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Guarding Our Hearts · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

• 0:00
  We're going to look this evening at verse 4 to verse 7.
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  If you read verse 7 with me first, it speaks thereof.
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  And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding
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  to know that peace.
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  And that's how we find then in verse 4 to verse 6
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  where it speaks about three different things.
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  First of all it says,
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  Rejoice in the Lord always.
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  Again I will say rejoice.
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  So there's that sense of praise there.
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  Then in verse 5,
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  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.
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  The Lord is at hand.
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  So there's the sense of how we are together.
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  And then in verse 6,
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  Do not be anxious about anything,
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  but in everything by prayer and supplication.
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  With thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
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  So there's that sense of prayer there in verse 6.
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  And all these things then come to verse 7.
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  And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding
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  will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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  As Paul writes these words,
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  it can be easy for us to read through the letter of Philippians
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  or indeed any part of the Bible,
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  read through it and say,
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  What does it say to me?
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  What does it say to me as an individual?
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  And that is right.
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  That is a wise thing to do.
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  We have to come to God's word in that way
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  and ask, What is it saying to me?
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  But there are also times when we can read God's word,
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  and especially as we are gathered in a service of worship
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  as we are this evening.
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  And it's important to realize that sometimes it's about asking,
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  What is it saying to us?
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  Not just me individually, but all of us together.
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  And you see that very much in Paul's letter to the Philippians.
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  When you go back to the very beginning of the letter in chapter 1,
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  the very opening verses, it says there,
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  Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
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  to all the saints in Christ Jesus.
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  To all the saints who are in Christ Jesus.
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  He's talking to the church.
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  He's not just talking to them individually,
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  but talking to them together.
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  And then in verse 2 it says,
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  Grace to you and peace from God our Father
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  and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  So it's this kind of sense of peace that he desires for them all to know.
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  The peace that we've sung of in Psalm 1-2-2,
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  that prayer for peace to dwell.
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  The peace that we sang of in Psalm 72 in verse 7,
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  Until the moon no longer shines, peace in abundance will remain.
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  That's the peace that it's looking for.
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  And it's important for us as we come to these verses,
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  verse 4 to verse 7 this evening,
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  because it is talking about that sense of peace
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  that we should long for together.
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  Not just for me, but for us all together.
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  And that is something that we need just now.
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  That is something that we need together just now.
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  Just to know that peace of God.
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  That peace that unites us.
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  That peace that keeps us together.
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  That peace that drives us on in all that we do.
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  And the question is, how do we have that peace?
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  Over the years I've enjoyed being involved in house renovations.
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  Where mostly probably older houses, but sometimes new houses.
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  But especially maybe being involved in old houses.
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  There was a sense of excitement in going into a renovation.
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  Because the part that I enjoyed most really was dismantling.
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  Breaking walls down.
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  Just taking a big hammer and starting to smash the place apart.
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  It was going to be a complete renovation.
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  So everything had to be taken down first.
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  There's something therapeutic in that.
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  Just having that time.
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  But then you have to ask the question,
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  how is it all going to go back together?
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  Tearing down can be great fun in that sense.
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  But how is it all going to go back together?
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  How is it going to be rebuilt?
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  And it's at that point that I knew, well I can't do it.
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  I haven't been trained.
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  I know a little, but I don't know it all.
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  So it's not me who's going to have to put it back together.
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  It's got to be the experts.
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  Those who are trained in that way.
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  Those who have the expertise and the patience to build things up again.
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  And it's great to watch people who are good at their job.
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  Just rebuilding something.
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  And making it into something even better than it was before.
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  And our own lives can have that kind of experience too.
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  We can always go through life and being experts at tearing things down.
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  At breaking things down.
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  Tearing down walls, as it were.
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  And in many ways we can be like that with our relationships.
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  Tearing things down.
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  We can tear down our relationship with the Lord.
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  And we can tear down our relationship with one another.
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  But how do we rebuild?
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  How do we build from what has been torn down?
