Our Values Driven Mission - Part 2 - Associate Pastor Matt Passmore - August 18, 2024

Ministering to the heart of Western Arkansas's River Valley for over 165 years, welcome to chapter and first, the Bible teaching ministry of Fort Smith's First Baptist Church.

You'll find sermons and teachings from Pastor Greg, our ministry staff, and guest speaker.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you, Choir.

Thank you, Choir.

Wow, and that's kind of the theme of today is being at Jesus' feet.

But before we get started, I do want to uh apologize if you're a guest coming in.

I am not Greg Edison.

My name is Matt Passmore.

Now, here's the excuse.

If you want to hear our pastor, please come back next week.

Come two weeks in a row, and uh we're but we are grateful you're here and we are going to dive into God's word.

We're excited about that.

But before we do that, I came here 15 years ago as the children's pastor.

So I gotta do a little bit more about the promotion with children's, okay?

Wednesday night is our kickoff to Iwanas.

Iwanas is our programmer, boys and girls.

Sit in the group and listen and say scripture.

They memorize scripture.

It is a Bible club, and we are kicking that off.

If you have a neighbor or you know some friends that have kids in the elementary age, we even do it with our preschoolers.

Please invite them, bring them here, it's gonna be fun and tell them this bring a swimsuit that will be getting wet, and we will have a great time on Wednesday.

And then our students are also students are sixth grade through twelfth grade, they are kicking off the year.

It is gonna be a great kickoff over there, so please come join them.

This is a good opportunity to slip in because there'll be a lot of new people there to join in.

So it's an exciting time.

So we are so I can't.

This is my favorite time of the year as a children's pastor.

I also taught school.

So when the first of the year was a time to get settled, and we're gonna get settled today.

Grateful for that.

And so, again, thanks for being here.

Hey, we do have kicking out today.

We have we've we've got a legacy series that we've been doing, and we've we've had here at the church, we've had a lot of great pastors, and we've gone back in the archives and found just some these these messages that they're finding are messages that these pastors have preached all over the United States.

And this is one of them by uh Dr.

Angel Martinez.

So it's part of our legacy series.

Today, when you get home, you can get online if you'd like to listen to it.

Or as you leave, we'll have some CDs that you can listen to on your way home or whatever, but we have that.

We'd love for you to check that out.

And so uh that's another thing we want to dive into, just hear other guys' strong words.

Okay, the last couple or last week, Pastor Greg started this.

We've been sitting in the office kind of just talking about what does the church, what does it value?

And what is our guidelines when we want to do something, what do we filter it through to basically, like it says right here, what do we want our value drive our value-driven ministry to look like?

Our values driving us in missions.

And so we are looking at that, and we can see yesterday last week, he read out of Matthew, okay, the Great Commission.

So I'd like to read that to you.

It says, Then Jesus came near and said to them, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you, and remember, I am with you always to the end of the age.

We see in that there, our core values drive everything we do to keep us on mission.

And we have three that we're wanting to say are our core values.

Okay, last week pastor preached on the first one, evangelism.

We're gonna look into next week transformation.

Today, we're gonna look into presence.

And when we talk about presence, what do we mean by presence?

This is the word, this is what we want presence to look like.

This is what we're talking about.

The end of the verse says, I am with you.

Okay, that's Jesus speaking.

I am with you, and that is purposely seeking, maintaining direct connection to Jesus.

Connection with Jesus, just like the song just said.

So here's what I'd like for you to do.

Take out your Bibles if you will, as we're diving in and open your Bible, if you will, to Luke 10.

I think the story that we're gonna dive in today is a picture of what we're talking about when we say being in the presence of the Lord.

So if you'll look with me in Luke 10, and as you're flipping there, can we pray just to kind of give this time to the Lord?

So we're gonna be in Luke 10, but pray with me as we start.

Dear God, I just come before you now, just so grateful that we can get into your word, and that your word is real, and like we studied earlier, sharper than a two-edged sword.

And Lord, as we today dive into your word, Lord, I ask you to help my words not get in your way.

And Lord, help us hear from you today.

We beg for you to come fill this place.

We want to pause today to see how big you are.

And Lord, we want your word to change our hearts.

We want your word to make us what you want us to be.

In the picture of here today, Lord, help us realize the value of stopping and letting you be God.

Stopping and letting you be who you are while we sit at your feet.

And Lord, today, as we are in your word, Lord, change us, break us, and start with me.

