Speaker: Michael Dale
Song Leader: Eric Richardson
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
<inaudible>. Good morning. We want to welcome you to our Collierville, the Chuck Colleyville church of Christ live stream this morning.
We are glad you can be with us. We have a few here this morning, so that’s great.
We are slowly getting back together. Um, but if you’re at home, we are praying for you and pray that you stay safe.
One as a for announcements this morning. We need to remember Ruby. Brad, she’s at home and uh,
we pray that continue that she can get, stay getting better. Joan Springer has got pneumonia. Uh,
we need to remember Marvin man, this is Beverly’s dad. He is dealing with pneumonia and is now at home on hospice care.
So we need to remember him and our prayers. Uh, Delisa his dad, Paul Montgomery, he has been recovering from surgery on his injury and his ankle and knee,
but it hurts this morning that he’s going to be coming home today. So that’s good news. So continue to remember him.
Uh, Tina Lance, she’s a nurse and wife of the preacher in Chalmette, Louisiana. She is recovering from the Corona virus and so is Russell client and his wife Tracy.
If you have any more announcements, go ahead and text Aaron or I and we will announce them at the end of our service this morning.
To start out with, we will sing number five seven eight<inaudible> number 578. We’ll have our opening prayer after this and then we’ll have,
uh, Aaron will lead us. So the Lord’s supper and Michael will preach this morning and we’re five,
seven, eight. We will go all rough. Uh, King of Kings. We will car, uh,
uh,<inaudible>. We welcome our a five<inaudible> who is a great<inaudible><inaudible> and majesty. We well<inaudible> um,
we were amp and or a just us. We were worship him.<inaudible> he has on a uh,<inaudible>.
He is on a<inaudible>. He is on a, uh, uh, you know, I have a S a brace dude.
We<inaudible> uh,<inaudible> uh, King of Kings, uh,<inaudible>, uh, uh,<inaudible><inaudible> who is a great uh huh.
Let us pray. A father in heaven, great and powerful is your name. We are thankful for you and how you bless us each day.
We are thankful for your care and your love and concern for us through this time we were reminded of reminded of your love for us and your care for us.
We pray as we go throughout our lives that we will strive to glorify you and all that. We do pray that you’ll be with us as we go through our worship this morning.
Pray that we will worship you in spirit and in truth. We are thankful for all that you do for us each day and we’re thankful for the opportunity that we can come to you in prayer.
We pray that you be with those that are on our than our minds with Ruby, Brad, Joan and Marvin as he is dealing with pneumonia and at home with on hospice.
We pray that you’d be with Paul Montgomery and pray that we’re glad to hear that he’s coming home today and pray that you continue to be with him as he recovers.
Be with Tina and Russell and Tracy as they’re recovering from the Corona virus and many others that are dealing with this virus and pray that a,
they will be able to get better soon. We pray that you watch over our country and our leaders as they make decisions and pray that they make wise decisions and look to you for guidance.
Thank you so much for all you bless us with and GSM new pray. Amen. To prepare our minds for the Lord’s supper,
we’ll see. Number 361 three 61 nailed to the cross. There was one who was willing to, ah,
that, that<inaudible> the mind and, uh, uh, to the cross.<inaudible><inaudible> all the ans,
um, uh, four<inaudible><inaudible> doc Ross<inaudible><inaudible>. Uh, she was with and<inaudible> uh,<inaudible><inaudible> jeez.<inaudible><inaudible> money<inaudible> and with him<inaudible> he is and<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> who?
A colleague<inaudible> my, uh, uh, it’s, Hmm. Uh, there’s okay. Uh,<inaudible> I know.
Mmm. Yeah. Free form.<inaudible> Mmm. Eh, to the<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Oh,
a G U a well and<inaudible> uh, boy<inaudible> uh, jeez, uh, GRA us buddy<inaudible> nice.
