WEBVTT 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:21.359 Good morning. 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:22.800 It is good to be with you. 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:24.239 My name's Duncan. 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:26.079 I'm one of the leaders here at City Church. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:30.160 If you don't know me, uh, just to let you know who I am. 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:33.520 And today, as was read, we're in 2 Corinthians. 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:36.240 We're continuing this series in 2 Corinthians. 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:42.479 So please do keep your Bible open as we go through our passage together. 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:49.759 But as we go through and before we go through, let me pray for us as we come to our passage. 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:52.399 Loving Father, thank you so much for your word. 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:54.560 I thank you for the truth of your word. 00:00:54.799 --> 00:01:06.480 And I pray now that as we come uh to your word, I can your word through your word, that we might know you more fully. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:12.480 And I pray in particular uh for those who are right now in the midst of suffering. 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:28.719 I pray that as we consider uh this passage, your word to us, that you would comfort those who are in the midst of suffering, that they might be assured and brought confidence in their faith in you today, as we hear from you. 00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:30.560 In your name I pray. 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:31.519 Amen. 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:38.319 A while ago I heard a story of a woman called Florence Chadwick. 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:46.799 She was a long-distance swimmer, and she was the first woman to actually swim the English Channel in both directions. 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:57.680 At the age of 34, her goal was to become the first woman to swim from Catalina Island in the Pacific Ocean to the California coast. 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:13.199 On the 4th of July 1952, Chadwick attempted to become the first woman to swim 21 miles across the Catalina Channel from the Catalina Island to the California coast. 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:16.080 The ocean that day was ice cold. 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:25.599 The fog was so thick that she could hardly see her support boats that followed her, and sharks prowled around her. 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:32.560 Several times her support crew used their rifles to actually drive the sharks away. 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:40.719 Her mother and her trainer, who were in one of the support boats, encouraged her to keep going. 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:55.520 However, after 15 hours and 55 minutes, she felt that she could not go on and asked to be taken into one of the support boats. 00:02:55.680 --> 00:03:02.719 And on entering the support boat, she found out she was only half a mile away from the coast. 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:04.719 Half a mile. 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:07.919 While being interviewed later, she said this. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:17.759 She said, Look, I'm not excusing myself, but if I could have seen land, I know I could have made it. 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:21.439 You see, all she could see was fog. 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:26.319 I wonder whether you have had moments like this. 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:34.159 Not doing a long-distance swim, obviously, but rather facing the difficulties and hardships in your life. 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:43.199 Seasons of suffering in which you struggle to see anything before you apart from the situation you are in. 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:56.719 Moments in which you question whether you can go on, whether you can keep going, wondering whether your faith can sustain you, whether it really is going to be worth it. 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:15.120 Right now, you are struggling, you are fighting to see how God could ever use your experience, your suffering for good. 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:17.759 You are fighting to keep going. 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:29.839 Paul writes here a word of encouragement, a word of assurance to help us to understand the way in which Christians should deal with suffering. 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:38.720 When it feels as though we are engulfed in fog, when we feel overwhelmed by the pain and grief. 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:41.120 How can we be assured? 00:04:41.199 --> 00:04:43.920 How can we remain confident in our faith? 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:46.000 How can we make it to the end? 00:04:46.720 --> 00:04:51.279 Paul realizes the pain and sorrows that we face in this life. 00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:57.519 Paul knows how hard and difficult it is living in a broken world. 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:03.680 Paul knows what it's like, he knows this experience all too well. 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:07.920 He himself has felt the weight of suffering. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:16.959 He knows the types of questions that come flooding in. 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:18.800 Is it truly worth it? 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:19.839 Can I keep going? 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:21.439 What is God doing? 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:37.439 What we are gonna be encouraged in and by in our time is that there is assurance in our hardship, there is assurance in our faith, and there is assurance in our future. 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:41.199 There is assurance in our hardships. 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:47.120 We see this picture of how we should consider our lives. 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:50.879 Paul wants us to see who we are and who God is. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:53.199 Look at verse 7. 00:05:53.680 --> 00:06:02.800 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:22.240 Too often, when we consider the suffering of this life, the suffering we experience, our perspective is not a gospel perspective, it is a view that something is wrong, that we should not need or have to face suffering in this life. 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:28.000 We can question who God is, we can question his purposes for us. 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:36.079 And what Paul is doing is seeking to help to see how we rightly should view ourselves in light of our suffering. 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:47.040 That for the believer, for the Christian, suffering is not seen and should not be viewed as odd or unusual, but rather normative. 