WEBVTT

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 The Bible tells us that he will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 My goodness, how much the world has changed since I was born in 1949.

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 Save you the maths, I'm 75.

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 Things have changed unimaginably, so much so that two sociologists, Alvin and Heidi Toffler, wrote a book which is called Future Shock.

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 And in that book, they argue that the pace of change is increasing and increasing and increasing.

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 The longer we live on planet Earth, the greater the velocity of the change that we experience.

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 And their conclusion was, such continuous and increasingly speedy change is likely to work out in neurotic human behaviour.

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 Certainly, the world I was born into is very different.

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 It was a world where I think you could argue, and probably many people would argue today,

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 that we were kept less safe than our children today.

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 My childhood was throughout the 1950s.

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 It seems unbelievable now that I can assert these things to you that marked out my childhood,

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 which would be a million miles away, I think, from modern parents, not being critical of that at all.

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 I was allowed, from the age of six, to do something which we called playing out.

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 That was, I could go with my friends.

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 My parents seemed to have this unerring belief that the big boys would be a good influence on the little boys.

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 Wrong in every count.

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 I was allowed to skate on frozen ponds.

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 I was allowed with the big boys to get on a train, make a 35-minute journey to Old Trafford,

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 and go and watch Manchester United win for a change.

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 And then come home.

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 And there were some restrictions, however.

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 I was mortified that my parents would not allow me to own a catapult.

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 And I had strict times when I was supposed to be back at home with my granny and my parents.

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 I think you'd agree with me, all this seems a very long way away from the health and safety culture we live in today.

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 Warnings abound everywhere.

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 I was at a park in Keswick recently, up in the Lake District, and I read this.

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 It said,

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 Beware, the grass can be wet.

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 Our text tells us that God will keep us strong,

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 and in that strength, he will keep his people.

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 The Bible has many explicit stories about the way God kept his people safe.

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 There is a story in the book of Exodus chapter 12,

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 a story about the Passover and how that came about.

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 Incidentally, were we having a communion service today,

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 much of what we do in that communion service comes from the celebration of the Passover in Judaism.

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 In Exodus 12, we're told that on the 14th day of Nisan,

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 that's nothing to do with cars,

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 it's a month in the Jewish calendar,

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 that they were supposed to take a lamb without blemish,

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 and at twilight, they were to kill it.

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 And then they were to take some of the blood

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 and smear it on the doorways of their homes.

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 So that when the Lord decided he'd had enough of the Egyptians

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 and that he would wipe out their children,

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 I know this is, you know, scary stuff in a way,

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 that those lintels, door lintels,

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 which had blood on them,

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 would be overlooked by the angel of death.

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 God kept his people.

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 In Numbers chapter 6 and verse 24,

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 we read those wonderful words that very often occur

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 in our contemporary church today as a blessing.

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 The Lord bless you and keep you.

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 I imagine that you do want to be kept.

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 I can't imagine there'll be anybody in here who doesn't want that.

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 But then there's our experience.

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 One of the best-selling books ever was a book by Rabbi Harold Kushner.

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 To be honest, I think the title sold the book rather than the content.

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 It was called,

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 What Happens When Bad Things Happen to Good People?

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 I mean, that is such a great question, isn't it?

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 Suffering is a mystery for us.

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 We don't understand why some stuff happens.

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 And although we legitimately ask the question,

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 sadly, there are some answers that are unavailable to us.

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 I'm imagining in a congregation this size,

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 there are people here who have questions about what's happened to them in their life.

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 And might almost be offended by the very topic that the Lord will keep you.

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 Some of you who think to yourselves,

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 when things go bad in your life,

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 why me?

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 How dare we assert that God will keep us strong and keep us when there's so much bad stuff going on

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 in many people's lives?

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 And maybe especially in the lives of committed disciples.

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 Before I answer that question,

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 I want to just tell you what this promise of God to keep us doesn't mean.

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 I want you to think for a moment about the insurance business.

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 It's based on a very simple and interesting idea that risk can be assessed

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 and then priced, monetized, and in return for the payment of a premium,

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 which we all think is too much, obviously,

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 in return for payment of a premium,

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 we can have some kind of assurance

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 that if something goes wrong with our car or with our washing machine

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 or with our health,

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 our costs will be covered.

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 You would be surprised, I think,

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 to know about some of the risks

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 that you can insure against these days.

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 Let me tell you three.

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 One,

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 you can insure against damage caused by a ghost.

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 I'll say that again.

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 You can insure against damage caused by a ghost.

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 I have to say,

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 I think my children damaged far more when they were young

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 than a ghost ever did.

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 Second thing is,

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 you can insure yourself against being hit by an asteroid.

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 The third thing is,

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 you can insure yourself against being kidnapped

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 by extraterrestrials.

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 I did actually sit next to a lady on a train once

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 who told me that she had been abducted by extraterrestrials

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 who had made her pregnant

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 and she'd given birth to a child who was a genius.

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 The Lord's promise to keep us

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 is not like an insurance policy.

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 Let me say that again.

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 The Lord's promise to keep us

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 is not like an insurance policy.

