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The Unsearchable Riches of Christ · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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We can turn back now to our reading in Ephesians chapter 3.
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We can read again at verse 8. Ephesians chapter 3, reading at verse 8.
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To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
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and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, and so on.
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Two things that we have in these verses that we're going to be focusing on this evening.
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We have the unsearchable riches of Christ mentioned there in verse 8,
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and also we see how Paul here is speaking about a mystery,
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and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things.
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What do you think of when you think of that word mystery?
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What comes to mind?
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It might have something, bring something to mind that's hard to understand.
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Perhaps if you're in school, you're thinking about things that you find difficult as you're studying.
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They seem like a mystery, algebra, physics, a foreign language.
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It just seems like a mystery when you first start looking at them.
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How do you understand these things?
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It might be something you've misplaced.
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It's a mystery where it's gone.
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You leave your keys, you leave glasses, leave all kinds of things lying around and just say,
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well, it's a mystery.
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I don't know where they've gone to.
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It might be something like a book or a TV show that you enjoy.
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Maybe you're into mystery novels or mystery shows.
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You're wondering about, as it starts, there's an unsolved mystery and who it's going to be that's done it as it were.
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And it takes you in different directions before you see the answer coming that was staring you in the face all along.
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There's so many things that we can relate to when we think of the word mystery.
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As Paul is writing to the people here in Ephesus, he uses the word mystery often.
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And he uses this phrase in verse 8 as well as he is a preacher, seeking to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ.
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And they sound like things that cannot be known.
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They sound like things that are maybe so far off that we just cannot reach them.
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But as you make your way through this letter, you find that the people of Ephesus, as he is preaching to them,
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are hearing the things that they need to hear.
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And this point in his letters, we're about the halfway point.
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And he's been teaching them many different things.
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And he's been teaching them because there are people who have had their concerns, who have had their struggles.
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They've been discouraged.
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They've been discouraged by what has happened to Paul himself.
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They have seen him writing to them from prison.
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They've heard what's happened to him.
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They're concerned.
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They're discouraged.
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They've got their own things going on in Ephesus as well.
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There's persecution all around them.
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There's threats all around them.
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There's fears all around them.
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And it's in light of that, then, that Paul is writing to them.
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And he's writing to encourage them.
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And so it maybe seems a little strange that you write to encourage them,
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talking about things that are a mystery or things like the unsearchable riches of Christ.
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But that is what he is revealing to them as he writes to them.
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And he has already told them so much up to this point that we're going to think about.
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Because what you find as you're going through this letter, the people are encouraged.
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They're encouraged through what they hear.
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And it's like their darkness is turning into light.
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As Paul is teaching, as he is proclaiming the gospel to them,
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their confusion that has seemed like darkness is becoming light.
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The light of God's word is coming in.
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Confusion is turning to understanding.
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The things that they have been confused about,
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they are beginning to understand more in the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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And especially that phrase, the unsearchable riches of Christ.
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Because the more they get to know that,
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the more they are strengthened and encouraged.
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So their understanding is growing, their light is coming.
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And that is what God's word does for ourselves as well.
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That's what the preaching of God's word is meant to do,
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to build us up in the faith,
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to help us understand the things that are the mysteries of the gospel
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and the unsearchable riches of Christ.
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But how do we understand?
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How do we get to that point?
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Well, you could say that it's through much prayer.
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We have to get there by much prayer.
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And that's where this chapter is leading,
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to that wonderful prayer that you have in verse 14 to verse 21,
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where Paul says,
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For this reason I bow my knees before the Father.
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And he prays that they might have a grasp,
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that they might grasp the height and length and breadth and depth
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of the love of Christ.
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It's a wonderful prayer.
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And be filled with all the fullness of God.
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But before he comes to that prayer,
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before he comes to pray that prayer for them,
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he wants them to be assured and to be strengthened,
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not just by prayer,
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but by understanding the word of God,
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by understanding the truths of what God has been teaching.
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And it's a great reminder to ourselves tonight
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when it comes to our own prayers.
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As we come to pray to God,
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we can pray that great prayer of these verses 14 to 21,
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that we might grasp with all the saints
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what is the breadth and length and height and depth
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and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.
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Again, it seems like something that is far away,
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surpasses knowledge.
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Can it be known?
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It can.
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But in order to know it through our prayers,
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we really have to come first and foremost
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to see it in his word,
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to see it in all the truths that he has revealed to us,
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to grasp the depths of what God's word is telling us.
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Even as we were thinking of this morning,
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as we were looking at Paul's letter to the Galatians,
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just the previous pages to this,
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we were thinking of how often we are caught up
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in that way of sin,
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how we are repeat offenders,
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that sin that just keeps coming back to us again and again.
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And yet, as we see here,
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we are reminded that we have grace,
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we have mercy, we have forgiveness,
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we have all of these things.
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And that's what God has revealed through his word.
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And the more we understand these things,
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the more we are then able to pray to him
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with a greater knowledge,
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with a greater understanding.
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Things that seem beyond our understanding.
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Do you this evening come here believing God can be known?
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Do you come here this evening thinking,
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I've got a great knowledge of God?
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Or have you come here this evening thinking,
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there are so many things I don't understand?
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There are so many things that seem beyond my understanding.
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Well, probably all of us should be in that latter category.
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We don't come here knowing everything
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because we cannot possibly know it all.
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But we should come here seeking to understand more,
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seeking to have our knowledge increased,
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seeking to understand the ways of salvation.
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When you go back to the Old Testament,
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to the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 29, verse 29,
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there it reminds us of what we have before us this evening as well.
