Self Control - Frank Brancato 6-10-06

As we read, just a moment ago, the last virtue that's listed by

the great Apostle. Paul, through divine

inspiration, that is found in a person that is walking in the

spirit and thereby, because of that is producing the fruit of

the spirit, that final one is none other than Temperance as

the King James, renders it or simply self-control, you know,

in some ways one might consider this virtue of the most isn't

because without self-control, The Works of the flesh, cannot

be overcome you. And I understand that if we

don't overcome, the works of the Flesh and the sinful Pleasures

In the Flesh. If we don't figure out a way

that we can stand against those things and we are going to give

in to those Temptations and we're going to sin, we

understand that sin is a transgression of the law and

therefore we need to figure out a way that we aren't going to

give in to those. Tations that come our way,

especially with regards to the flesh.

We need to understand that self-control is of utmost

importance because without it, the other elements of the fruit

of the spirit will not be made evident.

But let me just say this, before we go any further tonight, I am

not one that is standing before you that believes that I have

mastered the art of having Temperance or self-control in my

life. Life.

I am not saying that I am the model example, in any way shape,

or form with regard to that, but I'm also saying this though, it

is something that must be developed by every child of God

saying that. I understand that as we go down

into the Waters of baptism and we rise to walk in newness of

life, we begin as a child of God and we don't necessarily come

from those Waters of baptism with this Idea, all figured out

it is a journey, it is a process and it is something that must be

worked on and developed in our life.

If self-control is of importance to us in the Christian Life that

we live and we better have an understanding of, not only

number one, what it is but how can you?

And I as difficult as it may be, how can we develop this

wonderful attribute of having self-control?

Troll. But number one, let's define it

and look exactly what it is. The word Temperance comes from a

Greek word, which comes from the root word, Kratos, which is

where we get the word strength. So, right off the bat, we're

figuring out that it is something that is strength to

us. Now, this word Temperance as

defined, according to Robertson is one holding himself in now.

Tell you something, if you look at it from the standpoint of the

world, if you look at it from the standpoint of society, As

we're even little guys in the schoolyard, this goes against

the very thinking that the world would have us to believe.

And the world would have us to think, if you think about it,

like this all the way back to grade school, what happens if

someone says something to you, that is not friendly or not

good. What happens if someone comes up

and pushes you around, there's always someone that's going to

be standing by. That is going to say are you

Going to take that. Surely not because one that

takes that and says nothing when one speaks curtly it us or when

one does not retaliate, when one would push us around, either

physically or verbally or in any other way, what the world says

is, no, you're not strong. You're not one of great

strength. You're a weakling.

You are one. That's the doormat.

You're getting pushed around. You need not to do that.

That's what society says. yes, but holding oneself in Is the

definition of this word. You know, I'll tell you

something. When someone says something to

me that angers me in the flesh, it makes me not want to hold

myself in know, it wants me. It makes me want to let her go?

No, I want to say it. I want to speak it.

I want to do it. I want to retaliate that's in

the flesh. And that's basically our nature

sometimes. But having self-control is one,

who feels all of those things who feels all of those

Temptations to respond in that manner.

And yet does not. Now, that's hard to do as we

live in this life. Let's go further though, mr.

Thayer defines it like this? It is.

The virtue of one who Masters his desires and Masters his

Passions. A his but not limited to his

sensual appetites. So it is one that brings his

body, his mind and all of his being into subjection when

Temptation comes our way. Mr. McKnight adds this he says,

when this virtue subsists Temptation can have very little

influence in our life, why is that important?

You know, we are tempted every day.

Jesus was tempted. He's the greatest example of

what to do when you're tempted. He beat the devil, he beat the

devil, the Devil with the word of God, and he set a wonderful

example as one who paved the way for you and I jesus now knows

every single thing that you are going through in your life.

Have you ever stopped to consider that?

Don't forget that, the Bible says regarding Jesus.

He was Did in all points like as we are.

But the difference is he had Temperance, he had self-control

and he did no sin. We talked about temptation all

the time, we talk about James 4 & 7.

Here's a wonderful pattern of how you, what you do when you're

tempted submit yourself, therefore unto God, resist the

devil and he will flee from you. The Apostle Paul further says,

we're not going to be tempted. Greater than we are able to

bear. And with the Temptation, we are

going to be given a means of Escape also.

