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The Proverbs 31 Man
Proverbs 31:10-31 Intro: I know that this passage seems like an unusual one for a Father’s Day theme. Think about how many times women have heard preaching about being the Proverbs 31 woman? Well, I want to talk to you men about being the Proverbs 31 man. I. Responsible Provider. It’s clear from this passage that the Proverbs 31 woman has great resources at her disposal: -vs. 13 she seeks wool & flax -vs. 14 brings food from afar -vs. 15 rises early to cook -vs. 16 plants a vineyard -vs. 21 family is warmly clothed -vs 22 has nice clothing (silk, purple, fine linen) In these verses the Proverbs 31 woman is caring for three basic needs of life: Food, Clothing, Shelter. How is she able to do all of this? Only by the faithful Provision of a Proverbs 31 Man! Look at these verses; the wife is not working a full time job outside the home to get money to do all these wonderful things for her family. She does sell some clothing she has made in vs. 24, but clearly she is not the primary money maker in the family. The Proverbs 31 Man is a Responsible Provider. Sir, you are not required to provide every luxury or convenience, but you are responsible for providing for the basic needs of the family; not Silk But Milk! 1 Tim 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. Romans 12:11- commands us to be “Not slothful in business.” Every man must take seriously this matter of financial, material provision for his family. The book of Proverbs contains 12 specific condemnations of slothfulness. In the 12 verses, three different Hebrew words are used with these varied meanings: Lazy, Idle, Deceitful, Without diligence. A bum approached a man on the sidewalk and asked for a little money. The man said to the bum, “You know, hard work never killed anyone.” The bum replied, “Oh yeah, that’s what you think. It’s already killed two wives for me.” God expects us to be industrious, hard-working, honest, and faithful as Providers. The Proverbs 31 man is a responsible provider. II. Reputable Citizen. Verse 23- Her husband is known in the gates and sits among the elders of the land. In Bible times, the area just inside the city gates was the place of government, justice, and business. There, matters of civil law were discussed; legal matters were decided; matters of commerce and business were transacted and completed. The Proverbs 31 Man is a man of good reputation and integrity in the community. He is known for his honesty in business; for his principles of morality; for fairness in his treatment of others [Clients, customers, employees, employer, business associates, co-workers ...] Pro. 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight. 2 Cor. 8:21- providing for honest things not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men. Pro. 22: 1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. The Proverbs 31 Man is a Reputable Citizen. God’s Word is not just in his head, but in his heart and in his hands. He has not just “church religion” but “life religion.” He conducts his business honestly, pays his bills, keeps his word, and does not hide behind the “fine print.” His word is his bond. People who know him, respect him for his integrity, honesty, and principles of righteousness.(even if they don’t agree with him in religious matters) III. Respectful Husband. Verse 11- the heart of her husband doth safely TRUST in her. - He Trusts His Wife. He is not consumed with petty jealousy; is not constantly suspicious; therefore he is not mean spirited, overbearing or controlling. It is a relationship of mutual trust. There is a difference in being the Head of the Wife and being a Dictator in the home. A dictator uses his authority to bully and browbeat others. As HEAD we use our authority & position to Love and Lead The Proverbs 31 man trusts his wife and she can trust him. Then Verse 28- her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also (he also rises up and calls her blessed) and he praiseth her. - The Proverbs 31 man Thanks his wife. He does not take her for granted. He appreciates her and clearly expresses his appreciation. It’s important for a husband to appreciate his wife. Remember, Paul said that the husband is to love his wife like Christ loved the church and GAVE himself for it. The Greek word translated love there is agape; sacrificial love; committed love. We are responsible before God to Trust our wives and be Thankful both For them and To them. After all, we are in a life time covenant. Paul said that we should love our wives as we love ourselves; for no man ever yet hated his own flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it. Then Peter really put the clincher on us men in 1 Peter 3:7- Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 1) Commitment- Dwell with them; no exit plan 2) Consideration- according to knowledge; taking time to really know and understand your wife; giving honor to the wife as unto the weaker vessel; respecting her and realizing her value. The statement that she is the “weaker vessel” does not make her inferior or feeble, but fragile and precious. She is to be treated with kindness and handled with care. Finally Peter said that we are to recognize our wife’s spiritual equality, for while she is weaker as far as her physical make up and was not designed by God to carry the heavy load of headship; she is your spiritual equal. Her standing before God is every bit as good as yours and you both share equally when it comes to God’s grace. Yes, The Proverbs 31 Man is a responsible provider, a reputable citizen and a respectful husband.
