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The Contented Life · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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to God's praise. Now to begin our worship in Psalm 86. Psalm number 86, this is in the
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Scottish Psalter version, page 341, and we're singing verses 12 through to the end of the psalm.
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O Lord my God, with all my heart, to Thee I will give praise, and I the glory will ascribe unto
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Thy name always. Because Thy mercy toward me in greatness doth excel, and Thou delivered
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hast my soul out from the lowest hell. Verses 12 to 17, actually it is, in Psalm 86, to God's
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praise.
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O Lord my God, with all my heart, to Thee I will give praise, and I will give praise, and I will
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give praise, and I the glory will ascribe unto Thy name always. Because Thy mercy toward me,
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in greatness doth excel, and Thou delivered hast my soul out from the lowest hell.
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And Thou delivered hast my soul out from the lowest hell. O God, the Father, the Father,
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knowing that, and Thou relationships be right, and Thy environment.
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and the head
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that for my soul
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hath so done thee
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before them
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hath not said
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but thou art full
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of faith ye Lord
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a God most gracious
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from suffering
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and in thy good
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and mercy plentious
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O turn to me
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thy countenance
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and mercy on me have
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thy servant strength
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and the son
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of thine own hand
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may save
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show me a sign
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for good God
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may
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wish to be
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in his ear
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and be a ship
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because the Lord
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is
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self
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and
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comfort
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me
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let's now call upon the Lord in prayer
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we'll join together in prayer
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gracious and eternal God
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as we gather once again here in your presence
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we pray for your help
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we pray for your help that we may worship you as we ought to
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that our minds may be focused upon
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those things that are glorious
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in your work and in your person
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we pray for grace O Lord
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to focus upon your word
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which we find so central
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to our worship
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and we pray that you would enable us O Lord
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to not only read your word
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and hear it being expounded
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help us as speaker and hearers alike
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to take your word to heart
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apply it to our hearts we pray
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by your Holy Spirit
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to enable us thereby
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to give you the glory
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and the praise
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that you are worthy of
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in a due reception of your word
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we know Lord
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that when we receive your word
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as your word
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we thereby honour you
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we honour your name
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and we give thanks for
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the word that you have given us
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we ask O Lord
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that you would enable us
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in our understanding of your word
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to increase in that understanding daily
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we know that your word
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has so many aspects to it
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so many depths
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that we can find ourselves
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drawn into
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and even though some
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we cannot fully understand
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and comprehend
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yet we thank you
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for the benefit nevertheless
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of giving our minds to them
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we thank you
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for the plain message
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of your word
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in regard to our redemption
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we give thanks O Lord
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that your word
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shows us the way
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of salvation so clearly
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and that there are no
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aspects of that left
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as mysteries to us
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and Lord we thank you
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that as Jesus Christ
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is presented to us
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in your word
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in the message of the gospel
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we give thanks
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that thereby you speak to us
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you call us to yourself
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you impress upon us Lord
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the need to turn our back
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to sin
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to a life of selfishness
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which we are all O Lord
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by nature
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so much prone to
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we thank you tonight
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Lord for being together
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we thank you
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for the improvement
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in our situation
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with regard to the
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COVID pandemic
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and we thank you
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that we are able
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to express ourselves
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in song
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in praise
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in singing your praises
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in a way that is
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O Lord
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not hampered by
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even though the necessary
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masks were in place
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for some time
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we pray O Lord
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that for all of these
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good things
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and for everything good
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that comes from you
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we may tonight
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be thankful
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and we may be
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the more dependent
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upon you
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your word tells us
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we live and move
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and have our being
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in you
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however Lord
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we may progress
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in this world
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however much we may have
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of worldly success
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and however legitimate
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these things
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may be in themselves
