980
 for us.

00:50:57.980 --> 00:51:00.539
 we can be

00:51:00.539 --> 00:51:01.980
 faithful because

00:51:01.980 --> 00:51:02.400
 he was

00:51:02.400 --> 00:51:03.659
 faithful for

00:51:03.659 --> 00:51:04.059
 us.

00:51:04.820 --> 00:51:05.219
 He did

00:51:05.219 --> 00:51:06.519
 all for

00:51:06.519 --> 00:51:07.019
 us.

00:51:09.079 --> 00:51:09.460
 And so

00:51:09.460 --> 00:51:10.320
 as Paul is

00:51:10.320 --> 00:51:10.920
 writing to

00:51:10.920 --> 00:51:11.500
 this church

00:51:11.500 --> 00:51:12.179
 at Colossae

00:51:12.179 --> 00:51:12.460
 to be

00:51:12.460 --> 00:51:13.119
 thankful,

00:51:13.719 --> 00:51:14.159
 to be

00:51:14.159 --> 00:51:14.820
 boastful,

00:51:14.880 --> 00:51:15.159
 to be

00:51:15.159 --> 00:51:15.800
 faithful,

00:51:16.320 --> 00:51:17.219
 it's all

00:51:17.219 --> 00:51:18.119
 for Christ.

00:51:19.000 --> 00:51:19.880
 It's all

00:51:19.880 --> 00:51:20.559
 for him

00:51:20.559 --> 00:51:21.480
 that he

00:51:21.480 --> 00:51:21.940
 might get

00:51:21.940 --> 00:51:23.059
 glory and

00:51:23.059 --> 00:51:23.360
 that the

00:51:23.360 --> 00:51:23.960
 gospel would

00:51:23.960 --> 00:51:24.619
 go on

00:51:24.619 --> 00:51:25.500
 bearing

00:51:25.500 --> 00:51:26.300
 fruit.

00:51:27.639 --> 00:51:28.119
 And that's

00:51:28.119 --> 00:51:28.659
 what it is

00:51:28.659 --> 00:51:29.219
 for us

00:51:29.219 --> 00:51:30.559
 too, to

00:51:30.559 --> 00:51:31.219
 remember what

00:51:31.219 --> 00:51:32.019
 we have in

00:51:32.019 --> 00:51:33.539
 Christ and

00:51:33.539 --> 00:51:33.760
 that we

00:51:33.760 --> 00:51:34.079
 would be

00:51:34.079 --> 00:51:35.340
 thankful for

00:51:35.340 --> 00:51:36.039
 all of that,

00:51:36.139 --> 00:51:36.320
 that we

00:51:36.320 --> 00:51:36.539
 would be

00:51:36.539 --> 00:51:37.219
 boastful,

00:51:37.539 --> 00:51:37.840
 that we

00:51:37.840 --> 00:51:38.019
 would be

00:51:38.019 --> 00:51:38.940
 encouraged that

00:51:38.940 --> 00:51:39.739
 God is in

00:51:39.739 --> 00:51:41.539
 our midst and

00:51:41.539 --> 00:51:41.860
 that we would

00:51:41.860 --> 00:51:43.659
 be faithful in

00:51:43.659 --> 00:51:44.480
 serving him

00:51:44.480 --> 00:51:45.059
 and in all

00:51:45.059 --> 00:51:45.679
 that we do

00:51:45.679 --> 00:51:46.780
 for him.

00:51:49.519 --> 00:51:50.480
 There was a

00:51:50.480 --> 00:51:51.500
 story told

00:51:51.500 --> 00:51:53.260
 about a

00:51:53.260 --> 00:51:53.719
 man who

00:51:53.719 --> 00:51:54.039
 was a

00:51:54.039 --> 00:51:54.860
 clerk in a

00:51:54.860 --> 00:51:55.680
 small hotel

00:51:55.680 --> 00:51:56.039
 in a

00:51:56.039 --> 00:51:57.000
 town in

00:51:57.000 --> 00:51:57.480
 America.

00:51:59.280 --> 00:51:59.780
 And this

00:51:59.780 --> 00:52:00.740
 night, a

00:52:00.740 --> 00:52:01.640
 stormy night,

00:52:01.760 --> 00:52:02.400
 heavy rain

00:52:02.400 --> 00:52:03.360
 outside, an

00:52:03.360 --> 00:52:04.220
 elderly couple

00:52:04.220 --> 00:52:04.800
 arrived at

00:52:04.800 --> 00:52:05.340
 the hotel.

