WEBVTT

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 Good morning.

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 I'd like to share a little anxiety that I have this morning about speaking on Mother's Day.

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! I feel like the pressure from the world is to get up here and go to get up here and go to

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 and wish you a happy Mother's Day and preach a rousing message on the virtues and the honors of motherhood

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 and for us to all leave smiling.

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 However, I'm intimately aware that Mother's Day, as is true with most holidays, is bittersweet.

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 In Romans 12, 15, we are called to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep.

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 And so with that in mind, I just wanted to start this morning by expressing empathy

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 and understanding that for some of you, Mother's Day is terribly hard as it is joyful for others.

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 And that for probably most of us, it's a strange mix of both.

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 And so as we come together as the body of Christ, I just would encourage you to keep in mind

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 the admonition from 1 Corinthians 12, 26.

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 If one member suffers, all suffer together.

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 And if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

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 Father, we rejoice together and weep together.

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 And so would you join me in a prayer?

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 Father, we rejoice over the gift of motherhood and the blessing of children.

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 And we weep with those longing for the gift of motherhood and those who have suffered the pain of losing children.

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 We honor and rejoice over those mothers that have sacrificed and selflessly served us in the body of Christ for all his glory.

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 While we weep with those who continue to endure the pain of having lost mothers or experienced the hurtful relationships with their mothers.

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 We rejoice over those who you have used in our lives as spiritual mothers.

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 Those that have labored and anguished in our lives in order to see Christ formed in us.

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 And we ask that you would grant us the passion and the privilege and the ability, the commitment to be spiritual mothers for others.

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 And to leave a godly legacy until Christ returns.

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 Father, we thank you that you open before us your throne of grace.

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 That you invite us to come when we are struggling and when we are hurting.

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 That we might find grace and mercy to help in our time of needs.

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 And so, Father, we come before you.

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 And Father, I confess you.

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 You already know my heart that.

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 I'm not sure about even getting through the sermon this morning apart from your grace.

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 But as you see fit, then let it be.

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 That Christ would be exalted in all things.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 So, I don't know if any of you noticed.

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 Many people have commented on last Sunday's sermon.

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 And everybody loves Sloty.

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 We'll have t-shirts made at the end of the week.

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 But there really was a big problem with last week's sermon.

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 Now, no one's confronted me yet.

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 But I figure let's just go ahead and get it out in the open.

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 But I'd like to do that by kind of reviewing with you what we talked about last week.

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 So that hopefully it becomes more evident if you didn't notice yet.

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 And so, if you remember, if you were with us.

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 We talked about the fact that there are a lot of things in our lives.

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 Things that are not necessarily sinful.

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 But that subtly, that easily can move in our lives to a place that they become idols.

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 And we become, almost without realizing it, at a place where we're loving the world.

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 And that those idols are stealing away our love for the Father.

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 And we also talked about three truths that John gives us in 1 John 2, verses 12-14.

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 That are truths that should enable us not only to love the brothers that we talked about.

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 But also enable us to fight against these idols in our life.

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 To turn away from them.

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 And turn away from loving the world.

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 And enable us to love the Father as we're called to do.

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 And if you remember, those three truths were summarized like this.

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 One, through Jesus, your sins have been forgiven.

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 And you've been adopted into God's family.

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 Number two, you are intimately aware of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.

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 And number three, you've experienced the power of the abiding word giving you strength and victory over the evil one in your own life.

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 Now really, if you stop to think through that a little bit, that really is a good summary of the gospel, isn't it?

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 That we see our sin and we come to understand how Jesus has saved us, forgiven us from those sins, and placed us into right relationship with God.

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 And then through faith, we put our faith in all that Jesus has done on our behalf.

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 His life, His death, His resurrection.

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 And then we live each day under the lordship of Christ.

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 Right?

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 Seeing Him continue to work out our salvation in our lives.

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 So really, those three points are a very good summary of the gospel.

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 But in light of that, we talked about how those truths are powerful,

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 yet so often our emotional response to those things is sadly inadequate.

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 We fail to have an appropriate emotional response.

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 Which, considering the strength of those truths, anything less than maybe ecstasy or something more is what would be appropriate.

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 But yet, we seldom see that in our lives.

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 And I talked about three reasons why those truths may not be having its full effect, if you remember.

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 The first was, maybe we don't know Christ.

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 And we talked about the fact that if we don't have a relationship with Jesus,

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 then of course there's no emotional response to those truths.

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 And just as I did last week, I'll just invite you, if any of you here are not sure that you have a relationship with Jesus,

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 if you have never seen the depth of your sin,

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 and found hope through what Christ has done,

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 and have been reconciled to God through him,

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 then don't leave today.

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 Today is the day of salvation.

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 Don't leave.

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 Talk to somebody, whether it's myself or Pastor Andrew,

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 or any of the people around you,

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 that we can make sure that you leave here in a relationship with Christ.

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 The second possibility is why these truths don't touch us as deeply as they should,

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 was that we're not aware of our sinfulness.

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 That we are not conscious of how deep our sin problem is.

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 And you remember I said sometimes we tend to think that we're sinners because we sin.

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 It's about certain behaviors.

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 It's about being impatient when we're driving.

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 Or it's about having that second look at an attractive woman.

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 And that that's what makes us sinners, but that that's incorrect.

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 That we sin because we're sinners.

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 That from the time of conception, we come out as God-haters.

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 But if we don't see that, if we don't see the depth of our sin,

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 then maybe we won't respond to those truths.

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 And the third one was that our love for the world,

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 or our love for our idols impacts us such that we're not responsive to the truth of the gospel.

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 Now, did you see it?

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 Did you see the problem?

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 You see, the problem is this.

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 Okay?

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 We have an idol problem.

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 The gospel is the cure.

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 But loving idols keeps the gospel from having its full effect in our lives.

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 So we have an idol problem.

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 We're kind of going in a circle, aren't we?

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 If the gospel is supposed to be the cure,

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 then how are we stuck in this idol cycle?

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 That's what I termed it in my own mind.

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 You know?

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 Why are we stuck in this idol cycle?

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 Idol problem.

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 Gospel is a cure.

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 Loving idols keeps us from having the full effect of the gospel,

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 so we have an idol problem.

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 So how do we break out of this?

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 If the gospel is supposed to be the cure,

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 then what is it that we need to boost the effectiveness of the cure

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 so that it's working in our lives?

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 Well, if you look at 1 John 2, verse 14,

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 the end of that verse,

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 I think we find the answer to that question.

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 1 John 2, verse 14.

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 You can turn there if you want, but it's very quick.

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 It goes like this.

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 I write to you, young men,

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 because you are strong,

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 and the word of God abides in you,

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 and you have overcome the evil one.

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 You see, we see an emphasis here.

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 If you remember, John's repeating himself,

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 and if you see that there's an emphasis here on the abiding word,

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 that the abiding word brings about victory over the evil one.

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 And now, if you would, turn to 2 Timothy.

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 This will be a passage that you're very familiar with as well.

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 2 Timothy 3, verses 14, starting in verse 14 through 17.

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 2 Timothy 3, verses 14 and following says,

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 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed,

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 knowing from whom you learned it,

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 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings,

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 which are able to make you wise for salvation,

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 through faith in Christ Jesus.

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 And the part that is most familiar,

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 all scriptures breathed out by God,

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 and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,

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 for training in righteousness,

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 that the man of God may be complete,

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 equipped for every good work.

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 Now, what I'd point out to you is in verse 14,

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 where Paul says to Timothy,

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 to continue in what you've learned,

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 that that's really the same Greek word

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 that John has translated as abide.

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 Abide.

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 And so, in John, we see that the word abides in us,

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 and in Timothy here, we see Paul calling Timothy

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 to abide in the truth.

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 So, the word should abide in us,

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 and we should abide in the word.

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 And that is the way we break the idol cycle.

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 Abiding in the word.

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 That's the answer you've been waiting for.

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 Abide in the word.

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 The abiding word boosts the effect of the gospel in our lives

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 to empower us to turn away from loving our idols.

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 So, there's the problem.

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 There's the answer.

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 Abide in the word.

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 Everybody say that with me.

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 Abide in the word.

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 That was really unimpressive.

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 Let's say it like this.

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 Abide in the word.

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 Abide in the word.

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 It is better.

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 Now, some of you may be thinking,

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 look, bucko,

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 I'm doing my devotions every morning.

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 At least most mornings.

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 I'm at church every time the doors are open.

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 And you know that if the doors are open at Maranatha,

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 somebody's teaching the Bible.

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 Right?

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 I'm going to small group.

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 We're studying the Bible.

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 I'm even memorizing scripture.

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 How much more abiding do you want me to do?

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 And yet, I'm still struggling with loving the world and these idols in my life.

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 First, the encouraging word.

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 I want to encourage you.

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 Everything that you are doing to get God's word into your life is fruitful and not in vain.

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 Reading.

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 However,

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 I think we could all agree

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 reading is not abiding.

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 Right?

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 I mean, how often,

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 I won't ask any students to show raising of hands,

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 how often have you read a page in a book

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 or maybe a chapter in a book

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 and then you go,

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 huh,

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 what did I just read?

00:14:09.539 --> 00:14:09.839
 Okay.

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 Reading is not abiding.

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 I think we could also agree

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 hearing

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 is not abiding.

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 Right?

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 I mean, the reality is

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 some of you have already forgotten

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 how this sermon started.

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 Okay?

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 Hearing is not abiding.

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 And I'm going to go so far

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 as to say

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 memorizing

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 is not abiding.

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 Again, if we were to take a poll

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 of some students,

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 especially at this time of year,

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 right?

00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:42.759
 Exams.

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 Some of you have finished exams.

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 Some of you have exams yet to do.

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 You know how it is.

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 You memorized all that stuff

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 and you took that exam

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 and Lord willing,

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 you did well.

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 But if we ask you

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 a week later,

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 a month later,

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 how much of that material

00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:01.399
 do you remember?

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 You see,

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 memorizing is not abiding.

