The Way, The Truth, The Life… And The Will of Man?

[00:01:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
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[00:02:04] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
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[00:07:44] Let us pray.
[00:09:28] In Jesus' name we pray.
[00:09:53] Amen.
[00:10:05] In Jesus' name, Amen.
[00:11:07] Thank you.
[00:11:51] Alleluia!
[00:12:09] For the Lord God Almighty reigns!
[00:12:10] Alleluia!

[00:12:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Worthy is the Lamb!
[00:12:57] Worthy is the Lamb!

[00:12:57] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Worthy is the Lamb!
[00:12:58] You are Holy!

[00:12:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Holy are You, Lord God Almighty!
[00:12:59] Worthy is the Lamb!
[00:12:59] Worthy is the Lamb!
[00:13:04] The Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds Thy hands have made, I see a star
[00:13:30] of the universe displayed.
[00:13:56] It sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee.
[00:13:56] How great Thou art!
[00:13:57] How great Thou art!
[00:13:57] How great Thou art!
[00:13:58] How great Thou art!
[00:13:58] It sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee.

[00:13:59] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
How great Thou art!
[00:14:24] How great Thou art!
[00:14:24] Holy, holy are You, Lord God Almighty!

[00:14:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
The Lord God Almighty Worthy is the Lamb Worthy is the Lamb How great Thou art
[00:15:00] How great thou art!

[00:15:22] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
How great thou art!
[00:15:22] How great thou art!

[00:15:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
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[00:15:49] .
[00:15:55] .

[00:16:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
of Christ Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Holy Trinity, Holy Trinity, Holy Trinity, Holy Trinity, Holy Trinity,
[00:17:25] We know the outcome is secure And in Christ we'll have The prize for which He died An inheritance of nations Come and see the cross Where love and mercy meet As the Son of God is strengthened
[00:17:53] I'm washed beneath his feet For the conqueror has risen And as the snow is rolled away And Christ emerges from the grave His victory march continues till the day Every eye and heart shall see
[00:18:28] Good strength in every strife Give grace for every hurdle That we may rise We're made to win the prize Of a servant good and faithful And sins of old still on the way Retelling triumphs of His grace
[00:18:58] Well, good morning.

[00:19:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
I believe Brother Grant wanted to keep singing there this morning, and we're going to get to that in just a moment.
[00:19:28] But we're glad to welcome each of you to Trinity Baptist Church and thrilled that you're here as we join our hearts together to lift up and magnify and praise our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
[00:19:38] And if you're visiting with us this morning, we want to bid you an especially warm welcome today.
[00:19:43] and let you know how thankful we are to have you here in our worship service in fact our deacons have some gift bags that they would love to put in the hands of those of you who are our guests this morning and there's some things in there that we want you to take home and hopefully remember your visit here at Trinity
[00:19:59] but there's a guest card in there that we want you to take a moment and fill it out place it in the offering plate when it comes by just a little bit later in the service so if you are visiting with us i'm going to ask you to lift your hands about like this as they make their way down the aisle hold your hand up high enough and long enough for them to spot you
[00:20:16] and if you're sitting on the end of a row do us a favor and look up and down that row and we would love to put these in your hands this morning but again we are grateful you're here if you're joining us via live stream we want to welcome you right here into the sanctuary at Trinity Baptist Church in Mooresville, North Carolina
[00:20:33] Praying that God will speak to your heart this morning as we worship Him in spirit and in truth and we just we want you to participate in every aspect of the service so from wherever you are hearing us this morning when we sing you sing along with us when we pray we invite you to go to God's throne and prayer with us and then when we open his word in just a few minutes to the Gospel of John we invite you to grab a Bible and turn with us as well today
[00:20:58] and again we're thankful for you being a part of what God is doing with us this morning would you just join with me as we go to him in prayer and ask him to just guide everything that happens here in this place today father we do just find ourselves wanting to stop in the midst of or just the busyness of life
[00:21:25] to stop in the midst of hectic schedules our coming out our going in and all of those various things that we do day by day father we want to just stop right now in the midst of this week and just focus on you and father that draws us here today because we do want to worship you we do want to just pour our hearts and praise and thanksgiving out to you we want to ask you lord just to
[00:21:55] To know our hearts today as we just Lord are filled with overwhelming gratitude not only for all of the many things that you do in our lives each day just sustaining us but Father we want to worship you this morning simply for who you are because you are Almighty God
[00:22:20] and we want to bow down before you in praise and in worship and in thanksgiving and to bring you honor and to bring you glory and to declare your majesty and that's what we're doing here this morning and i pray that as we sing in a few moments that our voices will continue just to reverberate to the halls of heaven just lifting up praise and adoration to you our king
[00:22:49] and Father I pray that you would speak to our hearts today for not only as we come here to worship and to praise you but we've also come Father to seek you and to learn and to grow and to have you to mold us and make us and shape us even as we bow before you so I pray in these moments that we have together that you would do all of this Father and that you would just bring us to a point of knowing when we leave here a little while later this morning
[00:23:18] that we will be able to say it's been good to be in the house of God and father may you do something in us that would be able to radiate through us as we go about the things that you place before us this week again we love you we thank you for being in our midst we thank you for guiding everything that happens here today and may it be to your honor and to your glory for it's in Jesus name we pray amen
[00:23:47] Listen, if you have children with you or preschoolers from preschool through third grade, we want to invite them at this time when we stand to greet one another to make their way here to the front and to my right and your left.
[00:23:58] And they're going to be welcomed into Children's Church this morning.
[00:24:00] So stand to your feet if you will.
[00:24:02] I want you to turn around and shake a few hands.
[00:24:04] Introduce yourself to folks that may be sitting nearby.
[00:24:07] Welcome each other to the house of the Lord.
[00:24:10] And we look forward as we continue to worship.

