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Philippians chapter 4 · Scripture Unscripted

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Philippians chapter 4 Let us pray.
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Jesus, our Lord God and Almighty, we love you Father, we
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love everything about you. You are amazing God.
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You are everything father. You are high and lifted up over
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every single feeling and emotion and circumstance.
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God over every government power God, over every entity and
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principality, over every single man, woman and child.
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God, you are the most highest thing in the all of the
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universe. Father, you're higher than
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anything we could ever set our minds upon.
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So Lord Jesus Christ, be high and lifted up over us.
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Lord, over our lives, over our finances, over our health.
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God, over our friendships. God over our communities.
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Lord, we lift you up higher than anything.
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You are our everything. Shine light upon this Dark
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World. Father, let us be the ministers
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of reconciliation. God, let us be more than
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conquerors, let us be the peacemakers.
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God, let us go out and save those Father that are dying and
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perishing. Lord, through your mighty hand,
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God, use us mightily today. Use us, Father, to be your hands
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and feet, to be the light in the darkness, to be the salt today.
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God, you are everything. Holy Spirit, and dwell us and
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fill us today. Holy Spirit, mark us with
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goodness and grace and mercy and love and joy today.
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Help us, Holy Spirit, to see Jesus Christ on every syllable,
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every word, every jot, every title, every comma, every
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period. It's all about Yeshua.
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Holy Spirit, teach us the eternal past.
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Take us from glory to glory. Let us rise to new heights
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today, and let us feel the depths of God's love for this
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world. Thank you for saving us when we
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could not save ourselves. Thank you for getting rid of all
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of the earthly passions that we possess and help us, Lord, to
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desire you more than this world, to desire you more than earthly
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gain. And so God, we get out of our
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own way and we give you center stage.
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It's all about King Jesus. I decrease as you increase Holy
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Spirit, give us the zeal as we consecrate this temple.
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Come in and fill it overflowing and let it go out into the
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neighborhoods. Let it go out into our
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workplaces. Let it go out into our families
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and our God. Let you be the very first thing
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on our mind and the last thing before we go to bed.
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And throughout our entire day, we meditate upon the life of
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Jesus Christ and the eternal words that he has given us.
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Thank you, Father, we love you, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Yes, and
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Amen to all of the things that you're going to teach us today.
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And it's in Jesus Christ, holy and precious name.
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I pray Amen. Let's start in verse one.
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Therefore, my brothers, dearly beloved and longed for my joy
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and crown. So stand fast in the Lord, My
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dearly beloved Paul really loves these Philippians and he's
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wrapping it up here, this last chapter of Philippians.
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And he wants them to know just how beloved they are in Christ
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Jesus. He's telling them to stand firm.
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Do not be overtaken by the ones who are trying to infiltrate the
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camp, the Judases that are always present and prevalent and
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always trying to stir up strife and always trying to stir up
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discord. And God cannot stand it for
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somebody to try to disband and for somebody to try to cause
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disunity within a community. And Paul here is saying that
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they are dearly beloved and they are longed for and that they are
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his crown that he has warned as a victor and who he's run the
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race. And he doesn't know how this
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trial is going to end before Nero.
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And so he's saying you are the crown of the victorious runner.
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I've ran the race well and I you have been established and are
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thriving. And I wear you as a crown on my
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head, too. I beg Udias, and beg sin tight
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that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
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So he wants this unity. He does not want that wily old
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devil to come in and to stir up all kinds of negativity and
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backbiting and gossip. And we do not know what this
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little disagreement was, but Paul desperately wanted the
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church there to remain in the same mind. 1 Spirit and one mind
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of Christ Jesus. Three.
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I entreat you also, true Yoke fellow, help those women which
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labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with
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other my fellow laborers whose name are in the book of life.
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You know, whenever the disciples came back and they were
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marveling that the demons were subject to him, Christ said do
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not marvel that the demons are subject to you, but marvel that
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your name is written in the Lamb's book of life.
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And that is what you need to press for.