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Intro: When I call Mary “a model mother,” I’m not talking about a “model” as one on the latest fashion or beauty magazine cover; but an example or pattern; A Role Model! There is much that could be said about Mary, the Model Mother. What other lady in the Bible would outshine the Virgin Mary? What other mother in the Bible would surpass Mary, the mother of Jesus? I want to focus in on three particular scenes in the life of Mary, the model mother. I. Mary, by the Lowly Manger. (Lk. 2:4-7) I know, this sounds kind of like a Christmas message! Well, here at Mother’s Day let’s take a moment to think about that amazing Christmas story. A. Mary’s Dedication to God. Her Purity- she was morally & spiritually pure. Her Humility- she was not forward & brazen, but modest and discreet. Her Bravery- she was not afraid of what others would say about her and her situation. She was not deterred by the threat of slander, criticism or misunderstanding. B. Mary’s Selection by God. God’s Recognition- God saw every woman alive on the earth and knew them all completely; then he Chose Mary. “Fear not Mary, thou hast found favor with God.” Mary’s Submission- Even though God’s plan for her was incredible and almost impossible to believe, she willingly submitted her life completely to the will and plan of God. C. Mary’s Conception of God. Imagine! An earthly, human woman was going to conceive and bear God the Son! God was going to become flesh and Mary would be his instrument, his agent, his channel. “That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” I realize that God is not going to choose another woman to bear His Son into the world. I know that this was a one time occurrence that is not to be repeated. Still, even today God is looking for women who are dedicated to Him; women He can choose and use right here in this world. Mary was being selected not only to BEAR God’s Son but To REAR Him as well. His Birth was important, obviously, but his training was important too. God’s Son could not just be placed into any home and any family. His home and family had to be strongly founded on the ways of God and his parents had to be willing to teach him and train him in those godly ways. II. Mary, at the Rugged Cross. Jn 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother...” My what a scene! Mary, the mother of Jesus was standing by a rugged cross. Her son had been illegally arrested, falsely accused, wrongly sentenced, cruelly tortured, rudely mocked, and then crucified in shame and agony. We all know about the humiliation and suffering of crucifixion and Mary was right there, watching her son die. What happened there goes far beyond the pain of human emotions. This was more than just a mother being tormented by the awful death of a son she loved. This was Jesus Christ! This was the Son of God, The Messiah. He was shedding His blood as the Lamb of God to pay the price for the sins of all mankind From this sacrifice would come redemption, justification, and salvation. AND, Jesus was dying for Mary too! Remember when Mary went to share with Elizabeth the incredible news of her visitation by the Angel and fact that she would bear the very Son of God? Mary cried out in praise and said, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God MY SAVIOR.” Mary was a wonderful lady but she STILL needed a Savior! Jesus died for her too. Every mother needs to come spiritually to Calvary and stand near the Old Rugged Cross. Every mother needs to look upon Jesus Christ, recognize the atoning power of His Blood, feel the power of His Love and be Saved! Nothing qualifies a woman more to be a great mother than being a true, genuine Christian. Nothing can take the place of Salvation in a mother’s life: not money, not education, not physical beauty, not intuition, not even human love. III. Mary, in the Upper Room. Acts 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. How I love this scene of Mary the Mother of Jesus in the assembly of disciples in the Upper Room. Think about it, no one knew more about Jesus personally than Mary did. She was his mother. She had brought him into the world, cared for him, fed him, changed his diapers, taught him to eat, to talk, to walk, to pray and to read. She had watched him grow into manhood, witnessed his mighty ministry, stood by the cross and watched him die in shame and agony and then went home with John in sorrow and despair. Then the word came that Jesus was alive! The stone had been rolled away. The tomb was empty. Jesus had been seen by his disciples. Think about those 40 days after resurrection. My, what an experience for Mary. She was in the crowd when he told them to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. She heard his words about the coming Comforter. She heard about the promise that the Holy Ghost was going to be poured out and she heard about the command for them all to tarry in the Upper Room until they were baptized and filled. In wonderful obedience and faithfulness, Mary made her way to the Upper Room. Jesus was gone. He would not be living in Galilee any more. He would not be traveling, preaching, teaching and doing mighty miracles of among the people. But, he had promised to send another Comforter that would abide with them forever. I love to think of Mary, right there in the Upper Room along with all those men. (I know there were some other women there, but the majority were men). Her Voice was raised in Holy Prayer, Her Hands were raised in Holy Praise, Her Heart was lifted up in Worship as she cried out her Longing for the Promise of the Father. Suddenly, there was a sound of rushing mighty wind; a tongue of fire settled on the head of Mary and she was filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other