WEBVTT

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

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 We're going to sing in Psalm 34, in the Scottish Psalter version,

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! Psalm 34, verse 1-7.

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 Our first two singings are from this psalm, Psalm 34,

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 Scottish Psalter, verse 246 of the psalm book.

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 We sing from verse 1-7.

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 God, will I bless all times, his praise, my mouth shall still express,

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 my soul shall boast in God, the meek shall hear with joyfulness.

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 The tune is St. Thomas, and we stand to sing to God's praise.

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 Thy soul shall boast in God, the meek shall hear with joyfulness.

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 Exol the Lord with me, let us exalt his name together.

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 I sought the Lord be her, and did me from all fears given.

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 He looked to him unlightened with no shame in where there is,

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 His name is St. Thomas, and we stand to sing to God's praise.

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

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 Let us pray.

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 O Lord, our gracious God, we come to worship you this day,

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 to praise you as one who is worthy of it.

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 We thank you, Lord, that you promise to meet us as we come,

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 that you promise to be with us, that you speak to us through your word.

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 Even these words that we have sung together,

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 they remind us of the great wonder of your saving power,

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 that we as poor men and women, poor children,

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 we are just poor people in this world,

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 and yet we can cry out to you as the one who is able to save.

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 And we thank you, Lord, for every answered prayer that you give to us,

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 that you are one who is faithful, that you are one who is true to your promises.

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 And so, Lord, as we do indeed come to the end of a year,

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 and as we look back, reflecting on so much in the past,

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 we thank you for your great faithfulness to us, young and old alike,

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 for your goodness to us in the praising of your name,

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 in our worship of you in the church here,

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 and also in Sunday school and Bible class and creche and tweenies.

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 We do thank you for your word and how blessed we are by it,

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 how our lives are enriched through it,

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 and how as we look ahead to a new year, God willing,

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 that it is your word that is able to lead us and guide us.

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 And we thank you, Lord, that we do have that promise,

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 that you go before us in all things.

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 We do ask your blessing on us as a people,

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 on all our families this time of holiday, Lord.

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 We thank you when families are able to be joined together

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 in fellowship around your word,

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 in meals at home,

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 in times of just being together over a period of holiday.

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 But may we always remember, Lord,

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 that this is a time when we are to remember you

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 and your great remembrance to us,

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 that you gave your son to us,

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 as a people, a poor people.

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 We thank you for the one who was rich,

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 yet for our sakes became poor.

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 And so may our focus be on Jesus today and always.

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 May we be ever thankful for him

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 and for all that he has done for us,

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 all he is doing,

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 and all that he will do.

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 And may we praise you for all of your goodness to us.

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 Hear our prayers, Lord.

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 Continue with us throughout this day

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 and into the week ahead, Lord.

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 Lord, go before us,

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 pardoning all our sin.

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 That's all we ask.

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 We ask in Jesus' precious name.

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 Amen.

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 It's good to see young ones in our midst today.

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 It's always nice to be together,

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 especially as we think of coming

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 to the end of a year

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 and into a new year,

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 God willing.

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 We have so much to give thanks for.

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 And I hope during this week

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 you've had so much to give thanks for.

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 I'm sure you all got many different presents,

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 so you've got much to give thanks for in that.

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 But above all,

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 we give thanks to God

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 for his goodness to us.

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 Now, hands up.

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 Who ate too much chocolate this week?

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 I'm sure most have.

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 There's lots of people

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 who aren't telling the truth in here today,

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 I can tell you.

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 There's not many hands going up.

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 I'm sure we've all overindulged a little.

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 And what I have to show you here,

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 I'm sure you don't want to see

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 any more of this, do you?

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 It's not an advent calendar.

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 They're probably long gone.

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 It's a box of chocolates.

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 Box of chocolates.

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 And there's lots of nice chocolates inside.

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 And the amazing thing

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 about this box of chocolates is

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 it's not open.

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 It's probably the only one left

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 in the house that isn't opened.

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 Because there's a time of year

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 when you just open a box of chocolates

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 and you start just picking them out

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 one by one.

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 But how do you open a box of chocolates?

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 What do you do

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 when you open a box of chocolates?

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 There's certain ways

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 that we can be

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 when we open a box of chocolates.

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 Different ways that we can do it.

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 We can be very selfish.

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 We can open the box

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 for ourselves first.

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 And we look at the list

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 of the chocolates on the back

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 and think, right,

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 I'm going to get the caramel one.

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 Because that's my favorite.

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 Nobody else is going to get that.

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 So you go into the box,

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 you get the one you like yourself,

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 you take them away

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 and then you pass it around.

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 Is that the nice way

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 to be with a box of chocolates?

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 No.

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 Others can come to a box of chocolates

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 and not think,

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 which one's my favorite?

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 Just grab anything and everything.

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 Just try anything.

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 And then you put something

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 like a Turkish delight

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 in your mouth.

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 You think, oh, I don't like that.

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 So you spit it out

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 and then go on to the next one.

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 And then you just keep going,

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 keep going, keep going

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 until you get ones you like yourself.

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 Is that the way we should be?

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 That's being quite selfish as well,

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 isn't it?

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 Instead, we should maybe look around us

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 and think, well,

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 who would like a chocolate first?

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 Isn't that the nice way to do it?

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 And then you look on the back

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 and you take your time

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 and study the box

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 and say to people,

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 well, this is what we have.

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 What do you like?

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 And I like this

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 when you start to share them around

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 and you get the best

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 out of the box of chocolates

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 by shading

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 and by looking and seeing

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 and taking your time

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 as to what's in the box.

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 And it reminds us

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 when we think of

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 how we are with Jesus.

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 Sometimes with Jesus,

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 we just say,

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 Jesus, I want this.

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 This is my favorite thing

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 in all the world

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 and I want you to give it to me

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 and I want it now.

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 So we can be selfish

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 towards Jesus.

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 Other times,

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 we just come to Jesus

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 and say,

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 I want everything.

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 I want it all.

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 I want it all myself.

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 And that's not the right way

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 to come to Jesus either.

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 What we want to do

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 is come to Jesus together

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 as a people together

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 and say,

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 well, Lord,

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 what do you want for us?

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 What's your will for us?

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 Let's look at your word.

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 Let's look at,

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 is it where the box of chocolates

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 and see all the different things

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 that's there for us

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 and think,

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 Lord,

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 maybe I'll be good at that

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 and somebody else

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 will be good at this

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 and somebody else

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 can do that part

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 and think,

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 how can we

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 be like a selection box

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 of chocolates

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 together

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 where everybody

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 has a part to play?

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 Everybody has something

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 to do

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 in the life

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 of the church.

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 We don't want

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 to be selfish.

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 We don't want

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 to have it all

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 for ourselves.

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 We want to be sharing

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 in it all together

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 and enjoying

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 the favor of God

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 upon us.

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 So as we come

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 to the end of this year

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 and God willing

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 go into a new year,

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 may we do so together,

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 praying for one another,

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 encouraging one another,

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 praying that we would

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 see God's blessing

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 and goodness

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 as we share

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 in his work

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 and in his ministry

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 together.

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 God has been good

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 to us.

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 He has given us

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 many gifts

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 and we pray

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 going forward

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 to know the Lord's blessing

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 and his goodness

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 with us.

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 We're going to say

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 the Lord's prayer

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 together now.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Our Father,

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 which art in heaven,

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 hallowed be thy name.

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 Thy kingdom come.

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 Thy will be done

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 on earth

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 as it is in heaven.

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 Give us this day

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 our daily bread

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 and forgive us

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 our debts

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 as we forgive

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 our debtors.

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 And lead us not

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 into temptation,

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 but deliver us

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 from evil.

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 For thine is the kingdom,

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 the power,

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 and the glory

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 forever.

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 Amen.

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 We carry on singing

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 in that psalm

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 that we had before,

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 Psalm 34.

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 We're going to sing

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 from verse 8

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 to verse 15.

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 Psalm 34,

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 page 247.

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 O taste and see

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 that God is good

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 who trusts

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 and him is blessed.

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 Fear God,

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 his saints,

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 none that in fear

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 shall be with want.

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 O press.

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 We'll sing

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 from verse 8

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 to 15

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 and the tuner's wheelchair.

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 We stand to sing

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 to God's praise.

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 O taste and see

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 that God is good,

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 who trusts

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 and the john's

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 the lions

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 young may hungry

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 be, and they

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 may lack their food,

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 but they that

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 truly seek the

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 Lord shall not

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 lack any good.

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 O children,

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 ever

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 do we come

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 and unto

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 me

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 give it,

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 I shall you

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 teach

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 to understand

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 how

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 the Lord

00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:31.600
 should fill.

00:12:33.920 --> 00:12:35.600
 What man

00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:37.600
 is he

00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:39.600
 that life

00:12:40.340 --> 00:12:41.360
 is

00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:41.600
 high,

00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:43.600
 to see

00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:45.600
 good

00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:47.279
 good

00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:47.600
 love,

00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:51.600
 thy lips

00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:53.600
 refrain

00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:55.600
 from speaking

00:12:57.040 --> 00:12:57.600
 guile,

00:12:57.600 --> 00:13:00.600
 and from

00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:03.600
 their words

00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:03.600


00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:05.600
 done.

00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:07.600
 Depart

00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:09.600
 from

00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:09.600


00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:11.600
 do you

00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:13.600
 seek peace,

00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:15.600
 seek peace,

00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:17.600
 pursue it

00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:19.600
 the

00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:20.600
 earnest

00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:21.600
 thee,

00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:23.600
 God's

00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:25.600
 eyes

00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:27.600
 and on

00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:28.600
 the

00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:29.600
 just

00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:31.600
 is here

00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:33.600
 shall

00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:35.600
 open to

00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:37.600
 their

00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:37.600


00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:38.600
 cry.

00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:39.600
 I

00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:39.600


00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:47.519
 Well, we're going to turn to read

00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:50.659
 together in God's Word in the Gospel of John,

00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:53.060
 reading in chapter 6.

00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:57.200
 We take up our reading at verse 25,

00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:00.399
 reading down to verse 51.

00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:03.399
 John chapter 6,

00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:07.399
 we find it around page 1075 in the Bibles,

00:14:07.399 --> 00:14:10.399
 if you're using the church Bibles,

00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:13.399
 and take up our reading at verse 25,

00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:29.399
 where we find at the beginning of the chapter Jesus has fed the 5,000 in that miraculous way, and there was so much left over as well. And then in the evening he came to walk on water, another miracle of Jesus.

00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:37.399
 And then we find the people gathered round with him as he comes to teach them here in verse 25.

00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:59.379
 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, Rabbi, when did you come here? Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that perishes.

00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:09.580
 Do not labor for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.

00:15:09.580 --> 00:15:22.120
 Then they said to him, What must we do to be doing the works of God? Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.

00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:32.120
 So they said to him, Then what sign do you do that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?

00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:39.860
 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness. As it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

00:15:40.700 --> 00:15:50.519
 Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:57.639
 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

00:15:58.699 --> 00:16:03.179
 They said to him, Sir, give us this bread always.

00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:07.360
 Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life.

