Latest / Meadows Baptist Church Podcast / 4/15/26 Wednesday Evening Bible Study - Pastor Charlie Branch - Meadows Baptist Church

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4/15/26 Wednesday Evening Bible Study - Pastor Charlie Branch - Meadows Baptist Church · Meadows Baptist Church Podcast

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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
14:28
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
16:05
since I came down here. And let's pray.
16:08
Pray for him this evening. That family
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and then those young ones, too. Pray for
16:12
those babies. Amen.
16:14
someone else tonight.
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Yes, ma'am.
16:34
All right, let's remember that request
16:36
of prayer this evening. Let's remember
16:37
that. Brother Rick, you got something?
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>> You say Earl
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>> Arnold.
16:57
Remember that.
17:02
Yes, ma'am.
17:32
Yeah. Yeah. Let's remember that this
17:35
evening. Do pray about that tonight.
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Amen. Someone else this evening. Yes,
17:41
ma'am. Pray for
17:46
We got four
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safety back
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on Thursday.
18:13
And what else? I don't know. They're not
18:16
going to open her up. They said they'll
18:18
see more places on her list.
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But when they do this, that means I got
18:28
to go back to Tennessee and be there.
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Okay, let's remember that. Request a
18:46
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
19:08
this church walked off his back porch
19:10
just right over the ridge and killed two
19:12
the other day. And he he here he has
19:14
traveled 5 hours away and can't kill
19:16
nothing. So anyway, I'm going to wear
19:19
him out when he gets back. But uh I hope
19:21
you're watching, brother. That's what I
19:23
hope. Amen. Amen. I bless his heart.
19:27
I'll just pick on him. Hey, he'll take
19:28
it. Amen. Some of y'all can't take it.
19:31
Amen. But he can't. Amen. Oh gosh,
19:34
that's funny. Do what?
19:36
>> Yeah. Oh goodness. Bless his heart. I
19:40
wouldn't pour salt in a wound, but his I
19:42
would. [laughter]
19:46
Oh Lord. No. Y'all pray for him. Pray
19:48
for him. That's traveling back and all
19:50
of that, too. So remember that. Someone
19:53
else tonight before we pray.
19:55
>> Yes, ma'am.
19:58
>> Okay.
20:00
also.
20:22
>> Okay.
20:30
I remember that.
20:32
Just remember that this evening.
20:35
Just remember Jesse, too. Remember that.
20:48
>> Yes.
20:50
Yes. Let's remember that. And uh
20:55
we all got lost loved ones tonight that
20:58
we can think of and uh pray God will get
21:02
them in here. I tell you, the spirit has
21:03
moved in this place um last few months
21:07
and I've enjoyed it. I'm thankful for
21:09
it. Um, but what we're seeing is is
21:11
people are becoming increasingly
21:13
hardened to that conviction and we need
21:16
to pray that God would help us during
21:18
these days and pray that God would allow
21:20
that conviction to continue. I don't
21:22
think that it's got anything to do with
21:24
him not convicting enough. I think when
21:26
conviction settles in, they've got to
21:28
make one or two choices. They either
21:29
going to have to go to him or they going
21:31
to go away from him. And I just feel
21:32
like people are walking away. And uh,
21:35
let's pray about that. Pray about that.
21:37
I think that's a lot of the trouble we
21:39
deal with these days. People are just
21:41
lost,
21:41
>> right?
21:42
>> And you say, "Well, they've been in
21:43
church your whole life." It
21:46
>> it don't. I mean, it really don't. And
21:49
well, they they've made three or four
21:51
professions. Well,
21:54
I'm just, you know, we need to pray for
21:55
them. Amen. Pray for them. Pray that God
21:57
will help them these days. Amen. Someone
22:00
else tonight before we pray.
22:03
>> Yep.
22:10
uh
22:13
>> I I saw that um brother Barry Spears I
22:16
don't know some of you may know him his
22:18
son I guess that's probably his oldest
22:19
son I guess um oldest son passed away
22:22
and uh unexpectedly he's a young man I
22:25
don't guess you probably 30 so let's
22:27
pray pray for that family during this
22:29
time so yeah
22:34
>> yes
22:44
Let's remember sister Ola in prayer.
22:46
Remember those babies. Amen.
22:50
And uh
22:52
>> Yes. Amen. Let's remember that. Let's
22:56
remember brother Gayen as well and uh
22:58
pray for him. He's in a lot of pain. I
23:00
appreciate him still doing this and I
23:02
know he's in a lot of pain when he does
23:04
it. So let's pray for him as well.
23:06
Continue to remember all these requests
23:08
of prayer tonight and uh pray for the
23:10
lost. Pray for the service tonight.
23:12
Amen. We need a word from God just like
23:14
we do every time we come. Amen. So pray
23:16
about that this evening. Is there any
23:18
other request to prayer tonight?
23:40
change.
23:44
I know
23:49
every time
23:52
I looked up
23:57
whatever
24:15
Yeah.
24:18
>> Yeah.
24:19
I don't preach at anybody.
24:22
>> And uh
24:25
>> Yeah.
24:47
That's the truth. It's been I There's
24:50
been several people accuse me of that
24:52
since I've been here in the last last
24:54
few months. And here's what I'll tell
24:56
you about that. I have never, not as
24:58
long as I've been here. It might have
24:59
been some place before I came here, but
25:01
as long as I've been here, I've never
25:03
studied the message to preach at
25:05
somebody. And uh I have I have one
25:08
person that I have to preach for. And
25:11
really, he's the one I'm preaching to,
25:13
>> right?
25:14
>> You say, "What do you mean?" Well, you
25:15
know, God don't need your preaching.
25:17
Well, I preach for him, and my preaching
25:20
has to be acceptable to him first. And
25:23
uh um I'm not, you know, I'm kind of
25:25
like one fell said, I'm not going to
25:27
preach at you, but if your sin happens
25:29
to be what my message is on, I'm not
25:31
going to preach around you either.
25:33
>> And uh you need help. And uh people can
25:37
call it whatever they want to. And I
25:38
don't try to single anybody out either
25:40
looking at them either. So um but just
25:42
just help. That just lets you know right
25:44
there
25:46
God's working on people. No, I know
25:48
you're not. I know you're not. I just I
25:51
that just felt like that was a good time
25:53
to interject that. Okay. And people
25:56
people will say that he was preaching at
25:59
me. Well,
26:06
>> Amen. Well, pray God will help him.
26:09
Amen. And uh there's some others here.
26:12
Amen. There's some others that's left
26:14
and said the same thing. And uh and it's
26:17
just the devil
26:18
>> talking to them and they're telling
26:21
theirel one thing, but God's really just
26:23
trying to show them how much he loves
26:24
them.
26:25
>> And uh man, I'm telling you, if it
26:27
hadn't been for that that commandment,
26:29
Paul said when that that commandment
26:31
came, he said sin revived and I died,
26:33
what he was talking about was is that
26:35
law showed him how dead he was on the
26:37
inside. And that hurts.
