Thursday 31 October 2013

PSALM 23

My man het met ons familie-naweek met ons oggenddiens Ps. 23 as volg verduidelik:    
Die Psalmdigter het teruggekyk en besef  God  het vir hom soos ‘n Herder versorg  in die dae wat dit goed gegaan het – groen weivelde.  In die moeilike dae het sy Herder vir hom nuwe krag gegee   en hom op die regte paaie gelei.
In die lig van die Herder se goeie leiding in voorspoed en teenspoed, kan hy die toekoms in die Herder se hande gee en Hom volkome vertrou – selfs al moet hy deur die doodsvallei gaan!   
Hierdie Psalm volg op Psalm 22 wat die Psalm van die Kruis genoem word, waar die Psalmdigter uitroep: “My God, my God waarom het U my verlaat” – wat dui op Jesus se woorde aan die kruis.

Eers wanneer ek Jesus se vryspraak in my lewe ervaar, ervaar ek Psalm 23 se vreugde en vrede!
Die Psalmdigter wys ons in hierdie 6 verse op:
Vers 1    volmaakte tevredenheid – Herder versorg
Vers 2     rus en stilwees – Herder lei na waters van rus
vers 3     leiding en herstel – Herder help in moeilike tye
vers 4     volkome vertroue – Herder is betroubaar
 vers 5    toewyding en vreugde – Herder bederf
vers 6     toekoms visie – Herder is ook my Redder en wegbereider na ewigheid 

My Herder is:
Met my – my Herder
onder my – groen weivelde
langs my – waters waar rus is
voor my – die tafel
rondom my – beskerm my teen vyande
volg my –  met Sy goedheid en guns
voor my – die huis van die Here wat wag tot in ewigheid 

In Psalm 23 word ‘n hele paar van God se name geïllustreer:
Jehovah-Rohi – die Here is my Herder – vs. 1
Jehovah-Jireh – die Here sal voorsien –vs. 1
Jehovah – Shalom – die Here gee vrede –vs. 2
Jehovah-Rophi – die Here wat genees –vs. 4
Jehovah-tsidkenu – die Here is geregtigheid– vs. 3
Jehovah-shammah - die Here is daar -  vs. 4
Jehovah-nissi – die Here is my banier – vs 6
Jahweh-Mekaddishkem – Die HERE wat ons heilig van sonde tot toewyding aan Hom – vs. 6

 

Spurgeon sê van Psalm 23:  “This is the pearl of Psalms whose soft and pure radiance delights every eye……….its sweetness and its spirituality are unsurpassed.”

Tuesday 15 October 2013

Herlewing

Bid vir HERLEWING!  
Charles H. Spurgeon sê dat herlewing moet begin en eindig by God se kinders.  Herlewing is iets wat deur die “possessors of vital godliness” geniet moet word.  Ons as God se kinders moet so bewus wees van God se teenwoordigheid in ons lewens en Hom so geniet dat dit lei tot herlewing in ons eie lewens en dat dit uitkring tot die wêreld daarbuite.

