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[0:00] Good morning. Warm welcome to everyone to our service this morning.! A warm welcome to visitors that have joined with us.

[0:12] ! We pray that as we read from God's word and sing His praise,! as we know His blessing of being together. The intimations have been on the screen. So my ENA will lead the service this evening.

[0:26] And prior to the evening service, there will be a prayer meeting just in the side room at the back or at the bigger side room there at half past five.

[0:38] So anyone that's available to come and pray beforehand would be great. Also, just to highlight that the Youth Fellowship will meet this evening after the service.

[0:52] I think the other intimations are on the screen and they're all God willing. So we'll begin our time of service, our time of worship, by singing to God's praise in Psalm 25.

[1:08] And we'll sing from verse mark 4 to verse mark 10. Psalm 25, where the psalmist asks...

[1:18] You can hear me better, no? The psalmist asks the Lord to show him the ways in which he should live.

[1:30] It says there, Down to verse 10.

[1:52] So we'll stand to sing these words.

[2:03] We'll be on the screen to God's praise. Show me thy ways, O Lord. Show me thy ways, O Lord.

[2:19] Thy paths, O teach thou me. And do thou lead me in thy truth, Therein my teacher be.

[2:42] For thou art God that does, To me salvation send, And I upon thee all the day, Extracting to attend.

[3:15] Thy tender mercies, Lord, I pray thee to remember And loving kindnesses, For they have been awful forever.

[3:48] My sins and faults of you Do thou, O Lord, Forget After thy mercy Think on me And for thy goodness Great Good call And upright The way He'll Sin Assure The meek In judgment He Will Guide

[4:48] And make His path To know The whole Paths of the Lord Are truth And mercy Sure To those Those That you Is Come And keep A Testimon Is Good And we'll join together in prayer.

[5:36] Let us pray. Our Father in heaven, Our Father in heaven, We ask That you would show us your ways. As we come to you in prayer, We ask that you would teach us how to pray.

[5:52] Lord, we are so reliant upon you. We trust in you. We need you. And Lord, so may that be the cry of our hearts this morning.

[6:06] As we come to you with our great need. We come to you with our needs of being shown the right way, being taught how to live our lives.

[6:22] That you would teach us how we should speak, how we should pray, how we should worship you. And so Lord, still our hearts with your peace.

[6:36] As we draw near to your presence. As we acknowledge that we are sinners. As your Bible teaches. And that we come here out of your great grace and mercy.

[6:50] That you pour down upon us, your people, who call upon your name. Lord, we pray that we would know your spirit on us, over us, guiding us, keeping us.

[7:05] Today as we gather and through our lives. Whatever paths you lead us on and wherever you take us, Lord. We pray that we would know your guiding hand.

[7:16] Your words speaking to us and directing us. Showing us the way. A way which is through Christ Jesus.

[7:27] Christ Jesus who died on the cross for us. Christ Jesus who willingly went through that suffering. To pay for our sin. To pay for our wrong.

[7:39] So that the way may be entered. So that the path may be cleared. For us to enter into glory. To enter into the presence of our Father.

[7:52] Lord, give us an understanding of what that means. That we can enter into the presence of God. That we can call upon your name.

[8:05] Through Christ Jesus. Help us to understand what Christ has done for us. Help us to understand the horrid of our sin.

[8:22] And our need of to be cleansed. And that the punishment that we deserve, Jesus took for us. So that we would be free.

[8:34] So that we would be clean. So that there be no more condemnation against our lives. So that we may enter into the presence. Of an eternal rest.

[8:47] With God. And our Saviour. And Lord, we pray for the Gospel message as it is preached today. Here in this place and amongst your nations.

[9:00] Throughout the whole world. We pray that your Gospel would go with the power of your Spirit. Your Word being read and your praise has been sung. To the name of Jesus and God.

[9:12] Lord, we pray that you would help us in this hour. We pray that you would protect us from any thoughts that are not good for us.

[9:24] Thoughts that the devil will put before us to distract us. We pray that you would be our protecting hand. That the door would be locked from any evil or distracting thoughts coming upon us.

