The Development of Persevering Faith, Part 2

Here we are again, thank you for joining me on this Wednesday night for a lifestream Wednesday night prayer service.

I trust you had the opportunity to enjoy these last couple of beautiful days of bit of a tease that spring is on the cusp we are looking forward to it.

I least I am trust you are as well, but the sunshine was welcome delight to listen warm temperatures.

God is good, he's good all the time. It's nice to enjoy this kind providence of God and the weather is the couple of announcements for you as we begin tonight this coming Sunday night we are having a memorial service to honor the memory of Stuart Walling to be a people present service so were inviting you to come will accommodate you will observe social distancing set every other pew and but I'm very much looking forward to the service we talked again a bit about it. Staff meeting this afternoon making sure that everything was in. It was in its place. They will be refreshments served after memorial service just to encourage fellowship and if you are of a mind to stay. We welcome you to do that and enjoy that extended time after the memorial service. But that is this coming Sunday night.

Hebrews chapter 13 verse 20 and 21 printed at the top of the prayer she now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you.

What is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ home be glory forever and ever.

Amen. Wonderful promises there.

It reminds us that our salvation is all of God from beginning to end.

What's amazing to me more. I understand the purposes of God in salvation what God demands of loss what God requires of us.

He has provided for us in his son the Lord Jesus Christ.

God demands a perfect righteousness.

What else would we expect a perfect God. To demand, but I a perfect righteousness.

Well, that creates a real dilemma for us because we are unrighteous. The best the best we can do our best works are best effort is with filthy rags, so where do we turn what we do, how do we meet this obligation of a perfect righteousness will God is given it to us in his son, the perfect righteous one. And when a man or woman or boy or girl believes upon the Lord Jesus Christ casts themselves upon him to the saving of their soul. God grants to them a perfect standing because a perfect righteousness has been imputed to them, but is not just that two weeks ago we took up the subject of the development of a persevering faith. Faith is a critical critical matter in the Christian life.

The writer of Hebrews says without faith it is impossible to please God impossible. We must have faith.

Faith in God to please him. Well here we are again apart from the grace of God. Apart from the intervention of God in our lives. We have no faith. Faith is a gift of God. For by grace are you saved through faith and this not of yourselves, it is a gift of God not of works lest any man should boast.

Some will look at that passage in Ephesians chapter 2 and say well that the gift of God is nothing to do with faith.

It has everything to do with the grace of God.

Well, if you are a Greek grammar student, something I learned in Bible college and seminary that reasoning will not fly cannot impose that on the text there. Ephesians chapter 2. You have to you can exclude grace from the discussion of faith. It has to all be taken as one unit.

So, for by grace are you saved through faith right through faith. And it is a gift of God. What is a gift of God grace and faith is a gift of God not of works lest any man should boast. So God must impart faith to us that is required of him in order that we would please him, but God is not interested in just a static faith God not interested in just a one time faith that we exercise one time and we are void of it.

The rest of our lives know God is interested in the development of faith, a persevering faith, a vibrant faith of growing faith, a tested faith in this verse in Hebrews chapter 13 speaks of God's activity now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you. What is well pleasing in his sight, working in you. What is well pleasing in his sight so faith is an active thing.

Faith is a living thing, and God is actively actively involved in the producing and the developing of faith. Now faith is the gift of God.

But we must exercise that faith God won't exercise it for us, but of God imparts it to us then it is our responsibility to act on that belief on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.

Holiness is another matter, akin to a perfect righteousness. Be holy, for I am holy.

Without holiness no one will see the Lord all God commands holiness from us will because of our struggles yet with this broken world in sin, we are not perfectly holy.

We are on holy any times so what is God done, God's come to us in the person of the Holy Spirit and he's taken up residence in the life of every believer wisely done that but the superintendent well for a number of reasons, but one reason is to superintend the process of growing in holiness growing in sanctification becoming more like the Lord Jesus Christ. So you see, as I suggested, from beginning to end.

God is the author and finisher of our faith. We owe it all to him. But again same same as holiness pursuing holiness error. I mean the same as we must exercise the faith God gives. We must cooperate with the spirit of God in this pursuit of holiness.