Jesus' name I pray.

Amen.

So here we go, looking in Luke 10.

Looking in Luke 10, starting in verse 38.

While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him, Jesus, into her home.

She had a sister named Mary who also who also sat at the Lord's feet and was listening to what he said.

But Martha was distracted by her many tasks.

And she came up and asked, Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to serve alone?

So tell her to give me a hand.

The Lord answered her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary.

Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.

We see here basically three people in the story.

We see, let's let's, and I like to kind of go through and just, well, the first one I want to talk about, we see Martha.

And we see right away, Martha's what?

Martha had the heart.

She saw Jesus.

She was willing to open her home and what?

Welcome Jesus into her home.

This is a big deal.

Jesus at this time had been healing people.

People were following Jesus, so it wasn't probably just coming into her home, just Jesus.

It was probably a group, and this was going to be a big deal.

And what did she do?

She welcomed Jesus into her home.

We also see in this passage here that in the middle of her hosting, she got what?

Distracted.

And through her distraction, we can kind of see in a way she probably it looks a little bit like she kind of maybe got a little jealous.

What I mean by jealous, she started going, mmm, look at Mary.

She's not doing anything.

She's sitting over there and I'm doing all the work.

And through the jealousy, I we can even see probably frustration.

She finally got the courage and went to Jesus, and I kind of think maybe you she was a her feathers were a little ruffled, and what did she do?

She went in and she said, Lord, don't you even care that I'm doing all the work?

Wow, okay.

Hold on, just picture here.

Jesus, the one healing everyone, and she kind of just went after him and said, Don't you care that I'm doing all the work and my sister is just setting there?

Then we see Mary, and it doesn't say much about Mary in this particular story.

All it says is Mary's doing what?

Sitting at Jesus' feet.

That's a huge deal, especially back then.

I found this.

In biblical times, setting at someone's feet was a technical expression that indicated an intimate relationship between a disciple and their rabbi.

It symbolizes humility, submission, and respect.

So Mary was just sitting at Jesus' feet.

And I think it's pretty cool.

We don't see this, but this was what would happen at my house.

If I was sitting at Jesus' feet, or one of my daughters was sitting at Jesus' feet, and the other sister came in and said, Jesus, really?

She's just sitting there.

Can you imagine?

Our day and age, we'd be what?

Whoa, whoa, whoa, I cleaned the toilet yesterday.

I'm off yesterday.

But we don't even see Mary defending herself.

Because it takes us to the point.

And what we're trying to look at is where was she at?

And she was satisfied being here because where was she at?

She was engaged, listening to Jesus, and she was at his feet.

And we even see Jesus saying, What?

Mary made the right choice.

And then we see Jesus.

Martha asked him a question, and Martha was probably a little uh a little wired up.

And how did Jesus respond to Martha?

Wouldn't this be just great and calming?

Martha.

Martha.

You know, growing up, when my dad wanted to get my attention, he would say my entire name.

And I knew when I heard my entire name, I was in trouble.

But I think this might be just as powerful.

Jesus didn't just say Martha.

He said what?

Martha.

Martha.

Then he continues.

He says, Why are you worried and upset about many things?

Jesus basically called her out.

He's saying, the things that you're worried about, the things that you're doing is causing you what?

Think about this for a second.

The things, Martha, that you are doing are causing you what?

Worry.

It's causing you to be upset.

So it's doing just the opposite of what you should be doing when Jesus is around.

You see even more why he's looked at Martha and then he says, Mary has chosen what is better, and I am not going to take that away.

Now, going back to our culture, can you imagine what our culture would do today?

Martha would have stormed out of the room, went into the kitchen, pulled out her cell phone, got on Instagram, and said, Really?

I'm doing all the work, and Jesus thinks the one sitting there doing that can get the picture?

I mean, really?

How frustrated Martha could be.

So Martha's at a point of being corrected.

Was Martha able to take the correction?

Did she get the point?

Whoa! I'm missing it.

You're right, Jesus.

I need to stop doing what I'm doing, and I need to set by my sister, who, by the way, I don't want to hear it, but is what, according to Jesus, is doing right.

How often do we miss spiritual truths because we are self-focused and overly concerned about our rewards, our status, our reputation amongst men.

This story gives us a look of what it looks like to be a follower of Christ, to be a Christian.

And I think there are some points out of this that can, as we look into promotion, as we look at kicking off a new year, and some of you said, I haven't promoted in 50 years.

