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Looking Up · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise. We're singing in Psalm 121 in the Scottish Psalter, page 416.
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Psalm 121, page 416. We'll sing the whole of this psalm, the tune is French.
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I to the hills will lift mine eyes, from whence doth come my need. My safety cometh from the Lord, who heaven and earth hath made.
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We'll sing the whole of this psalm to God's praise.
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I to the hills will lift mine eyes, from whence doth come my need.
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My safety cometh from the Lord, who heaven and earth hath made.
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Thy fruit heal not lest thine nor will, thee slumber that thee keeps.
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Behold, thee that keeps Israel, thee slumber snort nor sleet.
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The Lord, thee keep's, the Lord thy shape, on my right hand just day.
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The moon by night, thee shall not smite, nor yet the sun by day.
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The Lord shall keep thy soul, he shall place heavenly from all hell.
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And so forth thy going heart and end.
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God, he forever will.
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Let's join together in prayer.
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Let us pray.
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Lord, our gracious God, we thank you for this, your day.
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We thank you for being able to gather to worship and praise you, to sing praise to you, thankful for who you are and for all that you do for us.
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Thankful that we thank you for the Lord.
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Thank you for who he is and all that he's done for us.
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We thank you that the more that we learn and experience of him, that we come to marvel at more and more at what has been done for us.
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Even as we think back over this week and to the communion service last weekend and remembering his death,
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we thank you for his laying down his life.
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As we have been reminded even in this past week of so many who gave their lives in the D-Day landings
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and who gave their lives to protect us and give us freedom.
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We thank you above all that Jesus came to lay down his life to give us the ultimate freedom and that hope of eternal life through him.
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And that we come today knowing that although he died, he rose again.
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And we come today in that resurrection power.
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We come thankful for all that Jesus is to so many in this world.
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I'm praying that he will become more and more precious to each and every one of us today.
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So Lord, be with us, we pray, in all that we do in our service and in the Sunday School in Crescent Twinies.
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May you look after us all as we commit ourselves into your hands,
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asking all with the forgiveness of our sins.
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In Jesus' name. Amen.
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Well, just a wee word to the young folks before you go out.
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I've got something to show you.
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This morning I've got a number of medals.
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Different medals for different events.
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There's running, mostly running I think it is,
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running short distance and running long distance.
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And you may be quite impressed by me having all these medals.
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You may be quite surprised by me having all these medals.
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But I've got to let you into a wee secret.
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These medals aren't actually mine.
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And I don't think they were left in the manse by the previous minister either.
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But they belong to someone who's good at running,
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running different distances.
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And a couple of weeks ago, two weeks ago yesterday,
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there was a lot of running going on around the town of Stornoway.
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There was the half marathon, there was the 10K,
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and there was the mini marathon.
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And I know a lot of people here were involved in some of these races.
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Some of the younger ones involved in the mini marathon,
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some of the older ones involved in the 10K or the half marathon.
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I didn't get my entry in in time, but maybe next year,
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if I start training, we might get into that one.
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But at the end of the race, you have winners,
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you have people who come in in first place,
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and they get that prize for being first in the race.
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And many of us would maybe go into these kinds of races,
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whether it's the half or the 10K or the mini marathon,
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and you know yourself, I'm not going to win.
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There's better runners than me.
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There's people who are faster and fitter.
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They're more likely to win.
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But does that stop us going into the race?
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No.
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You see, it's not about just getting first place.
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It's so often in these kinds of races,
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especially you think of half marathons and marathons,
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people don't enter in it just to think, I'm going to win.
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It's the actual accomplishment of doing it,
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of running these distances,
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of being in the race and finishing that race,
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whether you're finishing it running in a sprint,
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or whether you're finishing it just walking absolutely shattered.
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It's that finishing the race that counts.
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And today, we're going to be looking at the letter of Paul
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to the Philippians here in the church.
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And in this letter, Paul often describes our life in this way,
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of running a race, of being involved in a race,
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of being training for a race.
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But he does so in different ways.
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He says sometimes we're in the race running,
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sometimes we're walking,
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sometimes we're resting.
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But it's all about preparing ourselves for it,
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being ready for this race and running this race.
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And it's not about gaining first prize.
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It's not about getting that medal for first place.
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It's about all of us just being in this race,
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being in this race in order that we might get
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that gift of God at the end of it,
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that he will crown us,
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that he will say,
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well done, you've run the race,
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you've finished the race,
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you didn't come first in it,
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you weren't the best in it,
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but you've done it,
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you've made it,
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and that's what counts.
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And for all of us today,
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when we think of medals in first place,
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these can be good,
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and someone will win first place.
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But for many of us,
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it's just about being in the race.
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I didn't get any of these medals
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because I wasn't in the race.
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Last two weeks ago,
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I wasn't in any of the races.
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I was standing there pointing people
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in the right direction,
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I had a nice, easy job.
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But those who were in the race
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finished the race
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and did it well.
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And that's what counts.
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And so for all of us today as well,
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we think of the race that we're in,
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running for Jesus,
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running to him,
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looking to him,
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and thinking it's about being in the race
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and finishing the race,
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whether we're first or last,
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it doesn't matter,
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but that we are with him.
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So may the Lord help us all
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to run that race
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and to look to Jesus.
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We're going to say
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the Lord's prayer together now.
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Our Father, which art in heaven,
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hallowed be thy name.
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Thy kingdom come.
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Thy will be done on earth
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as it is in heaven.
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Give us this day our daily bread
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and forgive us our debts
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as we forgive our debtors.
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And lead us not into temptation,
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but deliver us from evil.
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For thine is the kingdom,
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the power,
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and the glory forever.
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Amen.
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We're going to sing again
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to God's praise,
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this time in Psalm 15,
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again in the Scottish Psalter,
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page 215 of the psalm books.
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And the tune is Evan.
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Psalm 15,
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on page 215,
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we'll sing the whole of this psalm together.
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Within thy tabernacle, Lord,
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who shall abide with thee,
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and in thy high and holy hill,
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who shall a dweller be,
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the man that walketh uprightly,
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and worketh righteousness,
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and as he thinketh in his heart,
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so doth he truth express.
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We'll sing the whole of this psalm
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and we'll sing the whole of this psalm together.