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  How do we rebuild ourselves with the Lord?
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  How do we rebuild ourselves as a people?
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  Well it's to look to the Lord as the architect.
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  It's to look to God and to his word.
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  Because God gives us a blueprint for our lives.
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  The way that we are to live.
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  The way that we are to set aside.
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  Not just thinking about our own plans.
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  Because that can be a little bit like hiring the cowboy builders.
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  Those who come in and just do it using shortcuts.
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  Using the cheap way with dangerous results.
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  That's when we try to do things our own way.
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  And if that's what we do there's no peace.
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  You can imagine renovating a house.
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  And you know the builders are coming.
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  You know they're not the best.
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  They're cowboy builders.
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  There's no peace then in what they have done.
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  There's no assurance in the work that's going to last.
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  And so if we don't build on the foundations of Jesus Christ ourselves.
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  Then it's the same as inviting the cowboy builders in to rebuild our house.
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  It's not going to last.
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  But the word of God takes us to that place where we find that God is the one who is able to build up.
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  And God is the one who gives us instruction in how to build up.
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  And so do we want to know the peace of God?
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  You ask yourself that individually.
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  Do you want to know the peace of God?
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  We ask it collectively.
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  Do we want to know the peace of God?
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  How?
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  How can we?
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  Well these verses show us where we can find that peace of God.
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  And it's the basis of verse 7.
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  By guarding our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.
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  That is where we find the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.
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  And when you look at that, these words will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
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  That word guard is about building.
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  It is about building a wall of defense.
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  It is building a wall of security.
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  It's another word for garrison as well.
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  In other words, there's a military sense in it as well.
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  It's having a battalion around to guard us, to defend us.
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  But it's got that idea of building a wall.
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  Building a guard around our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.
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  And so as we look at this building work, as we look at what the word of God is saying for us here,
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  if we want to know the peace of God which surpasses understanding,
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  that builds a wall to guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus,
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  where does that come from?
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  Well, it comes from the previous three verses.
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  That's what leads us to this point.
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  And that is what the building work is.
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  Because we see three walls being built.
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  We see first a wall of praise.
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  Then we see a wall of patience.
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  And then we see a wall of prayer.
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  These three walls.
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  And that is what will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus together.
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  All of us together.
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  So we're going to think of these walls this evening.
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  The first is building a wall of praise.
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  So as you look at verse 4, that's what we see there.
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  Building a wall of praise.
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  It says there,
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  Rejoice in the Lord always.
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  Again, I will say rejoice.
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  Rejoice.
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  This is an important aspect of our peace with God that passes understanding.
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  Rejoicing in the Lord always.
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  Again, I say rejoice.
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  Isn't it something that we so often need reminded of?
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  Even the way Paul repeats it there for us.
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  Rejoice in the Lord always.
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  He doesn't just say it once.
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  Again, I say rejoice.
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  And you notice that this is in the midst of difficulty.
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  Because in verse 2 and 3 there, you see there's a sense of rebuilding being required.
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  And so in order for that rebuilding to take place, it's saying in verse 4,
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  Rejoice in the Lord always.
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  Again, I say rejoice.
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  Rejoice.
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  And Paul, you just have to look at where he is as he's writing these words.
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  He's not someone who's got his, as we might say, his head in the clouds.
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  And he's not one who's got his head in the sand, just buried, unaware of what's going on around.
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  He's not remote from the situation.
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  It's not that he doesn't know what's going on.
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  He's in the midst of it.
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  And he's fully aware of everything that's going on.
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  He knows the Philippians are facing all of these threats to their peace from every angle it's coming.
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  Attack after attack.
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  There's threats all around them.
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  You see it in chapter 1, verse 29 and 30.
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  Look at what it says there.
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  For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake.
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  Engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
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  So he's in the midst of it himself.
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  And he knows others who are in the midst of it themselves as well.
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  In the midst of this conflict.
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  This war that's going on around them.