[9:39] But Lord, we pray that we would have our eyes opened and our ears unblocked. To hear the wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ.

[9:51] That we would receive him and trust in him. That we would give our lives to following him. That we may live lives that glorify you.

[10:04] And that we would enjoy you forever in doing so. Lord, we are mindful of the team that are out in Romania this morning. We pray for them.

[10:15] We pray that you would be watching over them. We pray that you would be protecting them. We pray that you would make them lights to the people there. That you may encourage your people.

[10:26] That you may speak through them. That they are there, Lord, to help and to love and to show goodness and kindness.

[10:41] And Lord, we pray for David as he intends to preach later. We pray that you would be with him. We pray as he preaches in unfamiliar surroundings. And unfamiliar people.

[10:54] Which can often be difficult and harder. We pray that you would protect him. And keep him. And make him strong in weakness.

[11:05] That your word may go with power. And Lord, wherever your word is preached, we pray. That it would speak into the lives of those who hear.

[11:17] As this morning we pray. That your spirit would speak into our hearts and our minds. And that we may resolve and be persuaded to embrace and trust in Jesus Christ.

[11:31] Who offers himself to us today. That we may live lives trusting in him. Trusting his word. Knowing the promises that are ours in Christ Jesus.

[11:46] That we shall not die. But we shall live. So, Lord, we pray for Ian this evening as he leads the worship. And we pray that you would be with him and help him.

[12:00] We pray that you would give him peace of heart. And confidence in your word. And as we stand here. It is not of our own confidence.

[12:11] That we do these things. We trust in your word. We boast in the name of Jesus Christ. We declare at him. Not with words of great eloquence at times.

[12:25] We pray that the words which we speak may be blessed to those who hear it. So, we ask that you would help us now. Be with us and keep us, we pray.

[12:38] In Jesus name. Amen. So, boys and girls, if you could come down to the front here and take a seat. Just gather around the front.

[12:49] I've got something. Show you. You know what this is?

[13:13] Easy question. A map. A map. But it's a special kind of map. It's not just a map. It's a map that shows all the roads in Britain.

[13:29] And see when you go on holiday. And you're in your car with your mum and dad. Do they usually have a map on their phone? Telling them which way to go.

[13:41] And the lady or the voice on the phone will tell them. Turn right. Turn left. Your destination is here on the right. Or ahead of you. It's all very clever.

[13:53] But you know when I was wee and probably when a lot of other ones here are smaller. We had to use a map. We didn't have someone telling us the right way to go all the time.

[14:07] So there was someone. We'd be in the car. I love doing this. And telling my father. Well up here is a junction. And we'll have to go right.

[14:18] And then we'd follow along the road. And then you'd just be watching where you were going. And then you'd say well up here you have to turn left. And it depends where you wanted to go.

[14:30] Do you think I was always right? No. Yeah. Yeah. Do you think we got lost? Yeah. Do you think there was arguments in the car?

[14:43] Yeah. Yeah. And I'm sure many of the grown-ups are the same. You went the wrong way. That's what you... Why did you tell me to go this way when I should have gone this way?

[14:55] Now I want you to look at this map. And in the middle... This is a group. You can see. There's London. And then there's loads of roads coming into London, isn't there?

[15:10] Loads. A huge spider web of roads coming in. Now if you were over here. Maidstone.

[15:21] And you wanted to get to London. London. You would follow signs that had what on it? London. Yeah.

[15:32] If you were down the bottom here. You would follow signs that took you to London. If you were up the top. You would follow a sign. Take you to London.

[15:45] So if Lily was at the top. You'd follow the sign to London. Michael, if you were at the bottom. You'd follow signs that would take you to London. Benjamin Finley.

[15:59] Is it? You'd follow signs that took you to London. You'd follow all these roads. Different ways. Different roads. But you'd all be following the sign that said London, wouldn't you?

[16:12] Different roads. Different ways. All going to London. Different people.!!!! Now, if this was heaven, and we have to get to heaven, we all live different lives, don't we?

