Participants: Chris Shelton &, Kenny Shelton
Series Code: BTLP
Program Code: BTLP000018
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00:40 Hello and welcome to "Behold The Lamb
00:42 Presents", I'm Chris Shelton your host and 00:45 I'm so very thankful that you have chosen 00:47 to join us. My husband pastor Kenny Shelton 00:50 has entitled his message today "God Is 00:54 in the Work," "God Is in the Work." 00:56 In fact God is the author and finisher of 01:00 the work. Just what is his work? 01:02 The work of our salvation. And since it is God's 01:06 work and if he is indeed in it and through it 01:09 does he ever give us evidence of his presence. 01:13 Are there ways in which we may have an 01:15 idea of what he will do, these answers made 01:19 only be ascertain from the study of scriptures. 01:22 And the daily application of our faith, 01:26 but indeed the answer to both questions is yes. 01:29 Yes, God gives evidence of His presence 01:32 through the presence of His Holy Spirit, 01:34 through our answers to prayers, 01:37 through supernatural miracles, his ways of 01:40 giving evidences endless and through diligent 01:43 study of prophecy we get a fairly clear 01:46 picture of what God would do to bring the 01:50 work, his work to completion. The Bible 01:54 assures us that God will do nothing except 01:57 he reveal it to his prophets first, 01:59 what a wonderful caring God that we serve? 02:03 He is doing all he can to keep us on the 02:06 straight and narrow without being confused 02:08 by every wind of doctrine that blows away. 02:11 I'm looking forward to delving into this 02:14 subject with greater clarity and detail as 02:17 we listen to today's message 02:19 "God Is in the Work." But first we're privileged 02:22 to go to 3ABN's worship center once again 02:24 and be blessed as we listen to a song entitled 02:28 "He Who Trusts," sung by Stephanie Dawn. 02:43 These are periled times we live 02:46 in, trouble everywhere 02:52 Weary hearts will often give 02:55 in to this world's despair 03:01 But high and over all, 03:04 our Father knows our every care 03:09 So in His Book, if you will look, 03:14 you'll find His promise there 03:21 He who trusts in the Lord 03:25 Mercy shall surround him 03:29 He who trusts in the Lord 03:34 Mercy shall surround him 03:38 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice 03:42 You upright in heart, lift up your voice 03:46 For great is His mercy toward 03:51 all who trust in the Lord 04:02 Soon will be the time when 04:05 we will see the Holy One 04:11 Oh how sweet to know that 04:14 He'll complete what He's begun 04:19 And blessed is the man who 04:23 stands forgiven in God's son 04:27 And blessed are they who in that 04:31 day will hear Him say, "Well done" 04:39 He who trusts in the Lord 04:43 Mercy shall surround him 04:47 He who trusts in the Lord 04:51 Mercy shall surround him 04:55 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice 05:00 You upright in heart, lift up your voice 05:03 For great is His mercy toward 05:08 all who trust in the Lord 05:15 Gracious is He and slow to anger 05:23 His loving kindness has no end 05:31 With love to embrace both friend and stranger 05:39 He's reaching out to one and all, 05:43 who upon His name will call 05:50 For He who trusts in the Lord 05:55 Mercy shall surround him 05:59 He who trusts in the Lord 06:03 Mercy shall surround him 06:07 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice 06:11 You upright in heart, lift up your voice 06:15 For great is His mercy toward 06:19 all who trust in the Lord 06:26 Mercy is His reward 06:29 For all who trust, for the pure and just 06:33 Who put their trust in the Lord 06:42 Mercy is His reward 06:50 Pray in his mercy toward, 06:55 all who put their trust in the Lord. 07:13 Thank you for joining us once again today, 07:15 we're very grateful and thankful we can 07:17 come in your home and be able to study 07:18 the word of God together. Now, we've 07:20 a very interesting subject, 07:22 because we think they're all interesting 07:23 and they are when you get into the work 07:24 of God and you might ask yourself the 07:27 question, is God in the work? 07:30 And our answer today in our sermon titled 07:32 "God is in the Work." And if he's in the work, 07:36 there is gonna be some manifestations of 07:39 Him in that work, so as usual before we 07:41 do anything, before we study, 07:43 we always kneel and have a prayer. 07:45 So, why don't you join right with me as 07:46 we ask for God's guidance here and for 07:49 the power of the Holy Spirit? 07:50 Let's pray together, shall we? 07:54 Merciful Father in Heaven, we thank you 07:55 for the privilege we have of prayer, 07:57 thank you that you, that we can be called 08:00 part of the family of God. Because of Jesus 08:02 Christ, thank you for that precious blood that 08:04 flood from Calvary. Now, we come to the 08:06 asking for the power of thy Holy Spirit to 08:09 consume each and every one of us. 08:11 Pray to illuminate my mind and the tongue, 08:13 may we hear directly from Heaven, 08:15 bless the ears, the hearing of each and 08:17 every one that they may hear the 08:19 beautiful truths that we will prepare them 08:21 to meet you when you shall come in the clouds 08:23 of glory, oh we thank you for this blessed 08:25 privilege. Now, join as we pray, 08:28 illuminate these truths in the precious name 08:31 of Jesus and we thank you for everyone 08:34 who will be listening and watching 08:35 around the world, in Jesus name, amen. 08:41 Once again as always we invite you to be 08:43 sure have a pen or pencil and take your 08:44 Bible where you can, jot these things down. 08:48 I always encourage you that we need to 08:50 study to show ourselves approved unto God. 08:54 We need to be writing things down and 08:56 we're just scratching the, the surface on 08:59 these beautiful subjects and I like to give 09:01 you food for thought and sometimes challenge 09:04 you with, with statements that will 09:05 say look I, I'm gonna get into the word to 09:07 see whether these things be so or not. 09:11 "God is in the Work," "God is in the Work," 09:15 you know the gospel dispensation that we 09:17 live in right now, it's a last period of, 09:21 of earth history. This is the last thing 09:24 that God has, as He reaches out to humanity. 09:28 There is not going to be anything else, 09:29 he's reaching out this everlasting gospel, 09:32 presenting it to every nation, kindred, 09:33 tongue, and people and then he's going to 09:36 comeback. I thank God for that, 09:39 so if you're looking for something else, 09:40 we need to be hinging our belief upon the 09:43 good news and the gospel of salvation. 