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I watch disagrees with the clock, but you know what? We start based upon my watch. I get extra time. So ha ha Just got to convince Tommy that we start off by my watch and we end by that clock. That’s that’s the key there We are in Matthew chapter six, Appreciate Michael filling in for me while I was gone and got a chance to listen to most of the class.

He did a good job. Appreciate that. We’ll have a few things to say about Matthew five, as we, as we get into chapter six, as we go through the chapter, but we won’t do very much talking about it simply because otherwise we won’t get through chapter six, Let’s begin with a word of prayer, Our gracious father in heaven. We come before you thankful for the day.

You’ve granted to us for the life that we have, the opportunities that we have to serve you. We pray that you watch over us and help us to always strive to be faithful to you in all things, to care for you and for your kingdom and for your word above all the riches in the world, help us to understand the value of eternal things over physical things.

As we begin this new year, we are mindful of the year that we have just gone through. And we’re mindful of the opportunities that we’ve had, the areas where we’ve fallen short in the areas where we still need to grow. We pray that is we go through this next year, that we will focus better on serving you each and every day that we will always seek to be faithful to you no matter what comes,

no matter the difficulties that lie ahead or the blessings that lie ahead, may we always remember to focus on you? We ask that you forgive us. When we sin and fall short of your glory, we pray that you be with those who are dealing with illness and injury and difficulty at this time. And especially those who are dealing with coronavirus and loss of loved ones.

Those in the hospital, all this, we pray in Jesus name. Amen. Matthew chapter six. The chapter begins with take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men to be seen by them. Every time I read that I cannot help. But think about all the businesses you walk into, especially large corporations that are always posting up on the wall,

how much money they give Every Walmart you’ve ever walked into how much money they give to local charities, how much money they Amazon’s always talking about how much money they give to this, give to that. And yet Jesus Said, take Heed that you do not do your charitable deeds Before men. This is not a condemnation of here’s someone in need and here’s someone passing by,

but there’s a third person over here. Who’s a spectator and Jesus has no, no, no, no, no. Don’t help that person in need while the spectators present that that’s not what this is about. This also isn’t about the idea that no one can know what good things have been done. You go forward to second Corinthians chapter eight and nine,

where Paul is writing to the church at Corinth. And Paul will use the willingness of the church of Corinth to towards the poor Jewish Christians that are undergoing famine and difficulties and persecutions from their own nation. And he’ll use the willingness of the church at Corinth to give towards that effort, to encourage the churches of Macedonia to also give now, wait a minute,

is Paul contradicting Jesus because he’s taking what one church is doing and he’s telling another church about it. No, here’s the idea Jesus is saying and is speaking concerning motivation. This particular idea is more closely akin to what we find over in the book of acts. Turn to acts chapter acts chapter five. I believe it is Beginning in verse 32, actually acts chapter four,

acts chapter four, verse 32. Now the multitudes of those who believed were of one heart and one soul, neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common and with great power, the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord. Jesus and great grace was upon the mall nor was there anyone among them who lacked for all who had,

who were possessors of land or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold and laid them at the apostles feet. And they distributed to each as anyone had need. And Joseph<inaudible>, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles, which is translated the son of encouragement, a Levi of the country of Cyprus having land sold it and brought the money and laid it at the Apostle’s feet.

Now, when Barnabas brought this money that he had, because he sold this land and he laid it at the Apostle’s feet. Did he tell everybody who was at the room now clear the room? I don’t want anybody. Nobody can see what I’m doing. No. As a matter of fact, news concerning what he had done spread throughout the Christians. And we know that it did because you pick up in chapter five,

verse one, but a certain man named Anna Niaz and Safira his wife sold a possession and he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it and brought a certain part and laid it at the Apostle’s feet. Now we’ve probably all gone through this at one time before in, in our lives and in our studies, but there was nothing wrong with the fact that Anna Safira sold something and only gave part of the proceeds.

As a matter of fact, Peter will point out over here a little later. I think it’s verse eight. Peter answered her. Tell me whether you sold the land for so much. She said yes, for so much. Then Peter said to her, how is it that you have agreed together to test the spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried,

your husband are at the door and they will carry you out. If you go back just back in verse four, after Anna Niaz comes and lies to, to Peter and the Holy spirit concerning what he has done, we read in verse four while it remained, that is the possession, the land while it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold,

was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God, because what Anna NEI and Safira did is they brought the possession. They brought the proceeds and instead of giving all of it, they claimed they gave all of it, but kept some of it back. And so in Doing this,

what’s your seeing, what would we get out of the text is they wanted to be known and have the reputation like Barnabas of being these charitable givers, Without the actual sacrifice of giving everything. Barnabas take took everything that he profited from, from the sale of the land and gave all of it. They wanted the notoriety of giving all of it without actually giving all of it.

What was the problem? Their charitable action was being done out of selfish. NIS. Does that mean they had no care, no concern at all, for those who were poor, those who were struggling, I don’t know, but the reality is they lied. The reality is they lied and they had a motivation for doing it. And that motivation was pride and selfishness.

And self-interest the exact opposite of what you’re supposed to have when you’re trying to be benevolent towards others. So Jesus begins Matthew chapter six, by saying, take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you,

As the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory from men, a Shirley, I say to you, they have Reward so often we’ll see, great Big fan and all of this being done to, to show how benevolent some and quite often it’s some very rich person is by doing something in view of their riches, small for someone who’s in great need yet.

There’s great fanfare. And then the news is going to cover it. And we’re going to tell everybody I think about it. Jesus said, don’t do that. Do what needs to be done Without drawing attention to the fact that you’re Doing what needs to be done. He goes on to say, but when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

That your charitable deed may be in secret. And your father who sees in secret will himself reward you. You openly, we don’t need to take this passage to extremes was Told of one congregation hears ago That they had the, the giving plate behind the curtain, Reach in with one hand and put in your offering. But she couldn’t take the other hand and put it inside the curtain because then the left hand would know what the right hand Was doing.

Somehow I think there Was something disconnected right around Here. Okay. This is an analogy. Okay. This is a point that Jesus is making concerning one, striving to being known for something. Instead of doing something, recognizing who they are, They really are. And what I, I mean by that is when a person gives recognizing that what they’re giving doesn’t belong to them.

It belongs to God. Then why should they get any recognition for having given it? Hey, look, I gave what doesn’t belong to me to somebody else Now glorify me. No, You are a steward of What you have. The question is, are you a faithful steward or not? And so Jesus makes the point that your charitable deed may be in secret.