00:16:07.899 --> 00:16:13.019
 Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:18.879
 But I said to you that you have seen me, and yet do not believe.

00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:24.759
 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

00:16:25.199 --> 00:16:30.379
 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:37.220
 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me,

00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:40.039
 but raise it up on the last day.

00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:48.179
 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life,

00:16:48.579 --> 00:16:51.059
 and I will raise him up on the last day.

00:16:52.039 --> 00:16:57.759
 So the Jews grumbled about him because he said, I am the bread that came down from heaven.

00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:04.399
 They said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?

00:17:05.159 --> 00:17:08.460
 How does he now say, I have come down from heaven?

00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:13.039
 Then Jesus answered them, Do not grumble among yourselves.

00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:21.039
 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.

00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:26.620
 It is written in the prophets, and they will all be taught by God.

00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:31.279
 Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.

00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:36.299
 Not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God.

00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:38.160
 He has seen the Father.

00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:43.700
 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:46.139
 I am the bread of life.

00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:50.460
 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.

00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:56.660
 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.

00:17:56.660 --> 00:18:00.900
 I am the living bread that came down from heaven.

00:18:01.360 --> 00:18:05.019
 If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.

00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:10.980
 And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.

00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:12.620
 And so on.

00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:15.860
 And may God bless that reading from his word.

00:18:17.060 --> 00:18:19.820
 Let's again just bow our heads in a word of prayer.

00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:20.580
 Let us pray.

00:18:20.580 --> 00:18:20.680
 Amen.

00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:31.200
 Lord, our gracious God, we continue in dependence upon you for all things.

00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:35.100
 Thankful for the bread of life that you are to us.

00:18:35.620 --> 00:18:37.019
 The one who sustains us.

00:18:37.120 --> 00:18:38.220
 The one who keeps us.

00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:44.259
 The one who, even in these words that we have read, you have given us so many promises there.

00:18:44.259 --> 00:19:00.779
 And we thank you that through faith we receive these promises, that they are promises that are to your people of old and to your people today and to people to come in generations before us, Lord, however many they may be before your return.

00:19:01.559 --> 00:19:11.019
 We thank you that your word is faithful, that your word is true, that your word, although it has been put down and cast aside down through all the generations,

00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:24.420
 even as we see in the reading before us, the Jews who grumbled about Jesus because they saw him as one who was just born in this world, a son to Joseph as it's described.

00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:32.599
 And yet we read that you are the one, that you have given the one who was sent from heaven, that you sent your son into this world.

00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:35.219
 And we thank you for the wonder of that.

00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:43.219
 We thank you for the reason for it, that we see here that he came, that we might have life through him and life eternal.

00:19:43.879 --> 00:19:52.419
 And as we come here before you today on the last Lord's Day of this year, we thank you for the life that you have given to us.

00:19:52.899 --> 00:19:58.079
 We thank you for those who believe in you and to know the promise of eternal life.

00:19:58.079 --> 00:20:06.599
 And we do pray, Lord, for your spirit to minister to all who are still seeking after that eternal life,

00:20:06.659 --> 00:20:15.039
 who are longing for it, maybe even today, to know that great assurance, that great comfort of what faith in Christ brings.

00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:22.480
 And we pray, Lord, for your spirit to work, that as we look back with thankfulness, we may look forward, Lord,

00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:26.159
 in dependence and faith on you, all of us together.

00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:31.279
 And we do look back on this year, Lord, thankful for all that you have done for us,

00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:35.980
 thankful for the times of joy that you have been with us in,

00:20:36.040 --> 00:20:40.779
 and thankful too for the difficult times when we have known your presence as well.

00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:44.840
 When we think of our congregation and our people and even our community,

00:20:45.560 --> 00:20:50.519
 we are so mindful of all that takes place in the lives of many around us.

00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:56.839
 We know that even throughout this year we have times of rejoicing in births,

00:20:57.079 --> 00:21:00.359
 in babies being born, even into our own congregation here.

00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:02.859
 And we thank you for new life in that way.

00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:08.299
 We thank you for services of baptism too and for families rejoicing around that.

00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:14.099
 And we do give thanks, Lord, for all our young people and pray that you will bless them, each one,

00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:21.079
 and that you will keep them, your covenant children, those who have been baptized in this congregation,

00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:22.719
 maybe even over many years.

00:21:23.219 --> 00:21:25.980
 We thank you, Lord, for your promises in that.

00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:30.579
 And we do pray, Lord, that these promises may be fulfilled in your time.

00:21:31.379 --> 00:21:34.859
 We thank you too for marriage and the gift that that is.

00:21:34.919 --> 00:21:39.819
 We thank you for marriages that took place, belonging to ourselves as a congregation as well.

00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:49.279
 We do pray blessing on all married couples and families and just ask your blessing and protection over homes and families together.

00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:58.659
 We thank you, Lord, of the pain of grief as well, as we know it so often in our experience in life.

00:21:59.079 --> 00:22:05.460
 And this past year, and as we reflect on it, Lord, we know many who have gone through that pain of loss

00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:11.019
 and the grief that that brings, not just for a short time, but maybe even for a lifetime.

00:22:11.900 --> 00:22:15.200
 We know, Lord, that pain is real for so many.

00:22:15.860 --> 00:22:19.259
 And this time of year maybe just brings that pain even more.

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:24.640
 We do pray and thank you for the comfort that you are, the comfort that you give,

00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:27.680
 the comfort that is only found in you.

00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:33.380
 And we do thank you, Lord, that you are that constant companion, the one who keeps your people.

00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:39.060
 We thank you too, Lord, at times when we may be troubled by many different things,

00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:40.720
 people who are in ill health.

00:22:41.320 --> 00:22:42.580
 We pray for them, Lord.

00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:49.940
 We ask your blessing and peace over those who may be in hospital or homes or confined to their own homes.

00:22:50.620 --> 00:22:56.620
 We know, Lord, the uncertainty of life in so many ways and how quickly circumstances can change.

00:22:57.160 --> 00:22:59.660
 But we thank you for you as the one who changes not.

00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:03.860
 And we do pray, Lord, for grace and help in our times of need.

00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:12.259
 We pray for our whole communities, Lord, at this time when there can be so many anxieties looking ahead to a new year,

00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:18.880
 uncertainties in the workplace, uncertainties in the home, uncertainties in the world that surrounds us.

00:23:19.100 --> 00:23:25.060
 We see so many things that may leave us anxious or afraid when we think of the troubles of this world,

00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:32.119
 when we think of the economy, when we think of debt, when we think of unemployment in our own nation.

00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:35.839
 We see the troubles and concerns that that brings, Lord.

00:23:35.879 --> 00:23:39.799
 And we just pray for you to bless our land, to bless our people,

00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:44.159
 to bless those who rule over us with your wisdom from on high.

00:23:44.639 --> 00:23:48.440
 That we would look to you as a people, that we would turn once more to you,

00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:51.860
 pleading for marshy, pleading for your help.

00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:58.320
 We think of the world, O Lord, with its troubles too and conflicts taking place,

00:23:58.900 --> 00:24:03.220
 times of great need in so many different parts of our world.

00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:06.320
 We think of your people who are persecuted.

00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:11.880
 When we think of the things that we see on our screens and hear so much of in the news,

00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:14.920
 and yet so much is hidden from us as well.

00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:20.020
 So much that goes on without anyone knowing, as it were, but yet you, Lord, know.

00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:22.340
 You know those who are persecuted.

00:24:22.560 --> 00:24:23.860
 You know those who suffer.

00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.900
 You know those in need.

00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:30.360
 And we do pray, Lord, for your mercy and your grace over us.

00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:34.520
 We pray for your word to go out with power to all ends of the earth,

00:24:34.560 --> 00:24:39.020
 for it is a saving word, it's a powerful word, a transforming word.

00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:43.359
 And we pray that for all your organizations, for all your missionaries,

00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:47.839
 for all who endeavor to reach out with the good news of Jesus Christ,

00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:50.460
 that you would bless and uphold all.

00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:54.339
 We think especially of Muriel, thankful for her ministry in Cambodia,

00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:56.379
 thankful for her fellowship with us,

00:24:57.019 --> 00:25:00.099
 thankful for that bond and connection that is so powerful.

00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:03.059
 And we thank you, Lord, that you are with her.

00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:07.660
 And we do pray that you will continue to keep her, to uphold her, and to bless her.

00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:09.720
 We thank you for one another, Lord.

00:25:09.800 --> 00:25:14.180
 We thank you for the encouragements that we receive together as a people.

00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:19.500
 And we pray your favor upon us as a congregation going into this year ahead, God willing,

00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:22.940
 that you would provide for us, Lord, in a time of vacancy,

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:30.100
 that you would provide for us in every way as we long to see your powerful work in our midst,

00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:33.120
 as we long to see souls coming to be saved,

00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:36.559
 as we long to see believers being built up,

00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:40.279
 as we long to see your word being blessed to us all.

00:25:40.399 --> 00:25:42.739
 We thank you, Lord, for your promises in it,

00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:44.899
 that you will build your church.

00:25:45.219 --> 00:25:48.239
 And that is our hope, even here today, Lord,

00:25:48.739 --> 00:25:52.439
 that together we would know the foundation of your church,

00:25:52.639 --> 00:25:55.899
 that is Christ Jesus, our Lord, our cornerstone,

00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:57.640
 that we would look to him,

00:25:58.080 --> 00:26:00.759
 that you would help us to have our eyes fixed on him,

00:26:01.300 --> 00:26:03.280
 and that you would go before us, Lord,

00:26:03.600 --> 00:26:08.840
 as we pray your goodness and mercy to follow us all the days of our lives.

00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:10.120
 So, Lord, be with us now.

00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:13.980
 Bless your word as we sing from it, as we open it up together.

00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:16.040
 May it all be to your glory,

00:26:16.540 --> 00:26:19.080
 and may we know the power of your spirit in our midst,

00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:21.740
 as we ask all the forgiveness of our sin.

00:26:22.139 --> 00:26:24.099
 In Jesus' name. Amen.

00:26:26.619 --> 00:26:30.639
 We'll sing together to God's praise in Psalm 63.

00:26:33.179 --> 00:26:40.240
 In the Sing Psalms version, Psalm 63, page 80 of the psalm books.

00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:43.480
 We're going to sing from verse 1 to verse 8.

00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:46.199
 O God, you are my God alone.

00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:48.199
 I seek your face with eagerness.

00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:53.759
 My soul and body thirst for you in this dry, weary wilderness.

00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:55.819
 There's a longing for the Lord,

00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:59.440
 and that's what we seek to have as we come to the end of a year

00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:01.160
 and go into a new year, God willing,

00:27:01.600 --> 00:27:05.120
 that we would have that longing and thirst for the Lord.

00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:08.160
 We'll sing verse 1 to 8, the Tunis Finart,

00:27:08.360 --> 00:27:10.559
 and we stand to sing to God's praise.

00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:10.620
 Amen.

00:27:10.619 --> 00:27:23.059
 O God, you are my God alone.

00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:29.619
 I seek your face with eagerness.

