Maturity - August 13, 2023: full transcript and answers

▶ 0:00 Online we want to thank you for joining us this morning this great Sunday morning we’re going to begin our morning this morning with worship to Jesus Christ so will you stand we’re going to join and let’s be participants this morning I invite you let’s stand and worship God this. Morning hallelujah it’s good to be in God’s house to praise him in the sanctuary in unity we gathered together amen amen it’s good to be. Here I will put on my garment of praise I will put on my garment of praise and the spirit of heaviness is gone from me I have put on my garment of praise I have put on my garment of praise I have put on my of praise and the spirit of heaviness is g from me I have put on myar of praise oh I have put on my garment of praise I have put on my garment of praise and the spirit of heaviness is gone from me I have put all my garment of gra.

▶ 1:23 Sacrifice of praise to the house of the Lord. We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord and we offer upto you the sacrifices of thanksgiving and we offer unto you the sacrifice is of joy we bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. The sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord and we offer to you the sacrifice is of thanksgiving we offer unto you the sacrifices of joy I have put on my garment of gra I have put on my garment of praise and the spirit of heaviness is from me I have put on myar of praise make his praise.

▶ 2:37 Glorious cate before the king let the singers sing the players cate cate the king make his praise. Glorious cate before the king let the singers sing the players play cate celebrate the king bring sacrifice of p into the house of the Lord we bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord and we offer unto you the sacrifices of thanksgiving we offer unto you the sacrifice of joy and we offer unto you the sacrifices of thanksging we offer unto you the sacrifices of joy we offer unto you the sacrifice is of joy.

▶ 3:56 Of joy hallelujah Lord. We praise we. Exal thank you Jesus Jesus. Jesus how wonderful is our God our Lord we love you we love you. God great is your name great are you. Lord thank you. Jes worship you Lord we worship you God great is your name thank you thank you. Lord king of kings you are.

▶ 4:52 Worthy here I am and I have come to thank you Lord for all you’ve. Done thank you. Lord you paid the price at Calvary shed your blood you set me. Free thank you. Lord no greater love was ever shown no better life ever was laid down. And I will always love your name and I will always sing your praise and I will always love your name.

▶ 5:51 And I will always sing your praise you took my sin you took my shame you drank my cup you bore my pain thank you. Lord you broke the curse you br the chain victory from death you rose. Again thank you. Lord and not my words your grace hold me now in your righteousness and I will always love your name and I will always sing your praise.

▶ 6:50 And I will always of your name and I will’ll always sing your praise you b me come you make me whole you give me peace you restore my soul thank you. Lord you fild me up and when I’m full you give me more till I. Overflow thank you Lord. You’re making me to be like you to do the works of the father. To and I will always love your name.

▶ 7:48 And I will always sing your praise and I will always love your name and I will always sing your praise and I will always love your name and I will always sing your praise and I will always love your name. And I will always sing your praise and I will always sing your praise.

▶ 8:44 And will always sing your praise thank you God we praise you Lord. We sing your praise oh. God wonderful Lord God. Almighty you are excellent Jesus you are excellent. Lord thank you thank you. God we love you we love you Lord. Lord great is your name worthy of your great.

▶ 9:40 Thank you Jesus we thank you. Lord Lord we thank. You just want to thank you. Lord I come before you. Today and there’s just one thing that I want to. Say. Thank you. Lord. Thank you. Lord. For all you’ve given to.

▶ 10:35 Me for all the blessings that I cannot. See. Thank you. Lord. Thank you. Lord with a grateful. Heart with a song of praise with an outstretched. Arm I will bless your name. Thank you. Lord I just want to thank you. Lord thank you. Lord I just want to thank you.

▶ 11:32 Lord for all you’ve done in my life you took my darkness and gave me your light. Thank you. Lord. Thank you. Lord you took took my sin and my shame you took my sickness and heal all my pain thank you. Lord. Thank you. Lord with a grateful.

▶ 12:25 Heart with a song of praise. With an outstretched. Arm I will bless your name thank you you. Lord I just want to thank you. Lord oh thank you. Lord I just want to thank you. Lord. With a grateful. Heart with a song of praise with an our stret. Arm I will bless your name oh thank you. Lord I just want to thank you.

▶ 13:23 Lord. Thank you. Lord. I just want to thankk you. Lord. Lord thank you. Lord I come before you. Today and there’s just one thing that I want to.

