2020-09-27 – Revelation 9 (Class) & The Value of a Savior (Sermon)

In Bible Classes Videos, Live Streams, Revelation, Sermons by Aaron Cozort

JOHN – Revelation 9
The Fifth & Sixth Trumpets

  1. What was fallen to the earth from heaven when the 5th Angel sounded?
    What is this one called in verse 11?  ____________________________
    What was given to him?  _____________________________________
    What did he do with it? ________________________ Revelation 9:1, 11 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  2. What arose from the bottomless pit initially upon it being opened and what happened as a result? Revelation 9:2 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  3. What came out of smoke and who were they commanded to torment?
    Revelation 9:3-5  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  4. How is the torment described?
    What did it cause?
    What part of the body of the locusts caused the torment? Revelation 9:5-6, 10 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  5. Who is the king of the locusts, what does his name in Greek and Hebrew mean? Revelation 9:11 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  6. 13-15 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  7. John sees an army of horsemen, what is the size of the army? Revelation 9:16
    ________________________________________________________________
  8. What three plagues kill 1/3 of mankind? Revelation 9:17-18
    ________________________________________________________________
  9. Did this partial judgment, this warning, cause the rest of mankind to repent? Revelation 9:20-21 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Automated Transcript

<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> I think I got it. Thank you. Well, I’ll tell the people online again. Thank you for being patient. We’re getting there. Uh, we are in the book of revelation and we noticed chapter eight.

We’re going to go into chapter nine this morning, and we are in the midst of the seals and the trumpets. Uh, the seventh seal. We talked about this, um, last week inside the seventh seal, when the seventh seal is opened inside that seal, John sees seven angels. Those seven angels are given seven trumpets. We mentioned that the book of revelation in the majority of its,

uh, material is broken up into the seven seals beginning in chapter six, that seventh seal opens up and inside the seventh seal are seven trumpets inside the seventh trumpet. There are seven more angels with seven bowls. And what you have here is you have the seals really looking forward to kind of setting the setting. The example of what’s going to happen. Here’s initially the first seal is open.

Christ is going out and he’s conquering he’s victorious, but then comes persecution and you have the seven sore judgments of God brought upon, uh, those who are on the earth. And, uh, that’s in seal two, three, and four, but then you see the fifth seal opened and you have the saints. Those who have died for the testimony of Christ,

those who have been killed because they were Christians and they’re Bo they’re below the altar. They’re beneath the altar of God and they’re crying out how, Oh Lord, how long until you bring judgment upon those who are persecuting us, they’re told to rest for a little while. They’re given white robes and they’re essentially told the idea of it is just wait, wait and see.

Because the judgment on those who are pursing persecuting, you is coming. Then the sixth seal is opened up and in the sixth seal, you see judgment begin to happen. This sixth seal is kind of a forecast of what’s going to come in the rest of rest of the book, starting with the seventh seal, but in the sixth seal, there’s an important question asked,

and that is who shall be able to stand in the day of the wrath of the one on the throne and of the lamb. Chapter seven is a break in the, the thought line in order to answer that question. So before the seventh seal is opened 144,000 on the earth are sealed with the Mark of God. Having been sealed with the Mark of God.

They are the ones who are able to stand in the day of the judgment of the, of the wrath of the lamb and of the one on the throne and coming out of the tribulation, out of the judgment, having gone through that and been found worthy, been found faithful. They come through on the other side and the picture of them on the other side of the tribulation,

the judgment, the, the things that are coming is an innumerable quantity in heaven, praising God. And they’re not, they’re not in shambles. They’re not like a routed army. They’re not wounded. And, and in despair, they come through it and there’s poems in their hands. And it’s a picture of the feast of Tabernacles. And everyone is happy.

Why? Because yeah, they were found faithful. They were marked with the Mark of God. They came through the judgment, not say they didn’t suffer. It doesn’t mean that they didn’t endure hard times when all this was going on. It meant they came through it and they were found worthy to, uh, have a presence with God and the lamb.

So then chapter eight opens and the seventh seal is open. And instead of an immediate action, you have silence for half an hour. There’s a period of silence. Everyone’s attention is, is clearly focused on what’s going to happen. And then you see the angel who has standby, who stands before God and to them were given seven trumpets. So the seven trumpets are delivered to the seven angels and they begin to sound those trumpets with each trumpet,

you have a partial judgment. The trumpets are partial judgments. Everything that you see here is going to be done in a, in a fraction of the whole. So a fraction of the trees are, are affected. A fraction of the sea is affected. If this is partial judgment, this is a little bit being effected to warn those who are on the earth to repent.

So the first trumpet is, uh, sounds. And, uh, you see there in verse seven, the first trumpet sounded and hail and fire followed mingled with blood. And they were thrown to the earth and a third of the trees were burned up and all the green grass was burned up. So as you go through the trumpets, you’re going to get a picture of the plagues all throughout the trumpets.

You’ve got kind of a knowledge and analogy to the book of Exodus, the plagues and the events that happened in history. There here’s the point we need to make sure and remember, these are visions. Exodus happened literally physically. We’re using the language of a physical historical event to tell about an event that’s going to occur. That’s not going to happen in a physical historical sense in the sense of it being a plague where a third is,

is killed or a plague where, where a third of the trees are damaged and all the grass. I mean, all the grass in the entire Roman empire, didn’t burn up one day, okay? This is, God’s saying just like I did it to Egypt. I’m doing it to you, but he’s giving them an opportunity to repent. And we’re going to see that at the end of chapter nine.

So as we go through this, let’s go through the questions from chapter eight and we’ll kind of continue summarizing the contents of chapter eight and the first four trumpets as we go through chapter eight, verse one, question one. What happened in heaven? When the seventh seal was opened Silence, okay. For half an hour inside the seventh seal, what was given to the seven angels,

seven trumpets? What did the angel with the golden sensor and much incense offer up on the golden altar before God, The prayers of the saints are offered up by the angel now. So the seven angels are given seven trumpets, but then they’re told, wait a minute, something else comes first. The angel comes forward and takes the prayers of the saints.

And those prayers of the saints are offered up before God with incense. And then something else occurs after the offering of the incense. What did the angel do with fire from the altar? Alright. He took the, uh, the sector and filled it with fire from the altar and cast it down to the earth. What you’re seeing is the prayers of the saints go up and God answers those prayers.