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It says there,
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the secret things belong to the Lord our God.
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So there are things that we don't understand.
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There are secret things that belong to God.
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But it says then,
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but the things that are revealed belong to us
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and to our children forever,
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that we may do all the words of this law.
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So there are things that are revealed to us.
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There are things that are given to us
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that we can seek to understand.
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So many things that seem a mystery to us.
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The more we study, the more we learn,
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the more they begin to be revealed to us.
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You think of algebra, you think of physics and maths and foreign languages.
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All of these things, they can seem like a mystery to begin with.
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But the more we're taught, the more we come to understand.
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And that's the way it is with God's Word.
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And that's what Paul is doing in this letter,
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seeking to teach them the mysteries of the gospel
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and the unsearchable riches that there are in Christ.
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And so we want to just look at two things together this evening
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based on these words.
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The first is the mystery of these things.
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And then secondly, the marvel of these things.
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The mystery and the marvel of these things.
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Well, the first thing we have is the mystery.
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Have you ever been left with a kind of sense of being dumbstruck before God?
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Left with no words to utter.
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There's just nothing you can offer up to God.
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Maybe it's something that's happened in your life.
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It may be a good thing.
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It may be a bad thing.
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There can be so many things that happen in life
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and we're just silenced before God.
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We don't know what to say.
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We don't know how to express ourselves.
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Well, as you look through God's Word,
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you find that that is a common occurrence.
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Especially when you look in the book of Psalms,
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many Psalms,
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you find the Psalm is questioning,
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asking questions of God.
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And there's one Psalm, Psalm 77.
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I'm going to quote some of the verses from that Psalm.
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And you find the Psalm is there with a sense of being dumbstruck,
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as it were,
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before God.
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He has many questions.
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But listen to how the Psalm works out.
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Verse 4, it says,
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Mine eyes debarred from rest and sleep,
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thou makest still to wake.
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My trouble is so great that I unable am to speak.
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And so you see there the Psalmist,
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it's almost like he just cannot sleep,
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he cannot rest.
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His trouble is so great,
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but he says,
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I am unable to speak.
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It's almost like there's nothing he can bring to God.
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But then you see in verse 7,
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he has his questions.
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Forever will the Lord cast off,
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and gracious be no more.
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Forever has his mercy gone.
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Fails his word evermore.
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So he's got questions.
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And it's questions that are concerning him.
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Has God's mercy gone?
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Has his word failed forevermore?
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Is there nowhere I can turn?
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He's in the midst of a difficult providence.
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It's a mystery what is going on in his life.
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Then in verse 10 it says,
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Then did I say that surely this is mine infirmity?
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I'll mind the years of the right hand of him
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that is most high.
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Yea, I remember will the works performed by the Lord,
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the wonders done of old by thee,
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I surely will record.
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How does the transformation come about?
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From being unable to speak in verse 4
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until in verse 10 and 11,
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he's able to see the works of his right hand most high,
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his works performed, the wonders done.
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How?
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By looking to God.
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By looking to him.
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What is the psalmist saying?
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He's saying,
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I have many worries,
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I have many questions,
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but God is over all.
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God is in control.
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And that's the very thing that we're seeing here
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with Paul in Ephesians.
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As he is writing to the church in Ephesus,
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as he's writing to the people there,
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they have their concerns,
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they have their worries about Paul in prison,
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about themselves and their own situation.
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But what Paul is saying is,
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God is in control.
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Even in the mystery of the things that take place.
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Two kinds of mystery we see here
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with Paul in chapter 3.
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In verse 1,
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we see the mystery of providence.
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A great mystery to us all at times,
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the mystery of God's providence.
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Verse 1,
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it says this,
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For this reason I,
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Paul,
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a prisoner for Christ Jesus
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on behalf of you Gentiles.
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What is he saying there?
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Well, the people are concerned
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that he's in prison.
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But what is Paul saying to them?
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Well,
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who
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put Paul in prison?
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The people then,
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and we ourselves reading through this,
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would say,
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well,
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it's those in authority.
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It's those in power.
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Nero was the emperor at this time.
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He was an evil man.
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He had no time for Christians.
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He treated them wickedly.
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And so was it him
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that put Paul in prison?
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Well,
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Paul is saying to the people here,
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in providence,
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it's not.
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Because he's reminding them
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that he is a prisoner
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for Christ Jesus.
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This
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is where he wants him.
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Because he wouldn't be in prison
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if that's where Christ didn't want him.
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And so he's reminding them
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that there is this mystery of providence.
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That there are things
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that are happening
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here for Paul
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beyond understanding
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for him or for the people.
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But that there are assurance
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that their comfort is found
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in the knowledge
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that it is all of Christ.
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He is a prisoner
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for Christ Jesus
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on behalf
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of you Gentiles.
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He is there
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for them.
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He is reminding them
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that the powers of this world
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have no control
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over these things.
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They are all
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in God's hand.
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That not one hair
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from his head
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can be taken
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without God knowing
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and giving permission
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for it.
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So you have this mystery
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of providence.
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And providence
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is one of those things
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that is so often
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a mystery to us.
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It can leave us
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to that sense of
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we have no words
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before God.
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And it can be
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in the providence
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that we see
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as wonderful providence
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and the providence
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that we see
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as hard providence.
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that we see
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God is in control.
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There's a story told
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a story that actually
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happened of
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two sides
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of the same
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situation
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and both
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looking at it
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as the providence
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of God.