Gebruik die ABBA-metode om te bid vir herlewing in jou eie lewe en in die lewens van ander.  Vra vir God om vir jou wysheid te gee oor hoe om te bid en dat die Heilige Gees jou moet bystaan en saam met jou pleit. (Rom. 8:26) 
A – Aanbid God vir wie Hy is: Lees Ps. 145 en loof die Heer dat Hy jou Koning is, dat Hy groot is, dat Hy Almagtig is, vol Heerlikheid en Majesteit, dat Hy goed is , dat Hy genadig en barmhartig is, vol liefde, dat Hy ons Helper is, dat Hy alles en almal onderhou, dat Hy alles in oorvloed skenk, dat Hy regverdig is, dat Hy naby die is wat Hom in opregtheid aanroep, dat Hy gee wat Sy kinders vra en hul red en beskerm.
B – bely jou sonde saam met Dawid in Psalm 51.  Noem jou sonde by die naam en vra dat die Heer dit sal bedek met die bloed van Jesus Christus en jou volkome sal vergewe.  Bid dat die Heer jou hart witter as sneeu sal was en weer vir jou die blydskap sal gee wat deur die Heilige Gees bewerk word in ‘n skoon lewe.
B – bedank God vir al die goeie gawes wat jy elke dag uit sy hand ontvang.  Maak ‘n lys van al die seëninge.  Gebruik Ps. 103 en bedank  die Heer vir al Sy weldade:  sondevergifnis, genesing van siektes, lewe, liefde, ontferming, goeie in oorvloed, jeugdige krag, geregtigheid en reg, barmhartigheid, genade, lankmoedigheid, ontferming, trou, en Sy heerskappy oor alles en almal.
A – Asseblief – doen voorbidding vir almal wat herlewing nodig het en deur God uitverkies is om Sy kinders te wees.  Bid dat die Here jou sal wysheid gee vir wie om te bid en hoe om te bid en hoe om te getuig dat ander na Hom getrek sal word.  In Hand. 1:8 het Jesus vir die dissipels gesê dat hul krag sal ontvang wanneer die Heilige Gees oor hulle kom en dat hul dan moet getuig in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria en die uithoeke van die aarde.  Begin bid vir almal in jou Jerusalem – jou huismense en werksmense.  Bid vir Judea – jou dorp, jou kerk, jou omgewing.  Bid vir Samaria – die plekke rondom jou dorp.  Bid vir die uithoeke van die aarde – mense in jou land en die wêreld.  

PRAY FOR REVIVAL!
In Somerset West, Strand and Gordon’s Bay in South Africa, some of the churches decided to take hands and pray for revival this week.
Spurgeon said:  “A true revival is to be looked for in the church of God. Only in the river of gracious life can the pearl of revival be found. It has been said that a revival must begin with God's people; this is very true, but it is not all the truth, for the revival itself must end as well as begin there. The results of the revival will extend to the outside world, but the revival, strictly speaking, must be within the circle of life, and must therefore essentially be enjoyed by the possessors of vital godliness, and by them only. Is not this quite a different view of revival from that; which is common in society; but is it not manifestly the correct one?”

Jericho Walls’ call for revival:   7 Days on the WALL

"7 Days on the WALL" is a night-and-day prayer initiative. We are joining the world in 2013 by praying non-stop for revival among the nations.

Urgently calling all Christians in South Africa (local churches, prayer watches and organisations) to take 7 days (168 hours) to pray literally night-and-day, earnestly seeking God for revival in South Africa, for the whole year of 2013!

Imagine all 900+ cities and towns in Souh Africa praying in 7 Day watches for:

SPIRITUAL AWAKENING OF THE CHURCH Isaiah 62:6-7; SALVATION OF THE UNSAVED  Acts 15:16

SOCIAL JUSTICE Luke 18:7-8

It only takes 24 individuals to pray for one hour per day to cover all the hours of the week!

 

Sunday 13 October 2013

Satan opposes everything Christ does


“Standing Strong” is John Macarthur’s book that is worthwhile reading:  You can download the book for free on your kindle or computer.
John Macarthur says in his book the following:
Satan opposes everything Christ does:
                 Christ
                   Satan
Christ revealed the truth – John 1:17
Satan conceals the truth – John 8:44
Christ gives life
Satan takes life
Christ produces spiritual fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Gal. 5:22-23
Satan loves the fleshly fruit of “immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drukenness, carousing and things like these.”  Gal. 5:19-21
Christ permits tests and trials in our lives to help us grow spiritually. James 1:3
Satan lures us with temptation to destroy us. 1 Peter 5:8
Christ sets believers free. John 8:31-32
Satan enslaves the lost. 2 Tim. 2:26
Christ defends believers. 1 John 2:1
Satan accuses them. Rev. 12:10
 

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to believe in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.  They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or magician with the same delight”.    C.S. Lewis 

Thursday 10 October 2013

The way to Heaven in 5 steps:


