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The cryptolesson found the gospel according to Luke the 19th chapter and the first 10 verses and Jesus entered and passed through Jericho and behold there was a a man named Zacchaeus who was the chief among the publicans and he was rich and he sought to see Jesus who he was and could not for the press because he was

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little of stature and he ran before and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him for he was to pass that way and when Jesus came to the place he looked up and saw him and said unto him, Zacchaeus make haste and come down for today I must abide at thy house and he made haste and came down and received him joyfully and

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And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying that he was going to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood and said unto the Lord, behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor.

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And if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, this day is salvation come to this house

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for so much as he also is a son of Abraham, for the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. [piano music]

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[Music] [Music] I want to see Jesus, I want to see Him, Oh, to see the face of Jesus, oh, for joy that can be.

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I'm signing forever for maybe one thing, ♪ Just to see the faith of Jesus ♪ ♪ The almighty King of kings ♪ ♪ I want to see Jesus ♪

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♪ I want to see him ♪ ♪ Oh, to see the faith of Jesus ♪ ♪ All the God and the King ♪ ♪ I'm smiling forever ♪

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♪ One name, one thing ♪ ♪ 'Cause you see the face of Jesus ♪ ♪ The Almighty King of kings ♪ ♪ I want to go out and shout ♪

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♪ In heaven forever and ever ♪ ♪ To be in this house ♪ ♪ The Father and His only King and Son ♪ I want to see the praise of Jesus, who carried my faith.

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I want to see my faith, my sin and his grace. I want to see Jesus, the almighty King of kings. I want to see Jesus. I want to see him.

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Oh, to see the praise of Jesus, of our child and the King. I'm striving for heaven, for maybe you'll see. Just to see the grace of Jesus, be almighty King of kings. I want to see Jesus, I want to see him.

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Oh, to see the praise of Jesus, oh, what joy that you'll bring. I'm striving for heaven for maybe one thing. Just to see the praise of Jesus, the almighty King of kings. Just to see the praise of Jesus, the almighty King of kings.

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Just to see the face of Jesus, the almighty King of kings. Amen. Amen. Let me lift up the fifth verse of the nineteenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him and said unto him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must abide at thy house."

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The subject of the message, "Looking for a place to stay." Today I must abide at thy house. Looking for a place to stay. A number of years ago, Edwin MacNeil

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Poteet wrote a book entitled "These Shared His Passion" in which he focused attention upon personalities and the passion of our Lord, persons who travel in the pathway of redemptive suffering, persons who accepted the challenge of bearing the cross. The testimony of their lives challenge us to follow in their train.

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He received the heavenly promise that those who suffer with Him will reign with Him. Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem, the holy city, where He faces certain death on the cross. The disciples plead with him not to go, but he is determined.

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The scripture says that he set his face steadfastly to go to Jerusalem. On the way to Jerusalem, he passes through Jericho, a city known for its lovely palm trees. He's on the road now from Jericho to Jerusalem.

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He's traveling the way of the cross. He's pursuing the upward way. As the pioneer of our faith, he is making a road through the jungle on which the saints and martyrs of the faith may travel.

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Son of God goes forth to war, a kingly crown to gain. His blood red banner streams afar, Who follows in his train? He who best can drink his cup of war, Triumphant over pain; He who patient bears his cross below, He follows in his train.

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The spotlight is on Zaccheus, the chief tax assessor and collector of Jericho. He is a high ranking public official whose character and reputation have been tainted and stained by greed and corruption Zacchaeus is considered a traitor to his people

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a stooge of Rome He is a customs tax collector He's made a deal with Rome which gives him the latitude to charge extortionist fees

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of his countrymen. He is engaged in the business of exploiting others for his own selfish ends. Zacchaeus was on the take. Take all you can, can all you can, and then put a top on the can.

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He was extremely wealthy but his wealth was achieved through treachery, chicanery, placing unjust burdens upon the poor and defenseless. Zacchaeus watched his bank account increase as he became increasingly more unpopular More and more he was pointed out as a villain, as a traitor, as one who was despised and rejected

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having gained for himself the reputation of being the most hated man in Jericho His wealth enabled him to enjoy the luxuries of life He had a fabulous house conveniently and beautifully situated in the most exclusive residential section of Jericho He had in abundance the things that money can buy, comfort, delicious food, expensive

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cars, but he did not have social acceptance. A number of years ago there was a very wealthy oil man who lived in one of the large cities of this state and he thought that his wealth would make him socially acceptable but it did not.

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He did many things. He built one of the largest hotels in the city. He arranged lavish parties, but all that he did did not enable him to gain the social acceptance which he sought.