26:40
It stings when you go to realizing that
26:43
and God's trying to love on you, but
26:44
he's first got a, you know, it's it's
26:46
painful. Word of God's a two-edged
26:49
sword. And uh it's painful and you got
26:52
to make sure you're obedient to that.
26:54
Let's pray for these. And I'm thankful
26:56
that they feel that way, but at the same
26:58
time, that's just a fleshly excuse to
27:01
say that it's not conviction. And let's
27:04
pray for them. Let's come pray tonight
27:05
and then we'll get to our classes. I
27:07
appreciate each one of you being here. I
27:09
love you in the Lord tonight.
27:42
Brother Kyle, you lead us tonight,
27:43
brother. Thank you,
27:47
>> Father. Thank you for this day, for your
27:48
grace and your mercy. Thank you for your
27:50
kindness toward us, for your love, for
27:52
your precious blood. I know we're
27:54
unworthy of your mercy. God, I thank you
27:57
for being so good to us tonight. I ask
27:59
that you would help us this evening,
28:00
God, with so many needs, Lord. Heavy
28:03
hearts, burden, full of problems. I
28:05
pray, God, we bring them to you tonight.
28:07
You would help, give grace, mercy, may
28:11
cleanse us of sin, give us of our
28:12
shortcomings. God, I know we're nothing
28:14
without you. Please help us tonight. May
28:17
you bless our missionaries and mission
28:19
support. And I pray you for all these
28:21
needs tonight. You know, every heart and
28:22
life. And I pray that you would touch,
28:26
Lord, meet the needs according to your
28:27
will, God, that you'd give strength
28:29
where strength is needed. I pray for
28:32
those that are lost tonight, God, that
28:33
you would help them deal with their
28:35
heart. Draw them unto yourself, Lord. I
28:38
pray, Father, that you would work in
28:39
every heart and life that's here
28:41
tonight. Bless the teachers, Lord. Help
28:43
us as we do Bible study this evening.
28:45
God, I pray that you'll get glory to
28:47
yourself. Continue to work in our
28:49
church. Continue to have your hand upon
28:50
the preaching and the singing. Lord, I
28:52
give you thanks for what you do. You're
28:54
worthy of it. Lord, I love you. Thank
28:56
you for loving us. Help us, God, tonight
28:59
we pray.
29:14
I'm
29:21
>> so cute.
30:19
All right. Titus chapter 3 tonight. Take
30:21
God's word. Turn with us to the book of
30:23
Titus, chapter number three, New
30:27
Testament. Go to the book of Second
30:28
Timothy. And if you find Hebrews, go
30:31
back left. All right? And uh there's a
30:34
little book in between Titus and Hebrews
30:36
called Fiman. And some of these books,
30:39
there's dust in these pages, but uh but
30:42
I hope there's not. Amen. I hope you
30:45
wearing them out. Amen. And I tell you
30:47
this, it's all profitable. And even
30:50
those ia books over there in the Old
30:52
Testament. Amen. And uh those ones that
30:55
we think really ain't in there. If you
30:57
ask most people, you know, you ask them
30:58
if there's the book of Zephaniah, some
31:00
people look at you. Not sure. Amen. But
31:04
there is. I think some people get
31:06
Hezekiah and that one confused. But turn
31:08
to the book of Hezekiah. And about 30
31:10
people go to flipping through their
31:11
Bible. But uh Amen. Just in case you're
31:14
wondering, there is no book of Hezekiah.
31:16
Amen. But uh Titus chapter 3 tonight,
31:21
I'm not trying to be foolish this
31:22
evening. Forgive me. But uh Titus
31:25
chapter number three. Got a thought on
31:27
my heart. Something the Lord put on me
31:28
today. I want to share it with you. And
31:31
uh something I think that will help us.
31:34
And uh I wish I could preach it on
31:36
Sunday morning. If it goes well tonight,
31:38
I may preach it Sunday morning. So we'll
31:40
see how that goes. Amen. Preacher, we've
31:42
heard it twice. Well, y'all y'all are
31:44
about a quarter of the Sunday morning
31:45
crowd. So we'll just take it and run
31:47
with it. Amen. But uh Titus chapter 3, I
31:50
want to read three verses. Jump with me.
31:52
Uh verse number one and we'll go from
31:54
verse number one to verse number eight.
31:56
And then from verse number 8 to verse
31:58
number 14. All right. Notice the verse
32:01
with me. Titus chapter 3 verse number
32:03
one.
32:04
Paul says here writing to Titus which is
32:07
at cree. He says, "Put them in mind to
32:10
be subject to principalities and powers
32:14
to obey magistrates, to be ready to
32:17
every good work." Verse number eight,
32:21
this is a faithful saying, "And these
32:23
things I will that thou affirm
32:24
constantly, that they which have
32:27
believed in God might be careful to
32:29
maintain good works. These things are
32:33
good and profitable unto men."
32:36
Now notice verse number 14.
32:39
The Bible says, "And let our hours also
32:41
learn to maintain good works for
32:45
necessary uses that they be not
32:48
unfruitful."
32:49
Now, Father, I ask you this evening as
32:51
we've come to uh study thy word. I pray
32:54
you'll help us tonight, God. We have
32:56
nothing without thee. And Lord, I pray
32:58
that you cleanse us of all sin. God, I
33:00
realize just how short we fall, God.
33:03
each and every day, Lord. Many every day
33:05
we miss the mark and God, we come up
33:07
short, but Lord, would you help us
33:08
tonight, Father, I want to hit the mark.
33:10
Um, God, I want to share what you put on
33:12
my heart. And I pray that you would
33:13
speak to me and through me. Help me
33:15
remember what I've studied, God, and and
33:17
Lord, whatever else you want said. Help
33:19
me to say everything that needs to be
33:20
said and nothing that ought not be said.
33:23
Get glory to yourself and we'll exalt
33:25
you and praise you because you alone are
33:27
worthy. And Lord, we pray for these
33:29
situations in our church tonight, God,
33:31
many heavy hearts. Please Lord, give
33:33
grace in every life, Father, and let
33:35
them know, Lord, that you are sufficient
33:37
and that you do love them and help them
33:39
during this time. We'll give you thanks
33:41
because we ask it in Jesus name. Amen.
33:44
And amen. Now, if you didn't notice
33:47
tonight what the correlation is in these
33:49
three verses, there's a phrase that I
33:51
want to zero in on tonight in these
33:53
three three verses. And I want to look
33:55
back at our text tonight just for the
33:57
sake of emphasis. Notice with me verse
34:00
number one in the last phrase of verse
34:02
number one of Titus 3. Say it with me
34:04
tonight. To be ready to every good work.
34:10
Notice verse number eight, the middle
34:12
part of the verse. That that they which
34:15
have believed in God, what's it say?
34:18
Might be careful to maintain good works.
