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Love's Strengthening Quality · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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from verse 15.
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Read from verse 15 down as far as verse 18.
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David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life.
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David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.
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And Jonathan Saul's son rose and went to David at Horesh
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and strengthened his hand in God.
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And he said to him,
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Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you.
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You shall be king over Israel and I shall be next to you.
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Saul my father also knows this.
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And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord.
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David remained at Horesh and Jonathan went home.
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That wonderful relationship between David and Jonathan
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is mentioned a number of times in the chapters
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where we find information about them and about that relationship.
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If you didn't know what happened after the death of Goliath,
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after David had killed Goliath,
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you might be tempted to think that surely David was given a great promotion by Saul.
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Surely he would have had him as his right-hand man.
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Surely there would be nobody else in the nation that Saul would prefer ahead of David.
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Of course, you know that that's not what happened.
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We might think that the prospects for David were bright
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after he actually led this campaign against the Philistines,
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killing their champion Goliath in battle.
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Unfortunately, David was hounded by Saul and came to be persecuted by Saul for many years.
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Indeed, all the way through to Saul's own death,
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David was actually hounded by Saul from place to place.
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He didn't have an easier life of it after he had shown his prowess in killing Goliath.
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It was actually the other way about.
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But you know from, not only from this, but from many of the Psalms,
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that for David, trial was really something which shaped his life positively.
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Not that in every situation of triumph, David was as he should have been,
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but by and large, trial, suffering, difficulty, persecution for David,
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they were instances, they were events, they were circumstances in which he sought the Lord,
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in which he knew that his own strength would not be sufficient for him.
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They shaped David's life greatly.
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But while he lived, Jonathan was very much a part of David's development.
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And what you read here, and in the other passages,
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we'll mention a few verses related to this tonight,
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you'll find that many times David came to experience
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how Jonathan strengthened him and encouraged him as he went about his business.
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Like you find it here, for example,
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he went out to where David was at Horesh,
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and he strengthened his hand in God.
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That's a wonderful expression that carries through into our own lives as Christians,
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into our own relationships with each other,
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into what we need to be as individuals,
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but also as a congregation or as a group of people in Christ,
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strengthening his hand in God.
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Saul's persecution of David was something that actually arose
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out of envy or jealousy, to use another word.
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Back to chapter 18, we were at, you find there in verses 8 and 9 especially,
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you find a description there of how things came about.
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As they were coming home, David returned from striking down the Philistine.
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Women came out of the city singing and dancing,
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and we sang through, we read through what they sang there as songs of joy,
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celebrating the victory of David.
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But the words they used were interesting.
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They said, Saul has struck down his thousands,
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and David is ten thousands.
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In other words, they were singing about, as they saw it,
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how David had outdone Saul by ten to one.
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And really, that's when Saul was determined from that time forth.
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Saul was very angry.
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This saying displeased him.
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And you can see from the way it's worded there,
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they have ascribed to David ten thousands.
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To me, they have ascribed thousands.
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You can tell that there's jealousy eating away at his heart.
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You can tell that's envy that's really moving him
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in his view of David as it now is.
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And then when you go forward again to verse 12,
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Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him,
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but had departed from Saul.
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In other words, Saul actually knew that David had things which he did not,
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that he had abilities which he did not,
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but above all, that he had the Lord in his life in a way that Saul did not.
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It all remains a mystery in terms of his faith,
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his relationship to God.
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Different opinions of that have been presented to us over the years.
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Different commentators say he was never really a good man.
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Others say he was, but he went astray.
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In respect of that, it's obviously the case that Saul was motivated by jealousy
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and envy against David.
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And jealousy and envy is something that caused him,
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instead of focusing on his leadership of the nation.
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He focused instead on getting rid of David.
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David had to be killed.
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He had to get rid of David.
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Otherwise, he was going to take over the kingdom
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because of his popularity with all the people.
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And of course, envy,
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as that's developed in the Bible,
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is such a powerful, powerful, destructive force.
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Whether it's envy or jealousy,
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whatever word we use,
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both in the Old and in the New Testament,
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you find that envy is a powerful, destructive force in anybody's life.
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Jesus, for example, spoke of envy as something.
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In Mark chapter 7, verse 22,
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he mentioned things which didn't defile a person.
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To eat with unwashed hands,
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he said that's not what defiles a person.
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Defilement comes from within,
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from within the heart.
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And he mentioned a number of things that come out from the heart.
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Murders, adulteries,
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envy was amongst them.
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These things come from within a person,
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from within the heart.
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These are the things, he said,
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which defile a person.
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1 Corinthians 13,
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wonderful chapter about love,
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and we're going to focus on the love
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between David and Jonathan tonight for a wee while.
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But that great chapter on love
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has amongst all the descriptions it gives of love,
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that love does not envy.
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Love does not have a jealousy
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against those that are loved.
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In fact, it's a contradiction to say,
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I love you, but I'm actually very jealous of you.
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Because love does not envy.
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And then when you find 1 Peter, for example,
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just to take one other example,
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1 Peter chapter 2,
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which follows on, of course,
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from what he had said previously
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about salvation and so on.
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As you come to chapter 2 of 1 Peter,
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well, you'll find Peter saying,
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therefore, putting aside or putting off
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enmity amongst other things,
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all malice and all deceit
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and hypocrisy and envy and slander
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like newborn infants long
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for the pure spiritual milk.
