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The Life of Faith and Salvation as God's Gift · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Let's turn together now to Paul's letter to Colossians and chapter 1 and we're going to read at verse number 12.
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! Colossians 1 at verse number 12.
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Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
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He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
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in whom will redemption the forgiveness of sins.
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And so on.
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As we reflect on this letter and the purpose of its writing,
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we can simply note that Paul was writing this letter to the church in Colossae from his imprisonment in Rome.
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And he was doing so because of his love and care for them and because of his concern.
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And as I read through into chapter 2, we recognize something of the concern that he had.
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He speaks about philosophies and vain deceit.
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He speaks about these things deluding you with plausible arguments.
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So he was concerned that their life of devotion to Jesus Christ was under threat
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because of the things that were being said and happening around them.
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And when we reflect on that also and think of what he says in chapter 2 and verse 8 of being taken into captivity by these philosophies,
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it reminds us that we are not immune to the influences of the world around us.
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And we may ask ourselves today,
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how much does what happens in the world around us affect us in our faith and affect us in our thinking?
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And we might respond and say, it doesn't affect me at all.
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But the reality is that it's impossible to live in such a world without being affected in some way by what is happening around us.
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Perhaps the greatest and strongest movement that happens around us in our culture and our society is the movement of secularism,
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which is designed to separate Christianity and religion from every area of life.
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And one of the means of doing that is to remove the teachings of salvation and to, in a sense,
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as some of the writers say, in a sense, put God into retirement so that he simply is not part of life.
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And these are something of the challenges that we face in the world in which we live.
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And as you read these words, we see the way in which Paul addresses that.
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And he does so not by asking them to show what they have done.
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He addresses it by showing what God has done.
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And the only way for us to understand who we are today and what we are,
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and the only way in which the anxiety and the fears of our faith, or even coming to faith, is going to be removed,
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is if we have God's perspective on our salvation that transforms.
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So as we want to think about today, I want to think of the life of faith and salvation as God's gift.
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I want to think, first of all, of a gracious transformation.
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God brings about change.
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That's what we have in verse number 12,
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giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
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Here is one of the great challenges that we face in coming to faith and even in living by faith.
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That we think we are not qualified.
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We think we are not suitable.
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We think we are not good enough.
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We think we don't have the characteristics that make us the children of God.
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And these very things stop us in coming to faith,
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and it holds us back in the life of faith.
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It's all about ourselves and what we are, and especially what we are not.
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And when you think of what we are not,
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then it paralyzes us on any kind of walk or journey with God.
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What is the answer to that?
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Paul's answer and God's answer is that it is God who qualifies us.
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And that's what he is saying in these words.
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God makes the Colossians suitable with the right character,
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fit and ready for what he is going to describe.
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He makes them appropriate and suitable people for a particular cause.
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He has mentioned in verse 10 of walking in a man that's worthy of the Lord.
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That is the outer characteristic of the life of faith.
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But this is talking about who we are as the people of God
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and what God himself has made us.
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And we reflect on the wider teaching of the Bible,
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and we understand that God has done that because of his grace.
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That we are the unworthy ones.
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We are not suitable or fitting.
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And Paul himself describes himself as somebody who was unworthy to be called an apostle.
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He knew that he wasn't the person.
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He knew that because of who he was, he could not be.
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And in fact, what he was disqualified him from being.
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But now he recognizes that God qualified him and that God now qualifies them.
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It's a reminder to them that their sufficiency, their suitability is always the work of God.
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And today for us all, that is good news.
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If you're anything like me, there will be many times in the working week
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when you will face the truth about yourself
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and you will begin to, there will be a process of unbelief
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that gains energy through that thought process
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and it robs you of any sense of peace and of the assurance of God.
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And the only answer to that is for a window to open
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so that what God thinks comes down,
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that what the work of God, that God has completed,
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that that will come home in power
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and it transforms, it changes my outlook on myself,
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it changes my view of God's grace
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and to my view of the person of the Lord Jesus.
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The heavenly perspective
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that God as our Father does it for us.
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And we should not spend our time
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thinking as we so often do
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and hearing as we so often hear
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that we're not good enough,
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that we're not ready because of a variety of reasons.
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It's not your doing.
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It's the doing of God our Father
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and in a moment
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He makes you suitable.
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He gives you the right character
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and the right standing.
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And that right standing is
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to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
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The light is the light of God's kingdom.
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Jesus is the light of the world.
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We were in darkness without salvation.
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Now we are in the light of life.
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In the promise of a new exodus
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in the prophecy of Isaiah from chapter 42 onwards,
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there is the saints of Jesus,
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the servant of God,
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being sent as a light to the Gentiles.
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And there is a sense of those who are saved by God
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brought into this existence of life and of light.
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And that whole sense of inheritance
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which was based so much geographically in the Old Testament
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on Jerusalem where the temple was
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and that whole promised land
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now becomes the new heavens and the new earth
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that God has promised.
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It is where righteousness will reign.
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It is where right relationships will be in place.
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It is that new covenant
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that God has promised to put into place
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so that my inheritance
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is now that eternal inheritance
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into which Christ Himself has entered
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and into which He will at last bring His people.
