The Shepherd’s Grip: Why Your Security Doesn’t Depend on Your Strength

[00:07:48] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[00:08:10] Amen.

[00:08:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Let us pray.

[00:10:11] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let us pray.

[00:10:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
When you give to the North Carolina Missions offering, you're helping change lives.
[00:10:47] Living Scent is the heartbeat of this special offering.
[00:10:51] But what does it mean to live Scent?
[00:10:54] It's not something we do on a mission trip one week a year.
[00:10:58] It's something we're called to do every day of our lives.
[00:11:02] When you contribute to the North Carolina Missions Offering, you're helping others live sent by supporting the work of church planting, Baptists on Mission, and local associations.
[00:11:13] Through church planting, you're helping people experience the love of Jesus, often for the very first time.
[00:11:20] There are millions living in North Carolina who have not been reached with the Gospel.
[00:11:25] The North Carolina Missions Offering is helping plant churches everywhere for everyone.
[00:11:31] The 19 different ministries of Baptists on Mission help meet physical and spiritual needs of hurting people through the work of disaster relief, rebuild facilities, mobile dental and health screening units, missions mobilization, and more.
[00:11:48] Gifts to the offering also support mission projects in your community through local Baptist associations.
[00:11:55] The North Carolina Missions Offering is a way for you to help others experience the love of a personal Savior.
[00:12:03] Living sent means seeing a need, responding to the need, and offering hope in Jesus' name.
[00:12:12] Your gifts to the North Carolina Missions Offering help make that possible.

[00:12:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
We can cast off that stone, thrown into a sea without bottom or shore.
[00:13:01] Our sins, they are many, His mercy is more.

[00:13:02] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Praise the Lord, His mercy is more.

[00:13:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Stronger than darkness, blue every morn, Our sins they are heavy, His mercy is more.
[00:13:16] And patience would wait as we constantly roam But Father so tender is calling us home He welcomes the weakest, the proudest, the poor Our sins they are many, His mercy is more Praise the Lord, His mercy is more
[00:13:46] Stronger than darkness, new every morn, For since they are many, His mercy is more.
[00:14:02] But riches of kindness He lavished on us His blood was the payment, His life was the cost We stood in the dead, we could never abhor Our sins, they are many, His mercy is more Praise the Lord, His mercy is more
[00:14:34] Stronger than darkness, new every morn, Our sins they are many, His mercy is more.
[00:14:59] Praise the Lord, His mercy is more.
[00:15:00] Stronger than darkness, new every morn, Our sins they are many, His mercy is more.
[00:15:07] His mercy is more And stronger than darkness New every morn Our sins they are hanging His mercy is more Amen.

[00:15:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Well, good morning.
[00:15:36] It is great to see you here this morning on this Labor Day weekend.
[00:15:40] We are so thankful that you have chosen to be a part of our time of worship and praise as we lift up and magnify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
[00:15:50] And we are thrilled that you've chosen to be a part of what God's doing here in our midst.
[00:15:55] In fact, on this Labor Day weekend, I saw Brother Jack Richardson last Sunday, and I told him, I said, you know, next Sunday's our last chance
[00:16:04] Because my mom always told me that you couldn't wear seersucker before Memorial Day and after Labor Day.
[00:16:11] So I told Jack, stand up Jack, stand up.
[00:16:14] I said, if you'll wear yours, I'll wear mine.
[00:16:21] So we had a deal going before we even got here today.
[00:16:24] So we're thrilled that you're here.
[00:16:25] Kind of the last Sunday of the summer season, it seems, and are glad that you're here to be a part of it.
[00:16:31] If you're visiting with us, we want to bid you a warm welcome.
[00:16:33] In the name of the Lord and on behalf of our Trinity Baptist family, our deacons have some gift bags that they would love to put in your hands as they make their way toward the back.
[00:16:42] There's a card in there that we want you to take a moment and fill out and place in the offering plate a little bit later in the service.
[00:16:49] Take the things home that are in the bag.
[00:16:51] You be reminded of your visit here.
[00:16:53] But if you are a guest with us this morning visiting, just lift your hand about like this as they make their way down the aisle at this time.
[00:16:59] And if you'll hold your hand up high enough and long enough, then they'll place this in your hand.
[00:17:05] And again, we are so thankful to have you here
[00:17:07] As part of our service and looking forward to what God's going to do in your life and speak to your heart as we worship with him this morning.
[00:17:16] And again, excited.
[00:17:17] If you're visiting with us or joining us via live stream, I should say, we welcome you into the sanctuary here at Trinity.
[00:17:24] Glad that you're a part of this special holiday weekend worship service as we magnify Jesus.
[00:17:30] And we want you to participate in every aspect of it.
[00:17:33] When we sing, we want you to sing along with us.
[00:17:35] When we pray, we invite you to pray along with us.
[00:17:38] And then when we open God's Word in a few minutes, we invite you to do that as well.
[00:17:42] So thank you for being a part of it.
[00:17:44] But we want to go to the Lord in prayer and begin our time here together.
[00:17:47] So if you will join with me, let us just bow our heads and just worship Him this morning.
[00:17:53] Father, we do just pause at this time in the service.
[00:17:57] Just to honor and glorify you, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
[00:18:01] We thank you for what you're doing in our midst.
[00:18:03] We thank you for the opportunity just to worship you in spirit and in truth today.
[00:18:09] And Father, we need you.
[00:18:10] We need you this very hour.
[00:18:13] Lord, all this week our hearts have just been broken when we have seen families
[00:18:20] that have been impacted by the shooting that took place at the school in Minneapolis.
[00:18:25] Once again, causing the nation to ask questions, causing people to seek answers, and yet, Lord, we recognize as the whole thing becomes clearer and clearer about the shooter that, Father, there are answers that you offer us, and we've got to be just willing to surrender to your word, to your truth,
[00:18:50] and recognize that we are living in a in a world where yes there is still absolute truth and we've got to be willing to proclaim it we've got to be willing to stand on it and we've got to be willing to share wherever we go and so lord i just pray that that right now that you would speak to our hearts this morning even as we open your word in just a few minutes to to look at this whole issue of eternal security
[00:19:18] Something that we all need.
[00:19:19] Something that the world is asking questions about.
[00:19:23] Father, that we need to understand what eternal security really is and why it is so critical to each of us as human beings.
[00:19:33] Father, as believers, for us to understand
[00:19:36] In our own lives what it means.
[00:19:38] And so I just ask you to just guide this time, guard us, just help us to walk in your will and in your way and help us to be found faithful in all that we do.
[00:19:48] We love you, Lord.
[00:19:50] We praise you.
[00:19:50] We thank you for your power.
[00:19:53] We realize that Satan has come over and over again
[00:20:00] He seeks to kill.
[00:20:01] He seeks to destroy.
[00:20:05] But you said that you've come that we might have life and have it more abundantly.
[00:20:11] So while he's seeking and killing and destroying and stealing, Father, let us as your body continue to demonstrate, share, and build into others
[00:20:26] The truth of the abundant life that you alone bring.
[00:20:31] For it's in Jesus' name that we pray and all God's people said,
[00:20:36] Amen.
[00:20:37] Listen, if you have children here with you this morning from preschool through third grade, we'd love to invite them to come and be a part of our children's church.
[00:20:45] They'll be able to come and go here to my right and your left where Ms. Terry is going to meet them and welcome them to children's church this morning.
[00:20:52] So stand if you will, turn around and shake a few hands, hug a few necks, make each other welcome here in the house of the Lord and continue to worship with us this morning.

