Sermon
4/15/26 Wednesday Evening Bible Study - Pastor Charlie Branch - Meadows Baptist Church
Publisher transcript
Transcript
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I burned my finger today and I can't
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play and see because my finger burn.
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I told him I said we can't do that
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again.
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>> Actually had four of them.
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[music]
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See if I can do a B flat.
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[music]
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Heat.
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[music]
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Heat.
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[music]
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>> [music]
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[music]
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>> Heat. Heat.
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[music]
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Heat.
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[music]
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Heat.
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[music]
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>> [music]
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>> Thank you.
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[music]
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>> [music]
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[music]
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>> Well, if I could get some kids down in
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front, we'll uh at the pledging [music]
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stations, we'll get started with our
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service for tonight. And welcome
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everyone to Meadows Baptist Church
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[music] midweek service where we have
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our kids club and Bible study. So glad
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[music] each one has made it out on this
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hot day [singing] today.
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Hope you all had a good week and we're
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ready to worship the Lord. Amen. [music]
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Amen.
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Let's begin our [music] service tonight
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by standing and we'll sing blessed be
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the name. Blessed be the name.
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[music] All [singing] praise to him who
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reigns above in majesty supreme.
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[singing and music]
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Who gave his son for man to die that he
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might be [music and singing] redeemed.
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Blessed be the name. Blessed [music] be
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the name. Blessed be the [singing] name
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of the Lord. [music]
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Blessed be the name. Blessed be the
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king. [music]
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Blessed be the name of [singing] the
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Lord.
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His name [music] above all name shall
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stand. [singing] Exalted more and more.
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God of the [singing and music] Father's
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own hand for angel host adore.
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Blessed be the name. Blessed be
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[music and singing] the name. Blessed be
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the name of the Lord.
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Blessed be the name. [singing]
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Blessed be the name. Blessed [music] be
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the name of the Lord.
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>> [singing]
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>> Redeemer, Savior, friend [music] of God,
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once you by the [singing] fall,
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thou has [music] my salvation.
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For thou [singing] has died for all.
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[music]
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Blessed be the name. Blessed be the
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name. Blessed be [music and singing] the
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name of the Lord.
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Blessed be the name. Blessed be
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[singing and music] the name. Blessed be
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the name of the Lord. [music] His name
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shall be [singing] the counselor.
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The mighty [music] prince of kings
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[singing] of all king [music]
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whose reign shall never cease. [singing]
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Blessed be the name. Blessed be the
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name. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
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[singing]
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[music]
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Blessed be the name. Blessed be the
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name. Blessed be the name
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[music and singing] of the Lord.
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Amen. Amen. Now for our pledges for
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tonight.
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First, the American flag.
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Attention. Salute. Pledge. I pledge
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allegiance to the flag of the United
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States of America and to the republic
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for which it stands, one nation under
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God, indivisible, with liberty and
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justice for all.
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Now, the Christian flag.
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I pledge allegiance to the Christian
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flag and to the Savior for whose kingdom
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it stands. One savior crucified, risen,
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and coming again with life and liberty
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to all who believe.
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And now the Bible.
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I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God's
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holy word. I will make it a lamp unto my
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feet and a light unto my path. I will
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hide his words in my heart that I might
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not sin against God. Amen. Amen. You may
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be seated.
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Amen.
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>> Amen. Well, good evening everybody. Good
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to see you in the house of the Lord
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tonight. Appreciate you being here uh
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for our Wednesday evening Bible study.
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And boy, ain't the Lord good to us.
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Amen. And I appreciate him allowing us
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to be back here safely again this
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evening. Trust you've had a good week
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thus far. And I hope you get a blessing
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tonight. Hope you come expecting a
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blessing. And I hope you've come to
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bring a blessing. Amen. And we ought to
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come expect them, but we also come to uh
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to help the service. Amen. And I do
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appreciate you being here this evening.
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Just a couple of announcements and we'll
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get into a prayer request time this
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evening. Uh do remember coming up on
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Sunday. Uh Sunday there is the the
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birthday party for Miss Camry from 3:00
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to 5:00 on Sunday. And I do appreciate
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y'all putting that together. Thank you
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for that very much. And I'm looking
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forward to it. Man, I'm thankful I got a
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place to raise my children.
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>> Amen. And I appreciate that very much.
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Do remember service on Sunday and we'll
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have Sunday school and preaching and
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then we'll have a evening service just
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like we always do. Be praying about that
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and be praying about all our dates
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coming up this month. Of course, we'll
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have visitation uh the end of the month
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at last Saturday, the 25th I think it
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is. And so remember that. We'll go out
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knock on some doors and then remember if
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you would please uh next month got
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several different things. Make sure you
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stay up with your calendar far as next
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month goes and help me pray about this.
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Um we've the next meeting we have
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scheduled. Um brother Alan Barker will
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be here with us on a Sunday uh in the
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month of July. And I'd really would like
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to have a a youth meeting something
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coming out of school. It's been on my
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heart for some time but I haven't got
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any direction on who to get for that and
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when to do it. So, help me pray about
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that and we'll get that in the works
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here real soon. Um, but we will have
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brother Gary Crips going to be here with
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us. I believe it's the last week of
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August and he'll be here with us
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preaching missions conference and he'll
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be with us from Sunday morning to
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Wednesday night. And uh last time he was
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here only the men got to hear him
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preach. And so I'm excited about
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everybody getting to hear him preach.
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He's a gentleman and a great preacher
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and I'm looking forward to having him
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back here with us again. And then I
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don't know if I let you know this um but
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our jubilee this year um brother Jarvis,
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brother Robert Jarvis preached the first
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revival meeting uh as when I became
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pastor here preached for us that
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November um he's going to be back with
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us. And then brother Barry Rackley is
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going to be here preaching um Jubilee
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this year in November. And so this is
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going to be great meetings coming up and
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I'm excited about it. Looking forward to
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it and still praying about actually I do
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know who's preaching the first part of
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the week. Brother Michael Lindsay. I
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almost forgot that. But Brother Lindsay
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is going to be preaching Monday through
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Wednesday night. And those of you that
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went with us up there to uh uh Tennessee
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found out just how good of a preacher he
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is. Amen. And he's a blessing. I'm
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looking forward to that. So he'll be
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here with us that Monday through
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Wednesday in November. And then brother
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Rackley and brother Jarvis will be with
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us on Thursday and Friday. And I'm
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looking forward to it. So remember that.
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And then we will have a missionary with
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us. And I think that's this coming
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Sunday night. This Sunday night will be
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the 19th. And uh let me make sure I got
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that right. Yes, the 19th. He'll be here
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with us in the evening service. So
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remember that on Sunday evening. All
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right. And then we got several other
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things coming up. Like I said, the month
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of of May and then into June. So
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remember that. And then do remember
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this. Let me make mention of this before
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I forget. Um junior camp registration
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that's still open. And if you get those
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filled out, amen, for your junior, get
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those to brother Matt and sister Melissa
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and they're going to take the teen or
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the juniors there um to Gospelite camp
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in Hillsville. And so remember that
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that'll be here just before you know it.
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All right. And I do appreciate it very
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much this evening. Prayer request
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tonight. This is where we need to get
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to. Several things um I want to make
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mention of this evening. I want to say
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first of all tonight um let's continue
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to pray um for uh sister Don and brother
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Eric. Good to see them here with us
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tonight. And I do appreciate them very
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much. And I know they would speak. Um
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but don't have much words right now.