[16:34] We're all going to grow up, we're going to be different people, we're going to have different jobs. If you come from the shop down here, in your life, to go to heaven, you're going to see different things, aren't you?

[16:46] If you come from the bottom, you're going to see different things on the road. You're traveling on the road, you're traveling on the road. And we're all going to live different lives, aren't we? Some of us will grow up to be nurses, some of us might grow up to be mechanics, maybe even ministers.

[17:02] Who knows? We'll all live different lives. But Jesus tells us there's only one way. And we need to follow him.

[17:16] And it's just like the sign that tells us to go to London. Wherever we are, it points us to London. We need to follow the signs that tell us to go to London.

[17:29] In all the different lives that we're going to grow up to live, we follow Jesus. And it might take you on big, wide roads, your life following Jesus.

[17:43] Jesus might take you in ways that take you up big, hard hills, but most really beautiful roads. But as long as we're following Jesus, we'll get to heaven, to where God is.

[18:04] That's what we are singing. Show me thy ways. Teach me your paths. So we follow Jesus. We follow Jesus. We follow Jesus.

[18:14] And that will take us to heaven. Okay? So in your lives, follow Jesus.

[18:27] Just like the sign would tell you which way to go, the Bible tells us how to follow Jesus. But you know there's someone that's wanting you not to follow Jesus too.

[18:43] The devil tells us who doesn't want us to follow Jesus. And he'll be telling you to turn off. Don't follow the Bible. He'll be telling you to read something else.

[18:54] But we must follow Jesus. He has the only way to get to heaven. Following Jesus. Okay? So what's important to do?

[19:07] By following Jesus. Like when you're on the road, you need to read the signs, don't you? It tells you which way to go. What do we need to read?

[19:18] Every day. The Bible. Every day when you're in school. Every day when you grow up. To do whatever job you have to do. We read our Bibles.

[19:30] Every day. And follow Jesus. And what he teaches us. And the paths that he shows us. And we'll all meet one day in heaven.

[19:42] And the most wonderful thing is. That he uses us in so many different ways. That if we all follow Jesus.

[19:53] The only way to heaven. We'll be with him. There. And it'll be amazing. So I'll pray with you. Our Father in heaven.

[20:04] We pray that we would follow Jesus. And we pray that you would lead us in our lives. Wherever you take us. And whatever we grow up to be.

[20:15] Wherever we live. But we pray. Most importantly. That we read our Bible. And we follow Jesus. Each and every day.

[20:27] We ask in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. So we'll sing now. In Mission Praise. 51. Be thou my vision.

[20:40] O Lord of my heart. Nor be all else to me. Save that thou art. Be thou my vision. We look to Jesus every day.

[20:51] Okay. So we'll stand to sing this together. Amen. To me save that Thou art Thou my best God By day or by night Waking or sleeping Thine presence my light Be Thou my wisdom Of Thou my true word I ever with Thee Thou with me, Lord

[21:53] Thou my great Father Thy, Thy true Son Thou with me dwelling And I with Thee one Be Thou my battle Shields for the fight Be Thou my dignity Thou my delight Thou my soul's shelter Thou my high tower Praise Thou be heavenward O power of my power Riches I heed Torn and empty grace Thou mine inheritance

[22:57] Thou and always Thou and thou holy First in my heart First in my heart Thou King of heaven Thou treasure the heart Thou King of heaven heaven after victory won.

[23:27] May I reach heaven's joyful, brightest sun. Heart of my own heart whatever before.

[23:44] Still be my vision no ruler of all. Amen. Amen.

[24:31] John 14 verse 1. Let us hear God's word. Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God.

[24:42] Believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so would I have told you that I go and prepare a place for you.

[24:53] And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again. I will take you to myself that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.

[25:07] Thomas said to him Lord we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? Jesus said to him I am the way the truth and the life.

[25:20] No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.

[25:34] Philip said to him Lord show us the Father and it is enough for us. Jesus said to him have I been with you so long and you still do not know me Philip.

[25:47] Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

[25:59] The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe in me no believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.