[00:21:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Hello brother Barry.

[00:21:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Hello.
[00:21:25] Good morning.
[00:21:46] Alas, and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die?
[00:22:07] We hold that sacred head for sinners such as I At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light And the burden of my heart rolled away It was there by faith I received my sight And now I am happy all the day
[00:22:36] I was hit for crimes that I have done, he groaned upon the tree.
[00:23:03] Amazing gift he raised above, and loved me on degree.
[00:23:04] At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, and the burden of my heart pulled away.
[00:23:06] It was there by faith I received my sight And now I am happy all the day
[00:23:20] The Son in darkness died, and shut his glories in.
[00:23:44] When Christ the mighty Maker died, for with the creature sinned.
[00:23:45] At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light, and the burden of my heart,
[00:23:47] All the way It was there my faith I received my sight And now I am happy all the day
[00:24:01] The swine I hide my blushing face While Calvary's cross appears Dissolve my heart in thankfulness And melt mine eyes to tears At the cross, at the cross Where I first saw the light And the burden of my heart rolled away
[00:24:31] It was there by faith I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day.
[00:24:49] On that far away strand Tis a beautiful home of the soul Built by Jesus on high There we never shall die Tis a land where we never
[00:25:36] In a land where we'll never grow old In that beautiful home where we'll never more roam We shall be in the sweet high empire
[00:25:59] Happy praise to the King Through eternity sing Tis a land where we never shall die Never grow old Never grow old In a land where we'll never die
[00:26:28] We'll never grow old In a land where we'll never grow old When our work here is done And the life here is won And our chosen trials
[00:26:57] All our sorrows will end And our voices will blend With the loved ones who've gone on before

[00:27:18] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
In a land where we'll never grow old Never grow old

[00:27:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
We'll never grow old In a land where we'll never grow old Never grow old In a land where we'll never grow old
[00:28:15] In the cold night of sin I did roam When Jesus, the kind Shepherd, found me
[00:28:41] All the days of my life Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days, all the days of my life Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days, all the days of my life
[00:29:06] He restoreth my soul when I'm weary He giveth me strength day by day
[00:29:20] He leads me beside the still waters He guards me each step of the way Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days, all the days of my life
[00:29:46] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days, all the days of my life When I'm through the dark, lonesome valley My Savior will walk with me there
[00:30:12] And safely His great hand will lead me To the mansions He's gone to prepare Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days, all the days of my life
[00:30:38] All the days, all the days of my life And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever And I shall feast and retain
[00:31:07] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days, all the days of my life

[00:31:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Good morning church.
[00:31:46] It is a good day to be in the house of the Lord.
[00:31:49] We welcome all our online listeners.
[00:31:52] Thank you for your participation and we look forward for your continued support.
[00:31:59] For those of you who are joining us for the first time, we ask you to go to TrinityBaptistChurch.com and there you can lend your support.
[00:32:10] Thank you Lord for this
[00:33:11] and believe and experience something and the Holy Spirit will motivate them to accept you as Lord and Savior Heavenly Father we ask you all of us were blind but many of us are seeing today in this congregation your blessing is upon everyone here Heavenly Father we are going to hear
[00:33:38] The sermon that is going to be delivered by your anointed, Pastor Harris, that we have the greatest promise that you will never leave us, that no one will be able to snatch us from you.
[00:33:53] Because you are, you and the Father are one, the greatest security we are given.
[00:34:00] Heavenly Fathers, we bring our gifts to you, receive them for the purpose it is intended.
[00:34:05] With generous hearts and minds, we offer to you a part of what you have given to us.
[00:34:11] Lord Jesus, we pray and we hope that you will continue to guide this congregation, every member in this congregation, that we will reach out to our community and we bless and ask you to guide and protect our president.
[00:34:27] Let him do the work that you appointed him to do, all in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
[00:34:33] Amen.

