Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / It is Not in Vain

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It is Not in Vain · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Well, we can turn back to our reading in 1 Corinthians 15.
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!
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The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
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But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
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knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
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1 Corinthians 15 is such a wonderful chapter as a whole.
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I remember when, before James McKeever left the congregation here,
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he went through the whole of this chapter just looking at the wonder of the resurrection
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and all that it means, and such a powerful passage.
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And it really does give us a sense of focus on what we are to look at and keep our eyes fixed upon.
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We can look back over the summer months or even just the last few weeks,
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and we can see we have much to give thanks for.
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When you think of things that have been going on in the congregation and in other parts of the church,
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there's much to give thanks for.
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We think of the holiday club.
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It was such a time of great blessing, seeing so many young people coming along there,
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sharing the good news of Jesus with them and seeing them learning from the Word of God.
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Of course, then we had the induction just a couple of weeks ago in Gravar.
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It's a time of great rejoicing.
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And again, I mention it again just because it just stays with you.
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The power of the singing on that evening was just something to behold.
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If you are present, it is something that will remain with you, I'm sure, for a very long time,
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just that sense of power in praising God.
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Then, of course, last weekend, we have much to give thanks for looking back on a communion weekend,
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being under God's Word and having a time of fellowship together
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and remembering the Lord's death, having our eyes focused, our hearts focused on what He has done for us.
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We had a great time yesterday, the church day out, where many came along to it.
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And then this morning, again, just seeing so many young people in the church so full this morning,
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there's so much to be thankful for.
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We have much to rejoice and give thanks to God for.
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But as with anything, when we have these good experiences, these high experiences,
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when we enjoy the Lord's blessing in particular ways, we have to carry on as well.
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We have to go on.
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It's not all about these high points.
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So often it's about the day-to-day things.
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And maybe we look ahead.
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We maybe look ahead with a sense of where do we go now?
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What do we do?
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How do we carry on?
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And that's the kind of question I want us to think about this evening.
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How do we go on?
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How do we go on?
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How do we keep going as we seek the Lord's blessing upon us?
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Great as the high points of encouragement are.
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We don't rely on these things, on these occasions,
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to be where we find our blessing and encouragement at all times.
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But instead, we are to remember that we are always to rely on the Lord, on his word,
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because that is where we find our daily encouragement.
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When we daily come to him, seeking his face, seeking his presence, seeking his blessing.
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So this chapter that we have before us this evening, chapter 15,
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it's one of those where we are reminded that those who come to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ,
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have this great hope.
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And it's this hope, really, that drives us on, that keeps us going.
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And that hope is that there is life in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Life for all who believe, because he is risen.
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And we have these great words in verse 56,
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the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
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The pain that sin brings, that is the sting of death.
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But then we see these powerful words,
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but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
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That there is encouragement there for us,
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whether it's for ourselves to be built up in the faith,
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or for our mission to reach out to those around us
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with this gospel that is life, that is hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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And so we are to keep our focus on him.
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Our two readings this evening, the first and second Chronicles,
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and then here in Corinthians,
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they both have, you could say, something in common.
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They are separated by probably nearly a thousand years in terms of a period of time.
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They are separated by a great number of years,
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and a lot of takes place in between the two occasions that we are looking at here.
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But you see that they have something in common.
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When you read in Chronicles there,
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we are reading about Asa and his reign.
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It was a time of great struggle for the people.
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You see that in the verses that we read there,
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how there was many who were turning away from God,
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who were rejecting God.
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And the same could be true in the days of the church in Corinth.
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A difficult time, a place that was corrupt in so many different ways,
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idols all around them,
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people turning away and rejecting God,
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God's people discouraged,
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God being neglected and rejected by many.
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You could say, well, that's what they have in common,
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that there's so much to be fearful about,
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so much to be concerned about.
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But that's not what I want to think about what they have in common.
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I want us to stand and look on something very positive
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that they both have in common.
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In 2 Chronicles 15, verse 7,
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as Asa has spoken to,
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it says here,
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But you take courage.
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Do not let your hands be weak,
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for your work shall be rewarded.