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In other words, he's saying,
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envy is part of the bad clothing,
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part of the dirty clothing
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that you put off metaphorically,
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of course, spiritually.
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And instead of that,
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you put on those things
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which are the opposites to envy and jealousy,
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love being preeminent
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preeminent amongst the other qualities
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of a Christian life.
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So envy lies behind Saul's attitude to David.
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And it's in that context
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that it's important for us
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to actually see Jonathan's relationship to David.
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Jonathan, of course,
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is the heir to the throne.
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He is Saul's son.
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And Saul is looking at
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handing the kingdom over to Jonathan
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whenever that time will come,
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whether it's through Saul's death or otherwise,
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but that's what he has in view.
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But this is a wonderful emphasis
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in the relationship between David and Jonathan,
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that despite the fact that he's the king's son,
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he has David as a very special person in his heart.
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He loves David as his own soul.
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Their soul was knit together,
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chapter 18 puts it,
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and that really means
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being tied so closely together
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in the bonds of love.
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And it's often the case, isn't it,
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that you find in Scripture,
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you find those who are perhaps like David
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or like Paul or like Peter
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on the front line of the church's activity
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on the preaching of the gospel
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or whatever mission it may be about,
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you very often and indeed
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almost always find that those
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who are prominent in that way
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have behind them
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some sometimes unnamed saints of God,
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but certainly those saints
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that stay in the background pretty much.
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And all the way through Paul's letters,
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for example,
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you'll find him talking about people
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who were very much his supporters,
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but didn't write any epistles,
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weren't really in the forefront,
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if you like,
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of the church's mission or activity,
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at least not in a prominent sense,
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where he mentions likes of Aquila,
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Priscilla, Clement, Tychicus, and others.
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That's how it always is in the church.
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Just because we're not prominent,
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just because we're not given a place
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that's obvious to many people,
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doesn't mean that we're not serving the Lord
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in a very, very important way
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to actually support his cause
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whatever way he gives us to do that.
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So Jonathan's relationship with David
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was rooted in these bonds of love.
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What kind of love was it?
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Well, if we take a few verses
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from these chapters,
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we can see four things about that love
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that tells us what kind of love it was,
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what kind of quality of love,
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especially,
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was between David and Jonathan.
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It was, first of all,
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a godly love.
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Back to chapter 18,
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and the first verse there says,
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as soon as he had finished speaking to Saul,
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the soul of Jonathan
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was knit to the soul of David,
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and Jonathan loved him
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as his own soul.
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It was a very genuine,
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a very godly love.
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And that's important,
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especially in the days
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in which we live.
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Because as you very well know,
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a friendship of this kind
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between two men
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might be looked at very suspiciously.
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And in fact,
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you'll find some people
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of the view
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that this was actually
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a same-sex attraction.
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I know that sounds distasteful to us,
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but some actually take
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that view of this relationship,
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of these descriptions
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that you find
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of the love,
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the relationship
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between David and Jonathan.
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But this was
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a godly love.
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There's nothing distasteful
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about it.
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There's nothing about it
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that should raise
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any suspicions
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that it was in some way
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or other sinful
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or unwholesome.
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If you go to 2 Samuel
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and chapter 1,
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you can see there
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Paul's,
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Saul's,
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sorry,
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it's Jonathan's
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reference to it,
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David's reference
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rather to Jonathan
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in 2 Samuel chapter 1
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and verse 26.
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This is David's lament
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following the death
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of Saul
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and Jonathan
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in battle.
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And this is how
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he actually finishes
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that lament
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where he says that
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verse 26,
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I am distressed
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for you,
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my brother Jonathan.
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Very pleasant
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have you been to me.
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Your love to me
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was extraordinary,
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surpassing the love
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of women.
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And as I said,
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that does not describe
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something unwholesome,
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something sinful,
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something that would
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in modern parlance
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be regarded,
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as we said,
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as some sort of
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unhealthy attraction.
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Your love for me
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surpasses the love
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of women
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because there was
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such a special
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bond between them.
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Not even the love
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between a man
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and a woman
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could actually come near
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to the quality
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of the love
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between David
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and Jonathan
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for its faithfulness,
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for its sheer brilliance
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in terms of being
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genuine
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and godly
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and unselfish.
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And what that really
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says in that
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version
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in 2 Samuel
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chapter 1,
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surpassing the love
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of women,
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what David is really
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getting at
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is the
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unselfish love
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of Jonathan
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for him.
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Jonathan
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was the heir
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to the throne.
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He had everything
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going for him.
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He was the son
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of Saul.
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He would be the next
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to take over the throne
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ordinarily
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and yet
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selflessly
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and in his love
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for David
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he was prepared
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even to put that aside.
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It surpasses
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he says
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the love of women
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in its unselfishness
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as he says.
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It doesn't mean that
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the love of women
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is a selfish love
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of course
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not saying that either
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but he's actually saying
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this is something
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really quite unique
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and quite special
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and we must never
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distort that
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into something
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that seems
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unseemly
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or distasteful.
