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Harvest Thanksgiving Service · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Well, we can turn back to our reading in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 12.
0:08
You can read again at verse 15, where Jesus said,
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! He said to them,
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Take care and be on your guard against all covetousness,
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for one's life does not consist in the abundance of one's possessions.
0:25
We're going to think about the whole of this section from verse 13 to verse 34,
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but it's really based on that verse, verse 15,
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where it speaks about the reality that our lives are not just based on the abundance of one's possessions.
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It's not about all that we have in the sense of possessions.
0:51
Because tonight we come to give thanks to God in a particular way,
0:58
as we think of the service this evening being a harvest thanksgiving service.
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But many of us, I'm sure, who gather here this evening,
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we're not involved directly in the harvest, as it were.
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We're not depending on what we produce for ourselves,
1:16
like maybe a generation in the past did.
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So maybe we lose sight of the very fact that we have so much to give thanks for.
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We expect to have food on our table.
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We take it for granted that we'll have clothes in our homes and the warmth that we enjoy.
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We can become distracted in many ways.
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But we want to focus this evening on that sense of thanksgiving,
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recognising that we have so much to give thanks for,
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that maybe it's not directly our labours that are provided for us,
1:50
but the labourers who are out there working day and night,
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that we might have food on our table and clothes to wear in the homes that we have.
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So we come this evening to give thanks to God for all that we have.
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And perhaps when we think of harvest thanksgiving,
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we can maybe think of particular people who come to our mind.
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We think of farmers.
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We think of those who produce crops in our own nation,
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and indeed many nations of the world,
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how much we have on our tables before us that come from all corners of the world.
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So we think of farmers.
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We think maybe of those who go to sea and take goods to us,
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or catch our goods fishermen,
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and all of those involved in that kind of work.
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They have to deal with all kinds of things in their work.
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And many of them are wise to their surroundings.
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They're wise to what's going on.
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And that's what we're looking at here this evening in many ways,
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is this parable of the rich fool.
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He was obviously someone who was good at what he was doing,
3:01
producing a harvest.
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He was wise in that.
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And he was seeing a harvest that was great,
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and he was wanting to multiply this and to build bigger barns.
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But in it all, he lost sight of what was truly important,
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and that was his soul.
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And I guess in many ways,
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we can lose sight of what's truly important in life as well,
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especially when we take things for granted.
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And we often need reminding,
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and reminders given to us to have our focus right.
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So as we give thanks,
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it always leads us to come back to thanksgiving to God.
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But when you think of those involved in harvest,
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whether it's farmers, fishermen,
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they've often got wise sayings,
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just little sayings that they have,
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that they've learned and seen over their years of experience.
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A farmer once said,
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an empty barn needs no roof.
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Well, that's just looking at,
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if there's no harvest,
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there's no point in a roof in the barn.
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We need to have a harvest for that to be so.
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A fisherman once said,
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there's a time to fish
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and a time to dry the nets.
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So there's a time for all things.
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And there's wisdom in all of these things.
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But when you look at the harsh reality
4:27
of these kinds of lifestyle,
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you wonder,
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well, where is their hope?
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Where is their hope when it comes to
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the harvest that's going to come
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or the catch that they're going to get?
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It's often true that they could say,
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well, it's a life,
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a profession of hope.
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We hope we have a good harvest.
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We hope we get a good catch.
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But as we were thinking about recently,
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the word hope,
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it has those two different ways of looking at it.
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We can have a worldly hope
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where it's based on the uncertainty of things,
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or we can have it when it's looking to the Lord.
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Because when we're saying,
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when our hope is that we have a good catch
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and it's in a worldly sense,
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then there's no room for thanksgiving.
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When our hope is in a harvest
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without thinking that God's providing it,
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there's no room for thanksgiving.
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But our hope is in the Lord.
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And so tonight,
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as we come and give thanks for all that we have
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and all that we enjoy,
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our hope is in the Lord who provides,
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whether it's in plenty or in need,
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it is still the Lord who provides.
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And it's the Lord who gives us wisdom.
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And when you look in the Bible,
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and especially maybe the book of Proverbs,
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you find there many wise sayings.
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One of my favorites is this,
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and it ties in with what we're looking at this evening.
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Proverbs 30, verse 8 and 9.
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Give me neither poverty nor riches,
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but give me only my daily bread.
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Otherwise, I may have too much
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and disown you and say,
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Who is the Lord?
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Or I may become poor and steal
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and so dishonor the name of my God.
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There's wisdom in these words.
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Give me neither poverty nor riches,
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but give me only my daily bread.
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And that's really what Jesus is teaching here
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in this parable of the rich fool.
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He's reminding us of what's important.
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He's teaching us of the wisdom
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or lack of wisdom that we can find
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in having too much or too little
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and reminding us of what is truly important.
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You see, this passage is reminding us
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it's not all about having
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an abundance of possessions.
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It's about having a perspective
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on what is important in our lives.
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A harvest thanksgiving
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almost immediately assumes
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that there is plenty to give thanks for.
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But it's not always the case.
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For some, this may have been a good year
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and there's much to give thanks for.
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But for others,
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it's been a difficult year.
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A year of sorrow.
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A year of hardship
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in many different ways.
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Maybe we struggled
7:41
to make ends meet.
