WEBVTT 00:00:00.260 --> 00:00:06.080 Well, can we turn again in our Bibles to the Old Testament wisdom book of Ecclesiastes 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:13.120 in chapter 4, and we're going to read together from verse 7 to verse 16. 00:00:14.280 --> 00:00:18.140 Let me apologize in advance for my throat, which is croaky and fading. 00:00:19.080 --> 00:00:24.960 We heard Keith read for us from John's Gospel, Jesus' invitation to friendship. 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:31.700 We're thinking about the reality that as people we are made for friendship, and here in chapter 4 00:00:31.700 --> 00:00:38.920 our author introduces the theme of friendship to us. So Ecclesiastes 4 from verse 7 to verse 16. 00:00:39.579 --> 00:00:45.980 Again, I saw something meaningless or something that is vanity under the sun. 00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:52.359 There was a man all alone. He had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, 00:00:52.359 --> 00:00:59.100 yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. For whom am I toiling, he asked, and why am I 00:00:59.100 --> 00:01:08.299 depriving myself of enjoyment? This too is meaningless, a miserable business. Two are better than one, 00:01:08.819 --> 00:01:14.359 because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other 00:01:14.359 --> 00:01:21.340 up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, 00:01:21.340 --> 00:01:28.040 they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can 00:01:28.040 --> 00:01:37.180 defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Better a pure but wise youth than an 00:01:37.180 --> 00:01:44.420 old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. The youth may have come from prison to the 00:01:44.420 --> 00:01:50.500 kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. I saw that all who lived and walked under 00:01:50.500 --> 00:01:56.060 the sun followed the youth, the king's successor. There was no end to all the people who were before them. 00:01:57.120 --> 00:02:06.280 But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 00:02:06.280 --> 00:02:17.280 So as we begin thinking about friendship, I want to introduce some thoughts that came from an Australian nurse 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:24.520 called Bryona Ware, who had a blog a number of years ago that she turned into a book, a book that was called 00:02:24.520 --> 00:02:33.259 Five Regrets of the Dying. Maybe it's hard to see the connection between that and friendship, but two of the things 00:02:33.259 --> 00:02:41.079 that her patients identified as their biggest regrets are of relevance to us. And I hope in a way it will be a 00:02:41.079 --> 00:02:50.039 chance for us today to reflect on the path, the trajectory of our life now that we might not live with those same 00:02:50.039 --> 00:02:59.079 regrets. One regret, and this was especially true for her male patients from a previous generation, 00:02:59.080 --> 00:03:09.140 the regret, I wish I hadn't worked so hard. That regret of being stuck on the treadmill such that 00:03:09.140 --> 00:03:17.860 children growing up, a lot of the big events and moments were myths. That friendship with a wife, 00:03:18.600 --> 00:03:25.680 building relationships with the kids, absent. That was one big regret that she'd identified among 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:33.379 her patients. And another, I wish I'd stayed in touch with my friends. Do we recognize that sense of being 00:03:33.379 --> 00:03:39.439 caught up in our own lives? Her patients did. They identified that, sort of pursuing, sort of personal 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:49.659 goals, friendships lost along the way. And then when they were needed most, hard to make those connections, 00:03:49.659 --> 00:03:57.300 perhaps even hard to know where those former friends were living, not giving enough time and effort to 00:03:57.300 --> 00:04:07.180 friendship. Our teacher in Ecclesiastes 4 recognizes the limits of work and the values of friendship 00:04:07.180 --> 00:04:16.819 and God's word would want us to avoid those regrets. And so we read from verse 7 to verse 16 and 00:04:16.819 --> 00:04:23.839 probably we recognized those famous words in the center, verses 9 through 12. I often read, 00:04:23.959 --> 00:04:30.620 at weddings, two are better than one and the cord of three strands is not easily broken. Both pointing 00:04:30.620 --> 00:04:37.279 us towards the one basic truth that friendship is one of God's everyday gifts. Ecclesiastes is full of 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:45.519 God's everyday gifts and friendship is one of those, a gift to enjoy, a gift to invest in. 00:04:47.599 --> 00:04:53.759 And then J.C. Ryle was one among many. He was a bishop in Liverpool in a previous century. He said, 00:04:53.859 --> 00:05:01.739 friendship is that thing which halves our sorrows and doubles our joys. And to share life with another 00:05:01.740 --> 00:05:12.160 has that effect for us. We need our cord of three strands. We need friendship. We need relationship. 00:05:13.379 --> 00:05:21.879 This week I was reading an article by a pastor in a house church in China, speaking after two years 00:05:21.879 --> 00:05:29.240 of pandemic, which was really intense in China, as I'm sure many of us know. But on top of that, 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:36.840 the house church is, of course, persecuted by the government. And what was so striking about that 00:05:36.840 --> 00:05:43.620 article was this pastor talking about how the church needed one another. There was an understanding 00:05:43.620 --> 00:05:50.160 that we together need the body of Christ. So we need to find ways, even when it's so difficult, 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:56.379 to spend time together, to reconnect so that we can be doing all those one another's, love one another, 00:05:56.379 --> 00:06:05.839 serve, encourage, bear one another's burdens. And that made me think, is this a time for us, 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:14.100 as we look towards the end of pandemic, to be reconnecting with one another, reconnecting with 00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:22.180 our friends, reconnecting as a fellowship, so that we are sharing our lives together. Because 00:06:22.180 --> 00:06:29.019 friendship's a wonderful gift, but we know too that friendship comes with challenges. There's an 00:06:29.019 --> 00:06:33.400 excellent book, Made for Friendship, written by Drew Hunter. He observes there are three barriers 00:06:33.400 --> 00:06:37.780 that we can probably recognize to friendship today. The first is busyness. 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:45.560 How many of us would identify as being time poor? This becomes a real challenge as well, 00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:50.860 I think, when culturally it's almost a badge of honor. You know, who doesn't say that we're crazy 00:06:50.860 --> 00:06:56.660 busy all the time? And in that kind of context, it's really easy for friendship to be pushed to one 00:06:56.660 --> 00:07:04.220 side. We get our diaries together, and I'll see you in sort of three months' time. It's not conducive to 00:07:04.220 --> 00:07:09.959 establishing good friendships. So busyness is a challenge. Technology is a challenge too, isn't it? 00:07:09.959 --> 00:07:15.479 There are gifts to technology. But one of the things that technology does is it gives us more 00:07:15.479 --> 00:07:21.459 connections, but more shallow connections. It means it's very easy for us to be disengaged from 00:07:21.459 --> 00:07:28.120 real life and from real people. So we're typing rather than having face-to-face connections. 00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:36.419 You know, we have enjoyed the benefit of technology as a church, but there's a danger as well 00:07:36.420 --> 00:07:44.340 that we lose the privilege and the priority of fellowship together. We need real church. We need 00:07:44.340 --> 00:07:50.180 real people. We need to be a real body. So that's a challenge. And another challenge and a barrier that 00:07:50.180 --> 00:07:58.580 Drew Hunter recognizes is that of mobility, by which he means that as people we move around a lot more 00:07:58.580 --> 00:08:04.300 than previous generations. This is undoubtedly true in a city like Edinburgh. 00:08:04.300 --> 00:08:13.680 How many of us have moved here in the last five to ten years for work or for study? We don't perhaps 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:19.740 have deep roots here. We perhaps think of somewhere else as home. And one of the challenges then for 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:24.740 friendship is because we know that it takes time to develop friendships and we think we're just here 00:08:24.740 --> 00:08:31.040 for a little while, we might think, well, why bother establishing friendships if we're just going to go 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:36.340 back and do something else? And that can be really tricky for us to navigate as Christians because we 00:08:36.340 --> 00:08:43.279 know that we need fellowship. We need the body of Christ. We need to be part of a local church. So how do 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:49.800 we navigate that? And so I hope as we spend some time together and we think about the wisdom of our 00:08:49.800 --> 00:08:58.460 teacher, it will help us to avoid some of those regrets and to remind us why friendship is better than 00:08:58.460 --> 00:09:13.639 friendship. So some wisdom from our teacher. The first piece of wisdom is simply that two are better 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:20.860 than one. We find that in verse nine. But on either side of that, there are two pictures, two people in 00:09:20.860 --> 00:09:30.700 view. Now verse seven and eight, we are presented with a workaholic. There was a man all alone. He had 00:09:30.700 --> 00:09:36.200 neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. 00:09:36.300 --> 00:09:43.500 Here is a man working by himself and for himself. He has no time for relationships, no time for his 00:09:43.500 --> 00:09:49.620 relatives. Perhaps he has cut himself off from his family in order to get ahead in his work. 00:09:50.860 --> 00:09:56.580 This is a person for whom loneliness is no accident but has been caused by deliberate choice 00:09:56.580 --> 00:10:04.080 where work is coming first. This is a man who's stuck in a vicious cycle. He's working but he's not 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:09.980 finding contentment. He's not finding joy because he's never got enough money. So that drives him to 00:10:09.980 --> 00:10:18.600 make more. There is high cost but no ultimate gain. Samuel Johnson said, 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:27.659 to be unhappy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition. It's the picture of Ecclesiastes 4. 00:10:29.659 --> 00:10:37.680 To put finance over family and friends. To pursue competition over cooperation. 