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It is
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holy
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and pure
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and God
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honoring
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in every way
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in which it's spoken
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about
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when you take
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the words
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as they are
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at face value
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and to read
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something else
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into them
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is not only
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just to dishonor
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the love
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that existed
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between them
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but it's
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to dishonor
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God
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and dishonor
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the word
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of God
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that describes
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the quality
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of this
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godly love
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between them.
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We read
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that it was
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knit
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they were knit
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together
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in chapter 18
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their souls
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were knit
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together
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bound
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together
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in such a way
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just as you bind
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threads or something
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together
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so the two souls
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of these two men
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were bound
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together
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in love.
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It was a godly love.
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Secondly
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it was a giving love
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generous love
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a giving love
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and really
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that of course
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is of the essence
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of love
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isn't it?
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you can't
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really
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think of love
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other than
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it is a giving
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thing
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it's a love
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which gives out
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it's a thing
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which actually
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doesn't act
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selfishly
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such as you find
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that's where you find
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these descriptions
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in 1 Corinthians
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13
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does not seek
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its own
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love
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gives
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and love
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is prepared
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to give
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abundantly
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and in the case
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of David
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and Jonathan
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that was the case
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as well
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if you go back
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again to chapter
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18
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and look at
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verse 4
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here is Jonathan
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saying
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he stripped himself
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of the robe
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that was on him
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and he gave it
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to David
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and his armour
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even his sword
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and his bow
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and his belt
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and that's
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symbolic