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:55.680 Paul knows what it is to be afflicted, to be perplexed, to be persecuted, to be struck down. 00:06:56.399 --> 00:07:01.120 Paul knows the frailty of his own body, his own flesh. 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:09.920 And this is why he describes our body as a jar of clay, a jar that is so fragile, so temporary. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:22.399 Because as he does this, he is wanting us to see the contrast of what true ministers of the gospel realize, how believers should see themselves. 00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:26.079 He begins by expressing, but we. 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:49.600 This is how I can respond. 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:53.039 How freeing is this, though? 00:14:53.759 --> 00:15:02.320 Jesus has not called you to bear it, he has not desired you to find your own way forward. 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:05.200 Think about Ezra, my son. 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:11.200 So Ezra is at that age, that stage where he pulls himself onto furniture and he can stand. 00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:13.840 He's he's somewhat stable, but still a bit shaky. 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:18.480 He can't stand on his own and he pulls himself up and he can move around. 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:29.440 And something that he enjoys to do now is he'll go to the bottom of our bookcase and his books are there, and he'll grab a book and he'll drag it with all his. 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:35.919 You think it was weighing a ton the way in which he wrestles with these books and he brings it over to you. 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:47.840 And I'm there sat down, and and he comes to my seat and he he drags himself up and then he tries to pull the book up, but drops the book, and and he then points to me. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:16:00.639 He then points to me because he knows that what he wants is for me to scoop him up, to pick him up, to get the book up and put him on my knee and to read the book with him. 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:04.720 But he is helpless without me. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:08.399 As much as he tries, he can't do it. 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:15.840 He can struggle all day, but he won't be able to lift himself up and he won't be able to lift the book up with him. 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:20.720 And the thing is, I feel that this is a good picture for us. 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:28.159 That we kind of need to be like him, that he realizes he can't do it on his own. 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:36.639 He realizes without me stepping in, coming down, picking in him up, he can't do it. 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:44.639 And this is what Paul is trying to help us to see: that Jesus is there ready and willing to step in. 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:51.120 Jesus is saying to you, do you not realize my life, death, and resurrection was for your salvation? 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:54.799 Yes, but it was for much more than that. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:17:09.279 That Jesus longs that you would give up your control, your self-reliance, that you would know that you are no longer dead, but rather the spirit of the life of Christ reigns within you. 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:21.759 And it is in that power of his life within us that we can continue on and face the hardships of this life, that you will make it through. 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:32.000 This is our assurance in our hardships that though we will suffer, his life-giving power is sufficient for us. 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:45.599 But we also have assurance in our faith that when we experience the brokenness around us, the brokenness of our own flesh, we are assured in our faith. 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:47.200 Look at verse 13. 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:56.640 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, I believed and so I spoke, we also believe, and so we also speak. 00:17:57.039 --> 00:18:02.400 Paul quotes here directly from Psalm 116, as Mark shared earlier. 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:09.839 And it's a psalm of David, and as Mark said, he is going through a time of suffering, he is facing hardship. 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:18.400 Because for God's people, suffering has always been part of human experience in a broken world. 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:31.359 David, a man of faith, is an example to us that in the face of suffering he persevered, he kept believing, he kept the faith. 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:39.039 Paul is encouraging us to look and know that this is not new for God's people. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:55.359 I know in the midst of suffering you can feel as though you are alone, as though it is only you who are facing suffering like this, as though your situation is different from every other Christian experience, but that is not the case. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:19:06.400 Paul encourages us to realize that this has been and will continue to be the pattern of people who have placed their faith in Jesus. 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:20.079 As David looked toward the Messiah, he in his suffering proclaims, I believe, I believe, and so I spoke, that suffering will not allow him to lose sight of his belief. 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:25.359 The fog of suffering will not let him lose sight of his faith. 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:30.079 Just as he perseveres, so does Paul. 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:40.559 So have countless men and women throughout human history who have gone before us, that they are an example and encouragement to us. 00:19:40.720 --> 00:20:03.519 Brother, sister, this is but our time, our moment to take hold of the gospel we have believed in, to continue to proclaim the glories of Christ to those around us with utter confidence, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:18.640 When we consider our fate, we consider the one who has gone before us, the one who also suffered, the one who faced hardship, the one who is our example and our only hope. 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:24.000 That as Jesus Himself was raised, so we will be raised. 00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:31.759 That the faith we have is a faith based not only upon Jesus' death, but rather upon his life. 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:36.960 That though Jesus' death is central to our faith, his life is crucial. 00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:49.440 If you even study the book of Acts, though the cross is important, and obviously we need to know that, the emphasis is upon his resurrection. 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:58.640 The push is towards his resurrection, that death itself did not hold him, that his suffering came to an end. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:03.920 And the life he lives, he now sustains us with through the work of the Spirit. 