00:10:38.800 --> 00:10:45.920 To sacrifice everything to the God of success. It's what we find here in Ecclesiastes 4 and we find a 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:49.339 man who is alone and he is miserable and he's not found lasting gain. 00:10:51.479 --> 00:10:56.500 And then the other picture, verse 13 to 16, we've got a tale of two kings and we especially think 00:10:56.500 --> 00:11:03.979 about the older foolish king. But this tale of two kings, this comparison, let's read again. Verse 13, 00:11:04.059 --> 00:11:09.659 better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. 00:11:09.659 --> 00:11:18.179 And in part, this story is told to remind us of the limits of work advancement and finding ultimate 00:11:18.179 --> 00:11:24.639 gain. Promotion is not going to lead to eternal satisfaction. Driving home the point that we've 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:31.219 seen earlier in the book, don't overwork, don't make work an idol. The picture that we're painted 00:11:31.219 --> 00:11:37.980 perhaps reminds some of us of the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. Joseph was a man who was 00:11:37.980 --> 00:11:45.279 languishing in a prison but was then raised to be almost like a king, second only to Pharaoh in Egypt. 00:11:45.899 --> 00:11:51.960 Joseph was a man to whom the whole world came, recognized his wisdom, then came for his food. But in 00:11:51.960 --> 00:12:01.480 the end, the story of Exodus tells us a future Pharaoh forgot Joseph. That's the reality facing us all. 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:12.060 But the contrast as it comes to friendship is that the poor but wise youth is better than the old but 00:12:12.060 --> 00:12:21.180 foolish king. Why? Because one listens to others and the old man refuses to heed the warning of others. 00:12:22.180 --> 00:12:29.820 He's become stubborn and he's keeping his own counsel. He's working and living in his own little bubble. 00:12:29.820 --> 00:12:39.700 So our workaholic and our foolish king, they share this sense of being alone, having no friend with them, 00:12:40.160 --> 00:12:47.900 to have no second. I'm not really sure why but this week as I was thinking about this, 00:12:48.300 --> 00:12:55.820 these two stories, I was thinking about dueling. If you've read books and movies, read, watch movies 00:12:55.820 --> 00:13:03.840 that are set in the Victorian era. You may have seen some duel scenes. And the second in the world of dueling, 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:08.840 which wasn't just fiction but was fact, a second, a friend, was really important. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:18.540 That second had the job of looking to defend the honor of one party that was called to the duel. 00:13:18.539 --> 00:13:27.959 They would also seek peace to try and spare life. And they would also serve as kind of protection 00:13:27.959 --> 00:13:38.399 to avoid any ambush or unfair play. When it came to a duel, you needed a second. You needed a friend 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:47.240 when you went into that intense situation. Do we have a friend who has our back? 00:13:49.459 --> 00:13:55.899 Two are better than one. We actually see this all over the New Testament. 00:13:56.959 --> 00:14:00.019 We read a couple of weeks ago the parable of the rich fool 00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:07.019 had a great harvest, decided to pull down his barn to build a bigger barn so he could store up all this 00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:13.659 stuff for himself so he could sit back and enjoy all of his wealth, never care about God, never care 00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:20.759 about others, and he was called a fool. Perhaps we know the story of Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a tax 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:27.379 collector who had isolated himself in society because he'd become overly greedy, taking more than he should 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:34.100 have, and he was hated by the people around him. But when Jesus came to his house, when God's gift of 00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:40.580 salvation came to his heart, he is reunited to society and he becomes exceedingly generous. 00:14:41.540 --> 00:14:47.240 Two are better than one. When Jesus sent the disciples out, how did he send them? He sent them in pairs. 00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:53.300 He sent them two by two. You read the book of Acts, read how the early church lived, and you find a 00:14:53.300 --> 00:14:58.879 community that read God's word together, that they listened to the apostles' teaching together, they prayed 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:05.439 together, they shared food together, they shared the resources together, because two are better than one. 00:15:08.679 --> 00:15:10.659 So if two are better than one, 00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:14.519 we are not to go it alone. 00:15:17.700 --> 00:15:18.879 We are to put 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:20.399 love your neighbor 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:22.539 into practice. 00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:29.179 We are to seek to have a friend and to be a friend to others. 00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:36.659 Because we recognize, don't we, that we will all have times in our life when we will go through 00:15:36.659 --> 00:15:41.799 struggles and we will go through trouble. Whether that's in work, whether that's in relationship, 00:15:41.959 --> 00:15:47.459 whether that's with our health, whether that's with faith. And so we need to be investing in 00:15:47.460 --> 00:15:48.680 friendships 00:15:48.680 --> 00:15:52.360 so that we have that support 00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:54.800 for when those moments 00:15:54.800 --> 00:15:55.680 come. 00:15:56.680 --> 00:15:58.180 We need fellowship 00:15:58.180 --> 00:16:02.580 to help us, and so that we can help 00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:03.740 others. 00:16:06.440 --> 00:16:09.540 Since these stories bring us back to the workplace, 00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:12.080 there is an encouragement to seek 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:13.360 cooperation, 00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:16.480 which can be very 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:18.259 counter-cultural, 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.899 when we're encouraged towards 00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:20.580 competition. 00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:23.279 We're also being encouraged towards 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:24.560 contentment. 00:16:25.060 --> 00:16:27.340 And not to keep chasing after more and more wealth, 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:28.800 recognizing that the value 00:16:28.800 --> 00:16:30.960 of life is found in friendship 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:32.360 more than 00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:33.600 in finance. 00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:39.720 And for our faith, 00:16:41.420 --> 00:16:42.800 there is that call to pursue 00:16:42.800 --> 00:16:44.539 Christian friendship. 00:16:44.539 --> 00:16:44.759 Christian friendship. 00:16:45.839 --> 00:16:48.959 Someone who will share the journey with us. 00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:51.099 Christian life is often described as 00:16:51.099 --> 00:16:51.919 pilgrimage. 00:16:52.839 --> 00:16:55.059 We don't pilgrimage by ourselves, 00:16:55.219 --> 00:16:56.860 we walk alongside 00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.860 others. 00:17:01.459 --> 00:17:03.439 Perhaps it's a time for us to remind 00:17:03.439 --> 00:17:04.639 ourselves again 00:17:04.639 --> 00:17:06.519 that fellowship 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:08.420 and public worship 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:10.799 and spending time with God's people 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:13.259 are God's means of grace 00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:14.419 for us. 00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:18.399 Because two are better than one. 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.799 And then let's think 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:23.779 some more about that central section, 00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:25.279 verses 9 to 12. 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.519 Recognizing this wisdom 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.819 that we are made 00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:30.980 for friendship. 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:33.940 That verse 9 begins with a very simple 00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:34.579 comparison. 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:34.679 comparison. 00:17:35.879 --> 00:17:36.480 Comparisons where 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:38.039 X is better than 00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:38.699 Y. 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:40.279 Two are 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:41.659 better than one. 00:17:42.179 --> 00:17:43.119 And then it goes on 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:44.519 because they have a good return 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:45.319 for their labor. 00:17:45.419 --> 00:17:46.359 You hear good return 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:47.539 and you hear labor. 00:17:47.659 --> 00:17:48.519 And maybe instinctively 00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:49.039 we're thinking 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:50.359 economics. 00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.679 We're thinking productivity. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:53.199 We're thinking profit margins. 00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:54.119 But instead, 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:55.500 what do we get? 00:17:57.179 --> 00:17:58.960 Two are better than one 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:00.980 because they give help 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:02.759 for the journey. 00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:04.440 And the picture moves 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:05.640 towards the traveler 00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:07.859 and towards the pilgrim. 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:09.319 So actually, 00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:10.559 these little verses 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:12.319 give us a little window 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:12.920 into 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:14.779 a journeying in the Middle East 00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:16.579 thousands of years ago. 