There's no, not going to be a trial.

That would come in my way, or, by my way, in my life, that is

not common to man, meaning this, I might think that I have these

things in my life that are cast, before me as great, stumbling

blocks and so on. And I might think that they're

just for me, but it is common to man.

And something that I've Always found in the times of sometimes.

The most difficult aspects and difficult things that I've had

in my life. If you keep your eyes open

during that time, you know what you find, you find, someone's

had it way worse. There's always someone that had

it way worse. I might think that I'm

struggling in the flesh as I live this fleshly life day by

day, that I have temptations coming my way that are pulling

me aside stronger than everyone else, but if you'll keep your

eyes open, and you'll look around.

You you will find someone is going through worse.

Oh, but there's a wonderful example is found in God's word

of what happens when we don't give in to those things.

The Book of Proverbs further tells us with regards to

Temptation. What does he say?

He says, if Sinners entice thee consent down not, by the way.

We're getting to this point. Follow me of just for a moment.

Solomon says if Sinners entice thee consent thou not what else

does he say? He says that if people are going

to ask you or bid you to go with them and they're going to do

something that is wrong. And something that is sinful

that we ought to stop dead in our tracks and refrain the foot

from their path. Another words, I need to go in

the about-face in the opposite direction and go as fast as I

possibly can. I said all of that to say this

going back to McKnight's definition of that.

Notice the definition once again, when you have

self-control Temptation, can have little influence, that's

what I want to know. I want to know that in my life,

how can I not, stumble and sin? I cannot stumble and sin or I

won't fall under the traps that come my way in the flesh and

give in to those things. If I have self-control when I

tell you this too though if I don't have this and I don't

determine and decide the person that I want to be long in

advance I'm going to stumble. And I'm going to fail every day

of my life. The decision has to be made long

in advance and I must do that. And purpose that I'm going to

stay the course and when the temptation Tations come my way.

I am not giving in. I'm going to have self-control.

We're going to get to how you do that in a minute.

A lot of those things are easier said, than done.

I understand that we're going to get to how you can do that in

just a moment. You know, this word is found

three times only in the New Testament.

Scriptures. Remember this morning we quoted

from acts 24 and 25. Remember, we are talking about

sad words that are in the Bible. Some of the saddest words,

uttered this morning when we mentioned acts 24 and 25, when

the Great Apostle Paul was talking to Governor Felix, you

remember what he said? He reasoned with him of

righteousness Temperance and judgment to To come.

Now, why would I point that out? I point that out because we

understand about righteousness, we also understand the flipside

of that and that's unrighteousness.

What is unrighteousness. The Bible says, all

unrighteousness is sin, sin is a transgression of the law and

sin. Unrepented of will cause us to

lose our soul in the devil's, hell one day.

So it's of ever-important between before our eyes as we

live, the in life, but notice what he said, he not only

reasoned of righteousness, he not only reason with him of

judgment to come but also self-control Mr. Irvine says

this he says that the word follows righteousness in this

passage in Acts 24 and 25 it follows righteousness, which by

the way represents God's claims and the word Temperance here,

follows righteousness, indicating that self-control is

a man's response to such claims such as what.

Mr. Vine says about that. Thought that was rather

interesting. So God's claims are described

with righteousness. The word of God is described and

given to us today. My self-control is going to tell

whether or not I'm going to submit to the claims that are

found in that word. That's the first place that this

work is found in all the New Testament.

The second place is found in Galatians chapter 5 and verse

Galatians 5 · chapter mention

23, where we see it evidenced as one that walks in the spirit and

being led by the Pirate look in Galatians 5, beginning in verse

number 14. For all the law is fulfilled in

one word even in this Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thyself

but if you bite and devour one another take heed that ye be not

consumed. One of another, this I say, then

walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the

flesh for the flesh, lusteth against the spirit, and the

spirit against the flesh. And these are contrary, the one

to the other so that ye cannot do the things that you would,

but if ye be led by the spirit, you are not under the law.

Now, the works of the flesh are manifest which are these

adultery fornication, uncleanness lasciviousness

idolatry, witchcraft hatred variance emulations wrath

Strife, seditions heresies envyings murders, Drunkenness

revellings and such like of the, which I tell you before, as I

have also, told you in time past that they, which do such things

shall not inherit the kingdom of God, but the fruit of the spirit

is love, joy. Peace longsuffering, gentleness,

goodness, Faith meekness Temperance against such.