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 In Matthew chapter 5,

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 Jesus says this to the crowds,

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 He causes His Son to rise on the evil and the good

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 and sends rain on the righteous

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 and the unrighteousness.

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 Don't think that faith in God

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 will keep you from anything going wrong in your life.

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 In fact,

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 if you read books about the history of the saints,

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 you will find out that they had to endure

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 the most horrific things

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 and it was the fact that they prevailed

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 despite the suffering in their lives

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 that got them into stained glass windows.

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 I think that is an amazing truth.

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 The truth is

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 that God will not cover you

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 in a sense that nothing will ever go wrong in your life,

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 but when it goes wrong,

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 He will give you the strength to prevail.

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 Somebody once said that suffering does two things.

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 It either makes you a stronger person

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 or it destroys you.

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 One of the things we can say is

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 that God will keep His people

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 from being destroyed by suffering.

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 And of course,

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 come to this in a moment,

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 God will also

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 give us a life for eternity.

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 St. Paul understood all this

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 only too well.

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 I mean,

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 St. Paul,

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 you know,

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 who we see in stained glass windows,

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 great hero of the church.

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 When his apostleship

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 was under threat

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 in the Corinthian church,

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 he wrote this.

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 This is like

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 Paul's vindication.

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 I always think it's a

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 helpful thing for those

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 who are Christians

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 to establish

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 where our security lies.

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 I mean,

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 Paul could have given you

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 a great

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 lecture on his academic background

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 or his kind of

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 cosmopolitan background.

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 This is how he justifies

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 his apostleship.

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 Comparing himself

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 with some of the Christians

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 in the congregation

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 in Corinth

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 who doubted

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 that Paul was a genuine apostle.

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 He says this,

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 Are they servants of Christ?

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 And then,

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 as a kind of a side thought,

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 he says,

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 Am I out of my mind

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 to talk like this?

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 He goes on,

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 I am more.

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 I have worked much harder,

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 been imprisoned more frequently,

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 been flogged more severely,

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 and been exposed to death

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 again and again.

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 Five times I received

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 from the Jews

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 the 40 lashes minus one.

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 Three times I was beaten with rods.

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 Once I was pelted with stones.

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 Three times I was shipwrecked.

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 I spent a day and night

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 in the open sea.

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 I have been constantly on the move.

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 I have been in danger from rivers,

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 in danger from bandits,

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 in danger from my fellow Jews,

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 in danger from Gentiles,

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 in danger in the city,

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 in danger in the country,

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 in danger at sea,

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 and in danger from false believers.

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 What an amazing way

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 to claim your apostleship.

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 He claimed his apostleship

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 not on the basis of,

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 I've absolutely cruised through life

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 since I gave my life to Jesus Christ.

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 Quite the contrary.

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 I mean, Paul might have said,

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 actually,

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 becoming a follower of Jesus

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 was the start of my problems.

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 Some of you all might be thinking

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 that just now.

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 That would suggest to me, however,

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 that when the Bible speaks

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 of God keeping us,

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 it can't mean

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 that we should be shielded

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 from any and everything

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 that might go wrong

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 in this life.

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 Let me remind you of our text.

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 He will keep you strong to the end

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 so that you will be blameless

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 on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 See, what I think this keeping means

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 is more like God prevailing

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 or helping us to prevail in our lives

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 irrespective of what happens to us.

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 Scholars say the idea of God's keeping us

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 is eschatological.

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 Make sure you've got your teeth in firmly

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 before you try and say that.

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 Eschatology is the study

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 of the end of times.

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 And I think what Paul is trying

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 to reassure people is

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 that whatever happens to you

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 in this life,

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 you will be kept

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 for that time

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 when the Lord returns,

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 when you die

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 or the Lord returns.

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 It's about God's ultimate purpose

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 for you

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 as his child

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 and his disciple.

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 You are being kept

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 for eternity.

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 How did Paul get perspective

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 on all that went wrong

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 in his life?

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 He wrote two things

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 that are really important for us.

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 Especially those,

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 especially those of you

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 who are going through

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 a hard time right now.

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 Paul knew

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 that God would give him

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 the strength to prevail

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 whatever happened to him.

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 But secondly,

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 Paul also believed

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 in his heart

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 that whatever happened

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 in this life

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 was always going to be

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 a worse version of his life

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 than the life he would receive

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 in eternity

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 by being a follower of Jesus.

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 He wrote this in Romans chapter 18

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 in verse 8.

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 I consider that our presence

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 sufferings

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 are not worth comparing

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 with the glory

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 that will be revealed in us.

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 Are you looking forward to that?

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 Are you looking forward

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 to that glory

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 which Scripture says

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 will be revealed in you

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 if you trust Jesus Christ?

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 So what can we say

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 about this keeping?

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 the first thing is

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 I'm sorry if this is a bit blunt

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 but God will keep you

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 from a Christless eternity

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 if you are a disciple of his.

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 There's been much debate

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 throughout the ages

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 as to whether

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 if you are a Christian

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 whether you can ever

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 forfeit your salvation.