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:16.559 We do not let our eyes be so captured by our circumstances that we lose sight of Jesus, the risen, reigning King of kings and Lord of Lords. 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:30.960 Because we can have confidence in our faith, assurance in our faith, knowing that there is no glory without suffering, that this is the pattern, this is the norm of the Christian life. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:39.359 You may have dark days to come, you may be right now walking through the darkest of days. 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:42.720 But do not lose sight of Jesus. 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:46.079 Do not let your gaze be drawn elsewhere. 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:59.759 Allow the founder and perfecter of your faith to be sweet assurance that though he faced the darkest day in human history, though he faced all that Satan could throw. 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:08.720 That on that day it did not finish him, but rather he declared it is finished. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:15.039 And now we look to the one who is risen, the one who is reigning. 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:18.640 This is whom we believe in. 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:21.119 This is whom we speak of. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:28.000 What a beautiful and glorious thing that it is, that even through our suffering he continues to work. 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:38.240 Verse 15 for it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people, it may increase thanksgiving to the glory of God. 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:50.079 Paul wants to be clear that to remain faithful in suffering is a means by which God's grace is extended. 00:22:50.319 --> 00:23:01.200 It is a means by which the gospel continues to go out through faithful men and women who believe, who remain faithful in their suffering. 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:06.000 More and more people come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:15.839 There is a phrase that I uh use quite a bit and continue to use, and it is that the gospel sends us outward. 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:26.880 The gospel never drives us toward ourselves, our own interests, but rather it calls us towards Jesus, it calls us towards others. 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:35.519 The gospel shapes us in a way that transforms our selfish hearts into hearts that are other person-centered. 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:45.119 That Paul, in and through his suffering, longs for that others might come to know Jesus Christ. 00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:51.519 Paul, in and through his suffering, longs that others might continue to come to him. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:24:01.119 Paul isn't wanting to feel sorry for himself, but rather he is longing for others to see the beauty and glory of Christ Jesus. 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:07.839 To live like this, to live in such a way is only in the power of Jesus' life within us. 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:18.799 That we will never be able to point to Jesus in our suffering unless we are assured in our faith, knowing Jesus is our example. 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:29.279 Jesus shows us the path that even in the most excruciating point, Jesus' words are words of grace. 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:40.079 As he hung on the cross, he declares and cries out, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:42.319 Do you hear these words? 00:24:43.680 --> 00:25:03.359 Jesus hanging there, watching his blood drip from his body, feeling the overwhelming pain physically from being crucified, feeling the overwhelming pain spiritually, watching such evil take place before him. 00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:17.680 And instead of self-pity, instead of rescuing himself, instead of wanting death upon those who are mocking him, death upon those who are killing him, he cries out, Father, forgive them. 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:24.079 Even in our suffering, the Lord Jesus can be honored and lifted high. 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:40.480 In our suffering, our call is to continue to be assured of our faith, to continue to believe, rejoicing in those who would come to know his grace for themselves, knowing that he will receive the glory he deserves. 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:43.599 Brother, sister, be assured in your faith. 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:47.920 And finally, see the assurance in our future. 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:50.079 Verse 16. 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:52.559 So we do not lose heart. 00:25:52.799 --> 00:26:00.559 Though our outer self is wasting our way, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:15.680 For this light and momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:21.839 For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:33.519 In our world, in our own personal experience, we struggle not to buy into the world around us, to operate like they do. 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:43.039 That our neighbors, our colleagues, our family members, our friends, they're not living for what is to come, but rather they are living for this moment. 00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:47.279 They are living for the things of this world. 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:57.759 Whether it's money, sex, relationships, whether it's success or experiences, whatever it is, it is not their true purpose. 00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:01.440 It is not what will truly satisfy them. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:14.880 And yet, how often I can feel myself being drawn into this way of thinking, being sucked into this sort of mindset, into the same way of living my life. 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:25.039 Because it can be easy for us to look like them, to say that we are Christians, but really not see much of a distinction in our lives. 00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:33.599 It can be easy for us to live in a way that does not truly express and display our true hope. 00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:43.039 I want to share a quote with you that I've shared before, uh, but I love this quote. 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:49.680 It's been a quote that has stuck with me since I read it, and it's from Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:53.359 Personally, my favorite book outside the Bible, but there you go. 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:57.440 And you may have heard it before, but listen to these words. 00:27:57.680 --> 00:28:02.640 When was the last time someone asked you about the reason for the hope that is in you? 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:06.640 That's what Peter said we should always be ready to give an answer for. 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:13.599 Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that is in you. 00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:18.240 Why don't people ask us about our hope? 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:25.200 The answer is probably that we look as if we hope in the same things they do. 