Growing in the Grace of Listening

Troubles of sale and dangers of fright, though. Friends should all fail and follows all unite yet. One thing secures us, whatever betide the Scripture assures us, the Lord will provide the birds without barn or storehouse are fed from them. Let us learn to trust for our bread his saints what is fitting shall ne'er be denied. So long as it is written, the Lord will provide no strength of our own or goodness. We claim yet since we have known the Savior's great name to this our strong tower for safety.

We hi all mighty.

His power, the Lord will provide. I read that for our ad that had admonition in our encouragement to tell you that God has provided the long prayed for an long-awaited liver transplant for our brother Stuart wall and I must admit to you that there been times. Along this journey were I doubted I didn't doubt the Lord but I feared that those who were making the decisions were simply running out the clock on him because of his age because of the scarcity of livers because of the cost and the risk and I'm not the only one who wondered what the will of God was concerning her brother.

This is a text from Laverne on August 20.

So all of you be be two weeks tomorrow that she texted this and this was a text in response to the last time prior to this occasion that they'd been called to the hospital that there was liver available and she writes this is the third time and we have been at the hospital 12 hours, but the tests have come back and shown problems.

Maybe HIV or coven. She writes somehow our sovereign God has closed this door three times. So maybe we should rethink transplant. Please pray for the Lord to give wisdom so again nobody has a crystal ball. We were we been bringing this need before the Lord for years. I don't know exactly how long, but I surmise that it's been nearly 20 years that our brother has struggled with liver failure and more acutely in recent years and God has sustained him and kept him alive in has gone through the surgery he's in ICU.

He is off the ventilator, which is a tremendous praise and cause for rejoicing. Laverne was able to talk to him. We got this text early this morning that she was able to talk to in the he was lucid.

He was his words were a bit slurred because the medication he was on, but he was he was happy in the Lord, 18th-century Scottish theologian PT foresight said quote we shall come one day to a heaven where we shall gratefully know that some of God's great refusals were sometimes the true answers to our truest prayer and of quote God said no. Many a time, and we did not know what God was doing but we have cause for rejoicing. This evening, this is a response from Juma a Ruby in Zimbabwe is to remind you of a Juma Juma pastors reflections Baptist Church in his brother's IED were converted out of Islam. I don't know which of the two came to Christ first, but in the early years of Stewart's ministry.

These two men came to Christ and have been involved in pastoring churches there citing pastors Village Baptist Church insurer Ruby and site Juma pastors reflections Baptist Church and this is what Juma wrote yesterday. Oh pastor needs prayers for the Lord help us each and every step in my life or my family. May the hand of God be upon my family my kids growing in this hostile world. May our Lord Jesus Christ, lead, guide them each day.

Pray for the brethren and sisters in our churches for their spiritual growth.

Pray for us that none of us will be affected with this pandemic and of course pastor wall. The Lord Jesus Christ has brought us together with him from way I love him.

Our hearts are knitted together before the Lord. May our dear Lord's powerful hand continue his purpose and his will on the pastor wall. So you see the heart of Juma and his heart is a reflection of all these men's hearts for Stuart is been sidelined and removed from the front lines involved from a distance there in Johannesburg, but not there among the men in the churches but we rejoicing, rejoicing that the Lord has provided a liver and brought her brother through the surgery and for the days ahead that God will strengthen him. Keep him from illness and disease and keep them from rejecting this organ that he will be a stronger than he's been for very long time. I came across this in my devotions's man is writing this devotions as I was bragging to my wife recently about how my default setting is gratitude.

When I pray during the day am usually saying thank you God for something salvation for forgiveness for health family for business on a non-says that's a good thing Scripture is filled with verses about being grateful. But then I read this from Thomas Kelly quote when I give thanks my thoughts still circle around me and to some extent, but in praise, my soul ascends to self forgetting adoration, seeing, and praising only the majesty and power of God, his grace and his redemption. Then this man says there's a me in mind in my prayers that I had noticed before the some extent that's appropriate, but there is something else, something more something better says how about our prayers of pure praise of adoration prayers, expressing our all of God the wonder of a heavenly father so big and powerful and creative that he made this world and everything in so that's a good reminder because sometimes we really have to stop and examine our lives and say, are we interested in God or what we get from him. We follower of him and we love him simply because of who he is and I don't think it's an either/or to both land or grateful for every blessing that comes from God, we acknowledge that every good and perfect gift comes from from him but when Providence turns dark and were not receiving good things from God.