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Asa is being told that as you are faithful to God,
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as you seek Him, as it says in that passage,
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you will find Him.
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He will be with you.
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And he is being told,
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Do not let your hands be weak,
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for your work shall be rewarded.
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And then you look at 1 Corinthians 15,
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and this verse that we're going to focus on,
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verse 58,
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Therefore, my beloved brothers,
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be steadfast, immovable,
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always abounding in the work of the Lord,
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knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
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So there's a sense of, again,
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take courage,
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don't be weak,
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your work shall be rewarded.
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It has the same theme in common in Chronicles,
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as it does in Corinthians.
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And there's great encouragement there for us as well.
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God's people are being told to be strong,
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to be willing,
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to be faithful,
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and that the work of the Lord will be blessed as we do so.
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So there's three things in this verse,
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verse 58.
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I just wanted to take out of this verse this evening.
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And the first is that sense of standing strong,
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be steadfast, immovable,
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standing strong.
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The second is giving ourselves,
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always abounding in the work of the Lord.
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And then the third thing is going on in faith,
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keeping the faith,
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knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
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So the first thing we see here is standing strong.
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You see there at the beginning of the verse,
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verse 58,
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therefore.
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So it's in light of what has come before.
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Therefore,
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in light of the mystery and the victory that we have in Jesus Christ,
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in light of the power of the resurrection,
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the hope of the resurrection,
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in light of everything that he has said
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in this wonderful passage,
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therefore,
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my beloved brothers,
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be steadfast,
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immovable,
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stand strong.
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Where does our strength come from?
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We so often look at our bodies
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and wonder about our strength
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or our weakness at times.
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In a physical way,
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we look at our bodies in that sense,
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whether we're strong
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or whether we're weak.
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Our bodies need nourishment.
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Our bodies need sustenance
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in order that we can grow on.
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Otherwise,
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we will grow weak.
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We will grow weary.
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But that's not the strength
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that we are looking at here.
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But the same is true
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when it comes to our spiritual strength,
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our spiritual nourishment.
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It's not from self
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that that comes from either.
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It is from the Lord.
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It is the Lord who gives strength.
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It is the Lord who gives us
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that spirit to go on,
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to be steadfast,
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immovable.
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The psalmist in Psalm 73 says,
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my flesh and heart
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doth faint and fail.
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He's recognizing there
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his own physical weakness.
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My flesh, my heart
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doth faint and fail.
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But what does he say?
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But my God fails me never.
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There's that sense
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that it is God
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who gives us strength.
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And so,
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we are dependent on God
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and receiving from God.
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Even looking back
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to last Lord's Day
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as we were gathered
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around the Lord's Supper,
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all who sat at the Lord's Table
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is for our strengthening.
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That's the purpose in it.
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The Shorter Catechism
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makes that clear
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as we think of
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the Lord's Supper,
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the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.
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By faith,
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we are made partakers
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of his body and blood
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with all his benefits
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to their spiritual nourishment
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and growth in grace.
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Spiritual nourishment
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and growth in grace.
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It's about being made strong,
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being strengthened
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in the Lord.
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And the Psalms,
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they so often speak
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of that sense.
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Psalm 46,
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we know it well,
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perhaps God is our refuge
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and our strength.
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There is that sense
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of dependence.
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Something that's repeated
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again and again
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throughout Scripture.
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How can we be
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steadfast and immovable?
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It is by looking
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to and trusting
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in God.
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1 Corinthians 15, 58,
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Be steadfast, immovable.
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2 Chronicles 15, verse 7,
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Take courage.
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They have that same
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sense of being strong,
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just like Joshua hears,
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Be strong and courageous,
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for I am with you.
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There is that sense
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of God
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being with us.
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Earlier in 2 Chronicles,
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in chapter 7,
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there are these
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well-known words
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in verse 14 and 15,
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If my people
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who are called
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by my name
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humble themselves
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and pray
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and seek my face
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and turn from
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their wicked ways,
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then I will hear
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from heaven
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and will forgive
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their sin
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and heal
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their lands.
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There is that hope
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that as we turn
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to God
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that we can be
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strong in Him.