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 that's an interesting question

00:15:33.539 --> 00:15:34.679
 it's a good question

00:15:34.679 --> 00:15:36.139
 most of the scholars

00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:36.679
 are agreed

00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:37.399
 though sometimes

00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:38.899
 for slightly different reasons

00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:40.799
 that if you genuinely

00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:41.840
 made a commitment

00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:43.019
 to Jesus Christ

00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:45.740
 you cannot

00:15:45.740 --> 00:15:46.679
 forfeit

00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:48.039
 your salvation.

00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:52.819
 in the book of Hebrews

00:15:52.819 --> 00:15:54.839
 there's a very interesting passage

00:15:54.839 --> 00:15:55.939
 which the scholars

00:15:55.939 --> 00:15:57.639
 have gone to town on

00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:59.919
 where the Lord says this

00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:01.000
 it is impossible

00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:02.059
 for those who have

00:16:02.059 --> 00:16:03.120
 once been enlightened

00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:04.519
 who have tasted

00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.659
 the heavenly gift

00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:06.860
 who have shared

00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.839
 in the Holy Spirit

00:16:07.839 --> 00:16:08.679
 who have tasted

00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:09.219
 the goodness

00:16:09.219 --> 00:16:10.339
 of the word of God

00:16:10.339 --> 00:16:11.539
 and the powers

00:16:11.539 --> 00:16:12.559
 of the coming age

00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:14.699
 if they fall away

00:16:14.699 --> 00:16:16.120
 to be brought back

00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:16.860
 to repentance

00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:18.159
 because

00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:19.779
 to their loss

00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:21.159
 they are crucifying

00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:22.120
 the Son of God

00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:23.560
 all over again.

00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:27.379
 What that means is

00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:28.800
 and this is a big problem

00:16:28.800 --> 00:16:30.560
 for the Anglican church friends

00:16:30.560 --> 00:16:33.899
 it means that

00:16:33.899 --> 00:16:34.779
 those of you

00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:36.360
 who sit in church

00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:37.779
 Sunday by Sunday

00:16:37.779 --> 00:16:40.220
 familiar with the title deeds

00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:41.500
 of the Christian faith

00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:43.039
 but actually haven't made

00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:44.220
 that leap of faith

00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:48.680
 Paul

00:16:48.680 --> 00:16:49.800
 sorry

00:16:49.800 --> 00:16:51.200
 the writer of the epistle

00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:52.060
 to the Hebrews

00:16:52.060 --> 00:16:54.340
 is asking a question

00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:55.019
 about that.

00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.940
 A big problem

00:16:57.940 --> 00:16:58.920
 in the church of England

00:16:58.920 --> 00:17:00.519
 is cultural Christianity

00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:01.720
 people who think

00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:02.480
 they're showing up

00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:03.019
 in church

00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:04.279
 on a regular basis

00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:05.779
 will see them home

00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:08.500
 which is obviously

00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:10.400
 logically not correct

00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:11.420
 anybody can come

00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:12.160
 into church

00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:13.400
 as far as I know

00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:14.019
 one of you

00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:14.900
 might be

00:17:14.900 --> 00:17:16.040
 one of the most

00:17:16.040 --> 00:17:16.820
 articulate

00:17:16.820 --> 00:17:18.180
 and great atheists

00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:19.460
 that ever stalked the earth

00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:21.500
 nobody checked out

00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:22.300
 when you came in

00:17:22.300 --> 00:17:22.860
 I hope

00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:26.640
 no

00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:29.320
 you will be saved

00:17:29.320 --> 00:17:32.080
 from a Christless eternity

00:17:32.080 --> 00:17:33.220
 if you accept

00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:34.279
 Christ as Lord

00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:35.560
 and believe

00:17:35.560 --> 00:17:36.120
 that God

00:17:36.120 --> 00:17:36.860
 raised him

00:17:36.860 --> 00:17:37.580
 from the dead

00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:43.199
 the big problem

00:17:43.199 --> 00:17:44.839
 came up in

00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:45.859
 some of the

00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:46.919
 worship songs

00:17:46.919 --> 00:17:47.500
 and hymns

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.679
 we sung this morning

00:17:48.679 --> 00:17:51.000
 is that we always

00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:52.119
 want to demote

00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:53.699
 the concept of sin

00:17:53.699 --> 00:17:55.119
 in our lives

00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:56.579
 a great way

00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:57.299
 of doing that

00:17:57.299 --> 00:17:58.519
 is to compare yourself

00:17:58.519 --> 00:17:59.439
 with other people

00:17:59.439 --> 00:18:00.879
 well I might not

00:18:00.879 --> 00:18:01.500
 be perfect

00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:02.619
 but I know somebody

00:18:02.619 --> 00:18:03.460
 who's a lot worse

00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:03.960
 than me

00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:06.099
 of course you do

00:18:06.099 --> 00:18:07.959
 I mean you might

00:18:07.959 --> 00:18:08.459
 have to

00:18:08.459 --> 00:18:09.919
 drag the bottom

00:18:09.919 --> 00:18:10.539
 of the barrel

00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:11.099
 and come up with

00:18:11.099 --> 00:18:12.519
 names like Adolf Hitler

00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:12.859
 or

00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:15.899
 my granny

00:18:15.899 --> 00:18:16.639
 used to say

00:18:16.639 --> 00:18:17.500
 comparisons

00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:19.339
 are odious

00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:23.419
 I have no idea

00:18:23.419 --> 00:18:25.639
 whether it's God's

00:18:25.639 --> 00:18:26.720
 plan this morning

00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:28.579
 in this place

00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:31.059
 to reveal himself