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yet Lord
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we are reminded
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so frequently
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in your word
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that they are all
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from you
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as regards
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the good things
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that we enjoy
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and that it is
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by your power
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and by your might
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by your grace
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that you have given
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them to us
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help us to honour you
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with our daily lives
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help us to take
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O Lord
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from our worship
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this evening
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that which would
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follow through
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into the rest
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of the week
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for us
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and help us
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to be concerned
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in our daily life
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to manifest
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the glory
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of Christ
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and to show
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ourselves
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as willing
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servants
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of the Lord
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and to commend
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him to those
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that we meet
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with on a daily
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basis
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Lord forgive us
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we pray
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for our failures
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in regard
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to this
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we regard
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even the best
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of us
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Lord
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as not fully
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committed
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to this
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in the way
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we ought
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we confess
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O Lord
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we let many
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opportunities
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pass
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that they're
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gone
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before we
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realise
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that we
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ought to
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have made
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the most
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of them
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we pray
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your forgiveness
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Lord
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in regard
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to all
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our sins
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the sins
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that are
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obvious
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in our lives
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sins of speech
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and of behaviour
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as well as
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those that we
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find in our
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own hearts
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may not be
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known to any
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others but
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ourselves
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and you
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you are the
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God who
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looks into
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our hearts
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keenly
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and perfectly
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and O Lord
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we know
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that we
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cannot hide
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from you
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and cannot
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hide anything
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else from you
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that we
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find in
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ourselves
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or in
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all that we
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think or do
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we give
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thanks for
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this
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but it is
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thereby Lord
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that we can
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come and
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place our
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entire selves
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our lives
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in your hand
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knowing that
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you are able
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to provide
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against all
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our need
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in all its
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variety
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in all its
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extent
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so bless us
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Lord we pray
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tonight as a
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congregation
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bless all the
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gatherings of
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your people
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in this town
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and beyond
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enable Lord
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your people
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tonight to
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know the
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empowerment
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of your
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Holy Spirit
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oh we thank
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you for your
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Holy Spirit
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we thank you
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for the
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ministry that
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your spirit
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exercises
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in bringing
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us oh Lord
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to know
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ourselves as
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sinners
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destitute of
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righteousness
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we thank you
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for the
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ministry of
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your spirit
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convicting us
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of our sin
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and of our
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misery
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we thank you
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for the
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ministry of
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your spirit
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in directing
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us to the
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saviour and
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in enabling
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us to embrace
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you as the
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living God
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the living saviour
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of his people
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Lord we ask
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for your spirit
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to guide us
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in our
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Christian walk