[00:34:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Far away from all power and principality My sins are in the depths of the sea

[00:35:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Man has climbed every mountain, no matter

[00:35:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
He's conquered the planets from sky to sky There is a place where man has not been And that's where my Lord said He's buried my sin In the depths of the sea of God's forgetfulness
[00:36:00] Removed as the East is from West Far away from all power and principality My sins are in the depths of the sea

[00:36:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
All the shackles and gone are the stains I'm free from the bondage, free from the chains My sins are separated as darkness from dawn Praise God I'm forgiven

[00:36:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
My sins are all gone in the depths of the sea of God's forgetfulness
[00:37:04] Removed as the east is from west Far away from all power and principality My sins are in the depths of the sea Far away from all power and principality
[00:37:39] My sins are in the depths of the sea Depths of the sea

[00:38:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Well, amen and amen.
[00:38:04] Thank you so much, Lindsay, Grant, and Chase, for blessing our hearts this morning and for God using you to share His Word.
[00:38:14] Thank you again.
[00:38:15] Well, turn in your Bibles, if you will, to John chapter 10, the 10th chapter.
[00:38:20] of the Gospel of John as we continue in our series this morning.
[00:38:24] And on the 10th chapter we've already been told that the Lord Jesus is our Good Shepherd.
[00:38:30] We talked about that last week and that we are His sheep.
[00:38:35] And if you will remember last week when we talked about what an awesome, terrific Shepherd we have,
[00:38:42] we reminded you that the as the shepherd he saves the sheep he satisfies the sheep and he makes the sheep secure we talked a great deal about those three things last week and it's that issue of security that i want us to key in on this morning uh as we think about that security
[00:39:08] is an extremely important thing.
[00:39:12] We hear about it all the time.
[00:39:14] I mean, we hear folks talk about national security.
[00:39:17] It's something we talk about in Washington, DC.
[00:39:20] We talk about it every election year, how important it is for the nation to be secure.
[00:39:25] Folks talk about job security, how important it is to have that kind of job security to be able to take care of their family.
[00:39:33] There are those that think about planning for college, financial security, all those things.
[00:39:39] And while security
[00:39:41] is a tremendously important issue for everyone.
[00:39:46] As we saw this week in the tragedy that took place and all the questions that are surrounding how do we make our churches more secure?
[00:39:54] I was asked that question throughout the week.
[00:39:56] What are we putting in place to make sure that we're more secure as a church?
[00:40:01] And what are we going to do for our schools?
[00:40:03] What are we going to do in Christian schools where literally these children were in a mass, their opening mass of the year,
[00:40:10] and were killed in cold blood and many others injured.
[00:40:18] You know, security is important in all aspects, but I don't know of any place or any issue that is more important when it comes to security than the security of your soul.
[00:40:40] Because the Bible teaches that you and I are created as living souls.
[00:40:48] And we have to be aware of that.
[00:40:51] And the Bible teaches that your soul is going to live somewhere forever and forever and forever.
[00:40:59] And the Bible's very clear that it's appointed unto man once to die.
[00:41:04] So unless the Lord comes first, every one of us in this room is going to perish.
[00:41:10] Whether it be at a young age or whether it be at an older age.
[00:41:13] Whether it be in a tragedy or whether it be what we consider the natural cycle of life.
[00:41:20] But while one in one dies, the soul never does.
[00:41:28] You're going to live for eternity somewhere.
[00:41:34] That while the body stops physically,
[00:41:38] The soul never ceases to exist.
[00:41:43] So I want you to stand in honor of the reading of the Word of God.
[00:41:46] I want us to begin reading in verse 27, 28, and 29, three verses we're going to read this morning.
[00:41:54] The Lord Jesus is continuing to speak.
[00:41:57] This is where we really pick up from where we left off last week as we talked about the shepherd.
[00:42:05] But I want to deal with this issue particularly of eternal security.
[00:42:10] Beginning in verse 27, the Lord Jesus says, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
[00:42:20] I give them eternal life, and they never perish.
[00:42:25] Neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.
[00:42:31] My Father who has given them to me
[00:42:34] is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand.
[00:42:47] Would you pray with me, Father?
[00:42:48] We just ask that you speak to each of our hearts here this morning.
[00:42:57] Father, meet us at our very point of need.
[00:43:01] You know the situation and circumstances of every individual under the sound of my voice this morning.
[00:43:08] And I pray that Your Spirit would just take over.
[00:43:12] I pray that you would convict where there's the need for conviction of sin I pray that you would rebuke those that need to be rebuked in the midst of their journey Father I pray for those that need to be comforted right now that your grace and your mercy truly is following them and speaking to their hearts even here this place this morning granting comfort and granting peace maybe in the midst of a storm and Father I pray
[00:43:41] That we'd hear your voice and we would know it.
[00:43:47] And I pray that you would envelop this sanctuary, that there would be no mistaking that we are in the presence of Jehovah here this morning.
[00:43:58] Lord, I just pray personally that you would let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, Lord, let them be pleasing in your sight.
[00:44:05] In Jesus' name I pray.
[00:44:08] Amen.
[00:44:11] In light of the idea that all of the human bodies over time will cease to exist, and the fact that your soul never ceases to exist, the obvious question arises.
[00:44:29] Is your soul secure?
[00:44:34] Can you say with a songwriter, it is well, it is well with my soul?
[00:44:40] In other words, I mean is the relationship that you have with God such that it will last throughout all eternity.
[00:44:50] You see, last week when we were focused here on the first part of chapter 10, we saw Jesus in his teaching indicating that we are like sheep.
[00:44:59] And if you remember the statement I said last week, and I hope you do, that every sheep needs a shepherd because what?
[00:45:08] Every sinner needs a Savior.
[00:45:11] In fact, say that with me.
[00:45:13] Every sheep needs a shepherd because every sinner needs a Savior.
[00:45:20] Well listen, because I've got some great news this morning to share with you, I want you to know that every one of you that is here who is a sheep, who has received Jesus really and truly as your shepherd, as your savior, you are secure for all of time and for all eternity.
[00:45:44] Can I get an amen?
[00:45:46] You are secure.
[00:45:47] If you are one of his sheep, notice, go back to where we were just reading.
[00:45:53] Notice verse 28, when he said, And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
[00:46:01] Do you see that?
[00:46:03] Now, in the Greek language, there's actually a double negative that is used there in verse 28.
[00:46:09] You say, what do you mean?
[00:46:11] Well, I mean, it's poor grammar in English, but it's not in Greek.
[00:46:15] and in fact the Greek language in a way uses this to make it emphatic and literally if I were translating from the Greek text to what we have here in your Bible it would literally say this, I give them eternal life and they shall not never perish.
[00:46:37] Again, that's bad English grammar, but that's really good theology.
[00:46:42] And we need to understand that.
[00:46:45] He's talking about the security of the sheep.
[00:46:50] Now it's interesting that while this is one of the clearest truths, you can read it for yourself, you see it right there, if you have a red letter edition Bible that points out the words of Jesus, it's right there in red letters, one of the clearest truths in all the Bible.
[00:47:07] and yet I'm amazed that it's an issue that some sincere Christians disagree over I mean this morning let me just tell you there are some Christians very sincere I believe who think that when you're saved that it's very very important that you work and earn your salvation
[00:47:31] Because they think if you mess up, if you sin again, then you'll lose that salvation and you gotta start all over.
[00:47:39] Now, that's even been a lot of conversation over the last few weeks in our own country.
[00:47:47] because of a statement that was made about I'm maybe gonna earn my way to heaven and talking about bringing peace to the world.