09:46 And then be challenged with this, 09:47 is God in the work that you're doing for Him, 09:51 is He in the work or is that of another Spirit, 09:54 because it's going to be one spirit or the 09:56 other. It's pretty simple, it's either God who 09:59 is leading or the enemy is leading, 10:01 oh yeah the enemy can do you know great 10:02 things, he can, he cause people to get a lot 10:05 of income and, and a lot of things happen, 10:07 big churches, and a lot of things that can 10:09 go on. But that's not what we're interested 10:11 in; we're interested in being pleasing to 10:13 God, how about the gospel? I think about 10:16 the gospel and what it can do for, 10:18 the gospel is our mission. The God giving the 10:22 gospel is our responsibility, giving the 10:25 gospel to the world, what? It contains God's 10:29 expressed will to mankind; we have an 10:33 obligation to God. It's the everlasting gospel; 10:38 it's to proclaim the, the judgment. 10:40 It's to proclaim messages that have been 10:42 covered up over the many years of tradition 10:46 of man. Included in this gospel we must 10:50 realize that as it goes to every nation, 10:54 kindred, tongue, and people. It's going to 10:57 uncover some of these truths that we were 10:58 talking about, such us that, the Seventh-day 11:01 Sabbath, the Three Angels message that 11:04 we need to really focus on right now for 11:07 the time in which we live giving the first, 11:09 second and third angels message. 11:12 But also the gospel brings us into this 11:14 thing beautiful thing called harmony; 11:17 oh how we need it in the church, 11:19 how we need it in the movement is harmony. 11:21 We have so much what I call it disharmony; 11:23 we're out of tune and God's going to bring 11:25 His people in line and tune us up. 11:29 He's going to prepare us to meet Jesus 11:30 when He shall come. I love Romans 8:31 11:34 and I know you do too, you've read it 11:35 many times before, this gives me 11:37 encouragement as we look around and 11:39 see it seems like the devil is winning the 11:41 battle. Does he seem like he's winning it 11:44 in your life? The things that you attempt 11:46 to do, maybe in your work that you're doing 11:49 for Him. Regardless of what it is, 11:51 you may call it, some kind of, of your ministry, 11:53 but you feel like sometimes you're 11:54 defeated more than you're gaining victory. 11:57 This passage is so good; it gives you such 11:59 an encouragement. The Bible says in Romans 12:01 8:31, you jot it down: If God be for us, 12:05 who can be what? Against us, If, 12:09 now remember that word if that's a big, 12:11 that's a big, it's almost like if but this is, 12:14 this is the statement that is true: 12:17 If God is for us, who can be against us? 12:21 This is the passage we need to read everyday 12:24 in our experience. Because it will encourage 12:26 us along the way, for those who are, are 12:28 giving this last message of warning to the world. 12:32 This is an encouragement, it's a message of, 12:36 of mercy, that God is reaching down one 12:39 more time and he's talking and speaking to 12:41 those who will hear His word. 12:44 And then respond to it, so this is encouraging, 12:48 this is a message going to the world before 12:51 Jesus comes. Regardless you know the 12:54 enemy always lays plans; he does a lot better 12:57 planning than many of us and shame on us 12:59 for that. But he lays plans, but I'm so 13:02 grateful and thankful that God knows the 13:04 enemy's plans, he knows, and the devil tries 13:07 to conceal them. If we know how he, he 13:09 makes plans but he, he tries to conceal his 13:12 plans. He tries to deceive, fabricate, blow 13:16 things out of proportion, but he's still, 13:18 he's, he's always laying plans, and he's always 13:21 trying to fool God's people. But I'm 13:23 thankful today that God is always ahead of 13:27 the enemy, He knows exactly what he's 13:29 going to be doing. And you know he knows 13:32 what unerring accuracy of what the enemy is 13:36 up to as he tries to persecute God's last day 13:39 people. And what will God do with Satan's 13:42 plans, listen very carefully He's going to 13:44 bring them to not. He's just going to just 13:49 destroy the plans of the enemy as we stay 13:51 close to Jesus Christ. You know one man 13:54 the Bible that I, I love and love to read about, 13:57 it just gives me some encouragement is 13:59 Nehemiah, what a man of God he made this 14:03 statement in Nehemiah chapter 4 verse 20 14:07 it says, it's very simple here but he said: 14:10 Our God shall fight for us. Our God shall what? 14:16 Shall fight for us, why would God be fighting 14:20 for us? Friend, because God is in the work, 14:25 because He's in the work, because he's 14:27 being challenged, His children are being 14:29 challenged. And today I say that God is in 14:34 the work, Nehemiah brings it out so clearly 14:37 that God is going to be working. 14:39 God will fight and notice this word fight 14:43 with me in the, in the Hebrew. 14:46 God will consume, so we think of fighting, we 14:49 think well just a little, maybe little scuffle, 14:51 little tussle and everybody separates and 14:53 goes their own way God saying when I fight 14:55 the battle I'm fighting against the enemy. 14:57 And the word here means I'm going to 14:59 consume the enemy, I'm going to fight, 15:01 I'm going to consuming, I'm going to devour 15:04 the enemy. I'm going to go to battle with him, 15:08 I'm going to, this word means listen I'm going 15:11 to overcome him and I like this and it's kind 15:14 of simple maybe some of you, you think oh 15:16 that's too simple. He says, He's going to eat 15:19 them up, oh that's positive, 15:22 our God shall fight, and our God shall win 15:25 the victory for us. And I said why, why would 15:29 God do this? Because He is in the work, 15:32 no power can prevent the success of God's 15:37 work, no what? No power, no power can 15:41 stop it. We must realize this that truth will 15:45 always be bitterly opposed, you know people 15:49 know, you say then we say tell me the truth, 15:51 tell me the truth. Most people do not really 15:54 want to know the truth. They're gonna 15:57 barely appose the truth of God's word, 16:00 but never will it lose it's vitality. 16:03 The truth will never lose it, now what does 16:05 it vitality then you say well I'm not sure 16:07 vitality it's not gonna lose it. 16:09 That means it's not going to ever lose it's 16:10 what? It's power, truth will never lose it's 16:14 power, truth will never loss it's energy, 16:18 truth will always be able to survive as what 16:21 this word vitality means. And truth will 16:24 always, when you get truth is, 16:25 it gives what? Life and light, 16:29 God says if he, he's for us then who can be 16:34 against us, encouragement that we 16:36 need in the hour in which we live. 16:39 Jesus gave up, a real simple commission but 16:44 yet so complex, so challenging, that it would 16:48 challenge the very roots of our faith. 