And your father who sees in secret will reward You openly the emphasis of this entire passage, Which will lead all the way till the end of this chapter is do what you do so that you are obedient and faithful to God and leave the rest Up to him. If God wants you to be recognized, then God will make sure you’re recognized. If God wants you to be exalted,

then God can take care of exalting you. If God wants you to be blessed because of what you do, then God can take care of blessing you. The difference is in verses one through four, Jesus is accusing individuals of being more concerned about their own situation. Being more concerned about their own blessings, their own rewards, Then serving God. And Jesus said,

you’ve got it in the wrong order. Don’t neglect doing good, but serve God First and allow him to take care of you verse five. And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites For, they love to pray standing in the synagogues. It’s interesting. He keeps referencing hypocrites here. If you go back to chapter five, he will say,

accept your righteousness, exceed the righteousness of who the Pharisees you shall by no Means enter the kingdom Of God. And now he’s gone through over and over and over again and said, hypocrites, hypocrites. He doesn’t, he hasn’t said Pharisees, Pharisees, but he keeps describing the positions Of the Pharisees and the priests and the teachers of the law. They’re the ones who stand up in front of the synagogue.

They’re the ones who get the trumpets blown in the synagogue and, and out in the street, whenever they do good deeds, they’re the ones He’s Contrasting righteousness against. He said, you can either be like them. You can be like the people who are always tooting their own horn, or You can be righteous, which you can’t be both. He goes on to say,

when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites for, they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the street that they may be seen by men. Again, the thing under discussion, the thing being talked about is the attitude Food of self That they may be seen by as Shirley, I say to you, they have their reward,

but you, when you pray, go into your room and when you have shut your door, pray to your father who was in the secret place. And your father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Is this Jesus saying, no, the only place we ever need to pray is in a room all by ourselves with the door. No. And yet what Jesus speaks of is an attitude.

That Is one that we need to be cautious about, that we are not doing, Doing something for pride or recognition growing up when I was a, what I would still do, I consider to be a boy when I was younger, teenage years. And around that time, you know, if in the congregation where I grew up, if you got up and led a prayer,

if you got up and, and led singing, if you got up and served on Lord’s table, there were going to be seven or eight people who came up to you afterwards, whether you did a good job or a terrible job who told you how good of a job you did? Why were they doing Encouragement? They were attempting to bolster the attitude Dude of service Way to against the attitude of Nervousness and shyness.

And so Well-meaning and, and very spiritual and very mindful of thoughtful individuals will come up and say, you did a great, Good job, keep it up. Now there’s a Benefit and a potential negative to that Because you Can end up having an individual who eventually only serves for the compliments they get For the Things that they get told at for the gratification that comes by doing it.

And you, you might’ve seen this happen a few times in, in other areas of life, somebody is known for doing something. They do it all the time. They do it on a regular basis, and they’re always talked about for doing it. And then for whatever reason, time and, and forgetfulness, Somebody doesn’t mention what it is that they did.

Yeah. And the next time the opportunity rolls around. They don’t do it. And the next time the opportunity rolled around, they don’t do it. And you go and ask what, what happened? Oh, well so-and-so or nobody appreciates me. Nobody ever thanks me for it. They’ve been thanked for 30 years for doing it, but that hasn’t built up quite enough,

ego to last for the next 10 years of not being thanked for doing it. What’s the problem. The problem is they started at some point, not saying they did it the entire time, but at some point they stopped doing it because it was the thing that needed to be done. And they started doing it because they were getting recognized for doing it.

And we need to be careful about that at the same time. Let me say unequivocally, especially with young individuals striving to do something that’s outside their comfort zone. We should definitely encourage them for doing so, but he says, and when you pray, verse seven, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do for, they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Therefore do not be like them for your father knows the things you have need of before you ask him, this passage always reminds me of a lie. He’s there on the mountain with the Fort 100 profits veil. And they’re, they’re crying out and dancing around and throwing themselves around and cutting themselves and trying to get bailed, light the sacrifice on fire and with all their many words and all this time,

they spend doing it until they’re exhausted and basically collapsed on the ground. They don’t get anything to happen. And Elijah prayed. He’s what, after dousing the whole altar with water after all of the things that praise, once fire comes down from heaven and sets whole thing on fire, was it the long prayer that he got? Well, it was the fact that God knew what he needed before he ever opened his mouth.

And so he says, therefore, do not be like them for your father knows the things you have need of before you ask interesting point, he’s just lowered the hypocrites, the Pharisees, the Sadducees describes the teachers to the same level as the pagan. Okay? He said, this is what the heathen do. They’re vain repetitions over and over again, thinking they’ll accomplish something.

And these hypocrites are no better than them in this manner. Therefore pray our father in heaven, hallowed, be your name, your kingdom, come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread and forgive us our debts. As we forgive our debtors, sometimes we have a mentality of forgive us our debts,

and then we’ll forgive our debtors. Take, take care of me first, but Jesus wants us to go the other direction. Jesus wants us and all all through this passage. This is, this whole section is about this idea. Do for others, do for God before you do for you do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen. There is there’s. There’s just far more that could be said about those verses than I have time to even dwell on. So we’re, we’re going to leave that for another time. He goes then to this, he says for, if you forgive men, their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you out of this prayer. He focuses on forgiveness.

They seek the wiping away of debts in a country that has spent more money in the last year than we spent from the government’s perspective in the last 10 years, which one costs more the entire national debt or one souls sins, which one costs more one soul sin, because you could get enough gold to pay off the national debt. It exists somewhere in the world,

but there’s not enough gold in all the vaults, in all the places in all the world to pay for one person sins, forgive us our debts. As we forgive Our debtors for, if you forgive men, their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you the opposite. It is also true, but if you do not forgive men, their trespasses,

neither will your father forgive your trust. Facets. John would write to the church in the first century and he would tell them that the blood of Christ continually cleanses their sins. But then he’ll remind them If any man says he has no sin, He’s a liar. And the truth is not in it. He wants it to be clear that there’s no one who stands on the pinnacle of all the rest of the church,

untouched by sin, untouched by transgression and standing there alone saying, I don’t have to forgive anybody because nobody has Forgive me because I’m perfect. But as we look at this, as we back up, as he’s talking about forgiveness, what is he really talking about? Who is the person who will not forgive someone else, a hypocrite, a person who’s more interested in themselves than the other person.

