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Christ In Us · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

• 0:00
  Well, good evening. Let me thank you again for the invitation to come and to spend the weekend with you.
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  It has been a real joy and an encouragement.
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  And please do be assured of our prayers for yourself as a congregation.
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  And we cherish your prayers for our fellowship in Kilmally and Ardenamerican.
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  We come this evening to worship God.
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  And as we do, some words from the psalmist.
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  Give thanks to the Lord. Call upon his name.
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  Make known his deeds among the people. Sing to him.
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  Sing praises to him. Tell of all his wondrous works.
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  Well, we're going to sing praises to our great God and Savior in the words of the 100th Psalm,
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  the metrical version of the 100th Psalm, which can be found on page 362 of the Scottish Psalter.
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  And we'll sing verses 1 to 5 of the 100th Psalm.
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  O people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
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  Him serve with birth, his grace forthel.
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  Come ye before him and rejoice.
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  Know that the Lord is called in thee.
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  With a kind in thee, heaven's day.
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  We are his folk, he doth us take.
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  And for his sheep, he doth us take.
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  O enter then his gates with grace.
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  Approach with joy, his courts unto.
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  Praise God and bless his name always.
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  For why the Lord our God is good.
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  For why the Lord our God is good.
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  His mercy is forever sure.
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  His truth that old and earthly stood.
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  And shall promise to each nature.
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  Let us now approach almighty God in prayer.
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  Let us pray.
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  Gracious God, our hearts do rejoice to approach your courts once more with joy.
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  To enter these gates with praise.
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  Lord, how we delight to sing to you.
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  To tell forth your praise to one another and to the wider world.
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  How we love to sing of your mercy and your steadfast love.
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  How we love to praise you that your word is truth.
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  How we love to reflect on your goodness to us.
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  That you have saved us.
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  That you have sustained us.
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  And all this through your sovereign grace.
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  Lord, how good it is for us to know that we are the sheep of your pasture.
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  We are those you feed with the milk of your word.
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  We are those you lead through the guidance of your Holy Spirit.
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  As you lead us to streams of water.
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  Where you restore and refresh our souls.
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  And how good it is to know that you are our shepherd.
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  As we pass through days of difficulty.
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  As some of us perhaps walk through that darkest valley even tonight.
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  To know that we need not fear any evil.
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  For you are with us.
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  Your rod and your staff they comfort us.
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  For you are our shepherd.
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  Our shepherd.
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  And so we come to you in faith.
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  In faith believing in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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  The good shepherd.
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  We look to him.
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  To his death and resurrection.
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  We look to his laying down of his life.
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  And his taking it up again.
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  In order that we might know the forgiveness of our sins.
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  And we might be raised to newness of life.
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  We thank you that he is alive forevermore.
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  Death has no dominion over him.
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  And that he cares for us day and night.
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  That he keeps watch over us.
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  Our comings.
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  Our goings.
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  That he keeps our lives.
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  Thank you for his tender care.
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  That he carries his lambs close to his chest.
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  That he binds up our wounds.
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  That he drives away the wolves.
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  Who would lead us away from the fold and from the father.
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  And so this evening as we gather in his name.
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  For the final time this weekend.
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  We ask that the love of Christ.
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  May be found among us.
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  That the peace of Christ would rule in our hearts.
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  As one body of his people.
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  That the word of Christ would dwell in us richly.
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  As we sing to one another.
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  With psalms and spiritual songs.
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  And that the name of Christ may be honored.
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  In all we say and do.
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  Today.
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  And into the week to come.
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  And so we thank you.
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  And worship you.
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  And pray to you now.
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  In his holy name.
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  Amen.
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  Amen.
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  Amen.
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  Amen.
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  Amen.
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  Well our second item of praise.
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  Is taken from Sing Psalms.
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  Page 163.
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  Sing Psalms.
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  Psalm 119.
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  Verse 97.
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  To verse 104.
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  Oh Lord.
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  How much I love your holy law.
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  I meditate upon it all the day.
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  It makes me wiser than my enemies.
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  For your commandments ever with me stay.
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  Psalm 119.
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  Verse 97.
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  Through to verse 104.
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  and four.
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  It makes me wiser than my enemies, for your commandments never let me stay.
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  I have more insight than my teacher job, for all new laws I've meditated each day.
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  I've more discerned than the elder job, because your righteous receipts are holy.
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  I've kept my feet from every evil path, but I may be obedient to your word,
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  and I have not departed from your laws.
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  For you yourself have taught me this, O Lord.
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  How pleasing to my taste are all your words, for sweet they are that had me on my tongue.
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  From your commands I gain enlightenment.
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  So I reject and teach path as strong.
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  Well, this evening I wanted to read together with you from Paul's letter to the Colossians,
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  in chapter 3, reading the first 17 verses.
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  Colossians chapter 3, verses 1 to 17.
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  If you have before your church Bible, that's on page 1185.
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  Let us hear together the word of God.
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  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is,
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  seated at the right hand of God.
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  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
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  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
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  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
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  Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you,
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  sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
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  On account of these, the wrath of God is coming.
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  In these, you too once walked when you were living in them,
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  but now you must put them all away.
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  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices,
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  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
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  Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free,
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  but Christ is all and in all.
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  Put all men as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,
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  compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
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  Bearing with one another, and if one has a complaint against another,
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  forgiving each other.
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  As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
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  And above all these, put on love,
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  which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
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  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
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  to which indeed you were called in one body.
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  And be thankful.
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  Let the word of Christ dwell in you,
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  richly teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,
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  singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
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  with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
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  And whatever you do,
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  in word or deed,
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  do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
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  giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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  And we do give thanks to God the Father for his word to us.
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  We'll sing once more now.
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  This time from Sing Psalms, page 17.
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  We'll sing Psalm 16,
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  beginning at verse 7,
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  and singing through to the end of the psalm.
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  Page 17,
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  Psalm 16,
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  I'll praise the Lord my God,
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  whose counsel guides my choice,
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  and even in the night my heart
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  recalls instruction's voice.
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  I'll praise the Lord my God,
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  whose counsel guides my choice,
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  and even in the night my heart,
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  recalls instruction's voice.
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  Before me constantly,
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  I said,
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  I said,
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  The Lord,
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  the Lord,
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  because he is at my right hand,
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  I'll not be overgrown.
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  Therefore,
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  my heart is clout,
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  My tongue with joy will sing,
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  My body to rest secure,
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  In hope unwevering,
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  For you will not allow,
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  My soul in death to stay,
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  What will you leave,
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  Your holy one,
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  To see the tombs decay,
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  You have made known to me,
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  The path of life divine,
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  This shall I know,
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  At your right hand,
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  Joy from your face will shine.
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  Well, please do keep your Bible open there to Colossians chapter 3,
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  as we think together about our new life in Christ.
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  I'm not much of a football fan,
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  But I know that with the summer season comes the transfer market,
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  As players are sold often at great expense from one club to another.
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  A transferred player comes under new management.
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  They put on a new group,
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  They find themselves with new teammates,
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  Part of a new community.
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  And in a sense, that's a bit like the Christian life.
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  When we come to know the Lord,
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  We come under new management.
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  We have a new identity.
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  We belong to a new community.
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  It is a picture of the Christian life.
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  It is a picture of the difference Christ makes.
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  This morning we thought about the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  We came to the very heart of the gospel,
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  The matters the Apostle Paul described as of first importance.
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  The Psalms, the prophecies of the Old Testament,
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  Looked forward to the events that were fulfilled at Calvary's cross.
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  And at the empty tomb.
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  And the death and resurrection of our Lord are at the foundation of the Christian life,
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  But also the basis of our Christian experience.
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  And in Colossians chapter 2 from verse 20 into the chapter we read, chapter 3,
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  We see that when we trust the Lord Jesus Christ,
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  We die to the old ways.