[00:24:21] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
In Jesus' name we pray.
[00:24:35] Amen.
[00:24:57] The Church of Christ in Bethlehem

[00:25:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
In the blood of Lord God is prevailing For still our ancient foe Can speak to earth as one His strength and power are great
[00:25:56] The earth is not his evil.
[00:26:21] of God's own to save.
[00:26:43] Just as food hath made thee, Christ Jesus it is he.
[00:26:45] Lord, sound the oath this day, from age to age the same.
[00:26:54] We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.
[00:27:22] The prince of darkness reigns.
[00:27:25] The Word of God, the Word of God, the Word of God, the Word of God,
[00:28:06] Let goods and kindred flow It's part of thy whole soul The body they may kill
[00:28:59] of the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit of the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit of the Holy Spirit,
[00:29:17] of Christ Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Catholic Church of Latter-day Saints, Catholic Church of Latter-day
[00:29:44] .
[00:29:53] .
[00:29:54] .
[00:30:04] .
[00:30:04] .
[00:30:16] To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

[00:30:33] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Great is thy faithfulness.
[00:30:33] Great is thy faithfulness.

[00:30:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Morning by morning new mercies I see All I have need Thy hand hath provided Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
[00:31:14] of Christ Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Holy Spirit of Christ, Holy Spirit of Christ, Holy Spirit of Christ,
[00:31:43] Amen.

[00:32:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
You may be seated.

[00:32:39] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Good morning church.
[00:32:42] It's the time in our service that you have an opportunity to give back to the good Lord's work here at our church.
[00:32:48] I hope you take that opportunity and for those watching online you can participate by going to TrinityBaptist.net.
[00:32:57] Thank you for your attendance and all that you do here and if you would bow we will pray.
[00:33:02] Most precious Father we thank you for this day and for allowing us to come together
[00:33:06] We thank you for the many, many blessings that you give to us like what is given to us today in this offering.
[00:33:12] Please let us be good stewards with what you give, what is given to you, and Lord,
[00:33:19] I pray that you will allow us to take the opportunities that you give to this church, which you've given us a big one, Lord, to do something with for this community.
[00:33:29] And that's the school that we're working on opening in the fall of 2026.
[00:33:35] Lord, we pray that you will guide us to open that school as we should
[00:33:39] that we should teach to the youth in this community and that we will spread your word.
[00:33:44] We thank you for these opportunities that you give to this church and I pray, oh Lord, that we will do those things that you want us to do.
[00:33:52] Please bless our ministers.
[00:33:53] We thank you for them.
[00:33:55] Protect them and watch over them and guide them in saying the things that need to be said in their service.
[00:34:00] In your name we pray, amen.

[00:34:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Jesus, priceless treasure, source of purest pleasure, friend and brother true.
[00:34:34] O how long in anguish shall my spirit languish yearning, Lord, for you?
[00:34:49] O yours I am, O spotless Lamb, to follow your command.
[00:34:57] I will never leave you, seek no love beside you, Jesus, priceless treasure of my heart.
[00:35:12] In your arms I'm resting, all my foes are fleeing, none can touch me here.
[00:35:23] Though the earth be shaking, every heart be quaking, Jesus calms my fears.
[00:35:34] When lightnings flash and thunders crash, I am safely in your grasp.
[00:35:46] Though my sin assails me, Jesus will not fail me, Jesus, priceless treasure of my heart.
[00:36:00] O Jesus, my treasure,
[00:36:11] Take my heart and make it yours.
[00:36:20] O Jesus, my precious Lord, I love you, Lord.
[00:36:48] Finish fear and sadness For the Lord of gladness Jesus enters in Those who love the Father Though the storms may gather
[00:37:06] We still have peace within When grief and pain pour down like rain Your loving arms remain Count this world as nothing Since the one I'm gaining Jesus Christ, the treasure of my heart
[00:37:38] God, this world has nothing since the world I'm gaining Jesus, priceless treasure of my heart Of my heart