[00:47:55] And so everybody started to wanna ask questions about this eternal security and about do you have to earn your salvation?
[00:48:04] Well, grace teaches that no, it's in Christ alone.
[00:48:08] So while there are a lot of folks that are focusing on good deeds and earning your salvation,
[00:48:15] I want us to take a moment this morning and make sure all of us fully understand what the Word of the Living God actually says.
[00:48:27] Because I find it to be one of the clearest truths taught in all of Scripture.
[00:48:33] And that is this.
[00:48:34] The soul that has come to Jesus Christ for salvation is not only secure in time,
[00:48:43] but for all eternity.
[00:48:47] And I believe this is the picture of the sheep and their shepherd that makes this incredibly clear.
[00:48:55] See, on the basis of our security is not dependent upon the sheep but the security here is dependent upon the shepherd.
[00:49:09] Listen, you and I are not secure because of anything you do or I do or anything you don't do or anything I don't do.
[00:49:24] You are secure on the basis of what our Good Shepherd did at the cross of Calvary and is doing this morning interceding for us at the right hand of the Father.
[00:49:37] That's how you and I are secure in our salvation.
[00:49:42] It's not about what you do or don't do, but it is about what Jesus Christ has already done.
[00:49:48] And when he gave his life on Calvary's cross, he paid the price for our sins forever.
[00:49:57] What I want to do this morning for the next few moments
[00:50:00] is I want to bring some assurance to your heart right here from the Word of God.
[00:50:06] And I want you to really stop and understand that when you walk out of this building today, I want you to know if you're a believer that you are secure forever because you've got an amazing shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:50:27] Now, if you happen to be here this morning,
[00:50:30] and you don't have a shepherd personally today you need one because every sinner needs a savior just like every sheep needs a shepherd and before you walk out of here if you don't have a shepherd I'm praying
[00:51:00] That you'll come to Jesus this morning.
[00:51:03] That you'll be willing to leave here with a personal shepherd that you've never had.
[00:51:11] Who has promised to guide you through this wilderness that we call life.
[00:51:19] To guide you through this wilderness that we call planet earth.
[00:51:25] To guide you through this wilderness that we call the world.
[00:51:31] If you don't have a shepherd, and you know if you do, if you don't, I'm bringing you Jesus today because I want you to know every sheep needs a shepherd because every sinner needs a Savior.
[00:51:55] And that's at the heart of what I'm wanting to get across.
[00:51:58] So if you have a piece of paper, a pencil, a pen, I want you to jot down a few things with me real quickly this morning that I want you to see here how you can absolutely know and be secure this morning.
[00:52:10] Number one is this from verse 27.
[00:52:12] You are secure because you are property of the shepherd.
[00:52:16] You are secure, number one, because you are property of the shepherd.
[00:52:21] Look at verse 27.
[00:52:22] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
[00:52:31] Do you see that?
[00:52:33] You say, well, preacher, that's good, but preacher, listen, everybody belongs to the shepherd.
[00:52:38] We're all his sheep.
[00:52:40] Everybody's God's children.
[00:52:43] Let me just tell you, that's a very sweet thought.
[00:52:46] That is a very nice, pleasant thought that some of you were brought up, unfortunately, to think.
[00:52:53] That some of you were raised in a world where they said, we're all God's children.
[00:52:59] We're all his sheep.
[00:53:01] That's talking about everybody.
[00:53:05] Well, it's a nice thought.
[00:53:07] Ladies and gentlemen, somebody needs to make it clear.
[00:53:11] That's not true.
[00:53:15] It's not what it says in verse 26.
[00:53:17] In other words, when I read verse 26, and it says, But you do not believe because you are not of my sheep, as I said to you.
[00:53:31] That's also in red letters.
[00:53:33] Do you see that?
[00:53:34] In other words, Jesus is saying there are some who are not his sheep and there are some who are his sheep.
[00:53:44] But we are secure because we are his property.
[00:53:50] Notice he says, my sheep.
[00:53:52] In fact, go back and look at verse 14.
[00:53:55] Back in verse 14, look what he said, I am the good shepherd and I know my sheep and am known by my own.
[00:54:06] In fact, you ought to underline verse 14 and I'll tell you why.
[00:54:09] That is very specific language.
[00:54:14] Jesus leaves no room for error there.
[00:54:18] You say, but Mark, how in the world did this happen?
[00:54:21] That we became his property?
[00:54:24] Will you remember back there in the Gospel of Luke chapter 15?
[00:54:28] Jesus tells the parable of the shepherd who had a hundred sheep and what happened?
[00:54:36] He lost one.
[00:54:37] Remember?
[00:54:38] Now if you were a businessman here this morning and you only lose 1% for every 100 gain, probably wouldn't matter a great deal to you.
[00:54:49] However, we're not talking about business here.
[00:54:53] We're talking about eternal God.
[00:54:55] We're talking about our shepherd.
[00:54:58] And one of those sheep was lost.
[00:55:00] Hold your finger here in John's Gospel and I want you to turn back for just a moment.
[00:55:05] Just go back very quickly to the Gospel of Luke.
[00:55:09] And there in Luke chapter 15, I want to show you something.
[00:55:13] I want you to look at Luke 15 and look at verse 4.
[00:55:20] And then verse 6.
[00:55:24] Jesus says here in Luke 15 4 he said what man of you having a hundred sheep if he loses one of them does not leave the 99 in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost until he finds it and see verse 6 and when he comes home
[00:55:49] He calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.
[00:56:07] Can't you imagine the rejoicing of that shepherd when he finds that one sheep that was lost?
[00:56:16] My sheep that was lost.
[00:56:21] And I'll tell you something this morning, our good shepherd came all the way from heaven's glory to our wilderness that we call the world, and he came seeking the lost sheep.
[00:56:36] And sir, ma'am, I don't know if it's ever dawned on you that had you been the only person or the only sheep ever lost,
[00:56:52] Jesus would have left heaven's glory just to seek and find you.
[00:57:01] If you were the only one, He still would have come.
[00:57:08] I'm acutely aware this morning that as you and I are gathered here, Jesus is looking all over this building and He's looking for some of those sheep that are lost.
[00:57:21] See, you get to be His property not only because He sought you, but friend, He also bought you.
[00:57:32] He bought you.
[00:57:34] Over in Acts chapter 20, the Apostle Paul is giving his farewell address to the leaders at Miletus, and he says to the pastors, listen to what he said in Acts 20, he said, feed the flock of God, which he purchased with his own blood.
[00:57:56] You say, but wait a minute, Mark, where did he purchase us?
[00:57:59] The answer, at Calvary's cross.
[00:58:01] Well, what was the price?
[00:58:03] that he paid to buy us and make us his own, to make us his property.
[00:58:09] He paid the price with his own precious blood.
[00:58:16] Let me just point something out that's very important right here.
[00:58:21] Notice the security of the sheep is a reflection of who?
[00:58:28] It's a reflection of the shepherd.
[00:58:34] And that means that you and I could, if you and I could genuinely be saved and then we could somehow be lost again, that would be a pretty poor reflection on the shepherd, would it not?
[00:58:52] So don't miss this truth.
[00:58:55] If anything belongs to Jesus Christ,
[00:58:59] It's in his care forever and he is personally, we see it here, committed to seeing that it is not lost anymore.
[00:59:11] Amen?
[00:59:15] Go back to John 10 and go back to verse 27.
[00:59:18] My sheep hear my voice and I know them that follow me.
[00:59:28] You know, it's interesting that the Bible even refers to us as sheep.
[00:59:34] I mean, a lot of animals get mentioned in the Bible, and yet you and I realize that people are often compared to certain animals.
[00:59:45] In fact, if you study your Bible, you'll find in Revelation it speaks of those without Christ as dogs.
[00:59:52] As you study your Bible in Philippians 3, 2, it speaks of false prophets and Paul says, quote, beware of dogs.
[01:00:00] Jesus told the parables of the nations and what did he do?
[01:00:04] He compared people as goats.
[01:00:07] On the right hand were the sheep.
[01:00:10] On the left hand were the goats.
[01:00:14] But there's another animal that I think
[01:00:18] People are sometimes compared to here in Scripture that tells us more than any about this eternal security issue.
[01:00:29] You say, what do you mean?
[01:00:30] Well, it's found over here in 2 Peter.