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So the call
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is there
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to return
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to the Lord
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and to His strength.
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Seek the Lord
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as we were
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thinking about
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this morning.
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As we come back
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to Him,
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we look to Him.
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And so we see here
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that there is
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great encouragement
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for us
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to give thanks
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to God
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to go on
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in His strength.
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Remembering
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we have
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this hope
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in Christ,
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this great hope.
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Constantly
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as we hear
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the Word of God,
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as we just reflect back
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on all that we heard
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last week,
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whether it was from
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Thomas
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or David Strain,
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the encouragement
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we heard
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in the preaching here
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or from Ian Thompson
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as well,
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there was so much
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to remind us
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of how we are
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a precious people,
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a redeemed people.
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We are loved
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by God.
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We are His sons
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and daughters
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through faith,
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through all
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of these things.
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How do we go on?
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Spiritual
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nourishment,
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steadfast,
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immovable.
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What a hope
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there is
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through the resurrection
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of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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What a hope
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we have
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to look forward to
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because
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He is risen.
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There is a hope
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that enables us
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to go on.
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The word
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steadfast there,
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it literally means
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rooted
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and grounded.
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Strength
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is rooted
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and grounded.
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It is
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immovable.
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We see around us
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when the winds
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come that
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those trees
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and the castle
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grounds
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that are weak roots,
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the wind
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will blow them over.
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But here
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we are being told
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that when we are
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in the Lord
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we have that
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steadfast,
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immovable,
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rooted and
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grounded
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in Him.
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We have a strength
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that the Word
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of God
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promises.
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Immovable
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has behind
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that sense
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of being stubborn.
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And we often
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think of being
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stubborn as being
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something negative.
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But it's very much
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a positive here.
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Therefore,
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my beloved brothers,
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be steadfast,
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immovable.
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There are times
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when stubbornness
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is appropriate
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when it comes
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to the things
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of God.
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To be steadfast,
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immovable in them.
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Not to be shaken
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by other
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false teachings
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that we hear.
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Not to be shaken
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by people
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who mock our faith
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or ridicule
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or anything like that.
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But to see
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death,
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sting,
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sin
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is dealt with.
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There is victory
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in Christ.
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Therefore,
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we can be
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steadfast
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and immovable.
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So we seek
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that strength
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of God.
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The second thing
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we see here
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is how do we go on?
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We go on
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by giving
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ourselves.
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Always
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abounding
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in the work
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of the Lord.
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Again,
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just as we reflected
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this morning,
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there's always
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behind all of these
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things.
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all that we do
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for the Lord.
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There is behind it
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always that sense
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of God is sovereign
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in all things.
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Psalm 105
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that we were looking
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at this morning.
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The bulk of it
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is made up
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of reminding us
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of just how God
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is in control
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of all things.
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And yet there are
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imperatives for us
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in that psalm.
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Things that we are
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to do,
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that we are to seek
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the Lord,
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praise the Lord.
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All of these things
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that we were thinking
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about this morning.
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And the same
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is true for us
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here in this passage
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as well.
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God is sovereign.
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We see that.
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We have no power
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over death ourselves.
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We have no power
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over the grave.
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It is all
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through Christ.
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There is victory
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through our Lord
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Jesus Christ.
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But because of that,
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there are to be
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consequences
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for ourselves.
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There are things
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that we are to be
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confident in
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and to also
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go on doing.
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Always abounding
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in the work
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of the Lord.
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We are to be
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a people of faith
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and to live
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our lives out
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by faith
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in the Lord.
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Everything that we
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do for the Lord
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has a sense
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of activity
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behind it.
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Prayer
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is active.
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It may not
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seem to be active
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in the sense
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of moving around
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or anything like that.
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You are just
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maybe sitting
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in the quietness
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of your own home
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by yourself.
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Your eyes
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closed,
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your head
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bowed,
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praying to God.
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There doesn't
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seem to be
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much activity
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there,
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but it is
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active.
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It is abounding
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in the work
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of the Lord
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because there is
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a labor
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in that.
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Our worship
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is active.
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It is active
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in coming.
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It is active
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in hearing.
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It is active
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in receiving.
