When the role is small and younger, I'll begin.
On the bright and cloudless moon, we bring the dead in worship.
And the glory of his resurrection shared.
And his chosen one shall gather through their home beyond this ground.
In the lowest hall of yon, we're all be there.
In the lowest hall of yon,
Yeah!
In the lowest hall of yon, we're all be there.
Let us sing for the master from the dawn to setting sun.
Let us love for all his purpose for the king.
When all the life is over and the work on earth is done,
In the lowest hall of yon, we're all be there.
In the lowest hall of yon,
Amen.
Thank you, Father God, for another day.
Thank you so much for this church.
Thank you for this morning's service.
We ask you to be blessed this morning's service.
And the rest of this day, this evening's service.
Thank you.
In Jesus' mighty name, amen.
Amen. Thank you, brother.
Let's turn our hands to song number 124.
That's song number 124,
God Will Take Care Of You.
Song number 124.
In all his name, but every time,
God will take care of him.
Even his peace, O Lord of mine,
God will take care of you.
Through every gain or all the pain,
He will take care of you.
God will take care of you.
In all his name, but every time,
God will take care of you.
Even his peace, O Lord of mine,
God will take care of you.
Through every gain or all the pain,
He will take care of you.
God will take care of you.
Only we need, we will provide,
God will take care of you.
Nothing we ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.
Through every gain or all the pain,
He will take care of you.
God will take care of you.
No matter what will be the test,
God will take care of you.
Then when we run upon his breast,
God will take care of you.
Through every gain or all the pain,
He will take care of you.
God will take care of you.
He will take care of you.
God will take care of you.
He will take care of you.
God will take care of you.
He will take care of you.
Make sure all those chilis are made from scratch.
Make sure they are here by 5 pm.
If you want to be entered into the contest and walk in at 5.01,
I don't care about the sad puppy dog look you are going to give me.
I will break your heart. I know I will be that bad guy.
But we have to have a deadline for a reason.
5 pm is the absolute cutoff.
The reason is because people have to work the next day, we want to get this thing going,
and we want to get out the door. Otherwise people will show up at 7 pm with a chili.
We have to have a deadline.
Don't forget, I'm going to show them off again.
The coveted wooden spoon.
This could be yours folks. Who is going to make a chili?
Now there is some competition in the room.
There will be an additional prize to that, but that will be more of a surprise
at the day of. The only other rules are
you have to be at least 12 years old to vote. Everyone is going to get to vote on their favorite chili.
Just one vote. Everybody 12 and above gets one vote to vote on their favorite chili.
However they determine what their favorite chili is, if they really care the way it looks
and not the way it tastes, they can vote on that.
One vote, and if you enter a chili you cannot vote.
If you enter a chili, you just have to hope that
your vote is going to be the tiebreaker.
Below that we have the home school field trip coming up. Please note that we had to move the date out
until December 13th at 9 am. This is due to the fact that
they scheduled me on a day, and then they called me back
and said that is actually veterans day. We are trying to get the live
animal theater, which is a really cool experience.
But in order to get that we had to move the date out until the 13th.
There will be a new sign up sheet reposted closer to that date.
Because it is kind of silly to sign up now for something that is that far out. Schedules change.
Below that you have the songs scheduled for the upcoming services.
So take note of that if you want to learn the songs for the coming week.
A real quick note about the yearbook photos as well. Obviously we have a lot of things
set up over here, a lot of chords, so let's keep an eye on the kids especially today.
The food will be here probably by the time
I am done preaching. So we are going to actually have to turn these
lights off in here in order to get the photos to turn out the way that we want.
The overhead lamp above the counter will stay on so you can serve yourself.
But we would ask that any fellowshipping or eating actually take place
either in the foyer or outside of the building. We will set up the picnic
tables and things down on this end of the sidewalk
down there under the overhang if you want to go down there and eat.
You are free to come in and get food and drink and things like that.
Again let's not linger back here today and try to avoid coming up and down the aisle
while the photos are being taken place. The way I will do this is I just kind of
have an idea of who is here and what is going on. So we will just kind of call people in
to have their photos taken. So you might have to put a taco down and wipe your mouth and
run in here. It should go fairly smooth.