The person who will not forgive Is not the person who’s been so maligned. They Possibly forgive. No, no, no, no. That’s not who it is. Person who will not forgive is the person who has so lost. The view of their own needs, Needs that they no longer care for the needs of others. All through this passage, All through this text,

Jesus Has been talking about the, The relationship we have towards our selves And How it affects the relationship we have with everyone, Including God, Because the person who is so filled with pride, so filled with indignation, so filled with themselves. So filled with selfishness that they will not forgive. Jesus Says you have condemned yourself because if you won’t forgive God,

won’t forgive you. Moreover, when you fast do not be like the hypocrites with a sad countenance for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear to men to be fasting assuredly. I say to you, they have their reward, but you, when you fast anoint your head and wash your face so that you do not appear to be, to appear to men,

to be fasting, but to your father who is in the secret place and your father who sees in secret will reward you openly. He’s not changed discussions. He’s not changed topics the entire time, all going all the way back into the discussion in chapter six, verse one about charitable deeds. He’s not changed topics at all. He’s just applied it to different areas.

He’s applied it to charitable deeds and giving and helping others. He’s applied it to prayer. He’s applied it to forgiveness. He’s now going to apply it to fasting question. Is there any place actually, let me, let me back up one question before I jump ahead of the horse here, what is fasting doing without something? And generally in scripture, it’s specifically doing without what food and or drink liquids or,

or, or solids. Okay. Sometimes it’s just one. Sometimes it’s, it’s both. When Jesus fasted in the wilderness, was it him fasting from food and drink? It have to be just food. How long did he fast 40 days. Can you go that long without any liquids? Nope. 70% water. About that time. You’re around 50% and you’re dead.

All right. Not going to happen. But when Satan came and tempted him, what did he say? Turn this water into earth. He started turning this stone into water bread, turn, turn this stone into bread. Depending upon the circumstance. Sometimes it was a complete, fast from everything. It was, it was quite literally the idea of, and this was generally connected to morning,

but it was the idea of withholding really anything from yourself. This is not something we in America tend to do on a regular basis. And some, I actually know some people who have fasted. I know some who fast on, on a regular basis. Not that I know personally, but that I have talked to or heard from, but what’s the reason for it.

If biblically speaking, not, not talking about people who were not talking about dieting, what’s the reason biblically speaking for fasting. There’s primarily two reasons. Say what? All right, a focus on spiritual cleansing or repentance quite often, what was the other? Okay. So the, the other main focus that we see in scripture is morning or sorrow, whether that be a,

for a national reason, quite often, you would find individuals fasting because of the wickedness of, of the nation of Israel. But this, this always was, was supposed to be a spiritual discipline of withholding. Your natural needs to focus your mind on something more important. And this isn’t a bad thing. I think sometimes we look at it at fasting and go,

well, we don’t need to do that today. We don’t need to focus our minds on more important things. I don’t know that that’s true. Are we commanded under the new Testament to do it today? No, we’re not commanded to do it, but there was only one occasion under the old Testament where they were commanded to do it. So, you know,

a lot of times we’ll look at the old Testament, all the, you know, that fasting, that’s an old Testament thing. No, it’s not. There’s only one specific area or commandment concerning fasting in the old Testament. The fact that there’s one less under the new Testament doesn’t mean that it’s not something that we ought to participate in. It is the same idea as God says,

be still and know that I am God now because there’s no commandment in the new Testament about being still to recognize that God is who he is. Does that mean that we shouldn’t occasionally take opportunities to shove aside everything else, turn everything off and pay attention to the fact that God is now. That’s a setting aside physical to focus on spiritual. Well, that’s all that fasting is about,

but it is a poignant way of doing it because after you get past a certain number of hours, as most of us are familiar with your stomach starts to remind you it’s time to eat. One of the things that fasting does is every time you’re reminded by your body, that you’re hungry, that is used as a prompt for you to think on that spiritual thing that you’re focusing on.

And so you’re using your natural senses to focus your attention on a spiritual thing. Okay? Here’s the problem with what they were doing. They were fasting the hypocrites, they were fasting and they would do so on a regular basis, they would do so without any specific reason, except that they would, you know, they wouldn’t clean their face. They look like they they’d had a rough rough day,

rough night, rough, whatever. And then they’d go out among the people so that people could go, Oh, he’s fasting. Ah, he’s, he’s really, he’s really spiritual. Jesus said, go wash your face, go clean yourself up. Don’t do a spiritual act. That is between you and God to be seen of men and recognized for your spirituality.

He said, when you do that, your spirituality is all the reward you get. The recognition you get in public is all the reward you’ll ever get because God will not reward you for that. You’ve missed the boat. And so today, if somebody chooses or a congregation chooses or a whole nation chooses to have a time of prayer and fasting, there’s nothing wrong with that,

but needs to be done for the right reason. It needs to be done. Not so that Facebook posts can be put every hour. I’m dying. I’m all I’m going to get through this fast, you know, pointing out to everybody around them, that they’re fasting, do spiritual things for the reason you should do them. And that is your spiritual growth and your connection to God and then teach others to do them,

but don’t do it to be seen by others. So then he says, do not lay up for yourselves, treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves, treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys where thieves do not break in and steal for where your treasure is there. Your heart will be also all throughout the sermon on the Mount.

Jesus will focus on Possessions Over and over and over and over again. Possessions and Jesus will point out that his focus on possessions is not really a focus on possessions. His focus on possessions is a warning to say, focus on spiritual things and not possessions. Yeah. Is there a condemnation given by Jesus against those who have possessions a blanket condemnation? No.

As a matter of fact, it would be those who had possessions that would help Jesus in his ministry. Who’s one person that we might think, or one family we might think of who had possessions that helped Jesus, some siblings, Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Did they have a house? Yes. Did Jesus use their house? Yes, he did.