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But do we not still
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have a reason to come
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and thank the Lord
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for his goodness to us?
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That he is the one
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who never leaves us
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or forsakes us.
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And so Jesus is here teaching
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in this parable
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about verse 15 there.
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Take care and be on your guard
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against all covetousness
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for one's life
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does not consist
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in the abundance
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of one's possessions.
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He's teaching
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to be careful
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whether it's in our plenty.
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And then as he goes on
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to speak to them
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as we go on in this chapter
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not to be anxious
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in our need
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but to remember the Lord
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who is able to bless
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and especially to bless
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with a treasure
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that never fades.
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So we want to look
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on these things this evening.
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Too much, first of all,
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distracts.
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Too much takes our eyes
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of the Lord.
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So here in chapter 12
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Jesus is teaching
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to this large crowd.
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He's preaching to them.
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Thousands have gathered.
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They're trampling over
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one another.
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He's preaching the gospel
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to them.
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He's preaching
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of the importance
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of their soul.
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He's preaching
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of the importance
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of their need of God
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to fear the one
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who kills the soul,
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the devil.
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He's talking about there
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to fear the judgment,
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to fear all of these things,
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to see the seriousness
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of life.
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But in the midst of this
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there's an interruption
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from a man.
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And that's what we see
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in verse 13.
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And this interruption
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you'd think
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he's got an important
9:28
question to ask
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on eternity
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or his soul
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or what is important
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in life
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but we see
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what is important
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to him
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with the thing
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that he asks
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of Jesus.
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Someone in the crowd
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said to him,
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Teacher,
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tell my brother
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to divide the inheritance
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with me.
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After all
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he's been hearing
9:50
the most important
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thing he has to ask
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of Jesus
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is to settle
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this dispute
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so that he can
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have more.
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So that he can
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have his inheritance.
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Here he is
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listening to Jesus
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preach
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on the most
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important thing
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in life
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his soul
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and this is
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what is important.
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But how easy
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it is
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to be
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distracted
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away
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from what is
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the most
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important thing
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and not just
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our own soul
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but the soul
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of others
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around us.
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All that matters
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to this man
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is self.
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his own
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prosperity.
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He's after
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his inheritance.
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He's after
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what he wants
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that he thinks
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will fulfill
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his life.
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And that's
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what he brings
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to Jesus.
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So he's looking
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for more.
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But when you
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ask yourself
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this evening
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what kind
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of harvest
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have you
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had
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this year?
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Have you
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managed to
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get all
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that you
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wanted?
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Are you
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thankful
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or are you
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deciding
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more?
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You see
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it's easy
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for us
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to end up
11:16
like this
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man.
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To get so
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distracted
11:19
away from
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the important
11:20
things in the
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gospel and
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to think
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about
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ourselves.
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ourselves.
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To put
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ourselves as
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number one.
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Are we
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thankful
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or are we
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deciding more?
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We have to
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be careful.
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And this
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goes right
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back to the
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beginning of
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the scriptures.
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You think
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about Adam
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and Eve
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in the
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garden.
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They had
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everything
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that they
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needed.
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All the
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trees in
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the garden
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were theirs.
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Bar one.
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there was
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one that
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they were
11:52
told not
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to touch.
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What did
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they do?
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They weren't
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content until
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they would
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have that
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one as
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well.
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That's the
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kind of
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parable that
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Jesus is
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teaching here
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as he
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teaches of
12:07
the rich
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fool.
12:08
As he
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goes on to
12:09
explain about
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the one
12:10
who had
12:11
plenty and
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was building
12:13
bigger barns.
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Never
12:15
content.
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Always
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wanting
12:19
more.
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And when
12:21
you look
12:21
at the
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rich
12:22
fool
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produced
12:24
plentifully
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what did
12:25
he start
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saying in
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verse 18?
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I will
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do this.
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I will
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tear down
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my barns
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and build
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larger ones
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and there
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I will
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store all
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my grain
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and my
12:37
goods
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and I
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will say
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to my
12:39
soul
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soul
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you have
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ample
12:41
goods
12:41
laid up
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for many
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years.
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Relax
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eat
12:44
drink
12:45
and be
12:45
merry.
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You see
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the word
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I
12:47
I
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I
12:49
I
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is all
12:50
that we
12:51
see there.
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He's got
12:52
his own
12:52
plans.
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His life
12:54
is the
12:55
abundance
12:55
of one
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one's
12:57
possessions.
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And he's
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thinking
13:01
about himself.
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But what
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does the
13:03
Lord say
13:04
to him
13:04
in verse
13:05
20?
13:05
But God
13:06
said to
13:07
him
13:07
fool
13:08
this night
13:10
your soul
13:10
is required
13:11
of you
13:12
and the
13:12
things you
13:13
have prepared
13:14
whose
13:15
will they
13:15
be?
13:16
This
13:16
man
13:17
is a
13:18
fool.
13:19
And so
13:20
are we
13:20
fools
13:21
if that's
13:21
what we're
13:22
putting
13:22
first.
13:23
The
13:23
abundance
13:23
of our
13:24
possessions.
13:27
Psalm
13:28
107
13:29
the last
13:30
verse
13:30
verse 43
13:31
let all
13:32
the wise
13:33
take note
13:34
and learn
13:35
the Lord's
13:36
love
13:36
does not
13:37
cease.
