>>Announcer: It has
stood the test of time.
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God's book, The Bible
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Still relevant in
today's complex world
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It Is Written
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Sharing messages of
hope around the world!
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>>Chris: What would you say if
I told you that there was a lake
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that had water that was actually
pink? How about if I told you
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that there was a mountain with
red, blue, and gold rock
formations? Or what if I told
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you there was a cave that had
crystals that grew to over 12
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meters high and 4 meters in
diameter? Do they all sound
impossible to even exist? All of
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them are real places on this
earth. The pink lake is Lake
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Retba near Dakar Senegal, not
very far from the Cape Vert
peninsula. Its pink color is due
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to a specific kind of algae
growing in the lake. The
multi-colored mountains?
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They can be found in Gansu,
China and throughout the region
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wonderfully red colored
mountains and rock formations.
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Those huge crystals also are a
reality they are found in the
Cave of the Crystals
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in Chihuahua, Mexico. A cave
that reaches a blistering 58
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degrees Celsius at times. But
the beauty of such crystals is
amazing. All of these
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seemingly unreal places are
real. They actually exist even
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though their description may
seem otherwise. But what about a
place that is often
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discussed in religious circles.
Heaven. Is Heaven for real?
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People have a lot to say about,
some people have even claimed to
have been there. But
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what does the Bible say about
heaven? Is it a real place? Is
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it some far away distant sphere
with clouds and babies playing
harps? What is this place? The
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word heaven or heavens appears
over 720 times in the Bible. It
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is important to note that the
word heaven or heavens can mean
several different things.
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Heaven and earth together can
refer to the entire universe,
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the word heaven or heavens can
refer to the sky along with
stars and planets, and it can
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mean the home of the righteous.
The word can have a literal
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meaning or metaphorical at
times. For our new series, we
will concern ourselves with the
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literal meaning, the
home of the righteous.
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Sometimes heaven is described
with out using the word heaven.
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This is the case when Jesus
speaks of heaven and the
preparations He is making
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there for us. Notice what
He says in John 14:1-3, it is a
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text you know well because
we have studied it previously,
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Here, heaven is described as
where God dwells and where He
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wants those who want to follow
Him to live as well. Jesus is
preparing it for His
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followers. Now over the next few
moments we are going to look at
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a number of Bible texts that
describe heaven. Through all of
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this, we must keep in mind
Isaiah 64:4, and I love how the
old King James Version puts it,
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The Bible describes heaven in
human terms so we can understand
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them, but those descriptions
fall short of how amazing heaven
will be in reality. áááEphesians
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3:20 ááásays that God is "able
to do exceedingly abundantly
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above all that we ask or think."
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So why even try to understand.
Because heaven is an important
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place and it is a place that
none of us want to miss out on.
The Bible describes how
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God will make our final
home. In Isaiah 65:17 it says,
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It says that He will make
something new. I Revelation 21:1
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the Bible describes it this way,
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Heaven, the home of the
righteous will be a recreated
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earth. You see God created this
earth over 6000 years ago and He
created it over the course
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of six days. And it was perfect.
Perfect in every aspect. Then
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sin marred the earth into the
situation that we have today or
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a very imperfect planet. But a
day is coming when God will
destroy this earth to make
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a new earth on which we will
live. 2 Peter 3:10 says this,
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Now remember, heaven is God's
home and where He wants His
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followers to live. In the
meantime, where is heaven, where
God lives, now. The Bible
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doesn't give us an exact
location. It is out in the
universe somewhere. Psalm
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14:2 says,
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And again in Psalm 33:13,
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And then in Acts 1:9-11,
describing Jesus' ascension from
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this earth, it says,
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So heaven is a real place.
In fact, the book of Revelation
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tells us about heaven now. John
looks up and in chapter 21:2, it
describes what he sees,
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Where is heaven? It is out
there, but Jesus is making
preparations there, to
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make this earth God's home and
our home with Him. Heaven is a
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real place. God made earth to be
with humankind, but we rebelled
and turned away from Him.
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Now, He will make it
again, perfect again but with a
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guarantee, according to áááNahum
1:9ááá, a place where
"Affliction will not rise
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up a second time." No more sin.
Heaven is a real place where
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there won't be any sin. No more
drive by shooting, no more car
accidents, no more drunk
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drivers, no more calls at
midnight telling us about a son
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or daughter, no more. The book
of Revelation goes on to tell us
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what else won't be there.