Good things from our perspective, are we still faithful are we still lovers of God are we still looking to him in faith and trust I trust that we are, but that's not some more of mature faith. We need to come to the place where we can say that, as Job said, though he slay me, yet will I trust him. So with these things in mind when you bow with me as we begin with prayer this evening. Our father in God we bow in your presence, and we say with the Psalmist that from the rising of the sun until it setting your name is to be praised. We praise you are God for the perfections of your being. We praise you oh God for your sovereign rulership of this universe that you created. We marvel our God at the intricacies of the universe that we know parts of the universe that man is yet to glimpse into and yet you've created it all and you uphold everything by the power of your word.

You set the planets in their orbits. You set the stars in their place and you name them all and we marvel that we can even get an accurate count of how many stars there are in the created universe Lord we marvel that you're such a God that you are majestic and you are awesome and you are worthy of our praise in our worship and our adoration and is transcendent as you are. We are equally marveled at your trend yet your willingness to condescend and come to us come to this earth in the person of your son, the Lord Jesus Christ who humbled himself and became like one of us, yet without sin, that he might go to the cross of Calvary and die as a substitute for sinners, Lord, we thank you that you know us, you know us better than we know ourselves, you know, our thoughts, your motives, you know what were going to say before we say it, you know us in such a way that it is beyond our comprehension. You know the very hairs on our head, their number.

Do you how great of God. You are so we come before you tonight with thanksgiving in our hearts for answered prayer on behalf of Stuart wall are hard to rejoicing with Laverne in the family and the brethren in the churches there in Zimbabwe, and everyone who knows this man for your kindness in providing this liver for him. I we pray that you'll superintend him in the hospital keep them from infection keep them from sickness. Give wisdom to the doctors as they care for him may is made, his body, except this liver may continue to regain strength and soon be out of the hospital and reunited with his family. Lord we believe you have yet purposes for this man. I we long to see him back in the saddle as it were, with his men training them, directing them. Lord, we would pray to that end, thank you for hearing our prayers. Thank you that you helped us not to become weary in well doing, thank you that you've kept a steadfast in this matter, we come to you and ask that you meet with us tonight and help us Lord as we consider your word and the needs of our lives in the needs of our country in needs of the churches that are seeking to be faithful to you in this hostile dark decaying world Lord, we thank you for salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ forgiveness of sins, Lord, we thank you that our names are written in the Lamb's book of life. We thank you that we are adopted, the family of God that we are children of thine, help us to rejoice in our blessings help us to rejoice in our privileges. Lord we confess our sins to you and our failures yet thankful that when we are faithless, you remain faithful to Harris tonight, not for our sakes, but for the sake of your dear beloved son, who loved us and gave himself for we pray in his name. Amen. Glad that we can meet again this evening. This way we had every intention to do that last Sunday night. But God's providence we had technical difficulties that were outside of our control that we could not fix did not know how to fix and it took comm tech to come to our rescue on Monday morning.

So that's the reason we were not able to live stream on Sunday evening and understand that that was something that was not just unique to our church, but many many churches in this area were unable to live stream their services on Sunday, we were unable to do that Sunday morning either the press department knew that while he was preaching that message is been archived and I would strongly encourage you if you didn't hear it. You weren't here. You that you would go back and listen to that message. Blessed my heart was so well will crafted well prepared, well delivered a sermon that will help you encourage you and build you up in the most holy faith will coughing. Courage is beginning other new year begins next Tuesday, September 8, nine, 15, is the starting time. Marty and the ladies are asking you to be present at 9 o'clock in the fireplace room of the Fellowship Hall not picked up a book they are available here at the Usher station for $15 and there will be a nursery provided weekday sessions will be a Saturday once a month meeting starting sometime in September.