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It is active
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in going
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and doing
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as we have
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heard.
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There is
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activity
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in that.
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Our service,
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all that we
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seek to do
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for the Lord,
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it has activity
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behind it
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as well.
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So there is
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this active
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nature
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to our faith
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and we are
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always to be
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abounding
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in the work
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of the Lord.
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There is a phrase
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that people
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sometimes use.
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God doesn't
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want your
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capability.
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He only
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wants your
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availability.
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If you'll
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give him
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your availability,
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he'll provide
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the capability.
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We are so
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often afraid
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of making
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ourselves
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available
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because we
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don't feel
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capable.
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But what that
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person is saying
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is if you
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make yourself
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available,
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he'll make
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you capable.
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And it's
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so true.
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It is so
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true in so
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many of the
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people that
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God uses in
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so many
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different ways.
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A sense
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of fear,
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a sense
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of trepidation,
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a sense
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of what do
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I have
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to offer.
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And yet
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when we
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make ourselves
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available,
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he can
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use us.
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So are
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you
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available?
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always
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abounding
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in the
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work of
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the
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Lord.
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It's a
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command.
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You see
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that with
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all of
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these things,
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it actually
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commands that
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little word
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in the
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beginning of
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the verse,
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therefore my
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beloved
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brothers,
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be,
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be
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steadfast,
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immovable,
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be always
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abounding
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in the
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work of
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the
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Lord.
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Be.
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Just like
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Isaiah
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chapter 6
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verse 8,
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I heard
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the voice
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of the
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Lord
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saying,
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whom
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shall I
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send
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and who
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will go
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for us?
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Then I
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said,
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here am
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I,
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send me.
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That
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sense of
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abounding
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in the
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work of
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the
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Lord.
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We are
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encouraged
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to go
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on in
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his
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strength,
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we are
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encouraged
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to make
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ourselves
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available.
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because as
19:46
we look
19:47
to this
19:47
passage,
19:48
remember it's
19:49
in light
19:49
of the
19:49
therefore at
19:50
the beginning
19:50
of the
19:51
verse,
19:52
it is in
19:53
light of
19:53
what Christ
19:54
has done
19:55
for us.
19:57
In that
19:57
he has
19:58
given us
19:58
the victory
19:59
over sin,
20:02
over death,
20:02
because he
20:03
gave himself,
20:06
he gave
20:07
his life.
20:12
So there
20:13
is this
20:14
command,
20:15
can you
20:17
ever do
20:17
too much
20:18
for the
20:19
Lord?
20:21
The word
20:21
here,
20:22
abounding,
20:23
it's about
20:24
a fullness,
20:27
overflowing,
20:29
exceeding,
20:30
going beyond.
20:33
It's doing
20:33
for the
20:34
Lord the
20:34
things that
20:35
we are
20:35
uncomfortable
20:36
doing,
20:37
because the
20:38
only reason
20:38
that we
20:38
would do
20:39
it is
20:39
for him
20:40
and for
20:41
his
20:42
glory,
20:43
because he
20:44
has lavished
20:45
grace on
20:46
us.
20:47
We seek
20:48
to do
20:48
for him.
20:50
We seek
20:50
to abound
20:51
in his
20:52
work,
20:53
whatever
20:53
we are
20:54
doing.
20:57
Whatever you're
20:58
doing,
20:58
you are doing
20:58
it as to
21:00
the Lord.
21:01
The littlest
21:02
of things,
21:04
your deceit is
21:05
abounding in
21:06
the work
21:07
of the
21:08
Lord.
21:08
the little
21:10
acts of
21:11
service,
21:12
the little
21:12
acts of
21:13
kindness,
21:15
the volunteering
21:15
in different
21:16
things,
21:17
all of
21:17
these things,
21:18
they are
21:18
all abounding
21:19
in the
21:20
work of
21:21
the Lord.
21:25
It's
21:26
impossible to
21:27
go too
21:27
far for
21:29
Jesus,
21:30
to do
21:30
too much
21:31
for Jesus,
21:32
because we
21:32
are doing
21:33
it always
21:34
for his
21:35
glory.