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 So then the question is,

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 how do we abide?

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 What is abiding?

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 How do we let the word

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 abide in us

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 and us abide in the word?

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 The Puritan,

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 Richard Baxter,

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 wrote this.

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 Why so much preaching

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 is lost among us

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 and believers can run

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 from sermon to sermon

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 and are never weary

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 of hearing or reading

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 and yet

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 have such languishing,

00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:44.279
 starved souls.

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 I know

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 no truer

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 or greater cause

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 than their ignorance

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 and unconscionable

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 neglect

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 of meditation.

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 You see,

00:15:55.579 --> 00:15:56.399
 some hearers

00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:57.519
 have anorexia

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 for they have

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 neither appetite

00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:01.339
 nor digestion.

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 But others

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 have bulimia.

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 They have appetite

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 but no digestion.

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 So did you hear

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 the answer

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 for abiding?

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 It's where he talks

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 about our neglect

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 of meditation.

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 Meditation.

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 Practically speaking,

00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:21.980
 the most effective way

00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:23.059
 to abide in the word

00:16:23.059 --> 00:16:24.100
 and to see your heart

00:16:24.100 --> 00:16:25.579
 change toward your idols

00:16:25.579 --> 00:16:26.679
 is through

00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:28.399
 meditating on God's word.

00:16:28.740 --> 00:16:29.340
 And yet,

00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:30.659
 meditation

00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:32.840
 is the most often

00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:34.019
 overlooked tool

00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:35.720
 for truly abiding

00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:36.600
 in the word.

00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:39.500
 Now,

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.480
 I'm sure the majority

00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:41.240
 of you know

00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:43.199
 meditation is in the Bible

00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:44.180
 but let's turn

00:16:44.180 --> 00:16:45.480
 to Psalm 119.

00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:47.140
 Psalm 119.

00:16:47.580 --> 00:16:48.340
 This is a place

00:16:48.340 --> 00:16:49.060
 we can see

00:16:49.060 --> 00:16:49.860
 multiple verses

00:16:49.860 --> 00:16:51.020
 quickly

00:16:51.020 --> 00:16:51.720
 without having to

00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:52.440
 flip all over.

00:16:53.160 --> 00:16:54.400
 Psalm 119.

00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:55.060
 We'll start

00:16:55.060 --> 00:16:56.360
 with verse 15.

00:16:58.259 --> 00:16:59.280
 Psalm 119

00:16:59.280 --> 00:17:00.879
 starting with verse 15.

00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:11.140
 It reads,

00:17:11.660 --> 00:17:12.400
 I will meditate

00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.799
 on your precepts

00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:15.400
 and fix my eyes

00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:16.480
 on your ways.

00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:17.960
 Look down

00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:19.000
 to verse 27.

00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:21.900
 Make me understand

00:17:21.900 --> 00:17:22.480
 the way

00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:23.940
 of your precepts

00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:25.440
 and I will meditate

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:27.220
 on your wondrous works.

00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:29.119
 Look down

00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:29.779
 a little further.

00:17:29.779 --> 00:17:30.700
 verse 48.

00:17:32.299 --> 00:17:33.519
 I will lift up

00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:34.339
 my hands

00:17:34.339 --> 00:17:35.519
 towards your commandments

00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:36.460
 which I love

00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:37.660
 and I will meditate

00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:39.119
 on your statues.

00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:42.079
 A little bit further.

00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:43.180
 Verse 97.

00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:46.420
 Oh, how I love

00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:47.180
 your law.

00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:49.420
 It is my meditation

00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:50.399
 all the day.

00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:53.099
 And finally,

00:17:53.660 --> 00:17:55.299
 verse 148.

00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.519
 148.

00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:59.579
 My eyes

00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:00.460
 are awake

00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:01.920
 before the watches

00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:02.660
 of the night

00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:03.940
 that I may meditate

00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:05.599
 on your promise.

00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:07.319
 You see,

00:18:07.379 --> 00:18:08.039
 the Bible is full

00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:08.720
 of passages

00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:09.420
 on meditation.

00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:10.799
 We see it

00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:11.660
 given to us

00:18:11.660 --> 00:18:12.220
 in examples

00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:12.980
 from people like

00:18:12.980 --> 00:18:13.940
 Melchizedek,

00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:14.460
 Isaac,

00:18:14.619 --> 00:18:14.920
 Moses,

00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:15.660
 Joshua,

00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:16.519
 David,

00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:17.180
 Mary,

00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:17.519
 Paul,

00:18:17.639 --> 00:18:18.059
 Timothy.

00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:19.900
 And so,

00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:20.940
 throughout Scripture

00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:21.720
 we can find

00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:22.299
 the practice

00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:23.160
 of meditation

00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:24.420
 and yet

00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:26.080
 so often

00:18:26.080 --> 00:18:26.660
 it's still

00:18:26.660 --> 00:18:27.220
 neglected.

00:18:29.620 --> 00:18:30.060
 Now,

00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:30.440
 I guess

00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:31.540
 I should be clear

00:18:31.540 --> 00:18:32.360
 because of

00:18:32.360 --> 00:18:32.860
 the nature

00:18:32.860 --> 00:18:33.540
 of things

00:18:33.540 --> 00:18:34.480
 at this time

00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.040
 in history.

00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.160
 When we talk

00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:36.759
 about Christian

00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:37.519
 meditation,

00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:39.680
 we're not talking

00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:40.560
 about Eastern

00:18:40.560 --> 00:18:41.240
 meditation.

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:42.400
 Okay?

00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:44.279
 Eastern meditation,

00:18:44.840 --> 00:18:45.180
 you know,

00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:45.940
 more popular

00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:47.100
 in my lifetime

00:18:47.099 --> 00:18:49.419
 where you go

00:18:49.419 --> 00:18:50.079
 and you empty

00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:50.839
 your mind

00:18:50.839 --> 00:18:51.079
 and,

00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:51.819
 you know,

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.519
 llama,

00:18:52.699 --> 00:18:52.919
 llama,

00:18:53.059 --> 00:18:53.259
 llama,

00:18:53.459 --> 00:18:53.699
 you know.

00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:55.159
 That's not

00:18:55.159 --> 00:18:55.619
 what we're talking

00:18:55.619 --> 00:18:56.199
 about in Christian

00:18:56.199 --> 00:18:56.559
 meditation.

00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:57.359
 As a matter of fact,

00:18:57.619 --> 00:18:58.419
 Christian meditation

00:18:58.419 --> 00:18:59.899
 is the exact opposite.

00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:01.259
 It's not the emptying

00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:01.879
 of your mind,

00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:02.980
 but it's the filling

00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.619
 of your mind

00:19:03.619 --> 00:19:04.319
 with truth

00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:05.359
 and with Scripture.

00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:07.919
 So when I talk

00:19:07.919 --> 00:19:09.099
 about Christian meditation,

00:19:09.719 --> 00:19:10.539
 here's the definition

00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:11.419
 that I wrote down.

00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:13.419
 The intentional

00:19:13.419 --> 00:19:15.159
 focused thought

00:19:15.159 --> 00:19:16.859
 on a specific

00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:18.439
 truth of God's Word

00:19:18.439 --> 00:19:19.919
 and its practical

00:19:19.919 --> 00:19:20.799
 implications

00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:22.139
 for your life.

00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:24.299
 The intentional

00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:25.199
 focused thought

00:19:25.199 --> 00:19:26.259
 on a specific

00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:27.679
 truth of God's Word

00:19:27.679 --> 00:19:28.859
 and its practical

00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:29.619
 implications

00:19:29.619 --> 00:19:30.579
 for your life.

00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:32.759
 Puritan Edmund

00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:33.679
 Calammy

00:19:33.679 --> 00:19:36.339
 said it this way,

00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.579
 a true

00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.619
 meditation

00:19:39.619 --> 00:19:41.419
 is when a man

00:19:41.419 --> 00:19:42.599
 does so meditate

00:19:42.599 --> 00:19:43.619
 on Christ

00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:45.000
 as to get

00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:45.559
 his heart

00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:46.459
 inflamed

00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:47.299
 with the love

00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:47.960
 of Christ.

00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:49.779
 He so meditates

00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.640
 on the truths

00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:51.500
 of God

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.380
 as to be

00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:53.019
 transformed

00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:54.000
 into them.

00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:55.880
 And he so meditates

00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:56.740
 on sin

00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:57.640
 as to get

00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.160
 his heart

00:19:58.160 --> 00:19:58.740
 to hate

00:19:58.740 --> 00:19:59.500
 sin.

00:20:01.120 --> 00:20:01.460
 Calammy

00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:01.840
 went on

00:20:01.840 --> 00:20:02.319
 to say

00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:03.100
 that to do

00:20:03.100 --> 00:20:04.019
 good meditation

00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:04.759
 must enter

00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:06.079
 three doors.

00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.400
 Three doors.

00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.140
 The door

00:20:08.140 --> 00:20:09.079
 of understanding,

00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:10.259
 the door

00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:10.920
 of the heart

00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:11.900
 or affections,

00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:12.660
 and the door

00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:13.400
 of practical

00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:14.299
 living.

00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:15.460
 He said,

00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:15.919
 you must

00:20:15.919 --> 00:20:16.700
 so meditate

00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:17.460
 on God

00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:18.259
 as to walk

00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:18.859
 as God

00:20:18.859 --> 00:20:19.460
 walks,

00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:20.740
 and so

00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:21.159
 meditate

00:20:21.159 --> 00:20:21.960
 on Christ

00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:23.000
 as to

00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:23.700
 prize him

00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.419
 and to live

00:20:24.419 --> 00:20:25.039
 in obedience

00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:25.799
 to him.

00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:28.359
 So if you

00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:29.000
 want to let

00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:29.759
 loose the

00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.700
 bazooka

00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:32.000
 on the idols

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.879
 in your life,

00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.200
 meditation

00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:37.019
 is the answer.

00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:38.480
 Meditation

00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.319
 is the answer.