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The inheritance of the saints in light.
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In other words,
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He has made us participants
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in His own kingdom.
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The saints, those who are set apart
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as His own holy people,
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set apart for His service.
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And we may ask today,
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how do I become a Christian?
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We may ask today,
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how can I know that I am one of the children of God?
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And the answer is straightforward and simple.
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God will make me a child of His own.
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In a moment of His grace,
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He will change me
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and He will give me that right
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to the inheritance,
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not just of the people of God in this world,
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but the final inheritance of the people of God
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in the glory of the new heavens and the new earth,
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that paradise restored and regained.
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The grace of transformation.
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The heavenly perspective
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on who we are today.
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Ought we not be still
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and rejoice
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that this is the Father that we have?
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That He's not a Father that gives us
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a long list of to-do things
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and on completion of these to-do things
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that then He will accept us into His kingdom.
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He accepts us as we are.
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He changes us.
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And then He gives us the to-do list.
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Then He gives us the life of service.
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But our entrance into His kingdom
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to be part of His people
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is by His grace alone.
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The gracious transformation.
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Secondly,
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there is a gracious transfer.
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There's a from and there's a to.
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There's a place where we were
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and there's a place to which He has taken us.
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And that's what we have in verse number 13.
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He has delivered us
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from the domain of darkness.
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Our life outside of faith in Jesus Christ
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is lived in the domain of darkness.
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There is an authority working in that domain.
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There is a power operative in that domain.
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And it's a power that has huge influence
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over your heart and your life and mine.
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It is a domain where there is power.
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It is the domain of darkness.
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darkness.
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And in that darkness,
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we know that Satan reigns.
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We know that he is the prince of this world.
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We see from reading in Ephesians
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that we do not wrestle with flesh and blood.
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There is the sense of the cosmic powers
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and the rulers of darkness.
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It's a place
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where we're under authority.
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Where we're slaves of sin.
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Where we live a life
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that's disconnected from God.
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A life that has lived
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pleasing yourselves
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and living in
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the service of sin.
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And it is fair to say
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that that is where we will remain
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unless God takes
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the action
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that will remove us from there.
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And that's exactly what he is
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saying to the cross
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and he has done.
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He has
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delivered us
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from the domain of darkness.
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A deliverance that speaks to us
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of the historical deliverance
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of the people of God
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from Egypt
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in the book of Exodus.
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That God is the one
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who promised to bring you out
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from the Egyptians.
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That God is the one
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who will deliver you
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from slavery to them.
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That God is the one
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who will redeem you
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with an outstretched arm
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and will take you
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and bring you
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to be my own people.
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The historical event
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of the Exodus
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in the life of the
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children of Israel
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becomes a spiritual experience
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in the life of those
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whom God is saving.
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He is rescuing,
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he is delivering,
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he is taking out from
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and he is bringing people
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out of in order
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to be in a place
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of security.
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and this is the very rescue,
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deliverance
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that we have need of.
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It is
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a freedom from
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the power that dominates
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in our lives.
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and such is the
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dominion of the authority
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that reigns
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in the sphere
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of darkness
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that today we can
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be in that darkness
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and not in the least
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bit aware
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that we are in it.
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Contentment
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in the domain
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of darkness
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is one of the
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devil's
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key influences
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in life
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that I can
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settle my life
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and live my life
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unaware of
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where I am
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not realizing
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that I am
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in the place
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of danger.
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And
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that is why
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it takes
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nothing less
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than the intervention
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of God
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to take me
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out from there.
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I will never
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leave that place
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unless
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God
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does
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something.
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And God
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our Father
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that is exactly
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what he does.
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He intervenes
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and he
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transfers
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us
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to the
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kingdom
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of his
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beloved
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son.
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It's not
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as if
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he takes
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us
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from darkness
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and then
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we are
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in limbo
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and then
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at some
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other point
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in life
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he places
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us
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into his
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kingdom.
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There is
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no such
16:28
limbo
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in the
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journey
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of a
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sinner
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from being
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lost
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to being
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in God's
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kingdom.
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The
16:37
exodus
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from the
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place of
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darkness
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is in fact
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the entrance
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into the
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kingdom of
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God.
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God
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it's
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deliverance
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by
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transfer
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in that
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moment
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in that
16:52
instant.
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It may
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not seem
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like that
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in our
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experience
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when it
16:58
happens
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but our
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experience
17:01
is not
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our
17:02
Bible.
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The
17:06
word of
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God
17:07
as it
17:08
speaks
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into
17:09
life
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that's
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how we
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understand
17:11
what
17:11
happens
17:12
deliverance.
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And that's
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what God
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is saying
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here.
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He is
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transferring
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out of
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darkness
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into the
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kingdom of
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his dear
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son.
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And in
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the Greek
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world
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that kind
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of deliverance
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would be
17:28
the action
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of the
17:30
king.
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The king
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who is
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transplanting
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a people
17:34
group
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from being
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in one
17:36
place
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to another
17:38
region.