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And let's pray now to God's praise.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Within thy tabernacle, Lord, who shall have fight with thee,
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And in thy high and holy hill, who shall have weller thee,
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The man that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness,
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And as he thinketh in his heart, so doth the truth express,
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Who doth not slander with his tongue, nor who his friend doth are,
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Nor yet against his neighbor, doth take up an ill report,
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And whose eyes bad men are despised, but those that God do fear,
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He honoreth and changeth not, though to his heart he swear,
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His coin puts not to you, sonny, nor take reward will he,
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Against the guiltless food of us, shall never move with me.
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Amen.
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We're going to read together now in Paul's letter to the Philippians.
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We're reading in chapter 3.
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We can take up our reading at verse 7.
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Philippians chapter 3 and at verse 7.
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But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
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Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
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For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish,
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In order that I may gain Christ and be found in him,
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Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,
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But that which comes through faith in Christ,
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The righteousness from God that depends on faith,
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That I may know him and the power of his resurrection,
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And may share his sufferings,
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Becoming like him in his death,
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That by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
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Not that I have already obtained this,
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Or I'm already perfect,
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But I press on to make it my own,
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Because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
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Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own,
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But one thing I do,
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Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
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I press on towards the goal
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For the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
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Let those of us who are mature think this way,
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And if in anything you think otherwise,
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God will reveal that also to you.
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Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
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Brothers, join in imitating me,
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And keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
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For many of whom I have often told you,
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And now tell you,
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Even with tears,
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Walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
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Their end is destruction,
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Their God is their belly,
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And they glory in their shame,
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With minds set on earthly things.
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But our citizenship is in heaven,
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And from it we await a Saviour,
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The Lord Jesus Christ,
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Who will transform our lowly body
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To be like his glorious body,
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By the power that enables him
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Even to subject all things to himself.
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Therefore, my brothers,
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Whom I love and long for,
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My joy and crown,
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Stand firm thus,
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In the Lord my beloved.
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And so on.
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And may God bless that reading from his word.
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Let's again just engage in a word of prayer.
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Let us pray.
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Lord, our gracious God,
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We do thank you for your word,
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And all instruction that it gives to us.
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But above all,
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We thank you that it reminds us of
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All that you are to us,
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All that you have done for us,
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All that you are doing and will do
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In our lives,
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And the world in which you have made.
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We know that from generation to generation,
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Your word has gone out,
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Not always received,
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So often shunned and turned away from,
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Even like in our own day.
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But we thank you that still
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Your word accomplishes so much,
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That it is powerful,
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That it is mighty,
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That it is a word of salvation
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To a people who are perishing,
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That it reminds us of
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A wonderful saviour
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That you have given,
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Your own son,
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Christ Jesus.
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And as we think even of this letter,
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The letter to the Philippines,
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It is full of Christ,
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Full of all that he has done,
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How he came into the world,
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How he was humble,
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How he showed humility in every way,
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How he endured the cross,
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How he experienced death,
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How he rose again,
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How through his righteousness,
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We are cleansed,
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How through him,
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We have one to look to,
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Not just for today,
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But for eternity.
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And we pray, Lord,
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That your word,
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As it goes out today,
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Will be blessed by you,
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That throughout your world,
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Throughout your people,
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Far and wide,
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That your word may be heard,
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And that people may be saved,
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From their sin.
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We thank you, Lord,
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That it is a life-giving word,
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And yet,
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As we read here,
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There are those,
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Who have turned away from it,
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Those who are enemies,
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Of the cross of Christ,
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As described here.
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And we see that,
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All around us,
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In so many ways.
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And yet,
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We pray, Lord,
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For mercy,
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We pray for grace,
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To be poured out in abundance,
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That we would see,
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Times of great conflict,
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And distress,
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And pain,
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And suffering,
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That we would see,
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These things turned,
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That we would see,
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A turning to you,
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A repentance,
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And a turning to you.
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Lord,
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May you hear,
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The prayers of your people,
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Throughout this world,
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We do remember today,
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Lord,
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That so many of your people,
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Do not enjoy the freedoms,
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That we do,
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That so many,
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Live in countries,
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And places,
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Where there is so much,
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Persecution,
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Where there is fear,
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Put upon,
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What it means,
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To be a Christian,
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And yet,
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Just as when Paul,
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Was writing,
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With such joy,
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From a prison cell,
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That there is still joy,
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In our world,
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In Christ,
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Joy in the midst,
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Of suffering,
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Joy in the midst,
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Of persecution,
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Joy that,
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In Christ,
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We have something,
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That is not just temporary,
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Or for a moment,
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But for all eternity,
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That there is riches,
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Beyond any comparison,
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And so we pray today,
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Lord,
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That you will encourage us here,
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That you will build us up,
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In our faith,
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That you will bless us,
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By your presence,
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And through your word,
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That we will experience,
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Lord,
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That surety,
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And that certainty,
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That you are with us,
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That you are near,
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And we thank you,
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For every encouragement,
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That you give,
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We thank you,
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As we look back,
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As we have said already,
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Of the communion weekend,
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We thank you,
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For all the blessings,
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We received,
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And enjoyed,
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From your hand there,
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We thank you,
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For new members,
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We thank you,
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For our fellowship,
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We thank you,
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For your word,
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That was proclaimed to us,
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The word of the cross,
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And we thank you,
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That that is central,
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To all things,
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That we lift our eyes,
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To Jesus,
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And help us,
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As we go on,
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In this race of life,
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As we go on,
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Walking through the experiences,
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That come our ways,
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That in all things,
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That our eyes,
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Will be fixed on him,
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That we will not despair,
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That we will not lose hope,
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That we will be able,
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To commit all things,
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To you in prayer,
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With that sure,
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And certain hope,
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That Christ is victorious,
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So help your people,
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And help those,
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In different needs today,
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As we know,
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Many around us,
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Have different experiences,
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Of ill health,
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Of sad news,
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Of sorrow,
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And sadness,
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And loss in life,
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And we just pray,
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Lord,
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For your help,
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In the midst of them all,
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That you will surround us,
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With your grace,
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And with your peace,
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We think too,
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Even of the news,
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Of a young boy,
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Missing in our town,
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Overnight,
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And we pray,
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For his,
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Being found safe,
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We pray,
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For those who are concerned,
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For him,
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And looking for him,
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Lord,
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We pray,
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O Lord,
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Your blessing,
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And help,
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In the midst of these things,
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And we pray,
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For our young people,
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For each one,
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O Lord,
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In this world,
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In which we live,
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In which there is so much,
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That makes us fearful,
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Help us to,
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To remember,
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Lord,
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That you are able,
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To do so much more,
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Than we ask or imagine,
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And so Lord,
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Hear our prayers,
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And watch over us now,
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As we confess our sins,
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And you Lord,
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Hear us in all of these things,
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And pardon us,
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As we ask it all,
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In Jesus name,
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Amen.