21:36
so we
21:37
are to
21:37
give
21:38
ourselves
21:39
and to
21:40
go in
21:41
him,
21:43
and we
21:43
are to
21:43
go with
21:44
that
21:44
knowledge
21:44
that he
21:46
is with
21:47
us.
21:49
There's a
21:49
story told
21:50
about a
21:51
climber
21:51
in the
21:53
Alps,
21:53
in the
21:53
mountain
21:53
ranges of
21:54
the
21:54
Alps.
21:56
There was
21:56
a man
21:57
who had
21:57
a disability
21:59
and he
22:00
wasn't,
22:01
or he
22:01
felt unable
22:02
to climb
22:03
the mountains
22:04
there.
22:06
But he
22:06
loved the
22:07
mountains.
22:07
He'd
22:07
grown up
22:08
on the
22:08
foot of
22:09
the mountains.
22:09
He'd
22:10
seen
22:10
others
22:10
going up
22:11
to climb
22:11
and he
22:12
knew so
22:13
much about
22:13
what it
22:14
was to
22:14
climb these
22:16
mountains,
22:16
but he
22:16
still felt
22:17
he couldn't
22:18
go himself.
22:19
But he
22:19
used to
22:20
delight in
22:21
telling others
22:22
where they
22:23
were going,
22:24
all that they
22:24
had to look
22:25
forward to,
22:25
and to give
22:26
them a
22:27
word of
22:28
encouragement.
22:29
And yet he'd
22:29
never experienced
22:30
them himself.
22:32
Until this
22:33
day,
22:34
there was a
22:35
famous guide
22:36
passing by
22:37
who had
22:37
heard of
22:37
this man,
22:39
and heard
22:39
of his
22:39
disability,
22:40
and heard
22:40
of his
22:41
delight and
22:42
joy in
22:42
the mountains,
22:43
even though
22:43
he'd never
22:44
experienced
22:44
them.
22:45
And he
22:45
said,
22:45
how would
22:46
you like
22:46
to climb
22:47
the mountain
22:47
yourself?
22:49
And the
22:50
man's face
22:50
lit up,
22:52
but he
22:52
said,
22:53
but I
22:53
can't,
22:54
I'm not
22:55
able.
22:57
But the
22:57
man encouraged
22:58
him,
22:58
let's try,
22:59
let's go.
22:59
And the
23:01
man who
23:01
was disabled
23:03
followed.
23:05
And although
23:05
he was
23:05
slow,
23:07
although it
23:07
took time,
23:08
because he
23:09
had this
23:09
experienced
23:10
man with
23:10
him,
23:11
this
23:11
experienced
23:11
climber
23:12
with him,
23:13
they
23:13
eventually
23:13
reached
23:14
the summit.
23:17
That
23:17
man had
23:18
helped him
23:18
reach a
23:19
place he
23:19
never thought
23:20
he could
23:21
get.
23:23
And as a
23:24
reminder to
23:25
ourselves,
23:25
when you
23:26
are abounding
23:27
in the
23:28
work of
23:29
the Lord,
23:30
we feel
23:31
so unequipped,
23:33
we feel
23:33
so unready
23:34
for it.
23:37
But when
23:37
we give
23:37
it out
23:38
all,
23:39
he is
23:40
able to
23:40
do the
23:41
rest.
23:43
Always
23:44
abounding
23:44
in the
23:45
work of
23:46
the Lord.
23:48
We are
23:48
to make
23:49
ourselves
23:49
available.
23:50
That is
23:51
how we
23:51
are to
23:51
go on.
23:52
The
23:52
third and
23:52
final thing
23:53
we see
23:53
here is
23:54
we are
23:54
to be
23:55
a
23:55
people
23:55
who are
23:56
keeping
23:56
faith.
23:58
Keeping
23:59
faith.
24:01
Knowing
24:01
that in
24:02
the Lord
24:02
your
24:02
labor
24:03
is not
24:04
in vain.
24:07
We are
24:07
to go
24:08
on doing
24:08
in
24:09
faith.
24:11
Believing
24:11
in all
24:12
the promises
24:12
of the
24:13
Lord Jesus
24:14
Christ.
