Reader220 Bible Study : 2012

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Volume 2 Lesson 10 Be Fruitful In The Spirit, Part 3

LESSON 10

BE FRUITFUL In The Spirit, Part III
SECTION 1:
A Story of Being Fruitful
Acts 15:1-34

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The Definition
What does it mean to be fruitful in the Spirit?
Deuteronomy 7:9

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1 Corinthians 1:9

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John 15:1-27

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Galatians 5:24-26

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Faithfulness: The Greek word is pistis [pis-tis]. It means “conviction of

the truth, belief with the predominate idea of trust or confidence in God.”

Gentleness: The Greek word is prautes [pra-oo-tays]. It means
meekness, gentleness in spirit. It has the connotation of being submitted
to the will of God, to be teachable, and to be considerate.

Self-Control: The Greek word is enkrateia [en-kra-tay-ah]. It is the

virtue of one who masters their desires and passions or self-mastery.

Why do I need to be fruitful in the Spirit? [1]
1 Thessalonians 5:24

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Philippians 4:1-5

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2 Timothy 3:1-5

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How can I be fruitful in the Spirit?

Galatians 5:24-26

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Ephesians 4:1-3

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2 Peter 1:1-8

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As you read at the beginning of this section, there are key ingredients for
seeing the fruit of faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control produced in
your life.[2]

These are daily living and walking in the Holy Spirit and daily
consuming the Word of God. [3]

There is also a climate for them - a
crucified life, humility and the right community of believers.[4]

Proverbs 27:17

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SECTION 2:
The Study
2 Timothy 2:20-24

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SECTION 3:
The Memorizing of Scripture
Psalm 101:6

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Philippians 4:5

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Ro 13:14

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SECTION 4:
The Discussion
SECTION 5:
SECTION 6:
Go Further
Here are some additional readings for you as you are fruitful in the Spirit:

Our need is not to prove God’s faithfulness but to demonstrate our own,by trusting Him both to determine and to supply our needs according to His will. [5]

We are to reflect Christ in all that we say and do. And the Christ of
Scripture is the humble, suffering servant who, in spite of great
opposition, false accusations, and public ridicule, remained faithful to the
heavenly calling. [6]

look inside

The world defines success in terms of what a person possesses, controls,
or accomplishes. God defines success in terms of faithful obedience to His
will. [7] Ken Sande

look inside
Both gentleness and meekness are born of power, not weakness. There is
a pseudo-gentleness that is effeminate, and there is a pseudo-meekness
that is cowardly. But a Christian is to be gentle and meek because those
are Godlike virtues… We should never be afraid, therefore, that the
gentleness of the Spirit means weakness of character. It takes strength,
God’s strength, to be truly gentle.[8]8 The Practice of Godliness, Jerry Bridges, NavPress 1996, p.181-182

Look Inside

Galatians 5:22-26 Message
“But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our
lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like
affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a
willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a
conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find
ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in
life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in
bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to
Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified. Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original” Galatians 5:22-26 Message [9]

"Great is Thy faithfulness," O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
"Great is Thy faithfulness!" "Great is Thy faithfulness!"
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
"Great is Thy faithfulness," Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Great is Thy Faithfulness, William Marian Runyan [10]

Confidentiality is a virtue of the loyal, as loyalty is the virtue of
faithfulness. Edwin Louis Cole [11]

Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength. Saint Francis de Sales [12]

Industry, thrift and self-control are not sought because they create wealth,
but because they create character. Calvin Coolidge [13]

The following is not a quote from the disciples Handbook, but it could be, because it helps. (Rick Livermore Reader220)