Okay. So keep, keep that occurrence together with what we saw in the fifth seal, where the prayers of the saints go up and they’re told to wait, now there, now you’re seeing, waiting is done. Judgment is coming. Okay. What happened? Because of the fire from the sensor. Okay. Noises, thunderings lightenings and earthquakes, and you go back into the old Testament prophets.

And those four things are used over and over and over to speak of the fall of a nation. Okay. So there’s, this is an impending action. This is what’s coming before these trumpets begin to sound, God keeps doing this in, in cycles. He tells you what’s coming and then you get what’s coming. And then he warns you as you’re getting what’s coming,

you need to repent, or you’re going to get the full measure of what’s coming and they don’t repent. So, uh, let’s see, what question was that? Um, what did the seven angels do? Or seven angels with the seven trumpets do prepared to sound when, when the, uh, Saint’s prayers are answered, then the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to sound,

uh, after the offering, after off, Nope. Nope. I’m in the wrong spot. I gotta keep track of where I’m at. What came upon the earth when the first trumpet sounded hail and fire mingled with blood, and that hearkens back to the plague of hail. Because when you read about the plague of hail there in the book of Exodus,

Exodus chapter nine, it specifically says when the event occurs that it was hail mixed with fire, you also have the notion of blood there, which has to do with a number of the plagues, but then, uh, what was affected by the first sounding, the first trumpet, third of the trees and all the graphs. All right. What came upon the earth when the second trumpet sounded?

All right. A great mountain burning with fire, um, mountains quite often symbolized in the old Testament nations. So you’ve got a burning mountain cast down on the earth. All right. What is affected by the second trumpet? Alright. Third part of the sea became blood. Where have we seen water become blood and the plagues. All right. So what came upon the earth?

When the third trumpet sounded all right, a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch and it fell on the third of what? Alright. Third of the rivers and on the Springs of water, notice the contrast before you had the great mountain with which affected the seas, the seas are made up of what kind of water, salt water. Now you’ve got something that affects the freshwater.

Okay. Just, you’re just getting this, this idea here of first. We’re affecting the oceans, the seas, but the seas weren’t used to, to, for people to drink from what were they used for transportation, the economy they’re used to move and make a nation profitable. The nation’s profitability is, is in decline. We’ve not seen that in America lately.

Have we shut everything? Shut transportation. Now what happens? Everything starts going down. Alright, but Rome, especially without the sea travel in Rome, you have a significant loss because all of the major part of its power came from its access to the sea. All right. But then you now have the fresh water. This is what people live off of.

This is what makes things grow. This is what sustains your flocks, your herds, your animals, your, your, your, your people. Okay. Um, so the third are Siri. The great star fell from heaven. What was the name of the star? Wormwood. Okay. This is a word that is referenced in the old Testament by a number of profits.

And it has a meaning like most names in the Bible that the name has, has a connotation to it. And it’s bitterness. Uh, you have wormwood and Gaul referenced together in the old Testament. And the idea is that which could be done, what could be done to water to make it bitter and undrinkable. And even to a degree poisonous, it,

it would, you drank this water mixed with gall mixed with this become bitter. You die. What happened to the Israelites? When they came in, I think it’s Exodus chapter 17 or 18. They come to the waters of the location that would later be known as Marah they try to drink of the water. And what do they find out? It’s bitter.

They can’t drink it. Okay. It would, it would affect them in a negative way, so they can’t drink it. So you begin to grumble and complain. What does God do? Okay. So God changes the bitter water to sweet. Well, if God has the power to go one direction, he’s got the power to go the other direction.

So, okay. So you’re still, you’re just seeing images from Exodus over and over and over again. God’s saying I’m affecting a third of this and a third of this. What was affected by the star? Paul wormwood? Yes. All right. Third, third part of the water became bitter. And what happened to many men? All right. They died from it.

Okay. You, you, you have a lack of what’s necessary to sustain life, then verse 12. Uh, our next question, a third of what things were affected when the fourth trumpet sounded sun, moon and stars. Okay. Here are the things that give light. Here are the things that, you know, differentiate days and nights. Now,

there, there’s not a point in history. I’m going to keep going back to this because we need to not miss it, because this is where people go haywire with the book of revelation. There wasn’t a part a time in the Roman empire, where everybody looked up and suddenly a third of the stars were just missing from the sky. And a third of the sun just disappeared.

Or a third of the moon was just gone. It’s that’s not what you’re supposed to be getting from this, but here’s one of the things to remember about Exodus, all the plagues in Exodus confronted not only the people and their lives, but their deities gods point all throughout the plagues were you worship the frogs. You worship the river, you worship the sun,

you worship the moon. You, you worship all these things, but I’m the one you should be worshiping. Well, now in the fourth trumpet, a third of the sun, which they worshiped was struck a third of the moon, which they worshiped was struck a third of the stars, which they worshiped were struck. So that a third of them were darken.

A third of the day, did not shine. And likewise, the night and I looked and I heard all, I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven saying with a loud voice, Whoa, Whoa, Whoa. To the inhabitants of the earth because of the remaining blast of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound to whom was a triple world pronounced by an angel,

flying through heaven. Okay. He says, Whoa, Whoa, Whoa. To who though? The, uh, is that what you said? Okay. I thought you said that the heavens and the earth, the inhabitants of the earth, um, in the King, James, I think you, you have it, or maybe it’s the ASV. You have the phrase,

those who dwell upon the earth. Okay. And when you go look up that phrase in the entire book of revelation, every single time, the inhabitants of the earth is found in the new King. James. Those who dwell on the earth is found every single time. Here’s what you need to know. It’s talking about the wicked on the earth that is not ever in the book of revelation all the way through it is never a reference to Christians.

It is always a reference to those who are wicked, those who and think about the connotation, those whose dwelling place is this earth. What do we read about Abraham? What kind of life did he live? He lived a faithful life, but he was according to the book of Hebrew, Hebrews. He was a, what Sojourner. He looked for a city that wasn’t made with hands.

He looked for a habitation of dwelling place that wasn’t on this earth, his home wasn’t here. And neither is any of ours. Those who dwell on the earth carries with it. A connotation of those who think this life is the most important thing. And those who dwell on the earth are being pronounced against them is being pronounced three woes, those three woes correspond with the last three trumpets.