So us what we want to consider further tonight as we are considering here in the book of Job, the development of persevering faith, but will get back to that here in a moment. Prayer requests but briefer this evening than we usually are our government official of the week is Fall River Mayor pro tem H. Lee Lovett in our college student of the week is Micah mature was taking classes at Alamance community college Marseilles councilman is recovering from my surgery and were thankful that that is going well and this is the process that she's got to work through talk about persevering on your back cannot move for nearly a week while your high heels. Drew Guthrie continued remember the sisters she's battling with cancer and has fought a good fight is persevering in the faith, but she needs her prayers she needs are encouragement Charlie Watkins is at home is been in and out of the emergency room. A couple of times.

The last few weeks.

So pray that she regains her strength and can avoid covert, 1900 missionary side, confident in his sleep and reminding you of Stuart Juan's passing and memorial service that will be holding for him that your have been reminded of Laverne and the family as they are grieving. Stewart's home-going please remember Laverne Mike Webster as he's battling colon cancer. We are expressing our sympathy as a church to the family of Mary Hilda Hicks. This is an aunt of Sue Elliott died last week and then the family of Ronnie right a friend of Tony and Dolly, but Nash also passed away last week under shut-ins. We have one name that's highlighted and that is Betty Duncan who is just week and just dealing with chronic back pain. If you would remember her in your prayers.

Couple of things related to missions as a thank you from David and Lynn Champlin in Surinam they write dear beacon. We wanted to wish you a joyous holiday and a blessed new year 2021. Thank you for your faithful giving toward us over the past years folks when we get these thank you notes I've had this one for several weeks but it was dated December 28 and reminds us of how far-flung some of the missionary families that were in partnership are how far away they are from us. They continue here. David has been busy assisting coworkers and family who live outside of the area with purchases banking and paperwork. He has preached on these preached as a regulations have allowed friends and church leaders have sought him out for counseling. Lynn is been teaching online all semester. The extra time needed to format the learning process has put her way behind in correspondence over the holidays. We were able to host a Bible study group repeats after months of not being together. The traditional holiday gatherings were canceled but we have been able to to bake sweetbreads, which David enjoys delivering along with the visits which accompany them, so may the Lord be with us as we wait a better 2021. David and Lynn Champlin. This is a it's as we are grateful for your gift to Samaritan this is the project we took up to help replace a floatplane that John Harmon had made us aware of were grateful for your gift to Samara which will help us replace our loss claim. This aircraft is uniquely equipped to support kingdom ministries in the most remote corners of the Amazon rainforest. Thank you for your partnership, making it possible for us to quickly restore critical floatplane service to the peoples of the Peruvian jungle. We counted our privilege to share in the gospel with you so that was very encouraging to see the broad and generous response to that need. They raised I think 1/4 million dollars to not only replace the floatplane but a hanger in other things. So very, very encouraging to see God's people responding to that need.

Here is a letter from Tony and Kathy Payne dated February 22. They write from South Africa dear Pastor Barkman, and friends at beacon. South Africa's second surge of covert infections has been X potential and highly ineffective due to our own variant 501.

Why two our president put the country under lockdown level III on December 28 due to the year-end summer holiday in beach mode on February 1.

Lockdown was eased in churches have been able to begin to meet again. However, Ed and Hoven Baptist Kirk is still without a venue to meet since the government school where we have health services since 2010 will not be allowed churches to use their facilities as long as the pandemic requires extra caution so that brings about a prayer request, they say, will you please pray for the Lord to move on the principle of a small preschool to grant us permission to meet at their facility. It is an excellent location and it is central to our people in bed and over is a joy to meet again in person. Even with social distancing and masks that is the been meeting outside of their home as yesterday was the fifth time we've been able to meet at our home were thankful that our neighbors Brian and Natosha visited our services again.

They know that they are lost and they are concerned about their souls, especially since there friend and housemate been died suddenly in September I witness to him at his home and in our home just before the covert lockdown first began in March 2020, Brian and Natosha also heard the gospel along with Ben last year Brian and Natosha attended one service last year and been had asked for a home service just before lockdown. Natosha came to visit Kathy last Wednesday and Kathy was able to share from my message from Galatians about justification by faith alone in Christ. So they're asking prayer for Brian and Natosha this couple that God is dealing with their come there coming under conviction of sin dealing with their lostness aware of it. So that's all a work of God in his grace exist since our last since our January prayer letter Kathy who is a registered nurses volunteered with the Western Cape health department to help with the vaccine rollout, particularly in Delft, but anywhere in the city of Cape Town, Metropolis, will you pray for the Lord open this door of ministry for her. If he so wilts as of this weekend only 10,000 you only 10,000 of the 80,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had been administered and all for healthcare workers. There are another 500,000 doses to be delivered in four weeks and a further 500,000 doses. Shortly thereafter, but this is far short of the 40 million doses needed for herd immunity that is targeted by sometime in 2022. So, just an update from the pains will let's turn to the word of God. Job chapter 1, we find in this first chapter, a bit of a drama in the historical narrative that's given to us about a man named Joe.