[00:38:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Well, amen and amen.
[00:38:13] Thank you so much, Fay and Chase, for blessing us this morning.
[00:38:17] What a beautiful prayer and song in so many ways, so thank you for sharing that.
[00:38:22] Turn in your Bibles, if you will, to the Gospel of John, the 14th chapter.
[00:38:26] John chapter 14 is where we find ourselves this morning in our series through this great Gospel.
[00:38:33] And I want to share with you today, as you're turning there, about heart trouble.
[00:38:37] Now, I realize this morning that, and you do, that heart disease is still one of the number one cause of physical death.
[00:38:47] In fact, we've come to understand the importance of cardiovascular exercise and all kinds of situations to keep our hearts as strong as they can.
[00:38:57] And there's some of you, no doubt, I'm talking to this morning that have had heart issues.
[00:39:02] Some of you maybe have had heart attacks.
[00:39:03] Some of you have gone through open heart surgery.
[00:39:06] Some of you have had valve replacement, perhaps.
[00:39:10] But this morning, what our passage is going to really talk to us about is something that Jesus is very specific in, and that is spiritual heart trouble.
[00:39:23] Now you may be sitting here this morning and you say, Mark, I'm grateful I've avoided all of those things that you mentioned earlier.
[00:39:29] I haven't had a heart attack, I haven't had to have open heart surgery, I haven't had to have a valve replacement or any of that.
[00:39:35] You may be sitting there right now and you're thinking, man, I've got a great ticker with no problems.
[00:39:41] But I want you to know, whoever you are, you are experiencing a heart disease.
[00:39:52] That is just as real, it is just as burdensome, and it is just as much a source of sorrow as any other disease can be.
[00:40:06] Spiritual heart disease.
[00:40:10] So, Mark, how do I know if I've got this spiritual heart disease?
[00:40:13] Well, maybe you're under pressure.
[00:40:16] Maybe you're dealing with a lot of difficulties in your life right now.
[00:40:20] Maybe you're carrying a load of guilt in your life right now.
[00:40:25] Maybe there's some sin that you're struggling with in your life right now.
[00:40:30] And it's pressing down on your heart and you're beginning to really feel it.
[00:40:40] Well, that's exactly what Jesus is going to address this morning in the 14th chapter of the Gospel of John.
[00:40:50] In fact, I could say this morning, not only does it deal with spiritual heart issues, but it deals with any man or any woman who's facing adversity in your life.
[00:41:04] Can I see a show of hands?
[00:41:05] How many of you have ever faced adversity?
[00:41:08] Raise your hand.
[00:41:09] That's just about everybody.
[00:41:12] Because there's adversity that we feel.
[00:41:14] And I want us to stand, if you will, in honor of the reading of the Word of God.
[00:41:19] And I want us to begin in verse 1.
[00:41:22] We're just going to cover six verses this morning, particularly John 14, 1 through 6, a passage that you maybe have heard many times.
[00:41:31] Jesus says, Let not your heart be troubled.
[00:41:34] You believe in God, believe also in me.
[00:41:38] For in my Father's house are many mansions.
[00:41:40] If it were not so, I would have told you.
[00:41:43] I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am there you may be also and where I go you know and the way you know and Thomas said to him Lord we we do not know where you're going and how can we know the way
[00:42:10] To which Jesus replied, Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life.
[00:42:18] No one comes to the Father except through me.
[00:42:27] Lord, speak to our hearts.
[00:42:32] And I pray personally that you let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight.
[00:42:40] In Jesus' name I pray.
[00:42:42] Amen.
[00:42:43] You may be seated.
[00:42:46] Now what Jesus says here in verse 1, and he starts, you might want to underline that first statement, let not your heart be troubled.
[00:42:56] Well, Jesus didn't say this for no reason.
[00:43:00] In fact, we know that the scene and the environment and the setting had serious, serious hearts being troubled.
[00:43:10] In fact, if you've been with us in our series, you know last couple of weeks when we were in chapter 13 itself shows a variety of reasons that there was a lot of adversity being felt.
[00:43:22] There was a lot of heart pressure and heart trouble that was being experienced.
[00:43:27] In fact, the Bible says that their master, Jesus himself, was troubled in heart according to verse 21, back in chapter 13.
[00:43:36] And because Jesus was troubled, that spread and created their own heart trouble at that very moment.
[00:43:43] You say, well, Mark, specifically, why were they struggling?
[00:43:47] What was their adversity?
[00:43:49] What was the heart issues?
[00:43:50] Well, for one, he's just broken the news to them that he's going away.
[00:43:56] And he's not going to be with them in the same way he has been.
[00:44:00] For another, he's just told them that one of their own, one of the twelve, is actually a traitor and is going to betray him.
[00:44:11] And if that's not enough, he has already even told, as we closed out last week, maybe, arguably, the strongest disciple among them, Simon Peter, that before
[00:44:25] The cock crowed the next morning.
[00:44:26] He would deny Jesus not once, not twice, but three times.
[00:44:32] He would claim he didn't even know who Jesus was.
[00:44:37] All that is going on.
[00:44:42] And it's into that atmosphere that Jesus drops these words in the midst of adversity.
[00:44:54] And here in His words, I'm absolutely convinced Jesus is outlining for them what is tremendously necessary if you and I are going to make it through adversity that we face, if we're going to make it with the heart trouble that we oftentimes feel spiritually.
[00:45:20] And I have to tell you, this is one of the most famous passages in all of Scripture.
[00:45:24] In fact, these have been words of encouragement that have been used for strength for believers throughout the centuries.
[00:45:33] People have leaned on this passage of John 14.
[00:45:38] And you could almost title it, What do you do in the midst of adversity?
[00:45:43] Or what is required
[00:45:45] In the midst of the adversity that you may be facing.
[00:45:49] Well, I want you to jot some things down with me because there's at least three things I want to make sure you really grasp this morning.
[00:45:56] Number one is this.
[00:45:58] Jesus makes it clear
[00:46:00] In other words, who you believe in is extremely important.
[00:46:13] Look what he says to us there in verse one.
[00:46:16] Let not your hearts be troubled,
[00:46:19] You believe in God, believe also in me.
[00:46:25] That's extremely important.
[00:46:27] And he's telling us right here at the outset that it's important that you have a strong faith at your foundation.
[00:46:37] It's important that you understand who you believe.
[00:46:43] Because I got news for you.
[00:46:45] You believe.
[00:46:47] You believe something.
[00:46:48] You believe someone.
[00:46:51] In fact, just about everything we do in our daily life is built on the basis of faith and what you believe.
[00:47:01] Think about it.
[00:47:02] A farmer plants seeds on the basis of faith that that seed will grow, correct?
[00:47:11] Listen, a surgeon opens up an incision with the faith on the basis that that incision is going to heal.
[00:47:23] Real practical thing.
[00:47:25] You make insurance payments throughout your life on the belief that someone when you die is going to receive an insurance policy of face value for all of that payment.
[00:47:43] The point I'm making, ladies and gentlemen, is all of us every day operate on the basis of faith.
[00:47:50] We operate on the basis of what we believe to be true.
[00:47:55] And listen, if you didn't believe, you probably wouldn't be willing to eat that breakfast that your wife fixed for you this morning, sir.
[00:48:04] You believe she wasn't going to poison you.
[00:48:07] Listen, if you didn't believe, you would be afraid to turn the ignition of your car.
[00:48:12] But you believe that a bomb's not going to go off when you turn on the ignition.
[00:48:17] If you didn't believe, you would probably never step foot on an elevator.
[00:48:24] Why?
[00:48:24] Because you have to believe that that elevator is going to support you going up or going down in that skyscraper.
[00:48:33] In fact, let me point something out to you.
[00:48:35] Hold your finger here in John 14.
[00:48:37] I want you to look over at Romans chapter 12 for a moment.
[00:48:40] Romans chapter 12 and verse 3.
[00:48:43] Look at what God's word says in Romans 12 verse 3.
[00:48:48] For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly.
[00:49:02] And get this, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
[00:49:14] Underline that.