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It's what brother Eric said a while ago.
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And so y'all continue to pray pray for
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them. And we can't imagine that type of
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hurt. Um the pain that that is. And you
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pray that God would help them. Amen. And
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we've talked this week and I'm praying
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that God will bless them. You know, the
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thing about this life is we really don't
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know what tomorrow holds. And uh let me
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tell you something. Parents and children
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um love your parents. Parents love on
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your children. Uh you just don't know.
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>> You really don't know. And let's
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continue to pray. Pray for them. Pray
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for John as well for his safety and for
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God to deal with his heart. Amen. And
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pray for that situation. If y'all would
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please uh remember um brother Doug, Miss
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Sabrina tonight know sent out a message
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uh on the church uh group message about
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her mother. Um that situation is a very
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very desperate situation and uh if y'all
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would please pray for Miss Sabrina. Um a
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lot of lot of pain involved um with that
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relationship. Not not for her but um
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just a lifetime different things and and
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I'm sure she'll tell you about that
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sometime. But um just pray for them
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during this time. Um she was uh in a um
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care home um with Alzheimer's and that
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was basically what led to her um going
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down that far. She told me uh earlier
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this week that she coded um at some
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point last week [snorts] and then she
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was in the hospital and then out of that
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they moved her to Joan Howard Waltz
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Hospice Care in Dobson. And so if y'all
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would please pray for them uh during
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this time. And I'll tell you this, if
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you've been around them any bit since
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they have been here, you know just how
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much of a blessing they are. And uh most
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encouraging people I think I've probably
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ever been around in my life. Sweet
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spirit and love God. And so let's pray
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for them during this time. Pray that God
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would be with them and pray that God
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would touch them. Then I'll say this
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tonight. We got some news today. I can't
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really say a whole lot about it, but
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let's let's pray for um Brother Donnie
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Abbott and Miss Sarah Joe. Um brother
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Donnie is not doing well at all. Um his
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health is is okay, but he's he's getting
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his mind is not well and he's just not
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doing good. Not doing good at all. And
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so let's let's please pray for them uh
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this evening if we could please. And
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let's continue. Remember these other
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requests to prayer. Got several tonight.
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I'll let you give updates um on each
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situation as we come to that. But let's
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pray for each other. Amen. Let me say
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this to us, church, before we go any
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further. Prayer requests. Stay in your
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Bible.
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>> Amen.
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>> And uh and you say, "Why do you say that
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first?" Well, I'll tell you this. If
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you'll stay in your Bible, you'll stay
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in prayer.
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>> And uh I think a lot of times the reason
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we neglect prayer sometimes because
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we're not reading his word. When we go
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to his word, you know what it does? It
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drives us to pray. Amen. James talks
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about that man beholding his face in a
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glass. Said that word, he said that's
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what caused you. He said, "You got to be
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a hearer, but you also got to be a
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doer." And if you're going to be a doer
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of the word, that means to pray. And so,
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stay in your Bible and stay on your
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knees in these days and pray that God
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would help us. Um, but I wonder if
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anybody have a special request of prayer
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tonight or maybe an update, maybe a
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praise tonight. I don't know. Let's just
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take time for that this evening.
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Yes, ma'am.
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Amen. Let's remember that tonight.
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Someone else.
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>> Yes, ma'am.
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>> All right.
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Must remember brother Paul in prayer and
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look what you told me on Sunday. They're
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sort of unsure the extent of blockages.
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they don't really know. So, let's
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remember that. Pray for them. And let's
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remember Miss Rhonda Southern as well.
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Um, you saw the message today. I've not
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been able to get a hold of her. Um, but
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y'all pray for her. Pray for her
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especially during this time and her
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family and pray God be with them if you
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would please. Someone else tonight.
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>> Yes, ma'am.
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Okay.
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>> All right. You got a place for him to
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go, sister.
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>> Yeah.
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>> All right. Let's remember that.
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>> Yeah.
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>> I'm not going to be so good.
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>> Yeah. Yeah. Let's pray.
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>> I won't take family to be in a good
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church.
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>> Amen.
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>> I just want to be a good church.
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>> And I don't know just all young people,
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but
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He just thinks he lives just as good as
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Christians.
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>> Yeah.
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Yeah. Let's remember that. Pray about
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that tonight. He's been on my heart
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since I came down here. And let's pray.
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Pray for him this evening. That family
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and then those young ones, too. Pray for
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those babies. Amen.
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someone else tonight.
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Yes, ma'am.
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All right, let's remember that request
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of prayer this evening. Let's remember
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that. Brother Rick, you got something?
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>> You say Earl
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>> Arnold.
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Remember that.
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Yes, ma'am.
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Yeah. Yeah. Let's remember that this
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evening. Do pray about that tonight.
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Amen. Someone else this evening. Yes,
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ma'am. Pray for
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We got four
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safety back
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on Thursday.
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And what else? I don't know. They're not
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going to open her up. They said they'll
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see more places on her list.
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But when they do this, that means I got
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to go back to Tennessee and be there.
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Okay, let's remember that. Request a
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prayer. We'll pray about that. Amen.
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Just remember that this evening. And
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have they killed anything?
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>> No.
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>> I'm going to wear him out.
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I'm going to wear him out. I know a man
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this church walked off his back porch
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just right over the ridge and killed two
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the other day. And he he here he has
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traveled 5 hours away and can't kill
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nothing. So anyway, I'm going to wear
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him out when he gets back. But uh I hope
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you're watching, brother. That's what I
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hope. Amen. Amen. I bless his heart.
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I'll just pick on him. Hey, he'll take
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it. Amen. Some of y'all can't take it.
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Amen. But he can't. Amen. Oh gosh,
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that's funny. Do what?
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>> Yeah. Oh goodness. Bless his heart. I
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wouldn't pour salt in a wound, but his I
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would. [laughter]
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Oh Lord. No. Y'all pray for him. Pray
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for him. That's traveling back and all
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of that, too. So remember that. Someone
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else tonight before we pray.
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>> Yes, ma'am.
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>> Okay.
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also.
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>> Okay.
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I remember that.
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Just remember that this evening.
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Just remember Jesse, too. Remember that.
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>> Yes.
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Yes. Let's remember that. And uh
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we all got lost loved ones tonight that
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we can think of and uh pray God will get
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them in here. I tell you, the spirit has
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moved in this place um last few months
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and I've enjoyed it. I'm thankful for
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it. Um, but what we're seeing is is
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people are becoming increasingly
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hardened to that conviction and we need
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to pray that God would help us during
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these days and pray that God would allow
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that conviction to continue. I don't
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think that it's got anything to do with
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him not convicting enough. I think when
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conviction settles in, they've got to
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make one or two choices. They either
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going to have to go to him or they going
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to go away from him. And I just feel
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like people are walking away. And uh,
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let's pray about that. Pray about that.
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I think that's a lot of the trouble we
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deal with these days. People are just
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lost,
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>> right?
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>> And you say, "Well, they've been in
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church your whole life." It
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>> it don't. I mean, it really don't. And
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well, they they've made three or four
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professions. Well,
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I'm just, you know, we need to pray for
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them. Amen. Pray for them. Pray that God
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will help them these days. Amen. Someone
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else tonight before we pray.