13:39
The wise
13:40
take heed
13:41
of the
13:41
Lord's
13:41
love.
13:42
the fool
13:42
just
13:43
looks
13:44
to
13:44
himself.
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So we
13:46
have to
13:47
be careful
13:47
of the
13:48
abundance
13:49
of good
13:49
things that
13:50
we have
13:51
that we
13:51
don't lose
13:51
sight of
13:52
what is
13:53
truly
13:53
important.
13:56
A
13:57
preacher
13:57
called
13:58
George
13:58
Truitt
13:59
in
14:00
America
14:00
in the
14:01
early
14:01
1900s.
14:02
He was
14:03
quite a
14:03
famous
14:04
preacher
14:04
in his
14:04
time.
14:06
And he
14:07
was
14:07
alongside
14:08
all kinds
14:09
of different
14:10
people
14:10
ministering
14:12
around
14:12
Texas.
14:13
Texas
14:14
was quite
14:14
a wealthy
14:15
place
14:16
at the
14:16
time.
14:17
The oil
14:18
had started
14:19
flowing and
14:20
there was
14:20
so much
14:21
money and
14:22
wealth in
14:22
that place
14:23
at the
14:23
time.
14:23
And he
14:23
got invited
14:24
along to
14:25
a very
14:25
wealthy
14:26
man's
14:26
home in
14:27
Texas.
14:29
And they
14:29
enjoyed a
14:30
meal together
14:31
and after
14:31
the meal
14:32
the host
14:32
led George
14:34
outside and
14:35
he started
14:36
looking around
14:37
and showing
14:38
him all
14:39
that he
14:39
had.
14:39
He
14:40
pointed in
14:41
one
14:41
direction
14:42
and there
14:43
was the
14:43
oil wells
14:44
that were
14:44
producing
14:45
the oil
14:46
at that
14:46
time where
14:47
his wealth
14:48
was coming
14:48
from.
14:49
And he
14:50
said 25
14:50
years ago
14:51
I had
14:52
nothing.
14:53
Now all
14:54
that you
14:54
see is
14:56
mine.
14:57
He looked
14:58
in another
14:58
direction
14:59
where herds
15:00
of cattle
15:01
were and
15:02
bragged
15:02
they're all
15:03
mine.
15:04
He looked
15:04
another
15:05
direction and
15:06
looked to
15:06
the fields
15:07
that were
15:07
full of
15:07
grain.
15:08
that's
15:09
all
15:09
mine.
15:10
He
15:11
looked in
15:11
the last
15:12
direction
15:12
and saw
15:14
the forest
15:14
behind him
15:15
and says
15:15
that's
15:16
all mine
15:16
too.
15:19
And he
15:20
paused
15:21
expecting
15:22
George
15:23
through it
15:23
to have
15:24
something
15:24
to say
15:25
to him
15:25
in a way
15:26
of
15:26
congratulations
15:27
on making
15:28
so much
15:29
wealth
15:29
for himself.
15:30
But instead
15:31
George put
15:31
his hand
15:32
on his
15:32
shoulder
15:32
with one
15:34
hand and
15:34
pointed up
15:35
towards the
15:35
heaven
15:36
with the
15:36
other
15:37
and he
15:38
said to
15:39
the man
15:39
what do
15:40
you have
15:41
in that
15:41
direction?
15:43
And the
15:43
man's
15:44
head hung
15:45
and he
15:46
confessed
15:46
I hadn't
15:47
thought
15:47
about that.
15:50
He had
15:51
everything as
15:51
he looked
15:52
around.
15:53
Plenty
15:54
of wealth.
15:55
In his
15:55
own eyes
15:56
everything he
15:56
needed.
15:58
But the
15:58
most important
15:59
thing
16:00
was missing.
16:02
What did
16:03
he have
16:03
in the
16:04
heavens?
16:06
He was
16:06
a fool
16:07
too
16:07
because he
16:08
had no
16:09
consideration
16:09
of that.
16:11
So as
16:12
we think
16:12
of all
16:13
that we
16:13
have
16:13
we have
16:14
much
16:14
to give
16:15
thanks for.
16:16
Let us
16:16
not lose
16:17
sight
16:17
of the
16:18
Lord.
16:19
Let us
16:19
not lose
16:20
sight
16:20
of our
16:22
soul
16:22
that is
16:23
so precious
16:24
above
16:26
everything
16:27
else.
16:28
Too
16:29
much
16:29
distracts.
16:32
But as
16:33
you go
16:33
on in
16:33
this we
16:34
see too
16:34
that we
16:35
could think
16:35
too little
16:36
can leave
16:37
us in
16:38
despair.
16:40
And Jesus
16:40
turns his
16:42
focus now
16:43
to his
16:43
followers and
16:44
especially
16:44
the disciples
16:46
after he's
16:47
explained
16:47
this
16:49
parable to
16:50
them as
16:50
he spoke
16:51
in this
16:51
parable
16:52
to them.
16:53
In verse
16:53
22 down
16:54
to verse
16:55
34 it's
16:57
headed there
16:57
do not
16:58
be anxious.
16:59
so the
17:00
opposite
17:01
problem
17:02
of having
17:03
too much
17:04
is worrying
17:04
that we've
17:05
got too
17:06
little.