[01:00:33] Turn in your Bibles to 2 Peter chapter 2 for just a minute.
[01:00:37] 2 Peter, turn in your Bibles, 2 Peter chapter 2.
[01:00:44] I love to hear the flipping of the pages of the Word of God.
[01:00:48] 2nd Peter chapter 2 and look at verse 22 here's the other animal but it has happened to them according to the true proverb a dog returns to his own vomit and what a sow having washed
[01:01:17] to her wallowing in the mire.
[01:01:21] Circle that word sow.
[01:01:24] You see the sow?
[01:01:25] You see the hog that's used here?
[01:01:29] Now what do you and I know about hogs?
[01:01:32] Well the most obvious thing that there is to know about a hog is that in the nature of a hog it is always going to be what?
[01:01:40] To get down in where?
[01:01:43] The mud.
[01:01:45] I mean that we always talk about the hog pen.
[01:01:48] We think of that mud and that filth and that nastiness.
[01:01:53] So while it really doesn't matter to how much you wash up a hog, the hog is interested in where?
[01:02:07] The hog pen.
[01:02:09] I mean just imagine this morning.
[01:02:11] If you had a little, let's just say you had a pet hog in your backyard this morning and he's rolling around in that mud and you see him and you say, oh man, you old nasty little hog, it's Sunday and I'm going to dress you up and fix you up and clean you up before I go to church.
[01:02:32] And imagine you go out there and you get that little hog and you get a brush and you scrub that hog just as clean as you've ever scrubbed him.
[01:02:40] You get some Lysol, you get some Oxidol, any other kind of oil you can find to clean that hog up.
[01:02:47] And then you blow dry his hair, you get your curling iron and you sort of fix that hog, little hog hair up as best as you ever could.
[01:02:55] And then you get the sharp, imagine you had a little seersucker suit.
[01:02:59] and you you put that little hog in that seersucker and just to top it off you put a nice little bow a bow tie right around that little hog's neck and you set that hog right there in your den on the couch and you say all right i'm gonna go get ready oh you're the cutest little hog i have ever ever seen and you leave and you go to jump in the shower and get ready yourself by the time you come back
[01:03:28] What has happened?
[01:03:31] You notice the little hog's gone.
[01:03:35] And you look outside, and that hog is back in that mire, back in that mud, just rolling around, doing what hogs do.
[01:03:54] Now why'd that happen?
[01:03:58] Because you don't change a hog by just cleaning him up on the outside.
[01:04:08] You don't change a hog by cleaning him up on the outside.
[01:04:17] And see, that's the real problem with a lot of people that are hearing me today.
[01:04:25] The reason there are some folks who are church members and there are some folks who watch church on TV, but you never see any change in their life because all they did was wash up the outside for a little while.
[01:04:47] They cleaned up the outside for just a bit.
[01:04:51] But their basic nature never changed.
[01:04:56] They're still just a hog.
[01:05:00] Because what has to happen, ladies and gentlemen, is there has to be a change of nature.
[01:05:08] And if you're a sinner who is lost, you can enjoy the slop and the mud of this old world, but I tell you this, when you really come to know Jesus as your Savior and your Lord, He becomes the Shepherd, and you become the sheep, and you become a different kind
[01:05:27] of Person.
[01:05:28] It's called regeneration.
[01:05:30] It's called transformation.
[01:05:32] And it happens from the inside out.
[01:05:36] And we spent far too much time in our culture trying to make people clean up from the outside in, and we're seeing the results in a world that's more lost than it's ever been.
[01:05:48] That's the reality.
[01:05:52] That's a dose of truth.
[01:05:55] that we all need to recognize.
[01:05:58] And you can try to rationalize, you can try to talk about family members, oh no, well I know they did this, I know they did that.
[01:06:07] The proof is in the pudding.
[01:06:11] The fruit tells the story.
[01:06:18] I'm just here to tell you, you better make sure you're a sheep this morning.
[01:06:24] You better make sure you're a sheep.
[01:06:29] Jesus says here, my sheep hear my voice and I know them.
[01:06:36] And he very specifically says what?
[01:06:38] And they follow me.
[01:06:41] I read that a couple times and I noticed he didn't say my sheep should follow me.
[01:06:46] He didn't say my sheep ought to follow me.
[01:06:49] He didn't say, hmm, it would be a good idea for the sheep to follow me.
[01:06:55] No.
[01:06:55] Jesus Christ said my sheep follow me.
[01:07:01] Stop.
[01:07:02] Period.
[01:07:05] That's what he says.
[01:07:08] That's the word.
[01:07:12] I realize the nature of sheep, and you should too.
[01:07:17] This is not exactly the highest of compliments to be compared to a sheep, if you know anything about sheep.
[01:07:24] I mean look you know this some sheep stay real close to the shepherd at all times and I don't mind telling you that's what I want in my life I think of that song draw me nearer nearer nearer blessed Lord I want to be a sheep that stays so close to the shepherd all the time wherever I go whatever I do I want to stay close to the shepherd I hope that's what you want
[01:07:54] But there's some sheep who tend to wander and they go from bush to bush to bush.
[01:08:02] There's a little truth in that nursery rhyme, but only a little.
[01:08:06] Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep, doesn't know where to find it.
[01:08:10] Leave it alone and it'll come home, dragging its tail behind it.
[01:08:15] Well, we say that's a cute nursery rhyme, but it's not true.
[01:08:21] You let a sheep wander off,
[01:08:25] It's not like that dog you saw in the movie that somehow finds its way home.
[01:08:30] You let a sheep wander off, the only thing that'll ever get that sheep back is the shepherd.
[01:08:37] That's right.
[01:08:38] Sheep get farther and farther away.
[01:08:40] I learned that as a young boy.
[01:08:42] This very passage became real to me as a young boy at College Park Baptist Church in Winston-Salem where we had a live nativity scene.
[01:08:50] And as a young boy, that sheep got out.
[01:08:54] of that pin.
[01:08:57] And for four days all of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, WSJS every morning when they did the traffic were doing sheep watch.
[01:09:09] Looking for where they had spotted that sheep and that sheep got out and we were we were all hunting for it all the folks at the church were looking for that sheep wherever it would be and and because every day that sheep was getting further and further away appearing over here appearing over there no sense of direction whatsoever you see I believe there's some folks that are hearing me right now that have wandered away from the shepherd
[01:09:41] And if you're not careful, you're getting farther and farther away.
[01:09:48] But you know what?
[01:09:51] My shepherd's got a crook.
[01:09:54] And yes, sir, he can reach out there and he can pull that sheep back.
[01:10:03] And I'll tell you something else.
[01:10:06] My shepherd's got a rod.
[01:10:10] And sometimes He'll spank those sheep.
[01:10:15] And they'll cry and they'll cry.
[01:10:19] Let me ask you something.
[01:10:21] You ever had the Good Shepherd to spank you?
[01:10:27] Huh?
[01:10:29] It ain't no fun.
[01:10:32] But I promise you this.
[01:10:35] If you're a sheep and you just keep wandering away, just keep walking away, the Good Shepherd will give you a spanking and he'll pull you back in.
[01:10:49] Because Jesus said, my sheep hear my voice.
[01:10:54] I know them and they follow me.
[01:11:01] We're secure.
[01:11:04] because we're the property of the shepherd.
[01:11:09] We're the property of the shepherd.
[01:11:12] But real quick, number two, you're secure because you have the promise of the shepherd.
[01:11:21] You're secure this morning because you have the promise of the shepherd.
[01:11:25] He said in verse 28, and I give them eternal life and they shall never perish.
[01:11:36] Neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.
[01:11:43] Now, when you read this passage, you have to be impressed with the promise right here.
[01:11:49] Because as a sheep, we know that we still have weaknesses.
[01:11:53] We know that we still struggle with the flesh.
[01:11:56] We have a new nature, but the old nature is still there.
[01:11:59] And in our own strength, there's nothing to keep you saved.
[01:12:04] Paul says, put no confidence in the flesh.
[01:12:08] If you think you're saved because you're faithful to the services at Trinity, I promise you it's wonderful to be faithful.
[01:12:16] But don't ever think that you are secure
[01:12:21] because you're faithful to the services at Trinity.
[01:12:25] Do you think that working in Sunday school, that that's somehow gonna keep you saved?
[01:12:30] That serving as a deacon or building a ramp or helping do good deeds, that that's somehow gonna keep you saved?
[01:12:38] Do you think that?
[01:12:40] Do you think signing up for the nursery?
[01:12:43] Well now that one might carry some merit, I don't know.