look inside
"5:22, 23 It is significant that the apostle distinguishes between the works of the flesh, and the fruit of the Spirit. Works are produced by human energy. Fruit is grown as a branch abides in the vine (John 15:5). They differ as a factory and a garden differ. Note that fruit is singular, not plural. The Holy Spirit produces one kind of fruit, that is, Christlikeness. All the virtues now listed describe the life of the child of God. Dr. C. I. Scofield has pointed out that every one of them is foreign to the soil of the human heart.
Love is what God is, and what we ought to be. It is beautifully described in 1 Corinthians 13, and told out in all its fullness at the cross of Calvary. Joy is contentment and satisfaction with God and with His dealings. Christ displayed it in John 4:34. Peace could include the peace of God as well as harmonious relations among Christians. For peace in the life of the Redeemer, see Luke 8:22–25. Longsuffering is patience in afflictions, annoyances, and persecutions. Its supreme example is found in Luke 23:34. Kindness is gentleness, perhaps best explained in the attitude of the Lord toward little children (Mark 10:14). Goodness is kindness shown to others. To see goodness in action, we have but to read Luke 10:30–35. Faithfulness may mean trust in God, confidence in our fellow Christians, fidelity, or reliability. This latter is probably the meaning here. Gentleness is taking the lowly place as Jesus did when He washed His disciples’ feet (John 13:1–17). Self-control means literally holding oneself in, especially regarding sex. Our lives should be disciplined. Lust, passions, appetites, and temper should be ruled. We should practice moderation. As Samuel Chadwick points out:

In newspaper English the passage reads something like this: the fruit of the Spirit is an affectionate, lovable disposition; a radiant spirit and a cheerful temper; a tranquil mind and a quiet manner; a forbearing patience in provoking circumstances and with trying people; a sympathetic insight and tactful helpfulness; generous judgment and a big-souled charity; loyalty and reliableness under all circumstances; humility that forgets self in the joy of others; in all things self-mastered and self-controlled, which is the final mark of perfection. How striking this is in relation to 1 Cor. 13!

Paul closes this list with the cryptic comment: “Against such there is no law.” Of course not! These virtues are pleasing to God, beneficial to others, and good for ourselves. But how is this fruit produced? Is it by man’s effort? Not at all. It is produced as Christians live in communion with the Lord. As they gaze upon the Savior in loving devotion, and obey Him in daily life, the Holy Spirit works a wonderful miracle. He transforms them into the likeness of Christ. They become like Him by beholding Him (2 Cor. 3:18). Just as the branch derives all its life and nourishment from the vine, so the believer in Christ derives his strength from the True Vine, and is thus able to live a fruitful life for God." MacDonald, W. [14]

Appendix Bibliography

[1] Disciple's Handbook: Volume 2
New Song Christian Fellowship
Copyright 2016 Crowned Image Media www.crownedimage.com
First Edition, 2016
There is a page where authors are named here:
https://www.crownedimage.com/authors

[2] Life Book Volume 2, Shibley/Evrist, Global Advance Resources, p.37
[3] Life Book Volume 2, Shibley/Evrist, Global Advance Resources, p.37
[4] Life Book Volume 2, Shibley/Evrist, Global Advance Resources, p.37

[5] The MacArthur New Testament Commentary on Matthew 1-7, Mood, 1985, p.95

[6] Appointed to Preach, David W. Hegg, Christian Focus Publications, 1999, p.70

[7] Reprinted from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, Ken Sande, Baker Books, 3d ed., 2004, p.253

look inside

[8] The Practice of Godliness, Jerry Bridges, NavPress 1996, p.181-182

[9] Peterson, Eugene H., ed. – The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2002. WORDsearch CROSS e-book. Galatians 5:22-26

[10] Great is Thy Faithfulness, William Marian Runyan, Hope Publishing Co., 1923 & 1951
[11] www.brainyquote.com, Edwin Louis Cole

[12] www.brainyquote.com, Saint Francis de Sales

[13] www.brainyquote.com, Calvin Coolidge

[14] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments (A. Farstad, Ed.) (Ga 5:22–23). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Brought to you by Rick Livermore

Publisher of http://reader220.blogspot.com

I am a fan of disciples Handbook Volumes 1 and 2 by New Song Christian Fellowship Nashville TN

Nearly sixty left a historic Christian university in Rome, Georgia over a signature requirement on a personal lifestyle statement

A historic Christian university in Rome, Georgia has received record resignation letters from staffers after mandating that its employees sign a “personal lifestyle statement.”

Reports indicate that nearly sixty out of the two hundred employees at Shorter University have decided to leave the educational institution rather than sign the statement, which outlines a moral code that staff are required to live by.