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>> Yep.
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uh
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>> I I saw that um brother Barry Spears I
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don't know some of you may know him his
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son I guess that's probably his oldest
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son I guess um oldest son passed away
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and uh unexpectedly he's a young man I
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don't guess you probably 30 so let's
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pray pray for that family during this
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time so yeah
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>> yes
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Let's remember sister Ola in prayer.
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Remember those babies. Amen.
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And uh
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>> Yes. Amen. Let's remember that. Let's
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remember brother Gayen as well and uh
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pray for him. He's in a lot of pain. I
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appreciate him still doing this and I
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know he's in a lot of pain when he does
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it. So let's pray for him as well.
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Continue to remember all these requests
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of prayer tonight and uh pray for the
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lost. Pray for the service tonight.
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Amen. We need a word from God just like
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we do every time we come. Amen. So pray
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about that this evening. Is there any
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other request to prayer tonight?
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change.
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I know
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every time
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I looked up
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whatever
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Yeah.
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>> Yeah.
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I don't preach at anybody.
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>> And uh
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>> Yeah.
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That's the truth. It's been I There's
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been several people accuse me of that
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since I've been here in the last last
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few months. And here's what I'll tell
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you about that. I have never, not as
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long as I've been here. It might have
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been some place before I came here, but
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as long as I've been here, I've never
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studied the message to preach at
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somebody. And uh I have I have one
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person that I have to preach for. And
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really, he's the one I'm preaching to,
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>> right?
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>> You say, "What do you mean?" Well, you
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know, God don't need your preaching.
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Well, I preach for him, and my preaching
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has to be acceptable to him first. And
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uh um I'm not, you know, I'm kind of
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like one fell said, I'm not going to
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preach at you, but if your sin happens
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to be what my message is on, I'm not
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going to preach around you either.
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>> And uh you need help. And uh people can
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call it whatever they want to. And I
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don't try to single anybody out either
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looking at them either. So um but just
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just help. That just lets you know right
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there
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God's working on people. No, I know
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you're not. I know you're not. I just I
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that just felt like that was a good time
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to interject that. Okay. And people
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people will say that he was preaching at
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me. Well,
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>> Amen. Well, pray God will help him.
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Amen. And uh there's some others here.
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Amen. There's some others that's left
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and said the same thing. And uh and it's
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just the devil
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>> talking to them and they're telling
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theirel one thing, but God's really just
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trying to show them how much he loves
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them.
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>> And uh man, I'm telling you, if it
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hadn't been for that that commandment,
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Paul said when that that commandment
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came, he said sin revived and I died,
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what he was talking about was is that
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law showed him how dead he was on the
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inside. And that hurts.
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It stings when you go to realizing that
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and God's trying to love on you, but
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he's first got a, you know, it's it's
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painful. Word of God's a two-edged
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sword. And uh it's painful and you got
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to make sure you're obedient to that.
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Let's pray for these. And I'm thankful
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that they feel that way, but at the same
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time, that's just a fleshly excuse to
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say that it's not conviction. And let's
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pray for them. Let's come pray tonight
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and then we'll get to our classes. I
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appreciate each one of you being here. I
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love you in the Lord tonight.
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Brother Kyle, you lead us tonight,
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brother. Thank you,
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>> Father. Thank you for this day, for your
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grace and your mercy. Thank you for your
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kindness toward us, for your love, for
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your precious blood. I know we're
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unworthy of your mercy. God, I thank you
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for being so good to us tonight. I ask
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that you would help us this evening,
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God, with so many needs, Lord. Heavy
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hearts, burden, full of problems. I
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pray, God, we bring them to you tonight.
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You would help, give grace, mercy, may
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cleanse us of sin, give us of our
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shortcomings. God, I know we're nothing
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without you. Please help us tonight. May
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you bless our missionaries and mission
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support. And I pray you for all these
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needs tonight. You know, every heart and
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life. And I pray that you would touch,
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Lord, meet the needs according to your
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will, God, that you'd give strength
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where strength is needed. I pray for
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those that are lost tonight, God, that
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you would help them deal with their
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heart. Draw them unto yourself, Lord. I
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pray, Father, that you would work in
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every heart and life that's here
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tonight. Bless the teachers, Lord. Help
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us as we do Bible study this evening.
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God, I pray that you'll get glory to
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yourself. Continue to work in our
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church. Continue to have your hand upon
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the preaching and the singing. Lord, I
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give you thanks for what you do. You're
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worthy of it. Lord, I love you. Thank
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you for loving us. Help us, God, tonight
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we pray.
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I'm
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>> so cute.
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All right. Titus chapter 3 tonight. Take
Titus 3 chapter mention
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God's word. Turn with us to the book of
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Titus, chapter number three, New
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Testament. Go to the book of Second
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Timothy. And if you find Hebrews, go
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back left. All right? And uh there's a
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little book in between Titus and Hebrews
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called Fiman. And some of these books,
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there's dust in these pages, but uh but
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I hope there's not. Amen. I hope you
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wearing them out. Amen. And I tell you
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this, it's all profitable. And even
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those ia books over there in the Old
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Testament. Amen. And uh those ones that
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we think really ain't in there. If you
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ask most people, you know, you ask them
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if there's the book of Zephaniah, some
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people look at you. Not sure. Amen. But
-
there is. I think some people get
-
Hezekiah and that one confused. But turn
-
to the book of Hezekiah. And about 30
-
people go to flipping through their
-
Bible. But uh Amen. Just in case you're
-
wondering, there is no book of Hezekiah.
-
Amen. But uh Titus chapter 3 tonight,
Titus 3 chapter mention
-
I'm not trying to be foolish this
-
evening. Forgive me. But uh Titus
-
chapter number three. Got a thought on
-
my heart. Something the Lord put on me
-
today. I want to share it with you. And
-
uh something I think that will help us.
-
And uh I wish I could preach it on
-
Sunday morning. If it goes well tonight,
-
I may preach it Sunday morning. So we'll
-
see how that goes. Amen. Preacher, we've
-
heard it twice. Well, y'all y'all are
-
about a quarter of the Sunday morning
-
crowd. So we'll just take it and run
-
with it. Amen. But uh Titus chapter 3, I
Titus 3 chapter mention
-
want to read three verses. Jump with me.
-
Uh verse number one and we'll go from
-
verse number one to verse number eight.
-
And then from verse number 8 to verse
-
number 14. All right. Notice the verse
-
with me. Titus chapter 3 verse number
Titus 3 chapter mention
-
one.
-
Paul says here writing to Titus which is
-
at cree. He says, "Put them in mind to
-
be subject to principalities and powers
-
to obey magistrates, to be ready to
-
every good work." Verse number eight,
-
this is a faithful saying, "And these
-
things I will that thou affirm
-
constantly, that they which have
-
believed in God might be careful to
-
maintain good works. These things are
-
good and profitable unto men."
-
Now notice verse number 14.
-
The Bible says, "And let our hours also
-
learn to maintain good works for
-
necessary uses that they be not
-
unfruitful."
-
Now, Father, I ask you this evening as
-
we've come to uh study thy word. I pray
-
you'll help us tonight, God. We have
-
nothing without thee. And Lord, I pray
-
that you cleanse us of all sin. God, I
-
realize just how short we fall, God.