[00:49:16] Every human being has enough faith capacity or belief capacity to receive Jesus as their personal Savior.
[00:49:34] Do you get that?
[00:49:35] That's what Romans is saying.
[00:49:37] Every human being has enough belief, enough faith capacity to accept, to believe in Jesus as your personal Savior.
[00:49:49] But I want to note something very important.
[00:49:52] It's not just the fact that you have enough faith capacity that keeps you strong.
[00:50:00] It's the focus of that faith
[00:50:03] It's the one in whom you believe that ultimately gives you that strength.
[00:50:11] That's the reason when you go back to John 14, Jesus opens up the verse.
[00:50:15] Let not your hearts be troubled.
[00:50:17] You believe in God.
[00:50:19] Whoa, whoa, whoa, stop right there.
[00:50:21] Who's he talking to?
[00:50:22] He's talking to a group of Jewish men.
[00:50:25] All of His disciples, they believed in the God of the Old Testament.
[00:50:30] They believed in Elohim as His name, the God of all power.
[00:50:35] They believed in Jehovah as His name, the God of the Covenant.
[00:50:40] They believed in the God who created them.
[00:50:43] They believed in the God who led them out of bondage and captivity.
[00:50:47] They believed in the God who one day actually led them through the Red Sea on dry ground.
[00:50:57] That's the reason Jesus said, you believe in God, and they all would shake their heads.
[00:51:03] And then he said, believe also in me.
[00:51:14] See, it's not your belief that's the crucial thing.
[00:51:21] Because all of us here would probably have to admit we do believe, we have the ability to have faith to believe.
[00:51:29] But it's the object of that belief, it's the object of that faith that's vital.
[00:51:38] And that's why I have to ask you, where does your faith take you?
[00:51:45] Where does your belief take you?
[00:51:49] When the burdens of life come to you, when your heart is troubled, where does your faith take you?
[00:52:02] Because the Bible says what you need is a belief that is made strong by its object.
[00:52:13] It's the reason we find over in Hebrews chapter 12,
[00:52:17] In verse 2, these words, Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
[00:52:42] See, we're talking about disciples that are hearing this for the first time as Jesus states it to them that had experienced Jesus.
[00:52:50] And if anybody in the world knew he was trustworthy, it was these guys.
[00:52:56] When they needed bread, Jesus supplied it.
[00:53:00] When they were in the storm at sea, it was Jesus who came out and calmed that storm.
[00:53:06] And what Jesus is saying to these men is, trust me.
[00:53:12] Believe me.
[00:53:13] Hold on to me.
[00:53:16] I've proven myself.
[00:53:20] And I just got to say this morning, anybody who has walked with Jesus Christ as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, anybody who has lived that way for any length of time has clearly discovered this.
[00:53:36] He has never failed you.
[00:53:39] Amen?
[00:53:41] He has never let you down.
[00:53:46] And I promise you, there is no problem that you got that Jesus can't handle.
[00:53:57] And on a daily basis, you and I are called on to just keep believing.
[00:54:05] Keep looking up.
[00:54:07] Keep trusting in God.
[00:54:10] When the dark clouds form, and I'm sure they are or will, you've got to just keep believing.
[00:54:17] I mean, when the pressure and the troubles are mounting, you've got to just keep believing.
[00:54:24] When the doctor says there's no hope in your treatments, you've got to just keep believing.
[00:54:31] Because Jesus has never let you down, nor will He ever.
[00:54:41] I heard of a little boy who saw his daddy up on the roof cleaning out the gutters.
[00:54:47] The little boy just decided he was going to climb up that ladder and get to his dad.
[00:54:52] Before his dad even noticed, the little boy was halfway up that ladder and he looked down and he freaked out and he began to scream.
[00:55:04] You know what that daddy did?
[00:55:06] That daddy looked down at him and he said, son, son, son, son, look, look at me.
[00:55:11] Look at me.
[00:55:14] He said, don't look down.
[00:55:17] Just look at me and keep climbing.
[00:55:21] Look at me and keep climbing.
[00:55:26] And as that little boy focused his eyes on his daddy, he just kept climbing until he made it all the way to the top and arrived safely.
[00:55:38] See, I don't know what you're facing this morning.
[00:55:41] I don't know what your circumstance looks like this morning, but I know this.
[00:55:49] What Jesus Christ is saying to every one of us in this room this morning, and those that are listening by live stream, what he is saying to us is, look up at me and keep climbing.
[00:56:06] Look up at me and just keep climbing.
[00:56:12] In the midst of adversity, it matters who you believe.
[00:56:19] Who you believe.
[00:56:23] it's faith it's faith there's a second thing i want you to see real quickly is that not only does he simply give us a a important aspect of a of our faith but he also gives us a secure future a secure future i'm talking about what you believe
[00:56:49] Because until we recognize a secure future, look at this because it's so important when he tells us uncertainties, and listen to the statement I'm about to make to you.
[00:57:02] Uncertainties about the future is probably one of the greatest causes of heart trouble.
[00:57:10] Uncertainty about the future is one of the greatest causes of anxiety.
[00:57:15] In fact,
[00:57:18] Having uncertainty about the future oftentimes leads to struggle in adversity.
[00:57:26] And so Jesus is speaking to his disciples here about the future and what they believe.
[00:57:35] Now, we've already said in chapter 13, Jesus has already made it clear in a few days their world is going to cave in.
[00:57:43] And yet Jesus gives them the secure future by really giving them two very important facts that they could hold on to.
[00:57:53] You say, well, what is it he gives them?
[00:57:55] Well, let's look at verse 2.
[00:57:57] He said, In my Father's house are many, many mansions.
[00:58:01] If it were not so, I would have told you.
[00:58:05] I go to prepare a place for you.
[00:58:08] Will you circle that word, place?
[00:58:11] The first thing Jesus gives them to secure their future is he gives them a place.
[00:58:19] And he's talking about their future home in heaven.
[00:58:23] He's talking about a place, a real place.
[00:58:28] I love when he puts it in the terms that he does.
[00:58:30] In my Father's house are many mansions.
[00:58:33] If it were not so, I would have told you.
[00:58:36] I go to prepare a place for you.
[00:58:41] You know what that means?
[00:58:42] That means we need to be reminded in our liberal, cynical culture, ladies and gentlemen, heaven is not just a state of mind.
[00:58:50] Heaven is a very real place.
[00:58:54] It is a very real location.
[00:58:57] And I don't know about you, but I've found that there's nothing that soothes a troubled heart than to know that one of these days God has given us a place.
[00:59:07] Amen?
[00:59:09] Man, I love to preach about heaven.
[00:59:12] But I gotta tell you, when I read the Bible and I come to passages like this that begin to talk about heaven, I'm sometimes overwhelmed.
[00:59:22] By just how heaven is described.
[00:59:24] You say, what do you mean, Pastor?
[00:59:25] I mean, sometimes it's described as a country.
[00:59:29] And when I think about heaven as a country, that has to be talking about the vastness of this place called heaven.
[00:59:39] And then sometimes it's called a city.
[00:59:44] And I imagine that it's called a city referring to the population of this place.
[00:59:51] and then sometimes it's referred to as a kingdom the kingdom of heaven which must refer to its orderliness in which it operates but what really really stirs me is when I read a passage like this and Jesus refers to heaven
[01:00:22] As Home.
[01:00:24] You notice he said, in my Father's what?
[01:00:30] House.
[01:00:32] Don't you love that?
[01:00:34] In my Father's house.
[01:00:38] Friends, we're going home.
[01:00:42] I mean, if you decide that you will receive Jesus as your Savior this morning and experience a new birth, God becomes your Father this morning.
[01:00:53] And you can live for the Lord all the days of your life, and then when you die, you will be swept up into the portals of heaven, and the Father is gonna meet you there.
[01:01:05] You know what He's gonna say?
[01:01:07] Welcome home.
[01:01:09] Welcome home.
[01:01:13] Well done, thy good and faithful servant.
[01:01:19] Oh, friends, that's incredible and brings us security in the midst of adversity.
[01:01:27] It is such a secure future to know whatever you're facing.
[01:01:35] Jesus has given you a place.
[01:01:38] You got a place.
[01:01:41] But not only a place, look at the second thing that He gives us to secure our future.
[01:01:49] He gives us a promise.
[01:01:52] He says in verse 3, and if I go and prepare a place for you, what?
[01:02:01] I will come again and receive you unto myself.