00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:41.500
 And there

00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:42.240
 are two types

00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:42.740
 that I want

00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.339
 us to look

00:20:43.339 --> 00:20:43.740
 at.

00:20:44.379 --> 00:20:45.319
 Two types

00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:46.720
 of meditation.

00:20:47.879 --> 00:20:48.679
 The first

00:20:48.679 --> 00:20:49.659
 is occasional

00:20:49.659 --> 00:20:50.539
 meditation.

00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:52.019
 Occasional

00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:52.639
 meditation.

00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:53.559
 The second

00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:54.399
 is deliberate.

00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.720
 So occasional

00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.480
 and deliberate

00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:58.480
 meditation.

00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:01.960
 First,

00:21:02.179 --> 00:21:02.559
 occasional

00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.139
 meditation.

00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:05.220
 Occasional

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.859
 meditation

00:21:05.859 --> 00:21:06.779
 takes

00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.720
 what we

00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.379
 encounter

00:21:08.379 --> 00:21:08.980
 or observe

00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:09.539
 through our

00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:10.079
 senses

00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:11.160
 and uses

00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:11.599
 it to

00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.299
 turn our

00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:12.799
 hearts

00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:13.700
 and minds

00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:14.059
 to the

00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:14.559
 things of

00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:15.059
 God.

00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:16.759
 Now,

00:21:17.860 --> 00:21:18.400
 we see

00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:18.880
 that in

00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:19.240
 Scripture.

00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.680
 David does

00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:21.059
 that with

00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:21.579
 the moon

00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:22.220
 and the

00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:22.900
 stars

00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:24.099
 in Psalm

00:21:24.099 --> 00:21:24.620
 8.

00:21:25.120 --> 00:21:25.759
 We see

00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.660
 Solomon

00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:27.360
 do the

00:21:27.360 --> 00:21:27.940
 same thing

00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:28.680
 in Proverbs

00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:29.299
 6 with

00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:30.019
 the ants.

00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:31.319
 We even

00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:32.140
 see Christ

00:21:32.140 --> 00:21:33.079
 doing that

00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:33.620
 where he

00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:34.120
 talks about

00:21:34.120 --> 00:21:34.960
 well water

00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:35.860
 in John

00:21:35.860 --> 00:21:36.740
 chapter 4.

00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.420
 It's

00:21:37.420 --> 00:21:37.720
 this

00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:38.460
 awareness

00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:38.799
 of

00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:39.279
 everything

00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:39.799
 around

00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.319
 us

00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.099
 and

00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:41.819
 all

00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:41.980
 of

00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:42.220
 these

00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:42.700
 things,

00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:43.019
 these

00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:43.640
 gifts

00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.839
 point in

00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:45.059
 our

00:21:45.059 --> 00:21:45.500
 heart

00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.099
 towards

00:21:46.099 --> 00:21:46.380
 the

00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:46.640
 things

00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:46.819
 of

00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:47.180
 God.

00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:47.740
 Now,

00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:48.319
 the truth

00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:48.740
 is,

00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:50.200
 that's the

00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:51.099
 design of

00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:51.900
 every good

00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:52.400
 and perfect

00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:53.120
 gift that

00:21:53.120 --> 00:21:53.559
 comes from

00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:53.960
 above.

00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:55.960
 Right?

00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:56.839
 I mean,

00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:57.859
 every meal

00:21:57.859 --> 00:21:59.220
 should remind

00:21:59.220 --> 00:22:00.079
 us of the

00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:00.960
 banquet that

00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:01.759
 lays for us

00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.160
 in heaven

00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:02.759
 and what

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:03.379
 Christ has

00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:03.960
 done to

00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:04.660
 give us

00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:05.500
 access to

00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:05.839
 that.

00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:07.460
 You know,

00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:08.559
 every beggar

00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:08.920
 that we

00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:09.759
 see could

00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.420
 remind us

00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:10.799
 of our

00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:11.460
 spiritual

00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.240
 poverty,

00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:13.519
 our need

00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:14.460
 for grace

00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:14.759
 and how

00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:15.379
 God has

00:22:15.379 --> 00:22:15.879
 met us

00:22:15.879 --> 00:22:16.240
 there.

00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:18.640
 Every kind

00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:19.359
 act that

00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:19.940
 happens in

00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:20.400
 our life

00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:21.480
 reminding us

00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:21.920
 of the

00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:22.279
 gracious

00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:22.879
 kindness

00:22:22.879 --> 00:22:23.680
 of God

00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.559
 in Christ.

00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:27.019
 Whether it's

00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:27.779
 the creation

00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:28.319
 itself,

00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:28.819
 whether it's

00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:29.319
 sunrise,

00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:29.920
 sunset,

00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:30.759
 whether it's

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.379
 the mountains

00:22:31.379 --> 00:22:32.119
 or butterflies

00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:32.940
 or trees

00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:33.700
 or grass,

00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:34.460
 even the

00:22:34.460 --> 00:22:35.259
 smallest thing,

00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:36.059
 all of these

00:22:36.059 --> 00:22:37.220
 things cause

00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:37.940
 us to

00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:39.180
 point our

00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:39.779
 hearts and

00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:41.359
 minds towards

00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:42.359
 the glories

00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:42.799
 and the

00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:43.420
 truths of

00:22:43.420 --> 00:22:43.859
 God.

00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:46.420
 The reality

00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:47.140
 is,

00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:49.700
 isn't that

00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:51.059
 the goal

00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:52.460
 of every

00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:53.420
 stuffed animal

00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:54.039
 ever given?

00:22:56.180 --> 00:22:56.500
 Right?

00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:57.259
 You know,

00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:58.079
 Brenda gave

00:22:58.079 --> 00:22:58.319
 me

00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:59.660
 slowty to

00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:00.880
 remind me

00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:01.279
 of her

00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:01.779
 love

00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:03.420
 and to

00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:03.960
 in turn

00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:04.860
 stir my

00:23:04.860 --> 00:23:05.259
 heart

00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:05.660
 towards

00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:06.080
 love

00:23:06.080 --> 00:23:06.740
 for her.

00:23:09.840 --> 00:23:10.259
 And so

00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:10.980
 the

00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:11.759
 Puritans

00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:12.460
 talked about

00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:13.259
 occasional

00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:14.000
 meditation

00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:15.240
 as being

00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:16.440
 the easiest

00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:17.259
 form of

00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:17.820
 meditation.

00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:18.740
 It didn't

00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:19.200
 happen any

00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:19.580
 time,

00:23:19.820 --> 00:23:20.400
 any place,

00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.019
 with anybody.

00:23:22.300 --> 00:23:23.279
 And they

00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.380
 actually wrote

00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:25.019
 books.

00:23:25.340 --> 00:23:25.620
 I mean,

00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:26.580
 there are books

00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:27.619
 with hundreds

00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:28.939
 of examples

00:23:28.939 --> 00:23:30.519
 of occasional

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.159
 meditation

00:23:31.159 --> 00:23:32.199
 that they

00:23:32.199 --> 00:23:32.879
 wrote for

00:23:32.879 --> 00:23:33.519
 their people

00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.099
 because,

00:23:34.399 --> 00:23:34.759
 as you can

00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.199
 imagine,

00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:35.819
 Puritans

00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:36.480
 were busy.

00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:37.919
 They didn't

00:23:37.919 --> 00:23:38.299
 have,

00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.179
 you know,

00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:39.980
 TV dinners

00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.439
 and stuff.

00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:41.339
 And so,

00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.019
 you know,

00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:42.379
 they were

00:23:42.379 --> 00:23:43.000
 busy people

00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.679
 and the

00:23:43.679 --> 00:23:44.539
 pastors at

00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.139
 that time

00:23:45.139 --> 00:23:45.939
 would give

00:23:45.939 --> 00:23:46.339
 them these

00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:47.339
 examples so

00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:47.939
 that even

00:23:47.939 --> 00:23:48.339
 whether they

00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:48.759
 were working

00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:49.460
 in the fields,

00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:49.779
 when they

00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:50.379
 were walking

00:23:50.379 --> 00:23:50.899
 from town

00:23:50.899 --> 00:23:51.359
 to town,

00:23:51.619 --> 00:23:52.039
 whatever the

00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:52.879
 case may be,

00:23:53.199 --> 00:23:53.619
 they were

00:23:53.619 --> 00:23:55.220
 able to see

00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:55.660
 the things

00:23:55.660 --> 00:23:56.480
 around them.

00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:57.660
 And they

00:23:57.660 --> 00:23:58.120
 were able

00:23:58.120 --> 00:23:58.960
 to use

00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.579
 those things

00:23:59.579 --> 00:24:00.319
 to enter

00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:02.140
 into meditation

00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:02.839
 and worship

00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.640
 of God.

00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:05.380
 Now,

00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:06.460
 I'm not

00:24:06.460 --> 00:24:07.140
 implying

00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:09.100
 because it's

00:24:09.100 --> 00:24:10.059
 easier that

00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:10.799
 it's easy.

00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.620
 I can honestly

00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:13.360
 tell you

00:24:13.360 --> 00:24:14.720
 that this week,

00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:16.940
 having studied

00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:17.519
 this some,

00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:18.160
 I thought,

00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:18.460
 okay,

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:19.559
 I'm going to

00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:20.220
 give myself

00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:21.079
 to more

00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:21.640
 occasional

00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:22.279
 meditation.

00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.220
 And so,

00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.000
 even,

00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:25.920
 we were

00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:26.360
 driving,

00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:26.759
 we went

00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:27.339
 down to

00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:28.120
 my daughter's

00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:28.519
 graduation,

00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.259
 driving there,

00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:29.980
 driving back,

00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.180
 and I was

00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:30.339
 like,

00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:30.680
 God,

00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:31.319
 okay,

00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:31.900
 you know,

00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:32.360
 trees,

00:24:32.620 --> 00:24:33.059
 trees are

00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:33.460
 green,

00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:34.039
 green's about

00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:34.600
 growing,

00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:35.200
 you know,

00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:35.940
 we grow in

00:24:35.940 --> 00:24:36.480
 Christ,

00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:37.100
 and oh,

00:24:37.160 --> 00:24:37.319
 look,

00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:37.740
 a squirrel.