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:18.879 And three dangers 00:18:18.879 --> 00:18:19.940 are identified. 00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:21.000 Three dangers 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:23.000 that can be avoided 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:24.279 if we have a friend 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:25.740 with us. 00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:28.180 First danger. 00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:30.059 The danger of falling 00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:31.799 into a pit. 00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:33.079 or falling 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:34.740 and being injured. 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.559 If either of them 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.539 falls down, 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:39.039 one can help 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:40.079 the other up. 00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:42.039 But pity anyone 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:43.079 who falls 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:45.259 and has no one 00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:47.000 to help them up. 00:18:48.159 --> 00:18:50.220 Friendship is good 00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:52.079 because it offers 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:53.240 help. 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:56.160 the next danger 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:57.480 facing a traveler. 00:18:57.480 --> 00:18:58.700 What happens 00:18:58.700 --> 00:19:00.180 when you're out 00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:01.460 in the desert 00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:02.700 and there's no 00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:03.279 hostel 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.559 to be found 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.920 and you find yourself 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:07.519 sleeping under the stars? 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:10.000 Also, 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:11.380 if two lie down together, 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:12.519 they will keep warm. 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:14.299 But how can one 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:15.240 keep warm 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:16.120 alone? 00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:17.880 There's the danger 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.779 of exposure. 00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:20.660 being met 00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:21.319 by having 00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:22.339 someone 00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:23.599 to share 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:24.819 body heat 00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:25.619 with. 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:28.339 Another danger 00:19:28.339 --> 00:19:29.680 that these travelers 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:30.220 would meet 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:30.899 and it's one actually 00:19:30.899 --> 00:19:32.240 that Jesus identifies 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:32.839 in the parable 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:33.920 of the Good Samaritan. 00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:35.460 Remember the parable 00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:35.960 of the man 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:36.859 who's going down 00:19:36.859 --> 00:19:37.460 on his journey 00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:38.539 and he gets attacked 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.099 by robbers? 00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:39.799 Well, we find it here 00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:40.599 in verse 12. 00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:41.619 Though one 00:19:41.619 --> 00:19:42.960 may be overpowered, 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:43.899 two 00:19:43.900 --> 00:19:45.660 can defend 00:19:45.660 --> 00:19:46.740 themselves. 00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:48.300 To have a friend 00:19:48.300 --> 00:19:49.040 is to have 00:19:49.040 --> 00:19:49.920 a source 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:50.900 of protection. 00:19:51.120 --> 00:19:51.740 So, here 00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:53.340 the good return 00:19:53.340 --> 00:19:57.740 is investing 00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:58.380 in friendship 00:19:58.380 --> 00:20:00.200 so that we know 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:01.300 by experience 00:20:01.300 --> 00:20:01.780 two 00:20:01.780 --> 00:20:02.960 are better 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:04.160 than one. 00:20:05.040 --> 00:20:05.560 Now, we think 00:20:05.560 --> 00:20:06.540 about good returns 00:20:06.540 --> 00:20:07.180 and we understand 00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:08.140 that there is a cost 00:20:08.140 --> 00:20:08.880 and we know 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:10.460 that there is a cost 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:11.440 to building 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:12.720 and maintaining 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.560 friendship. 00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:16.060 It takes time 00:20:16.060 --> 00:20:16.980 and as we've said 00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:17.700 we are often 00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:19.160 time poor 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:19.680 or at least 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:21.280 we think we are. 00:20:23.180 --> 00:20:24.420 There is a cost 00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:25.160 in establishing 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:25.720 friendships 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:26.880 because there is 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:27.900 of necessity 00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:29.160 a loss 00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:30.880 of independence. 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:33.660 It's not just 00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:34.580 about my needs 00:20:34.580 --> 00:20:35.580 and my priorities 00:20:35.580 --> 00:20:36.820 and life doesn't 00:20:36.820 --> 00:20:37.400 go according 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:38.240 to my speed 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:38.900 and to my 00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:40.120 timetable. 00:20:41.340 --> 00:20:42.280 So, there is 00:20:42.280 --> 00:20:43.519 always a cost 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.639 in building 00:20:44.639 --> 00:20:45.379 friendships. 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.339 Perhaps there is 00:20:47.339 --> 00:20:48.539 an awkwardness. 00:20:49.539 --> 00:20:50.200 How do I make 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:50.819 that approach? 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:51.819 How do we 00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:53.000 move forward? 00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:54.680 But, the Bible 00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:55.000 would say 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.879 it's worth 00:20:55.879 --> 00:20:57.639 every cost 00:20:57.639 --> 00:20:59.779 because then 00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:00.700 you go through 00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:01.639 life not alone 00:21:01.639 --> 00:21:02.420 but with 00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:03.200 others. 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.720 Think about 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.200 what J.C. 00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:07.779 Ryle said, 00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:08.440 friendship is 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:08.879 that thing 00:21:08.879 --> 00:21:09.660 that halves 00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:10.299 our sorrows 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:10.759 and doubles 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:11.779 our joys. 00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:14.059 Think about 00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:14.980 the words, 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:15.740 pictures here 00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:16.919 in Ecclesiastes 4. 00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:17.700 We find ourselves 00:21:17.700 --> 00:21:18.200 in trouble. 00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:20.299 Friendship 00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:20.919 means 00:21:20.919 --> 00:21:21.579 help. 00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:25.200 Who hasn't 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:25.680 experienced 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:26.659 the warmth 00:21:26.659 --> 00:21:28.279 of time 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:29.440 with friends 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:30.379 and family? 00:21:30.379 --> 00:21:31.339 How good 00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:31.799 it is 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.619 to make 00:21:32.619 --> 00:21:33.240 time 00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:34.480 with the 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:34.819 people 00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:35.399 that we 00:21:35.399 --> 00:21:35.859 care about 00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:36.159 and who 00:21:36.159 --> 00:21:36.740 care about 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.180 us? 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:37.960 To have 00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:38.559 someone 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.120 who we 00:21:39.120 --> 00:21:39.380 know 00:21:39.380 --> 00:21:39.960 has 00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:40.240 our 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:40.539 back, 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.079 it's a 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:41.440 good 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:42.220 thing 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:42.480 and we 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:42.779 know 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:42.960 it 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:43.160 is 00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:43.299 a 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:43.559 good 00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:44.339 thing. 