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That is what we earnestly yearn for, friends, is to have our
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names written in the Lamb's book of life and to remain their
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friends. And to not be moved and to be
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steadfast in all of our convictions and not allow this
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world to water us down. And to not turn our backs on God
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and to not become the apostate church.
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To not renounce our faith, but to stay in the fold, stay in the
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book of life, friends. And he's talking about Clement
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here and he's Speaking of him very positively, this true yoke
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fellow as well. And he's telling them to make
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sure that this yuteus and this sin tight, they are homogeneous
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and they are of 1 accord and one mind, and they are not causing
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all kinds of strife and division within the church for rejoice in
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the Lord always. Again, I say rejoice.
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This is like a commandment from Paul.
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He's saying, rejoice. I'm going to tell you again,
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rejoice. You know, when a parent has to
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repeat himself twice, they mean what they say.
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They want you to lock in. They want you to make sure that
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you're not glossing over. And Paul is telling us that the
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key to this unity is rejoicing. If you find a negative person
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who is very critical, it is because they have chosen this
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negativity in this criticism. We must choose joy.
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We must choose to rejoice. And there is a lot to rejoice
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over. Today is a present.
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Today is a gift. You do not know if you're going
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to get tomorrow. You do not know if this is your
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last day on planet Earth. And 10 out of 10 people die.
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And we have a lot to be thankful for and a lot to rejoice over
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for today. There's a lot of people who did
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not wake up today. But if you are hearing this,
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then you are among the living, and there is much to rejoice
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over. There's still a chance for you,
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friends. There's still a chance that you
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can come into the fold. There's a lot to be thankful for
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and to rejoice. And we need to look past all of
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our worries and cares, all the things that try to strangle out
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the joy in our life. And we need to reach and depress
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and to grab a hold of Jesus's joy that was set before him.
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And we need to know that we have eternal life, and no matter what
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this world throws at us, our inheritance is far greater, and
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we can have joy in any circumstance.
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And Paul is telling them to have that joy, and that will cause
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them to get along. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all
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men. The Lord is at hand.
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Can you say that? Do you know that?
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Are you not trying to live excessively?
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This pride of life is not from God.
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We live moderately on purpose. It's not that we do not have the
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drive for more, but we level and regulate our lives in a way
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where we are able to give God our best, which is spending time
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with your family. It is in evangelizing others.
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It is in things that perhaps won't make us a single red cent,
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but they are the greater things. They are the things that matter
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for eternal we. We store up for ourselves
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treasures in heaven that moth and rust do not destroy, and
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thieves cannot break in and steal, Friends.
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These earthly treasures are of nothing whenever the second
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destruction comes by fire and it'll all be burned up, friends.
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And we do not need to store up so much hay that we have to
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build another barn. We need to live our lives open
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handed, friends, and we should pray for just enough friends.
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But we will be. We will be rewarded abundantly.
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If we will not make this life about the here and the now, if
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we will see that what is next is far superior than anything that
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we could ever experience on planet Earth, then you will gain
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a reward that no one can take from you.
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And that calls for wisdom. And we do not need to be so
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incredibly steeped in selfish greed and gain and trying to
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amass for ourselves enough so that we have security.
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But we need to live moderately. We need to choose to live on a
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level that is modest so that we can be approachable for all
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walks of life, for every person, no matter their background.
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That we are relative to them and we're not so far out of their
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ball field that they do not feel comfortable talking to us, but
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we are not so incredibly far away from them in our aloofness
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that we are not attainable on that side of the coin either.
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We need to stay fluid. We need to stay in the middle.
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We need to stay at this conservative level so that no
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matter what walk of life somebody is living in, we are
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approachable and attainable and we do not seem so far beyond
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where they're at in life. And he's saying the Lord is at
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hand. Do we truly believe that,
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friends? Do we truly believe that our
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redemption is drawing near and it's closer today than it was
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yesterday? If we did, and if we live like
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that, this world would look different.