-
each and every day, Lord. Many every day
-
we miss the mark and God, we come up
-
short, but Lord, would you help us
-
tonight, Father, I want to hit the mark.
-
Um, God, I want to share what you put on
-
my heart. And I pray that you would
-
speak to me and through me. Help me
-
remember what I've studied, God, and and
-
Lord, whatever else you want said. Help
-
me to say everything that needs to be
-
said and nothing that ought not be said.
-
Get glory to yourself and we'll exalt
-
you and praise you because you alone are
-
worthy. And Lord, we pray for these
-
situations in our church tonight, God,
-
many heavy hearts. Please Lord, give
-
grace in every life, Father, and let
-
them know, Lord, that you are sufficient
-
and that you do love them and help them
-
during this time. We'll give you thanks
-
because we ask it in Jesus name. Amen.
-
And amen. Now, if you didn't notice
-
tonight what the correlation is in these
-
three verses, there's a phrase that I
-
want to zero in on tonight in these
-
three three verses. And I want to look
-
back at our text tonight just for the
-
sake of emphasis. Notice with me verse
-
number one in the last phrase of verse
-
number one of Titus 3. Say it with me
-
tonight. To be ready to every good work.
-
Notice verse number eight, the middle
-
part of the verse. That that they which
-
have believed in God, what's it say?
-
Might be careful to maintain good works.
-
Now notice with me verse number 14
-
again. Read the whole verse. and let
-
ours also learn to maintain good works
-
for necessary uses that they be not
-
unfruitful. So tonight I want to talk to
-
you about good works, what they are,
-
what they're not. Why should we be
-
involved in good works? Now I think we
-
can answer the question tonight that the
-
good work is the salvation work.
-
>> Right?
-
>> I'm reminded of the man that came to
-
Jesus one day and he said this. He said,
-
"What must I do that I might work the
-
works of God?" You remember what Jesus
-
said to that man? He said, "This is the
-
work of God that you believe on him whom
-
he hath sent." And so, primarily
-
tonight, the work of God number one is
-
salvation in the heart and life of a
-
human being. If you have a soul tonight,
-
if you are living, breathing vessel,
-
human, amen, you have a soul and the
-
primary work of God is for you to be
-
saved. Amen. And you say, "Well, being
-
saved is not a work." I agree with you
-
on that. But it is the work of God done
-
in you. Amen. And I want to zero in on
-
this thought. The book of Titus. Now
-
Titus, this phrase is used in all three
-
chapters. And I believe verse number
-
eight of chapter 3 really is a summary
-
of the entire book of Titus. Notice what
-
he says. This is a faithful saying, and
-
these things I will that thou affirm
-
constantly that they which have believed
-
in God might be careful to maintain good
-
works. These things are good and
-
profitable unto men. Now, what you'll
-
find is when you study these three short
-
chapters that this is the emphasis of
-
this entire book. This is what Paul is
-
telling Titus here to apply to his
-
heart. And literally the emphasis begins
-
in chapter number one when he says in
-
verse number five, he tells Titus, he
-
says, "For this cause I left the
-
increice what he says, that thou
-
shouldest set in order, what's the Bible
-
say? the things that are wanting. You
-
know what he was talking about? He was
-
talking about good works.
-
>> What does that mean? The things that are
-
wanting. Well, they were lacking in the
-
department of good works. Let me say
-
this tonight. The truth is about this
-
church and I believe about every church,
-
you know, there's some churches, yeah,
-
we probably could say they're living
-
pretty close to the scriptures as far as
-
the operation and the function of the
-
church. But really, good works is not so
-
much what you're doing, but why you're
-
doing it.
-
>> Okay? And you can be doing everything
-
right tonight, but if you have the wrong
-
motive and what you're doing, then all
-
of that is null and void. So, I want to
-
define this term tonight for just a
-
minute and then I'll give you the text
-
this evening. I thought maybe the Lord
-
wanted us to go through Titus, but we're
-
kind of going to do that in a one sermon
-
time here. So, notice with me tonight
-
the phrase again in in Titus 3 verse one
-
to be ready to every good work. Verse
-
number eight, to maintain good works.
-
Verse 14, to maintain good works. Now,
-
I'll give you the three points tonight.
-
All right, the three points for these
-
three verses are this. Number one, verse
-
number one speaks of the preparation for
-
good works. The preparation for good
-
works. Verse number eight speaks, point
-
number two speaks not only not of the
-
preparation but of the practice of good
-
works. Verse number eight speaks of the
-
practice of good works. And then thirdly
-
tonight we look at verse 14 and it's
-
going to tell us about the purpose of
-
good works. the purpose of good works.
-
Now, let me say this tonight by way of
-
introduction. Number one, tonight I
-
would say this. We are as Christians, we
-
are designed for good works.
-
>> Right?
-
>> We are designed this way. How is that?
-
Well, Ephesians 2:8 says, "For by grace
-
are you saved through faith, and that
-
not of yourselves is the gift of God,
-
not of works, lest any man should
-
boast." So, salvation's not of works.
-
All right? But verse 10 says this, "For
-
we are his workmanship, created in
-
Christ Jesus." What's it say? Unto good
-
works which God hath before ordained
-
that we should walk in them. Now you was
-
not predestinated to be saved, but you
-
were predestined to after that you were
-
saved, predestined to good works. It was
-
designed by God in his mind when he
-
saved you that you would live for him.
-
Amen. And those good works, we are
-
designed the Christian, if any man be in
-
Christ, he is a new creature. That new
-
creature's design is for employment in
-
good works. Now, number one, we see that
-
we're designed for good works. Number
-
two, we are demanded to do good works.
-
It's demanded. Notice James chapter
-
number four.
-
Listen to what James says here
-
concerning this subject of good works
-
this evening. James chapter 4 verse
James 4 chapter mention
-
number 17.
-
Your Bible says this, therefore to him
-
that knoweth to do good and doeth it
-
not. What's your Bible say? To him it is
-
sin. So we are not only designed for
-
good works, but we are demanded to do
-
good works. Why? Because it is sinful
-
for a man to know to do good and to not
-
do it.
-
>> Amen. So we are demanded tonight and we
-
are commanded. It's expected. Let me say
-
it again. It is demanded that we do good
-
works. Then I would say this, number
-
three, we're not only designed and we're
-
not only demanded to, but we are we
-
ought to be desirous of good works.
-
>> Notice Titus 2 and verse 14, the chapter
-
just prior. Listen to what he says. Who
-
gave himself for us that he might redeem
-
us from all iniquity and purify unto
-
himself a peculiar people. What's your
-
Bible say? Zealous of good works. So
-
tonight, our number one desire ought to
-
be to do good works before God. Now,
-
what are good works? All right, four
-
things tonight about what good works is
-
concerning the Bible and what that means
-
for us this evening. All right, if you
-
are going to if you were going to make a
-
list tonight and say, "What are bad
-
works and what are good works?" This is
-
what you would find under the list of
-
good works. Number one, I would say
-
this. Good works are holy. Come on.
-
>> Pure and motive. They promote holiness.
-
And also the work itself is holy but the
-
work promotes holiness. If what you are
-
doing is not holy, it will not promote
-
holiness and it will not be deemed a
-
good work. And so good works for you and
-
I have to be something that is pure. You
-
understand God is holy.