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that shows you
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the mind of Jonathan
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that shows you
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the quality
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of his love
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for David
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because what David
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what he told David
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was that
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as he made a covenant
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with him there
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and then you go on
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to chapter 23
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and verses 17
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to 18
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you'll find
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Jonathan
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there
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absolutely convinced
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that
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David is going
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to be the next
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king
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of Israel
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and he went out
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and strengthened
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his hand
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in the Lord
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he said to him
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do not fear
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for the hand
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of Saul
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my father
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shall not find you
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you shall be
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king over Israel
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and I shall
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be next to you
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here's the heir
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to the throne
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giving not just
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his cloak
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and his robe
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to David
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symbolically
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as if to say
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well I know
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that you're going
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to be king
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so this really
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properly belongs
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to you
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he's actually
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saying here
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I know
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I know
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that you will
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be the next
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king of Israel
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and that I
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will be next
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to you
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well it didn't
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turn out that
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way sadly
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but that's what
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Jonathan
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was committed
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to
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you shall be
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king
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and I
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shall be
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next to you
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Saul my
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father also
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knows this
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Jonathan knew
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the workings
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of his father's
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mind
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he knew
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the jealousy
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the evil
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intent
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of his father's
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heart
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and he was
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taking that
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into account
17:29
as well
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as he went
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here to
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strengthen
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the hand
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of David
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one of the
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ways he
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strengthens
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the hand
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of David
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is to
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assure him
17:35
I know
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how things
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are going
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to be
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I know
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what the
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Lord's
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will
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is