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We'll again sing,
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To God's praise,
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Before we turn back,
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To look at this passage,
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We're going to sing,
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In Psalm 146,
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In the Sing Psalms version,
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Page 191,
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We'll sing from verse 1,
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To verse 6,
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Psalm 146,
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At verse 1,
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Page 191,
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Praise the Lord,
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My soul,
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O praise him,
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I'll extol him,
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All my days,
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While I live to God,
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My Saviour,
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From my heart,
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I will sing praise,
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We'll sing from verse 1,
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To 6,
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To God's praise,
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Praise the Lord,
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My soul,
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O praise him,
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I'll extol him,
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I'll extol him,
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All my days,
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While I live to God,
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My Saviour,
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From my heart,
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I will sing praise,
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Do not put your trust in princes,
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Mortal men who cannot save,
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All their plans will come to nothing,
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When they perish,
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When they perish in the grave,
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Blessed is the one who truly looks on hell to Jacob's God,
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Blessed is the one who places all his hope upon the Lord.
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He who made the earth and heaven,
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And the seas with all their store,
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He who keeps us every promise,
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Who is faithful evermore.
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We can turn back to our reading in Philippians chapter 3,
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And we're going to look at the last part of this chapter,
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Verse 17,
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Down into verse 1 of chapter 4.
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Philippians chapter 3,
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Reading at verse 17,
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Brothers,
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Brothers,
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Brothers,
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Join in imitating me,
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And keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
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And so on.
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Well, Paul often uses the analogy of running a race,
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Or living our lives in that way,
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We were pressing on towards a goal,
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As we see in this passage,
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You see it in verse 12,
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To verse 16,
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But there's a subtle change,
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Between verses 12 to 16,
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And then 17,
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Down to the end of the chapter,
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And you ask,
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Well, what is that subtle change?
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You see in verse 12 to 16,
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Paul describing the way he is living his life there,
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As pressing on to make it my own,
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Pressing on towards the prize,
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Towards the goal,
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The upward call of God,
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There's this image of he's in a race,
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He's running,
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He's pressing on,
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To receive that goal of the prize at the end of the race,
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So there's this race that he's in,
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But then in verse 17 to verse 1 of chapter 4,
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If you like,
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There's a change,
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And in verse 17 it says there,