▶ 14:15 Say. Thank you. Lord. Thank. You. Lord. Oh. Thank you. Lord we just want. Thank you. Lord. Thank you. Lord. Thank you you. Lord for all you’ve given to. Me for all the blessings that I cannot.

▶ 15:10 See. Thank you. Lord. Thank you. Lord with a grateful. Heart. With a song of praise with an outstretched. Arm I will bless your name. Thank you. Lord I just want to. Thank you. Lord. Thank you Lord. I just want to.

▶ 16:03 Thank you. Lord than you. Lord Jesus we thank you Lord for all that you’ve done in our lives Lord we bless. You you. Lord. Thank you Jesus thank. You thank. You Jesus we thank you Lord for your goodness thank you Lord thank you.

▶ 17:02 Thank you. Jesus thank you Jesus somebody want to lift their voice and just give God thanks today for all he’s done for. Us Jesus we thank you today Lord Lord there’s so many things you have done for us that we don’t even see and recognize and we today just want to spend this time in giving thanks to you Lord Lord you deserve our appreciation you deserve Lord our attention you deserve our obedience and our love and our dedication Lord to serve you and we are so grateful you have been so gracious in correcting us Lord you’ve been so gracious in guiding us and leading us we give thanks Lord to.

▶ 18:16 You give. Thanks with a greatful. Heart give. Thanks to the holy. One give. Thanks because he’s. Given. Jesus. Christ his son and now let the weak say I am. Strong let the poor say I am. Rich because of what the Lord has.

▶ 19:12 Done for. Us give. Thanks give. Thanks with the greatful. Heart give. Thanks to the one give. Thanks because he’s gi. Jesus. Christ his son he. Thanks with a greatful. Heart give. Thanks to the holy.

▶ 20:05 One give. Thanks because he’s gi. Jesus. Christ his son. And let the we say I am. Strong let the poor say I am. Rich because of what the Lord has. Done for. Us in. Praise. Give.

▶ 21:09 Pra give. Thanks glory thank you. God we thank you Lord we lift you up oh Lord you are wonderful. God majestic in to name you are high and lifted up we thank you oh God you are. Wonderful. Give wory is the l almighty God you are worthy of all our praise we give.

▶ 22:06 Than give. Praise give. Pra thank you Jesus give. Thanks. With a grateful. Heart give. Thanks to the holy. One give. Thanks because he’s. Gi. Jesus. Christ his son give.

▶ 23:01 With a grateful. Heart give. Thanks to the holy. One. Thanks because he’s. Gi. Jus. Christ his son. Thank you Lord. Thank you. Lord for. Saving my soul. Thank you. Lord for. Making me.

▶ 23:55 Home. Thank you you. Lord for. Giv to. Me th great. Salv so. Rich. Free oh Jesus I thank you Lord Jesus for your merciful Lord God when we stumble and fall Jesus you are there to pick us. Up and you hear us when we cry oh Lord you hear. Us us lonely people Lord God one in a million Lord Jesus you hear our cry Lord Jesus thank you for your mercy thank you for giving us your power to rise up from that failure to rise up from that stumbling Lord God and to carry on to reach higher to go forward in you Lord Jesus thank you Lord thank you for your mercy thank you.

▶ 25:26 Jesus. Ocus. Learning and want to walk in that truth. Lord Lord we thank you that you have called to people throughout the world for. Yourself you’ve call them out of every kindred tribe and nation and tongue and Lord you’re doing it a work that we just cannot. Fathom Lord we thank you for your Holy Spirit the power that you give to that people Lord when we ask when we come when we seek can search for you you promised.

▶ 26:31 Lord as in that day in Pentecost that you came upon them with power Lord you promised that power to every believer Lord we thank you so much for your work open our eyes Lord open our eyes that we see your hand across the world even though there’s division Lord the main thing is the simplicity of the gospel of Christ and in that there’s unity yes in that there’s power in that there’s oneness and we can bind. Together and we can seek our God and we can ask for your power to be shown and we ask for that this day Lord Jesus we’re thanking you and we’re praising you for all you’ve done but we’re asking you Lord also for that power to be manifest in your people in your church in this day in this hour in this nation Lord and all the nations of the earth but here in America Lord we need that power we need your Holy Spirit oh God above our own abilities above anything we can offer Lord we need you to show forth your power oh.