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  And so that's why as we come into chapter 4, the word guard is like garrison.
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  To have the army surround us.
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  To have the army with us.
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  To build this wall, this defense around us.
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  It's because there is a conflict going on.
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  And we are always in a situation like that ourselves.
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  Where there's the danger of conflict all around us.
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  Threats all around us.
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  Threats against the peace of God that passes all understanding.
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  And so the joy, the sense of rejoicing that Paul is speaking about here.
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  It's not just circumstances are going to be great.
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  There's going to be great joy and celebration and delight.
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  It's a sense of the joy, the rejoicing that comes from God.
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  That we draw from God.
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  We can speak about drawing from a resource.
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  It's not so familiar for us now.
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  But in other countries, people go to draw water from the well.
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  You draw from a source.
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  The same as when you go to the money.
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  You draw money from the bank.
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  You take from that resource that you have.
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  You draw money out.
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  It's about getting help.
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  And that's exactly what these words are pointing at here.
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  Rejoice in the Lord always.
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  Again, I will say rejoice.
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  It's about drawing from the Lord.
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  Taking from the great resource that he has for us.
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  It's made clear for us in the Old Testament.
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  In Isaiah chapter 12, verse 3 and 4.
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  So there's that sense of drawing.
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  Draw from the wells of salvation.
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  Rejoice in the Lord is that drawing from the wells of salvation.
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  And that is what we are to do.
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  Like I say, this is a letter not just for us individually.
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  And we can do all of these things individually.
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  But it's for us together.
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  Together as one to draw from the well of salvation.
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  To rejoice in the Lord always.
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  That is our purpose.
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  To be a people who are praising God.
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  And do you, do I, do we not have reason to praise God?
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  To rejoice in the Lord always.
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  Because of his goodness.
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  Because of his mercy.
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  Because of the way he is working.
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  We are reminded of that so powerfully this morning.
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  Of what the Lord is doing.
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  Even in the midst of all the uncertainty.
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  All the different circumstances our world is in.
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  We can still say rejoice in the Lord always.
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  And so Paul is saying if you are going to experience that peace that passes understanding.
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  Guard your hearts.
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  Build around your hearts this wall of praise.
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  This wall of rejoicing in God.
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  And it's like a command.
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  It's not just an encouragement.
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  It's a command.
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  It's a strong word from God.
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  It's a word to you.
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  It's a word to me tonight.
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  To go on being glad.
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  To go on rejoicing in the Lord.
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  Because the reality is when we look at our lives.
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  We often we don't find reasons to rejoice.
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  We don't find reason for that great gladness in this world.
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  Because there are so many things that leave us feeling down.
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  Leaving us feeling a burden upon us.
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  Paul penned these words as he was bound between two soldiers in a Roman prison.
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  But he's still able to say rejoice.
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  Rejoice.
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  Paul still knew that regardless of his circumstances in life.
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  God never changes.
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  He said earlier in this letter for me to live is Christ.
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  There is that sense of rejoicing in the Lord in that.
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  Because he never changes.
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  So are you drawing on this joy?
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  This praise from God to guard your heart?
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  Are we drawing from this joy?
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  Together are we drawing from this praise in God for all that he has to offer us?
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  Because that will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.
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  We can rejoice.
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  We have every reason to rejoice.
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  Because he has been good to us.
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  So the first wall that we are to build around our hearts and minds is that wall of praise.
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  The second thing we see here is a wall of patience.
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  And you see this in verse 5.
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  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.
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  The Lord is at hand.
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  A wall of patience to guard our hearts and minds.
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  So as you continue to read through these verses.
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  And indeed as you read through this letter.
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  One commentator puts it like this.
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  It's like the voice of a parent to a child.
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  A child who leaves home for the first time to go to university.
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  Many of you have been in that situation.
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  You know what it's like as parents to send your children away to university.
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  And you can enter into that sense of what Paul is trying to say.
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  What is a parent saying to a child who goes to university?
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  Some of the younger ones.