17:08
You see
17:08
greed can
17:09
never have
17:09
enough
17:10
but worry
17:12
is afraid
17:13
it will
17:14
never have
17:14
enough
17:15
either.
17:17
Greed can
17:17
never have
17:18
enough
17:18
worry is
17:19
afraid it
17:20
will never
17:20
have enough.
17:22
And so
17:22
worry is
17:23
something that
17:24
can come
17:24
quite naturally
17:25
to us.
17:26
We think
17:26
we're
17:27
anxious
17:27
about
17:28
our
17:28
harvest
17:29
we're
17:29
anxious
17:30
about
17:30
what
17:30
we have
17:31
we don't
17:31
have
17:31
enough
17:32
we're
17:32
struggling
17:33
and when
17:34
you think
17:35
of the
17:35
disciples
17:35
here we
17:37
know that
17:37
they had
17:37
left
17:38
everything.
17:39
In Mark
17:40
chapter 10
17:40
verse 28
17:41
Peter said
17:42
to Jesus
17:43
we have
17:43
left
17:44
everything
17:44
to follow
17:46
you.
17:47
So they
17:47
had left
17:48
behind so
17:49
much and
17:49
they didn't
17:50
have a lot.
17:52
They wandered
17:52
around village
17:54
to village
17:54
town to
17:55
town
17:55
sometimes
17:56
going
17:57
hungry.
17:58
But what
17:59
Jesus says
18:00
to them
18:00
is do
18:01
not worry.
18:03
Do not
18:03
worry.
18:05
It's easier
18:06
said than
18:06
done isn't
18:07
it if we're
18:07
struggling.
18:08
Do not
18:09
worry.
18:10
But Jesus
18:11
here reminds
18:12
them why
18:13
they should
18:14
not worry.
18:16
We can
18:17
give thanks
18:17
for all the
18:18
Lord has
18:19
given us in
18:19
the past
18:20
year.
18:22
And can
18:22
we honestly
18:22
say that
18:23
God
18:24
has failed
18:25
us.
18:27
Is there
18:27
a point
18:28
where you
18:28
say God
18:29
let me
18:30
down.
18:33
We can
18:33
probably say
18:34
it of
18:34
ourselves
18:35
in the
18:36
sense of
18:37
I have
18:37
failed
18:38
the Lord.
18:40
But can
18:40
we say
18:40
the Lord
18:41
has failed
18:42
me.
18:44
We might
18:45
find ourselves
18:46
in situations
18:46
where we
18:47
don't
18:48
understand.
18:49
We find
18:50
hard.
18:52
But the
18:52
God
18:52
that we
18:53
read of
18:53
in the
18:54
scriptures
18:54
he
18:54
doesn't
18:55
fail
18:55
us.
18:56
Because
18:57
he says
18:57
I will
18:57
never
18:58
leave you.
18:59
I will
18:59
always
19:00
be with
19:01
you.
19:02
And so
19:03
as you
19:03
go through
19:03
verse 23
19:04
down to
19:05
verse 34
19:06
Jesus is
19:07
here explaining
19:08
reasons we
19:09
have not
19:10
to worry
19:11
not to be
19:12
anxious.
19:14
In verse
19:14
23 it
19:15
says for
19:15
life is
19:16
more than
19:16
food and
19:17
the body
19:18
more than
19:19
clothing.
19:20
Jesus is
19:22
saying here
19:22
do not
19:23
be
19:23
anxious
19:23
because
19:25
life is
19:25
so much
19:26
more than
19:26
this.
19:27
It's not
19:27
all about
19:28
what you
19:28
eat or
19:29
what you
19:29
wear or
19:30
all of
19:30
these
19:30
things.
19:32
That's
19:32
not what's
19:33
important.
19:34
Don't
19:35
be anxious
19:35
about that.
19:38
Then in
19:38
verse 24
19:39
he says
19:39
consider
19:40
the ravens
19:41
they neither
19:41
sow nor
19:42
reap.
19:43
They have
19:43
neither
19:44
storehouse nor
19:45
barn and
19:45
yet God
19:46
feeds them.
19:47
Of how
19:47
much more
19:48
value are
19:48
you then
19:49
than the
19:50
birds?
19:52
God
19:52
views his
19:53
people as
19:54
so important
19:55
as so
19:56
precious to
19:57
him.
19:58
You are
19:58
much more
19:59
valuable to
19:59
him than
20:00
all the
20:01
birds.
20:03
And so
20:03
he's saying
20:03
do not be
20:04
anxious.
20:06
I care
20:06
for you.
20:07
I love
20:07
you.
20:08
And then
20:10
he speaks
20:11
about our
20:12
lives.
20:13
In verse
20:13
25,
20:14
which of
20:15
you by
20:15
being anxious
20:16
can add a
20:17
single hour
20:18
to a
20:18
span of
20:19
life?
20:20
If then
20:20
you are
20:20
not able
20:21
to do a
20:22
smaller thing
20:23
as that,
20:24
why are
20:24
you anxious
20:25
about the
20:25
rest?
20:27
We cannot
20:28
add to
20:29
our lives.
20:29
We worry
20:30
about our
20:31
lives,
20:31
maybe worry
20:32
about getting
20:32
older.
20:33
All of
20:34
these things
20:34
can cause
20:35
anxiety.
20:38
But God
20:38
is saying
20:39
do not
20:39
be anxious.