-
>> And so his children are to operate in
-
purity and in complete and total
-
holiness. So number one, good works are
-
holy. That's the first qualification. If
-
your works are not holy, then your work
-
is not a good work. Out of that, not
-
only good works are holy, number two,
-
good works not only are holy, but they
-
are helpful.
-
>> Amen.
-
>> They're beneficial.
-
If your work produces nothing. Amen. If
-
what you're doing it I if it produces
-
nothing, number one, it's probably not
-
holy. Okay? But if your work is holy,
-
it's going to be beneficial.
-
>> Right?
-
>> What did your Bible say? James said
-
faith without works is what? Dead. And
-
when he talks about works, you remember
-
the example that he uses. He says if you
-
say to a brother, he said he comes unto
-
you and he's unclothed and he's hungry
-
and he say you you look at him, you say,
-
all right, depart, be warmed and filled.
-
He said, except he said, but you don't
-
give him the things needful for his
-
body. He said, what does it profit?
-
>> You're right.
-
>> You tell him he's okay, but you do
-
nothing to supply his need. Good works
-
take care of needs.
-
>> Right.
-
>> Amen. They're helpful. Let me say this.
-
Not only good works are holy and good
-
works are helpful, but good works are
-
honorable.
-
>> Good works are commendable. If what
-
you're doing cannot be commended, if you
-
have to hide what you're doing.
-
>> Come on. Right.
-
>> If it has to be done in secret,
-
>> you're right.
-
>> Amen. You say, "Well, I I in my
-
humility, I want to I want to, you know,
-
stay to myself." Well, there's certain
-
things that should be done in secret.
-
Okay. But if it was brought out to
-
light, would it bring shame to the name
-
of Christ, or would it bring honor to
-
the name of Christ? You're
-
>> right.
-
>> Your work should be honorable in itself,
-
but it also should honor the name of
-
Christ and his church. If what you're
-
doing is not honorable to this church,
-
then it is not a good work. This is what
-
I like the best. You say, "Well, that's
-
really bad." Okay, here's where it gets
-
good. All right. A good work is holy. A
-
good work is helpful. A good work is
-
honorable. But let me say this. A good
-
work tonight is happy. You're right.
-
>> Amen. If you are doing a good work for
-
God, you can be happy in spite of
-
whatever circumstances you're in.
-
>> You're right.
-
>> Amen. Because here's the thing about it.
-
You know that your work number one, you
-
know the reason why you're doing it
-
>> because God told you to. You know the
-
purpose that you have out of it.
-
Ultimately, whether anything else
-
happens or not, God's going to get glory
-
out of it.
-
>> Amen.
-
>> You know what? If I pray for a lost
-
sinner to be saved for the rest of my
-
life. If I pray for lost sinners to be
-
saved for the rest of my days and I
-
never see a one of them get saved, you
-
know, I can chalk that prayer up as a
-
successful prayer. You're
-
>> right.
-
>> Because God gets glory out of that
-
>> because what happens when we pray the
-
will of God, God is pleased. Isn't that
-
right?
-
>> And so good works are happy. Now I'm
-
reminded what Solomon said. Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 9 chapter mention
-
chapter 9 and verse number 10. He said,
-
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do
-
it with thy might." Now, he's not
-
literally just talking about physical
-
labor, okay? It goes to all facts of
-
life. Whatever you put your hand to, so
-
to speak, you ought to give it your
-
best. Amen. Because he says in the
-
verse, you can turn there and read it.
-
Chapter nine and verse number 10, he
-
said, "There's no labor. There's nothing
-
where you're headed." Amen. He's talking
-
about the grave. He said, "There's not
-
going to be any of that." And Jesus said
-
this. He said, "I must work the works of
-
him that sent me while it's what? day.
-
Amen. For night cometh when no man
-
>> can work. Amen. So the truth is tonight
-
our good works. You say, "What does all
-
that mean for me? How can I employ that?
-
Obviously, I've got some things to
-
change." Well, you're not the only one
-
cuz I do too.
-
>> Amen.
-
>> Amen. Because truth is, not everything
-
I'm involved in fits those four
-
>> criteria. Now, God just give me that.
-
Okay? I believe that's scriptural. Amen.
-
It's got to be holy. It will be helpful.
-
Amen. It'll be honorable and it will
-
make you happy. There's nothing in this
-
life, if you're saved, there is nothing,
-
listen to me, there is nothing in this
-
life that will satisfy you the way
-
serving Jesus will.
-
>> Amen. Notice the text tonight and I'll
-
be done. I see first of all tonight
-
concerning this text, I've got to give
-
you context so you understand what's
-
going on here. Paul has mentioned this
-
thought of good works in this chapter.
-
The first time he mentions the thought
-
that I saw here in these verses in
-
chapter one in verse number 16 and he's
-
talking about the unapproved for good
-
works. Look what he says. They profess
-
that they know God but in works they
-
deny him. Notice this. Being abominable
-
and disobedient and unto every good work
-
repbate. You know what that word repbate
-
means? It literally means unapproved or
-
unaccepted. It means that the good works
-
that they should be involved in, they
-
cannot do because they do not have the
-
Holy Ghost on the inside. Now, we know
-
what the primary work out of the Holy
-
Ghost is. It's those fruits of the
-
spirit. And what's the first one? Love.
-
Ain't that right? And the Bible says in
-
Romans chapter 5, he said, "Hope maketh
Romans 5 chapter mention
-
not ashamed because the love of God is
-
shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy
-
Ghost which is given unto us." And so,
-
the number one work of God is love. the
-
greatest commandments. Love you got love
-
God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
-
And love your neighbor as yourself.
-
That's the work of God. But the truth is
-
tonight, if you are not saved, if you
-
don't have a have the Holy Ghost on the
-
inside, you cannot accomplish that.
-
>> You are unapproved for good works. I
-
notice not only the unapproved for good
-
works, but I notice the uniform for good
-
works. Notice verse two, chapter 2 and
-
verse number seven. Paul is talking to
-
the young, he's talking to Timothy to
-
exhort the young men. Look what he says.
-
Young men likewise exhort to be sober
-
minded. Verse 7. In all things, showing
-
thyself a pattern of good works. Now,
-
what this means is when I say uniform,
-
I'm talking about there's consistency
-
involved. When you think about good
-
works, good works is not a one-time
-
thing,
-
>> right?
-
>> But it's a pattern. It's a lifestyle.
-
It's something that you involve yourself
-
in and you don't get out of it.
-
Amen. I don't understand people. Well, I
-
I I got to I I got to quit serving God
-
because I've got too busy. I've got too
-
much on my plate. Let me just hold up
-
right there for a minute. Okay. If you
-
serve God, you ought to serve God until
-
you you physically cannot serve God
-
anymore. Amen. Because the truth is he
-
went until he couldn't go anymore. And
-
yet he still went a little farther on.
-
Amen. And we ought to give it our very
-
best until we cannot go another mile or
-
another minute and and serving him
-
because it's it's a life meant to be
-
consistent. You see, we the Christian
-
life I understand, you know, I've even
-
made the statement that, you know, um if
-
your life's not like this, you know,
-
that's the heart mandonder saying you're
-
alive. And in a sense, the trouble that
-
we face, yes, our life is like that,
-
>> but your heart should be straight,
-
>> right?