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we give
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thanks oh
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Lord for
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all that you
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have been to
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us thus far
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we pray that
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whatever age we
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may be
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our lives may
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be directed
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by your
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holy spirit
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day by
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day
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we give
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thanks for
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the work of
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your spirit
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and sanctifying
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your people
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and preparing
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them to be
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with you in
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heaven
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and Lord we
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pray that
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tonight each
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of us may
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know that
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influence in
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our own
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lives
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our hearts
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being directed
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towards you
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and made
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conformable to
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you in your
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own will and
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purpose
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remember us
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Lord we pray
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in all that we
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seek to do
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throughout each
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week in your
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name both in
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regard to our
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young folks and
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other age groups
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too we pray for
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our young people
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and ask Lord as
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we are thankful
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for them we
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pray for each
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and every
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individual we
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pray for all the
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families that
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have young people
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that belong to
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us as a
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congregation
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Lord remember
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them we pray
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at this time
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and establish
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them in your
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ways we ask
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your blessing
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for youth
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fellowship this
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evening and
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pray that you
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would bless
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them as they
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meet together
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we pray for
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Reverend Ferrier
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as he speaks
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to them we
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pray that that
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will be a
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blessed occasion
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to all
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concern and
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we ask oh
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Lord that you
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would continue
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to provide for
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our Sunday
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school or our
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creche for our
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tweenies for
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other groups
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Lord that
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involve our
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young people
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bless your
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own gospel to
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them and grant
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to protect them
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and show them
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the things that
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are in this
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world designed
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in themselves
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from the evil
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one to lead
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them away from
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your truth
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we pray that
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you would make
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them wise
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unto salvation
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remember those
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tonight whose
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hearts are heavy
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with mourning
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Lord remember
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all who mourn
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the passing of
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loved ones
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each and every
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week that goes
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by recently
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we know that
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those belonging
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to our
11:52
congregation have
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experienced
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bereavement and
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loss
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Lord we pray
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for each and
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every family
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and each
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individual
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we pray for
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those who are
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still waiting
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for preparations
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regarding the
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funeral of
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loved ones
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we ask that
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you would give
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them grace
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Lord to
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wait upon you
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and to know
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your direction
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and your
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comfort at this
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time
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we pray for
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the outcome
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of the elections
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both locally
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and nationally
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oh Lord our
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God we pray
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for those
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in our own
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locality who
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have been
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elected to
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council
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those returning
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and those who
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are there for
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the first time
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we pray for
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them and ask
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that you would
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show them your
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ways and bless
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them especially
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Lord we pray
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that you would
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bring to them
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the sense of
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the sufficiency