00:24:41.880 --> 00:24:42.440
 You know,

00:24:42.600 --> 00:24:43.680
 honestly,

00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:44.579
 I really had a

00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:45.220
 hard time,

00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:45.640
 like,

00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.220
 getting through

00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:46.579
 a thought,

00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:47.319
 I would just

00:24:47.319 --> 00:24:48.100
 get to the

00:24:48.100 --> 00:24:48.460
 point where

00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:48.759
 I thought,

00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:49.160
 okay,

00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:49.519
 I'm getting

00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:49.880
 to some

00:24:49.880 --> 00:24:50.660
 deep spiritual

00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:51.180
 truth,

00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:51.819
 and then I'd

00:24:51.819 --> 00:24:52.039
 be like,

00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:52.180
 hey,

00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:52.519
 don't pull

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:52.900
 in front of

00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:53.120
 me,

00:24:53.400 --> 00:24:53.740
 you know,

00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:55.319
 and so,

00:24:55.620 --> 00:24:56.220
 I'm not

00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:56.759
 implying

00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.319
 occasional

00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:58.180
 meditation is

00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:58.740
 easy,

00:24:58.839 --> 00:24:59.380
 it's just

00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:00.099
 easier,

00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:01.660
 but it still

00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:02.579
 takes intentional

00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:03.160
 commitment,

00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:04.819
 right,

00:25:04.900 --> 00:25:05.400
 it takes an

00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:05.779
 intentional

00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:06.819
 commitment for

00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:07.299
 us to be

00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:08.420
 looking for

00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:09.019
 the things

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:09.940
 around us

00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:10.579
 that can

00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:11.220
 stir our

00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:11.940
 hearts and

00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:12.579
 minds to

00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:12.900
 worship.

00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:13.580
 not only

00:25:13.580 --> 00:25:13.840
 that,

00:25:14.040 --> 00:25:14.259
 but it

00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:14.920
 also takes

00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:15.240
 knowing

00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:15.720
 God's

00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.120
 word.

00:25:17.840 --> 00:25:18.160
 You see,

00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:18.480
 the more

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:18.840
 we know

00:25:18.840 --> 00:25:19.200
 God's

00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:19.420
 word,

00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:19.980
 the more

00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:20.600
 connections

00:25:20.600 --> 00:25:21.320
 there are

00:25:21.320 --> 00:25:22.220
 between us

00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:22.759
 and what

00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:23.880
 we experience,

00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:24.660
 whether it's

00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:25.300
 what we see

00:25:25.300 --> 00:25:25.820
 or what we

00:25:25.820 --> 00:25:26.240
 hear,

00:25:26.620 --> 00:25:27.060
 whether it's

00:25:27.060 --> 00:25:27.560
 interaction

00:25:27.560 --> 00:25:28.240
 with people,

00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:28.720
 whether it's

00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.140
 interaction

00:25:29.140 --> 00:25:29.920
 with nature,

00:25:30.580 --> 00:25:31.340
 so it

00:25:31.340 --> 00:25:32.240
 takes knowing

00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:32.840
 God's word

00:25:32.840 --> 00:25:33.420
 so that those

00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:34.220
 connections can

00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:34.600
 happen,

00:25:35.060 --> 00:25:35.800
 and it also

00:25:35.800 --> 00:25:36.400
 takes the

00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:37.620
 discipline of

00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:38.320
 pausing.

00:25:39.880 --> 00:25:40.200
 You know,

00:25:40.280 --> 00:25:41.360
 we're so

00:25:41.360 --> 00:25:41.759
 busy,

00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:42.160
 right?

00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:43.840
 We're so

00:25:43.840 --> 00:25:44.100
 busy,

00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:44.700
 that's later,

00:25:44.840 --> 00:25:45.200
 we'll talk

00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:45.680
 about that,

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.640
 but you know,

00:25:46.700 --> 00:25:47.120
 it's so

00:25:47.120 --> 00:25:47.500
 hectic,

00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:48.120
 and we always

00:25:48.120 --> 00:25:48.460
 have some

00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:48.840
 place to

00:25:48.840 --> 00:25:49.100
 be,

00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:50.019
 and usually

00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.740
 we're late,

00:25:50.860 --> 00:25:51.580
 and we have

00:25:51.580 --> 00:25:52.380
 more to do

00:25:52.380 --> 00:25:52.780
 than we have

00:25:52.780 --> 00:25:53.500
 time to do

00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:53.740
 it,

00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:54.700
 and even

00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.900
 just the

00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:56.820
 discipline of

00:25:56.820 --> 00:25:57.759
 pausing our

00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:59.480
 thoughts to

00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:01.040
 think on the

00:26:01.040 --> 00:26:01.580
 things of

00:26:01.580 --> 00:26:03.920
 God takes

00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:04.519
 intentional

00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:05.340
 commitment and

00:26:05.340 --> 00:26:05.680
 effort.

00:26:07.860 --> 00:26:08.200
 And so,

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:08.860
 occasional

00:26:08.860 --> 00:26:09.440
 meditation,

00:26:09.640 --> 00:26:10.140
 it's not

00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:10.500
 easy,

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.160
 but it's

00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:11.640
 easier.

00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:13.340
 So,

00:26:13.400 --> 00:26:13.820
 the second

00:26:13.820 --> 00:26:14.320
 type of

00:26:14.320 --> 00:26:14.860
 meditation,

00:26:15.360 --> 00:26:15.840
 deliberate

00:26:15.840 --> 00:26:16.680
 meditation.

00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:17.560
 Now,

00:26:18.340 --> 00:26:18.880
 the Puritans

00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:20.060
 consider deliberate

00:26:20.060 --> 00:26:21.420
 meditation the

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:22.220
 more important

00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.120
 of the two,

00:26:23.820 --> 00:26:24.440
 the more

00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:25.640
 essential of

00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:26.060
 the two.

00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:27.300
 Deliberate

00:26:27.300 --> 00:26:28.120
 meditation is

00:26:28.120 --> 00:26:29.300
 intentionally setting

00:26:29.300 --> 00:26:30.660
 aside time and

00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:31.360
 space in your

00:26:31.360 --> 00:26:32.700
 life each day

00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:34.320
 to focus and

00:26:34.320 --> 00:26:35.360
 reflect on the

00:26:35.360 --> 00:26:36.220
 things of God.

00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.220
 Deliberate

00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:38.920
 meditation is

00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:40.000
 intentionally setting

00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:41.519
 aside time and

00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.200
 space in your

00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:43.140
 life each day to

00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:44.120
 focus and

00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:44.960
 reflect on the

00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:45.740
 things of God.

00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:47.000
 Thomas White

00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:47.759
 said,

00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:49.480
 deliberate meditation

00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:51.360
 draws from four

00:26:51.360 --> 00:26:52.120
 sources,

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:53.620
 scripture,

00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:55.220
 practical

00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:56.420
 Christian truths,

00:26:57.319 --> 00:26:57.960
 providential

00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.819
 experiences,

00:26:59.580 --> 00:27:00.240
 and sermons.

00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.080
 Sermons in

00:27:02.080 --> 00:27:02.920
 particular are

00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:04.160
 fertile fields for

00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:04.779
 meditation.

00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:06.900
 Moore wrote,

00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:16.060
 James Usher,

00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:16.720
 I like this one.

00:27:16.780 --> 00:27:17.540
 James Usher said

00:27:17.540 --> 00:27:18.060
 it this way,

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.780
 one hour spent

00:27:19.780 --> 00:27:21.400
 in meditation is

00:27:21.400 --> 00:27:22.259
 worth more than

00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:23.700
 a thousand sermons.

00:27:24.820 --> 00:27:25.500
 And this is not

00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.840
 debasing of the

00:27:26.840 --> 00:27:28.280
 word, but an honor

00:27:28.280 --> 00:27:29.160
 unto it.

00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:33.960
 You see, so

00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:35.040
 often we are

00:27:35.040 --> 00:27:36.920
 inclined for

00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:37.880
 things to be so

00:27:37.880 --> 00:27:38.840
 transitional even

00:27:38.840 --> 00:27:39.600
 in our hearts and

00:27:39.600 --> 00:27:40.360
 minds, right?

00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:42.880
 You know, so far I

00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:43.600
 did get a lot of

00:27:43.600 --> 00:27:44.340
 comments on last

00:27:44.340 --> 00:27:45.100
 week's message.

00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:46.180
 All of them

00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:47.360
 centered around

00:27:47.360 --> 00:27:47.759
 Sloty.

00:27:48.620 --> 00:27:49.259
 Everybody loves

00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:49.960
 Sloty, okay?

00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:52.220
 But the truth is

00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:53.259
 how often do the

00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:53.980
 things that we

00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:55.040
 read, the things

00:27:55.040 --> 00:27:56.200
 that we hear, the

00:27:56.200 --> 00:27:57.540
 things that we are

00:27:57.540 --> 00:27:58.840
 engaged with even in

00:27:58.839 --> 00:27:59.539
 God's word in

00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.159
 Bible study.

00:28:00.339 --> 00:28:01.439
 They pass through

00:28:01.439 --> 00:28:02.839
 our hands, our

00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:03.599
 minds, we're

00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:04.679
 leaking pots.

00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:07.359
 And so the

00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:08.419
 discipline of

00:28:08.419 --> 00:28:09.539
 deliberate meditation

00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:11.339
 is catching a

00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:12.859
 space to take

00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:14.019
 those things and

00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:15.299
 absorb them in.

00:28:16.939 --> 00:28:17.859
 Now I have ten

00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:19.159
 tips for you on

00:28:19.159 --> 00:28:19.740
 meditation.

00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:20.619
 Ten tips.

00:28:21.119 --> 00:28:21.899
 And all of

00:28:21.899 --> 00:28:23.939
 these quotes on

00:28:23.939 --> 00:28:24.859
 Puritans and

00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:25.519
 meditation are

00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:26.679
 primarily from two

00:28:26.679 --> 00:28:27.019
 books.