[01:02:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Oh wow!

[01:02:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Is that not a promise?
[01:02:16] That's a serious promise.
[01:02:18] That's a promise of all promises.
[01:02:21] The promise in the Bible.
[01:02:23] Listen, Jesus is not going to send a substitute.
[01:02:28] He's not going to send a committee.
[01:02:31] He's not going to send a group.
[01:02:33] He promises to come and receive you unto Himself.
[01:02:40] that's a promise that Jesus is coming again and he is coming personally that word receive there it literally means to welcome alongside in the original Greek it means to welcome alongside and when you see that word that he's gonna welcome you unto myself unto myself literally means face to face with myself and I just want you to know it's gonna be a glory hallelujah day
[01:03:08] When Jesus Christ comes again.
[01:03:10] In fact, the watchword for believers in these days ahead are only gonna grow stronger and grow stronger and grow stronger.
[01:03:21] And you know what the watchword's gonna be?

[01:03:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Jesus is coming.
[01:03:27] Jesus is coming.
[01:03:30] Jesus is coming.
[01:03:33] Jesus is coming.

[01:03:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
That's the watchword.
[01:03:39] For this generation.
[01:03:41] And it's going to grow stronger and stronger and stronger and stronger.
[01:03:50] Listen, we've got to have a strong faith if we're going to be able to live in the midst of adversity.
[01:04:00] We've got to have a secure future if we're going to live in the midst of adversity.
[01:04:10] But the third thing Jesus gives them, and I finish with this, is he gives them a stable foundation.
[01:04:17] A stable foundation which answers the question, why do you believe?
[01:04:28] Ladies and gentlemen, I'm convinced
[01:04:31] As I have had the opportunity of living, soon to be, next spring, 60 years, as I've had the privilege of being a pastor next February, 37 years, and observing the human experience, I have come to recognize, and I mean it with all of my heart, life needs a stable foundation.
[01:04:58] There are so many people in our world today, and I know I'm talking to some that are hearing me right now, who your life is nothing but a roller coaster.
[01:05:07] It is one high and one low after the other.
[01:05:12] And the greatest need you would say this morning that you need is some stability in your life.
[01:05:18] And that's exactly what Jesus is speaking of here.
[01:05:22] He's speaking of in the midst of adversity and you know these disciples are dealing with this adversity.
[01:05:28] You can see it in their faces and they've been destroyed by the news that they're getting.
[01:05:34] And in the midst of it Jesus is saying if there's anything else you've got to have it's got to be a stable foundation.
[01:05:42] You've got to know why you believe.
[01:05:45] Because what Jesus here is about to speak to them
[01:05:51] is reminding them of their foundation because the sin that is in our lives as human beings has removed us from any stability in this world.
[01:06:06] That's why so many lives are roller coasters filled with ups and filled with downs.
[01:06:15] Think about it a minute.
[01:06:17] When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, prior to that sin, everything was cool, everything was good, everything was awesome when God created everything there and placed Adam and Eve in that garden.
[01:06:33] But when they sinned, three things were immediately happening.
[01:06:42] Number one, they lost their way to God.
[01:06:48] When they sinned in that garden, Adam and Eve lost their way to God.
[01:06:55] Secondly, they fell from the truth of God.
[01:07:01] They fell completely from the truth of God.
[01:07:06] And thirdly, they forfeited their life from God.
[01:07:13] You say, what do you mean Mark?
[01:07:15] I mean at that moment,
[01:07:17] They died spiritually and they were left without an adequate foundation.
[01:07:26] Now what I just described to you is the human experience because we are following that human experience from Adam and Eve once sin had entered the world.
[01:07:38] And if I had to pick one verse in all of the Bible, it would be verse 6 of chapter 14 where Jesus lays out the stable foundation that is needed by every human being.
[01:08:07] That's what Jesus is doing in this verse.
[01:08:10] Notice how he says it in verse six.
[01:08:13] I am the way, the truth, and the life.
[01:08:20] Can I see a show of hands?
[01:08:22] How many of you have ever heard that before?
[01:08:24] Raise your hand.
[01:08:26] Okay.
[01:08:28] Do you know what it means, really?
[01:08:33] Because what Jesus says here is the key.
[01:08:36] When he says, I am the way, here's what he's saying.
[01:08:40] I'm life's pathway.
[01:08:45] I'm life's pathway.
[01:08:48] You see, everybody's trying to find a way.
[01:08:52] Everybody in the world's looking for a way to God.
[01:08:55] Now they may not describe it as that, but they may say, I'm looking for happiness.
[01:09:01] I'm looking for peace.
[01:09:02] They may say, I'm looking for joy.
[01:09:04] But in reality, everybody's trying to find a way.
[01:09:08] Everybody's looking for a way to God.
[01:09:11] And listen, there is a difference in showing you the way and being the way.
[01:09:20] Amen?
[01:09:21] You ever been lost and asked for directions?
[01:09:24] That happens a lot.
[01:09:26] You're lost and you ask for directions.
[01:09:28] I don't care if I'm driving.
[01:09:29] I've seen that a lot in my short time in Washington so far.
[01:09:33] I get lost all over that capital.
[01:09:35] And I'm always looking for somebody that I have to ask directions.
[01:09:38] And usually they'll look at me and they'll say, well, if you'll just go right down that hall and you'll take the second left and then if you'll turn right at the next place and then make a U-turn when you get to the other end, you'll see the office you're looking for right then.
[01:09:52] and by that point they see the blank stare and the confused look in my face like uh okay and in the midst of that confusion I'm so grateful when they say you know what why don't I just take you there thank you very much because that changes everything
[01:10:17] It's so different when you've got somebody that tries to give you directions versus somebody that actually takes you somewhere.
[01:10:27] It's so much better to have somebody be the way rather than to just show the way.
[01:10:34] That's what Jesus is saying when he says, I am the way.
[01:10:40] And friend, you better make sure you're on the right pathway because I meet a lot of humans who are not.
[01:10:49] I meet a lot of humans who are following a way that seems right to them.
[01:10:56] Let me point something out to you.
[01:10:57] Turn back to the book of Proverbs for just a minute.
[01:11:00] Two times I want you to see once in Proverbs 14 and once in Proverbs 16 you find almost the same verse.
[01:11:11] I think it's for emphasis.
[01:11:13] I think it's important.
[01:11:14] Let me show you what it says.
[01:11:16] In Proverbs 14 it says in verse...
[01:11:19] 12.
[01:11:21] There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
[01:11:31] Look over a page or so to chapter 16 and verse 25 of Proverbs.
[01:11:39] There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
[01:11:52] You know what he's saying?
[01:11:55] You don't get to write your own plan.
[01:11:59] You don't get to create your own way.
[01:12:05] You can listen to the greatest psychologists.
[01:12:07] You can listen to the greatest motivational speakers.
[01:12:10] You can listen to the greatest humans of all time lay out for you the path that you should take.
[01:12:17] But there's only one who has ever come and lived and died and rose again, and his name is Jesus.
[01:12:25] And he says right here, I am the way.