[01:12:47] In other words, do you think doing those kind of things is what keeps you saved?
[01:12:52] And the answer is no, no, a thousand times no.
[01:12:58] As Paul said, put no confidence in the flesh.
[01:13:04] The promise here is not in the sheep.
[01:13:09] Weakness is in us, but the promise and the greatness is in the shepherd.
[01:13:18] That's the reason he said in verse 29, my Father who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hands.
[01:13:35] I love that.
[01:13:37] Do you really get what that means?
[01:13:40] If you're saved and could be lost again, what it would take to get you lost is a power that is strong enough to break the grip of the hand of the Heavenly Father.
[01:13:58] That's what it would take to get to you and to get to me.
[01:14:02] Something strong enough to break the grip of Almighty Eternal God.
[01:14:10] And I don't know about you but I take great confidence and I feel really secure because I know that hand.
[01:14:26] I know that hand which is the creative hand that created the whole universe.
[01:14:35] He's got you and me, sister, in His hands.
[01:14:39] He's got the whole world in His hands.
[01:14:43] You see, I know that hand, the hand of love.
[01:14:48] So many times the hand of Jesus was just reaching out and touching somebody with His love and His power, just like the blind man a couple weeks ago.
[01:14:59] I know that hand, by the way.
[01:15:00] I'm talking about that hand of anger.
[01:15:04] because Hebrews 10 says it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God.
[01:15:11] I know that hand.
[01:15:14] You'll find that hand to be a hand of sacrifice.
[01:15:19] I know that hand that Psalm 22, 16 says they pierced his hands and his feet.
[01:15:27] See, I know that hand.
[01:15:31] That outstretched hand.
[01:15:34] Romans 10 21 that says, For all day have I outstretched my hand.
[01:15:44] Friend, if you've never been saved this morning, I want you to see Jesus, our Good Shepherd, extending those hands to you.
[01:15:58] He's the one who says, come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.
[01:16:06] It's those hands that say, come to me and I'll save you.
[01:16:10] Come to me, I will satisfy you.
[01:16:13] Come to me and I'll secure you.
[01:16:16] And if you look closely, it's really hard to say no.
[01:16:24] The hands that have nail prints in them,
[01:16:28] that prove his love and prove just how far he'd go to save the likes of you.
[01:16:41] I know those hands.
[01:16:46] You're secure today because you're the property of the shepherd.
[01:16:50] You are secure today because the promise of the shepherd.
[01:16:56] And I'll leave you with this last thing.
[01:16:59] You're secure today because you are in the plan of the shepherd.
[01:17:06] You say, what do you mean the plan?
[01:17:07] What are you talking about?
[01:17:08] Go back to verse 28.
[01:17:09] Underline that phrase.
[01:17:11] And I give them eternal life.
[01:17:15] Please underline that if you haven't already.
[01:17:18] Because eternal points to the quantity of life.
[01:17:22] Forever and ever and ever.
[01:17:27] And I'm the first to tell you this morning, I don't understand eternity.
[01:17:32] It's beyond my frame of reference.
[01:17:34] I mean, I only know time and space and matter.
[01:17:39] But listen, I have a God that is far, far beyond my ability and my brain to conceive it all.
[01:17:48] And all I know is this.
[01:17:50] The Lord Jesus who brought heaven down to this world, the Lord Jesus who became a human being, bringing God to man, is the same Lord Jesus who tells me right here, I give them eternal life.
[01:18:12] And that means forever and forever and forever.
[01:18:19] Little boy in Sunday school was asked the question, what is eternity?
[01:18:28] You know his answer?
[01:18:30] He said something that just won't quit.
[01:18:36] That is eternity.
[01:18:39] Something that just won't quit.
[01:18:43] Ecclesiastes 3.14 says whatever God does, it'll be forever.
[01:18:50] I'll tell you this, that plan of His gives me all kinds of security today.
[01:19:00] See, if I'm secure in my shepherd, it's because of His plan, His promises, and because I'm His property.
[01:19:14] It tells me I'm not saved because of my good works.
[01:19:18] And you know what?
[01:19:19] If I'm not saved because of my good works, I'm never going to be lost because of my bad works.
[01:19:28] Now think on that for a minute.
[01:19:30] If I'm not saved because of my good works, I'm not going to be lost because of bad works.
[01:19:40] Because it's all about the Shepherd.
[01:19:45] And I just got to say it.
[01:19:47] It's a hallelujah moment when you really stop and realize the security of being one of His sheep.
[01:20:01] If you can just get to that point, you'll be walking three feet off the ground when you walk out of here today of realizing you're one of His sheep.
[01:20:15] Would you bow your heads right where you are, please?
[01:20:19] Listen to me carefully.
[01:20:24] I told you early on that I wanted to focus your heart and mind on the shepherd this morning.
[01:20:43] Which brings me to my final question that I just want you to ponder for a moment with your heads bowed and eyes closed.
[01:20:51] Do you have a good shepherd today?
[01:20:58] Do you have a good shepherd today?
[01:21:08] Now, if you're sitting there right now or you're listening by live stream or watching by television and you say, no preacher, I don't have a good shepherd.
[01:21:20] In fact, to be honest, I'm just trying to do the best I can.
[01:21:26] Making it through this wilderness of this old world.
[01:21:31] And I don't have a shepherd.
[01:21:35] I'm just leaning on things I learned when I was growing up.
[01:21:40] And I keep hitting dead end after dead end after dead end because something's missing in my life.
[01:21:48] Yeah?
[01:21:51] You're going to find what's missing is you don't have that shepherd leading you, guiding you through this wilderness that we call life.
[01:22:11] Life certainly has its ups and downs.
[01:22:15] Life has its mountaintop experiences and has its valleys.
[01:22:20] It has its hurts.
[01:22:21] It has its pain.
[01:22:25] And what I'm saying is that every sheep in this wilderness needs a shepherd because every sinner
[01:22:42] In this world needs a Savior.
[01:22:48] I give you Jesus.
[01:22:51] You say, well what do I need to do to make Him my Shepherd?
[01:22:57] The Bible says repent of your sin.
[01:22:59] The Bible says place your faith in Jesus and Jesus alone.
[01:23:06] In fact, this specifically says, if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
[01:23:17] Romans 10, 9.
[01:23:20] And it's true.
[01:23:23] His Word is truth.
[01:23:26] So today, right there in your seat, you can say, Lord Jesus, I realize I'm a sinner.
[01:23:34] I know I need a Savior.
[01:23:37] And right now, Lord, to the best of my understanding, I turn from my sin, I place my faith in you and you alone, and I surrender to you as Lord of my life.
[01:23:49] If you'll do that right now, right where you're sitting, Jesus will change your life.
[01:24:00] But you gotta surrender.
[01:24:04] You gotta surrender.
[01:24:09] In just a moment, Brother Grant's going to come and lead us in a hymn of invitation.
[01:24:15] If you've made that commitment to Christ today, I invite you to meet me right here at the front.
[01:24:19] I'm going to be down here at the front.
[01:24:20] I'll be praying at the outset, and I'll be receiving anyone here today who would say, you know, Pastor, I want to give my life to Jesus.
[01:24:31] I want to ask him to be my shepherd today and I want to pray with you I'll get you back with your family or friends or however whoever you're with today so just come if you're already a believer this altar is open today because you may have a burden you may have a burden for your own family you may have a burden
[01:24:52] With what's going on in your life?
[01:24:54] There may be a struggle that you're dealing with right now.
[01:24:56] There may be just situations that you're facing at work, kids are back to school, some young people gone off to college.
[01:25:04] There may be a burden in your heart.
[01:25:06] Did you just want to get on this altar?
[01:25:08] This moment of invitation is so important because it's your chance to respond to what God has said to your heart in this service this morning.
[01:25:17] So if you want to just come and get alone with God on this altar, please do.
[01:25:21] It's open.
[01:25:23] And maybe some of you that want to join this church by baptism, by letter, by statement, whatever way we receive members, I invite you to come.
[01:25:32] Just let me know what commitment's in your heart.
[01:25:36] Father, this is your invitation.
[01:25:39] These are your moments that we're waiting upon you as you have spoken into our lives
[01:25:48] Lord, so speak unto us courage and determination that we will take steps of obedience to what you're placing on our heart even now.
[01:26:00] We love you, Lord Jesus, and lift this prayer in Jesus' name.
[01:26:07] Amen.
[01:26:08] Would you stand to your feet as Brother Grant comes to lead us this morning?