Revelation 21:4 tells us that,
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Heaven is a real place and it
seems just too good to be true.
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But there won't be any more
death - no more goodbyes, no
more sudden losses, no more
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unexpected deaths, none of that
will exist. Oh friend, maybe
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you've lost son or daughter,
maybe you've lost mother,
father, brother or sister.
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You will never be separated
again, because there is no more
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death. And because of that there
will be no more sorrow or grief.
You will never have
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to mourn again. Perfect harmony.
Can you picture it? No crying or
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no pain. Friends, we will have
no need to weep. No more tears
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of sadness - everything will be
perfect in Jesus. No pain.
Unquestionably there will
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be do physical pain. No
arthritis, no aches and pains -
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are you happy to know that? I
know I am. I've had four knee
surgeries and look forward
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to the day when there will be do
aches and pains. But it is also
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talking about emotional pain or
social pain. Friend maybe you've
been abused, maybe you've
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gone through a traumatic time
that has left you emotionally
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damaged. Jesus reaches out his
arms of love and tells you
heaven is real. I am preparing a
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place for you right now. Cling
to me, stay close to me and I
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will take you there. Friend,
don't you want to be there with
Him? Hebrews 11:16 is another
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invitation to you,
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God has prepared heaven for you.
With you in mind He has made
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this place. Heaven is a real
place for real people like you
and like me. Listen to this
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marvelous description in
Revelation 21 of what this
heavenly city looks like,
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Heaven is a real place and it
has real gates. These gates are
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not to keep anyone out, but
rather are a message for people
to come from all corners of
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the earth and be a part of this
place. Three gates to the north,
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three gates to the south, three
gates to the west and three
gates to the east all cry out as
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an invitation to come and be
a part of this beautiful place.
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Revelation 21 continues
describing this real place,
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Heaven is a real place
that has a real foundation. That
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foundation has the names of the
apostles inscribed on it. And
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the city is a perfect square.
12000 furlongs is just over 2200
kilometers. This means
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that the city would be just over
550 kilometers per side. That
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would be the equivalent of
driving from downtown Toronto to
Montreal - just one side.
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It would be comparable to
the distance between Calgary and
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Saskatoon or Calgary and
Kamloops. Each side 550
kilometer with a wall that is
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almost 64 meters thick. Heaven
is a real place. Now listen to
the description of some of
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the actual
construction of the city,
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Can you picture the perfect
beauty in your mind. Heaven is a
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real place for real people.
Jesus has prepared all of this
for you and for me.
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Are you excited friend? No
more pollution, no more terrible
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weather. Absolute perfection. I
want you to take just a moment.
Think of the best place you've
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ever been - hold that image
in your mind. Heaven will be so
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much better, it is
almost unimaginable.
00:16:47.10\00:16:55.20
In addition to the city of
Jerusalem on this earth made
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new, we will also live in homes
that we build on the
countryside, Isaiah 65:21-22
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says, Heaven is a real place and
it will have real people. We
will build, we will
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plant gardens and we will enjoy
the fruit of our labor. No more
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will be build our dream home
only to have to sell it. No more
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will we have that beautiful
garden destroyed by weeds and
pests, but we will enjoy our
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lives in this very real place.
Our bodies will be new. So we
will be able to labor and
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not experience exhaustion and
pain. Philippians 3:20-21 says,
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Just so we are not mistaken,
what was Jesus' glorious body
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like. Jesus appeared to the
disciples after He had risen
from the dead and listen to
00:18:46.66\00:18:50.53
these words,
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Jesus was real flesh and bones.
But He was perfect. His lowly
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body was no glorious. It would
never grow old - it wouldn't
grow weary and stop
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working. Neither will ours.
Our bodies will be perfect and
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imperishable. Heaven
is real with real people.
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And in case you haven't gotten
the picture, we won't be sitting
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around on clouds, strumming our
harps. But Heaven is a real
place for real people
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who will have real
conversations. Jesus said in
00:19:59.73\00:20:09.93
Matthew 8:11, What will it be
like to have a conversation with
one of heroes of the
00:20:19.16\00:20:21.90
Bible? Who is that you
would talk to? Daniel, Jeremiah,
00:20:21.90\00:20:28.50
Matthew, Mark, or maybe David or
Joshua? Who will it be? In
addition to all of this,
00:20:28.50\00:20:34.93
the perfect harmony of heaven
will be seen in the animal
00:20:34.93\00:20:40.26
kingdom as well. Isaiah
shares a beautiful seen, "
00:20:40.26\00:20:43.30
Perfect harmony and perfect
peace. No animals eating one
00:21:30.13\00:21:34.60
another. All of them together
enjoying the peace of God.