00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:37.239
 My soul and body thirst for you,

00:27:37.239 --> 00:27:43.579
 and this dry, weary wilderness.

00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:45.980
 I seek your face with eagerness.

00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:52.639
 I seek your face with eagerness.

00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:52.639


00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:57.579
 Your power and glory held my days.

00:27:57.579 --> 00:28:03.039
 For better is your love that life,

00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:16.859
 It is your love that lies, and so my lips will sing your face.

00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:33.740
 I'll bless you, Lord, throughout my life, and raise my hands to you and live.

00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:49.740
 My joyful lips will sing your praise, my soul is fed with precious hair.

00:28:49.740 --> 00:29:05.900
 Upon my bed I lie awake, and in my thoughts remember you.

00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:21.900
 I meditate throughout the night, and keep your constant love in you.

00:29:21.900 --> 00:29:38.820
 Because you are my help alone, in shadow of your wings I'll sing.

00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:54.919
 You hold me up with your right hand, to you, O God, my soul and King.

00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:03.720
 We can turn back to our reading in John chapter 6.

00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:06.279
 We'll read again at verse 33.

00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:10.439
 John 6, verse 33.

00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:15.939
 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:21.099
 They said to him, Sir, give us this bread always.

00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:25.240
 Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life.

00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:32.079
 Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:34.079
 And so on.

00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:40.740
 We're going to consider the whole of what we read together this morning from verse 25 down

00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:41.679
 to verse 51.

00:30:41.819 --> 00:30:47.539
 But our focus is on these verses in particular where Jesus is talking there about being the

00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:49.299
 bread of life.

00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:57.399
 I'm sure you're only too aware of how important food is in our lives in a week where we so often

00:30:57.399 --> 00:31:02.940
 overindulge, and maybe looking ahead to another week of overindulging once again.

00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:09.220
 We can't do without food, and yet there's some times when we just think, oh, I've had enough

00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:10.180
 of it.

00:31:10.180 --> 00:31:15.380
 Christmas Day, I'm sure, is a day when you think to yourself, I never want to see another

00:31:15.380 --> 00:31:16.759
 plate of food again.

00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:22.320
 And yet the next day you're looking for something because you're starting to feel peckish once

00:31:22.320 --> 00:31:22.720
 again.

00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:28.100
 Our thoughts, our lives are so often taken up with food.

00:31:28.620 --> 00:31:34.259
 We think about it so much, whether it's thinking of what we're going to have, preparing food,

00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:37.880
 eating food together, clearing up afterwards.

00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:41.400
 It occupies so much of our lives.

00:31:42.140 --> 00:31:43.560
 What's your favorite food?

00:31:44.360 --> 00:31:46.740
 What's your favorite meal of the day?

00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:49.120
 So where are your thoughts now?

00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:54.520
 You're drifting off somewhere to think maybe in what's for dinner today, what you've eaten

00:31:54.520 --> 00:31:56.140
 in this past week.

00:31:56.660 --> 00:32:00.440
 Food just has that kind of pull on us.

00:32:02.080 --> 00:32:03.700
 Well, come back here.

00:32:03.840 --> 00:32:06.300
 Don't drift off into thinking about what's for dinner.

00:32:06.299 --> 00:32:11.099
 Don't drift off into thinking what's your favorite meal, but come back and think of what we're

00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:12.000
 looking at here today.

00:32:12.059 --> 00:32:14.500
 And let's focus on the Word of God.

00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:21.500
 What is our bread, our sustenance, our food to keep us going on a daily basis?

00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:28.299
 How much of our thoughts are focused on the Word of God on a daily basis?

00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:33.399
 Do we give what we eat as much thought as we give to the Word of God?

00:32:34.500 --> 00:32:41.019
 It's a food of a different kind, and yet it's a food that fully satisfies us.

00:32:41.019 --> 00:32:48.059
 And that's the point that Jesus is making here as he ministers to this crowd, as he speaks to them

00:32:48.059 --> 00:32:51.859
 about the fact that he is the bread of life.

00:32:51.859 --> 00:32:57.379
 They've been fascinated by what's happened at the beginning of this chapter, when they've seen

00:32:57.379 --> 00:33:01.099
 and heard of him feeding the great crowd of 5,000.

00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:04.679
 They've been amazed by what's taken place there.

00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:08.679
 But they're seeing now that Jesus is there with them.

00:33:08.979 --> 00:33:11.559
 And does he have the same pull on them?

00:33:11.559 --> 00:33:18.579
 Does Jesus have the same pull on your lives and your thoughts as food does?

00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:25.379
 For the people of Jesus' day, food was important, just as it is to our own day.

00:33:25.879 --> 00:33:30.000
 They went hungry, and they sat down, and they ate.

00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:34.599
 And they had just seen this great feeding of the 5,000.

00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:42.699
 But in verse 26 and 27, Jesus gives them a challenge in the midst of all that they've seen.

00:33:43.659 --> 00:33:47.259
 Jesus challenges them there when he says to them,

00:33:47.679 --> 00:33:52.879
 Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs,

00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:56.079
 but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

00:33:56.859 --> 00:34:03.839
 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life,

00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:07.419
 which the Son of Man will give to you.

00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:11.139
 So there is this challenge to them.

00:34:11.219 --> 00:34:13.900
 What are you looking for in this life?

00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:16.579
 What is your focus on?

00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:19.599
 What is your thoughts consumed by?

00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:23.179
 What's vital for your salvation?

00:34:24.319 --> 00:34:29.739
 It's not the food that you eat on a daily basis that will leave you hungry again,

00:34:29.739 --> 00:34:34.179
 but the food that satisfies eternally.

00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:38.919
 And that's the challenge that Jesus is giving them here.

00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:41.419
 Bread will still leave you hungry.

00:34:42.259 --> 00:34:44.899
 But as Jesus says in verse 35,

00:34:45.899 --> 00:34:48.619
 I am the bread of life.

00:34:49.239 --> 00:34:54.119
 I am the one who will keep you, the one who will sustain you.

00:34:54.119 --> 00:34:57.980
 And so today as we come to the end of a year,

00:34:58.679 --> 00:35:01.259
 as we look back and reflect on what's past,

00:35:01.699 --> 00:35:04.119
 and as we look ahead to what's before us,

00:35:04.460 --> 00:35:06.440
 what are you hungry for?

00:35:07.659 --> 00:35:10.639
 What are you doing as you go into a new year?

00:35:10.880 --> 00:35:13.059
 What is your life like?

00:35:13.779 --> 00:35:15.019
 How are you living it?

00:35:15.619 --> 00:35:17.619
 And what is your focus on?

00:35:17.619 --> 00:35:21.980
 Are you fully satisfied in every way?

00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:25.059
 Or is there something lacking?

00:35:25.980 --> 00:35:28.179
 Is there something that's leaving you hungry?

00:35:28.739 --> 00:35:30.759
 And you know that there's something missing,

00:35:31.420 --> 00:35:35.119
 something that you need that will fully satisfy you.

00:35:35.139 --> 00:35:39.259
 Well, that's the challenge that Jesus gives to us here in this passage.

00:35:39.260 --> 00:35:46.420
 And he gives us a focus for us as we think of coming to the end of a year

00:35:46.420 --> 00:35:47.800
 and going into a new year.

00:35:48.100 --> 00:35:49.840
 How are we living our lives?

00:35:50.580 --> 00:35:54.540
 And there are three ways I want us to think about our lives here today.

00:35:55.400 --> 00:35:56.760
 And think about how we're living

00:35:56.760 --> 00:36:00.640
 and how we're going to go forward and what we need.

00:36:01.480 --> 00:36:02.860
 And the three things are this.

00:36:02.920 --> 00:36:06.600
 We see different kinds of people here in this passage.

00:36:06.599 --> 00:36:11.000
 We see a people who are laboring, first of all.

00:36:11.500 --> 00:36:13.380
 A people who are laboring.

00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:16.619
 Secondly, we see a people who are longing.

00:36:17.819 --> 00:36:21.219
 And then thirdly, we see a people who are living.

00:36:22.779 --> 00:36:26.739
 What kind of person are you today when it comes to these?

00:36:27.579 --> 00:36:29.059
 Are you laboring today?

00:36:29.619 --> 00:36:30.659
 Are you longing?

00:36:31.839 --> 00:36:34.619
 Or are you truly living today?

00:36:34.619 --> 00:36:37.699
 I want us to see these three groups.

00:36:38.199 --> 00:36:40.659
 And begin with a people who are laboring.

00:36:41.839 --> 00:36:45.099
 What is it that you're laboring for today?

00:36:46.279 --> 00:36:49.819
 In the same way that food so often takes up our thoughts,

00:36:50.659 --> 00:36:55.219
 so does our lives and how we are living them in the sense of laboring.

00:36:56.199 --> 00:37:00.119
 Jesus here speaks about laboring in this way.

00:37:00.119 --> 00:37:01.920
 He says in verse 27,

00:37:02.119 --> 00:37:05.259
 Do not labor for the food that perishes,

00:37:05.960 --> 00:37:10.019
 but for the food that endures to eternal life.

00:37:11.059 --> 00:37:13.579
 He's talking there about people who are working,

00:37:13.699 --> 00:37:15.859
 who are laboring in that sense.

00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:17.500
 They're working in their lives,

00:37:17.779 --> 00:37:20.559
 and they're working to provide for themselves.

00:37:21.880 --> 00:37:24.000
 And you may be laboring yourself.

00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:29.519
 You may be working a way in your life to provide in so many different ways,

00:37:29.659 --> 00:37:31.219
 for yourself or for others.

00:37:31.800 --> 00:37:35.119
 We're all in that sense laboring in this world.

00:37:35.860 --> 00:37:38.079
 But does our labor even have a focus?

00:37:38.679 --> 00:37:40.699
 Does our work have a focus?

00:37:40.840 --> 00:37:43.280
 And what is the focus of it?

00:37:44.239 --> 00:37:46.599
 What we see here is Jesus telling us

00:37:46.599 --> 00:37:50.360
 that there are people who are laboring with a wrong focus.

00:37:50.360 --> 00:37:53.480
 As it says in verse 27,

00:37:53.660 --> 00:37:56.460
 Do not labor for food that perishes.

00:37:57.420 --> 00:37:59.640
 Do not just work for that that perishes,

00:37:59.840 --> 00:38:03.880
 that disappears, that's here one minute and gone the next.

00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:08.539
 And that is the way that we can so often live our lives.

00:38:09.220 --> 00:38:12.420
 With that sense of just laboring away for something

00:38:12.420 --> 00:38:14.160
 that is but for a moment.

00:38:14.760 --> 00:38:16.460
 Something that doesn't last.

00:38:16.460 --> 00:38:21.240
 And we can see it in our own lives in so many different ways.

00:38:21.780 --> 00:38:23.900
 And these aren't all things that are wrong.

00:38:24.880 --> 00:38:27.780
 But they're wrong when we don't have things in perspective.

00:38:28.119 --> 00:38:29.760
 When all that we're thinking about,

00:38:30.139 --> 00:38:31.579
 all that we're consumed with,

00:38:31.639 --> 00:38:34.519
 is laboring, is working for the next holiday,

00:38:34.659 --> 00:38:35.880
 for the next reward,

00:38:36.260 --> 00:38:38.019
 to buy something nice.