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It goes back
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to the year
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1980
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and someone
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wrote about
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a Christian
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wrote into
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an article
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in a magazine
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about a Christian
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who providentially
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escaped death.
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And this was
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because an unexpected
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delay in New York
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kept this man
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from catching
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a flight
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flight 191
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in Chicago
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in 1980.
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That flight
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crashed
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and 254
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people
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lost their lives.
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And the article
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was written
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by the person
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saying
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this is a
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wonderful providence.
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How this man
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was delayed
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in one place
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that he ended up
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missing his flight.
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And you could say
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it's a great providence.
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But someone
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replied
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to the article
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and said this
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I just had to
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let you know
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about a Christian
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who ran
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to make flight
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191
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and made it.
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He got on
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the plane
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and he perished.
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And this man
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was a minister
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in a church
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in California
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and his plane
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had been late
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when he arrived
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in Chicago
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and he had to run
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to catch the flight
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but he made it.
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He got on board.
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And the last thing
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his friend saw
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was running
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towards that gate
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to catch that flight.
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And this made
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the man who wrote
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the original article
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just ponder
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just pause
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for a few moments
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and think
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well where was
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God's providence
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there?
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Was God's providence
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operating only
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in New York
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where one man
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was kept
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from catching
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that flight?
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Or was God's providence
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at work
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where that man
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made the flight?
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He was a man
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who was a
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Christian minister
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who had a
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fruitful ministry.
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And the question
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could be
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well why
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has God
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allowed that?
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It's a mystery
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of providence.
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But one comment
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that was made
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was from
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the friend
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who had seen
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the minister
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who caught the plane.
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And he put it
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like this.
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At the time
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the minister
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didn't know
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that he was indeed
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running to heaven.
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That although
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it was his providence
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that he would pass
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away that day
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he had a greater
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hope
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in the Lord
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Jesus Christ
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that he was safe
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for eternity.
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And providence
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should be seen
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in light
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of eternity.
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And Paul
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often speaks
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of it in that way
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the mystery
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of providence.
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The mystery
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of his providence
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here in that
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he's in prison
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but it's for Christ.
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The mystery
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of the afflictions
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that we have
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in this world
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but they are
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light
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momentary
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afflictions
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he describes
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them as
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and so we have
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this mystery
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of providence
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and in the midst
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of that
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we are to have
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an eternal
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perspective
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to look at it
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from eternity.
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And what helps
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with that then
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is the second
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mystery that we
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have here
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and that is
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the mystery
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of the gospel.
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Paul uses
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the word
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mystery here
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in verse 3
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and verse 4
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and verse 6
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and verse 9.
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and they are
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all associated
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with the gospel.
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When you see it
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in verse 3
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how the mystery
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was made known
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to me
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by revelation
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as I have
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written briefly.
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So this mystery
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was made known.
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There's been
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a revelation
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of this mystery.
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And the word
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made known
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revelation
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here is
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an uncovering.
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An uncovering
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uncovering
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of things.
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So this is
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what Paul
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has been doing
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for the church
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at Ephesus
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for the church
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in Galatia
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for the gospel
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spreading.
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It's a revelation
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and it's a revelation
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of a mystery.
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Just go back
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to Deuteronomy
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29
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verse 29
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the things
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that are revealed
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belong to us.
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There's this sense
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of revelation.
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So you have
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this revealing
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but you also
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have this mystery.
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The mystery
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refers to
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something that's
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been hidden
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and especially
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here it
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implies
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hidden by
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God
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because they're
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beyond our
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natural
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understanding
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until he
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reveals them.
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Until he
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reveals them.
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There are
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various things
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that you see
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being launched
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in our world.
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Things that are
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kept secret
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until there's
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a big reveal
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as it were.
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If you're into
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Formula One
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racing
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every new season
20:29
they reveal
20:30
the new car.
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All these secrets
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that are being
20:34
kept behind the
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scenes.
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The preparations
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that's going on
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and then the
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launch day
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comes and the
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car is taken
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off under
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a cover.
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It's revealed
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and people are
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looking to see
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what has been
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done.
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How they've done
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certain things.
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there's this
20:50
big revelation.
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It can also
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be done
20:53
with phones.
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Many of the
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big companies
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launch a new
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phone every
20:59
year.
21:00
There are secrets
21:00
that are kept
21:01
and then you
21:02
have this big
21:03
launch day when
21:04
things are
21:04
revealed.
21:06
The same as
21:06
through another
21:07
big ceremonies
21:08
whether it's
21:08
launching boats
21:09
or opening
21:10
buildings.
21:11
They're often
21:12
done to a
21:12
great fanfare
21:13
and people
21:14
come curious
21:15
to see what
21:17
it's like,
21:18
what's inside,
21:19
how it's been
21:19
built,
21:20
how it's been
21:21
designed.
21:22
People want
21:23
to look.
21:25
That's the
21:26
same with the
21:26
gospel.
21:28
It's a mystery
21:29
that is revealed
21:30
and we should
21:32
be longing to
21:32
see what is
21:34
in this
21:34
mystery.
21:36
What is the
21:36
mystery that is
21:37
being uncovered,
21:38
being revealed
21:39
here by Paul?
21:40
It is the
21:41
word of God,
21:43
the gospel,
21:45
the good news
21:46
of Jesus
21:47
Christ.
21:48
He's saying
21:48
God has
21:49
lifted a
21:50
veil away
21:51
from the
21:51
truths that
21:52
were hidden
21:52
by God.
21:55
A divine
21:55
secret is
21:57
revealed and
21:58
it's something
21:59
that has been
21:59
hidden.