And with him.<inaudible> aye. Going to my same, uh,<inaudible> I will<inaudible> for the<inaudible><inaudible> with the um,
uh,<inaudible> uh, uh, yeah. In my heart and my eyes and uh, and eh.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Oh,
wow. A judge. He was willing, uh, well<inaudible> uh, jeez.<inaudible> buddy<inaudible> and with him,
uh,<inaudible> as we prepare our minds for the Lord supper, take your Bibles if you will, and open them to first Corinthians chapter 11.<inaudible> as Paul is writing concerning the Lord’s supper and concerning the assembly of the saints in Corinth,
he says in first Corinthians chapter 11, beginning in verse 23 for I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you,
that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which he was betrayed took bread. And when he had given things,
he broke it and said, take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you.
Do this in remembrance of me in the same manner. He also took the cup after supper saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood.
This do as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup,
you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Let us pray. Our gracious father in heaven, we bow before you grateful for the opportunity that we have to have the salvation that is offered through the death and the sacrifice of your son.
We thank you for the sacrifice that was made for us that paid a debt we could never pay that bore the sins of many on the cross.
We’re mindful at this time of that body that was broken for us and we pray that as we partake of this emblem we do so in a way that is acceptable to you with a heart and with a mind that has considered these things and remembers Christ and that sacrifice that was made.
All this we pray in Jesus name. Amen.<inaudible> let us pray. Gracious father in heaven. We come before your throne.
Again, mindful of the occasion in the upper room where Christ with his disciples established and instituted the Lord’s supper,
remembering his command to continue on a weekly basis to remember what he has done for us and what he would do in going to the cross.
We know the value of the blood of Christ because it is the only thing that could purchase our redemption and could purchase the church,
the assembly, the body of Christ. We pray that as we partake of this emblem of that blood that we will do as we have been commanded.
And remember as we ought, we pray that all this is done in accordance with your will in Jesus name.
Amen.<inaudible> at this time, we also remember that we have been commanded to lay by in store to give as we have been prospered.
And we encourage each and every one to do that. Uh, remind you that there are opportunities to do that by dropping that contribution off here at the building or giving online.
Let me take a moment and remind us that we give in many ways, we give monetarily as we’ve been commanded,
but we also give in service and in helping others and doing good to others. We give of our time.
We give of our heart. We give of our life. Encourage you in this time where many of us are separated from those whom we love.
Okay. To not only give as we have been commanded on the first day of the week, but to remember day in and day out that it is more blessing to give than to receive and to look for opportunities to give to others,
to help others, and to contribute to uh, that and, and individuals around us in our daily lives.
There will be many in the coming days and months and years who will be effected on a longterm basis by the things that the world is undergoing right now.
And we need to be mindful of that and help where we can. Having said that, take a moment if you will,
and turn to second Corinthians chapter eight. Second Corinthians chapter eight in verse one we read. Moreover, brethren,
we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia that in a great trial of affliction,
the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability,
yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we should receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and then to us by the will of God.
So we urge Titus that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.
But as you abound in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us,
see that you abound in this grace also let us pray for the offering. Our gracious father in heaven.
We have been granted and given so much in this life, but we remind ourselves and we remember that we are stewards of what belongs to you.
We pray that we will be mindful of the stewardship that we have, that we will be mindful of those around us,
and that we will be mindful of our brethren. We will be mindful of the needs of the church and the needs of spreading the gospel.
That we will look for opportunities throughout our lives and throughout our days to do good. But we pray that that which is given back as you have commanded,
is done in a willing heart and with a cheerful heart and in accordance with your will. This we pray in Jesus name.
Amen. Before the lesson, we’ll sing number 300. I think it’s 300 or 679, 679 TIS so sweet to trust in Jesus.
Six, seven, nine. Yes.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> on his ass, bro.<inaudible> uh, uh,
I said, uh, jeez. Uh, she’s, uh, uh, watch Ross and<inaudible>. Oh,
man. Uh, jeez. Uh, jeez. Uh, yeah, she’s a us. Oh, fuck res.<inaudible> uh,
Oh.<inaudible> jeez. Uh, yes, trust.<inaudible> uh,<inaudible><inaudible> me, Nate, uh,<inaudible> uh,
jeez, uh,<inaudible> uh,<inaudible> and, uh, jeez, uh, jeez. Uh,<inaudible> yeah.