00:38:38.019 --> 00:38:41.599
 When we're living our lives in that way,

00:38:41.679 --> 00:38:42.920
 just going at it,

00:38:43.380 --> 00:38:45.019
 working away, slaving away,

00:38:45.119 --> 00:38:47.599
 just so we can have something at the end of it.

00:38:47.619 --> 00:38:49.239
 But that something is then gone.

00:38:50.759 --> 00:38:53.119
 And then we move on to the next phase,

00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:55.500
 looking forward to the next holiday.

00:38:56.360 --> 00:38:58.619
 The way we are there is almost something

00:38:58.619 --> 00:39:00.800
 that just takes all our focus,

00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:02.099
 all our attention,

00:39:02.099 --> 00:39:05.940
 but something that will not satisfy fully

00:39:05.940 --> 00:39:09.360
 and something that will not last.

00:39:10.659 --> 00:39:13.960
 And that's what Jesus is highlighting here in verse 27.

00:39:14.659 --> 00:39:17.719
 Do not labor for that food that perishes,

00:39:18.500 --> 00:39:20.360
 that just disappears.

00:39:21.739 --> 00:39:22.839
 But, he says,

00:39:23.339 --> 00:39:27.519
 but for the food that endures to eternal life.

00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:32.800
 Are you laboring in life and not satisfied?

00:39:33.719 --> 00:39:36.259
 There are so many people in this world

00:39:36.259 --> 00:39:37.679
 who are just like that.

00:39:38.059 --> 00:39:40.000
 And it can surprise you sometimes

00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:43.000
 that it's sometimes people who have everything,

00:39:44.280 --> 00:39:46.940
 and yet they're still laboring in that sense

00:39:46.940 --> 00:39:49.480
 for things that are just perishing,

00:39:49.639 --> 00:39:50.539
 that are disappearing.

00:39:52.079 --> 00:39:54.340
 There's a big American sports star.

00:39:54.340 --> 00:39:55.860
 He's now retired,

00:39:56.000 --> 00:39:58.400
 but his career was full of success.

00:39:58.960 --> 00:40:01.660
 An American footballer by the name Tom Brady.

00:40:03.000 --> 00:40:05.620
 His career spanned a long time.

00:40:06.019 --> 00:40:09.360
 He became the most successful American footballer of all time,

00:40:09.900 --> 00:40:12.380
 winning seven Super Bowls, as it's called.

00:40:12.440 --> 00:40:16.680
 That's the major competition in American football.

00:40:16.780 --> 00:40:19.000
 It's like our European Cup, you could say.

00:40:19.840 --> 00:40:21.019
 It's a big title.

00:40:21.640 --> 00:40:23.660
 Brings with it all kinds of glory.

00:40:24.340 --> 00:40:26.000
 But during his career,

00:40:26.140 --> 00:40:27.880
 maybe about halfway through his career,

00:40:28.000 --> 00:40:28.800
 he was interviewed.

00:40:29.660 --> 00:40:32.600
 And he was being asked a number of different questions.

00:40:32.700 --> 00:40:35.039
 At this point, he'd had a successful career.

00:40:35.579 --> 00:40:37.660
 He'd won three Super Bowls.

00:40:38.200 --> 00:40:39.600
 And he said this,

00:40:40.500 --> 00:40:43.519
 why having won three Super Bowls,

00:40:44.079 --> 00:40:48.620
 do I still think there's something greater out there for me?

00:40:49.480 --> 00:40:52.000
 I think it's got to be more than this, he said.

00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:54.340
 I mean, this isn't it.

00:40:55.139 --> 00:40:58.719
 This can't be what it's all cracked up to be.

00:40:59.900 --> 00:41:02.000
 This is him in the midst of his success,

00:41:02.159 --> 00:41:04.300
 saying it can't be just this.

00:41:05.159 --> 00:41:06.820
 And the interviewer asked him,

00:41:07.159 --> 00:41:08.280
 what's the answer?

00:41:09.940 --> 00:41:12.099
 And Tom Brady's response was,

00:41:12.539 --> 00:41:14.219
 I wish I knew.

00:41:14.219 --> 00:41:17.199
 A successful career.

00:41:17.819 --> 00:41:19.399
 So much money in his life.

00:41:19.559 --> 00:41:21.079
 Everything that he could ask for.

00:41:21.739 --> 00:41:23.759
 And yet he's still looking for an answer.

00:41:23.859 --> 00:41:26.539
 He's laboring for things that are perishing.

00:41:26.619 --> 00:41:27.099
 And he's saying,

00:41:27.799 --> 00:41:29.559
 I wish I knew.

00:41:29.559 --> 00:41:33.159
 I wish I knew what it was about.

00:41:33.940 --> 00:41:36.059
 And it's such a common story.

00:41:37.259 --> 00:41:38.619
 Laboring away in life,

00:41:38.840 --> 00:41:40.239
 even successful lives,

00:41:40.619 --> 00:41:41.739
 hungry for something,

00:41:41.840 --> 00:41:44.059
 but with no real direction.

00:41:44.779 --> 00:41:47.199
 Lacking that thing that will satisfy.

00:41:47.739 --> 00:41:49.420
 And there's no fulfillment.

00:41:49.420 --> 00:41:52.780
 Is that you today?

00:41:54.019 --> 00:41:55.260
 As you think of your life,

00:41:55.380 --> 00:41:56.539
 looking back and where you are

00:41:56.539 --> 00:41:57.619
 at the end of this year,

00:41:58.059 --> 00:41:59.099
 is that you today?

00:41:59.180 --> 00:42:00.380
 Are you laboring away,

00:42:01.200 --> 00:42:02.180
 but still thinking,

00:42:02.659 --> 00:42:05.680
 I wish I knew what the answer was?

00:42:06.920 --> 00:42:10.220
 You're still thinking that there's something missing.

00:42:10.219 --> 00:42:11.219
 Well,

00:42:13.139 --> 00:42:15.019
 Jesus is showing us here

00:42:15.019 --> 00:42:16.719
 just what is missing.

00:42:17.539 --> 00:42:18.579
 It is him.

00:42:19.259 --> 00:42:20.980
 It is him that is missing.

00:42:21.699 --> 00:42:24.079
 When we are laboring without any satisfaction,

00:42:24.239 --> 00:42:25.219
 without any fulfillment,

00:42:25.639 --> 00:42:27.939
 when we know there's still something missing,

00:42:28.559 --> 00:42:29.279
 it is him.

00:42:30.299 --> 00:42:31.639
 Because he says to us,

00:42:31.699 --> 00:42:32.500
 you are seeking me,

00:42:32.579 --> 00:42:34.019
 not because you saw signs,

00:42:34.399 --> 00:42:37.000
 but because you ate your fill of loaves.

00:42:38.179 --> 00:42:39.419
 They were looking for something,

00:42:39.420 --> 00:42:41.619
 but not the right thing in verse 26.

00:42:41.760 --> 00:42:42.240
 So he says,

00:42:42.760 --> 00:42:44.700
 do not labor for food that perishes,

00:42:45.099 --> 00:42:48.300
 but the food that endures to eternal life.

00:42:49.460 --> 00:42:50.920
 He is the answer.

00:42:51.579 --> 00:42:54.059
 And the I am sayings that we find in the New Testament,

00:42:54.180 --> 00:42:57.099
 they so often take us right back to the Old Testament,

00:42:58.180 --> 00:43:01.460
 to what the people here would have been very familiar with.

00:43:01.539 --> 00:43:04.139
 It takes us back to the book of Isaiah,

00:43:04.619 --> 00:43:06.340
 and Isaiah chapter 55.

00:43:07.320 --> 00:43:08.380
 In that wonderful passage,

00:43:08.380 --> 00:43:08.980
 it says,

00:43:08.980 --> 00:43:12.119
 why do you spend your money for that which is not bread?

00:43:12.300 --> 00:43:15.559
 And why do you labor for that which does not satisfy?

00:43:16.559 --> 00:43:19.900
 Isaiah had said it all these years before,

00:43:20.059 --> 00:43:22.519
 and Jesus is just highlighting it again.

00:43:22.960 --> 00:43:27.039
 It's the ongoing problem in so many people's lives.

00:43:27.320 --> 00:43:30.280
 Why do you spend money for that which is not bread?

00:43:30.360 --> 00:43:33.800
 And why do you labor for that which does not satisfy?

00:43:33.800 --> 00:43:36.980
 It's just what Jesus is saying here.

00:43:37.400 --> 00:43:39.860
 Why are you laboring in life?

00:43:40.480 --> 00:43:43.700
 Jesus is exposing the heart here.

00:43:44.620 --> 00:43:48.180
 He is exposing all that is wrong with us,

00:43:48.280 --> 00:43:52.240
 all that is taking up our attention for the wrong reasons,

00:43:52.240 --> 00:43:56.060
 because they are things that will ultimately perish,

00:43:56.059 --> 00:44:01.639
 and our attention is taken away from what will give us life.

00:44:02.239 --> 00:44:06.799
 We have here a people who are laboring,

00:44:07.239 --> 00:44:12.279
 a people who are looking and not seeing just what they need.

00:44:12.280 --> 00:44:16.660
 They're not realizing what it is that is missing.

00:44:17.660 --> 00:44:21.460
 Do you see these words as a challenge yourself today?

00:44:21.820 --> 00:44:23.780
 Is this your life?

00:44:24.920 --> 00:44:27.620
 You are laboring for what perishes.

00:44:27.619 --> 00:44:34.299
 Well, let us think secondly about a people who are longing.

00:44:35.500 --> 00:44:37.380
 A people who are longing.

00:44:38.299 --> 00:44:40.460
 What do you want from Jesus?

00:44:41.239 --> 00:44:44.079
 That's what Jesus is asking here of the crowd.

00:44:44.079 --> 00:44:46.179
 What do you want of me?

00:44:47.219 --> 00:44:49.199
 Why do you listen to his word?

00:44:50.019 --> 00:44:52.920
 Why do you come and hear what he is saying?

00:44:53.019 --> 00:44:54.500
 Why do you seek after him?

00:44:54.500 --> 00:44:59.480
 Because we all know that there is something missing in our lives.

00:44:59.619 --> 00:45:01.039
 Tom Brady knew it.

00:45:01.460 --> 00:45:03.039
 He just couldn't see the answer.

00:45:03.760 --> 00:45:05.340
 And the people here, they know it.

00:45:05.380 --> 00:45:07.159
 They're looking for something.

00:45:08.400 --> 00:45:11.619
 Why do you labor for what perishes?

00:45:11.619 --> 00:45:13.360
 He's saying he's seeing them,

00:45:13.659 --> 00:45:16.840
 living their lives but not focused on the right things,

00:45:17.039 --> 00:45:20.480
 longing for fulfillment but not able to get it.

00:45:20.480 --> 00:45:25.380
 And so we see here a people who are longing.

00:45:26.219 --> 00:45:31.440
 In verse 28 to 34, we see different ways the people are longing.

