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[ Silence ] [ Music ] O God, I have three ages' worth of hope for this new birth. A child from the story was, and I am eternal hope.

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♪ I've kept the shadow of my love ♪ ♪ And waiting 'til you ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's surely in thy arms, O Lord ♪ ♪ That I'll be blessed, it's sure ♪

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♪ Before the deep, deep oars ♪ ♪ To find his eager prey ♪ ♪ The devil asked his power ♪ ♪ Come to him, where he'll go stray ♪

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♪ But my prayer to know him sweet ♪ ♪ Let all his sons obey ♪ ♪ May time for brotherhood and love ♪ ♪ Bring us yet the opening day ♪

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♪ Oh, what a happy day that's past ♪ ♪ The hope for years to come ♪ ♪ Be thou our guide, O thine shall last ♪ ♪ That sure eternal home ♪

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(gentle piano music) [Music] [ Music ] [ Music ]

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♪ Should not perish ♪ ♪ Should not perish ♪ ♪ For heaven and earth divine ♪ ♪ For God sent God his Son ♪

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♪ Into the world to condemn the world ♪ [ Music ] [MUSIC] [MUSIC]

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♪ And he gave his only begotten Son ♪ ♪ And those who believe him ♪ ♪ Believe and believe ♪ ♪ Shun the perish ♪

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♪ Show the prairies ♪ ♪ Like a river ♪ ♪ Sing a lullaby ♪ ♪ Like a river ♪

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♪ Sing a lullaby ♪ ♪ Sing a lullaby ♪ [Music] [Singing]

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[Music] [ Music ] [Music] ♪ Let the praise, holy days ♪

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♪ Let the praise, holy days ♪ ♪ Let the praise, holy days ♪ ♪ And be with us ♪ ♪ We are your happy hosts ♪

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♪ And the King of Glory shall come in ♪ ♪ The King of Glory shall come in ♪ [Music] He is the King of Glory.

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The Lord's glory mighty. The Lord's glory mighty. The Lord's mighty battle. He is the King.

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He is the King! The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle, He is the King,

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The King of Glory The Lord strong and mighty The Lord mighty in battle He is the King, the King of Glory!

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Lift up your heads, holy gates! Lift up your heads, holy gates! Lift up your heads, holy gates! ♪ He'll lift it up, the everlasting door ♪ ♪ And the King of Glory shall come in ♪

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♪ The King of Glory shall come in ♪ ♪ Who is the King of Glory? ♪ ♪ Who is the King of Glory? ♪ ♪ Who is the King of Glory? ♪

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♪ Who is the King of Glory? ♪ ♪ The Lord of hosts ♪ ♪ The Lord of hosts ♪ ♪ He is the King of glory ♪

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♪ He is the King of glory ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Hail ♪ ♪ All hail the Lord ♪

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♪ All hail the Lord ♪ ♪ In Jesus' name ♪ ♪ That angels prostrate fall ♪ ♪ Bring forth the royals ♪ ♪ Higher give and crown him ♪

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[MUSIC] (applause) - Oh God of righteousness and glory, we rejoice that by your grace

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you have brought us into a new year. It truly is right and our greatest pleasure to give you honor, thanks, and praise. You have shown us the path of righteousness

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and filled us with the joy of your presence. Open up our hearts right now that we may receive the precious gift of the Holy Spirit and be renewed.

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Holy God, through your Spirit, you supply every human need. We thank you for your tender mercies and ask that you take notice of our concerns for one another. Heal the sick in your own time and in your own perfect way.

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Comfort the distressed. Befriend the friendless and give aid to the helpless. And from our labors, dear Lord, give us rest. And in our temptations, give us strength.

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In our sadness, we ask that you console us, that you heal our wounded spirits. steady our hearts and souls in times of trials and love us through the ups and downs of daily life. God of the universe, we ask your blessings upon this nation and the other nations of this world.

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For we pray for peace to reign. Lord, truly we are frightened by the choices facing this nation. In your infinite concern for us as your children, you have given us Christ to rule over us. By your Spirit, dear Lord, grant us the desire to love as Christ loved.

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And to embrace the whole world with compassion. Precious Savior, give us the heart to reach out to those who are lost. To those who do not know you as Lord and Savior. May your mercy be revealed to them that they may know that you are the true and living God.

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Almighty and merciful Master, many times we have strayed from your ways like lost sheep and have followed too much the desires of our own hearts. Lord, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Set us free we pray from a past that we cannot change

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Open unto us a future in which we are free to grow more and more in your likeness and image Transform our lives by the power of your spirit and fill us with the desire to be faithful Dear Lord as we enter this new year we ask your blessings upon Ebenezer Establish us in your truth and guide us by your spirit,

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empowering us to live lives worthy of our special ministries. And we thank you for the leadership of Dr. and Mrs. Griffin, who continue to encourage us as a church

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to grow in faith, in hope, and in love. And dear Lord, we thank you for the lives of those whom you have called from us this year into eternal life.