00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:31.679
 to you

00:18:31.679 --> 00:18:32.759
 in such a way

00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:34.879
 that you make

00:18:34.879 --> 00:18:36.179
 that step of faith

00:18:36.179 --> 00:18:38.919
 that you repent

00:18:38.919 --> 00:18:40.339
 of your sin

00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:43.199
 because sin

00:18:43.199 --> 00:18:44.959
 has terrible consequences

00:18:44.959 --> 00:18:45.439
 you haven't got to

00:18:45.439 --> 00:18:46.299
 open a newspaper

00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:47.279
 to see that

00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:49.720
 but it has

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.460
 destructive

00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:51.299
 consequences

00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:52.240
 in your life

00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:52.779
 as well

00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:54.799
 it creates

00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.579
 a blockage

00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:56.619
 in your relationship

00:18:56.619 --> 00:18:57.299
 with God

00:18:57.299 --> 00:18:59.059
 and it also

00:18:59.059 --> 00:19:00.119
 very often

00:19:00.119 --> 00:19:01.500
 creates terrible

00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:02.440
 trouble here on

00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:02.740
 earth

00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:03.740
 in our relationships

00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:04.339
 here

00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:07.319
 what was it

00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:08.019
 Paul wrote

00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:10.460
 the wages

00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:11.740
 of sin

00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:13.119
 is death

00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:15.779
 but the gift

00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.299
 of God

00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:17.599
 is eternal

00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:18.199
 life

00:19:18.199 --> 00:19:19.799
 in union

00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:20.579
 with Christ

00:19:20.579 --> 00:19:21.139
 Jesus

00:19:21.139 --> 00:19:24.519
 you can't

00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:25.319
 earn that

00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:25.979
 salvation

00:19:25.979 --> 00:19:28.399
 you can't

00:19:28.399 --> 00:19:29.099
 buy it

00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:30.239
 in fact

00:19:30.239 --> 00:19:30.659
 there is

00:19:30.659 --> 00:19:31.179
 nothing

00:19:31.179 --> 00:19:32.119
 that you can

00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:32.879
 do to save

00:19:32.879 --> 00:19:33.419
 yourself

00:19:33.419 --> 00:19:34.119
 I used to

00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:34.719
 have a doctrine

00:19:34.719 --> 00:19:35.339
 in the church

00:19:35.339 --> 00:19:35.779
 of England

00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:36.659
 which preachers

00:19:36.659 --> 00:19:37.559
 preached on

00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.079
 regularly

00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:38.539
 I've done it

00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:38.959
 myself

00:19:38.959 --> 00:19:39.659
 it was called

00:19:39.659 --> 00:19:40.299
 the doctrine

00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:41.339
 of the total

00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:42.220
 depravity

00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:43.319
 of humanity

00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:45.700
 I imagine

00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.220
 if you put

00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:46.500
 that

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:46.919
 you know

00:19:46.919 --> 00:19:47.720
 today's sermon

00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:48.460
 of depravity

00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:49.180
 of humanity

00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:50.339
 on the door

00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:50.980
 I can't imagine

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.220
 there would be

00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:51.980
 that many people

00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:52.740
 packing the way

00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:53.059
 in

00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:57.019
 you cannot

00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:58.059
 save yourself

00:19:58.059 --> 00:20:01.099
 you can sit

00:20:01.099 --> 00:20:01.539
 there for

00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:02.460
 decades

00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:03.579
 I inherited

00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:04.200
 a church

00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:05.839
 in Buckinghamshire