00:45:31.980 --> 00:45:33.920
 Longing for a number of different things.

00:45:34.059 --> 00:45:37.460
 You see them longing to please God in some way.

00:45:38.420 --> 00:45:41.579
 You see them longing to be able to do something.

00:45:41.579 --> 00:45:43.860
 In verse 28 to say,

00:45:44.179 --> 00:45:46.000
 What must we be doing?

00:45:47.259 --> 00:45:50.799
 What must we do to be doing the works of God?

00:45:51.360 --> 00:45:53.480
 There's a longing here for something.

00:45:54.400 --> 00:45:56.819
 What can we do to please God?

00:45:57.819 --> 00:46:00.079
 And that's often our longing as well.

00:46:00.139 --> 00:46:01.860
 We want to please God.

00:46:02.400 --> 00:46:04.119
 But how do we go about it?

00:46:04.119 --> 00:46:08.920
 They're looking for a sign so that they could believe.

00:46:10.159 --> 00:46:12.159
 Again, this is a recurring theme.

00:46:12.599 --> 00:46:14.139
 You see throughout the scriptures,

00:46:14.339 --> 00:46:16.059
 people looking for a sign.

00:46:16.139 --> 00:46:17.199
 And if we have a sign,

00:46:17.759 --> 00:46:19.719
 then I will believe in Jesus.

00:46:19.920 --> 00:46:23.299
 This is longing for something to show them.

00:46:24.500 --> 00:46:27.880
 You see it here that they have a longing for the past.

00:46:28.579 --> 00:46:31.259
 How our fathers, it says in verse 31,

00:46:31.259 --> 00:46:32.980
 ate the manna in the wilderness.

00:46:32.980 --> 00:46:35.960
 They're looking back to the days of Moses

00:46:35.960 --> 00:46:38.659
 and there's this longing to those days again.

00:46:38.780 --> 00:46:41.119
 There's a longing there for something that's missing.

00:46:42.780 --> 00:46:46.019
 The bread that Jesus speaks of.

00:46:46.559 --> 00:46:48.980
 There's a longing for that as well.

00:46:49.500 --> 00:46:52.820
 In verse 34, the end of verse 34,

00:46:53.079 --> 00:46:56.519
 Sir, give us this bread always.

00:46:57.719 --> 00:47:01.320
 There's a real sense of longing here.

00:47:01.320 --> 00:47:04.780
 And yet they're still not satisfied.

00:47:05.360 --> 00:47:09.800
 Because their eyes are focused on the wrong thing.

00:47:10.800 --> 00:47:14.539
 Their eyes are looking in the wrong place.

00:47:15.660 --> 00:47:19.720
 He's kind of speaking here about what is our diet.

00:47:19.719 --> 00:47:22.299
 How are we living our lives?

00:47:22.339 --> 00:47:24.859
 We don't want to hear the word diet just now.

00:47:25.500 --> 00:47:28.739
 But it's something that Jesus is here speaking about.

00:47:29.339 --> 00:47:32.619
 It's how they're seeking to satisfy themselves.

00:47:32.799 --> 00:47:37.019
 And it's almost like they're being pulled in different directions all the time.

00:47:37.739 --> 00:47:40.539
 And that's the way we are when it comes to diets as well.

00:47:40.539 --> 00:47:43.719
 We try it for a time and then we change.

00:47:43.820 --> 00:47:47.360
 Or we get told advice and then that advice changes.

00:47:48.259 --> 00:47:51.059
 We're told one day chocolate is bad for us.

00:47:51.259 --> 00:47:53.380
 We're told another day, well, it's not that bad.

00:47:54.099 --> 00:47:57.820
 We're told to avoid dairy products one day and then the next day.

00:47:58.279 --> 00:48:00.460
 Dairy products are actually quite good for us.

00:48:00.860 --> 00:48:05.219
 We're told to avoid fats and then we're told there's actually fats that are good for us.

00:48:05.219 --> 00:48:07.539
 And it's all so confusing.

00:48:08.659 --> 00:48:14.359
 And that's just the way it can seem for us in life as well when it comes to faith.

00:48:14.980 --> 00:48:17.480
 We're just confused by it all.

00:48:17.899 --> 00:48:20.739
 We're hearing maybe so many different things.

00:48:22.119 --> 00:48:27.359
 But Jesus is saying here, just like a bad diet can affect you in different ways,

00:48:27.819 --> 00:48:31.339
 how it can affect you not just outwardly but inwardly,

00:48:31.340 --> 00:48:38.079
 a bad diet can harm your insides, it can affect your heart and all kinds of things.

00:48:39.600 --> 00:48:45.480
 And that's why we see a concern from the health service, from a doctor to say to change your diet.

00:48:47.000 --> 00:48:52.380
 Well, Jesus is here showing a great concern for the people too,

00:48:53.100 --> 00:48:54.940
 that they would change their ways,

00:48:55.620 --> 00:48:59.559
 that they would look on the problem here and see a solution,

00:48:59.559 --> 00:49:03.639
 that they're longing for so much that's being in different places,

00:49:03.779 --> 00:49:04.960
 in different ways,

00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:10.840
 trying to please different people or different gods or different religions,

00:49:11.679 --> 00:49:13.599
 pulled in different directions.

00:49:14.900 --> 00:49:18.559
 Jesus is showing them that their longing should be focused,

00:49:19.699 --> 00:49:23.179
 that their longing should be focused on him.

00:49:23.179 --> 00:49:26.279
 for he says in verse 35,

00:49:26.980 --> 00:49:29.619
 I am the bread of life.

00:49:31.859 --> 00:49:35.440
 He says, when they say, sir, give us this bread always,

00:49:35.519 --> 00:49:38.019
 he says, I am the bread.

00:49:39.139 --> 00:49:41.399
 This is where you are to focus.

00:49:41.659 --> 00:49:45.019
 I am the one that you are to focus on.

00:49:45.980 --> 00:49:49.079
 I am the one who will satisfy your longing.

00:49:49.079 --> 00:49:52.679
 I am the one who will fulfill it all.

00:49:54.199 --> 00:49:57.579
 If you have a dog and there's food on the go,

00:49:58.279 --> 00:50:01.460
 you often find that the dog is suddenly right by your side,

00:50:02.179 --> 00:50:06.519
 looking up to you with that sense of longing for something that you are working on.

00:50:06.980 --> 00:50:09.819
 For our dog, it's the sound of cheese being opened.

00:50:09.940 --> 00:50:11.599
 As soon as he hears that noise,

00:50:11.940 --> 00:50:14.259
 all of a sudden he's right beside you,

00:50:14.819 --> 00:50:16.579
 looking up, wanting cheese.

00:50:16.579 --> 00:50:20.319
 Martin Luther, the reformer,

00:50:20.400 --> 00:50:21.880
 he learned a lesson from a dog.

00:50:22.360 --> 00:50:23.819
 He spoke of it in this way.

00:50:24.779 --> 00:50:26.819
 He said, oh, if only I could pray

00:50:26.819 --> 00:50:29.420
 the way that the dog watches the meat.

00:50:30.400 --> 00:50:34.039
 All his thoughts are concentrated on that piece of meat.

00:50:34.699 --> 00:50:38.699
 He has no other thought, wish, or hope.

00:50:39.139 --> 00:50:40.159
 There's that longing,

00:50:40.860 --> 00:50:42.259
 and there's that focus.

00:50:42.260 --> 00:50:44.860
 Well, when Jesus says,

00:50:45.400 --> 00:50:47.780
 I am the bread of life,

00:50:48.780 --> 00:50:50.840
 does that catch your attention?

00:50:51.820 --> 00:50:54.300
 Does that capture every thought?

00:50:54.880 --> 00:50:57.020
 When everything else that you see around you,

00:50:57.100 --> 00:50:58.660
 that you've been laboring for,

00:50:58.760 --> 00:50:59.400
 and perishes,

00:50:59.580 --> 00:51:00.240
 or disappears,

00:51:01.000 --> 00:51:01.600
 and you hear,

00:51:01.760 --> 00:51:03.300
 I am the bread of life,

00:51:04.160 --> 00:51:06.560
 does that not catch your attention?

00:51:06.559 --> 00:51:09.779
 and make you see Jesus?

00:51:10.699 --> 00:51:13.519
 He is the one I should be longing for.

00:51:16.420 --> 00:51:20.699
 Are you asking that question?

00:51:21.139 --> 00:51:23.699
 Am I longing for him as I should?

00:51:25.860 --> 00:51:26.799
 You're laboring,

00:51:27.299 --> 00:51:28.579
 you're longing,

00:51:29.360 --> 00:51:32.239
 but is your focus on Christ?

00:51:32.239 --> 00:51:35.539
 Well, the last thing we see here

00:51:35.539 --> 00:51:37.899
 is a people who are living.

00:51:38.819 --> 00:51:40.699
 A people who are living.

00:51:41.259 --> 00:51:43.959
 Every response that Jesus gives here,

00:51:44.319 --> 00:51:48.179
 it has behind it that sense of eternal life.

00:51:48.779 --> 00:51:50.539
 As he responds there,

00:51:51.719 --> 00:51:52.719
 in verse 27,

00:51:52.839 --> 00:51:55.299
 do not labor for the food that perishes,

00:51:55.779 --> 00:51:57.559
 but for the food that endures

00:51:57.559 --> 00:51:59.339
 to eternal life.

00:51:59.340 --> 00:52:01.440
 As he speaks there,

00:52:01.800 --> 00:52:03.340
 in verse 35,

00:52:03.980 --> 00:52:05.120
 I am the bread of life,

00:52:05.180 --> 00:52:06.340
 whoever comes to me

00:52:06.340 --> 00:52:07.660
 shall not hunger,

00:52:07.780 --> 00:52:09.200
 and whoever believes in me

00:52:09.200 --> 00:52:10.680
 shall never thirst.

00:52:10.780 --> 00:52:13.780
 Behind that is eternal life.

00:52:16.079 --> 00:52:17.059
 Do you believe

00:52:17.059 --> 00:52:19.860
 every meal that you eat each day

00:52:19.860 --> 00:52:20.980
 keeps you alive?

00:52:22.300 --> 00:52:24.240
 Is that why you eat your food each day?

00:52:24.360 --> 00:52:25.640
 To enjoy it, yes,

00:52:26.000 --> 00:52:28.240
 but to know that without it you perish.

00:52:29.340 --> 00:52:30.460
 You eat your food

00:52:30.460 --> 00:52:31.280
 because you know

00:52:31.280 --> 00:52:32.559
 it keeps you.

00:52:34.300 --> 00:52:36.000
 You come to that conclusion.

00:52:38.079 --> 00:52:39.280
 You don't say,

00:52:39.940 --> 00:52:41.760
 I don't need food to live.

00:52:42.760 --> 00:52:44.800
 I don't need food to carry on.

00:52:44.840 --> 00:52:46.039
 I can do without it.

00:52:46.800 --> 00:52:48.140
 Because you can't.

00:52:49.900 --> 00:52:51.360
 But do you say the same

00:52:51.360 --> 00:52:52.539
 about Jesus?