A us. Oh fuck Ray, which us and I am so glad to see<inaudible> had a, I know that a walk with me,
we’re hoping and jeez, uh, shit, uh, uh, trust and uh,<inaudible> and uh,
jeez, uh, geez, geez gray or a dam.<inaudible> and we’ll have a sermon by Michael<inaudible>.
Good morning everybody sermon this morning will be on the process of prayer taken from Nehemiah chapter one. Let’s read Nehemiah chapter one verses one through 11.
Yeah. The words of Nehemiah, the son of hack Aliah. It came to pass in the month of Chis live in the 20th century.
20th year as I was in Shushan, the Citadel that Hannah and I, one of my brother and came with me from Judah and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped,
who had survived the captivity and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, the survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach.
The wall of Jerusalem has also broken down and its Gates are burned with fire. So it was when I heard these words that I sat down and wept and mourned for many days.
I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven and I said, I pray Lord God of heaven.
Oh great and awesome God. You who keep your covenant and mercy with those who love you and observe your commandments.
Please let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, that you may hear the prayer of your servant,
which I pray before you. Now day and night for the children of Israel, your servants and confess the sins of the children of Israel,
which we have sinned against you. Both my father’s house and I have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments,
the statutes, nor the ordinances which you commanded your servant Moses. Remember I prayed the word, the word that you commanded your servant Moses saying,
if you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you were returned to me and keep my commandments and do them,
though, some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for my name.
Now, these are your servants and your people whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.
Oh Lord, I pray. Please let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who desire to fear your name and let your servant prosper.
This day I pray and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. People often ask, how are we supposed to pray?
I remember when I was teaching my son how to pray. He asked me, how do we do this?
And I said, let’s just begin by talking to God. Tell him what’s on your heart. Although prayer can be that simple,
we know that there’s actually more to it and first Timothy chapter two verses one through four Paul tells us that there are different kinds of prayer.
First Timothy chapter two verses one through four. Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of things be made for all men, for Kings and all who are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God,
our savior who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. The goal of every Christian then should be to learn how to pray in a manner that is acceptable to God.
Jesus, his disciples showed us this and Luke chapter 11 and verse one read with me, Luke chapter 11 and verse one now it came to pass as he was praying in a certain place when he,
when he ceased that one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray. As John also taught his disciples,
not only did Jesus, his disciples asked that we’re supposed to know how to pray, but we can also see through this passage that even John’s disciples were asking how to pray.
Jesus gives them the model prayer and the continuing verses verses two through four of Luke chapter 11 so he said to them,
when you pray, say our father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us day by day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us and do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
Jesus didn’t tell them to say this specific prayer, but he gave them a formula of how to pray like Jesus.
I think that Nehemiah gives us a great example of how we’re supposed to pray. Nehemiah went through a process of prayer that has great application in our prayer life.
As Christians today we are to show concern about the problem that is at hand. We are to have a conviction about God’s character.
We are to have a confession of sins, con, a confidence in God’s promises and we are supposed to ask God for a commitment to get involved.
First, let’s talk about concern about this problem we need to show a concern for our brother in Nehemiah shows a concern by demanding answers about his fellow Jews in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah chapter one and verse two, Nehemiah one two that that Hannah and I, one of my brother and came with me with men from Judah and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped,
who had survived the captivity and concerning Jerusalem, he was doing what the exiles were instructed to do. And Jeremiah chapter 51 in verse 50 Jeremiah chapter 51 and verse 50<inaudible> 51 50 you who have escaped the sword,
get away, do not stand, still. Remember the Lord of far off and let Jerusalem come to your mind.
We need to know about and show concern for our brethren. Philippians chapter two in verse four, Philippians two and verse four let each of you look out not only for his own interest,
but also for the interest of others. We show concern so we can bear each other’s burdens in a time of struggle.
Galatians chapter six and verse two. Galatians chapter six and verse two bear one another’s burdens and so fulfilled the law of Christ.
We need to mourn for the problems of our brethren. To mourn is to express grief or sorrow according to Strong’s dictionary.
It is a lament or to be well, which is to show a great sorrow. Nehemiah mourn greatly for the tribulations of his fellow Jews.
