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Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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All right, very good. Please take your copy of God Word out and turn to the book of Ecclesiastes.
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Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes chapter 2.
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We've had some technical challenges as of late around here, so I imagine there'll be some fluctuation in the sound of my voice.
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A couple of weeks ago, the projector literally shook itself to death.
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And in the midst of all that time, also a piece of our soundboard, which I don't understand, went out, and it has been shipped away.
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And we are using a tiny little mini board back there right now, and I think the guys are all, there's a cluster trying to sort out what's happening with our sound this morning.
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At some point, we may just can it, and I'll yell a lot this morning.
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We're going to continue our study of Ecclesiastes today in chapter 2.
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But before we get there, before I read the text for this morning, I just want to remind you that this book is, in a sense, a sermon.
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In fact, the title Ecclesiastes is our Anglicanized version of the Latin Vulgate of the translation of the preacher.
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Quoholeth from Hebrew is where we get this idea, this Ecclesiastes.
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It's a sermon preached by the preacher.
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Most presume that the preacher is Solomon, but we don't know that for a fact,
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and so I'm going to maintain calling him the preacher throughout our study of this text.
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And he begins his sermon in chapter 1, verses 2 and 3 by saying,
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Vanity of vanities.
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Vanity of vanities.
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All is vanity.
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What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun, that is, on the earth?
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And then the preacher gives us a personal biography of his search for gain under the sun.
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We see the beginning of this in verse 13 of chapter 1 and into 14.
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And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven.
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It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.
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I have seen everything that is done under the sun.
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And behold, all this vanity or meaningless and a striving after wind.
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He begins the story of his search with a number of self-indulgent pleasures.
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These are his experiments in gain.
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He looks at the things that men seem to find satisfaction in in the world.
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And he picks up those things and he chases them out to their very end, only to find that they're all vain.
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They're all a chasing after the wind, that none of them are ultimate gain.
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And beloved, as we look at these things together, we need to recognize that there is no new thing.
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New forms of the same old things.
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And we need to let God's word speak to us about the things that we chase in this world to find pleasure and gain.
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So I'm going to read to you the first 11 verses of chapter 2.
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And this will be our text for some coming weeks.
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I don't know how many it will be, but we're going to kind of take it a piece at a time.
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So let me read to you chapter 2, beginning in verse 1.
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I said in my heart,
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Come now, I will test you with pleasure.
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Enjoy yourself.
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But behold, this was also vanity.
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I said of laughter, it is mad.
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And of pleasure, what use is it?
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I searched my heart how to cheer my body with wine,
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my heart still guiding me with wisdom,
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and how to lay hold on folly
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till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven
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during the few days of their life.
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I made great works.
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I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.
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I made myself gardens and parks
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and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees.
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I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees.
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I bought male and female slaves
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and had slaves who were born in my house.
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I had also great possessions of herds and flocks,
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more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem.
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I also gathered for myself silver and gold
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and the treasure of kings and provinces.
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I got singers, both men and women,
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and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.
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So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem.
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Also my wisdom remained with me,
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and whatever my eye desired, I did not keep from them.
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I kept my heart from no pleasure,
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for my heart found pleasure in all my toil,
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and this was my reward for all my toil.
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Then I considered all that my hands had done
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and the toil I had expended in doing it,
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and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind,
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and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
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This is God's word to us.
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It was written for His glory and our good,
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and we would all do well to listen to it
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in order to believe its promises
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and obey its commands.
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Now this morning my remarks on this text
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are going to be brief.
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For the sake of time, I've promised
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you'll be able to get to the Life Chain event at 1215,
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but also because I believe it's important
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for us to take some considerable time
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to consider this phrase in verse 2,
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I said of laughter, it is mad.
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We as American people have much time for leisure,
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much time for frivolity.
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We don't live in a place where we're concerned
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that we may be bombed on our way home.
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We don't live in a place where the ravages of disease run rampant.
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We typically live in a place that's fairly comfortable.
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And so for us to stop and consider
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what place does laughter have in our lives,
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I think it's important for us this morning.
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This is the preacher's first experiment
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and self-indulgent pleasure.
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Laughter.
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This word for laughter in Hebrew
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has a very broad and varied meaning to it.
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It means to play,
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to act clumsy,
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to joke,
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mock,
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deride,
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to make a laughing stock
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of an individual.
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It could be thought of as
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the pleasure of comedy.
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If there's a noun given to this pursuit
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that he goes into,
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the pleasure of comedy,
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or we could think of it as just general silliness.