[01:26:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
And with blood drawn from Emmanuel's face, And sinners clutched beneath that flood, Was all their guilty say.

[01:26:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
and Reconciliation, Reconciliation and Reconciliation, Reconciliation and Reconciliation,
[01:27:17] Rejoice to see that fountain in His way And there may I, though vile as He, wash all my sins away
[01:27:40] Let us pray.
[01:27:58] Let us pray.
[01:28:08] of Christ Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
[01:28:46] Ransomed Church of God, we thank the sin of God.
[01:29:06] E'er since by faith I saw the strength that flowing would supply.

[01:29:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
And all God's people said, Amen.
[01:29:54] Thank you for your faithfulness.
[01:29:55] Thank you for worshiping with us and joining us here on this Labor Day weekend.
[01:30:00] We pray that God will continue to bless you and speak to you and just guide your footsteps in the week ahead.
[01:30:06] Brother Robert's going to come and give us a closing word and Brother Grant's going to sing us out.
[01:30:12] And again, we thank you for just continuing to walk in his faithfulness.
[01:30:16] Don't forget the video we saw earlier as we began the service.
[01:30:19] Talked about September is going to be our North Carolina Missions offering.
[01:30:24] You have an opportunity to participate and I hope you will.
[01:30:27] This goes into church planning all across our state and making a difference and here we are right in the height of disaster relief gearing up in this hurricane season.
[01:30:37] We've been fortunate so far but we've got to continue to be ready because it's the believers here in North Carolina that are on the front lines when these things happen and you being a part of that
[01:30:49] It makes a big, big difference in meeting the needs of people and helping us get this gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.
[01:30:56] And it's important that you participate.
[01:30:58] So God bless you.
[01:30:59] Brother Robert, give us a closing word today.