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  We are raised to newness of life.
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  We are transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of Christ.
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  And more than that, we are transformed.
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  We are renewed after the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  And that was the experience of the young church in Colossae.
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  It's a very interesting history of that church.
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  It's in Asia Minor, what we would now know as Turkey.
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  And it's not a church the Apostle Paul ever visited.
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  It seems that when he was preaching around Asia Minor,
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  He met this fellow Epaphras, who was from Colossae.
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  Epaphras encountered Paul's ministry.
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  He encounters Paul's message.
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  He encountered Paul's Messiah.
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  And he became a believer.
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  And Epaphras was excited about his new faith.
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  And when he went home, he told everyone,
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  He wanted to share with everyone what had happened to him.
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  And so we imagine he might have rounded up his friends and his family,
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  His school classmates, his work colleagues.
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  Maybe he prepared a buffet.
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  And then he shared with them his testimony and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  And it seems that a church was born, a small, fledgling church that met in the home of this man Philemon.
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  But the gospel bore fruit.
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  As Paul reminds us in chapter 1, it's bearing fruit all around the world.
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  And he prayed that it would continue to bear fruit in their lives.
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  The fruit of faith and of love and of hope.
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  So though he hadn't met them, he had heard of them.
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  And so Paul, who himself was in prison at this time, writes to them.
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  To tell them of his joy.
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  And to encourage them in their faith.
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  And the purpose of the letter seems to be to encourage them to continue in Christ,
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  in whom all the fullness of deity dwells.
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  There was circulating at that time false teaching.
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  Teaching based upon human tradition.
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  Human teaching.
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  A teaching that seemed to encourage either legalism on one hand or mysticism on the other.
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  And Paul writes to this young church to remind them to remain faithful to Christ.
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  Not to become distracted by the latest fad and novelty circulating.
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  He reminds them not to be enslaved to human teachings.
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  Because a divine work has taken place in their lives.
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  They have died with Christ.
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  And they have been raised with Christ.
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  You see, the Christian faith is not a matter of turning over a new leaf.
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  It is beginning a new life.
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  They were raised to newness of life.
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  They died to the old ways of life.
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  And so he reminds them to continue in Christ.
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  To keep looking to the glorious inheritance which is theirs in him.
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  One with himself, I cannot die.
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  My soul is purchased by his blood.
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  My life is safe with Christ on high.
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  With Christ, my Savior and my God.
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  They were residents in Colossae.
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  Maybe they'd grown up there.
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  Maybe they'd built homes there.
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  But ultimately they were citizens of heaven.
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  They had houses.
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  But their true home was with Christ above.
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  And so having been raised to newness of life,
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  they are to die to the old way of life.
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  What a former generation of Christians called mortification.
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  Putting to death the old ways in which they once walked.
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  If you're a rugby fan, maybe you sing Flower of Scotland at Scotland Games.
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  And it has that line,
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  Those days are past now.
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  And in the past they must remain.
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  Well, for the believer, those words could be written under the old life.
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  These things are in the past.
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  And in the past they must remain.
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  Because we've been raised to newness of life.
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  And so in our reading this morning in verses 5,
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  this evening in fact 5 to 11,
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  Paul reminds them to put out the old.
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  In verse 12 to 17, to bring in the new.
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  Putting out the old.
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  Putting to death.
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  Putting away.
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  And then putting on the new in Christ.
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  The story is told of a couple of young ladies who would attend parties.
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  Wild parties.
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  And they became to faith.
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  And they got an invitation one day through the post saying,
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  Come to this party.
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  It's going to be great.
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  And they wrote back and said,
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  We cannot attend because we are dead.
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  They had died to the old way of life.
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  Those days are past now.
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  And in the past they must remain.
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  And Paul underlines this break with the past in three ways.
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  Verse 5, he says, put to death.
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  Verse 8, he says, put away.
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  Verse 9, he says, put off.
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  He is emphasizing the decisive break with the past.
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  When someone comes to a living faith in the living Lord Jesus.
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  And the Colossians used to live.
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  They used to walk in the ways of the ancient world.
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  Verse 7, he says, in these you used to walk when you were living in them.
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  Ways that were not pleasing to God.
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  And Paul has this rather unhappy list between verse 5 and between verse 9 and verse 5.
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  In which he really describes the pattern of life in the ancient world.
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  It reads rather like the works of the flesh.
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  He describes elsewhere in Galatians 5.
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  And he describes how the people of his day.
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  And how the people of Colossae used to walk.
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  How they used to talk.
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  He describes their conduct.
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  Their conversation.
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  He describes how they used their body and their tongue.
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  And he says their lives were characterized by a lack of self-control.
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  And by loose speech.
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  Verse 5, immorality.
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  Impurity.
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  Passion.
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  Evil desire.
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  Covetousness.
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  And idolatry.
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  This was normal in the ancient world.
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  This was acceptable.
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  This is what everybody was doing.
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  And though it was acceptable to the wider society.
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  It wasn't acceptable to God.
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  Verse 6, on account of these.
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  The wrath of God is coming.
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  People abusing their own bodies.
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  People using and abusing one another for entertainment and exploitation.
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  And he says, you as Christians, you've got to put that to death.
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  You've got to close the door.
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  You've got to draw a line under it.
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  And you've got to honor God with your body.
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  Because you are now part of Christ's body.
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  And so honor him with your body.
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  So he warns them about a lack of self-control.
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  And then he warns them against loose speech.
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  Verse 8.
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  Put these away.
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  Anger.
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  Wrath.
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  Malice.
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  Slander.
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  And obscene talk from your mouth.
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  I wonder if that list describes the atmosphere in anybody's home.
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  Or anybody's workplace.
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  Or anybody's school playground.
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  He warns them against anger.
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  Outbursts of anger.
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  Shouting matches.
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  Slagging matches.
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  He warns them against malice.
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  Gossip.
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  Slander.
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  Talking about people behind their back.
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  Tearing them down.
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  Instead of building them up.
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  Sarcasm.
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  Or as one person I met called it.
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  Scarcasm.
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  Bullying.
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  Cyberbullying.
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  Cynical.
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  Critical.
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  Language.
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  And he warns them against obscene talk from their mouths.
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  Blasphemy.
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  Casual.
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  Innuendo.
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  Finally verse 9.
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  Against lying.
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  Deception.
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  Even the little white lie.
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  And the Apostle Paul says that when we come to Christ.
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  He is Lord over not just our bodies.
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  But over our mouths.
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  Not just our conduct has to change.
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  But our conversation as well.
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  When I was growing up in the 80s.
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  There was a comedy duo called Cannon and Ball.
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  I'm sure some of you remember them.
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  And they used to do stand-up comedy.
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  They used to present at TV shows.
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  And they enjoyed all the trappings of celebrity life.
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  But it came at a cost.
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  And they experienced some difficulties.
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  And in the midst of these difficulties.
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  One of them became a Christian.
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  There was an evangelist who used to visit theatres.
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  And he shared the gospel with one of them.
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  And he shared the gospel with his comedy partner.
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  And they both came to faith.
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  And they quite literally cleaned up the act.
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  They weren't on television so much.
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  Their careers didn't reach the same highs.
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  But they continued to perform.
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  And they said we don't do that anymore.
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  We don't do blue language.
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  Unless our show is family friendly.
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  We don't do it.
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  Because the Lord had cleaned up their act.
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  He had cleaned out their mouths.
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  And they put away the old conversation.
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  The old speech.
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  The old self.
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  Proverbs has much to say.
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  About speech.
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  It's New Testament counterpart.
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  The letter of James.
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  Has much to teach us.
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  About the tongue.
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  It's power for good.
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  And it's power for evil.
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  It's capacity to bless.
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  And it's potential to curse.
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  And it says no man can tame the tongue.
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  But there is one.
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  And the God man.