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So it's an experiment with this type of thing
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that he picks up
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and he takes a look at
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and he runs it out
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and considers,
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is this a thing to be gained
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under the sun?
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Comedy is often
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an entertainment
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that many people use
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to make it through life.
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It could take the form of
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jokes that mask insecurities,
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the abuse of others
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for the sake of one's own esteem,
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countless wasted hours
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to numb boredom,
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and the making light of grievous sin
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in order to justify it.
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After all,
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something laughed at
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can't be something serious,
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can it?
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It is this type of laughter
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that the preacher calls mad.
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Mad in Hebrew
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does not refer
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to being out of one's mind.
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The late Old Testament theologian
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Derek Kidner says
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that it indicates
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moral perversity
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rather than mental oddity.
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He's saying that this is a thing
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not fitting to one
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who follows God.
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God.
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This makes no sense
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for the godly.
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So,
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it is improper
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or misplaced
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laughter.
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Now, as children,
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we all had,
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and probably
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even still have,
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some form of acquaintance
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that are always
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misplacing
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inappropriate jokes.
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Being silly
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at the wrong times.
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they just don't seem
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to know
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when to stop.
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In fact,
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I would define maturity
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just for the average individual.
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Not Christian maturity,
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but just maturity.
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Not somebody who
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no longer has fun,
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but they know
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when it's right and proper
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to have fun
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and when it's not
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okay to have fun.
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Some of you may be thinking
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of those people
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now in your own mind.
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You may be
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that person.
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But as the people of God,
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are we meant
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to laugh?
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We've already laughed
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some together
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this morning.
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Here,
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in Ecclesiastes,
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he seems to be very
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point blank about it though.
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Laughter is
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madness.
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So, we need to
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understand rightly.
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It's of course okay
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for us to laugh,
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but we need to do
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a bit of work
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to suss out
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what he means
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by this.
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What is the place?
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What is the proper use
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and proper place
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of laughter
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in our lives?
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After all,
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the preacher goes on
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to say in Ecclesiastes 3,
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4,
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that there is a time
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to laugh.
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In Proverbs 31,
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25,
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it is said
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of the excellent wife
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that she laughs
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at the time
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to come.
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You have likely
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heard the folk wisdom
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that laughter
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is the best medicine
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or maybe heard a story
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of someone
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who laughed
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themselves back
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to hell.
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I am incredibly
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thankful
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for my family
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for the laughter
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they bring
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to my life.
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I tend to be
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a bit of a dark cloud
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and they are
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rays of sunshine
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in my day.
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Apart from my wife
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and my two children,
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my home is a really
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dreary place.
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I don't need to be
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left there by myself
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for very long
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because they are
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constantly filling
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our home
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with laughter.
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This is one of the
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great blessings
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of children.
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Judah now is a little
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over three and a half
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months
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and maybe six,
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six to eight months
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ago,
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we learned that he
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knows how to cross
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his eyes and nobody
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taught him how to do
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that.
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He calls them crazy
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eyes.
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Judah, will you do
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crazy eyes for everybody?
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Will you stand up
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and do it?
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Stand up and do it.
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Will you?
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Okay.
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Going to be shy
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this morning?
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We discovered this
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at dinner one night
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where he said,
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look, crazy eyes.
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He crosses his eyes
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and he opens his mouth
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really wide.
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It's really,
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really cute.
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And we laughed
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and laughed
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and laughed
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and laughed
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as he did it
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over and over
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until we became
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concerned that they
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would stick that way
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and we made him
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stop.
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It was so precious.
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I still can think
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about it.
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It just brings me joy.
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Try to get him to do
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it for you individually
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later on.
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But healthy laughter
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is a timely laughter
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put in its proper place.
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Ecclesiastes 3, 4
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I'll reference again.
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Healthy laughter
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has its source
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in the goodness of God.
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Proverbs 31, 25
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Healthy laughter
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does not have
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as its source
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coarse joking.
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There's so much comedy
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in our day
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that is entirely inappropriate.
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Have you ever watched a show
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and found yourself
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laughing at something?
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You're going,
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I shouldn't be laughing at that.
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Stop watching such things.
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Stop laughing at such things.
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Ephesians 5, 4 says
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let there be no filthiness
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nor foolish talk
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nor crude joking.
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We ought not joke
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in that way
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and we ought not laugh
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at those who drew.
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But the trouble
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with laughter
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the madness of it
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is when we try
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to find our gain in it.
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When we look to frivolity
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for ultimate satisfaction
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we will come up lacking.