     1.            Admit that you are a sinner.  (Rom. 3:23).  You   
            are  separated from God. (Isaiah 59:2). The penalty for
            your sin, is eternal punishment – away from God.
            (2 Thess. 1:8-9)
2.            Realize that you need to be saved from sin.  Jesus said to Nicodemus, he had to be born again. (John 3:3).  You have to become a child of God – John 1:12.  You have to become a new person – 2 Cor. 5:17

3.            There is nothing that you can do to save yourself from sin.  Jesus alone can save you from your sinful life. (Acts 4:12)  You are saved by grace and not by good deeds – Ephesians 2:8-9

4.            Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved – this is what Paul told the Philippian jailor. Acts 16:31.  Believe that He died for your sins and that He took all your sins on the cross so that you can live. Because of His wounds you are healed. 1 Peter 2:24. 

5.            Accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour from sin.  Pray the prayer that the publican prayed in the temple:  “God be merciful to me a sinner”. Ask God to accept you as His child and ask Him to help you to be His child.  John 1:12. 

Write John 1:12 down and write your name in the place of “all” and “those”

Thank God for your salvation and the promise that you will be with God in Heaven after your death and have everlasting life.  (John 3:16)

Make Ephesians 1: 2 – 13 your prayer.

 

Wednesday 9 October 2013

Stappe om God se kind te word


Vyf stappe om te neem sodat  jy Hemel toe kan gaan:

1.     Erken dat jy ‘n verlore sondaar is!  Paulus sê vir ons in Romeine 3:23 dat almal gesondig het.  In Jesaje 59:2 staan daar dat sonde ons skei van God.  In 2 Tessalonisense 1:8-9 staan daar dat die straf vir die sonde die ewige verdoemenis is, weg van die teenwoordigheid van die Here en van sy magtige heerlikheid!

2.    Besef dat jy verlossing van sonde nodig het!  Om verlos te wees van sonde, moet jy weer gebore word.  Jesus het in Joh.3:3 vir Nikodemus gesê dat as iemand nie weer gebore – nuut gebore – word, hy die Koninkryk van God nie sal sien nie.  Jy moet God se kind word deur vir Jesus aan te neem as jou Verlosser.  Joh. 1:12.

3.    Niks wat jy doen, kan jou red van jou sondige bestaan nie:  Titus 3:5 sê dat God ons verlos nie op grond van wat ons verdien nie, maar deur Sy groot genade en deur die Heilige Gees wat nuwe lewe gee.   Ons verlossing is ‘n geskenk van God – Efesiërs 2:8-9.  Net deur die Naam van Jesus Christus ons Verlosser kan daar vir ons redding wees!

4.    Glo dat Jesus vir jou sondes gesterf het:  Jesus het ons sondes aan die kruis gedra en deur Sy lyding het daar vir ons redding gekom.  1 Petrus 2:24.  Jesus se bloed reinig ons van al ons sonde – 1 Joh. 1:7.  Jesus se opstanding uit die dood het voorsiening gemaak dat ons die ewige lewe kan hê.  1 Kor. 15:20

5.    Neem Jesus aan as jou Verlosser van sonde:  Paulus het vir die tronkbewaarder gesê dat Hy in Jesus Christus moet glo en sodoende gered sal word.  Kniel en bid tot jou Vader wat in die verborgene sien en vra vir Hom om jou aan te neem en dit vir jou moontlik te maak om Hom aan te neem.  Bid die gebed van die tollenaar in die tempel:  “Wees my arme sondaar genadig”! Lukas 18:13.

AS JY HIERDIE 5 STAPPE GEVOLG HET EN VIR JESUS AANGENEEM HET, SKRYF JOU NAAM IN BY JOH. 1:12:  “MAAR AAN ......... WAT HOM AANGENEEM HET, .......... WAT IN HOM GLO, HET HY DIE REG GE GEE OM ‘N KIND VAN GOD TE WORD.”

Bid ‘n dankgebed vir die Heer se groot genade:  Efes. 1:3-14.

Die engele juig oor elkeen wat vir Jesus aanneem as Verlosser!!