When would the woes take place When the trumpet sound? Okay, so let’s get into chapter nine, But not all the ships. Yes. Yes. So, so with, uh, with question seven, then the second angel sounded, and I think I actually skipped over that one as we were going through it, something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea and a third of the sea became blood.

And a third of the living creatures in the seed died and a third of the ships were destroyed. Okay. So again, we’re not going back to the Roman empire and going, when did a third of all the ships in the, in the, in the nation just end up destroyed. I mean, we’re not looking for a monsoon. We’re not looking for,

for a hurricane or a, or a natural event or a volcano that occurred that a third of all the ships just disappeared. We’re seeing their economy struck their transportation is struck and God is bringing about his judgment in a partial way to get them to repent. Okay. So all, all through this, you’re dealing with vision elements. You’re dealing with John sees a third as if this may be a good way to visualize this.

If you were going to play a board game and you can see, I mean, you know, if it were real life, you’d be one person and you wouldn’t be able to see the whole board, but you’re not. You’re, you’re seeing the board. You’re, you’re playing a game. And if a third of one, one person’s pieces are all wiped off the board,

you see it happen. If it were real life, it may look like something different, but you’re playing the game. John or John is seeing a vision and he sees as it were here’s all of Rome’s ships and all of their sea moving vessels and all of the sea. And he sees a third of it just wiped off the board. Okay. That’s the picture Doesn’t mean you go back to history and you look for one event where like in Egypt,

a third of everything is affected. Okay. Chapter nine, then the fifth angel sounded, okay. No chapter divisions when John wrote it for angel sounded and then the wo is pronounced. And then the fifth angel sounded a and I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. There is a key difference between verse 10 and verse chapter nine, verse one,

chapter eight, verse 10, and a great star fells from heaven. John watches the trajectory of the star and it falls from heaven as he’s watching it. That is not the language of chapter nine. Verse one, chapter nine, verse one, there is a star that was all ready, fallen from heaven. This is a past tense reference. This angel,

why do I say angel bill back to chapter one? And in his hand were seven stars that were the seven angels of the seven churches. Okay. Remember everything in revelation has an angel basically. And so this, this is, this is a representative, but this is an angel. This is a star that has in the past. Not at that moment has in the past fallen from heaven.

That’s a key thought as we go through this, the fifth angel sounded and I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth, to him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And we’re not going to spend a whole lot of time surmising what the bottomless pit is because we don’t need to it’s right here in the text. It is the source of which all the things that are about to come out,

come from, and we’re going to get a great idea of what that means. Okay. It is not a literal bottom lip. It nor is it really intended to be helm, okay, this is a place of darkness. This is a pit. This is a source of what is about to come up. And what you’re going to see coming up is sin.

When you see the things arising out of the bottomless pit, this is a source of a degradation. This is a source of infection in a, in a, in a spiritual sense. This is the source of all that’s bad in the Roman empire and is destroying the Roman empire from inside. The fifth trumpet is internal decay within the nation. God uses a nation’s own internal decay to bring it down,

go read anything you want to about the history of the Roman empire. Did Rome fall from the outside, from conquerors, from without, or from inside inside, but they dealt with both constantly. You know, we, we, I love it when someone on the news or in politics says, we’ve never seen a time where the attitudes of politicians and the rhetoric is as bad as it is.

And I’m like, you don’t need to go read history. You don’t have a clue. One of the things they kept track of with different emperors was how many of the senators in Rome did they execute while they were in power? I mean, like we’re sitting, waiting to find out how many people are going to get voted out. And if there’s going to be a,

I love this, a, a, uh, a free and, and, uh, and peaceful transfer of power. You know, there’s a reason why a peaceful transfer of power in America was such a main principle of what the founders set up in our country is because they watched Europe do what Europe did for centuries. Somebody else wanted power, so they can kill off the guy before him.

Somebody did like what this group over here was doing, saying, kill a bunch of them off. And then, well, they do, you know, this was over and over and over again. We just, we just have a, a news media that panics and everything. And I think it’s just simply because of ratings, but here we are.

And this one comes up from, uh, or is fallen from heaven to the earth. And he’s given the keys to the bottomless pit and he opened the bottomless pit and what comes out, but smoke, uh, arose out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.

Then out of the smoke locus came upon the earth and to them was given power. As the scorpions of the earth have power. Anybody who’s watched the news in the last month or so has seen footage of the West coast. And when you start getting a fire, that’s burning, that’s out of control. And you start seeing the smoke is sending to it.

Eventually you get to the point where you don’t see the sky anymore. You don’t see the sun, right? You don’t see the sun set. You don’t see the stars you, because all you see is smoke. That’s the picture. You’re walking through a haze of pollution and not pollution made by, by carbon emitting. No, no, no. Sin.

When sin takes over a nation, it can no longer see one day from another. It can no longer see the light that could guide it through its hard times, because sin has a choke hold on. That nation. Sin has a polluting and corrupting influence on the mind. Those who are in the depths of sin often, can’t tell that that’s where they are,

but notice the effect of it. So he, the, the angel or the, the star that’s fallen from heaven, opens the bottomless and outcomes. The smoke that arises out of the pit, then out of the smoke come locus. Where have we seen locusts plagues of Exodus? We haven’t left off the plagues just cause we’re in chapter nine, we’re still with the plagues,

but these locusts are a little different. Um, I wish we did have the PowerPoint up here. See, it’s not in that one. Nevermind. There’s a picture of, and I’ll have to show it to you next, uh, on Wednesday, um, in one of the drawings that I have, uh, where the locus is drawn it, and it’s just a very interesting artist’s rendition of what this is.

Cause here’s the description, uh, to them was given power as the scorpions of the earth, half power scorpions in the middle East, they don’t typically have enough venom to kill you, but they will put you in misery for a very long time if you’re stung by them. So here’s this idea of being brought forth to them was given power as the scorpions of the earth,

half power, they were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth or any green thing or any tree. Why is that significant? Because that’s what locus do you go back to Exodus? And what did the Logas do? They ate everything. That’s what locusts plagues do. But here comes a locus plague and they don’t touch anything green. They don’t touch the trees.

They don’t touch anything. They would normally touch they’re focused on something else, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months, their torment was like the torment of a scorpion. When it strikes a man in those days, men will seek death and will not find it.