20:41
You cannot
20:42
change that.
20:43
You cannot
20:43
add to
20:44
your
20:44
life span,
20:45
but he
20:46
is in
20:46
control.
20:48
So we
20:48
trust him.
20:51
Then it
20:51
goes on
20:52
in verse
20:52
27.
20:54
He speaks
20:55
there of
20:55
the lilies.
20:56
Consider the
20:57
lilies,
20:57
how they
20:57
grow.
20:58
They
20:58
neither
20:58
toil
20:59
nor
20:59
spin.
21:00
Yet
21:00
I tell
21:01
you,
21:01
even
21:01
Solomon
21:02
in all
21:02
his
21:02
glory
21:03
was
21:03
not
21:03
arrayed
21:04
like
21:04
one
21:05
of
21:06
these.
21:08
The
21:08
Lord
21:09
has
21:10
so many
21:11
precious
21:12
things in
21:12
this world.
21:13
He says
21:13
consider the
21:14
lilies.
21:15
Look at
21:15
the
21:15
lilies.
21:16
How
21:16
beautiful
21:17
they
21:18
are.
21:20
And
21:21
how
21:21
precious
21:21
we
21:22
are
21:22
to
21:23
him.
21:25
These
21:25
lilies
21:26
have a
21:26
glory
21:26
to
21:27
them.
21:27
And
21:28
the
21:28
Lord
21:28
is
21:28
saying
21:28
do
21:28
not
21:29
be
21:29
anxious
21:29
because
21:30
when
21:30
you're
21:30
trusting
21:30
in
21:31
me
21:31
you
21:32
have
21:32
a
21:32
glory
21:32
that's
21:33
mine
21:33
as
21:34
well.
21:35
And
21:36
he
21:36
goes
21:36
on
21:36
then
21:37
to
21:37
speak
21:37
of
21:37
the
21:38
care
21:39
that
21:39
he
21:39
takes
21:40
in
21:40
verse
21:40
28.
21:41
But
21:42
if
21:42
God
21:42
so
21:42
clothes
21:43
the
21:43
grass
21:44
which
21:44
is
21:44
alive
21:44
in
21:45
the
21:45
field
21:45
today
21:45
and
21:46
tomorrow
21:46
is
21:47
thrown
21:47
into
21:47
the
21:47
oven
21:48
how
21:48
much
21:48
more
21:49
will
21:49
he
21:49
clothe
21:49
you
21:50
or
21:50
you
21:51
of
21:52
little
21:52
faith.
21:52
Is
21:53
that
21:53
us?
21:55
Are
21:55
we
21:55
those
21:56
of
21:56
little
21:56
faith?
21:58
Are
21:59
we
21:59
trusting
21:59
!
21:59
God
22:00
who
22:00
provides
22:01
for
22:01
us
22:02
to
22:02
clothe
22:02
us
22:02
to
22:03
feed
22:05
in
22:05
all
22:06
of
22:06
these
22:06
things.
22:08
Then
22:08
in
22:09
verse
22:09
30
22:10
he
22:11
says
22:11
for
22:11
all
22:11
the
22:12
nations
22:12
of
22:13
the
22:13
world
22:13
seek
22:13
after
22:14
these
22:14
things
22:15
and
22:15
your
22:15
father
22:15
knows
22:16
that
22:17
you
22:17
need
22:17
them.
22:18
God
22:18
knows
22:19
everything
22:20
that
22:21
we
22:21
need
22:22
and
22:23
he
22:23
provides
22:23
he
22:25
will
22:25
give
22:25
it
22:25
to
22:26
us
22:26
as
22:27
we
22:27
need
22:28
but
22:29
he
22:29
gives
22:29
it
22:29
to
22:30
us
22:30
as
22:30
we
22:30
seek
22:31
his
22:32
kingdom
22:33
first
22:34
verse
22:35
31
22:36
instead
22:36
seek
22:37
his
22:38
kingdom
22:38
and
22:39
all
22:39
these
22:40
things
22:40
will
22:41
be
22:41
added
22:42
to
22:42
you.
22:44
So
22:44
he's
22:44
reminding
22:45
us
22:45
here
22:46
to
22:46
trust
22:46
him.
22:47
It's
22:47
not to
22:48
say
22:48
that
22:48
we
22:48
get
22:48
everything
22:49
that
22:49
we
22:49
desire
22:50
but
22:51
that
22:51
he'll
22:51
give
22:51
us
22:51
what
22:52
we
22:52
need.
22:54
If
22:54
you
22:55
read
22:55
Alistair
22:55
Begg's
22:56
online
22:57
daily
22:57
reading
22:57
today
22:58
was
22:59
a
22:59
great
22:59
reminder
23:00
in
23:00
the
23:00
midst
23:00
of
23:00
Thanksgiving
23:01
!