22:01
It's been
22:01
hidden.
22:04
In verse
22:05
5 it says
22:06
this was not
22:07
made known
22:07
to the sons
22:08
of men and
22:09
other generations
22:10
as it has
22:11
now been
22:11
revealed to
22:12
his holy
22:13
apostles and
22:13
prophets by
22:15
the Spirit.
22:15
So there
22:15
were things
22:16
that were
22:16
hidden.
22:17
Even to
22:18
people like
22:18
Moses and
22:19
Abraham,
22:20
David,
22:21
Isaiah,
22:21
they couldn't
22:22
see the
22:23
whole mystery.
22:24
They couldn't
22:25
see the full
22:25
revelation of
22:27
it.
22:27
But here
22:28
this revelation
22:29
is for us.
22:32
And it's in
22:33
verse 6 it
22:33
goes on to
22:34
say,
22:35
this mystery
22:36
is that the
22:36
Gentiles are
22:37
fellow heirs,
22:39
members of the
22:40
same body,
22:41
partakers of
22:42
the promise
22:43
in Christ
22:43
Jesus through
22:45
the gospel.
22:47
And this
22:47
would be a
22:48
moment for
22:49
these people
22:49
to think,
22:50
we thought
22:51
that God
22:52
was only
22:53
for the
22:53
Jews.
22:55
But here
22:56
we are being
22:56
told this
22:57
mystery,
22:59
the Gentiles,
23:00
that all
23:00
people everywhere
23:01
can be
23:02
fellow heirs,
23:03
members of
23:04
the same
23:04
body,
23:05
partakers of
23:06
the same
23:06
promise in
23:07
Christ Jesus
23:08
through the
23:09
gospel.
23:10
gospel.
23:11
This is
23:11
a revelation
23:12
that is being
23:13
made.
23:14
The mystery
23:15
that is revealed
23:16
to you and
23:17
to me tonight
23:18
is that we
23:19
can be
23:19
partakers of
23:21
this gospel.
23:23
Something that
23:23
seems a
23:24
mystery to us
23:25
at times,
23:27
so difficult
23:27
to understand,
23:30
and yet here
23:31
we are told
23:31
that God
23:33
through Christ
23:34
and his
23:35
spirit works
23:36
in us so
23:37
we might
23:38
understand
23:39
these things
23:40
that have
23:40
been hidden
23:41
for generations.
23:43
The revelation
23:44
of God
23:45
to us
23:46
through his
23:47
son,
23:48
Jesus Christ.
23:50
What a
23:50
wonderful mystery
23:51
has been
23:52
made known
23:53
to us.
23:54
Do you
23:55
long to
23:56
see it
23:56
more?
23:57
We can
23:58
show interest
23:58
in F1
24:00
cars,
24:00
we can
24:00
show interest
24:01
in phones
24:02
and buildings
24:02
and boats
24:03
and all
24:03
of these
24:04
things,
24:05
but the
24:06
greatest
24:06
mystery
24:07
has been
24:07
revealed to
24:08
us in
24:09
the gospel,
24:10
the good
24:10
news of
24:12
Jesus Christ.
24:14
So there's
24:15
a mystery
24:15
here that
24:16
is revealed.
24:17
And as
24:17
this mystery
24:18
is revealed,
24:19
we then
24:20
see that
24:20
there is
24:21
a marvel
24:21
at this.
24:23
And this
24:23
then is
24:24
what Paul
24:24
is describing
24:25
as his
24:26
role.
24:28
In verse
24:28
7 of
24:29
this gospel,
24:30
this mystery
24:31
that's been
24:31
revealed,
24:32
I was made
24:33
a minister
24:33
according to
24:34
the gift
24:35
of God's
24:35
grace which
24:36
was given
24:36
me by
24:37
the working
24:38
of his
24:38
power.
24:39
To me,
24:40
though I
24:40
am the
24:40
very least
24:41
of all
24:41
the saints,
24:42
this grace
24:43
was given
24:43
to preach
24:44
to the
24:45
Gentiles
24:46
the
24:46
unsearchable
24:47
riches
24:48
of Christ.
24:50
To me,
24:51
though the
24:51
very least,
24:53
Paul is a
24:54
strange word
24:55
there that
24:55
it was almost
24:56
like he made
24:57
up a word,
24:57
I am the
24:58
leastest
24:59
of all
25:01
the saints.
25:02
That's the
25:03
way he saw
25:03
himself,
25:04
as we saw
25:05
this morning
25:06
reading in
25:06
Romans,
25:07
Paul,
25:08
O wretched
25:08
man that
25:09
I am.
25:10
He is the
25:10
leastest of
25:11
all the
25:12
saints,
25:12
but he has
25:13
been given
25:13
grace,
25:15
and he's
25:15
been given
25:15
grace and
25:16
a purpose
25:17
to preach
25:19
to the
25:19
Gentiles
25:20
the
25:20
unsearchable
25:21
riches
25:22
of Christ.
25:24
So again,
25:25
when you have
25:25
the unsearchable,
25:27
what does it
25:28
mean?
25:28
Does it mean
25:28
it cannot be
25:29
known?
25:31
Well,
25:31
the word
25:31
unsearchable
25:32
can also
25:33
mean
25:33
unfathomable.
25:35
There's a
25:35
depth to
25:36
it,
25:37
a great
25:37
depth,
25:38
it's almost
25:38
like a
25:38
depth that
25:40
can never
25:40
be reached.