00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:07.039
 which had a

00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:07.459
 membership

00:20:07.459 --> 00:20:08.559
 of 350

00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.379
 people

00:20:09.379 --> 00:20:11.579
 I reckon

00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:13.720
 that a good

00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.500
 many of them

00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:15.779
 and the

00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.379
 evidence for

00:20:16.379 --> 00:20:16.959
 that was that

00:20:16.959 --> 00:20:17.639
 many of them

00:20:17.639 --> 00:20:18.299
 did make the

00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:19.119
 leap of faith

00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:20.659
 many of them

00:20:20.659 --> 00:20:21.000
 were just

00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:21.599
 cultural

00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:22.399
 Christians

00:20:22.399 --> 00:20:23.919
 generally

00:20:23.919 --> 00:20:24.799
 assented to

00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:25.299
 the moral

00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:25.980
 truth that

00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:26.799
 Jesus Christ

00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:27.199
 taught

00:20:27.199 --> 00:20:27.919
 but they're

00:20:27.919 --> 00:20:28.859
 not in a

00:20:28.859 --> 00:20:29.500
 relationship

00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:30.500
 with him

00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:32.939
 John Wesley

00:20:32.939 --> 00:20:33.439
 when he was

00:20:33.439 --> 00:20:34.199
 preaching about

00:20:34.199 --> 00:20:34.899
 the almost

00:20:34.899 --> 00:20:35.519
 Christian

00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:36.859
 said the

00:20:36.859 --> 00:20:37.180
 almost

00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:37.599
 Christians

00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:38.079
 got some

00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:38.519
 wonderful

00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:39.220
 aspects to

00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:39.539
 their life

00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:39.819
 they're

00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:40.420
 pillars of

00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:40.839
 the local

00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:41.440
 community

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.099
 excellent

00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:42.420
 people

00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:42.900
 one thing

00:20:42.900 --> 00:20:43.440
 they lack

00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:45.599
 they don't

00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:46.220
 love

00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:46.920
 God

00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:54.180
 I wonder

00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:56.579
 John Wesley

00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:57.160
 was standing

00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:57.900
 here today

00:20:57.900 --> 00:20:59.079
 I wish he

00:20:59.079 --> 00:20:59.339
 could

00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:01.660
 how many

00:21:01.660 --> 00:21:02.000
 of us

00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:02.319
 would be

00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:03.119
 found out

00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:04.660
 by that

00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:05.460
 very simple

00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:06.180
 idea

00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:08.640
 and the

00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:09.299
 thing is

00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:10.480
 you can

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:11.160
 do something

00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:11.799
 about that

00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:12.500
 any time

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:15.340
 second

00:21:15.340 --> 00:21:15.960
 thing is

00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:16.779
 you will

00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:17.740
 be kept

00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:18.559
 from the

00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:19.299
 consequences

00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:19.860
 of your

00:21:19.860 --> 00:21:20.220
 sin

00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:22.860
 I think I

00:21:22.860 --> 00:21:23.500
 said enough

00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:24.299
 about that

00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:25.019
 but the

00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:25.640
 wages of

00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:26.220
 sin is

00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:26.680
 death

00:21:26.680 --> 00:21:27.740
 if you

00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:28.480
 do not

00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:29.799
 come to

00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:30.259
 Christ

00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:31.200
 in faith

00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:32.180
 if you

00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:32.519
 do not

00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.059
 accept

00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:33.360
 his

00:21:33.360 --> 00:21:33.940
 atoning

00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:34.319
 work

00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:34.640
 on the

00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:34.900
 cross

00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:35.080
 of

00:21:35.080 --> 00:21:35.559
 Calvary

00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:36.400
 if you

00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:37.059
 do not

00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:37.480
 believe

00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.340
 that God

00:21:38.340 --> 00:21:38.940
 raised him

00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:39.279
 from the

00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:39.539
 dead

00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:43.480
 then death

00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.079
 death my

00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:44.559
 my friend

00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:46.559
 will be for

00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.059
 you a brick

00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:47.440
 wall

00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:55.059
 you will be

00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:55.500
 kept

00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.380
 from the

00:21:56.380 --> 00:21:57.039
 consequences

00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:57.539
 of your

00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:58.259
 sin if you

00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:58.920
 trust Christ

00:21:58.920 --> 00:21:59.319
 and you

00:21:59.319 --> 00:21:59.640
 will be

00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:00.120
 kept

00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:01.480
 for an

00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:02.059
 existence

00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:02.559
 that is

00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:03.380
 way beyond

00:22:03.380 --> 00:22:04.019
 anything

00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:05.539
 that you

00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:06.120
 could ever

00:22:06.120 --> 00:22:07.000
 dare to

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:07.819
 ask or

00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.279
 imagine

00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:10.899
 it's what

00:22:10.899 --> 00:22:11.539
 we call

00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:12.240
 heaven

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:15.099
 very difficult

00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:15.740
 for us to

00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:16.720
 imagine what

00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:18.160
 infinite happiness