We don't know the date of that yet, so just an alert all of our ladies, coughing, courage begins next Tuesday morning some 40 verse five. Many old Lord my God, are your wonderful works which you have done in your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to you in order if I would declare and speak of them. They are more than can be numbered. Well, we've got an awful lot to communicate to you on the prayer side of your sheet.

If you're able to download that off the Internet. If not, just follow me as I walk us through these things, but praising the Lord for the safe arrival of two children, Logan, Timothy Starnes arrived on August 24 weighing 6 pounds and 18 ounces son of Thomas and Aaron Starnes and grandson of Alan and Priscilla start and then Holt Mason Shaw peters arrived on August 28 weighing 7 pounds. 3 ounces son of Joseph and Alex peters and grandson of Adam and Brenda Beatty Shaw and great-grandson to Howard Brady rejoicing with these couples and the grandparents in these blessings, John and Christina DOS who were in a motorcycle motorcycle accident are much improved with praising the Lord for that. Likewise, for Sarah Gilmore who is healing nicely from broken pelvis.

That's an UNIX mother up in New York, Tyler Rankin's home from Duke Hospital involved in a serious ATV accident, heads, skull fractures that look very life-threatening, but that God is had mercy on him and recent CAT scan looks excellent and he is now home Duke Hospital.

Three of our ESL students that we've been asking you to pray for two had coven have recovered from that, and see was a lady who had a mass who dissipating surgeon. We don't know about that and in Warren Rogers is doing well from surgery. So those are all praises Rob Conrad went to Chapel Hill today for another procedure with his kidney stones.

He staying the night last time he went. His blood pressure was a bit erratic so thank you for praying for Rob Drew Guthrie had test results that were a bit concerning the detected a small area that is bleeding presence of a small mass things that are watching very carefully so please uphold drew Guthrie who is come through quite a battle with cancer are pope had a scheduled MRI for September 2 it's been changed.

Now to September 2015 and he is struggling. The with his breathing under others. Scott the Lori was in the hospital in the Philippines is now been released and he is home is recovered from the fever that put them there thanking God for that. Mary Hicks, Sue Elliott's aunt is now in rehab recovering from a heart attack Mark Mitchell, a brother-in-law to a friend of Jane matures is still in ICU on a ventilator with coven declining the doctors are asking what Marx wishes would be.

So he is in a very precarious place. So pray for him and his wife Jack Petrie continues on dialysis Robert suite had a heart catheterization today and Ryan is here in the auditorium with me tonight and told me right before we went on the air that they were able to locate blockage reduce the blockage and put a stent in to bring relief to him.

So were very glad to be able to report that he's in a bit of discomfort and pain tonight because of the procedure but they were able to do for him at Duke what they were not able to hospital in things look good for him forward know you're praying for the Snyders and the Johnsons and their needs under sympathy told you on Sunday that Wayne Craig's mother, Janice Craig died early early Sunday morning o'clock pray for that family. Duane's father is he deals with that and the entire family that a friend of ours Julie Davis, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease in November of last year died on the last week 57 years old friend and it was hard to see her decline so rapidly. But the Bible does tell us doesn't enter through the outer man be wasting away the inner man is being renewed day by day so Julie is healed from this infirmity, enjoying heavenly bliss.

Now under cancer were asking you to remember Tammy reeling as she continues her treatments and Ben Vestal brother Lori Cragin brother-in-law Sue Vestal was under hospice care and has declined any further treatments. So pray for these needs are government official of the week is Village of Alamance older member Timothy Wayne icily and I noticed on my she have written a name that is not on your sheet because we fail to get it on there but I want you to be aware that Michael and have her thyroid removed next Wednesday, September 9, she spoke to me Sunday about that. I asked if it's all right to share with that yes so the hands having her thyroid removed today.

Craig, her okay got a correspondence here from urban Wanda Taylor is there involved in Hispanic outreach in ministry is to remind you that there they were threefold purpose to their ministry planting Hispanic Baptist churches partnering with churches to reach Hispanics and preparing Hispanic ministry leaders. Those three focuses they've known the same kind of changes that we've known and disruption in their normal ministry schedule C begins 2020 is been a year of changes and challenges for all of us has in it. Praise the Lord that we serve in on changing God. So they've had to adapt and live stream and think outside the box to carry on ministry and yet they are doing that very thing and he says this about his changes.