00:52:05.980 --> 00:52:06.460
 They came in

00:52:06.460 --> 00:52:06.860
 through the

00:52:06.860 --> 00:52:07.140
 door and

00:52:07.140 --> 00:52:07.599
 they came up

00:52:07.599 --> 00:52:07.900
 to the

00:52:07.900 --> 00:52:08.400
 clerk at

00:52:08.400 --> 00:52:08.980
 the reception

00:52:08.980 --> 00:52:10.180
 and asked

00:52:10.180 --> 00:52:10.440
 if they

00:52:10.440 --> 00:52:10.820
 could have

00:52:10.820 --> 00:52:11.220
 a room.

00:52:12.840 --> 00:52:13.220
 And the

00:52:13.220 --> 00:52:13.720
 clerk at

00:52:13.720 --> 00:52:14.380
 the desk

00:52:14.380 --> 00:52:14.800
 said,

00:52:14.880 --> 00:52:15.519
 I'm sorry,

00:52:16.019 --> 00:52:16.640
 but we're

00:52:16.640 --> 00:52:17.019
 full.

00:52:17.860 --> 00:52:18.200
 And I

00:52:18.200 --> 00:52:18.720
 know for a

00:52:18.720 --> 00:52:19.140
 fact that

00:52:19.140 --> 00:52:19.519
 all the

00:52:19.519 --> 00:52:19.920
 towns,

00:52:20.160 --> 00:52:20.700
 all the

00:52:20.700 --> 00:52:21.280
 hotels in

00:52:21.280 --> 00:52:21.720
 the town

00:52:21.720 --> 00:52:22.599
 are full

00:52:22.599 --> 00:52:23.400
 as well.

00:52:23.400 --> 00:52:25.019
 Then he

00:52:25.019 --> 00:52:25.139
 said,

00:52:25.160 --> 00:52:25.460
 but I

00:52:25.460 --> 00:52:25.940
 can't

00:52:25.940 --> 00:52:26.599
 send you

00:52:26.599 --> 00:52:27.579
 back out

00:52:27.579 --> 00:52:28.079
 into the

00:52:28.079 --> 00:52:28.400
 rain.

00:52:29.039 --> 00:52:29.599
 How about

00:52:29.599 --> 00:52:29.960
 would you

00:52:29.960 --> 00:52:31.200
 stay in

00:52:31.200 --> 00:52:31.840
 my room?

00:52:32.340 --> 00:52:32.599
 He had

00:52:32.599 --> 00:52:32.980
 his own

00:52:32.980 --> 00:52:33.900
 room in

00:52:33.900 --> 00:52:34.480
 the hotel.

00:52:35.740 --> 00:52:36.139
 You can

00:52:36.139 --> 00:52:36.720
 stay in

00:52:36.720 --> 00:52:37.280
 my room

00:52:37.280 --> 00:52:38.119
 and I'll

00:52:38.119 --> 00:52:38.660
 stay out

00:52:38.660 --> 00:52:38.900
 at the

00:52:38.900 --> 00:52:39.280
 desk

00:52:39.280 --> 00:52:39.780
 through the

00:52:39.780 --> 00:52:40.079
 night.

00:52:41.200 --> 00:52:41.740
 The

00:52:41.740 --> 00:52:42.000
 couple

00:52:42.000 --> 00:52:42.780
 hesitated,

00:52:43.460 --> 00:52:43.800
 but the

00:52:43.800 --> 00:52:44.780
 clerk insisted

00:52:44.780 --> 00:52:45.180
 that they

00:52:45.180 --> 00:52:45.860
 would stay

00:52:45.860 --> 00:52:46.860
 in his

00:52:46.860 --> 00:52:47.180
 room.

00:52:47.920 --> 00:52:48.360
 The next

00:52:48.360 --> 00:52:48.760
 morning,

00:52:49.079 --> 00:52:49.400
 when the

00:52:49.400 --> 00:52:49.880
 couple were

00:52:49.880 --> 00:52:50.200
 leaving,

00:52:50.300 --> 00:52:50.639
 the man

00:52:50.639 --> 00:52:51.220
 came and

00:52:51.220 --> 00:52:51.780
 paid his

00:52:51.780 --> 00:52:52.079
 bill.