Saturday 5 October 2013

REFORMATION/HERVORMING


Reformation Day vs Halloween 
 - Good information and advice from Peter Hammond – Frontline Fellowship

“It was on 31 October 1517, that Dr. Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the door of the Slosskirche (castle church) in Wittenberg, Germany. His bold challenge against the unBiblical practices of the medieval Roman papacy inspired the Protestant Reformation. All Bible believing churches should celebrate the greatest revival of Faith and freedom ever. The Reformation was one the most important turning points in world history. The energies that were released by the rediscovery of the Bible in the common tongue led to the most extraordinary spiritual Revival in history. The Reformation freed the Christians of Northern Europe from the decadence of Renaissance paganism and led to the greatest freedoms and scientific discoveries in history.  

Every Bible believing Christian should celebrate the Reformation. No Christian should have part in celebrating the occultic Halloween.  

We are in a spiritual world war. Cruelty to animals, vandalism and even murders occur with far greater frequency during Halloween. Every Halloween many thousands of animals, and even people, are sacrificed in satanic rituals worldwide, while millions of other people, including well meaning Christians, participate in Halloween celebrations. Halloween is a prime recruiting time for witches and Satanists. Many people have testified that they were introduced to the occult at a Halloween party. Halloween is very religious, but it is not Christian.  

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21  
 
Choose Life  

This 31 October, take a stand against Halloween by mobilising your family and congregation to celebrate the Reformation, and to engage in spiritual warfare, earnest prayer, praying the Psalms, and sharing the Gospel with our friends and neighbours, particularly those who may be unthinkingly participating in this occultic celebration of divination, necromancy, human sacrifice and cruelty to animals.  

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole Armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole Armour of God, that you may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the Breastplate of Righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. Above all, taking the Shield of Faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." Ephesians 6:10-18”   

Screen a film to your Sunday school, youth group or congregation:
 

Halloween: Have You Been Tricked? (Suitable for children, 27 minutes).  

Halloween: Trick or Treat? (Suitable for teens and older, 48 minutes).  

Both DVDs by Jeremiah Films are also available from Christian Liberty Books: 021-689-7478, email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za.
Ten Reasons Why Christians Should Not Celebrate Halloween
Reformation or Desecration? How a Hallowed Eve Became Halloween
95 Theses for Reformation Today
 
                                               
HERVORMING  – terug na die Bybel!

Mag die Bybel vir ons wees wat C.H. Spurgeon aanbeveel:  “Soos ‘n eekhorinkie in ‘n eikeboom, moet ek in en van God se Woord leef.  Dit moet my skuilplek, rusplek, kos, medisyne, skatkis, my vreugde en wapenrusting wees.”   

Hervormingsfees word op die laaste Sondag in  Oktober gevier, d.w.s op Sondag 27 Oktober 2013.  Op dié dag dink ons aan die Hervorming wat deur Maarten Luther in Duitsland in 1517 begin is.  Die belangrikste van Hervorming is dat die Woord van God herontdek is.  

Hervorming  beteken dat iets wat nie goed is nie, weer oorgemaak moet word, sodat dit kan wees soos dit bedoel is om te wees. As jy bv. van klei ‘n voorwerp wil maak en dit kom nie reg nie, neem jy weer die klei en maak dit eers weer ‘n bal sodat jy weer van vooraf kan begin vorm. 

So was dit op ‘n tyd nodig dat die kerk hervorm moes word, omdat dit nie meer was wat God daarmee bedoel het nie.

Ongeveer 500 jaar gelede was daar net een Christelike Kerk, naamlik die Roomse kerk.  Die Pous was die hoof van die kerk.  ‘n Bybel was net in die kerk beskikbaar en dan was dit met ‘n ketting vasgemaak.  Die Bybel was net in Latyn geskryf en die meeste mense het dit nie verstaan nie.  Onder leiding van die Pous het die mense die dinge gedoen wat die Bybel nie geleer het nie, bv. mense moes betaal om hulle sondes vergewe te kry.