34:23
Now notice with me verse number 14
34:25
again. Read the whole verse. and let
34:27
ours also learn to maintain good works
34:31
for necessary uses that they be not
34:35
unfruitful. So tonight I want to talk to
34:38
you about good works, what they are,
34:40
what they're not. Why should we be
34:43
involved in good works? Now I think we
34:46
can answer the question tonight that the
34:48
good work is the salvation work.
34:50
>> Right?
34:51
>> I'm reminded of the man that came to
34:53
Jesus one day and he said this. He said,
34:55
"What must I do that I might work the
34:57
works of God?" You remember what Jesus
34:59
said to that man? He said, "This is the
35:01
work of God that you believe on him whom
35:05
he hath sent." And so, primarily
35:07
tonight, the work of God number one is
35:09
salvation in the heart and life of a
35:12
human being. If you have a soul tonight,
35:14
if you are living, breathing vessel,
35:16
human, amen, you have a soul and the
35:18
primary work of God is for you to be
35:21
saved. Amen. And you say, "Well, being
35:23
saved is not a work." I agree with you
35:25
on that. But it is the work of God done
35:27
in you. Amen. And I want to zero in on
35:30
this thought. The book of Titus. Now
35:32
Titus, this phrase is used in all three
35:35
chapters. And I believe verse number
35:38
eight of chapter 3 really is a summary
35:40
of the entire book of Titus. Notice what
35:43
he says. This is a faithful saying, and
35:45
these things I will that thou affirm
35:47
constantly that they which have believed
35:49
in God might be careful to maintain good
35:52
works. These things are good and
35:54
profitable unto men. Now, what you'll
35:57
find is when you study these three short
35:59
chapters that this is the emphasis of
36:02
this entire book. This is what Paul is
36:04
telling Titus here to apply to his
36:07
heart. And literally the emphasis begins
36:09
in chapter number one when he says in
36:12
verse number five, he tells Titus, he
36:14
says, "For this cause I left the
36:16
increice what he says, that thou
36:18
shouldest set in order, what's the Bible
36:20
say? the things that are wanting. You
36:23
know what he was talking about? He was
36:25
talking about good works.
36:27
>> What does that mean? The things that are
36:28
wanting. Well, they were lacking in the
36:30
department of good works. Let me say
36:32
this tonight. The truth is about this
36:35
church and I believe about every church,
36:37
you know, there's some churches, yeah,
36:39
we probably could say they're living
36:41
pretty close to the scriptures as far as
36:43
the operation and the function of the
36:46
church. But really, good works is not so
36:48
much what you're doing, but why you're
36:50
doing it.
36:51
>> Okay? And you can be doing everything
36:53
right tonight, but if you have the wrong
36:55
motive and what you're doing, then all
36:57
of that is null and void. So, I want to
37:00
define this term tonight for just a
37:02
minute and then I'll give you the text
37:04
this evening. I thought maybe the Lord
37:05
wanted us to go through Titus, but we're
37:07
kind of going to do that in a one sermon
37:09
time here. So, notice with me tonight
37:12
the phrase again in in Titus 3 verse one
37:15
to be ready to every good work. Verse
37:17
number eight, to maintain good works.
37:20
Verse 14, to maintain good works. Now,
37:24
I'll give you the three points tonight.
37:25
All right, the three points for these
37:27
three verses are this. Number one, verse
37:29
number one speaks of the preparation for
37:33
good works. The preparation for good
37:37
works. Verse number eight speaks, point
37:40
number two speaks not only not of the
37:42
preparation but of the practice of good
37:46
works. Verse number eight speaks of the
37:48
practice of good works. And then thirdly
37:51
tonight we look at verse 14 and it's
37:54
going to tell us about the purpose of
37:57
good works. the purpose of good works.
37:59
Now, let me say this tonight by way of
38:01
introduction. Number one, tonight I
38:03
would say this. We are as Christians, we
38:05
are designed for good works.
38:08
>> Right?
38:08
>> We are designed this way. How is that?
38:10
Well, Ephesians 2:8 says, "For by grace
38:13
are you saved through faith, and that
38:15
not of yourselves is the gift of God,
38:16
not of works, lest any man should
38:18
boast." So, salvation's not of works.
38:20
All right? But verse 10 says this, "For
38:23
we are his workmanship, created in
38:26
Christ Jesus." What's it say? Unto good
38:30
works which God hath before ordained
38:34
that we should walk in them. Now you was
38:36
not predestinated to be saved, but you
38:38
were predestined to after that you were
38:41
saved, predestined to good works. It was
38:44
designed by God in his mind when he
38:46
saved you that you would live for him.
38:49
Amen. And those good works, we are
38:51
designed the Christian, if any man be in
38:53
Christ, he is a new creature. That new
38:56
creature's design is for employment in
38:59
good works. Now, number one, we see that
39:02
we're designed for good works. Number
39:03
two, we are demanded to do good works.
39:07
It's demanded. Notice James chapter
39:10
number four.
39:11
Listen to what James says here
39:14
concerning this subject of good works
39:17
this evening. James chapter 4 verse
39:21
number 17.
39:24
Your Bible says this, therefore to him
39:26
that knoweth to do good and doeth it
39:29
not. What's your Bible say? To him it is
39:32
sin. So we are not only designed for
39:35
good works, but we are demanded to do
39:38
good works. Why? Because it is sinful
39:41
for a man to know to do good and to not
39:44
do it.
39:45
>> Amen. So we are demanded tonight and we
39:48
are commanded. It's expected. Let me say
39:50
it again. It is demanded that we do good
39:54
works. Then I would say this, number
39:56
three, we're not only designed and we're
39:58
not only demanded to, but we are we
40:00
ought to be desirous of good works.
40:03
>> Notice Titus 2 and verse 14, the chapter
40:06
just prior. Listen to what he says. Who
40:08
gave himself for us that he might redeem
40:10
us from all iniquity and purify unto
40:13
himself a peculiar people. What's your
40:15
Bible say? Zealous of good works. So
40:20
tonight, our number one desire ought to
40:22
be to do good works before God. Now,
40:25
what are good works? All right, four
40:26
things tonight about what good works is
40:29
concerning the Bible and what that means
40:32
for us this evening. All right, if you
40:35
are going to if you were going to make a
40:37
list tonight and say, "What are bad
40:39
works and what are good works?" This is
40:41
what you would find under the list of
40:43
good works. Number one, I would say
40:45
this. Good works are holy. Come on.
40:48
>> Pure and motive. They promote holiness.
40:51
And also the work itself is holy but the
40:54
work promotes holiness. If what you are
40:57
doing is not holy, it will not promote
41:00
holiness and it will not be deemed a
41:03
good work. And so good works for you and
41:05
I have to be something that is pure. You
41:07
understand God is holy.
41:09
>> And so his children are to operate in
41:11
purity and in complete and total
41:13
holiness. So number one, good works are
41:16
holy. That's the first qualification. If
41:18
your works are not holy, then your work
41:20
is not a good work. Out of that, not
41:22
only good works are holy, number two,
41:24
good works not only are holy, but they
41:26
are helpful.