He says, and maybe the best change of all is also learning to trust the Lord in ways never expected this unusual year there rejoicing in the enjoyment of granddaughter Wanda has some praises us from their newsletter from Wanda's window praising the Lord for an increase in ministry support praising the Lord for virtually connecting with many of our supporters praising the Lord for several virtual speaking opportunities across the country from our dining room and self airliner and then please pray for wisdom as we plan to travel and minister this fall in Virginia and Pennsylvania in New York and in Maine so that brief update concerning urban Wanda Taylor Ministries that we collect used Bibles and literature and materials and send. They recycle the right, in July we shared our need of some additional funds in order to get our shipping up to where it needed to be.

You all came through in such a big way.

Thank you all so much for your faithfulness and your burden to see material shipped and in the hands of those in need.

We will update you all on exactly where the specific shipments will be going and then just two other things about that ministry rights we were able to have missionary Robbie asked Julian from the Philippines at the tap facility where he was able to pick up about five boxes of books, which he was able to take with him and arrange his own shipment were grateful to be able to partner with this church and missionary due to covert. We've not been able to have many visitors come through, so we were excited for this opportunity and then they write during July we were able to ship three cartons Sherry heading to Zambia one carton to the prison ministry of CLI and we had five cartons picked up by missionary heading to the Philippine continue to have quite a few donations being made and to our cabin on a weekly basis and we are making plans for August shipments well, August is here and gone.

It's now September. I've got a newsletter hear from David Anderson who is in Richmond. Ministering with capital commission among the legislators there and that he writes what an exciting month of opportunities to strengthen the churches of Virginia in prayer for her leaders. Thank you for your prayers. We were so encouraged to hear the response of the people not only desiring a greater fervency in prayer for leaders but also greater zeal to share the gospel of Christ with those around them and above them ship. He says we covet your prayers, especially for the capital cookout in prayer walk coming on the eve of the elections in November 2 from 5 to 745. We thank you for your partnership in prayer and sacrificial generosity. May the Lord bless and grant the light of his glorious gospel to shine in the hearts of our leaders and I was really encouraged. He included with this newsletter is Bible study that he gives to the legislators were willing to take it and a large number do and it was from acts chapter 22 were Paul gave his conversion testimony and there were three points to the sermon outline Bible study number one, a divine confrontation number two. A delayed calling the number three a demanding commission and the David is an expositor and he walked through acts chapter 2.

Under those three headings and then what really thrilled me was at the end he had the very bottom questions to ponder as I thought about the legislators who receive this Bible study and herded David teach this Bible study and they were challenged concerning these questions. Three questions.

Question number one.

Have you responded to the light of the risen Lord and obeyed his word, calling upon him as your Lord and Savior that very pointed to the point number two has the light of Christ confronted your sin and have you repented and turn from your sin, to receive him a lovely Dave. David understands the gospel. There is no gospel. There is no salvation apart from repented and acknowledging the Lordship of Jesus Christ and Bolling to his and submission to his Lordship. Question number three. Are you doing what God is called you to do through his messenger and his eternal word. So what encouragement to see David standing in a place that I couldn't go. I couldn't have access to these men. But God has prepared him given him this ministry in he is being faithful to hold forth the word of truth in that place. Well, would you turn with me in your Bible to James chapter 1 James chapter 1, I want to read one verse and then give just a brief story of introduction and then walk you through some practical instruction.

We have this word in James chapter 1 in verse 19 and 20. So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. It's been 26, 27 years ago that on Wednesday night and a church in Columbia, South Carolina.

Three Rivers Baptist Church at that time pastored by Gary Scott that after the Wednesday night prayer meeting he would meet with a number of men who were preparing themselves for ministry and he called this high impact discipleship and I remember we had to sign a covenant and our willingness to do the homework and come prepared for these meetings that really extended our Wednesday evening long into the into the night would meet after prayer meeting and goat maybe till 930 10 o'clock. I'm grateful for his willingness to prepare and give himself mentoring me and the other men, and irate, remember him prefacing this approach with these words, men I want to share with you some things had God not taught me had I not learned.