They will desire to die. And death will flee from them. Something about sin. When a person gets lost in sin, when, when their mind is so corrupted by the evil, they participate in day in and day out. When a nation reaches that level as a whole, one of the things you see is hopelessness. And when hopelessness rains in a nation,

suicide rates, skyrocket, why, well, what do you have to live for? When everything in your life is miserable? When everything in your life is terrible. When everything you see in everything you’re involved in is degrading and polluted and decaying. What do you have to live for here? You have the mentality of this is this sin. So infects them that they want to die,

but God doesn’t let them. They want to end it. But God says, no, no. You’re going to suffer through it. People will act as though sin is harmless. That’s the way the world and, and, and Satan and his minions want to promote it. Sin is harmless. Sin is enjoyable. Sin is, is, is what you should,

you should seek after, but they don’t like painting the pictures of the results. They don’t like showing the video of what happens when someone is so steeped in sin, that they reach that final point where all, all they want to do is die because that’s all they have left. This is the picture of what comes out of the bottomless pit. But then the description,

the shape of the locus was like horses prepared for battle. You’ve never seen any locus like this. These, these locuses are as though they’ve got saddles on them. These locusts are our giant locus that are ready to go to war. So are locusts like horses prepared for battle on their heads were crowns of some thing like gold and their faces were like the faces of men.

All right. They, they appear to be people, but they’re locusts. They appear like horses, but they’re ready for battle. But then he says, and they had on, and their hair was like women’s hair. And their teeth were like, lions, Steve, get a picture of this here. This locus swarm is coming. This plague of locusts is coming in their giant locusts.

And they’re like horses and they’re ready for battle. And their heads look like humans from a distance. Their hair looks like women’s hair. And they that they, they, what you should be seeing here. They almost looked beautiful until you get up close. That’s why sin is looks good to you get up close, but then it devours you. And here’s the picture of them.

And they look good from a distance, but you get up close to them and they’ve got teeth like lions, but then notice they had breast plagues like breastplates of iron and sound. The sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running in the battle. And over powering sound. As they approach, they had tails like scorpions. And there,

there were in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. So here come the scorpion or the, the, the locus and they have this appearance and they’re coming and they’re bringing pollution and torment and sin and destruction, but not death. And they have power for a part of a year. Okay. Again, not giving a specific amount of time.

This is just another indicator of a partial judgment, but then verse 11. And they had as King over them, the angel of the bottomless pit, the star in verse one is referred to as the angel in verse 11, same individual, same entity. Okay. So the star from verse one is here in verse 11 called the angel. But what is he in relationship to the locus?

He’s their King. They’re under his dominion who who’s, who’s the King of evil. Who’s the King of sin. Satan is Jesus said to the Jews, you are of your father, the devil. So this is a picture of Satan Satan’s influence on a nation will destroy it from the inside out all while convincing it that this is what it wants. And yet here’s the interesting point.

Satan’s actions are used by God for his purposes, Rome and its internal moral decay would be used by God to bring judgment on Rome. Yet it was, it was as if Satan was going, I’m getting exactly what I want. And God’s saying, you’re going to get exactly what you deserve. Okay. So they had a King over them. The angel of the bottomless pit,

whose name in Hebrew is Avedon. But in Greek, his name is a Polyon two different words. One Hebrew, one Greek, one means destruction. The other means the destroyer. Okay. So here’s the picture of the star that was in the past, fallen from heaven, who has the keys to the bottomless pit, by the way, he won’t keep those keys.

That’s important to realize he has power over the bottomless pit for a time. His influence comes on the nation and everyone in the nation becomes miserable and they seek Death, but they can’t find it. And he’s reigning over this influence one. Well, verse 12 is passed behold. Still two more woes are coming after these things. Okay? So we’re going since we’re going to be out of time,

we’re going to save the rest of chapter nine for Wednesday. Um, but as you read through verse 13 through verse 21, you have the sixth trumpet, a constant reminder. When you read through this and go what’s that not make sense. It’s not supposed to, okay. It’s a vision, not everything like a parable, Nadia, every little detail is supposed to have a literal parallel.

It’s supposed to paint a picture. And if you had a picture painted of an event where you see a nation and up out of this hole in the earth comes disease and pollution and a plague. And these destroying creatures that are harming everybody, but won’t let them die. They’re tormenting them, but they won’t let them out of the torment. They’re hurting them,

but they won’t let them loose. And that’s sin. That’s sin all over and you look at our country and that sin. Thank you for your attention.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> okay.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Good morning. And welcome to the Collierville church of Christ. Sunday morning worship service. It’s indeed. Good to see each of you here.

So many smiling faces. I have a few announcements this morning and I don’t see any visitors with us this morning. So, uh, just a quick reminder that, uh, the communion communion trays have been prepared there on the back. If you haven’t picked your communion issue and take this opportunity to go back and get it, we need to remember our sick this morning.

Don’t forget Dorothy and Rodale Wilson. They are suffering from their chronic problems. Joan Springer is still at home, and I think she’s doing a little bit better, but I don’t see either her or Marie here, they are sheltering in place. They’ve been exposed to the COVID a virus. And as a result, they are quarantined. Pam chafing is doing much better.

She’s able to get around some now. And Sylvia pass is with us today after her back problem. Um, and don’t forget Ron Wallace. That is Jacob’s grandfather. I believe her father, but anyway, uh, he, um, is, uh, suffering from a low blood sugar. And as I understand, he is about the same. Janet Jones is in the Memphis Jewish home in room one,

two, three. And I don’t remember her phone number, but it’s on the bulletin board back there. If you have a chance, uh, she’s uh, having a little, uh, I guess it would be more just feeling bad, uh, than anything else, but, um, she’s, she’s there and would very much appreciate, I think having people call and Erin Cozort will have surgery on his broken wrist Thursday,

October 1st. So all of these people, we need to keep in her prayers. I have some, uh, thank you notes here that I would like to read and then I’ll post them on the bulletin board so that you can, uh, uh, have a look at them yourself. Ava Morgan, uh, has written us a thank you note, and I want to read it.

