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'Kept' · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Let's turn again to what we read in 1 Peter chapter 1.
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1 Peter chapter 1.
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And reading at verse 4.
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Well, we'll read from verse 3, but it's verses 4 and 5 in particular.
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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
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according to his great mercy,
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he has caused us to be born again to our living hope
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through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
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to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
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kept in heaven for you,
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who by God's power are being guarded through faith
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for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
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Now, it's amazing when we can come to God's word
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and we can compare and we can contrast
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what this world's fame, fortune, glory, power is
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and what the glory to come is going to be like.
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I remember in school when, in English, there was a poem.
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I'm sure you all remember that if you go back in your mind.
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Thomas Gray's elegy written in a country churchyard.
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And one of the verses went like this.
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The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,
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and all that beauty, all that wealth ever gave,
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awaits are like the inevitable hour.
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The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
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And that is true.
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Because at the end of the day,
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whether a person is a king or a tramp,
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at the end of the day, it is a grave.
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The grave will take the king and take the tramp,
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just the very same.
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And that's what the glory of this world is,
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irrespective of what a person amasses,
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irrespective of what a person achieves.
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It's all going to pass with the using.
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Sometimes a person will have their glory,
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their fame, their fortune throughout their life.
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Sometimes it doesn't even last their lifetime.
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But the one thing that is guaranteed,
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it is only for this life.
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Because everything in this world
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is going to pass with the using.
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But when we come to what Peter is writing about,
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this great living hope that we have,
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we see that we have this inheritance in heaven.
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And that there's our glory awaiting us.
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An eternal glory.
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Not that we are eternal,
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we will never become eternal.
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Only God is eternal.
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But we will live in eternity.
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And we will receive all the glory
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that Christ as mediator has won for us.
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And I think in the apostle's mind,
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because he is quoting from Isaiah
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towards the end of the chapter there,
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when he speaks there about all flesh is like grass
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and all its glory like the flower of the grass and so on,
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that Peter is obviously,
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he's writing to people who have an understanding.
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It's got to remember the Christians
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are all scattered abroad.
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And he's writing to those who will have a knowledge
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of God's history,
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the history of God's people.
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And you remember when God took his people out of Egypt,
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he promised them an inheritance.
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In fact, even before they went into Egypt,
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he had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
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that he was going to make a great nation from them
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and that this land that they were in
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would become their land.
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So as they journeyed from Egypt to Israel,
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to the promised land, the land of Canaan,
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it was to be God's inheritance to them.
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They were to enjoy an inheritance there.
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And it was a land flowing with milk and honey.
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And they were told there were wonderful things there,
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but there was a warning with it
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that if they turned their back upon God,
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if they defiled the land through idolatry,
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if they turned from God,
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then God's judgment would come upon the land
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and the blessings that they had would fade.
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The great things that they had would perish.
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The land would be defiled, everything.
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And all that came to pass
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because God's people turned away.
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So I think something of this is in the mind of the apostle
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as he is writing now about the new inheritance,
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the inheritance that God's people
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are going to enjoy forever.
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And that's what's ahead of you and me
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as we follow the Lord Jesus Christ
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because he describes something of this inheritance
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and we're told that it's imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.
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And imperishable means simply that it can't corrupt.
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And that's why Jesus says,
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have your treasure.
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He doesn't say you don't have any treasure in this world.
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But where your main treasure is,
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Jesus tells us,
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where your treasure is,
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that which is above everything else,
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that's where your heart is.
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And if your treasure is in heaven,
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your treasure is in a place,
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he says,
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where thieves can't break through or steal,
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where moths and rust cannot destroy.
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So that your treasure is something
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that as we read here is imperishable.
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All earthly treasures
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will either get lost, broken, decay,
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or we have to leave them behind when we go.
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Here is a treasure that is imperishable.
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And it's undefiled.
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Now, as we know,
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we live in a world that is full of defilement.
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But there, it is a world that is pure,
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clean, and stained.
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This world is polluted.
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Everything about it,
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sin is on everything,
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sin is in everything,
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everything is stained,
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and marred,
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and spoiled,
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and ruined by sin.
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And in a sense,
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it's impossible for us
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to really understand
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what has been told us about our future.
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Because we cannot imagine
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what it's like
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to be in a place
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that is imperishable
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or that is undefiled.