Again I am very grateful for Brother Ramon to come down if you haven't met him. Make sure you shake his hand
and say thank you for him and his family coming down here today and making that trip and setting this up for them.
They are going to turn out great. They always do so I am excited about that.
That will do it for announcements though. We will go ahead and sing one more song before we go to preaching tonight or this morning.
Song number 449,
Willing and Beulah.
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming
Here is my prayer for thee
I am safe forever
In evil lands
I'm living on the mountain
Underneath the cloudless sky
Wait, what?
I'm dreaming of the fountain
Let never shower dry
Oh, yes, I'll be speaking
Of the weather
From a mountain full of sunshine
For I am coming
In evil lands
Living in the words of God
I'm singing my salvation
Hear me now his blessing
For it's my single mighty prayer
Telling him the Spirit
Hear my prayer
Of full salvation
That he will lie to me
In evil lands
I'm living on the mountain
Underneath the cloudless sky
Wait, what?
I'm dreaming of the fountain
Let never shower dry
Oh, yes, I'll be speaking
Of the weather
From a mountain full of sunshine
For I am coming
In evil lands
Genesis chapter number 12
beginning in verse 1
the Bible reads
Then the Lord had said to Abraham
Get thee out of thy country
and from thy kindred
and from thy father's house
into a land that I will show thee
and I will make of thee a great nation
and I will bless thee
and make thy name great
and thou shalt be a blessing
and I will bless them that bless thee
and curse them that cursed thee
and in thee shall all families
of the earth be blessed
So Abraham departed
as the Lord had spoken unto him
and Lot went with him
and Abram was seventy
and five years old
when he departed out of Haran
and Abram took Sarai his wife
and Lot his brother's son
and all their substance
that they had gathered
and the souls that they had gotten in Haran
and they went forth into the land of Canaan
and into the land of Canaan they came
and Abram passed through the land
in the place of Sychem
unto the plain of Mori
and the Canaanite was then in the land
and the Lord appeared on Abram
and said unto thee
will I give this land
unto thy seed will I give this land
and there builded he an altar unto the Lord
who appeared unto him
and he removed from thence
unto a mountain on the east of Bethel
and pitched his tent
having Bethel on the west
and Haai on the east
and there he builded an altar unto the Lord
and called upon the name of the Lord
and Abram journeyed going on still
toward the south
and before the famine in the land
Abram went down into Egypt
to sojourn there
for the famine was grievous in the land
and it came to pass
when he was come near
to enter into Egypt
that he said unto Sarai his wife
behold now I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon
therefore it shall come to pass
when the Egyptians shall see thee
that they shall say this is his wife
and they will kill me
but they will save thee alive
say I pray thee thou art my sister
that it may be well with me for thy sake
and my soul shall live because of thee
and it came to pass
that when Abram was come into Egypt
the Egyptians beheld the woman
that she was very fair
the princes also of Pharaoh saw her
and commended her before Pharaoh
and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house
and he entreated Abram well for her sake
and he had sheep and oxen and heast asses
and men servants and maid servants
and she asses and camels
and the Lord plagued Pharaoh at his house
with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife
and Pharaoh called Abram and said
what is this that thou has done unto me
why didst thou not tell me she was thy wife
why setest thou she is my sister
so I might have taken her to me to wife
now therefore behold thy wife
take her and go thy way
and Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him
and they sent him away and his wife
and all that he had
let's go ahead and have a word of prayer
dear Lord again thank you for the time
that we have to come together
in the beginning of the week
for the preaching of God's word
I pray that you would meet with us this morning
that you would help me Lord
to edify your people
we ask in Christ's name Amen
so this morning I'm going to continue on
with the series I started a couple weeks ago
on lessons from leaders
and just very briefly in review
all I'll mention is the fact that
again the series is entitled lessons from leaders
not necessarily lessons for leaders
although I'm sure there's a great many lessons
that leaders could learn from the series
and from the word of God
and from these examples of leaders in the Bible
but it's something that can really be applied to everybody
everybody can learn something from these leaders
as we go through the word of God
and look at these
you know really just I'm trying to narrow it down
to just one or maybe two specific things
about these leaders
while there's many things that could be said
what I want to point out is just a few things
that we can learn from these leaders
if you recall we looked at Adam
and we've looked at Noah
and this morning I want to look at Abraham
and it says there in verse 1
now the Lord had said unto Abraham
get thee out of thy country
and from thy kindred and from thy father's house
unto a land that I will show thee
and it says there in verse 1
now the Lord had said unto Abraham
meaning this is something that he's already said to him
back when he is in Ur of the Chaldees
if you remember he leaves with his father
they land up
they end up there
and he comes to again