23:04
Habakkuk
23:05
chapter
23:05
3
23:06
and
23:07
he
23:07
quoted
23:07
verse
23:08
17
23:09
and
23:09
18
23:09
from
23:10
Habakkuk
23:10
chapter
23:11
3
23:11
which
23:12
says
23:12
though
23:12
the
23:13
fig
23:13
trees
23:13
should
23:14
not
23:14
blossom
23:15
nor
23:16
fruit
23:16
beyond
23:16
the
23:17
vines
23:17
the
23:17
produce
23:18
of
23:18
the
23:18
olive
23:19
fail
23:19
and
23:19
the
23:19
fields
23:20
yield
23:21
no
23:21
food
23:22
the
23:22
flock
23:22
be
23:23
cut
23:23
off
23:23
from
23:23
the
23:24
fold
23:24
and
23:25
there
23:25
be
23:25
no
23:25
herd
23:26
in
23:26
the
23:26
stalls
23:27
yet
23:28
I
23:28
will
23:28
rejoice
23:29
in
23:29
the
23:29
Lord
23:30
I
23:31
will
23:31
take
23:31
joy
23:32
in
23:32
the
23:32
God
23:33
of
23:33
my
23:34
salvation
23:35
as
23:35
the
23:36
beg
23:36
went
23:36
on
23:36
to
23:36
say
23:37
this
23:37
on
23:37
that
23:38
verse
23:38
Habakkuk
23:39
was
23:39
imagining
23:39
a
23:40
situation
23:41
that
23:41
would
23:41
amount
23:42
to
23:42
great
23:43
devastation
23:44
for
23:44
an
23:44
agricultural
23:45
society
23:46
no
23:47
fruit
23:47
no
23:47
fruit
23:47
produce
23:48
yields
23:49
flocks
23:50
or
23:51
herds
23:51
meant
23:52
a
23:52
completely
23:53
broken
23:54
economy
23:54
and a
23:55
chronic
23:56
shortage
23:56
of
23:57
food
23:57
yet
23:58
Habakkuk
23:59
says
23:59
that
23:59
even
24:00
if
24:00
confronted
24:00
with
24:01
that
24:01
scenario
24:01
our
24:02
greatest
24:03
concern
24:04
should be
24:04
neither
24:04
pestilence
24:05
nor
24:05
plague
24:06
but that
24:07
the work
24:07
of God
24:08
would be
24:08
revived
24:09
ultimately
24:11
Habakkuk
24:11
said
24:12
he would
24:13
be found
24:13
singing
24:14
trusting
24:15
the
24:16
sovereign
24:16
work
24:17
of the
24:17
Lord
24:17
the
24:18
God
24:18
of
24:19
salvation
24:19
was
24:20
all
24:20
he
24:21
needed
24:21
for
24:22
joy
24:22
it
24:25
doesn't
24:25
depend
24:26
on the
24:26
abundance
24:27
of
24:28
great
24:29
possessions
24:29
but that
24:31
our joy
24:32
is in
24:33
the
24:33
Lord
24:33
and that
24:34
he is
24:35
the one
24:35
who has
24:36
blessed
24:37
us
24:37
maybe
24:38
we feel
24:39
a sense
24:40
of fear
24:41
and
24:41
anxiety
24:42
about
24:43
the
24:44
future
24:44
about
24:44
what
24:45
lies
24:45
ahead
24:45
but
24:47
even
24:47
in
24:47
that
24:47
we
24:48
don't
24:48
want
24:48
little
24:49
to
24:49
leave
24:49
us
24:50
in
24:50
despair
24:50
but
24:51
to
24:52
see
24:52
that
24:52
God
24:53
cares
24:54
and
24:54
God
24:55
knows
24:55
so
24:56
he
24:57
says
24:57
do
24:58
not
24:58
be
24:59
anxious
25:00
so
25:02
too
25:02
much
25:03
can
25:04
distract
25:04
too
25:05
little
25:05
can
25:06
leave
25:06
us
25:06
despairing
25:07
but
25:08
thirdly
25:08
in
25:08
this
25:09
we
25:09
see
25:09
that
25:09
God
25:10
gives
25:10
us
25:10
what
25:11
we
25:11
need
25:12
he
25:13
gives
25:13
us
25:13
what
25:14
we
25:14
need
25:14
as
25:15
Jesus
25:15
rounds
25:16
off
25:16
this
25:16
section
25:17
he
25:17
does
25:17
by
25:18
reminding
25:18
us
25:19
what
25:19
is
25:19
of
25:19
greatest
25:20
importance
25:21
and
25:21
should
25:22
be
25:22
our
25:22
greatest
25:22
delight
25:23
in
25:24
life
25:24
to
25:25
be
25:26
part
25:26
of
25:27
the
25:27
kingdom
25:28
of
25:29
God
25:29
fear
25:31
not
25:31
it
25:31
says
25:32
in
25:32
verse
25:32
32
25:32
little
25:33
flock
25:33
for
25:34
it
25:34
is
25:34
your
25:34
father's
25:35
good
25:35
pleasure
25:36
to
25:37
give
25:37
you
25:37
the
25:38
kingdom
25:38
he
25:40
gives
25:40
what
25:41
we
25:41
truly
25:42
need
25:43
the
25:44
fool
25:45
who
25:45
wanted
25:45
to
25:46
build
25:46
bigger
25:46
barns
25:47
his
25:48
soul
25:48
was
25:49
required
25:49
of
25:50
him
25:50
the
25:52
one
25:52
who
25:52
is
25:53
anxious
25:53
we
25:54
can
25:54