Die Here het op ‘n wonderlike manier manne geroep wat die volle boodskap van die Bybel sou verkondig en die Bybel vertaal in tale wat die mense kon verstaan.  Hierdie manne- Maarten Luther, Johannes Calvyn, Zwingli, Knox en ander word Hervormers genoem.

Maarten Luther was ‘n priester en in die klooster waar hy gebly het, het hy geleentheid gekry om die Bybel te lees.  Terwyl hy die Bybel bestudeer het, het hy besef hoe baie verkeerde dinge daar in die Roomse Kerk is.  Eendag het hy 95 stellinge van die Roomse kerk op ‘n stuk papier geskryf en dit teen die kerkdeur van Wittenberg vasgespyker.  Die Roomse kerk het hom uit die kerk geskop, maar Maarten Luther het vasgestaan.  Sy wagwoord was:  “Terug na die Bybel.”  Hy het ook geglo dat elke persoon die Bybel mag lees en nie net die priesters nie – so het hy die kettings waarmee die Bybel gebind was, losgemaak sodat ek en jy dit vandag ook kan lees.
(As julle meer wil weet van Maarten Luther, kyk na die DVD  “Luther”).  

Ek en jy kan ook vandag ‘n HERVORMER wees, deur die Here se Woord te lees en die hele Bybel te glo en vir ander mense wat nog nie glo in die Bybel nie, daarvan te vertel.

Weet julle dat elke vers in Ps. 119 – die langste Psalm praat oor die Bybel, of die Woord of die Wet van die Here.   Lees ‘n bietjie die Psalm stuk vir stuk deur.   Ps. 119:72 sê:  “U wet is vir my kosbaarder as ‘n oorvloed van goud en silwer”  Ps. 119:105 sê:  “U woord is die lamp wat my die weg wys, die lig op my pad.”  

Die mense wat geglo het soos Maarten Luther en self die Bybel begin lees het, het weggebreek van die Roomse Kerk en hulle is Hervormers of Protestante genoem.   Hulle is deur die Roomse kerk vervolg en selfs doodgemaak.  Hulle Bybels is afgeneem en verbrand.

In Frankryk is die huise gereeld deursoek deur die polisie en is mense gevang wat Bybels gehad het.  Baie van ons voorouers het gevlug uit Frankryk na Suid-Afrika en het in Franschoek-omgewing gaan bly. Die Protestante in Frankryk is Hugenote genoem en hulle het baie gely vir hulle geloof.  (Die museum in Franschoek bevat baie inligting oor die Franse Hugenote – ons voorouers kom ook daarvandaan (du Plessis en de Villiers).  Ons was bevoorreg om in 2012 die Hugenote Museum in Frankryk te besoek en kon sien (DVD) en hoor hoe die Hugenote doodgemaak is en gevlug het vir hul geloof in God en die Bybel.     Ons span van 12 mense het 10,000 koeverte met ‘n Johannes Evangelie en ‘n CEF boekie en uitnodigingsbrief in Franse se posbusse geplaas om hulle uit te nooi om hul lewe aan die Here oor te gee.  Van al die koeverte wat uitgedeel is, het daar 10 mense op die uitnodiging gereageer!!    

Die Franse Hugenote het kruisies om hulle nekke gedra wat ‘n wonderlike verhaal vertel.    Die sirkel-gedeelte vertel van God.  God het geen begin of einde nie, want Hy is van ewigheid tot ewigheid.  Die kruis-gedeelte van die Hugenote kruis, vertel van Jesus Christus.  Jesus wat na die aarde gekom het, om vir ons sonde te sterf.  Die tandjies om die sirkel vertel van die doringkroon wat Jesus moes dra voordat Hy gekruisig is.  Onderaan die sirkel, hang ‘n duif, wat vertel van die Heilige Gees.  Nadat Jesus na die Hemel is om vir ons plek te gaan voorberei, het God die Heilige Gees gestuur om vir ons te help.  Die Heilige Gees gee vir ons die krag om te weet wat is die regte ding om te doen en lei ons op die regte pad.