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  The Lord Jesus Christ.
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  Can tame our tongues.
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  And put a new song into our mouths.
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  So we are to put to death.
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  Put away.
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  Put off the old ways.
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  And the reason is.
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  Verse 10 and verse 11.
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  Because we have a new identity in Christ.
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  And we belong to a new community.
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  Community in Christ.
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  Negatively we put off.
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  Put away the old ways.
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  But positively.
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  We put on.
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  The new self.
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  Verse 10.
• 33:11
  And in his letter.
• 33:12
  Paul has introduced us.
• 33:13
  To a range of theological concepts.
• 33:17
  He's taught us.
• 33:18
  That we have redemption in Christ.
• 33:21
  We have literally been bought back.
• 33:23
  From slavery to sin.
• 33:24
  He has bought us back.
• 33:26
  Not with silver and gold.
• 33:28
  But with his own blood.
• 33:31
  We have redemption.
• 33:34
  And we have reconciliation.
• 33:36
  To God as our father.
• 33:39
  Once each of us was alienated.
• 33:41
  Hostile in mind.
• 33:43
  Doing evil deeds.
• 33:44
  Peace.
• 33:44
  But now.
• 33:45
  Chapter 1 verse 22.
• 33:46
  He has reconciled us.
• 33:48
  In his body.
• 33:50
  Making peace.
• 33:52
  In order that we might be holy.
• 33:54
  And blameless before him.
• 33:57
  And in these.
• 33:59
  Verses here.
• 34:00
  He introduces us.
• 34:01
  To the idea of renewal.
• 34:02
  Of regeneration.
• 34:04
  That the Lord is inwardly.
• 34:08
  Transforming us.
• 34:09
  Day by day.
• 34:10
  By his spirit.
• 34:11
  More and more.
• 34:12
  Into the likeness of Christ.
• 34:17
  One hymn writer says.
• 34:19
  In these words.
• 34:19
  Lord change.
• 34:21
  To flesh.
• 34:21
  My stony heart.
• 34:23
  The veil of sin.
• 34:24
  Again remove.
• 34:25
  Apply your blood.
• 34:26
  Renew.
• 34:27
  Convert.
• 34:28
  And melt it.
• 34:29
  By your dying love.
• 34:32
  This heart.
• 34:34
  By love.
• 34:34
  Subdue.
• 34:35
  And by your spirit.
• 34:37
  Make it new.
• 34:40
  C.S. Lewis.
• 34:41
  Said that when.
• 34:42
  The Lord.
• 34:43
  Moves into.
• 34:44
  Our hearts.
• 34:45
  He doesn't just make.
• 34:46
  A few repairs.
• 34:48
  He undertakes.
• 34:49
  A major renovation.
• 34:50
  Of our lives.
• 34:52
  Sometimes.
• 34:53
  Uncomfortable.
• 34:55
  But ultimately.
• 34:56
  That we might be renewed.
• 34:57
  In knowledge.
• 34:59
  After the image.
• 35:00
  Of our creator.
• 35:03
  So we have a new identity.
• 35:05
  And we belong.
• 35:07
  To a new community.
• 35:10
  Verse 11.
• 35:12
  One in which there is neither.
• 35:13
  Greek nor Jew.
• 35:14
  Circumcised.
• 35:15
  Uncircumcised.
• 35:16
  Barbarian.
• 35:17
  Slivian.
• 35:18
  Scythian.
• 35:18
  Slave.
• 35:19
  Or free.
• 35:22
  The Christian church.
• 35:24
  Is the most.
• 35:25
  Diverse.
• 35:26
  Body.
• 35:27
  Body.
• 35:27
  Institution.
• 35:28
  On the face.
• 35:29
  Of the planet.
• 35:32
  And in the first century.
• 35:33
  It was characterized.
• 35:34
  By that same diversity.
• 35:37
  There were Jewish.
• 35:38
  Believers.
• 35:40
  There were.
• 35:41
  Greek.
• 35:42
  Believers.
• 35:44
  The sophisticated.
• 35:45
  Cultured.
• 35:46
  Greek.
• 35:47
  Would be found.
• 35:48
  Sitting in the pew.
• 35:49
  Next to the tough.
• 35:51
  Barbarian.
• 35:52
  Or the Scythian.
• 35:53
  The slaves.
• 35:55
  Would find themselves.
• 35:57
  On an equal footing.
• 35:58
  With their masters.
• 36:01
  All divisions.
• 36:02
  Of race.
• 36:04
  And class.
• 36:05
  And freedom.
• 36:06
  Were done away with.
• 36:07
  Or ought to have been done away with.
• 36:09
  Because all.
• 36:11
  Were in Christ.
• 36:13
  And Christ is all.
• 36:14
  And in.
• 36:15
  All.
• 36:16
  Whole.
• 36:18
  And so they belonged.
• 36:19
  To a new.
• 36:21
  Community.
• 36:23
  And the characteristic.
• 36:24
  Of that community.
• 36:25
  Verse 12.
• 36:26
  Was to be.
• 36:27
  Holiness.
• 36:29
  Drawing on language.
• 36:30
  From the Old Testament.
• 36:32
  Paul tells us.
• 36:33
  That they together.
• 36:34
  Were God's chosen ones.
• 36:36
  Holy.
• 36:37
  And.
• 36:38
  Beloved.
• 36:39
  So they had to put to death.
• 36:43
  The old ways.
• 36:45
  For their individual good.
• 36:48
  And for the good.
• 36:49
  Of the Christian community.
• 36:51
  In which they had been called.
• 36:55
  If they were to continue living.
• 36:57
  And speaking.
• 36:59
  And behaving.
• 36:59
  As they formerly had.
• 37:01
  It would be harmful.
• 37:02
  To the community.
• 37:03
  It would probably blow.
• 37:04
  The little church apart.
• 37:07
  And so Paul says.
• 37:08
  Put all these things away.
• 37:10
  You've got a new identity.
• 37:11
  In Christ.
• 37:12
  God is at work in you.
• 37:14
  And you are one of his people.
• 37:16
  In his community.
• 37:20
  It's a lovely picture.
• 37:22
  Isn't it?
• 37:22
  Of the before and after.
• 37:23
  Of the Christian life.
• 37:25
  How they used to walk.
• 37:26
  How they now.
• 37:28
  Lived.
• 37:30
  It looks very similar.
• 37:31
  To.
• 37:32
  The description.
• 37:33
  Of the works of the flesh.
• 37:34
  In Galatians chapter 5.
• 37:36
  Just as the following verses.
• 37:37
  Remind us of the fruit.
• 37:38
  Of the spirit.
• 37:40
  But Paul says.
• 37:41
  Put to death.
• 37:42
  Put away.
• 37:43
  Put off.
• 37:44
  These old paths.
• 37:45
  Because you have a new identity.
• 37:48
  And you belong to a new community.
• 37:49
  In Christ.
• 37:53
  But what is to be the characteristic?
• 37:55
  What are to be the characteristics.
• 37:57
  Of that new community?
• 38:00
  And in verse 12.
• 38:00
  He gives us this list.
• 38:02
  This list of spiritual.
• 38:04
  Adjectives.
• 38:05
  Of spiritual fruit.
• 38:06
  And interestingly.
• 38:09
  As he addresses the people.
• 38:11
  He does so in plural verbs.
• 38:14
  So he's writing.
• 38:15
  Not only to us as individuals.
• 38:17
  In the individual qualities.
• 38:19
  Of our lives.
• 38:21
  But he's writing to what a congregational life.
• 38:23
  Should look like.
• 38:24
  What should be the characteristics.
• 38:26
  Of a congregation.
• 38:28
  Of his people.
• 38:29
  And we notice how often.
• 38:33
  That phrase.
• 38:34
  One another.
• 38:35
  Is repeated.
• 38:37
  We are to bear with one another.