25:42
And it's
25:43
the way
25:43
every preacher
25:44
feels,
25:44
I'm sure it's
25:45
the way
25:45
every Christian
25:46
feels.
25:46
There's just
25:47
a depth
25:47
to the
25:48
wonder of
25:49
the gospel
25:49
that we
25:50
just cannot
25:50
get all
25:51
the way
25:51
down,
25:52
even though
25:53
as Paul
25:53
prays later
25:54
in this
25:55
chapter,
25:56
that we
25:56
may grasp
25:57
the breadth
25:59
and length
25:59
and height
26:00
and depth.
26:01
it's a
26:02
prayer that
26:02
we might
26:02
know it,
26:03
but there's
26:04
a size,
26:05
there's a
26:05
scale to
26:06
this that
26:07
goes beyond
26:08
our understanding.
26:09
And it's a
26:10
marvel to
26:11
us.
26:13
But Paul
26:14
is declaring
26:14
this message
26:15
to the
26:16
church.
26:17
He's
26:17
declaring
26:18
this message
26:18
to ourselves
26:19
here tonight.
26:22
He's
26:22
declaring it
26:22
in a way
26:23
that he's
26:24
saying,
26:24
well,
26:24
no,
26:25
we cannot
26:25
fully comprehend
26:27
it,
26:28
but that we
26:29
should delve
26:29
into the
26:30
very depths
26:31
of it
26:31
because
26:31
there's a
26:32
richness
26:33
here,
26:34
the
26:34
unsearchable
26:35
riches
26:36
of Christ.
26:37
This is
26:37
worth
26:38
delving
26:39
into,
26:39
this is
26:40
worth
26:40
knowing
26:41
because
26:41
it's
26:41
about
26:41
a
26:42
relationship,
26:43
a
26:44
relationship
26:44
that we
26:44
have by
26:45
faith
26:46
in the
26:46
Lord
26:47
Jesus
26:47
Christ.
26:48
A
26:49
mystery
26:49
revealed
26:50
to us
26:50
and the
26:51
unsearchable
26:52
riches
26:53
of Christ,
26:53
they are
26:54
worth
26:54
getting
26:55
our
26:55
teeth
26:56
into.
26:57
A
26:57
man called
26:58
Patrick
26:59
Henry
26:59
He knew
27:00
that his
27:01
days were
27:01
coming to
27:02
an end
27:02
and he
27:03
wanted
27:03
to sort
27:04
out his
27:05
affairs
27:05
with his
27:06
family
27:06
and leave
27:07
to them
27:07
his property
27:08
and various
27:09
things.
27:10
And so
27:11
he did
27:11
that.
27:12
He arranged
27:12
things,
27:14
made sure
27:15
that his
27:15
property
27:16
would be
27:16
given to
27:17
his family
27:18
and sorted
27:18
between
27:19
them.
27:20
But then
27:20
he said,
27:20
there's one
27:21
more thing
27:21
I wish
27:21
I could
27:22
give them
27:22
and that
27:23
is faith
27:24
in Jesus
27:25
Christ.
27:27
And he
27:27
said,
27:27
if they
27:28
had that
27:29
and I
27:30
had not
27:30
given
27:30
them a
27:31
single
27:31
penny,
27:32
they would
27:32
have been
27:33
rich.
27:34
And if
27:35
they had
27:35
not that
27:36
and I
27:36
had given
27:36
them all
27:37
the world,
27:38
they would
27:39
have been
27:39
poor indeed.
27:41
If they
27:42
had that
27:42
faith in
27:43
Christ and
27:43
nothing else,
27:45
they would
27:45
be rich.
27:46
That's what
27:47
Paul is
27:48
saying here.
27:49
He is
27:49
preaching to
27:50
the Gentiles
27:51
the unsearchable
27:52
riches
27:52
of Christ.
27:55
What are
27:56
they?
27:56
what are
27:57
the
27:57
unsearchable
27:58
riches
27:59
of Christ?
28:01
It's like
28:02
they're saying
28:02
there's so
28:03
many,
28:03
they're
28:03
bottomless,
28:05
no one
28:05
can fully
28:06
comprehend
28:07
all that
28:08
they entail,
28:09
but they
28:10
are priceless
28:11
things to
28:12
God's people,
28:13
to his
28:13
redeemed,
28:14
and they
28:15
are made
28:15
known to
28:16
us through
28:17
his word.
28:18
And the
28:19
more we
28:19
understand
28:20
these
28:20
unsearchable
28:21
riches
28:21
of Christ,
28:22
the richer
28:23
then our
28:24
prayer,
28:24
the richer
28:26
then our
28:26
understanding,
28:28
the breadth
28:28
and length
28:29
and height
28:30
and depth
28:30
and to
28:30
know the
28:31
love of
28:31
Christ that
28:32
surpasses
28:33
knowledge.
28:35
What are
28:35
these riches
28:36
then?
28:36
We could go
28:37
on all
28:38
evening
28:38
talking about
28:39
them,
28:39
but just
28:40
to highlight
28:40
a few
28:41
for ourselves.
28:43
He is
28:44
preaching
28:44
the
28:45
unsearchable
28:46
riches.
28:48
We are
28:49
loved by
28:50
God.
28:50
there are
28:52
so many
28:53
verses in
28:54
the scriptures
28:54
that remind
28:55
us of
28:55
this.
28:57
Romans 5
28:58
verse 8,
28:59
but God
28:59
shows his
29:00
love for
29:00
us in
29:01
that while
29:02
we were
29:02
still sinners,
29:03
Christ died
29:04
for us.