Therefore, scenes that make up the chapter and we have been considering this chapter. Under these four headings.

Verses one through five.

Faith stated verses six through 12 faith challenged and then tonight we will look at verses 13 through 19. Faith tested and then seen for verses 20 through 22. Faith sustained, but let me read the chapter then will get into our study, there was a man in the land of Oz, whose name was Joe and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil and seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

Also, his possessions were 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East and his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. So it was when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, it may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts. Thus Job did regularly.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them and the Lord said to Satan, from where do you come so Satan answered the Lord and said, from going to and fro on the earth and from walking back and worth on then the Lord said to Satan, have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil so Satan answered the Lord and said this Job fear God for nothing.

Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household around all that he has on every side.

You bless the work of his hands and his possessions have increased in the land but now, stretch out your hand and touch all that he has and he will surely curse you to your face and the Lord said to Satan, behold, all that he has is in your power only do not lay a hand on his person. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. There will pickup at verse 13 in a minute but I want to read an excerpt out of Johnny Erickson taught his book a place of healing. An excellent, excellent book, a place of healing wrestling with the mysteries of suffering pain in God's sovereignty. Listen to this woman's perspective on suffering. She says to be confronted with suffering, whether observing it in another or struggling against it with your own aches and pains to be confronted with the flexion is a reminder that something immense and cosmic is at stake. I heaven to be reached a hell to be avoided and a life on earth to be lived seriously and circumspectly our souls are the battleground on which massive spiritual battles are right now, right this minute being waged and the stakes are enormous beyond our conception here on earth were being observed by both the sons and daughters of God and by those who have not yet bow their knee to the lordship of Jesus and beyond these earthly eyes. There are other eyes in the spirit realm, both angelic and demonic, who observe and take note whether or not we trust our God in the crucible of trials and afflictions and those who have gone on before us. Are they watching to some interpret Hebrews 12 one.

To mean that they are literally are saints seated in heavenly grandstands observing our battles and cheering us on to two triumphs of faith. There is yet another reason why right now accounts for eternity. The New Testament brims over with the promise of everlasting rewards for those who remain faithful to their calling.

Even in the face of great suffering to the suffering believers in Smyrna, Jesus said do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 210 every day of our short lives. Even every hour, has eternal consequences for good or ill eternity in the way will live in, it is somehow being shaped by our moment by moment responses to the life we have before us to live right now and so it is only fitting that God should give us some sense of the stakes involved.

I'm so grateful that life for Ross is not an easy road to think about who saying that a woman who is suffered with quadriplegia for over 50 years.

I am so grateful that life for Ross is not an easy road. If it were, if the Lord did not occasionally give us a taste of Hells splash over you and I would soon forget that this world is not our home. I'm also grateful that he opens our eyes from time to time to the magnitude of the spiritual war we are in.

He does this by giving us wonderful foretaste of glory divine in the joys we experience and he does it by allowing us foretaste of hell and are suffering whatever we are experiencing today. We can be reminded of the eternal stakes involved.

She says that to keeps me going is not easy going on right now in my life but I must go on and I will go on until he calls me home and for however many more days. He gives me to live for him on this side of heaven. Every one of them counts forever. I thought of just a good perspective as we begin to revisit this classic narrative of Joe again very quickly. A review faith is stated Job's faith is stated in verse one that he was a man, blameless and upright, one who feared God and shunned evil and God reminded Satan when Satan came into his presence about Job and we have the words of a verse eight then the Lord said to Satan, have you considered my servant Job almost the identical words of verse one are set again in verse eight that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil else one thing to have a reputation as a God-fearing man man of integrity man of character, one who fears God and shuns evil but it's another thing when God Almighty says that about a man and that's God saying that about a man named Job. So here is faith stated in her many other things said about Job at our our interest is in this man and his faith and the development of persevering faith, so as faith is stated and then we have seen to where his faith is challenged and when God asks Satan, have you considered my servant Job, and then gives this description of him with the Satan site is he saying not on who you're talking about Job, who know me know exactly who he was talking about, which seems to indicate that Satan had been trying to get at Job he'd been observing Job's life, and he knew a lot about Joe we know about his large family knew about his wealth he knew about how God had hedged him in and how God had blessed him and how he was a man who feared God and worship God. All those things are stated in the text that Satan knew about Joe, but Satan challenges Job's faith. In essence, he says to God. Yes, he worships you. Yes he serves you, but it's because it pays him to do so. You bought his worship who wouldn't worship a God who blessed him the way you bless this man but take away his stuff and he will curse you to your face. In other words, Satan was suggesting that Job worship God out of self-interest that it paid him to continue to worship God.