00:52:52.079 --> 00:52:52.719
 He had

00:52:52.719 --> 00:52:53.179
 stayed a

00:52:53.179 --> 00:52:53.440
 night in

00:52:53.440 --> 00:52:53.799
 the hotel,

00:52:53.920 --> 00:52:54.239
 therefore he

00:52:54.239 --> 00:52:54.460
 was wanting

00:52:54.460 --> 00:52:55.039
 to pay

00:52:55.039 --> 00:52:55.799
 for the

00:52:55.799 --> 00:52:56.059
 room.

00:52:57.679 --> 00:52:58.079
 And the

00:52:58.079 --> 00:52:58.639
 man said

00:52:58.639 --> 00:52:58.960
 to him as

00:52:58.960 --> 00:52:59.159
 he was

00:52:59.159 --> 00:52:59.900
 departing,

00:53:00.440 --> 00:53:00.940
 you're the

00:53:00.940 --> 00:53:01.480
 kind of

00:53:01.480 --> 00:53:02.039
 man who

00:53:02.039 --> 00:53:02.299
 should be

00:53:02.299 --> 00:53:02.960
 managing the

00:53:02.960 --> 00:53:03.960
 best hotel

00:53:03.960 --> 00:53:04.239
 in the

00:53:04.239 --> 00:53:05.199
 United States

00:53:05.199 --> 00:53:05.719
 has to

00:53:05.719 --> 00:53:06.039
 offer.

00:53:06.779 --> 00:53:07.579
 Someday I'll

00:53:07.579 --> 00:53:08.139
 build you

00:53:08.139 --> 00:53:08.360
 one.

00:53:09.880 --> 00:53:10.659
 And the

00:53:10.659 --> 00:53:11.139
 clerk at

00:53:11.139 --> 00:53:11.599
 the desk

00:53:11.599 --> 00:53:12.579
 just laughed

00:53:12.579 --> 00:53:13.079
 it off,

00:53:13.599 --> 00:53:14.179
 thought nothing

00:53:14.179 --> 00:53:14.960
 else of it.

00:53:15.900 --> 00:53:16.420
 Until a

00:53:16.420 --> 00:53:16.840
 couple of

00:53:16.840 --> 00:53:17.699
 years later,

00:53:18.199 --> 00:53:18.679
 a letter

00:53:18.679 --> 00:53:19.500
 arrived from

00:53:19.500 --> 00:53:20.139
 this elderly

00:53:20.139 --> 00:53:20.519
 man.

00:53:20.519 --> 00:53:22.340
 outlining

00:53:22.340 --> 00:53:22.980
 and remembering

00:53:22.980 --> 00:53:23.420
 that he

00:53:23.420 --> 00:53:24.099
 had been

00:53:24.099 --> 00:53:24.820
 so faithful

00:53:24.820 --> 00:53:25.300
 to them

00:53:25.300 --> 00:53:25.599
 as a

00:53:25.599 --> 00:53:26.079
 couple and

00:53:26.079 --> 00:53:26.599
 letting them

00:53:26.599 --> 00:53:27.559
 stay in

00:53:27.559 --> 00:53:28.139
 his room

00:53:28.139 --> 00:53:28.860
 that night,

00:53:29.659 --> 00:53:30.360
 inviting him

00:53:30.360 --> 00:53:31.039
 to come to

00:53:31.039 --> 00:53:31.860
 New York,

00:53:32.699 --> 00:53:33.139
 that he had

00:53:33.139 --> 00:53:33.780
 something to

00:53:33.780 --> 00:53:34.420
 say to

00:53:34.420 --> 00:53:34.639
 him.