41:27
>> Amen.
41:28
>> They're beneficial.
41:30
If your work produces nothing. Amen. If
41:34
what you're doing it I if it produces
41:36
nothing, number one, it's probably not
41:38
holy. Okay? But if your work is holy,
41:41
it's going to be beneficial.
41:43
>> Right?
41:43
>> What did your Bible say? James said
41:45
faith without works is what? Dead. And
41:48
when he talks about works, you remember
41:50
the example that he uses. He says if you
41:52
say to a brother, he said he comes unto
41:54
you and he's unclothed and he's hungry
41:57
and he say you you look at him, you say,
41:59
all right, depart, be warmed and filled.
42:00
He said, except he said, but you don't
42:02
give him the things needful for his
42:04
body. He said, what does it profit?
42:06
>> You're right.
42:07
>> You tell him he's okay, but you do
42:08
nothing to supply his need. Good works
42:11
take care of needs.
42:13
>> Right.
42:13
>> Amen. They're helpful. Let me say this.
42:16
Not only good works are holy and good
42:18
works are helpful, but good works are
42:19
honorable.
42:21
>> Good works are commendable. If what
42:23
you're doing cannot be commended, if you
42:25
have to hide what you're doing.
42:27
>> Come on. Right.
42:29
>> If it has to be done in secret,
42:31
>> you're right.
42:32
>> Amen. You say, "Well, I I in my
42:34
humility, I want to I want to, you know,
42:37
stay to myself." Well, there's certain
42:39
things that should be done in secret.
42:41
Okay. But if it was brought out to
42:43
light, would it bring shame to the name
42:44
of Christ, or would it bring honor to
42:46
the name of Christ? You're
42:47
>> right.
42:48
>> Your work should be honorable in itself,
42:50
but it also should honor the name of
42:52
Christ and his church. If what you're
42:55
doing is not honorable to this church,
42:57
then it is not a good work. This is what
43:00
I like the best. You say, "Well, that's
43:01
really bad." Okay, here's where it gets
43:02
good. All right. A good work is holy. A
43:05
good work is helpful. A good work is
43:08
honorable. But let me say this. A good
43:10
work tonight is happy. You're right.
43:12
>> Amen. If you are doing a good work for
43:14
God, you can be happy in spite of
43:16
whatever circumstances you're in.
43:18
>> You're right.
43:19
>> Amen. Because here's the thing about it.
43:21
You know that your work number one, you
43:23
know the reason why you're doing it
43:25
>> because God told you to. You know the
43:27
purpose that you have out of it.
43:29
Ultimately, whether anything else
43:30
happens or not, God's going to get glory
43:32
out of it.
43:32
>> Amen.
43:33
>> You know what? If I pray for a lost
43:35
sinner to be saved for the rest of my
43:37
life. If I pray for lost sinners to be
43:38
saved for the rest of my days and I
43:40
never see a one of them get saved, you
43:41
know, I can chalk that prayer up as a
43:43
successful prayer. You're
43:44
>> right.
43:45
>> Because God gets glory out of that
43:47
>> because what happens when we pray the
43:49
will of God, God is pleased. Isn't that
43:51
right?
43:52
>> And so good works are happy. Now I'm
43:55
reminded what Solomon said. Ecclesiastes
43:57
chapter 9 and verse number 10. He said,
43:59
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do
44:03
it with thy might." Now, he's not
44:05
literally just talking about physical
44:06
labor, okay? It goes to all facts of
44:08
life. Whatever you put your hand to, so
44:10
to speak, you ought to give it your
44:12
best. Amen. Because he says in the
44:15
verse, you can turn there and read it.
44:16
Chapter nine and verse number 10, he
44:18
said, "There's no labor. There's nothing
44:20
where you're headed." Amen. He's talking
44:22
about the grave. He said, "There's not
44:23
going to be any of that." And Jesus said
44:24
this. He said, "I must work the works of
44:26
him that sent me while it's what? day.
44:30
Amen. For night cometh when no man
44:35
>> can work. Amen. So the truth is tonight
44:38
our good works. You say, "What does all
44:40
that mean for me? How can I employ that?
44:43
Obviously, I've got some things to
44:45
change." Well, you're not the only one
44:46
cuz I do too.
44:47
>> Amen.
44:48
>> Amen. Because truth is, not everything
44:50
I'm involved in fits those four
44:53
>> criteria. Now, God just give me that.
44:55
Okay? I believe that's scriptural. Amen.
44:57
It's got to be holy. It will be helpful.
45:00
Amen. It'll be honorable and it will
45:03
make you happy. There's nothing in this
45:05
life, if you're saved, there is nothing,
45:07
listen to me, there is nothing in this
45:09
life that will satisfy you the way
45:10
serving Jesus will.
45:12
>> Amen. Notice the text tonight and I'll
45:14
be done. I see first of all tonight
45:17
concerning this text, I've got to give
45:18
you context so you understand what's
45:21
going on here. Paul has mentioned this
45:23
thought of good works in this chapter.
45:25
The first time he mentions the thought
45:27
that I saw here in these verses in
45:29
chapter one in verse number 16 and he's
45:32
talking about the unapproved for good
45:35
works. Look what he says. They profess
45:37
that they know God but in works they
45:38
deny him. Notice this. Being abominable
45:41
and disobedient and unto every good work
45:45
repbate. You know what that word repbate
45:47
means? It literally means unapproved or
45:49
unaccepted. It means that the good works
45:52
that they should be involved in, they
45:53
cannot do because they do not have the
45:55
Holy Ghost on the inside. Now, we know
45:58
what the primary work out of the Holy
46:00
Ghost is. It's those fruits of the
46:01
spirit. And what's the first one? Love.
46:04
Ain't that right? And the Bible says in
46:06
Romans chapter 5, he said, "Hope maketh
46:08
not ashamed because the love of God is
46:10
shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy
46:12
Ghost which is given unto us." And so,
46:15
the number one work of God is love. the
46:17
greatest commandments. Love you got love
46:19
God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
46:21
And love your neighbor as yourself.
46:22
That's the work of God. But the truth is
46:25
tonight, if you are not saved, if you
46:27
don't have a have the Holy Ghost on the
46:29
inside, you cannot accomplish that.
46:31
>> You are unapproved for good works. I
46:34
notice not only the unapproved for good
46:37
works, but I notice the uniform for good
46:39
works. Notice verse two, chapter 2 and
46:41
verse number seven. Paul is talking to
46:44
the young, he's talking to Timothy to
46:46
exhort the young men. Look what he says.
46:48
Young men likewise exhort to be sober
46:50
minded. Verse 7. In all things, showing
46:53
thyself a pattern of good works. Now,
46:57
what this means is when I say uniform,
46:59
I'm talking about there's consistency
47:01
involved. When you think about good
47:03
works, good works is not a one-time
47:05
thing,
47:05
>> right?