[01:12:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
You don't get to make up your own.
[01:12:34] And that's why you better make sure you're on the right path.

[01:12:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
I am the way.
[01:12:44] But then did you notice he also said, I am the truth.

[01:12:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
What's he really saying?
[01:12:55] He's saying, I'm life's philosophy.

[01:13:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Were you ever asked to write down your philosophy of life?
[01:13:08] I was.
[01:13:09] I still remember it.
[01:13:11] Senior year, Reynolds High School, Winston-Salem.
[01:13:15] We were given an assignment in composition class in 12th grade to write down your philosophy.
[01:13:27] Have you ever done that?
[01:13:30] I'm telling you, it's got to be more than mere words written down on a piece of paper.
[01:13:38] Jesus is saying, I am life's philosophy.
[01:13:44] I am a worldview.
[01:13:48] What is your philosophy of life?
[01:13:52] What is your view?
[01:13:54] Through what lens are you seeing the world?
[01:13:59] Because the question is, whatever yours is, can you live by it?
[01:14:04] You say, well, sure.
[01:14:06] Ah, then maybe I better ask, can you die by it?
[01:14:11] Can you die by it?
[01:14:15] Whatever your philosophy of life is.
[01:14:17] Jesus says, I am the truth.
[01:14:24] Listen, you don't get a statement more exclusive than that.
[01:14:29] I am the truth and when we're living in a day like we're living in a day of pluralism I mean when we say we want plenty of room for everything we want everybody to be right we want nothing to be wrong depending on how you look at it everything should be accepted and in a world like that
[01:14:52] Isn't that a very narrow statement for Jesus to say?
[01:14:56] Isn't that the wildest claim you've ever heard?
[01:15:00] I am the truth.
[01:15:07] It is a narrow statement.
[01:15:10] But then again, truth is always narrow.
[01:15:19] Error is always broad.
[01:15:24] so what do you mean preacher give you an example one plus one error says it could be three it could be five it could be 75 error says it could be whatever you want it to be or are you a male or a female
[01:15:52] Do you have XX chromosomes or XY chromosomes?
[01:15:58] Well, error says you can be whatever you want to biologically be or emotionally be.
[01:16:09] But if you say truth, one plus one equals two.
[01:16:16] And if you speak truth, are you male or female, check out
[01:16:21] The biology for the answer.
[01:16:28] And Jesus is saying, I am it.

[01:16:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
I am truth.
[01:16:41] That's an exclusive claim.
[01:16:45] And then he says, I am the life.

[01:16:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
We'll go back to Adam and Eve.
[01:16:58] When they sinned, when they fell, they died spiritually.
[01:17:07] And Jesus is the only one who restores life.
[01:17:15] He is.
[01:17:17] Listen, if you've got loved ones who are lost without Christ, they are walking dead men.
[01:17:24] There are walking dead women.
[01:17:27] Because this is what salvation is all about.
[01:17:30] Without Christ, there is no real living.
[01:17:35] Without Christ, there is no real life.
[01:17:39] And Jesus says, no man comes to the Father except by Me.

[01:17:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Doesn't get any more exclusive than that.

[01:17:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Now we live in a free country.
[01:18:00] And you say, well, I want to come to God, but by a different way.
[01:18:06] That's your prerogative.
[01:18:09] Well, I want to come by the way of intellectualism.
[01:18:11] Okay.
[01:18:13] But before you do, I've got to ask, do you really believe you can think your way to God?
[01:18:24] You say, well, I want to come the route of morality.
[01:18:29] Really?
[01:18:31] Do you really think that you can be perfect enough?
[01:18:38] I mean, you say, well, I'm going to do my best to do it.
[01:18:42] No, no, no.
[01:18:43] Not from now on, but since you were born, have you been perfect?
[01:18:50] Have you?
[01:18:53] No, not one.
[01:18:55] And that's a problem because if you're going to come the route of morality, you have to have been perfect ever since you were born and perfect until the day you die and somehow hope that on that basis God's going to let you into heaven.
[01:19:13] You say, well, Mark, I might come the route of religion.
[01:19:19] I'm going to join the church and I'm going to carry my Bible and I'm going to
[01:19:23] I got to ask you, do you really believe there's enough ritual in the world to please God enough to let you into heaven?
[01:19:45] No.
[01:19:47] No, sir.
[01:19:49] No, ma'am.
[01:19:51] There's only one God.
[01:19:54] If any other way would have worked, do you really believe that God would have given His only begotten Son?
[01:20:22] To come to this earth to be rejected, to be spat upon, to be cursed, to be beaten, and to be hung on the old Roman cross.