There is no law and they that are Christ's have crucified.

The flesh with the affections Sections and lusts.

If we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit.

And so we find In this passage of scripture that this is a way

where we see it, as evidence of one walking in the spirit.

If I can control myself day by day, it's evidence that I'm

walking in the spirit. If I can control my anger, it's

evidence that I'm being led by the spirit.

We are Led by the Spirit by being led by the things that are

found in this book. And if I go out and I have

self-control and by the way, as all of, you know, I know, you

know this, if you call yourself a Christian or you profess to be

a Christian, what you're saying is you are saying that you are

being led or Guided by a higher standard that you are following

something that not every single person in the world is going to

follow but I'll tell you something when you do that the

entire world is watching just to see if you're going to practice

all the things you say that you believe.

Self-control is a way that I can prove to the world that I am

walking in the spirit and led by the spirit.

You know, it's also found in another passage of scripture,

this word, second, Peter 1 and 6.

You remember where the Bible says, add to your faith virtue

and virtue, knowledge and knowledge Temperance.

Let me just say this, I don't believe that every time that

there's a list in the were in the word of God.

That it's saying that you must in this fixed succession do and

accomplish these things because I think in the Christian Walk of

Life as we grow and develop and so on, sometimes I have things

that I struggle with that. You would not or things that you

struggle with, I don't struggle with.

So, some of the things in our Christian growth, may be easier

for me, and other things might be easier for you.

But let me just say this, I thought this was rather

interesting about why Temperance follows Knowledge, mr.

Vine says this, it follows knowledge suggesting that what

is learned requires to be put into practice?

Now that makes sense to me. You know, there was a sermon

preached one time. Entitled, can you recommend your

religion? And one of the points was, can

you recognize in you recommend your religion by the way that it

works for you by the things that come your way in your life can

others look to your life and see that everything that you profess

is real. That's what the world wants to

know. I'll tell you this, you know,

the man once said, one time that our religion, that makes a man,

look sick, won't cure the world. I'll tell you something else,

too. If I living in my life, do not

go through the things, whatever Trials, come my way, and I can't

get through them. Then my religion, or all that, I

believe my faith in view of the world is meaningless.

And if I don't live as I should, and I don't have self control.

Then I am rendering My Religion, meaningless.

On the other hand, when I finally get a knowledge of God's

word and I put it into practice Temperance, that's a choice.

That means that I have a responsibility after I learn, I

have to put it into practice. That religion is something that

you're showing the entire world that is Meaningful and

beneficial self control. Van is being in control of

oneself, in the context of the scriptures and control, In

oneself. So as to be in harmony with the

will of God, but as I mentioned, just a moment ago though, it's a

whole lot easier to Define than it is to develop.

And let me just ask you this. Are you like me?

Have you had a problem? At least a time or two in your

life with not being able to control yourself.

He ever slipped? Have you ever knowing you need

to have self-control ever made a mistake?

I have, I would think that, if all of us were very honest with

one another with yourself, not to me, it's between you and

yourself. But if we are all honest with

ourself, I'll bet we can all understand that, we've all

fallen short along this line that We have there been times

when we did not do what we should do that.

We gave in that anger over took us and we said something that we

really shouldn't have said. That's something must be worked

on, that's difficulty in our life, I know.

But you know, the scriptures describe how difficult

self-control is, one of the wonderful things about the word

of God is Not only does it, say what we must do.

And what we must not do it even understands how difficult some

of these things are. Now we know that the Bible says

we have to have Temperance or self-control.

You know what Solomon said of old go regarding this.

It To me feel a little bit better.

That the god that the great God Of Heaven.

That I serve day-by-day understands how difficult this

is for me. In verse 32 of Proverbs chapter

Proverbs 16 · chapter mention

16, it says he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty

and notice this and he that ruleth his Spirit, then he that

taketh a city. It is easier to take a city than

to rule one. Itself then to bring oneself

into subjection. But does that mean that we don't

have the responsibility of doing such?

Absolutely. Not the same writer.

Now in the 25th, chapter of the Book of Proverbs and verse 28

says this he that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a

city that is broken down and without walls.