00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:28.019
 Let me give credit

00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:28.819
 where credit is due.

00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:29.759
 One is Puritan

00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:31.139
 theology, a

00:28:31.139 --> 00:28:32.359
 doctrine of life by

00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:33.339
 Dr. Joel Beeky.

00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:34.459
 And the other is

00:28:34.459 --> 00:28:35.659
 God's battle plan for

00:28:35.659 --> 00:28:37.019
 the mind, the

00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:38.059
 Puritan practice of

00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:39.899
 biblical meditation by

00:28:39.899 --> 00:28:40.939
 David Saxton.

00:28:42.199 --> 00:28:43.859
 So if you would like

00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:45.919
 to know more, I

00:28:45.919 --> 00:28:46.740
 would highly recommend

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.939
 both sources.

00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:50.639
 So ten tips on

00:28:50.639 --> 00:28:51.720
 deliberate meditation.

00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.259
 Number one,

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:55.059
 meditation must be

00:28:55.059 --> 00:28:56.199
 frequent and

00:28:56.199 --> 00:28:56.919
 consistent.

00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:59.500
 frequent and

00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:00.279
 consistent.

00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:02.240
 You see, the

00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:03.080
 Puritans said

00:29:03.080 --> 00:29:05.060
 ideally twice a day.

00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:06.500
 Meditation should

00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:07.340
 happen at least twice

00:29:07.340 --> 00:29:07.660
 a day.

00:29:08.100 --> 00:29:08.279
 Okay.

00:29:08.700 --> 00:29:09.400
 It can happen at

00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:10.480
 least once a day,

00:29:10.800 --> 00:29:12.400
 but ideally twice a

00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:13.460
 day if time permits.

00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:16.400
 Now, they also said

00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:17.840
 though, that if you

00:29:17.840 --> 00:29:19.300
 wait too long between

00:29:19.300 --> 00:29:21.640
 meditations, times of

00:29:21.640 --> 00:29:23.160
 meditation, meditating

00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:24.440
 times, if you wait

00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:26.200
 too long between your

00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:27.080
 times of meditation,

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:28.559
 the effect of those

00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:30.019
 times is greatly

00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.820
 lessened.

00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:32.620
 Actually, compared it

00:29:32.620 --> 00:29:34.660
 to a bird and her

00:29:34.660 --> 00:29:35.140
 eggs.

00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:36.480
 If the bird is too

00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:37.960
 long apart from the

00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:39.460
 nest, then the eggs

00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:40.600
 eventually die.

00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:42.980
 So not only does it

00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:44.080
 need to be something

00:29:44.080 --> 00:29:45.160
 that's frequent, but

00:29:45.160 --> 00:29:45.960
 it's consistent.

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.080
 Something that's

00:29:47.080 --> 00:29:47.960
 happened regularly.

00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:48.900
 And their

00:29:48.900 --> 00:29:49.820
 recommendation is to

00:29:49.820 --> 00:29:51.299
 pick a good time,

00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.840
 preferably your best

00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:55.139
 time, when you're at

00:29:55.139 --> 00:29:57.299
 your peak mentally, and

00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:58.099
 when there's the least

00:29:58.099 --> 00:29:59.139
 amount of distraction.

00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:00.740
 Okay.

00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:03.539
 Second, find a place

00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:05.599
 that is quiet and free

00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:06.519
 from interruption.

00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:10.199
 Find a place for

00:30:10.199 --> 00:30:11.019
 meditation that is

00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:11.879
 quiet and free from

00:30:11.879 --> 00:30:12.299
 interruption.

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:15.359
 Now, I know some of

00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:17.279
 you are probably at a

00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:18.759
 point in life that I do

00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.939
 remember where you're

00:30:19.939 --> 00:30:20.919
 thinking, have you seen

00:30:20.919 --> 00:30:21.599
 my family?

00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:23.599
 There are no places of

00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:25.779
 quiet that are free from

00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:26.339
 interruption.

00:30:27.159 --> 00:30:28.119
 And to that, I just

00:30:28.119 --> 00:30:29.119
 want to give you an

00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:30.240
 example that I'm sure

00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:31.039
 you've probably heard

00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:31.619
 before.

00:30:32.179 --> 00:30:33.939
 But Susanna Wesley, you

00:30:33.939 --> 00:30:34.839
 know Susanna Wesley,

00:30:35.159 --> 00:30:35.359
 right?

00:30:35.699 --> 00:30:36.919
 She was the mother of

00:30:36.919 --> 00:30:38.039
 John and Charles

00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:38.399
 Wesley.

00:30:38.599 --> 00:30:39.279
 They're more famous.

00:30:39.639 --> 00:30:41.039
 They had 19 children.

00:30:42.419 --> 00:30:43.159
 I don't think anybody

00:30:43.159 --> 00:30:44.399
 here has 19 children.

00:30:45.339 --> 00:30:46.699
 And Susanna Wesley was

00:30:46.699 --> 00:30:47.679
 committed to her time

00:30:47.679 --> 00:30:48.799
 with God, and so twice

00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.679
 a day, she would put

00:30:49.679 --> 00:30:51.059
 her apron over her head.

00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:53.179
 And her children were

00:30:53.179 --> 00:30:54.839
 taught if her apron was

00:30:54.839 --> 00:30:55.859
 over her head, it was

00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:57.200
 not the time to interrupt

00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:57.659
 mom.

00:30:58.200 --> 00:30:58.859
 I'm sure there was a

00:30:58.859 --> 00:31:00.059
 great deal of chastisement

00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:01.079
 to make that happen.

00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:04.240
 But again, finding the

00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:07.339
 place for quiet and

00:31:07.339 --> 00:31:09.019
 uninterrupted meditation

00:31:09.019 --> 00:31:10.819
 may take some creativity,

00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:12.919
 but it's essential to have

00:31:12.919 --> 00:31:13.799
 time to reflect.

00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.000
 reflect.

00:31:14.899 --> 00:31:17.200
 Number three, begin by

00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:18.619
 asking the Holy Spirit

00:31:18.619 --> 00:31:20.659
 for strength and

00:31:20.659 --> 00:31:22.980
 perseverance to focus

00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:23.740
 your mind.

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:26.779
 Again, Edmund Calamey

00:31:26.779 --> 00:31:28.460
 wrote, I would have you

00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:30.279
 pray unto God to

00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:31.159
 enlighten your

00:31:31.159 --> 00:31:33.079
 understanding, to bring

00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:34.399
 life to your devotion,

00:31:34.940 --> 00:31:36.279
 to warm your

00:31:36.279 --> 00:31:37.980
 affections, and so

00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:40.200
 bless that hour that by

00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:41.899
 meditation of holy things

00:31:41.900 --> 00:31:43.160
 you would be made more

00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:44.820
 holy, that you would

00:31:44.820 --> 00:31:46.500
 have your lusts more

00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:47.960
 crucified, and your

00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:49.720
 graces more increased,

00:31:50.320 --> 00:31:51.519
 that you may have more

00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:53.600
 death to the world and the

00:31:53.600 --> 00:31:54.880
 vanity of it, and more

00:31:54.880 --> 00:31:56.240
 life to heaven and to

00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:57.080
 things of heaven.

00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:59.560
 The reality is like all

00:31:59.560 --> 00:32:00.480
 spiritual disciplines, you

00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:02.060
 cannot be successful in

00:32:02.060 --> 00:32:03.220
 meditation on your own.

00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:04.980
 So start with the Holy

00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:07.799
 Spirit, humbly seeking

00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:09.180
 his strength.

00:32:09.740 --> 00:32:11.140
 Number four, read the

00:32:11.140 --> 00:32:11.579
 scriptures.

00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:13.259
 Read the scriptures.

00:32:14.120 --> 00:32:15.640
 Again, the whole point of

00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:17.799
 meditation is abiding in

00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:19.400
 the word, so you need to

00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:21.660
 get into the word, and

00:32:21.660 --> 00:32:22.700
 let the word get into

00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:23.039
 you.

00:32:23.420 --> 00:32:24.440
 Find a verse or a

00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:25.740
 doctrine upon which to

00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:26.319
 meditate.

00:32:27.160 --> 00:32:28.220
 And the Puritans would

00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:29.920
 recommend you start easy,

00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:32.700
 maybe on an attribute of

00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:35.080
 God, or on Christ's

00:32:35.080 --> 00:32:35.460
 character.

00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:37.340
 Don't start with things

00:32:37.340 --> 00:32:39.980
 like the Trinity that are

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.940
 a little more challenging.

00:32:41.560 --> 00:32:42.680
 They say start easy and

00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:43.240
 work up.

00:32:43.620 --> 00:32:45.220
 Consider one subject at a

00:32:45.220 --> 00:32:45.680
 time.

00:32:46.640 --> 00:32:48.440
 Focus in on one truth.

00:32:49.080 --> 00:32:51.140
 Also, find truths that

00:32:51.140 --> 00:32:52.460
 are applicable to your

00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:53.680
 present situation.

00:32:55.180 --> 00:32:56.400
 Here's some examples.

00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:57.860
 If you feel separated from

00:32:57.860 --> 00:32:59.900
 God by your sin, meditate

00:32:59.900 --> 00:33:01.780
 on Christ's willingness to

00:33:01.780 --> 00:33:03.200
 forgive sinners and receive

00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:04.340
 everyone who would come to

00:33:04.340 --> 00:33:04.560
 him.

00:33:05.080 --> 00:33:06.140
 Or if you're struggling

00:33:06.140 --> 00:33:07.880
 financially, meditate on

00:33:07.880 --> 00:33:09.300
 God's wonderful provision

00:33:09.300 --> 00:33:10.660
 for those who are in need.

00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:12.360
 If you're facing physical

00:33:12.360 --> 00:33:14.040
 pain or struggles, meditate

00:33:14.040 --> 00:33:15.660
 on God giving strength to

00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:17.100
 the weak or healing to the

00:33:17.100 --> 00:33:17.460
 sick.

