Sustainer Deuteronomy 29 1-8

Number two, there is an event upcoming, two to six.

Is that next Saturday? Next Saturday. Two to six next Saturday.

And we'll be working on projects at the building, we'll be working on projects in the community, we'll be doing outreach.

So we need everybody to show up.

If you have a specific thing, say them. I'm hearing you instead of myself.

If you want to do a specific thing, let us know in advance.

There's parts that we need or something like that.

But otherwise we've got a list and we'll have parts, new projects in the building, outreach in the community, and let people know what's going on.

And so we're going to put the invite out, we'll get more information over the week, but it's coming Saturday.

It's just coming Saturday, two to six. All right, let's pray together.

Father in heaven, we know that in the very beginning, before DNA existed, we understand it.

Before the stars were in the sky as we know them and we so often forget to even look.

Before the earth rotated and the sun rose and set that first time that your face was upon the water.

You decided in those moments that you wanted something more.

You wanted a relationship with mankind.

And you orchestrated an incredible series of events that leads up to this very day, September 10th, 2020.

And then coming into that play, that series of events, anywhere from for some of us two years ago, to some of us sixty-some years ago.

We did what we wanted to do rather than what you wanted to do.

We walked away from you. We, like sheep, all kind of went astray.

And then at some point in time, we heard about this Jesus.

We heard about this man, this flesh man who was also God, who came and died on the cross for sins.

And our sins were paid for. Our wanderings could be ended. Our freedom could for the first time ever be real.

But we recognize and confess that we've made mistakes along the way.

If that could say thank you, then honor you.

We're grateful that your word says that for those who trust, believe, receive and abide,

that we remain with you, that we are forgiven.

We can walk the remainder of our days here on this earth serving you and come into heaven when we die.

These things, and so many more things that we cannot live, we now desire to worship you, recognize you for who you are.

Lord, fill this place with your Spirit. Heal our sick, our wounded.

Be with those who are stuck where they are or currently here.

Lord, help us make that priority decision right now that the rest of it can kind of be set aside and we can honor you.

We pray all these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

Amen. Thank you.

Thank you.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on.

All right. So before we do any inspirational moments, you may have come prepared to share or whatever.

If you don't have any right for a second, don't think about last week what the Lord may have been saying to you.

You might want to share something in a second.

Before we do that, I want to remind you of something that's crucial, something that's important.

Okay? So hang on one second.

We've been doing Bible study.

Bible study is where you sit down with a paper and a pen or a set of markers or on your phone or a tablet or whatever,

and you read the scripture, you read the Bible, and you write something or denote something or mark something down.

If you read your Bible and think about it real hard and ask yourself, like, who is talking?

What's going on here? What's this about? What does it say to me?

Okay? And you think about it real hard, but you don't write anything down.

What's that called?

Meditation.

Meditation. Very good.

So that is the spiritual discipline of meditation.

If you look at your Bible and you go over a verse, you're probably like, oh, I like that verse.

That's a good verse that really seeks to speak to me.

And you repeat it over and over and over in your head until you can say it without looking at the Bible.

What's that called?

Memorization.

Very good. Memorization. That's easy, right?

Okay?

Study is when you mark something down or you put an anchor and say, I saw something here, there's something here.

There's more than that.

All right? I want to give you just one little piece about study today that mustn't be missed.

Now, one of the most common ways to study scripture is to look at it and say, what does it say?

Yeah, that is just to observe it or read it and say, what does it say?

And then once you've observed or read it and what does it say, look at it and say, okay, now what does it mean?

What were they talking about? What is this saying to me?

All right?

And then finally, application, which is to say, now what am I supposed to do about it?

If this is what it says and this is what it means, now what do I do?

That's one of the most common ways to study scripture.

It's one of the, I use that in writing my sermons.

I'll go verse by verse and I'll say, what does it say? What does it mean?

Now, what should I do about that? What does it say? What does it mean?

Now, what should I do about that?

And after about 10 verses, I need to come up with three things the Lord's really laid on my heart.

I'll pray about those things.