00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.059 Perhaps 00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:46.380 we can 00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:46.680 think of 00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:47.019 the buddy 00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:47.579 system. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:49.359 Some of 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:49.819 us in 00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:50.380 school 00:21:50.380 --> 00:21:50.920 have maybe 00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:51.480 come across 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:51.740 that. 00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:52.180 Maybe if 00:21:52.180 --> 00:21:53.279 we go 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:53.819 climbing 00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:54.299 we've 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:54.799 come across 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:54.940 it, 00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:55.359 two people 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:55.799 paired 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:56.460 together, 00:21:57.059 --> 00:21:57.700 working 00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.579 as one, 00:21:59.160 --> 00:21:59.859 looking to 00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:00.440 look out 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:00.819 for one 00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:01.099 another, 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:01.819 to monitor 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:02.680 the progress 00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:03.380 of one 00:22:03.380 --> 00:22:03.680 another. 00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:04.380 That's not 00:22:04.380 --> 00:22:05.000 just wisdom 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.420 for the 00:22:05.420 --> 00:22:05.880 playground 00:22:05.880 --> 00:22:06.720 or for 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:07.320 the 00:22:07.320 --> 00:22:07.980 mountaintop. 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:08.240 That's 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:08.840 wisdom 00:22:08.840 --> 00:22:09.720 for life. 00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:11.200 That we 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:12.160 don't go 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:12.900 it alone. 00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:14.560 As Christians 00:22:14.560 --> 00:22:15.320 our faith 00:22:15.320 --> 00:22:15.960 is not 00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:17.000 private 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:18.779 and privatised. 00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:20.320 We are 00:22:20.320 --> 00:22:20.960 made for 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.480 friendship, 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:21.920 we are 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:23.180 made for 00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:23.759 fellowship. 00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.340 And because 00:22:26.340 --> 00:22:27.380 that is 00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:28.039 true, 00:22:28.660 --> 00:22:29.680 because two 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:30.320 are better 00:22:30.320 --> 00:22:30.840 than one 00:22:30.840 --> 00:22:31.380 and because 00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:31.880 a cord 00:22:31.880 --> 00:22:32.340 of three 00:22:32.340 --> 00:22:33.060 strands 00:22:33.060 --> 00:22:34.080 is not 00:22:34.080 --> 00:22:34.680 quickly 00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:35.279 broken, 00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:37.560 we need 00:22:37.560 --> 00:22:38.120 to invest 00:22:38.120 --> 00:22:39.460 and prioritise. 00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:40.759 And we 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.039 need to 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:41.480 look to 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:41.900 see how 00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:42.220 can I 00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:42.860 break down 00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:43.779 those barriers 00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:45.080 to building 00:22:45.080 --> 00:22:45.680 friendship. 00:22:47.360 --> 00:22:48.019 So think 00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:48.500 about our 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:48.860 attitude 00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:49.500 towards 00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.500 busyness. 00:22:52.700 --> 00:22:53.180 Maybe 00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:53.640 for some 00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:53.940 of us 00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:54.240 we need 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:55.060 to disconnect 00:22:55.060 --> 00:22:56.580 from work 00:22:56.580 --> 00:22:56.920 so there 00:22:56.920 --> 00:22:57.340 are times 00:22:57.340 --> 00:22:57.640 when we 00:22:57.640 --> 00:22:58.160 are fully 00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:58.900 present 00:22:58.900 --> 00:22:59.920 with the 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:00.940 people that 00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:01.400 we love, 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:01.800 the people 00:23:01.800 --> 00:23:02.120 who are 00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:02.660 present 00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:03.420 with us. 00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:05.180 and that's 00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:05.840 really hard 00:23:05.840 --> 00:23:06.140 when we 00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:07.019 can be 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.460 spending a 00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:07.680 lot of 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.160 time working 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:08.840 from home. 00:23:11.580 --> 00:23:12.060 Perhaps 00:23:12.060 --> 00:23:12.420 we need 00:23:12.420 --> 00:23:12.779 to get 00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.180 out our 00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:13.600 diaries 00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:14.000 and begin 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:14.240 to 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:15.920 reprioritise 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:17.039 so that 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:17.480 we make 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:17.860 room and 00:23:17.860 --> 00:23:18.180 we are 00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:18.720 connecting 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:19.500 with old 00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:20.080 friends 00:23:20.080 --> 00:23:20.940 as 00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:21.480 restrictions 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:22.200 continue 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:23.100 to ease. 00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:25.720 Perhaps 00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:26.039 we need 00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:26.400 to think 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:26.779 about our 00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:27.140 attitude 00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:27.840 to church, 00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:28.700 not church 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:29.380 as a 00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:30.080 building 00:23:30.080 --> 00:23:30.440 that we 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:31.019 come to, 00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:31.299 but as 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:31.440 a 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:31.819 people 00:23:31.819 --> 00:23:32.299 that we 00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:32.579 are 00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:33.379 committed 00:23:33.379 --> 00:23:34.079 to. 00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:37.519 God 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.019 demands 00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:38.279 that he 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:38.759 be number 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.279 one 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.420 in our 00:23:40.420 --> 00:23:40.839 lives, 00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:41.160 in our 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:41.839 priorities. 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.500 Jesus 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:44.879 says, 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:45.139 if you 00:23:45.139 --> 00:23:45.680 love me, 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:45.960 you'll 00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:46.500 love my 00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.279 church. 00:23:49.139 --> 00:23:49.879 What needs 00:23:49.879 --> 00:23:50.460 to change 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:50.839 so that we're 00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:51.660 showing that 00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:53.139 in our 00:23:53.139 --> 00:23:54.059 everyday life? 00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:55.980 What about 00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:56.319 when it 00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:56.799 comes to 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:57.319 our use 00:23:57.319 --> 00:23:58.139 of technology? 00:23:58.140 --> 00:23:58.280 technology? 