• 38:39
  We are to forgive one another.
• 38:41
  We are to teach and admonish one another.
• 38:43
  And so in using that language.
• 38:46
  And employing these plurals.
• 38:48
  The apostle Paul is assuming.
• 38:50
  That as Christians.
• 38:51
  We will belong.
• 38:52
  To a believing community.
• 38:55
  That we will gather together.
• 38:58
  And meet together.
• 39:00
  For encouragement.
• 39:01
  That our lives will overlap.
• 39:03
  Not only on a Sunday service.
• 39:05
  Or perhaps a midweek meeting.
• 39:06
  But at other points during the week.
• 39:08
  When we enjoy friendship.
• 39:09
  And fellowship in his name.
• 39:13
  That we are to relate to one another.
• 39:16
  As members of a community.
• 39:18
  A multicultural.
• 39:20
  A multi-generational society.
• 39:25
  And he says the qualities of that community.
• 39:28
  Which is being renewed.
• 39:29
  After the image of its creator.
• 39:33
  Are to reflect.
• 39:34
  At the attributes of God.
• 39:37
  In some way.
• 39:37
  Holy.
• 39:41
  Beloved.
• 39:43
  Compassionate.
• 39:45
  Kind.
• 39:46
  Humble.
• 39:47
  Meek.
• 39:49
  Patient.
• 39:51
  The word love.
• 39:53
  Is very central here.
• 39:55
  They are beloved.
• 39:57
  They are supremely to put on love.
• 40:01
  But they are to reflect.
• 40:03
  God's kindness.
• 40:04
  They are to reflect.
• 40:07
  The compassion of Christ.
• 40:09
  Who we read in the Gospels.
• 40:11
  Had compassion.
• 40:12
  When he met people.
• 40:14
  In need.
• 40:15
  They are to reflect.
• 40:16
  The humility.
• 40:17
  Of Christ.
• 40:19
  Humbling himself.
• 40:21
  To the point of death.
• 40:24
  They are to reflect.
• 40:24
  The meekness.
• 40:26
  Of Christ.
• 40:27
  They are to reflect.
• 40:28
  The patience of Christ.
• 40:29
  Was he not so very patient.
• 40:31
  With his disciples.
• 40:32
  As they failed.
• 40:34
  To understand.
• 40:35
  All that he had been.
• 40:37
  Teaching.
• 40:38
  To them.
• 40:40
  So they are being.
• 40:42
  Renewed.
• 40:43
  After the image.
• 40:44
  Of their creator.
• 40:46
  And as the spirit of God.
• 40:48
  Is at work in their heart.
• 40:49
  They are to.
• 40:50
  Be renewed.
• 40:51
  After his likeness.
• 40:52
  To demonstrate.
• 40:53
  These seem qualities.
• 40:53
  These seem.
• 40:54
  Attributes.
• 40:55
  That he.
• 40:56
  Has demonstrated.
• 40:57
  To them.
• 40:58
  What.
• 41:01
  Is a Christian church.
• 41:02
  To look like.
• 41:06
  And what are to be.
• 41:07
  The characteristics.
• 41:08
  Of a fellowship.
• 41:10
  And I want to suggest.
• 41:12
  Just briefly.
• 41:12
  Four things.
• 41:13
  Which our attention.
• 41:14
  Is drawn to.
• 41:16
  In these verses.
• 41:18
  Verse 12 to 14.
• 41:19
  The love of Christ.
• 41:21
  Verse 15.
• 41:22
  The peace of Christ.
• 41:25
  Verse 16.
• 41:25
  The word of Christ.
• 41:26
  And then verse 17.
• 41:29
  The name.
• 41:30
  Of Christ.
• 41:33
  Paul has already.
• 41:34
  Commended this church.
• 41:36
  Chapter 1.
• 41:37
  For their love.
• 41:38
  And their faith.
• 41:39
  And their hope.
• 41:41
  And he here.
• 41:42
  Reminds them.
• 41:43
  That they are beloved.
• 41:44
  Of God.
• 41:46
  And as such.
• 41:47
  They are to.
• 41:48
  Love.
• 41:49
  One.
• 41:50
  Another.
• 41:52
  Chosen.
• 41:53
  Holy.
• 41:55
  Dearly.
• 41:56
  Loved.
• 41:57
  They are to remember.
• 41:59
  His gracious.
• 42:00
  And loving initiative.
• 42:02
  In the gospel.
• 42:03
  In sending Christ.
• 42:04
  Into the world.
• 42:05
  For he.
• 42:06
  So.
• 42:07
  Loved the world.
• 42:07
  He gave his only son.
• 42:10
  That whosoever believes.
• 42:11
  Should not perish.
• 42:11
  But have.
• 42:12
  Eternal life.
• 42:16
  So they are to love.
• 42:17
  One another.
• 42:17
  In showing compassion.
• 42:18
  And kindness.
• 42:20
  In being meek.
• 42:21
  In exercising.
• 42:22
  Patience.
• 42:23
  With one another.
• 42:24
  One.
• 42:24
  One poet.
• 42:28
  Puts it like this.
• 42:29
  Oh may that mind.
• 42:30
  Be formed in us.
• 42:31
  Which in your life.
• 42:32
  We see.
• 42:33
  May we be humble.
• 42:34
  Lowly.
• 42:34
  Meek.
• 42:35
  From pride.
• 42:35
  And envy.
• 42:36
  Free.
• 42:37
  We may.
• 42:38
  May we.
• 42:39
  To others.
• 42:39
  Stoop.
• 42:40
  And learn.
• 42:40
  To imitate your love.
• 42:42
  So shall we bear.
• 42:43
  Your image here.
• 42:45
  And share.
• 42:46
  A throne.
• 42:47
  Above.
• 42:47
  Love.
• 42:49
  To remember.
• 42:50
  God's love.
• 42:50
  There to resemble.
• 42:52
  His son.
• 42:52
  In showing that love.
• 42:53
  To one another.
• 42:55
  And there to.
• 42:56
  Recall.
• 42:58
  How the Lord.
• 42:58
  Treated them.
• 43:00
  When they.
• 43:02
  Perhaps.
• 43:03
  Have differences.
• 43:04
  Among themselves.
• 43:07
  There's overlap here.
• 43:09
  With our study.
• 43:10
  Just the other evening.
• 43:12
  Last night.
• 43:13
  As we thought about the.
• 43:14
  Unmerciful.
• 43:15
  Servant.
• 43:17
  One who is forgiven much.
• 43:19
  And yet.
• 43:20
  Who.
• 43:20
  Failed.
• 43:21
  To forgive others.
• 43:22
  As he had been forgiven.
• 43:25
  And Paul says.
• 43:26
  If you have a complaint.
• 43:27
  Against one another.
• 43:29
  Forgive one another.
• 43:30
  Why?
• 43:31
  As the Lord.
• 43:32
  Has forgiven you.
• 43:34
  So you also.
• 43:35
  Must.
• 43:36
  Forgive.
• 43:39
  As we prayed this morning.
• 43:40
  Forgive us.
• 43:41
  Our debts.
• 43:43
  As we forgive.
• 43:44
  Our debtors.
• 43:48
  So supremely.
• 43:50
  We are to resemble Christ.
• 43:51
  As we are renewed.
• 43:52
  In his image.
• 43:53
  In showing love.
• 43:54
  To one another.
• 43:55
  And especially.
• 43:56
  When in the context.
• 43:57
  Of a.
• 43:57
  Multi-generational community.
• 43:59
  There might be misunderstanding.
• 44:01
  And we are then.
• 44:02
  To forgive one another.
• 44:04
  To bear with one another.
• 44:05
  In love.
• 44:09
  Above all these.
• 44:10
  He says.
• 44:11
  All these spiritual fruit.
• 44:13
  Put on.
• 44:14
  Love.