And then those will transform and become the points of my sermon.

But there's more in there, right?

You might do three or four or five for every verse.

Every verse might have five points of application that say to you, that say what I should be doing.

Right?

In order to get all of that, if you're going to observe it and ask yourself, what does it say?

Or you're going to interpret it and ask yourself, what does it mean?

This is key.

A word that's called context.

Does anybody know what I mean when I say context?

Are there any linguists in the room?

If you're doing a little study on your own, even in another situation, you know what context means.

Can I take a stab at it?

Not once.

Like the rest of the story or section around it.

Okay, very good.

So, for example, we teach children when they're reading, they'll run into a word that they don't know and they use...

Context clues.

Context clues, they say.

So, for example, if I said to you, the man's visage was a bright smile.

Right?

Now, over half the people in this room don't know what the word visage means.

You wouldn't normally use it.

It's not even a common word anymore.

It's pretty much lost in English language.

It's still there, but it's rare.

It's extremely rare.

But based on the context clues, if it's a bright smile, it's probably his what?

His appearance or his face.

Right?

It's this, what you see of him.

That's his vision.

So, that's a context clue.

Now, when you read in the Bible and you run into a verse, you may have a verse that says,

Then she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom.

Nevertheless, I did not believe the reports until I came and my eyes had seen it.

And behold, the hat was not told me.

You exceeded wisdom and prosperity through a report which I heard.

Okay?

So, there's a woman and she's talking to the king and she's saying, Hey, I came.

I wanted to see what I saw, what I could see about what I heard about.

I heard about some things.

I want to come and see.

And then I come and I realized that I didn't even hear half of it.

Your wisdom is infinitely greater than that.

What's missing?

Who is this woman?

Let me know.

So, that's who it is.

Right?

So, she can't hear the wisdom of Solomon.

Now, when you understand that she was far off away from King Solomon, she had never met him.

Never been to Israel.

Right?

Never been to Jerusalem.

But she heard rumors.

She heard people talking about the awesome wisdom of God that was coming through Solomon.

And she traveled a long distance to hear that wisdom.

And then got there.

And what did she say?

We read it together.

She said that she hadn't heard about half of it.

She didn't realize just exactly how much wisdom of God there was coming through Solomon until she got there.

Right?

So, she's amazed at how much there is because she heard from afar off the rumblings of that wisdom.

But it wasn't until she got close and listened to it for herself that she realized just how important it is.

Just how much was there.

Okay?

Now, see how the context totally changes?

We've got a woman.

We don't know who she is.

Talking to a king.

We don't know who he is.

About wisdom that he supposedly had.

We don't know much about the wisdom at all.

Right?

And then she says, well, I came and I found out I hadn't heard the half of it.

But now when you find out it's Solomon.

By the way, where does Solomon's wisdom come from?

It gets from God.

Right?

Solomon was going to rule God's people.

And God said to Solomon, you can have whatever you want to rule my people.

And he didn't ask for wealth.

And he didn't ask for armies.

He asked for wisdom.

And God said you've made a good choice.

And he gave him wisdom.

Now, Solomon will make terrible mistakes later in his life.

Right?

Terrible mistakes.

Terrible decisions.

Not even when you say terrible.

Wrong decisions.

But he was wise and able to speak the wisdom of God.

Even then, even at that point, God does not forsake him.

He still speaks the wisdom of God.

All the Proverbs that are written in your Bible.

Almost all of them anyway.

Probably all of them.

Come from Solomon.

Right?

Awesome.

And so what I'm saying to you is this.

Knowing the context of what you are reading is important.

This is why if somebody gives you a reference.

Let's say you are reading a Christian book about how to have peace.

And it says in Revelation 21, 19, we need to understand that God is saying,

worship God all day long every day and you'll have peace.

And you read it says Revelation 21 and you just keep right on reading.

Right?

Does anybody know what Revelation 21 says about having peace?

Next to nothing.

It's not really about that.

Right?

Indirectly perhaps.

But I could throw any reference.