-
>> You ought to be consistent. You ought to
-
be steady with God. What did Paul say to
-
the Corinthians? He said, "Be you," he
-
said, "Wherefore, my beloved, rather, be
-
you steadfast, unmovable, and always
-
abounding in the work of the Lord. For
-
as much as you know that your labor is
-
not in vain in the Lord." So, there's
-
steadiness, there's uniformity involved
-
with the work with good works. Notice
-
this. Not only there's the unapproved
-
that he mentions of, and then there's
-
the uniformity speaking to these young
-
men, the pattern of good works. Let me
-
say this. Just because he said that to
-
young men doesn't mean that's not for
-
all of us. Amen. We ought to all have a
-
pattern of good works. And then notice
-
verse 14, the verse I already mentioned.
-
He says, "Who gave himself for us that
-
he might redeem us from all iniquity and
-
purify unto himself a peculiar people
-
zealous of good works." So that speaks
-
of urgency.
-
>> There's a desire. Somebody who's
-
zealous, they're fervent about it. It's
-
an urgent need. It's something that
-
they're burdened by. Let me ask you,
-
does does the work of God burden you?
-
>> If all if all you ever come to church to
-
do is get a blessing and not be a
-
blessing, you've missed the point.
-
>> Amen. If you're long if you're looking
-
to just sit around and get in, why don't
-
you get involved?
-
>> Add that to the end of the phrase get
-
in. Amen. Get involved in what's going
-
on down at the house of God. There's
-
urgency that's involved with good works.
-
And so all of that introduces what he's
-
going to talk about in chapter 3. Notice
-
what he says. Verse number one. Put them
-
in mind to be subject to principalities
-
and powers to obey magistrates. Notice
-
this. To be ready to every good work. So
-
he lists three things in that verse.
-
Number one, we are to be subject to
-
principalities and powers. Notice that.
-
To obey magistrates. We ought we are
-
subject to the law of the land. Okay?
-
>> Whether you like it or not. Amen. You
-
can go out here and get mad and upset
-
about what the government's doing, but
-
you know what they going to do? They're
-
going to put you in jail.
-
>> Amen. And so, we ought to be subject to
-
that. Put them in mind. That's
-
respectful.
-
>> Amen. I And and the truth is tonight,
-
the powers that be, the Bible says
-
they're ordained of God.
-
>> Right?
-
>> That's what the Bible says. All right.
-
Notice not only the subjection, but
-
notice the submission in the verse. to
-
be ready to every good work. And then he
-
speaks of silence in verse two. Now,
-
what's interesting about that that all
-
of that is together is because the
-
people that get no work done are the
-
ones that are all time talking and all
-
the time fussing about leadership.
-
>> Did anybody just hear what I said?
-
>> I'm talking about Paul laid it out
-
perfectly.
-
>> He showed the leadership. He said, "Put
-
them in mind to be subject to leadership
-
and then to be silent." But he said to
-
be ready for every good work. The reason
-
why men don't get anything done, the
-
reason why they run off to math all the
-
time is cuz they've never submitted to
-
good works.
-
>> Amen.
-
>> Amen. There's more people in the church
-
that talk about what we're going to do
-
instead of getting involved in what
-
we're going to do. Amen. Get involved.
-
Do the good works. Don't just talk about
-
them. Well, I just don't know about
-
that. Get involved and you'll find out
-
about it. Amen.
-
>> It's a lot better on this side. Let me
-
tell you that. It's a lot better to
-
serve than it is to sit. Amen.
-
He says in the verse and I'm talking
-
about this is the preparation. Notice
-
what he says to be ready. There is a
-
preparation for good works. And I I
-
think many way in many ways we've
-
failed. And I and I can speak in and and
-
from a perspective in the workforce
-
point of view. I mean if anything I'll
-
be honest with my parents prepared me to
-
serve God, but I'll say they prepared me
-
and and this is not to their shame, but
-
they probably prepared me more to work
-
than they even did that.
-
>> Yeah. I mean that they instilled that in
-
me from the time I was just a little
-
boy. And we failed our children this
-
damn time because we have not prepared
-
them unto good works.
-
>> Come on, preacher.
-
Now look, okay, I'm not I'm not against,
-
you know, sports and all things of that
-
nature, but if we spent the time
-
>> that we spent with our children at the
-
ball field or some hobby or something
-
like that, if we invested in them how to
-
work and how to do the things of God
-
because you see those things go in h
-
hand in hand. Okay?
-
>> If you'll teach them to labor, they'll
-
love God.
-
>> Amen. That's the truth tonight. And I
-
think we failed in preparing our
-
children for these good works. Remember,
-
if they're saved, they're designed for
-
that,
-
>> right?
-
>> It's who they are on the inside. And you
-
are selling them short. You are selling
-
them. You're selling them cheap when you
-
try to get them to do something they are
-
not designed to do.
-
>> Amen.
-
>> You know the percentage. It's like a
-
quarter of a percent of people that make
-
it into the major leagues. And let's
-
just be honest, how many it's less than
-
that that make it out make them that
-
that make out of it. You think about
-
this. I mean, most people that come out
-
of that, their life's ruined. I mean,
-
they they got all the kinds of money,
-
but they've been involved in drugs.
-
They've been involved in everything
-
known to man, and it did more to hurt
-
than harm their life than did to help
-
them,
-
>> right?
-
>> Why do we waste our time?
-
>> We need to invest eternally in their
-
life. We need to prepare them. They're
-
designed for it. They're demanded to do
-
it. We should teach them to be desirous
-
of it. So I see the preparation tonight
-
for good works. Verse one, I'm moving
-
quickly. We'll be done in just a minute.
-
Notice verse eight. He has just told
-
them in the text verses 3 through 7, he
-
reminds them of salvation. Some of the
-
most powerful verses in all of
-
scripture. Verse five, not by which we
-
have done, but according to his mercy,
-
saved us by the washing of regeneration
-
and renewing of the Holy Ghost. What a
-
powerful truth. the fact he says, "Look,
-
this is who we're to be in light of what
-
he has done for us."
-
>> Right?
-
>> Good works is our life because he has
-
given us life. Amen. Notice this verse
-
number eight. This is a faithful saying.
-
What does that mean? It's true.
-
>> Faithful. It's true. All right. Notice
-
the verse again. And these things I will
-
that thou affirm constantly. Constantly.
-
Paul tells Titus, "Son, what I'm telling
-
you is right,
-
>> but you need to say it over and over and
-
over again. You need to tell it. I think
-
that's where we missed it. We believe
-
it. We don't tell it. Come on.
-
>> Amen. We know what good works are, but
-
how often are we instructing people in
-
those good works? Notice the text.
-
There's the truth. There is the telling
-
of the truth. And notice verse eight.
-
There's the testimony of the truth. Look
-
what your Bible says. That they which
-
have believed, you know what that is?
-
That's a testimony,
-
>> right?
-
>> They which have believed in God, there's
-
a testimony. Hey, is anybody saved in
-
the building tonight? Amen.
-
>> Saved. I hope you're all saved. Amen.
-
>> You know what that is? That's that's
-
you.
-
>> Notice what he said again. I will that
-
thou affirm constantly that they which
-
have believed. Have you believed? Amen.
-
Look what he says. In they which have
-
believed in God might be careful to
-
maintain good works. Now see this with
-
me. All right. He says, "This is the
-
truth. I command you to tell the truth.