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  You'll maybe be hearing these words soon when you go away to university.
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  Maybe later on this year or in a few years time.
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  You'll hear a parent with these kinds of words.
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  Keep in touch.
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  Be careful with your money.
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  Make sure you eat properly.
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  Phone us.
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  Keep yourself clean and tidy.
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  You'll hear all of these things.
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  And it's that sense coming across here.
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  It's like a parent to a child.
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  Now, how many have gone away to university and just rolled your eyes at what they say?
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  I've been there.
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  Now I'm finding myself on the other side when a child's going away to university.
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  And you just think, well, what do they know?
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  I'll go away and I'll do my own thing.
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  And the first time you think of getting in touch, it's usually that phone call.
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  I don't have any money.
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  Can you send me some?
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  You realize you do need help.
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  But it's usually that case of if only I'd listened in the first place.
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  And that's exactly what we have with Paul here.
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  As he's saying these things, he's like that concerned parent.
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  He's got that concern for the people, the congregation that he is writing to.
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  He's got that love for them.
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  And you see that as he's writing in this letter, how he loves the people he's writing to.
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  And he's got that love, that concern for them.
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  He's saying, rejoice in the Lord.
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  This is what you have to do.
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  And then he goes on to say, let your reasonableness be known to everyone.
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  This is how you are to conduct yourselves.
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  This is how you are to live.
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  And so this is the concern that he has.
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  And so what kind of wall of patience is he speaking about here?
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  He says, let your reasonableness be known to everyone.
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  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.
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  Now, again, we can take this individually and we can take it collectively.
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  He is writing to us.
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  How can we let our reasonableness be known to everyone?
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  Well, in the midst of our circumstances, how do we deal with one another?
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  Are we patient?
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  Are we gracious?
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  Are we careful in what we're saying?
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  Are we careful in how we're conducting ourselves?
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  There are so many ways that we have to make sure that we build this wall of patience.
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  That we guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus through building that wall of patience.
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  Because we so often let that wall come down.
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  You know it and I know it.
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  We know it only too well.
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  There are times when we let that wall come down.
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  And so he's saying, build, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
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  Build that wall of patience.
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  Because if you don't, if we don't, there is a danger of anger taking over.
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  Those scriptures warn us of that again and again.
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  Ephesians chapter 4.
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  Paul writing again to another congregation.
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  He says in verse 26,
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  So there's a strong warning in these words.
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  Be angry but do not sin.
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  Do not let the sun go down on your anger.
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  And do not let the devil have an opportunity.
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  That's words for us.
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  Do not let the devil have opportunity.
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  Build this wall.
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  Guard your hearts, your minds in Christ Jesus with this wall of patience.
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  Leonardo da Vinci once said,
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  Patience serves as protection against trials as clothes does against the cold.
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  For if you put on more clothes as the cold increases,
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  it will have no power to hurt you.
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  So in like manner you must grow in patience.
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  When you meet with great trials.
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  And they will then be powerless to vex your mind.
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  So just think about it in that way.
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  Just like the cold will get you.
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  So you put on more clothes.
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  As trials come, put on more patience.
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  That you might endure.
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  That they might not vex your mind.
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  As he says there.
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  Guard your hearts and your minds with this wall of patience.
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  When you look at this letter as a whole.
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  What is Paul doing?
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  He's getting them to not just focus on themselves.
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  But to turn away from themselves.
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  He's getting them to focus on Jesus.
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  And to continue in that way.
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  And that is what we must continue to do.
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  To wait on him with patience.
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  As he has shown patience to us.
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  To wait on him with that wall built.
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  That we will not let the cold as it were overcome us.
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  But that we will remain strong in him.
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  He is patient with us.
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  And you look at 2 Peter 3 verse 9.
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  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise.
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  As some count slowness.
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  But is patient toward you.
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  Not wishing that any should perish.
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  But that all should reach repentance.
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  So there is this fatherly parent concern behind these words.
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  Be patient.