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of your word
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of your own
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laws of your
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precepts
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help also those
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who offered
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themselves but
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ended up without
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being elected
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help them we pray
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to deal with
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that we thank
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you for the
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interests of so
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many and we
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pray especially
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for those of
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your own people
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who gave
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themselves to
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election but
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weren't elected
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yes Lord we
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we do pray for
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them and ask
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that you would
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be pleased to
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draw near to
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them at this
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time and so
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we ask that in
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all aspects of
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our life
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individually and
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congregationally and
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in our locality and
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nationally Lord our
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God be merciful to
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us show us your
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ways direct us away
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from the ways of
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sin and hear us
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we pray now and
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pardon us for
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Jesus sake
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amen
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let's now read
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God's word as we
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find it this
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evening in 1
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Timothy
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1 Timothy in
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chapter 6
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we'll read
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through the whole
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chapter from the
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beginning
13:44
1 Timothy in
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chapter 6
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let all who are
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under a yoke of
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slaves regard their
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own masters as
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worthy of all
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honor so that the
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name of God and
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the teaching may
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not be reviled
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those who have
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believing masters
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must not be
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disrespectful on the
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ground that they are
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brothers rather they
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must serve all the
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better since those
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who benefit by their
14:11
good service are
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believers and
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beloved
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teach and urge
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these things
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if anyone teaches a
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different doctrine
14:18
and does not agree
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with the sound words
14:21
of our Lord Jesus
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Christ and the
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teaching that
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accords with
14:25
godliness he is
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puffed up with
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conceit and
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understands nothing
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he has an
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unhealthy craving
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for controversy
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and for quarrels
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about words
14:34
which produce
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envy
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dissension
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slander
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evil suspicions
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and constant
14:40
friction among
14:41
people who are
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depraved in mind
14:43
and deprived of
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the truth
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imagining that
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godliness is a
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means of gain
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now there is
14:50
great gain
14:51
in godliness
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with contentment
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for we brought
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nothing into the
14:55
world and we
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cannot take anything
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out of the world
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but if we have food
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and clothing
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with these we will
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be content
15:02
but those who
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desire to be rich
15:05
fall into temptation
15:06
into a snare
15:08
into many senseless
15:09
and harmful desires
15:11
that plunge people
15:12
into ruin and
15:13
destruction
15:13
for the love of
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money is a root
15:17
of all kinds of
15:17
evil
15:18
it is through
15:19
this craving
15:20
that some have
15:21
wandered away
15:21
from the faith
15:22
and pierced
15:23
themselves with
15:24
many pangs
15:25
but as for you
15:27
oh man of god
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flee these things
15:29
pursue righteousness
15:31
godliness
15:32
faith
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love
15:33
steadfastness
15:35
gentleness
15:36
fight the good
15:37
fight of the faith
15:38
take hold of the
15:40
eternal life
15:40
to which you are
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called and about
15:42
which you made
15:43
the good confession
15:44
in the presence
15:45
of many witnesses
15:46
i charge you in
15:48
the presence of god
15:49
who gives life
15:50
to all things
15:51
and to jesus christ
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and of jesus christ
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who in his testimony
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before pontius pilate
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made the good
15:57
confession
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to keep the
15:59
commandment
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unstained
16:01
and free from
16:02
reproach
16:02
until the appearing
16:04
of our lord jesus christ
16:06
which he will display
16:07
at the proper time
16:08
he who is the
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blessed and only
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sovereign
16:11
the king of kings
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and lord of lords
16:14
who alone has
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immortality
16:16
who dwells in
16:18
unapproachable light
16:19
whom no one has
16:20
ever seen or can
16:21
see
16:22
to him be honor
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and eternal dominion
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amen
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as for the rich
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in this present age
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charge them
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not to be haughty
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nor to set their
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hopes on the
16:33
uncertainty of
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riches
16:34
but on god
16:35
who richly provides
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us with everything
16:38
to enjoy
16:39
they are to do
16:40
good
16:41
to be rich
16:42
in good works
16:43
to be generous
16:44
and ready to share
16:45
thus storing up
16:46
treasure for
16:47
themselves
16:47
as a good
16:48
foundation for
16:49
the future
16:50
so that they may
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take hold
16:52
of that which
16:53
is truly life
16:54
oh timothy guard
16:56
the deposit
16:56
entrusted to you
16:58
avoid the irreverent
16:59
babble and
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contradictions
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of what is falsely
17:02
called knowledge
17:03
for by professing
17:05
it
17:05
some have swerved
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from the faith
17:08
grace
17:09
be
17:10
with you
17:11
amen
17:13
may god bless
17:14
again a reading
17:15
of his word
17:16
to his own
17:16
praise
17:17
and glory
17:18
i'm going to sing
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again in psalm 68
17:20
now it's 68
17:21
in the
17:22
scottish psalter
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version
17:24
not the
17:25
sing psalms
17:25
version
17:26
that's on your