▶ 28:02 God move across our land Lord and we will thank you and praise you forever and ever. Jesus Jesus Jesus granted to. Us. Our eyes. Lord we want to see. Jesus to reach out and touch.

▶ 29:07 And say that. I. Open our ear. And help us. To. Open. Our. Lord we want to see. Jesus. Open our eyes.

▶ 30:10 We want to see. Jesus to reach out. And. And that. Love. Open. Our Lord and help us to. Live. Our eyes.

▶ 31:08 Lord we want to see. Jesus. Rise from your rest and be. Blessed by our praise as. We. Glor in your inra.

▶ 32:09 As your praise now fs this. Place come and rise from your rest and be. Blessed by our praise as we. Glory in. Your. Praise. As your presence now feel his place.

▶ 33:09 Come and rise come and rise from your rest and be. Blessed by our praise as we. Glory in your in. Praise as your presence now fs this. Place. This as.

▶ 34:14 Your power. Comes upon. Us. As your power com on your turn as your power comes. Up. Us. God we lift you up Lord we lift you up thank you thank you.

▶ 35:08 Jesus God Lord send forth your life Lord we want your power. Lord. Jesus Jesus. Jesus thank you Lord thank you. Jesus Lord Jesus we are very thankful that our names are written in the lamb’s book of life Lord Jesus but as the scriptures say go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them God we want our nation to come back to discipleship with you Lord to follow you Lord not just believe beleving in a God far away but Lord following the truth God we need good people back in America again Jesus Lord we need righteousness to be the majority in America again Lord we need it to be overwhelmingly the majority God Lord so that when leaders are selected there’s a lot of good people to choose from God we pray for America again Lord that would come back to following and discipleship with you Jesus please Lord we pray we ask this in your precious name everyone said.

▶ 36:42 Amen amen thank you Jesus you may find your seats this morning morning and welcome we want to thank you for joining us online in the room we have handouts this morning we’re going to be talking about maturity. And I want to thank everybody’s partition participation this morning it’s good to come God’s house and everybody contributing giving thanks and praise and praying out uh as it says in the first Corinthians 2 Corinthians. 14 thank. You we’re going to turn to Job chapter 1 verse one and we’re going to see in Job 1 ver1 that Job was blameless and upright and one who feared God and shunned evil turned away from evil in Ephesians chapter.

▶ 37:42 4:13 the scriptures say till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God to a perfect. Man. To the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ and so. God in these scriptures we’re reminded that God wants to bring us to a maturity level he wants to bring us to a perfect man and perfect meaning complete lacking nothing and he did that in Job he was blameless he was upright he was one who feared God and turned turned from and shunned evil and so we may see ourselves as insignificant or incapable of changing but he God sees potential through his empowerment in.

▶ 38:43 Us in f second Peter 1 verse. 5 says add your faith virtue. Oh came. Off. Oh I see what ed. Drong. Sorry second Peter 1 verse 5 are we good now. Yes I just need to turn my head back and look says add to your faith virtue to virtue knowledge to knowledge self-control to self-control perseverance to perseverance godliness to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness.

▶ 39:43 Love Galatians 5:22 repeats and Paul he kind of mentions very similar things talking about the fruits of the spirit the fruits of the spirit is love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness too woohoo gentleness and self-control I uh after hearing that song now I can always remember the fruits of the Spirit faithfulness gentleness and self-control so we see here that faith is the beginning it’s the foundation if you look at this picture of the house right here uh there’s a foundation right here of a cement that’s been laid and it is the beginning it is not the the full complete package you don’t want to live your life your spiritual life just on a foundation you want to be fully finished and built out and complete and that’s what God is talking about when he talks about perfection.

▶ 40:44 Complete whether you’re a 2,000t building or a 4,000 square foot or a th000 or 500 square feet God wants to complete. And uh build you out as we say in the it world is that built out yet did you build that. Out and the goal of the foundation is to add on top of it uh room a house has a kitchen a bathroom bedrooms living spaces and um it’s very important we understand that we need to add to our faith and if we can also.

▶ 41:32 Upgrade you know wherever you’re at maybe you have all these things maybe you’re fully built out but your house is 200 square feet and you’re saying to myself I need to add some space here I need to add to my love I need to add to my joy I need to add to my peace my patience and you can do that and God can do that you just start a new foundation and you add on to that house and you upgrade and increase in those things so wherever you’re at right now are you just the foundation are you fully built or somewhere in between God can do it can complete it in your life God can add on in your life and we need to add and upgrade our lives.