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You're walking according to the example,
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So there's a slowing down in pace,
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If you like,
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But it's no less difficult,
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In running a race,
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There are times,
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You think especially of running a marathon,
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Which is what Paul probably had in mind,
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In the races that he was seeing around him at this time,
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Running great distances,
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There are times when some runners just have to slow down and walk,
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Just to regain their strength,
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And their breath back,
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To carry on in this race,
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And Paul is often writing in this way,
26:03
Where it's not just about the race alone,
26:05
But all the training that goes into life,
26:08
And running the race for Jesus,
26:11
So there's a time to run,
26:13
There's a time to walk,
26:15
And there's also a time to rest,
26:19
Just like with any athlete,
26:20
You need all of these things,
26:22
And Paul is describing the Christian life in this way as well,
26:27
He's writing to the people here at Philippi,
26:31
In order to build them up in the faith,
26:33
To build them up in their stamina for running this race,
26:37
And what it means to run this race,
26:41
But when you come to verse 17 here,
26:46
Paul says,
26:47
Brothers, join in imitating me,
26:50
And in some ways,
26:53
It can come across as quite selfish,
26:56
Self-promotion here,
26:58
Paul is saying,
26:59
Look at me,
27:00
How good I am,
27:02
But that would be to take it in the wrong way,
27:07
He says,
27:08
Join in imitating me,
27:09
And keep your eyes on those,
27:11
Who walk according to the example you have seen in us,
27:16
It's more than just Paul,
27:18
It's believers,
27:20
In that sense of those who are in the race,
27:22
And running for Christ,
27:24
Look at them,
27:25
And learn from them,
27:26
And how you can go on in this race,
27:29
But it's not just about them,
27:32
As you read through this letter,
27:35
And if you think it's all about Paul,
27:37
Or just what others have done,
27:39
You miss the point,
27:41
His ultimate point,
27:43
Is to look to Christ,
27:45
To look to him,
27:47
Because that's what's important,
27:51
So the imitation of him,
27:53
Is not just doing as he is doing,
27:55
But doing as he is doing,
27:57
Through Christ,
27:58
Who has saved him,
28:01
And so in chapter 3 here,
28:03
Paul uses different analogies,
28:06
To speak to the people,
28:08
And to help them understand,
28:10
Just how precious Christ is,
28:13
In chapter 3,
28:15
Verse 1 to 11,
28:17
He uses the analogy,
28:18
Of an accountant,
28:20
He's talking about,
28:21
Gain and loss,
28:23
And all of these,
28:24
Accounting terms,
28:25
And he's doing it,
28:26
In a way that's showing,
28:28
What he formerly had,
28:30
And what he thought,
28:30
He was rich in,
28:31
What he thought,
28:32
Was so precious for him,
28:34
It's rubbish,
28:35
He's saying,
28:35
It's rubbish,
28:36
Compared to the surpassing,
28:38
Worth,
28:38
Of knowing Christ Jesus,
28:41
As my Lord,
28:43
He cannot gain anything,
28:45
By his own righteousness,
28:46
It's all about,
28:47
The righteousness,
28:48
Of Christ,
28:49
It's all about Christ,
28:51
And then in verse 12,
28:54
To verse 16,
28:55
He's using the analogy,
28:56
Of the athlete there,
28:58
But again,
28:59
It's rich in Christ,
29:01
He's pressing on,
29:03
Towards the goal,
29:04
He's running the race,
29:05
But he's saying,
29:06
To make it my own,
29:08
Because Christ Jesus,
29:09
Made me,
29:10
His own,
29:13
And he's running this race,
29:14
The upward call of God,
29:15
In Christ Jesus,
29:18
So he's,
29:18
He's always focused,
29:20
On Christ,
29:22
So in these analogies,
29:23
That he's used,
29:24
Of,
29:25
Of accountancy,
29:26
Of trade,
29:27
Commerce,
29:28
If you like,
29:29
And sports,
29:30
He's using,
29:31
Analogies of things,
29:32
That people would have been,
29:33
Very familiar with,
29:34
In Philippi,
29:36
A trading city,
29:38
A city that was,
29:39
Always had,
29:40
These races being run,
29:42
It was things,
29:43
That people with,
29:44
Were familiar with,
29:45
But now in verse 17,
29:48
To verse 1,
29:49
Of chapter 4,
29:49
He's using another,
29:51
Analogy,
29:52
And it's this,
29:52
We're going to focus on,
29:54
This morning,
29:55
And it's,
29:56
Not just to do with,
29:56
Walking,
29:57
But it's,
29:58
Walking as citizens,
30:01
And he's talking here,
30:02
About citizenship,
30:03
He's talking about,
30:05
Belonging,
30:06
He's talking about,
30:07
Whose we are,
30:09
And this is something,
30:10
That they would have known,
30:11
Much about as well,
30:14
Many who lived in Philippi,
30:16
Were citizens,
30:17
Of Rome,
30:19
And yet many of them,
30:20
Had not been,
30:22
To Rome,
30:22
They'd never seen,
30:23
Rome,
30:24
And yet they were,
30:24
Living under Roman authority,
30:27
By Roman rules,
30:28
By Roman ways,
30:29
Under Roman protection,
30:31
So that they enjoyed,
30:33
The good things,
30:33
And the bad things,
30:34
They experienced,
30:35
In the midst of this,
30:36
As well,
30:37
But yet they were,
30:38
Seen in this way,
30:39
And they knew,
30:40
What Roman citizenship,
30:41
Citizenship meant,
30:44
But Paul is reminding,
30:46
Those who are in Christ,
30:48
Of a different,
30:49
Citizenship,
30:50
They're describing it,
30:52
As a different,
30:53
Belonging,
30:53
He says in verse 20,
30:54
But our citizenship,
30:57
Is in heaven,
30:58
And from it,
30:59
We await,
31:00
A saviour,
31:02
The Lord Jesus Christ,
31:04
So again,
31:05
He's using an analogy,
31:06
That's something,
31:06
They're familiar with,
31:07
Of Roman citizenship,
31:09
And the Roman emperor,
31:11
And governor,
31:12
Who was over them,
31:13
In these things,
31:14
To remember,
31:15
Of citizenship,
31:16
In Christ,
31:17
In heaven,
31:19
And so,
31:21
We want to think,
31:21
About this,
31:22
This morning,
31:23
Of walking,
31:25
In this way,
31:26