00:23:59.600 --> 00:24:00.180 Is it 00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:00.820 important that 00:24:00.820 --> 00:24:01.200 we cut 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:01.700 down some 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.000 of our 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:02.640 social media 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:03.320 connection 00:24:03.320 --> 00:24:03.820 in favour 00:24:03.820 --> 00:24:04.300 of real 00:24:04.300 --> 00:24:05.240 face-to-face 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:05.759 communion 00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.500 with people? 00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:10.140 Perhaps 00:24:10.140 --> 00:24:10.500 when we're 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:10.860 with our 00:24:10.860 --> 00:24:11.120 friends, 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:11.440 it's the 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:11.960 time to 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:13.060 leave our 00:24:13.060 --> 00:24:13.759 phones at 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.020 home, 00:24:14.060 --> 00:24:14.259 or at 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:14.600 least to 00:24:14.600 --> 00:24:15.020 leave them 00:24:15.020 --> 00:24:15.960 in our 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.420 pockets, 00:24:16.520 --> 00:24:17.040 to switch 00:24:17.040 --> 00:24:17.600 off our 00:24:17.600 --> 00:24:18.200 notifications 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:18.540 so that 00:24:18.540 --> 00:24:18.700 we're 00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:19.520 actually in 00:24:19.520 --> 00:24:19.920 the room 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:20.220 with the 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:20.660 people we're 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.100 in the 00:24:21.100 --> 00:24:21.880 room with. 00:24:24.120 --> 00:24:24.700 I think 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:24.780 it's 00:24:24.780 --> 00:24:25.040 something we 00:24:25.040 --> 00:24:25.340 need to 00:24:25.340 --> 00:24:26.280 fight against. 00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:27.759 And then 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:27.980 when it 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.319 comes to 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:28.859 the reality 00:24:28.859 --> 00:24:29.920 of us 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.440 being much 00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:31.200 more mobile 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:32.039 and maybe 00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:32.740 feeling less 00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:33.160 rooted, 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:35.240 it's that 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:35.759 important thing 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:36.039 of looking 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:36.619 both ways, 00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:36.980 to make 00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:37.539 effort with 00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:38.980 old friends, 00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:40.160 but also 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:41.000 pursuing real 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:41.960 friendships now, 00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:42.819 not putting it 00:24:42.819 --> 00:24:43.279 off and saying, 00:24:43.399 --> 00:24:44.440 well, in five 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.079 years' time when 00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:45.559 I've got that 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.099 job and I'm 00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:46.759 in that place, 00:24:46.819 --> 00:24:47.299 then I'll put 00:24:47.299 --> 00:24:47.920 down roots. 00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:48.619 No, we need 00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:49.160 them now. 00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:50.220 God's Word 00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:50.980 says we need 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:52.079 church, we 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:52.839 need people 00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:53.859 today. 00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:56.759 The Bible 00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.359 is full of 00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:57.959 that teaching, 00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:58.319 isn't it, 00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:59.039 to love 00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:00.479 our neighbour. 00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:03.059 And that in 00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:03.899 itself becomes 00:25:03.899 --> 00:25:04.740 a call to 00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:05.319 friendship. 00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:07.659 And that 00:25:07.659 --> 00:25:08.159 becomes a 00:25:08.159 --> 00:25:09.159 mindset shift 00:25:09.159 --> 00:25:09.459 where we're 00:25:09.459 --> 00:25:09.899 thinking about 00:25:09.899 --> 00:25:12.539 we, not 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:12.979 just thinking 00:25:12.979 --> 00:25:13.559 about me, 00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:14.959 because we 00:25:14.959 --> 00:25:15.519 are made 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:17.359 for friendship. 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:18.859 And do you 00:25:18.859 --> 00:25:19.159 know we can 00:25:19.159 --> 00:25:19.919 see that as 00:25:19.919 --> 00:25:20.500 we think about 00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:21.199 the storyline 00:25:21.199 --> 00:25:22.359 of the 00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:22.679 Bible? 00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:24.480 we go back 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.160 to creation. 00:25:25.360 --> 00:25:26.299 Indeed, before 00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:27.480 the world was 00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:28.720 created, we 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.299 know that there 00:25:29.299 --> 00:25:30.779 was God, a 00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:31.960 God who is an 00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:33.460 eternal fellowship 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:34.240 of perfect 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:35.400 friendship, love, 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.420 communion, Father, 00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:37.560 Son, and Holy 00:25:37.560 --> 00:25:38.019 Spirit. 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:41.240 And that God 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:42.620 made the 00:25:42.620 --> 00:25:44.019 world so 00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:44.799 that we could 00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:45.720 live in the 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:47.140 overflow of 00:25:47.140 --> 00:25:48.299 His love so 00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:48.860 that we might 00:25:48.860 --> 00:25:49.600 enjoy the 00:25:49.600 --> 00:25:50.200 privilege of 00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:50.580 fellowship, 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.420 friendship with 00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:51.720 Him. 00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:54.259 we go to 00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:54.960 creation, go to 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.420 the Garden of 00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:55.799 Eden, what do 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.120 we find? 00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:57.180 We find there 00:25:57.180 --> 00:25:58.320 is God, as 00:25:58.320 --> 00:25:58.980 it were, walking 00:25:58.980 --> 00:25:59.680 and talking 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:01.000 with Adam 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:01.600 and Eve. 00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:03.500 We find from 00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:03.960 the beginning 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:04.460 that we were 00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:04.980 made for 00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:05.700 friendship with 00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:06.160 God, made 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:06.740 in the image 00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.360 of God to 00:26:07.360 --> 00:26:07.860 know and 00:26:07.860 --> 00:26:08.500 enjoy and 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.240 worship Him. 00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:10.980 And then God 00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.700 said in His 00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:12.279 perfect world 00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:12.740 there was one 00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:13.200 thing that was 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:13.700 not good, it 00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:14.120 was not good 00:26:14.120 --> 00:26:14.940 when Adam 00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:15.620 was alone, 00:26:16.360 --> 00:26:17.100 because we 00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:17.700 were made for 00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:18.380 friendship with 00:26:18.380 --> 00:26:19.200 God and 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:21.019 others. 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.440 Staying in the 00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:23.860 Garden of 00:26:23.860 --> 00:26:24.220 Eden, what 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:24.799 happened when 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.180 Adam and 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:26.400 Eve fell into 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:28.140 sin is that 00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:28.620 they turned 00:26:28.620 --> 00:26:29.900 their back on 00:26:29.900 --> 00:26:32.500 God, rejecting 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:34.200 friendship with 00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:37.080 God, so that 00:26:37.080 --> 00:26:37.880 they might live 00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:40.259 like God and 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:41.220 be self-sufficient, 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:42.160 not needing 00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:43.200 His friendship 00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.200 anymore. 