▶ 42:25 Ephesians chapter 4 15 Christ from whom the whole body joined and knit together by what every joint supplies according to the effective working by which every part does it share causes what growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love not talking about our natural body but talking about the spiritual body the church grows when every what joint supplies so so it’s important when we come to church it’s not for a social thing if we come for those reasons just to say hello to our friends you’re coming for the wrong purpose or not necessarily the wrong thing but you’re missing out on what it’s all about the powerful reasons for coming to the house of God is so that every joint can supply so that you can grow and so the church can grow.

▶ 43:26 Not just in numbers but in their perfection completeness in their spiritual. Lives you may have numbers but that’s not the goal God wants numbers too but he wants also spiritual. Growth we don’t go to church to just check it off the list to save face or to feel good we’re missing God’s goal in the church.

▶ 44:03 Let us consider one another Hebrews chap 10: 24 to provoke unto love and unto good works when we come into God’s house when you go to church this is what his goal is it’s not just come in get out see you later who’s next no we wna provoke one another to love and to good works you know there is uh when I come and I see my brothers and sisters on Sunday and and the other times when I’m working on Friday with miss woods and we’re working on stuff and stephanie you know there is a it’s it provokes you to do what is right when you know people when they know you and they hear your behavior they see your behavior you want to do what is right for them there is a there is an accountability a responsibility that you.

▶ 45:04 Feel when I come in and I see the somebody that I know and not that I’m trying to save face or do something for them but there is a a a a a a provocation. From them coming from them being here from their lives especially older ones when you come in and you see somebody who is a grandparent and and somebody who has worked hard and has saved and has lived an honest life that is a reputation that affects. You and provokes you. Amen I think. So or it should young people come in and we’re just like I don’t want to be here give me in we can’t but if you really open your eyes when God opens up a young person’s eyes they begin to without even knowing it see hey these people are provoking me to do what is good and what is right to love and to good works it’s important you have you’re very important in God’s.

▶ 46:19 House 2 John verse 9 whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God if anyone comes to you and does not bring his this doctrine do not receive him into your house nor greet him for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds so when somebody comes in there’s there when somebody comes in and teaches or wants to influence with some other doctrines that are not truth you know Christ he is the way the truth and the life right uh when we teach doctrines other than than what our Christ there has to there’s a line that you don’t. Cross amen we’re not here to pander to con encourage and support promote sinful.

▶ 47:14 Behavior we’re not here to promote the sinner the person everybody says hate the sin love the sinner well I I’m sorry I’m not going to promote your message I’m not here to prom promote that I’m not here to promote you and make you feel good God has a responsibility to come to you to speak to you you have a responsibility to have your ears open and your heart ready to. Respond that is where we’re going to where you’re going to have the greatest effect in your life when you open your ears to God and open your heart unto him we are here to give people an opportunity to rise out of their sin and turn from it through their meeting with Jesus Christ and hearing his word.

▶ 48:10 Amen we’re not here to conform to the world and its doctrine we’re here to be. Transformed by. Christ so the scripture is very true Christ’s. Doctrine start starts with the sixth day creation yesterday I was watching uh listening to these guys talk and they were talking about creation and um or talking about the age of the earth saying it was around 6,000 years and that there’s evidence for that uh you know this is good for young people who haven’t heard this side they only hear what Americans put out there in universities in every museum and every national park you walk into every sign you read oh you’re a m million millions of years millions of year how long ago you evolve you evol it’s just everywhere you’re inundated everywhere you turn if you don’t have any other kind of input you’re going to go around believing that so there’s inform there’s other information out there creation ministries international is what this uh youtube channel is called and this man is dr mark harwood he’s a scientist and he lays out some very good information and of course we have the scriptures as.

▶ 49:27 Well lays out the story trinity the trinity Christ doctrine in Genesis one the spirit was on the waters hover moved over the face of the waters God said let us make man in our own image God was there Jesus is there the spirit is there the word of God is there because he spoke and said let there be light his word was there in Proverbs chapter 8:22 it talks about wisdom and wisdom identifies uh as a she here and says that the Lord possessed me before the beginning and so the Lord talking about Christ who was also there possessed me before his works of old before I was I was set up from everlasting from the beginning before the earth was when there was no depths I was brought forth there were no fountains abounding with water before the mountains were settled before the hills were brought uh before the hills I was brought forth and so wisdom tells this story about how Christ has created wisdom before he laid down the foundations of the earth.