• 44:15
  The greatest.
• 44:16
  Of these.
• 44:17
  Is love.
• 44:17
  Which binds everything together.
• 44:19
  In perfect.
• 44:20
  Harmony.
• 44:21
  I don't read many of these.
• 44:26
  Royal magazines.
• 44:27
  But.
• 44:28
  It's always interesting.
• 44:29
  Whenever there's a royal function.
• 44:31
  How the newspapers.
• 44:32
  And magazines.
• 44:32
  Always like to.
• 44:33
  To point out the wardrobe.
• 44:35
  You know.
• 44:36
  Princess so and so.
• 44:37
  Was wearing a hat.
• 44:37
  By this designer.
• 44:38
  And.
• 44:38
  And a jacket.
• 44:39
  By.
• 44:40
  By this fashion house.
• 44:42
  Interested.
• 44:43
  In what they put on.
• 44:45
  When they go to school.
• 44:46
  When they open.
• 44:47
  Some civic building.
• 44:48
  What do we put on.
• 44:52
  What do people see.
• 44:54
  As we make our way to school.
• 44:56
  As we.
• 44:57
  Start at the workplace.
• 44:58
  At 8 a.m.
• 44:59
  Tomorrow.
• 45:00
  As we go on holiday.
• 45:02
  Do we put on love.
• 45:06
  The love of Christ.
• 45:07
  Is to be.
• 45:09
  The defining characteristic.
• 45:11
  Of the Christian community.
• 45:14
  But then he says.
• 45:15
  Verse 15.
• 45:16
  The peace of Christ.
• 45:18
  Is to rule.
• 45:19
  In our hearts.
• 45:21
  We long for peace.
• 45:24
  In our world.
• 45:26
  Belovedly.
• 45:27
  To have a ceasefire.
• 45:28
  In Ukraine.
• 45:29
  Or Sudan.
• 45:30
  Or Yemen.
• 45:32
  Belovedly.
• 45:33
  For the conflict.
• 45:34
  In Manipur.
• 45:35
  North East India.
• 45:36
  To come to an end.
• 45:40
  We long for peace.
• 45:41
  In our lives.
• 45:42
  And in our hearts.
• 45:43
  That we might say.
• 45:46
  Oh.
• 45:46
  Peace like a river.
• 45:47
  Attendeth our way.
• 45:50
  We long to know more.
• 45:51
  Of the peace of Christ.
• 45:52
  Which surpasses.
• 45:53
  All understanding.
• 45:54
  And guards.
• 45:55
  Our hearts and minds.
• 45:59
  And all these things.
• 46:00
  Are promised.
• 46:03
  But the peace here.
• 46:05
  I think.
• 46:05
  Is peace.
• 46:05
  Between the members.
• 46:06
  Of a Christian community.
• 46:08
  In our lives.
• 46:11
  Corporately.
• 46:14
  Paul has already said.
• 46:16
  If you just look back.
• 46:16
  A page.
• 46:17
  Chapter 1.
• 46:17
  Verse 20.
• 46:18
  That Christ came to make peace.
• 46:20
  Between man.
• 46:21
  And God.
• 46:22
  By the blood of his cross.
• 46:25
  That he.
• 46:26
  Is the great.
• 46:27
  Peace maker.
• 46:28
  He comes to preach peace.
• 46:30
  To those far off.
• 46:32
  And those who are near.
• 46:35
  And he calls us.
• 46:36
  To be peacemakers.
• 46:37
  But he calls us also.
• 46:39
  To be peace keepers.
• 46:42
  Those who keep.
• 46:43
  The peace.
• 46:47
  The peace of Christ.
• 46:49
  Is to rule in your hearts.
• 46:52
  The word.
• 46:53
  Literally.
• 46:54
  Means something like.
• 46:55
  A judge.
• 46:56
  An umpire.
• 46:57
  A referee.
• 47:00
  The peace of Christ.
• 47:01
  Is to have the final say.
• 47:05
  When we're thinking.
• 47:06
  How we might respond.
• 47:07
  To somebody.
• 47:08
  Or some situation.
• 47:09
  The peace of Christ.
• 47:11
  Is to be the umpire.
• 47:12
  That determines.
• 47:13
  How we respond.
• 47:16
  The theologian.
• 47:18
  John Woodhouse.
• 47:18
  Says.
• 47:19
  This peace.
• 47:20
  Is now to rule.
• 47:21
  In the company of believers.
• 47:23
  It is to hold sway.
• 47:25
  To call the tune among us.
• 47:27
  This peace.
• 47:28
  Is to determine.
• 47:29
  Our relationships.
• 47:29
  With one.
• 47:30
  Another.
• 47:31
  Honor.
• 47:33
  So if we are.
• 47:34
  Criticized.
• 47:37
  The peace of Christ.
• 47:39
  Is to be the umpire.
• 47:39
  As to how we respond.
• 47:42
  Somebody says something.
• 47:44
  Unkind.
• 47:45
  Perhaps.
• 47:46
  Untrue.
• 47:46
  The peace of Christ.
• 47:48
  Determines.
• 47:48
  How we react to that.
• 47:51
  If you're a young adult.
• 47:52
  And you.
• 47:53
  You don't want to come to church.
• 47:54
  And there's a fight.
• 47:55
  Every Sunday morning.
• 47:56
  The peace of Christ.
• 47:58
  Is to determine.
• 48:00
  How you may honor.
• 48:01
  Your parents.
• 48:03
  If we're nurturing.
• 48:05
  Bitterness.
• 48:06
  And unforgiveness.
• 48:06
  In our hearts.
• 48:08
  The peace of Christ.
• 48:09
  Tells us to go.
• 48:11
  And make peace.
• 48:13
  With those who have wronged us.
• 48:16
  Let the peace of Christ.
• 48:18
  He says.
• 48:19
  Rule.
• 48:20
  In your hearts.
• 48:21
  And be thankful.
• 48:25
  That theme of thankfulness.
• 48:26
  Runs all the way through.
• 48:28
  The next section.
• 48:29
  Verse 15.
• 48:30
  We'll think about the word of Christ.
• 48:32
  And we're to sing with thankfulness.
• 48:34
  As we have done tonight.
• 48:35
  And then 17.
• 48:36
  We're to think about the name of Christ.
• 48:39
  And giving thanks in all things.
• 48:43
  We are to cultivate an attitude.
• 48:45
  Of gratitude.
• 48:48
  And Paul's life.
• 48:50
  Was characterized by thanksgiving.
• 48:53
  He was in prison.
• 48:54
  As he wrote.
• 48:55
  Not a comfortable prison.
• 48:56
  With a television.
• 48:57
  With a television.
• 48:57
  Three hot meals brought to him every day.
• 49:00
  But he thanked God.
• 49:02
  As he opens the letter.
• 49:04
  Because of what the Lord has done.
• 49:06
  In Colossae.
• 49:08
  And despite his discomfort.
• 49:11
  He had found contentment.
• 49:13
  And he showed gratitude.
• 49:15
  And so he moves on from the peace of Christ.
• 49:21
  Verse 15.
• 49:23
  16 rather.
• 49:23
  To the word of Christ.
• 49:25
  That is to dwell in us richly.
• 49:28
  The Colossae.
• 49:29
  The Colossians had heard.
• 49:32
  What is described in chapter 1 verse 5.
• 49:34
  As the word of truth.
• 49:37
  The word of the gospel.
• 49:39
  The word of Christ.
• 49:40
  Paul's ministry.
• 49:40
  Paul's ministry.
• 49:41
  The word of Christ.
• 49:42
  Paul's ministry.
• 49:42
  Was a ministry of the word.
• 49:45
  Verse 20.
• 49:45
  He proclaimed Christ.
• 49:49
  He preached the word of Christ.
• 49:53
  And he wants that word of Christ.
• 49:56
  To dwell in them richly.