Die gebakte Bybel:

In Frankryk was daar een oggend ‘n vrou besig om brood te knie.  Haar man storm toe by die huis in en roep uitasem:  “Die soldate is besig om die huise hier in ons straat te deursoek vir Bybels …. Waar kan ons tog ons Bybel wegsteek?”  “Ek het ‘n goeie plan!” sê sy vrou,  “Bring gou die Bybel hierheen.”
Sy het die Bybel onder in die broodpan gesit, die deeg bo-op gesit en die brood in die oond gesteek.
Die soldate het die huis deursoek en niks gevind nie. 
Na die soldate weg is, het die vrou die brood uit die oond gehaal.  Die brood was gaar en die Bybel het niks oorgekom  nie.  

 In 1933 is die Bybel vir die eerste keer in Afrikaans vertaal. 
 Die Bybel is vanjaar 80 jaar oud! Mag jy jou wagwoord maak: TERUG NA DIE BYBEL!  

Bid asb. vir al die mense wat ter wille van hul geloof in Jesus Christus en die besit van ‘n Bybel vervolg word.

Mag die Hemelse Vader ons help om ware HERVORMERS te wees.  Mag jou Bybel vir jou wees soos die eekhorinkie se akkerboom – jou huis, jou skuilplek, jou kos en jou rusplek!

 

 

 

 

Friday 4 October 2013

Teach the Saved Child the Four Things He Needs to Do

A child who receives Christ is a new born babe in Christ and needs, like any new born babe, to learn how to do four things:

1.      To eat

It is absolutely necessary for the child to eat. If he doesn’t eat he will starve and suffer. At first he will learn to drink (spiritual) milk   then he will learn to eat (spiritual) meat.
With you. At first he will depend, to a large extent, on your feeding him and your teaching him from theBible. Always include teaching for saved children in your Good News Club or Sunday School class. For example, the central truth of every Bible lesson should always be applied to the saved children—if at all possible.

By himself. He needs to be taught how to feed himself from the Bible. This means teaching him how to have his Quiet Time, and how to read his Bible for himself, every day.

2.      To walk

The Bible uses the word “walk” with reference to Christian living (Ephesians 4v1, Galatians 5v25) and just as a baby needs to learn to walk, so should the saved child learn towalk.

With God. He needs to be taught Christian conduct, with reference to his duty to God. This includes
teaching on reverence, obedience, faith and love to God.
Before others. He needs to be taught Christian conduct with reference to his duty to others. This includes frequent teaching on the need to display the fruit of the Spirit in his Christian life as a witness to others (Galatians 5 v22,23).
We must remember, and we also need to remind the child, that it is not easy for a baby to learn to walk:
– he will stumble and fall
– he must keep trying
– he needs help
– he will gradually improve
 
3.      To talk
Christian children need to learn how to talk and use their gift of speech in the correct way.

To God. He needs to be taught how to talk to God in prayer. Just as parents love to hear their children talk, so does God, even though the child cannot say much, or say it very expertly. And he needs to understand that the best way to learn how to talk is to go ahead and do it.

To others. He needs to be taught how to talk to others about God. Children are the best children’s evangelists.
They should be taught how to lead other children to Christ.

4.      To obey
Over and over again the Bible teaches the importance of obedience and submission. “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15 v22). The saved child needs to learn how to obey:

God. He needs to be taught how to obey God. Teach the child that God speaks to him through the Bible, and that he should obey God’s Word implicitly and completely
His parents. He needs to be taught to obey his parents as commanded in Ephesians 6 v1 and in Colossians 3v20. Paul stresses the importance of children obeying their parents. You should also stress it.
Remember, it takes a baby a long time to learn—both physically and spiritually. He does not become an adult instantaneously. Many mistakes are made before he learns properly.  

So be patient as you teach these truths to the child who has received Christ. Do not expect too much too soon. Growth takes time!
 

(Taken from Dr. Sam Doherty’s book “U can help Christian children grow”)  You can download book for free!  

Child Evangelism Fellowship Inc.
Specialized Book Ministry
Assisting Children’s Evangelists Worldwide
www.cefbookministry.com

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