we're reminded that he was told to
to leave his father's house
after the passing of his father
that's where we pick up the story
where he's now going forth
into Canaan and eventually down into the land of Egypt
so he had said unto him
get thee out of thy country
and from thy kindred and from thy father's house
unto a land that I will show thee
and I will make of thee a great nation
and I will bless thee and make thy name great
and thou shalt be a blessing
and I will bless them that bless thee
and curse them that cursed thee
and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed
so Abram departed from the Lord
as the Lord had spoken to him
and lot with him
and Abram was seventy and five years old
when he departed out of Haran
so imagine being Abram at this point
in his life in the story of Abram
imagine God coming and making such a great promise
to you know one of us
him coming to you
and saying hey if you just leave
everything behind
you leave everything that's familiar
you leave all your friends
you leave your family
you leave everything that you've known growing up
you leave all this behind
and I will give you this great blessing
in fact I will make you such a blessing
that all families in the earth
in thee shall be blessed
and that's a very powerful promise
and of course we know Abram
is a great example of faith
of somebody who believed that
and stepped out in faith
and was obedient to the Lord
and as a result God fulfilled this promise
and today truly all families of the earth
are blessed in Abram
because through Abram came Christ
so we see that's where that blessing comes from
but what I want to get across this morning
is that what we see in the life of Abram
although it's this great blessing
it is not without sacrifice
and really when I think about Abram
we might think about this idea
of being willing to make a sacrifice
in fact probably one of the main things
people think about
is when Abram offered up Isaac
his only son upon the altar
and we'll get to that here in a minute
I want to start here in Genesis 12 though
because I think when it comes to this idea
of sacrifice
that in the life of Abram
there's also this example
or this lesson that we can learn
that when it comes to sacrifice
it's often preceded by inconvenience
if we think about sacrifice
you say well if you're going to talk about Abram
you're going to talk about Abraham
you're going to talk about sacrifice
why don't we just go right to Genesis 22
and talk about offering Isaac upon the altar
I mean that's a pretty big sacrifice
when God is coming to you and saying
give me thy son
offer thy son thy only begotten son
offer the son that you've been waiting for
and have never had
offer the son of thine old age
thine only begotten son
give him to me
slay him
that's a pretty big sacrifice
but notice before that
God in a way tests and tries Abram
by what? Inconveniencing him
and really what I want to drive home this morning
is that you know we're never going to be a people
that are willing to make sacrifices
if we're not willing to be inconvenienced
often we like to think about all the great things
we'd be willing to do for God
oh how we would be martyrs for Christ
if needs so arise
how we would be willing to lay down our lives
or forsake all that we have
and yet we find ourselves very often
not even willing to be inconvenienced for the Lord
and it's hard to sit there and really believe ourselves
about all the great sacrifices
we would be willing to make
when we aren't even willing to be inconvenienced
a little bit for God's sake
and really a lot of the things that we today
in our modern times
what we would call sacrifices for God
really I don't even know that they would register
as much as even so much as an inconvenience
when we compare ourselves
to some of these great leaders in the Bible
you know Abram was somebody of course
who was used mightily by God
and he is somebody who was willing to make
great sacrifices for God
but before he ever got to that place
where he's willing to offer up his own son
in obedience to God
he had learned along the way
to allow himself to be inconvenienced
for God's sake
inconvenience precedes sacrifice
you know we see that here in this chapter
where it says in verse 1 that
the Lord had said unto Abram
get thee out of thy country
and from thy kindred
and from thy father's house
unto a land that I will show thee
you know this is something that maybe
would have carried a lot more weight
in times past when we really relied upon
our local network of people in our lives
and of course the local church
can provide that
community can provide that
but we have to remember that
you know in times past
it's been a lot harder just to survive
and back then especially
you know to have been asked
to leave thy country
you know he didn't just say
okay well no problem
just give me the coordinates
just give me the address
of where you would like me to be
and I'll just plug it into my GPS unit here
I'll just put it into my smartphone
and I'll just follow directions
and be on my merry way
in fact I can even zoom in
and see what the land's going to be like
when I get there
no he's asking him to leave
everything that's familiar
physically, geographically
he's asking to leave the country
alone that he had knew where the water was
knew where the animals were
knew what kind of soil was here
where the people were gathering here
where this town could be found
he's asking him to leave all that
I mean that's a pretty big thing
I mean that's a pretty big inconvenience
in fact you could even go so far as to say
that's a sacrifice in and of itself
to leave thy country
and to what?