Did they have enough money to buy a burial plot for their brother when he died? Yes. Did Mary have enough money to give a very expensive gift of anointing Jesus before his death? Yes. That was a family that had possession, But what was more important to the family? Their possession Or Jesus Jesus. One time you see really, and even a little bit of a hint of,

of the opposite is where Jesus confronts Martha, because she’s frustrated that her sister’s not helping her serve. And Jesus points out to her that Mary has chosen the greater Thing, the word of God. And so he says, do not lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven or treasures on the earth. If we set aside, Put, Put in investments, put in savings,

this is, this has nothing to do, zero to do with wise stewardship, nothing to do with it. This has everything to do with where is your heart? And Jesus said, if your heart is there and riches in possessions and clothing and gold and silver and money and all the things he’s about to talk about here at the end of the chapter,

he said, you’ve missed it because that stuff, number one will still be here when you’re gone. And number two may not even stay with you while you’re here because it decades or someone along the way comes in and steals what you have. Yup, absolutely. You know, you, you see, even, you know, the, the perspective of the century ans as,

as Jesus is hanging there on the cross and they’re like, well, let’s, let’s cast lots for the garbage, eh, we we’re, we’re not, not tearing in pieces. It’s it’s interwoven. It’s all one piece. So, you know, we can’t can’t divide it, but he doesn’t need it anymore. You know, he’s got no use words.

So somebody is going to get some use out of it. Okay. Focus on the right thing. Now he’s still not changed discussion at all. He’s moved from charitable deeds to your prayer, to your forgiveness, to your fasting, to your treasure. He’s still talking about the same thing, your relationship to you. Okay? He says, if the lamp of the body is the eye,

if there is, if therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness. How great is that darkness? If your inward person has become corrupted so that all you see becomes evil, what was it that God accused the people in Noah’s day of being people who every thought of their heart was only evil.

Continually. They could see something good and in their mind, they’d turn it to evil. No one can serve two Masters for either, right? He will hate the one and love the other LT will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon, right? The application is money, but the gratification of money is always the gratification of What self Back of all of this.

As selfishness back of all of this is pride back of all of this is a care about self, more than a love of God. Go back to chapter five real quick. And then we’ll read through and pick up the rest of this verse. Three, blessed are the what? Poor in spirit. Verse four, blessed are those who Mourn, But verse five,

blessed are the MI verse six. Blessed are those who, what Hunger And thirst after righteousness. What is that? That is the desire of the Heart. Not For gold, silver possessions recognition, the, the praise of men, but for righteousness, blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the pure in heart. Blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake.

All of these things begin first, First in the inward person, a decision to serve God over self. Okay? So He says, verse 25, do not worry. Or therefore I say to you do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink nor about your body. What you will put on is not life more than food in the body.

More than clothing. Look at the birds of the air for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not of more value than They, which of you By worrying can add one cubit to his stature. So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin.

And yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not Like one of these. Now, if God, so clothes, the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven. Will he not much more closely? Oh, you of little faith, therefore do not worry Saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink?

Or what shall we wear for after all these things, the Gentiles seek for your heavenly father knows that you have needs Of all these things. Now, as we, as we conclude this, I want to remind you God Israel. And while all of these things draw forward to the church, the audience for the discussion is not the church. The audience for the discussion are the Israelites.

Why do you think he said, you have heard it said, but I say unto you, those are, those are attributes of the law. Those are the aspects of the law that they had abused, misused torn apart to gratify themselves, to do what they wanted to do. And now he sets a contrast between them and the Gentiles, because all along the way,

going all the way back to Deuteronomy chapter six, where Israel is hold hero Israel, the Lord, thy, God is one God and thou shall love the Lord. Thy God, with all thy heart, with all my soul, with all my strength, with all by mind, all the way back there. They were warned that when they got into the land and when they began to,

to glean the fields, they didn’t plant. And when they lived in houses, they didn’t build. And when they took over land that they didn’t do anything to toil to create. They might forget God and forget who put them there to begin with. And Jesus reminds these Israelites and his disciples and us today that God can take nothing and give you everything out of it.

And he can take someone who is nothing and make them everything. So what are we worried about if we will, but learn the lessons of the Israelites to love God first, but seek first, the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about its own things sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

There’s any one passage. That’s one of the hardest things in all scripture to do. I dare say that’s whatever. Alright, we’ll go through the questions on Wednesday night. As we start our review for chapter seven, I can’t help, but look outside and see the beautiful weather and the beautiful day that we have today and what a beautiful day we have to enjoy.

We are proud to see some visitors with us today. We want you to know that you’re our honored guests. And if you would look in the Pew in front of you and there’s a colored card there, if you’d fill it out and just leave it on, the seat are handed to any one of us and we’ll see to it, that it gets to the right place.

We are indeed proud that you chose to come our way while we’re on that subject. As you came in the door, there is a table with the communion cups. If you have not had the opportunity to pick up a little cup of bread and a little cup of grape juice, be sure and do that. It’s a good time to do it right now.

Go back and get it. And you’ll be prepared for the communion service. When we have that, I’ve got a fair number of announcements. So please bear with me here. We need to remember our sick Joan Springer. She’s doing a little bit better. Robin woods, Jessica Dale. She’s here with us today. Also doing a little bit better. Tory Heinz Ellie,

likewise, I think is at least holding her own Dorothy and Rodale. Wilson are both still suffering from their sorta chronic pains. Janie Marlin is doing much better. And ed Richardson, Shell’s dad has a fractured spine. I think he’s doing about the same as I understand. And we want to keep these people in our prayers. We also have some other people,

relatives that are in need of our prayers. Diane O’Neill’s aunt Jean. Sconiers had a stroke in addition to be hospitalized with congestive heart failure and pneumonia. She’s struggling with her speech since the stroke. And she’s back in a nursing home. Also Diana’s nephew’s wife, Natalie temple found out that she has had a cancer that is spreading and not sure what her treatment plan will be,

but that is being dealt with as we speak also Alicia and Maddie bond have been exposed and are showing symptoms of COVID. I guess they have it. They will have to wait for three to seven days for the results of their tests before they actually know, but I’m sure they’re under quarantine right now. We have several of our members that are suffering from back problems.

Michael stacks is home with back problems. Pam chafing is with us today. She says, her back is getting better. And of course, Gladys Lyles is dealing with, with that as well. So these are other people that we need to keep in our prayers. Alena sharp, Shelly stacks, mother has double pneumonia and Marsa infects you and your head wound.

You know, that Marsa is a very serious bacterial infection that is very resistant to all the drugs, very difficult. So keep them in your prayers. Lucky Hanks is in Methodist over in the woman’s section. We tease him about that a little bit, but he’s had some heart problems and it’s pretty much expected that he will probably be getting a pacemaker put in to keep his rhythm in order.