24:15
When we
24:16
are going
24:16
on in
24:17
our own
24:17
strength,
24:18
we can
24:18
struggle
24:19
in so
24:19
many
24:20
different
24:20
ways.
24:21
We can
24:21
struggle.
24:21
We feel
24:22
we are
24:22
not
24:22
seeing
24:22
anything
24:23
happening.
24:24
But when
24:26
we go
24:26
on in
24:27
the
24:27
strength
24:27
of the
24:28
Lord,
24:28
we realize
24:29
maybe we
24:30
won't see
24:31
anything
24:31
happening.
24:33
But we
24:34
are reminded
24:34
your
24:35
labor is
24:36
not
24:37
in vain.
24:40
Nothing
24:40
you do
24:40
for the
24:41
Lord
24:41
is in
24:42
vain.
24:42
There are
24:43
many things
24:43
that we
24:43
do in
24:44
life that
24:45
are vain.
24:47
When you
24:47
look at
24:48
passages like
24:49
Ecclesiastes,
24:50
you see
24:50
vanity,
24:51
vanity,
24:52
all is
24:52
vanity.
24:53
When there
24:53
are so
24:54
many things
24:54
that we
24:55
are doing
24:55
in this
24:56
world,
24:56
it's just
24:57
in vain,
24:58
it's without
24:58
purpose,
24:59
it's without
24:59
any goal,
25:00
without anything
25:01
that's going
25:02
to be of
25:02
any benefit
25:03
at the
25:03
end of
25:03
it.
25:05
But when
25:05
we are
25:06
abounding
25:06
in the
25:06
work of
25:07
the
25:07
Lord,
25:07
we know
25:08
that in
25:08
the
25:09
Lord,
25:09
your
25:09
labor,
25:10
it's
25:10
not
25:10
in
25:11
vain.
25:12
It
25:12
is not
25:12
in
25:13
vain.
25:13
Similar
25:14
to what
25:14
it says
25:15
in 2
25:15
Chronicles
25:16
15,
25:16
verse
25:16
7,
25:17
for your
25:17
work
25:17
shall
25:18
be
25:18
rewarded.
25:19
!
25:23
There is
25:24
that hope
25:24
that the
25:25
Lord will
25:26
bless.
25:28
And again
25:29
we see it
25:29
in light
25:30
of what
25:30
Christ
25:31
has done.
25:33
Think of
25:33
the death
25:33
of Christ,
25:34
was that
25:35
in vain?
25:36
Of course
25:37
it wasn't.
25:38
When you
25:39
look at
25:39
verses 56
25:40
and 57
25:41
here,
25:42
the sting
25:43
of death
25:43
is sin
25:43
and the
25:44
power
25:44
of sin
25:44
is the
25:45
law.
25:45
But
25:46
thanks be
25:46
to God
25:47
who gives
25:47
us a
25:47
victory
25:48
through
25:48
our
25:49
Lord
25:49
Jesus
25:50
Christ.
25:50
He was
25:51
victorious.
25:52
He was
25:53
victorious
25:54
in his
25:54
death,
25:55
in his
25:55
resurrection.
25:56
He defeated
25:56
sin
25:57
and death
25:58
and all
25:59
of the
25:59
consequences
26:00
of it.
26:01
His
26:01
death
26:01
was not
26:03
in vain
26:04
because
26:04
he is
26:05
risen
26:05
and he
26:07
will come
26:07
again.
26:10
So we
26:10
are to
26:10
see that
26:11
in light
26:12
of everything
26:12
that we
26:13
do.
26:13
It is
26:14
not in
26:14
vain for
26:15
the Lord
26:16
because he
26:17
is the
26:17
one who
26:18
is able
26:19
to bless
26:20
it.
26:21
The empty
26:21
tomb is
26:22
that reminder
26:22
to us
26:23
that we
26:24
have a
26:24
risen
26:25
saviour
26:25
who is
26:25
ascended
26:26
on high,
26:27
who is
26:27
sitting at
26:28
the right
26:28
hand of
26:29
God the
26:30
Father,
26:31
who will
26:31
come
26:32
again.