Personal Lifestyle Statement
A. Christian Commitment and Membership in a Local Church
Shorter University will hire persons who are committed Bible believing
Christians, who are dedicated to integrating biblical faith in their classes and
who are in agreement with the University Statement of Faith. Moreover,
employees are expected to be active members of a local church.
B. Principles of Personal Conduct
I agree to adhere to and support the following principles (on or off the
campus):
1. I will be loyal to the mission of Shorter University as a Christ-centered
institution affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention.
2. I will not engage in the use, sale, possession, or production of illegal
drugs.
3. I reject as acceptable all sexual activity not in agreement with the Bible,
including, but not limited to, premarital sex, adultery, and homosexuality.
4. I will not use alcoholic beverages in the presence of students, and I will
abstain from serving, from using, and from advocating the use of alcoholic
beverages in public (e.g. in locations that are open to use by the general
public, including as some examples restaurants, concert venues,
stadiums, and sports facilities) and in settings in which students are
present or are likely to be present. I will not attend any University
sponsored event in which I have consumed alcohol within the last six
hours. Neither will I promote or encourage the use of alcohol.
I have read and agree with the Personal Lifestyle Statement and will adhere to it in
its entirety while employed at Shorter University. I understand that failure to
adhere to this statement may result in disciplinary action against me, up to and
including immediate termination

https://christiannews.net/2012/05/18/staff-of-christian-university-resign-in-droves-after-refusing-to-sign-personal-lifestyle-statement/

Brought to you by Rick Livermore

Publisher of http://reader220.blogspot.com

I am a fan of disciples Handbook Volumes 1 and 2 by New Song Christian Fellowship Nashville TN

Volume 2 Lesson 9 Be Fruitful In The Spirit, Part 2

LESSON 9

BE FRUITFUL In The Spirit, Part II
SECTION 1:
A Story of Being Fruitful
Acts 20:17-38

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What does it mean to be fruitful in the Spirit?
Galatians 5:22-25

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1 Corinthians 13:4-8

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Long-suffering: In the New Testament, God’s attitude towards mankind is that He is very patient with us. The Greek word is makrothumia [macro-thoo-mia], which means patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, forbearance, long-suffering. When you are wronged – if you are walking in the fruit of long-suffering – you will not
be compelled to avenge the wrong done, but instead will be slow to anger and wrath. This fruit causes you to bear with troubles and ills in people and situations. To be long-suffering is to be forbearing, loving and forgiving.

Kindness: The Greek word for kindness is krestostes [kray-sto-tays] it means moral goodness, integrity, kindness. It has the connotation of being useful, and it goes hand-in-hand with the Greek for philanthropy, which is goodwill to fellow members of the human race. However, kindness is the disposition. It is what motivates us. The word denotes a goodness which does not irritate, does not make others uncomfortable and is a gentleness.

Goodness: The Greek translation for goodness is agathosuney [a-gath-osu-nay] – uprightness in heart and life, goodness, kindness. This is God’s heart towards mankind as well. He wants to do good to you. His goodness towards you is manifest in His good actions and deeds born out of His great love for you. This goodness flows to you by His Holy Spirit. It is the ability, out of His heart of love, for us to do good to others as well.

Why do I need to be fruitful in the Spirit?

Ephesians 4:29-32

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2 Corinthians 6:4-6

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Ephesians 2:4-10

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The Holy Spirit gives the strength to patiently endure until the end.
1

1
Life Book Volume 2, Shibley/Evrist, Global Advance Resources, p.36 www.globaladvance.org

How can I be fruitful in the Spirit?
John 15:1-5

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Colossians 3:9-17

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SECTION 2:
Colossians 3:12-15

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Colossians 3:12-15
SECTION 3:

The Memorizing of Scripture
Colossians 1:10,11

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Ephesians 2:7

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Ephesians 5:5

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SECTION 4:
SECTION 5:
SECTION 6:
Go Further

Here are some additional readings for you as you are fruitful in the Spirit:

Patience: [< Latin patiens, < Latin pati (to endure, suffer)] the quality or capacity of being patient; to endure something with calmness; the ability to willingly accept or tolerate delay or hardship. (The same root word led to the word “passion,” which is still used in its original sense of “suffer” when describing the last week of Christ's life.) Its word-field includes long-suffering, forbearance, perseverance, to put up with. The Greek term in Galatians 5:22 is makrothumia [makro- (long, distant in time or space, large-view) + thumos (passion, rage, the emotions of suffering)], with a usual meaning of having an enduringly-calm temper.
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“The root of all goodness is the goodness of God. Sounds simple, right? But there is a problem with what we think of as “good.” We think, "If God is good, He'll do good things for us!" And what do we think of as good? Getting material wealth? Having things go our own way? Instant healing of our ills? Removal of suffering, or getting someone you loathe out of your life? But goodness may be humility, may be suffering, may be loss, may be to serve, may even be boredom. And the things we think of as the gifts of a good God may well be the most important things for us not to have. God’s goodness is defined by God’s love. God’s goodness is goodness, and in its light it is our expectations that must change. Goodness has a way of setting things straight. When we see other people being or doing good, it often reminds us of how not-good we are. Which brings out a suitcase full of excuses. The exposé can be quite a shock, puncturing one’s self-image. Even when we do good, goodness may have nothing to do with it. While nothing entirely gets rid of this tendency in this life, God has given us a way to face up to it: confession. It not only opens us for God’s response to our un-goodness, it also brings about a more truthful self-image. The only way to become more good is to know what ways we’re bad so we can replace that with goodness.”
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“Do acts of kindness for people. Give them little tastes of God’s love. People actually like being treated kindly, as if they are valued. They can lay down at least some of their defenses, relax more, and feel comfortable. Most non-Christians have an expectation of being treated a bit more kindly by Christians, and are disappointed and sometimes even angry when they’re not treated that way. While it’s wrong to live according to others’ expectations, it is a challenge we need to take to heart. Many
practicing Orthodox Jews today do good deeds (mitzvot) as the opportunities present themselves in their daily lives, mainly because it is what God wants them to do. To them, doing good for others is more than a duty, it’s also a prayer and a devotion.”
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“One of the ways of our God is that He is a very patient and longsuffering God. His ways are not our ways. And one of the things you will find out very early on about His ways is that He works on a much slower time frame than we do. And unless you learn to adjust to His slower way of working things out, you will find yourself easily losing your patience with Him and how He wants to work things out in your life. God operates on a much longer and slower time frame than we are used to operating in the fast-paced world in which we live in. You will really have to work with the Holy Spirit on this particular quality to get it properly worked up into your personality. The reason for this is that your own impatience will start to act up and try to override the patience and long-suffering that the
Holy Spirit will try and transmit to you. At times, it may become a battle of wills – your will against His will.”
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The following are not quotes from the disciples handbook, but they could be, because they help. (Rick Livermore Online Reader)
The fruit of longsuffering as the disciples handbook says above, is the greek word makrothumia
The following copy and paste is from the books Wuest Word Studies in the Greek New Testament
The section this appears in is the one discussing 1 Timothy 1:15-16
The word “howbeit” is alla (ἀλλα), used here, not in its adversative, but its ascensive sense, that of “moreover.” It continues the thought of verse 13 and develops the expression of self-depreciation. The connection, Expositors says, is, “I was such a sinner that antecedently one might doubt whether I could be saved or was worth saving. But Christ had a special object in view in extending to me His mercy.” In the phrase, “that in me first Jesus Christ,” the word “first” does not indicate that Paul is the chief sinner, but that he is “the representative instance of God’s longsuffering to a high-handed transgressor” (Vincent). The word is explained by the word “pattern.” Vincent notes that the a.v., misses the possessive force of the definite article which occurs with the word “longsuffering” in the Greek text. It is more correctly, “all His longsuffering.” Expositors translates, “the utmost longsuffering which He has.” The Greek word translated “longsuffering,” is makrothumia (μακροθυμια), made up of makros(μακρος), “long,” and thumos (θυμος), “soul” or “spirit.” It has the sense of a strong passion, stronger even than orgē (ὀργη), “anger.”Thumos (Θυμος) is a tumultuous welling up of the whole spirit, a mighty emotion which seizes and moves the whole inner man. The restraint implied in makrothumia (μακροθυμια) is more correctly expressed by long-suffering. It is a patient holding out under trial, a long-protracted restraint of the soul from yielding to passion, especially that of anger.