29:06
It's a
29:07
mystery and
29:08
it's a
29:09
marvel.
29:11
While we
29:11
were still
29:12
sinners,
29:13
while we
29:13
were away
29:14
from God,
29:15
he showed
29:16
his love
29:17
to us
29:17
that Christ
29:20
Jesus died
29:21
for our
29:22
sins.
29:25
Unsearchable
29:26
riches,
29:27
that we
29:28
are loved
29:28
because how
29:29
can you get
29:29
to the
29:30
depths of
29:31
that love?
29:32
You can't,
29:33
but we can
29:34
marvel at it.
29:37
Isn't it a
29:38
mystery and a
29:38
marvel that we
29:39
could say with
29:40
John Newton,
29:41
amazing grace,
29:42
how sweet the
29:43
sound that
29:44
saved a
29:45
wretch like
29:46
me.
29:46
It is
29:48
grace.
29:49
It's the
29:49
grace that
29:50
Paul writes
29:52
of in this
29:52
letter,
29:53
by grace
29:53
you have
29:54
been saved
29:54
through faith.
29:57
The wonder
29:58
of God's
30:00
love, the
30:00
marvel of
30:01
God's love.
30:03
What about
30:04
the fact that
30:04
we are a
30:05
chosen people?
30:07
You go back
30:07
to chapter
30:08
one of this
30:09
letter,
30:10
you know,
30:10
Paul has
30:10
said that he
30:11
has written
30:12
briefly before
30:14
chapter three.
30:15
Well, in
30:16
chapter one,
30:17
in verse
30:17
four, what
30:17
does he
30:18
say?
30:19
Even as
30:20
he chose
30:20
us in
30:22
him before
30:23
the foundation
30:23
of the
30:25
world.
30:26
There is a
30:27
mystery and
30:28
a marvel in
30:29
that.
30:29
There is the
30:30
doctrine of
30:30
election for
30:31
us.
30:32
He has
30:32
chosen us
30:33
before the
30:34
foundation of
30:35
the world.
30:37
How can we
30:37
understand these
30:39
things?
30:40
Charles Spurgeon
30:41
was asked by
30:42
one of his
30:43
congregation,
30:43
how do I
30:45
know if I
30:46
am in the
30:46
elect?
30:47
It's a
30:48
question maybe
30:48
many of you
30:49
here have.
30:50
It's a
30:51
common question.
30:53
Well,
30:53
Charles Spurgeon's
30:54
reply was,
30:55
ask yourself
30:55
instead,
30:57
do I
30:57
believe with
30:59
all my
30:59
heart?
31:01
If you
31:02
do, you
31:03
are in the
31:03
elect.
31:04
We cannot
31:05
understand the
31:08
depths of
31:08
these things,
31:09
the mystery of
31:10
these things.
31:11
us.
31:12
But yet
31:12
the gospel
31:13
calls us to
31:14
put our
31:15
trust in
31:16
the Lord
31:16
Jesus Christ,
31:17
to believe
31:18
in him with
31:19
all our
31:20
hearts.
31:23
And then
31:23
we are
31:24
reminded that
31:24
how can we
31:25
know we
31:26
are in the
31:26
elect?
31:26
How can we
31:27
be one of
31:27
those?
31:28
Well, in
31:29
Ephesians 1
31:30
verse 7,
31:31
we are told
31:31
we are saved
31:32
by the blood
31:33
of his
31:34
Son.
31:36
In
31:36
verse 7,
31:38
in him
31:38
we have
31:40
redemption
31:40
through his
31:41
blood for
31:42
the forgiveness
31:43
of our
31:43
trespasses
31:44
according to
31:46
the riches
31:46
of his
31:47
grace.
31:49
We are
31:50
saved
31:50
because of
31:52
God's
31:52
love,
31:53
because of
31:54
God's
31:54
choosing,
31:56
because of
31:56
God's
31:57
giving
31:57
his Son.
31:59
So when
32:00
we are
32:00
discouraged,
32:01
as the
32:01
people in
32:02
Ephesus
32:02
were,
32:03
when we
32:03
are discouraged
32:04
by sin,
32:06
as we were
32:06
thinking about
32:07
this morning,
32:08
when we
32:08
are discouraged
32:09
by the
32:10
world,
32:10
and by
32:10
feeling
32:11
unworthy,
32:12
and all
32:12
of these
32:13
things,
32:14
where do
32:15
we have
32:15
to go?
32:16
Where can
32:16
we look?
32:18
Not to
32:18
ourselves,
32:19
but to
32:20
the cross
32:20
of Jesus
32:21
Christ,
32:23
whereby
32:23
his blood
32:24
we are
32:25
forgiven.
32:26
We have
32:27
redemption
32:27
through
32:28
his blood.
32:32
And then
32:32
Paul goes
32:33
on into
32:34
chapter 2
32:35
here,
32:35
and give
32:36
us a
32:36
wonderful
32:37
assurance
32:38
there in
32:38
verse 6,
32:40
chapter 2,
32:41
verse 6,
32:43
comes in
32:44
that great
32:44
part where
32:45
we are by
32:45
grace saved
32:46
through faith.
32:48
We were
32:48
dead in our
32:49
trespasses and
32:49
sins in which
32:50
we once
32:51
walked.
32:52
But then
32:53
in verse
32:53
6, we
32:55
have those
32:56
words,
32:57
and raised
32:57
us up with
32:58
him and
32:58
seated us
32:59
with him in
33:00
the heavenly
33:00
places in
33:02
Christ Jesus.
33:03
Isn't that a
33:03
mystery?