47:06
>> But it's a pattern. It's a lifestyle.
47:08
It's something that you involve yourself
47:10
in and you don't get out of it.
47:12
Amen. I don't understand people. Well, I
47:15
I I got to I I got to quit serving God
47:18
because I've got too busy. I've got too
47:19
much on my plate. Let me just hold up
47:21
right there for a minute. Okay. If you
47:24
serve God, you ought to serve God until
47:26
you you physically cannot serve God
47:28
anymore. Amen. Because the truth is he
47:31
went until he couldn't go anymore. And
47:33
yet he still went a little farther on.
47:35
Amen. And we ought to give it our very
47:37
best until we cannot go another mile or
47:39
another minute and and serving him
47:42
because it's it's a life meant to be
47:44
consistent. You see, we the Christian
47:46
life I understand, you know, I've even
47:48
made the statement that, you know, um if
47:51
your life's not like this, you know,
47:53
that's the heart mandonder saying you're
47:54
alive. And in a sense, the trouble that
47:56
we face, yes, our life is like that,
47:59
>> but your heart should be straight,
48:01
>> right?
48:02
>> You ought to be consistent. You ought to
48:04
be steady with God. What did Paul say to
48:07
the Corinthians? He said, "Be you," he
48:08
said, "Wherefore, my beloved, rather, be
48:10
you steadfast, unmovable, and always
48:14
abounding in the work of the Lord. For
48:16
as much as you know that your labor is
48:18
not in vain in the Lord." So, there's
48:21
steadiness, there's uniformity involved
48:23
with the work with good works. Notice
48:25
this. Not only there's the unapproved
48:28
that he mentions of, and then there's
48:29
the uniformity speaking to these young
48:31
men, the pattern of good works. Let me
48:33
say this. Just because he said that to
48:35
young men doesn't mean that's not for
48:36
all of us. Amen. We ought to all have a
48:39
pattern of good works. And then notice
48:40
verse 14, the verse I already mentioned.
48:43
He says, "Who gave himself for us that
48:45
he might redeem us from all iniquity and
48:47
purify unto himself a peculiar people
48:50
zealous of good works." So that speaks
48:52
of urgency.
48:54
>> There's a desire. Somebody who's
48:56
zealous, they're fervent about it. It's
48:58
an urgent need. It's something that
49:01
they're burdened by. Let me ask you,
49:03
does does the work of God burden you?
49:06
>> If all if all you ever come to church to
49:08
do is get a blessing and not be a
49:10
blessing, you've missed the point.
49:12
>> Amen. If you're long if you're looking
49:14
to just sit around and get in, why don't
49:16
you get involved?
49:18
>> Add that to the end of the phrase get
49:19
in. Amen. Get involved in what's going
49:22
on down at the house of God. There's
49:24
urgency that's involved with good works.
49:28
And so all of that introduces what he's
49:30
going to talk about in chapter 3. Notice
49:33
what he says. Verse number one. Put them
49:35
in mind to be subject to principalities
49:38
and powers to obey magistrates. Notice
49:41
this. To be ready to every good work. So
49:45
he lists three things in that verse.
49:47
Number one, we are to be subject to
49:49
principalities and powers. Notice that.
49:52
To obey magistrates. We ought we are
49:55
subject to the law of the land. Okay?
49:58
>> Whether you like it or not. Amen. You
49:59
can go out here and get mad and upset
50:01
about what the government's doing, but
50:03
you know what they going to do? They're
50:04
going to put you in jail.
50:05
>> Amen. And so, we ought to be subject to
50:08
that. Put them in mind. That's
50:09
respectful.
50:11
>> Amen. I And and the truth is tonight,
50:13
the powers that be, the Bible says
50:15
they're ordained of God.
50:17
>> Right?
50:17
>> That's what the Bible says. All right.
50:19
Notice not only the subjection, but
50:21
notice the submission in the verse. to
50:23
be ready to every good work. And then he
50:27
speaks of silence in verse two. Now,
50:29
what's interesting about that that all
50:31
of that is together is because the
50:33
people that get no work done are the
50:35
ones that are all time talking and all
50:37
the time fussing about leadership.
50:39
>> Did anybody just hear what I said?
50:41
>> I'm talking about Paul laid it out
50:43
perfectly.
50:44
>> He showed the leadership. He said, "Put
50:46
them in mind to be subject to leadership
50:48
and then to be silent." But he said to
50:50
be ready for every good work. The reason
50:53
why men don't get anything done, the
50:55
reason why they run off to math all the
50:57
time is cuz they've never submitted to
50:58
good works.
50:59
>> Amen.
51:00
>> Amen. There's more people in the church
51:02
that talk about what we're going to do
51:04
instead of getting involved in what
51:05
we're going to do. Amen. Get involved.
51:08
Do the good works. Don't just talk about
51:10
them. Well, I just don't know about
51:11
that. Get involved and you'll find out
51:14
about it. Amen.
51:15
>> It's a lot better on this side. Let me
51:17
tell you that. It's a lot better to
51:19
serve than it is to sit. Amen.
51:22
He says in the verse and I'm talking
51:23
about this is the preparation. Notice
51:25
what he says to be ready. There is a
51:29
preparation for good works. And I I
51:31
think many way in many ways we've
51:33
failed. And I and I can speak in and and
51:36
from a perspective in the workforce
51:38
point of view. I mean if anything I'll
51:40
be honest with my parents prepared me to
51:42
serve God, but I'll say they prepared me
51:44
and and this is not to their shame, but
51:46
they probably prepared me more to work
51:48
than they even did that.
51:50
>> Yeah. I mean that they instilled that in
51:52
me from the time I was just a little
51:54
boy. And we failed our children this
51:56
damn time because we have not prepared
51:58
them unto good works.
51:59
>> Come on, preacher.
52:03
Now look, okay, I'm not I'm not against,
52:06
you know, sports and all things of that
52:07
nature, but if we spent the time
52:10
>> that we spent with our children at the
52:12
ball field or some hobby or something
52:15
like that, if we invested in them how to
52:18
work and how to do the things of God
52:20
because you see those things go in h
52:22
hand in hand. Okay?
52:23
>> If you'll teach them to labor, they'll
52:25
love God.
52:26
>> Amen. That's the truth tonight. And I
52:29
think we failed in preparing our
52:31
children for these good works. Remember,
52:33
if they're saved, they're designed for
52:35
that,
52:35
>> right?
52:36
>> It's who they are on the inside. And you
52:38
are selling them short. You are selling
52:40
them. You're selling them cheap when you
52:43
try to get them to do something they are
52:45
not designed to do.
52:46
>> Amen.
52:47
>> You know the percentage. It's like a
52:49
quarter of a percent of people that make
52:51
it into the major leagues. And let's
52:53
just be honest, how many it's less than
52:55
that that make it out make them that
52:56
that make out of it. You think about
52:58
this. I mean, most people that come out
53:00
of that, their life's ruined. I mean,
53:02
they they got all the kinds of money,
53:03
but they've been involved in drugs.