It is with the greatest gratitude and thanks to you all for the cards and prayers I received during the death of my sister in law and my brother during a time like this, it brings forth how much our family and friends mean to us and you, our family, your prayers gave me the strength I needed during this difficult time. Not only for myself,

but to be able to support my family and brother and for them. Thank you with Christian. Love Ava Morgan. I also have a couple of notes from one from Gladys Lyles and her daughter that I want to read. Dear church, family. I don’t know how they work. I don’t have the words to express my love and appreciation for all of you and all of my 95 years,

I have never been so surprised as I was at the birthday. Drive through that. You gave me, I miss all of you and hope that I can be back at church soon. Thank you very much Gladys lines. And I also have a note from her daughter, Linda, and it reads, I want to thank the church for the wonderful drive-through birthday for my mom.

I am sending a donation to the church in her name. Thank you. Those are all the announcements that I have. Um, today’s service. The song leader will be Michael Dale, Joe caisson. We’ll have the opening prayer. Mari Phillips will officiate it. The Lord’s supper. Aaron Cozort will deliver the sermon. And I have the closing prayer once again.

Thank all of you for being here. It’s good to see your faces. Our song to begin our services. This morning will be number 144 O worship the King number 144. Oh, worship the King. Oh, Gloria, bah and grade four. Lee. See his Wanda for LA<inaudible>. Uh<inaudible> with<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> shines in, uh, ah,

it’s dreams from<inaudible> and sweet. The<inaudible><inaudible> and<inaudible> and<inaudible><inaudible> I’m a,<inaudible> a man, a defender.<inaudible> The song before our opening prayer will be number 797. Lord, we come before the now I’m seven, nine, seven<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Okay.<inaudible> Wow.

Oh God. Our father in heaven, we truly are grateful into the, that we can call your father. We’re so thankful, dear God, that we’ve been brought out of this world of sin by the precious blood of your son. We pray father that as we look to those around us in this world, that we realize how many souls have never named your name and have never come to knowledge of your wheel.

We pray father as a congregation of your people that we do our best to try to reach those in this area with the gospel that they too might know what a blessing it is to be children of yours and not how that weight of sin upon them father, we are grateful for the privilege that we have to be here this day. As your family, we’re thankful for the opportunity that we’ve had to study your word and our Bible class this morning.

We appreciate so much the ability that Aaron has in bringing that class and the message that we’ve been hearing from your book of revelation. We’re so grateful for the, for the understanding of your will and how it should affect our lives and how we can be servants in the kingdom and serve and glorify you with our lives father. We are mindful of those that are not able to be with us.

And we miss him so much and we miss their encouragement that they give us by being here. But we understand where this virus going around. That it’s best for them to be at home, but our prayers are with them. And we pray that you continue to help us to encourage them and them encourage us bother. We’re grateful for the privilege that we have to have your word,

that we can study it and strengthen our faith. That we might be able to reach others with the gospel and try to change their lives, to want to serve you and glorify you father, where mindful of all of those that have been mentioned that have been grieving over loss of loved ones or those that are ill and undergoing treatment. And we pray that the ones that are doctors,

the doctors and nurses that are treating them, we’ll find the best things that might bring, bring them back to a normal way of health. We’re especially mindful of father of Aaron. And we pray that you be with those doctors. It will be in ministering to him, this coming Thursday, that they might do those things that will help repair his wrists,

that after he goes through the time of recovering and the therapy that he receives, that he will have full use of that arm father, we know that there are many that are grieving over various things in this life. We pray that we are an encouragement to them, that we are there for them, that we might bring some joy and peace to their minds,

that they might know that we truly love and care for them and are always there to do whatever we might can do to comfort and help them father. We pray for those that are in other lands, teaching and preaching your word, and we pray your blessings to be upon them, help us to always encourage them as they try to reach those laws, souls,

and other other places. We pray that we might always support them and help them with that work. And we’re grateful that the fact that your words being preached that many souls might hear of it. I want to be obedient to it and become children of yours. By the way, I pray that we never lose sight of how we ought to act in this world,

that we should be a people that have great patients, that we’re long suffering toward one another, that we have a tremendous love for the, and for each other that we’re willing to give up ourselves others. We know in this world that we live in today, it is so people are so selfish and self centered. We pray that we not be that way,

that we extend our love to all of mankind that they know we are your children, that we are. We love you first. And we love others as ourselves, help us to always to have that kind of spirit within us. Yes, this, we should have this morning as we’re able to worship you. We pray in spirit and in truth, be where there,

and they see brings the message, help us to be attentive to it and pray that your word always will dwell in our hearts that we might not sin against thee bless our worship this morning and bless each one. That’s here in jesus’ name. We pray amen. Song to prepare our minds for the Lord’s supper will be number 366 by Christ redeemed by Christ<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> and<inaudible><inaudible>,

uh, step dad<inaudible>. And as we drink, we see, uh, and eh,<inaudible> ah, um, and, uh,<inaudible><inaudible> we, you know, ah<inaudible> and, uh, he, ah, I’m going to read to us this morning from first Corinthians chapter 11, verses 27 through 32. And it reads, therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks,

this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Let, but let a man examine himself. And so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup for he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner, eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body for this reason. Many are weak and sick among you and many sleep for if we would judge ourselves,

we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord that we may not be condemned with the world At this time, let’s focus on the cross and that cruel crucifixion that Jesus went through for our sins. Let us pray. Heavenly father, we’re thankful for this bread that represents jesus’ body. That was nailed to the cross for the sins of mankind.

And we pray heavenly father, you please forgive us of our sins Before we, uh, pray for the fruit of the vine. I’m going to read from John chapter six, verses 53 through 58. Then Jesus said to them, most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood. You have no life in you.

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks, my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day for my flesh is food indeed. And my blood is drink. Indeed. He eats my flesh and drink my blood abides in me and I in him as the living father sent me and I live because of the father. So he who feeds on me will live because of me.

This is the bread which came down from heaven, not as your father’s eighth and manna and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever. Unlike men or heavenly father, let’s go to prayer with the blood of Jesus. That’s represented in the fruit of the van. Heavenly father. We’re thankful for this fruit of the van and what it represents and pray heavenly father for your forgiveness this way,

ask in jesus’ name, amen. Separate from the Lord’s table. We have an opportunity to give us we’re here to prosper. Let’s pray. Heavenly father. We’re thankful for the financial gains. We’re here to receive from you throughout the years and pray heavenly father. You will separate portion joyfully back to you to help continue the work here at the Curry with church of Christ.