[26:15] Or else believe on the account of the works themselves. Truly, truly I say to you whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do and greater works than these he will do because I am going to the Father.

[26:33] Whatever you ask in my name this I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son if you ask me anything in my name I will do it.

[26:44] we pray God's blessing over these words. We'll continue in praise and this time we'll sing in Gaelic and we'll sing in Psalm 46 and we'll sing verses 10 to 11.

[27:01] Psalm 46 verses 10 to 11 I'll read them in English. Be still and know that I am God among the heathen I will be exalted I on earth will be exalted high our God who is the Lord of hosts is still upon our side the God of Jacob our refuge forever will abide.

[27:26] We'll remain seated for the Gaelic singing and we'll sing these words to us please and we'll sing to us to us to us and to us to us to us Thank you.

[28:31] Thank you.

[29:01] Thank you.

[29:31] Thank you. Thank you.

[30:31] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We'll turn back to the passage that we read, Gospel of John, chapter 14.

[30:46] And we'll read at verse 6. Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

[30:59] If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.

[31:13] These words are well known, especially the beginning of verse 6. I am the way, the truth, and the life.

[31:27] Thomas Akempis said that without the way, there is no going. Without the truth, there is no knowing. Without the life, there is no living.

[31:40] But as we come to this passage here, where the background is and the context is that they're in the upper room together, Jesus with his disciples.

[31:55] It's really the last few moments that he has, as we touched on in the prayer meeting on Wednesday night. It's the last few moments that he has with his disciples before he is taken away to be crucified.

[32:06] And he's sharing with them the most greatest and most comforting words of Scripture that we have. Words that we can go back to again and again.

[32:18] The last words that he would leave his disciples and his followers with, that they could go back to. But he's telling them that he's going to leave.

[32:29] And they don't want him to leave. They're expecting the Messiah, the King that is coming. Jesus to be a King in the world.

[32:39] That he would rule over nations. But he's going to go. He's going to leave them. And this causes worry in their heart. He's going to go and prepare a place for them.

[32:51] And he says to them, you know the way to where I am going in verse 4. You know the way.

[33:05] But Thomas, the reaction is, I don't. It's almost like your school teacher telling you, you know what I mean when I say this. And you're thinking in your head, no.

[33:18] You're maybe nodding going, yeah. And in your head you're going, no. Thomas here saying, I don't know where you're going.

[33:29] You're telling me we know where you're going, but I don't know where you're going. Where are you going? We don't know the way. Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

[33:49] But that's not all he says, is it? In the reply that he gets, he says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. But then he says, no one comes to the Father except through me.

[34:04] And then he goes on to say, if you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him. And I've seen him. That's the full reply to knowing the way.

[34:18] It's not just, I am the way, the truth, and the life. There's more to it. And I kind of want to take that whole reply this morning and unpack it a wee bit.

[34:31] By looking at knowing the way and knowing God. Now what Thomas is really asking here is, which way do we go?

[34:49] How do we get to the place where you are going? And maybe it's a question that you're asking this morning. Really what he is asking is, how do I get to heaven?

[35:00] How do I get to be with God? Is anyone here asking that this morning? How do I get to heaven? Well, it's all in knowing the way and knowing God.

[35:15] So firstly, knowing the way. As we have said, this is a famous chapter. Jesus is with his disciples. It is comforting words that they can go back to again.

[35:26] It's comforting words that we can go back to again. Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

[35:39] No one comes to the Father except through me. The only way to the Father.

[35:51] The only way to heaven. Is through Jesus Christ. It is doubly reinforced. I am the way.

[36:01] And there is no other way to the Father. Except through me. Jesus says, I am going.

[36:13] I will leave you. But I will open up a way. For you. And this is a way that they would see in the coming days. Jesus going to the cross.

[36:25] Jesus paying the price for their sin. The sin that banished us from being with God in the garden. The sin that separated us.

[36:38] But Jesus would go this way. To open up a path for his followers. To be in heaven with Jesus once more.

[36:51] To tear open the curtain. So that we could enter into the dwelling place of God. There is no other way.