00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:18.819
 might look

00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:19.220
 like

00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:20.220
 it's even

00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:20.960
 harder to

00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.599
 believe isn't

00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:22.420
 it what

00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:23.180
 worshipping

00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:24.000
 together might

00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:24.680
 be like in

00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:24.980
 heaven

00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:26.660
 it's going to

00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:27.059
 be a big

00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:27.680
 row at the

00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:28.200
 gate you know

00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:28.579
 we're going to

00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:29.039
 do the book

00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:29.420
 of common

00:22:29.420 --> 00:22:30.079
 prayer or

00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:31.220
 shall we do

00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:32.000
 common worship

00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:32.799
 or shall we

00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.599
 go Pentecost

00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:33.879
 what

00:22:33.879 --> 00:22:36.539
 I have no

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:37.000
 idea

00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:39.359
 but I

00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:40.400
 know that

00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:41.240
 it is a

00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:42.480
 place where

00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:43.279
 as the

00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:44.619
 writer of

00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:45.440
 the book

00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:46.119
 of Revelation

00:22:46.119 --> 00:22:47.160
 John the

00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:47.819
 divine wrote

00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:48.740
 he will wipe

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.559
 away every

00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:50.240
 tear from

00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:50.900
 our eyes

00:22:50.900 --> 00:22:52.440
 there will be

00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:52.900
 no more

00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:53.380
 death or

00:22:53.380 --> 00:22:54.039
 mourning or

00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:54.740
 crying or

00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:56.480
 pain for

00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.000
 the old

00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.539
 order of

00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:58.640
 things has

00:22:58.640 --> 00:22:59.079
 passed

00:22:59.079 --> 00:22:59.539
 away

00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:02.059
 imagine

00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:04.299
 there's going

00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:04.700
 to be a

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.539
 place for

00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:06.039
 those of

00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:06.400
 you who

00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:06.980
 hold on

00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:07.640
 to Jesus

00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:09.299
 that you

00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:09.700
 cannot

00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:10.380
 imagine

00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:11.579
 how amazing

00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:12.460
 it will

00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:12.839
 be

00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:15.480
 it will

00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.019
 be a

00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.940
 place where

00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:17.860
 you will

00:23:17.860 --> 00:23:19.240
 receive a

00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:19.779
 resurrection

00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.400
 body

00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:22.559
 God knows

00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:23.019
 I need

00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:23.400
 that

00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:26.500
 and you

00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:27.099
 will live

00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:28.019
 face to

00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:28.839
 face with

00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:29.259
 the living

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:29.700
 God

00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:30.660
 for

00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:31.400
 eternity

00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:35.480
 I

00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:36.300
 prepared this

00:23:36.300 --> 00:23:36.720
 sermon

00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:37.940
 with a

00:23:37.940 --> 00:23:38.700
 note of

00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:40.400
 personal

00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:41.460
 potential

00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:42.480
 tragedy that

00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:43.860
 happened in

00:23:43.860 --> 00:23:44.440
 the life of

00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.019
 my family

00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:45.580
 this last

00:23:45.580 --> 00:23:45.980
 week

00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:48.140
 my healthy

00:23:48.140 --> 00:23:49.019
 son-in-law

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:50.040
 Joel who's a

00:23:50.040 --> 00:23:50.940
 minister in

00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:52.180
 Bognor Regis

00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:55.480
 suddenly

00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:57.840
 became very

00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:59.220
 very seriously

00:23:59.220 --> 00:23:59.679
 ill

00:23:59.679 --> 00:24:01.279
 it was

00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:02.039
 scary how

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:03.099
 quickly it

00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:03.679
 came upon

00:24:03.679 --> 00:24:03.959
 him

00:24:03.959 --> 00:24:05.759
 his blood

00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.279
 saturation

00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:07.299
 levels were

00:24:07.299 --> 00:24:08.199
 dangerously

00:24:08.199 --> 00:24:09.159
 low so he

00:24:09.159 --> 00:24:09.859
 was blue

00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:10.679
 lighted to

00:24:10.679 --> 00:24:11.379
 St.