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We are grateful that for them death is no more, nor is there sorrow, misery, or pain, for these former things have passed away. We thank you that we all have been given the promise

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of life that death itself cannot destroy. Sustain us by your Holy Spirit, for yours is a spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might,

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the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, and the spirit of joy in our salvation. May we be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, to whom in union with God and the Holy Spirit,

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be honor and glory now and forever. Amen. (soft music) (upbeat jazz music)

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(upbeat jazz music) (upbeat jazz music) ♪ ♪ ♪

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♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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When on the cross of Calvary ♪ The Lord was crucified ♪ ♪ The mob stood round about him ♪ ♪ And they mocked him until he died ♪

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♪ Two thieves were hanging beside him ♪ ♪ Just to share the agony ♪ ♪ But one of them, one of them cried out to him ♪ ♪ Oh Lord, remember me ♪

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♪ Oh what, what a shame to kill him ♪ ♪ Out there on that old rugged cross ♪ ♪ Oh but such, such a death was needed ♪ ♪ Just to rescue all the lost ♪

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♪ Oh, His blood was made a ransom ♪ ♪ Just to set the captors free ♪ ♪ And I know, I know I'm included ♪ ♪ The Lord will remember me ♪

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♪ Oh will the Lord ♪ ♪ Will the Lord ♪ ♪ Remember me ♪ ♪ Remember me ♪

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♪ Oh when I ♪ ♪ When I ♪ ♪ Am called to go ♪ ♪ Oh when I ♪

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♪ When I ♪ ♪ Have crossed that chilly sea ♪ ♪ Sea ♪ ♪ Will He ♪

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♪ Will He ♪ ♪ His love that's yours ♪ ♪ Lord ♪ ♪ Oh yes ♪

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♪ Yes He heard my ♪ ♪ Yes He heard my ♪ ♪ Feeble ♪ ♪ Feeble ♪

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♪ I've been bondaged ♪ ♪ He set me free ♪ ♪ Oh, and he ♪ ♪ I'll reach the early, early gates ♪

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♪ The Lord will, he will remember me ♪ ♪ Oh, what ♪ ♪ What a shame to kill him ♪ ♪ Out there on that old rugged cross ♪

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♪ The power tells me such ♪ ♪ Such a death was needed ♪ ♪ Just to rescue ♪ ♪ All the loss ♪

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♪ For my God's blood ♪ ♪ Was made a ransom ♪ ♪ Just to set ♪ ♪ The captives free ♪

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♪ And I know ♪ ♪ I know, I know I'm included ♪ ♪ Lord will, I'm glad you remember me ♪ ♪ Oh, will the Lord ♪

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♪ Yes, the Lord ♪ ♪ Remember me ♪ ♪ Remember me ♪ ♪ Oh, when I ♪

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♪ When I'm called to go ♪ ♪ Oh, when I ♪ ♪ When I have crossed ♪ ♪ Have crossed that chilly sea ♪

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♪ Will He ♪ ♪ Will He ♪ ♪ Will He ♪ ♪ His love now show ♪

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♪ His love now show ♪ ♪ Oh, yes ♪ ♪ Oh yes, he heard my fever ♪ ♪ Cry from bondage ♪

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♪ He set me free ♪ ♪ Oh and when I reach the pearly pearly gates ♪ ♪ The Lord will, he will remember me ♪ ♪ Oh will the Lord ♪

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♪ Will he remember me ♪ ♪ When I am called to go ♪ ♪ When I have crossed on over ♪ ♪ I believe He is love that's sure ♪

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♪ Oh yes, yes, yes, yes ♪ ♪ Oh from bondage He set me free ♪ ♪ Oh, and when I reach ♪ ♪ When I reach the pearly, pearly gates ♪

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♪ The Lord, He will, He will ♪ ♪ Oh, when I, when I reach the pearly, pearly gates ♪ ♪ The Lord will, oh, when I reach ♪ ♪ When I reach the, thank you, Jesus ♪

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Oh, yes, it will. Oh, will I reach. Oh, the Lord will. Oh, will I reach. Thank you, Jesus. The Lord will. I'm glad about ♪ I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad ♪ ♪ He will, He will come again ♪

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♪ Oh, when I need Him ♪ (audience applauding) - Amen, amen. It's comforting to know that when we reach the end of our journey, that the Lord will

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remember us, waiting for the benediction. When the worship service is lengthy, often the leader will encourage worshippers to wait for the benediction. Do not leave until the service is over.