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and therefore
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I'm committed
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to that
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and I'm
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committed to
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you in
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that
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he wants
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the best
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for David
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and that of
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course is a
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great challenge
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to ourselves
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in our
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relationships
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with each
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other
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the relationships
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that we have
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in our human
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lives whether
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it's in our
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homes and
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our marriages
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or in
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congregational
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terms of
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love between
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each other
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as Christians
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in Christ
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the challenges
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that we
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give ourselves
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to each
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other
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that we
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make such
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time for
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each other
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as shows
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that our
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regard for
18:17
others comes
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even ahead
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if you like
18:19
of the regard
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for ourselves
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for our
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own well-being
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and for our
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own comfort
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and of course
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that's very
18:25
difficult
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that's very
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challenging
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but then you
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go to the
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best example
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of all
18:30
of that
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is Jesus
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himself
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the apex
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of a
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giving love
18:34
of a
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generous love
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of a love
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that puts
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others ahead
18:37
of himself
18:38
is in
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Jesus
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himself
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what do
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you read
18:40
in John
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15 there
18:41
where Jesus
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is speaking
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of himself
18:43
he said
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greater love
18:45
has no man
18:46
than this
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that a man
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lay down
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his life
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for his
18:50
friends
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and you
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are my
18:52
friends
18:52
you do
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whatever I
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command you
18:55
as you see
18:55
Jesus
18:55
hanging on
18:57
the cross
18:57
you can just
18:59
see these
18:59
words of
19:00
John 15
19:01
almost as if
19:02
they were
19:02
written above
19:03
the cross
19:04
greater love
19:05
has no man
19:05
than this
19:06
that a man
19:06
lay down
19:07
his life
19:07
for his
19:08
friends
19:08
the greatest
19:09
of all
19:10
gifts is the
19:11
giving of
19:11
himself
19:12
he gave
19:13
himself to
19:14
the death
19:14
he died
19:15
why did he
19:16
give himself
19:16
to the death
19:17
he died
19:17
well not just
19:18
so that you
19:19
and I
19:19
wouldn't have
19:19
to die
19:20
that death
19:20
but because
19:21
his love
19:22
is of such
19:23
a caliber
19:23
and such
19:24
a quality
19:25
as shows
19:26
in its
19:26
essence
19:27
that it's
19:27
generous
19:28
to that
19:28
extent
19:29
that it's
19:29
giving to
19:30
that extent
19:31
that he
19:31
gives
19:31
himself
19:32
and so
19:35
it was
19:35
for Jonathan's
19:37
love for
19:37
David as
19:38
well and
19:38
the love
19:38
between
19:39
them
19:39
reciprocated
19:40
on David's
19:41
part no
19:42
doubt but
19:42
the emphasis
19:43
here is on
19:43
Jonathan
19:44
especially
19:45
in chapter
19:46
23 here
19:47
strengthening
19:48
his hand
19:48
in the
19:48
Lord by
19:50
telling him
19:50
this is how
19:51
I see it
19:51
this is how
19:52
I know
19:52
things will
19:53
be and
19:53
should be
19:54
and therefore
19:55
what a
19:56
strength what
19:56
an encouragement
19:57
that was
19:57
undoubtedly