I get it.

But there's always a time in life that we say, I've got to get back to a routine.

I just tell you this, I cannot wait for tomorrow.

We get back on our alarm clock time, we get back on the same day time we wake up.

We have breakfast at the same time, we get deacon to school at the same time, Lisa leaves at the same time, and we do it all week.

Now it's like, what's happening today?

I'm ready to get back into a routine.

And so as we look at this, I think the Lord has given us a time here to take a deep breath, set up our standard again, and set up our relationship with Christ.

And so as we look at that, I think he's given us a picture of what it looks like to truly be a Christian.

And I want to be careful with the word Christian, though.

We live supposedly in a Christian culture.

And I don't want to just throw the word out there.

Christian is not trying to be good.

Christian is not a member of First Baptist Church.

Christian is not, you see where I'm going with this.

What is a Christian?

I don't care what society says, what does the Bible say a Christian is?

A Christian is one who realizes that their sin has done what?

Separate them from a holy, just, perfect God.

And that the only way we can be forgiven of our sins is through Jesus, who died on the cross, and we submit to him.

So when I use the word Christian, hopefully that is you today.

If it's not you today, as we look at this, I hope it draws you today that the Lord, the Holy Spirit is drawing you to him.

And at the end of the service, we're going to give you a chance to totally submit to him.

But as I use the word Christian, I want, if you are a Christian here today, this applies to us.

Number one, a Christian as a Christian, we cannot allow ourselves to be swept away in the undercurrent of the cultural stopwatch.

Say, whoa.

I was reading today and I this week and I found that.

When I was growing up, when I see the word undercurrent, I will never forget.

I was with my dad.

We were uh we were in Anadarko, Oklahoma, Indian City, USA, and we were out and there's this river and it was smoking hot.

And I'm thinking, Dad, can I jump in that river?

I mean, it was so hot, can I get in the river?

And he said, No.

Whatever you do, don't get in the river.

And I'm like, why?

It just looks.

He goes, Matt, there is an undercurrent underneath that, and many people have died over the years in this river.

It looks super calm, but underneath the water is moving really, really fast.

It is a picture of what we're saying here.

We cannot allow ourselves to be swept away in the undercurrent.

We cannot be surprised by the undercurrent of the cultural stopwatch.

And I think that's a huge ending to that.

Because today in our lives, we are letting the culture tell us our times, tell us what we need to do, how we need to do it.

Just yesterday, I took Deacon to a basketball camp.

Busy and all that.

Before we go into the basketball camp, we're walking into the basketball camp.

And I said, Deacon, and as we're walking in, he goes, Hey dad, is there a ninja turtle camp that I can go to?

So I said, Deacon, whatever you do at the basketball camp, don't mention ninja turtles.

And by the way, when the music plays, don't dance.

And if you can help it, get in the front of the line.

You know, I'm getting him all these rules because why?

He could care less.

I'm getting these rules because what?

According to my culture, he needs to be in the front of the line.

He needs to be the best basketball player.

Do you see how culture is in control of our lives?

So we got to be careful.

We don't even know what's happening because of the undercurrent.

So we see in Romans 12, too, in Romans 12.2, it says, do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may discern what is good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Do not be conformed to this age.

Some translations to this world, but be transformed.

We have to realize what the culture's doing, and we have to turn from the culture and do what?

Set at Jesus' feet.

It is difficult, if not impossible, for us to hear God's still quiet voice over the roar of the 21st century.

Our world is going fast.

And it's not going to slow down.

To be honest, if we want to really be honest in the story that we're looking at, we we we really identify really good with Martha, don't we?

The picture here is Martha is going really fast.

Thinking, honestly, Martha is thinking she is doing right.

Did you hear that?

In Martha's mind, she's actually thinking she is doing good.

And if we're not careful, we can do a lot of good.

But the good, if we're not careful, can what?

Be distracting.

Like it was for Martha.

We must be intentional in slowing down.

Number two, a Christian must be intentional about making time to rest in Jesus.

Turn off the phones.

The chores can wait.

Social media can take a break.

It's amazing the Lord's timing on different things.

I'll just be honest, the last six months has been rough at the Passmore House.

We had a friend here on staff that passed away.

I've got a dear friend right now, Randy, that's in the hospital that is struggling.

We even had a guy on Eli's daughter had an open heart surgery at Christmas.