tongues. She was there to experience the outpouring of the Holy Ghost. She was there to receive the Promise of the Father. She was there to witness the salvation of 3000 souls when the gospel was preached. Mary was one of the first Pentecostal Mothers in history. There is just something about a Pentecostal Mother that is so great it can’t be described in words. A Mother that has been baptized in and filled with the Holy Ghost. A Mother that speaks in tongues as Spirit gives utterance. A Mother that has the Holy Ghost praying through her and for her. A Mother that is used in gifts of the Spirit (sometimes in church; sometimes in the home) A Mother that lifts her hands in holy worship in the house of God and cries tears of dedication & joy. She may shout aloud and rejoice, she may walk around the altar or run the aisles, she may sing under the anointing of the Holy Ghost. Every Mother needs to go to Calvary for Salvation and to the Upper Room to be filled with the Holy Ghost. By the Way- Every Dad needs to too! Persevere in the New Year
Heb. 12:1-4 Intro: We call it a New Year but certainly everything is Not New! You are not new, you have the same spouse, the same children, the same job, the same house...you get the point. Everything is not new. You also brought your Christian experience with you into the new year. You may have been saved and living for the Lord for many years or for only a few years. Whichever is the case for you, when you became a Christian you started on a Race To Heaven. While the years change and the old years pass away and the new years come this Christian Race continues. We must press on until we reach the finish line; heaven’s bright shore! We must Persevere in this New Year. In this text from Hebrews 12, I find three things in particular that each of us must do this year in order to persevere in our Christian Race. I. Put Off the Weight. “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us.” It’s ironic how many people make physical weight loss their number one resolution year after year. It’s also ironic how Few people seem to make spiritual weight loss an important part of their new year’s plans as a Christian. This matter of laying aside every weight is very important for successful running in the physical realm. The runner will put off anything that hinders him or holds him back or slows him down. So it is that every Christian must be serious about Putting Off the Weights in the new year. I know that physically many start on a weight loss program and it lasts for about a month and then they fall back into the same old habits that overcame them before. Spiritually, you and I need to identify those things that have hindered us in this past year; those things that held us back; those things that slowed us down spiritually; and we need to lay those things aside, never to take them up again. We all need to get stirred about our spiritual devotion, part of which is to put off the weights that hinder and hold us back. Don’t allow things of this world to attach themselves to your life and hold you back in your Christian race. You need to Persevere in the New Year. II. Participate. “Let us Run the race that is set before us” “LET US RUN” You cannot just sit on the sideline watching others faithfully run the Christian Race. You need to really get in it for yourself and get in it for real. If you want to persevere in the new year you must participate in the Christian race. You must Pray; you must Attend Church faithfully; you must Worship fervently; you must Play your music and Sing your song; you must testify and rejoice and yield to the Holy Ghost; you must Participate! Remember the old Patriotic song that says, “this land is your land, this land is my land from California to the New York Islands; from the redwood forests to the Gulf Stream waters...” Well, you need to remember that this church is Your Church, this church is my church; the building, the furnishings, the services, the people... Whatever is accomplished by your local church this year depends on YOU. It does not just depend on the pastor and his wife or the members of the board, it depends on you. What kind of services will Your church have? Will they be alive? Will they be spiritual? Will they have manifestatins of the Holy Ghost? Will anyone be saved? Will holiness, both inward and outward, be evident in your church? I trust you will not go AWOL this year or abandon the Christian race. You must Persevere in the New Year. III. Patiently Wait. In our text, it’s clear that running this Christian Race is not easy. It is very difficult at times and has its hardships & trials. We will sometimes suffer discouragement & weariness. So the writer gives us the following exhortations: Verse 1- “run with patience” Verse 2- “Looking unto Jesus- Author & Finisher of our faith- endured Cross, despised shame & is set down at the right hand of throne of God.” Verse 3-“consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” Verse 4- “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” We all have difficult days where we don’t “FEEL” the Fire and Power of Holy Ghost. Troubles do come to us in our Health and our Finances and our Work and in our Relationships but this Christian Race is of vital importance. This is not a matter of personal convenience or comfort. This is serious! It is a matter of Eternal life or death. You need to persevere in the new year. 1 Cor. 9: 24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 2 Tim 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Put Off the Weight. Participate. Patiently Wait. The Unsung Hero of Christmas