17:39
taking
17:40
them out
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of where
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they were
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and to
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give them
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the right
17:43
of citizenship
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of living
17:46
in another
17:47
region.
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And to
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close
17:50
taking
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them out
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of being
17:52
under the
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jurisdiction
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of the
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person
17:54
in one
17:55
region
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to be
17:56
under the
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jurisdiction
17:57
of the
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person
17:58
in the
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other
17:59
region.
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It is
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the work
18:02
of the
18:03
king.
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And who
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is our
18:07
king?
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God our
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father is
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our
18:09
king.
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But the
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Lord Jesus
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is the
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king of
18:13
kings and
18:14
lord of
18:15
lords.
18:17
He is
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the one
18:18
who takes
18:19
us out
18:19
from.
18:21
He is
18:21
the one
18:21
who leads
18:22
us and
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brings us
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into the
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kingdom
18:27
that is
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named
18:29
after
18:30
himself,
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the
18:31
kingdom
18:31
of God's
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beloved
18:33
son.
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That
18:36
place
18:37
where
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there is
18:39
the
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powerful
18:41
dynamic
18:42
of
18:43
God
18:44
himself
18:44
reigning.
18:46
God
18:47
being over
18:47
everything
18:48
that happens
18:48
in the
18:49
kingdom.
18:49
God
18:50
acting
18:50
every day
18:51
in his
18:51
sovereign
18:52
power
18:52
in the
18:53
life of
18:53
his
18:53
people.
18:55
God
18:55
ruling
18:56
over
18:56
them
18:56
and God
18:57
reigning
18:57
over
18:57
them
18:58
and God
18:59
blessing
19:00
them
19:00
because of
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his love
19:03
and his
19:04
grace
19:04
and because
19:06
of his
19:06
desire
19:07
for their
19:08
good.
19:10
From
19:10
darkness
19:11
into the
19:12
kingdom
19:12
of his
19:13
beloved
19:14
son.
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And
19:17
a kingdom
19:18
so described
19:19
is
19:22
a kingdom
19:24
that
19:24
draws us
19:25
always back
19:26
to the
19:27
place
19:28
where
19:30
our
19:30
standing
19:31
in the
19:32
kingdom
19:32
of God
19:33
is because
19:34
of the
19:35
love of
19:35
God.
19:36
Because
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of the
19:38
love of
19:38
God
19:38
in choosing
19:39
and in
19:40
electing.
19:41
Because of
19:42
the love
19:42
of God
19:42
in sending
19:43
his son.
19:45
And because
19:45
of the
19:46
love of
19:46
his son
19:46
in giving
19:47
himself.
19:48
It is
19:49
the kingdom
19:49
of his
19:50
dear son
19:51
belongs
19:52
to him.
19:53
It is
19:54
based on
19:54
his own
19:55
finished
19:56
work
19:56
as
19:56
person