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We will say with the preacher
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laughter is meaningless.
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The preacher talks more
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in the book of Ecclesiastes
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about laughter.
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Turn with me
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a few pages over
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to Ecclesiastes chapter 7.
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Beginning in verse 2.
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It is better
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to go to the house
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of mourning
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than to go to the house
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of feasting.
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For this is the end
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of all mankind
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and the living
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will lay it
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to heart.
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Sorrow
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is better
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than laughter.
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For by sadness
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of face
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the heart
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is made glad.
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The heart
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of the wise
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is in the house
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of mourning
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but the heart
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of fools
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is in the house
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of mirth.
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It is better
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for a man
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to hear
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the rebuke
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of the wise
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than to hear
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the song
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of fools.
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For as the
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crackling
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of thorns
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under a pot
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so is the laughter
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of the fools.
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This
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is also
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vanity.
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It's sobering words
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that he's saying
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to us here.
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It's better
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to mourn
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than to laugh.
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It's better
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to be around
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people who
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are mourning.
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The house
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of mourning
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as was the
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constant
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and likely
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habit of visiting
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one who had
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somebody die
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in a household
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they would gather
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there at the house
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to pay their respects.
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This is the house
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of mourning
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a home in which
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someone has died.
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It's better
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to be there
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than to go
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to the place
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where feasting
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is taking place.
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It's better
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to have sorrow
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than laughter.
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He says
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by sadness
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of face
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the heart
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is made
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glad.
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Why?
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What is he
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talking about
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here?
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What he's saying
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is that for us
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to be around
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the reality
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of this life
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this once
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Eden
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the place
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in which we live
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that has been
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corrupted by sin
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and the major
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corruption
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the final
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corruptive work
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is death.
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To be around
14:39
that and to be
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reminded
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that this is
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a place
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of lesser
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joy.
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That the house
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of mourning
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teaches us
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to be wise
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in the way
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we live
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and in the way
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we prepare
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to die.
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If you go to
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the house
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of feasting
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you go to
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a birthday
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party
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people never
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talk about
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the serious
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things.
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You never
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at a birthday
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party
15:04
celebrate
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somebody's
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birth
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and also
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mourn
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their coming
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death.
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It's a reality
15:10
that still exists
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but we don't
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talk about
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these things.