[37:02] Jesus is the way. The truth and the life. And often we take this statement as one or three.

[37:15] And it's probably been preached in many ways. By taking the way, the truth and the life as separate things. What the commentators say is that Jesus says he is the way.

[37:29] That is the response to Thomas' questions. He doesn't know the way. Jesus says, I am the way. And what they say is that the way is truth and life.

[37:45] That is the way. Because that is the way of God. As Keener says in his commentary as well. God is truth and life.

[37:57] And this truth came into the world through Jesus Christ. God is the essence of truth.

[38:09] God is the author of life. God is the author of life. And whilst these characteristics of truth and life may not directly be relating here to the cross.

[38:22] I think when we go to the cross. We see great truth. And we see great life. Don't we? When we go to the cross.

[38:35] It is all about what scripture said. It is all what the prophets foretold. It is all truth being fulfilled truly in Jesus Christ at the cross.

[38:52] You go back through biblical passages. There's many. Isaiah 53 jumps out. The Passover of the children of Israel.

[39:02] The scapegoat that the priest imputed the sin on. The sacrifices. It's all about Jesus.

[39:14] And it all comes true in Jesus. There's no lies at the cross. There's no deceit at the cross.

[39:24] There's no tricks going on at the cross. There's no lies at the cross. The ones that thought that Jesus was lying. Put him there on the cross.

[39:36] Saying he was the son of God. But was it not the centurion. When he stood at the cross. And he saw everything that happened.

[39:49] He said truly this man was the son of God. This is true. Everything this man spoke was truth. There's truth at the cross.

[40:05] But the cross is also a way of life, isn't it? At the cross we truly find life. And yes, it is a place of death.

[40:17] But it's a death so that we may live, isn't it? Jesus Christ is the bread of life. That gives life to the world.

[40:28] That gives life to you and to me. The cross is a truth. The cross is a truthful evidence of great life.

[40:40] It is a truth of what true life is. Speaking beyond the life that we have here. Speaking into a life for all eternity.

[40:54] A life that would not die. A life that would not die. A life that was not a lie. A life which meant that he would go to be with his father forever.

[41:07] A life that is today preparing his people to enter. The cross is a place of truth.

[41:19] The cross is a place of great truth. The centurion saw. The cross is a place of great life. That's what the thief knew at the cross. Truly I say to you.

[41:32] Today you will be with me in paradise. Preparing a way for his people. Do you know Jesus Christ as your truth?

[41:44] Is Jesus Christ your life? It is all truth and life. If it weren't, it would be lies and death, wouldn't it?

[41:59] What does it mean for us today? This way. This truth. This life. Well imagine you're on the road again with the children.

[42:10] You're driving your car. You come to a junction. And you're wondering which way you need to go. The signs is truth and life.

[42:22] And one says life and death. Now obviously we want to go truth and life. But it's not always that plain, is it? It's not always that simple. And we wish it was that simple.

[42:34] We come to a junction in our lives and we wonder, well, which is the right way to go? We need to come to our Bibles. We need to pray to God. And it comes down to the choices that we make every day.

[42:48] Truth and life. Are we going to be deceived? To turn with the devil? To go the way that maybe looks easier?

[43:00] Or do we go the way of truth and life by following Jesus? By asking him to show us his paths? What choices do you make every day?

[43:14] When you come to the junction? Every morning? Are you going to read your Bible? Will you pray? Will you give money to the church?

[43:25] Are you going to waste your Sunday afternoon on Facebook? Do you love the person that you find the hardest to get on with? Will you look after your neighbour?

[43:38] These are the Bible ways of truth and life. And following after Jesus. Or are you going to turn another way? You don't need to bother.

[43:52] That's a lie. You don't need to read your Bible today. That's a lie. You don't need to give that much money to the church.

[44:05] You don't need to look after others. You can have a night off from church tonight. You'll be fine. It's not required. You're tired and you're not going to listen anyway.

[44:15] And when you start listening to that voice, you're veering off church. And it's a sort of voice in your head saying, you're fine.