I could tell you right now and you would wisely ignore me.

But I could tell you that Psalm 110 makes it very clear that you should never wear blue in worship.

Ever.

Don't ever wear blue in worship.

Right?

And unless you know already that that's not true.

Right?

Or you go read Psalm 110.

You're not going to know that.

So what I'm saying to you is if you're doing Bible study and someone quotes a verse at you.

Go look at the context for what they're saying.

First read the verse.

I mean that's kind of like a book might have a hundred verses in it.

And if you're reading that book, read all the verses.

Read them all.

Five in a paragraph.

Read all five of them.

At least read all five verses.

And then from there you may get a hint.

I've got to read the context.

It sounds like they're misquoting that.

We see that a lot.

Yep.

People quoted in Bible verses and they don't even know the Bible verses.

Exactly.

Very much so.

That's a lot.

And then it could just be because you're getting the wrong reference.

People make that mistake.

They'll quote a reference thinking it says something.

But actually they have a different reference.

And they're right about what it says but they're in the wrong place.

But even if that's true, you still need to know that.

You need to find that out.

Right?

But more often than not, people, and it's going on in the world right now.

Terry and I just had a conversation with a poor church.

He said somebody quoted him and Jesus said, do not worship me.

But there isn't anywhere in the New Testament that Jesus ever said don't worship me.

He never told anybody don't worship me.

He never told anybody to worship me.

They required to take me back.

But people did it quite regularly, fell down and worshiped him.

He never told them don't do that.

Ever.

And so, but if you go search that on the internet right now, you'll find blogs.

You'll find articles.

You'll find stuff talking about a place in the Bible where Jesus says don't worship me.

What they're quoting is from the book of Revelation where the angel that shows John the Revelation

tells him don't worship me, worship God alone.

And that's not people.

That's an angel.

And should we worship angels?

No.

Duh.

Right?

We worship God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

And that's it.

That's the limit of what we worship at all.

Don't worship money.

Don't worship people.

Don't worship angels.

Don't worship governments.

Don't worship football teams.

Don't worship stars.

Don't worship, definitely don't worship me.

That would be a waste of time.

Don't worship anybody.

Right?

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

I mean, did you have a comment real quick before you?

No?

Okay.

All right.

So context when you're doing study is important.

You could say I think I know what it says.

You could say I think I know what it means.

I'm going to tell you, if you don't know the context, you don't actually know what it says

and what it means.

I'll give you one last illustration class as an example.

There is a fairly large Christian denomination, not one of the largest, a fairly large Christian

denomination that says that women must wear dresses only to worship God.

That's where the wrong dress is.

Below the knee to worship God.

Okay?

Now they are drawing that out of a verse that says that women should carry themselves discreetly.

Right?

They should be protective of, they should look distracted.

Okay?

That inward beauty is what's important, not outward beauty.

Okay?

But it's totally taken out of context.

Isn't it?

Even just what I explained to you, totally taken out of context.

There's a verse that says that, here's one, I'll give you it, because I've seen our people

do this.

Right?

Should men pray with a hat on?

Anybody?

No.

You shouldn't pray with a hat on.

Right?

You should take your hat off.

God is your covering.

You don't pray with your hat on.

That's disrespectful.

Right?

The truth is, if you come from the military background, some of us in here have that, you

realize you don't wear a hat indoors.

Right?

They say in this train, you don't wear a hat indoors.

You come in, you take your cover off.

Right?

Which ironically comes from the Bible, even though they don't know that, but that's where

they got it from.

Okay?

So you take your hat off.

So when you pray in the God's presence, you're not wearing a hat.

You're wearing a hat.

You're wearing a hat.

Okay?

So you take your hat off.

So when you pray in the God's presence, you take your hat off.

What about women?

Does the Bible say anything about women praying with their hat on?

Or off?

Does that matter?

It doesn't say a word.

It doesn't say anything about that.

So if you see a woman, she's praying with her hat on, and you say, well, Bible says

you take your hat off, that's wrong.

And we've done that.

We sit around in a group.