• 49:59
  The things they read.
• 50:03
  The things they listen to.
• 50:05
  The things they speak about.
• 50:06
  The things they sing about.
• 50:10
  The word of Christ.
• 50:13
  And we are in a supremely privileged position here.
• 50:18
  In the West.
• 50:20
  Something like 95% of all Christian resources.
• 50:24
  Are in the English language.
• 50:27
  We have a super abundance.
• 50:31
  Of Bibles.
• 50:32
  To read.
• 50:33
  Of Christian books.
• 50:34
  To enjoy.
• 50:36
  Of sermons.
• 50:37
  And talks.
• 50:38
  And seminars.
• 50:39
  To listen to.
• 50:40
  Of music.
• 50:41
  To play.
• 50:42
  In our cars.
• 50:43
  Or as we jog.
• 50:45
  Along the street.
• 50:47
  The word of Christ.
• 50:49
  Dwelling in us richly.
• 50:54
  And Paul says.
• 50:55
  Very interestingly.
• 50:57
  That it's to dwell in us.
• 50:58
  As we teach.
• 50:58
  And admonish.
• 50:59
  One another.
• 51:00
  In all wisdom.
• 51:01
  Singing psalms.
• 51:02
  And hymns.
• 51:03
  And spiritual songs.
• 51:06
  Paul's ministry.
• 51:07
  If you look back.
• 51:08
  To chapter 128.
• 51:10
  Was of teaching.
• 51:12
  Everyone.
• 51:13
  In all wisdom.
• 51:15
  But he says.
• 51:16
  Every believer.
• 51:17
  Has some responsibility.
• 51:18
  To do the same.
• 51:21
  Maybe not.
• 51:22
  As he did.
• 51:22
  Open air preaching.
• 51:23
  Maybe not.
• 51:24
  As he did.
• 51:25
  Preaching in churches.
• 51:26
  Writing letters.
• 51:28
  But instead.
• 51:29
  In singing.
• 51:32
  And when we gather.
• 51:34
  As a company.
• 51:35
  Of the Lord's people.
• 51:37
  Three things.
• 51:37
  Are happening.
• 51:39
  We're exalting.
• 51:41
  The Lord.
• 51:41
  We're lifting up.
• 51:42
  The Lord's name.
• 51:43
  And giving him the glory.
• 51:46
  We're evangelizing.
• 51:47
  The world.
• 51:48
  As the word is preached.
• 51:49
  And the word is sung.
• 51:50
  And we're seeking.
• 51:53
  To edify.
• 51:54
  One another.
• 51:56
  As we sing.
• 51:57
  The words of scripture.
• 51:59
  Teaching.
• 52:00
  And reminding.
• 52:01
  One another.
• 52:01
  Of the mighty works of God.
• 52:05
  Singing.
• 52:06
  To one another.
• 52:07
  Applying.
• 52:07
  These truths.
• 52:08
  Into our own.
• 52:09
  Life.
• 52:10
  Circumstances.
• 52:11
  And so.
• 52:14
  As we gather.
• 52:16
  We're not.
• 52:17
  Like passengers.
• 52:18
  On a bus.
• 52:19
  It's not just.
• 52:19
  A happy coincidence.
• 52:21
  We're all in the same place.
• 52:22
  At the same time.
• 52:24
  But we're participants.
• 52:25
  In a worship.
• 52:27
  Service.
• 52:28
  Being ministered to.
• 52:30
  But also.
• 52:31
  Ministering.
• 52:31
  One to another.
• 52:33
  As we sing.
• 52:34
  These psalms.
• 52:35
  And hymns.
• 52:36
  And spiritual songs.
• 52:37
  With thankfulness.
• 52:40
  In our hearts.
• 52:41
  To God.
• 52:43
  We are participants.
• 52:45
  And not.
• 52:46
  Passengers.
• 52:50
  The love of Christ.
• 52:52
  The peace of Christ.
• 52:54
  The word of Christ.
• 52:56
  And finally.
• 52:57
  The name.
• 52:58
  Of the Lord.
• 53:00
  Jesus Christ.
• 53:01
  Whatever you do.
• 53:03
  He says.
• 53:04
  Do it all.
• 53:05
  In the name.
• 53:06
  Of the Lord.
• 53:06
  Jesus Christ.
• 53:07
  Jesus Christ.
• 53:10
  When we came over.
• 53:11
  On the ferry.
• 53:11
  There were some big.
• 53:13
  HGVs.
• 53:14
  When we travel back tomorrow.
• 53:15
  I'm sure there will be more.
• 53:16
  Coming back and forth.
• 53:18
  I don't know very much.
• 53:20
  About HGVs.
• 53:21
  But.
• 53:22
  I'm a little bit.
• 53:23
  Acquainted with.
• 53:24
  Eddie Stobart.
• 53:25
  Of a former generation.
• 53:27
  The founder of.
• 53:28
  The Stobart.
• 53:29
  Hollage Company.
• 53:31
  Stobart was a Christian.
• 53:33
  And his biography.
• 53:34
  Was entitled.
• 53:35
  Only the best will do.
• 53:37
  Because he believed.
• 53:39
  That whatever he was doing.
• 53:40
  Whether at home.
• 53:41
  Or in his business.
• 53:42
  Or in his church.
• 53:43
  Only the best would do.
• 53:45
  For God.
• 53:47
  He did.
• 53:48
  It all.
• 53:49
  For the name.
• 53:50
  Of the Lord.
• 53:51
  Jesus.
• 53:55
  And his lordship.
• 53:57
  Plays out.
• 53:58
  In our home.
• 54:00
  In our workplace.
• 54:01
  In our place.
• 54:02
  Of leisure.
• 54:05
  Do we ask ourselves.
• 54:06
  Am I doing this.
• 54:08
  In the name.
• 54:09
  Of the Lord.
• 54:10
  Jesus Christ.
• 54:10
  Am I behaving.
• 54:12
  In a way.
• 54:12
  That is worthy.
• 54:13
  Of.
• 54:14
  My calling.
• 54:17
  Not just.
• 54:18
  On a Sunday morning.
• 54:19
  Or Sunday evening.
• 54:21
  But during the working hours.
• 54:23
  Of the working week.
• 54:27
  Is my behavior.
• 54:28
  In keeping with his character.
• 54:29
  And will.
• 54:31
  Is it adorning the gospel.
• 54:33
  Is it enhancing.
• 54:34
  The reputation of our Lord.
• 54:36
  In this place.
• 54:39
  Do we have that same attitude.
• 54:41
  That only.
• 54:42
  The best.
• 54:43
  Will do.
• 54:44
  Whatever you do.
• 54:46
  In word or deed.
• 54:47
  Do everything.
• 54:49
  In the name of the Lord.
• 54:50
  Jesus Christ.
• 54:50
  Christ.
• 54:53
  And that keeps us.
• 54:54
  Doesn't it.
• 54:54
  From.
• 54:55
  Making.
• 54:57
  Unwise choices.
• 55:00
  Be hard for us.
• 55:01
  To fiddle the tax return.
• 55:02
  In Jesus name.
• 55:04
  Be hard to bully.
• 55:06
  Somebody in school.
• 55:06
  In Jesus name.
• 55:09
  Be hard to get drunk.
• 55:10
  In Jesus name.
• 55:12
  Because if we're doing.
• 55:14
  Everything in his name.
• 55:15
  And we're giving thanks to God.
• 55:16
  Through that name.
• 55:17
  Then we must be doing it.
• 55:18
  In line with his will.
• 55:19
  And in keeping with his character.
• 55:23
  So Paul says.
• 55:25
  Whatever you do.
• 55:25
  Monday through Sunday.
• 55:27
  Do it all.
• 55:28
  In the name.
• 55:29
  Of the Lord Jesus Christ.
• 55:33
  The love of God.
• 55:34
  The peace of God.