00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.059
 Richard's

00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:12.919
 hospital in

00:24:12.919 --> 00:24:13.539
 Chichester

00:24:13.539 --> 00:24:15.980
 still there

00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:18.339
 but he's

00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:19.000
 getting better

00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:20.039
 someone say

00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:20.720
 praise God

00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:23.880
 and he's

00:24:23.880 --> 00:24:24.360
 no longer

00:24:24.360 --> 00:24:25.319
 on oxygen

00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:28.799
 and for a

00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:29.339
 moment you

00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:29.839
 kind of

00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:30.559
 waver around

00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:31.120
 that question

00:24:31.120 --> 00:24:31.640
 what does

00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:32.220
 it mean to

00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:33.039
 say God

00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:33.579
 will keep

00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:33.819
 you

00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:36.000
 well Joel

00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:37.220
 knows and

00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:37.819
 I know

00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:38.420
 should know

00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:39.980
 better that

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.519
 what God

00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:41.140
 will keep

00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:41.799
 Joel for

00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.460
 whatever

00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:43.339
 happens to

00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:45.519
 him is

00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:45.920
 he will be

00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:46.460
 kept for

00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:47.039
 eternity

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:48.960
 because he

00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:49.740
 knows Jesus

00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:52.039
 he will be

00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:53.440
 kept from

00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:54.339
 the consequences

00:24:54.339 --> 00:24:55.099
 of his sin

00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:56.200
 because he

00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:56.900
 knows and

00:24:56.900 --> 00:24:57.599
 loves Jesus

00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:59.940
 and he will

00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:00.680
 be saved

00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:01.880
 for eternity

00:25:01.880 --> 00:25:04.599
 friends it's a

00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:05.519
 wonderful thing

00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.319
 when I have to

00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:07.059
 take a funeral

00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:07.799
 and I can

00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:09.299
 affirm because

00:25:09.299 --> 00:25:10.079
 the person in

00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:10.839
 the box is a

00:25:10.839 --> 00:25:11.220
 Christian

00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:13.660
 the faith that

00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:14.599
 sustained them

00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:15.400
 in this life

00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:17.599
 will sustain

00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:18.839
 them into

00:25:18.839 --> 00:25:19.440
 eternity

00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:22.000
 wouldn't you

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.559
 want that

00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:24.340
 wouldn't you

00:25:24.340 --> 00:25:25.160
 want to stop

00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:25.799
 just sitting

00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:26.720
 there warming

00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.600
 the well we

00:25:27.600 --> 00:25:28.120
 don't even have

00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:28.740
 pews here

00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:30.259
 warming the

00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:31.120
 already warm

00:25:31.120 --> 00:25:31.940
 seats here

00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:34.680
 and just

00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:35.420
 make that

00:25:35.420 --> 00:25:36.259
 leap of

00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:36.740
 faith

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:39.519
 trust Jesus

00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:41.480
 Jesus

00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.480
 who gave

00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.059
 his life

00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:43.559
 that you

00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:44.100
 may get

00:25:44.100 --> 00:25:44.940
 yours back

00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:47.200
 Jesus

00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:48.279
 who hung

00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:48.600
 on a

00:25:48.600 --> 00:25:49.039
 cross

00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:50.039
 in

00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:50.640
 abject

00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:51.160
 pain

00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:53.059
 that our

00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:53.460
 sins

00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:53.940
 might be

00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:54.360
 atoned

00:25:54.360 --> 00:25:54.740
 for

00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:57.080
 Jesus

00:25:57.080 --> 00:25:58.279
 who rose

00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:58.660
 from the

00:25:58.660 --> 00:25:58.940
 dead

00:25:58.940 --> 00:26:00.420
 and is

00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:01.080
 alive in

00:26:01.080 --> 00:26:01.519
 the power

00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:01.820
 of his

00:26:01.820 --> 00:26:02.480
 Holy Spirit

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:02.980
 and right

00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:03.400
 now

00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:05.340
 is here in

00:26:05.340 --> 00:26:05.840
 this church

00:26:05.840 --> 00:26:06.600
 with us

00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:10.859
 so I've

00:26:10.859 --> 00:26:11.480
 said before

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:12.039
 from this

00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:13.439
 very podium

00:26:13.439 --> 00:26:15.679
 the Bible

00:26:15.679 --> 00:26:16.480
 ultimately

00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.599
 offers two

00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:18.219
 kinds of

00:26:18.219 --> 00:26:18.599
 life

00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:20.859
 a worldly

00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:21.439
 life

00:26:21.439 --> 00:26:22.839
 or a

00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:23.199
 heavenly

00:26:23.199 --> 00:26:23.699
 life

00:26:23.699 --> 00:26:26.379
 I can't

00:26:26.379 --> 00:26:26.759
 make you

00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:27.439
 choose either

00:26:27.439 --> 00:26:29.159
 but I

00:26:29.159 --> 00:26:29.599
 pray

00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:31.219
 maybe today

00:26:31.219 --> 00:26:32.659
 you will

00:26:32.659 --> 00:26:33.259
 choose the

00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:33.699
 life of

00:26:33.699 --> 00:26:34.019
 heaven

00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:35.859
 because you

00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:36.879
 can celebrate

00:26:36.879 --> 00:26:37.639
 the fact

00:26:37.639 --> 00:26:39.700
 that Paul

00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:40.139
 in his

00:26:40.139 --> 00:26:40.539
 epistle

00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:41.619
 promises us

00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:42.579
 promises you

00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:44.180
 he'll keep

00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:44.900
 you strong

00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:45.680
 to the end

00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:46.400
 if you trust

00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:46.680
 him

00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:47.879
 so that you

00:26:47.879 --> 00:26:48.200
 will be

00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:48.839
 blameless

00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:49.660
 blameless

00:26:49.660 --> 00:26:50.680
 on the day

00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:51.039
 of our

00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:51.619
 Lord Jesus

00:26:51.619 --> 00:26:52.220
 Christ

00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:57.160
 at the end

00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:57.460
 of this

00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.099
 service we

00:26:58.099 --> 00:26:58.660
 have some

00:26:58.660 --> 00:26:59.599
 prayer teams

00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:00.460
 who will be

00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:00.980
 around the

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.539
 front of the

00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:01.980
 church

00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:03.379
 and look

00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:03.860
 here's the

00:27:03.860 --> 00:27:04.200
 thing