And you know, a woman has a hat on, a guy has a hat on, and they look at the guy, and

they'll say, take your hat off.

And he does.

They look at the girl, and they say, take your hat off.

We're going to pray.

And she does.

But the Bible doesn't say that.

Right?

It doesn't say anything about that.

Men should take their hat off because you're covering with God.

Right?

But women are not commanded to do that.

It's different.

So don't take it out of context and then try to use it to prove your point.

That's what I'm saying.

And don't study it out of context.

Don't try to think about what this woman might mean.

But if you realize that she traveled a thousand miles to hear a little bit of wisdom from

God through Solomon, and she got there and was blown away by the wind, and she was blown

away because she didn't even know the half of it, then you realize it's worth going pretty

far to hear any little bit of wisdom from God.

When John the Baptist was preaching by the River Jordan, they walked over four miles

from Jerusalem.

You know that old joke, like when I was a kid and I had to walk to the bus every day,

it was I had to walk up and downhill, you know, a mile.

It was uphill on the way to do the bus, and also uphill on the way back from the bus.

It's a joke.

And when you go from Jerusalem down to the River Jordan, it is literally up and downhill

like this.

You go down for a while, then you go up for a while.

You go down for a while, then you go more down than up because the river is below the

city, but you go down and up and down and up.

And they traveled four miles to hear a sermon because they heard somebody was preaching

the wisdom of God.

And you know what they found when they got there?

They hadn't heard the half of it.

The same as that Jesus.

All right.

What have you heard this week?

How's God been speaking to you?

Maybe you've studied something, got some learning?

A while ago, I started to think on my Bible study, my Bible app, and reading Bible chronological

letters.

For one, I didn't realize how odd of a word the Bible is.

Odd of chronological.

Yeah.

It really meant, like I was just scrolling through some of them to see how it came out.

It was really weird how you would see it.

But what I read recently is from Exodus, and it made me laugh.

I was listening to it in my car in my way to work.

And it made me laugh because it was about how Moses was complaining to God because he

can't talk well and all this.

I have complaining to God about how he can't go rescue the people from Egypt.

And it dawned on me that even though all the complaining and the whining, God still provided

for it.

That's right.

At the end, and he gave him Aaron to speak for him.

So actually, Moses said, they'll never listen to me because I'm not good at speaking.

So he has Brother Aaron do it.

And it was funny to me because I tell my kids that all the time.

And they complained to me about stuff.

And I was like, you realize you spend more time complaining than actually doing what

you're supposed to do.

And when I got home from work that day, I told my kids to do their chores.

And sure enough, they started complaining and gave me all these reasons.

Like that scripture popped in my head again.

And I just kind of laughed a little.

And I was like, you guys realize that you complain all the time about stuff.

And yet, I still provide for you.

We still have a house.

It's like, how about you just stop complaining and let's get the work done.

And it was to me, it just made me laugh.

Yeah.

Where was Moses during that conversation?

Did we know?

Go ahead.

In the presence of God.

What do you got?

That's right.

You're standing in front of a burning bush that wasn't being consumed.

That wasn't being burnt up.

A burning bush.

Now think about it for a second.

I'll take the contact.

You're standing in front of a burning bush that wasn't being burnt up.

Telling God that he couldn't do it.

He's been there for two weeks making excuses.

Not a good talker.

Right?

Okay.

Ultimately, you said God sent Aaron.

Where was Aaron while Moses was having that conversation?

When it began, he walked in, burning bush.

Oh my goodness.

A bush.

Not being burnt up.

What is this all about?

And God said to him, let me know.

Take off your shoes.

From the ground upon which you stand is Holy ground.

And did he?

He did take off his shoes.

So when he took off his shoes, where was Aaron?

He didn't take off his shoes.

You know, context of the study.

Where was Aaron?

Because ultimately God says Aaron to speak for Moses, to speak with Moses.

So where was Aaron when Moses took off his shoes?

According to the study.

He was in the temple.

Say it again?

He was in the temple.

Nope.

There wasn't a temple at that time.