[01:31:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Obviously, we talked about the two deaths that took place over the week, and that was very tragic.
[01:31:11] Let us not forget over 3,000 murders take place every day in our nation.
[01:31:16] I'm talking about abortion, and you have the opportunity to change that and provide a door of hope for those mothers to be able to choose life.
[01:31:23] If you walk out these doors today, you're going to see a table set up.
[01:31:26] We have two individuals you can talk to to get some more information about that, Ms. Gloria and Ms. Chris Havner.
[01:31:34] So if you want to get involved, I encourage you to do so and be the change we seek and be the light and the hope.
[01:31:40] Our benediction today comes from the book of 1 Peter chapter 2, starting in verse 21.
[01:31:45] The word of the Lord says this,
[01:31:50] Because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
[01:31:59] He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
[01:32:03] When he was reviled, he did not revile in return.
[01:32:07] When he suffered, he did not threaten.
[01:32:10] But he continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
[01:32:15] He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
[01:32:25] By His wounds you have been healed.
[01:32:28] For you were straying like sheep but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul.
[01:32:36] Let's pray.
[01:32:39] Holy Heavenly Father, God, we praise you for that beautiful truth, Lord.
[01:32:44] We thank you for the amazing love of God that you've lavished on us through your Son.
[01:32:49] And God, we're careful to confess that all of us, every single individual in this room and beyond, we've all sinned and fallen short of your glory.
[01:32:57] Each of us have gone astray like sheep, each one of us to his or her own way, and yet you saw fit to lay upon your Son
[01:33:05] the iniquity of us all thank you for the gospel father help us to preach it to ourselves this morning as we leave here today help us to remember that what we sung our sins are in the depths of the ocean and lord you've hung a no fishing sign you've chosen to forgot it help us lord through the power of your holy spirit to hear your voice and to follow wherever you lead
[01:33:29] Help us, Father, to be obedient.
[01:33:32] Help us, Father, to invite others to come to know you, to have that personal relationship with you, that powerful relationship with you.
[01:33:39] And as we've just learned today through our beloved pastor, that permanent relationship with you.
[01:33:45] Thank you for Jesus who makes all this possible.
[01:33:47] It's in his name that we pray.
[01:33:49] Amen.

[01:33:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
There's a sweet, sweet spirit in this place And I know that it's the Spirit of the Lord There are sweet expressions on each face And I know that it's the presence of the Lord
[01:34:29] Sweet Holy Spirit, sweet heavenly dove Stay right here with us, filling us with your love And for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise Without a doubt we'll know that we have been