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He was rejected by the social circle that he most highly prized. Zacchaeus is an unhappy man because he is isolated from the main traffic of human relations Socially he lives on an island One might say that Zacchaeus is president of the Lonely Hearts Club

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In spite of his social entertainments, there is a hollow ring in the banquet hall Although he dresses well, he wears designer clothes, and he is looked upon as a pace-setter in the fashion circles These things are only a veneer and a feeble and fruitless attempt to hide the aching void of his heart So although he existed in the midst of affluence he was afflicted with poverty

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And it's possible for us to have all of the things that are material that would make our lives comfortable and luxurious and still be without that which matters most. Is it not strange that Howard Hughes, a very wealthy man, is reported to have died because of malnutrition?

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A man who had so much money and who had invested in so many charitable institutions, including hospitals and the like, yet with all of that he did not have what he really needed as far as his care of the body was concerned. He is said to have died from malnutrition, neglect. Zacchaeus had heard about Jesus. His reputation as a friend of sinners was of interest to

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him and since it was noised about that Jesus was passing through the city of Jericho, Zacchaeus through the city of Jericho Zacchaeus closed his office he took the day off and joined the swelling throne in order that he might get a glimpse of Jesus you see he was curious he wanted to see Jesus for himself he wanted to see how

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Jesus walked and how he talked. He was curious. He'd heard so much about him but he wanted to see the man. He wanted to see that man who would take the risk of being a friend of vile sinners, who would take upon himself the shame and the scorn of being a friend of the friendless, of being friend of one who is

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despised and rejected, or being friend to the lonely heart and the most hated. He wanted to see Jesus. You know, sometimes people come to church because they're just curious. They are isolated in many instances from the main traffic of human relations. They are lonely, They're troubled and yet they come because they are curious.

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They come sometimes seeking entertainment, sometimes just wanting to see what's going to happen. They have heard about the preacher, they have heard about the church, they have heard something about the services and so they come just curious to see.

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Zacchaeus is unable to see Jesus because of the crowd. So great was the multitude. So tremendous was the number that gathered around Jesus that Jesus is lost to him in the crowd.

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You know it's possible that Jesus is lost to people today who seek him because of the crowd. so often he is surrounded by forces that obscure him. So often he is hidden from public view. People want to see Jesus, but he is hidden by the superfluous. He is obscured by that

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which is meaningless. He is hidden by frivolity. People come to see him and discover that he is hidden from their view because he is surrounded by form and fashion. Sometimes he is hidden because of the chronic critics. Sometimes he is hidden by curiosity seekers. Sometimes he is hidden by those who just gather to be entertained and somehow they so crowd the

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service with their desire for entertainment that they make it difficult for those who want to see Jesus to see him. So this is one reason Zacchaeus could not see Jesus. It was because of the crowd.

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Another reason Zacchaeus could not see Jesus is because he was short of stature. Zacchaeus was a very small man in stature. was short. He was too small to be able to get a glimpse of the master. He was a little person. And you know we can't see Jesus when we are little of statue. We

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cannot see Jesus when we are wrapped up in ourselves. We're too little. We're unable to see Jesus when we are prisoners of greed because we are small of statue too little too short we cannot see Jesus when we make it our business to constantly mistreat other people we are too small we cannot really see Jesus

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when we make it our business to be engaged in exploiting others. We're not really concerned about them for their selves or for themselves. We are concerned about using them for our own selfish aggrandizement. So we can't see Jesus when we exist like that. Too little. Here is a man that's too small. Here is a

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man who is spiritually stunted. He's a dwarf. He's not tall enough. He's short of stature. He's unable to see Jesus. So what does he do? He climbs a sycamore tree. Some call it a fig or mulberry tree. He finds a resting place in the branches. There he waits to see Jesus. He has a seat in the balcony. He's above the crowd.

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He's away from the crowd. A lot of us would think that that's a comfortable place to be. We like to have a seat in the balcony of life where we can just sort of watch the world go by. He thought that he would be there with a comfortable seat up in the tree and he could just watch what was going to

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happen. He could watch the events as they took place. He could see Jesus as he came along that way. He chose to be a spectator rather than a participant. Oh, how many people today choose to be spectators. They just like to watch life go by rather than to be an active participant in the ongoingness of humanity. So Jesus passes by. He sees Zacchaeus up in

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the tree. You know his eyes are on us wherever we are. We may think that we can escape his view, but he knows us. He knows where we are situated. He knows our needs. And he says to Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus, come down. Get out of that tree, for I'm going to stay at your house today. I'm looking for a place to stay. Hurry up. Come down from that tree, because

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I'm going to stay at your house. You see Jesus invites himself to Zacchaeus' home. He extends the invitation so to speak himself. That's a rather strange thing.