So we understand that we are headed for Destruction if we

cannot rule our own say. Self if we cannot bring our self

in its objection. Incidentally, you ever studied

the qualifications of being an elder.

I'll tell you something, you find people that are Peaceable

soft-spoken, they're quick to listen and slow to speak.

I got to be careful. I got to be careful because

that's one of the hardest things for someone like me in my life

is being slow to speak because I want to respond.

I want to say it. but according to God's word, that is not

something that it is a positive characteristic in my life.

So that's something that I must work on.

You know what, also understanding how difficult that

it is. Also notice.

This, you remember in our Wednesday evening studies, we

studied the Book of James and great detail.

We spent some months in the Book of James.

In fact, we spent about four weeks on every chapter until we

exhausted the subject and exhausted.

The Book of James in James chapter 1 and verse Verse 26,

James 1 · chapter mention

you know what? James says?

He says this first. He says that with regards to the

tongue that it makes no difference what I say in my life

by way of my Christianity. It makes no difference about all

the things that I might profess. It makes no difference about all

the things that I will do in my service to the great God of

heaven and all my outward profession of being a Christian.

If I cannot Bridle my tongue, It renders my entire religion, vein

or useless but then fast forward.

Now little bit further in the Book of James and we find an

understanding of how difficult that that really is in our life.

You know this is some reassuring words to us that we can look to

God's word and find that. They understand that God

understands what we go through with regards to broadening the

tongue. James says, You have to do it

but look how difficult it really is.

Beginning in verse 3, James says, behold we put bits in the

horses mouths that they may obey us and we turn about their whole

body behold. Also the ships, which though,

they be so great and are driven of fierce winds yet.

Are they turned about with a very small Helm?

Whithersoever the governor listeth even.

So, the tongue is a little member and boast of great

things. Behold how great a matter a

little fire Kindle with and the tongue is a fire a little of

iniquity. So is the tongue among our

members that it defy with the whole body and set on fire.

The course of Nature and is set on fire of hell, for every kind

of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents.

And of the things of the sea is tamed and have been tamed of

mankind. But the tongue can, no man.

Tame is an unruly Evil Soul. Full of deadly poison.

You know. I know there's some horse people

here in this room Everett, Judy, and d and maybe some others.

I don't know. But I'll tell you something, you

can take a horse even with a hard mouth.

You know, a hard mouth is what happens when you repeatedly over

time. Pull back on a horse's head and

the bit actually breaks the skin and then, you know how it is.

Just like your hand with a blister.

You get a callus. Now it becomes hard.

A horse with a hard mouth is hard to stop but you can make a

horse. Have a hard mouth with a curb

bit in his in his mouth and he won't.

Listen. What's the difference?

You can go up to severity or up to a greater severe bit, you can

put a spade bit in his mouth with a tongue that long and I

tell you something I not only can control his tongue, I can

cut it off. I can rear back and have that

spoon go through the roof of his mouth?

Listen, he's going to obey me even them.

But I can't control the tongue of my brother and he can't

control my tongue either. Secondly, the tongue is an

irresponsible member of the body simply as the outward

manifestation of the inward problem of the heart.

So it matters not about the things that you say, it matters.

Not about the tongue. If the heart is not fixed first

and that's different from every single Beast, that lives in this

old world, that's the difference.

You got to fix the heart and if you fix the heart, isn't it,

isn't it wonderful to see that? That's the pattern.

Fix my inner man. And every other thing in my life

seems to fall into place rather nicely.

Yes, it's easier to tame wild animals, James 3, 7 through 10.

Then the tongue, but it still is something that I must do.

Because James 1 and 26 says, if I don't it, renders my entire

religion useless what a waste of time.

That would be but you know in Jesus Christ there is strength

in controlling oneself. What you to notice a passage of

scripture found in the seventh chapter of the book of Romans,

where we find where the Apostle Paul is dealing with the Dilemma

of the Flesh. And the spirit, notice what Paul

says, again, these are words that we understand that apart

from Christ and without Christ help and without our effects and

On things above, and without the Lord, guiding our life.

And without the spirit, found in God's word, guiding me every day

of my life. I am going to have nothing but

turmoil and problems with regards to the war between the

Flesh and the spirit, hear the words of Paul so long ago.