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It's light
15:12
and it's
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jovial.
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Rather than
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being in a
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place where
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people say
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this is
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the reality
15:18
of life
15:19
someday
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like a
15:21
vapor
15:21
passes
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I will
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pass
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and do I
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live my
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life wisely
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now for
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the kingdom
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of God
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preparing
15:28
myself
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for the
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coming
15:30
day
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when I
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will die.
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Recall the
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preacher's
15:35
conclusion
15:35
in Ecclesiastes
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12
15:37
verse 13
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fear God
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understand
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who he
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is
15:56
and his
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created
15:57
order
15:58
understand
15:59
your place
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in that
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created
16:02
order
16:02
see yourself
16:04
rightly
16:04
as his
16:05
creation
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made
16:06
to worship
16:07
him
16:07
and the
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proper
16:09
response
16:09
of that
16:10
is then
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the keeping
16:11
of his
16:12
commandments
16:13
to recognize
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this
16:14
the house
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of mourning
16:15
is a benefit
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to us
16:16
in that
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sorrow
16:17
the sorrow
16:18
of the heart
16:19
that looks
16:20
at this
16:20
world
16:20
and says
16:21
it is
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broken
16:22
serves us
16:23
in this
16:24
way
16:25
so what
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do we do
16:27
with the
16:28
joy of
16:29
the scripture
16:29
because it's
16:31
everywhere
16:32
in the
16:33
scripture
16:33
one fantastic
16:34
example
16:35
psalm
16:36
34
16:36
8
16:37
says
16:37
oh
16:38
taste
16:39
and see
16:40
that the
16:41
lord
16:41
is
16:42
good
16:42
blessed
16:44
which is
16:44
to say
16:45
happy
16:46
truly
16:47
and
16:47
lastingly
16:48
happy
16:49
is the
16:50
man
16:50
who
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takes
16:51
refuge
16:52
in
16:53
him
16:53
there's
16:55
much
16:56
language
16:56
in the
16:56
scripture
16:57
about this
16:57
I came
16:58
across a
16:58
fun article
16:58
this week
16:59
that asked
17:00
the question
17:01
what was
17:01
Jonathan
17:02
Edwards
17:02
favorite
17:03
word
17:04
and this
17:05
man
17:05
had done
17:05
quite a
17:05
bit of
17:06
studying
17:06
to realize
17:07
that it
17:07
was
17:07
the word
17:08
joy
17:08
or some
17:09
variation
17:10
of it
17:11
to rightly
17:13
see
17:13
that the
17:14
response
17:15
of the
17:15
Christian
17:15
to the
17:17
gospel
17:17
of Jesus
17:18
Christ
17:18
is joy
17:20
so we've
17:21
got to
17:21
make some
17:22
reconciliation
17:22
of all
17:23
of this
17:24
let me
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read to
17:25
you the
17:25
quote
17:26
that's
17:26
on the
17:26
front of
17:26
your
17:26
bulletin
17:26
this
17:27
morning
17:27
by
17:27
Edwards
17:28
he says
17:28
God
17:29
is the
17:30
highest
17:30
good
17:31
of the
17:32
reasonable
17:32
creature
17:33
the
17:34
enjoyment
17:35
of him
17:35
is our
17:36
proper
17:36
and is
17:37
the only
17:37
happiness
17:38
with which
17:38
our souls
17:39
can be
17:40
satisfied
17:40
to go
17:42
to heaven
17:42
fully
17:43
to enjoy
17:44
God
17:44
is infinitely
17:45
better
17:45
than the
17:46
most pleasant
17:47
accommodations