That’s all of the, Oh, wait a minute. I’ve got one more. Dorothy Wilson got a good result from her stress test and she is perhaps going to be improving here, but her grandchildren, Shane and Taylor, that both used to worship here from time to time are suffering from the Corona virus. I think that’s all of our sick people and we just need,

need to be aware of these people and keep them in our prayers. Don’t forget. Potter’s children’s home pantry item for January is dish soap. You can bring that and put it on the little cart as you come into the four year old on the left-hand side. The men’s business meeting will be next Monday night, not this Monday night, but next Monday a week,

week and a half from now or a week and a day from now. And if you have any agenda items, please sign, put them on the list on the bulletin board or make sure that one of the men get them and we’ll get it to the right place. That’s all the announcements. Thank goodness. And the service today, Michael Dale will be leading our singing.

Terry Sanderson has the opening prayer. The Lord’s supper will be officiated by Eric Halvorson. The sermon with Aaron Cozort and Joe caisson has the closing prayer. Thank you for your attendance. Our opening song this morning will be number one, 144 O worship the King O worship the King. Oh, worship<inaudible> and gray Foley. See here’s Wanda for a shill.

Dan.<inaudible> a billion Dan Splenda and<inaudible><inaudible> it’s dreams from the Hills and send to the play. Hey and sweetly.<inaudible> nah,<inaudible> children de us and<inaudible> and<inaudible> find the two CS turned to the G and a greedy. And<inaudible>. So before our opening prayer will be number 797. Lord, we come before the now Lord, we come before the<inaudible>.

Oh dude.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> to<inaudible> and I know<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> the God pre the<inaudible> free.<inaudible> sorry.<inaudible> Right. Father walked in heaven. We thank to you for this beautiful first day of the week. The opportunity do we have to come together as that children who sang these songs, praise into the,

into worship, they just study a portion of I where we pray that the things that we learned here today will be in a quarter for that wheel. We pray that we can use these things to further that kingdom in this community, we pray that you would be with all of the ones that have been mentioned today to their sick and unable to be with us.

We pray that you would be with all of the ones that are suffering from the COVID virus. The ones that we know from this congregation and friends and all that and all over the world, we pray that you would be with him and comfort him. We pray that you would keep us safe from it. And then we try to do the things that the health people are advising us today.

We pray that you would be with our military people that are away from home. We pray that you keep them safe, comfort their families while they are away. We pray that you would be with the teachers of his congregation, that they continue to teach the truth and to help to save souls in this community. We pray that she would go with us and keep us safe and forgive us when we do wrong.

In Christ’s name, we pray amen. Song to prepare our minds for the Lord. Separate will be number 337. Hallelujah. What a savior man?<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> claim<inaudible><inaudible> Hey man.<inaudible> he used<inaudible><inaudible> blah<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> was he man,<inaudible> be<inaudible> lifted up. Was he too? Ah<inaudible> and<inaudible> ah, ah,<inaudible> when he comes<inaudible> is Ryan some to Bri then a new song.

Well, seeing<inaudible> We now have the opportunity to celebrate the ultimate sacrifice that God made for each and every one of us here. And that is when he sent his son here to live with us amongst here on earth and teach us, but ultimately die on that cross at Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. Join me as we pray for the bread,

God, our father in heaven, we come to you at this time, thanking you for your son. And we know it was a difficult and an ultimate sacrifice that you made for us. The center’s here on earth, but we are so grateful that you made that choice, that your son may hang on at cruel cross at Calvary. And as we prepare to take this bread,

which represents his body, let us remember exactly what that represents. We pray this through your son, Jesus name, amen. Our father. We come to you giving you thanks for everything you have done for us. And as we prepare to partake of this fruit of the vine, which represents your son’s blood, that he shed for our sins, help us to ponder that and truly think about what that means that his blood was shed for us.

He died for us so that we may have our sins forgiven. So we may live with you and heaven. One day, we pray this through your son’s name. Amen. Let me take this opportunity to say a prayer for the offering. God, our father in heaven. We know that it is from you, that all of our blessings truly flow.

And we are so thankful for each and every one of them. And as we prepare to give back a portion of this, to your needs and your works by donating funds to this church. So we may use these funds to further the spread of your word and your gospel here on earth. We ask that you help each and every one of us do it with a cheerful heart.

And we ask that you help the men of this congregation that oversee these funds, make decisions that are rightful and truly in helping spread your word. Those that are less Fortunate than us. And that is those that have not heard your word so that they may have that same opportunity we have as live with you forever. One day in eternity, we pray this through your son,

Jesus name, amen. The song before the lesson will be number 431 and break thou the bread of life. If you’re able to stand for this song, please, number 431<inaudible><inaudible> to me<inaudible> let’s see<inaudible> to me, to me. See<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> peace ma Oh, eh. Oh, you may be seated. Good morning. Good to be home.

It’s good to see each and every one of you, especially our visitors, Glad to have your presence with us, hope that you can make it a regular opportunity. This year in 2021, we are going to take one lesson each month. We’re going to focus on a word throughout the year that I believe has a great deal of emphasis for us and a great deal of import into our society,

our life and our existence today. That word is the word faithful. We’re going to begin that study looking at God’s description of a faithful man or a faithful person in order to get God’s perspective on this idea of faithful. We could look in the new Testament, but I really think we have to begin in the old Testament. Deuteronomy chapter nine, sorry.

Deuteronomy chapter seven. And in verse nine, God is speaking to Israel as they are preparing to go into the promised land. And he says to them beginning in verse nine, he says, therefore know that the Lord, your God, he is God. He begins with this premise that God Jehovah God, the Lord, God. The one who brought them out of Egypt is God.

And when God says I am God, he doesn’t mean I am one God, among many. He has shown beyond any doubt through his actions with Egypt. He is the true and living God. And so he says, therefore know that the Lord, your God, he is the Lord, your God. He is God. And notice this description, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations,

with those who love him and keep his commandments. As we begin this study concerning this idea of being faithful of faithfulness and everything it touches in our lives understand that God first desires requires commands faithfulness, because he is faithful. You and I, we make promises. We make commitments. We make agreements. And if we’re honest, and if we are those of sound,

mind, and striving to be what God would have us to be our intent, when we make those agreements is to fulfill what we have said, we will do no matter what kind of agreement it is, whether it’s an agreement to pay something to someone or an agreement on a loan or an agreement on just participation in an, in a transaction or, or,

or an activity with a friend. I was talking with a friend of mine just recently. And he’s been working out with some of the members of the congregation, where he attends and, and him and this friend of his and his wife, they go out every, every morning and they go work out and he had been doing this for a month or two.