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You know how you would feel if someone were to just announce to you that they were coming to your house. I remember getting a letter from a man some time ago when I was a pastor in Waco. I had never seen the man, never heard of him, and I got a letter saying to "Dear Dr. Griffin, I will be at your church on Wednesday," and he gave the date, "and I will deliver the

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message in the service that night." I wondered, who in the world is this that I have never heard of and I've never seen who writes to me is the pastor of this church telling me that they're going to speak in the prayer service on Wednesday night. But you know what I did?

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I let him speak. He did arrive and I let him speak. I said, "A man who has this kind of courage, I want to see who he is." Jesus invites himself.

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Well, how would it be if the master came today and invited himself to our homes to tell us I'm going home with you from church today. How would we feel? Some of us don't like to just take people home unannounced When I have some guests I usually get on the phone and tell my wife I'm bringing so-and-so home

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And give a little advance notice Otherwise I may be greeted like a lady some time ago. I I As the pastor went to her home As a pastoral visit just visiting unannounced and when I knocked on the door, she said Reverend

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You should have called before you came you should call me so that I could be ready for your coming You know a lot of people who sit around and that's what they say to Jesus. So now Lord Don't go with me right now in other words, I I don't have things in the living room the way I'd like for them to be and

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things aren't quite arranged in the kitchen the way I'd like for them to be don't go home with me right now and Stay with me Find somebody else. Let me give you an appointment That's the way many of us would be in fact that people who come who come and and and they see

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Jesus so to speak passing by they they gather in the congregation and they hear the word and the invitation is extended and Jesus wants to stay with them and they say no Lord not now So let me get my business straight

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Give me a little more time. Oh That's happening over and over again and the master

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is saying, "I want to go home with you." I want to abide at your house. I want to stay there. I need a place to stay and I want to go home with you. The Gospel of John, there's a passage there where the people are attempting to take the life of Jesus.

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He's in the shadows of the cross and there's a great deal of hostility. And it is said that he could walk no longer at the time in in or in Jerusalem And it says that every man went to his own house But Jesus went

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to the mouth of Olives Nobody wanted to take Jesus home. They went home and left him What about taking Jesus home Would we be comfortable if he were there?

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How would we feel? You know, we've got, some of us got some certain little compartments in our house that we don't want certain people to see. Sometimes it's a beautifully decorated bar.

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They say, "What is this?" They want to guide you around that. There's certain things we want, we want somehow to have certain people to see. about taking Jesus home? He says, "Zacchaeus, I must go home. I must abide at your house today." Well, the wonderful thing about Zacchaeus is that with all of the problems that he had,

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there was a longing in his heart for what Jesus had to offer, and he readily accepted that invitation. In other words, when Jesus says, "I'm going home with you," it was as if he said, "Come on and stay with me." In other words, you're looking for a place to stay, dear master. The word is out that the foxes have holes and the birds of the air

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have nests and you have no place to stay. Come stay with me. Well, you have to think about the kind of situation that Jesus was in and then you can understand what's taking place. Here's a man that's about to be crucified in a matter of hours.

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He's going to be crucified as a criminal. A criminal. Here's a man that's hated by the most influential people in town. They've already put out the word.

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Now we're going to put an end to this man. Well a whole lot of us would not have wanted to be associated with a person who was as unpopular as Jesus was with the leading people in town. We'd have withdrawn.

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We don't want to get ourselves involved. But Zacchaeus says, "Come stay with me." You're looking for a lonely heart, come stay with me. You're looking for a life stained with guilt that you might clean it up?

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Come stay with me. You're looking for a soul that's burdened with grief that you might lift that burden? Come stay with me. Well, Jesus goes home with Zacchaeus and as he passes from this scene we find that he

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He finds a lodging place in the home of Zacchaeus. And you know what? He's passing by right now. And he needs a lodging place in our hearts.

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In other words, some of us are up in a tree. We are haughty. We are sort of aloof. We are removed from the scene, but he wants us to humble ourselves.

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If he would come into our hearts, we must humble ourselves. We've got to come down. For the humble and contrite heart he will not despise. So let's not leave Jesus out in the cold.

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He's looking for a place to stay, not just for a moment, but for always. We say to him, "Come stay with me." Behold, he stands at the door and knocks. He's standing there knocking saying, "Behold, I want to come into your life. I want to bless you. I want to change your life. I want to give you joy and happiness, peace, harmony." Let me in. I want to stay with you. Not just when things are going pleasant in your life, not just when you have some emergency, but I want to stay with you.

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I want to be there when the going gets rough and when the road is so hard. I want to be there. Come let me in. Open the door and let me into your life. Come. Will we answer? Come stay with me. Well, take Jesus home. Oh, when we take Him home, how He blesses our lives. It's a wonderful thing to take Jesus home. It's a wonderful thing to have Him right there, where every decision is made, whatever it may be, even in the sick room, and whatever may be our difficulty. They say, "Well, I have Jesus here and I can rely upon Him.