00:53:35.900 --> 00:53:36.179
 And so

00:53:36.179 --> 00:53:36.579
 the man,

00:53:36.659 --> 00:53:37.079
 the clerk,

00:53:37.360 --> 00:53:38.320
 the ticket

00:53:38.320 --> 00:53:38.759
 was there,

00:53:38.800 --> 00:53:39.420
 he took it

00:53:39.420 --> 00:53:40.300
 and he went

00:53:40.300 --> 00:53:40.900
 to New York,

00:53:40.960 --> 00:53:41.460
 he was met

00:53:41.460 --> 00:53:42.179
 by this elderly

00:53:42.179 --> 00:53:42.679
 man who

00:53:42.679 --> 00:53:43.099
 took him

00:53:43.099 --> 00:53:43.840
 to this

00:53:43.840 --> 00:53:44.559
 brand new

00:53:44.559 --> 00:53:45.179
 building,

00:53:45.940 --> 00:53:46.699
 a brand new

00:53:46.699 --> 00:53:47.280
 hotel,

00:53:47.940 --> 00:53:48.340
 and said,

00:53:49.019 --> 00:53:49.880
 that's mine.

00:53:50.519 --> 00:53:51.599
 And I

00:53:51.599 --> 00:53:52.119
 want you

00:53:52.119 --> 00:53:52.800
 to manage

00:53:52.800 --> 00:53:53.059
 it.

00:53:55.039 --> 00:53:55.980
 He hadn't

00:53:55.980 --> 00:53:56.840
 forgotten the

00:53:56.840 --> 00:53:57.559
 kindness of

00:53:57.559 --> 00:53:58.099
 that man

00:53:58.099 --> 00:53:58.860
 when he

00:53:58.860 --> 00:53:59.400
 needed him

00:53:59.400 --> 00:54:00.420
 and he

00:54:00.420 --> 00:54:01.199
 invited him

00:54:01.199 --> 00:54:02.079
 to be

00:54:02.079 --> 00:54:02.940
 the hotel

00:54:02.940 --> 00:54:03.840
 manager.

00:54:04.980 --> 00:54:05.539
 And so

00:54:05.539 --> 00:54:06.159
 he did.

00:54:08.539 --> 00:54:09.159
 Well,

00:54:09.500 --> 00:54:10.619
 remember who

00:54:10.619 --> 00:54:11.739
 it is we

00:54:11.739 --> 00:54:12.179
 are to be

00:54:12.179 --> 00:54:13.059
 faithful to.

00:54:14.099 --> 00:54:14.920
 Even in the

00:54:14.920 --> 00:54:15.780
 least of

00:54:15.780 --> 00:54:16.420
 these things

00:54:16.420 --> 00:54:16.860
 as the

00:54:16.860 --> 00:54:17.179
 scripture

00:54:17.179 --> 00:54:18.219
 describes it,

00:54:19.079 --> 00:54:19.679
 the least

00:54:19.679 --> 00:54:20.079
 of these

00:54:20.079 --> 00:54:20.559
 things you

00:54:20.559 --> 00:54:20.799
 have been

00:54:20.799 --> 00:54:21.559
 faithful to

00:54:21.559 --> 00:54:22.759
 me and

00:54:22.759 --> 00:54:23.039
 there is

00:54:23.039 --> 00:54:23.980
 great reward.

00:54:25.279 --> 00:54:25.679
 When we

00:54:25.679 --> 00:54:26.360
 are faithful

00:54:26.360 --> 00:54:27.340
 to Christ,

00:54:27.400 --> 00:54:27.840
 even in the

00:54:27.840 --> 00:54:28.299
 least of

00:54:28.299 --> 00:54:28.980
 these things,

00:54:29.500 --> 00:54:30.400
 we remember

00:54:30.400 --> 00:54:30.940
 who we're

00:54:30.940 --> 00:54:31.400
 serving,

00:54:32.119 --> 00:54:32.739
 we remember

00:54:32.739 --> 00:54:33.319
 what he's

00:54:33.319 --> 00:54:33.719
 doing,

00:54:34.299 --> 00:54:34.920
 that he is

00:54:34.920 --> 00:54:36.199
 building not

00:54:36.199 --> 00:54:37.059
 a hotel,

00:54:38.139 --> 00:54:38.920
 but a

00:54:38.920 --> 00:54:39.360
 kingdom,

00:54:40.699 --> 00:54:41.559
 his kingdom,

00:54:42.619 --> 00:54:43.319
 and that

00:54:43.319 --> 00:54:43.719
 people are

00:54:43.719 --> 00:54:44.579
 being called

00:54:44.579 --> 00:54:46.079
 into his

00:54:46.079 --> 00:54:46.599
 kingdom,

00:54:47.019 --> 00:54:48.159
 to be part

00:54:48.159 --> 00:54:49.159
 of his

00:54:49.159 --> 00:54:49.699
 kingdom.