▶ 50:45 Confirming. That the trinity is there the Lord is there God is there the spirit is there. John 14: 6 Jesus is the only way he says I am the way the truth the life and no one comes to the father but by me water baptism I found this scripture very powerful John 4:1 the Lord sorry when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John you know we hear these statements that oh you don’t need to. Be John.

▶ 51:57 4:1 when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John see the scripture is saying that the disciples and Jesus Christ they baptized more disciples than John see John the baptist is not the only one who was baptizing they came and and got that message and continued it and of course it was only the disciples that baptized cuz Jesus I can imagine the person who was baptized by Jesus right well I was baptized by Jesus you don’t understand I was baptized by. Jesus and uh John said that that Christ will come and baptize us in the Holy Spirit in fire right and he does that but he is also teaching his disciples to baptize people in water and they did more baptisms than John the baptist Jesus Christ himself was baptized the message is very consistent Peter himself said repent and be baptized every one of you why is he saying that because he was with Christ and they were baptizing people all the time and it’s the same message Paul was.

▶ 53:15 Baptized and he baptized people we need to be water baptized. Amen the scriptures confirm this repentance in Matthew 9:13 I did not come come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Jesus Christ is calling all men everywhere as it says in Acts 17 to repent these are his words he’s calling sinners to repentance do you have sin in her life yeah we got sin in our lives we need to.

▶ 53:53 Repent heaven and in hell Luke. 23:43 ass surely I say to you today you will be with me in paradise Jesus was talking to the thief on the cross who had told the other guy hey be quiet he is the king of kings and Lord of lords and he said today you will be with me in paradise there is a heaven and there is a hell in Matthew 23:33 serpent you talking to the uh religious people how can you escape the condemnation of hell and in other places Christ mentions hell and it’s all throughout the New Testament there is a heaven and there is a hell amen these are and and there’s more not limited to this but we can’t uh you can’t come in and start changing all these things which is what we’re people are trying to do today okay the six day creation they’re trying to change that that trinity they won’t believe you know they’re trying to say that you have more than one God no we don’t have more than one.

▶ 55:04 God we’re trying to say that there’s other ways through other religions to get into heaven it’s not true Jesus is the only way that we don’t have to repent it’s not true you have to repent and actually it’s a great tool I mean without repentance what chance would we have God God made repentance he made a way for us to you know we messed up we can repent it’s not the end we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the righteous heaven and hell praise God there’s a heaven hallelujah I want to be there. Amen and so God has this conversation with Satan and he says in Job 1:8 have you considered my servant Job that there is none like like him on the earth a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns.

▶ 56:04 Evil and Satan’s response is you protect him you protect him and all that he has his household every there’s a hedge around him all his things and he challenged God and he said touch all that he has and he will curse you and so we see here that Satan was the cause he stirred up this argument saying that Job only serves God because God blesses. Him and God is saying here you don’t understand what I’ve done in Job I’ve matured I’ve developed I’ve perfected him made him complete and that’s what God wants to do in us he wants to mature us make us uh complete lacking nothing amen in Job.

▶ 57:02 1113 we find the beginning of all the things that happened to him his his cattle and employees were killed the fire of God came and burned the sheep and servants camels and servants were killed in verse 17 and a horrible thing happened in verse 18 his children were killed by a natural disaster I put quote un ques because we know where it came from right Satan came he blew a wind and he that house came down and killed his children and Job’s response is he fell to the ground and worshiped which is a very mature response wouldn’t you. Say in the next verse it says Job said the Lord gives and the Lord the Lord gave and the Lord ha has taken away blessed be the name of the Lord and one of the questions we want to ask this morning is did the Lord take.

▶ 58:08 Away is it God who is actively against Job. Here Job. 2:1 still he holds fast his integrity although you moved against him to destroy him without cause so this is a God again talking after all this happened after his children died after all of his cattle were gone and he says the Lord gives and the Lord takes. Away God comes to Satan again and he says have you considered my servant Job he still holds fast his integrity his commitment to me although you moved against him to destroy him without.