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Don't make it about the here and the now, make it about Christ
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Jesus and what he did for us, and count the cost and see that
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there is nothing on this earth that even compares to him. 6 be
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careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
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supplication with Thanksgiving, let your requests be made known
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unto God. So He's telling us that it is OK
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to not only pray, but to make our requests for the things that
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we need also known to God. And we don't even understand
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this prayer life and how it all works in the spiritual realm.
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And if we could tap into it and if we could see it, we'd spend a
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whole lot more time in prayer if we truly understood what happens
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when we start to pray. God dispatches angels and he
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moves mountains and people get set free from bondage and the
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demonic run and flee at the name of Jesus.
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And we do not need to hold back on this communication that God
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desires, friends. And a lot of times they'll be
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things that happen in your life that push you into the prayer
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closet. But we need to make sure that we
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are already praying without ceasing before any of the things
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happen that cause us to pray. 7 And the peace of God, which
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which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
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through Christ Jesus. We set our hearts and minds upon
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Christ Jesus, and there are so many things that we could never
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comprehend. It is beyond our finite
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intelligence. It is beyond the capacity of our
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intellect, friends, but we trust that Christ Jesus, the Creator
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of everything, seen and unseen, friends, that he has told us and
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He has gave us the mandate to pray.
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And that we trust that when we pray, not if but when we pray,
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that things are happening that we will never see on this side,
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that we'll only get to see and to know what was happening
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whenever we are fully there with Him.
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Hey, finally, brothers, whatsoever things are true,
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whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
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whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
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whatsoever things are good, report.
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If there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on
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these things. All the battles are won or lost
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in the mind, friends. And if we're putting into the
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mind all of the evil, all of the demonic, all of the wickedness,
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all of the horror, horror and horrible things and the
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perversity. And if we're putting into our
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minds and thinking upon unforgiveness and wrath, if
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we're putting into our minds things and we're thinking that
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the mind is a place where we can just think upon anything and no
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one really knows what it is that we're thinking, only ourselves,
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that is garbage. Friends, we have to discipline
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our minds. We have to yield our thoughts
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over to Jesus Christ. And He tells us here how to win
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the battle. It is by in the quiet times, it
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is upon think. It's about thinking upon Him,
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friends. Think upon Jesus Christ
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everything that is good and lovely, wholesome and pure.
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Just friends. These are the things we meditate
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upon, and we meditate upon them 24 hours a day, seven days a
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week. And every time something
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horrible comes into your mind, you take it captive and replace
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it with things that are good and wholesome and lovely, and not
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meditate upon all of the disgusting, wicked, perverse
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things that this world tries to inundate us with.
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Friends, get rid of those things.
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The moment they come into your mind, subdue them.
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Get rid of them, kick them out. Take them out into the streets
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and burn them. Meditate upon the things that
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are lovely and of good report. 9 Those things which you have both
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learned and received and heard and seen in me do, and the God
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of peace shall be with you. That is what you're going to
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find if you'll meditate upon all of these virtuous things.
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You're going to find the peace of God living and ruling and
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reigning in you. And Paul says, Just remember how
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I mirrored and modeled this for you. 10 But I rejoiced in the
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Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me has
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flourished again, wherein you were also careful, but you
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lacked opportunity. So this is the whole point of
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the letter that Paul is writing to the church at Philippi.
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He's wanting to commend them for their graciousness of sending a
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gift to him. And Paul here is encouraging
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them and saying thank you for that gift.
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You had the opportunity and you took it, and no one can take it
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away from them. It is a heavenly treasure that
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will never rust or never fade. 11 Not that I speak in respect
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of want, for I have learned in whatsoever state I am there with
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to be content. So he's saying that he's very
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grateful for the gift that they gave him, but he wants them to
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know that no matter what state he has found himself in, he has
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learned the art of contentment. And I want you to know, friends,
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that godliness with contentment is of great gain.
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And there are many people who are so discontent that they have
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pierced themselves with many sorrows because they cannot take
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inventory and see just how blessed they are.
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And so they always think that it's the next thing that is
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going to get them to be happy, and it never does.
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And Paul here is going to speak on that verse 12.