Mat. 1:18-23 Intro: Joseph is the one I call the unsung hero of Christmas. We don’t neglect him deliberately and we don’t disrespect him, we just don’t often Highlight him. For the most part, Joseph is the silent man in the Christmas story. He never speaks in the Bible and he is not actually quoted anywhere in the Christmas story. We sometimes put words in his mouth in regard to his talk with Mary about the angel’s visit or in his conversation with the inn keeper trying to secure a room, but none of his actual words are recorded in the story. Still, he is an Unsung Hero in this whole matter. I. He is a Hero of Faith. When Zacharias was told that he and Elizabeth were going to have a son in their old age, he doubted and was made to be deaf and dumb until the promise of God was fulfilled. Even Mary struggled at first with the message of the Angel and questioned, “ how can this thing be?” Yet, while Joseph was struggling with the news that Mary was expecting and while he was thinking that he would have to divorce her quietly so as not to create a scandal, an angel from God came to him in the night and told him to take Mary as his wife and that the child in her womb had been conceived by the Holy Ghost himself; and Joseph BELIEVED! He did not question God; he did not demand further explanation; he did not Doubt the word God had sent. He is a Hero of Faith! Oh, that we might believe God like that! That we would take God at his Word even when it seems Incredible and even if it seems Impossible. Remember, what is incredible to man is just another day’s work for our God and what is impossible for man is just routine for our God. Do you Believe God? Will you Believe God? II. He is a Hero of Obedience. Again, Joseph shows his great character in the fact that when the angel told him about God’s plan and gave him instructions he Simply Obeyed. Look at the story: In vs 19 he was struggling with the news that Mary, his betrothed, has become expecting. He was wrestling with the best way to handle the situation so that she was not harmed. In vs. 20 the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him not to be afraid of taking Mary as his wife. He was assured that she has not been unfaithful to him but that her pregnancy was the direct act of God. In vs. 21 Joseph was told that the child would be named Jesus for “he will save his people from their sins.” In vs. 22,23 Matthew inserts a parenthesis and remarks that these things were a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah. Matthew resumes his narrative in vs. 24 with these words: “THEN Joseph being raised from sleep, DID as the angel of the Lord had bidden (or commanded) him; and took unto him his wife.” Now, how does that account read to you? Do you hear it like I hear it? As soon as the dream was completed; as soon as the angel departed after leaving his message; at that Very Point, Joseph got up out of bed, dressed, went out into the streets, made his way to the house of Mary, informed her about what had happened, and immediately started the process for Mary to officially become his wedded wife. Joseph is a hero of obedience! He obeyed even though he was initially afraid. He obeyed even though he did not understand the whole situation. He obeyed even when it was going to cause gossip and bring reproach on his reputation. Oh, the Glory of Immediate Obedience! Jesus asked this question to some who claimed to be his followers: Lk 6: 46- “and why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” John recorded three times that Jesus said, “If you love me you will Keep my commandments.” Obedience! What a testimony of true love and devotion to the Lord. III. He is a Hero of Faithfulness Not only did Joseph have great faith to believe what God said and to take God at his Word; not only did he respond with immediate and whole hearted obedience; he also continued to obey God and fulfill the role God had ordained for his life. It was NOT EASY! He faced reproach from those around him; he restrained his natural desires for a physical relationship with Mary until after the baby Jesus was born; he made a difficult journey to Bethlehem because it was God’s will; he then made the long move to Egypt at the warning of Gabriel to protect the young child’s life; he put his own life and plans on HOLD for quite a while; he closed down his carpenter shop for at least two years and had to do whatever work he was able to find to take care of Mary and the child Jesus. Joseph was a Faithful Man. He was reliable; he was dependable; he was steady and true. He cared for his wife and child through difficult circumstances in order to be pleasing to God and to do God’s will. It’s great to hear from God; to feel God’s presence; to be blessed by God; to be given new life by the Blood of Jesus. But after the glory of salvation comes the task of living out your faith in this sinful world. When life brings trouble, stay faithful to the Lord. When life brings sickness & affliction, be faithful to the Lord. When there is distress in your family, be faithful to the Lord. When you feel perplexed and don’t understand why you are going through these circumstances, be faithful to the Lord. This Christmas, Be a Hero of Faith, Obedience, and Faithfulness. God Saves the Best for Last