00:33:18.060 --> 00:33:19.300
 You know, find areas that

00:33:19.300 --> 00:33:20.360
 are applicable to where you

00:33:20.360 --> 00:33:20.720
 are.

00:33:21.040 --> 00:33:22.600
 You don't have to start with,

00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:24.259
 you know, the eminence of

00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:24.700
 God.

00:33:25.320 --> 00:33:27.220
 Start with the things that

00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:28.640
 are already on your mind

00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:30.440
 and bring Scripture to bear

00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:30.880
 on them.

00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:33.240
 And then work on choosing

00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:35.120
 that verse or that topic

00:33:35.120 --> 00:33:36.280
 and committing it to

00:33:36.280 --> 00:33:36.660
 memory.

00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:39.900
 So find it in Scripture and

00:33:39.900 --> 00:33:41.100
 put it into your mind so that

00:33:41.100 --> 00:33:43.220
 you can continue to chew on

00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:43.400
 it.

00:33:44.440 --> 00:33:47.160
 Number five, use your memory

00:33:47.160 --> 00:33:49.240
 to focus on all that Scripture

00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:50.420
 has to say about your

00:33:50.420 --> 00:33:50.800
 subject.

00:33:50.800 --> 00:33:53.020
 Consider past sermons and

00:33:53.020 --> 00:33:55.080
 other things you've heard or

00:33:55.080 --> 00:33:55.460
 read.

00:33:55.460 --> 00:33:58.960
 Another example from Edmund

00:33:58.960 --> 00:33:59.500
 Calamey.

00:34:00.039 --> 00:34:00.200
 He said,

00:34:00.299 --> 00:34:01.340
 If you would meditate on the

00:34:01.340 --> 00:34:03.720
 subject of sin, begin with

00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:04.940
 the description of sin.

00:34:05.660 --> 00:34:07.640
 Proceed to the extent and the

00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:08.559
 spread of sin.

00:34:09.179 --> 00:34:10.780
 Consider the original cause of

00:34:10.780 --> 00:34:12.980
 sin and the effects of sin.

00:34:13.340 --> 00:34:15.039
 Consider the property of sin in

00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:17.079
 general and of your personal

00:34:17.079 --> 00:34:18.360
 sin in particular.

00:34:19.300 --> 00:34:20.960
 Consider the opposite of sin,

00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:21.800
 grace.

00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:23.960
 Think about metaphors for sin

00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:26.039
 or the titles given to sin

00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:28.019
 and all that Scripture says

00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:29.260
 concerning sin.

00:34:30.780 --> 00:34:33.920
 So, after you've gotten into

00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:35.159
 God's Word and gotten God's

00:34:35.159 --> 00:34:37.199
 Word into you, the goal is to

00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:39.440
 focus in and allow the Holy

00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:40.300
 Spirit to bring to

00:34:40.300 --> 00:34:42.519
 remembrance all that you may

00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:43.659
 have heard, all that you have

00:34:43.659 --> 00:34:44.840
 read, Christian books.

00:34:45.460 --> 00:34:48.019
 Now, as I was working on this,

00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:50.460
 I'm going to give you just a

00:34:50.460 --> 00:34:52.240
 little piece of information from

00:34:52.239 --> 00:34:53.259
 personal experience.

00:34:53.559 --> 00:34:53.719
 Okay?

00:34:54.659 --> 00:34:56.299
 If you're like me, you probably

00:34:56.299 --> 00:34:56.919
 have a computer.

00:34:57.819 --> 00:34:58.059
 Okay?

00:34:58.359 --> 00:34:59.899
 And you may do your Bible study

00:34:59.899 --> 00:35:01.039
 on computer or on the

00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:01.359
 Internet.

00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:02.459
 There's all kinds of stuff on

00:35:02.459 --> 00:35:02.899
 the Internet.

00:35:03.459 --> 00:35:05.779
 And when I got to this point,

00:35:05.839 --> 00:35:08.919
 originally, I was there with all

00:35:08.919 --> 00:35:11.219
 of my software to help me study

00:35:11.219 --> 00:35:12.619
 something and meditate on it

00:35:12.619 --> 00:35:12.939
 deeply.

00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:15.859
 And the time quickly went and

00:35:15.859 --> 00:35:17.479
 technological issues.

00:35:17.480 --> 00:35:19.860
 You know, trying to find this

00:35:19.860 --> 00:35:21.000
 and then that and then, oh,

00:35:21.059 --> 00:35:22.099
 look, I found this feature.

00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:23.900
 And, you know, it was kind of

00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:25.139
 like the squirrel of the

00:35:25.139 --> 00:35:26.199
 occasional meditation.

00:35:27.360 --> 00:35:29.599
 And so, what I would say and

00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:31.000
 what I would challenge you to

00:35:31.000 --> 00:35:35.780
 is truly seek to use your

00:35:35.780 --> 00:35:38.139
 memory and to allow the Holy

00:35:38.139 --> 00:35:39.699
 Spirit to bring to remembrance

00:35:39.699 --> 00:35:41.320
 the things on the topic you're

00:35:41.320 --> 00:35:41.760
 meditating.

00:35:42.699 --> 00:35:44.019
 You know, if you want to study a

00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:45.039
 topic, do that.

00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:47.079
 But understand that studying is

00:35:47.079 --> 00:35:49.119
 not meditating either.

00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:50.079
 Okay?

00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:52.920
 So, use your memory.

00:35:53.400 --> 00:35:54.159
 Focus in on it.

00:35:54.239 --> 00:35:55.779
 Don't be distracted by other

00:35:55.779 --> 00:35:56.219
 things.

00:35:57.139 --> 00:35:57.820
 Number six.

00:35:58.599 --> 00:36:00.320
 Stir up your affections.

00:36:01.079 --> 00:36:02.639
 Stir up your affections.

00:36:03.079 --> 00:36:05.099
 Such as love, desire, hope,

00:36:05.460 --> 00:36:07.619
 courage, gratitude, zeal, and joy

00:36:07.619 --> 00:36:08.739
 to glorify God.

00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:11.699
 Preach the truth to yourself.

00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:14.980
 Preach the truth to yourself.

00:36:15.380 --> 00:36:16.559
 That's something that we say

00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:17.840
 often in our household.

00:36:18.599 --> 00:36:20.019
 Preach the truth to yourself.

00:36:20.579 --> 00:36:21.860
 I actually got that from Dr.

00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:22.779
 Martin Lloyd-Jones.

00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:25.480
 And it's the point where not

00:36:25.480 --> 00:36:26.779
 only are you taking these

00:36:26.779 --> 00:36:29.059
 truths in, but the goal is for

00:36:29.059 --> 00:36:30.159
 there to be an emotional

00:36:30.159 --> 00:36:30.980
 response.

00:36:31.360 --> 00:36:32.519
 You see, that's the breakdown

00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:33.380
 that we talked about

00:36:33.380 --> 00:36:34.039
 previously.

00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:36.519
 How the truth can be there,

00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:38.639
 but it becomes almost so

00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:39.980
 common that we don't care

00:36:39.980 --> 00:36:40.400
 anymore.

00:36:40.960 --> 00:36:42.119
 And so, in your meditation,

00:36:42.119 --> 00:36:44.699
 the goal is to get that truth

00:36:44.699 --> 00:36:46.159
 to the point where you have

00:36:46.159 --> 00:36:47.619
 an emotional response to it.

00:36:47.779 --> 00:36:48.779
 If you're thinking on the

00:36:48.779 --> 00:36:50.000
 blood of Christ, you should

00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:51.359
 respond to that emotionally.

00:36:52.319 --> 00:36:53.839
 If you're thinking about God's

00:36:53.839 --> 00:36:56.119
 almighty power in creation,

00:36:56.119 --> 00:36:58.159
 that should move your heart.

00:36:58.519 --> 00:37:01.599
 Now, I accept that we run at

00:37:01.599 --> 00:37:03.420
 different levels of emotional

00:37:03.420 --> 00:37:05.799
 being-hood.

00:37:05.800 --> 00:37:07.880
 Okay.

00:37:08.380 --> 00:37:10.340
 I know that, you know,

00:37:10.820 --> 00:37:12.820
 I tend to be on the emotional

00:37:12.820 --> 00:37:14.980
 end of things, and I'm like,

00:37:15.080 --> 00:37:15.600
 oh, a butterfly.

00:37:15.760 --> 00:37:17.060
 Oh, thank you, Jesus.

00:37:17.260 --> 00:37:18.660
 That butterfly is great.

00:37:19.200 --> 00:37:20.840
 And some people are not that

00:37:20.840 --> 00:37:21.140
 way.

00:37:21.400 --> 00:37:21.620
 Okay.

00:37:21.660 --> 00:37:23.900
 So, I'm not giving you a range.

00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:25.039
 You don't have to be moved to

00:37:25.039 --> 00:37:26.220
 weeping every time.

00:37:26.720 --> 00:37:28.800
 But in meditating, the goal is

00:37:28.800 --> 00:37:30.160
 for the truth to move your

00:37:30.160 --> 00:37:30.660
 heart.

00:37:31.460 --> 00:37:31.740
 Okay.

00:37:31.740 --> 00:37:33.380
 So, stir up your affections.

00:37:33.380 --> 00:37:36.440
 Number seven, consider how the

00:37:36.440 --> 00:37:38.740
 things meditated upon should

00:37:38.740 --> 00:37:40.420
 impact how you live.

00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:41.740
 What are the practical

00:37:41.740 --> 00:37:44.079
 applications of these truths?

00:37:45.680 --> 00:37:48.440
 Again, follow Edmund Calamee's

00:37:48.440 --> 00:37:49.000
 advice.

00:37:49.200 --> 00:37:51.740
 He said, if you ever would get

00:37:51.740 --> 00:37:53.579
 good by the practice of

00:37:53.579 --> 00:37:55.760
 meditation, you must come down

00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:56.840
 to particulars.