19:57
and
19:57
work.
19:59
The
19:59
son
20:00
who
20:00
loved
20:00
lovingly
20:01
gave
20:02
himself
20:02
so that
20:04
we the
20:04
unloved
20:05
ones
20:05
and the
20:06
unloving
20:06
ones
20:06
would
20:07
become
20:08
the
20:08
loving
20:09
children
20:09
of
20:09
God.
20:11
All
20:12
because
20:12
of what
20:13
Jesus
20:16
has
20:16
done.
20:18
And
20:19
Paul
20:19
rightly
20:20
says
20:20
in
20:21
Philippians
20:21
chapter
20:22
3
20:22
and
20:22
speaking
20:24
of
20:24
his
20:24
own
20:24
struggles
20:25
and
20:26
speaking
20:26
of
20:27
the
20:27
sense
20:28
of
20:28
belonging
20:28
to
20:29
this
20:29
final
20:30
kingdom
20:30
knowing
20:32
that
20:32
he
20:32
hadn't
20:32
yet
20:32
arrived
20:33
there
20:33
but
20:34
knowing
20:34
that's
20:34
where
20:34
he
20:34
was
20:35
going
20:35
he
20:37
was
20:37
able
20:38
to
20:38
say
20:38
that
20:38
our
20:39
citizenship
20:40
is
20:41
already
20:42
in
20:43
heaven
20:44
the
20:46
place
20:46
from
20:47
which
20:47
we
20:47
expect
20:47
the
20:48
son
20:49
of
20:50
God
20:50
to
20:50
return
20:51
the
20:53
heavenly
20:53
perspective
20:54
that
20:56
we
20:56
are
20:56
already
20:57
citizens
20:57
of
20:58
the
20:59
kingdom
20:59
of
21:00
God
21:00
and
21:03
we
21:03
know
21:04
that
21:04
one
21:04
of
21:04
the
21:05
challenges
21:06
and
21:07
one
21:07
of
21:07
the
21:07
things
21:07
that
21:07
undermines
21:08
our
21:08
sense
21:09
of
21:09
assurance
21:10
in
21:10
God
21:11
is
21:12
the
21:12
sense
21:13
of
21:13
there
21:14
still
21:14
being
21:14
a
21:15
struggle
21:15
there
21:17
still
21:17
being
21:17
an
21:18
awareness
21:18
of
21:18
the
21:19
power
21:19
of
21:20
darkness
21:20
and
21:21
how
21:21
it
21:21
can
21:22
influence
21:22
our
21:22
lives
21:23
and
21:23
our
21:23
thinking
21:24
the
21:25
struggle
21:26
that
21:26
we
21:26
have
21:26
daily
21:26
because
21:27
of
21:28
the
21:28
sense
21:28
of
21:29
that
21:29
power
21:30
where
21:30
Paul
21:31
reminds
21:32
us
21:32
that
21:32
we
21:32
need
21:32
the
21:33
whole
21:33
armor
21:34
of
21:34
God
21:34
to be
21:35
able
21:35
to
21:35
stand
21:35
being
21:38
taken
21:39
out
21:39
of
21:39
the
21:40
domain
21:41
of
21:41
darkness
21:42
does
21:44
not
21:44
mean
21:44
that
21:46
we
21:46
lose
21:47
forever
21:47
any
21:48
sense
21:48
of
21:48
being
21:49
there
21:49
or
21:49
any
21:50
sense
21:50
of
21:50
its
21:51
influence
21:51
on
21:51
life
21:52
we
21:53
live
21:54
as
21:54
God's
21:54
people
21:55
constantly
21:57
facing
21:57
the
21:58
challenges
21:58
of a
22:00
dark
22:00
world
22:01
because
22:02
we
22:02
are
22:02
the
22:03
citizens
22:03
of
22:03
God's
22:04
kingdom
22:04
because
22:05
we
22:05
do
22:06
belong
22:06
to
22:06
God's
22:07
family
22:07
and
22:08
one
22:09
of
22:09
the
22:09
indications
22:10
of
22:11
our
22:11
belonging
22:11
so often
22:12
is
22:12
that
22:13
we
22:13
are
22:13
aware
22:14
!
22:18
soldiers
22:19
in a
22:19
battle
22:20
and
22:21
we
22:21
stand
22:21
firm
22:22
with
22:23
the
22:24
armour
22:24
that
22:24
God
22:25
gives
22:25
to
22:26
us
22:26
the
22:28
heavenly
22:28
perspective
22:29
that
22:31
we
22:31
are
22:31
already
22:32
citizens
22:33
of
22:34
God's
22:34
kingdom
22:35
and
22:36
thirdly
22:36
there
22:38
is
22:38
a
22:39
gracious
22:39
transaction
22:41
how
22:44
can
22:45
God
22:45
do
22:45
this
22:45
or
22:45
what
22:46
has
22:46
God
22:47
done
22:47
that
22:47
actually
22:48
underguards
22:49
everything
22:49
that
22:50
Paul
22:50
has
22:50
said
22:50
where
22:52
does
22:52
all
22:52
this
22:53
bring
22:53
us
22:53
it
22:57
brings
22:57
us
22:57
to
22:58
this
22:59
great
23:00
preposition
23:01
in
23:03
whom
23:04
at the
23:05
beginning
23:05
of verse
23:05
14
23:06
who
23:06
is
23:07
the
23:07
preposition
23:08
referring
23:08
to
23:08
it's
23:09
referring
23:10
to
23:10
God's
23:11
beloved
23:11
son
23:12
and
23:15
recognizing
23:16
that
23:16
all
23:17
that
23:17
we
23:17
have
23:18
as
23:19
the
23:19
children
23:19
of
23:19
God
23:20
is
23:21
bound
23:22
up
23:22
in
23:23
this
23:23
little
23:23
preposition
23:24
which
23:24
reminds
23:25
us
23:25
that
23:26
we
23:26
are
23:26
united
23:26
to
23:27
Christ
23:27
that
23:28
we
23:28
are
23:28
in
23:29
the
23:29
body
23:29
of
23:30
Christ
23:30
that
23:30
we
23:30
are
23:30
part
23:31
of
23:31
his
23:31
body
23:31
!