26:35
And so
26:35
her labour
26:35
is not
26:37
in vain.
26:39
We wait
26:40
on him,
26:40
we pray
26:41
to him,
26:42
we seek
26:43
his will,
26:44
and all
26:44
of these
26:45
things.
26:45
We become
26:45
impatient
26:46
at times.
26:48
We become
26:48
discouraged.
26:50
But we
26:51
come back
26:51
and look
26:52
on our
26:53
saviour.
26:53
We come
26:54
back and
26:54
fix our
26:55
eyes on
26:56
Jesus.
26:58
And then
26:58
we realise
26:59
all that
27:00
we do
27:01
in the
27:01
Lord
27:02
is not
27:03
in vain.
27:04
We are
27:04
not doing
27:04
it for
27:04
self.
27:06
We are
27:06
not doing
27:06
it for
27:07
our glory,
27:08
but his.
27:09
And when
27:09
we do,
27:10
he will
27:11
reward.
27:12
It will
27:12
not be
27:13
in vain.
27:16
So if
27:16
we walk
27:17
with him,
27:17
if we
27:18
work with
27:18
him,
27:18
if we
27:18
wait on
27:19
him,
27:19
and all
27:19
of these
27:20
things,
27:21
we can
27:22
see that
27:22
he will
27:23
bless.
27:26
And what
27:26
do we look
27:27
for at the
27:27
end of
27:28
the day?
27:30
Just to
27:30
be a
27:32
people who
27:32
are faithful
27:33
to him.
27:35
Enjoying
27:36
his blessings
27:37
in the
27:38
times of
27:39
great
27:39
privilege
27:40
as being
27:40
gathered
27:41
round the
27:41
Lord's
27:42
supper,
27:42
times of
27:43
induction,
27:44
times of
27:44
great
27:45
gatherings,
27:47
but being
27:47
faithful in
27:48
the little
27:48
things too.
27:50
Being
27:51
faithful in
27:52
our prayers,
27:52
being faithful
27:53
in the
27:53
reading of
27:54
the word,
27:54
being faithful
27:55
in our
27:56
service to
27:56
him,
27:57
being faithful
27:58
in encouraging
27:59
one another,
27:59
being faithful
28:00
in encouraging
28:01
those around
28:02
us,
28:03
being faithful
28:04
in all
28:05
things.
28:06
knowing that
28:07
our labor
28:08
is not
28:09
in vain.
28:10
You know,
28:11
perhaps over
28:11
this last
28:12
few weeks,
28:14
you handed
28:14
out maybe
28:15
an invitation
28:16
to the
28:17
church service
28:18
today.
28:20
Maybe you
28:20
handed out
28:20
one of
28:21
these books
28:21
to someone.
28:22
Maybe they
28:23
threw it
28:24
back at you
28:24
and said,
28:24
I don't
28:25
want it.
28:26
Maybe it's
28:27
been tossed
28:27
into the
28:28
corner,
28:28
cupboard
28:29
somewhere,
28:30
and you
28:31
think to
28:31
yourself,
28:32
they didn't
28:32
come,
28:33
they didn't
28:33
read it.
28:35
What was
28:35
the point?
28:36
it was
28:37
just in
28:38
vain.
28:41
While we
28:41
are seeing
28:42
here,
28:42
nothing that
28:43
we do for
28:44
the Lord
28:44
is in
28:45
vain.
28:46
We might
28:47
not see
28:47
an outcome
28:49
from it,
28:50
but we
28:51
can trust
28:51
and pray
28:52
that God
28:53
would bless
28:54
everything
28:55
that we
28:55
do,
28:56
every little
28:57
act that
28:58
is done
28:59
for him,
29:00
done as
29:01
a people,
29:02
steadfast,
29:04
immovable,
29:04
trusting
29:06
in him,
29:07
the one
29:07
who is
29:07
risen,
29:09
abounding
29:09
in the
29:10
work of
29:11
the Lord,
29:11
doing all
29:12
for his
29:13
glory,
29:14
knowing that
29:14
in all
29:15
things,
29:16
it is
29:17
not in
29:17
vain,
29:18
in all
29:19
things,
29:19
he is
29:20
able to
29:21
reward.