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  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.
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  Guard your hearts and your minds.
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  In Christ Jesus.
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  With this wall of patience.
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  By looking to Jesus.
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  The hymn.
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  Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
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  The last verse of it.
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  Reminds us what we are about.
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  As a congregation.
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  As a people.
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  His word shall not fail you.
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  He promised.
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  Believe him.
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  And all will be well.
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  Then go to a world that is dying.
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  His perfect salvation.
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  To tell.
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  We have a purpose.
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  As a people.
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  As a church.
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  We have a purpose.
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  To go to a world that is dying.
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  His perfect salvation.
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  To tell.
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  How can we do that.
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  If we have no peace.
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  With God.
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  So we have to guard.
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  Our hearts.
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  And our minds.
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  To build.
• 25:55
  That wall of patience.
• 25:57
  To have.
• 25:58
  That peace.
• 25:59
  And as the hymn goes on to say.
• 26:00
  It says.
• 26:01
  Turn.
• 26:01
  Your eyes upon Jesus.
• 26:03
  Look full.
• 26:04
  In his wonderful face.
• 26:06
  And the things.
• 26:07
  Of this.
• 26:08
  Of earth.
• 26:09
  Will grow strangely dim.
• 26:11
  In the light.
• 26:12
  Of his glory.
• 26:13
  And grace.
• 26:15
  He gives us grace.
• 26:17
  And that's the grace we find.
• 26:19
  As we build.
• 26:20
  That wall.
• 26:21
  Of patience.
• 26:23
  So let your reasonableness.
• 26:24
  Be known.
• 26:26
  To everyone.
• 26:27
  The Lord.
• 26:28
  Is at hand.
• 26:30
  The Lord.
• 26:31
  Is near.
• 26:32
  The Lord.
• 26:33
  Is with us.
• 26:34
  As we do this.
• 26:36
  The final thing.
• 26:38
  We see here.
• 26:38
  The final wall.
• 26:40
  Is a wall.
• 26:41
  Of prayer.
• 26:42
  Do not be anxious.
• 26:44
  About anything.
• 26:45
  But in everything.
• 26:47
  By prayer.
• 26:47
  And supplication.
• 26:48
  With thanksgiving.
• 26:50
  Let your requests.
• 26:52
  Be made known.
• 26:53
  To God.
• 26:56
  Again.
• 26:57
  It's this kind of.
• 26:58
  Parent.
• 26:59
  Looking after.
• 27:01
  His child.
• 27:02
  Here.
• 27:03
  Do not be anxious.
• 27:04
  About anything.
• 27:05
  But keep praying.
• 27:07
  And he's saying this.
• 27:08
  He's warning us.
• 27:09
  Of this.
• 27:09
  Because of how easy.
• 27:10
  It is to lose.
• 27:13
  This peace.
• 27:14
  With God.
• 27:15
  And especially.
• 27:16
  If we are not.
• 27:17
  A praying people.
• 27:19
  The hymn.
• 27:20
  What a friend.
• 27:21
  We have in Jesus.
• 27:22
  In that hymn.
• 27:23
  It says.
• 27:23
  Oh what peace.
• 27:25
  We often forfeit.
• 27:26
  Oh what needless.
• 27:28
  Pain we bear.
• 27:30
  Why?
• 27:32
  All because.
• 27:33
  We do not carry.
• 27:35
  Everything.
• 27:36
  To him.
• 27:37
  In prayer.
• 27:38
  Oh what peace.
• 27:39
  We often forfeit.
• 27:42
  And that's just.
• 27:43
  What he's saying.
• 27:44
  To us here.
• 27:44
  Do not.
• 27:45
  Be anxious.
• 27:46
  About anything.
• 27:47
  But in everything.
• 27:48
  By prayer.
• 27:49
  And supplication.
• 27:50
  With thanksgiving.
• 27:51
  Let your requests.
• 27:53
  Be made known.
• 27:54
  To God.
• 27:56
  And so we have to build.