I mean, it's just we've lost some of our church family.

And then about five months ago, my daughter had a baby two months early.

And the baby has been in the NICU for five months.

But today, my grandson Caseen is actually in the nursery.

Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

He still has a ways to go.

My daughter and them are back in town.

But it has been hard.

It's been a struggle.

In the men's discipleship, we've been talking about on Wednesday nights, we've been talking about the disciplines, spiritual disciplines, and what they look like.

And I was teaching on those and we were working on it together, and I'll be honest, through this time that has been extremely hard, that men's group has held me together.

It has encouraged me to take my time to set at Jesus' feet.

So that when someone calls me and says, I'm going through a hard time, I can say, I am too.

I don't know the answer, but I know who's in charge.

I don't know how exactly the words to help you on right now, but listen, I've had time to set at Jesus' feet because the men, as we've been doing this study together, that's what we've been encouraging each other to do.

And I am so thankful for that time that we have set together and that I have had that time with Jesus so that when my daughter calls and she says, I don't know what's next.

I can encourage her because why?

I'd spent that time with Jesus.

And so as we look at that as a Christian, we must be intentional about making that time with Jesus.

We see in Isaiah 56, 6, seek the Lord while he may be found.

Call on him while he is near.

Now we look at that verse of scripture.

I was just looking at different commentary.

Obviously, we know there is going to come a time when we pass or when the Lord comes that we can't seek after the Lord anymore.

We're either Christian or we're not.

But this passage here is encouraging and it's a thought thing because of this.

I was reading commentary on this that could be this.

Seek the Lord while he may be found.

It's part of this.

Listen to this.

What?

As a Christian, there are times in my life that I am so far away from Jesus that I don't even know where Jesus is.

That's not because Jesus left.

Jesus is with me all the time.

But what do I end up doing sometimes?

I end up going so fast doing what Matt Pastor More wants to do that I Jesus is so far from my mind.

Not because Jesus, but because of me.

And the picture here is we must intentionally, we must be intentional about making time to rest in Jesus.

Because if we don't spend time resting in Jesus, there are times that we'll look up and we won't even be able to find Jesus.

Because not Jesus hasn't left.

We're the ones.

And we see in Scripture, God desires time with us.

He wants that personal relationship with us.

We see in Psalms, He created us individually.

It says He knit us together in our mother's womb.

He knows the intimate details about us.

He knows how many hairs on our head.

My number is decreasing.

But he still knows the number of hairs on my head.

We see the picture here of how he cares for that sparrow, the bird.

But then it says, what?

How much more we are worth than that bird.

We also see multiple times in scripture, he invites us to come to him and to know him.

Abiding in him, we enjoy the intimacy to which he calls us, and we come to truly know him.

There's a picture.

I think I have a picture of a Bible.

The other day, my wife had to go back to school.

And so she's for a week, she's at school getting trained.

She's a school teacher.

I'm at work, so Deacon needs a babysitter.

So the other day, our babysitter comes in, and they had to, Lisa came and get him, they had to run an errand, so I came home, and this is what I came home to.

Our babysitter, who is going into seventh grade, had her Bible out, taking notes, sitting at Jesus' feet.

You know, our student ministry is encouraging these kiddos here to do what?

To make it real.

And I came home and I saw my babysitter having time with Jesus.

Wow.

And I'll tell you this, I have a six-year-old son about to be seven, and that's what I want him to see.

His babysitter doing what?

Having God's word out.

I think a picture of a passage of scriptures in Psalms, Psalms 46, 10 says this.

Be still and know that I'm God.

That takes us to point number three.

As a Christian, we must understand that Jesus is Lord.

Whether you like it or not, or the world doesn't like it, it doesn't matter.

Guess what?

Jesus is Lord.

And just so you'll know, John 1.1 says this: In the beginning was the word, the word was with God, and the word was God.

Listen to that again.

In the beginning was the word, the word was with God.

Not only with God, but the word was God.

And then we see, well, hold on, what's the word?

Down in verse 14, it says this the word became flesh and dwelt among us.

We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

So let me go back and read 1-1 again.

In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God.

But knowing that who Jesus is should make us pause for just a second and see the value of setting at his feet.

You know, there's some there's some uh people that teach Jesus was a good man.

Some say, oh, Jesus might even be a prophet.

But what does Scripture say?

Jesus says that it says Jesus is Lord.