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Because it is beyond anything
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that we have ever encountered,
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anything that we ever are.
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So, at one level,
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while we accept and believe
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and look forward to
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and are persuaded of it,
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yet it is hard for us to grasp
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just what that really is.
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And we also see that it's unfading.
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It's like the picture of a flower
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that's dying or fading.
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And that will never happen in glory.
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Because this is a,
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the glory in Emmanuel's land
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is a glory that will never run out.
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Everything in this world runs out.
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But the glory there is unending.
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It's unfading.
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It is forever and ever.
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And that we're told,
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as Peter tells us later on
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in chapter 5,
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that when Christ appears,
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you will receive
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an unfading crown of glory.
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So, that's,
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that's what's ahead of us.
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And so, then Peter adds,
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being kept in heaven for you.
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So, that's one of the great
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and wonderful things
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that we, we have this reservation,
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as it were, in heaven.
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Now, you and I know very often
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when we go to weddings
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or things,
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some, maybe some function like that,
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very often your place is reserved.
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Your name is at the table.
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And that's your,
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that's your spot.
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It's been reserved for you.
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Or maybe you're going away somewhere
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and you're,
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you, you, you, you pay for
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and you reserve a place,
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whether it's in a hotel
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or on a train
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or whatever.
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That's your place.
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It's reserved for you.
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That's your number.
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That's you.
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Because it's paid for.
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And that's what the Lord
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is saying to us.
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Your place is reserved
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because it's been paid for.
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And we know that Jesus
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is the one who paid for it.
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He paid the price.
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We hadn't anything to pay.
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We couldn't pay.
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We didn't have
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in any shape or form
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what could pay,
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what was required.
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But Jesus did.
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And he did so by
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giving of himself,
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giving his life,
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giving his all for us.
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And so the Lord
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has reserved this place for us.
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And the great thing
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that we read here
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is that not only
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is the place
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being kept for us,
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because, you know,
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it's one thing to know
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there's a place being kept.
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But then you say to yourself,
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what if,
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there's a place there,
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but what if I don't make it?
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It's all very well being told
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there's a place in heaven.
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But what if I don't make it to heaven?
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Well, that's what the Lord
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is telling us.
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Not only is there a place
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being kept for you,
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but you and I in this world
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are being kept for that place.
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Works both ways.
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And so that's a great encouragement
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that we have here.
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For you are being kept,
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that's what it is,
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are guarded.
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It's the same word,
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who by God's power
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are being guarded through faith.
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So this is a wonderful thing.
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But, you know,
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sometimes we read that
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and what an encouragement,
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because there are lots of
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encouragements like that
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in the word of God.
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But, you know,
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a lot of God's people,
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I would say most of God's people,
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possibly all of God's people,
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sometime or other,
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maybe frequently,
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maybe seldom,
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but they do.
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They have their doubts.
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They have their fears.
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Despite what the word says,
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we don't doubt the word,
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not in any shape or form.
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Never doubt the word.
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Sometimes we doubt ourselves.
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And so we've always got to remember
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that God's word
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is what we're to base things on.
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But, you know,
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sometimes we doubt ourselves
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in different reasons.
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For instance,
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maybe you're a Christian
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and you're looking back
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over your life
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and you say to yourself,
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you know,
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I came,
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I went through
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a really difficult time
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and I ended up,
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I was beaten,
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I said to the Lord,
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Lord,
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you have to take over here.
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I'm finished.
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I can't,
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I can't do any more.
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And it's like you handed
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everything over to the Lord.
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Time has gone on
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and you're still following
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and you love the Lord
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who you haven't seen.
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But you sometimes say to yourself,
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maybe,
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maybe it wasn't a work of grace.
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Maybe it wasn't a real work of grace.
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Maybe it was just because
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of that particular situation
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and I felt I was
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in distress and trapped
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and I,
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I looked to the Lord
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and asked him to help me
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and what if it wasn't
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a real work of grace?
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Sometimes
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the Lord's people get troubled
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by the likes of that.
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but we've got to remember
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that the proof is in the pudding,
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the fact that you're still following
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and that you want to follow
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because you've got to remember
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that most people
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don't want to follow.