have
25:55
a
25:55
sense
25:56
of
25:56
despair
25:57
and
25:57
lose
25:58
sight
25:58
of
25:58
God
25:59
but
26:01
Jesus
26:01
here
26:02
is
26:02
teaching
26:02
us
26:03
keep
26:03
our
26:03
eyes
26:04
on
26:04
what
26:05
is
26:05
important
26:05
fix
26:06
our
26:07
eyes
26:07
on
26:08
him
26:08
and
26:09
his
26:09
kingdom
26:10
because
26:11
that
26:11
is
26:12
the
26:12
most
26:12
precious
26:12
thing
26:13
of
26:14
all
26:14
and
26:14
he
26:14
goes
26:14
on
26:14
to
26:15
describe
26:15
it
26:15
in
26:15
the
26:15
way
26:16
of
26:16
our
26:17
treasure
26:17
he
26:20
says
26:21
in
26:21
the
26:22
middle
26:23
of
26:23
verse
26:23
33
26:24
that
26:25
there
26:26
are
26:26
money
26:26
bags
26:26
that
26:27
do
26:27
not
26:27
grow
26:27
old
26:28
with
26:28
a
26:28
treasure
26:28
in
26:29
the
26:29
heavens
26:30
that
26:30
does
26:30
not
26:31
fail
26:31
where
26:32
no
26:32
thief
26:33
approaches
26:33
and
26:34
no
26:34
moth
26:34
destroys
26:35
so
26:36
we
26:36
have
26:36
something
26:37
that
26:37
God
26:38
is
26:38
able
26:39
to
26:39
give
26:39
and
26:40
it's
26:41
not
26:41
the
26:41
abundance
26:42
of
26:42
possessions
26:43
that
26:43
counts
26:44
it's
26:45
this
26:45
treasure
26:46
in
26:47
heaven
26:47
but
26:48
he
26:49
leaves
26:49
them
26:49
with
26:49
a
26:49
challenge
26:50
in
26:50
verse
26:51
34
26:51
where
26:53
your
26:53
treasure
26:54
is
26:55
there
26:56
will
26:57
your
26:57
heart
26:57
be
26:58
also
26:59
and
27:00
so
27:00
where
27:00
is
27:01
our
27:02
heart
27:02
where
27:03
is
27:03
our
27:04
treasure
27:04
tonight
27:05
are
27:05
we
27:05
looking
27:06
for
27:07
the
27:07
abundance
27:07
of
27:08
possessions
27:09
are
27:10
we
27:10
anxious
27:11
in
27:12
little
27:12
things
27:13
or
27:14
are
27:14
we
27:15
seeking
27:15
first
27:16
the
27:16
kingdom
27:17
of
27:17
God
27:17
that
27:18
adds
27:18
everything
27:19
else
27:19
for
27:20
us
27:21
where
27:22
your
27:22
treasure
27:23
is
27:23
there
27:23
your
27:24
heart
27:25
will
27:25
be
27:25
also
27:26
David
27:27
gives
27:28
us
27:28
a
27:28
great
27:28
lesson
27:29
in
27:30
Psalm
27:30
37
27:31
about
27:32
this
27:32
and
27:32
he
27:32
says
27:33
in
27:34
verse
27:34
3
27:34
set
27:35
thou
27:35
thy
27:36
trust
27:36
upon
27:37
the
27:37
Lord
27:37
and
27:38
be
27:38
thou
27:38
doing
27:38
good
27:39
and
27:40
so
27:40
thou
27:40
in
27:40
the
27:40
land
27:41
shalt
27:41
dwell
27:42
and
27:42
verily
27:42
have
27:42
food
27:43
delight
27:44
thyself
27:45
in
27:45
God
27:45
he'll
27:45
give
27:46
thy
27:46
heart's
27:46
desire
27:47
to
27:47
thee
27:47
thy
27:48
way
27:48
to
27:49
God
27:49
commit
27:50
him
27:51
trust
27:52
it
27:52
bring
27:52
to
27:52
pass
27:53
shall
27:54
he
27:54
there
27:55
is
27:55
wisdom
27:56
for
27:56
us
27:57
trust
27:58
the
27:59
Lord
28:00
do
28:01
good
28:02
delight
28:03
thyself
28:04
in
28:04
God
28:04
trust
28:05
him
28:06
he'll
28:06
bring
28:07
it
28:07
to
28:08
pass
28:08
as
28:10
we
28:10
give
28:10
thanks
28:11
to
28:11
God
28:11
for
28:12
a
28:12
harvest
28:13
as
28:14
we
28:14
give
28:14
thanks
28:15
to
28:15
God
28:15
for
28:15
all
28:15
that
28:16
we've
28:16
enjoyed
28:16
from
28:16
his
28:17
hand
28:17
in
28:18
this
28:18
past
28:18
year
28:19
let's
28:20
not
28:20
be
28:20
distracted
28:21
by
28:22
too
28:22
much
28:23
let's
28:23
not
28:23
be
28:23
anxious
28:24
in
28:25
too
28:25
little
28:26
but
28:27
let
28:27
us
28:27
trust
28:28
the
28:29
Lord
28:29
let
28:29
us
28:29
continue
28:30
to
28:31
do
28:31
good
28:32
for
28:32
he
28:33
will
28:33
provide
28:34
delight
28:35
ourselves
28:35
in
28:36
God
28:36
he'll
28:37
give
28:37
our
28:37
hearts
28:38
desire
28:38
commit
28:39
our
28:40
ways
28:40
to
28:40
him
28:41
he'll
28:42
bring
28:42
it
28:42
to
28:42
pass
28:43
let
28:44
us
28:45
do
28:45
that
28:45