It was pre-temple.

Pre-temple.

Say it again?

Midian.

Nope.

What happened around the area of Midian, Edges, Midian?

So I'll ask the question for you.

And you can go look at it later and you'll see how I got the context.

He was already on the way.

God says, have I not already dispatched Aaron?

Have I not already sent Aaron?

See now, your brother Aaron is already on his way.

So while he was making an excuse to God about he wasn't going to be able to do it, God said,

have I not already sent Aaron?

He's already on his way here.

Do you think God knew Aaron was going to make excuses?

I submit to you that Moses was a bush on fire not being considered a pre-temple.

God in heaven, let us be on fire and not considered.

Let us be studying our Bible.

Let us be excited about the context of the verses that we read.

And remember that the story is so much richer than a few words on a page.

I think about how John said, if everything was written down that could be said about what God has done,

what he is doing, about what God is saying, about what Jesus did,

that it would fill many tones more than could fit in a library.

And we have it distilled down to your word.

And therein is everything a person needs to know and even be in order to walk with you and live forever.

If someone offered a potion of vitality that would let a person live infinitely and never die,

some people would be really weary of taking that because it would outlive all their friends,

it would outlive all of their family members, it would outlive all of their achievements.

But the truth is, it would be a great blessing.

We will come to be with you after physical death and spend eternity with you in heaven.

And what a context that will be.

And we will understand better than ever what we have read, what we have seen, what we have lived.

Help us now Lord as we study your word, as we try to figure out what it is that we are supposed to be and do,

that we remember that it is all part of a grand story that points very clearly to the redemption available through Jesus.

We ask your blessings upon the tithes and offerings, we ask your blessings upon the remainder of the worship,

we ask your blessings upon the reading of your word and of the study, quote unquote,

and of the sermon, quote unquote, that will yet go on and displace today.

You take over every last bit of it because the truth is if we do it in our own strength,

ability, even as smart as some people in this room are, we've got some really smart people here,

even as smart as we are, we would screw it up.

So Lord pave the way, make level rough land, knock down mountains in this place today,

and set us on fire, but don't burn us up.

Use us as you seek it.

Thank you, all of us in Jesus name.

Thank you.

You're in the middle of something, get ready to praise the Lord.

You know it ain't over yet, get ready to praise the Lord.

You know where you're going, get ready to praise the Lord.

You know who's with you, get ready to praise the Lord.

We don't praise the Lord.

When the storm's come down, the morning sun is dead,

the savior of the world was fallen.

His body on the cross, his blood poured out over us,

the weight of Africa upon him.

The final breath he gave was heaven looked away, the son of God is laid in darkness.

A battle in the grave, the war on death is waged, the power of hell forever broken.

The brown man to shame, the stone that's rolled away, his perfect hope he not to be overcome.

Now that where is your shame? Our resurrected king has come to defeat us.

The remedy is glorified, the remedy is burned and died.

The remedy is dead, dead, he doesn't die, he doesn't die.

The brown man to shame, the stone that's rolled away, his perfect hope he not to be overcome.

Now that where is your shame? Our resurrected king has come to defeat us.

The moon of the grave, it's told to tear the game to motion,

one tiny grain of sand turning in your hair the world in motion.

You're on the other side of this morning star, close enough to hold me in your arms.

At night, you lift up my voice and I cry, my other side. I think around each moment, father of my hope and freedom.

Oh my other side.

One tiny bit of north resounds upon the rock of ages.

The trembling heart and soul becomes a servant for the courageous.

You'll find trust in my strength.

When the best of me is barely breathing, when I'm not somebody I believe in, hold on to me.

When I'm missing light the night is falling, when I'm slamming on the doors you've opened, hold on to me.

Hold on to me.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when I forget I need you, when I have no hope of being again.

When I don't feel like I'm worth the pain for you, when I'm tired of not pretending to hold on to me.

When I start to breathe desperation and to meet the weight of expectations, hold on to me.

Hold on to me.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when I forget I need you, when I have no hope of being again.