So the picture of Mary setting at Jesus' feet is a huge picture because it's showing us that what Jesus setting at or Mary is setting at the Lord's feet.

I think it as as we stop and just think about the picture of whose feet we're setting at.

I think the special, the song that we just heard was a huge example.

The idea of I'm sitting at Jesus' feet with no agenda.

I'm sitting at Jesus' feet realizing that he is Lord.

And I think it's important to realize once we realize that Jesus is Lord, and I've said this multiple times, and I don't mean it this way, but it comes out this way if you're not careful.

But I've asked people before, I said, have you made Jesus Lord of your life?

If you think about that statement, it's almost like we're in charge.

Listen, Jesus is already Lord of your life.

But have we submitted to him being Lord of our life?

And what is submitting to that?

The idea of it's not about me anymore, it's uh all about you.

And sometimes when we think about submission, we get to the point of yielding to someone kind of might in a way make us feel weak.

Because we're driven to the point that I want to be in charge, or I need to be in charge.

But listen to what 2 Corinthians 12, 10 says.

Paul says this.

So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardship, persecutions, and in difficulties for the sake of Christ, for when I am weak, then I am strong.

I think with the struggles that I'm going through with different relationships and different things, and here's the deal: two people came up to me today and told me about all the things going on in their life.

I honestly, majority of this room is struggling with something.

And I've heard multiple people say this you know, I've got to get this fixed, and then I can go to Jesus.

I've got to, and they say something.

But the picture here, what Paul is saying, is we are the strongest, we are the weakest.

And the picture of that is when I got money in my pocket and my friends are around, I get a job promotion, all of a sudden it becomes about look at the things that I'm doing.

But when it comes to the point where I'm struggling, I'm hurting, I have no money in my pocket, and all of a sudden my friends aren't around.

Think about that.

That's when we are at the humble spot that Jesus can really use us.

Amen.

When I'm humbled the most, how much better I care.

When I'm humbled the most, I'm different.

I'm not as confident in myself.

Because why?

Because when I'm the weakest, God's in control.

And I will tell you this.

You can tell my wife this, or my wife can tell you this.

There are multiple times in my life that I thought I had it all figured out.

And I've had to go back and apologize.

And she would probably tell you the same.

When I'm right with the Lord, I am a way better husband.

When I am right with the Lord, I'm a way better dad.

When I'm right with the Lord, I'm actually a better Matt Passmore.

And how do I get right with the Lord?

Taking time to realize that He's Lord and I'm sitting at His feet.

A life lived for God glorifies God.

We pursue God with our entire being.

When we're at Jesus' feet, we're pursuing God with our all, our heart, our soul, our mind, and our strength.

And then that takes us to number four.

As Christians, we must seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to apply the word to our lives.

And I think this was important.

As we see here, we first off got to see that our culture is deceiving us.

We need to be at Jesus' feet.

We need to realize who Jesus really is, and then we need to cry out to the Holy Spirit that what?

That his word changes our heart.

Listen, Mary was changed when she sat at Jesus' feet because she listened and Jesus' word changed her.

A lot of you we can set in here and say, Well, I did, I did it.

I was at Jesus' feet.

I came to church today.

Well, you know, I forgot my Bible in the car.

I really have no idea what Matt said.

But I was at Jesus' feet, right?

It's not the picture.

We need to be like we talked about men's discipleship, the idea of crying out, Lord, give me wisdom to understand your word.

This is the picture of this right here.

As Christians, we must seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to take God's word and apply it to our lives.

As we draw near to God and come to know Him more, His desires will be more of our desires.

Isn't that what Christianity is?

Christianity is being more like Jesus today than I was yesterday, and then tomorrow being more like Jesus because what?

Not because I wake up and look in the mirror and say, I'm going to be more like you to God today.

No, it's the time in God's Word and the Holy Spirit working our lives to completely do what?

Change us.

We see in John 14, 15, it says, if you love me, you will do what?

Keep my commandments.

Not because we're good, but because we do what?

We love the Lord.

And this intimacy between the Lord and us, I'll be honest, it's not easy.

It's hard.

Takes us back to the first point.

The culture doesn't want that, so we're busy people.

This is a hard walk.

It's something we have to commit to.

It's something we have to do.

It's a crying to the Lord to change us.

I think the greatest picture of that is Jesus in the garden.

Remember when Jesus was in the garden, the Bible says that he was sweating drops of blood.

He was crying out to the Lord.