[01:20:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
To have a spear thrust into his side.

[01:20:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
and to suffer and to die as he did on that cross.
[01:20:50] If any other way would have worked would God have put Jesus through all of that?
[01:21:02] No.
[01:21:04] No.
[01:21:06] Which is why Jesus declares I am the way
[01:21:12] I am the truth and I am life the question is if you've ever faced adversity or if you face it this week Jesus Christ is offering you the plan
[01:21:43] But you've got to receive him.
[01:21:46] You've got to trust him.
[01:21:49] You've got to believe him.
[01:21:52] You've got to give your all to him.
[01:21:57] That's what he's waiting for.
[01:22:00] And the Savior is waiting this morning.
[01:22:03] The Savior is waiting for you, sir, and for you, ma'am, to come.
[01:22:12] Would you bow your heads right where you are, please?
[01:22:14] Every head bowed, every eye closed.
[01:22:30] Right now in these moments, I don't know what God may be saying directly to you,
[01:22:42] but I do believe that the presence of the Holy Spirit is in this place and I do believe that He is moving and He is working in our midst and I do believe that as you listen for His still small voice that He'll meet you right where you are
[01:23:16] and if you'll say to him today Lord I realize that I'm a sinner and I recognize that I need a savior and Lord I come to you this morning in repentance turning away from my sin turning to you
[01:23:41] because Lord I've recognized not only in a world filled with chaos but in my own life that is surely empty and is missing what I desperately need Lord come into my life I believe
[01:24:10] I accept who you are.
[01:24:14] I want you to take control of who I am.
[01:24:23] That's my invitation for you this morning if you've never given your life over to Jesus Christ.
[01:24:29] You may have been in church plenty of times and you've probably heard plenty of sermons maybe and but you know
[01:24:40] And God certainly knows that there's ever been that moment in time when you truly gave your life completely over to Him.
[01:24:54] And I would be failing greatly if I didn't give you an invitation this morning.
[01:25:03] to say come to Jesus.
[01:25:06] I'm gonna be right here at the front.
[01:25:08] The Lord's working in your life and you wanna come, you're welcome to do so.
[01:25:12] Also, this altar's open if you're already a believer and God's working in your life and He's speaking to you this morning.
[01:25:19] Maybe you have a loved one, maybe you have a friend that you're burdened for.
[01:25:26] God may be planning on your heart right now that you need to share with somebody
[01:25:32] That Jesus is the way.
[01:25:35] He is the truth.
[01:25:37] He is the life.
[01:25:40] And they need to know Him today.
[01:25:43] Would you come and just pray for that person on this altar?
[01:25:45] Whoever that is that God's just burdening your heart about right now.
[01:25:50] You can do that.
[01:25:54] Then if God's leading you to join this church by letter, by statement, or whatever way we receive members, we invite you to come.
[01:26:02] All I'm asking is right now that you would just be obedient to the Holy Spirit.
[01:26:08] Obey Him promptly.
[01:26:11] Father, this is your invitation.
[01:26:15] There's nothing to add, there's nothing to subtract.
[01:26:21] Let your Spirit do the work that only you can do.
[01:26:25] For it's in Jesus' name I pray.
[01:26:28] Amen.
[01:26:29] Would you stand to your feet for the grant comes to lead us as we worship.

[01:26:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
I have resolved no longer to linger, charmed by the world's delight.
[01:27:11] Things that are higher, things that are lower, these have the Lord by sight.
[01:27:13] I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad
[01:27:27] I have resolved to go to the Savior.
[01:27:36] He is the true one, He is the just one, He hath the words of life.
[01:27:58] I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free.
[01:28:03] I will come to thee.
[01:28:19] I am resolved to follow the Savior, faithful and true each day.
[01:28:22] I will face and to him face and so glad and free Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to thee
[01:28:50] I am resolved to enter the kingdom, leaving the paths of sin.
[01:29:10] Rims may oppose me, walls may beset me, still will I enter.
[01:29:15] I will hasten to Him, hasten to glad and free Jesus, Greatest, Highest, I will come to Thee I am resolved and who will go with me?

[01:29:43] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Comfort without delay

[01:29:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
I live and hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee I am grace of no longer
[01:30:21] I will hasten to Him, hasten somewhere to be, Jesus
[01:30:57] I am raised up to God, to the Saviour, leaving my sin and strife.
[01:31:25] He is the true one, He is the just one, He hath the works of life.

[01:31:26] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
I have hastened to Him, hastened so glad and free.

[01:31:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
I will come to thee.

[01:31:52] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
I am resolved to follow the Saviour, faithful and truly saved.
[01:31:53] Eat what he said, do what he willed, he is the way.

[01:31:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Jesus, greatest, highest, highest.

[01:32:15] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy,

[01:32:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy
[01:33:18] Let us pray.

[01:33:45] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let us pray.