00:54:50.599 --> 00:54:51.059
 Through the

00:54:51.059 --> 00:54:51.559
 least of

00:54:51.559 --> 00:54:52.239
 the things

00:54:52.239 --> 00:54:53.159
 that we

00:54:53.159 --> 00:54:53.759
 do for

00:54:53.759 --> 00:54:54.039
 him,

00:54:54.859 --> 00:54:55.319
 we are

00:54:55.319 --> 00:54:55.639
 to be

00:54:55.639 --> 00:54:56.159
 faithful.

00:54:57.359 --> 00:54:57.679
 And when

00:54:57.679 --> 00:54:57.960
 we are

00:54:57.960 --> 00:54:58.639
 faithful,

00:54:59.079 --> 00:54:59.579
 he

00:54:59.579 --> 00:55:00.259
 blesses.

00:55:02.199 --> 00:55:02.899
 That's the

00:55:02.899 --> 00:55:03.519
 encouragement

00:55:03.519 --> 00:55:04.299
 that Paul

00:55:04.299 --> 00:55:05.420
 is giving to

00:55:05.420 --> 00:55:05.940
 the church,

00:55:06.019 --> 00:55:06.559
 to the people

00:55:06.559 --> 00:55:07.379
 at Colossae.

00:55:08.039 --> 00:55:08.779
 They may be

00:55:08.779 --> 00:55:09.319
 small,

00:55:10.199 --> 00:55:10.980
 they may feel

00:55:10.980 --> 00:55:11.639
 discouraged,

00:55:11.639 --> 00:55:12.179
 they may have

00:55:12.179 --> 00:55:13.000
 their challenges,

00:55:13.000 --> 00:55:14.579
 they may not

00:55:14.579 --> 00:55:15.059
 know where

00:55:15.059 --> 00:55:15.539
 things are

00:55:15.539 --> 00:55:15.940
 going,

00:55:16.679 --> 00:55:17.960
 but he is

00:55:17.960 --> 00:55:19.619
 reminding God

00:55:19.619 --> 00:55:20.380
 is with them.

00:55:21.679 --> 00:55:22.139
 And with

00:55:22.139 --> 00:55:23.360
 God, we are

00:55:23.360 --> 00:55:24.199
 to be thankful,

00:55:25.440 --> 00:55:26.719
 thankful for

00:55:26.719 --> 00:55:27.380
 all of his

00:55:27.380 --> 00:55:28.719
 people, for

00:55:28.719 --> 00:55:29.300
 all that he

00:55:29.300 --> 00:55:29.920
 is doing.

00:55:30.920 --> 00:55:31.519
 We are to be

00:55:31.519 --> 00:55:32.239
 boastful,

00:55:33.300 --> 00:55:33.920
 boasting in the

00:55:33.920 --> 00:55:34.860
 right sense,

00:55:35.380 --> 00:55:35.780
 that the

00:55:35.780 --> 00:55:37.280
 gospel is

00:55:37.280 --> 00:55:38.199
 bearing fruit

00:55:38.199 --> 00:55:39.119
 all over the

00:55:39.119 --> 00:55:40.539
 world, that we

00:55:40.539 --> 00:55:41.340
 are part of

00:55:41.340 --> 00:55:42.720
 that, and

00:55:42.720 --> 00:55:43.000
 to be

00:55:43.000 --> 00:55:44.800
 faithful, to

00:55:44.800 --> 00:55:45.700
 be faithful in

00:55:45.700 --> 00:55:46.300
 all that we

00:55:46.300 --> 00:55:46.960
 do for him,

00:55:46.960 --> 00:55:47.340
 even the

00:55:47.340 --> 00:55:47.960
 littlest of

00:55:47.960 --> 00:55:49.960
 things, seeking

00:55:49.960 --> 00:55:50.720
 his blessing

00:55:50.720 --> 00:55:51.960
 in all.