And he had as a result of some things at work, he had been up all night. He worked from until 4:00 AM, one morning, then worked all day, then had to work all until three or 4:00 AM the next morning and then had to face the potential of not going and working out. And he went and worked out anyway because he knew if he didn’t do it once,

if he, if he said I can’t make it this time, there would be a thousand other reasons why I wouldn’t make it in the future. So he pushed through and he did it. And you and I, we face those struggles. We face those difficulties. We met, we face those choices. The reality is sometimes though, maybe out of no fault of our own,

maybe out of circumstances, we can’t even control. We can’t fulfill an obligation. We have made a commitment, a promise, and we have been on faithful to that commitment. Now this may be in a small matter, may be in an inconsequential matter. It may be in a temporary matter, but that’s not God Deuteronomy chapter seven verse nine tells us that God Jehovah the Lord.

He is God. And he is faithful to a thousand generations. Now women Moses makes this statement by inspiration through the power of the Holy spirit. He does not mean that to the thousand. And first-generation, God’s probably not going to be faithful to them. No, he means quite clearly that when you are faithful to the thousand generations that have come before the thousand and first generation can have no doubt and complete assurance that God will still be Faithful.

But he’s, He is faithful to those who love him and keep his commandments. And he repays those who hate him to their face to destroy them. He will not be Slack with him who hates him. He will repay him too. His face. Moses makes it clear. As he speaks to the children of Israel. God is faithful to those who love him.

And he’s faithful to those who hate him. He will be faithful to himself always. And therefore what he has said He will do. So as we begin, we need to, I understand that God desires faithful Because he is faithful. There was a time in Israelite history. First Samuel chapter two, That God replaced his high priest. He not only replaced his high priest,

but he replaced the whole priestly lineage, Age and family In first Samuel chapter two as Eli and his sons were the current high priest and priests. God delivers a message to Eli. In first Samuel chapter two, and in verse 35, then I will raise up for myself. Now notice the wording. God says, I’m going to do this and I’m going to do it because of me because of who I am.

Therefore, I will raise up for myself, a faithful priest who shall do according to what is In my heart. You go back into the proceeding versus you will find out that Eli’s sons, Hoff, Diane Finney has, who were supposed to be serving. As priests were instead causing the people to transgress. They were committing for an occasion in the very front of the tabernacle.

They were committing adultery. They were, they were stealing. They were holding those people’s offerings, bounty for what they could receive for offering the sacrifices. They were doing all sorts of things. And God said, this isn’t going to stand my priests. Aren’t going to do this. And Eli and his sons would be replaced, but God says, I’m going to replace you with someone who will do according to what is in my heart.

And in my mind, I will build him a sure house. And he shall walk before my annoying Forever. Samuel would be that high priest, the priesthood and the family would transition in Eli’s family. His lineage would end God is serious about faithfulness. And second Timothy chapter two, Paul writes to Timothy. And as he is writing to this young preacher,

he sets a charge before Timothy, as a preacher. He instills in Timothy, the requirement that Timothy be about a particular task And That task hasn’t changed for preachers across every century from then, until now, Paul writes to Timothy and saying to any chapter two, and in verse one, he says, you, therefore, my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Yeah. Paul writes to Timothy and he says, you be on the lookout for a particular kind of person. You, as you minister, you be searching for a particular group of people. The qualification for which Paul States,

Timothy needs to be looking for is not those who are rich. Not those who are poor, not those who are tall are, those were short. Those were fat. Or those who were skinny. He says, the qualification is those who are faithful. And you find someone who’s faithful. And here’s what you do. You take the things that you’ve heard from me among many witnesses.

You take the things that are is the bulk and the meat and the body of what I’ve taught you. And you instill it into them. And Then you give them the charge to go give it to somebody else. And the prime responsibility is they function as stewards of a gift. Paul would write to the church at Corinth about the treasure that had been Placed in them as Earthen vessels.

The word of God Handed to them that they in turn should deliver it. Proclaim it, preach it faithfully to others, But not only teach it, they had to also live it. God desires, faithful men, but there’s a Psalm in the old Testament that gives a warning. And I want to spend the bulk of the rest of our time in that Psalm,

Psalm 12 is a Psalm of David. And it presents a warning. A warning that I believe is needed is resoundingly needed in our country. Not only in our congregations, but in our congregations, but in our country, in our society and in our world Was at the very heart of some of the biggest problems. Our society He has is this problem.

This Thing that David’s going To warn about, he begins help, help Lord for The godly man, Ceases for the faithful disappear from among the sons of men, David in this song cries out for God’s help. He cries out for God’s aid because he can’t find faithful men Among God’s people. This isn’t just a problem amongst the priesthood in David’s day, it’s not just about the spiritual leaders.

It’s about finding men who will Hold forth, the Attributes of faithfulness throughout their lives, throughout every aspect of their existence. And David is going to confront Using the words of the Lord, the attributes Of those who are on Faithful, Because if you want an under an understanding of God’s description of a faithful man, one of the things God will present to you is what he is not what a faithful man will not do.

What he will not be involved in. And David says, as he looks at his world, as he looks at his society, as he looks at his nation, this is all I can find. He says, verse two, they speak. I believe every one with his neighbor. As he looks down upon the people he sees idleness, He sees idol Speech.

Jesus made a point about Idle speech. He said that when the judgment comes, a man will give an account for all the words that he Speaks. And he warns against idle speech. You and I, we have an opportunity in our lives to speak hundreds of thousands of words, to communicate thoughts, emotions, feeling, instruction, desires contemplations, but as stewards of the gift of communication,

how are we using it? Are we only investing our time and effort and energies in communicating that which has no real lasting value. David looks at These individuals and he sees their interests and their speech only revolves around temporary Earthly things. And they are idle in their speech, but he goes on to say yes, That they speak with flattering lips and with a double heart,

They speak it. It’s it’s, it’s bad enough that their speech has no value, but then they turn around and they use their speech to lift up others artificially, to flatter them. When in their heart, their only desire is for themselves. One of the attributes of a faithful person, discipline Just over in the book of Proverbs that we’re not going to get into in any depth in this lesson.