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The Lord tells us
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that the broad is the road
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and many go on that,
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narrow is the road
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and few go on that
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as he's comparing
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and contrasting
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how it is
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with regard to salvation.
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You're still following
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because you want to.
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That's where your heart is
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and that in a sense
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is an evidence
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of the reality
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of that work.
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But again,
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sometimes
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people have their fears
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and their doubts
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because they say,
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you know,
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I can't pinpoint
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to a day.
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I can't pinpoint
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to an hour
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when I was actually saved.
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I hear people
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give their testimony
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and it's so clear
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and so vivid
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and they can pinpoint
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exactly to where
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and when.
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And you say,
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but I can't.
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I know that
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there was a day
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I wasn't following
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the Lord.
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But I also know
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a day
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where a period
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in my life
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where I came
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to a persuasion
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and as we've often said,
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we're like the blind man
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when asked what happened.
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He says,
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I can't tell you
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but one thing I know
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I was blind
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and now I see.
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So sometimes
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we're like that.
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But because we don't have
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a clear testimony
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of day or hour,
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the devil can have
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a field day
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and bring you
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to have your doubts
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and to have your fears
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and all these things
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that go along with it.
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And again,
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sometimes a young convert,
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a person who's become
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a Christian
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and to begin with
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everything is so new.
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You remember
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what it was like?
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Prayer was just so,
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so amazing.
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You were constantly
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speaking to the Lord.
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The word was so fresh.
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Christian fellowship
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was so wonderful.
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You just,
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you couldn't get enough.
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And there was this
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just vibrancy
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and joy in your soul.
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But as time has gone on,
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it's like the sparkle
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has gone somewhat.
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And then you begin
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to find that it's a struggle.
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You weren't expecting that.
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And there's battles
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and struggles
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and difficulties
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and trials
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and opposition
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and things that you
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weren't expecting.
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Sometimes you begin
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to doubt yourself.
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You begin to wonder,
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was it really,
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was it really
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a work of grace at all?
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And then maybe
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as an old Christian,
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you look at yourself
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and you say to yourself,
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you know this,
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I'm worse than I was
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when I started.
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And you begin
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to look in
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and you see
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a darkness
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in your soul
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that's frightening.
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You see
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something of the corruption
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of your own heart.
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And you see
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that you go
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to the New Testament
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and you see
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how the Lord
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is saying to us
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how we should be
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maturing
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and becoming holier.
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And you feel
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you're anything but.
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And you say to yourself,
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I must be the most
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immature Christian going.
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I must be the most
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unholy.
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And you go through
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all these thoughts.
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And then the doubts
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and the fears come in
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and you think,
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am I a Christian at all?
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And then on top of that,
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you look at people
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and you know people
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who started so well,
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they were brighter than you.
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And they made a great profession.
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And now they've wandered off.
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Well, the thing is
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that we know
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that some Christians
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backslide.
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But the Lord
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won't leave them there.
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He'll bring them back.
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And even just now,
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if they're in a
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backslidden state,
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whatever they might
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appear outwardly,
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there's no contentment
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inwardly.
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If they are the Lord's,
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he'll bring them back.
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But we also know
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that there are some
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who had an experience
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and appeared very bright.
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But they are nowhere
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to be seen
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with no interest
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or desire
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or anything
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for God's place
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or God's house anymore.
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And that reminds us
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of what Jesus said
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with the stony ground here.
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As you remember
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in the parable of the sower,
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sometimes the sea
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went on to stony ground.
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There was only
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a little bit of soil.
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Couldn't take root.
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It sprung up for a little
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but then it withered away
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and died
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because it couldn't take root.
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And he said,
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sometimes there are
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hearers like that.
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So when you go through
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all these kind of things,
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you say in yourself,
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what if I,
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what if,
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what if I'm,
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what if I,
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there isn't a real
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work of grace
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that's taken place
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in my heart.
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And so many of the Lord's people
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have doubts and fears.
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In fact,
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I would go as far as to say
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that it's probably
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only the Lord's people
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that have doubts and fears.
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Because the non-Christian
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doesn't think like that.
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It's only the Christian
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that worries.
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And I would say that's,
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or else it's somebody
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that the Lord has begun
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to work in
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that has a fear.
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Because those who
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aren't looking for the Lord
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or thinking about the Lord,
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they don't think like that.