23:33
that
23:33
we
23:33
are
23:33
not
23:34
simply
23:34
those
23:35
who
23:35
walk
23:36
with
23:36
him
23:36
but
23:38
that
23:39
we
23:39
are
23:39
those
23:39
who
23:40
are
23:40
in
23:40
him
23:41
so
23:42
that
23:43
all
23:43
that
23:44
he
23:44
has
23:44
done
23:45
is
23:45
for
23:45
us
23:46
so
23:47
that
23:47
all
23:48
that
23:48
he
23:48
is
23:49
we
23:49
are
23:50
it's
23:53
more
23:53
than
23:53
simply
23:54
sharing
23:55
what
23:55
I've
23:55
got
23:55
with
23:55
others
23:56
it's
23:58
putting
23:58
me
23:58
in
23:58
that
23:58
place
23:59
where
23:59
all
24:00
my
24:00
rights
24:00
are
24:01
the
24:01
rights
24:02
that
24:02
he
24:02
has
24:03
and
24:04
where
24:04
the
24:05
inheritance
24:05
that
24:06
he
24:06
has
24:06
is
24:07
the
24:07
inheritance
24:07
that
24:08
I
24:08
have
24:09
in
24:11
him
24:12
and
24:14
nowhere
24:14
is
24:14
the
24:16
supremacy
24:17
that
24:19
Paul
24:19
goes on
24:20
to
24:20
speak
24:20
of
24:21
in
24:21
chapter
24:22
2
24:22
what
24:23
do
24:23
we
24:23
have
24:23
in
24:24
him
24:24
on
24:25
this
24:25
occasion
24:25
what
24:26
is
24:26
it
24:26
that
24:26
makes
24:27
the
24:27
big
24:27
difference
24:27
we
24:29
have
24:29
redemption
24:32
there
24:34
is
24:35
the
24:35
release
24:36
by
24:37
having
24:38
a
24:38
price
24:39
paid
24:40
the
24:43
son
24:43
of
24:43
man
24:44
came
24:44
to
24:45
serve
24:45
and
24:46
to
24:46
give
24:46
himself
24:47
his
24:47
life
24:47
a
24:48
ransom
24:49
for
24:49
many
24:51
the
24:53
cost
24:53
was
24:54
his
24:55
willing
24:56
self
24:56
sacrifice
24:57
his
24:58
death
24:58
on
24:58
the
24:59
cross
24:59
he
25:00
endured
25:01
he
25:02
suffered
25:03
the
25:04
wrath
25:04
of
25:04
God
25:05
he
25:06
paid
25:07
the
25:07
price
25:08
that
25:08
was
25:09
required
25:09
for
25:11
our
25:11
redemption
25:12
to
25:13
set
25:14
us
25:14
free
25:15
and
25:17
as
25:17
he
25:17
redeemed
25:18
his
25:18
people
25:19
from
25:19
Israel
25:20
with
25:20
an
25:20
outstretched
25:21
arm
25:22
and led
25:23
them
25:23
with
25:24
a
25:24
steadfast
25:24
love
25:25
we see
25:27
in the
25:28
cross
25:29
of
25:29
Jesus
25:29
that
25:32
he
25:32
secured
25:33
and
25:33
established
25:34
our
25:35
freedom
25:35
in his
25:35
death
25:36
and on the
25:38
mount of
25:38
transfiguration
25:39
in Luke
25:40
chapter
25:40
9
25:41
they
25:42
spoke
25:42
of
25:42
the
25:43
exodus
25:43
that
25:44
Jesus
25:44
was
25:45
going
25:45
to
25:45
accomplish
25:46
in
25:46
Jerusalem
25:46
his
25:47
cross
25:48
the
25:49
way
25:50
in
25:50
which
25:50
his
25:51
death
25:51
was
25:52
going
25:53
to
25:53
open
25:53
up
25:53
the
25:54
way
25:54
so
25:55
that
25:55
the
25:55
captives
25:56
are
25:56
set
25:56
free
25:57
so
25:58
those
25:59
in
25:59
prison
25:59
emerge
26:01
from
26:01
that
26:01
prison
26:01
and
26:02
so
26:02
they
26:02
enter
26:02
into
26:03
the
26:04
freedom
26:05
of
26:05
the
26:06
children
26:06
of
26:07
God
26:07
in
26:09
whom
26:10
we
26:10
have
26:10
redemption
26:12
today
26:16
if we
26:16
have
26:18
been
26:18
given
26:19
by the
26:19
grace
26:20
of
26:20
God
26:20
to
26:21
have
26:22
the
26:22
status
26:22
of
26:23
his
26:23
children
26:24
as
26:25
the
26:25
citizens
26:26
of
26:26
his
26:26
kingdom
26:27
if
26:28
we
26:28
have
26:28
been
26:29
transformed
26:29
to
26:30
make
26:30
a
26:30
suitable
26:31
for
26:31
his
26:32
kingdom
26:32
then
26:34
Christ
26:36
Jesus
26:37
his
26:39
passion
26:39
and
26:39
work
26:40
will
26:41
be
26:41
at
26:41
the
26:41
center
26:42
of
26:42
life
26:42
and
26:45
will
26:45
be
26:45
precious
26:45
to
26:46
the
26:47
extent
26:47
that
26:49
we
26:49
will
26:49
not
26:50
let
26:50
anything
26:51
come
26:51
between
26:52
us
26:52