[44:33] You're fine. Keep following the road ahead. And what you'll see is, you'll miss your target.

[44:50] By not following the way, which is truth and life in Jesus Christ, we are led on all sorts of different paths. We are distracted.

[45:02] That's what the devil is trying to do to us, who follow the way, who follow Jesus. He's trying to increase the separation. He's trying to pull us away.

[45:12] In all these different aspects of our lives, every junction that we come to, the devil's always going to tempt us to turn the other way. And he'll say, you're not going far off, Kosh.

[45:26] You're pretty close. You're fine. But we must follow the ways of truth and life.

[45:39] Because that is the only way to heaven, to be with the Father, to eternal life. The only way is through Jesus.

[45:52] And he says, that no one comes to the Father except through me. But then he goes on to say, if you had known me, you would have known my Father also.

[46:06] From now on, you do know him and have seen him. And it's an interesting point. We know verse 6 pretty well. But we don't really think of verse 7 as being part of the answer as well.

[46:24] And I was thinking, well, why is this part of the answer? It's not just knowing the way. It's knowing God, which is our second point. Knowing the way and knowing God.

[46:36] That's what Jesus says to us. But isn't it true that we can know the way?

[46:47] We can know the gospel. We can know that it is true. But we don't travel it.

[46:59] Do we? How many have heard the gospel? Year in, year out.

[47:10] How many know that Jesus is the only way? How many know that there's been no entrance into the glorious presence of God the Father without him? Jesus says, you need to know God.

[47:28] That's what Jesus prayed in his priestly prayer. This is eternal life, he prayed. That they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

[47:46] The only way is Jesus. The way to know an eternal life is knowing God, too. through Jesus Christ, who has been sent for us.

[48:04] This heavenly home that has been prepared for his people. It's not about just getting a ticket, though. It's not about just getting a ticket, entry into heaven. I believe in Jesus.

[48:16] I know it is true. I know he is the only way, and I'll put that in my pocket. It's professing Jesus Christ every day. It is living every day, choosing to follow that way of truth and life.

[48:33] Even if it's a difficult way, even if it's a way you don't feel confident to go, even if it's an uphill struggle, truth and life, truth and life is the way to eternal life.

[48:47] One commentator worded it, by saying, it is not a receipt, it's a relationship. That's the crowning difference. It's not about having a ticket into heaven.

[49:00] It's about a testimony of life's faithfulness, to following Jesus, to following the way, to following truth, to following this life, knowing that there is no other way.

[49:17] Jesus says, if you know me, you will know God. God seems so uncomprehendable to us.

[49:31] We read about the actions of God and we just wish we could know more of him, to understand him better, to grasp him, to see him as Philip asked him.

[49:45] we wish we could know more. But in Jesus, Jesus says, you'll know him through me. All the questions we have about God will be revealed to us in Jesus Christ.

[50:06] Jesus says that he is the image of the invisible God. Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.

[50:16] All the questions we have surrounding God, we come to Jesus. We look at him. We look at the characteristics of who Jesus was, how he loves his people, and we see God there.

[50:30] And knowing Jesus, we know our God. By looking at Jesus, we see God. By studying Jesus, we are studying God.

[50:45] Knowing Jesus helps us to know God. Knowing God, we will know what heaven will be like. But Philip doesn't click what he's saying.

[51:04] Philip's wanting to see his father. He's wanting to see God. He wishes he could see him. Jesus says to him, have I been with you so long and you still do not know me, Philip?

[51:20] Whoever has seen me has seen the father. He's doubling down. Philip, you've seen me. You know me. You've been following me for three years.

[51:31] And in fact, Philip was the one that is recorded in chapter 1, verse 45, as being the one who told the disciples, we have found him of whom Moses and the law and the prophets were.

[51:44] We have found the Messiah. We have found Christ. This is our king. And yet he doesn't fully grasp here what's going on.

[51:59] he doesn't understand Jesus as he should, maybe. And maybe that's a rebuke just as Christians. I often feel I've been on the road now for many years, 10, 15 years of it, and you look back and you think, I should know way more than I do.