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But the Christian does.
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And that's why you'll find
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over and over and over
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and again in the Bible
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that the Lord
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is encouraging us.
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There are so many verses
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all the way through
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to assure us
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and to encourage us.
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And so here we're told
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very simply
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that we are being
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guarded or kept,
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that we are being guarded
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every single day.
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And it's not us
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who keeps ourselves.
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If it was up to us,
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not one of us
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would keep ourselves.
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It is impossible
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for you and for me
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to keep ourselves.
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It is the Lord
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who guards us.
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It's the Lord
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who keeps us
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every single day.
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And that word
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guarded here
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is a military term
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where a person
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is guarded
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or shielded
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or protected
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or kept.
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Well, there are no guards
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ever,
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not at Buckingham Palace
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or anywhere in the world
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that have ever shielded
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or guarded
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like the Lord
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guards his people.
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And we read here
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of how we are kept
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by the power of God.
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Isn't that wonderful?
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The power of God.
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However great
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the power of sin within,
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however great
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the power of Satan,
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however great
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the power and lure
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of the world,
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these three powers together
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are nothing
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in comparison
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to the power of God.
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Because, you know,
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it's that power
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that,
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it's that power
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that drew you
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in the first place.
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You didn't come
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on your own accord.
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First of all,
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you wouldn't want to.
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Secondly,
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you couldn't.
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it is God's power
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that first drew you.
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And the power
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that drew you
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is the power
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that keeps you.
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It is the word.
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And when you think
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of this power,
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we think of the creation,
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we think of the universe.
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Everything was brought
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into being
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by the word.
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And this same word
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that brought
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the very universe
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and holds the stars
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in their place
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that guides
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and rules
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everything
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in this world
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and has the very
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jury,
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the end of this world
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in sight
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and knows when it will be.
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It's the same power
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that is keeping you
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and guiding you
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and guarding you
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every single day.
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You are being kept
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by this power.
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And as I said,
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it's unnatural
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to follow Jesus
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because when we
19:59
start to follow Jesus,
20:02
as we said,
20:03
we come into a place
20:04
where there is ridicule,
20:07
where there's opposition,
20:08
where there's enmity,
20:09
where there's hatred.
20:10
There's so much
20:11
that's against
20:12
the Christian.
20:14
You remember
20:15
when Jesus
20:15
was in this world
20:16
and he was ministering?
20:17
In the early days
20:18
of the ministry,
20:19
huge crowds
20:20
were following.
20:21
In fact,
20:21
they were so taken up
20:22
with Jesus,
20:23
they wanted to make him king.
20:26
But when Jesus
20:27
began to explain
20:28
to them
20:29
what discipleship
20:31
meant,
20:32
what happened?
20:34
They went away
20:35
in their droves.
20:36
Hundreds and hundreds
20:38
and hundreds
20:38
began to desert him
20:40
to the point
20:41
that Jesus
20:41
turned to the twelve
20:43
and said,
20:43
are you also going
20:44
to go away?
20:46
That's what it was like.
20:48
And so,
20:49
it is only
20:50
the power of God
20:51
that can keep us.
20:54
And you look back
20:55
over your Christian life
20:56
and you know that,
20:58
that you're here tonight
20:59
simply because
21:00
of the power of God.
21:01
The number of times
21:02
that you could have
21:03
made shipwreck
21:04
of your soul,
21:05
the number of times
21:06
that disaster
21:07
loomed large,
21:09
but you're still following,
21:10
you're still here.
21:11
And it's for one reason,
21:13
not you,
21:14
but the Lord
21:15
in you.
21:16
And that's a wonderful thing
21:18
because this power
21:19
is working,
21:21
the power of God
21:22
works in two ways.
21:23
The power of God
21:24
at one level
21:25
is shielding
21:26
and sheltering
21:27
and keeping you
21:28
and guarding you,
21:30
protecting you,
21:31
but the power of God
21:33
is also working in you.
21:35
That's what we're told,
21:37
that God works within us
21:38
both to will
21:39
and to do
21:40
of his good pleasure.
21:42
where the Spirit
21:43
is guiding us
21:44
and leading us
21:45
and teaching us
21:46
so that we're following
21:48
in the way of the Lord.