• 27:57
  This wall of prayer.
• 27:58
  Because as it goes on.
• 28:00
  And then.
• 28:01
  The peace of God.
• 28:02
  Which surpasses.
• 28:03
  All understanding.
• 28:04
  Will guard your hearts.
• 28:05
  And your minds.
• 28:07
  In Christ Jesus.
• 28:10
  So we seek.
• 28:11
  The peace.
• 28:13
  Of God.
• 28:15
  And we seek that.
• 28:17
  Through prayer.
• 28:19
  Prayer individually.
• 28:21
  But as we say.
• 28:22
  Prayer collectively.
• 28:25
  That our prayers.
• 28:26
  Be focused.
• 28:27
  With thanksgiving.
• 28:29
  To God.
• 28:29
  Let our requests.
• 28:31
  Be made known.
• 28:32
  To him.
• 28:32
  Because when we do not pray.
• 28:33
  The walls.
• 28:34
  Are down.
• 28:36
  And we are open.
• 28:37
  To attack.
• 28:38
  Worry will take over.
• 28:40
  Our hearts.
• 28:41
  And our minds.
• 28:42
  And all of these things.
• 28:44
  So we must build.
• 28:46
  That wall.
• 28:47
  Of prayer.
• 28:48
  Around us.
• 28:50
  There's a lot of reasons.
• 28:52
  Why we could worry.
• 28:54
  We have many reasons.
• 28:56
  And so.
• 28:57
  Paul doesn't say here.
• 28:59
  Don't worry.
• 29:02
  Don't worry.
• 29:03
  Because circumstances are great.
• 29:05
  Everything's fine.
• 29:06
  No.
• 29:07
  He tells them.
• 29:09
  Do not worry.
• 29:10
  Because God.
• 29:11
  Is in charge.
• 29:14
  Do not be anxious.
• 29:15
  About anything.
• 29:16
  But everything.
• 29:16
  By prayer.
• 29:17
  And supplication.
• 29:18
  With thanksgiving.
• 29:19
  Let your requests.
• 29:20
  Be made known.
• 29:21
  To God.
• 29:24
  Bring it.
• 29:25
  All.
• 29:26
  To him.
• 29:26
  God.
• 29:27
  But what are we like.
• 29:29
  Is that.
• 29:30
  What you do.
• 29:31
  Is that what I do.
• 29:32
  Is that what we do.
• 29:33
  Together.
• 29:33
  Many of you.
• 29:40
  Enjoy going out.
• 29:41
  For a walk.
• 29:42
  And a walk.
• 29:43
  Can be a great thing.
• 29:44
  Especially.
• 29:45
  This time of year.
• 29:46
  When there's.
• 29:47
  The change in the weather.
• 29:48
  The weather's better.
• 29:49
  There's.
• 29:49
  New life.
• 29:50
  All around us.
• 29:52
  But who goes out.
• 29:52
  For a walk.
• 29:53
  With a dog.
• 29:55
  It's quite different.
• 29:56
  Going out for a walk.
• 29:57
  By yourself.
• 29:58
  And taking a dog.
• 29:59
  With you.
• 30:01
  Because if you're just walking yourself.
• 30:03
  You've got a sense of.
• 30:04
  You're going this way.
• 30:05
  You're going from A to B.
• 30:07
  But take a dog.
• 30:10
  And it's very different.
• 30:11
  Because they want to wander off.
• 30:14
  They catch a smell.
• 30:15
  They hear a noise.
• 30:16
  And they're going in different directions.
• 30:19
  They want to investigate.
• 30:22
  And isn't that what we can be like as well.
• 30:26
  Instead of just walking.
• 30:27
  With our eyes fixed on Jesus.
• 30:29
  We can be like.
• 30:30
  We're walking with a dog.
• 30:32
  When a noise.
• 30:34
  Or something distracts us.
• 30:35
  And we go to look at.
• 30:36
  And see what that is.
• 30:38
  So that we can get distracted.