33:04
Isn't that a
33:05
marvel?
33:06
That he has
33:07
raised us
33:07
up.
33:10
And when you
33:11
go back to
33:11
verse 4,
33:12
that reminds
33:13
us of how
33:14
but God,
33:16
being rich in
33:17
mercy because
33:17
of the great
33:18
love with
33:19
which he
33:19
loved us,
33:20
even when we
33:21
were dead in
33:22
our trespasses,
33:23
made us alive
33:24
together with
33:25
Christ.
33:26
By grace,
33:27
you have been
33:27
saved.
33:29
And that is
33:29
how we are
33:30
seated in the
33:31
heavenly places.
33:32
Even now,
33:32
you are alive
33:33
in Christ.
33:34
You are in
33:35
him.
33:35
You have
33:36
access to
33:36
the very
33:37
throne of
33:38
grace in
33:38
heaven.
33:41
And you
33:41
see there,
33:42
it kind of
33:42
ties all
33:43
these things
33:44
together.
33:45
We're chosen.
33:46
We're loved.
33:48
We are
33:48
seated.
33:49
We are
33:49
forgiven by
33:51
his grace.
33:52
All of
33:52
these things,
33:54
they're so
33:55
mysterious to
33:56
us, and yet
33:56
we can marvel
33:57
at them.
33:59
So the
33:59
more that we
34:00
look, the
34:00
more that we
34:01
see the
34:01
depth of
34:03
his love
34:04
for us.
34:06
We are
34:06
also secure
34:08
in him.
34:11
In verse
34:12
8, for
34:12
by grace
34:13
you have
34:13
been saved
34:14
through faith.
34:15
This is not
34:16
your own
34:16
doing.
34:17
It is the
34:18
gift of
34:18
God.
34:20
It is
34:20
God who
34:21
has done
34:21
this.
34:23
It is
34:23
God who
34:24
has given
34:24
us this
34:25
security.
34:27
And that
34:28
is what we
34:28
can marvel
34:29
at.
34:29
It is
34:30
a gift.
34:31
A gift
34:32
from God.
34:34
And so
34:34
then as we
34:35
read other
34:35
passages such
34:36
as Romans
34:37
8, verse
34:38
38 and
34:39
39, what
34:41
great assurance,
34:42
what great
34:42
comfort we
34:43
can take
34:44
there from
34:44
these riches
34:45
of Christ.
34:46
For I am
34:47
sure that
34:47
neither death
34:48
nor life
34:49
nor angels
34:50
nor rulers
34:50
nor things
34:51
present nor
34:52
things to
34:53
come nor
34:53
powers nor
34:54
height nor
34:55
depth nor
34:56
anything else
34:56
in all
34:57
creation will
34:58
be able to
34:59
separate us
35:00
from the
35:00
love of
35:01
God in
35:02
Christ Jesus
35:03
our Lord.
35:04
How?
35:05
Well, because
35:07
of God's
35:08
grace to
35:09
us.
35:09
For by
35:10
grace you
35:11
have been
35:11
saved through
35:12
faith, a
35:13
gift of
35:15
God.
35:16
We have
35:17
security in
35:19
him.
35:20
This is
35:21
just a
35:21
small sampling
35:22
of the
35:23
unsearchable
35:24
riches of
35:24
Christ.
35:25
There are
35:25
so many
35:25
other things
35:26
that we
35:27
can look
35:27
at, but
35:29
they are
35:29
reminders to
35:30
us of
35:31
what the
35:31
mystery that
35:32
is revealed
35:32
to us.
35:33
This
35:34
gospel gives
35:35
us.
35:36
It is to
35:36
marvel at
35:38
these
35:38
unsearchable
35:39
riches of
35:40
Christ.
35:42
So we
35:42
can praise
35:43
him now
35:43
and praise
35:45
him for
35:46
all
35:46
eternity.
35:48
And so
35:49
then that is
35:49
why Paul
35:50
goes on
35:51
to pray
35:52
in
35:53
understanding
35:53
these things.
35:54
For this
35:55
reason I
35:56
bow my
35:57
knees before
35:57
the Father.
35:58
This is
35:59
verse 14.
36:00
From whom
36:00
every family
36:01
in heaven
36:01
and on
36:02
earth are
36:03
named.
36:03
This is
36:03
his prayer.
36:05
That they
36:06
may have
36:06
strength to
36:07
comprehend
36:07
with all
36:09
the saints
36:09
what is
36:09
the breadth
36:10
and length
36:11
and height
36:11
and depth
36:12
and to
36:12
know the
36:13
love of
36:14
Christ that
36:14
surpasses
36:15
knowledge.
36:17
That is
36:17
where the
36:18
prayer comes
36:19
from.
36:19
From
36:20
understanding
36:21
the mystery
36:21
that is
36:22
revealed of
36:23
these
36:24
unsearchable
36:25
riches of
36:26
Christ that
36:27
are so
36:28
many.
36:30
Let us
36:31
look into
36:32
this mystery.
36:34
Let us
36:35
search the
36:36
depths of
36:37
these
36:37
unsearchable
36:38
riches.
36:39
Because the
36:40
more that we
36:40
know them
36:41
the more
36:42
they bring
36:42
us closer
36:43
even in
36:44
our prayers
36:45
to coming
36:46
seeking that
36:47
prayer to
36:48
grasp
36:48
even more
36:50
all of
36:51
these things.
36:52
I quoted
36:53
from Martin
36:54
Luther this
36:54
morning.