00:52:52.539 --> 00:52:55.960
 Do you say the same about him?

00:52:56.500 --> 00:52:57.920
 I can live without him.

00:52:58.400 --> 00:53:00.679
 I can survive apart from him.

00:53:02.639 --> 00:53:03.800
 You can't.

00:53:05.119 --> 00:53:06.739
 Because, as he says here,

00:53:06.840 --> 00:53:09.079
 I am the bread of life.

00:53:10.139 --> 00:53:13.500
 I am the one who gives life.

00:53:14.800 --> 00:53:16.860
 The attitude of some here was,

00:53:17.279 --> 00:53:18.340
 we don't need him.

00:53:18.860 --> 00:53:19.820
 Who is this?

00:53:19.900 --> 00:53:21.099
 Who does he think he is?

00:53:21.099 --> 00:53:23.460
 In verse 41,

00:53:23.579 --> 00:53:25.159
 the Jews grumbled about him

00:53:25.159 --> 00:53:25.759
 because he said,

00:53:25.940 --> 00:53:28.239
 I am the bread that came down from heaven.

00:53:28.639 --> 00:53:29.099
 They said,

00:53:29.319 --> 00:53:31.079
 is not this Jesus,

00:53:31.259 --> 00:53:33.059
 the son of Joseph?

00:53:34.599 --> 00:53:37.139
 Just an ordinary being.

00:53:39.039 --> 00:53:39.460
 And yet,

00:53:39.599 --> 00:53:41.579
 it was the son of God.

00:53:42.759 --> 00:53:44.039
 The giver of life.

00:53:44.579 --> 00:53:47.319
 The giver of life eternal.

00:53:47.320 --> 00:53:49.380
 The bread of this world

00:53:49.380 --> 00:53:50.420
 which we labor for,

00:53:51.200 --> 00:53:52.320
 which often seems to have

00:53:52.320 --> 00:53:53.740
 so much to offer us,

00:53:54.280 --> 00:53:55.280
 it perishes.

00:53:55.660 --> 00:53:56.880
 It never satisfies.

00:53:58.420 --> 00:54:00.780
 But the bread that Jesus offers

00:54:00.780 --> 00:54:03.660
 is a bread that is eternal.

00:54:05.019 --> 00:54:06.360
 In Greek mythology,

00:54:07.059 --> 00:54:09.539
 there was a king called King Tantalus.

00:54:10.320 --> 00:54:11.800
 And he was punished.

00:54:11.800 --> 00:54:13.360
 And his punishment

00:54:13.360 --> 00:54:14.560
 was to be chained

00:54:14.560 --> 00:54:15.740
 in a lake.

00:54:16.760 --> 00:54:18.140
 And the lake was water

00:54:18.140 --> 00:54:19.500
 and he was becoming thirsty.

00:54:20.019 --> 00:54:21.940
 And the water was up to his chin.

00:54:22.519 --> 00:54:23.920
 But every time he bent down,

00:54:24.260 --> 00:54:25.860
 the water would recede away.

00:54:26.720 --> 00:54:28.340
 He just couldn't reach it.

00:54:29.039 --> 00:54:29.820
 And above him

00:54:29.820 --> 00:54:31.420
 was a tree with branches

00:54:31.420 --> 00:54:32.420
 dropping down,

00:54:32.840 --> 00:54:33.840
 full of fruit.

00:54:33.840 --> 00:54:36.039
 And every time he tried

00:54:36.039 --> 00:54:37.300
 to reach up to the branch,

00:54:37.400 --> 00:54:38.820
 the branch would rise away.

00:54:38.920 --> 00:54:40.039
 He couldn't reach it.

00:54:41.760 --> 00:54:43.240
 Everything was just

00:54:43.240 --> 00:54:44.500
 out of reach.

00:54:44.700 --> 00:54:46.360
 Everything that could satisfy him

00:54:46.360 --> 00:54:48.440
 was just out of reach.

00:54:49.340 --> 00:54:50.360
 And it was a symbol

00:54:50.360 --> 00:54:52.200
 of utter frustration.

00:54:53.800 --> 00:54:56.300
 Everything just out of reach.

00:54:57.480 --> 00:54:58.840
 And the name King Tantalus

00:54:58.840 --> 00:55:00.640
 is where the English word

00:55:00.640 --> 00:55:02.360
 tantalize comes from.

00:55:02.360 --> 00:55:04.599
 Everything seems so tantalizing.

00:55:04.900 --> 00:55:05.620
 And that's the way

00:55:05.620 --> 00:55:07.039
 the world is so often.

00:55:07.160 --> 00:55:08.519
 Everything looks so appealing,

00:55:08.680 --> 00:55:09.460
 so attractive.

00:55:10.900 --> 00:55:12.539
 And yet full satisfaction

00:55:12.539 --> 00:55:14.519
 is just out of our reach.

00:55:16.280 --> 00:55:18.240
 I wish I knew

00:55:18.240 --> 00:55:19.840
 was what Tom Brady said.

00:55:22.019 --> 00:55:24.079
 We can look to God's word

00:55:24.079 --> 00:55:26.519
 and hear, see the answers.

00:55:27.660 --> 00:55:29.980
 The guarantees in life.

00:55:30.700 --> 00:55:31.740
 What is secure

00:55:31.739 --> 00:55:33.359
 what is sure

00:55:33.359 --> 00:55:34.639
 is found

00:55:34.639 --> 00:55:35.739
 in the one who says,

00:55:35.939 --> 00:55:37.179
 I am the bread

00:55:37.179 --> 00:55:38.339
 of life.

00:55:39.639 --> 00:55:40.219
 In him

00:55:40.219 --> 00:55:41.399
 is life.

00:55:41.519 --> 00:55:42.179
 There's so much

00:55:42.179 --> 00:55:43.239
 that we do not know

00:55:43.239 --> 00:55:44.500
 in this life.

00:55:44.619 --> 00:55:45.159
 There's so much

00:55:45.159 --> 00:55:46.659
 I can't guarantee you

00:55:46.659 --> 00:55:48.019
 in this life.

00:55:48.159 --> 00:55:49.159
 I can't guarantee

00:55:49.159 --> 00:55:50.799
 what 2025

00:55:50.799 --> 00:55:52.779
 is going to be like.

00:55:53.439 --> 00:55:54.379
 I don't know

00:55:54.379 --> 00:55:55.359
 what's going to happen

00:55:55.359 --> 00:55:56.759
 in our nation

00:55:56.759 --> 00:55:57.799
 or in this world

00:55:57.799 --> 00:55:58.439
 as we go into

00:55:58.439 --> 00:55:59.219
 a new year.

00:55:59.219 --> 00:56:00.619
 I don't know

00:56:00.619 --> 00:56:01.459
 what will happen

00:56:01.459 --> 00:56:02.719
 in your life

00:56:02.719 --> 00:56:03.519
 and my life

00:56:03.519 --> 00:56:04.699
 going into a new year.

00:56:04.779 --> 00:56:05.559
 There's so much

00:56:05.559 --> 00:56:07.179
 that is uncertain.

00:56:09.179 --> 00:56:10.480
 But I do know

00:56:10.480 --> 00:56:11.899
 what the word of God

00:56:11.899 --> 00:56:12.439
 says.

00:56:13.439 --> 00:56:14.359
 And that is

00:56:14.359 --> 00:56:15.539
 that if we are to live,

00:56:15.959 --> 00:56:17.119
 we only live

00:56:17.119 --> 00:56:18.119
 in him.

00:56:19.119 --> 00:56:19.959
 And it says

00:56:19.959 --> 00:56:20.799
 as we come

00:56:20.799 --> 00:56:21.379
 to him,

00:56:21.699 --> 00:56:22.919
 we have life.

00:56:22.920 --> 00:56:24.260
 And you have

00:56:24.260 --> 00:56:25.139
 so many of these

00:56:25.139 --> 00:56:25.680
 promises,

00:56:25.880 --> 00:56:26.480
 even in these

00:56:26.480 --> 00:56:27.720
 verses that we've read.

00:56:28.840 --> 00:56:29.980
 In verse 37

00:56:29.980 --> 00:56:30.440
 it says,

00:56:30.760 --> 00:56:31.420
 All that the Father

00:56:31.420 --> 00:56:32.559
 gives to me

00:56:32.559 --> 00:56:33.579
 will come to me.

00:56:33.920 --> 00:56:34.340
 And whoever

00:56:34.340 --> 00:56:35.260
 comes to me

00:56:35.260 --> 00:56:35.960
 I will never

00:56:35.960 --> 00:56:36.740
 cast out.

00:56:36.820 --> 00:56:38.599
 There is a security.

00:56:38.800 --> 00:56:39.780
 There is a promise.

00:56:41.380 --> 00:56:42.539
 All who come to me

00:56:42.539 --> 00:56:43.280
 I will never

00:56:43.280 --> 00:56:44.079
 cast out.

00:56:44.119 --> 00:56:44.760
 You're afraid

00:56:44.760 --> 00:56:45.700
 to come

00:56:45.700 --> 00:56:46.460
 because you're

00:56:46.460 --> 00:56:47.280
 not good enough.

00:56:47.659 --> 00:56:48.240
 You're afraid

00:56:48.240 --> 00:56:48.820
 to come

00:56:48.820 --> 00:56:49.579
 because he'll see

00:56:49.579 --> 00:56:50.260
 you as you are

00:56:50.260 --> 00:56:50.579
 and say,

00:56:50.680 --> 00:56:51.280
 go away.

00:56:51.280 --> 00:56:52.500
 But he says,

00:56:52.580 --> 00:56:53.220
 If you come

00:56:53.220 --> 00:56:54.380
 I will never

00:56:54.380 --> 00:56:55.380
 cast you out.

00:56:57.160 --> 00:56:58.120
 In verse 40

00:56:58.120 --> 00:56:58.620
 he says,

00:56:58.720 --> 00:56:59.440
 For this is the will

00:56:59.440 --> 00:57:00.100
 of my Father

00:57:00.100 --> 00:57:00.700
 that everyone

00:57:00.700 --> 00:57:01.980
 who looks on the Son

00:57:01.980 --> 00:57:03.100
 and believes in me

00:57:03.100 --> 00:57:04.080
 should have,

00:57:04.200 --> 00:57:04.860
 believes in him,

00:57:05.180 --> 00:57:05.740
 should have

00:57:05.740 --> 00:57:06.940
 eternal life.

00:57:07.400 --> 00:57:08.500
 And I will raise

00:57:08.500 --> 00:57:08.900
 him up

00:57:08.900 --> 00:57:10.100
 on the last day.

00:57:10.220 --> 00:57:11.800
 There is a promise.

00:57:12.800 --> 00:57:13.900
 There is a guarantee.

00:57:16.280 --> 00:57:17.560
 In verse 47

00:57:17.560 --> 00:57:18.160
 and 48,

00:57:18.300 --> 00:57:18.580
 Truly,

00:57:18.760 --> 00:57:19.920
 truly I say to you,

00:57:19.920 --> 00:57:21.200
 whoever believes

00:57:21.199 --> 00:57:22.480
 has eternal life,

00:57:23.319 --> 00:57:24.419
 I am the bread

00:57:24.419 --> 00:57:25.699
 of life.