He said, If there's any way, Lord, please take this cup from me.

He was struggling.

But then what did he say?

Not my will, but your will be done.

The other day we were in Sunday school, we were going through Acts, and we were in Acts 6 and 7, and we were talking about a man named Stephen.

And I think Stephen, his story here just lines up with what we're talking about and the walk of being with Jesus.

We see that the disciples have got together and they were, the leaders of the church said, Man, we just can't keep up.

We've got to get some more men to help us serve the widows.

So I'm quoting what they said about Stephen.

So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.

Then another point, as you just read down, now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

Then we see later on, they began to argue with Stephen, but they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the spirit by whom he was speaking.

They could not argue with Stephen.

The Holy Spirit inside of him was coming out because of the time he spent with Jesus.

Then it says this all who were setting in the Sanhedrin looked and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

How many times do we get into a discussion and all of a sudden ours turns beat red?

Angry.

He was still at peace.

And what'd they say?

His face looked like an angel.

Then he tells a testimony from Abraham all the way to Jesus.

If you want a quick summary of the Bible, read Stephen's testimony.

In verse 7 of Acts.

And then listen to this.

Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, they're about to stone him.

He gazed into heaven.

He saw the glory of God.

And Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

So heaven looked up, opened up, he looked up, and he saw who?

Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

And then at the end of his life, listen to what he says.

Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

He knelt down and he cried out with a loud voice, Lord, do not hold this sin against them.

As we spend time with Jesus, we should be more like who?

Jesus, right?

The more time we spend with Jesus, the more we become like Jesus, right?

Okay, here's a question.

The more time we spend with Jesus, the more we're like Jesus.

Okay, one more time.

The more time we spend with Jesus, the more we're like Jesus.

Listen to this.

What did Jesus say on the cross?

Lord, forgive them for they don't know what they do.

Listen to what Stephen said at the point of death.

Lord, do not hold this against them.

The more time we spend with Jesus, the more we're like Jesus.

Isn't that what we're called to be as a Christian?

Stephen was so rested in Christ that he was not phased, rattled, or even scared.

He was powerfully led by the Holy Spirit.

I got a question for you today.

As we close.

As a Christian, do you even want to take time to sit at Jesus' feet?

I mean, think about it for a second.

How busy are we?

Is that even a desire of our heart?

Then my next question is this When was the last time you were at Jesus' feet?

I mean, really at Jesus' feet.

Not counting, I'm bringing my Bible into church.

But a time of, Jesus, this is me and you.

I want to be at your feet.

As we pray here, I want you to think just for a second.

Maybe this is a time as we are getting into a new year and we are prioritizing things.

Maybe this is a time today that says, you know what, I got to get back to it.

I've been at Jesus' feet many years ago.

Or maybe you're at a point you said, I've never been at Jesus' feet, I don't even know what to do.

I don't even know what that looks like.

Please come talk to us.

I'll be honest, I wish I did it more than I really do.

But let's start.

Whether you go home and do it tonight or you do it first thing in the morning.

Because Jesus was a great example.

When he got wound up in ministry, what does the Bible say Jesus did?

He went off alone and prayed.

Pray with me.

Dear God, I just come before you now.

Lord, I've just been challenged in my own life of how fast I get going and how I just need you more than anything.

And as our church is looking at our core values, our number one of our one of our values is, Lord, we want to stop and we want you to be present.

Lord, here at the church, without you being present, Lord, we are just going through the motions and Lord, we do not want to go through the motions.

We want you to be in the middle of it.

And Lord, if there's someone sitting here today that has been going so fast, they've never just had to uh they've never heard from you, and Lord, today you are drawing them.

Lord, help them, please take time.

And Lord, I ask you if there's someone here that is a believer, and Lord, they are so distracted right now, they're going so fast.

Lord, tug on their heart, Lord, them help them stop, take a deep breath, and realize you are God.

Lord, I cry out, and now, Lord, I ask you just to help our church be a church that is in your presence.

And Lord, as we stand here today, Lord, I ask you just to encourage us as we sing and continue to speak to us as we sing.

Jesus' name I pray.

Amen.

We pray this message has been a blessing to you and helped to strengthen your walk with Jesus.

Please know we want to minister to you and pray for you.

Send an email to contact us at fsfbc.org and let us pray for you and help you in any way we can.

Thank you for listening to chapter and first, the Bible teaching ministry of Fort Smith First Baptist Church.