19:59
to David
19:59
so it's
20:02
it's a
20:02
godly
20:02
love
20:03
it's a
20:03
love which
20:03
honors God
20:05
love which
20:06
is pure
20:06
a love which
20:08
regards God
20:09
himself very
20:10
carefully
20:10
it's a love
20:11
which is a
20:12
giving love
20:13
even to the
20:14
extent of
20:14
giving himself
20:15
giving up
20:16
the career
20:17
that he had
20:18
ordinarily
20:19
and would be
20:20
his in the
20:21
ordinary
20:21
course of
20:22
things
20:22
that was
20:24
Jonathan
20:25
saying no
20:25
I know
20:26
that that's
20:26
not how
20:27
it's going
20:27
to be
20:27
so I'm
20:28
giving over
20:28
the throne
20:29
to you
20:30
this is
20:30
going to
20:31
be yours
20:31
rightly
20:32
yours
20:32
this is
20:33
God's
20:33
will
20:33
a godly
20:36
love and
20:37
a giving
20:37
love but
20:37
thirdly
20:38
we find
20:39
that this
20:39
love is
20:40
a guarding
20:42
love as
20:42
well
20:43
it's a
20:44
love which
20:44
looks after
20:45
things in a
20:46
proper way
20:47
and again
20:49
it's something
20:50
that is shown
20:51
in the way
20:52
that Jonathan
20:52
defended
20:53
David
20:54
guarded
20:55
David's
20:55
reputation
20:56
and was
20:57
concerned that
20:58
David would
20:59
not be
20:59
misrepresented
21:01
that he
21:02
would not
21:02
actually be
21:02
spoken of
21:03
even by
21:04
his father
21:04
in a way
21:05
that wasn't
21:06
true to
21:06
David's
21:07
character
21:07
because again
21:09
you can go
21:09
back to
21:10
chapter 19
21:11
this time
21:12
verses 4
21:12
and 5
21:13
and when
21:15
you look at
21:15
these verses
21:16
again this is
21:17
Saul and
21:18
Jonathan
21:18
speaking together
21:19
David isn't
21:20
present at
21:20
that time
21:21
but it does
21:22
remind us
21:23
there in
21:23
verse 1
21:24
chapter 19
21:25
Jonathan
21:26
David's
21:26
son
21:27
delighted
21:27
much
21:28
in
21:28
David
21:28
and
21:29
Jonathan
21:30
told
21:30
David
21:30
Saul
21:31
my
21:31
father
21:32
seeks
21:32
to
21:32
kill
21:32
you
21:33
therefore
21:33
be on
21:34
your guard
21:34
in the
21:35
morning
21:35
stay in
21:36
a secret
21:36
place
21:37
and hide
21:37
yourself
21:37
and I
21:38
will go
21:39
out and
21:39
stand beside
21:40
my father
21:40
in the field
21:41
where you
21:41
are and I
21:42
will speak
21:42
to my
21:43
father
21:43
about you
21:43
and if I
21:44
learn anything
21:45
I will
21:45
tell you
21:46
and Jonathan
21:47
spoke well
21:48
of David
21:49
to Saul
21:49
and said
21:51
to him
21:51
let not
21:52
the king
21:52
sin against
21:53
the seven
21:54
David
21:54
because he
21:55
has not
21:56
sinned
21:56
against
21:56
you
21:57
and because
21:58
his deeds
21:58
have brought
21:59
good to
21:59
you
22:00
for he
22:01
took his
22:01
life in
22:01
his hand
22:02
and he
22:02
struck down
22:03
the Philistine
22:04
and the
22:05
Lord worked
22:05
a great
22:06
salvation
22:06
for all
22:07
Israel
22:07
you saw
22:08
it
22:08
and rejoiced
22:09
why then
22:10
will you
22:11
sin
22:11
against
22:12
innocent
22:12
blood
22:13
by killing
22:13
David
22:14
without
22:14
cause
22:15
and Saul
22:16
listened
22:17
to the
22:17
voice of
22:17
Jonathan
22:18
and Saul
22:19
swore
22:19
as the
22:20
Lord
22:20
lives
22:20
he shall
22:21
not be
22:21
put to
22:22
death
22:22
and Jonathan
22:23
called
22:24
David
22:24
and Jonathan
22:24
reported to
22:25
him
22:25
all these
22:26
things
22:27
well unfortunately
22:28
Saul was
22:29
not very
22:30
steadfast
22:31
in mind
22:32
he could
22:32
just flip
22:33
flip just
22:35
like that
22:35
which is
22:36
exactly
22:37
what happened
22:38
because when
22:39
you go
22:40
onwards in
22:41
chapter
22:42
in chapter
22:44
23 again
22:44
verses 17
22:45
to 18
22:46
you'll find
22:47
that that's
22:48
exactly what
22:48
happened
22:49
do not
22:50
do not
22:50
fear the
22:50
hand
22:51
of
22:51
Saul
22:51
my
22:52
father
22:52
shall
22:52
not
22:53
find
22:53
you
22:53
he says
22:54
and you
22:54
shall
22:54
be
22:55
king
22:55
over
22:56
over
22:56
Israel
22:57
and even
22:58
though
22:58
David
22:58
wasn't
22:59
present
22:59
Saul
23:00
Jonathan
23:01
was
23:01
determined
23:01
to support
23:02
him
23:02
to speak
23:03
well of
23:04
him before
23:04
his father
23:05
even knowing
23:06
that his
23:06
father
23:06
at that
23:07
point
23:08
had actually
23:08
committed
23:09
to killing
23:10
David
23:10
and there
23:12
is love
23:12
and there
23:13
is love
23:14
as it is
23:15
said for
23:15
us as well
23:16
it's not
23:16
about our
23:17
own
23:17
reputation
23:18
it's not
23:19
about whether
23:19
people will
23:20
or won't
23:21
speak well
23:21
of us
23:22
it's not
23:23
about making
23:24
friends just
23:25
for the sake
23:25
of it
23:25
and thereby
23:26
very often
23:27
not really
23:28
being faithful
23:29
to the
23:30
truth
23:30
and not
23:32
as Jonathan
23:32
is determined
23:34
whatever his
23:35
father will
23:35
think of it
23:36
whatever his
23:36
father will
23:37
do about it
23:37
he is going
23:39
to defend
23:39
David
23:40
he's going
23:40
to defend
23:40
his reputation
23:41
he's going
23:42
to show
23:43
that his
23:43
love for
23:44
David is
23:45
not going
23:46
to be
23:46
deflected
23:47
by even
23:47
any thoughts
23:48
his father
23:48
might have
23:49
of putting
23:49
David to
23:50
death
23:50
or even
23:50
putting
23:51
Jonathan
23:51
to death
23:52
which of
23:53
course he
23:53
did at
23:54
one time
23:55
try to
23:55
do by
23:57
throwing his
23:58
spear at
23:59
Jonathan
23:59
as well
24:00
and so
24:02
that's
24:03
of course
24:04
for us
24:04
as well
24:05
such an
24:05
important
24:05
factor
24:06
and it's
24:07
important
24:08
especially
24:08
in terms
24:09
of our
24:10
relationship
24:10
with the
24:11
Lord
24:11
because just
24:13
as Jonathan
24:13
came to
24:15
defend David
24:16
in the
24:16
presence
24:16
of his
24:17
father
24:17
a hostile
24:17
father
24:18
so you
24:19
and I
24:20
have to
24:20
defend
24:21
the Lord
24:21
not that
24:22
he needs
24:23
us to
24:23
defend him
24:24
strictly
24:24
speaking
24:25
but you
24:26
do speak
24:26
up for
24:26
him
24:27
you do
24:27
speak up
24:27
for his
24:28
cause
24:28
you do
24:29
speak up
24:29
for the
24:31
values of
24:31
the gospel
24:32
for the
24:32
principles
24:33
of the
24:33
gospel
24:34
against the
24:35
hostility of
24:36
the world
24:36
in which we
24:37
live
24:37
that's out
24:38
to kill
24:38
the gospel
24:39
that's out
24:40
to put
24:40
to death
24:40
anything
24:41
representing
24:41
Jesus
24:42
or resembling
24:43
Jesus
24:43
what do
24:44
you do
24:45
you don't
24:45
just go
24:45
and hide
24:46
yourself
24:46
you don't
24:47
go and say
24:47
well I'll
24:48
just leave
24:49
that to
24:49
someone else
24:49
I'll just
24:50
go into
24:50
the background
24:51
let this
24:51
pass
24:52
no you
24:53
say my
24:54
Lord's
24:54
reputation
24:55
is tied
24:55
up with
24:56
this
24:56
whatever
24:57
movement
24:57
it is
24:58
that's
24:58
against
24:58
the gospel
24:59
whatever
24:59
movement
25:00
it is
25:00
that requires
25:01
support
25:02
against
25:03
atheism
25:03