Beginning in verse 14, For we know that the law is spiritual

but I am carnal sold under sin for that which I do.

I allow not for what I would that I do not.

But what I hate that do I if then I do that which I would

not, I consent under the law that it is good now then it is

no more. I that do it but sin that

dwelleth in me for I know that in me that is in my flesh

dwelleth, no good thing for to will is present with me.

But how to perform that which is good.

I find not for the good that I would, I do not but the evil

which I would not that I do. Now if I do that, I would not it

is no more. I that do it.

But sin that dwelleth in me, notice I find then a law that

when I would do, good evil is present with me.

Keep going. For, I Delight in the law of God

after the inward man, but I see another law in my members,

warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into

captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members all

wretched, man, that I am, who shall deliver me from the body

of this death. Notice I thank God.

Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, here it is.

Here's the Ray of Hope. Here's the encouragement, I

thank God through Jesus Christ Our Lord.

So, then with my mind, I myself serve the law of God.

But with the flesh, the law of sin, Jesus Christ is the answer.

The Lord is the answer. God's word is the answer and

listen. When I go out and War amongst my

fleshly side with the things that I know of All right, that's

difficult. But if my affections are set on

things above, and when I'm transformed, like Paul said, in

Romans, 12:1 and 2, I can get through this old world and I can

get through life and I cannot fall to the things that come my

way. If I am led by the spirit of the

word of God, you know, Paul says this, this is a dilemma without

Christ. It's a dilemma that leads to the

inability to perform. Almost one wishes despite the

will to do. So it is also the Dilemma that

leads to the state of captivity to the law of sin.

It is something a dilemma that leads to the condition of

Despair. We have a glimpse or Ray of Hope

in Jesus Christ as Paul pointed out so long ago.

You know the answer is stated very clearly in our text and

Galatians 5 and 20. For those who are Christ's have

crucified the flesh. Each with its passions and

desires. But let me just say this, I am

not saying because we possess Temperance self-control and are

led by God's word and doing our best.

It does not mean that we are not going to make mistakes.

It does not mean that we're not going to sin because brother

that's not true. The Bible says that all have

sinned and all have come short of the glory of God.

I understand that I also also understand that there is the

devil who, by the way, is in a place in pits or chains of

Darkness, awaiting his eternal fate Have you ever stopped to

consider? Where he's going.

That he'll gehenna hell of the Lake of Fire.

It's a place that was created for the devil and his angels.

Did you know that it was not created for man?

It was created because of the Disobedience of the devil and

the sinful Pride of the devil. When Satan and a third of the

hosts of heaven was cast out of Heaven down into pics or change

of Darkness, awaiting the resurrection and on that last

and final day when Beth and hell would be cast into the Lake of

Fire. That's where Satan is going to

be for all eternity and he wants to take as many people with him

as he possibly can. There's a war For your soul

every day that you live. So I'm not saying that we're not

going to be troubled, and I'm not saying we're not going to

make mistakes. I'm simply presenting a pattern

from God's word and a way that we can stay on track, they do it

all begins. When one is united with Jesus

Christ in baptism, we know that we rise to walk in newness of

life. And what do we do as we say?

So often we put to death, or we are crucified with Christ, the

old man of sin. Says Colossians 3 is put to

death so then I have the responsibility of doing

something. What does that verse 5 says?

Mortify the Deeds of the flesh mortify or put to death, all the

sinful, fleshly carnal things in my life, I must lay them aside.

You know, I'll tell you. When you went down into the

Waters of baptism, you didn't take your sins away.

When I went down into the Waters of baptism, I didn't wash away

my sins. In obedience to the gospel.

When I went down into the Waters of baptism and I was risen to

walk in newness of life. The Bible says that I contacted

the blood of Jesus and it was then that my sins were washed

away and I began at that point in time.

My Christian walk is a babe in Christ, that was beyond my

control. I couldn't take my sins away, I

wasn't worthy of doing such and neither were you?

But the very second we come out of the water.

Now it's my responsibility, the very minute I came out of the

Waters of baptism. Now I'm in control, I'm in

control whether I'm going to give in to the sinful pleasures

of this life, or my going to get to fight against those things

and live as I should. So, we are going to be tempted

day by day, but understand this. It means though that we are not

under the The Dominion, you know, Dominion means it's a

fancy word for this absolute rule.