and
26:52
him
26:53
that
26:54
we
26:54
will
26:54
strive
26:55
to
26:55
ensure
26:56
that
26:56
no
26:56
cloud
26:57
will
26:57
darken
26:58
our
26:58
appreciation
26:59
of
27:00
all
27:00
that
27:00
he
27:00
has
27:01
done
27:01
the
27:02
one
27:03
who
27:03
loved
27:03
me
27:03
and
27:04
gave
27:04
himself
27:05
for
27:05
me
27:05
greater
27:06
love
27:07
has
27:07
no
27:07
one
27:07
would
27:08
lay
27:08
down
27:09
his
27:09
life
27:09
for
27:09
his
27:10
friends
27:10
and
27:13
he
27:14
did
27:14
this
27:14
for
27:16
the
27:16
forgiveness
27:17
of
27:20
sin
27:20
for
27:24
the
27:24
removal
27:24
of
27:26
the
27:26
obstacle
27:26
between
27:27
ourselves
27:28
and
27:30
God
27:30
and
27:34
there
27:34
is
27:34
a
27:35
book
27:35
written
27:35
about
27:37
sinners
27:38
to be
27:40
regained
27:40
and
27:42
in
27:42
that
27:42
book
27:43
there
27:44
is
27:44
brought
27:44
to
27:45
our
27:45
attention
27:45
two
27:47
key
27:47
things
27:47
about
27:48
sin
27:48
and
27:50
I
27:51
spoke
27:51
at the
27:51
very
27:51
beginning
27:52
of
27:52
the
27:52
introduction
27:53
to
27:53
our
27:53
sermon
27:54
about
27:54
the
27:54
influence
27:55
of
27:56
our
27:56
culture
27:57
upon
27:57
our
27:58
thinking
27:58
as
27:58
the
27:59
children
27:59
of
27:59
God
27:59
and
28:02
the
28:03
first
28:03
of
28:03
these
28:03
is
28:04
that
28:05
because
28:05
God
28:06
has been
28:06
shut out
28:07
largely
28:07
of the
28:08
thinking
28:08
of
28:08
the
28:09
society
28:09
in which
28:10
we live
28:10
that
28:11
our
28:12
view
28:12
of
28:12
sin
28:13
has
28:13
changed
28:14
completely
28:14
and
28:16
we
28:16
now
28:17
see
28:17
sin
28:18
and
28:18
aware
28:19
of
28:19
sin
28:19
in
28:20
our
28:20
relationships
28:20
with
28:21
others
28:21
because
28:23
the
28:24
culture
28:25
has
28:26
disconnected
28:26
us
28:27
from
28:27
God
28:28
and
28:30
when
28:30
we
28:30
do
28:30
sin
28:31
it
28:31
leads
28:31
us
28:32
to
28:32
shame
28:33
before
28:33
others
28:34
and
28:36
so
28:36
it
28:36
should
28:37
but
28:38
it
28:38
stops
28:39
in
28:40
that
28:40
place
28:40
which
28:42
means
28:42
that
28:43
if I
28:44
sin
28:44
and
28:45
others
28:45
are
28:45
not
28:45
aware
28:46
of it
28:46
then
28:47
I'm
28:47
okay
28:47
nobody
28:49
knows
28:49
and
28:50
there's
28:50
no
28:50
shame
28:51
and
28:51
I
28:51
can
28:51
carry
28:51
on
28:52
my
28:52
sin
28:52
I
28:52
can
28:53
accommodate
28:53
sin
28:54
in
28:54
my
28:54
life
28:55
as
28:56
soon
28:56
as
28:56
I
28:56
shut
28:56
the
28:56
window
28:57
on
28:57
God
28:57
and
28:58
don't
28:58
let
28:59
his
28:59
light
28:59
shine
29:00
into
29:00
my
29:00
heart
29:00
we
29:01
can
29:02
fall
29:02
into
29:02
that
29:03
trap
29:04
and
29:05
we
29:05
can
29:05
be
29:06
influenced
29:06
to a
29:07
great
29:07
degree
29:08
by
29:08
what
29:09
is
29:09
happening
29:09
in
29:10
the
29:10
culture
29:11
around
29:12
us
29:12
but
29:14
what
29:14
brings
29:14
about
29:14
the
29:15
change
29:15
it
29:16
is
29:16
what
29:16
Paul
29:17
was
29:17
asking
29:17
for
29:18
here
29:18
it
29:19
is
29:20
that
29:20
sense
29:21
of
29:21
a
29:22
heavenly
29:22
perspective
29:23
on
29:24
our
29:24
whole
29:24
experience
29:25
in
29:25
this
29:25
world
29:25
and
29:27
as
29:28
soon
29:28
as
29:28
our
29:29
heavenly
29:29
perspective
29:30
of
29:30
sin
29:31
is
29:34
impressed
29:35
upon
29:35
our
29:35
hearts
29:36
then
29:37
introduces
29:38
something
29:39
that was
29:41
not there
29:41
before
29:41
and that
29:43
something
29:44
that it
29:44
introduces
29:44
is
29:45
guilt
29:46
before
29:48
a
29:48
holy
29:49
God
29:49
and
29:51
there is
29:51
a difference
29:52
a huge
29:53
difference
29:53
that
29:55
if I
29:55
can
29:55
shut
29:56
God