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I know how. I know both how to be a based
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and I know how to abound everywhere.
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And in all things I am instructed both.
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To be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer
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need. He's saying.
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No matter what circumstance I find myself in, I have
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contentment. Can you say that today, friends,
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if you are in jail or if you are free, if you are homeless or if
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you have a home, if you have food or you have none, if you
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have transportation or you do not?
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Can you say no matter what circumstance you find yourself
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in today, that you can be content in Christ Jesus?
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I pray that that's your story. 13 I can do all things through
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Christ, which strengthens me. And we know apart from Christ we
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can do nothing. But with Christ we can do all
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things, friends, because we are connected to the power source,
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the only power in all the universe that sustains all life.
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And we are attached to that power source.
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And that is why we can do all things with Him, and we can do
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nothing without Him. 14 Notwithstanding, you have well
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done that. You did communicate with my
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affliction. So Paul is commending them again
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for sending the gift to him. Even though he's learned
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contentment, he's very grateful for their gift. 15 Now you
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Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel,
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when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me
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as concerning giving and receiving, but you only.
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So the Philippians have a very special place as they were the
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very first church to ever give to the ministry of Paul.
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Paul was a tent maker and he was self supporting.
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And here this Philippian church went above and beyond anything
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that he had ever asked. And they took it upon themselves
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to send him a gift because he established this church and they
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wanted to do something for Paul. And you can see why Paul was so
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affectionate with this church. 16 For even in Thessalonica you
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sent once and again unto my necessity.
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So here they are, repetitive givers to the ministry of Paul.
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17 Not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may
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abound to your account. That's what Paul was after.
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He wasn't after the money. He wanted them to be blessed,
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and for it to be accounted to their account.
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This fruitfulness which giving is a natural overflow of a life
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that is marked by the giver. And we give because God gave
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first friends, and it is far better to give than it is to
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receive. 18 But I have all, and abound.
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I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which
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were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice
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acceptable and well pleasing to God.
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So Paul here is letting these Philippians know that they did a
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wonderful thing that God was well pleased with, and they will
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not, they will not lose their reward for what they did for
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Him. And it is wonderful when we can
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do things that are a pleasing aroma unto God. 19 But my God
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will supply all your need according to his riches in glory
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by Christ Jesus. That is what you need to know.
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There is no lack in the Father's house.
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He owns the cattle on 1000 Hills Friends.
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And if there is perceived lack in your house, it is because the
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Lord is desirous for you to take inventory, take stock, to look
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around to see all the blessings that he's already given you.
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And we need to take care of the things that he's given us.
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We need to make sure that we are grateful and we have an attitude
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of gratitude and that we are actually looking at the things
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that we have before we go looking for the things that we
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don't have. And we have discontentment.
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Far be it from us, friends, to be spoiled little children who
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just want more and more and more and more, and we're dissatisfied
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with all the things that God has already given us. 20 Now unto
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God and our Father be glory forever and ever, Amen.
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That is why we live the lives that we do.
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That is why we do the things that we do.
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That is why we say the things that we say.
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That is why we work the jobs that we work.
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That is why we do everything is for the glory of God Almighty.
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Friends. 21 Salute every St. in Christ Jesus, the brothers which
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are with me greet you. 22 All the Saints salute you, chiefly
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they that are of Caesar's household. 23 The grace of our
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Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
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Amen. Imagine that Paul's imprisonment
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somehow has even touched the household of Caesar.
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You can see God using all of the things that the enemy meant for
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evil, God is using for good. And he will take your misery and
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turn it into a ministry, friends.
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And here Paul understands that all of these things that have
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happened to him are for the glory of God Almighty.
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Can you say that today everything that you're going
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through is to bring God more glory?
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It's not about you, it's all about Him.
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I hope that you've been blessed by this amazing chapter in God's
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Word. I know I sure have.
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I'm praying for every single one of you.
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I love you. Don't lose heart, keep the
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faith, God will reward you. Do time.
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God bless you. We'll see you back here
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tomorrow.