A place we haven't been,
31:28
And yet a place,
31:29
We belong to,
31:30
Or we should long,
31:31
To belong to,
31:32
To be citizenship,
31:34
Our citizenship,
31:35
To be,
31:36
In heaven,
31:37
And Paul is writing this,
31:39
As a warning,
31:41
He's writing it,
31:42
As a warning,
31:43
And he does it,
31:44
As we see here,
31:46
This morning,
31:46
In three ways,
31:47
He says,
31:48
There's a way to walk,
31:49
Right,
31:50
A way to walk,
31:51
Rightly in this life,
31:53
There's a way to walk,
31:53
Wrongly,
31:55
But ultimately,
31:56
That we are to walk,
31:57
With a sense of,
31:58
Direction,
32:00
And so,
32:01
We're going to look,
32:01
At these three things,
32:02
Walking rightly,
32:04
Walking wrongly,
32:06
And walking,
32:07
With direction,
32:09
So first of all,
32:11
We see walking,
32:12
Rightly,
32:13
In order to walk,
32:14
As citizens,
32:15
Of heaven,
32:17
We are to see,
32:18
Well,
32:18
What should our walk,
32:20
Entail,
32:20
And Paul begins there,
32:22
In verse 17,
32:23
By saying,
32:24
Join in imitating me,
32:27
And keep your eyes,
32:28
On those who walk,
32:29
According to the example,
32:30
You have seen,
32:31
In us,
32:32
Now,
32:33
Is this just a selfish,
32:35
Way,
32:36
Of looking at things,
32:39
It's not,
32:41
Paul isn't,
32:42
Like I say,
32:42
Promoting,
32:43
Himself,
32:45
He's always,
32:47
Promoting,
32:48
Christ,
32:48
And what he is saying,
32:50
Here is,
32:52
Unless,
32:53
You walk,
32:55
In this way,
32:56
You will be lost,
32:58
Unless,
33:00
You follow,
33:01
As in the example,
33:02
Of walking,
33:03
With Christ,
33:04
And for Christ,
33:06
You will be lost,
33:07
And that's the warning,
33:09
That he has given,
33:09
And that's what we'll see,
33:10
In our second point,
33:11
As we come to it later,
33:13
But he's saying,
33:14
Unless you walk,
33:15
In this way,
33:16
So he's saying,
33:17
You are to walk,
33:18
Imitating,
33:19
Us,
33:21
And Paul is,
33:22
Is not selfish,
33:25
Paul is looking to those around him,
33:27
And saying,
33:30
We're not living for ourselves,
33:31
We're living for Christ,
33:33
In chapter 1,
33:34
Verse 27,
33:36
He says there,
33:37
Earlier in this letter,
33:38
Only let your manner of life,
33:40
Be worthy of the gospel,
33:42
Of Christ,
33:44
Let your walk,
33:46
Be worthy of the gospel,
33:47
Of Christ,
33:50
So Christ,
33:51
Is the focus,
33:53
He talks in this letter too,
33:55
About those who are preaching the gospel,
33:58
For the wrong,
33:59
With the wrong attitude,
34:00
Or for selfish reasons,
34:01
But what does he say,
34:03
We want the gospel to advance,
34:05
We want Christ to be preached,
34:07
At whatever cost,
34:10
He says too,
34:12
That wonderful statement,
34:13
That he makes,
34:14
When he's talking about,
34:15
Being home with the Lord,
34:16
Or being with the people,
34:17
He says,
34:18
For me to live,
34:19
Is Christ,
34:21
And to die,
34:23
Is gain,
34:24
So,
34:25
He's not being selfish,
34:27
He's not saying,
34:28
Imitate me,
34:29
In that selfish way,
34:30
He's always got Christ,
34:32
In mind,
34:33
He says,
34:35
To live humbly,
34:36
Is to look to the example,
34:37
Of the humility of Christ,
34:40
Who endured the cross,
34:42
He has said,
34:43
That there is nothing compared,
34:45
To the surpassing worth,
34:47
Of knowing Christ Jesus,
34:49
As my Lord,
34:50
He said,
34:51
I am pressing on,
34:52
Towards the goal,
34:53
Of the upward call,
34:54
Of God and Christ Jesus,
34:57
It's all about Christ,
34:59
So,
35:02
He's not promoting self,
35:03
He's not saying,
35:04
Just imitate me,
35:06
In this way,
35:06
But he's saying,
35:07
Here am I,
35:08
As an example,
35:09
Of one,
35:10
Who has been changed,
35:11
By Christ,
35:12
Who has known,
35:13
The love of Christ,
35:14
And we see other,
35:15
Examples around us,
35:17
Of so many,
35:18
Who have been transformed,
35:19
By Christ,
35:19
Look to us,
35:20
And see here,
35:21
Is a life worth living,
35:24
Here is something,
35:25
Worth pressing on,
35:27
Towards,
35:28
We're not perfect,
35:29
He is saying,
35:30
We're not,
35:31
Without fault,
35:32
We have faults,
35:33
But we are pressing on,
35:37
There was a man,
35:38
Called Pablo,
35:39
Casals,
35:42
And he was a famous,
35:43
Cello player,
35:45
He,
35:45
Was one of the best,
35:46
Apparently,
35:47
Who played the cello,
35:49
And he played the instrument,
35:50
And he wrote music,
35:51
Most of his life,
35:53
But late in his life,
35:55
He was apparently,
35:55
Interviewed by a person,
35:57
And this was either,
35:57
Maybe in his 60s,
35:58
Or 70s,
36:00
And he was,
36:00
World renowned,
36:01
For one of the best,
36:02
Players of the cello,
36:03
And he was asked,
36:04
Why do you still practice,
36:06
Five or six hours a day,
36:09
Surely you're,
36:10
You're good enough,
36:11
Now you're,
36:11
You're one of the best,
36:12
Or the best,
36:13
But his response,
36:15
Was this,
36:16
I practice,
36:18
Because I think,
36:19
I'm making progress,
36:20
There was humility there,
36:24
You can't dwell,
36:26
On just being good,
36:27
At something,
36:28
You kept practicing,
36:29
You kept making,
36:30
Progress,
36:32
And that's,
36:33
The Christian life,
36:34
It's not about,
36:35
Becoming a Christian,
36:37
And you've made it,
36:38
That's it,
36:39
You've arrived,
36:40
You've got it all,
36:41
Sorted,
36:41
It's about putting into practice,
36:45
The disciplines,
36:46
Of godly life,
36:48
And practicing these things,
36:49
Daily,
36:50
In order that we,
36:51
Maybe even just say,
36:52
I think I'm making,
36:54
Progress,
36:56
Not in myself,
36:58
But in knowing,
36:59
Christ Jesus,
37:01
Pablo Casals,
37:02
Is a good example,
37:04
For musicians,
37:04
To follow,
37:06
But when we look at Paul,
37:09
And what he's saying here,
37:10
And what he has,
37:11
With others,
37:12
Around me,
37:13
Saying,
37:14
We are to look to examples,
37:15
Around us,
37:16
And think,
37:17
I want to press on,
37:19
I want to imitate,
37:21
Godly people,
37:23
But ultimately,
37:24
I want to imitate,
37:27
Christ,
37:29
It is good to surround,
37:30
Ourselves with godly,
37:32
Examples,
37:33
To have godly examples,
37:34
In our homes,
37:36
In our workplaces,
37:37
In our community,
37:38
It's good to be,
37:39
Godly examples,
37:40
In all of these places,
37:43
But we look at that,
37:45
And think,
37:46
Well I'm not perfect,
37:48
And neither was Paul,
37:50
When you look at verse,
37:50
12 to 16,
37:52
He says,
37:52
I do not consider,
37:54
That I have made it my own,
37:56
I'm still making progress,
37:58
I'm not perfect,
37:59