[01:33:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Just one moment please.
[01:34:30] Come on up here, Lucas.
[01:34:34] This is my pleasure to introduce to you, this is Lucas that is standing here beside me.
[01:34:39] Lucas is a young man that the Lord is being raised in a Christian home with a Christian family with a mom and dad who love Jesus and are raising their family.
[01:34:49] And Lucas came this morning and shared with me that he has asked Jesus into his heart as his personal Savior and he wants to be baptized.
[01:34:59] and we praise the Lord for his decision and his commitment and we talked a little bit and we're going to look forward to talking with him further in the days ahead as we lead up to that time of baptism but what's your pleasure in affirming his step of faith today stepping forward to receive Christ motion made in second all in favor lift your hands there's your friends Lucas God bless you buddy I'm proud of you
[01:35:26] I'm thankful for you.
[01:35:27] I want you to sit right there with your mom and dad just a moment.
[01:35:30] Terry, come on over here.
[01:35:32] This is Terry Vernon that is standing here with me.
[01:35:35] And I got to tell you, there's just moments that are just incredibly refreshing.
[01:35:43] This woman just stood here and shared with me very clearly that she's been on a search.
[01:35:50] For a long time for God and to know Him and to know what that means.
[01:35:58] And I just asked her, I said, well, Terry, I got to tell you, have you ever, ever made a commitment, just really decided that you were going to follow Jesus and surrender your life to Him?
[01:36:10] And she said, in all honesty, no.
[01:36:14] And I said, alright, I said, do you want to ask Him into your heart this morning?
[01:36:21] Do you want to turn from your sin, place your faith in Jesus, and surrender to Him as Lord?
[01:36:26] And she said, absolutely.
[01:36:28] I want to ask Him into my life.
[01:36:31] And she did.
[01:36:34] and so right here we prayed together and Terry Vernon became a child of the king and her name's written down in the Lamb's Book of Life and she's starting her journey with Christ in a powerful way and I told her a moment ago I said I just can't tell you how important it is and how blessed I am
[01:36:59] Just to have the privilege of being able to pray with her.
[01:37:02] But just her honesty.
[01:37:04] It's so easy in a Baptist church.
[01:37:06] I don't care how young you are.
[01:37:08] I don't care how old you are.
[01:37:09] It's easy when you're in church on Sunday just to keep going through the motions and everybody assumes that you're a believer.
[01:37:16] You're a good person.
[01:37:17] You're kind.
[01:37:17] You're thoughtful.
[01:37:18] Everybody says, oh yeah.
[01:37:20] But it's the honesty when the Holy Spirit searches your heart and your soul.
[01:37:26] that brings the reality to the forefront and God bless this woman who not only has become a child of the king today and been saved but she is a living example to every person watching by live stream to every person that is here that no matter who you are
[01:37:43] God knows.
[01:37:45] He knows where you stand today.
[01:37:47] And He is, if He's tugging at your heart that you need to give your life to Jesus, do not put it off.
[01:37:57] And God bless you.
[01:37:59] We didn't even do a motion yet, did I?
[01:38:01] All in favor of Terry affirming Terry's decision, lift your hand.
[01:38:04] There's your friends, Terry, all over the sanctuary.
[01:38:07] God bless you.
[01:38:08] Thank you.
[01:38:09] Thank you so much for that.
[01:38:12] I'm going to invite you to join with Lucas with me, and we're going to be back here at the front so folks can speak to you.
[01:38:17] Let me invite everybody to stand to your feet right where you are.
[01:38:20] And I wanted you to come by and speak to Terry and Lucas on your way out this morning and let them both know how grateful you are for their decision and their commitment
[01:38:29] and don't forget life groups tonight don't forget next Sunday evening if you haven't signed up for our great harvest celebration dinner it's next Sunday evening sign up right off the door to your left make sure that you get signed up because it's going to be a great evening next Sunday night and I look forward to all of us being there going to be a great vision casting night for 2026 and where we see God leading us and I want all of us to make plans to be a part of that
[01:38:56] But, boy, let's just praise the Lord for all He's done this morning and in this place.
[01:39:02] Brother Robert's going to come give us a closing word, and then Brother Grant's going to sing us out of here today.
[01:39:07] All right?

[01:39:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Amen.
[01:39:13] Thank you so much Pastor Mark for that powerful word and thank you God for such a powerful service this morning.
[01:39:20] It's been an amazing day and just a quick announcement or two as we look forward to this week.
[01:39:25] It's a very busy week in the life of our church.
[01:39:28] This Friday we've got a fall festival and we're asking for all hands on deck, spread the word, let's raise awareness in the community so we can have more little ones come into faith in Jesus.
[01:39:38] Also Saturday morning new members class if you're interested in being a member of Trinity or you've recently joined we'd love to tell you who we are what we do and get to know one another please make plans for that and last but not least speaking of going to prepare a place and having faith we have faith and that we've prepared a place for over 300 saints to gather we're hoping to have enough food and help to have a successful event
[01:40:01] that's next Sunday night so please if you don't mind signing up for the sides as Pastor Mark mentioned we need sides we need suites and we need servers we need individuals to help us run this event but with that being said we're going to close out today with our benediction and it comes from the book of Psalms chapter 73 and we'll read it in verse 21 listen carefully to the word of the Lord and see how it just ties in so beautifully with what Pastor just preached
[01:40:29] When my soul was embittered and when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and arrogant.
[01:40:36] I was ignorant like a beast toward you.
[01:40:40] Nevertheless, I am continually with you.
[01:40:44] You hold my right hand.
[01:40:46] You guide me with your counsel, and afterwards you will receive me to glory.
[01:40:52] Whom have I in heaven but you?
[01:40:54] And there is nothing on earth that I desire beside you.
[01:40:59] My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
[01:41:06] For behold, those who are far from you shall perish.
[01:41:11] You put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
[01:41:15] But for me, it is good to be near God.
[01:41:19] I have made the Lord God my refuge that I may tell of all your works.
[01:41:26] Would you pray with me?
[01:41:29] Holy Heavenly Father, God, we truly do praise you as the only way to salvation.
[01:41:35] Father, we're incredibly thankful that you have led us, you guide us, you direct us, you protect us into and through your word.
[01:41:42] You gave us this roadmap to life, the Bible.
[01:41:46] But Father, you've also took us by the hand and you've showed us the way personally.
[01:41:50] You gave us the Holy Spirit to empower us to walk in this way.
[01:41:55] Lord, we have made you our refuge.
[01:41:57] But Father, we recognize as the Psalm closed out the 73rd chapter, it's for a purpose.
[01:42:04] That we may go out into the world and tell of all your works.
[01:42:09] There are other people out there who are lost and searching for a way.
[01:42:15] Help us to be faithful, to tell them that there is a way.
[01:42:19] In his name is Jesus.
[01:42:21] It's in his name that I ask this prayer.
[01:42:23] Amen.

[01:42:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
There's a sweet, sweet searing in His face And I know that it's the searing of the Lord There are sweet expressions on His face
[01:43:07] and Recompense.

[01:43:32] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
We lift our hearts in praise.
[01:43:32] Without a doubt we'll know that we have been revived when we shall