21:51
And so,
21:52
we see that
21:53
this divine power
21:56
that is influencing
21:57
and guiding us
21:58
through,
21:58
we see here,
22:00
who by God's power
22:01
are being guarded
22:02
through faith
22:03
for our salvation.
22:05
You see,
22:06
God's keeping
22:06
shows itself
22:07
in your faith.
22:09
faith is God's gift to us
22:14
where we receive
22:16
his power.
22:18
But then it says,
22:20
kept through faith
22:22
for our salvation
22:23
ready to be revealed
22:24
in the last time.
22:26
Now,
22:26
you and I know
22:27
there are three aspects
22:28
to our salvation.
22:30
There's what we term
22:30
justification
22:31
and we term sanctification
22:34
and we term glorification.
22:37
Now,
22:37
we know that
22:39
justification,
22:40
if you remember
22:41
your shortest caddiction,
22:42
that justification
22:42
is an act,
22:43
it's a one-off.
22:45
It's a moment
22:45
when we are born again,
22:48
where we are
22:48
made right before God
22:51
in his sight.
22:52
We are justified,
22:54
we are just before him
22:56
because of what Jesus Christ
22:57
has done for us.
22:59
And we can't become
23:00
any more justified
23:02
because in God's sight
23:04
we're as just
23:05
as Jesus,
23:07
as our mediator.
23:08
We would never dare say that,
23:10
but that's what the Bible
23:11
tells us.
23:12
That's what justification
23:13
has done for us.
23:15
We have been made
23:16
righteous
23:17
in the sight of God
23:19
through the righteousness
23:20
of Jesus Christ.
23:23
Sanctification is ongoing.
23:25
Now,
23:25
theologians talk about
23:27
what we term definitive
23:28
and progressive
23:29
sanctification.
23:31
and what they mean
23:32
very simply
23:33
and that is
23:33
a definitive
23:34
is a once,
23:35
just once and for all.
23:37
And in a sense
23:38
that's what happens
23:39
because to sanctify
23:40
is to set apart.
23:44
Set apart for something
23:45
to be holy.
23:47
And that's what God did
23:48
with you and with me.
23:50
He set us apart.
23:52
The moment that we're
23:53
set apart,
23:54
the moment we're justified,
23:55
we're set apart
23:56
from this world.
23:58
This world no longer
23:59
has a claim on us.
24:01
This world no longer
24:03
loves us in the way
24:04
that it loves its own.
24:06
We are set apart for God.
24:10
We have this inheritance,
24:12
but you know,
24:12
the other way around is
24:13
we are his inheritance.
24:16
Isn't that an incredible thing?
24:18
God tells us that
24:19
we are his inheritance.
24:22
His people
24:23
are his inheritance.
24:26
And so we wait
24:27
for the inheritance
24:29
that he gives us
24:30
to be with him forever.
24:33
So there is what we say
24:35
this definitive
24:36
sanctification
24:37
we're just set apart.
24:39
And then we talk
24:39
of progressive
24:40
sanctification,
24:41
which is simply
24:42
where God is at work
24:44
in us every day.
24:46
Making us,
24:48
shaping us,
24:49
remoulding us
24:50
more and more
24:52
and more
24:52
to resemble
24:53
our Savior,
24:55
the Lord Jesus Christ.
24:58
But then at the end
24:58
comes the other stage,
25:01
glorification,
25:03
where we will be changed.
25:06
It's quite an extraordinary thing
25:09
because we're told then
25:11
in the end
25:12
that we shall see him
25:14
as he is.
25:17
Now that would be enough.
25:19
That would be more than enough.
25:20
But it doesn't just stop there.
25:23
We shall see him
25:24
as he is
25:24
and we shall be like him.
25:27
Probably the most amazing
25:28
words in Scripture.
25:31
You know,
25:32
I'm sure
25:33
if you're like me,
25:34
the one thing
25:34
that you
25:35
you want
25:36
to see,
25:37
you want a greater
25:38
vision of Jesus,
25:39
a greater sight
25:40
of Jesus.
25:41
You're saying,
25:42
I wish I
25:42
but you know,
25:44
the Bible keeps telling us
25:46
as we have here,
25:47
you'll see there
25:49
in verse 8,
25:53
though you have not seen him,
25:56
you love him.
25:57
That's how it is.