▶ 58:58 Cause and Satan replies skin for skin a man will give all that he has for his life or something like that I don’t remember exactly but basically you didn’t let me touch him and that’s the reason why he hasn’t cursed you to his face cursed you to your face and so the Lord says he is in your hand only spare his life Satan went forth and smoked Job with loome and painful sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head and I want to point out here that Job here has identified that it’s the hand of God that’s doing this but God in God’s conversation he said he is in your hand whose hand is he handing him over to. Satan and with limitations so it’s not God doing this.

▶ 59:57 He’s allowing it but God is not the one doing this he’s not in uh it’s not h God God’s hand that’s doing this it’s whose hand Satan’s. Hand and Satan went forth and smoked Job with lome painful sores these things were not from God they were from. Satan the only problem is that Job is on earth and he wasn’t invited to this. Conversation you know it be nice if you could be like oh they’re talking about me you guys are talking about. Me what did they say here’s the transcript oh that’s what’s going on right now Satan’s doing this God allowed it because he wants to see what’s going to.

▶ 1:00:53 Happen okay okay so this isn’t God doing this to me it’s not God who hates. Me I didn’t do something against God that and he’s upset about it you. Know and this is where faith comes in this is where some trust comes in right because somewhere you have to trust you have to have faith that God’s word works and what’s going on around you may not be what you think it. Is shall we only accept good at the hand of the Lord and shall we not accept misfortune in what is of a bad nature so here again he’s saying it’s God’s hand and I mean you could argue that God allowing it it’s God’s hand but I I don’t know God God.

▶ 1:01:47 Doesn’t if he’s not actively doing this against you it’s not him amen and so your heart you can’t have a hard heart against God because he wants to see how you. Respond in Job chapter 2:1 and oh my gosh yeah I don’t want this happening to me and we don’t want this happening to us but I’m just pointing out here whose hand is he in and what is Job’s uh interpretation of all this sometimes we’re wrong. And I don’t want to be in that situation. Either but sometimes we’re wrong Job chapter 2:10 he said to his wife you speak as a foolish woman speaks this is after she said curse God and die.

▶ 1:02:43 You speak as a foolish woman speaks shall in we indeed accept good from God and not ac accept adversity in John 16 verse 33 these things I have spoken to you that in me you may have. Peace in the world you will have. Tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world you know we may not have our Job moment and thank God we don’t but we will have tribulation in this life but we can have peace. Because Christ has already overcome the world. Amen and this is a great reminder are we going to serve God only when it is only when good is happening to us or will we serve God no matter what happens.

▶ 1:03:48 Amen and Job here he has a fear. That he talks. About now what had happened to him is that he had boils on his skin now he’s going through his second round of Satan’s uh you know beating him up he’s got boils on his skin he’s in. Pain his wife he doesn’t have harmony in his marriage his wife told him to curse God and die I’d rather you die have have you guys ever heard this kind of conversations. Before he lost his source of wealth his employees were killed by bandits and fire he lost all his children and Job chap 2:1 and all this Job did not sin with his lips.

▶ 1:04:45 So I can’t imagine losing one of my children that would be very hard. And I’d have to admit that I am I would be afraid of losing. Them but here Job has lost all of those. Things and there is a fear that he is greatly afraid of he says the great the thing that I greatly feared has come upon me and what I dreaded has happened to me was it that all these things. Happened in Job 23:3 he says oh that I knew where I might find him that I might come to his place the next verse he says I would order my cause before him if I could find him I would know and understand the words he would answer me so here Job is talking about how right now in his life he can’t find God God and this is the thing that he has greatly feared has that has come upon him he’s he he can’t feel God’s presence he’s not hearing God’s voice and he had this relationship God with God that was very tight but God has backed off and he’s let Satan.

▶ 1:06:18 In and here Job’s response is to seek God as we’re going to find out in a few. Moments and God wants to teach us he wants to talk to us and help us through our situation and Job had experienced this he had experienced a relationship with God and the church here is for our development and growth every joint supplies as we mentioned earlier when we receive something we can pass it on it’s very important that we keep a relationship a closeness with the presence and power of God Job 23:6 will he plead against me with his great power no but he would put strength in me I want to find my God so that I can get that strength again so that I can get that power and that touch from Christ.

▶ 1:07:31 Again verse 8 23:8 I go forward backward left right I can’t find. Him and so we see here that Job is seeking for God do we seek seek our God are we seeking God now when the time is good when the time is bad are you seeking him or do we come to church just to say that we came to church do we come to church do we read our bibles just to mark it off the list and say I did my part God no but are we seeking him are we seeking him in his word do we pray and ask him to reveal it unto us do we seek him.