36:55
I will
36:55
quote him
36:55
again as
36:56
we conclude
36:57
this evening.
36:58
He once
36:59
said,
36:59
I have held
37:00
many things
37:00
in my
37:01
hands and
37:02
I have
37:03
lost them
37:03
all,
37:04
but whatever
37:05
I have
37:06
placed in
37:06
God's
37:07
hands,
37:08
that I
37:09
still
37:10
possess.
37:12
It is a
37:12
wonderful
37:12
thought that.
37:14
I have held
37:15
many things
37:15
in my
37:16
hands and
37:16
I have
37:16
lost them
37:17
all,
37:18
but whatever
37:18
I have
37:19
placed in
37:19
God's
37:20
hands,
37:20
that I
37:21
still
37:22
possess,
37:23
because with
37:24
God all
37:25
things are
37:26
secure,
37:27
and we
37:28
seek to
37:28
take hold
37:29
of things
37:29
ourselves,
37:30
we lose
37:31
them.
37:33
But when
37:33
we put
37:34
ourselves
37:34
into the
37:35
hands of
37:35
God,
37:36
we lose
37:37
nothing,
37:38
and we
37:39
gain so
37:40
much more,
37:41
the unsearchable
37:42
riches of
37:43
Christ.
37:44
There is a
37:45
mystery around
37:46
them,
37:47
but they are
37:47
revealed to
37:48
us through
37:49
his word,
37:50
and there
37:51
is reward
37:51
for those
37:53
who seek
37:53
him and
37:54
follow him.
37:56
And so
37:56
may he
37:57
help us
37:57
to delve
37:58
into them,
37:59
to understand
38:00
them,
38:01
and to
38:01
know them
38:01
more fully
38:02
and more
38:02
meaningful for
38:03
ourselves,
38:04
to lead us
38:05
closer at
38:06
all times
38:07
to him.
38:08
Let us
38:09
pray.
38:11
Lord,
38:11
our gracious
38:12
God,
38:13
we do
38:13
thank you
38:14
for your
38:14
truth,
38:15
we thank
38:15
you for
38:15
your gospel,
38:17
we thank
38:17
you for
38:18
how it is
38:18
revealed to
38:19
us,
38:20
through
38:20
your word,
38:22
and we
38:22
pray that
38:23
prayer this
38:24
evening that
38:24
we will be
38:25
able to
38:25
grasp with
38:26
all the
38:27
saints what
38:27
is the
38:28
length and
38:28
breadth and
38:29
height and
38:30
depth,
38:31
and to
38:32
know the
38:32
love of
38:33
Christ that
38:33
surpasses
38:34
knowledge,
38:35
that we
38:35
might be
38:35
filled with
38:37
the fullness
38:37
of God,
38:39
as we ask
38:40
it in
38:40
Jesus' name.
38:41
Amen.
38:42
Amen.
38:42
We'll
38:47
conclude by
38:48
singing to
38:48
God's
38:49
praise in
38:49
Psalm 146,
38:52
Scottish
38:52
Psalter
38:53
version,
38:53
page 446
38:54
of the
38:55
psalm
38:55
books.
38:59
Psalm 146,
39:01
we'll sing
39:03
from verse
39:04
8 to
39:05
verse 10.
39:07
Page
39:07
446 of
39:08
the psalm
39:09
books,
39:09
the Lord
39:09
doth give
39:10
the blind
39:10
their sight,
39:11
the bow
39:12
down doth
39:12
raise,
39:13
the Lord
39:13
doth dearly
39:14
love all
39:15
those that
39:16
walk in
39:17
upright ways.
39:18
We'll sing
39:18
from verse
39:18
8 to
39:18
the end
39:19
of the
39:19
psalm,
39:20
to God's
39:20
praise.
39:25
The Lord
39:26
doth give
39:28
the blind
39:30
their sight,
39:33
the love
39:35
and the
39:36
down
39:37
the praise
39:39
the Lord
39:42
doth hear
39:44
thee
39:45
love all
39:47
who's
39:48
that
39:49
obey
39:50
our
39:52
high
39:53
grace.
39:55
The
39:56
stranger
39:58
shield
40:00
the
40:01
widows
40:03
stay,
40:04
the
40:05
orphan
40:06
of the
40:07
helpless
40:08
!
40:08
the
40:10
the
40:12
be
40:13
the
40:14
the
40:15
wind
40:16
!
40:16
wind
40:18
!
40:18
the
40:20
wind
40:21
side
40:22
down
40:23
shall
40:24
be!
40:25
The
40:27
Lord
40:29
shall
40:30
wait
40:31
forever
40:32
!
40:33
Lord
40:34
shall
40:35
wait
40:35
forever
40:36
for thy
40:37
God
40:37
who's
40:38
high on
40:39
thee!
40:41
thee!
40:42
praise
40:43
to all
40:45
generations
40:48
!
40:50
praise
40:52
to the
40:53
Lord
40:54
give
40:56
thee!
40:57
after the
41:00
benediction
41:00
I'll go to
41:01
the door
41:01
to my
41:01
left
41:01
we'll
41:02
close
41:02
with
41:02
the
41:02
benediction
41:03
now may
41:04
grace
41:04
mercy
41:05
and
41:05
peace
41:05
from
41:06
God
41:06
Father
41:07
Son
41:07
and
41:07
Holy
41:08
Spirit
41:08
rest
41:09
upon
41:10
and
41:10
abide
41:10
with
41:10
you
41:11
all
41:11
now
41:11
and
41:11
forever
41:12
more
41:12
Amen
41:13
Thank you.