29:56
out
29:56
of
29:56
my
29:56
thinking
29:57
then
29:58
sin
29:58
changes
29:59
and
30:00
in
30:00
many
30:00
ways
30:01
sin
30:01
no
30:02
longer
30:02
exists
30:03
in
30:03
the
30:03
way
30:03
that
30:03
the
30:03
Bible
30:03
teaches
30:04
us
30:05
that
30:05
it
30:05
does
30:06
and
30:08
the
30:08
challenge
30:08
for you
30:09
and
30:09
for me
30:09
is
30:10
to
30:10
have
30:11
our
30:11
thinking
30:12
and
30:13
our
30:13
understanding
30:13
of
30:14
sin
30:14
based
30:15
upon
30:15
the
30:15
teaching
30:16
of
30:16
the
30:16
word
30:16
of
30:16
God
30:17
and
30:17
not
30:17
upon
30:18
what
30:18
society
30:19
is
30:19
trying
30:20
to
30:20
impress
30:20
upon
30:20
our
30:21
minds
30:21
and
30:24
that
30:24
becomes
30:25
a
30:25
challenge
30:26
in
30:26
our
30:27
everyday
30:27
living
30:27
but
30:28
it
30:29
also
30:29
becomes
30:30
a
30:30
challenge
30:31
under
30:32
the
30:32
preaching
30:32
of
30:33
the
30:33
gospel
30:33
because
30:35
today
30:36
if
30:36
my
30:37
sin
30:37
is
30:37
no
30:37
more
30:38
than
30:38
something
30:38
that
30:38
brings
30:38
me
30:39
shame
30:39
to
30:39
those
30:40
around
30:40
me
30:40
then
30:41
the
30:42
gospel
30:42
will
30:42
not
30:43
mean
30:43
a lot
30:43
to
30:44
me
30:44
but
30:45
if
30:45
my
30:46
sin
30:46
means
30:46
that
30:47
I'm
30:47
guilty
30:47
before
30:48
a
30:48
holy
30:48
God
30:48
then
30:49
the
30:49
gospel
30:50
is
30:50
alive
30:50
then
30:51
the
30:52
person
30:52
who
30:52
who
30:53
in
30:55
whom
30:55
we
30:55
have
30:55
redemption
30:56
is
30:58
really
30:58
precious
30:58
and
30:59
meaningful
30:59
!
31:00
He
31:00
becomes
31:00
the
31:01
center
31:02
focus
31:02
in
31:03
life
31:03
He
31:04
is
31:04
the
31:04
person
31:04
I
31:04
must
31:05
know
31:05
and
31:05
need
31:05
to
31:06
know
31:06
so
31:07
that
31:07
I
31:07
can
31:07
have
31:08
forgiveness
31:08
because
31:12
the
31:13
forgiveness
31:13
that
31:15
God
31:15
gives
31:15
is
31:17
to
31:17
set
31:18
in
31:18
motion
31:18
my
31:20
sin
31:21
in
31:21
such
31:22
a
31:22
way
31:22
that
31:23
I'm
31:24
no
31:24
longer
31:24
condemned
31:25
because
31:25
of it
31:26
but
31:26
that
31:27
I
31:27
am
31:27
set
31:28
free
31:29
by
31:29
His
31:30
saving
31:31
grace
31:32
God
31:33
away
31:34
and
31:34
the
31:34
prophet
31:34
Micah
31:35
speaks
31:37
about
31:37
our
31:38
sins
31:39
and
31:39
what
31:39
happens
31:39
to
31:40
our
31:40
sins
31:40
in
31:40
chapter
31:41
number
31:41
seven
31:41
that
31:42
you
31:42
cast
31:43
all
31:44
our
31:44
sins
31:45
into
31:46
the
31:46
depths
31:46
of
31:47
the
31:47
sea
31:48
Jesus
31:51
is
31:52
the
31:52
Lamb
31:52
of
31:53
God
31:53
who
31:54
takes
31:54
away
31:55
the
31:55
sin
31:56
of
31:56
the
31:56
world
31:57
let's
31:58
not
31:58
underestimate
31:59
sin
32:00
let's
32:01
not
32:01
be
32:01
deceived
32:02
into
32:02
accommodating
32:03
sin
32:03
let's
32:04
see
32:04
our
32:05
sin
32:05
the way
32:05
God
32:06
sees
32:06
it
32:07
a
32:07
heavenly
32:08
perspective
32:08
upon
32:09
sin
32:09
and
32:10
then
32:10
we
32:10
will
32:11
appreciate
32:11
the
32:12
heavenly
32:13
perspective
32:14
on
32:14
God's
32:15
grace
32:15
and
32:16
salvation
32:16
that
32:17
He
32:17
does
32:18
it
32:18
transforming
32:18
that
32:19
He
32:19
does
32:20
it
32:20
transferring
32:21
and
32:22
that
32:22
He
32:22
does
32:22
it
32:23
based
32:23
on
32:24
this
32:24
transaction
32:26
and
32:27
may
32:27
God
32:27
help
32:28
us
32:28
today
32:28
to
32:29
reflect
32:29
on
32:30
where
32:30
they
32:30
were
32:31
as
32:31
a
32:31
church
32:31
to
32:32
reflect
32:33
on
32:33
where
32:33
we
32:33
are
32:34
individually
32:34
and
32:34
personally
32:35
and
32:35
to
32:35
ensure
32:36
that
32:37
what