▶ 1:08:28 Verse 10 when he has tried me I shall come forth as gold his words I have kept above my food see that’s God’s goal in all the testing is to bring you out to get rid of all the impurities and have you pure than you ever have. Been his words I have kept above my food. And sometime you know I ask myself this question do I prioritize God’s word above you know all the things that we have to do in our lives our Job our exercise or uh the entertainment or leisure time uh food you know where do we put God in our priority list his word his truth and that’s what Job is reminding us here he’s reminding us of where our what our priority is in our life where is where is the presence of God in our priority where is a relationship with God in our priority where is it are we seeking it do we care when he doesn’t show up do we care when we can’t find him or we just say I can’t find God see you later.

▶ 1:09:45 God and I point my finger to myself I do the same thing you get you get relaxed in your situation and you you just. You get lazy you don’t want to put in the time and the effort that it takes to find to seek. God and so Job is afraid of losing his relationship with God he is afraid of losing the presence of God we can’t grow with one sermon a week you can’t grow by going to church once a week you got to uh put God’s word into your mind the greatest teachers in the Bible Moses Peter Paul Christ in his words the the apostles the prophets they’re all in the scriptures and we can put that in our minds every day and pastors should be repeating and saying what those teachers have have already said with.

▶ 1:10:57 Understanding in 1st Samuel 16:14 we see this is. True when Saul rejected God’s word and did things his way cared more about what the people thought of him versus what God thought of him it says the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him now that’s not what’s happening to Job here he is not getting a distressing spirit but you know he is noticing that God is not. Around and Saul here has done something for the spirit of the Lord to depart from him and Saul continued in his life separating himself from the spirit of God he never corrected his problem judges chapter 16:20 Samson did not know that the Lord had departed from him this is after his uh the prostitute delilah had just had his hair cut from his head he gave them the secret told them what to do they came and cut his hair and the spirit of the Lord had departed from him and became like a normal person and he could not fight.

▶ 1:12:22 Back. And so we’re reminded here of how important it is to have God’s spirit to have the presence of God close to us near us and this fear that Job had was a healthy fear do we have that kind of healthy fear where we don’t want God to be distancing himself from us and this fear that he had caused caused him to search to seek out the king of kings and the Lord of lords we can get through tragedy and crisis by finding God finding him letting him speak to us empower us and and change us we need that presence we need that.

▶ 1:13:16 Spirit and s of pon 3:. 1 this is the woman who is looking for her beloved I sought the one I love but I did not find him I asked the watchmen have you seen the one I. Love scarcely had I passed them by when I found the one I love I held him and I would not let him go and so here we have this example of a woman who is looking for her beloved and that is us do we seek out our beloved Jesus. Christ she she even asked the watchman where have you seen have you seen the one I love and they’re like I haven’t seen him and they’re probably what a football field away from the one the man right there the watchmen the one are supposed to be looking out for everything they can’t see the guy.

▶ 1:14:18 You know pastors and maybe in our day maybe. You can’t just put your trust in a pastor that they know where God is and can see him no you’ve got to go search God out for yourself and pastors themselves they’re just people and they need to seek God for themselves and find. Him I held him and would not let him. Go that is a very powerful. Example a very uh powerful love that this woman has for her beloved.

▶ 1:15:16 We need some more of that naturally in uh marriages. Today. Amen are we provoking one another to add to our faith and to grow in the fruits of the spirit as miss woods comes are we following Christ’s. Doctrine are we following our own. Doctrine do we keep our distance from God or do we have a healthy fear of losing our relationship our connection. With. Christ above connections that we make with people and connections that we make with uh you know I uh in in in an advertising sort of sense we want to connect with Christ first.

▶ 1:16:13 Amen are is that our goal are we seeking him like Job like this woman like the beloved are we do we care more about pleasing the people around us like Saul and like. Samson how many want God departing from you no I don’t want that I want God with me so will you stand we’re going to respond this morning and sing Jesus all for Jesus inviting Christ right now to come let’s just take a moment here to in invite our God. Jesus all for. Jesus all I am and have.

▶ 1:17:13 And ever hope to. Be. Jesus all for. Jesus all I am and have and ever hope to. Be for it’s. Only it. Your will that I am. Free for it’s. Only.