17:26
bulletin sheet
17:27
so it's psalm 68
17:30
verses
17:31
7
17:33
through to
17:34
11
17:35
o god
17:41
what time
17:41
thou didst
17:42
go forth
17:42
before thy
17:43
people's face
17:44
and when
17:46
through the
17:46
great wilderness
17:47
thy glorious
17:47
marching was
17:49
then that
17:50
god's presence
17:50
shook the earth
17:51
then drops
17:52
from heaven
17:52
fell
17:53
this sinai
17:54
shook before
17:55
the lord
17:56
the god
17:57
of israel
17:58
through to
17:59
verse 11
17:59
the lord himself
18:00
did give the
18:01
word
18:01
the word
18:02
abroad
18:03
did spread
18:03
great was
18:05
the company
18:05
of them
18:06
the same
18:07
who published
18:08
that's psalm 68
18:09
on page
18:10
302
18:11
in the scottish
18:13
psalter
18:13
singing from
18:15
verse 7
18:15
to verse 11
18:16
o god
18:17
what time
18:18
thou didst
18:19
go forth
18:19
o god
18:24
what time
18:25
thou didst
18:26
go forth
18:27
before
18:29
thy
18:30
people
18:31
face
18:33
and
18:35
when
18:35
through
18:36
the
18:37
great
18:38
wilderness
18:39
thy
18:41
glorious
18:42
marching
18:43
voice
18:46
then
18:48
at
18:48
god's
18:49
presence
18:50
shook
18:51
the earth
18:52
then
18:54
drops
18:54
from
18:55
heaven
18:56
fell
18:58
this
19:00
sign
19:01
i shook
19:02
before
19:03
the lord
19:05
the god
19:07
of
19:07
israel
19:10
o god
19:13
the
19:14
who
19:15
do
19:15
thy
19:15
heritage
19:17
should send
19:20
a
19:20
plenteous
19:23
rain
19:24
whereby
19:26
the
19:27
wrennage
19:29
weary
19:30
walls
19:31
didst
19:32
it refresh
19:34
again
19:36
thy
19:39
my congregation
19:41
then
19:43
did make
19:44
their
19:45
habitation
19:48
there
19:50
of
19:52
thine
19:52
own
19:53
goodness
19:54
for
19:56
the
19:56
food
19:57
o god
19:59
thou
19:59
didst
20:00
prepare
20:02
the
20:05
lord
20:06
himself
20:07
did
20:09
give
20:09
the
20:10
word
20:11
the
20:11
word
20:12
abroad
20:13
did
20:15
spread
20:17
great
20:18
was
20:19
the
20:19
company
20:21
of
20:23
them
20:23
the
20:25
same
20:25
who
20:26
publishes
20:29
let's
20:32
turn
20:33
once again
20:33
this
20:33
evening
20:33
to the
20:34
epistle
20:35
to the
20:35
philippians
20:36
paul's
20:37
letter
20:38
to the
20:38
philippians
20:39
it's
20:40
some time
20:40
since we
20:41
had our
20:42
last study
20:42
in
20:42
philippians
20:43
chapter 4
20:44
and we're
20:45
going to
20:46
continue
20:46
tonight
20:46
chapter 4
20:47
verse 10
20:48
and looking
20:49
at verses
20:50
10
20:51
to 13
20:52
that's
20:54
philippians
20:55
chapter 4
20:55
and reading
20:56
from verse
20:56
10
20:57
i rejoiced
20:57
in the
20:58
lord
20:58
greatly
20:58
that now
21:00
at length
21:00
you have
21:00
revived
21:01
your
21:01
concern
21:01
for me
21:02
you were
21:03
indeed
21:03
concerned
21:04
for me
21:04
but you
21:05
had no
21:06
opportunity
21:06
not that
21:07
i'm speaking
21:08
of being
21:08
in need
21:09
for i have
21:10
learned in
21:10
whatever
21:11
situation
21:11
i am
21:12
to be
21:12
content
21:13
i know
21:14
how to
21:15
be brought
21:15
low
21:15
i know
21:16
how to
21:16
abound
21:17
in
21:18
everything
21:18
in
21:19
every
21:19
in
21:19
any
21:20
and
21:20
every
21:21
circumstance
21:21
i have
21:22
learned
21:23
the secret
21:23
of facing
21:24
plenty
21:24
and hunger
21:25
abundance
21:26
and need
21:27
i can
21:29
do
21:29
all
21:30
things
21:30
through
21:30
him
21:31
who
21:32
strengthens
21:33
me
21:33
well we're
21:38
living as you
21:38
know in very
21:39
challenging
21:39
times
21:40
challenging
21:42
times not
21:43
only in
21:44
a way that
21:44
the gospel
21:45
is being
21:46
challenged
21:47
but challenging
21:48
too in a
21:49
more ordinary
21:49
sense if you
21:50
like challenging
21:51
times with
21:51
regard to
21:52
prices increasing
21:54
in the
21:55
aftermath of
21:55
the covid
21:56
situation and
21:57
the worldwide
21:58
effects of
22:00
that
22:00
challenges
22:01
regarding
22:02
inflation and
22:03
the increasing
22:04
inflation that
22:05
we're hearing
22:06
about and
22:07
that we know
22:07
about in the
22:08
prices themselves
22:09
as you see
22:10
that in your
22:10
shops
22:11
challenging
22:12
times with
22:13
regard to
22:14
closures of
22:15
businesses
22:16
challenges for
22:17
those who have
22:18
lost their
22:18
work and
22:19
are now
22:19
unemployed
22:20
and some
22:21
who find
22:22
difficulty in
22:23
seeking
22:24
alternative
22:24
employment
22:25
this is
22:27
an environment
22:29
for much
22:30
anxiety
22:31
an environment
22:32
in which some
22:33
find a degree
22:35
of hopelessness
22:36
and feeling
22:36
just sidelined
22:38
an environment
22:39
in which we
22:40
find an
22:41
increase in
22:42
substance abuse
22:43
and alcoholism
22:45
and those
22:46
sort of
22:46
excesses
22:47
how can
22:49
anyone be
22:50
content
22:51
in circumstances
22:53
like these
22:54
where do you
22:56
find the
22:57
secret of
22:57
contentment
22:58
what the
22:58
apostle is
22:59
calling here
23:00
the secret of
23:01
contentment
23:02
that he has
23:02
learned
23:02
how can
23:03
anyone be
23:04
content
23:05
surrounded by
23:06
and affected
23:07
by sometimes
23:07
affected directly
23:09
as most of us
23:09
are by these
23:11
issues that
23:11
prove so
23:13
challenging
23:13
for our
23:14
day
23:14
well Paul is
23:16
dealing here
23:17
with what
23:17
we're calling
23:18
the contented
23:19
life because
23:20
that's essentially
23:20
what these
23:21
verses are
23:22
about
23:23
and not
23:24
only are
23:25
we facing
23:26
challenges
23:26
we're facing
23:27
this challenge
23:28
as well
23:29
to live
23:30
a contented
23:31
life
23:31
irrespective
23:33
of what
23:33
our circumstances
23:34
may be
23:35
because it's
23:35
not just
23:36
in times
23:37
of difficulty
23:38
times of
23:39
challenges
23:40
such as we
23:41
mentioned
23:41
that living
23:42
a contented
23:43
life is
23:43
important
23:44
it is
23:45
important
23:45
at all
23:46
times
23:46
to seek
23:47
to live
23:48
a life
23:48
of contentment
23:49
to have
23:50
a contented
23:51
heart
23:51
to have
23:52
a contented
23:53
mind
23:53
to have
23:54
a mind
23:55
that is
23:55
well and
23:56
truly
23:56
content
23:57
with our
23:58
circumstances
23:59
with our
23:59
situation
24:00
with our
24:01
relationship
24:02
with God
24:02
whatever it
24:03
is you're
24:04
thinking about
24:04
and this
24:07
was important
24:07
to the
24:08
apostle
24:08
not just
24:09
in writing
24:09
to the
24:10
Philippians
24:10
it was
24:11
important
24:11
to the
24:11
apostle
24:12
not just
24:13
for his
24:13
own life
24:14
as well
24:14
and those
24:15
of the
24:15
Philippians
24:15
it was
24:16
important
24:17
pastorally
24:18
for the
24:19
apostle
24:19
as we
24:20
read in
24:20
chapter 6
24:21
of 1st
24:22
Timothy
24:23
you can
24:24
see there
24:24
in verses
24:24
6 to
24:25
10
24:25
how important
24:26
it was
24:27
for the
24:28
apostle
24:28
to commend
24:29
contentment
24:30
and how
24:32
one comes
24:33
about to
24:33
be content
24:34
in his
24:35
preaching
24:35
it's something
24:36
obviously
24:37
built into
24:37
his preaching
24:38
it's something
24:39
obviously
24:39
that should
24:40
be important
24:40
to us
24:41
in our
24:42
preaching
24:42
of the
24:42
gospel
24:43
where does
24:44
a person
24:44
get contentment
24:45
from
24:46
how does
24:47
a person
24:47
come
24:48
to be
24:48
content
24:49
in their
24:49
lives
24:50
in the
24:51
world
24:51
in which
24:52
we are
24:52
placed
24:52
and you
24:54
look at
24:54
the
24:54
verses
24:54
17 to
24:56
19
24:56
of that
24:56
chapter
24:57
where he
24:58
talks there
24:58
about the
24:59
danger
25:00
of seeking
25:00
to follow
25:02
riches
25:03
for their
25:03
own sake
25:04
he says
25:06
for the rich
25:06
in this
25:06
present age
25:07
as for
25:08
them
25:08
charge them
25:09
not to
25:09
be haughty
25:10
or set
25:10
their hopes
25:11
on the
25:11
uncertainty
25:12
of riches
25:12
but on
25:13
God
25:13
who richly
25:14
provides us
25:15
with everything
25:16
to enjoy
25:17
there to
25:18
be good
25:19
to be
25:20
rich
25:20
in good
25:21
works
25:22
you see
25:22
the way
25:22
Paul plays
25:23
on the
25:24
word rich
25:24
and riches
25:25
throughout that
25:26
passage there
25:27
they are not
25:28
to set their
25:28
hope on the
25:29
uncertainty
25:29
of riches
25:30
but rather
25:31
to look to
25:32
God
25:32
who richly
25:33
gives
25:34
good works
25:35
and is
25:37
therefore able
25:38
to give
25:38
the contentment
25:39
that we
25:40
require
25:41
and that's
25:41
really what
25:41
you have
25:42
in the
25:42
Philippians
25:43
passage
25:43
as well
25:44
what is
25:45
a contented
25:46
life
25:47
how do you
25:48
experience
25:49
contentment
25:49
where does
25:50
it come
25:50
from
25:51
what are
25:52
the elements
25:52
of contentment
25:53
for yourself
25:54
for myself
25:55
tonight
25:55
if you ask
25:56
yourself the
25:57
question
25:57
how can I
25:58
have a
25:58
contented
25:59
heart
26:00
if I'm
26:00
surrounded by
26:01
challenges
26:02
and uncertainties
26:04
if I know
26:05
of changes
26:05
in my life
26:06
if I know
26:07
of things
26:07
that I'm
26:08
struggling
26:08
with
26:09
where can I
26:09
find contentment
26:11
how can I
26:11
possibly have
26:12
contentment
26:13
true contentment
26:15
in that
26:16
situation
26:17
well Paul
26:19
gives us
26:20
here
26:20
three main
26:22
elements
26:22
to it
26:23
I'm going
26:24
to take
26:24
these in
26:24
turn
26:25
he talks
26:26
first of
26:26
all about
26:26
thankfulness
26:28
you can see
26:29
that from
26:29
verse 8
26:30
onwards
26:30
and especially
26:31
in verse 10
26:32
I rejoiced
26:33
in the Lord
26:34
greatly
26:35
that now
26:35
at length
26:36
you have
26:36
revived
26:37
your concern
26:39
for me
26:39
you are
26:40
indeed
26:40
concerned
26:41
for me
26:41
but you
26:42
had no
26:42
opportunity
26:43
you can
26:44
see
26:44
how he
26:45
is later
26:46
on in the
26:46
passage
26:47
that follows
26:47
talking about
26:49
the gift
26:49
that they
26:49
have sent
26:50
to him
26:51
verse 18
26:52
I have
26:52
received
26:53
full payment
26:54
and more
26:55
I am well
26:55
supplied
26:56
having received
26:57
from Epaphroditus
26:58
the gifts
26:59
that you
27:00
said
27:00
so he is
27:01
thankful
27:01
to the
27:02
Philippians
27:03
thankful of
27:04
course to
27:04
God most
27:05
of all
27:05
but he's
27:06
thankful
27:06
that the
27:07
Philippians
27:07
have shown
27:08
themselves
27:08
in their
27:09
kindness
27:09
to him
27:09
by sending
27:10
gifts
27:11
we're not
27:12
told what
27:12
they were
27:13
but Epaphroditus
27:15
came with
27:16
this gift
27:16
to Paul
27:17
and he is
27:18
truly thankful
27:19
for it
27:19
now that's
27:20
an essential
27:21
element
27:22
of a
27:23
contented
27:23
life
27:24
you and I
27:25
will never
27:25
have a
27:25
contented
27:26
life
27:26
if we are
27:27
not thankful
27:28
to God
27:29
if we are
27:30
not thankful
27:30
even for the
27:31
least of his
27:32
mercies
27:32
because
27:33
thankfulness
27:34
is such
27:36
an important
27:37
ingredient
27:37
in a
27:38
life
27:38
that's
27:39
in tune
27:39
with God
27:40
and in
27:41
tune
27:41
with God's
27:42
providence
27:42
and God's
27:43
wisdom
27:43
so thankfulness
27:45
is the first
27:46
element
27:46
in a
27:47
contented
27:48
life
27:48
and then
27:50
secondly
27:50
you find
27:50
verses
27:51
11 to
27:52
12
27:52
or 11
27:53
to 13
27:54
the second
27:55
element
27:56
is
27:56
dependence
27:57
Paul says
27:58
he's thankful
27:59
for the gift
28:00
but he's
28:00
saying not
28:01
that I
28:02
really
28:02
was in
28:03
dire
28:03
need
28:04
of it
28:04
because
28:05
I've
28:05
learned
28:05
in
28:06
whatsoever
28:06
situation
28:07
I am
28:08
to be
28:08
content
28:08
I know
28:09
how to
28:10
be brought
28:10
low
28:11
I know
28:11
how to
28:12
abound
28:12
in every
28:13
and any
28:14
circumstance
28:15
I have
28:15
learned
28:15
the secret
28:16
of facing
28:17
plenty
28:18
and hunger
28:18
abundance
28:19
and need
28:20
I can do
28:21
all things
28:21
through him
28:22
who strengthens
28:23
me
28:23
in other
28:23