• 55:34
  The word of Christ.
• 55:36
  The name of Christ.
• 55:38
  And we see again.
• 55:39
  The gratitude.
• 55:41
  That we give thanks.
• 55:43
  To God the Father.
• 55:44
  Through him.
• 55:45
  Three times.
• 55:46
  He has emphasized to them.
• 55:48
  The need.
• 55:48
  For gratitude.
• 55:49
  Hendrickson.
• 55:54
  The commentator says.
• 55:55
  Prayer without thanksgiving.
• 55:57
  Is like a bird without wings.
• 56:01
  Another writer says.
• 56:02
  The Christian is suspended.
• 56:04
  Between blessings.
• 56:06
  Received.
• 56:06
  And blessings hoped for.
• 56:08
  So they should always.
• 56:10
  Give.
• 56:11
  Thanks.
• 56:11
  We can very quickly.
• 56:15
  Begin to grumble.
• 56:17
  And complain.
• 56:18
  We can very quickly.
• 56:19
  Lose our contentment.
• 56:22
  But Paul says.
• 56:23
  Gratitude.
• 56:24
  Is to be.
• 56:26
  A characteristic.
• 56:28
  Of our Christian lives.
• 56:29
  And our Christian life together.
• 56:31
  One day.
• 56:35
  As part of a medical team.
• 56:36
  To Romania.
• 56:37
  We visited a nursing home.
• 56:39
  Which was.
• 56:40
  A pleasant nursing home.
• 56:42
  But the residents.
• 56:43
  Shared a room.
• 56:44
  These two ladies.
• 56:45
  One confined to her bed.
• 56:48
  And we went over.
• 56:49
  And we asked her.
• 56:50
  How she was doing.
• 56:51
  And she raised both arms.
• 56:52
  In the air.
• 56:52
  And she said.
• 56:53
  I thank the Lord.
• 56:54
  For everything.
• 56:57
  And I was rebuked.
• 57:00
  This older lady.
• 57:02
  Confined to a bed.
• 57:05
  An invalid.
• 57:07
  And yet.
• 57:08
  She was giving.
• 57:09
  Thanks.
• 57:09
  In everything.
• 57:11
  To God the Father.
• 57:13
  Through Christ.
• 57:16
  So Paul describes.
• 57:18
  What a Christian church.
• 57:19
  Should look like.
• 57:21
  These three characteristics.
• 57:23
  Love.
• 57:25
  Peace.
• 57:27
  Joy.
• 57:28
  And gratitude.
• 57:30
  How do we arrive at that?
• 57:32
  The love of Christ.
• 57:36
  Receiving that love.
• 57:37
  Responding to that love.
• 57:38
  And then sharing that love.
• 57:40
  With one another.
• 57:42
  The peace of Christ.
• 57:44
  Enjoying peace with God.
• 57:45
  Through the Lord Jesus Christ.
• 57:47
  And then seeking to maintain.
• 57:49
  And to keep the peace.
• 57:51
  Which he won at great cost to himself.
• 57:55
  The word of Christ.
• 57:57
  Read.
• 57:58
  Spoken.
• 58:00
  Sung to one another.
• 58:01
  And the name of Christ.
• 58:02
  And the name of Christ.
• 58:03
  In which we do everything.
• 58:06
  And in which we give thanks.
• 58:08
  For everything.
• 58:10
  The death and resurrection.
• 58:11
  The death and resurrection.
• 58:15
  Of the Lord.
• 58:17
  Is at the very heart.
• 58:18
  Of the gospel.
• 58:20
  And at the very heart.
• 58:22
  Of our Christian experience.
• 58:24
  If you are in Christ.
• 58:25
  You have died.
• 58:27
  To the old ways.
• 58:28
  You have put on.
• 58:29
  The new self.
• 58:30
  You have a new identity.
• 58:32
  You belong to a new community.
• 58:33
  And so give thanks to God.
• 58:36
  For all things.
• 58:40
  Maybe you are here tonight.
• 58:42
  And you are not yet.
• 58:43
  A Christian.
• 58:45
  Maybe you.
• 58:46
  Like the Bereans.
• 58:47
  Are eagerly searching the scriptures.
• 58:49
  To see if these things.
• 58:51
  Are true.
• 58:54
  Maybe you grew up in a Christian home.
• 58:55
  But you have yet to make the faith your own.
• 58:57
  Maybe at one time.
• 59:00
  You did profess faith.
• 59:01
  But you have.
• 59:03
  Cooled in your affections.
• 59:04
  Towards the things of Christ.
• 59:07
  Like the prodigal son.
• 59:08
  You find yourself in a far country.
• 59:12
  Well tonight.
• 59:13
  We can return.
• 59:14
  We can come to him.
• 59:15
  For the first time.
• 59:16
  We can come back to him.
• 59:18
  For the umpteenth time.
• 59:20
  And we can enjoy.
• 59:22
  That experience of his love.
• 59:24
  We can know once more.
• 59:25
  That peace.
• 59:27
  And we can find salvation.
• 59:29
  In his name.
• 59:32
  In that name.
• 59:33
  In which there is found.
• 59:34
  The forgiveness of sins.
• 59:36
  And newness.
• 59:37
  Of life.
• 59:42
  Well.
• 59:43
  We'll end there.
• 59:46
  And as we do.
• 59:47
  Before we sing our final item.
• 59:49
  I'm going to pray once more.
• 59:52
  And.
• 59:53
  We're going to remember Lizzie.
• 59:54
  Who has a.
• 59:55
  A medical.
• 59:56
  Appointment tomorrow.
• 59:58
  In Inverness.
• 59:59
  And we're going to.
• 1:00:00
  Give thanks as well.
• 1:00:01
  For those who have prepared.
• 1:00:03
  The food for the fellowship.
• 1:00:05
  And I look forward to meeting.
• 1:00:07
  With and speaking with.
• 1:00:08
  Many of you.
• 1:00:09
  In the hall.
• 1:00:10
  After the service.
• 1:00:13
  But let's just.
• 1:00:14
  Close with a brief word of prayer.
• 1:00:16
  Amen.
• 1:00:20
  Amen.
• 1:00:20
  Amen.
• 1:00:20
  Amen.
• 1:00:21
  Amen.
• 1:00:21
  Amen.
• 1:00:21
  Amen.
• 1:00:22
  Oh Lord.
• 1:00:22
  You are to me.
• 1:00:23
  My cup and portion sure.
• 1:00:25
  The share that is assigned to me.
• 1:00:28
  You guard and keep secure.
• 1:00:33
  Amen.
• 1:00:33
  Heavenly Father.
• 1:00:35
  We thank you for the day we have shared.
• 1:00:38
  We thank you for the weekend you have granted to us.