They're all used to say this a lot.

We're not the server's of sin. There's a difference between

making a mistake and being the servant of sin when someone's in

the world, Guided by the things of the world, Guided by the

Flesh and all of that. You are the servant of sin.

Therefore sin has Dominion or absolute rule over you.

And all of the penalties that come with it is coming Your way.

But when you are child of God, no longer are you under the

Dominion or absolute rule of sin?

That's wonderful. No longer am I the servant of

that? But you know there's something

else too. Have you ever felt guilty?

It's one of those times. We have to be honest again.

You ever had regret in your life?

if you show in your life self control, you don't put yourself

in a position to feel guilt. I know, we've all felt that.

I know the little guys feel it, too.

The other day, I'll use my daughter Taylor as an example.

She had a little thing. We were working on together and

it was a little something she needed to work on.

She stubbed her toe a little bit.

I confronted her, I was ready. I was ready as Dad here was a

teaching moment. I was going to get it all lined

out what a wonderful time. Here it is dead, the rights I've

got her. Now I'm going to have this

wonderful opportunity to see. See this is what you should have

been doing and that's what I meant but I asked her about it.

You know, she said, Oh, I did it.

Daddy. And boy, do I regret it?

What do you say to that? Tell you what I said, I Stumble

over my tongue and you see. Well that's good.

That's right. Remember that?

We all feel regret when we do things that we know are not

right if we're not living as we should and doing the things that

we should in our life. Oh, the horrible.

As the Bible says, the horrible ringing sound in my ears always

that horrible, the conscience, the voice of the soul.

That is something that's awful for us sometimes.

But when we are led by other things, the spirit, when we are

led by God's word, it's going to have us make the proper and

right decisions in our life, that's powerful.

That means I'm going to have a better time in this life, you

know, not only Not only living a Godly life, will it cause us to

be able to go to heaven one day, but it also helps us in this

life. It is the wisest and smartest

thing to do In your life is to follow God's word, it's even

practical will be better citizens.

We won't be in trouble. We won't be in trouble with the

law and so on and so forth. Oh does it?

Make a lot of sense to have self-control and manifesting

self-control in our life? I understand, though, that it's

a process that continues as we grow daily.

You know, Colossians 3, we often quote, where it says, if you be

then risen with Christ seek those things which are above

where Christ sitteth on the Right hand of God and set your

affections on things above and not on things on the earth, we

won't go to that passage for time.

But beginning in verse 10, it talks about some more things

that this is a continuous growth process.

Yes, indeed it is, it is a growth process.

One more passage of scripture in the book of Philippians The

second chapter. Where we find that this is a

two-fold responsibility in Philippians chapter 2 and verse

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

12. Notice what?

Paul says, here, wherefore my beloved as you have always

obeyed. Not as in my presence only but

now much more in my absence work out your own salvation with fear

and trembling, you know what? That tells me, that tells me Me

that I have to get up every morning and go to work on

myself. Spiritually.

That also means that not only do I have to go out in a secular

capacity and satisfy. The needs that I have in our

secular capacity and give to my boss.

If I work in that way and so on and so forth.

Not only that, but I have to go to work.

Every day on me, I have to work out my own salvation with fear

and trembling that's a nice way of saying this.

I have to deal with gently strive to be the Question that I

need to be as if it all depended on me but have the faith that

God's going to do his part. Look at the very next verse

verse 13 for it is God which worketh in you both to Will and

to do of his good pleasure. That's what's wonderful.

Is God does his part to if I would do mine in conclusion

tonight? It's so important that we have

this attribute, this quality, this virtue of self-control

because without it, we cannot defeat.

The Temptations that come our way without it.

We cannot overcome the works of the flesh without it.

We cannot grow as we should in Christ and without it, we cannot

bear the fruit of the spirit. We have a wonderful motivation

before us because if we can possess this attribute then we

will be free from the absolute. Rule of sin.

We will understand. We're not alone that God's with

us all the way. And here's something else, too.

We have the blessings. And we have the confidence that

if we stub our toe and we will, if we make a mistake and will

repent of those things, God will forgive us if we're willing to

keep trying again. And he'll wipe those things

clear and still be there to help us every step of the way, first

John 1 and verse 9. We thank you for listening to

our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.

Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional

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