The following copy and paste is from the books Wuest Word Studies in the Greek New Testament
The section this appears in is the one discussing Galatians 5:22-26

b. The Holy Spirit will produce His own fruit in the life of the saint as the latter trusts Him to do that, and cooperates with Him in His work of sanctification (Galatians 5:22–26).

Verses twenty two and twenty three. These verses continue the exhortation of Paul to the Galatians, not to make their liberty from the law a base of operations from which to serve the flesh, but rather to live their Christian lives motivated by divine love. As the repulsiveness of the works of the flesh would deter the Galatians from yielding to the evil nature, so the attractiveness of the fruit of the Spirit would influence them to yield themselves to the Spirit. The word but is from de (δε), is slightly adversative, and introduces the subject of the fruit of the Spirit as a contrast and in antithesis to the works of the flesh.

The choice of fruit here instead of works is due probably to the conception of the Christian experience as the product of a new and divine life implanted in the saint. In 5:25, Paul speaks of the fact that the Christian lives in the Spirit, that is, derives his spiritual life from the indwelling Spirit, which spiritual life is the motivating force producing the fruit of the Spirit. The word fruit is singular, which fact serves to show that all of the elements of character spoken of in these verses are a unity, making for a well-rounded and complete Christian life.

The particular word for love here is agapē (ἀγαπη). It is the love the God is (I John 4:16), produced in the heart of the yielded believer by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5; Gal. 5:22), its chief ingredient, self-sacrifice for the benefit of the one loved (John 3:16), its constituent elements listed in I Corinthians 13. Joy is from chara (χαρα), which is used most frequently in the New Testament of joy that has a spiritual basis, for instance, “joy of the Holy Ghost” (I Thess. 1:6). Peace here is not the peace with God which we have in justification, but the peace of God in our hearts, and can be defined as tranquility of mind based on the consciousness of a right relation to God. It is from eirenē (εἰρενη) which in its verb form means “to bind together.” Thus, Christ Jesus through the blood of His Cross binds together that which was separated by human sin, the sinner who puts his faith in the Lord Jesus, and God.

Longsuffering is from makrothumia (μακροθυμια) which speaks of the steadfastness of the soul under provocation. It includes the idea of forbearance and patient endurance of wrong under ill-treatment, without anger or thought of revenge. Gentleness is from chrestotes (χρεστοτες) which refers to benignity and kindness, a quality that should pervade and penetrate the whole nature, mellowing in it all that is harsh and austere.Goodness is from agathosunē (ἀγαθοσυνη). The word refers to that quality in a man who is ruled by and aims at what is good, namely, the quality of moral worth. It is so used in Ephesians 5:9, II Thessalonians 1:11, and Romans 15:14. Faith is from pistis (πιστις) which does not refer here to faith exercised by the saint, but to faithfulness and fidelity as produced in the life of the yielded Christian by the Holy Spirit.

Meekness is from prautes (πραυτες), which was used in Greek writers to refer to the qualities of mildness, gentleness, and meekness in dealing with others. Temperance is from egkrateia (ἐγκρατεια) which means “possessing power, strong, having mastery or possession of, continent, self-controlled.” It is used in I Corinthians 7:9 of the control of sexual desire. In I Corinthians 9:25, it is used of the control of the athlete over his body and its desires, during the period in which he is in training for the stadium athletic games.27 The word thus refers to the mastery of one’s own desires and impulses. The word does not in itself refer to the control of any particular or specific desire or impulse. The context in which it is found will indicate what particular desire or impulse is meant, if a particular one is referred to.

The words “against such there is no law,” are an understatement of Paul’s thought in the premises, and are for the purpose of rhetorical effect. This mild assertion to the effect that there is no law against such things, has the effect of an emphatic statement that these things fully meet the demands of the law.

Translation. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

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