00:21:34.60\00:21:39.43
There is one thing in heaven
above all else that should
00:21:40.30\00:21:46.06
attract us. There is one thing
above all others that will bring
supreme joy. And that my
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friends is the opportunity to
meet Jesus. Jesus is the reason
00:21:54.06\00:21:58.33
that we will be there. He has
made the provision for you to
go. He has prepared a place
00:21:58.33\00:22:02.73
for you and today He is calling
you and He is calling me to come
00:22:02.73\00:22:09.86
to Him, give our life to Him,
live for Him and be obedient to
Him. Then the Bible
00:22:09.86\00:22:17.13
promises that we will receive
a crown in heaven, 2 Timothy 4:8
00:22:17.13\00:22:29.06
says, What a glorious day that
will be! Jesus has paid the
price. He has invited
00:22:48.33\00:22:53.26
you not matter if you are rich
or poor, male or female, young
00:22:53.26\00:22:59.83
or old, whether you're
successful or not.Jesus is
calling. He is calling you to be
00:22:59.83\00:23:08.86
prepared for heaven. A real
place, for real people where we
00:23:08.86\00:23:14.80
will receive a real crown. But
we won't even glory in that
crown. Revelation 4
00:23:14.80\00:23:26.23
says that those in heaven
cast their crowns at the feet of
00:23:26.23\00:23:31.60
Jesus. Why? Because he paid the
price for it all. Jesus calls
today, will you answer.
00:23:31.60\00:23:38.70
Listen to this song and
prayerfully consider the
invitation of Jesus.
00:23:38.70\00:23:47.10
Princes and
paupers, sons and daughters
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Kneel at the throne of grace
00:23:57.16\00:24:03.10
Losers and
winners, saints and sinners
00:24:03.83\00:24:10.00
One day will see his face
00:24:10.36\00:24:15.83
And we'll all bow down
00:24:16.23\00:24:22.53
Kings will
surrender their crowns
00:24:22.90\00:24:28.80
And worship Jesus
00:24:29.43\00:24:35.73
For he is the
love, unfailing love
00:24:36.66\00:24:43.23
He is the love of God
00:24:43.46\00:24:49.90
Summer and winter, the
mountains and the rivers
00:24:59.73\00:25:05.76
Whisper the Saviour's name
00:25:06.23\00:25:12.10
Awesome and holy, a
friend to the lonely
00:25:12.86\00:25:18.80
Forever His love will reign
00:25:19.33\00:25:24.66
And we'll all bow down
00:25:25.13\00:25:31.43
Kings will
surrender their crowns
00:25:31.83\00:25:37.93
And worship Jesus
00:25:38.26\00:25:45.03
For He is the
love, unfailing love
00:25:45.36\00:25:51.86
He is the love of God
00:25:52.33\00:25:57.90
He is the light of the world
00:25:58.23\00:26:04.63
And Lord of the cross
00:26:04.96\00:26:16.36
And we'll all bow down
00:26:20.40\00:26:26.06
Kings will
surrender their crowns
00:26:26.73\00:26:32.20
And worship Jesus
00:26:32.50\00:26:39.20
Worship Jesus
00:26:39.96\00:26:45.83
Worship Jesus
00:26:46.13\00:26:54.13
For He is the
love, unfailing love
00:26:54.80\00:27:01.30
He is the love of God
00:27:01.66\00:27:16.16
>>Chris: Heaven is a topic that
deserves extra study. I'd like
00:27:34.73\00:27:38.93
to offer the Discover Bible
lessons to you for more
information on this very
00:27:38.93\00:27:45.33
important topic. Here's
the information you need to get
00:27:45.33\00:27:49.00
those lessons. Thank you for
watching. Please join us again
next week. Until then,
00:28:20.86\00:28:26.06
remember, it is written, "Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:28:26.06\00:28:30.70
but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God."
00:28:30.70\00:28:33.93
$$$$$$$$$$
00:28:36.80\00:28:37.63