53:05
They've been involved in everything
53:06
known to man, and it did more to hurt
53:08
than harm their life than did to help
53:10
them,
53:11
>> right?
53:11
>> Why do we waste our time?
53:14
>> We need to invest eternally in their
53:17
life. We need to prepare them. They're
53:19
designed for it. They're demanded to do
53:21
it. We should teach them to be desirous
53:25
of it. So I see the preparation tonight
53:28
for good works. Verse one, I'm moving
53:29
quickly. We'll be done in just a minute.
53:31
Notice verse eight. He has just told
53:34
them in the text verses 3 through 7, he
53:37
reminds them of salvation. Some of the
53:39
most powerful verses in all of
53:41
scripture. Verse five, not by which we
53:43
have done, but according to his mercy,
53:45
saved us by the washing of regeneration
53:48
and renewing of the Holy Ghost. What a
53:50
powerful truth. the fact he says, "Look,
53:52
this is who we're to be in light of what
53:53
he has done for us."
53:55
>> Right?
53:55
>> Good works is our life because he has
53:58
given us life. Amen. Notice this verse
54:01
number eight. This is a faithful saying.
54:03
What does that mean? It's true.
54:05
>> Faithful. It's true. All right. Notice
54:07
the verse again. And these things I will
54:09
that thou affirm constantly. Constantly.
54:12
Paul tells Titus, "Son, what I'm telling
54:14
you is right,
54:16
>> but you need to say it over and over and
54:19
over again. You need to tell it. I think
54:22
that's where we missed it. We believe
54:24
it. We don't tell it. Come on.
54:25
>> Amen. We know what good works are, but
54:28
how often are we instructing people in
54:31
those good works? Notice the text.
54:33
There's the truth. There is the telling
54:35
of the truth. And notice verse eight.
54:36
There's the testimony of the truth. Look
54:38
what your Bible says. That they which
54:41
have believed, you know what that is?
54:42
That's a testimony,
54:43
>> right?
54:44
>> They which have believed in God, there's
54:47
a testimony. Hey, is anybody saved in
54:48
the building tonight? Amen.
54:50
>> Saved. I hope you're all saved. Amen.
54:52
>> You know what that is? That's that's
54:54
you.
54:55
>> Notice what he said again. I will that
54:57
thou affirm constantly that they which
54:59
have believed. Have you believed? Amen.
55:02
Look what he says. In they which have
55:04
believed in God might be careful to
55:06
maintain good works. Now see this with
55:10
me. All right. He says, "This is the
55:12
truth. I command you to tell the truth.
55:14
This is the testimony of those who have
55:16
known the truth. But there's something
55:18
you need to be thinking about. Notice
55:21
the word. What's that word in the middle
55:23
of the verse? That God might be careful.
55:26
That doesn't mean that you're to be, you
55:28
know, you know, be careful, don't fall.
55:30
That's not what that means. It means
55:32
you're to be constantly thinking about
55:34
it. That's
55:35
>> right.
55:36
>> You're to be careful. That's why the
55:37
Bible says be careful for nothing.
55:40
>> Be b not don't don't be anxious. Be
55:43
careful for nothing. But in everything
55:44
by by prayer and supplication, let your
55:46
requests be made known unto God. You
55:48
know what he says? Philippians 3, that's
55:50
where the verse is. Let your moderation
55:52
be known to all men. Be careful. Be
55:54
anxious about nothing. What he's saying
55:56
here in the text is this is something
55:57
you need to be anxious about.
55:59
>> Look what he says. Notice it again. That
56:02
they which have believed in God might be
56:04
careful to what? To maintain good works.
56:07
Now, this I've preached all night to get
56:09
to this point. Okay. What does it mean
56:12
to maintain good works? Well, I think
56:16
really you can't give it one definition.
56:19
Most writers say it means to keep them.
56:21
Well, I would agree with that, but
56:23
there's something. You got to have it
56:24
before you can keep it,
56:25
>> right?
56:26
>> I thought about these four things. Okay,
56:28
I know I've thrown out a lot tonight,
56:29
but stay with me. Okay, number one, I
56:31
think if you're going to maintain good
56:33
works, number one, that means you have
56:34
to be available.
56:36
>> Y
56:37
>> you have to be available. Now, here's
56:40
what I'm finding this day and time.
56:42
Nobody's vot
56:48
six months out. Call the dentist, you're
56:51
a year out. You know, I mean, just
56:54
everything, you know, everything's
56:55
backed up. Nobody is available. And if
56:58
it's true anywhere, it's true in the
57:00
church.
57:00
>> You're right.
57:02
>> Good works. We're not in short supply of
57:04
works to do.
57:05
>> Right.
57:05
>> We're in short supply of people to do
57:07
the works,
57:08
>> right?
57:08
>> Amen. And the thing is tonight, if I
57:11
could tell you anything, number one, you
57:13
need to be available. Make yourself
57:16
available. All right? Then God will take
57:19
these other points here and help you
57:20
with this. All right? Number one, you
57:21
need to be available if you're going to
57:22
maintain good works. Number two, you
57:24
need to be aware.
57:26
What do I mean by that? Well, you need
57:28
to know what the good works are.
57:30
>> Amen. You need to know where they are.
57:32
You need to know what they are. And you
57:33
need to know what your part in that is.
57:35
>> Right?
57:35
>> Okay. You say, "Well, preacher, how do I
57:38
know if somebody doesn't tell me?" Well,
57:40
the thing is, you got a Bible,
57:41
>> right,
57:42
>> that tells you what to be involved in?
57:44
And the trouble is, we've got too many
57:45
people that's been led around by the
57:47
hand their entire life. Get involved,
57:49
>> right?
57:50
>> Figure it out.
57:52
I mean, I never thought I'd say that
57:54
from a pull pit, but figure it out. I
57:57
mean, really, I can preach to you three
57:59
times a week, but the truth is, if you
58:01
never take it and read it yourself,
58:03
you're never going to know.
58:04
>> You're right. everything I have ever
58:06
learned there. Don't get me wrong,
58:07
there's been sermons that have helped
58:09
me. I talked to the man of God
58:10
yesterday. Men of God's helped me more
58:12
than anybody else. And his sermons have
58:14
probably helped my ministry as much if
58:16
not more than anybody else. But you
58:18
realize every truth that's ingrained in
58:20
my heart. I learned for myself.
58:21
>> Amen.
58:22
>> I got it in the Bible down on my own
58:24
knees in my own prayer time, my own
58:26
study time, I got it. I got aware of it
58:28
when GOD SHOWED IT TO ME. GOD DIDN'T
58:31
SHOW IT TO THE PREACHER. HE SHOWED IT TO
58:33
ME through his word.
58:34
>> And if you're going to be available,
58:36
you're going to have to be aware.
58:38
>> I think, you know, there's a lot of
58:39
people, they just get saved and here's
58:41
what happens. They're available, man.