16:53 What was that that he asks? 16:55 What that that he commission? 16:56 Oh you know it, well it found in Mark 16 16:58 verse 15 when he simply said to us: 17:00 Go ye into all the world, and do what? 17:03 Yeah, preach the gospel to every creature. 17:07 This is what Jesus said, and people some 17:10 time well why you interest in going over here, 17:13 why you interest in doing this, why you? 17:14 Because Jesus commissioned us to what? 17:17 We're in the world, every person on the face 17:20 of the planet to give them the gospel and the 17:22 good news of salvation and the soon return of Jesus. 17:27 Now we must always remember that Jesus 17:30 is coming very, very soon. I talked to man 17:34 this week and it's kind of off and on, 17:36 he kind of we're doing a little work, 17:38 he comes over and just stops by for a few 17:40 minutes and, wants to talk about Jesus a 17:43 little bit, but what he, he said was kind of 17:45 startling, because he used to go to church, 17:48 he used to study his Bible. And we talk a 17:52 little bit about the end time and the coming 17:53 of Jesus and he made a startling statement 17:56 just a few days ago. He said, I used to care 17:58 about Bible prophecy, I used to care about 18:01 the end times, but I'm not worried about it 18:04 anymore. Why? What's happened? 18:09 When we used to study and we used to 18:11 think about Jesus his coming and what may 18:13 happen in this individual's life to say I don't 18:16 care about it anymore. What has happen to us? 18:21 Have we lost maybe our, our first love, 18:24 have we lost love for souls when Jesus said 18:27 you go and you preach that, give the good 18:29 news of gospel to the world. 18:31 How can this be accomplished? 18:34 If God is in the work, it's going to be 18:36 accomplished, it seems impossible to my 18:39 poor old mind and maybe to yours. 18:42 How will the world, all the world every 18:44 individual have the opportunity to make an 18:46 intelligent decision about this last day 18:49 message, the three angels message going 18:51 to all the world, everybody having, 18:53 God said this going to happen so I believe 18:55 this going to happen. But who's going to go, 18:58 oh I, I don't wanna be in convenience with it. 19:02 Well, it's gonna cost the money, 19:04 well I don't have any money, I can't really 19:05 give money for that, I can't sacrifice my time, 19:08 I can't quit my job. We have all kind of 19:11 excuses in the church, with church members. 19:15 Always too busy to work for God, 19:19 but oh they'll find time to do everything else. 19:23 But when he's commissioned us go and 19:25 when the gospel's been preached to every 19:27 nation, kindred, tongue and people he will 19:29 comeback. So, who's going to go and 19:34 someone say yeah what is it gonna cost? 19:37 It's going to cost, it's going to cost. 19:41 And we could say the list many of the cost, 19:43 but let's just say it's going to cost in so 19:45 many ways and we're not just talking 19:47 about money. But boy would that be, 19:50 will it be worth it. In our, my poor old mind 19:54 this it's like seems impossible for all this 19:57 work, but scripture says this, couple of 20:00 passages. Probably the most familiar to 20:03 most people, now again if you have your 20:06 Bible or you wanna jot it down please do 20:09 this Philippians 4:13, how about people 20:11 have memorized that, it says: I can do 20:13 all things through who? Christ, good which 20:18 strengthens me. I can do what? 20:21 All things through Christ, that just eliminates 20:24 all you people who make excuses all the 20:26 time that you can't do anything. 20:29 He said that you can do all things, 20:31 that does mean all, that means everything 20:34 that needs to be done, to get the gospel 20:36 to the world. And then the good news that 20:39 follows right up it says in Philippians 4:19: 20:42 But my God shall supply what? All your need 20:47 according to what? His riches in Christ Jesus. 20:51 So, he commission us to go and says then 20:53 what you can do all things and then I'm 20:56 going to supply what? All that you need 20:58 to get this job done. Oh, I'm without excuse, 21:03 it sound like an expense paid alright. 21:06 He ask you to go to another country, 21:08 he ask you go next door, he ask you do 21:09 this, that; he says I will quit before and I 21:12 will give you what you need. 21:14 Oh, we're without excuse, getting this gospel, 21:16 Jesus wants to comeback, he wants to take 21:18 us home. And so as God calls us, 21:23 he also what? Good, good, somebody is ahead 21:25 on me good I want you; I want you to be 21:27 thinking he enables us to do what he asks 21:30 us to do. I've often said this and I mean 21:33 if God ask you to dig a ditch, 21:35 he will make sure there is a shovel available. 21:39 If God what? He ask you dig a ditch he's 21:41 gonna give you the tools to dig that ditch 21:45 until we were what? We were without excuse, 21:48 because this going to, he asks you do it; 21:49 he's going to fulfill his plan so he makes it 21:52 possible. Is God in the work, I believe that 21:57 he is in the work, but there is going to be a 22:00 battle, there is going to be a fight. 22:02 And I don't know why that surprises us so 22:04 many of us as God's people do you? 22:06 Why does it surprise us when we go to 22:09 work for Jesus that there is one battle 22:12 after another, there is one fight, 22:13 and there is just one thing confusion after 22:16 the other. Everything seems to be going 22:18 against, why does that surprise you? 22:20 Why does that surprise me? 22:23 Well, you know the devil is not gonna give 22:24 you one inch of the ground when you're doing 22:26 the right thing for Jesus. He's gonna fight 22:30 you, as we say tooth & nail, anytime you 22:34 wanna hold on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 22:36 The devil says I'm going to prevent, 22:39 remember that the devil cannot prevent 22:40 you from giving the gospel; he can't prevent 22:42 you from following Jesus Christ. 22:45 But he can just give those smokes screens 22:46 up and sometime that's all it takes, 22:49 to discourage us and you know like oh well 22:52 I tell you I wished I never had started, 22:53 oh we wanna give up. Aren't you glad that, 22:57 that God takes a responsibility for the 23:00 battles that we're involved with here, 23:02 but we said it's not ours anyway he fights 23:04 it, but it seem like will you there in the middle 23:06 of it. We can't win it but God can through us, 23:10 he takes the responsibility for that 23:12 battle. The outcome belongs to God, 23:16 now Second Chronicles when you read that 23:18 another familiar passage in verse, 23:21 chapter 20 verse 15 it just simply says 23:24 here. For the battle is not what? 23:26 The battle is not yours, but God's. 23:30 So many time you're battling and you're 23:31 fighting and you just oh I don't know what 23:33 I'm going to, it's not your battle. 