But we will before this course of lessons is over, is the attribute of a faith Full friend who will tell you something that hurts, but he’ll tell it to you because you need to hear it yet. These people aren’t that kind of person. These people, that David is looking at their idol in their speech and they’re flattering in their lips. And they’re double hearted Because yeah,

Their intent is to provoke others to action that only benefits themselves. And David says, these are not faithful people, but he goes on to say, may the Lord cut off all flattering lips? As the King, as a man Can have wealth as a man of prosperity. As a man who had led others into battle had conquered, had discovered the power that existed in serving the Lord.

We know as we go through the history of David and we look at the things that he endured, the things he went through, that he was surrounded by some people who were The worst of humanity. But here’s the reality. When you have wealth, you will generally end up inevitably at some point, surrounded by people who have only that type of desire.

They’ll say anything to you, but not because they care for you, but because they want what you have. And David will say, may the Lord cut off all flattering lips and the tongue That speaks proud things. This isn’t David saying, I don’t want them to have what I have this isn’t David going, I’m selfish. And I want to keep everything I have.

And I don’t want to share with no, no, no, that’s not it David’s saying they have a problem with pride in their hearts. And it is interfering With faithfulness among the people in verse six, we read the words of the Lord are pure words. He’s accused them of idle speech, but He contrasts their idol speech With the Lord’s words. If they had set aside all of their own words,

if they had set aside all their own thoughts, if they had set aside, all of the things that they thought were they were, that were important. And just spoken the words of the Lord, he would have said, they spoke. You are words, but they wouldn’t do that. As a matter of fact, if you look at verse four,

we read who have said those who have flattering lips, those who have tongues that speak proud things they have said with our tongue, We will prevail. Our lips are our own. I’m in control. They said, I get to say whatever I want. No one can tell me what to say. I get to look out for me too. I get what I want to do,

what I want and use my Long to accomplish it. But they would also say not only our lips are our own, but who is Lord over us? A faithful man tied up in all of this is the lesson that a faithful man is a submissive man. David Looks at his people and says, I can’t find any faithful men. They’re disappearing as if someone’s coming in the midst of the night and kidnapping them.

They’re being drawn aside. They’re being drawn away into the desires of their flesh, the desires of their heart and their mind and their pride and their desire and their flattery is stealing them from faithfulness to those who are around them. And has you think back over the life of David, think about how many betrayals, those closest to him committed. And David can’t find a faithful man of his own children.

Multiple men would arise seeking to kill him and take the throne. But in verse five, he says for the oppression of the poor, for the signing of the needy, Oh, here it is. They prevail with their tongues. They use their speech to get what they want. They claim their lips are their own and no one is Lord over them,

but who are they acting against? Who are they using the build themselves up? He says, they’re using the poor. They’re using the needy Absalom. One of David’s sons would stand and would sit out side the city. And as he sought power and prominence among the people, as the people would come in to be judged, he would stop them outside the city.

And he’d say, you won’t get any judgment in there. They don’t have time for you. You’ll never get the decision that you want. If you go to the King for judgment, let me judge you. And he would sit outside the city and he would judge in favor of those who would support him. And before long, he turn The nation’s heart against their King by flattery of lips and deceitful actions.

And the oppression of the poor verse five says, now I will arise, says the Lord. Isn’t David saying, I’m going to get on my high horse and I’m going to get my army together. And we’re going to go out and we’re going to take vengeance on all these unfair, Well, men know, the Lord says, Now I will arise.

Now I will arise. As the Lord, I will set him in the safety for which he yearns. God says, I’m going to defend the poor. I’m going to defend the needy. I’m going to stand between the unfaithful And the oppressed. The words of the Lord are pure words. Silver tried in a furnace of earth. Purified seven times. You shall keep them all.

Lord use shall preserve them from this generation forever. David Expresses the necessity of treasuring up as it were of storing up God’s words, to keep them from a generation That would use them for their own profit. They would use them for their own ends. As if God is saying, I’m going to take my covenant. I’m going to take my long and take my words.

And I’m going to hold them back from you. I’m not giving them to you because you’ll only abuse them Because you are faithful in your very B verse eight says the wicked prowl on every side, when vileness is exalted among the sons of men, David presents to God’s people, a warning. He said, you look around you and faithful. Men are disappearing.

I would say in the years I’ve been alive. And that I have had time to observe that in the church, faithful men are disappearing. We have too many men who are too Focused on This life and cannot focus on God. And because of that, they do not leave their homes. They do not lead their families. They do not instruct their children.

They do not instruct faithful men. They do not set themselves to follow the Lord. In Isaiah’s day, Isaiah would confront his generation and Isaiah chapter one. I want to read a few of the verses as we close from Isaiah chapter one, because God confronts a nation, a city of people that had the opportunity to be faithful. They still had a chance in Isaiah’s day.

They wouldn’t take it and they’re going to be judged. But Isaiah, right? And Isaiah chapter one beginning in verse 21, how the faithful city has become a harlot. One of the attributes that is specific to the idea of a harlot is someone who will do anything for money. And Isaiah confronts his generation and says, you, you used to be a faithful city,

and now you will do anything for money. Verse 21, he says it was full of justice and righteousness lodged in it. But now murderers, your silver has become draws your wine mixed with water. Your princes are rebellious. You’re in companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

What is it that God just talked about in Psalm chapter 12? That same thing. They will not help those in need. They will not defend the defenseless. They not serve The oppressed. They will not even give them justice For all they want is money. Therefore, the Lord says, verse 24, the Lord of hosts, the mighty one of Israel.

Ah, I will rid myself of my Adversaries. I remember Deuteronomy chapter seven. God said I will be faithful to those who love me and keep my commandments to a thousand generations. And I will be faithful to them. Those who hate me, the Lord says, ah, I will rid myself of my adversaries and take vengeance on my enemies. I will turn my hand against you.

Now he’s speaking to Israel. He says, I will turn my hand against you and thoroughly purge away your draws And take away all your alloy. I will restore your judges as at the first. And your counselors is at the beginning afterward. You shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city. He says, Israel, you were one, The faithful city.

And yet you’ve become a harlot, But I’m going to turn you around. And it won’t be a pretty experience. He says, I’m Going to burn off All the corruption. Notice he goes on. He says, Zion will be redeemed with justice and her penitence with righteousness, the destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together. And those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed for.

They shall be ashamed of the terrible trees, which you have desired. You shall be embarrassed because of the gardens, which you have chosen. He’s pointing out their idolatry. He’s pointing out their places of worship, their high places, the places they constructed to go worship the foreign gods. He says, you’re going to be embarrassed at those. I’m going to turn you against those.