00:37:57.360 --> 00:37:59.619
 And you must so meditate of

00:37:59.619 --> 00:38:02.059
 Christ as to apply Christ to

00:38:02.059 --> 00:38:02.640
 your soul.

00:38:02.639 --> 00:38:05.159
 And so meditate of heaven as to

00:38:05.159 --> 00:38:06.679
 apply heaven to your soul.

00:38:07.239 --> 00:38:08.559
 Live out your meditation.

00:38:09.859 --> 00:38:11.599
 He said meditation and practice

00:38:11.599 --> 00:38:12.960
 should be like two sisters

00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:15.099
 walking hand in hand.

00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:17.339
 This isn't theoretical.

00:38:18.460 --> 00:38:19.839
 You're not trying to decide how

00:38:19.839 --> 00:38:21.319
 many angels can dance on the

00:38:21.319 --> 00:38:21.960
 head of a pin.

00:38:23.299 --> 00:38:23.519
 Okay.

00:38:23.699 --> 00:38:25.139
 It's the truth of God's word

00:38:25.139 --> 00:38:27.039
 moving your emotions but

00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:28.539
 bringing you to a different way

00:38:28.539 --> 00:38:29.079
 of living.

00:38:29.219 --> 00:38:30.799
 How does this live itself out in

00:38:30.800 --> 00:38:31.340
 your life?

00:38:32.120 --> 00:38:33.780
 And number eight, take those

00:38:33.780 --> 00:38:36.300
 applications and turn them into

00:38:36.300 --> 00:38:36.960
 resolutions.

00:38:38.320 --> 00:38:39.680
 Turn them into resolutions.

00:38:41.760 --> 00:38:44.039
 He said, let your resolution be firm

00:38:44.039 --> 00:38:46.900
 and strong, not mere wishes, but

00:38:46.900 --> 00:38:48.860
 resolved purposes and

00:38:48.860 --> 00:38:49.700
 determinations.

00:38:49.699 --> 00:38:53.199
 So after your time in meditation,

00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:54.719
 when you've reached the point where

00:38:54.719 --> 00:38:56.719
 God's word has saturated you,

00:38:56.859 --> 00:38:58.559
 you've had an emotional response,

00:38:58.879 --> 00:39:00.699
 you've seen a place where this

00:39:00.699 --> 00:39:02.299
 should be lived out in your life,

00:39:02.659 --> 00:39:03.500
 write it down.

00:39:04.279 --> 00:39:06.480
 Jonathan Edwards had a lot of

00:39:06.480 --> 00:39:06.859
 resolutions.

00:39:06.980 --> 00:39:08.000
 We can't talk about all those.

00:39:08.379 --> 00:39:10.679
 But it's a great practice to write it

00:39:10.679 --> 00:39:10.960
 down.

00:39:11.359 --> 00:39:11.559
 Okay.

00:39:11.739 --> 00:39:15.239
 Today I will do this because of your

00:39:15.239 --> 00:39:15.619
 truth.

00:39:15.619 --> 00:39:17.699
 And not only write it down, but

00:39:17.699 --> 00:39:19.279
 share that with people, the people

00:39:19.279 --> 00:39:21.099
 who are in your life that can hold

00:39:21.099 --> 00:39:22.380
 you accountable, that can be praying

00:39:22.380 --> 00:39:22.859
 for you.

00:39:23.179 --> 00:39:24.159
 Share your resolutions.

00:39:25.139 --> 00:39:28.359
 Number nine, conclude with prayer,

00:39:29.059 --> 00:39:31.339
 thanksgiving, and psalm singing.

00:39:32.299 --> 00:39:34.199
 Prayer, thanksgiving, and psalm singing.

00:39:36.259 --> 00:39:38.859
 Watson, another Puritan, said, pray

00:39:38.859 --> 00:39:39.839
 over your meditations.

00:39:40.819 --> 00:39:42.319
 Prayer sanctifies everything.

00:39:42.659 --> 00:39:44.739
 Without prayer, they're but unhallowed

00:39:44.739 --> 00:39:45.339
 meditations.

00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:47.979
 Prayer fastens meditation upon the

00:39:47.979 --> 00:39:48.359
 soul.

00:39:48.959 --> 00:39:51.039
 Prayer is tying a knot at the end of

00:39:51.039 --> 00:39:53.099
 meditation so it doesn't slip from

00:39:53.099 --> 00:39:53.299
 you.

00:39:53.679 --> 00:39:55.619
 Pray that God will keep those holy

00:39:55.619 --> 00:39:57.719
 meditations in your mind forever,

00:39:58.519 --> 00:40:00.239
 and that you will savor them, and

00:40:00.239 --> 00:40:01.839
 that the savoring of them will abide

00:40:01.839 --> 00:40:02.859
 upon your hearts.

00:40:05.099 --> 00:40:07.599
 So as you come to an end, just as you

00:40:07.599 --> 00:40:09.879
 started in prayer, end in prayer.

00:40:11.059 --> 00:40:13.159
 Asking God to keep those in your mind

00:40:13.159 --> 00:40:14.139
 because you can't do it.

00:40:14.199 --> 00:40:14.739
 We leak.

00:40:17.179 --> 00:40:18.039
 Ask for help.

00:40:18.579 --> 00:40:22.259
 Number ten, finally, don't shift too

00:40:22.259 --> 00:40:24.599
 quickly from meditation to engagement

00:40:24.599 --> 00:40:26.059
 with the things of this world.

00:40:27.059 --> 00:40:28.819
 Don't shift too quickly from meditation

00:40:28.819 --> 00:40:31.339
 to engagement with things of this world.

00:40:31.719 --> 00:40:35.319
 It's kind of like when you've had a

00:40:35.319 --> 00:40:38.199
 great meal and you just want to keep

00:40:38.199 --> 00:40:40.199
 that flavor in your mouth, you know,

00:40:40.199 --> 00:40:41.899
 that you ended on, you're like, that

00:40:41.899 --> 00:40:42.439
 was so good.

00:40:42.519 --> 00:40:43.899
 I never want to eat anything again.

00:40:45.039 --> 00:40:46.739
 You know, and so in our time of

00:40:46.739 --> 00:40:48.399
 meditation, you know, we can have these

00:40:48.399 --> 00:40:50.239
 great experiences, and if you go from

00:40:50.239 --> 00:40:52.460
 that into a meeting where you're going

00:40:52.460 --> 00:40:54.219
 to be arguing with people, you know,

00:40:54.259 --> 00:40:56.319
 it's like, oh, God, you're so great.

00:40:56.599 --> 00:40:58.139
 Oh, I want to kill these people.

00:40:58.339 --> 00:40:58.460
 Okay?

00:40:58.779 --> 00:41:03.119
 So, you know, don't be too quick to the

00:41:03.119 --> 00:41:04.000
 things of the world.

00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:07.059
 Savor the moments.

00:41:08.559 --> 00:41:09.639
 Take a little time.

00:41:09.920 --> 00:41:12.360
 Walk slowly out of the room from the

00:41:12.360 --> 00:41:13.320
 time of meditation.

00:41:19.460 --> 00:41:21.739
 Again, a quote for you.

00:41:22.679 --> 00:41:23.099
 It says,

00:41:24.099 --> 00:41:28.699
 Meditating is like trying to build a fire

00:41:28.699 --> 00:41:29.820
 from wet wood.

00:41:30.599 --> 00:41:33.320
 Those who persevere will produce a flame.

00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:36.460
 When we begin to meditate, we may first

00:41:36.460 --> 00:41:38.940
 garner only a bit of smoke, then perhaps

00:41:38.940 --> 00:41:41.940
 a few sparks, but at last there is a flame

00:41:41.940 --> 00:41:45.099
 of holy affection that goes up towards God.

00:41:46.039 --> 00:41:47.400
 And the Puritans would encourage you,

00:41:47.619 --> 00:41:49.099
 don't give up until there's flame.

00:41:50.599 --> 00:41:52.380
 But they would also acknowledge that

00:41:52.380 --> 00:41:54.320
 sometimes there's just no flame.

00:41:55.360 --> 00:41:56.619
 And there are days when you just have to

00:41:56.619 --> 00:41:58.480
 go, God, you know, I'm sorry.

00:41:58.480 --> 00:42:02.139
 I know that I should be focused on your word,

00:42:02.559 --> 00:42:05.240
 but today I just, it's just not happening.

00:42:05.760 --> 00:42:08.199
 And you start again tomorrow.

00:42:09.639 --> 00:42:10.099
 Okay?

00:42:10.099 --> 00:42:16.619
 Now, I know you might be inclined to think

00:42:16.619 --> 00:42:20.360
 this is too simple of an answer

00:42:20.360 --> 00:42:22.799
 for the problem that you have.

00:42:22.860 --> 00:42:23.599
 Whatever problem it is,

00:42:23.659 --> 00:42:24.519
 whatever idol it is,

00:42:24.719 --> 00:42:26.219
 whatever struggle you're facing in your life,

00:42:26.559 --> 00:42:29.139
 that sitting for some amount of time,

00:42:29.219 --> 00:42:29.659
 twice a day,

00:42:29.759 --> 00:42:30.839
 thinking about God's word

00:42:30.839 --> 00:42:31.819
 is going to change your life.

00:42:31.860 --> 00:42:32.079
 Okay?

00:42:32.259 --> 00:42:34.759
 I could understand that you might be hesitant

00:42:34.759 --> 00:42:35.519
 in that.

00:42:35.519 --> 00:42:38.320
 But by the hand of providence,

00:42:38.440 --> 00:42:39.599
 actually, when I was meeting with

00:42:39.599 --> 00:42:41.780
 Faith and Molly this week,

00:42:41.980 --> 00:42:43.280
 we were talking about

00:42:43.280 --> 00:42:44.940
 a passage of scripture

00:42:44.940 --> 00:42:47.860
 that they didn't know at the time

00:42:47.860 --> 00:42:48.759
 that God was saying,

00:42:48.920 --> 00:42:50.860
 hey, this is really what you need

00:42:50.860 --> 00:42:51.380
 for your sermon.