The stakes were too high not to the serve God out of self-interest and God response to this challenge is he's challenging. Job's faith. Verse 12 says while verse 11. This was the challenge stretch out your hand and touch all that he has and he will surely curse you to your face. That's the challenge God's response and the Lord said to Satan, behold, all that he has is in your power. Only do not lay a hand on his person. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord that brings us to verses 13 through 19, which I've entitled faith tested. Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house and a messenger came to Job and said the oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them. When the Sabeans raided them and took them away. Indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword and I alone have escaped to tell you while he was still speaking, another also came and said the fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consume them, and I alone have escaped to tell you while he was still speaking, another also came and said, the Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword and I alone have escaped to tell you while he was still speaking, another also came and said your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house and it fell on the young people and they are dead and I alone have escaped to tell you faith tested. I don't know how that scene sets with you, but it is sobering. We are in awe of the devastation and the calamity that is come upon this man and rapid fire succession Job's life was hit by a tidal wave of disaster and who is behind it will.

Satan is behind it with his malice, his persistence in his agenda to destroy to crush to destroy this man's faith. There was no warning became to Job it just happened in rapidfire succession. No word of warning from the Lord.

Verses 15 Sabeans came he lost his servants, his cattle verse 16. While that man was still speaking. Lightning came in killed all the sheep and the servants. Verse 17 while he was yet speaking is camels is servants and all of his children, seven sons and three daughters who of us can comprehend the horror of Job's circumstances, he lost all of his wealth. All of the servants, all of his children in a single day God tested his faith, God sorely tested his faith in the question is why does God test our faith.

What is God test our faith will God tests our faith to see the genuineness of it, whether we have real faith, or whether we have a counterfeit God tests the quality of our faith. God tests the strength of our faith. Someone is said, if you obey God only because he blesses you the shallowness of your faith will show up in the time of testing faith that is not tested, cannot be trusted. Faith that is not tested, cannot be trusted may help us to understand more fully why God allows Satan to attack Job through the trial of suffering. If we keep in mind the nature of trials in the in the Bible. Trials have a double aspect. Satan has one purpose and one agenda God has another Satan uses trials to seduce the believer into sin and disobedience and he wants us to dishonor God by doubting his love and doubting his goodness.

God uses the same trial, not as an enticement to sin but is a test to strengthen our faith so that he may use us more fully for his purposes.

God is interested in the development of persevering faith over a faith that will endure though press by many to follow a faith that always stands secure through every earthly will that will not murmur nor complain beneath the chastening rod, but in the hour of grief or pain can lean upon its God, a faith that shines more bright and clear when campus rage without that when the in danger knows no fear in darkness feels no doubt a faith that keeps the narrow way to life's last spark is fled in with a pure and heavenly Ray lights up a dying bed, then the hymn writer includes the last stanza with a prayer request. Lord, give me such a faith as this and then whatever may come I'll taste in here.

The hallowed bliss of an eternal home.

Job's faith was tested. This is not an isolated case. I submit to you tonight that God tests the faith of every one who has faith because God is not interested in a static faith. Faith is like a muscle, they must be exercised because God is interested in the development of persevering faith. So child of God.

Tonight would whatever it is that God has brought into your life, yield yourself, submit to God. Understand God's agenda. God is far, far, far more interested in the development of your persevering faith and he is of rescuing you out of the temporary pain herein because what God is doing has eternal consequences. God wants you to honor him in the midst whatever it is he's brought into your life again. Psalm 50 verse 15 is a wonderful promise one worthy to commit to memory worthy of meditation and it says this goddess gives an invitation, call upon me in the day of trouble and I will answer the and you shall glorify me call upon me in the day of trouble God says why because were confident that God has grace and mercy to help us in our time of need. Call upon you in a day of trouble and I will answer the heaven will be silent God will hear you God will answer you, but God will answer you in such a way that you will be unable to glorify him respond to your circumstances in such a way that it looks favorably upon the God you claim to believe in no call upon me in the day of trouble and I will answer the and you shall glorify me. That's what God wants. God wants to answer you and enable you to respond in such a way that he is glorified. Been reading the last week or so in this little book by Sinclair Ferguson deserted by God, deserted by God. And it's a collection of sermons and I want to just read a couple of stanzas out of a poem to you don't know the author of it, but I read the first and the last stanza twist gleams of joy and clouds of doubt our feelings, and go our best estate is tossed about in ceaseless ebb and flow.