Amen song. Before the lesson will be number 450. Give me the Bible. If you’re able, let’s stand for this song please. Number four, five, zero.<inaudible> glad Nisqually mean to cheer though.<inaudible> no,<inaudible> small beamy and CERN. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Give me the bah or Holy message. Ah, nah,

guide me and narrow away. Hey<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> my heart is bro.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> by the<inaudible> have and shining port or show me the glory.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> me and a narrow way. Hey,<inaudible> to<inaudible> and he turn all day. Hey, You may be seated. Oh, it’d be wanting to be one of those preachers that got sit on a stool while he taught.

This is a hard way to get there. Take your Bibles if you will. And open them to the book of Zechariah mentioned last week, as we were going through our lesson and chapter nine and chapter 10 that, uh, we would spend the today’s lesson in chapter 11, the beginning of the discussion that’s here in chapter 11 of the book of Zechariah.

It’s it’s part of a single prophecy that begins in chapter nine, but you have a reference in chapter 10. That really is the foundation of what you read in chapter 11. When you get into chapter 10, you read beginning in verse one, ask the Lord for rain in the latter time, or in, in the time of the latter rain, the Lord will make flashing clouds.

He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone. There’s a principle here. That’s established by Zechariah. When you are obedient to God and you ask for what you need, God will provide it for you. Jesus said, ask and you shall receive seek, and you shall find knock and the door shall be opened to you. And he emphasized the reason for that is because God is a loving father who knows how to give his children what they need,

but then notice the following statement for the idols, speak delusion, the diviners InVision lies and tell false dreams. They comfort in vain. Therefore the people, when they’re way like sheep, they are in trouble because there is no shepherd. This statement about the people that there was no shepherd is the foundation of the discussion in chapter 11, God in chapter nine says I’m going to judge a Syria and I’m going to judge the Medes and the Persians.

And I’m going to judge Greece and I’m going to judge the Philistines and I’m going to judge tire and I’m going to judge Seiden and I’m going and on and on and on the list goes, all the enemies of Israel are going to be judged and God’s going to bring Judah and Israel together. Ephraim and Judah are going to be brought back together and they will be brought into the lamp and they will prosper.

And they will pray for the reigns in the latter, uh, during the latter rains and the rains will come, But they’ve got to be warned. They’ve got to be mindful that just because God says I will do these things doesn’t mean they can let their guard down. It doesn’t mean they can just listen to everybody that comes along. Moses told Israel in Deuteronomy chapter 13,

there would be those that would come from the outside. And there would be those that would come from the inside, come from their Mo their own selves that would teach them to depart from the Lord. And that they were to not only be aware when someone was doing that, but that they were to defend themselves by putting a false prophet to death. They were to be active in defending their own knowledge of the truth.

God says, I’ll give you what you need, but you need to know that false prophets and false teachers and liars and deceivers will come against you. And they will tear you apart until you are sheep without a shepherd, If you let them. And unfortunately, they let them, when God judged Israel, when Babylon was brought against the Southern kingdom of Judah,

uh, Syria was brought against the Northern kingdom of Israel. God said a remnant will return. A remnant of my people will still here. And in chapter 11, there will still be a remnant. Even in the days of Christ, when they would crucify the very son of God, there would still be a remnant, but God would be done with this nation to get the foundation of the message of chapter 11.

Take your mind back to a time when Israel had arrived at Mount Sinai, they come to the mountain and they’re there and they begin to settle around the mountain and God tells them I’m going to deliver to you the law. I’m going to speak to you. You make sure no one touches the mountain. Anything that touches the mountain while my presence is on the mountain will die.

And so God in Exodus chapter 19 begins to speak to them. But at the end of chapter 19, the Israelites come to Moses and they say, we can’t do this anymore. We’re terrified. W you go up to the mountain and you receive the law from God and tell us what God says, because we can’t hear his voice anymore because we’re afraid we’re going to die paraphrased there.

So Moses goes up on the mountain and Moses goes on the mountain and God delivers to him, the 10 commandments in written tablets of stone. And God gives him the law. And he is there on the Mount. And he is there on the Mount and the people are down the bottom and they’re waiting and they’re waiting. And he’s on the Mount for 40 days and 40 nights.

God gives them the law. God gives him the tablets. And then he hears down below him, the sound, the sound of the people. And he goes down to investigate and they’re bowing down and worshiping an idol. God makes a statement to Moses and essentially tells Moses, I’m going to destroy this people. I’m going to wipe this people off the face of the earth.

And I will raise up from you a new nation. And I’m going to start over because of the wickedness of this people, they’ve seen every single plague. They were in Egypt and, and we’re there to witness the complete decimation of a world power. And they saw everything that happened. And then they walked out of Egypt with all the value and the profit and the plunder of Egypt.

And they walked through the red sea on dry ground. And they came to Mount Sinai and they heard my voice. And less than a month later, they are worshiping an idol. God says I’m done with, and Moses responds to God. You can’t do that. Think of what the nations around would say, they would blaspheme your name. They would say,

you brought this people into the wilderness to kill them. You can’t do it. And God relents. But that picture of God’s saying because of idolatry, because of sin because of wickedness, because they refused to recognize him as Lord, God almighty God said I’m done with them. Chapter 11 in Zechariah is a rehearsal forecasting. The time when God would say I’m done with them,

they’ve gone too far. Chapter 11 begins open your doors. A Lebanon. Lebanon is in the North, up in the region of tire inside. And it was a region that was known for its trees, for its forests, for the Cedars of Lebanon that was used, that were used to build the temple by Solomon open your doors O Lebanon, that fire may devour your Cedars.

The one defining attribute of this land. God says, I’m coming for that. I’m coming for what you treasure. Most whale Oh, Cyprus for the Cedar has fallen. A Cypress tree of course has, is not as significant in the land of Lebanon is not as significant, not as, uh, as much value as the S the, Uh, Cedar.

So here are the Cypress trees over here, and they’re told you whale because the Cedars are going to be destroyed because the mighty trees are ruined. Whale. Oaks of basin for the thick forest has come down. There is the sound of whaling shepherds for their glory is in ruins. There is the sound of roaring lions for the pride of the Jordan is in ruins the pride of the Jordan there.

The word could be translated thickets. It’s the idea of the reeds and the thickets that grew up as a result of the Jordan overflowing its banks. Every year, it would overflow its banks and the, this, uh, very fertile ground would shoot out these thickets and all these are going to get wiped away. God says, I’m destroying what you value.