00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:05.340
 it is so

00:27:05.340 --> 00:27:06.020
 not like

00:27:06.020 --> 00:27:06.500
 us isn't

00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:06.920
 it to

00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:07.900
 kind of do

00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:08.440
 that and

00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:08.900
 come and

00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:09.460
 pray and

00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:09.900
 maybe other

00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:10.500
 people we

00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:10.900
 feel are

00:27:10.900 --> 00:27:11.420
 looking at

00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:11.860
 us in

00:27:11.860 --> 00:27:14.040
 isn't it

00:27:14.040 --> 00:27:14.840
 worth just

00:27:14.840 --> 00:27:15.680
 swallowing your

00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.300
 pride for

00:27:16.300 --> 00:27:17.080
 one moment

00:27:17.080 --> 00:27:19.320
 and taking

00:27:19.320 --> 00:27:19.920
 a step

00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:21.860
 a step

00:27:21.860 --> 00:27:22.460
 of faith

00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:24.420
 that you

00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:25.080
 might know

00:27:25.080 --> 00:27:26.520
 the assurance

00:27:26.520 --> 00:27:28.400
 that you'll

00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:28.940
 save for

00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:29.560
 eternity

00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:33.279
 John

00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:34.599
 in his

00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:35.139
 epistle

00:27:35.139 --> 00:27:35.819
 said this

00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:36.700
 chapter 5

00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:38.299
 these things

00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:38.980
 are written

00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:39.940
 that you

00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:40.859
 may know

00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:42.000
 that you

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.659
 have eternal

00:27:42.659 --> 00:27:42.899
 life

00:27:42.899 --> 00:27:43.460
 not that you

00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:43.940
 may keep

00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:44.440
 your fingers

00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:45.039
 crossed and

00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:45.359
 hope

00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:47.859
 but that you

00:27:47.859 --> 00:27:48.440
 may know

00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:49.019
 it's what we

00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:49.500
 call a

00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:49.960
 doctrine

00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:51.240
 of assurance

00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:53.700
 I would love

00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:54.440
 that for

00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:55.299
 every soul

00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:56.039
 in this

00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:56.480
 church

00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:58.240
 let's pray

00:27:58.240 --> 00:28:01.120
 our gracious

00:28:01.120 --> 00:28:01.900
 father we

00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:02.759
 thank you for

00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.400
 the promise

00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:04.240
 that you

00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:04.960
 will keep

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.660
 us and we

00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:06.440
 apologize

00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:08.140
 for the way

00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:08.960
 in which

00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:10.099
 that can

00:28:10.099 --> 00:28:11.440
 really affect

00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:12.000
 our faith

00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:12.599
 when bad

00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:13.299
 things happen

00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:13.779
 to good

00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.240
 people

00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:17.140
 and lord I

00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:17.620
 want to pray

00:28:17.620 --> 00:28:18.240
 for anybody

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.940
 in church

00:28:18.940 --> 00:28:19.620
 this morning

00:28:19.620 --> 00:28:20.900
 who is

00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:21.400
 going through

00:28:21.400 --> 00:28:21.920
 a really

00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:22.640
 hard time

00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:23.700
 please lord

00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:24.920
 would you

00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:25.460
 come to

00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:25.980
 them afresh

00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.500
 and help

00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:26.839
 them to

00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:27.259
 know that

00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:27.620
 if they

00:28:27.620 --> 00:28:28.160
 cling

00:28:28.160 --> 00:28:28.579
 on to

00:28:28.579 --> 00:28:28.880
 you

00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:32.299
 they will

00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:32.819
 prevail

00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:34.779
 whatever the

00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.319
 outcome

00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:35.980
 they will

00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.440
 hold

00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:36.960
 together

00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:40.000
 and lord

00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:40.620
 we thank

00:28:40.620 --> 00:28:40.880
 you

00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:42.480
 that you

00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:43.380
 keep us

00:28:43.380 --> 00:28:44.980
 in the

00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:45.759
 sense that

00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:47.180
 nothing

00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:47.960
 that this

00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:48.480
 life can

00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:49.120
 throw at

00:28:49.120 --> 00:28:49.519
 us

00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:51.440
 will stop

00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:51.700
 us

00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:52.960
 loving you

00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:53.500
 and in

00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:54.039
 the end

00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:55.639
 receiving

00:28:55.639 --> 00:28:56.659
 your amazing

00:28:56.659 --> 00:28:57.359
 gift

00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:58.460
 of eternal

00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.039
 life

00:28:59.039 --> 00:29:02.500
 lord I

00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.139
 pray now

00:29:03.139 --> 00:29:03.759
 that in

00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.259
 the power

00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:04.599
 of your

00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:05.399
 holy spirit

00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:07.440
 to anybody

00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:08.119
 who doesn't

00:29:08.119 --> 00:29:08.579
 have that

00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:09.000
 assurance

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.539
 anybody

00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:12.039
 who is

00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:12.940
 worried about

00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:13.819
 their salvation

00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:14.619
 father god

00:29:14.619 --> 00:29:15.319
 I pray

00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:17.839
 that you

00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:18.519
 would reveal

00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:19.099
 yourself

00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:20.000
 afresh to

00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:20.299
 them

00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:22.179
 lord that

00:29:22.179 --> 00:29:22.679
 they may

00:29:22.679 --> 00:29:23.439
 know that

00:29:23.439 --> 00:29:23.899
 they are

00:29:23.899 --> 00:29:24.439
 saved

00:29:24.439 --> 00:29:25.960
 and saved

00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:26.720
 for eternity

00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:29.259
 and lord we

00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:30.019
 pray these

00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.519
 things not

00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:30.960
 because we

00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:31.279
 have any

00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:31.919
 great merit

00:29:31.919 --> 00:29:32.579
 but because

00:29:32.579 --> 00:29:33.480
 we bring

00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:33.799
 them in

00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:34.419
 the name

00:29:34.419 --> 00:29:35.139
 of our

00:29:35.139 --> 00:29:35.819
 lord jesus

00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.399
 christ

00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:37.860
 and the

00:29:37.860 --> 00:29:38.240
 people who

00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.060
 agreed said

00:29:39.060 --> 00:29:39.540
 together

00:29:39.540 --> 00:29:41.240
 amen