But I'm pressing on,
38:02
He's in a fight,
38:04
Just like we're in a fight,
38:05
We have sin,
38:08
All around us,
38:09
We have things,
38:10
That will trouble us,
38:11
All our days,
38:12
We live in a world,
38:13
That is always,
38:14
A constant fight,
38:16
Against becoming,
38:17
Just part of this world,
38:18
But Paul says,
38:23
We press on,
38:24
And where is he looking,
38:25
He's looking up,
38:27
He's looking,
38:28
To Christ,
38:29
And so we too,
38:32
Should fix our eyes,
38:34
On him,
38:35
When you look at,
38:36
Sports,
38:37
Sporting events,
38:38
And the end of a sporting event,
38:40
Whether it's a,
38:41
Football match,
38:42
Or a race,
38:43
You see those who have lost,
38:45
Their eyes are just to the ground,
38:47
Defeated,
38:48
Dismayed,
38:49
By the outcome,
38:51
But those who have won,
38:52
Their heads are lifted high,
38:54
They're looking up,
38:56
Victorious,
38:56
Victorious,
38:57
And that's how we want,
38:59
To walk with God,
39:01
Looking up,
39:02
Because he,
39:04
Is victorious,
39:06
And he shows us,
39:08
The way,
39:09
So we are to walk rightly,
39:11
But the second warning here,
39:13
Is that there is a way,
39:14
Of walking wrongly,
39:17
And we see that in verse 18,
39:19
For many,
39:20
Of whom I have often told you,
39:22
And now,
39:23
Tell you even with tears,
39:25
Walk as enemies,
39:27
Of the cross,
39:29
Of Christ,
39:30
Their end is destruction,
39:33
Their God is their belly,
39:35
And they glory in their shame,
39:36
With minds set on earthly things,
39:40
So there's the warning here,
39:44
Of the opposite,
39:45
Of walking with God,
39:47
And looking to Christ,
39:50
It's walking for ourselves,
39:52
Walking as enemies,
39:55
Of the cross,
39:57
And what a serious warning,
39:59
That is for us,
40:00
And how easy it is,
40:02
To slip,
40:03
Into this way,
40:04
Of living,
40:05
And that's why,
40:06
He warns so strongly here,
40:08
He says,
40:08
I even warn you,
40:09
With tears in my eyes,
40:11
It causes some pain,
40:13
It causes some grief,
40:15
To see people,
40:16
Living without Christ,
40:18
And that's a great pain,
40:20
For any Christian too,
40:21
To think of people,
40:22
Living without Christ,
40:24
Enemies of the cross,
40:27
Their end,
40:28
Is destruction,
40:30
And that should grieve us,
40:33
That should help us,
40:34
To pray,
40:35
All the more earnestly,
40:36
For people to come,
40:38
To Christ,
40:39
And he says here,
40:42
Enemies of the cross,
40:43
They have their minds,
40:44
Set on earthly things,
40:48
The God of this world,
40:50
As Paul describes,
40:51
In this letter to the Corinthians,
40:53
Has blinded their eyes,
40:56
They cannot see past,
40:57
This world,
40:58
And the things of it,
41:01
All their hearts,
41:02
Desire us for things,
41:03
Down below,
41:05
Down here on the world,
41:07
And we think,
41:07
We can be satisfied,
41:09
And Paul is warning here,
41:11
That there is a danger,
41:12
For anyone,
41:14
To fall back into this way,
41:15
He's writing to the church,
41:16
At Philippi,
41:18
He's writing for those,
41:19
Who have gone back into this,
41:22
They are now,
41:23
Walking as enemies,
41:24
Of the cross,
41:26
And so there's a warning,
41:29
For all of us,
41:31
Don't get caught up in this,
41:35
Don't fall back into the ways,
41:38
Of the world,
41:39
Keep your spiritual training,
41:42
Keep your spiritual growth going,
41:44
Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus,
41:47
Because take your eyes off for a minute,
41:50
And it can be fatal,
41:53
What can seem harmless,
41:56
Can kill you,
41:58
And we're often given,
42:00
Warnings about these kinds of things,
42:03
For example,
42:05
Think of this,
42:05
What's more dangerous,
42:08
Shark attacks,
42:09
Or taking selfie photos,
42:13
Well you say to yourself,
42:15
Shark attacks,
42:16
Have to be more dangerous,
42:18
There's more danger in a shark attack,
42:20
Than a simplest,
42:21
Harmless thing,
42:22
Such as taking a selfie photo,
42:24
And yet,
42:26
Just a few years ago,
42:27
In the space of one year,
42:29
This was the statistics,
42:32
Five people were killed,
42:34
In shark attacks,
42:35
In the world,
42:37
29 people died,
42:40
Taking selfies,
42:42
And you say to yourself,
42:43
Well how can that possibly be,
42:46
They're looking for the perfect selfie,
42:48
They're looking for something,
42:50
That's going to make people say,
42:52
Wow,
42:52
Whether it's hanging over a cliff edge,
42:55
Or trying to get in front of a moving object,
42:58
And it's been fatal for them,
43:00
They've been unaware of the danger,
43:02
That's around them,
43:03
And it's costing their life,
43:05
When you think of shark attacks,
43:07
And you're warned,
43:08
You're on your guard,
43:10
You're looking out,
43:11
And there's lifeguards posted,
43:12
In places where it's dangerous,
43:14
And so few people lose their life to that,
43:19
But the simple things,
43:21
Can catch us off guard,
43:24
And that's the warning,
43:25
That Paul is giving here,
43:29
Their God is their belly,
43:31
They glory in their shame,
43:32
With minds set on earthly things,
43:36
There is a danger in living this way,
43:40
John Newton,
43:42
The one who wrote Amazing Grace,
43:44
He was one who experienced,
43:46
Many dangers in this world,
43:48
He lived for this world,
43:50
For a time,
43:51
He tried to satisfy his desires,
43:53
With everything this world could offer,
43:56
Legal and illegal,
43:59
And he thought this was it,
44:02
And yet,
44:03
After his conversion,
44:04
He wrote so many hymns,
44:05
Powerful hymns,
44:06
And one of them,
44:07
He says this,
44:09
Fading is the whirling's pleasure,
44:11
All his boasted pomp and show,
44:15
Solid joys and lasting treasure,
44:18
None but Sion's children know,
44:21
Solid joys and lasting treasure,
44:27
None but Sion's children know,
44:31
What is he saying there?
44:32
He's saying,
44:33
You know,
44:33
I once had all the joy,
44:35
All the joy this life,
44:36
Of this life and world could offer,
44:39
I was so satisfied,
44:40
And so happy,
44:41
I had everything,
44:42
And I had to give it up,
44:44
When I became a Christian,
44:47
No,
44:47
He's saying the opposite,
44:49
He's saying everything,
44:51
That I thought could give me joy,
44:53
And satisfaction,
44:54
Everything that could fill my heart,
44:56
With pleasure,
44:57
I thought I had it,
44:58
It was nothing,
44:59
It was nothing,
45:01
Compared to the solid joys,
45:04
And lasting treasure,
45:05
Of knowing Christ,
45:08
Because where did all of these worldly things,
45:11
Leave John Newton?