John 2:10 Intro: This is a familiar story in the life of Christ. He had been invited to a wedding and attended along with his disciples. When the host ran out of wine, Mary told Jesus about the dilemma and she then told the servants to do what ever he commanded. Jesus had the servants fill the water pots to the brim with water, then he told them to draw out and take it to the governor of the feast. When they did, the governor exclaimed in surprise- Most people put out their best at the first and if they need more, they put out the lesser quality. BUT you have done the opposite; you have put out the Best at the Last. That’s the way God works; He saves the Best for Last. I. Creation. The whole story of creation is amazing; “In the beginning GOD...” Nothing existed but God- God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost. God decided to create a universe and began creating just by speaking it into existence. 1) God created Light- cosmic light; no sun or stars yet 2) God created the Atmosphere that would surround and support life on the earth. 3) God created the Seas and Dry Land; then called forth grass, herbs, and trees; Vegetation on the earth. 4) God Created the Planets, the Sun, Moon, Stars 5) God created all the Birds of the air and the Fish of the Sea 6) God created all the animals that would live on the earth This was All Pretty Amazing! Actually Incredible! BUT THEN- God had saved the Best for Last; For NOW God said Let Us make MAN in Our image and after our likeness... So God created Man in his own image- in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them; The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul. Man was God’s BEST creation: - by his special creation by the very hands of God; - by his special composition- not only body, but soul and spirit; - by his special commission- he was given dominion over the entire earth and the animal kingdom. The Psalmist said it best- Ps 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. II. Salvation. God’s plan of Salvation clearly Saved the Best for Last. In Eden when Adam and Eve sinned, God shed the blood of innocent animals and made Coats to Cover them. Later, at the Passover, God revealed the necessity of Blood to Atone. In the law, God prescribed Sacrifices as Substitutes; where innocent animals took the place of guilty men and women and bore the penalty of their sins for them. Also in the law, God ordered Ceremonies of Commitment whereby men and women offered their sacrifices in faith and by doing so, offered themselves and their lives to God. Still- these methods and procedures were only preliminary ones- for the Best was yet to come. Heb. 1- God who at sundry times (various times) and in divers manners (in different ways) spake in time unto the fathers by the prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by HIS SON- who is the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person... Better than the Coats to Cover; Better than the Passover Lamb to Atone; Better than the Sacrifices as Substitutes; Better than the Ceremonies of Commitment; Better than the Tabernacle; Better even than the Angels! Not Just BETTER but the BEST! Christ came a High Priest who was Holy, Harmless, Undefiled, Separate from Sinners and made higher than the heavens. He needed not offer up sacrifices first for his own sins- for he KNEW no sin; he was Tempted in all points like as we are YET WITHOUT SIN. He did not enter into the Holy of Holies with the blood of goats or calves- but by his OWN BLOOD, he entered in once into the holy place having obtained Eternal Redemption for us. (not temporary but Eternal) Thank God the Father for Giving us Jesus! Thank you Jesus for Giving us Your Life; Thank you Holy Ghost for bringing the Life and Presence of Jesus Inside Us! AND this matter of God saving the Best for Last is not over yet. III. Dispensations. When God started dealing with his people it was in the Garden of Eden with a dispensation of Innocence; when they sinned God opened the dispensation of Conscience where he led men by his voice inside of them; then he ushered in the dispensation of Human Government after the flood where man was given the authority and the command to deal with wrong doing and govern themselves properly. God then spoke to Abraham and began a dispensation of Promise- where he chose Abraham to be the father of a Nation that would be God’s own special people and would bless all the nations of the earth. At Mt. Sinai God brought in the dispensation of Law where he revealed how he expected his people to live and where he instituted the sacrifices mentioned before to cover man’s sin temporarily. Then came the Dispensation of Grace- where God sent his own son Jesus to be the lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world; Jesus paid the price for sin and opened the door of salvation to the entire world. NOW we can be SAVED- we can become part of the Church; the body of Christ; we can become part of the Bride of Christ; we can enjoy the fulness of the Holy Ghost not only in Conversion but in a Baptism of Glory and Power; we can experience the sanctifying power of the Spirit of God and the Word of God and can live a victorious life for the Lord right in the midst of a Dark and Wicked World. This dispensation comes to a close with a Powerful and Amazing Event known as the Rapture of the Church. Jesus himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the arch angel and with the trump of God; the dead in Christ will be raised first and we which are alive and remain will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord! All the Saints of God will be Caught Up; Changed; Glorified; Rewarded; Granted positions of Rulership in the coming Kingdom of God- we will Rule and Reign with Jesus Christ as Kings and Priests. Oh, yes, God is Saving the BEST for LAST. The LAST age of time; the last dispensation will be one of TOTAL Righteousness; a time where God’s Kingdom is established first on this earth and finally in a New Heaven and New Earth. This is not Science Fiction; not Fantasy; not some Far Out Opinion; This is TRUTH and REALITY. Jesus is Coming! Saints are Going to Heaven! After the world is punished by the Wrath of God, His Kingdom will Come; His Will will be Done on the earth just like it is done in heaven. Are you Ready for that day? That day when God puts out the Best he has saved for Last! |
Bro. Dwain GaliherPastor of JHPC Archives
June 2026
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