I don't think I would've survived in ministry that peaked my my attention and I wanted to listen very, very carefully in one of those things was what I want to set before you tonight, certainly not in the fullest extent, but in its this business of hearing being quick to hear, as I think about Gary. That's one of the things that impressed me about him no preachers make their living there call to preach and teach and we spent so much of our time talking and there is a gift from God to be able to engage people and to listen and to hear people before you ever speak a word. People can tell whether you are listening to them and whether you are really engaged with them and really want to hear them out before you say what you have to say. So then, my beloved brother and let every man be swift to hear.

Swift to hear, were quick to hear, quick to hear, slow to anger or slow to wrath the relationship. I think between these things because I want to speak to you in this context when someone comes to you and has something they want to say to you that is a bit confrontational. They are may be rebuking you bringing something to your attention that they are concerned about our being. We trust constructive in their criticism about it's not our first reaction to listen there something within us a defense lawyer that rises up and becomes defensive and we want to not here and we want to be quick to respond in a bottle and give our say in and often times it's not with the spirit of gentleness is not with the spirit of humility that the mixed with irritation. It's mixed with anger and there's something for us here were to grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ were to growing one area that grow in one area I need to grow in his being a better listener quick quick to hear, slow to speak.

Why is that difficult for us will pride is one thing we think were right think we have most accurate assessment of ourselves, we sometimes interpret others efforts to correct us or point out this or that is an attack upon us and we need to constantly be aware of the temptation to be prideful, be defensive and to be unteachable and to be unapproachable and those are not Christlike qualities. So how can we grow in listening and being quick to hear that a number of things that others certainly nothing inspired about this, but just some thoughts as I have thought about this in my desire to grow in this area and I didn't want it just to be nebulous and general I wanted to be specific, at least in my own mind so that I know I have some markers that I can gauge be able to say you know what I think I'm making some progress in this area.

One of the things that I think is helpful is that we view people's attempts to correct us or point out things to us as a good thing as a good thing if we can start with that not be not be put off by it not be defensive about it. But be have a posture that you know what this is good because Psalm 141 verse five says let a righteous man strike. It is a kindness. Let him rebuke me it is oil for my head.

My head, not refuse it a kindness. It's a good thing to pray that God will help us to be humble and receive input and admonition from our brothers and sisters. Maybe we struggle not been married for 43 years come December 2 and I promise you it's not easy to receive correction from my wife. Something about me that just rises up and resists that and I've had to work hard at not being carnal and sinful in my response. I don't get the idea that she's a complainer and costs know I've got a wonderful wife but she knows me better than anybody knows me knows my weaknesses and she's a gift from God to me to help me grow. I need to receive from her and what I don't. The loser not winter and that someone view correction as a good thing a good thing number two. Remember that there is a danger here of being wise in your own eyes. Proverbs 2612. Do you see a man who was wise in his own eyes.

There is more hope for him than for a fool will more hope for a fool than for him. What a temptation this is being wise in our own eyes. I know it all. No one can tell me anything one can instruct me there are a thousand variations of ways we can think that we are wiser than others that we have a more accurate understanding of things than they do nothing sanctifying about that attitude. Remember the danger of being wise consider others as better than ourselves. And here's an area where we can number three.

Consider that God might be behind this person coming to you how difficult it is to be the one going to confront or point out something. It's not easy for them and to put yourself in their shoes and if it's a matter that is risen to that serious a matter that they are coming to you that ought to alert you II need to listen I needed not defensive in my posture.

There's something here for me that I need to learn number four, you must determine I've I've come to this conclusion, I must determine that that I really want to hear and understand. Concerned that this person is bringing to me now. We you can't you can't divorce the message from the messenger so depending on who it is that's bringing it to you. We make an assessment without voice in a word whether were going to listener. Whether were going to tolerate this and dismiss it out of hand.

After and we need to determine that we really want to hear and understand what this person's concern is, and sometimes we need to learn to ask questions to help us see clarifying questions like, okay, now let me see if I understand what you're what you're trying to say. Are you saying this.