-
This is the testimony of those who have
-
known the truth. But there's something
-
you need to be thinking about. Notice
-
the word. What's that word in the middle
-
of the verse? That God might be careful.
-
That doesn't mean that you're to be, you
-
know, you know, be careful, don't fall.
-
That's not what that means. It means
-
you're to be constantly thinking about
-
it. That's
-
>> right.
-
>> You're to be careful. That's why the
-
Bible says be careful for nothing.
-
>> Be b not don't don't be anxious. Be
-
careful for nothing. But in everything
-
by by prayer and supplication, let your
-
requests be made known unto God. You
-
know what he says? Philippians 3, that's
-
where the verse is. Let your moderation
-
be known to all men. Be careful. Be
-
anxious about nothing. What he's saying
-
here in the text is this is something
-
you need to be anxious about.
-
>> Look what he says. Notice it again. That
-
they which have believed in God might be
-
careful to what? To maintain good works.
-
Now, this I've preached all night to get
-
to this point. Okay. What does it mean
-
to maintain good works? Well, I think
-
really you can't give it one definition.
-
Most writers say it means to keep them.
-
Well, I would agree with that, but
-
there's something. You got to have it
-
before you can keep it,
-
>> right?
-
>> I thought about these four things. Okay,
-
I know I've thrown out a lot tonight,
-
but stay with me. Okay, number one, I
-
think if you're going to maintain good
-
works, number one, that means you have
-
to be available.
-
>> Y
-
>> you have to be available. Now, here's
-
what I'm finding this day and time.
-
Nobody's vot
-
six months out. Call the dentist, you're
-
a year out. You know, I mean, just
-
everything, you know, everything's
-
backed up. Nobody is available. And if
-
it's true anywhere, it's true in the
-
church.
-
>> You're right.
-
>> Good works. We're not in short supply of
-
works to do.
-
>> Right.
-
>> We're in short supply of people to do
-
the works,
-
>> right?
-
>> Amen. And the thing is tonight, if I
-
could tell you anything, number one, you
-
need to be available. Make yourself
-
available. All right? Then God will take
-
these other points here and help you
-
with this. All right? Number one, you
-
need to be available if you're going to
-
maintain good works. Number two, you
-
need to be aware.
-
What do I mean by that? Well, you need
-
to know what the good works are.
-
>> Amen. You need to know where they are.
-
You need to know what they are. And you
-
need to know what your part in that is.
-
>> Right?
-
>> Okay. You say, "Well, preacher, how do I
-
know if somebody doesn't tell me?" Well,
-
the thing is, you got a Bible,
-
>> right,
-
>> that tells you what to be involved in?
-
And the trouble is, we've got too many
-
people that's been led around by the
-
hand their entire life. Get involved,
-
>> right?
-
>> Figure it out.
-
I mean, I never thought I'd say that
-
from a pull pit, but figure it out. I
-
mean, really, I can preach to you three
-
times a week, but the truth is, if you
-
never take it and read it yourself,
-
you're never going to know.
-
>> You're right. everything I have ever
-
learned there. Don't get me wrong,
-
there's been sermons that have helped
-
me. I talked to the man of God
-
yesterday. Men of God's helped me more
-
than anybody else. And his sermons have
-
probably helped my ministry as much if
-
not more than anybody else. But you
-
realize every truth that's ingrained in
-
my heart. I learned for myself.
-
>> Amen.
-
>> I got it in the Bible down on my own
-
knees in my own prayer time, my own
-
study time, I got it. I got aware of it
-
when GOD SHOWED IT TO ME. GOD DIDN'T
-
SHOW IT TO THE PREACHER. HE SHOWED IT TO
-
ME through his word.
-
>> And if you're going to be available,
-
you're going to have to be aware.
-
>> I think, you know, there's a lot of
-
people, they just get saved and here's
-
what happens. They're available, man.
-
We'll do whatever you want to do,
-
preacher, but you know what? They just
-
don't know,
-
>> right?
-
>> They're not aware. You got to be taught.
-
Teach yourself. You got to be taught,
-
but also learn yourself,
-
>> right?
-
>> I hope this is resonating tonight.
-
>> You need to be available. need to be
-
aware. Number three, not only you need
-
to be available and aware, but you need
-
to be attendant. All right? When you
-
find out what you're supposed to do, if
-
you're going to maintain good works, you
-
need to stay with it,
-
>> right?
-
>> Attendant, you know, you think about,
-
you know, the only place in the world
-
that still does this is Betty's. Amen.
-
Where they have somebody that pumps your
-
gas. Amen. And for some, that's a
-
blessing. Amen. And I I mean, I
-
appreciate it. Amen. I guess I'm just
-
that lazy, I guess. But but you know
-
what they do? They're always waiting for
-
somebody to come by,
-
>> right?
-
>> To do the same job that they do all day
-
long. You know, you say, "Well, that my
-
gosh, that's monotonous." You know what?
-
When you see the fruit of it, it's a
-
blessing,
-
>> right?
-
>> And I'm not talking about that. I'm
-
talking about spiritual things. When I
-
come to you and preach every week, you
-
know, as people say, "Well, man, that
-
must be that must be tough to get up in
-
front of a bunch of people and preach
-
every week." But when it's what you're
-
called to do,
-
>> when you've been made available and
-
you've been made aware of what's needed,
-
>> you want to be attended to it.
-
>> Right?
-
>> You want to stick with it. You want to
-
stay by it because you want it to
-
produce what it's supposed to,
-
>> right?
-
>> Notice this. Not only you need to be
-
available, wear, and attend it, but you
-
need to abide.
-
Look what he says. Be careful to
-
maintain good works. You need to make it
-
your life, not just stay with it, you
-
know, just during church time. And I'm
-
thankful for those of you that do that
-
serve in this church. You would do
-
anything that I asked you to do in this
-
church. But it's more than just here,
-
>> right?
-
>> It's more than just inside the walls of
-
this building, but it's out there. It's
-
at your home. It's at your job. It's an
-
abiding life. Good works is not just at
-
the house of God. You're
-
>> right.
-
>> But it's how you live outside the doors.
-
It's you're to abide in those. If you're
-
going to maintain good works, it's going
-
to have to be more than just a look
-
every now and again, but it's going to
-
have to be your life,
-
>> right?
-
>> It's going to have to be your life. Be
-
careful to maintain good works. Notice
-
lastly, we consider the preparation. We
-
consider the practice maintaining,
-
keeping these good works. You got to be
-
available. You got to be aware. You got
-
to be attendant. You got to abide
-
in these good works. And there's
-
scripture for all this. But I really,
-
you know, the scripture tonight, I want
-
you to get the point. Okay? Notice the
-
text. Verse 14. And the Bible says, "And
-
let ours also learn to maintain good
-
works for necessary uses that they be
-
not unfruitful." Now, we've noticed the
-
preparation, the practice. Now, notice
-
the purpose. Okay? Now, I got to give
-
you some more context. All right? Notice
-
the verse just before that in verse
-
number 13 or verse, let's look at verse
-
12. Paul says, "When when I shall see an
-
Artimus unto thee, or Titicus, be
-
diligent, or however you say that, be
-
diligent to come unto me to Nicopoulos,
-
for I determined there to winter. Bring
-
Zenus the lawyer and Apollos on their
-
journey diligently." Notice this last
-
phrase, that nothing be wanting unto
-
them.