or against
25:04
whatever
25:04
kind of
25:05
ideology
25:06
is trying
25:06
to destroy
25:07
the Bible
25:08
and the
25:08
character
25:09
of a
25:09
Christian
25:10
life
25:10
you and
25:12
I say
25:12
well that
25:13
involves
25:14
me
25:14
and it
25:16
involves
25:16
me
25:17
in whatever
25:17
way is
25:18
open to
25:18
me
25:18
legitimately
25:20
and lawfully
25:20
to do
25:21
so
25:21
to actually
25:23
come
25:24
to show
25:25
that my
25:26
commitment
25:26
is to
25:27
the Lord
25:27
to his
25:28
truth
25:29
to the
25:30
quality
25:30
of life
25:31
that he
25:31
requires
25:33
of me
25:33
and of
25:34
God's
25:34
people
25:34
and so
25:36
if it
25:36
means that
25:36
God's
25:37
people are
25:38
under threat
25:38
then I
25:39
have to
25:39
come
25:39
to their
25:40
defense
25:41
I have
25:42
to come
25:42
to their
25:42
support
25:43
or whatever
25:44
way we
25:45
do that
25:45
you can
25:46
do that
25:46
different ways
25:46
you know
25:47
yourselves
25:47
it's not
25:48
just a matter
25:49
such as it
25:49
was in the
25:50
days of
25:50
Samuel or
25:51
days of
25:51
the apostles
25:52
you do
25:53
that by
25:53
engaging
25:54
with those
25:54
who are
25:54
in authority
25:55
you do
25:56
that by
25:56
representing
25:57
the cause
25:58
of Christ
25:58
whether it's
25:59
by writing
26:00
letters or
26:00
contacting
26:01
your MSP
26:02
whatever else
26:02
it might be
26:03
you get in
26:04
touch with
26:04
those in
26:05
authority
26:05
you say
26:05
this is
26:06
not on
26:06
this is
26:07
not
26:08
this is
26:08
not
26:09
conducive
26:10
to a
26:11
proper
26:11
truthful
26:12
righteous
26:14
society
26:15
but it's
26:17
the Lord's
26:18
reputation
26:18
primarily
26:19
that's at
26:20
stake
26:20
and when
26:21
you find
26:22
the Lord's
26:22
name and
26:23
the Lord's
26:23
reputation
26:24
trampled
26:25
upon you
26:25
can't sit
26:26
easy or
26:27
stand back
26:28
and just
26:28
let that
26:29
happen
26:29
just as it
26:30
was for
26:31
Jonathan
26:32
he wasn't
26:32
prepared
26:33
even though
26:33
Saul the
26:34
king was
26:35
his father
26:35
he wasn't
26:36
prepared to
26:37
stand there
26:37
silently
26:38
and say
26:39
well I
26:41
better not
26:41
get too
26:41
involved with
26:42
this otherwise
26:42
I'll lose
26:43
my life
26:44
if I speak
26:44
up for
26:45
David Snow
26:45
in the
26:46
presence of
26:46
my father
26:47
who's out
26:47
to kill
26:48
him
26:48
what's that
26:49
going to
26:49
do to
26:50
me
26:50
so he
26:52
said no
26:53
well whatever
26:53
it's going
26:54
to do to
26:54
me
26:54
David is
26:56
the friend
26:56
that I
26:57
love deeply
26:58
and I
26:59
love him
26:59
in the
26:59
Lord
27:00
and I
27:01
love him
27:01
as the
27:02
Lord's
27:02
choice
27:02
of the
27:03
next
27:03
king
27:03
and I
27:05
can't
27:05
stand by
27:06
and not
27:07
speak up
27:07
for him
27:08
and not
27:09
put in a
27:10
word in
27:10
his favour
27:11
whatever it's
27:12
going to
27:12
mean for
27:13
myself
27:14
that's really
27:14
what you
27:15
get coming
27:16
across there
27:16
in the way
27:17
that Jonathan
27:17
supported and
27:19
stood for
27:19
David and
27:20
came here in
27:21
chapter 23
27:22
to go out
27:23
to him
27:23
to strengthen
27:24
him and
27:25
strengthen his
27:25
hand in
27:26
the Lord
27:27
so love
27:27
that love
27:28
that Christian
27:29
love is a
27:31
godly love
27:31
it's a
27:31
giving love
27:32
it's a
27:33
guarding
27:34
love
27:35
but just
27:36
to try and
27:37
keep the
27:38
G at the
27:38
beginning of
27:38
the words
27:39
the fourth
27:41
point is
27:41
it's a
27:42
galvanizing
27:43
love
27:43
by galvanizing
27:45
I mean the
27:46
way we often
27:47
use the word
27:47
galvanized
27:48
you galvanize
27:49
something
27:49
something
27:50
or someone
27:51
galvanizes
27:52
you
27:52
spurs you
27:53
into action
27:53
that's what I
27:54
mean by a
27:55
galvanizing
27:56
love
27:56
it's a love
27:57
which especially
27:58
encourages
27:59
it's a
28:00
special aspect
28:01
of love
28:02
that it's
28:03
an encouraging
28:04
thing you
28:04
could take
28:04
from this
28:05
passage in
28:06
23
28:06
in 1st
28:08
Samuel 23
28:08
that it's
28:09
it's love's
28:10
strengthening
28:11
quality that's
28:12
really brought
28:12
before us
28:13
when you find
28:14
this man
28:15
Jonathan and
28:16
his love
28:17
for David
28:17
and he went
28:18
out to him
28:19
and strengthened
28:19
his hand
28:20
in God
28:21
love
28:21
strengthens
28:23
sharing love
28:24
strengthens
28:25
relationship
28:26
strengthens
28:27
individuals
28:28
nothing
28:30
strengthens
28:31
a marriage
28:32
like
28:32
genuine
28:33
committed
28:34
love
28:36
nothing
28:37
strengthens
28:38
relationships
28:39
in a
28:39
congregation
28:39
like
28:41
genuine
28:41
committed
28:42
godly
28:43
giving
28:44
guarding
28:45
love
28:45
a love
28:47
which
28:47
galvanizes
28:48
you into
28:48
encouragement
28:49
into action
28:50
this is really
28:52
as we say
28:52
what you find
28:53
in chapter
28:54
23 here
28:55
but when you
28:55
go to
28:56
23 verses
28:57
16 and
28:59
17
28:59
that's exactly
29:00
what you find
29:02
here in the
29:02
text before us
29:03
he went
29:05
in person
29:06
to David
29:07
we're very
29:08
familiar of
29:09
course
29:09
in our day
29:10
and it's
29:11
it's a great
29:11
advantage that
29:12
we have
29:12
we we're very
29:13
familiar with
29:14
texting
29:15
with emails
29:16
with different
29:17
ways of
29:17
communication
29:18
and that's a
29:19
superb facility
29:20
that god in his
29:21
kindness has made
29:22
available to us
29:23
and it's so
29:24
much easier
29:25
and sometimes
29:26
it's really the
29:28
best thing to
29:29
do for for
29:30
for speed's sake
29:32
certainly to use
29:33
that just so you
29:34
get your message
29:34
to the person
29:35
as quickly as
29:36
possible
29:37
we thank god for
29:38
all of these
29:39
facilities
29:39
because they've
29:41
changed our lives
29:41
for the good in
29:42
so many ways
29:43
having said that
29:45
there is no
29:47
substitute for
29:48
personal in
29:50
person
29:51
relationships
29:52
there is no
29:54
substitute for
29:55
simply coming
29:55
alongside a
29:57
person even
29:58
if you're just
29:58
sitting down and
29:59
sharing their
29:59
experience sharing
30:01
with them and
30:01
their support and
30:02
their sorrow or
30:03
in their happiness
30:04
whatever it might
30:05
be but the fact
30:06
that it is a
30:07
person-to-person
30:08
exchange
30:08
physically is
30:10
something that
30:10
cannot actually be
30:12
replaced by any
30:13
electronic means
30:14
and this is
30:16
really david and
30:18
and so and
30:18
jonathan here if
30:20
you like a
30:22
really an
30:23
example of what
30:25
it is to come
30:26
he made a special
30:27
effort you see
30:28
jonathan he he
30:29
went out to him
30:30
he was in the
30:31
wilderness he was
30:33
under danger from
30:35
saul but he rose
30:37
and went to
30:38
david at horesh
30:40
and strengthened
30:41
his hand in
30:43
god so often
30:46
you find people
30:48
that have been
30:49
praying that day
30:49
somebody would