words
28:23
he's saying
28:24
my contentment
28:25
actually comes
28:26
as he's
28:27
speaking to the
28:28
Philippians
28:28
and setting
28:29
these things
28:29
forth for them
28:30
to follow
28:31
and to apply
28:31
in their own
28:32
lives
28:32
his contentment
28:33
is not just
28:34
something that
28:36
involves thankfulness
28:37
to God
28:38
it involves
28:39
dependence
28:39
upon Christ
28:40
dependence
28:41
on God
28:42
he looks
28:43
for his
28:43
sufficiency
28:44
in Jesus
28:45
himself
28:46
in God
28:46
himself
28:47
there's
28:48
thankfulness
28:49
there's
28:50
dependence
28:51
and thirdly
28:53
there is
28:54
strengthening
28:55
because ultimately
28:57
his contentment
28:59
comes from
29:00
Jesus himself
29:01
comes from
29:02
God
29:03
as you see
29:04
in verse
29:04
13
29:05
I can
29:05
do all
29:06
things
29:06
through him
29:07
who strengthens
29:09
me
29:09
so it doesn't
29:10
matter whether
29:10
Paul is
29:11
experiencing
29:11
what he calls
29:12
being brought
29:13
low
29:13
or what he
29:14
calls
29:15
abounding
29:16
whether it's
29:16
really something
29:17
in which he
29:18
lacks certain
29:19
things
29:19
physically
29:20
or financially
29:21
or whether he
29:22
is actually
29:22
full of as
29:23
much as
29:24
possible he
29:24
could have
29:25
in this
29:25
life
29:25
he's saying
29:26
I can
29:27
do all
29:28
things
29:28
through him
29:29
who fills
29:31
me with
29:31
strength
29:32
that's what
29:32
he means
29:32
who strengthens
29:33
me
29:34
his contentment
29:35
comes from
29:36
the supply
29:37
that Jesus
29:38
gives him
29:39
on a daily
29:40
basis
29:40
and that too
29:42
is in many ways
29:43
the key to
29:44
contentment for
29:45
ourselves
29:46
the contented
29:48
life
29:48
is the life
29:50
that comes
29:51
to be supplied
29:52
by Jesus
29:53
on a daily
29:54
basis
29:54
with the grace
29:56
with the ability
29:58
with the
29:58
mindset
29:59
with everything
30:01
that is to
30:01
do with
30:02
contentment
30:02
I can do
30:04
all things
30:04
through him
30:05
who strengthens
30:06
me
30:06
and he lies
30:07
content
30:08
in the supply
30:09
that Jesus
30:10
brings
30:11
because
30:11
it's not just
30:13
a matter of
30:13
those who
30:14
are facing
30:15
deprivation
30:16
that have a
30:16
challenge
30:17
of being
30:17
content
30:18
those who
30:20
are facing
30:20
poverty
30:21
for example
30:22
in Paul's
30:22
day
30:22
and he
30:23
very much
30:24
is aware
30:25
of that
30:25
as he
30:25
writes his
30:26
letters
30:26
it's
30:27
a challenge
30:29
how to
30:29
be content
30:30
if we're
30:31
on the
30:31
breadline
30:32
if we're
30:32
facing
30:33
though many
30:34
of us
30:34
aren't
30:34
of course
30:35
nevertheless
30:36
those in
30:37
the world
30:37
that's a
30:37
difficulty
30:38
for them
30:39
but it's
30:39
equally so
30:40
for those
30:41
who are
30:41
millionaires
30:42
where does
30:42
a millionaire
30:43
find contentment
30:44
because they
30:45
will tell you
30:46
themselves
30:46
mostly
30:47
that although
30:48
their millions
30:48
bring them
30:49
a luxurious
30:50
lifetime
30:51
a comfortable
30:52
lifetime
30:52
it does not
30:54
guarantee
30:54
contentment
30:55
contentment
30:56
is not
30:57
the same
30:57
thing
30:57
as comfort
30:58
contentment
31:00
in the
31:01
apostles
31:01
terms
31:02
is being
31:03
thankful
31:03
to God
31:04
being dependent
31:05
on God
31:06
being strengthened
31:07
by Christ
31:09
let's look at
31:09
these briefly
31:10
in turn
31:11
here is Paul
31:12
saying to the
31:13
Philippians
31:13
here in verse
31:14
18
31:14
I have received
31:16
full payment
31:17
I didn't seek
31:18
this gift
31:19
but I seek
31:20
the fruit
31:20
that increases
31:21
to your credit
31:22
I have received
31:23
full payment
31:24
and more
31:25
I am well
31:26
supplied
31:27
having received
31:28
from Epaphroditus
31:29
the gift
31:30
you sent
31:30
a fragrant
31:31
offering
31:32
a sacrifice
31:33
acceptable
31:34
and pleasing
31:35
to God
31:37
he uses
31:37
very strong
31:38
terms
31:38
to show
31:39
the extent
31:40
of his
31:40
thankful
31:41
now he is
31:42
treading a
31:42
very fine
31:43
line here
31:43
and it is
31:45
a line
31:45
that many
31:47
of us
31:47
actually know
31:48
for ourselves
31:48
he doesn't
31:51
want in
31:51
any way
31:51
to appear
31:52
ungrateful
31:53
and so
31:54
he is
31:54
thankful
31:55
for the
31:55
gifts
31:56
the
31:56
Philippians
31:57
have sent
31:58
him
31:58
but at
31:59
the same
31:59
time
31:59
on the
31:59
other
32:00
side
32:00
of things
32:00
he doesn't
32:01
want to
32:02
make it
32:02
appear
32:03
that he's
32:03
being covetous
32:04
that he really
32:06
wanted such
32:06
things for himself
32:07
and that is
32:09
something that he
32:09
would seek
32:09
from them
32:10
in the future
32:11
it's that
32:11
fine line
32:12
between
32:12
being thankful
32:14
for what
32:14
they've sent
32:15
and yet at
32:16
the same
32:16
time saying
32:17
not that I'm
32:18
speaking of
32:19
being in need
32:20
I didn't
32:21
seek this
32:22
I don't
32:22
necessarily
32:23
want any
32:23
more but I'm
32:24
thankful for
32:25
what you've
32:26
sent
32:26
and if we
32:29
speak personally
32:30
I know this
32:32
is something
32:32
that we find
32:33
ourselves in
32:34
in ministry
32:34
we are so
32:37
dependent in
32:38
many ways on
32:39
the church's
32:40
givings
32:41
we're paid
32:42
out of the
32:42
contributions
32:43
in our
32:44
stipends
32:45
from your
32:47
givings
32:47
and believe
32:48
me we're
32:49
grateful for
32:50
that
32:50
I know
32:50
our
32:50
thankfulness
32:51
ultimately
32:52
is to
32:52
God
32:53
who
32:53
supplies
32:54
all
32:54
things
32:54
for us
32:55
but that's
32:56
where we
32:57
are placed
32:57
as preachers
32:58
of the
32:58
gospel
32:59
and it's
33:00
that fine
33:00
line between
33:01
saying we're
33:02
really grateful
33:02
to you
33:03
but we're
33:04
not seeking
33:05
we're not
33:06
covetous
33:07
we're not
33:07
actually
33:07
living so
33:09
that you
33:09
will keep
33:10
on giving
33:10
to us
33:11
it's that
33:12
line that he's
33:13
following here
33:14
where he wants
33:15
them to be
33:15
truly aware
33:16
of his
33:17
thankfulness
33:17
and yet
33:18
he is
33:19
not at all
33:21
saying that he
33:22
is being
33:23
covetous
33:23
in regard
33:24
to it
33:25
now
33:26
thankfulness
33:26
therefore
33:27
is something
33:28
that's so
33:29
crucial to
33:30
our contentment
33:31
if we're going
33:33
to be content
33:33
with what we
33:34
have
33:35
it doesn't
33:36
mean that you
33:37
don't improve
33:38
life
33:38
it doesn't
33:39
mean it's
33:40
wrong to
33:40
seek an
33:41
increase in
33:42
your wealth
33:43
or things
33:43
like that
33:44
just to have
33:45
something in
33:46
hand by
33:46
which you're
33:48
able to
33:48
have more
33:49
comfort
33:49
or be
33:50
more assured
33:51
and so on
33:52
doesn't mean
33:52
that that's
33:53
wrong
33:53
but it is
33:55
and
33:55
but
33:57
thankfulness
33:58
and
33:59
contentment
34:01
is the
34:02
enemy of
34:02
covetousness
34:03
or you can
34:03
put it the
34:04
other way
34:04
covetousness
34:05
is the
34:06
enemy of
34:06
contentment
34:07
if we
34:08
have a
34:08
coveting
34:08
heart
34:09
if we
34:09
have a
34:09
heart
34:09
that really
34:10
reaches out
34:11
and wants
34:11
for its own
34:12
sake more
34:13
of the things
34:14
of this
34:14
world
34:14
whether it's
34:15
material issues
34:16
other than
34:17
finance or
34:18
whether it's
34:18
money itself
34:19
or whatever
34:20
or the
34:20
applause of
34:21
human beings
34:21
everything to do
34:22
with this
34:23
world
34:23
and its
34:24
worldiness
34:24
is something
34:25
that we
34:25
could
34:26
covet and
34:26
sometimes
34:27
do covet
34:28
covetousness
34:30
is the
34:31
enemy of
34:32
contentment
34:33
if you and
34:33
I are
34:34
coveting
34:35
something
34:35
for its
34:35
own
34:36
sake
34:36
even if
34:37
it's
34:37
good in
34:37
itself
34:38
that
34:39
covetousness
34:40
that drive
34:41
of our
34:41
hearts
34:41
which is
34:42
there
34:42
naturally
34:43
will
34:44
actually
34:44
be at
34:45
odds
34:45
with our
34:46
contentment
34:47
the
34:48
contentment
34:49
for example
34:50
that the
34:51
people of
34:52
Israel
34:52
it's very
34:53
interesting
34:53
comparison
34:54
let me
34:54
just
34:54
refer to
34:56
first of
34:56
all
34:57
Exodus
34:57
chapter
34:58
17
34:59
and
35:00
verse
35:00
7
35:01
especially
35:02
remember
35:03
that incident
35:04
very well
35:04
it's
35:04
the waters
35:05
of
35:05
Meribah
35:06
where the
35:06
people
35:07
murmured
35:08
against
35:08
and complained
35:09
about
35:09
their
35:10
situation
35:10
complaining
35:11
against
35:11
Moses
35:12
but
35:13
ultimately
35:13
complaining
35:14
against
35:15
God
35:15
where
35:17
in
35:17
Exodus
35:18
chapter
35:19
17
35:20
and
35:20
verse
35:20
7
35:21
he
35:21
called
35:22
the
35:22
name
35:22
of
35:22
the
35:23
place
35:23
Massah
35:23
and
35:24
Meribah
35:25
because
35:26
of the
35:26
quarreling
35:26
of the
35:27
people
35:27
of Israel
35:28
and
35:29
because
35:29
they
35:30
tested
35:30
the
35:31
Lord
35:31
by
35:31
saying
35:32
is
35:32
the
35:32
Lord
35:33
among
35:33
us
35:33
or
35:33
not
35:34
you
35:34
see
35:34
their
35:35
situation
35:35
where
35:35
they
35:36
couldn't
35:36
find
35:36
water
35:37
not
35:37
that
35:37
long
35:38
after
35:38
leaving
35:38
Egypt
35:39
and
35:39
their
35:40
hearts
35:40
were
35:40
really
35:40
hankering
35:41
back
35:41
after
35:41
the
35:42
things
35:42
of
35:42
Egypt
35:42
and
35:43
this
35:43
is
35:43
what
35:43
they
35:43
were
35:43
really
35:44
saying
35:44
complaining
35:45
against
35:45
Moses
35:46
and
35:46
ultimately
35:47
against
35:47
God
35:47
why did
35:48
you
35:48
bring
35:48
us
35:48
out
35:48
of
35:48
Egypt
35:49
to
35:49
kill
35:49
us
35:50
and
35:50
our
35:50
children
35:50
and
35:51
our
35:51
livestock
35:51
with
35:52
thirst
35:52
and
35:54
this
35:55
is
35:56
what
35:56
the name
35:57
was called
35:58
Meribah
35:58
because
35:59
of that
36:00
they were
36:01
really
36:01
quarreling
36:02
with the
36:02
Lord
36:02
ultimately
36:03
discontentment
36:05
with their
36:06
lot
36:06
discontentment
36:08
with the
36:08
providence
36:09
of God
36:10
for them
36:10
discontentment
36:12
and
36:12
impatience
36:13
which also
36:14
very often
36:15
is along
36:15
with discontentment
36:17
seeking
36:18
that
36:18
they would
36:19
actually go
36:20
back to
36:20
Egypt
36:20
would not
36:21
be better
36:21
but what's
36:22
interesting
36:23
it's saying
36:23
there
36:23
that
36:24
they
36:25
tested
36:26
the
36:26
Lord
36:26
they
36:27
put
36:27
the
36:27
Lord
36:28
to
36:28
the
36:28
test
36:29
quarreling
36:30
with
36:30
him
36:30
but
36:31
when
36:31
you
36:31
go
36:31
to
36:31
the
36:31
book
36:31
of
36:32
Psalms
36:32
you
36:33
find
36:33
another
36:33
angle
36:34
on
36:34
this
36:34
in
36:35
Psalm
36:35
81
36:36
and
36:38
in
36:38
Psalm
36:38
81
36:38
the
36:39
same
36:39
incident
36:39
is
36:39
referred
36:40
to
36:40
giving
36:41
that
36:42
other
36:42
angle
36:42
on
36:43
it
36:43
if
36:43
you
36:43
read
36:43
Psalm
36:44
81
36:44
and
36:44
verse
36:45
7
36:45
God
36:46
is
36:46
here
36:46
speaking
36:47
to
36:47
the
36:47
people
36:47
in
36:48
distress
36:48
you
36:49
called
36:49
and
36:50
I
36:50
delivered
36:51
you
36:51
I
36:52
answered
36:53
you
36:53
in
36:56
I
36:56
tested
36:57
you
36:57
at
36:58
the
36:58
waters
36:59
of
36:59
Meribah
37:00
hear
37:01
O
37:01
my
37:01
people
37:02
while
37:02
I
37:02
admonish
37:03
you
37:03
O
37:04
Israel
37:04
if
37:04
you
37:05
would
37:05
but
37:05
listen
37:05
to
37:05
me
37:06
there
37:07
shall
37:07
be
37:07
no
37:07
strange
37:08
God
37:08
among
37:08
you
37:09
you
37:09
shall
37:09
not
37:09
bow
37:10
down
37:10
to
37:10
a
37:10
foreign
37:11
God
37:11
and
37:12
there
37:12
he
37:12
would
37:13
have
37:13
fed
37:13
them
37:14
with
37:14
the
37:14
finest
37:14
of
37:15
the
37:15
wheat
37:15
with
37:15
honey
37:15
from
37:16
the
37:16
rock
37:16
I
37:17
would
37:17
satisfy
37:17
you
37:18
know
37:18
you
37:18
see
37:18
the
37:18