00:57:26.519 --> 00:57:26.939
 Whoever

00:57:26.939 --> 00:57:28.460
 believes,

00:57:30.639 --> 00:57:32.119
 there is life

00:57:32.119 --> 00:57:33.079
 in him.

00:57:34.039 --> 00:57:34.819
 And in order

00:57:34.819 --> 00:57:36.599
 to enjoy this life

00:57:36.599 --> 00:57:37.839
 you must receive it.

00:57:38.500 --> 00:57:39.980
 You must believe

00:57:39.980 --> 00:57:40.899
 in him.

00:57:42.659 --> 00:57:43.739
 You can believe

00:57:43.739 --> 00:57:44.379
 in Jesus

00:57:44.379 --> 00:57:45.599
 that he was a real man.

00:57:46.299 --> 00:57:47.279
 You can believe

00:57:47.279 --> 00:57:47.960
 that he died

00:57:47.960 --> 00:57:48.699
 on the cross.

00:57:48.699 --> 00:57:49.480
 You can believe

00:57:49.480 --> 00:57:50.679
 that he rose

00:57:50.679 --> 00:57:51.539
 from the grave.

00:57:53.019 --> 00:57:54.500
 But do you believe

00:57:54.500 --> 00:57:55.859
 it was for you?

00:57:57.439 --> 00:57:58.519
 Do you believe

00:57:58.519 --> 00:57:59.059
 in him

00:57:59.059 --> 00:58:00.699
 who is the bread

00:58:00.699 --> 00:58:01.659
 of life?

00:58:03.399 --> 00:58:04.159
 We've all,

00:58:04.339 --> 00:58:04.559
 I'm sure,

00:58:04.639 --> 00:58:05.960
 sat round tables

00:58:05.960 --> 00:58:06.639
 this week

00:58:06.639 --> 00:58:08.079
 where food

00:58:08.079 --> 00:58:08.639
 has been put

00:58:08.639 --> 00:58:09.619
 in front of us.

00:58:10.579 --> 00:58:11.859
 But what's your attitude

00:58:11.859 --> 00:58:12.619
 when it comes

00:58:12.619 --> 00:58:13.480
 to that food?

00:58:14.539 --> 00:58:15.399
 Do you sit there

00:58:15.399 --> 00:58:15.859
 waiting

00:58:15.860 --> 00:58:16.940
 to be served?

00:58:18.140 --> 00:58:18.900
 Do you sit there

00:58:18.900 --> 00:58:19.640
 waiting for someone

00:58:19.640 --> 00:58:20.440
 to do everything

00:58:20.440 --> 00:58:21.180
 for you?

00:58:22.059 --> 00:58:23.000
 To put it all

00:58:23.000 --> 00:58:23.640
 on the plate,

00:58:23.760 --> 00:58:25.099
 prepare it for you?

00:58:25.860 --> 00:58:26.680
 You may do.

00:58:27.360 --> 00:58:28.420
 Or you may dive in

00:58:28.420 --> 00:58:29.420
 and help yourself.

00:58:31.019 --> 00:58:32.340
 But there's one thing

00:58:32.340 --> 00:58:33.039
 you've got to do

00:58:33.039 --> 00:58:33.599
 yourself.

00:58:34.700 --> 00:58:35.700
 To enjoy

00:58:35.700 --> 00:58:36.500
 that food

00:58:36.500 --> 00:58:38.079
 you have to

00:58:38.079 --> 00:58:38.780
 pick it up

00:58:38.780 --> 00:58:39.840
 and put it

00:58:39.840 --> 00:58:40.500
 in your mouth

00:58:40.500 --> 00:58:41.880
 and eat it.

00:58:41.880 --> 00:58:43.420
 No one else

00:58:43.420 --> 00:58:44.420
 can do it for you.

00:58:45.519 --> 00:58:46.220
 And the same

00:58:46.220 --> 00:58:46.840
 is true

00:58:46.840 --> 00:58:48.160
 with Christ.

00:58:49.460 --> 00:58:49.980
 Christ

00:58:49.980 --> 00:58:51.320
 is before us.

00:58:52.720 --> 00:58:53.059
 Christ

00:58:53.059 --> 00:58:53.740
 is here

00:58:53.740 --> 00:58:54.500
 for us.

00:58:55.519 --> 00:58:55.980
 But I

00:58:55.980 --> 00:58:56.700
 can't do it

00:58:56.700 --> 00:58:57.180
 for you.

00:58:57.900 --> 00:58:58.700
 No one else

00:58:58.700 --> 00:58:59.320
 can do it

00:58:59.320 --> 00:58:59.860
 for you.

00:59:00.760 --> 00:59:01.599
 You must come

00:59:01.599 --> 00:59:02.860
 in faith

00:59:02.860 --> 00:59:04.380
 and believe.

00:59:05.900 --> 00:59:06.360
 Believe

00:59:06.360 --> 00:59:07.180
 in the one

00:59:07.180 --> 00:59:08.280
 who is

00:59:08.280 --> 00:59:09.400
 the bread

00:59:09.400 --> 00:59:10.640
 of life.

00:59:10.639 --> 00:59:12.920
 Do you

00:59:12.920 --> 00:59:13.359
 love him?

00:59:15.500 --> 00:59:16.199
 Do you

00:59:16.199 --> 00:59:17.059
 believe in him?

00:59:19.159 --> 00:59:19.799
 Then believe

00:59:19.799 --> 00:59:20.559
 with all your

00:59:20.559 --> 00:59:21.000
 heart

00:59:21.000 --> 00:59:22.299
 that you

00:59:22.299 --> 00:59:22.920
 might live.

00:59:24.859 --> 00:59:25.679
 Are you

00:59:25.679 --> 00:59:26.159
 laboring

00:59:26.159 --> 00:59:26.819
 today for

00:59:26.819 --> 00:59:27.579
 what perishes?

00:59:29.119 --> 00:59:29.379
 Well,

00:59:29.440 --> 00:59:30.199
 Jesus says

00:59:30.199 --> 00:59:30.900
 do not

00:59:30.900 --> 00:59:31.299
 labor

00:59:31.299 --> 00:59:32.179
 for what

00:59:32.179 --> 00:59:32.659
 perishes

00:59:32.659 --> 00:59:34.719
 but for

00:59:34.719 --> 00:59:35.400
 that bread,

00:59:35.579 --> 00:59:35.940
 for that

00:59:35.940 --> 00:59:37.319
 life-giving

00:59:37.319 --> 00:59:37.799
 bread

00:59:37.799 --> 00:59:39.139
 that does

00:59:39.139 --> 00:59:39.980
 not perish.

00:59:40.639 --> 00:59:42.420
 are you

00:59:42.420 --> 00:59:42.759
 longing

00:59:42.759 --> 00:59:43.299
 today?

00:59:45.599 --> 00:59:45.940
 Well,

00:59:45.980 --> 00:59:46.379
 look to

00:59:46.379 --> 00:59:47.000
 Jesus.

00:59:47.980 --> 00:59:48.639
 Don't get

00:59:48.639 --> 00:59:49.460
 distracted by

00:59:49.460 --> 00:59:50.259
 everything else

00:59:50.259 --> 00:59:50.900
 in this world

00:59:50.900 --> 00:59:51.219
 thinking,

00:59:51.839 --> 00:59:52.500
 I wish I

00:59:52.500 --> 00:59:52.920
 knew what

00:59:52.920 --> 00:59:53.400
 the answer

00:59:53.400 --> 00:59:54.000
 was.

00:59:54.960 --> 00:59:55.839
 The answer

00:59:55.839 --> 00:59:56.639
 is here.

00:59:57.639 --> 00:59:58.119
 It is

00:59:58.119 --> 00:59:58.599
 Jesus.

01:00:00.879 --> 01:00:01.679
 Are you

01:00:01.679 --> 01:00:02.019
 living

01:00:02.019 --> 01:00:02.559
 today?

01:00:02.559 --> 01:00:04.840
 as you

01:00:04.840 --> 01:00:05.380
 come to

01:00:05.380 --> 01:00:05.759
 the end

01:00:05.759 --> 01:00:06.019
 of a

01:00:06.019 --> 01:00:06.279
 year,

01:00:06.340 --> 01:00:06.539
 are you

01:00:06.539 --> 01:00:06.920
 living

01:00:06.920 --> 01:00:08.259
 in him?

01:00:09.679 --> 01:00:10.480
 Thank God

01:00:10.480 --> 01:00:10.860
 that he

01:00:10.860 --> 01:00:11.799
 gives life

01:00:11.799 --> 01:00:13.139
 and that

01:00:13.139 --> 01:00:13.559
 the offer

01:00:13.559 --> 01:00:14.219
 of life

01:00:14.219 --> 01:00:15.340
 is before

01:00:15.340 --> 01:00:16.119
 us today.

01:00:16.119 --> 01:00:17.179
 Of all

01:00:17.179 --> 01:00:17.960
 the foods

01:00:17.960 --> 01:00:18.380
 that we

01:00:18.380 --> 01:00:19.139
 may crave

01:00:19.139 --> 01:00:19.619
 today,

01:00:20.400 --> 01:00:21.880
 may Jesus,

01:00:22.480 --> 01:00:23.179
 the bread

01:00:23.179 --> 01:00:23.860
 of life,

01:00:24.699 --> 01:00:25.259
 be what we

01:00:25.259 --> 01:00:25.900
 crave the

01:00:25.900 --> 01:00:26.380
 most

01:00:26.380 --> 01:00:27.500
 and what

01:00:27.500 --> 01:00:28.619
 satisfies

01:00:28.619 --> 01:00:29.880
 our every

01:00:29.880 --> 01:00:30.299
 longing

01:00:30.300 --> 01:00:31.500
 and every

01:00:31.500 --> 01:00:32.120
 desire,

01:00:33.480 --> 01:00:33.880
 the longing

01:00:33.880 --> 01:00:34.360
 that gives

01:00:34.360 --> 01:00:34.900
 life

01:00:34.900 --> 01:00:35.900
 eternal.

01:00:37.039 --> 01:00:37.600
 Let us

01:00:37.600 --> 01:00:37.820
 pray.

01:00:40.160 --> 01:00:40.640
 Lord,

01:00:40.740 --> 01:00:40.900
 our

01:00:40.900 --> 01:00:41.380
 gracious

01:00:41.380 --> 01:00:41.900
 God,

01:00:42.100 --> 01:00:42.680
 we do

01:00:42.680 --> 01:00:43.300
 thank you

01:00:43.300 --> 01:00:44.120
 for that

01:00:44.120 --> 01:00:44.760
 desire that

01:00:44.760 --> 01:00:45.240
 you put in

01:00:45.240 --> 01:00:45.860
 our hearts

01:00:45.860 --> 01:00:46.300
 to be

01:00:46.300 --> 01:00:47.539
 around your

01:00:47.539 --> 01:00:48.060
 word and

01:00:48.060 --> 01:00:48.620
 under your

01:00:48.620 --> 01:00:48.980
 word.