17:47
here
17:48
better than
17:49
fathers
17:50
and mothers
17:50
husbands
17:51
wives
17:52
or children
17:53
or the
17:53
company
17:54
of any
17:54
or all
17:55
earthly
17:56
friends
17:56
these
17:57
are but
17:58
shadows
17:59
but the
18:00
enjoyment
18:00
of God
18:01
is the
18:01
substance
18:02
these
18:03
are but
18:03
scattered
18:04
beams
18:05
but God
18:05
is the
18:06
sun
18:07
these
18:08
are but
18:08
streams
18:09
but God
18:10
is the
18:10
fountain
18:10
these
18:12
are but
18:12
drops
18:13
but God
18:14
is the
18:16
ocean
18:16
so recognize
18:19
we look at
18:19
psalm 34
18:20
8 and
18:21
then hear
18:21
what
18:21
Edwards
18:22
has to
18:22
say about
18:23
the high
18:23
good of
18:24
enjoyment
18:24
in God
18:25
is that
18:26
for us
18:27
as we
18:27
walk in
18:27
this
18:27
world
18:28
and we're
18:28
sorrowful
18:29
in it
18:29
we see
18:30
the broken
18:30
nature
18:31
of it
18:31
we see
18:32
this
18:32
once
18:33
eaten
18:33
place
18:34
in which
18:35
we live
18:36
that we
18:36
can be
18:37
blessed
18:37
we can
18:38
be happy
18:38
truly
18:39
and
18:39
lastingly
18:40
happy
18:41
because
18:41
we take
18:42
refuge
18:42
in
18:43
God
18:45
because
18:46
we take
18:46
refuge
18:47
in the
18:47
promises
18:48
of God
18:49
to us
18:50
in Christ
18:51
that
18:53
happy
18:53
person
18:54
the
18:55
one
18:55
who
18:55
laughs
18:56
out
18:57
of
18:57
joy
18:57
because
18:58
of
18:58
their
18:58
happiness
18:59
does
19:00
so
19:01
because
19:01
of
19:01
the
19:02
goodness
19:02
of
19:02
God
19:03
in
19:04
Christ
19:04
we
19:05
rest
19:06
from
19:06
our
19:07
sorrow
19:07
in
19:08
him
19:09
most
19:10
of
19:10
you
19:10
are
19:10
probably
19:11
familiar
19:11
with
19:12
Jesus
19:13
title
19:13
the
19:14
man
19:14
of
19:15
sorrows
19:16
and this
19:17
comes from
19:17
Isaiah
19:18
53
19:19
3
19:20
which
19:20
reads
19:20
he
19:21
was
19:21
despised
19:22
and
19:23
rejected
19:23
by
19:23
men
19:24
a
19:24
man
19:25
of
19:25
sorrows
19:26
and
19:27
acquainted
19:27
with
19:27
grief
19:28
and
19:28
as
19:28
one
19:29
from
19:29
whom
19:29
men
19:29
hide
19:30
their
19:30
faces
19:30
he
19:31
was
19:31
despised
19:32
and
19:32
we
19:32
esteemed
19:33
him
19:33
not
19:34
and
19:35
then
19:35
verse
19:35
4
19:36
says
19:36
surely
19:37
he
19:38
has
19:38
borne
19:39
our
19:40
griefs
19:41
and
19:41
carried
19:42
our
19:43
sorrows
19:44
yet
19:45
we
19:45
esteemed
19:45
him
19:46
stricken
19:46
smitten
19:46
by
19:47
God
19:47
and
19:48
afflicted
19:49
John
19:50
Calvin
19:50
wrote
19:50
verse
19:50
4
19:51
Christ
19:51
has
19:52
put
19:52
on
19:52
our
19:53
feelings
19:54
along
19:55
with
19:56
our
19:57
flesh
19:57
and
19:59
as
19:59
people
19:59
made
20:00
aware
20:00
of
20:00
the
20:00
state
20:01
of
20:01
this
20:01
once
20:02
eaten
20:02
in
20:03
which
20:03
we
20:04
live
20:04
we
20:05
are
20:05
apt
20:06
to
20:06
be
20:06
sorrowful
20:07
rightly
20:08
but
20:09
we
20:10
can
20:11
err
20:11
toward
20:12
hopelessness
20:13
as
20:14
we
20:14
are
20:14
people
20:15
of
20:15
the
20:15
cross
20:16
and
20:16
we
20:16
consider
20:17
the
20:17
cross
20:17
the
20:18
darkest
20:19
moment
20:19
in
20:20
all
20:20
of
20:20
history
20:21
we
20:22
can
20:22
be
20:23
apt
20:23
to
20:23
that
20:23
we
20:23
can
20:23
err
20:24
in
20:24
that
20:24
way
20:24
to
20:25
be
20:25
hopeless
20:25
to
20:26
see
20:27
the
20:27
brokenness
20:27
of
20:27
the
20:28
world
20:28
and
20:28
to
20:28
see
20:29
the
20:29
great
20:29
high
20:30
climax
20:30
of
20:30
the
20:30
brokenness
20:31
of
20:31
the
20:31
world
20:32
the
20:32
death
20:33
of
20:33
the
20:33
Savior
20:33
Jesus
20:34
Christ
20:35
we
20:36
can
20:36
be
20:36
hopeless
20:37
if
20:37
we
20:37
fail
20:37
to
20:38
look
20:38
beyond
20:39
the
20:40
cross
20:40
if
20:41
we
20:42
fail
20:42
to
20:42
remember
20:42
on
20:43
the
20:43
third
20:43
day
20:44
Jesus
20:45
rose
20:46
from
20:47
the
20:47
grave
20:48
an
20:48
old
20:49
Latin
20:49
phrase
20:50
says
20:50
post
20:51
tenebrous
20:52
lux
20:53
which
20:54
means
20:54
after
20:54
darkness
20:55
light
20:57
if
20:58
we
20:58
fail
20:58
to
20:58
remember
20:59
the
20:59
light
20:59
of the
21:00
resurrection
21:00
the
21:02
death
21:02
of
21:02
the
21:02
cross
21:03
leaves
21:03
us
21:03
with
21:03
no
21:03
hope
21:04
at
21:04
all
21:05
John
21:06
says
21:06
of
21:06
Jesus
21:07
Christ
21:07
in
21:07
John
21:07
1
21:08
5
21:08
the
21:08
light
21:08
shines
21:09
in
21:10
the
21:10
darkness
21:10
and
21:11
the
21:12
darkness
21:12
has
21:12
not
21:13
overcome
21:14
it
21:15
so
21:16
as
21:17
followers
21:17
of
21:17
Jesus
21:17
Christ
21:18
we
21:19
need
21:19
to
21:19
recognize
21:20
that
21:20
this
21:20
broken
21:21
world
21:21
in
21:21
which
21:21
we
21:22
walk
21:22
will
21:23
rightly
21:23
bring
21:24
us
21:24
sorrow
21:24
we
21:26
know
21:26
what
21:26
this
21:26
world
21:27
was
21:27
meant
21:27
to
21:28
be
21:28
we
21:29
have
21:29
had
21:30
this
21:30
restored