change
37:18
the
37:19
subtle
37:19
change
37:19
there
37:20
in
37:20
Exodus
37:21
17
37:21
the
37:22
emphasis
37:22
is on
37:23
them
37:23
testing
37:23
God
37:24
them
37:24
putting
37:25
God
37:25
to
37:25
the
37:25
test
37:26
them
37:26
complaining
37:26
about
37:27
God
37:27
and
37:28
God
37:28
is
37:28
actually
37:28
saying
37:29
Psalm
37:29
81
37:29
actually
37:30
it
37:30
was
37:30
the
37:30
other way
37:31
about
37:31
though
37:31
they
37:31
didn't
37:32
see
37:32
it
37:32
it
37:33
was
37:33
they
37:34
who
37:34
were
37:34
being
37:34
tested
37:35
in
37:37
the
37:37
situation
37:38
God
37:38
brought
37:38
about
37:39
whether
37:39
they
37:39
would
37:40
be
37:40
true
37:40
to
37:40
him
37:40
or
37:41
not
37:41
whether
37:41
they
37:41
would
37:42
believe
37:42
in
37:42
him
37:42
not
37:43
whether
37:43
they
37:43
would
37:43
accept
37:43
his
37:44
wisdom
37:49
that
37:50
was
37:50
the
37:50
test
37:51
that
37:51
was
37:51
going
37:51
on
37:52
they
37:53
were
37:53
being
37:54
tested
37:54
and
37:55
they
37:55
were
37:56
found
37:56
out
37:56
because
37:58
they
37:58
were
37:58
discontent
37:59
with
38:00
God's
38:00
arrangement
38:01
thankfulness
38:05
was
38:06
missing
38:06
from
38:07
their
38:07
program
38:07
and
38:09
thankfulness
38:10
for you
38:11
and for
38:11
me
38:11
tonight
38:12
is
38:13
such
38:13
an
38:13
important
38:14
ingredient
38:14
in
38:15
being
38:16
content
38:16
are
38:19
we
38:19
thankful
38:20
tonight
38:20
with
38:20
our
38:21
lot
38:21
are
38:22
we
38:23
thankful
38:23
that
38:23
God
38:23
is
38:24
in
38:24
charge
38:24
of
38:24
our
38:24
lives
38:25
are
38:26
we
38:27
thankful
38:27
that
38:27
he's
38:27
not
38:27
left
38:28
us
38:28
to
38:28
ourselves
38:29
to
38:29
our
38:29
own
38:29
wisdom
38:30
are
38:31
we
38:31
thankful
38:32
for
38:32
the
38:32
things
38:33
that
38:33
he's
38:33
given
38:33
us
38:33
in
38:34
his
38:34
providence
38:34
even
38:34
though
38:35
others
38:35
may
38:35
have
38:35
many
38:36
more
38:36
things
38:36
even
38:37
though
38:37
others
38:38
may
38:38
have
38:38
more
38:38
of
38:39
the
38:39
things
38:39
that
38:39
we
38:39
have
38:40
from
38:40
day
38:40
to
38:40
day
38:40
are
38:42
we
38:42
thankful
38:42
for
38:46
certainly
38:47
it seems
38:47
to me
38:48
in
38:48
times
38:48
gone
38:49
by
38:49
that
38:50
people
38:51
in
38:51
our
38:51
own
38:52
situation
38:53
in
38:53
our
38:53
own
38:54
locality
38:54
had
38:56
more
38:56
thankfulness
38:57
for
38:57
what
38:57
they
38:58
had
38:58
than
38:58
we
38:59
tend
38:59
to
39:00
have
39:00
today
39:00
friends
39:02
we
39:02
live
39:02
in
39:03
a
39:03
world
39:04
that
39:04
has
39:05
so
39:05
little
39:05
thankfulness
39:06
that
39:08
hardly
39:08
ever
39:08
stops
39:09
to
39:09
thank
39:09
God
39:10
how
39:11
many
39:11
people
39:12
say
39:12
grace
39:12
before
39:13
they
39:13
eat
39:13
how
39:14
many
39:15
people
39:15
think
39:15
of
39:16
who
39:16
has
39:16
actually
39:17
ultimately
39:17
provided
39:18
for
39:18
them
39:19
the
39:19
resources
39:20
that
39:20
they
39:20
have
39:20
whether
39:20
they're
39:21
small
39:21
or
39:21
great
39:22
whether
39:23
they
39:23
compare
39:23
with
39:23
others
39:24
acceptably
39:25
or
39:25
not
39:26
tonight
39:28
one of
39:28
the
39:28
things
39:29
that
39:29
should
39:29
characterize
39:30
us
39:30
from
39:31
day
39:31
to
39:31
day
39:31
is
39:32
thankful
39:33
be
39:34
thankful
39:34
to
39:34
God
39:35
every
39:35
morning
39:35
you
39:36
wake
39:36
be
39:37
thankful
39:38
that
39:38
he's
39:39
kept
39:39
you
39:39
through
39:39
the
39:39
night
39:40
be
39:41
thankful
39:41
as
39:41
you
39:41
take
39:42
your
39:42
breakfast
39:43
be
39:44
thankful
39:44
that
39:44
you have
39:44
that
39:45
to put
39:45
on
39:45
your
39:45
table
39:46
be
39:47
thankful
39:47
if
39:47
you
39:47
have
39:48
work
39:48
that
39:49
God
39:49
has
39:50
given
39:50
you
39:50
a
39:51
way
39:51
of
39:52
earning
39:52
income
39:53
for
39:53
your
39:53
family
39:54
be
39:55
thankful
39:55
if
39:56
you've
39:56
been
39:56
seen
39:57
through
39:57
work
39:58
successfully
39:58
if
39:59
you're
40:00
retired
40:00
if
40:01
you've
40:01
come
40:01
to
40:02
enjoy
40:02
the
40:03
benefits
40:03
of
40:03
retirement
40:04
even
40:05
though
40:05
you
40:05
might
40:06
not
40:06
have
40:06
a
40:06
massive
40:06
retirement
40:07
pot
40:08
like
40:08
you
40:08
might
40:08
see
40:08
others
40:09
have
40:09
shouldn't
40:11
we
40:11
be
40:11
content
40:11
if
40:12
we
40:12
have
40:13
food
40:13
and
40:13
clothing
40:13
as
40:14
we
40:14
read
40:14
in
40:15
1st
40:15
Timothy
40:15
with
40:16
these
40:17
let's
40:17
be
40:18
content
40:18
thankfulness
40:20
to
40:21
God
40:21
remember
40:21
back
40:22
in
40:22
Philippians
40:23
we
40:23
saw
40:23
how
40:25
in
40:25
verse
40:26
6
40:26
of
40:26
this
40:26
same
40:27
chapter
40:27
rejoice
40:28
in
40:28
the
40:28
Lord
40:28
always
40:29
again
40:29
I
40:29
say
40:30
rejoice
40:30
you
40:32
see
40:32
that's
40:32
the
40:32
same
40:33
alongside
40:34
of
40:34
thankfulness
40:35
you
40:35
have
40:35
the
40:35
rejoicing
40:36
in
40:36
the
40:36
Lord
40:36
the
40:37
provision
40:37
of
40:38
the
40:38
Lord
40:38
himself
40:38
but
40:39
he
40:39
went
40:39
on
40:39
to
40:39
say
40:39
don't
40:39
be
40:40
anxious
40:40
about
40:41
anything
40:41
but
40:42
in
40:42
everything
40:43
by
40:43
prayer
40:43
and
40:44
supplication
40:44
with
40:45
thanksgiving
40:46
let your
40:47
request
40:48
be made
40:48
known
40:48
to
40:49
God
40:49
if
40:49
I
40:50
were
40:50
to
40:50
come
40:50
before
40:50
God
40:51
and
40:51
plead
40:52
with
40:52
him
40:52
to
40:52
give
40:52
me
40:53
certain
40:53
things
40:58
to me, or for my family, or for whatever else. But if I do that without a word of thankfulness,
41:04
God is saying, do you really think that you're praying as you should be?
41:09
Because if I'm missing out to thankfulness, then I'm being selfish. And if I'm being selfish,
41:16
I will never be content in the contentment that God commends to me here in the gospel.
41:23
So there's the first thing, thankfulness. We could elaborate on that in many ways,
41:29
but let's move on secondly to dependence. Here he is in verse 11, not that I'm speaking of being in
41:36
need, for I've learned in whatsoever situation I am to be content. And he goes on, as we saw
41:41
through, to saying I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Now the first thing of interest
41:48
here is that he's saying, I have learned to be content. And that shows you that this contentment,
41:58
the contented heart, is not something that comes all at once. It's something that Paul himself had
42:05
to work at. We mustn't think that somebody like the Apostle Paul from the day that he was converted just
42:10
lived a completely contented life, that he didn't have to work at any of the things that he's actually
42:15
saying to others when he's writing these epistles to them. No, he's saying, I learned in whatsoever
42:21
situation I am to be content. And in verses 11 to 12, he tells us, I know how to be brought low.
42:30
I know how to abound in any and every circumstance. I've learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger,
42:37
abundance and need. You see, he's saying it again. I have learned. I have learned.
42:41
Contentment. It's something that he himself came by process of experience to learn and to increase
42:49
and to grow in. And where do you learn contentment? Well, he's telling us here it's in the things of
42:56
providence from day to day in our daily lives. I have learned in whatsoever my circumstances are,
43:04
whether it is indeed being brought low or abounding, I have learned therein to be content.
43:10
Friends, tonight, providence, as we call it, the way that God has arranged our life, which will be so
43:18
different one person from another in many respects, but providence, that arrangement that God has of
43:25
our lives is our school. It's our college. It's our university. It's where we learn the things of God
43:32
himself. And it's where we learn contentment. That's where our contentment is learned. Just as you learn
43:40
so much else that's true of a Christian life, that's where it's actually learned. That's where
43:46
it's tested. That's where it's practiced. That's where everything to do with the life of a Christian
43:51
is really worked out. It's not in the privacy of your own home, though it is there as well,
43:57
but it is in the public sphere. It's where people see you. It's where you interact with them. It's where
44:02
you work. It's where you go to school. It's all of those things on an everyday basis.
44:06
I have learned to be content. And indeed, he uses here in verse 12, he says,
44:14
I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger. Now, it's interesting that he uses that
44:19
word because scholars tell us that this was a word that was used by the philosophers in the Greek world
44:27
in the mystery religions of the time. Certain philosophies that, like the Stoics, for example,
44:33
they were a prime example of this, and their approach to life was, well, here are your
44:38
difficulties. Here are your challenges. Here are all the different aspects of your experiences day
44:43
by day. And when you're really facing a time of challenge and difficulty, steal yourself against
44:48
it. Close it off from your mind. Close your mind away from it. Look into yourself and just
44:54
build yourself up against these things as if they're not there. Well, that's not what the apostle
45:01
is saying, but he is using a word probably deliberately just by way of contrasting the
45:06
Christian approach. I have learned the secret of being content. But the secret of being content for
45:13
the apostle is not to steal himself against or firm up himself against the things that are happening
45:19
in his life, his experiences, as if they are just closed out and he doesn't want to know about them
45:24
or deal with them and just try and move on and build himself up. No, he says, I accept them.
45:31
And I accept them as God-given. And I accept them as God-arranged. And I accept them as the wisdom
45:40
of God has arranged for me. Whatever I may think of them, whatever I may make of them, however I may
45:49
complain about them, however they may hurt me, however the challenges of these come my way, saying,
45:57
I have learned the secret of facing hunger and abundance and need. Because I'm not looking to
46:07
my own resources, to my own abilities. He's looking to Jesus. He's looking to himself. So, well, Paul,
46:14
it's a deliberate contrast. You see the things that come in your providence day by day.
46:20
As we say, that's the school where you're set in order to learn contentment, where you learn
46:27
the wisdom of God in arranging your life the way it is. But it's where you learn dependence upon God
46:35
as well. And in order to be content, you need to be dependent. You need to rely on Christ himself.
46:44
You need to find him in all the different changes of life as being your sufficiency at all times.
46:54
I'm sure you all know the story, the true story of Horatius Spafford. I think I've mentioned this
47:01
before. The man who wrote the hymn, It Is Well With My Soul. Well, in 1871, Stafford's four-year-old son
47:11
died. And that same year, there was a great fire in Chicago in the USA that seriously affected his
47:19
property, his business, and devalued so much of what was left of his business after the fire.
47:27
And he sent his wife and four daughters across the Atlantic to England. And he was going to join
47:35
him after he had seen to some of the business interests that he had to deal with. And they
47:41
went across on a ship called the SS Ville du Havre in 1873. And in the middle of the Atlantic,
47:48
that ship collided with another ship called the Loch Erne and sank very soon afterwards with a great loss
47:55
of life. And Spafford received a very sad telegram from his wife, Anna. And all it said on the telegraph
48:04
was, Saved alone. Their four daughters had been drowned in that tragedy. Saved alone.