I’m destroying what you think is important. And he calls upon the shepherds to weep because they are the focus of this judgment. Thus, as the Lord gone, verse four, feed the flock for slaughter. Now over in the book of John and John chapter 21 gone tells Peter feed my sheep three times. He asked Peter, Peter, do you love me?

And Peter responds. I love you, Lord. There’s the discussion about the different words, but that’s not what I want us to focus on. The response that Jesus comes back with each time to Peter is feed my Sheep, feed my lambs. You love me care for my flock, whose job is that? The job of the shepherd, it’s the job of a shepherd to feed the sheep.

It’s the job of the shepherd to lead the sheep, to pass into two pastures that are rich, where they can feed and they can grow and they can be healthy. But these sheep aren’t being fed to grow and be healthy. These sheep Are being fed for slaughter. There’s a difference in how you care for an animal that you care nothing about because it’s only a source of wealth for you and an animal that you care for.

And you love. There’s a difference in how you treat them. There’s a difference in how you care for them. And these shepherds are Only shepherds for the prophet. They’re only shepherds for what they get. Notice what he says. Thus says the Lord, my God feed the flock for slaughter, whose owners slaughter them and feel no guilt. Those who sell them say blessed,

be the Lord for, I am rich and their shepherds do not pity them. Your mind should go over to Matthew chapter 23 and Matthew chapter 23, Jesus pronounces woes against the Pharisees and against the scribes and the chief priests and the leaders of the people, the shepherds of Israel. And he accuses them of devouring widow’s houses. He accuses them of robbing the poor.

They didn’t care about the people. They didn’t feed them as good shepherds. They used them to enrich themselves. Verse six for, I will no longer pity the inhabitants of the land. Now wait a minute, God, if this, if the shepherds are the ones doing this, if the shepherds are the ones who are abusing people, if the shepherds are the ones who are causing the problems,

why is it the inhabitants of the land? The flock is going to get destroyed. Why is it that the flock is going to be punished? The flock is going to get slaughtered. Why is that going to be the case? If it’s the shepherds that are the problem, and you’ll see why in a moment, but it ultimately comes down to this because the flop gets to choose who it follows.

The flock gets to choose. If those shepherds continue to be shepherds, and if they continue to hear their voices, remember chapter 10, verses one and two, you can pray to me and I’ll give you what you need. Or you can listen to false teachers and follow them, but you cannot do both. So then notice what we read here. Zechariah is playing the part of the shepherd.

So I fed the flock for slaughter in particular, the poor of the flock. I took for myself, two staffs, the one I called beauty and the other, I called bonds and I fed the flock. A shepherd would take his staff and he would use the staff to tend the flock, to, to keep the flog, to guide the flock.

And he’s here as a shepherd, who’s using two stabs. One of them is called beauty. The word also means grace graciousness. The other is bonds, not the idea of chains, but what bonds, two people together that, which is their attachment and their, their connection to one another. And the shepherd goes out to feed the sheep. And he feeds them with these two stabs.

He’s doing what they need. He’s caring for them properly using the proper tools of a shepherd. But then notice I dismissed the three shepherds in one month, my soul lows, them and their soul. Also abhorred me. Someone who’s working on behalf of God is opposed by someone who’s only interested in themselves. And Zechariah says, I, I pushed them out.

These three shepherds, but they abhorred me. Then I said, I will not feed you. Let what is dying die? And what is perishing perish. Let those that are left, eat each other’s flesh. The shepherd says, I’m done with you. I’m done with you. I’m done with this flock. Those that are going to die, let them die.

Those that are gonna perish, let them perish because everyone else is only interested in themselves and they will devour everyone else. You’re seeing a picture of a flock that is not a normal flock of sheep. This is not a flock of sheep that hears the voice of the shepherd and follows them. This is a flock of sheep that is internally divided and only cares for them selves And the shepherds giving up on them.

I took my staff beauty and cut it into that. I might break the covenant, which I made with all the peoples peoples. Here’s a reference to the nations. Some have been had different ideas on what this means, but here’s what I think you need to get from it. God said to Abraham, back in Genesis, chapter 12, those who bless you,

I will bless those who curse you. I will curse. God essentially made a covenant with all the nations of the earth saying, if you do right by my covenant people, I will do good to you. If you mistreat my covenant people, I’m coming after you. Now, we’ve just had two solid of God Saying I’m going to judge those who have done evil to my people,

but now the flock is no longer faithful to God. Now the flock will no longer hear his shepherds. Now the flock only cares about themselves and will eat and devour themselves. And God says to all the nations around you or around the flock, you’re off the hook. Now the covenant I made with you that I would bless those who bless them and curse those who curse them is over.

This is God telling the nations have Adam. They’re not my people anymore. And remember in Exodus, God said there was a point where were the people of Israel enough was enough. And he would no longer keep them alive because he was the only thing standing between them and destruction. So then notice what happens. So it was broken on that day. Thus,

the poor of the flock who were watching me knew that it was the word of the Lord. This, this covenant is broken. God ends it. And the poor of the flock, the, the, the, the defenseless ones, the ones who can’t care for themselves, the, the, the ones who, who are like in most nations, those who are just stepped on trod upon and despised by everyone.

Those, by the way, if you look at the new Testament who heard Jesus, who listened to Jesus, who wanted to be with Jesus, who wanted to obey Jesus, who did obey Jesus, they heard this pronouncement and they knew it was the word of the Lord. And that’s a contrast because that means the rich, the prosperous the well off the goodly of the flock.

They said, that’s not God, that’s not God’s word. Couldn’t be, he never break that covenant. And the Lord said to me, or, sorry, verse 12. Then I said to them, so the shepherd says to the sheep, if it is agreeable to you, give me my wages and if not refrain. So they weighed out for my wages,

30 pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, throw it to the Potter that the princely price they set on me. So I took the 30 pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the Potter. Now the new Testament will tell us clearly that this is a prophecy of Christ, because it would be for 30 pieces of silver,

that Judas would betray Jesus. And here’s where the entire chapter wraps itself up in its focus, because you have the value of a savior. In this passage, the flock is asked, what am I worth to you? The flock is asked, how much do you value me? I’m the one who cares for you. I’m the one who feeds you.