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It's not over until it's over. Father Benediction. We begin our worship with the call to worship. Then we sing a song of praise. Then there is a time of giving and receiving, proclamation of the word, the invitation, and then the benediction.

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This final word which comes at the close of the worship service. There are times when people for various reasons find it necessary to leave before the benediction. When I was a boy our pastor used to caution people about that and tell them that he didn't want them to leave unless it was the case of, he coined this word, a case of "epushency." [laughter]

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His emphasis was upon waiting for the benediction. And I've noticed, and I've never found out really why, some people when they must leave before the benediction will get up and hold up one finger

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[laughter] and tip out. Sometimes, somewhere, I hope to find out why. (laughter)

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But every part of the worship service is important, from first to last. We gather to worship God, who is alpha and omega, the beginning and the end.

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And everything God has to say is important. So wait for the benediction. The benediction is a short blessing with which the service is ended. And our message today deals with a man by the name of Simeon living in Jerusalem at

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the time of the birth of Jesus he was a good man scripture defines him as being pious and righteous he was waiting for the consolation of Israel he was waiting for the benediction. He was waiting for that divine blessing. Luke tells us that the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Spirit had told him that he would not see death

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until he saw the Messiah. He was assured that he would not die until the benediction was pronounced. So Simeon waited patiently through the years. The hopes and fears of the years were in his waiting. While he waited he saw the frost of many winters.

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Benediction seemed a long time in coming, but he continued to wait. Several nights ago we gathered here in this sanctuary and waited for one year to pass away and another year to come. We waited to say farewell to the old and extend our welcome to the new.

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Simeon was inspired by the Holy Spirit while he waited. Kipling says in his poem, "If you can wait and not grow tired in waiting." Waiting patiently is a sign of spiritual maturity. If we wait for the divine, that for which we wait will come.

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When the time came, Simeon went to the temple, took Jesus up in his arms, and blessed God saying, "Lord, let thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for the revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to thy people Israel.

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When we wait for the benediction, we become a part of the benediction. Simeon took Jesus in his arms. He embraced the Holy Child. He embraced the triumphant faith. He embraced that which is meaningful. He waited for the benediction. And in waiting, he embraced the one who is first and last.

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He embraced God's blessing for the world. Maybe your life has not been what you'd like for it to be. But wait for the benediction. Humphrey said some people consider any setback as an end as a benediction

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they're always looking for the benediction rather than the invocation so do not pronounce the benediction before the time wait for the benediction Because Simeon waited for the benediction, he became a blessing, a blessing that is called the New Timotheis, in which Simeon expresses gratitude for God's gift to him. And when we realize and give thanks to God for his goodness to us, then we are prepared to proclaim his goodness and his grace to others.

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It comes through waiting for the benediction. The truth of the matter is, we are in such a hurry. We do not take time to smell the roses. Cars often are in such a hurry, one car goes around you and goes just a little bit up the road and stops. such a hurry, many times to go nowhere, wait for the benediction. Oh we have the time, but let's use it wisely as we face the challenge of another year.

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"Wait, I say, for the benediction." Two boys decided that they would worship together at the other boy's church. One was a Catholic, one was a Baptist. So they went to the Catholic church first, and in the service,

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the boy was explaining to his Baptist friend what was occurring in the mass. At a certain time, the body of Christ was to actually become the body of Christ. The wine was to become his blood

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and the bread was to become his flesh. And he told the boy that, that's what that meant. And the next Sunday, they went to the Baptist church And the Catholic boy asked in the course of the service,

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why was the minister up there always looking at his watch? What does that mean? And he said, that doesn't mean a thing. (audience laughing)

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We're to wait for the benediction. Take time to wait. Hurry up and wait. Wait for the benediction.

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Simeon is a blessing because he takes time to wait for the benediction He embraces the one God has appointed and anointed as the Messiah He takes the child up in his arm And says now I'm ready

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I'm ready for the benediction Having heard the benediction Simeon is ready to be dismissed from the service He's ready to go. He prays for God's blessing on Joseph and Mary and the Holy Child. This blessing is the end we seek. We all want to receive God's final blessing. We all in the end want to hear Him say, "Well done." We wait for the benediction. So the appointed Savior is the anointed of God. Do not leave here without that blessing. Wait for the benediction.

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For the appointed and anointed is the consecration of the consecrated one of God. He has a particular mission in the world to reach all people. So don't miss the benediction. We do not know who holds tomorrow, but we know who holds our hand.