45:13
In the belly,
45:14
Of a sinking slave ship,
45:17
Knowing that his soul,
45:19
Was lost and perishing,
45:21
Until he cried out,
45:22
To the Lord,
45:24
And the Lord,
45:26
Saved him,
45:26
And that's just like what Paul says,
45:32
As well,
45:33
That compared to the surpassing worth,
45:35
In verse 8,
45:36
I count everything as lost,
45:37
Because of the surpassing worth,
45:39
Of knowing Christ Jesus,
45:41
My Lord,
45:43
That is what counts,
45:45
That is what makes,
45:46
The difference,
45:49
The warning is clear,
45:50
Don't live,
45:51
For worldly treasure,
45:53
And pleasure,
45:54
Another Christian put it this way,
45:56
For the worldling,
45:57
Their gold is their God,
46:00
For the believer,
46:02
Their God,
46:04
Is their gold,
46:06
The difference,
46:08
Is stark,
46:10
And it's clear for us here,
46:13
As living as enemies of the cross,
46:15
Walking in this way,
46:17
Their end is destruction,
46:20
Because their minds are set,
46:22
On earthly things,
46:24
That is not,
46:26
That is not,
46:26
How to walk,
46:28
We are to walk,
46:30
In a manner,
46:31
Worthy,
46:32
Of God,
46:33
But the last thing,
46:36
We see here is,
46:38
That our walk,
46:39
Should always have,
46:40
A sense,
46:41
Of direction,
46:42
He warns about,
46:45
Minds being set,
46:46
On earthly things,
46:47
But then in verse 20,
46:48
He says,
46:48
But,
46:49
But our citizenship,
46:53
Is in heaven,
46:55
And from it,
46:56
We await a saviour,
46:58
The Lord Jesus Christ,
47:00
So again,
47:02
He's lifting us,
47:04
To look not to him,
47:06
But to Christ,
47:08
We are to have our minds,
47:10
Set on him,
47:12
We are to look up,
47:13
To Christ,
47:14
We are citizens,
47:15
Of heaven,
47:16
As we put our trust,
47:18
In Christ,
47:20
Many in Philippi,
47:21
As I said earlier,
47:22
Were Roman citizens,
47:25
They'd never been to Rome,
47:27
They'd enjoyed,
47:29
All the privileges,
47:30
Of having their citizenship,
47:32
But they'd never actually,
47:33
Been there,
47:36
And doesn't that remind us,
47:38
Of what the believer,
47:39
Has to,
47:41
A citizenship,
47:42
In heaven,
47:43
We've not been there,
47:45
But through,
47:47
God's work in us,
47:50
And his grace to us,
47:51
Through his word to us,
47:53
We experience,
47:54
The blessings of heaven,
47:56
We experience,
47:58
The fellowship,
47:59
And the grace,
47:59
Of knowing,
48:00
Christ Jesus,
48:02
We see,
48:04
That here,
48:04
Is not our home,
48:07
But we are on,
48:09
A journey,
48:10
How often,
48:12
Have you been asked,
48:14
Where are you from,
48:16
When you meet someone,
48:18
For the first time,
48:19
Or when you're away,
48:20
Visiting other places,
48:21
Someone will ask,
48:22
Where are you from,
48:24
And you're able to answer,
48:25
And tell them,
48:27
Where you're from,
48:27
Be it from the island here,
48:29
Somewhere,
48:29
Or from somewhere else,
48:30
But living here,
48:31
You're able to say,
48:32
Well this is where I'm from,
48:35
And as islanders,
48:35
We certainly have,
48:36
That sense of,
48:37
Belonging,
48:38
To a place here,
48:39
This is my home,
48:41
But how often,
48:43
Are you asked,
48:44
Where are you going,
48:47
Where's your life journey,
48:50
Taking you,
48:51
And how would you answer,
48:54
That question,
48:55
For those,
48:57
Who trust,
48:59
In Christ,
49:01
Our life is,
49:03
No longer determined,
49:04
By where we're from,
49:06
It's more about,
49:09
Where,
49:09
Where,
49:09
Where we're going,
49:11
Where we're looking,
49:14
To,
49:15
And who we're looking to,
49:17
To be there,
49:18
If you've ever been homesick,
49:21
You know,
49:23
What a horrible experience,
49:25
It is,
49:26
Having to go away,
49:27
And leave family,
49:28
And friends,
49:28
And maybe go and,
49:29
Work in a different place,
49:31
Or travel to a different place,
49:32
And a feeling,
49:33
Of homesick,
49:34
It's a horrible experience,
49:36
But,
49:37
In the same way,
49:38
It's a blessing,
49:39
That there is,
49:40
That deep sense,
49:42
Of belonging,
49:43
A deep sense,
49:44
Of home,
49:45
That there is,
49:46
A special place,
49:47
But how often,
49:50
Are you homesick,
49:51
For heaven,
49:53
Here,
49:54
Paul is,
49:55
Is talking about it,
49:56
In this way,
49:56
But,
49:57
Our citizenship,
49:59
Is in heaven,
50:00
And from it,
50:01
We await,
50:01
A saviour,
50:03
The Lord Jesus Christ,
50:04
And then you see,
50:05
The hope that this gives,
50:06
Who will transform,
50:08
Our lowly body,
50:09
To be like,
50:10
His glorious body,
50:12
By the power,
50:13
That enables him,
50:14
Even to subject,
50:15
All things,
50:16
To himself,
50:17
The power,
50:18
Of Christ,
50:20
And the blessing,
50:22
Of Christ,
50:23
He will come,
50:25
And when he comes,
50:27
It is to take,
50:28
His people,
50:29
Home,
50:29
And that is a place,
50:32
That we can look forward,
50:34
To,
50:35
A place,
50:36
That keeps us,
50:37
Looking and longing,
50:39
We enjoy this world,
50:41
We enjoy,
50:42
So much of it,
50:43
And that is right,
50:44
That is good,
50:45
That we are to enjoy,
50:46
So much that this world,
50:48
Has to offer to us,
50:50
But what Paul is saying here,
50:52
Is don't let your minds,
50:53
Be set,
50:55
On earthly things,
50:56
That's the warning,
50:58
Because he says,
50:59
Our citizenship,
51:00
Is in heaven,
51:01
Keep your minds,
51:03
Set,
51:04
On looking up,
51:06
And looking to Jesus,
51:08
Because if we don't,
51:10
If we keep,
51:11
Looking,
51:12
To ourselves,
51:13
And to this world,
51:14
There is always,
51:15
The danger,
51:16
That we are vulnerable,
51:17
To the things,
51:18
Of this world,
51:20
And we end up,
51:21
Looking to things,
51:22