00:55:53.260 --> 00:55:53.940
 So may we

00:55:53.940 --> 00:55:54.800
 be a people

00:55:54.800 --> 00:55:55.840
 who are

00:55:55.840 --> 00:55:57.140
 thankful, giving

00:55:57.140 --> 00:55:57.900
 praise to

00:55:57.900 --> 00:55:58.860
 him, who

00:55:58.860 --> 00:55:59.700
 are boastful

00:55:59.700 --> 00:56:00.900
 that God is

00:56:00.900 --> 00:56:01.480
 with us, and

00:56:01.480 --> 00:56:01.780
 who are

00:56:01.780 --> 00:56:03.260
 faithful in

00:56:03.260 --> 00:56:04.460
 all that we

00:56:04.460 --> 00:56:04.760
 do.

00:56:05.360 --> 00:56:05.780
 Let us

00:56:05.780 --> 00:56:06.059
 pray.

00:56:08.760 --> 00:56:09.579
 Lord, our

00:56:09.579 --> 00:56:10.539
 gracious God,

00:56:10.640 --> 00:56:11.280
 help us

00:56:11.280 --> 00:56:11.940
 to be

00:56:11.940 --> 00:56:12.840
 encouraged by

00:56:12.840 --> 00:56:13.360
 your word,

00:56:13.460 --> 00:56:14.100
 help us to

00:56:14.100 --> 00:56:14.860
 be a people

00:56:14.860 --> 00:56:15.840
 who don't

00:56:15.840 --> 00:56:16.519
 just see our

00:56:16.519 --> 00:56:17.560
 glasses half

00:56:17.560 --> 00:56:18.060
 full, but

00:56:18.060 --> 00:56:18.700
 that see it

00:56:18.700 --> 00:56:19.640
 overflowing,

00:56:20.180 --> 00:56:20.640
 for you are

00:56:20.640 --> 00:56:21.240
 the fullness

00:56:21.240 --> 00:56:22.900
 of all, you

00:56:22.900 --> 00:56:23.200
 are the

00:56:23.200 --> 00:56:24.120
 richest of

00:56:24.120 --> 00:56:24.840
 all things,

00:56:24.920 --> 00:56:25.180
 and we

00:56:25.180 --> 00:56:25.680
 thank you

00:56:25.680 --> 00:56:26.140
 that you,

00:56:26.680 --> 00:56:26.940
 when you

00:56:26.940 --> 00:56:27.380
 are with

00:56:27.380 --> 00:56:27.860
 us, Lord,

00:56:27.960 --> 00:56:28.440
 help us

00:56:28.440 --> 00:56:29.019
 to know

00:56:29.019 --> 00:56:30.200
 your glory

00:56:30.200 --> 00:56:30.620
 and your

00:56:30.620 --> 00:56:31.080
 power.

00:56:31.780 --> 00:56:32.120
 And so,

00:56:32.280 --> 00:56:32.620
 Lord, we

00:56:32.620 --> 00:56:33.120
 ask that you

00:56:33.120 --> 00:56:33.680
 would bless

00:56:33.680 --> 00:56:34.680
 all that we

00:56:34.680 --> 00:56:35.300
 seek to do

00:56:35.300 --> 00:56:35.620
 in your

00:56:35.620 --> 00:56:36.660
 name, help

00:56:36.660 --> 00:56:37.160
 us to be

00:56:37.160 --> 00:56:38.660
 thankful, help

00:56:38.660 --> 00:56:39.380
 us to boast

00:56:39.380 --> 00:56:40.240
 in the gospel

00:56:40.240 --> 00:56:40.860
 of our Lord

00:56:40.860 --> 00:56:41.820
 Jesus Christ,

00:56:41.900 --> 00:56:42.400
 and help us

00:56:42.400 --> 00:56:43.260
 to be faithful

00:56:43.260 --> 00:56:44.280
 in all that

00:56:44.280 --> 00:56:44.940
 you ask us

00:56:44.940 --> 00:56:45.640
 to do for

00:56:45.640 --> 00:56:45.900
 it.