01:00:48.980 --> 01:00:49.980
 God,

01:00:49.980 --> 01:00:50.300
 we pray

01:00:50.300 --> 01:00:50.719
 that that

01:00:50.719 --> 01:00:51.579
 desire would

01:00:51.579 --> 01:00:52.260
 not stop

01:00:52.260 --> 01:00:52.639
 there.

01:00:53.360 --> 01:00:54.000
 The desire

01:00:54.000 --> 01:00:54.480
 and longing

01:00:54.480 --> 01:00:54.920
 of our

01:00:54.920 --> 01:00:55.400
 hearts would

01:00:55.400 --> 01:00:55.740
 be to

01:00:55.740 --> 01:00:56.719
 truly believe

01:00:56.719 --> 01:00:57.619
 in the

01:00:57.619 --> 01:00:58.260
 one who

01:00:58.260 --> 01:00:58.619
 is the

01:00:58.619 --> 01:00:59.460
 bread of

01:00:59.460 --> 01:00:59.840
 life.

01:01:00.579 --> 01:01:01.059
 That our

01:01:01.059 --> 01:01:01.719
 words would

01:01:01.719 --> 01:01:01.980
 be,

01:01:02.480 --> 01:01:02.519
 sir,

01:01:02.960 --> 01:01:03.519
 give us

01:01:03.519 --> 01:01:04.119
 this bread

01:01:04.119 --> 01:01:04.740
 always.

01:01:05.440 --> 01:01:05.960
 That as

01:01:05.960 --> 01:01:06.539
 we come

01:01:06.539 --> 01:01:06.840
 to the

01:01:06.840 --> 01:01:07.320
 end of a

01:01:07.320 --> 01:01:07.719
 year and

01:01:07.719 --> 01:01:08.240
 God willing

01:01:08.240 --> 01:01:08.740
 into a

01:01:08.740 --> 01:01:09.179
 new one,

01:01:09.719 --> 01:01:10.400
 that always

01:01:10.400 --> 01:01:10.980
 our longing

01:01:10.980 --> 01:01:11.820
 would be

01:01:11.820 --> 01:01:12.539
 for Jesus

01:01:12.539 --> 01:01:13.920
 and believing

01:01:13.920 --> 01:01:14.480
 in him.

01:01:15.139 --> 01:01:15.719
 Hear our

01:01:15.719 --> 01:01:16.179
 prayers,

01:01:16.340 --> 01:01:16.460
 Lord,

01:01:16.500 --> 01:01:16.940
 and continue

01:01:16.940 --> 01:01:17.480
 with us,

01:01:17.900 --> 01:01:18.500
 pardoning our

01:01:18.500 --> 01:01:18.940
 sin in

01:01:18.940 --> 01:01:19.260
 Jesus'

01:01:19.559 --> 01:01:19.739
 name.

01:01:20.199 --> 01:01:20.539
 Amen.

01:01:24.639 --> 01:01:25.480
 We're going

01:01:25.480 --> 01:01:26.280
 to conclude

01:01:26.280 --> 01:01:26.940
 by singing

01:01:26.940 --> 01:01:27.699
 to God's

01:01:27.699 --> 01:01:28.199
 praise in

01:01:28.199 --> 01:01:29.480
 Psalm 107.

01:01:31.480 --> 01:01:32.480
 Let's sing

01:01:32.480 --> 01:01:33.460
 Psalms version,

01:01:33.619 --> 01:01:34.920
 Psalm 107.

01:01:37.000 --> 01:01:38.000
 We'll sing

01:01:38.000 --> 01:01:38.880
 the last

01:01:38.880 --> 01:01:40.039
 part of the

01:01:40.039 --> 01:01:40.260
 Psalm,

01:01:40.340 --> 01:01:41.199
 verse 37,

01:01:41.380 --> 01:01:42.000
 down to the

01:01:42.000 --> 01:01:42.559
 end of the

01:01:42.559 --> 01:01:42.860
 Psalm.

01:01:45.920 --> 01:01:47.099
 The tune is

01:01:47.099 --> 01:01:47.820
 Martyrdom.

01:01:48.500 --> 01:01:49.980
 Psalm 107,

01:01:50.059 --> 01:01:51.260
 verse 37.

01:01:52.260 --> 01:01:53.019
 They reaped a

01:01:53.019 --> 01:01:54.000
 fruitful harvest

01:01:54.000 --> 01:01:54.559
 from the

01:01:54.559 --> 01:01:55.320
 vineyard and

01:01:55.320 --> 01:01:55.880
 the field.

01:01:56.179 --> 01:01:56.900
 He blessed

01:01:56.900 --> 01:01:57.400
 and made

01:01:57.400 --> 01:01:58.360
 them multiply,

01:01:58.559 --> 01:01:59.099
 their herds

01:01:59.099 --> 01:02:00.019
 maintained their

01:02:00.019 --> 01:02:00.400
 yield.

01:02:01.019 --> 01:02:01.619
 They faced

01:02:01.619 --> 01:02:02.199
 decline,

01:02:02.340 --> 01:02:03.139
 their fortunes

01:02:03.139 --> 01:02:03.519
 fail.

01:02:03.920 --> 01:02:04.539
 They suffered

01:02:04.539 --> 01:02:05.519
 great distress,

01:02:05.679 --> 01:02:06.179
 brought low

01:02:06.179 --> 01:02:07.420
 by him who

01:02:07.420 --> 01:02:08.360
 scorns the

01:02:08.360 --> 01:02:08.739
 proud.

01:02:08.900 --> 01:02:09.500
 They roamed

01:02:09.500 --> 01:02:10.619
 the wilderness,

01:02:11.179 --> 01:02:12.420
 but he did

01:02:12.420 --> 01:02:13.199
 not abandon

01:02:13.199 --> 01:02:13.539
 them.

01:02:13.880 --> 01:02:14.440
 There is that

01:02:14.440 --> 01:02:15.119
 promise in

01:02:15.119 --> 01:02:15.739
 these words,

01:02:15.840 --> 01:02:16.320
 he did not

01:02:16.320 --> 01:02:17.119
 abandon them.

01:02:17.119 --> 01:02:18.219
 And we pray

01:02:18.219 --> 01:02:18.599
 that the

01:02:18.599 --> 01:02:19.559
 Lord will

01:02:19.559 --> 01:02:20.380
 be with us

01:02:20.380 --> 01:02:21.539
 going forward

01:02:21.539 --> 01:02:22.380
 in these days

01:02:22.380 --> 01:02:22.799
 so we would

01:02:22.799 --> 01:02:23.599
 know his

01:02:23.599 --> 01:02:24.239
 great blessing.

01:02:24.440 --> 01:02:25.279
 Psalm 107,

01:02:25.339 --> 01:02:26.219
 verse 37,

01:02:26.440 --> 01:02:27.019
 to the end

01:02:27.019 --> 01:02:27.279
 of the

01:02:27.279 --> 01:02:27.539
 Psalm,

01:02:27.639 --> 01:02:28.139
 we stand

01:02:28.139 --> 01:02:28.659
 to sing.

01:02:28.659 --> 01:02:35.819
 They reaped a

01:02:35.819 --> 01:02:39.039
 fruitful harvest

01:02:39.039 --> 01:02:41.139
 from the

01:02:41.139 --> 01:02:44.279
 vineyard and

01:02:44.279 --> 01:02:46.599
 the field.

01:02:46.599 --> 01:02:48.599
 He blessed

01:02:49.259 --> 01:02:50.599
 and made

01:02:51.239 --> 01:02:53.599
 them multiply,

01:02:53.599 --> 01:02:57.759
 the hearts

01:02:57.759 --> 01:03:00.579
 maintained their

01:03:00.579 --> 01:03:02.039
 yield.

01:03:02.039 --> 01:03:05.639
 They faced

01:03:05.639 --> 01:03:07.079
 the time

01:03:07.079 --> 01:03:10.719
 their fortunes

01:03:10.719 --> 01:03:11.619
 fell,

01:03:12.119 --> 01:03:14.980
 they suffered

01:03:14.980 --> 01:03:17.079
 great distress,

01:03:17.079 --> 01:03:21.079
 brought low

01:03:21.079 --> 01:03:22.719
 by them

01:03:22.719 --> 01:03:25.960
 who storms

01:03:25.960 --> 01:03:28.039
 the pride,

01:03:28.400 --> 01:03:30.679
 they roamed

01:03:30.679 --> 01:03:33.819
 the wilderness.

01:03:36.519 --> 01:03:38.199
 But he

01:03:38.199 --> 01:03:40.940
 did not

01:03:40.940 --> 01:03:43.199
 abandon

01:03:43.199 --> 01:03:44.960
 them,

01:03:45.299 --> 01:03:47.400
 he brought

01:03:47.400 --> 01:03:49.400
 the needy

01:03:49.400 --> 01:03:50.400
 folk.

01:03:50.400 --> 01:03:54.400
 From their

01:03:54.400 --> 01:03:56.400
 affliction

01:03:56.400 --> 01:03:57.400
 and

01:03:57.400 --> 01:04:00.400
 increased

01:04:00.400 --> 01:04:02.400
 their

01:04:02.400 --> 01:04:03.400
 families

01:04:03.400 --> 01:04:05.400
 like

01:04:05.400 --> 01:04:06.400
 a

01:04:06.400 --> 01:04:07.400
 flock.

01:04:07.400 --> 01:04:10.400
 the

01:04:10.400 --> 01:04:10.400


01:04:10.400 --> 01:04:10.400


01:04:10.400 --> 01:04:12.400
 unrighteous

01:04:12.400 --> 01:04:12.400


01:04:12.400 --> 01:04:13.400
 The unrighteous

01:04:13.400 --> 01:04:18.840
 and are glad,

01:04:19.200 --> 01:04:21.579
 the wicked

01:04:21.579 --> 01:04:24.400
 hold their

01:04:24.400 --> 01:04:25.400
 peace.

01:04:26.400 --> 01:04:28.400
 Let all

01:04:28.400 --> 01:04:30.400
 the wise

01:04:31.320 --> 01:04:32.400
 take note

01:04:33.519 --> 01:04:34.480
 and

01:04:34.480 --> 01:04:35.400
 hurt

01:04:35.400 --> 01:04:36.400
 the

01:04:36.400 --> 01:04:37.400
 Lord's

01:04:38.480 --> 01:04:39.240
 love

01:04:39.240 --> 01:04:40.720
 does

01:04:40.720 --> 01:04:41.619
 not

01:04:41.619 --> 01:04:42.400
 cease.

01:04:45.079 --> 01:04:45.900
 After the

01:04:45.900 --> 01:04:47.579
 benediction, I'll go to the main door.

01:04:48.599 --> 01:04:50.280
 Now may the blessing of God,

01:04:50.460 --> 01:04:52.420
 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

01:04:52.420 --> 01:04:53.500
 rest upon

01:04:53.500 --> 01:04:55.420
 and abide with you all

01:04:55.420 --> 01:04:56.720
 now and forevermore.

01:04:57.160 --> 01:04:57.579
 Amen.

01:05:05.400 --> 01:05:26.440
 Please,

01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440


01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:26.440