00:26:44.200 --> 00:26:44.840 anymore. 00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:47.039 So when they 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:48.200 had fallen into 00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:48.840 sin and God 00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:49.720 came to speak 00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.100 with them in 00:26:50.100 --> 00:26:50.819 the garden, they 00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:51.980 are then hiding 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:53.519 behind the 00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:53.940 tree. 00:26:54.460 --> 00:26:54.940 Friendship, 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:56.120 fellowship has 00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:56.660 been broken 00:26:56.660 --> 00:26:57.400 because of sin 00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:57.860 and they're sent 00:26:57.860 --> 00:26:58.680 out of God's 00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.120 place, sent 00:26:59.120 --> 00:27:00.100 east of 00:27:00.100 --> 00:27:01.100 Eden and 00:27:01.100 --> 00:27:02.240 friendship is 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:04.700 lost because 00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:05.180 of sin. 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:05.880 That's what sin 00:27:05.880 --> 00:27:06.380 does, it 00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:06.860 separates. 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.420 But that's not 00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:08.019 the end of the 00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:08.319 story. 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:08.700 Then we have 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.160 this wonderful 00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:10.660 theme of covenant 00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:12.240 within the Bible, 00:27:12.380 --> 00:27:13.380 this idea that 00:27:13.380 --> 00:27:14.440 God in His 00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:15.080 grace and 00:27:15.080 --> 00:27:15.600 mercy, not 00:27:15.600 --> 00:27:16.100 because we 00:27:16.100 --> 00:27:16.760 deserve it, but 00:27:16.760 --> 00:27:17.420 because God is 00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:18.280 good and kind. 00:27:18.620 --> 00:27:19.820 He pursues His 00:27:19.820 --> 00:27:20.180 people. 00:27:21.300 --> 00:27:22.560 He reverses that 00:27:22.560 --> 00:27:22.860 curse. 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:23.880 He redeems 00:27:23.880 --> 00:27:24.180 people. 00:27:24.300 --> 00:27:25.060 He restores 00:27:25.060 --> 00:27:25.900 people to 00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:26.680 fellowship with 00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:26.920 Himself. 00:27:27.100 --> 00:27:27.660 He enters 00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:29.520 into friendship 00:27:29.520 --> 00:27:30.920 with people and 00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:31.600 He does that 00:27:31.600 --> 00:27:32.220 ultimately by 00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:33.120 sending Jesus. 00:27:34.600 --> 00:27:35.980 Jesus who is 00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:36.940 God and 00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:39.040 man and He 00:27:39.040 --> 00:27:39.720 is the 00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:41.260 perfect friend. 00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:43.900 He enjoys 00:27:43.900 --> 00:27:45.420 perfect fellowship 00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:45.920 with His 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:46.779 Father, living 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.400 for His 00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:47.960 glory and 00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:49.019 pursuing obedience 00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:49.539 always. 00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:50.420 And He's a 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:51.180 wonderful friend, 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:51.460 doesn't He? 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:51.779 Read the 00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:52.299 Gospels. 00:27:52.379 --> 00:27:52.660 He's a 00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:53.379 wonderful friend 00:27:53.379 --> 00:27:53.640 to the 00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:55.059 disciples, to 00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:55.559 those who are 00:27:55.559 --> 00:27:56.180 helpless, to 00:27:56.180 --> 00:27:56.680 those who are 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:57.299 lost. 00:27:58.579 --> 00:27:59.339 And Jesus, 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:00.079 the God 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:02.220 man, then 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:02.879 goes to the 00:28:02.879 --> 00:28:04.400 cross to 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:05.420 bear the 00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:08.039 curse for 00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:08.299 our 00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:09.279 disobedience, 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:10.639 for our 00:28:10.639 --> 00:28:11.639 saying no 00:28:11.639 --> 00:28:13.139 to friendship 00:28:13.139 --> 00:28:13.920 with God, 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.700 for us 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.319 turning our 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:17.759 back on 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.859 God the 00:28:18.859 --> 00:28:19.339 Father. 00:28:21.819 --> 00:28:22.660 And He 00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:24.539 dies to 00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:25.279 restore His 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.819 people to 00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:27.680 relationship with 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:29.160 God so that 00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:29.879 we can be 00:28:29.879 --> 00:28:30.599 friends of 00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:31.019 God. 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:35.160 Jesus is 00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:35.759 the friend we 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.240 need above 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:36.960 all others. 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:38.539 that's why we 00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:39.100 read from 00:28:39.100 --> 00:28:40.200 John 15, 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:41.880 Jesus said, 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:42.680 greater love 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.400 has no one 00:28:43.400 --> 00:28:44.100 than this, 00:28:44.840 --> 00:28:45.579 that He lays 00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:46.000 down His 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:46.740 life for His 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.160 friends. 00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:49.700 Jesus didn't 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:50.240 say it, He 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.660 did it. 00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:52.220 There on the 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:52.860 cross, He 00:28:52.860 --> 00:28:53.200 did it. 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:54.620 He said, I 00:28:54.620 --> 00:28:55.360 no longer call 00:28:55.360 --> 00:28:56.340 you servants 00:28:56.340 --> 00:28:57.779 because a 00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:58.279 servant does 00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.779 not know his 00:28:58.779 --> 00:28:59.539 master's business. 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.240 Instead, I 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:00.740 have called 00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.360 you friends. 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:03.460 Jesus comes 00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:04.240 to invite us 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.120 to friendship 00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:06.859 and to 00:29:06.859 --> 00:29:07.500 have friendship 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.199 with Jesus 00:29:08.199 --> 00:29:09.199 now today 00:29:09.199 --> 00:29:10.019 is to find 00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:10.699 the best 00:29:10.699 --> 00:29:11.579 friend of 00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:11.979 all. 00:29:13.659 --> 00:29:14.579 One who 00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:15.339 will be 00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:16.000 there for 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:17.439 every journey 00:29:17.439 --> 00:29:18.279 that life 00:29:18.279 --> 00:29:18.859 takes us 00:29:18.859 --> 00:29:19.159 on. 00:29:19.959 --> 00:29:20.479 One who 00:29:20.479 --> 00:29:21.339 promises to 00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:21.979 be there for 00:29:21.979 --> 00:29:22.399 His people 00:29:22.399 --> 00:29:23.359 every time 00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:24.379 we fall. 00:29:25.459 --> 00:29:26.099 One who 00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:27.539 warms us 00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:28.519 by His 00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:29.179 love. 00:29:29.859 --> 00:29:30.379 One who 00:29:30.379 --> 00:29:31.519 protects us 00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.179 in His 00:29:32.179 --> 00:29:33.579 strong grip. 00:29:33.579 --> 00:29:35.240 He is the 00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:36.059 one friend 00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.399 we will 00:29:36.399 --> 00:29:36.859 find who 00:29:36.859 --> 00:29:37.220 is never 00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:37.500 too 00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.159 distracted 00:29:38.159 --> 00:29:40.019 to spend 00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.500 time with 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:40.639 us. 00:29:40.699 --> 00:29:41.000 He's never 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:41.919 too busy 00:29:41.919 --> 00:29:42.359 for us. 00:29:42.419 --> 00:29:42.859 He's never 00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:43.699 out of 00:29:43.699 --> 00:29:45.019 reach from 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:45.879 us. 00:29:49.379 --> 00:29:49.899 Ecclesiastes 00:29:49.899 --> 00:29:50.699 reminds us 00:29:50.699 --> 00:29:51.939 that friendship, 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.419 friendship with 00:29:53.419 --> 00:29:53.980 one another, 00:29:54.099 --> 00:29:54.579 friendship with 00:29:54.579 --> 00:29:55.199 God, is the 00:29:55.199 --> 00:29:56.159 supreme pleasure 00:29:56.159 --> 00:29:56.679 of life. 00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:57.079 It's something 00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:57.579 that we were 00:29:57.579 --> 00:29:58.879 made for. 00:30:00.939 --> 00:30:01.240 It was 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.099 Charles Spurgeon, 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:03.500 famous, 00:30:03.579 --> 00:30:04.379 Baptist 00:30:04.379 --> 00:30:05.019 preacher from 00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:05.879 London, 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:06.240 who said 00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:06.519 that to 00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:07.119 be happy 00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:08.759 here, we 00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.159 need to 00:30:09.159 --> 00:30:10.099 have friends. 