23:37 God's just using you to go about, you know 23:39 and do what he ask you to do and realize 23:42 the enemy is greater and stronger. 23:44 But then he's in us, we're stronger then the 23:45 enemy and so what he says it's not your 23:47 battle just do what I ask you to do and 23:51 don't question. I will fight the battle, 23:54 when the enemy loss up before you, 23:55 I'll eat them up, this what we read a while ago, 23:58 I will destroy him. I will get rid of him, 24:01 when the children of Israel, when they 24:03 marched to remember till the red sea, 24:04 boy they had to get away, when they got 24:06 into put their foot in the water what happened? 24:08 It parted and they went on through, 24:10 God said I will fight the battle, 24:12 I will part the ocean if I have to, 24:14 I will defeat the enemy, I will defeat the, 24:15 the armies that may come against to, 24:18 the individuals who come against you, 24:20 the gossipers and backbiters. I will fight 24:23 the battle for you just don't worry about 24:28 it, just do what I ask you to do and think, 24:29 that sound simple enough can we do that? 24:32 Yes, why because God is in the work, 24:37 he's in the work, he's take a responsibility 24:39 for, he's given us all that we need. 24:41 So, if God is in your work, if God is in this 24:44 movement, if God is in your home, 24:47 if God is in your, your marriage, 24:49 if God is in your job. Something good is 24:54 going to happen, he's going to fight the 24:57 battles for us, think of a station that you're 25:02 watching now, the 3ABN. You think the 25:06 devil has not come against this station with 25:09 everything that he has to throw against it. 25:12 Using individuals, using people, 25:14 using people, they don't know what they're 25:17 doing possibly, they just might be against it, 25:20 and they have no idea. Those people who was 25:22 purposing in their heart, to tare it down for 25:25 gain the gospel and you know what? 25:26 Sometime they claim to be one of us, 25:30 doing all what they can to help the enemy. 25:33 Because maybe they have some little 25:34 personal thing that they don't like or 25:36 whatever, they're not caring about the 25:38 countless millions that have the opportunity 25:40 to hear the gospel of Jesus. Oh, you 25:42 selfish individual, put yourself on the 25:46 backburner and think about the good that 25:48 the station is doing. They've taken a lot 25:52 of hits, ministries have taken a lot of 25:55 hits, we've taken a lot of hits. 25:58 God said I'll fight those battles for you out 26:00 faith will be tested to the, to the up most. 26:04 It's going to be tested to the very point 26:06 that we think that we're just about to fall, 26:08 we've been hit, we're dazed, 26:10 we're are going down. But God says you will 26:13 not go down, you have a love for the souls, 26:19 God said I'm going to, I'm going to sustain 26:21 you, I'm going to revive you and he said 26:23 the last days the people will be revived. 26:27 The gospel is going to revived, it's like God's 26:29 in the work, we need a revival or true 26:33 godliness among us as a people. 26:39 Do, you feel like you need a little 26:40 reformation, little change in your life, 26:41 the things are just kind a going to same 26:43 you know all of the time and. You want 26:46 something to happened, you maybe 26:48 staggering around the blows that the, 26:50 oh enemy is throwing against you right 26:52 now. And our human reasoning is saying, 26:55 oh boy I've got headed I don't know if 26:58 I can keep going. But God has promised, 27:03 he said I will not, I will not let this happen, 27:09 I will fight the battle for you. 27:12 Contrary to what, some may want or some 27:15 maybe trying to do against you, 27:18 God said his work will prevail. 27:20 In fact he says this, this is real promise in 27:22 Acts chapter 5 you jotting it down I hope, 27:26 Acts chapter 5 verse 39: If it be of God, 27:32 ye cannot overthrow it; if it be of God, 27:38 ye cannot overthrow it. Now, he's, he's 27:43 not just saying this little group, 27:44 he's talking about anything, anybody, 27:46 any power, any things thrown against it. 27:48 Doesn't matter what it is, he says if God be 27:51 in it, here's the word if God is in it, 27:54 you cannot overthrow it. A lot of times 27:56 people say, well we're gonna try to overthrow 27:58 this, you know you don't need to be doing 27:59 this, you should not be doing this. 28:01 If let it just run it's course God let 28:04 you know the enemy in Heaven. 28:05 When he chose to go the wrong way, 28:08 he let them play out for a while so others 28:10 may see. But eventually what happened 28:13 was he's cast out of Heaven, 28:15 if God's not in it, it's gonna fall apart, 28:19 if God is in nobody can over, overthrow why? 28:23 It continues on why you said well why then? 28:26 Why, it says: Ye be found even when you 28:29 fight, that you're fighting against God. 28:33 That's why you cannot win, for those who are 28:35 trying they shut down the gospel, 28:37 trying to shut down getting the gospel 28:39 preaching to the world, doing your little thing, 28:41 wherever you're at, to needle and to talk 28:43 and to gossip and try to criticize and get 28:45 people not to support. You fighting against 28:49 God and you will lose the battle, 28:52 there is no doubt about it, no one has ever 28:54 won against God, no one ever will, 28:57 no power. Again in Acts chapter 5 verse 39, 29:04 Acts chapter 23 verse 9 I'm sorry, 29:06 just checking out, right now I want to you 29:07 to make sure you read it, the last part it 29:10 said: Let us not fight against God. 29:14 So, many times in the book of Acts as his 29:17 spirits being poured out, people are moving 29:19 forward, winning souls for Jesus Christ. 29:22 They realized there was a, there was a 29:25 battle and but you always had the enemy 29:27 going against and there will always being 29:28 reminded here. Let us not fight against God, 29:32 because if he's for it good, who can be against 29:35 it. So, that commission to go into, 29:38 to all the world and preach the gospel, 29:40 the good news, the power of salvation. 29:43 Do you know where that was first given, that 29:46 commission was first given to the disciples 29:49 to, the 12 and then it was expanded in the 29:53 upper room but now it's been expanded to 29:55 a larger number in fact to the whole world, 29:57 to all of us, every person that claims to 30:00 be a child of God. That we are to go in to 30:03 the world and tell them about a savior, 30:06 a crucified, risen savior, that offers 30:09 forgiveness of sins and new a life in Him. 30:13 That was exciting news for a day, 30:16 one of my favorite books that I like to 30:19 read in it's called Desire of Ages. 30:22 Well, if you don't have that book, 30:23 you ought to, you ought to get one. 30:25 I'm think it's one of the best books I've 30:26 ever read on the life of Christ. 