00:42:51.940 --> 00:42:54.820
 So, 2 Kings chapter 5.

00:42:55.619 --> 00:42:57.239
 2 Kings chapter 5.

00:42:57.300 --> 00:42:58.039
 You can turn there.

00:42:58.420 --> 00:42:59.280
 You don't have to.

00:42:59.360 --> 00:43:00.559
 It might be familiar to you.

00:43:01.039 --> 00:43:02.380
 It's a story about Naaman

00:43:02.380 --> 00:43:04.099
 going up to see Elisha

00:43:04.099 --> 00:43:06.440
 because he had leprosy.

00:43:06.759 --> 00:43:07.980
 And so he found out there's a prophet.

00:43:08.139 --> 00:43:09.400
 He went to the prophet Elisha

00:43:09.400 --> 00:43:10.679
 and wanted to be healed.

00:43:11.420 --> 00:43:11.599
 Okay?

00:43:11.920 --> 00:43:13.860
 2 Kings chapter 5.

00:43:15.159 --> 00:43:16.659
 We'll start in verse 9.

00:43:18.980 --> 00:43:19.519
 It says,

00:43:19.599 --> 00:43:21.920
 So Naaman came with his horses

00:43:21.920 --> 00:43:23.480
 and his chariots

00:43:23.480 --> 00:43:24.319
 and stood at the doorway

00:43:24.319 --> 00:43:25.259
 of the house of Elisha.

00:43:25.799 --> 00:43:27.440
 Elisha sent a messenger to him,

00:43:27.440 --> 00:43:27.679
 saying,

00:43:28.079 --> 00:43:30.139
 Go, wash in the Jordan seven times,

00:43:30.219 --> 00:43:31.719
 and your flesh will be restored to you,

00:43:31.839 --> 00:43:32.719
 and you will be clean.

00:43:32.719 --> 00:43:35.119
 But Naaman was furious,

00:43:35.679 --> 00:43:36.859
 and he went away and said,

00:43:36.939 --> 00:43:37.980
 Behold, I thought,

00:43:38.879 --> 00:43:40.319
 he will surely come out to me

00:43:40.319 --> 00:43:42.319
 and stand and call on the name

00:43:42.319 --> 00:43:43.199
 of the Lord his God

00:43:43.199 --> 00:43:44.879
 and wave his hand over the place

00:43:44.879 --> 00:43:45.959
 and cure the leprosy.

00:43:48.559 --> 00:43:50.500
 Are not Abana and Farah

00:43:50.500 --> 00:43:52.519
 the rivers of Damascus

00:43:52.519 --> 00:43:54.000
 better than all the waters of Israel?

00:43:54.299 --> 00:43:55.519
 Could I not wash in them

00:43:55.519 --> 00:43:56.119
 and be clean?

00:43:56.359 --> 00:43:57.899
 So he turned and went away

00:43:57.899 --> 00:43:58.599
 in a rage.

00:44:00.059 --> 00:44:00.839
 Verse 13.

00:44:00.840 --> 00:44:02.680
 Then his servants came near

00:44:02.680 --> 00:44:03.860
 and spoke to him and said,

00:44:04.260 --> 00:44:04.740
 My father,

00:44:05.740 --> 00:44:06.740
 had the prophet told you

00:44:06.740 --> 00:44:07.980
 to do some great thing,

00:44:08.260 --> 00:44:09.300
 would you not have done it?

00:44:10.420 --> 00:44:11.480
 How much more then

00:44:11.480 --> 00:44:12.039
 when he says,

00:44:12.120 --> 00:44:13.240
 You wash and be clean?

00:44:14.240 --> 00:44:15.380
 And so he went down

00:44:15.380 --> 00:44:16.680
 and dipped himself

00:44:16.680 --> 00:44:17.800
 seven times in the Jordan

00:44:17.800 --> 00:44:18.680
 according to the word

00:44:18.680 --> 00:44:19.380
 of the man of God

00:44:19.380 --> 00:44:20.620
 and his flesh was restored

00:44:20.620 --> 00:44:22.660
 like the flesh of a little child,

00:44:23.079 --> 00:44:23.900
 and he was clean.

00:44:26.340 --> 00:44:27.700
 And so the point is this.

00:44:27.699 --> 00:44:30.219
 If you look at your life

00:44:30.219 --> 00:44:30.679
 and the things

00:44:30.679 --> 00:44:31.679
 that you're struggling with,

00:44:31.719 --> 00:44:33.079
 the things you have struggled with,

00:44:33.079 --> 00:44:34.379
 the things that you've been

00:44:34.379 --> 00:44:36.379
 struggling with for some time,

00:44:37.059 --> 00:44:40.079
 isn't it worth giving meditation

00:44:40.079 --> 00:44:41.579
 on God's word a shot?

00:44:42.879 --> 00:44:44.399
 If it was a bigger formula,

00:44:44.619 --> 00:44:45.500
 if it was more impressive,

00:44:45.619 --> 00:44:46.980
 maybe you'd be inclined to do it.

00:44:47.319 --> 00:44:50.679
 But why not set aside time each day

00:44:50.679 --> 00:44:52.819
 to focus and practice

00:44:52.819 --> 00:44:54.299
 the discipline of meditation

00:44:54.300 --> 00:44:57.760
 so that we can be faithful

00:44:57.760 --> 00:44:59.680
 to 1 John 2.

00:45:00.519 --> 00:45:02.420
 Again, 15 through 17.

00:45:02.420 --> 00:45:03.980
 Do not love the world

00:45:03.980 --> 00:45:05.120
 or the things in the world.

00:45:05.840 --> 00:45:07.120
 If anyone loves the world,

00:45:07.600 --> 00:45:08.340
 the love of the Father

00:45:08.340 --> 00:45:09.120
 is not in him.

00:45:09.780 --> 00:45:10.760
 For all that is in the world,

00:45:10.880 --> 00:45:11.920
 the desires of the flesh,

00:45:12.000 --> 00:45:13.039
 the desires of the eyes

00:45:13.039 --> 00:45:13.900
 and pride of life

00:45:13.900 --> 00:45:15.240
 is not from the Father,

00:45:15.740 --> 00:45:16.700
 but is from the world.

00:45:17.360 --> 00:45:18.860
 And the world is passing away

00:45:18.860 --> 00:45:21.120
 along with its desires.

00:45:21.560 --> 00:45:23.300
 But whoever does the will of God

00:45:23.300 --> 00:45:25.060
 abides forever.

00:45:25.780 --> 00:45:26.320
 Let's pray.

00:45:30.320 --> 00:45:31.140
 Heavenly Father,

00:45:31.220 --> 00:45:31.940
 we come to you

00:45:31.940 --> 00:45:33.220
 and we confess

00:45:33.220 --> 00:45:38.519
 the sad way

00:45:38.519 --> 00:45:40.380
 that we deal with your word so often.

00:45:41.800 --> 00:45:43.140
 Father, we are creatures

00:45:43.140 --> 00:45:44.860
 of our culture and our time.

00:45:47.160 --> 00:45:48.780
 The sinfulness of our heart

00:45:48.780 --> 00:45:50.780
 inclines us to want

00:45:50.780 --> 00:45:52.980
 quick moments with you

00:45:52.980 --> 00:45:54.580
 just like fast food.

00:45:56.200 --> 00:45:57.760
 We want everything

00:45:57.760 --> 00:45:59.320
 to be resolved with you

00:45:59.320 --> 00:46:00.620
 in 20 minutes

00:46:00.620 --> 00:46:01.300
 like a sitcom.

00:46:01.980 --> 00:46:02.740
 And Father,

00:46:02.840 --> 00:46:04.060
 we confess that

00:46:04.060 --> 00:46:05.100
 in that,

00:46:05.220 --> 00:46:06.860
 so often we neglect

00:46:06.860 --> 00:46:08.460
 setting aside time

00:46:08.460 --> 00:46:10.460
 to dwell in your presence,

00:46:10.640 --> 00:46:12.000
 to abide in your word,

00:46:12.380 --> 00:46:13.380
 and allow your word

00:46:13.380 --> 00:46:14.600
 to abide in us.

00:46:14.599 --> 00:46:16.940
 Lord,

00:46:16.980 --> 00:46:17.799
 I pray that you

00:46:17.799 --> 00:46:19.159
 would give us

00:46:19.159 --> 00:46:20.159
 a willingness,

00:46:21.159 --> 00:46:22.259
 a commitment,

00:46:23.000 --> 00:46:24.319
 a desire

00:46:24.319 --> 00:46:26.139
 to be with you,

00:46:26.699 --> 00:46:29.219
 to be intimate with you,

00:46:29.940 --> 00:46:31.839
 to know you,

00:46:32.880 --> 00:46:34.159
 to know your heart,

00:46:35.039 --> 00:46:36.460
 and to be like your son.

00:46:36.460 --> 00:46:37.119
 Father,

00:46:37.119 --> 00:46:40.780
 let this be a tool

00:46:40.780 --> 00:46:42.159
 that is used

00:46:42.159 --> 00:46:43.340
 according to your word

00:46:43.340 --> 00:46:45.220
 to make us like Christ,

00:46:45.800 --> 00:46:47.000
 that we would be filled

00:46:47.000 --> 00:46:48.420
 with love for the Father

00:46:48.420 --> 00:46:50.059
 and not love for the world.

00:46:51.179 --> 00:46:52.659
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:46:53.240 --> 00:46:53.519
 Amen.

00:46:55.880 --> 00:46:56.679
 This morning,

00:46:56.840 --> 00:46:58.059
 if you would like

00:46:58.059 --> 00:46:59.159
 to come forward for prayer

00:46:59.159 --> 00:47:00.720
 or if you would like

00:47:00.720 --> 00:47:01.280
 to come forward

00:47:01.280 --> 00:47:02.519
 to join the church

00:47:02.519 --> 00:47:04.340
 or if there's anything else

00:47:04.340 --> 00:47:05.420
 you'd like to come forward to,

00:47:05.420 --> 00:47:07.000
 please feel free to do that.