No mood of feeling form of thought is constant for a day, but thou old Lord, thou changes not the same thou art all way last stanza of the poem by purpose of eternal good.

Let me but surely no on this.

Eileen let changing mood and feeling, or go glad when thy sunshine fills my soul not worn when clouds or cast since thou within thy sure control of love lost hold me fast, and then the words of this hymn written by John Newton that I think captures the confusion. Sometimes we face when clouds gather and circumstances become difficult in trials, and temptations, and we wonder what what is God doing listen to the words of this hymn by John Newton. I asked the Lord that I might grow in faith and prayer, and every grace might more of his salvation. No and seek more earnestly, his face was he who taught me.

Thus, to pray and he I trust has answered prayer, but it has been in such a way as almost drove me to despair. I hoped that in some favorite red once he did answer my request and by his loves constraining power subdue my sins and give me rest instead of this he made me feel the hidden evils of my heart and bade me and bade the angry powers of hell assault my soul in every part.

Yay, more with his own hand. He seemed intent to aggravate my will crossed all the fair designs I schemed to blasted my boards and laid me low Lord why is this I trembling cried. Will thou pursue thy worm to death to his in this way, the Lord replied, I answered prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I employ from self and pride to set the free and break thy schemes of earthly joy that thou may us seek thine all in me that helps us. That helps me click quickly. Tonight let's look at faith sustained faith sustained faith stated faith challenged faith tested now faith sustained verse 20 then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head and he fell to the ground and worshiped.

And he said naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord in all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. There is Job's response to this assault upon his life. We can understand his deep expression of grief and mourning that was natural, but what's recorded here is supernatural. He fell to the ground any worshiped Job arose, tore his robe shaved his head and he fell to the ground any worshiped what did he say in verse 21 naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Job did not believe that he was entitled to anything. Job understood that he was a steward. Job understood that the God who gave him everything that he enjoyed had the prerogative to take it away when it pleased him and for whatever reason Job understood that too many in our day have an entitled entitlement mentality that somehow God owes us. God owes his health.

God owes us a comfortable living God owes us so many things know God doesn't owe us anything. All good things come from God our sourced and grace and Job understood that he did not understand what was happening to him. He did not have an explanation for what was happening to him, but he did not do the one thing Satan said he would do. Satan said touch him touch his stuff take his things from him and he will curse you to your face God. Job said naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave in the Lord had taken away. Blessed be the name of now, you notice what he started with. He started with the Lord gave his focus wasn't on the Lord took away and it begs another question was at the Lord took away was or was it the Chaldeans or was it the the the Sabeans.

Those are all secondary causes. Those were involved in the devastation they came upon them, but he looked beyond all of that and he understood God. The God controlled all things, and he understood that God was behind it, the Godhead given and God had taken away that it was God's prerogative to do so and he worshiped God. He saying God doesn't owe me anything. All that I possess was held in stewardship for God and as I've said it will help us in our times of loss to remember this as well and I do not say that lightly were talking about the development of persevering faith were talking about the manifestation of a mature faith, a grounded faith of faith that will take any below and remain persevering. That's what God is interested in developing and every one of us in all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong faith sustained now is that to Job's credit, I want you to know that the God who gives faith is a God who grows faith tests faith superintendents faith and is the God who produces persevering faith. Job was a man, a mere man a godly man, a exemplary man but he wasn't a sinless man but God kept him in that moment of crisis. In those days of crisis that he was going through, and God will do the same for us.

It is God's will, God's purpose is working in us both to will and to do according to his good pleasure now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you.

What is well pleasing in his sight, why, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. That you might glorify him.