• 30:40
  And instead of.
• 30:41
  Building this wall.
• 30:42
  Of prayer.
• 30:43
  Of this wall.
• 30:44
  Of trusting God.
• 30:45
  We're turning off.
• 30:47
  In our own.
• 30:48
  Direction.
• 30:50
  And that's what Paul.
• 30:51
  Is warning us against here.
• 30:55
  This idea.
• 30:56
  Of building a wall.
• 30:57
  Of prayer.
• 30:58
  Keeps our focus.
• 31:01
  Keeps our attention.
• 31:02
  On the Lord.
• 31:04
  And trusting him.
• 31:07
  And that's the key.
• 31:08
  Here.
• 31:10
  Because when you look at these verses.
• 31:13
  He says.
• 31:14
  All of these things.
• 31:15
  Are found when you are.
• 31:17
  In Christ Jesus.
• 31:20
  When you have.
• 31:22
  This focus.
• 31:23
  When you are not.
• 31:25
  Distracted.
• 31:26
  Are we.
• 31:29
  Distracted.
• 31:30
  We so often are.
• 31:33
  Very easily we are.
• 31:35
  We can have our minds.
• 31:36
  Pulled.
• 31:37
  In different directions.
• 31:38
  Because of different things.
• 31:40
  Instead of having.
• 31:42
  That peace with God.
• 31:45
  And our hearts.
• 31:45
  And our minds.
• 31:47
  Guarded.
• 31:47
  For that peace.
• 31:49
  With God.
• 31:50
  When it says.
• 31:51
  The Lord is at hand.
• 31:53
  It is not talking about.
• 31:55
  The Lord is coming again.
• 31:57
  As it often does.
• 31:59
  But it's talking about.
• 31:59
  God with us now.
• 32:01
  The Lord.
• 32:02
  Is at hand.
• 32:03
  He is near.
• 32:04
  He is here.
• 32:05
  For us.
• 32:07
  And so.
• 32:07
  We are to be a people.
• 32:08
  Who exercise.
• 32:10
  That tool.
• 32:11
  Of prayer.
• 32:13
  And instead of.
• 32:15
  Being anxious.
• 32:16
  And worrying.
• 32:17
  We are to have faith.
• 32:18
  Faith.
• 32:19
  Faith in the power.
• 32:21
  Of God.
• 32:23
  The one who is able.
• 32:24
  To help.
• 32:26
  And the one.
• 32:27
  Who is able.
• 32:28
  To give us.
• 32:29
  That peace.
• 32:30
  That passes.
• 32:31
  All understanding.
• 32:34
  Before we can enjoy.
• 32:36
  That peace.
• 32:38
  We need the benefit.
• 32:40
  Of peace.
• 32:41
  With God.
• 32:42
  Ourselves.
• 32:44
  And so.
• 32:45
  We are to come.
• 32:46
  To Christ.
• 32:47
  To put our trust.
• 32:50
  In him.
• 32:52
  Because as we look.
• 32:53
  To him.
• 32:54
  There we will find.
• 32:56
  We find that peace.
• 32:58
  Which passes.
• 32:59
  Understanding.
• 33:01
  So may we as a people.
• 33:03
  Go forward.
• 33:04
  As one.
• 33:06
  Together.
• 33:07
  That's what Paul.
• 33:08
  Is speaking about here.
• 33:10
  It's not just what.
• 33:11
  I take from this.
• 33:13
  Or what you take from this.
• 33:14
  But what we take from it.
• 33:17
  Together.
• 33:18
  To seek this peace.
• 33:20
  Of God.
• 33:21
  We seek to build.
• 33:23
  A wall around our hearts.
• 33:25
  And our minds.
• 33:26
  In Christ Jesus.
• 33:28
  A wall.
• 33:29
  Of praise.
• 33:31
  A wall.
• 33:33
  Of patience.
• 33:34
  And a wall.
• 33:36
  Of prayer.
• 33:37
  And that the Lord.