30:29 And in this book there's a little paragraph 30:30 and I wanna read that to you and, 30:32 I want to make sense to you. 30:34 Desire of Ages page 822 it says: 30:38 Christ gave His disciples their commission. 30:41 Do we agree with that, that's what the Bible 30:42 says? Yes: He made full provision for the 30:46 prosecution of the work. Now, if we've 30:49 read that, we've talked about that building 30:51 up to this point. So, God calls right, 30:54 he commissions us to go, he gives us 30:56 what we need to fulfill the work. 31:00 And then he took upon himself the 31:02 responsibility for its success. 31:05 Do you think God's work, work is gonna be 31:06 a success? Yes it is. He said will succeed, 31:10 you try to fight against him, your fighting 31:11 against God's losing battle. But here is 31:14 the key, people love to read the first part, 31:17 we love to read the promises of God, 31:19 but we do not like maybe the last line 31:22 or two. He takes responsibility for success 31:25 of the work and reading on it says: 31:27 So long as they obey His word, 31:33 and work in connection with Him, 31:36 they cannot fail. As long as we what? 31:41 Obey his word, as long as we work in 31:44 connection with him, divinity and humanity, 31:47 working together they cannot fail. 31:51 Wow, that's good, we just read those in 31:53 the Bible, these are Bible promises. 31:55 Desire of Ages 822 God calls us to ministry, 32:02 maybe God's called you to ministry, 32:04 maybe some said you do on a, we call on 32:06 the side a little bit or something just for 32:07 the working of salvation or soul. 32:10 But I every time I hear people say well God's 32:12 called me into ministry, God, God's called me, 32:14 God's called me to preach, God's called me 32:16 to preach. You realize there is much more 32:18 in ministry when you say ministry it's more 32:20 than preaching. There's good preachers 32:23 everywhere, preaching, it consist more than 32:29 just that, it's talking about you must deal 32:31 with the sick, you've got to deal with suffering, 32:34 you have to deal with the needy, 32:36 that those who are depressed, 32:38 those who out of source. Everyday problems 32:41 and attacks of the enemy, you have to deal 32:46 with people, sometime of just little faith. 32:50 I'm talking about a little bit of faith and it 32:52 seems so simple what God has said in his work, 32:54 but to them it's a mountain they're trying 32:56 to climb and it seems impossible to them. 32:59 More than just preaching and you have 33:02 to deal, when called to the ministry, 33:05 you've got to deal with those who are, 33:07 are crushed by guilt. So, you maybe, 33:12 you maybe one of those but you've not just 33:15 been knocked down but you, you've been 33:17 crushed and when you talk about being 33:19 crushed that means the pressure is so heavy 33:21 upon your chest. It's very hard to believe 33:24 that's, that's how real this pressure of guilt 33:27 that can be and shame, you're too ashamed 33:31 to get out of the house, you're too shamed 33:32 to go to church for what has happen. 33:37 Guilt, wrong doing, it just brings unrest to 33:45 the soul and we find that we live in a world 33:47 of unrest, unrest, people that are so 33:52 unhappy. It seem to be happy when it go 33:55 down to street and they wave me smile, 33:56 but if you sat down and talked to them, 33:58 they're unhappy. They're being crushed, 34:01 the very life has being crushed out of them, 34:03 and they're dissatisfied. You ever meet 34:06 somebody is dissatisfied, it's unhappy. 34:10 Everything that you talk about they're 34:12 unhappy with, they're not satisfied with, 34:16 it never pleases them, they can't find 34:18 anything to be happy about. We have to 34:21 really pray because I've tell you they're 34:22 gonna get you down if you're not careful, 34:25 you're not connected with the source of 34:26 power. They'll drag you down, we need to 34:29 be able to lift them up by the grace of God 34:33 and when these people are dissatisfied and 34:34 they're unhappy, remember it's not just 34:36 with you. It's what their self, 34:40 they're very unhappy with their self, 34:43 just probably nothing more maybe misery that 34:46 can be man can suffer as part of his unhappy 34:49 with yourself, everything that you do, 34:51 everything that you stand for, 34:52 you just don't like it. The weight it just 34:57 too much for them, the pain is just, 34:59 is just too keen everyday of their life. 35:03 So, every person, everyone that's called 35:06 into, to ministry is called to minister to sin 35:10 sick souls. Oh, that's difficult yes, 35:15 very difficult because very few will listen 35:18 to call. And you keep giving the call, 35:21 yeah people come, they visit the church. 35:24 Oh, we're gonna get in, we're gonna 35:25 takes studies, we're gonna come every week, 35:27 you don't see him for a month. 35:28 You can't find him, they moved off, 35:30 they've lost all hope, one minute they're 35:32 hot and the next minute they're cold. 35:35 So, the devil likes that, we've got to work 35:38 for these sin sick souls. And let us do the 35:43 work faithfully, see God's looking for faithful 35:49 men and women today, trust God in your 35:53 work for him. You see, it appears that 35:57 sometime we're restricted do you ever 35:58 feel like you're restricted even in the 35:59 calls of Christ. We restricted in ministry, 36:02 restricted the harmony, restricted in your job, 36:04 every time you turn around there is, 36:06 there is new restriction going on. 36:09 Some time in the work, we will just, 36:10 we're restricted because you had, 36:13 you've got to line up with certain things. 36:17 The cuffs put on, in order to do something 36:20 else, you know the enemy is good about put 36:23 restrictions on things to hamper the calls of 36:26 Christ. Put us in a chock-hole, 36:31 what about these restrictions you may, 36:35 you say well I'm restricted by 36:36 circumstances. Don't let circumstances 36:40 control you, you control circumstances by 36:42 the grace of God. Then we say well 36:45 circumstances prohibits me from doing it. 36:48 Get about, get on your knees and ask God 36:50 to change those circumstances and then 36:52 get up and do something about it. 36:54 Well I don't know where to go, just get up 36:56 and just do something. Or said so much, 37:00 get up and do something if it's wrong, 37:01 if you have a honest heart just get up 37:03 and do something and God will direct your 37:05 steps if you true of heart. 