Are you saying that so that you understand what it is that they're concerned about number five. Keep an open mind keep an open mind.

Wait until you have really heard the concern before you decide whether or not to disagree with it say to be quick to listen, means we really try to hear what someone is saying before we disagree or interrupt or take a hard stand or give our rebuttal be quick to hear, not quick to speak, but quick to hear. Now again I admit that takes the grace of God working in our life because it doesn't come natural to we need to grow in this race being quick to listen, this is help me. What is that by reminding myself that God gives grace to the humble prayer. I sense that I'm resistant when I get upset when I get angry. That is not growing of a humble heart that is growing out of a proud heart and God resists the proud, he gives grace to the humble C humble person takes the posture you know there is something maybe here I can learn.

Maybe I'm wrong here, maybe maybe I need to correct.

Maybe I'm missing something.

Maybe I'm blind to something you see, I would rather humble myself than have God bless him forget that we all have blind spots. None of us have arrived. None of us fully are sanctified and it's amazing how quickly we can find and spot defects and other people in absolutely blind to defects in our lives that takes a humble person to ask the person that we love and trust. Help me here you see this in me. Do you see that in me.

This person is saying this is person saying that this isn't just one time my my my blind this see we need to grow in that way also we need to be slow to defend ourselves slow to defend ourselves but to get that done come easy because that's the first thing we want to do. The Bible says a soft answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger. Someone disagrees with us, doesn't mean there necessarily attacking us will help the situation if we will grow in responding in gentleness and be slow to defend yourself. God is perfectly able to defend you. You don't need to defend yourself times we feel like we have to think about the think about the I'm not sure this is the right word, but the quandary, humanly speaking, the Lord Jesus Christ found himself in. He was being treated most unjustly was not guilty of the crimes that were brought against him totally innocent. It was a travesty of injustice that was happening to him on the human side but on the divine side. What was Christ doing Christ was satisfying divine justice. He was satisfying the just wrath of God toward sinners and he was going to the cross in order to do that severity was committed to satisfying divine justice and at the same time suffering. This incredible injustice and what did he do Bible says he opened not his mouth, made himself of no reputation was as a lamb going to the slaughter. I we need the mind of Christ when he learned ask questions learned. Ask questions. That's also I think a gift from God. See accusations hard in the heart questions probe the mind to think his parents we need to be better at that. We need to grow and that it's easy to catch our kids doing something wrong and violating a house rule or worse yet, violating, sinning against God and accusing them, bringing accusation and accusations hard in the heart.

They build walls but we can ask questions, preface the question with an acknowledgment of the wrong mother told me when I came home from work that you lied. Why why why did you determine that it was the best course of action to lie, you begin to probe the heart begin to get at the motive more than the action itself. God will honor that bring conviction. This is something that I've had to learn.

It's easy to discard and write off the concern that you brought if it's brought in a improper way for person comes in all blustery and all emotional and there a bit angry about whatever it's easy to just say well, even if they come in the wrong manner. There still may be something accurate about what they have to say. So let's try and be open-minded and try and learn. There may be a kernel of truth. They may have embellished that they may have exaggerated it, but what they're saying there may be something to it rather than to dismiss it completely out of hand.

Realize you know what there's something here.

I need to acknowledge this.

I need to grow. I need to change.

I need to improve my life.

Someone does come to they know and you know whether you're just blowing them off. Whether just tolerating them where you just some people are that way some people are combative engage in in all its back and forth, back and forth. Neither neither approach is helpful, edifying and sanctifying. So even if initially you don't see what this person is wanting you to see the just dismiss it out of hand. Thank them for coming to you and insincerity say to them you know what I'll give some more thought, I will bring this before God. I will pray about and and truly mean that because in our emotional response and may be it may be blinding us to the truth and we need to get some distance between the encounter and begin to think about this and say you know what more I think about this. I think there is something to this. So those are just some thoughts about how we can really obey this admonition, my beloved brother, let every man let every person be swift, be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, slow to anger for the anger of man. The wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God, my God use this to help us to instruct us to admonish us to correct us to rebuke us think we need all of the above and more. Well, again, thank you for joining with me this evening. I will include our service and prayer as I remember some of these requests. We have a throne of grace, and I'm so thankful tonight that it is a throne of grace, and not a throne of judgment for the God we can come boldly to the throne and receive grace and mercy to help in time of need. So let's go there right now. Heavenly father, we thank you tonight for your word. We thank you that it is like for our pathway. It's instructions for how we walk the straight and narrow way. Thank you that there is no ambiguity here in this commandment we confess our failures. In this way that we are too often do not obey nor align our lives with this divine instruction would violate this and as we do.