• 33:38
  Would then guard.
• 33:39
  Our hearts and minds.
• 33:41
  In Christ Jesus.
• 33:42
  Let us pray.
• 33:47
  Lord our gracious God.
• 33:49
  We do thank you.
• 33:50
  For your word.
• 33:51
  That speaks.
• 33:52
  Not just to us.
• 33:54
  Individually.
• 33:54
  But so much of it.
• 33:56
  To us collectively.
• 33:57
  And help us Lord.
• 33:58
  That we would hear.
• 33:59
  What you say to us.
• 34:01
  Help us Lord.
• 34:02
  To seek that peace.
• 34:04
  With you.
• 34:05
  That peace.
• 34:06
  That passes.
• 34:07
  Understanding.
• 34:08
  By guarding our hearts.
• 34:10
  And our minds.
• 34:11
  In Christ Jesus.
• 34:13
  By having that longing.
• 34:15
  To be a people.
• 34:16
  Of praise.
• 34:18
  By being a people.
• 34:19
  Who are patient.
• 34:21
  And by being a people.
• 34:23
  Who look to you.
• 34:25
  Who trust.
• 34:26
  In you.
• 34:27
  And that that we do.
• 34:29
  Through prayer.
• 34:31
  So Lord be with us.
• 34:32
  Go before us.
• 34:34
  Keep us.
• 34:35
  As we ask all.
• 34:36
  In Jesus name.
• 34:37
  Amen.
• 34:38
  Amen.
• 34:41
  We'll conclude.
• 34:49
  By singing.
• 34:50
  To God's praise.
• 34:51
  In Psalm 16.
• 34:54
  Sing.
• 34:54
  Psalm's version.
• 34:55
  Psalm 16.
• 34:59
  We'll sing.
• 35:00
  From verse 8.
• 35:01
  Down.
• 35:02
  To the end.
• 35:02
  Of the psalm.
• 35:03
  The tune is.
• 35:03
  Golden Hill.
• 35:05
  Again.
• 35:05
  Just reminds us.
• 35:07
  To.
• 35:08
  Fix.
• 35:08
  Our eyes.
• 35:09
  On the Lord.
• 35:10
  Before me.
• 35:10
  Constantly.
• 35:11
  I set.
• 35:12
  The Lord.
• 35:13
  Alone.
• 35:13
  Because he is.
• 35:14
  At my right hand.
• 35:16
  I'll not be.
• 35:17
  Overthrown.
• 35:17
  Therefore.
• 35:18
  My heart.
• 35:18
  Is glad.
• 35:19
  My tongue.
• 35:20
  Will.
• 35:21
  With joy.
• 35:21
  Will sing.
• 35:22
  My body.
• 35:23
  Too.
• 35:23
  Will rest.
• 35:24
  Secure.
• 35:24
  In hope.
• 35:26
  Unwavering.
• 35:26
  We'll sing.
• 35:27
  From verse 8.
• 35:27
  To 11.
• 35:28
  To God's praise.
• 35:29
  My heart.
• 35:30
  Before me constantly
• 35:38
  I set the Lord alone
• 35:46
  Because he is not my light
• 35:56
  I'll not be overthrown
• 36:05
  Therefore my heart is glad
• 36:14
  Thy tongue with joy will sing
• 36:22
  Thy body true and fresh and pure
• 36:31
  In hope and in the name
• 36:39
  For you will not allow
• 36:48
  My soul in death to save
• 36:56
  The way you live your holy one
• 37:06
  To see the truth decay
• 37:13
  You have made more to me
• 37:22
  The path of life divine
• 37:30
  There shall I know
• 37:36
  At your right hand
• 37:40
  Joy from your face will shine
• 37:48
  After the benediction I'll go to the main door
• 37:53
  Now may grace, mercy and peace
• 37:57
  from God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
• 38:00
  rest upon and abide with you all
• 38:02
  now and forevermore. Amen.
• 38:04
  Thank you.
• 38:35
  My god