37:09 So, sit back waiting for God to do something, 37:12 you get up and you start to move, 37:13 be faithful, keep moving forward is what God 37:16 says today. And I've notice this God often 37:20 uses the simplest means to accomplish the 37:24 greatest results. Have you, have you ever 37:27 seen that maybe in a ministry or in home or 37:30 some connection with God in work. 37:33 Many times we're thinking what's got be 37:35 this way or it's got to be that way, 37:37 it's gonna take a great manifestation; 37:38 he uses the simplest means sometime to 37:41 accomplish the greatest results, why? 37:44 Because God is in the work, see this 37:47 encouragement to me I can't say it enough. 37:49 I like standing here about 15 minutes say 37:51 God's in the work, God's in the work, 37:53 God's in the work and you know how 37:54 encouragement that is, I can say that over 37:56 and over and over and you say it over and 37:59 over and over and you know what you're 38:00 gonna believe it. It's about time God's people 38:03 stood up and said, God's in the work, 38:05 God's in the ministry, God's in the movement. 38:09 And he's gonna work, oh what a 38:12 encouragement that will give you, 38:14 then you have one stand up here say well 38:15 I don't believe God's in the work. 38:17 Put him outside and go out and for him till 38:19 they have a change of heart and bring him 38:20 back in and let him chant it along with you 38:22 God's in the work. Satan assaults it always 38:31 been directed for those who sought to advance 38:35 to the truth. You know this but just keep it in 38:39 your mind when you purpose in your heart, 38:41 you want to advance the truth of God's word. 38:44 The assaults are going to come, he's gonna 38:48 work on you, gonna work on your family, 38:50 he's gonna work on your friends, 38:51 he's gonna work on the church where you go, 38:52 he's gonna, he just wherever he can, 38:54 he's going to work to try to cause these 38:55 confusion. Now, Satan use this, 38:58 I'm just gonna oh, oh thousands and 38:59 thousands of methods, let me just use two. 39:03 Oh, you probably know them, 39:05 but let me just allow me to do this, 39:07 and I may get on the soap box little bit 39:08 here, when I do, I'll just, I'm gonna stay on 39:10 for while you know maybe I'll get off, 39:14 two methods that the devil uses you know 39:15 why because it's so real and I've seen it 39:18 in operation I've seen the devil work, 39:23 I've been involved. You say well it must be 39:26 something big, no it's real simple here but we 39:29 don't really sometime we just, 39:30 we don't discern it, you have number 1, 39:33 you have what we called the open opposers 39:36 to the truth, have you ever met those? 39:40 Now, open oppossers and number 2, 39:43 we're gonna talk about a little bit, number 2, 39:45 you have the secret opposers. 39:49 So, you have one group here that's open a 39:51 about it, you have the little sneaks, 39:54 little snake in the grass, the little secret 39:57 opposers to the work of Christ, 39:59 they can't stop us, because we have 40:01 read the scripture you can't stop it. 40:03 But boy they'll try to slow it down. 40:08 Now, let me ask you a question, you say oh 40:10 boy here we go that's right. 40:11 Let me ask you a question, who's the most 40:13 dangerous? Who's the most dangerous 40:19 the open opposer, or the secret opposer? 40:24 See the, the open opposer just says what 40:27 he has on his mind. He doesn't really care, 40:31 this is the way I see it, this is the way that 40:34 it is, he doesn't try to hide it. 40:38 It maybe hurtful he doesn't rest too bad 40:40 he says it may even be untrue he doesn't 40:43 care. This is what he has on his mind 40:46 you know where he stands, you know what 40:48 he's up to, at least you know where he's 40:51 coming from. And then you can deal with that 40:55 but how about that secret opposer to the 40:57 gospel and the truth, they maybe, 41:01 they maybe sitting beside you in the church. 41:05 And you don't even know it, do you realize 41:08 people they, they carry around hurt feelings, 41:12 hard feelings, evil surmising, hatred all kind 41:18 of things of the enemy. And when they see 41:23 you look at that, when they see you they 41:26 might even put their arms around you and 41:27 hug you and as Judas might give a little kiss 41:31 on cheek. That kind of hard to discern, 41:37 but boy behind the scenes they're just 41:40 planning little seeds of doubt and what if 41:42 and it seems like and I heard and I. 41:46 But they're, they're supposed to be Christian. 41:50 That secret opposer, he usually pretends to 41:53 be your, your friend that way he can get 41:56 information about you. Maybe it's not really 41:59 on purpose but they've been heard about 42:01 something and they figure it's their job 42:03 to even things up. A Christian will not act 42:05 that way, you call yourself a Christian and 42:08 you act that, you will not a Christian 42:10 because that's not Christ like. 42:13 Too many in the church get away with it, 42:14 well I know I shouldn't but I did it, 42:16 that's not Christ like you wanna go to 42:18 Heaven that's got to go God can give you 42:20 a victory over that. And as they pretend 42:24 to be your friend, maybe working in the 42:26 ministry, they had the privilege of learning 42:30 things about you maybe. Things about the 42:33 ministry and they interpret them the way 42:35 they want to, something happens they live a 42:38 little bit later on, they have their own little 42:40 tongue of how those things happened and 42:43 they think that this went on and they think 42:44 that. Haven't you got something better to do? 42:48 We should be able to distinguish that secret 42:50 opposer of the gospel and getting the message 42:53 to the world. Actually they're opposing much 42:56 more than you, they're opposing Jesus Christ. 42:59 And the devil is working through them. 43:06 Now why don't you just think with me, 43:11 we need to be spreading the good news 43:13 of Jesus Christ. We need to be busy doing 43:15 something positive for Jesus. 43:18 Every minute that you spend tearing 43:19 somebody down or tearing the movement 43:21 down or tearing this person or that person 43:23 down. You're doing the work of the devil, 43:25 how can the devil operate in you sometime 43:27 and you say God operates in you another time. 43:29 Can bitter and sweet water come forth in the 43:31 same, no he was not with me is against me, 43:35 it's either one spirit or the other, 43:38 it's never combination. When Jesus Christ 43:40 comes into the body, the enemy cannot stay 43:45 he has, somebody say he has to flee. 43:49 Now, I think the enemy has to flee when God 43:51 comes in, when the spirit of God comes inside 43:53 the enemy has to leave, you see then you're 43:55 walking in the newness of life, 43:57 you're walking with God, you're walking in power, 43:59 you're walking in strength, all of those 44:01 promises that God gives us are therefore us if 44:05 we what? If we're be obedient and if we 44:07 have close communion with him. 44:08 We shall not fail, but there is too much failing 44:12 going on because we do not have that connection, 44:14 where a good, lot of good talkers. 