-
So what that means is Paul was saying
-
you know when when you come you or
-
actually he's not saying when you come
-
Titus but there's people there with you
-
that you're going to send. That word
-
bring in verse number 13 it literally
-
means to send verse 13 bring Zenus it
-
means to send and to supply. So here's
-
what he's saying. He says when he says
-
bring Zenus and Apollos on their journey
-
diligently that nothing be wanting unto
-
them. He's saying that there is a need.
-
Notice verse 14. Let ours also learn to
-
maintain good works. What's that next
-
phrase? For necessary uses. All right.
-
What he's talking about is he says they
-
need to be involved working. This is
-
talking about physical labor providing
-
for the needs of the church because
-
there is a there is a need for supply,
-
>> right?
-
>> There's men that need to be cared for.
-
What he was talking about is he's
-
saying, Titus, those men of God that's
-
serving God and traveling, you make sure
-
they have everything that they need when
-
they leave to come unto me.
-
>> Right?
-
>> You say, "Preacher, that's a that's a
-
heavy burden." No, it's just the primary
-
purpose of the child of God,
-
>> right?
-
>> We're to we're to supply the needs. And
-
and look, I'm not talking about myself.
-
I mean, what I'm trying to tell you here
-
is is what he's expressing in verse 14
-
for necessary uses. Your tithe is so the
-
church can function,
-
>> right?
-
>> But let me give you this truth. All
-
right? It's more important. Notice the
-
verse. It's more important the support
-
that's needed. Let me say this. All
-
right? It's more important that you be
-
successful than you be supportive.
-
Notice the verse. Let ours also learn to
-
maintain good works for necessary uses.
-
Notice the last phrase, that they be not
-
unfruitful. You know, here's the truth
-
about the Christian life. Don't miss
-
what I'm going to tell you right now.
-
God does not need your money.
-
>> Right. Right.
-
>> He don't need it.
-
>> This place will go on. God will keep the
-
lights on. Man, if there was no money
-
coming in, God could he can keep the
-
lights on. I I'm not that's not what I'm
-
talking about. The reason God says here
-
in the text that you're to do good
-
works, maintain good works for necessary
-
uses. What he is saying is there is
-
support needed. He said, but greater
-
than the need for support because God
-
don't need us.
-
>> Right? But what he's saying is is you
-
need to be successful
-
and that's a necessity. And the only way
-
that you'll be successful is if you
-
maintain good works. Let me say this. If
-
you don't work a regular job, all right,
-
listen to me now. Mama's in here, ladies
-
in here that you stay at home, that is
-
your job. That's
-
>> right.
-
>> Okay, listen to me. And I understand
-
ladies that do different things. You
-
work a job, but you got to be doing
-
something,
-
>> right?
-
You ever wonder, you ever looked at
-
people that they're constantly
-
underneath the surface? Like they never
-
have any money, they're always broke,
-
they always got their hand out. And
-
they're telling you, you know, we're
-
doing the best we can. We're trying to
-
do all we can. Some cases that's true.
-
Let me say it's most time it's not
-
>> right.
-
>> Most time it's not. Here's the thing
-
about it. If you're not tithing, all
-
right, the Bible says, "Will a man rob
-
God?" You know, where have you robbed
-
me? you know, tithes and offers. We know
-
the verse. Okay, here's the truth. If
-
you're not tiing, what you're doing is
-
it's not the failure is not that you're
-
not supporting the church. It's that
-
you're not being successful before God.
-
>> You're right.
-
>> It's a command.
-
>> It's not got so much to do with taking
-
care of the church. God takes care of
-
the church.
-
>> You are commanded to do it to bear fruit
-
in your Christian life.
-
>> You're right.
-
>> Amen. It's why Jesus said Matthew
-
chapter number six, he talked about your
-
offerings. Amen. He said you need to he
-
said you know you don't do that in front
-
of everybody else just making you know
-
what I'm saying. He says you don't do
-
that to be seen. You don't go out in
-
front of everybody and
-
>> you know what I'm saying. He says Paul
-
says there is a need Titus but you need
-
to tell them greater than the need for
-
support. Their need for success in the
-
Christian life is greater than that.
-
Here's what I know. When Jesus looked at
-
that widow that had two mites. Remember
-
what he said? He said he saw those rich
-
men casting in of their abundance. And
-
he said this widow of her penury
-
>> or poorness. She cast in more than they
-
all because she gave all that she had.
-
>> Right?
-
>> He's not concerned about the amount.
-
He's just concerned about you doing what
-
you what he told you to do.
-
>> Right?
-
>> If you are going to maintain good works
-
tonight, and I'll say this, it goes
-
across the board. This is the Wednesday
-
night crowd. This some of the people in
-
here, y'all the hardest working people
-
I've ever been around. And this is a
-
commenation to you. All right. God will
-
bless you for that.
-
>> Amen. Not because what you do for the
-
church, but because when you give to the
-
church, you are giving it to him. That's
-
>> right.
-
>> Brother Gray said this the other day,
-
and I thought this was so good. He was
-
talking about tithes. Now, don't don't
-
get scared with me. He can say this
-
because it's been 28 years, okay? Him
-
pastor, but don't don't be afraid what
-
I'm fixing to tell you, okay? He said
-
this. He said, "If every bit of the
-
money," because this happens a lot in
-
this society. If every bit of the money
-
that was brought into this church, for
-
some reason by fraudulent activity by
-
leadership, it got wasted and every bit
-
of it got lost. He said, "Do you think
-
all the people that tithe would lose
-
their blessing?
-
>> God don't want the money."
-
>> That's right.
-
>> It ain't about how much is in the bank
-
account.
-
>> It's the action
-
>> of faith.
-
>> You're right.
-
>> Talking about maintaining good works.
-
Amen. You ought to give your tithe not
-
because it supports the church. You
-
ought to give your tithe because it's s
-
it's what success is in the eyes of God.
-
>> Amen.
-
>> Amen. Father, thank you for this time. I
-
pray that this has been a help tonight.
-
I know for myself, Lord, I want to
-
maintain good works and I realize I've
-
got a long ways to go, Lord, to get to
-
where I should be. And Lord, I pray
-
you'd help me tonight. Lord, you've even
-
convicted my heart in this message.
-
Lord, would you help us, God? Would you
-
help us Lord to maintain
-
God to to be available
-
Lord but to be aware God? I'm afraid
-
there's a lot of people that's aware of
-
good works that need to be done but they
-
have chose to make themselves
-
unavailable. Lord would you help us all
-
to be available to be aware and to be
-
attendant to the needs Lord of the good
-
works and to abide there. Lord would you
-
help us take this message apply it into
-
our hearts and lives. We give you thanks
-
for it because we ask it in Jesus' name.
-
And God's people said,
-
>> "Amen."
-
>> Amen.
-
>> Thank you for joining our service
-
[music] today. We'd love it if you'd
-
join us in person the next time you are
-
able at Meadows Baptist Church. Our
-
physical [music] address is 2988 Stewart
-
Road in Walnut Cove, North Carolina. Our
-
service [music] times are Sunday school
-
at 10:00 a.m., Sunday morning worship at
-
11:00 a.m., Sunday evening worship at
-
6:00 p.m., and Wednesday [music] evening
-
Bible study at 700 p.m. For more
-
information, visit us at
-
meadowsbaptisturch.com.
-
Thanks again for [music] tuning in.