[52:24] You've been on the road 20, 30 years. Maybe you're looking back and you say, I should know way more than I do. Let us come to our Bibles and study it.

[52:40] And study more about God through Jesus Christ. Study the truth of this word that leads us in his ways.

[52:52] the truth of it that leads us in our lives. The truth of it that opens up a way for us to enter into the presence of God again.

[53:06] To have a relationship with Jesus every single day. Trusting in him and praying to him. Pleading that he will show me the right way. It's a relationship.

[53:20] It's a knowing of who Jesus is. The greatest relationships are faithful to one another.

[53:31] They love one another. They spend time with one another. They trust one another. They value one another. And they will do everything in their power so that it does not come under threat.

[53:44] They do everything in their power not to abuse this relationship. They do everything in their power to keep this relationship. That's the same with Jesus.

[53:58] If we know him we'll do everything in our power to protect that relationship. We'll do everything in our power to choose the right way.

[54:09] we'll trust him. We'll share with him our lives. We'll pray to him.

[54:20] We'll value him. We'll protect this relationship from every threat of the devil. That relationship is part of the way.

[54:33] the way of truth and life. The way to enter into glory. We follow Jesus and we know our father through him.

[54:50] Do you know Jesus? Do you know the gospel? Do you know the way?

[55:04] Is it just all head knowledge or is it heart knowledge? Do you love Jesus with all your heart? Do you love him that you'll treasure him beyond anything that this world can offer?

[55:18] will you do everything to protect that relationship and uphold it? Are we challenging ourselves in our lives to follow the ways that are truth and life?

[55:42] Thomas asked the question at the beginning really how do we get to him? how do we get to be with the father? How do we get to be with you again?

[55:56] It's by following him. It's by knowing him personally. Knowing the way and knowing God through Jesus Christ.

[56:11] It is all through Jesus Christ. God I pray that we would all know Jesus that we would trust in him and all the choices that we make and all the difficulties of our lives that we would follow the truth of his word that we would know the promises of his eternal life that he is preparing a place for you and for me who believe in him and that we have a relationship knowing Jesus and through him knowing God knowing that he is the only way to enter into the presence of our heavenly father.

[56:59] God but we must be mindful that there is another way that we will be tempted to take a way that will seem easier a way that the devil will lead us and separate us from our Bibles separate us from our prayer lives separate us from Christian people separate us from church do not follow that way Jesus is saying to you today follow me I am the way the truth and the life no one will come to the father except through me if you had known me you would have known my father also from now on you do know him and I've seen him I pray that we know

[58:00] Jesus in our heart and we pray that he follows way God bless these thoughts to each and everyone we'll conclude by singing in mission praise 201 guide me guide me o thou great Jehovah pilgrim through this barren land I am weak but thou art mighty hold me with thy powerful hand bread of heaven feed me now and ever more so we'll stand in a moment to sing these words to God's praise hymn I am we, but thou art mighty,

[59:09] Hold me with thy powerful hand. Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, Feed me now and evermore.

[59:27] Feed me now and evermore. Open now the crystal fountain, Blast the healing strength of the Lord, Let the thriving, cloudy pillar, Lead me all my journey through.

[59:57] Strong deliver, strong deliver, He does fill my strength on cheer, He does fill my strength on cheer.

[60:15] When I tread the verge of Jordan, In my ashes pierced outside, Death of death, unhealed destruction, And we say, Lord, gain and sigh, Songs of praises, songs of praises, I will ever give to thee, I will ever give to thee.

[60:57] Our Father in heaven, To sing songs of praises to thee forever, What a wonder and thought it would be.

[61:08] And Lord, we pray that you would lead us in your way, That we would know your ways of truth and life, That you would direct us in your path, So Lord, That we would call upon your name For that daily guidance, Knowing that you are a God That does not leave us nor forsake us, But you keep us and direct us By your loving hand That has redeemed us With a great love.

[61:35]  So let us, with your followers, Trusting in you each and every day. Amen.