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He is the Holy One. Holy, holy, holy we sing Lord God Almighty. Wait for the benediction. The appointed and anointed is the stone in the building. The appointed and anointed is not only the stone on which the foundation is placed. He is the stone of stumbling, so many stumble over this stone because they do not understand and they do not have the patience to wait for the divine revelation that comes to us in the benediction

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In the benediction the audience is commended to the only one the Rock of Ages who is with us on the hills for as we face the future there are some hills

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there are some hills and we need the one who knows the way to be our companion in the hills So often in the hills we resort to those things that are destructive. There was a news article a few days ago about the largest pill factory that they had discovered in Austin was in the hills.

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Some people feel that by popping pills that they'll get the strength to get over the hills. But wait for the benediction. Do not leave before the benediction because there is help, there is the power of God to guide us on the journey that we face. Wait for the benediction.

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The appointed and anointed of God suffers the greatest humiliation. So as we face the challenge of another year, in order to be victorious we must be willing to suffer humiliation. That's what Jesus does in the cross. He suffers humiliation In order to do what God has designed him to do

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so I Beseech you my beloved my brothers and sisters to wait for the benediction

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for the one who rules over all Who is the beginning and the end? wait until the benediction. There was a movie many years ago called "Green Pastures"

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and in it, the angel Gable appeared from time to time and he was with his horn and on many occasions he showed up polishing his horn. And I remember one scene in particular

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where he had the horn almost to his lips and ready to blow. And the Lord spoke, said, "Now, now, Gabriel, "I'll tell you when." Well, we're to wait until he speaks.

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He has not only the first word, but let him have the last word in your life. Wait for the benediction. That is a meaningful part, a significant part of the service.

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Wait for the benediction. Because God himself pronounces the benediction. Others don't have the final say in your life. Don't let anybody define you and determine your beginning and your end.

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God does that he has made us and he knows all about us and he knows how to guide us through the hills and through the valleys so wait on him consult him wait for the benediction that's a good word to wait to hear what God has to say After you listen to all others, wait for Him because He has the last word, the word that determines victory or defeat in our lives, wait.

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And I think that's what that's really what the Christian life is all about Struggle here Overcoming difficulties encountering obstacles, but wait for the benediction

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Because the book of Revelation depicts that benediction That is arranged for that book, you read there in that seventh chapter, there's a host that no man can number and the question is this, who are these people? These are the, they come up so to speak on the rough side of the mountain

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They had their robes washed and made white in the precious blood of the Lamb. And they gather around the throne. There's a wonderful benediction that's arranged in the end of time. That's what John is depicting.

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They gather around the throne. Four and twenty elders and the representatives from all of the tribes of Israel. 144,000 all around the throne and as they gather around the throne They bow before

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Him who is the Lamb of God and say blessing and honor glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne blessing and honor and Riches all unto him and so as you look at your life And as we stand and sit here at the crossroads of another year, I say to you, wait for the one who has the final word, wait for the benediction, unto Him.

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Some will say go this way or that way, but present that decision to him, say unto him. Unto him. Unto him who is able to keep you, unto him.

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Unto him who is able to make you blameless before his presence, unto him. Unto him who is Lord of lords and who is the one who guides us through the darkness into the marvelous light,

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under him be glory and honor and riches and power everything that we need under him. So under him I say render your life and wait. Oh yes, well sometimes it seems so long but just wait. Wait for the benediction. Wait I say for the benediction. We come now to extend the invitation to Christian discipleship.

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There's an open door he sets before us, open to everybody. You may come by letter, by Christian experience, or on professional faith. Just come, just right down the step at the end of the pew and come down the aisle and give the minister your hand if you wish to become a member of the family of God here at Ebenezer.

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[music] The door of the church is open. We invite you to come. [ Music ] If when you hear the call of the first of your servants,

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Telling your world that the Savior has come, He'll not be slain, friend, it'll be with you. ♪ He'll understand and He'll say good-bye ♪ ♪ Oh, when I come to the end of my journey ♪

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♪ Cleary of my mind, for that I'll respond ♪ ♪ Fearing His death and cross of redemption ♪ ♪ He'll understand and save from now ♪ ♪ This understood God, Savior of sinners ♪

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Out of my cross he was bound for me, son. Oh, hear him calling, his Father in heaven. God, my river, my freedom. Oh, will I come to the end of my journey, weary of life and the battle is won? ♪ There ain't no standard for self-reliance ♪ ♪ Give your understanding and say, "Well done" ♪

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♪ If with this life of labor is ended ♪ ♪ And every poor comes a rich new handsome ♪ ♪ Oh the secrets made and for the paper ♪ ♪ Will be expressed and final written ♪

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Oh, when I come to the end of my journey, weary, unwind, and the battle is won. Carrying those seven thrones of redemption, He'll understand her, say, "Welcome."

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Oh, if you try her, there is no trying. That's your escort from the work you've begun. Take up your poster, Take me to see him,

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Be understanding, Say, "Well done!" Oh, will I go on? [ Silence ]