32:37
steers
32:38
our
32:38
understanding
32:39
is not
32:40
what
32:40
we
32:40
think
32:40
ourselves
32:41
it's
32:41
not
32:42
what
32:42
others
32:42
think
32:43
it's
32:44
what
32:44
God
32:45
says
32:45
and
32:46
what
32:46
God
32:46
thinks
32:47
and
32:48
how
32:48
God
32:49
judges
32:49
may
32:50
God
32:50
bless
32:51
his
32:51
word
32:51
let us
32:51
pray
32:52
most
32:53
gracious
32:54
God
32:54
we do
32:54
rejoice
32:55
in
32:55
you
32:55
you
32:56
are
32:56
the
32:56
God
32:57
who
32:57
is
32:58
moved
32:59
in
32:59
your
32:59
heart
33:00
to
33:00
save
33:00
a
33:01
people
33:01
for
33:01
yourself
33:02
in
33:03
the
33:03
mystery
33:04
of
33:04
the
33:04
freedom
33:04
of
33:05
your
33:06
eternal
33:06
will
33:07
you
33:07
have
33:08
purpose
33:08
to
33:08
save
33:09
us
33:09
we
33:10
marvel
33:10
that
33:11
you
33:11
made
33:12
such
33:12
a
33:12
choice
33:13
we
33:13
give
33:13
thanks
33:13
to
33:14
you
33:14
that
33:15
everything
33:15
that
33:16
happens
33:16
afterwards
33:17
is
33:18
based
33:19
upon
33:19
all
33:19
that
33:20
you
33:20
do
33:20
in
33:20
the
33:20
first
33:21
place
33:21
and
33:22
we
33:22
are
33:22
thankful
33:22
to
33:22
you
33:23
for
33:23
every
33:23
step
33:24
that
33:24
you
33:24
took
33:25
to
33:26
rescue
33:26
and
33:27
to
33:27
deliver
33:27
us
33:28
to
33:29
make
33:29
us
33:29
the
33:29
children
33:29
of
33:30
God
33:30
and
33:31
we
33:31
pray
33:31
that
33:31
you
33:31
bless
33:31
us
33:31
in
33:32
our
33:32
hearts
33:32
today
33:32
in
33:33
the
33:33
knowledge
33:33
that
33:33
we
33:34
are
33:34
your
33:35
children
33:35
not
33:36
because
33:36
of
33:36
what
33:36
we
33:37
have
33:37
done
33:37
but
33:38
entirely
33:38
because
33:39
of
33:39
what
33:40
you
33:40
have
33:40
done
33:40
hear
33:41
our
33:41
prayer and
33:41
accept
33:41
us
33:42
for
33:42
Jesus
33:42
sake
33:43
Amen
33:44
the
33:48
closing
33:48
psalm
33:48
is
33:48
psalm
33:49
28
33:49
in
33:50
the
33:50
Scottish
33:50
Psalter
33:51
it's
33:51
on
33:51
page
33:52
238
33:52
and
33:53
we're
33:54
singing
33:54
the
33:54
last
33:55
four
33:56
verses
33:56
of
33:57
the
33:57
psalm
33:57
psalm
33:57
28
33:58
at
33:58
verse
33:59
number
33:59
six
34:00
forever
34:02
blessed
34:03
be the
34:03
Lord
34:04
for
34:04
graciously
34:05
heard
34:05
the
34:06
voice
34:06
of
34:06
my
34:07
petitions
34:07
and
34:08
prayer
34:08
did
34:09
regard
34:10
number
34:11
six
34:11
to
34:11
the
34:11
end
34:11
of
34:11
the
34:12
psalm
34:12
and
34:12
the
34:12
tune
34:12
is
34:12
Marvin
34:13
forever
34:20
blessed
34:23
be
34:24
the
34:26
Lord
34:27
for
34:28
graciously
34:30
he
34:32
heard
34:34
the
34:35
voice
34:37
of
34:38
my
34:39
petition
34:42
and
34:45
with
34:45
years
34:47
did
34:48
we
34:49
are
34:51
the
34:52
Lord
34:53
my
34:54
strength
34:56
and
34:56
she
34:57
shield
34:59
heart
35:00
up
35:02
or
35:02
ended
35:03
we
35:05
lie
35:07
and
35:09
I
35:10
am
35:11
it
35:13
ends
35:14
my
35:15
heart
35:17
that
35:18
joy
35:19
makes
35:20
he
35:21
ring
35:23
and
35:25
with
35:27
my
35:28
song
35:29
I
35:31
him
35:33
and
35:35
strength
35:36
is
35:37
gone
35:38
alone
35:39
also
35:40
is
35:41
the
35:43
saving
35:44
strength
35:45
!
35:47
saving
35:49
strength
35:51
of
35:53
anointed
35:55
!
35:57
O
35:59
thine own
36:01
do
36:03
people
36:05
sin
36:07
bless
36:09
impenet
36:13
times
36:15
then
36:16
what
36:17
so
36:18
do
36:19
thou
36:20
feed
36:21
thine
36:23
for
36:25
forever
36:27
more
36:29
at
36:30
hand
36:31
after
36:33
indiction
36:34
I'll go to the main door
36:35
the
36:36
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
36:38
the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all now and forever more
36:43
Amen
37:13
thank you