29:24
And so
29:24
may we
29:24
go on
29:25
today,
29:27
tomorrow,
29:28
in all
29:28
the days
29:29
ahead of
29:29
us,
29:30
encouraged,
29:32
looking
29:33
unto
29:33
Jesus,
29:35
being
29:35
steadfast,
29:37
unimmovable
29:37
in all
29:38
of these
29:38
things,
29:39
always
29:39
abounding
29:40
in the
29:41
work of
29:41
the Lord,
29:42
knowing
29:43
that in
29:44
the Lord
29:44
your
29:44
labor
29:45
is not
29:46
in vain.
29:48
May he
29:48
bless it
29:49
to his
29:50
glory.
29:50
Let us
29:51
pray.
29:54
Lord,
29:55
our
29:55
gracious
29:55
God,
29:56
we do
29:56
thank you
29:57
for the
29:58
hope that
29:58
is found
29:59
in these
29:59
passages
30:00
before us,
30:01
the hope
30:02
of the
30:02
resurrection,
30:04
the wonder
30:04
of it,
30:04
the mystery
30:05
of it,
30:06
and yet
30:07
the victory
30:07
that we
30:08
are told
30:08
about,
30:09
that is
30:09
ours through
30:10
Christ
30:10
Jesus,
30:11
our Lord,
30:12
that he
30:12
came,
30:13
he gave,
30:15
he gave
30:15
to the
30:16
uttermost,
30:16
he gave
30:17
his life,
30:17
he died
30:18
on the
30:18
cross,
30:20
and yet
30:20
on the
30:20
third day
30:21
he rose.
30:22
He rose
30:22
victorious,
30:24
victory
30:24
over death
30:25
and sin,
30:27
and therefore
30:27
we have
30:28
that hope
30:29
that we
30:29
can be
30:29
steadfast
30:30
and
30:30
immovable,
30:31
we have
30:31
that confidence
30:32
in him
30:34
and may
30:34
our confidence
30:35
only increase,
30:36
may we be
30:37
nourished and
30:38
strengthened
30:38
through his
30:39
word,
30:41
may we be
30:41
abounding
30:42
in his
30:42
work,
30:43
and may
30:43
we know
30:44
that nothing
30:45
for him
30:45
is in vain,
30:47
we seek
30:47
your blessing,
30:48
we seek
30:49
your grace,
30:49
we seek
30:50
your guidance
30:51
over all
30:51
of these
30:52
things as
30:52
we ask
30:53
it with
30:53
the forgiveness
30:54
of our
30:55
sin,
30:55
in Jesus'
30:56
name,
30:56
Amen.
30:57
Amen.
30:57
Amen.
31:01
We're
31:02
going to
31:03
conclude
31:03
by singing
31:04
to God's
31:06
praise in
31:06
the same
31:06
psalm that
31:07
we had
31:07
previously,
31:08
Psalm 111,
31:09
the Scottish
31:10
Psalter
31:11
version.
31:14
We're
31:14
going to
31:15
sing these
31:15
last
31:15
verses,
31:16
6 through
31:17
to 10.
31:20
Psalm 111,
31:22
page 391,
31:23
verse 10,
31:51
to God's
31:52
praise,
31:53
we stand
31:53
to sing.
31:54
Amen.
32:23
may may
32:24
may
32:26
And if ye so,
32:31
And ye words are truth and right,
32:39
All is calm and search true,
32:46
And thou wilt truth and the brightness
32:54
Leve, warm, og, and, and,
33:02
And ye, send me the light,
33:08
And thou wilt truth and the light,
33:14
And thou wilt truth and the light,
33:18
He did come and holy his name,
33:26
And reverend is always.
33:34
Words of beginning is gone dear,
33:42
To understanding me,
33:50
The Lord is calm and through,
33:58
Let me send you all day.
34:06
After the benediction,
34:08
I'll go to the door to my left.
34:10
We'll close the benediction.
34:12
Now may grace, mercy, and peace
34:14
From God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
34:16
Rest upon and abide with you all
34:19
Now and forevermore.
34:20
Amen.
34:50
Amen.