00:30:11.659 --> 00:30:12.339 So let's 00:30:12.339 --> 00:30:13.000 remind one 00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:14.919 another that 00:30:14.919 --> 00:30:15.359 we would be 00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:15.960 pursuing 00:30:15.960 --> 00:30:17.339 friendships, 00:30:17.799 --> 00:30:18.099 that we 00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:18.399 would be 00:30:18.399 --> 00:30:19.639 prioritizing 00:30:19.639 --> 00:30:20.339 people, 00:30:20.439 --> 00:30:20.679 that we'd 00:30:20.679 --> 00:30:21.899 be investing 00:30:21.899 --> 00:30:23.379 in fellowship 00:30:23.379 --> 00:30:23.939 in the 00:30:23.939 --> 00:30:24.319 church. 00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:25.639 But Spurgeon 00:30:25.639 --> 00:30:26.419 also said to 00:30:26.419 --> 00:30:27.439 be happy for 00:30:27.439 --> 00:30:28.419 eternity, 00:30:28.419 --> 00:30:31.139 we need to 00:30:31.139 --> 00:30:31.740 find a friend 00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:32.279 in Jesus. 00:30:33.579 --> 00:30:35.720 Ecclesiastes 00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:37.139 keeps speaking 00:30:37.139 --> 00:30:37.899 to us about 00:30:37.899 --> 00:30:39.119 life under 00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:40.000 the sun, 00:30:40.819 --> 00:30:42.039 which is a 00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:43.059 time marker, 00:30:44.059 --> 00:30:45.139 which is 00:30:45.139 --> 00:30:46.139 speaking to 00:30:46.139 --> 00:30:46.740 us of the 00:30:46.740 --> 00:30:47.399 reality of 00:30:47.399 --> 00:30:47.980 death and 00:30:47.980 --> 00:30:48.759 eternity to 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.139 come. 00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:51.519 And when we 00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:52.000 think about 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.879 the reality 00:30:52.879 --> 00:30:53.559 of death, 00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:55.199 we recognize 00:30:55.199 --> 00:30:56.039 that as the 00:30:56.039 --> 00:30:57.819 end to 00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:58.859 a friendship. 00:30:58.859 --> 00:30:59.000 friendship, 00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:00.839 and that is 00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:01.179 the great 00:31:01.179 --> 00:31:01.839 sorrow and 00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:02.139 the great 00:31:02.139 --> 00:31:02.799 burden we 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.339 face, the 00:31:03.339 --> 00:31:04.039 great longing 00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:04.559 in our 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:05.479 hearts is 00:31:05.479 --> 00:31:05.679 that we 00:31:05.679 --> 00:31:06.259 would find 00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:06.879 a friend 00:31:06.879 --> 00:31:07.259 and that 00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:08.079 friend would 00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:09.339 last forever. 00:31:12.139 --> 00:31:12.379 Do you know 00:31:12.379 --> 00:31:13.000 Ecclesiastes 00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:13.859 tells us God 00:31:13.859 --> 00:31:14.159 has set 00:31:14.159 --> 00:31:14.879 eternity in 00:31:14.879 --> 00:31:15.240 our hearts, 00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:15.679 he's given 00:31:15.679 --> 00:31:16.059 us that 00:31:16.059 --> 00:31:16.519 longing and 00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:17.039 that longing 00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:17.619 is met 00:31:17.619 --> 00:31:18.740 when Jesus 00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:19.179 is our 00:31:19.179 --> 00:31:19.559 friend, 00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:20.899 when our 00:31:20.899 --> 00:31:21.399 faith is 00:31:21.399 --> 00:31:21.819 in him. 00:31:21.819 --> 00:31:24.679 and in 00:31:24.679 --> 00:31:25.179 the work 00:31:25.179 --> 00:31:25.960 of Jesus 00:31:25.960 --> 00:31:27.000 dying and 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:28.119 rising to 00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:28.679 pay for our 00:31:28.679 --> 00:31:29.119 sin and to 00:31:29.119 --> 00:31:29.460 give us 00:31:29.460 --> 00:31:29.980 salvation, 00:31:31.240 --> 00:31:31.919 in his 00:31:31.919 --> 00:31:32.379 work we 00:31:32.379 --> 00:31:33.439 find eternal 00:31:33.439 --> 00:31:34.119 gain, 00:31:35.159 --> 00:31:35.759 that trusting 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.500 in Jesus we 00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:36.799 have that 00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.919 promise of 00:31:37.919 --> 00:31:38.619 eternal 00:31:38.619 --> 00:31:40.299 friendship with 00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:41.019 all who have 00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:41.500 ever loved 00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.539 Jesus in 00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:43.159 the past, 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:45.480 and eternal 00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:46.379 friendship and 00:31:46.379 --> 00:31:47.019 fellowship with 00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:48.099 Jesus himself. 00:31:49.919 --> 00:31:51.299 To our 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.879 better than 00:31:52.879 --> 00:31:53.200 one, 00:31:54.460 --> 00:31:55.299 and especially 00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:56.519 when the 00:31:56.519 --> 00:31:56.879 one is 00:31:56.879 --> 00:31:57.259 Jesus. 00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:59.700 Let's pray 00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.519 together. 00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:06.619 Our 00:32:06.619 --> 00:32:06.980 Father, 00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:08.519 we give you 00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:10.200 thanks that 00:32:10.200 --> 00:32:11.619 from the 00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:13.019 beginning of 00:32:13.019 --> 00:32:14.680 creation you 00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:15.659 recognized and 00:32:15.659 --> 00:32:16.240 you said that 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:16.579 it was not 00:32:16.579 --> 00:32:17.859 good for a 00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:18.399 man to be 00:32:18.399 --> 00:32:19.059 alone, for a 00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:19.639 person to be 00:32:19.639 --> 00:32:20.839 alone, that 00:32:20.839 --> 00:32:21.279 you made 00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:21.940 us for 00:32:21.940 --> 00:32:22.420 friendship. 00:32:23.639 --> 00:32:24.139 We thank 00:32:24.139 --> 00:32:25.460 you for the 00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:26.160 friends and 00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:27.460 the family that 00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:28.539 you have given 00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:30.460 to us, and 00:32:30.460 --> 00:32:31.339 we ask that 00:32:31.339 --> 00:32:31.899 you would help 00:32:31.899 --> 00:32:33.359 us to be 00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:34.319 good friends. 00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:36.539 We all know 00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:37.299 the challenge 00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:38.079 that there has 00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:38.960 been over the 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:40.099 last couple of 00:32:40.099 --> 00:32:41.259 years because of 00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:42.139 restrictions and 00:32:42.139 --> 00:32:43.160 lockdowns and 00:32:43.160 --> 00:32:44.440 getting used to 00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:46.420 meeting and 00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:47.279 spending time 00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:48.579 virtually and 00:32:48.579 --> 00:32:49.440 digitally rather 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:49.940 other than 00:32:49.940 --> 00:32:50.539 face to 00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:50.960 face. 00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:52.660 But Lord, we 00:32:52.660 --> 00:32:54.019 pray that you 00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:54.960 would help us 00:32:54.960 --> 00:32:55.960 to pursue 00:32:55.960 --> 00:32:57.240 friendship, to 00:32:57.240 --> 00:32:58.740 make time for 00:32:58.740 --> 00:32:59.620 others to 00:32:59.620 --> 00:33:01.019 share the 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:01.940 sorrows and 00:33:01.940 --> 00:33:02.920 the joys of 00:33:02.920 --> 00:33:03.480 others. 