48:16
And he set off to cross the Atlantic to join his wife and to try and bring her home. And on the way
48:27
across, Stafford was summoned up to the bridge by the captain. And the captain said to him,
48:33
as far as we can reckon, this is exactly the location or the place where the Ville du Havre went down,
48:41
where his daughters were lost. So he returned to the cabin. And later that night, he wrote these words,
48:51
which became the hymn, It is well with my soul. When peace like a river attendeth my way,
48:59
when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, it is well,
49:08
it is well with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blessed assurance
49:18
control that Christ has regarded my helpless estate and has shed his own blood for my soul.
49:27
It is well, it is well with my soul, with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.
49:38
Can you and I say that tonight? The variety of circumstances in this church tonight is significant.
49:49
Nobody may even share the experience that you're going through right now.
49:56
The providences that God has given you may be significantly different to anyone else's,
50:01
and it may be the same for me. But can I say and can you say, are we glad to be able to say,
50:11
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.
50:18
I have learned, he said. Paul said, the secret of contentment. The key to it is Christ himself.
50:31
And that's the third point. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
50:35
The things that he mentions here in verse 13, I can do all things, are obviously the things
50:42
that are specifically mentioned in verse 12. The ways in which he's brought low, the way in which
50:49
he's abounding, whatever actually may have been involved in that, these were his circumstances,
50:55
generally speaking. But this is the key to his contentment more than anything else.
51:00
Yes, the contented life involves thankfulness. The contented life involves dependence upon God.
51:07
But the contented life itself is not something which rests on these. They are but the expressions
51:15
of a contented life or the means towards being content. But contentment itself comes
51:22
from the filling that Christ fills our souls with, who fills me with strength. I can do
51:30
all things through him or in him who fills me with strength. What is the cause? What is the ground
51:36
of Paul's contentment? Where does he find the key to his contentment? It's not in his own thankfulness.
51:42
It's not in his own dependence. So that's part of the whole package. The key to it is what Jesus is,
51:47
who Jesus is, what Jesus is doing in his life. And the word strengthens is an important verb. It's
51:54
what grammarians call a causative verb. It's something in which there is a source involved.
52:02
And he's talking here about God or about Jesus. I can do all things through him who strengthens,
52:08
who causes me to be strengthened, who fills me with strength. That's his daily experience. That's his
52:15
daily desire. That's his daily walk after contentment, looking for contentment. The secret,
52:21
the key to his contentment is that Christ fills his soul with strength. How can you face the
52:28
challenges of today? How can you face the challenges of this present time? How can you actually live a
52:34
contented life amongst the things we mentioned at the beginning of our study tonight? Well, this is the
52:39
key to it. This is the key that opens the way to a contentment and a contented life. I can do all
52:47
things through him who fills me with strength. Christ pouring his power into the apostle's life.
52:59
Is that where you're looking for your contentment? As you listen to the world, as you listen to the
53:06
voices of the world, as you listen to the philosophies of the world and the religions of the world,
53:11
as you face all of these alternatives to Jesus and to the gospel, here's the question for me tonight.
53:17
Here's the question for you. What am I seeking contentment from? Where is my contented life to
53:26
be based? How can I reach more contentment than I have? Well, not in the things of the world.
53:34
Not in the things Paul mentioned in his letter to Timothy, as we read. Your contentment must surely
53:43
come from knowing Christ, from Christ filling your life with his strength. From being able to say with
53:53
the apostle in 2 Corinthians 12, my grace is sufficient for you, God said to him, for my strength is made
54:03
perfect in weakness. Much more then, said Paul, will I glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ,
54:11
the strength of Christ may rest upon me. For when I am weak, then I am strong. You hand your life over
54:18
to Jesus. And when you hand your life over to Jesus in faith and in trust, what happens? It means that
54:24
you're not relying on your own strength. It means that you're not seeking contentment from the things
54:29
you're able to produce yourself. It means that your contentment doesn't come from your own ability
54:34
to create contentment. It doesn't come from the things of the world. It doesn't come from anything
54:39
other than from Jesus himself. I can do all things through him who fills me with strength.
54:48
The thankfulness is important. The dependence is important. But the source of all things,
54:56
the key to the contentment is really Jesus himself. When you find a ship in rough seas,
55:03
obviously plowing its way through a rough sea, that ship needs a captain. That ship needs a knowledgeable
55:10
crew, officers that will actually take their own place in what needs to be done. They all have an
55:18
important work. But whatever you say about the captain, and it may be the most skilled captain in the world,
55:24
and it may be the best crew a ship could ever have. And they have their own work to do, but they are not
55:30
the cause, the actual cause, the physical cause of the ship's progress through the rough seas.
55:38
The cause is in those engines down below. These are the engines that drive the ship.
55:46
The engines need the engineer. The ship needs the captain. But it's the working of the engines that
55:52
empowers the vessel and drives it through the waves. And it is too with a Christian life.
56:00
We need prayer. We need thankfulness. We need dependence. We need fellowship.
56:07
We need all of these things and more. But our progress and our contentment is the energy of Jesus
56:17
himself. That is the key to a contented life. And if we have that in place, then we can follow the
56:29
words of the psalmist in Psalm 4. You remember these wonderful words, though we're not going to sing
56:36
them tonight, but these words where David is saying in his dealings with God,
56:44
Lord, there are some who say, who will show us some good? There's the question that's in everybody's
56:51
minds. Who's going to show us any? Where does my contentment come from? Where can I find that which
56:57
is truly good? You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound?
57:07
The joys of the harvest, the contentment of seeing the harvest safely home. But he said,
57:14
you have given me more joy than even they have at the height of their harvest joy. So he says,
57:22
in peace, I will both lie down and sleep. For you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
57:33
That's your contented life. The life that lies willingly in the hands of God. Let's pray.
57:42
Almighty God, we give thanks for your strength. O, we confess, Lord, our own weakness, our inability.
57:53
We confess our unworthiness. Confess that we are not deserving that you should show us
57:59
any comfort or mercy day by day. But we thank you that there is forgiveness with you.
58:07
We thank you for all that flows into the lives of those who live by faith, of those who trust in you
58:15
and have given their life over to you. We thank you for the enabling grace. We thank you for the daily
58:22
grace that enables us, Lord, to look for contentment in yourself alone. We ask that our lives may be
58:30
lives that are truly content. We ask that our witness to the world may be a witness that we are
58:37
content with our God, that we are content to be his people and to live by faith and dependence and
58:44
in thankfulness to him. And so receive us now, we pray. Receive our worship. Cleanse all that is of sin.
58:52
For Jesus' sake. Amen.
58:56
We're going to sing now in conclusion this evening in Psalm 28. Psalm 28 in the Sing Psalms version on page 33.
59:07
Psalm 28 verses 6 to 9.
59:13
Praise to the Lord for he has heard the plea for mercy which I made. He is my strength. He is my shield.
59:21
I trust in him who sends me aid. My heart uplifted leaps for joy. My thanks to him I gladly sing.
59:29
The Lord God is his people's strength, a saving fortress for his king.
59:34
O Lord, save your people, your own flock. Be pleased your heritage to bless.
59:40
Be their good shepherd. Carry them forever in your faithfulness.
59:46
Verses 6 to 9, page 33. Praise to the Lord.
59:50
Praise to the Lord for he has heard the plea for mercy which I made.
1:00:09
He is my strength. He is my strength. He is my shield. I trust in him who sends me.
1:00:26
My heart uplifted leaps for joy. My heart uplifted leaps for joy.
1:00:38
My thanks to him I gladly sing. The Lord God is his people's strength, a saving fortress for his king.
1:01:06
Lord, save your people, your own flock. Be pleased your heritage to bless.
1:01:26
Be their good shepherd. Be their good shepherd. Carry them forever in your faithfulness.
1:01:45
Now I went to the main door last week so I'll go to the door to my right here this evening.
1:01:53
Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit
1:01:58
be with you now and evermore. Amen.