• 1:00:40
  we thank you for your loving kindness
• 1:00:44
  for your steadfast love
• 1:00:47
  which reaches to the heavens
• 1:00:49
  and your faithfulness to the sky
• 1:00:53
  and we thank you Lord
• 1:00:57
  that as we go from this place
• 1:00:59
  that you have reminded us once more of that love
• 1:01:02
  and of your grace
• 1:01:04
  the love you have for your people
• 1:01:07
  the love you have for this world
• 1:01:09
  you have reminded us of the work you have begun
• 1:01:14
  in our lives
• 1:01:15
  a work you promised to bring to completion
• 1:01:17
  on the day of Christ
• 1:01:18
  that we have been raised with him
• 1:01:22
  that our lives are hidden with him on high
• 1:01:26
  and so help us this week
• 1:01:29
  to seek the things that are above
• 1:01:31
  to look forward to the inheritance
• 1:01:35
  that he is keeping for us
• 1:01:38
  that place he is preparing for us
• 1:01:40
  and to live in light of eternity
• 1:01:44
  grant us grace we pray
• 1:01:48
  to put off
• 1:01:49
  to put away
• 1:01:50
  to put to death the old ways
• 1:01:51
  ways that
• 1:01:52
  are not pleasing to you
• 1:01:54
  to put to death the works of the flesh
• 1:01:58
  the ways of this world
• 1:02:01
  and instead to put on
• 1:02:04
  love, meekness, patience, kindness
• 1:02:08
  for our hearts to be good soil
• 1:02:12
  for the word
• 1:02:14
  in which it might bear fruit
• 1:02:16
  help us to love you as our God
• 1:02:21
  and our Father
• 1:02:21
  help us to love one another
• 1:02:23
  as brothers and sisters in Christ
• 1:02:26
  and we pray for any
• 1:02:30
  in the congregation
• 1:02:31
  who are facing trials of many kinds
• 1:02:35
  any who are anxious
• 1:02:37
  any who are confined to their homes
• 1:02:41
  any who are
• 1:02:44
  travelling to hospital
• 1:02:46
  and we pray very especially
• 1:02:48
  for Lizzie in this regard
• 1:02:50
  help us Lord
• 1:02:53
  to love one another
• 1:02:54
  in both word and deed
• 1:02:56
  and help us Lord
• 1:02:59
  to love those
• 1:03:00
  in our communities
• 1:03:01
  that they would look in
• 1:03:04
  they would see
• 1:03:05
  and hear something
• 1:03:06
  quite different
• 1:03:07
  that many would
• 1:03:10
  have their interest piqued
• 1:03:12
  many would like
• 1:03:14
  the Colossian believers
• 1:03:15
  hear the word of truth
• 1:03:16
  and cease walking
• 1:03:19
  in the old ways
• 1:03:20
  and instead walk with you
• 1:03:21
  and pray for your church
• 1:03:25
  in this nation
• 1:03:26
  we pray for your church
• 1:03:27
  throughout the world
• 1:03:29
  that great fruit
• 1:03:31
  would be born
• 1:03:32
  throughout the whole world
• 1:03:33
  and that you would raise up
• 1:03:35
  another generation
• 1:03:36
  of evangelists
• 1:03:37
  and preachers
• 1:03:38
  and Sunday school leaders
• 1:03:39
  and family workers
• 1:03:41
  and translators
• 1:03:43
  that the word of truth
• 1:03:46
  may go forth
• 1:03:47
  and your people
• 1:03:49
  may be found
• 1:03:50
  and built up
• 1:03:51
  and strengthened
• 1:03:51
  neighbourhoods
• 1:03:54
  homes
• 1:03:55
  lives
• 1:03:55
  would be transformed
• 1:03:56
  by the word of Christ
• 1:03:59
  and the love of Christ
• 1:04:02
  and we pray
• 1:04:06
  that might be true
• 1:04:07
  of ourselves
• 1:04:08
  Lord
• 1:04:08
  help us this week
• 1:04:09
  whatever we do
• 1:04:11
  to do so
• 1:04:12
  with gratitude
• 1:04:13
  in our hearts
• 1:04:14
  and your praise
• 1:04:15
  on our lips
• 1:04:16
  that we might continue
• 1:04:19
  in Christ
• 1:04:19
  that we might continue
• 1:04:22
  in prayer
• 1:04:22
  that we might continue
• 1:04:24
  walking in wisdom
• 1:04:25
  and we might continue
• 1:04:28
  in faith
• 1:04:28
  and hope
• 1:04:30
  and love
• 1:04:31
  thank you for our
• 1:04:34
  fellowship together
• 1:04:34
  thank you for the fellowship
• 1:04:35
  tonight
• 1:04:36
  and we thank you
• 1:04:38
  for those who in love
• 1:04:39
  have prepared a meal
• 1:04:40
  for us to enjoy
• 1:04:41
  so strengthen and encourage
• 1:04:44
  them we pray
• 1:04:45
  and we give thanks
• 1:04:47
  to you
• 1:04:48
  in the name of Christ
• 1:04:50
  Amen
• 1:04:51
  well we close our time
• 1:05:07
  together with
• 1:05:08
  a final psalm
• 1:05:10
  psalm 67
• 1:05:12
  on page
• 1:05:12
  301
• 1:05:14
  Scottish Psalter
• 1:05:16
  version of psalm 67
• 1:05:18
  singing the whole psalm
• 1:05:20
  all seven verses
• 1:05:21
  Lord unto us be merciful
• 1:05:22
  do thou us also bless
• 1:05:25
  and graciously cause shine
• 1:05:27
  on us the brightness
• 1:05:28
  of thy face
• 1:05:29
  we sing
• 1:05:30
  once more
• 1:05:31
  to the praise
• 1:05:32
  of our glorious God
• 1:05:34
  Lord unto us
• 1:05:45
  be merciful
• 1:05:48
  to thou us also bless
• 1:05:53
  and graciously
• 1:05:58
  and graciously
• 1:06:02
  all shine on us
• 1:06:07
  the brightness
• 1:06:11
  of thy face
• 1:06:16
  that so
• 1:06:18
  that so
• 1:06:18
  thy way
• 1:06:21
  upon
• 1:06:23
  the earth
• 1:06:26
  through all
• 1:06:29
  that may
• 1:06:30
  be known
• 1:06:34
  also
• 1:06:36
  among
• 1:06:39
  the nations
• 1:06:42
  a
• 1:06:57
  Tikunt
• 1:07:01
  of thy
• 1:07:02
  heavens
• 1:07:03
  world
• 1:07:04
  and people
• 1:07:06
  all
• 1:07:07
  O let the nations be glad
• 1:07:21
  and sing for joy always.
• 1:07:28
  For rightly there shall people judge
• 1:07:40
  and nations rule on earth.
• 1:07:48
  Let people praise it Lord let all the hope
• 1:08:01
  with the earth.
• 1:08:07
  Then shall the earth yield her increase.
• 1:08:18
  God, her God bless us shall.
• 1:08:26
  God shall us bless and all the earth
• 1:08:36
  the ends shall fear him all.
• 1:08:48
  The Lord bless you and keep you.
• 1:08:52
  The Lord make his face to shine upon you
• 1:08:54
  and be gracious to you.
• 1:08:56
  The Lord lift up his countenance upon you
• 1:08:59
  and give you peace.
• 1:09:02
  And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
• 1:09:05
  the steadfast love of God our heavenly Father
• 1:09:08
  and the fellowship of his Holy Spirit
• 1:09:11
  be with us all now and forevermore.
• 1:09:15
  Amen.
• 1:09:26
  Amen.
• 1:09:31
  Amen.
• 1:09:31
  Amen.
• 1:09:32
  Amen.
• 1:09:32
  Amen.
• 1:09:32
  Amen.
• 1:09:33
  Amen.
• 1:09:33
  Amen.
• 1:09:33
  Amen.
• 1:09:34
  Amen.
• 1:09:34
  Amen.
• 1:09:34
  Amen.
• 1:09:34
  Amen.
• 1:09:35
  Amen.
• 1:09:35
  Amen.
• 1:09:36
  Amen.
• 1:09:36
  Amen.
• 1:09:36
  Amen.
• 1:09:37
  Amen.
• 1:09:39
  Amen.
• 1:09:40
  And just bear,
• 1:09:40
  Amen.
• 1:09:45
  Amen.
• 1:09:46
  Amen.
• 1:09:47
  Amen.
• 1:09:47
  Amen.
• 1:09:47
  Amen.
• 1:09:48
  Amen.
• 1:09:49
  Amen.
• 1:09:49
  Amen.
• 1:09:50
  Amen.
• 1:09:50
  Amen.
• 1:09:50
  Amen.
• 1:09:51
  Amen.
• 1:09:52
  Yep.
• 1:09:52
  Amen.
• 1:09:52
  Amen.
• 1:09:53
  Amen.
• 1:09:54
  Amen.