We do harm to relationships and do not grow in grace like we would.

It could if we would have a different mindset or we need your help we need you and we thank you that we do have the spirit of God living in us to help us to will and to do according to your good pleasure. So help us to work this out in our everyday life and perhaps as I've taught this evening.

There is a specific application. The Holy Spirit is brought upon my hearers tonight.

Some relationship whether it's a husband and a wife for a father and his children, or a worker or a brother or sister in Christ or neighbor or some relationship that needs addressed.

We need to assume a new posture, a better posturing, more biblical posture that it may do us good and do that other person. Good helpless in these critical areas. Lord, we pray, thank you for this large number of praises that we have tonight for these babies that have been born into these homes in a brought such joy to them and the grandparents into the church at large. Thank you that Sarah Gilmore is doing better. Thank you that Tyler Rankin is out of the hospital. Thank you that Robert Sweet got help today at Duke Hospital.

Thank you that Don and Christina DOS are much improved from this motorcycle accident, infer our ESL students of recovery from covert. We thank you God. We pray for Ben Vestal tonight is he is would appear losing his battle to cancer. We pray that you will draw near to this man. Help them to cling to Christ and the to receive your help.

Help to finish well. Lord, we pray for Tammy, revealing that you would arrest these cancer cells in our body and return her to a full measure of health. Thank you for her courage and for her perseverance in this flight over many years. We pray for Trevor and Teresa Johnson and the needs and their family and the decisions that they're making about returning to the field and when pray the same for Paul Snyder and his family. Pray for those of lost loved ones doing Craig's family, and his father and his sister, and others who are traveling in for an acknowledgment of this passing for our friend Julie Davis. I think of her dad and how hard is no doubt has been for him. Thank you for Julie and the gifts that she had in her life and we pray that you'll minister to those who were sorrowing her passing. Thank you for Jack Petrie and asked that you continue to help him to not become weary in well doing as he continues in dialysis for Mark Mitchell for Mary Hicks thank you for Scott to Lori being returned to his home from his stay in the hospital. Pray for our pope is he is struggling with COPD and has this MRI scheduled on 15 September continue to be with this man and save his wife.

Lord, we pray for Drew Guthrie, Lord, we pray that you help her not to give up help or not to be discouraged. Help her to look to you. Help her to grow in your faith and dependence upon you.

Pray for Rob Conrad spending the night there in Chapel Hill that you'll draw near to him tonight and encourage his heart and for Lee and Michael Hannon is facing a thyroid surgery week from today.

Pray that that will go well.

Lord, we thank you for Christ, the head of his church. We thank you for the gospel in its successes. We thank you God for the way you've blessed beacon Baptist Church and its people pray that you continue to strengthen us, build us up in the most holy faith strengthens through strengthen us not only physically but in the inner man, that we might carry on in the work of the gospel of our Savior, we thank you God for meeting our needs in abundance. We pray for this country in the turmoil and the unrest that we see on every hand. Lord, it's a symptom. It's symptomatic of a disease of sin that's rampant in this country, Lord, unless there is a revival in this country.

The symptoms will continue to manifest himself Lord give courage to pastors and churches to leaders to stand for truth and righteousness to defend justice and oppose injustice. Give wisdom to mayors and governors and legislators and senators and congressmen to our president have your will and way are God in this dark hour in which we desperately need you to fill our hearts with hope and confidence. You are indeed ruling and reigning in this world dismisses now with your benediction of blessing. Watch over us and keep us. We pray in Jesus name we pray. Amen and amen