He says, verse 34, you shall be as a terrible whose leaf fades. And as a garden that has no water. You’ll The dead. The strong shall be as Tinder. And the work of it as a spark, both will burn together and no one shall quench them. God’s description of a faithful man is one who loves him and keeps his commandments.

Yes, but One who will not allow Injustice to continue. One who will not turn a blind eye To oppression. One who will not Set aside justice for profit, but also One who will not flatter To engross themselves, who will, I’ll not speak idle words instead of the word of the Lord, who will not be double hearted and Double tongue. But God makes it clear to the unfaithful.

When I judge you, no one will stop me. No one will hold me back. And as he Takes the analogy of the strong one who has been turned into Tinder, they’re so dried out. They’re they’re like the forests in California. He alight. Imagine there’s no stopping it Because I’m going to take the strong ones among you. And I’m going to be that.

And I’m going to take their own, works their own deeds. And I’m going to light them on fire with it. And no one Will quench my judgment. God is faithful to those who love him and keep his commandments and to those who hate him as well. So the question is which one are we? And are we faithful? And not only faithful,

but producing more, who are faithful for that is part of our faithfulness. You’re here this morning and you’re outside the body of Christ. You stand in a position of judgment. These days, Hebrews chapter nine tells us this. Life’s going to be over. You’re going to stand before God in judgment. Because of that, you need to know where you stand.

Do you stand God as One who is faithful? If you’re outside the body of Christ, you don’t. Because while God loves those who love him and keep his commandments. One of his commandments is the requirement for salvation. The requirement of obedience to enter into the body of Christ, the place where salvation has found the church for which Christ died. And he shed his blood.

You enter into that body by hearing the word of God and believing that Jesus Christ is the son of God. Jesus said, except you believe that I am. He you’ll die in your sins. Paul wrote it this way. Either. You are one who believes in him, or you are an alien from him, separated from him and an enemy of God.

You can’t be both. And you can’t find a third option. You’re either one or the other. Having believed that Jesus Christ is the son of God. You have to conform your life to him. The one who loves God and keeps his commandments, but conforming your life means repenting of your sins and confessing the name of Christ, submitting to him and being immersed in water,

dying to your old self, rising in again, to walk in newness of life, Romans chapter six, verses three and four, and then being faithful until death because revelation chapter two tells us James chapter one tells us that the one who’s faithful unto death will receive a crown of life. So if you want to know when this life is over, exactly which category you fit into,

faithful or unfaithful, and there’s only two, that’s where you need to begin. If you’re a member of the body of Christ and your faithfulness looks like it’s disappearing. If David would look at your life and go, no, I’m looking for a faithful man. And that’s not one. Maybe it’s time to turn around. You have need of the invitation for any reason why not come now as we stand in,

as we sing<inaudible> from the source.<inaudible><inaudible> well, you<inaudible> to the fountain free. Well, you<inaudible> me. The<inaudible> here. The welcome call is a fountain up for, Oh, there’s a living stream with a crystal gleam.<inaudible> hear the call for free. They go, Oh, well you come to the fountain free. Will you<inaudible><inaudible> Oh,

open for, Oh, there’s a rock that’s<inaudible><inaudible> and it’s dream. I see. Let<inaudible> to the fountain free. Well, you<inaudible> thirsty<inaudible> you may be seated. Sandra comes forward saying she hasn’t been faithful. It hasn’t been focused on spiritual things. The way she wants To be been too focused on discomforts. She wants to do better.

And we are overjoyed for that. We all throughout our lives have difficulty keeping focus on what’s important. And I think that’s why so much of scripture focuses us back. If we’ll Listen to what’s important, What to pray for Cassandra right now, Not only that she will be forgiven, But that her direction and focus Will become what she desires for it to be.

But that she will also be an example for all of us to do the same. Let’s pray our gracious father in heaven. Come before you at this time with tender hearts, care, concern and love for our sister, Cassandra and her desire to be faithful, her desire to become closer to you and to focus on the turtle more than the temporal. Each one of us needs that desire as well and are encouraged by her example of repentance and willingness to say,

I can do better. We pray for Cassandra that you will forgive her. She repents of these things, that you will aid her in setting her feet on a right path. We also pray that we will be an encouragement and a comfort and a strength and a bulwark for her as she goes through this journey of setting things, right? We ask that you be with this congregation as a whole,

in our faithfulness, we ask that you bless this family that we have here, that we watch out for one another and we help one another. In our struggles, we pray for continued blessings, Cassandra and forgiveness and grace and mercy, as they are sought. And as they are offered through the blood of your son, all this, we pray in Jesus name.

Amen. For the closing, prayer will be number 642. Let the loan Or lights be burning. All things Right? Lee beams off there’s mercy from his NA side house<inaudible> but to a us, he gives a key PE of the nights.<inaudible><inaudible> send a gleam, a cross<inaudible> struggling. See man, you may rescue. You may say,

Hey dog.<inaudible><inaudible> for the lights.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> struggling. See man, you may rescue<inaudible><inaudible> some<inaudible><inaudible> and<inaudible><inaudible> sin Glebe, a cross<inaudible> struggling. See man,<inaudible> Let us bow. Dear God, our father in heaven, we truly are so thankful that we’ve been able to gather today to worship Eve, to be able to study from your word and be guided by those principles that you have set for us to live by father.

We’re grateful for every member of this body of Christ here. We’re so thankful for the love that we have for each other. And we pray father that as we go through life, that we not only demonstrate that love to our physical family, but our spiritual family. And they, we have thoughts of an eternal nature. That those are the things that got our ways upon this earth that we realized that we have what a short time to do your will,

and to try to reach others with the gospel and to try to become the fateful that truly care more about things of any eternal nature than those of a physical nature. We pray father that you give us the strength and the courage to do those things that might reach out to those that are lost. Those things that might encourage those that have fallen away from you,

that they too might want to come back and be faithful. Father help us each day that we live, that we look to your word, that we might always direct our lives in the proper direction that we always are about trying to demonstrate our love for others in our care and concern and compassion for one another, strengthen us as we go through life. We’re so thankful for the lesson that Aaron so adequately covered this morning,

we should ponder upon those thoughts and be concerned with how we are living our lives. Bless us as we’re about to depart, strengthen us. As we continue to look to your word in Jesus name, we pray. Amen.