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:40.880 Our lives don't look like they are on the Calvary road, stripped down for sacrificial love, serving others with the sweet assurance that we don't need to be rewarded in this life. 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:44.640 Our reward is great in heaven. 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:48.480 You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:58.240 If we believe this more deeply, others might see the worth of God and find in him their gladness. 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:09.759 What Paul, what John Piper, and all of Scripture is seeking to help us to see is where are we placing our true hope? 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:12.640 Where are you all in? 00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:20.079 What would people around us say is clearly the most significant, important thing in our life? 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:28.640 As Paul writes, he's seeking to grab hold of us and point us toward this hope. 00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:33.759 He describes how we should consider our suffering as Christians. 00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:35.920 Light and momentary. 00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:38.559 That shouldn't sit easy with you. 00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:46.640 If you're suffering or you have faced suffering, that shouldn't be just something that you think, oh yeah, that's encouraging. 00:29:47.680 --> 00:30:02.079 Because if someone came to you in the midst of your suffering, in that kind of despair and unable to see anything before you, and someone said, Oh, that's light and momentary, I'm not sure you'd think, oh, that's encouraging. 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:04.960 But what Paul wants us to ask is how? 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:11.519 How can we truly see the suffering we face as light and momentary? 00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:17.839 How can we, in and through the darkest day, know that we will see it as light and momentary? 00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:23.839 And the answer Paul gives is we need to constantly strain beyond. 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:29.119 We need to strain beyond the pain we are feeling and experiencing. 00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:34.240 We need to strain beyond the suffering and the situation we are in. 00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:38.240 We need to see our life through the lens of eternity. 00:30:39.039 --> 00:31:02.000 We do not lose heart, though our outer self is wasting our way, our inner self is being renewed day by day for this light and momentary affliction is preparing an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, day by day, as we look light to the things not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:10.799 For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:15.759 Our hope, brother and sister, is in what is to come. 00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:50.319 Our confidence is in what is to come, our making it to the end, is keeping our eyes fixed on realizing what is to come, to know that beyond the cross is a grave, and beyond the grave is an empty tomb, and beyond the empty tomb is our Savior risen and reigning, arms outstretched to welcome us home, to speak and to declare well done, good and faithful servant. 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:57.279 Brother, sister in Christ, we need to be so captured by our eternal reality. 00:31:58.480 --> 00:32:12.480 You need to know that there will be a day when all you have gone through will not compare, will not begin to touch upon the weight of our eternal glory. 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:20.400 That nothing will compare to that, and we will not question, we will not wonder, was it worth it? 00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:25.440 No, we will rejoice and worship our savior forever. 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:29.680 There will not be a doubt in our minds. 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:41.519 Florence Chadwick, two months later, two months after her failed attempt, tried again. 00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:52.799 The water that day was just as cold, the fog was just as dense, the sharks were still prowling around her. 00:32:53.599 --> 00:32:55.920 But this time she made it. 00:32:56.799 --> 00:33:15.440 After 13 hours, 47 minutes and 55 seconds, she reached the California shore, breaking a 27-year-old record by more than two hours and becoming the first woman ever to complete the swim. 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:27.759 After word, she said this that as she was swimming, she kept a mental image of the shoreline in her mind. 00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:33.920 That this image was what helped her to finish her race. 00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:44.000 This image was what she needed to keep in mind, even when the fog was so thick around her. 00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:52.720 No matter the suffering that might come your way in life, brother, sister, keep your eyes upon the shoreline. 00:33:54.319 --> 00:33:59.599 Know that in the midst of your suffering, there is a glory that awaits you. 00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:02.960 There is a home that you long for. 00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:06.880 Do not be blinded to this reality. 00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:20.079 Be assured in your hardships, in your faith, and in your future, knowing that through the power within you, you will make it to the end. 00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:24.480 Let me end with these lyrics. 00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:29.360 The night is dark, but I am not forsaken. 00:34:29.840 --> 00:34:32.800 For by my side to Savior He will stay. 00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:41.039 I labor on in weakness and rejoicing, for in my need his power is displayed. 00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:44.880 To this I hold, my shepherd will defend me. 00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:48.000 Through the deepest valley he will lead. 00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:57.360 Oh, the night has been won, and I shall overcome yet not I, but through Christ in me. 00:34:57.920 --> 00:34:58.639 Let me pray. 00:34:59.039 --> 00:35:08.559 Loving Father, I thank you so much that you have not just saved us and left us to our own devices. 00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:18.159 I thank you so much that you have given us your Holy Spirit, that in the darkest of days we are not alone. 00:35:19.199 --> 00:35:23.440 But the life of Christ reigns within us by your spirit. 00:35:23.519 --> 00:35:52.880 And I pray, I pray for every person listening, for everyone who is watching, for my brothers and sisters, that they would know that you are with them, that they are not alone, that they do not need to fear what is ahead of them, that they can rest in your caring arms, knowing that one day they will experience the full weight of your glory and forevermore worship you. 00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:56.400 We thank you and we praise you in your beautiful name. 00:35:56.719 --> 00:35:57.360 Amen. 00:35:57.920 --> 00:35:58.559 Amen.