44:18 People, I see a lot of people get sidetracked, 44:21 these secret opposers try to sick track you 44:24 from doing what we need to be doing. 44:27 Sidetracking our issues, in the movement 44:31 today in Christianity there is so many people 44:35 that are always introducing side issue; 44:37 you had nothing to do with salvation. 44:40 But they understand that, so they turn around 44:41 said, now this is the salvation issue. 44:45 God has presenting clearly in his word those 44:47 things that pertain, pertaining to my salvation, 44:52 they're clear about what it takes to repopulate 44:55 Heaven. It doesn't have to be some kind of a 44:57 side issue that you have to twist and turn and 45:00 make it seen that you, you've got to accept 45:02 this, you've got to do, the Bible said do you 45:03 accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. 45:06 You confess your sins, he's faithful and just 45:08 to forgive us our sins and cleans us from 45:10 all unrighteousness. God is in the work dear 45:13 friends, is he in your heart today, 45:16 is he in your life? I heard people say sometime 45:20 well we need to, we need to slow down, 45:21 we're moving a little bit too fast here. 45:22 We need to have a, we need have another 45:24 meeting and, and some will say, 45:26 well let's make sure now we're not going 45:27 to offend someone. Wow, that's impossible 45:33 if you're doing the right thing people are going 45:35 to be offended by and by. People what, 45:39 you say no listen when Jesus walked this earth, 45:43 there were many people that were offended 45:46 because of him. Now, did he do offensive things? 45:48 No, but they took offense because he exposed 45:51 some things in their life. Some people might 45:55 say something like these secret opposers, 45:58 now look if you wanna, if you wanna do some 46:00 work in the future. We need to kind of line 46:03 up over here a little bit. You need to slow 46:05 down a little bit, if you wanna work in the 46:07 future. Do you wanna work for God? 46:11 I'm not working for man, you not working for 46:14 man, you're working for God, you're 46:15 accountable to God. Some will say you need 46:18 to consider the, the issues I'm considering 46:21 the issues, I'm considering eternal life, 46:23 I'm considering what I'm commissioned to do, 46:25 going into the world and encouraging people 46:27 to take a stand on the side of Christ. 46:29 Regardless of their life, regardless of what's 46:31 happened in their life, that God can forgive 46:33 and bring them into the family of God. 46:35 And can repopulate heaven. Jesus made a 46:38 very strong point on this issue and talking about 46:42 you know those who are not doing what he's 46:46 already commissioned us to do. And, and 46:51 some are not gonna like it, because 46:52 they've been offended. In Matthew 13:21 46:57 the Bible says this: Yet hath he not root in 47:00 himself, but dureth for a while: for when 47:05 tribulation or persecution ariseth because of 47:09 the what? Tribulation and persecution 47:12 ariseth because of the word, by and by he 47:17 is offended. Offended mean here by and by 47:21 he's going to have cause for displeasure. 47:23 Have you ever made a Christian, 47:26 well we have calls we're unhappy. 47:29 But it says because of the word, 47:31 otherwise when they have to take a stand 47:33 to certain time in their life and maybe it's 47:35 going to cost them a little bit to follow Jesus 47:37 Christ. They became unhappy with that, 47:39 they're just displeased with that. 47:42 Offended that means they're, they get, 47:45 they get tripped up. Are you one of those 47:48 who's maybe got offended, you got tripped 47:50 up you, you're in apostasy, you're in 47:52 enticing sin here, that's what it means, 47:54 one who stumbles. Jesus said concerning 47:58 the last days Matthew 24:10 he said this: 48:02 And then shall many be offended, 48:05 and shall betray one another, and shall what? 48:08 And shall hate one another. Jesus said many 48:11 people is going to be what? Offended why? 48:15 Because of the truth, the straight testimony 48:18 that we are to be giving in the church, 48:20 in the last day movement, a straight testimony 48:24 lifting up a standard and people become 48:26 offended by when you start talking about 48:28 things that we put in our body, 48:30 things that we put on our body. 48:32 How do we need to gain victory over sin in 48:33 our life, people become offended with that, 48:36 why? It's the truth, straight testimony. 48:42 The world becomes offended by it, 48:47 we must endeavor to defeat the enemy by 48:54 God's grace, and we need to do it with 48:57 where we can with, with tact and good and 48:59 good conduct and through what? 49:02 Power of prayer. But the enemy can and will 49:05 be defeated the battle is what, 49:07 it's not ours but it's what? Its God's battle 49:10 why? Because God is in the work, 49:13 I'm assured he is in, the battle ranges on 49:16 between good and evil. And, and I've heard 49:20 said, and I'm sure that you've probably heard, 49:24 have heard it said forth, the battle seems 49:26 to indicate that there is a warfare, 49:29 I talked to myself and I say there is a 49:30 battle and he said that's warfare you mean 49:33 there is real struggle that's going on. 49:35 I wanna make this point I don't want you to 49:37 miss it, you may have missed some 49:38 other things, please don't miss this. 49:44 When you're talking about a battle and God 49:45 said I'm gonna fight the battle for you, 49:47 I want you to listen how real that battle is? 49:52 It might melt your heart today, 49:55 to think that God is fighting for us, 50:00 who are so unworthy. And it's not, 50:04 it's not a make believe battle. 