Nehemiah chapter one in verse four read with me again Nehemiah chapter one and verse four so it was when I heard these words that I sat down and wept and mourned for many days.
I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven this morning can be compared to when Jesus cried out in painful tears when he observed the hard hearts of those in Jerusalem.
Luke 1941 Luke chapter 19 and verse 41<inaudible>. Now as he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it.
We need to pray for the situation at hand. Nehemiah mourned as he more Nehemiah mourned. As he mourned,
he began to pray for his fellow Jews. Nehemiah chapter one in verse four we read of how he prayed for his fellow Jews while he wept and mourned,
we are to pray for our brother and as Paul did Ephesians chapter six and verse 18 Ephesians six 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit,
being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints<inaudible>. Another example of Paul’s unceasing prayer for our brother in Christ is found in second Timothy chapter one in verse three second Timothy chapter one in verse three I think God whom I serve with a pure conscience as my forefathers did and without ceasing.
I remember you in my prayers night and day, how amazing it is to know that someone is praying for you every single night and every single day.
As we pray, we are always to remember to give reverence to God. We do this by giving a conviction about God’s character.
God deserves to be honored, revered, and feared because of who he is. Nehemiah calls him a great and awesome God.
Nehemiah chapter one and verse five Nehemiah chapter one verse five and I said, I prayed, Lord God of heaven.
Oh great and awesome God, you who keep your covenant and mercy with those who love you and observe your commandments.
We also see Daniel calling the Lord a great and awesome God and Daniel chapter nine and verse four Daniel nine and verse four and I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession and said,
Oh Lord, great and awesome God who keeps his covenant and mercy with those who love him and with those who keep his commandments,
Jesus and his example of prayer teaches us to give, to give honor and reverence to the father. Matthew chapter six verse nine is a good example shown by Christ.
Matthew chapter six and verse nine in this manner, therefore, pray our father in heaven, hallowed how Holy be your name.
The this, the example of honoring the father in prayer is reiterated again and Luke chapter 11 in verse two by the Christ.
Now once we have exalted and reverence God, we must humble ourselves before him and put forth a confession of sin.
We must confess to the Lord that we have sinned. Nehemiah confesses for all of Israel and for himself.
Nehemiah chapter one in verse six Nehemiah one six please let your ear be attentive and your eyes open that you may hear the prayer of your servant,
which I pray before you. Now day and night for the children of Israel, your servants and confess the sins of the children of Israel,
which we have sinned against you. Both my father’s house and I have sinned. Daniel also confesses for himself and the people of Israel.
As an example. Daniel chapter nine in verse 20 Daniel chapter nine and verse 20<inaudible> now, while I was speaking,
praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, Israel and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the Holy mountain of my God as rhe confessed the sins of the people while weeping as a chapter 10 and verse one as rhe 10 and verse one now,
while as well was praying and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God,
a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel for the people wept very bitterly.
Once we have exalted and reverence God, we must, we must confess specific sins to the Lord. Nehemiah listed specific sins to the Lord.
Nehemiah chapter one and verse seven Nehemiah one and verse seven so it’s not enough just to confess that you have sinned.
You must confess your specific sentence. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments,
the statutes, nor the ordinances which you commanded your servant Moses. Daniel shows us the same list and Daniel chapter nine and verse five as he prays for the people’s specific sins.
Daniel chapter nine and verse five we have sinned and committed iniquity. We have done wickedly and rebelled even by departing from your precepts and your judgments.
We confess, why do we confess? We confess to find mercy and forgiveness and if we confess our sins,
we have mercy. Proverbs chapter 28 and verse 13 book of Proverbs chapter 28 and verse 13 he who covers his sins will not prosper but whose but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
If we confess our sins, we are forgiven. Psalm 32 and verse five the 32nd Psalm and verse five I acknowledged my sin to you and my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord and you forgave the iniquity of my sin and only if we confess our sins can we be forgiven.
We find this in first John chapter one in verse nine first John chapter one and verse nine the inspired writer writes,
if we confess our sins, he is faithful. And just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Once we have reverence the Lord and humbly and humbly confess our sins, we are to show that we have confidence in his promises.