I can rest you in your arms forever, cause I know that nobody loves me better.

Hold on to me.

Hold on to me.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see you, when I am sure I have reached the end.

I'll start reading, I'll give it a run up, although it's one of those really long sentences.

Starting in verse 4, for if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell,

and committed them to the pits of darkness, reserved for judgment, and did not spare the ancient world,

but reserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly,

and if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes,

having made them an example to those who would live ungodly thereafter, verse 7,

and if he rescued righteous lot oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men,

for by what he saw and heard, that righteous man, while living among them,

felt his righteous soul tormented day after day with their lawless deeds, verse 9,

then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation,

and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment.

The Lord knows how.

So you're sustained, and you think that makes it okay for you to do some of the things that you're doing,

or to not do some of the things that you're not doing,

then that sustenance has become a stumbling block for you.

That is not how it works.

God alone is God, and he can keep his promises, and he can keep you,

and he is able to keep the wicked under punishment.

Remember, they were wandering in the desert for 40 years, and their clothes didn't wear out,

and their shoes didn't wear out, and you know why they were wandering in the desert for 40 years?

Because they were disobedient to God, and their clothes didn't wear out, and their shoes didn't wear out,

even though they were disobedient to God.

You can be doing perfectly fine right where you're at, but you're not where God wants you to be,

and you've got a real problem.

Flip to Psalm 37, and we're almost done.

Psalms, if you hold your Bible together and then just open it smack down the middle,

you'll find yourself in Psalms, or possibly Proverbs, if you missed the middle a little bit.

Psalm 37.

I'm not going to read the whole thing because it's kind of long,

but I want to read a few key excerpts out of it that speak to this topic.

Psalm 37.

Beginning in verse 1, do not fret because of evildoers.

Be not envious toward wrongdoers.

Sometimes people do wrong and they get ahead, you know what I'm saying, or seem to in the moment.

Do not be envious toward wrongdoers, for they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb.

Trust in the Lord and do good.

Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

Faithfulness is when you are found doing that which you're supposed to be doing,

and when you're cultivating faithfulness, you're trying to find that in yourself and in other people.

So you're doing what you're supposed to be doing and you're helping others do what they're supposed to be doing.

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

To delight yourself in God is to want what God wants, and if you want what God wants, what do we say?

He can do it. He cannot be held back.

And he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in him and he will do it.

And he will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noon day.

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him.

Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

Cease from anger and forsake wrath.

Do not fret. It leads only to evil doing, for evildoers will be cut off.

But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.

Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more.

And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.

But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

Skip to verse 23.

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, that means made firm.

And he delights in his way.

That means God delights in the way of an established man.

When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong.

Because the Lord is the one who holds his hand. Love it.

I have been young and now I am old.

Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread.

All day long he is gracious and lends and his descendants are a blessing.

Depart from evil and do good, so you will abide forever.

For the Lord loves justice and does not forsake his godly ones.

They are preserved forever.

But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.

The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom.

And his tongue speaks justice.

The law of his God is in his heart.

His steps do not slip.

The wicked spies upon the righteous and seeks to kill him.

The Lord will not leave him in his land or let him be condemned when he is judged.

Wait for the Lord and keep his way and he will exalt you to inherit the land.

When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

I have seen a violent wicked man spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil.

Then he passed away and lo! he was no more.

I sought for him but he could not be found.

Mark the blameless man and behold the upright.

For the man of peace will have a posterity.

That means something that lasts.

But transgressors will be altogether destroyed.

The posterior of the wicked will be cut off.

But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord.

He is their strength in time of trouble.

And the Lord helps them and delivers them.

He delivers them from the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in him.

And now flip to the last verses of the day.

Back to the book of Romans.

Going back to the New Testament.

Find the gospels and Acts and go to the right to Romans.

Romans 17.

Last verses of the day.

Oops I just went past it.

Romans 17.

Oh.

I hate it when that happens.

It's not Romans 17.

I don't think. Hold on.

Okay here we go.

It is 1617.

Now I urge you brethren keep your eye on those who cause dissension and hindrances.