That's why so I trust that this is been helpful to you tonight. It is a book very worthwhile to pray over read, study and meditate over wonderful lessons here for us. Well, I want to pray burden tonight for Tony and Kathy pain in their circumstances for this couple that God is dealing with for their need of a meeting place were encouraged by the prospect of things improving rather quickly here in our country and here in our church. We are hoping that we will see things returning to a normal schedule sooner as opposed to later to pray with us about that and we need wisdom to know how to move forward wisely and not too quickly, but we don't want to be overly cautious so we have thought this through. Been praying about this for weeks and months and a first start will be on Sunday night with memorial service for Stuart. Walt was good to see the auditorium as full as it was in the welcome center was was more crowded than it needs to be but were grateful for everyone who was here on Sunday so that's another indication to us that things are improving. There's a there's a desire in the hearts of the people of God to get back to enjoy fellowship and gathering of the body of Christ will join me as we as we pray tonight.

Father, we are mindful that our faith is sometimes weak.

It sometimes fragile sometimes were plagued with doubt.

Sometimes fear grips us and yet Lord, you know all this about us and we are encouraged his we see you working in the lives of your chosen apostles you were on this earth for 3+ years and some two years, two and half years into their walk with you. You had to say to them, oh ye of little faith. Where is your faith. We don't want to use that as an excuse but it is a reminder that this process is a long enduring process.

It is a lifelong process and we need the exercise of our faith. We need the development of our faith. We want a persevering faith.

Help us to understand what that means. Help us to understand what that invites indoor life. Help us to understand what it is you will bring into our life in order for that to be produced with thank you for the goodness of God that the goodness of God lead us to repentance with thank you tonight that you have many many tools in your toolbox to accomplish your purposes in the lives of your people. So Lord, we are grateful for this record of the historical narrative of this man named Job and how his faith was sorely tested and yet how you sustained his faith and caused his faith to be a persevering faith. Lord we want that we desire that do that in us, we pray with. Thank you for Tony and Kathy pain we sense some frustration in them. With this correspondence, not able to meet at the school they been meeting at since 2010 asking for us to pray and intercede on their behalf for this preschool that is close to the proximity of a lot of the people that the principal would be sympathetic to them and would be willing to rent that to them. We thank you that Tony and Kathy apparently have a home that's large enough to accommodate the gathering of the church. Thank you for those who have been gathering.

Thank you for this couple who've come who are have been exercised by the Spirit of God to the point that they know their lost in their seeking truth, and we pray our God, that you would save them by your marvelous grace make them trophies of your grace and courage.

Tony and Kathy and that local assembly in the salvation of this couple. We pray for Kathy that you give her wisdom, her and Tony as she is the skill of being a nurse and has volunteered her services in the distribution of the vaccine not only to do that.

But to use that as an opportunity to expand their presence in expand or witness so Lord if it would please you open that door to them. We pray you would agree. Thank you for the marvelous way you supplied for the need for this floatplane bless you God for encouraging the church and these people in this critical work tonight.

We want to pray for Marseille counseling.

We thank you for her and for Bruce and we pray that she soon will be back on her feet back among us. We pray for Betty Duncan tonight that you would be pleased to minister grace to her in this time of chronic pain with her back for Drew Guthrie draws near to this dear sister dear Lord, we pray encouraged her to fix her hope upon things eternal Lord, thank you. You've promised never to leave us nor forsake us. You promise to give grace to help us in our time of need granted to her. Thank you for Shirley Watkins that she's at home. Pray that she would soon renew your strength. We pray for these families who of buried loved ones.

The family Mary Hilda Hickson for the family running right or these are days where death is has confronted them and altered their agendas brought sorrow and pain separation, or use this for their eternal good bring people to an awareness of the brevity of life that there is support in a man once to die, and after this the judgment. Lord we are so looking forward to the memorial service on Sunday night. We pray for good weather. We pray for good attendance. We pray for a spirit that would would honor the memory of Stuart Law, but would eclipse that and bring honor and glory to Christ and the gospel. The work that's going on in the land of Zimbabwe were made via a praise filled time as we gather here together and rejoice together and what you have done and are doing and yet will do what were concerned about many things, and yet Lord help us to be discerning in the be more concerned about eternal matters, be more concerned about the matters of the inner man than we are about the affairs that seem to dominate our lives.

The temporal affairs of life.

Lord help us to be yielded to you to be surrendered to you to be submitted to you to understand your great in glorious agenda for our lives to grow us in Christ likeness to develop our faith that it would be a persevering faith or because that to be so for the good of your people for the strengthening of your church for this.

The prospect of increased fruitfulness in gospel work. We pray in Jesus name, amen