00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:06.580 Lord, we 00:33:06.580 --> 00:33:07.240 pray that you 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:07.799 would remind 00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:09.720 us that it's 00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:10.580 not good for us 00:33:10.580 --> 00:33:11.320 to be alone when 00:33:11.320 --> 00:33:12.180 it comes to our 00:33:12.180 --> 00:33:13.320 faith also, 00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:15.039 people, that 00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:15.359 you would 00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:16.299 connect us 00:33:16.299 --> 00:33:17.899 deeply to 00:33:17.899 --> 00:33:18.559 Christian 00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:19.599 friendship and 00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:20.599 fellowship and 00:33:20.599 --> 00:33:21.139 to public 00:33:21.139 --> 00:33:23.079 worship so 00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:23.679 that we can 00:33:23.679 --> 00:33:25.139 find help and 00:33:25.139 --> 00:33:25.879 strength and 00:33:25.879 --> 00:33:26.500 encouragement, 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.480 that we can be 00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:29.379 doing all those 00:33:29.379 --> 00:33:30.279 one another's, 00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:31.639 that we can be 00:33:31.639 --> 00:33:32.579 showing love. 00:33:33.439 --> 00:33:34.019 And we also 00:33:34.019 --> 00:33:35.539 remember the 00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.939 importance in 00:33:36.939 --> 00:33:38.480 your wisdom of 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:39.139 the Christian 00:33:39.139 --> 00:33:40.000 church and the 00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:40.960 Christian family 00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:42.440 giving a 00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:43.940 picture of 00:33:43.940 --> 00:33:44.559 your great 00:33:44.559 --> 00:33:45.380 love to the 00:33:45.380 --> 00:33:45.819 world. 00:33:48.620 --> 00:33:49.640 By this all 00:33:49.640 --> 00:33:50.240 men will know 00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:50.900 that you are my 00:33:50.900 --> 00:33:51.980 disciples, Jesus 00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:52.700 said, if you 00:33:52.700 --> 00:33:53.759 have love for 00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:54.360 one another. 00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:57.480 That requires us 00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:58.259 to be together. 00:33:58.360 --> 00:33:58.940 And so we pray 00:33:58.940 --> 00:33:59.360 that you would 00:33:59.360 --> 00:34:00.380 strengthen our 00:34:00.380 --> 00:34:01.700 fellowship, increase 00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:03.000 our unity. 00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:05.180 Lord, we pray 00:34:05.180 --> 00:34:07.299 for those who 00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:08.960 are particularly 00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:10.460 lonely today, 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:12.860 in our church, 00:34:13.639 --> 00:34:14.659 in our family, 00:34:14.940 --> 00:34:16.000 in our community. 00:34:16.900 --> 00:34:17.539 We know that 00:34:17.539 --> 00:34:18.199 there are many. 00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:19.820 We know that 00:34:19.820 --> 00:34:20.639 life is hard, 00:34:20.699 --> 00:34:21.159 that the last 00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:21.980 two years have 00:34:21.980 --> 00:34:22.960 been so hard 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:24.599 for many people. 00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:26.480 And so we pray 00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:28.059 for comfort. 00:34:28.500 --> 00:34:29.280 And we pray that 00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:29.820 you would grant 00:34:29.820 --> 00:34:31.019 to us wisdom 00:34:31.019 --> 00:34:33.519 to know how 00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:34.619 to reach out 00:34:34.619 --> 00:34:35.300 to others, 00:34:36.179 --> 00:34:37.780 how to sacrifice 00:34:37.780 --> 00:34:39.159 time and our 00:34:39.159 --> 00:34:40.159 own independence 00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:41.019 for the good 00:34:41.019 --> 00:34:41.879 of others. 00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:43.679 But we also 00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:44.579 pray most of 00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:45.920 all that in 00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:46.799 people's loneliness 00:34:46.799 --> 00:34:47.920 there would be 00:34:47.920 --> 00:34:49.019 an understanding 00:34:49.019 --> 00:34:50.699 that you have 00:34:50.699 --> 00:34:51.920 given Jesus 00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:53.759 to be a 00:34:53.759 --> 00:34:55.579 friend who 00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:56.299 will always 00:34:56.299 --> 00:34:57.960 stick by his 00:34:57.960 --> 00:34:59.559 people so that 00:34:59.559 --> 00:35:00.039 people might 00:35:00.039 --> 00:35:01.859 turn to him. 00:35:01.860 --> 00:35:04.820 Lord, we also 00:35:04.820 --> 00:35:05.620 continue to 00:35:05.620 --> 00:35:06.220 think about 00:35:06.220 --> 00:35:07.500 the situation 00:35:07.500 --> 00:35:08.260 in the Ukraine. 00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:08.980 We think about 00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:10.320 the sadness 00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:12.099 of families 00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:13.120 being separated 00:35:13.120 --> 00:35:14.160 because of war, 00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:16.200 some staying 00:35:16.200 --> 00:35:17.160 and some fleeing, 00:35:17.840 --> 00:35:18.720 some fighting 00:35:18.720 --> 00:35:20.099 and some running 00:35:20.099 --> 00:35:20.920 for shelter. 00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:21.740 people 00:35:21.740 --> 00:35:22.559 are 00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:22.920 going to 00:35:22.920 --> 00:35:23.280 be a 00:35:23.280 --> 00:35:23.920 father. 00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:24.000 Lord, we pray that 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:24.420 you would 00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:26.639 spare life, 00:35:27.200 --> 00:35:27.840 that you would 00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:28.980 in the fullness 00:35:28.980 --> 00:35:29.639 of time 00:35:29.639 --> 00:35:31.900 restore families. 00:35:32.720 --> 00:35:33.659 Lord, we pray 00:35:33.659 --> 00:35:34.920 that you would 00:35:34.920 --> 00:35:37.420 in your mercy 00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:38.260 and in your 00:35:38.260 --> 00:35:38.720 wisdom, 00:35:39.139 --> 00:35:39.700 that you would 00:35:39.700 --> 00:35:40.539 intervene 00:35:40.539 --> 00:35:42.139 to stop 00:35:42.139 --> 00:35:43.800 evil plans 00:35:43.800 --> 00:35:44.420 and evil 00:35:44.420 --> 00:35:45.079 purposes. 00:35:46.460 --> 00:35:47.460 Lord, that the 00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:48.360 influence of 00:35:48.360 --> 00:35:49.039 Jesus, the 00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:50.019 Prince of Peace, 00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:50.440 would be 00:35:50.440 --> 00:35:51.159 powerfully 00:35:51.159 --> 00:35:51.619 felt. 00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:53.719 Lord, again, we 00:35:53.719 --> 00:35:54.599 thank you for 00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:55.539 your church in 00:35:55.539 --> 00:35:56.000 Ukraine. 00:35:56.599 --> 00:35:57.239 We pray for 00:35:57.239 --> 00:35:58.099 them today, 00:35:58.900 --> 00:35:59.800 asking that they 00:35:59.800 --> 00:36:00.400 would have 00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:01.719 an opportunity 00:36:01.719 --> 00:36:02.659 to worship 00:36:02.659 --> 00:36:04.300 in peace 00:36:04.300 --> 00:36:05.980 and in 00:36:05.980 --> 00:36:06.519 freedom. 00:36:07.759 --> 00:36:08.340 Lord, help 00:36:08.340 --> 00:36:08.780 them to 00:36:08.780 --> 00:36:09.860 persevere, help 00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:10.500 them to 00:36:10.500 --> 00:36:11.759 love their 00:36:11.759 --> 00:36:12.599 neighbours well 00:36:12.599 --> 00:36:13.780 and Lord, even 00:36:13.780 --> 00:36:14.460 help your 00:36:14.460 --> 00:36:15.480 people to love 00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:16.539 their enemies. 00:36:18.659 --> 00:36:19.699 Lord, we pray 00:36:19.699 --> 00:36:20.339 for those who 00:36:20.339 --> 00:36:21.179 can't meet 00:36:21.179 --> 00:36:21.579 and who 00:36:21.579 --> 00:36:22.319 can't worship 00:36:22.319 --> 00:36:22.839 because they 00:36:22.839 --> 00:36:23.359 don't have 00:36:23.359 --> 00:36:23.879 freedom and 00:36:23.879 --> 00:36:24.319 they don't 00:36:24.319 --> 00:36:25.039 have peace 00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:25.399 and they 00:36:25.399 --> 00:36:26.480 face persecution, 00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:27.619 not just in 00:36:27.619 --> 00:36:28.259 Ukraine but 00:36:28.259 --> 00:36:28.919 all around the 00:36:28.919 --> 00:36:29.239 world. 00:36:30.179 --> 00:36:30.719 Father, sometimes 00:36:30.719 --> 00:36:31.359 we take those 00:36:31.359 --> 00:36:32.099 things so for 00:36:32.099 --> 00:36:32.500 granted. 00:36:33.379 --> 00:36:34.659 We pray for 00:36:34.659 --> 00:36:35.339 those who don't 00:36:35.339 --> 00:36:36.119 have that luxury 00:36:36.119 --> 00:36:36.960 asking that you 00:36:36.960 --> 00:36:37.819 would draw near, 00:36:38.339 --> 00:36:38.960 thanking you that 00:36:38.960 --> 00:36:39.819 you continue to 00:36:39.819 --> 00:36:40.379 build your 00:36:40.379 --> 00:36:42.059 church and 00:36:42.059 --> 00:36:42.539 that no 00:36:42.539 --> 00:36:45.199 empire and no 00:36:45.199 --> 00:36:46.399 hostile purpose 00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:46.880 will ever 00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:47.900 prevail over 00:36:47.900 --> 00:36:48.579 your church. 00:36:50.019 --> 00:36:50.920 So we pray 00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:51.820 that you would 00:36:51.820 --> 00:36:52.519 be with us 00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:53.720 in this day 00:36:53.720 --> 00:36:54.579 and in this 00:36:54.579 --> 00:36:55.320 new week. 00:36:56.300 --> 00:36:57.019 We ask that 00:36:57.019 --> 00:36:57.400 you would give 00:36:57.400 --> 00:36:58.200 us wisdom, 00:36:59.119 --> 00:37:00.099 wisdom to 00:37:00.099 --> 00:37:00.800 know how to 00:37:00.800 --> 00:37:02.019 live at work 00:37:02.019 --> 00:37:02.500 and in our 00:37:02.500 --> 00:37:03.139 families and 00:37:03.139 --> 00:37:03.740 with our 00:37:03.740 --> 00:37:05.460 friends so 00:37:05.460 --> 00:37:05.920 that we might 00:37:05.920 --> 00:37:06.720 live for your 00:37:06.720 --> 00:37:07.119 glory. 00:37:07.740 --> 00:37:08.480 We pray in 00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:09.240 Jesus' name. 00:37:09.239 --> 00:37:14.459 God bless you. 00:37:22.719 --> 00:37:22.759 God bless you. 00:37:23.439 --> 00:37:24.899 God bless you. 00:37:24.979 --> 00:37:25.000 God bless you. 00:37:25.019 --> 00:37:26.359 God bless you. 00:37:27.299 --> 00:37:28.279 He will forgive you. 00:37:28.959 --> 00:37:30.899 God bless you. 00:37:32.699 --> 00:37:32.819 God bless you.