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It's a wonderful thing." Well, you know what happens when Zacchaeus takes Jesus home? Well, it would be like if some of us went home today with an unexpected guess. When we get in, we would start also making some excuses for the condition that the house

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is in. "You have to excuse this house." "Well, that's what Zacchaeus is saying." Lord you have to excuse my house because you see my furniture and

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everything it's all badly arranged and you see I know I haven't been doing right I know I haven't done as I should have done I I've taken some things from people that I shouldn't have taken see but I want to clean up I want to clean up so well say whatever I have whatever I have I want

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to give half of it to the poor, give half of my income to the poor, half of what I've got." He said, "Then whatever wrong I've done, whatever I've taken from someone else that I should not have taken, I want to return to them fourfold."

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He's cleaning up. There's a story of a woman who brought a beautiful bouquet of flowers into her house and she She put those flowers in the living room. And when she put those flowers in the living room, those flowers were so beautiful that

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they caused her to recognize that if she would leave those flowers in there, she'd have to clean up that house, that room. And so she began to rearrange that room. And she got everything in order because of those flowers there.

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And then when she cleaned up the living room, she said, "Well, this room looks so good, I can't afford to let the next room be out of order so she cleaned it up and When she cleaned up the next room she said well I must do the next one and she went on until she cleaned up the house

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But it was all because she put those flowers in that living room Whenever we take Jesus into our lives Whenever we give him the central place in our lives He cleans us up

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He beautifies our lives He somehow gives us a different view of life and he makes us to live life more abundantly. Well, he's passing by. He passed by Jericho many years ago and he's passing by right now. His spirit is rising right now and he's knocking on the door of every heart saying, "Let me in, let me in. I want to stay in your house."

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Well, as the choir sings, "Now pass me not, O gentle Savior, do not pass me by," we ask that you would open the door of your heart and say, "Lord, come in. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Come in!

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I know that my heart is stained with guilt and I blundered, I fought, but I failed, but I want you to come in and stay. Bless my life." As we sing now, we invite you to come.

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[music] ♪ Let me not forget your favor ♪ ♪ Fear my own love of Christ ♪ ♪ While your love is now on going ♪

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♪ To the man he was ♪ ♪ Savior, Savior ♪ ♪ Hear my heart come cry ♪ ♪ I, on Heaven's hour, was calling ♪

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♪ To the Christly one ♪ ♪ Let me ask the Lord of mercy ♪ ♪ I must be relieved ♪ ♪ Feel it every thing ♪

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♪ I'm free ♪ ♪ Yeah, I must be relieved ♪ ♪ Savior, Savior ♪ ♪ Give my heart the prize ♪

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♪ I am not a star of morning ♪ ♪ To a heavenly cloud ♪ ♪ Savior, Savior ♪ ♪ Hear my call, O God ♪

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♪ I, another flower, am falling ♪ ♪ Through the grassy grass ♪ ♪ I ♪ ♪ Also ♪

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♪ Be longing for healing ♪ ♪ Lord, I see my face ♪ ♪ In my moment of your spirit ♪ ♪ Save me by thy grace ♪

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♪ Oh, Savior, Savior ♪ ♪ In my own full power ♪ ♪ I love the sound of calling ♪ ♪ To the past we rise ♪

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- Amen. May we bow our heads. Oh gracious God, our Father, we're glad that you have visited us,

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that you've come to our house, and that you abide with us. As a household of faith, our lives have been enriched and strengthened because of that experience.

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We pray that you will be with us now as we continue on our way. Oh, leave us not alone. Grace, mercy, and peace be with you from God our Father.

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and Jesus Christ our Lord [Music] ♪ God bless you and keep you ♪ ♪ The Lord make his child to bless upon you ♪

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♪ I give you peace ♪ ♪ I give you peace ♪ ♪ I give you peace ♪ ♪ I give you peace ♪

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♪ The law of life in his grace ♪ ♪ To shine upon you ♪ ♪ One big praise ♪ ♪ One big praise shall come to you ♪

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♪ One big praise shall come to you ♪ ♪ One big praise shall come to you ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Amen ♪

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♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Amen ♪

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♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ Amen. [ Silence ]

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. . [Applause] [Applause]

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[Music] I give you peace. I give you peace. I give you peace.

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I give you peace. The Lord God, may his grace shine upon you.

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I think grace I think grace shall come to you. I think grace

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shall come to you. I think grace ♪ God be gracious, gracious unto you ♪ ♪ Amen, amen, amen ♪

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♪ Amen, amen, amen ♪ [Music] (static) [ Silence ]