00:56:46.400 --> 00:56:46.880
 And so, we

00:56:46.880 --> 00:56:47.400
 pray, Lord,

00:56:47.440 --> 00:56:47.780
 that you will

00:56:47.780 --> 00:56:48.559
 guide us and

00:56:48.559 --> 00:56:49.760
 help us, and

00:56:49.760 --> 00:56:50.039
 that we would

00:56:50.039 --> 00:56:50.880
 give all glory

00:56:50.880 --> 00:56:51.519
 to you, that

00:56:51.519 --> 00:56:52.200
 your kingdom

00:56:52.200 --> 00:56:53.480
 would come in

00:56:53.480 --> 00:56:54.720
 power, as we

00:56:54.720 --> 00:56:55.599
 ask it all in

00:56:55.599 --> 00:56:56.400
 the precious name

00:56:56.400 --> 00:56:56.940
 of our Lord

00:56:56.940 --> 00:56:57.660
 and Saviour,

00:56:57.780 --> 00:56:58.740
 Jesus Christ.

00:56:59.200 --> 00:56:59.599
 Amen.

00:56:59.599 --> 00:56:59.760
 Amen.

00:56:59.760 --> 00:57:04.860
 we're going

00:57:04.860 --> 00:57:05.740
 to conclude

00:57:05.740 --> 00:57:06.340
 by singing

00:57:06.340 --> 00:57:08.080
 in Psalm 26,

00:57:08.240 --> 00:57:08.480
 and let's

00:57:08.480 --> 00:57:09.220
 sing Psalm's

00:57:09.220 --> 00:57:09.600
 version,

00:57:11.840 --> 00:57:13.660
 page 31,

00:57:15.400 --> 00:57:17.180
 Psalm 26.

00:57:17.500 --> 00:57:17.920
 We'll sing

00:57:17.920 --> 00:57:19.040
 from verse 7

00:57:19.040 --> 00:57:20.180
 down to the

00:57:20.180 --> 00:57:20.580
 end of the

00:57:20.580 --> 00:57:21.000
 psalm, the

00:57:21.000 --> 00:57:21.420
 tune is

00:57:21.420 --> 00:57:21.960
 Balerma.

00:57:21.960 --> 00:57:26.079
 I'll tell of

00:57:26.079 --> 00:57:26.599
 all your

00:57:26.599 --> 00:57:27.440
 awesome deeds,

00:57:27.679 --> 00:57:28.720
 proclaiming loud

00:57:28.720 --> 00:57:29.639
 your praise,

00:57:29.740 --> 00:57:30.380
 your glory

00:57:30.380 --> 00:57:31.760
 fills, your

00:57:31.760 --> 00:57:32.740
 dwelling place,

00:57:32.880 --> 00:57:34.260
 I love, I love

00:57:34.260 --> 00:57:34.980
 your house

00:57:34.980 --> 00:57:35.980
 always.

00:57:35.980 --> 00:57:36.960
 from verse 7

00:57:36.960 --> 00:57:37.320
 to the end

00:57:37.320 --> 00:57:37.599
 of the

00:57:37.599 --> 00:57:38.079
 psalm, we

00:57:38.079 --> 00:57:38.840
 stand to

00:57:38.840 --> 00:57:39.179
 sing.

00:57:39.179 --> 00:57:39.619
 Amen.

00:58:05.980 --> 00:58:06.980
 sing.

00:58:06.980 --> 00:58:07.980
 Amen.

00:58:07.980 --> 00:58:08.980
 Amen.

00:58:08.980 --> 00:58:08.980


00:58:08.980 --> 00:58:09.980
 Amen.

00:58:09.980 --> 00:58:09.980


00:58:09.980 --> 00:58:10.980
 Amen.

00:58:10.980 --> 00:58:10.980


00:58:35.980 --> 00:58:36.980
 Amen.

00:59:05.980 --> 00:59:06.980
 Amen.

00:59:35.980 --> 00:59:36.980
 Amen.

01:00:00.420 --> 01:00:01.219
 After the

01:00:01.219 --> 01:00:01.800
 benediction, I'll

01:00:01.800 --> 01:00:02.199
 go to the

01:00:02.199 --> 01:00:02.679
 door to my

01:00:02.679 --> 01:00:02.960
 right.

01:00:03.039 --> 01:00:03.579
 We'll close

01:00:03.579 --> 01:00:03.820
 with the

01:00:03.820 --> 01:00:04.199
 benediction.

01:00:04.199 --> 01:00:12.619
 now may grace mercy and peace from god father son and holy spirit rest upon and abide with you all

01:00:12.619 --> 01:00:15.059
 now and forevermore amen