58:43
We'll do whatever you want to do,
58:44
preacher, but you know what? They just
58:46
don't know,
58:47
>> right?
58:47
>> They're not aware. You got to be taught.
58:51
Teach yourself. You got to be taught,
58:52
but also learn yourself,
58:54
>> right?
58:57
>> I hope this is resonating tonight.
58:59
>> You need to be available. need to be
59:01
aware. Number three, not only you need
59:04
to be available and aware, but you need
59:05
to be attendant. All right? When you
59:07
find out what you're supposed to do, if
59:08
you're going to maintain good works, you
59:10
need to stay with it,
59:11
>> right?
59:12
>> Attendant, you know, you think about,
59:13
you know, the only place in the world
59:15
that still does this is Betty's. Amen.
59:17
Where they have somebody that pumps your
59:19
gas. Amen. And for some, that's a
59:21
blessing. Amen. And I I mean, I
59:23
appreciate it. Amen. I guess I'm just
59:25
that lazy, I guess. But but you know
59:27
what they do? They're always waiting for
59:31
somebody to come by,
59:32
>> right?
59:33
>> To do the same job that they do all day
59:35
long. You know, you say, "Well, that my
59:38
gosh, that's monotonous." You know what?
59:41
When you see the fruit of it, it's a
59:42
blessing,
59:43
>> right?
59:43
>> And I'm not talking about that. I'm
59:44
talking about spiritual things. When I
59:46
come to you and preach every week, you
59:49
know, as people say, "Well, man, that
59:51
must be that must be tough to get up in
59:53
front of a bunch of people and preach
59:55
every week." But when it's what you're
59:56
called to do,
59:58
>> when you've been made available and
1:00:00
you've been made aware of what's needed,
1:00:03
>> you want to be attended to it.
1:00:04
>> Right?
1:00:06
>> You want to stick with it. You want to
1:00:07
stay by it because you want it to
1:00:09
produce what it's supposed to,
1:00:11
>> right?
1:00:12
>> Notice this. Not only you need to be
1:00:15
available, wear, and attend it, but you
1:00:16
need to abide.
1:00:18
Look what he says. Be careful to
1:00:20
maintain good works. You need to make it
1:00:22
your life, not just stay with it, you
1:00:26
know, just during church time. And I'm
1:00:27
thankful for those of you that do that
1:00:29
serve in this church. You would do
1:00:30
anything that I asked you to do in this
1:00:32
church. But it's more than just here,
1:00:35
>> right?
1:00:35
>> It's more than just inside the walls of
1:00:38
this building, but it's out there. It's
1:00:40
at your home. It's at your job. It's an
1:00:43
abiding life. Good works is not just at
1:00:45
the house of God. You're
1:00:46
>> right.
1:00:46
>> But it's how you live outside the doors.
1:00:49
It's you're to abide in those. If you're
1:00:51
going to maintain good works, it's going
1:00:53
to have to be more than just a look
1:00:56
every now and again, but it's going to
1:00:57
have to be your life,
1:00:58
>> right?
1:00:58
>> It's going to have to be your life. Be
1:01:00
careful to maintain good works. Notice
1:01:03
lastly, we consider the preparation. We
1:01:05
consider the practice maintaining,
1:01:07
keeping these good works. You got to be
1:01:09
available. You got to be aware. You got
1:01:11
to be attendant. You got to abide
1:01:14
in these good works. And there's
1:01:16
scripture for all this. But I really,
1:01:17
you know, the scripture tonight, I want
1:01:19
you to get the point. Okay? Notice the
1:01:21
text. Verse 14. And the Bible says, "And
1:01:24
let ours also learn to maintain good
1:01:26
works for necessary uses that they be
1:01:29
not unfruitful." Now, we've noticed the
1:01:31
preparation, the practice. Now, notice
1:01:33
the purpose. Okay? Now, I got to give
1:01:35
you some more context. All right? Notice
1:01:37
the verse just before that in verse
1:01:38
number 13 or verse, let's look at verse
1:01:40
12. Paul says, "When when I shall see an
1:01:43
Artimus unto thee, or Titicus, be
1:01:46
diligent, or however you say that, be
1:01:48
diligent to come unto me to Nicopoulos,
1:01:50
for I determined there to winter. Bring
1:01:53
Zenus the lawyer and Apollos on their
1:01:56
journey diligently." Notice this last
1:01:58
phrase, that nothing be wanting unto
1:02:01
them.
1:02:02
So what that means is Paul was saying
1:02:05
you know when when you come you or
1:02:07
actually he's not saying when you come
1:02:09
Titus but there's people there with you
1:02:11
that you're going to send. That word
1:02:13
bring in verse number 13 it literally
1:02:15
means to send verse 13 bring Zenus it
1:02:18
means to send and to supply. So here's
1:02:21
what he's saying. He says when he says
1:02:23
bring Zenus and Apollos on their journey
1:02:26
diligently that nothing be wanting unto
1:02:28
them. He's saying that there is a need.
1:02:32
Notice verse 14. Let ours also learn to
1:02:35
maintain good works. What's that next
1:02:36
phrase? For necessary uses. All right.
1:02:40
What he's talking about is he says they
1:02:42
need to be involved working. This is
1:02:45
talking about physical labor providing
1:02:48
for the needs of the church because
1:02:50
there is a there is a need for supply,
1:02:52
>> right?
1:02:53
>> There's men that need to be cared for.
1:02:55
What he was talking about is he's
1:02:56
saying, Titus, those men of God that's
1:02:58
serving God and traveling, you make sure
1:03:00
they have everything that they need when
1:03:02
they leave to come unto me.
1:03:05
>> Right?
1:03:06
>> You say, "Preacher, that's a that's a
1:03:08
heavy burden." No, it's just the primary
1:03:10
purpose of the child of God,
1:03:12
>> right?
1:03:12
>> We're to we're to supply the needs. And
1:03:16
and look, I'm not talking about myself.
1:03:18
I mean, what I'm trying to tell you here
1:03:20
is is what he's expressing in verse 14
1:03:22
for necessary uses. Your tithe is so the
1:03:25
church can function,
1:03:26
>> right?
1:03:27
>> But let me give you this truth. All
1:03:28
right? It's more important. Notice the
1:03:30
verse. It's more important the support
1:03:33
that's needed. Let me say this. All
1:03:35
right? It's more important that you be
1:03:36
successful than you be supportive.
1:03:39
Notice the verse. Let ours also learn to
1:03:42
maintain good works for necessary uses.
1:03:44
Notice the last phrase, that they be not
1:03:48
unfruitful. You know, here's the truth
1:03:50
about the Christian life. Don't miss
1:03:51
what I'm going to tell you right now.
1:03:53
God does not need your money.
1:03:55
>> Right. Right.
1:03:56
>> He don't need it.