We need to know that the Lord will keep his promises to us. The Lord made a promise to the children of Israel.
Turn with me to do to Ranomi chapter 30 in verses one through five. Deuteronomy chapter 30 verses one through five.
Now it shall come to pass when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you,
and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God drives you and you return to the Lord your God and obey his voice according to all that I command you today,
you and your children with all your heart and with all your soul that the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you.
If any of you are driven out of the foot to the farthest parts under heaven. From there, the Lord your God will gather you and from there he will bring you.
Then the Lord your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed and you shall possess it.
He will prosper you and multiply you more than your father’s. Nehemiah showed great confidence in this promise that God made by reiterating it to him and his prayer.
Nehemiah chapter one verses eight through 10 Nehemiah chapter one verses eight through 10 many asks, why do we quote prayer quotes scripture while we’re praying?
Nehemiah quotes scripture while he’s praying. Yeah. Remember I pray the word that you commanded your servant Moses saying,
if you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them though,
some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, you know, we’ll gather them from there and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for my name.
Now, these are your servants and your people whom you have redeemed your great power and yours by your strong hand.
Joshua shows us his confidence in the promises of the Lord being fulfilled. Joshua chapter 23 verses 14 and 15 Joshua 2314 and 15 yeah,
behold this day I am going the way of all the earth and you know in your hearts and in your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you all have come to pass for you.
Not one word of them has failed. Therefore it shall come to pass that as all the good things I’ve come upon you,
which the Lord your God promised you. So the Lord will bring upon you all harmful things until he has destroyed you from this good land,
which the Lord your God has given you. Yeah. God will fulfill the promises he makes us if we have confidence enough to do as he commands,
the devil will flee if we submit to God. James chapter four verse seven James four and verse seven therefore,
submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. If we pray, we will have peace.
Philippians chapter four and verse seven Philippians four and verse seven and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
If we believe in our baptize, we will be saved. Mark 1615 and 16 if we walk in his ways,
we will be cleansed. First. John chapter one and verse seven first John one seven but if we walk in the light as he is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ, his son cleanses us from all sin.
Now that we know to reverence the Lord, humbly make a confession of our sins to him and let him know that we have complete confidence,
that he will keep his promises. We must humbly ask him for a commitment to get involved. We must ask God for help.
Nehemiah asked the Lord to get involved. Nehemiah chapter one and verse 11 Nehemiah one and verse 11 Oh Lord,
I pray. Please let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who desire to fear your name and let your servant prosper.
This day I pray and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Yeah. Jesus tells us to ask God for his help.
Matthew chapter seven verses seven and eight Matthew seven seven and eight ask and it will be given to you.
Seek and you will find knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives and he who seeks,
finds and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Jesus himself in his example of prayer gives us an example of what we are to ask for Matthew chapter six verses 11 through 13 Matthew six 11 through 13 give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and 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.
We must know the Lord answers our prayers. We have to know it. We are told that we can have this confidence by John and first John chapter five verses 14 and 15 first John chapter five verses 14 and 15 now,
this is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us and if we know that he hears us,
whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of him. We must abide in Christ to have this confidence.
John chapter 15 verses seven and 16 John 15 seven and 16 I’d read the whole thing but it’s a lot so I’m just going to stick to seven and 16 if you abide in me and my words abide in you,
you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you and then down in verse 16 you did not choose me,
but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain that whatever you ask the father in my name,
he may give you. Let us consider that there is a lot more to prayer than we thought. It can be as simple as just talking to God,
but it involves so much more than we think. So we turn to Nehemiah and Jesus who gave us great examples of how to pray.
We need to pray with a concern about the problem at hand, like the concern we’re dealing with right now with the coven.
We need to make a conviction about God’s character. We need to humbly make a confession of our sins broad and specific.
We need to have confidence in God’s promises and we need to humbly ask God for a commitment to get involved.
We must pray first Thessalonians five 17. I will leave you with pray without ceasing. If you have problems in your prayer life and you have questions that you’d like to ask or if you have questions about anything else to do with your salvation,
you can contact us online. Or if you know the number of Eric or I or Erin, we’ll all be here for you.