Contrary to the teaching which you learned and turn away from them.

For such men are slaves.

Not of our Lord Christ.

But of their own appetites.

And by their smooth and flattering speeches they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

For the report of your obedience has reached to all.

Therefore I am rejoicing over you.

But I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent is in what is evil.

Here's the problem that we have in the day.

We're teaching our children to understand evil and that's unnecessary.

We should be innocent of evil.

It says and innocent in what is evil.

And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

God wants to sustain us.

In fact he will sustain you even if you are disobedient.

But he will sustain you for justice that ultimately you will face.

What's justice?

He is able to hold the wicked for the moment of judgment.

God wants to sustain you.

And his sustenance was meant to point to a time at which our eyes are open.

Our ears can hear.

And our hearts can know that he alone is God.

That egg that we dropped off the roof.

If it was your life what kind of protections would you want?

God alone can sustain you.

God alone can give you abundant life.

I ask you cry out to God.

The Bible says whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

Be found faithful and do what it is that God would have you to do.

Even though it seems contrary to what the world wants or what it needs or what you think you need.

Be found faithful and do what God would have you to do even when it seems contrary.

Do not let the sustenance of God become a stumbling block to you.

Rather look to the Lord for what he wants you to do.

Because he alone can sustain you.

And he will sustain you even in your disobedience.

So don't make the mistake of thinking that you're doing okay.

When in reality you're insulting the God of heaven.

Rather ask God what shall I do?

Who shall I be?

And then let him tell you.

And then do that.

And be that.

And he will sustain you.

And you will be still around in heaven perhaps but still around to see the wicked fall away.

In the meantime it may look like the richest men on the face of the planet are wretched of soul.

It may look like people at your job or your school or on the streets are wretched of soul and doing okay.

But don't be fooled.

If they are sustained and they are wicked.

God is holding them for the day of judgment.

We're going to have the praise team to come forward at this time and lead us in our final hymn.

This is us asking ourselves, okay God I hear what you say.

I see what it means.

Now what am I supposed to do about it?

And you listen to God whatever he's telling you to do about it and you do that.

It doesn't matter what anybody else thinks.

So you're sitting here like I know I'm a Christian.

But I know I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing.

But everybody else thinks I'm okay.

They look at me and they see I'm doing okay.

Don't let sustenance become a sum of what?

Instead say, okay with all that I have and all that I am I will follow the God of the universe.

And everything you trust in him you will be able to keep unto that day.

Sing with me. Stand with me.

Sing and if the Lord has asked you to respond then you have to respond.

Do whatever is on your heart today.

If you're watching online or listening on the podcast decide today that God alone is God and he can eat you.

You're going to put everything that you are and everything that you have into his care.

The holy present.

So will you be a person that says I will cultivate faithfulness so I will be found faithful?

Will you be a person that says I will slip my hand in the hand of the Father?

And not only will I be protected and you'll keep me safe and you'll carry me through on top of that.

I will help everyone else see that this is how you get that done.

This is how you're okay.

You slip your hand in the hand of the Father.

Walk with God in dangerous places.

Walk with God in dark nights.

Walk with God when you feel sustained.

When you think you're okay.

And when you think you aren't.

You walk with God.

No matter what.

Walk with God.

All the way.

Give your life a word to the Lord.

For the first time in everything you've done.

This is me.

I want Jesus.

I want to follow my Lord.

You know what it is.

You've got some hold of you.

You've got some hold of you.

Stop saying no or stop putting them off.

When you come, you say that's me.

Follow the Lord.

You know there's something that God wants you to give up.

Something you can put away and say I can't have any place in my life anymore.

You make that decision right now and then come.

But if you listen to me and say God alone is important to me.

God is me one.

I trust him with everything.

He said I can't have any support.

So I'm putting it down once and for all.

This is my daily bread.

This is my daily bread.

This is my daily bread.

Be over your world.

You're ready more than Jesus Christ.

You're ready more than your Bible.

You'll be free.

God's speaking to you.

You respond.