50:07 It's a real battle that's going on between 50:10 good and evil and evil is determined not to 50:14 lose any ground and they will do anything 50:16 and everything within their power to maintain 50:19 and God only can push them back. 50:26 I say today the battle is real and if our, 50:31 our spiritual vision somehow could be opened 50:34 up today, I would relax, I mean we could take 50:37 it, we'd open up our eyes and we could see 50:40 this battle that's going on, we would see angels 50:43 by the millions flying around in our, 50:46 our behalf. Quickly to help those who are in 50:49 need and those who are being tempted and 50:51 those who are being tried, the sky would be 50:55 full of them. They're coming to our ad, 50:59 to the tempted ones are coming and say 51:01 oh I'm going to help you gain the victory do 51:03 you want that victory? Because these people 51:07 are ready to give up they are grief stricken, 51:12 they've been opposed and they, they've been 51:16 burdened with the weight of sin and even 51:20 by brothers and sisters as they were in the, 51:22 in the movement they about crushed the life 51:24 out of them. Now, but God said there is, 51:29 there is gonna, there is relief that's on the 51:31 way. I'm in the work, there's relief that's 51:35 on the way. And if you cry out to God, 51:39 you know what God said, this is found in 51:41 Prophets and Kings, what a book if you don't 51:43 have that, you need to be reading the book. 51:47 Prophets and Kings 176 said this: 51:50 The battles raging between the two armies 51:54 are as real as those fought by the armies of 51:59 this world, somebody didn't get it. 52:03 The battles that are raging on and the battles 52:05 are everyday, they do not stop. 52:09 The battles are being fought between good 52:11 and evil, between Christ and Satan, 52:14 are as real as those fought in the armies of 52:17 this world, and they're on the issue of 52:20 spiritual conflict eternal destinies depend. 52:27 The battles that are being fought, 52:28 that I'm talking about here deals with out 52:32 destiny, whether we go to heaven or not 52:35 and God's put forth every energy that he can, 52:38 but he can't do it unless you ask. 52:41 He can't do it unless you cry out God's is in 52:43 the work, he's fighting for us and when I think 52:48 about those battles are real that are raging 52:53 around the world, they're real and he's doing 52:57 it for you and he's doing it for me. 53:00 Do you remember quickly the vision of the 53:02 Ezekiel our time is about gone. 53:05 The appearance of a, there is a real and 53:07 beneath you know the winds and all things are 53:09 all going and turning and it seem to be all out 53:11 of whack and couldn't tell what it was all about, 53:14 the wings of the cherub, that's Ezekiel 10 just 53:16 read that it when you have the opportunity. 53:18 He saw a number of wheels and they all 53:20 intersecting with, with one another their 53:22 and they were move by the four living 53:24 creatures high above and lightness was the 53:26 throne of God, do you remember and the 53:28 lightness of the son of man sat up on it. 53:31 The everything is moving it seem like to 53:32 mankind it was just so out of whack wheels 53:35 moving and here complicated things that 53:37 were going on, confusing at first and at the next 53:40 glance. He saw they were moving in perfect 53:43 harmony, Heaven was being powered by, 53:48 impaled by these wheels and when Ezekiel 53:52 notice that God sees the intercede things of 53:55 life, he knows you like there is no one else 53:57 on the face of the earth. He knows everything 53:59 about you and everything seems to be 54:01 in confusion but it's not. Ezekiel was so 54:04 impressed and so he say oh how great God 54:07 is, he said, Bible said he fall on his face wow. 54:12 God made it plan to him, the world seems my 54:16 friend to be in a chaotic state, everything 54:18 moving in different direction. But God is in 54:20 the work, God's going to bring what? 54:22 He's gathered all this confusion, 54:23 he's going to bring it all together, 54:26 he's going to bring good to God's people why? 54:28 Because God's in the work, friend, do you 54:31 believe God's in the work today, we need to 54:32 pray about it. Do you believe that you're 54:35 gonna be more in the conference through 54:36 Jesus Christ. Do you believe that, that you 54:39 shall not fail if we just simply obey God we 54:43 have Humanity and divinity working together, 54:45 we're plugged into the power source. 54:47 We shall not fail, isn't God great, 54:53 he's done so much for you what you're gonna 54:54 do for him today, let's pray about it right 54:56 now it's always we close with, with the 54:57 prayer of dedication, let's pray together. 55:01 Merciful Father in Heaven, we thank you for 55:02 your love today, we thank you for your word, 55:04 what an encouragement to realize this world 55:07 so darken by sin, we see through it glass darkly, 55:12 sometime it's almost like why go on, 55:13 why continue to do what we're doing but 55:15 I'm thankful that you're, you're in the work. 55:18 And you're gonna finish this work, 55:20 it's gonna bring it to completion. 55:22 You're gonna make sense out of all these 55:23 things that we can't make sense out of, 55:25 you're gonna bring it together I gave you 55:26 praise honor and glory for those who have 55:27 chosen now to be on your side in Jesus name amen. 55:34 It's always a pleasure to be able to spend 55:36 some time with you, we encourage you if you 55:38 have question be sure and write into us, 55:40 write that question down give us a phone call. 55:42 We do appreciate your prayers and your 55:44 support to continue these programs coming to 55:47 you, don't forget 3ABN, send them a love gift 55:49 too, we love you, I appreciate talking 55:51 to you and we'll see you next time. 55:55 Welcome back, I hope you are more excited 55:59 than ever to be a part of God special work 56:02 that he has for each of us after having 56:05 listened to that message. You know, 56:07 my brother-in-law Danny Shelton he's often 56:09 been heard on this station saying the blessing 56:12 is on the go, the blessing is on the go. 56:15 And I must agree we are so blessed when 56:18 we take action and became a part of this 56:20 work. We are to be doers of the word and 56:23 not here is only and what is work began right 56:27 where you are right now. First it begins in 56:31 your heart and as the love of God begins to 56:34 feel and motivate you to action your first 56:37 missionary work is in home. The rest is 56:40 endless as you praying as God to open doors 56:44 for you to witness for him and do a work for 56:46 him, as you do this we pray that you will 56:49 partner up with us here at Behold The Lamb 56:51 Ministries, partner up with us and doing and 56:54 finishing this work. These messages are only 56:57 made possible by our supporters like yourself 57:00 they'll want to see the work finish. 57:02 And give prayerfully of your time and 57:04 financially to make it happen one way you 57:07 may do this is just by ordering this message 57:10 on DVD, you're offering for the DVD blesses us 57:14 as well as you and whomever you chose to 57:16 share with. So, please contact us today won't 57:19 you and consider sending a love gift of just 8$ 57:24 or more for you very own DVD you may write 57:27 us at Behold the Lamb Ministries, Po Box 2030 57:32 Herrin, IL 62948 or call us at central standard 57:38 time here in the United States at 618-942-5044. 57:44 And always you can email us at 57:46 BeholdTheLamb Ministries@yahoo.com 57:49 and visit us on the web won't you at 57:51 www.BeholdThe LambMinistries.com. 57:55 Until next time may our Lord 57:56 richly bless you and yours. |
Revised 2014-12-17