21:31
ability
21:31
to
21:32
love
21:32
and
21:32
to
21:32
worship
21:33
God
21:33
and
21:33
be
21:33
brought
21:34
into
21:34
relationship
21:34
with
21:35
him
21:35
and
21:35
everything
21:36
around
21:36
us
21:36
is
21:37
spiraling
21:37
down
21:38
to
21:39
rightly
21:39
bring
21:39
us
21:39
sorrow
21:40
but
21:41
we
21:41
have
21:41
great
21:41
reason
21:42
for
21:43
great
21:43
joy
21:43
beyond
21:44
it
21:44
in
21:45
the
21:45
goodness
21:45
of
21:45
God
21:46
to
21:46
us
21:46
in
21:47
Christ
21:48
so
21:50
we
21:50
must
21:50
walk
21:51
wisely
21:51
we
21:52
must
21:52
consider
21:53
how
21:53
we
21:53
are
21:53
to
21:54
spend
21:55
our
21:55
time
21:56
are
21:57
we
21:57
a
21:58
people
21:58
entertained
21:58
by the
21:59
frivolity
22:00
of the
22:00
world
22:00
or are
22:02
we
22:02
a
22:02
people
22:02
who
22:03
fear
22:03
God
22:04
and keep
22:05
his
22:06
commandments
22:06
are we
22:08
a
22:08
people
22:09
who
22:09
live
22:09
for
22:09
today
22:09
in the
22:10
momentary
22:11
fleeting
22:11
joy
22:11
of
22:12
today
22:13
or are
22:14
we
22:14
a
22:14
people
22:15
who
22:15
live
22:15
for
22:17
eternity
22:17
and in the
22:19
coming weeks
22:20
I'm going to read
22:20
to you
22:21
probably a
22:22
fair amount
22:23
from a book
22:24
called
22:24
the pilgrim's
22:25
progress
22:26
progress
22:26
I hope
22:28
as I say
22:28
that title
22:29
you're very
22:29
familiar
22:29
with this
22:30
I want
22:31
you
22:32
as a
22:33
person
22:34
of Christ
22:35
to read
22:35
the word
22:36
of Christ
22:36
more than
22:37
anything
22:37
else
22:38
absolutely
22:39
wear the
22:40
pages of
22:41
your scripture
22:41
thin
22:42
if you're
22:43
going to
22:44
read another
22:44
book
22:45
this is the
22:45
one
22:45
I think
22:46
you should
22:46
read
22:47
I know
22:47
many of
22:48
you are
22:48
not
22:48
readers
22:48
read
22:49
these
22:49
two
22:49
well
22:50
reading
22:52
Bunyan
22:52
and reading
22:53
this story
22:53
which is an
22:54
allegory
22:55
of the
22:55
journey
22:56
of a
22:57
character
22:57
called
22:58
Christian
22:58
to the
22:59
celestial
22:59
city
23:00
is much
23:01
like
23:01
reading
23:01
the
23:01
scripture
23:02
as it
23:02
is just
23:02
full
23:03
and full
23:04
of
23:04
quotes
23:05
from it
23:06
as we
23:07
look at
23:08
chapter 2
23:08
I'm going
23:09
to drive
23:10
you to
23:10
I'm going
23:10
to pull
23:11
you into
23:11
a bit
23:12
of the
23:12
story
23:12
where
23:13
Christian
23:13
and his
23:14
travel mate
23:15
at the
23:15
time
23:15
faithful
23:16
into a
23:16
place
23:16
called
23:17
Vanity
23:17
Fair
23:17
where
23:18
all of
23:19
the
23:19
things
23:19
the
23:19
world
23:19
has
23:20
to
23:20
offer
23:20
is
23:20
there
23:20
being
23:21
sold
23:21
but before
23:23
we get
23:23
that I want
23:23
to read
23:24
you a
23:25
story
23:25
when
23:26
Christian
23:26
goes to
23:27
the
23:27
house
23:27
of
23:27
interpreter
23:28
it's
23:29
very
23:29
early
23:29
in
23:29
his
23:30
Christian
23:30
journey
23:31
and
23:31
there
23:31
he's
23:31
taught
23:32
many
23:32
of
23:32
the
23:32
basic
23:33
things
23:33
of
23:34
Christian
23:34
faith
23:35
and
23:35
there's
23:35
this
23:35
wonderful
23:36
little
23:36
interchange
23:38
as they're
23:40
in this
23:40
house
23:40
of the
23:40
interpreter
23:40
looking
23:41
at
23:41
scenes
23:42
and
23:42
the
23:42
interpreter
23:42
is
23:43
interpreting
23:43
for him
23:44
what
23:44
these
23:44
things
23:45
mean
23:46
and so
23:48
I read
23:48
then I
23:49
saw in
23:49
my dream
23:50
that the
23:50
interpreter
23:51
took
23:51
Christian
23:52
by the
23:52
hand
23:52
and led
23:53
him
23:53
into a
23:53
place
23:54
where
23:54
was
23:54
a
23:55
fire
23:55
burning
23:55
against
23:56
a
23:56
wall
23:56
that is
23:57
not the
23:57
right
23:57
page
23:58
I'm
23:58
so
23:58
sorry
23:58
that is
23:59
also
24:00
a
24:00
really
24:00
good
24:00
part
24:00
of the
24:01
interpreter
24:01
singing
24:01
I
24:02
bookmarked
24:03
it
24:03
and I
24:03
missed my
24:04
bookmark
24:04
by a
24:04
page
24:04
all right
24:05
I
24:06
saw
24:06
moreover
24:07
in my
24:07
dream
24:08
that the
24:08
interpreter
24:09
took him
24:09
by the
24:10
hand
24:10
and had
24:11
him
24:11
into a
24:12
little
24:12
room
24:12
where sat
24:13
two
24:13
children
24:14
each
24:15
one
24:15
in
24:15
his
24:15
chair
24:16
the
24:17
name
24:17
of
24:17
the
24:17
eldest
24:18
was
24:18
passion
24:19
and the
24:20
name
24:20
of
24:20
the
24:20
other
24:21
patience
24:22
passion
24:23
seemed
24:23
to be
24:24
much
24:24
discontented
24:25
but
24:26
patience
24:26
was
24:27
very
24:27
quiet
24:28
then
24:29
Christian
24:29
asked
24:30
what is
24:31
the
24:31
reason
24:32
of
24:32
the
24:32
discontent
24:33
of
24:34
passion
24:34
interpreter
24:35
says
24:36
the
24:36
governor
24:37
of
24:37
them
24:37
would
24:37
have
24:38
him
24:38
stay
24:38
for
24:39
his
24:39
best
24:39
things
24:40
till
24:40
the
24:40
beginning
24:41
of
24:41
next
24:42