1:03:58
>> This place will go on. God will keep the
1:04:01
lights on. Man, if there was no money
1:04:03
coming in, God could he can keep the
1:04:04
lights on. I I'm not that's not what I'm
1:04:07
talking about. The reason God says here
1:04:09
in the text that you're to do good
1:04:11
works, maintain good works for necessary
1:04:14
uses. What he is saying is there is
1:04:16
support needed. He said, but greater
1:04:18
than the need for support because God
1:04:19
don't need us.
1:04:20
>> Right? But what he's saying is is you
1:04:22
need to be successful
1:04:25
and that's a necessity. And the only way
1:04:27
that you'll be successful is if you
1:04:28
maintain good works. Let me say this. If
1:04:31
you don't work a regular job, all right,
1:04:34
listen to me now. Mama's in here, ladies
1:04:36
in here that you stay at home, that is
1:04:38
your job. That's
1:04:39
>> right.
1:04:39
>> Okay, listen to me. And I understand
1:04:41
ladies that do different things. You
1:04:43
work a job, but you got to be doing
1:04:45
something,
1:04:46
>> right?
1:04:48
You ever wonder, you ever looked at
1:04:49
people that they're constantly
1:04:51
underneath the surface? Like they never
1:04:54
have any money, they're always broke,
1:04:57
they always got their hand out. And
1:04:59
they're telling you, you know, we're
1:05:01
doing the best we can. We're trying to
1:05:03
do all we can. Some cases that's true.
1:05:05
Let me say it's most time it's not
1:05:07
>> right.
1:05:08
>> Most time it's not. Here's the thing
1:05:10
about it. If you're not tithing, all
1:05:12
right, the Bible says, "Will a man rob
1:05:14
God?" You know, where have you robbed
1:05:15
me? you know, tithes and offers. We know
1:05:17
the verse. Okay, here's the truth. If
1:05:20
you're not tiing, what you're doing is
1:05:21
it's not the failure is not that you're
1:05:23
not supporting the church. It's that
1:05:25
you're not being successful before God.
1:05:27
>> You're right.
1:05:28
>> It's a command.
1:05:30
>> It's not got so much to do with taking
1:05:32
care of the church. God takes care of
1:05:34
the church.
1:05:35
>> You are commanded to do it to bear fruit
1:05:38
in your Christian life.
1:05:39
>> You're right.
1:05:40
>> Amen. It's why Jesus said Matthew
1:05:42
chapter number six, he talked about your
1:05:43
offerings. Amen. He said you need to he
1:05:46
said you know you don't do that in front
1:05:47
of everybody else just making you know
1:05:49
what I'm saying. He says you don't do
1:05:51
that to be seen. You don't go out in
1:05:53
front of everybody and
1:05:55
>> you know what I'm saying. He says Paul
1:05:58
says there is a need Titus but you need
1:06:00
to tell them greater than the need for
1:06:02
support. Their need for success in the
1:06:04
Christian life is greater than that.
1:06:07
Here's what I know. When Jesus looked at
1:06:09
that widow that had two mites. Remember
1:06:12
what he said? He said he saw those rich
1:06:15
men casting in of their abundance. And
1:06:17
he said this widow of her penury
1:06:19
>> or poorness. She cast in more than they
1:06:22
all because she gave all that she had.
1:06:24
>> Right?
1:06:24
>> He's not concerned about the amount.
1:06:27
He's just concerned about you doing what
1:06:29
you what he told you to do.
1:06:30
>> Right?
1:06:31
>> If you are going to maintain good works
1:06:33
tonight, and I'll say this, it goes
1:06:35
across the board. This is the Wednesday
1:06:36
night crowd. This some of the people in
1:06:38
here, y'all the hardest working people
1:06:39
I've ever been around. And this is a
1:06:41
commenation to you. All right. God will
1:06:43
bless you for that.
1:06:45
>> Amen. Not because what you do for the
1:06:48
church, but because when you give to the
1:06:49
church, you are giving it to him. That's
1:06:52
>> right.
1:06:53
>> Brother Gray said this the other day,
1:06:55
and I thought this was so good. He was
1:06:56
talking about tithes. Now, don't don't
1:06:58
get scared with me. He can say this
1:07:00
because it's been 28 years, okay? Him
1:07:02
pastor, but don't don't be afraid what
1:07:04
I'm fixing to tell you, okay? He said
1:07:06
this. He said, "If every bit of the
1:07:08
money," because this happens a lot in
1:07:10
this society. If every bit of the money
1:07:12
that was brought into this church, for
1:07:14
some reason by fraudulent activity by
1:07:17
leadership, it got wasted and every bit
1:07:20
of it got lost. He said, "Do you think
1:07:22
all the people that tithe would lose
1:07:24
their blessing?
1:07:28
>> God don't want the money."
1:07:29
>> That's right.
1:07:30
>> It ain't about how much is in the bank
1:07:32
account.
1:07:33
>> It's the action
1:07:34
>> of faith.
1:07:35
>> You're right.
1:07:36
>> Talking about maintaining good works.
1:07:37
Amen. You ought to give your tithe not
1:07:40
because it supports the church. You
1:07:41
ought to give your tithe because it's s
1:07:43
it's what success is in the eyes of God.
1:07:45
>> Amen.
1:07:45
>> Amen. Father, thank you for this time. I
1:07:48
pray that this has been a help tonight.
1:07:51
I know for myself, Lord, I want to
1:07:52
maintain good works and I realize I've
1:07:54
got a long ways to go, Lord, to get to
1:07:56
where I should be. And Lord, I pray
1:07:58
you'd help me tonight. Lord, you've even
1:07:59
convicted my heart in this message.
1:08:01
Lord, would you help us, God? Would you
1:08:03
help us Lord to maintain
1:08:06
God to to be available
1:08:09
Lord but to be aware God? I'm afraid
1:08:12
there's a lot of people that's aware of
1:08:14
good works that need to be done but they
1:08:16
have chose to make themselves
1:08:17
unavailable. Lord would you help us all
1:08:19
to be available to be aware and to be
1:08:22
attendant to the needs Lord of the good
1:08:25
works and to abide there. Lord would you
1:08:27
help us take this message apply it into
1:08:29
our hearts and lives. We give you thanks
1:08:31
for it because we ask it in Jesus' name.
1:08:33
And God's people said,
1:08:34
>> "Amen."
1:08:35
>> Amen.
1:08:36
>> Thank you for joining our service
1:08:38
[music] today. We'd love it if you'd
1:08:39
join us in person the next time you are
1:08:42
able at Meadows Baptist Church. Our
1:08:45
physical [music] address is 2988 Stewart
1:08:48
Road in Walnut Cove, North Carolina. Our
1:08:51
service [music] times are Sunday school
1:08:53
at 10:00 a.m., Sunday morning worship at
1:08:56
11:00 a.m., Sunday evening worship at
1:08:58
6:00 p.m., and Wednesday [music] evening
1:09:00
Bible study at 700 p.m. For more
1:09:03
information, visit us at
1:09:05
meadowsbaptisturch.com.
1:09:07
Thanks again for [music] tuning in.