as
28:47
Proverbs
28:48
said
28:48
give me
28:49
neither
28:49
poverty
28:50
nor
28:51
riches
28:51
but
28:52
give me
28:53
only
28:53
my
28:53
daily
28:54
bread
28:54
otherwise
28:56
I may
28:56
have
28:56
too
28:57
much
28:57
and
28:57
disown
28:58
you
28:58
and
28:58
say
28:59
who
28:59
is
29:00
the
29:00
Lord
29:01
or I
29:02
may
29:02
become
29:02
poor
29:03
and
29:04
steal
29:04
and
29:05
so
29:05
dishonor
29:06
the name
29:07
of
29:08
God
29:08
Lord
29:10
give us
29:10
our
29:11
daily
29:12
bread
29:12
for that
29:13
is what
29:14
we need
29:14
and we
29:15
find that
29:16
as we
29:16
seek
29:17
the
29:17
kingdom
29:18
of God
29:19
and
29:20
everything
29:20
else
29:20
will be
29:21
added
29:22
to
29:22
us
29:22
let
29:23
us
29:24
pray
29:24
Lord
29:28
our
29:28
gracious
29:29
God
29:29
we do
29:30
thank
29:30
you
29:30
that
29:30
you
29:31
are
29:31
a
29:32
God
29:32
of
29:32
abundance
29:33
you
29:34
could
29:34
give
29:34
us
29:35
the
29:36
cattle
29:36
on
29:36
a
29:36
thousand
29:37
hills
29:37
and yet
29:38
you
29:39
give
29:39
us
29:39
what
29:40
we
29:40
need
29:40
and
29:41
so
29:41
help
29:42
us
29:42
Lord
29:42
that
29:42
our
29:42
desires
29:43
would
29:44
not
29:44
be
29:44
for
29:44
an
29:45
abundance
29:45
of
29:46
great
29:46
possessions
29:46
but
29:48
instead
29:48
that
29:49
we
29:49
would
29:49
just
29:49
keep
29:50
praying
29:50
Lord
29:51
give
29:51
us
29:52
our
29:52
daily
29:52
bread
29:53
help
29:54
us
29:54
to
29:54
be
29:55
satisfied
29:55
with
29:56
all
29:56
that
29:56
you
29:56
give
29:57
and
29:57
all
29:58
that
29:58
we
29:58
have
29:59
for
29:59
you
29:59
are
29:59
a
30:00
God
30:00
who
30:00
never
30:00
fails
30:01
us
30:01
too
30:02
much
30:03
could
30:03
distract
30:03
us
30:04
too
30:05
little
30:05
could
30:05
leave
30:06
us
30:06
anxious
30:06
but
30:07
our
30:08
daily
30:08
bread
30:08
will
30:09
keep
30:09
us
30:09
looking
30:10
to
30:10
the
30:11
kingdom
30:11
of
30:11
God
30:12
where
30:13
we
30:13
find
30:13
everything
30:13
else
30:14
added
30:14
to
30:15
us
30:15
so
30:16
Lord
30:16
teach
30:16
us
30:17
in
30:17
all
30:17
of
30:17
these
30:18
things
30:18
give
30:18
us
30:18
your
30:19
wisdom
30:20
that
30:20
we
30:20
would
30:20
not
30:20
be
30:20
the
30:21
fool
30:21
who
30:22
seeks
30:22
to
30:22
build
30:23
bigger
30:23
barns
30:24
but
30:24
that
30:25
we
30:25
would
30:25
not
30:25
be
30:25
overly
30:25
anxious
30:26
either
30:27
and
30:27
so
30:27
we
30:28
would
30:28
turn
30:28
away
30:28
from
30:29
you
30:29
in
30:29
either
30:29
of
30:29
these
30:30
ways
30:30
that
30:31
we
30:31
would
30:31
fix
30:32
our
30:32
eyes
30:32
on
30:32
Jesus
30:33
looking
30:34
unto
30:34
him
30:35
so
30:35
hear
30:36
our
30:36
prayers
30:37
!
30:37
pardon
30:37
our sins
30:38
is all
30:38
we ask
30:39
we ask
30:40
in his
30:40
precious
30:45
we're
30:46
going to
30:47
conclude
30:47
by singing
30:48
to God's
30:49
praise
30:49
in
30:49
Psalm
30:50
4
30:50
the
30:51
Scottish
30:51
Psalter
30:52
version
30:52
Psalm
30:53
4
30:53
Psalm
31:19
bestowed by thee, more gladness I have found than they even then when corn and wine did most with
31:29
them abound. I will both lay me down in peace and quiet sleep will take, because thou only me to
31:38
dwell in safety, Lord does make. We'll sing these verses to God's praise. We stand to sing.
31:49
Who will show us any truth? Is that which can we say?
32:07
Let all thy tantrums shall I, Lord lift us away.
32:23
Upon thy heart is so tidy, for gladness I have found.
32:41
And they even when corn and wine did most with them abound.
32:59
I will both lay me down in peace and quiet secret day, because thou only me to dwell in safety.
33:29
Lord does make.
33:37
Now may grace, mercy and peace from God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore. Amen.