30:50
come and visit
30:50
them feeling
30:52
the loneliness
30:55
difficulties the
30:57
challenge of
30:57
living on their
30:58
own or not being
30:59
able to leave
31:00
the house and
31:01
just longing that
31:02
someone would come
31:02
in and talk with
31:03
them and the
31:05
lord put it into
31:05
the heart of
31:06
somebody that day
31:07
to to go and
31:08
visit that person
31:09
whether it's
31:10
minister or what
31:10
doesn't have to
31:11
be but another
31:12
christian or
31:13
whatever and
31:14
very often you
31:15
go into that
31:15
home and the
31:16
first thing the
31:17
person will say
31:18
to you well i
31:19
was really praying
31:20
that somebody would
31:20
come and visit me
31:21
see that's the
31:22
lord stirring up
31:24
the hearts of
31:25
his people so
31:26
that the love
31:27
between them this
31:28
galvanizing love
31:29
moves you to
31:30
take action and
31:32
very often when
31:33
you take action
31:33
sometimes not
31:34
necessarily knowing
31:35
exactly what's
31:36
going to be
31:37
involved but then
31:38
you get the great
31:39
benefit of all of
31:40
this coming
31:40
together and
31:41
a sharing in
31:42
love of things
31:43
which really are
31:44
mutually encouraging
31:45
to each person
31:46
and that is a
31:50
part of individual
31:51
and congregational
31:53
life especially
31:54
isn't it you
31:54
remember the
31:56
new testament
31:56
itself you find
31:57
the likes of
31:58
ephesians for
31:59
example
31:59
ephesians 6
32:02
verse 22
32:03
i'll mention a
32:05
few verses in
32:06
closing ephesians
32:06
6 and verse 22
32:09
and where you
32:10
find uh paul
32:11
saying i have
32:11
sent him talking
32:12
here about
32:13
tychicus the
32:14
beloved brother
32:15
and faithful
32:16
minister in the
32:17
lord he will
32:18
tell you
32:19
everything
32:20
i have sent
32:22
him to you
32:23
for this very
32:24
purpose that
32:25
you may know
32:26
how we are
32:27
and that he
32:28
may encourage
32:29
your hearts
32:31
see david
32:32
paul in this
32:34
instance
32:35
and like
32:36
jonathan with
32:36
david he
32:37
wasn't prepared
32:38
just to send
32:39
him a letter
32:39
or to send
32:40
him a message
32:40
by uh
32:42
by way of
32:42
an impersonal
32:44
message it
32:44
was just
32:45
sending this
32:45
man tychicus
32:47
when paul
32:48
himself couldn't
32:48
do it
32:49
he sent this
32:50
man in his
32:51
place as his
32:51
representative
32:52
and you find
32:53
the same in
32:54
colossians 2
32:55
verse 2 the
32:55
same emphasis
32:56
he's sending
32:57
tychicus so
32:58
that he will
32:59
encourage your
33:00
hearts
33:01
first thessalonians
33:03
um again an
33:05
instance with
33:06
you remember the
33:07
passage paul
33:08
dealing with the
33:09
resurrection
33:09
and with uh
33:11
participation in
33:12
the coming of
33:13
the lord on the
33:14
part of god's
33:15
people whether
33:16
they have died
33:17
or whether they've
33:18
been raised
33:18
similar to
33:18
first corinthians
33:19
15 this is
33:21
what he says
33:21
in from
33:22
verses 13
33:23
to to 17
33:24
he gives out
33:25
this wonderful
33:26
teaching about
33:27
and then he
33:28
concludes this
33:29
therefore you
33:31
know so like
33:31
that is to
33:32
first corinthians
33:32
15 ending
33:33
therefore therefore
33:35
encourage one
33:37
another with
33:38
these words
33:39
encourage one
33:41
another with
33:42
these words
33:43
in the same
33:43
in the same
33:44
letter you
33:45
find at
33:46
chapter 5
33:47
and verse
33:48
11 therefore
33:49
encourage one
33:51
another and
33:52
build one
33:53
another up
33:53
just as you
33:55
are doing
33:55
that really
33:57
gives you an
33:58
insight into
33:58
the the
33:59
meaning of
34:00
encouragement
34:00
because to
34:02
encourage is
34:04
to embolden or
34:05
to give
34:05
strength to
34:06
people when
34:07
you encourage
34:08
someone what
34:09
you're actually
34:09
doing is
34:10
seeking to
34:10
give them
34:11
strength to
34:13
help them to
34:13
to strengthen
34:14
up and
34:16
especially in
34:16
difficult
34:17
circumstances we
34:18
need strengthening
34:19
up primarily from
34:21
god of course
34:22
but in the
34:23
relationships
34:23
christians have
34:24
to each
34:24
other it's
34:26
so important
34:27
that we're like
34:28
what paul is
34:29
saying here to
34:29
the thessalonians
34:30
that we are
34:31
encouraging one
34:32
another and
34:33
building one
34:33
another up
34:34
because it
34:34
comes to the
34:35
same thing
34:35
if we're
34:37
encouraging each
34:37
other this is
34:38
what's happening
34:38
we're building
34:40
each other up
34:41
if we're building
34:41
each other up
34:42
then it's really
34:44
an encouragement
34:45
that we're
34:46
engaged in a
34:46
ministry of
34:48
encouragement
34:49
it's not a
34:49
short-term
34:50
emotional fix
34:52
if you like
34:52
just for
34:53
somebody in a
34:54
certain situation
34:55
and then that's
34:56
an end of it
34:57
no encouragement
34:58
is something
34:58
that's shared
34:59
continuously between
35:01
the lord's people
35:02
they encourage
35:04
each other in
35:04
the lord or in
35:06
the words of
35:06
first samuel
35:07
they strengthen
35:08
each other's
35:09
hands in the
35:11
lord and we
35:13
need that we
35:14
all need that
35:15
we all need
35:17
that ongoing
35:18
activity of
35:19
encouraging each
35:21
other in a
35:22
love that's a
35:22
godly love and
35:24
a giving love
35:25
and a guarding
35:26
love and a
35:28
galvanizing love
35:29
so that for the
35:31
lord we may be
35:33
known as
35:34
encouragers
35:35
building one
35:37
another up in
35:39
love may he
35:40
bless these
35:41
thoughts to us
35:41
let's pray
35:42
we give thanks
35:45
lord our god
35:46
for the way in
35:49
which your word
35:49
teaches us so
35:51
much in regard to
35:52
our relationships
35:53
one to another
35:53
as well as our
35:55
relationships and
35:56
responsibility to
35:57
you as our god
35:58
and we thank you
36:00
tonight lord for
36:00
that encouragement
36:01
that we all have
36:03
through your spirit
36:04
especially or your
36:06
spirit is the great
36:06
comforter your
36:08
spirit is the one
36:09
who comes alongside
36:10
of us and lives in
36:11
us and to bring us
36:13
encouragement and
36:14
strengthening from
36:14
day to day we
36:16
thank you lord
36:17
under the direction
36:18
of your spirit
36:18
that we are called
36:20
upon and seek to
36:21
be encouragers of
36:22
each other as well
36:23
to encourage one
36:24
another in all
36:25
aspects of our
36:26
christian life to
36:28
face the challenges
36:28
to share in the
36:30
joys to be as we
36:31
should be lord as
36:32
a people who are
36:34
set on building one
36:35
another up in love
36:36
and we pray that
36:37
you would enable us
36:38
to do that that
36:39
you would enable us
36:40
increasingly to be
36:42
as the apostle
36:43
called on the
36:44
philippians to
36:46
abound in love
36:46
more and more
36:48
hear us now we
36:49
pray and hear our
36:50
prayers for jesus
36:51
sake amen
36:52
good
36:58
you
37:00
you
37:02
you
37:02
you