That cannot last,
51:24
That will perish,
51:25
But our citizenship,
51:28
Being in heaven,
51:30
We look,
51:31
To there,
51:31
To Jesus,
51:32
Who will come,
51:33
From there,
51:34
And that keeps us going,
51:36
That gives us,
51:37
A focus,
51:38
You may have seen,
51:40
In the news,
51:41
This week,
51:42
There was,
51:43
The European athletics,
51:44
Championships,
51:45
Taking place,
51:46
And there was,
51:46
One of the races,
51:47
It was a 20 kilometer,
51:49
Walking race,
51:50
And after,
51:53
20,000 kilometers,
51:56
Nearly,
51:56
At the end of the race,
51:57
There was this Spanish woman,
51:59
Who was just about,
52:00
To cross the line,
52:02
In third place,
52:03
To get a bronze medal,
52:05
About five or six meters,
52:07
From the end,
52:08
She thought she'd made it,
52:10
She started celebrating,
52:11
Putting her hands in the air,
52:13
Lifting her head up,
52:14
She was celebrating,
52:16
This achievement,
52:17
What she didn't realize,
52:19
Was there was a Ukrainian athlete,
52:21
That had come up beside her,
52:23
And pipped her,
52:24
At the finish line,
52:26
Two meters short,
52:28
She'd started celebrating,
52:29
Too early,
52:30
She'd taken her eyes,
52:32
Off the prize,
52:34
And she was pipped,
52:36
And as a warning to us,
52:40
Don't let anything,
52:41
In this world,
52:42
Distract you,
52:45
Keep your eyes,
52:46
Fixed,
52:47
On Jesus,
52:49
That's the example,
52:51
That Paul,
52:53
Gives to us here,
52:54
That's the example,
52:56
He gives to us,
52:57
Throughout this letter,
53:00
He says in verse,
53:02
14 there,
53:03
I press on,
53:04
Towards the goal,
53:06
For the prize,
53:06
Of the upward call,
53:08
Of God,
53:08
In Christ Jesus,
53:10
He has this one thing,
53:13
He does,
53:14
He says in verse 13,
53:17
But then he says in verse 1,
53:19
Of chapter 4,
53:20
Therefore my brothers,
53:22
Whom I love and long for,
53:23
My joy,
53:24
And my crown,
53:26
Stand firm thus,
53:27
In the Lord,
53:29
My beloved,
53:30
That is how he finishes,
53:32
This section,
53:34
Stand firm,
53:36
In the Lord,
53:37
Look,
53:39
Look,
53:39
To him,
53:41
Walk,
53:42
With him,
53:44
There's a right way,
53:46
To walk,
53:47
Looking to the example,
53:48
Of Christ,
53:50
There's a wrong way,
53:52
To walk,
53:53
As enemies of the cross,
53:55
Which leads,
53:56
To destruction,
53:58
But there's a direction,
54:00
To our walk as well,
54:02
As citizens of heaven,
54:04
We look there,
54:05
We look to a savior,
54:06
To come,
54:07
The Lord Jesus Christ,
54:09
We fix our eyes,
54:11
On him,
54:12
That we may receive,
54:14
The prize,
54:15
Of the upward calling,
54:17
Of Christ Jesus,
54:19
As our Lord,
54:21
May God help us,
54:24
Walk,
54:25
Run,
54:25
Rest,
54:26
In him,
54:28
That we might receive,
54:29
That prize,
54:30
Let us pray,
54:32
Our father,
54:34
In heaven,
54:35
We do thank you,
54:36
For every help,
54:37
And instruction,
54:38
You give to us,
54:39
We thank you,
54:40
For every moment,
54:41
Of grace,
54:41
And strength,
54:42
That you give to us,
54:44
We thank you,
54:45
Lord,
54:45
For your all sufficient,
54:47
Grace to us,
54:49
We pray to know it,
54:50
All the more,
54:51
That you will humble us,
54:53
When we need,
54:53
That sense of humility,
54:55
That you will lift us up,
54:56
Lord,
54:56
When we feel downcast,
54:58
That you will be,
54:58
All things to us,
55:00
And we ask that,
55:01
Looking to Jesus,
55:02
The only one,
55:04
Who is able to help,
55:05
And to satisfy,
55:07
Help us to keep our eyes,
55:08
On him,
55:09
As we ask it all,
55:10
The forgiveness of our sins,
55:11
In Jesus name,
55:13
Amen,
55:14
Amen,
55:15
We're going to conclude,
55:18
By singing,
55:19
To God's praise,
55:21
In Psalm 23,
55:23
It's the Sing Psalms version,
55:27
Psalm 23,
55:29
Page 28,
55:29
28,
55:30
Of the Psalm books,
55:31
We can sing,
55:32
The whole of this Psalm,
55:34
We know it well,
55:35
This Psalm,
55:37
We hear it often,
55:38
And yet it reminds us,
55:40
Of our journey,
55:41
Through this world,
55:43
And all the ups and downs,
55:46
But that we would keep,
55:46
The Lord,
55:47
As our shepherd,
55:48
That we would keep,
55:49
Our eyes on him,
55:51
And remember to,
55:52
The citizenship,
55:53
The place,
55:54
That awaits,
55:55
The Lord's people,
55:57
So we'll sing,
55:57
The whole of this Psalm,
55:59
To God's praise,
56:00
The Lord is my shepherd,
56:09
Oh,
56:10
What shall I know,
56:13
He makes me lie down,
56:17
Where the green pastures grow,
56:21
He leads me to rest,
56:25
Where the calm waters flow,
56:29
My wandering steps,
56:34
He brings back to His way,
56:38
In straight paths of righteousness,
56:42
Making me stay,
56:46
And as He has done,
56:50
His great name to display,
56:53
Though I walk in death's valley,
56:58
Where darkness is near,
57:02
Because you are with me,
57:06
No evil I fear,
57:10
Your rod and your sapping me,
57:15
Comfort and cheer,
57:18
In the sight of my enemies,
57:22
At him will you spread,
57:26
The oil of rejoicing,
57:30
You pour on my hand,
57:34
My cup overflows,
57:37
And I'm gracious,
57:39
As she fed,
57:41
So surely your offering,
57:46
And mercy and grace,
57:49
Will follow me closely,
57:53
In all of my ways,
57:57
I will dwell in the house,
58:01
Of the Lord,
58:02
Of my days,
58:05
After the benediction,
58:08
I'll go to the door to my right,
58:10
Here we'll close with the benediction,
58:12
Now may grace,
58:14
Mercy and peace,
58:15
From God,
58:16
Father,
58:16
Son and Holy Spirit,
58:18
Rest upon and abide with you all,
58:20
Now and forevermore,
58:22
Amen.
58:22
Amen.
58:22
Amen.
58:23
Amen.
58:23
Amen.
58:23
Amen.
58:24
Amen.
58:24
Amen.
58:31
Amen.