25:59
As Jesus said to Thomas,
26:01
just because you've seen me,
26:03
you believe.
26:04
Blessed are those
26:05
whom having not seen
26:07
yet believe.
26:08
That's where we are.
26:11
So we long for the day
26:12
when we will be
26:14
in the presence
26:14
of Jesus
26:15
and we will see him
26:18
as he is.
26:20
How we've longed
26:21
for that
26:21
and we shall be like him.
26:24
Into this
26:25
unending glory
26:26
as it tells us
26:27
it's there
26:28
we will receive
26:29
the inheritance
26:30
which is imperishable,
26:33
undefiled
26:34
and unfading.
26:38
What a hope
26:39
the Christian has.
26:40
You know,
26:40
sometimes we can get
26:41
a bit down
26:42
because we live
26:43
in a world
26:44
which is becoming
26:45
growingly opposed
26:47
to Christ.
26:49
But then we go back here
26:50
and we read
26:51
what our future holds
26:52
and what's ahead
26:54
and we say,
26:55
oh my word,
26:57
it's wonderful
26:58
and there is
27:00
a growing desire
27:01
the further we go on
27:03
where the Lord
27:05
is preparing us
27:06
and I think
27:06
one of the things
27:07
is he loosens us
27:09
as we go along
27:10
he loosens us
27:11
a wee bitty more
27:12
and a wee bitty more
27:13
to this world
27:14
and our mind
27:16
begins to travel
27:17
more and more
27:18
our heart
27:19
begins to travel
27:20
where we're going.
27:22
That's how it is
27:23
because that's
27:24
where our inheritance
27:25
is
27:25
to be with him
27:27
forever.
27:29
Let us pray.
27:30
Lord, we give thanks
27:33
for the great encouragement
27:34
that your word
27:35
is to us.
27:37
We realise
27:38
as your word says
27:39
that we're just pilgrims
27:40
and strangers
27:40
here in our journey
27:42
to an inheritance
27:43
that is beyond
27:44
our imagining.
27:46
But it's all true
27:47
because your word
27:48
has made it clear
27:49
to us.
27:50
So we pray
27:51
that you will bless us
27:52
and bless each
27:53
and every one of us
27:54
here tonight.
27:55
Bless our homes
27:55
and our families.
27:57
We give thanks
27:58
for this church family
27:59
that we have here
28:00
and for the love
28:02
and care
28:02
that we have
28:03
for one another.
28:05
Pray, Lord,
28:05
for those whose hearts
28:06
are heavy and sore.
28:08
We again remember
28:09
Margaret MacLeod
28:10
from the Cairns tonight
28:12
and we pray for her
28:14
as her heart
28:14
and we remember
28:15
herself and Anne as well
28:16
and all her same
28:18
mourn Catherine's passing.
28:20
Remember all
28:21
who are nursing
28:22
broken hearts
28:23
and it might not be
28:26
in the immediate.
28:27
It might have been
28:27
a long time ago
28:28
but it's still so sore
28:31
to this very day
28:31
and so we pray
28:32
that you will be
28:33
be with every broken heart.
28:35
Be with those
28:35
who are sick,
28:36
those who are
28:37
so unwell.
28:38
Remember we did
28:39
McDonald in hospital
28:40
so unwell.
28:41
We pray for all
28:43
and we give thanks
28:44
Lord for answers
28:45
to prayer.
28:45
We were praying
28:46
there for
28:47
Isabel son Derek
28:49
recently
28:50
and we give thanks
28:51
for how well
28:52
he has got on
28:53
hearing that he
28:54
and Heather
28:54
have got home
28:55
and we pray
28:56
your blessing upon us.
28:57
We give thanks
28:58
for answered prayer.
29:00
We pray Lord
29:00
that we will always
29:01
give you thanks
29:02
for all your
29:04
mercies and goodness
29:05
to us.
29:06
So we ask that
29:07
you will be with us.
29:08
Be with the
29:08
psalmody class
29:09
afterwards
29:09
and thanks for
29:11
James
29:12
in leading this.
29:14
Take away your sin
29:15
in Jesus name
29:15
we ask.
29:16
Amen.
29:17
Let us conclude
29:18
singing from
29:19
Psalm 116.
29:20
Let us conclude
29:21
singing from Psalm 116.