▶ 1:18:07 In your will that. I am. Free. Jesus oh for. Jesus. All am and have and ever hope to.

▶ 1:18:40 Be let’s take a few minutes here just to pray and invite Jesus this morning and uh pray these things that we just learned about let’s lift up our voices God Lord we want want you here with us Jesus God Lord we don’t want you leaving us God we come before you Lord Jesus Lord we need you in our lives God Lord we need you Lord Jesus in our situation in our tragedy God Lord God we pray Jesus Lord God we pray for your hand upon us Lord Jesus Lord we need your hand of love Lord we need your hand of power strength God Lord like Job said you would put strength in us God Lord Jesus Jesus please we come before you this morning God Lord we need you Jesus Lord we desire you God we pray for a desire like Job that Job had Lord for the presence and the power of God Jesus Jesus please Lord we pray that we would not come Lord to church or come before you as a formality God but Lord come Jesus Lord is seeking you and Lord Lord is looking for you God wanting to hear your voice wanted to hear what you have to say to us God we come before you this morning Jesus Jesus Lord change our hearts this morning God

▶ 1:20:11 empower us this morning God Lord we want to be new creatures Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus please God we need you this morning morning God we pray this morning God Lord we invite you this morning. Jesus Jesus you are the king of kings the Lord of lords for it’s. Only. In your will that I am. Free. For it’s. Only. In your will that.

▶ 1:21:04 I am. Free. Jesus all for. Jesus all I am and have and never hope to. Be. Oh. Oh.

▶ 1:22:11 Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh we’re going to lift up our voices for the church for our church for the church in our country even our church that we would no longer just come into church as a formality but come to seek to be changed to be provoked to love to good works to be upgraded to be.

▶ 1:23:03 Renewed not just for social reasons not just for men’s. Solutions but coming to God for that change that we need in our families for the change that our children need for the change that we need in our country. We’re going to pray and lift up our voice for our nation for our the church in our nation Lord Jesus we come before you right now God we pray for your hand Lord upon all the churches Jesus Lord those churches God who are committing horrible atrocities and sins God we pray Lord Jesus that you’d come Lord even those churches God Lord Jesus that you’d bring your spirit of conviction God we pray for those God who come in and Lord Lord have good motives God Jesus please Lord we need to increase Lord we need to be.

▶ 1:24:07 Enhanced Lord we need to be upgraded in your fruits of the spirit we need to increase Lord Jesus in in virtue and knowledge and brotherly kindness God oh God we pray this morning. Jesus Lord that you’d come to these churches all throughout to our church God Lord and change our desires God put in us a new desire God Lord for the presence and the power the touch of God Jesus please Lord give us Lord a new and living way God give us a new heart a new spirit in us Jesus Jesus Jesus please oh father God God father in heaven God step down Jesus begin to move things God just your step just your movement God just your waving of your hand God Lord these small things that you do Lord have big impacts on us God please Jesus Lord we pray God Lord move on your church God move on your church Jesus come with your spirit come with your spirit oh Lord Jesus we call on you God we call on you Jesus Lord we need you this morning oh Holy Spirit king of kings and Lord of lords God come to your church unite

▶ 1:25:38 your church Jesus Jesus Jesus Lord Jesus we pray Lord God these things we prayed for before we continue to pray Lord we continue to pray we ask Lord you continue to do these. Things. For it’s. Only. In will that I am. Free for it’s. Only it. Your will that. I am.

▶ 1:26:32 Free. Jesus all for. Jesus all I. Am and have. And ever hope to. Be thank you Jesus thank you Lord. Jesus. Me to.

▶ 1:27:28 Exel to. Exel. There is. Nothing. Else in life I want to be. But by thy grace just. One who. Excels in. Loveing. The is. Nothing. Else in life I long to.

▶ 1:28:29 Be but by thy. Grace just. One who. Excels in. Loveing. Me. O.

▶ 1:29:30 I want to. Be th grace just. One who. Exel. Love. Those online want to thank you for joining us this morning trust this morning that you understand that we can be upgraded in our faith our our love and the fruits of the spirit we can increase if you are a foundation only a faith I encourage you to move forward in God add to your faith build upon it let Christ finish the good work that he began in you and let him finish.

▶ 1:30:36 It. Soon don’t wait till the end of your life start now let God finish you now let God complete you now and we can always increase when he’s done we can always always increase and grow thank you for joining us this morning God bless. You.