year
24:42
but
24:43
he
24:43
will
24:43
have
24:43
all
24:44
now
24:44
but
24:45
patience
24:45
is
24:46
willing
24:46
to
24:47
wait
24:47
then
24:48
I
24:49
saw
24:49
that
24:49
one
24:49
came
24:50
to
24:50
passion
24:50
and
24:51
brought
24:51
him
24:51
a
24:51
bag
24:52
of
24:52
treasure
24:52
and
24:53
poured
24:53
it
24:53
down
24:54
at
24:54
his
24:54
feet
24:54
the
24:55
which
24:55
he
24:55
took
24:56
up
24:56
and
24:56
rejoiced
24:57
therein
24:58
!
24:58
and
24:58
withal
24:59
laughed
25:00
patience
25:00
to
25:01
scorn
25:02
but
25:03
I
25:03
beheld
25:03
but
25:03
a
25:04
while
25:04
and
25:04
he
25:04
had
25:04
lavished
25:05
all
25:06
away
25:06
and
25:06
had
25:06
nothing
25:07
left
25:07
him
25:07
but
25:08
rags
25:09
and
25:10
Christian
25:10
says
25:11
expound
25:12
this
25:12
matter
25:12
more
25:12
fully
25:13
to
25:13
me
25:13
interpreter
25:15
responds
25:15
these
25:16
two
25:16
lads
25:17
are
25:17
figures
25:18
passion
25:19
of
25:19
the
25:19
men
25:19
of
25:19
this
25:20
world
25:20
and
25:20
patience
25:21
of
25:21
the
25:21
men
25:22
of
25:22
that
25:22
which
25:22
is
25:23
to
25:23
come
25:24
as
25:25
here
25:25
thou
25:25
seest
25:26
passion
25:26
will
25:27
have
25:27
all
25:27
now
25:28
this
25:29
year
25:29
that
25:30
is
25:30
to
25:30
say
25:30
in
25:31
this
25:31
world
25:31
so
25:32
are
25:32
the
25:32
men
25:33
of
25:33
this
25:33
world
25:33
they
25:34
must
25:34
have
25:35
all
25:35
their
25:35
good
25:36
things
25:36
now
25:36
they
25:37
cannot
25:37
stay
25:38
till
25:38
the
25:38
next
25:38
year
25:39
that
25:39
is
25:40
until
25:40
the
25:40
next
25:41
world
25:41
for
25:42
their
25:42
portion
25:43
of
25:43
good
25:44
that
25:45
proverb
25:45
a
25:46
bird
25:46
in
25:46
the
25:46
hand
25:47
is
25:47
worth
25:47
two
25:47
in
25:47
the
25:47
bush
25:48
is
25:48
of
25:48
more
25:49
authority
25:49
with
25:49
them
25:50
than
25:50
all
25:50
the
25:50
divine
25:51
testimonies
25:52
of
25:52
the
25:52
good
25:52
of
25:52
the
25:53
world
25:53
to
25:53
come
25:53
but
25:54
as
25:54
thou
25:55
sawst
25:55
that
25:55
he
25:55
had
25:56
quickly
25:56
lavished
25:56
all
25:57
away
25:57
and
25:58
had
25:58
presently
25:58
left
25:58
him
25:59
nothing
25:59
but
25:59
rags
26:00
so
26:01
will
26:01
it
26:01
be
26:01
with
26:01
all
26:02
such
26:02
men
26:02
at
26:03
the
26:03
end
26:03
of
26:04
this
26:04
world
26:04
Christian
26:06
says
26:06
now I
26:07
see
26:07
that
26:08
patience
26:09
has
26:09
the
26:09
best
26:10
wisdom
26:10
and
26:11
that
26:11
upon
26:11
many
26:12
accounts
26:12
first
26:13
because
26:14
he
26:14
stays
26:14
for
26:15
the
26:15
best
26:15
things
26:16
and
26:16
second
26:17
also
26:18
because
26:18
he
26:19
will
26:19
have
26:19
the
26:19
glory
26:20
of
26:20
his
26:20
when
26:21
the
26:21
other
26:21
has
26:22
nothing
26:22
but
26:23
rags
26:24
interpreter
26:25
says
26:26
nay
26:26
you
26:27
may
26:27
add
26:28
another
26:28
to
26:29
wit
26:29
the
26:29
glory
26:30
of
26:30
the
26:30
next
26:31
world
26:31
will
26:31
never
26:32
wear
26:32
out
26:33
but
26:33
these
26:34
are
26:34
suddenly
26:35
gone
26:35
therefore
26:36
passion
26:37
had
26:37
not
26:37
so
26:38
much
26:38
a
26:38
reason
26:38
to
26:38
laugh
26:39
at
26:39
patience
26:39
because
26:40
he
26:40
had
26:41
his
26:41
good
26:41
things
26:41
first
26:42
as
26:42
patience
26:43
will
26:43
have
26:43
to
26:43
laugh
26:44
at
26:44
passion
26:44
because
26:45
he
26:45
had
26:45
his
26:46
best
26:46
things
26:46
last
26:47
for
26:48
first
26:49
must
26:49
give
26:49
place
26:50
to
26:50
last
26:51
because
26:51
last
26:52
must
26:52
have
26:53
his
26:53
time
26:53
to
26:53
come
26:54
but
26:54
last
26:55
gives
26:55
place
26:56
to
26:56
nothing
26:56
for
26:57
there
26:57
is
26:58
not
26:58
another
26:58
to
26:59
succeed
27:00
he
27:01
therefore
27:01
that
27:02
half
27:02
his
27:02
portion
27:02
first
27:04
need
27:04
to
27:04
have
27:05
to
27:05
spend
27:06
it
27:06
but
27:07
he
27:07
that
27:07
hath
27:07
his
27:07
portion
27:08
last
27:08
must
27:09
have
27:09
it
27:10
lastingly
27:11
I love
27:11
that
27:11
sentence
27:12
therefore
27:13
it is
27:13
said
27:13
of him
27:14
in thy
27:14
lifetime
27:15
receivest
27:16
thy
27:16
good
27:17
things
27:17
and
27:18
likewise
27:18
Lazarus
27:19
evil
27:20
things
27:20
but
27:21
now
27:21
he
27:21
is
27:22
comforted
27:22
and
27:23
thou
27:23
art
27:23
tormented
27:24
!
27:24
Christian
27:25
says
27:26
then
27:26
I
27:26
perceive
27:27
!
27:27
it is
27:28
not
27:28
best
27:28
to
27:29
covet
27:29
things
27:29
that
27:29
are
27:29
now
27:30
but
27:30
to
27:31
wait
27:31
for
27:32
things
27:32
to
27:33
come
27:33
interpreter
27:34
responds
27:35
you
27:36
say
27:36
truth
27:37
for
27:37
the
27:38
things
27:38
that
27:38
are
27:38
seen
27:39
are
27:39
temporal
27:40
but
27:41
the
27:41
things
27:41
that
27:41
are
27:42
not
27:42
seen
27:42
are
27:44
eternal
27:44
let's
27:46
pray
27:46
together
27:46
let's