Thank you.<inaudible> want to thank uh, Michael for that great lesson about prayer. Something we definitely need to be reminded of.
And Nehemiah is a great example of prayer for sure. I want to say, uh, happy mother’s day to the mothers out there.
I forgot to say that as beginning. That’s not a terrible thing to do is forget to say that,
but a happy mother’s day to those that are watching. We’ll have our closing song and then we’ll have a closing prayer by Aaron.
I did not receive any more announcements from anyone. So we will sing number 494, 494 Oh, happy day four,
nine four Oh hat.<inaudible> uh,<inaudible> uh, well<inaudible> and<inaudible>. Uh,<inaudible> uh,<inaudible> when jeans my lesson<inaudible> Hey,
it’s uh,<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> uh,<inaudible> uh,<inaudible> when, jeez<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Oh, happy on a C is my bass to him.<inaudible> a little a juice.
Well, that, um, it’s uh, well let’s do that.<inaudible> uh,<inaudible> uh,<inaudible> when,
jeez, uh,<inaudible> I’m a sinner.<inaudible> Hey, what’s up to watch<inaudible><inaudible> bread a day.
Uh,<inaudible> uh,<inaudible> when James<inaudible> I’m a sinner, eh?<inaudible> I am. I am and he is,
uh, he drew. Ah, I followed on John, uh, uh, uh, Steve, uh,
uh,<inaudible> uh,<inaudible> when jeans<inaudible> my sins.<inaudible> it’s uh, uh, to watch and pray.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> ah,<inaudible> uh,<inaudible> Oh geez.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> before we pray,
um, let me make mention and remind everyone that we will have a live stream of Bible class on Wednesday night.
And uh, if you do have any needs throughout the week, feel free to reach out to us.
I appreciate all of the work that Paula and many others continue to do, uh, throughout the week.
Also a reminder that we will reconsider, uh, the men will reconvene and reconsider, you know, where we’re at at the end of this month.
Uh, uh, uh, I think actually June 1st is the plan for that. So, uh, we’ll be looking forward to that.
And also as was mentioned at the beginning, we do have a few folks here. Uh, if you feel comfortable getting out there,
certainly more than enough views available, you can uh, come and gather with us and, and we take necessary precautions and social distancing and uh,
that sort of thing. So if you would like to join us, you can, uh, but we definitely understand the concern and encourage all those who have a concern to uh,
to stay home until such time as we’re all, um, uh, beyond that concern. Let us pray.
A gracious father in heaven, we bow before you at this time humbled by the reminder of the power of prayer,
the necessity of prayer and the benefits of prayer. We thank you for the Avenue of prayer to be able to communicate our needs,
our desires, our wants and truly our things giving above all to you for all that you do for us on a daily basis.
We thank you for those in this congregation who love you, who love the souls of every individual that is lost,
that support works of evangelism and edification throughout the world. We are mindful of missionaries throughout the world that are striving to reach the lost and we are mindful of our efforts to reach the lost here in Collierville.
We pray that all that we have done this morning will be acceptable to you and we pray that its value will continue throughout time.
We might take the things that we have learned here today, apply them in our lives and use them for weeks and years to come.
We might spread the gospel that we might teach others to pray and that we might be better each and every day and more faithful to you,
but that also we might remember and be reminded that when we sin and when we fall short of your glory,
if we are Christians and if we have submitted to you that we have an Avenue of forgiveness and the opportunity for the blood of Christ to cleanse us of our sins.
We are thankful this day for all that you have done for us and for all that you will continue to do for us on a daily basis.
While this life continues to exist, we are mindful of those that are struggling with their health and we pray that if it is your will,
that they will return to their full and desired help. We are mindful at this time of many throughout the world that are struggling with,
uh, depression and mental struggles as a result of, uh, this disease. And we pray that they might find,
uh, the help that they need, the strength that they need, the comfort that they need, and that through the trials and difficulties of this life,
they will become stronger, more enduring, and more patient and more faithful to you. We ask that you forgive us when we sin and fall short of your glory.
May we always strive on a daily basis to serve you acceptably. All this we pray in Jesus name.