I’m the one who provides for you. I’m the one who loves you. I’m the one who gives himself for you. I’m the one who came for you. What am I worth? I won’t tell you what I’m worth. You tell me what I’m worth. You decide what I’m worth. And the flog decides the Shepherd’s worth 30 pieces of silver. Now 30 pieces of silver in the old Testament.

Isn’t just a number. It isn’t just a random poll out of nowhere. Number it’s Exodus, chapter 21 in Exodus, chapter 2130 pieces of silver is not just the price of a slave Exodus chapter. 20 ones is 30 pieces of silver was the restoring price of a slave gored by an animal. Here’s a master. He has a slave that slave, or that servant is gored by an animal.

He can’t work anymore. He can’t labor anymore. He can’t do his job. He’s a slave that will have to be sustained by the masters in there for the rest of his life, who can no longer do anything. He is a value LIS slave. And so for the one whose animal, it was the Gord, another master servant, the one who owned the animal had the pay that master the price of a slave that was worthless and a worthless slaves price was 30 pieces of silver.

The shepherd says to the flock, what am I worth to you? And the flock says you’re as much as a worthless slave and Judas sold his master for 30 pieces of silver, having seen what would happen to Christ Judas would take the money back to the chief priests, the shepherds, and he would say, take it back. Or they said, Oh,

we can’t, we can’t accept that, that money that’s blood money. We can’t allow that to be brought into the house of the Lord that they could take from the house of the Lord and pay the price, but they couldn’t take it back after it was used for such a terrible cause. Judas would throw it at their feet and they would use it to buy the Potter’s field.

That would be used to bury those who had no burial place in the land of Israel. When the flock decided, as they cried out to pilot, crucify him, crucify him, crucify him, crucify him. As they decided he was worth nothing. He was worth so little. They said, give us Barabis back the murderer and the rioter and the one who tried to overthrow the government,

give that one back to us, but take this one who claims to be our King and kill him. God said, I’m done with you. This covenant is over. Then I cut into my other staff bonds that I might break the brotherhood between Israel or Judah and Israel. And the Lord said to me next, take for yourself. The implements of a foolish shepherd.

One of these days, I’m going to do a sermon or maybe Michael can write it and turn it in. When he gets into Zachariah, the tools of a fool, because God says you did have two staffs. And they were the correct tools. They were the tools of a wise shepherd. But now you’re going to tend to my sheep with the tools of a foolish shepherd.

You’re going to use the wrong implements. You’re going to do it the wrong way. You’re going to lead them to destruction because that’s what they’ve decided they will get. He says, take for yourself. The implements of a foolish shepherd for indeed. I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are cut off nor seek the young,

nor heal. Those that are broken nor feed those that stand still, or that still stand. But he will eat the flesh of the fat and tear their hooves in pieces, Whoa, to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock, a sword shall be against his arm and against his right eye. He is arms shall completely with her and his right eye shall be totally blinded.

God says to Israel, if you value my shepherd so little, if you value what I did for you so little, if you will turn against me and follow after these shepherds, then I’m done with you. And I’m going to allow a shepherd to rise up that will devour you God, through Christ would tell his disciples in Matthew chapter 24, that there was coming a day when they needed to be aware and they needed to be watching because there was coming a day when God would bring judgment on Jerusalem and not another stone would be stacked upon another left on the temple,

God would tear it down. God would destroy their nation and God would end his covenant with that people for forever. And they seal that faint. When they put Christ on the cross, they said, God, we don’t care what you do. Or we’ve seen the miracles. We’ve seen what he does. We know that he’s from you, but we don’t care.

We’re going to follow our shepherds. Now you and me, what are we doing? Who are we listening to? And who are we following? Are we looking to God’s word? Are we saying whatever he says in here? That’s what I’m going to do. If he tells me to stop doing what I’m doing, I’m going to stop doing. If he tells me to love someone that I look at as unlovable,

I’m going to love them. If he tells me to care for those who aren’t worth it in my minds, but they’re worth it in his, I will. He tells me to listen and follow him. Then I will. Or are we like Jesus looked upon the people in his day and saw them as sheep without a shepherd. Not because they didn’t have shepherds because the shepherds were only there to use the sheep to get out of them.

What they could. What kind of flock are we? If you’re outside the body of Christ this morning, you’re outside of the flock of God. You’re outside of the hope and the salvation provided by him. But Jesus said, I am the good shepherd and my sheep. Hear my voice. If you’re open to hearing the voice of the Lord, you can begin doing that today to hear what he has said to do what he has said.

He said, if you love me, keep my commandments. You have need of the salvation of God. You can have it. It’s available to you. You can go in through the door and enter the sheepfold. Jesus said, you become part of my flog by dying. Like I died dying to sin and rising the walk in newness of life. Having heard the word,

believing that Jesus Christ is the son of God, repenting of your sins and confessing the name of Christ and being immersed, buried in water for the remission of your sins, dying to sin and rising up to live for him. You can do that. If you’re a member of the body of Christ and you’re a sheep, that’s wandered away, listen to the voice of the savior and come home.

If you have need of the invitation, you can come forward. Now as we stand and as we sing, Yeah,<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> jeez, us. Well, me<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> jeez, us we’ll meet you.<inaudible> a song for our closing. Prayer will be number 648. Stand up,

stand up for Jesus. Stand up, stand up. Or jeez, uh<inaudible><inaudible> and<inaudible> from<inaudible><inaudible> uh, he, the<inaudible> and<inaudible> stand up, stand up or GE is a us<inaudible> Hey for<inaudible> and<inaudible> that? Uh, man, uh<inaudible> uh,<inaudible> uh<inaudible> with Danja and strain to strain up<inaudible> and uh, stand up.

Jeez, us<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> uh,<inaudible> Dan been, uh, wanting<inaudible> stand up, stand up. Jeez, us<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> to<inaudible><inaudible> uh,<inaudible> uh,<inaudible> Heavenly father. We’re indeed grateful for the privilege that we’ve had to assemble and worship. We pray that our worship to you has been in spirit and truth and a sweet savor as we prepare to depart.

And we’re mindful of those that are not able to be among us. We pray that your healing hand will be placed upon them. And they, once again, may assemble with us. We’re also mindful of those that have lost loved ones. We pray that you will comfort them as only you can bless each of us. As we prepared to depart, according to our several needs.

Forgive us. When we sin against thee and turn back, we thank you father for your love and care for us. As we depart, may we always take the son, the name of your son with us. It’s in his name that we pray. Amen.