leave thy kindred
he said get thee out of thy country
and what?
from thy kindred
meaning the people that you know
those that you're related to
your friends, your family
those that are in relation to you
those that would have been able to help you
when you went through a time of sickness
those that would have helped you
when you were struggling in some area in life
as we all do
he's being asked to leave all of that
and from thy father's house
unto a land that I will show thee
so he's leaving this convenience
he's leaving this security
and what we learn from that from Abram
is that when it comes to sacrifice
it's often preceded by inconvenience
if we're not willing to be inconvenienced for God
then let's not sit there and talk about
how we're willing to make these great sacrifices of God
because I don't know that Abram
perhaps he would have
would have been willing at this point in his life
to have offered up his only begotten son
I'm not saying he wouldn't
I don't really know
but I know one thing
that before God asked him to do that
he went ahead and inconvenienced Abram
a great deal
and asked him to make a series of sacrifices
that ultimately led to that ultimate sacrifice
that he was willing to make
he asked him to leave a strange land
not only that
notice there at the end of verse 4
it says so Abram departed
as the Lord had spoken unto him
a lot went out of them
and Abram was seventy and five years old
when he departed out of Haran
he's leaving this other land
that he'd come into, Haran
he'd come out of Ur of the Chaldees
with his father
his father passed away in Haran
now God's reminding him
this isn't where I want you
keep going
but he's leaving
I don't know if this would have been considered at his time
but certainly in our day
that's an advanced age we would call
that's how we would put that politely
he's old or seasoned
but he's an old man
in fact even later on in the story
not very many years removed
removed from this
we find him saying
how are we going to have children
we're old
he tells the Lord
he's 75 years old when he's asked
to leave this land
to continue on in this journey
that's a pretty big inconvenience isn't it
when we've gotten set in our ways
he's established in the land that he's been in
he's been there for some time
he's networked with everybody
he has a way of living
he has everything set up for himself
he's kind of set in his ways
God asks him and inconveniences him
asked him to make the sacrifice
and that's what ultimately I believe
allowed him to later go on and make even greater sacrifices
if you would keep something there in Genesis chapter 12
go over to Hebrews chapter 11
Hebrews chapter 11
we're going to want to bookmark Hebrews chapter 11
I'll be back there a few times this morning
but the beginning of the sermon
really what I want to point out is that
again Abram was somebody that was
willing to of course when we think of him
make a great sacrifice for God
but what we see in his life
is a series of inconveniences
of leaving everything that's familiar
of going and maybe at an age when people would say
it's about time you just stayed where you were
and put down roots
and maybe we've done similar things in our own lives
maybe people have moved for churches
people have changed their life around
they've disrupted their plans
or the way they thought life was going to go
in order to serve God
but even in those that have done that
we would have to still step back and say
can we really call that a sacrifice
I remember when we moved here
to Tempe several years ago
whatever it's been
and we kind of had our exodus from northern Michigan
and we packed everything we brought to Arizona
in a Toyota Camry
that had nearly bald tires
and there was just a few thousand dollars in the bank
and there was no job
just a one bedroom apartment waiting for me
a couple blocks away
you know the story
my oldest was two
I had my second on the way
six months pregnant
people would look at that and say
wow what a sacrifice you made for God
whoa you sold your iMac to move
what a sacrifice
let's get you in the foxes books of martyrs here
you're just this great shining example
of having forsaken all
I would look back at that and say
that's barely an inconvenience
yeah but you traveled so far
yeah and I had a GPS to tell me how to get there
and I ate at Applebee's all along the way
and I saw lots of sights
and I was an air conditioned vehicle
I'm not saying it wasn't without its hardships
I'm not saying it wasn't without its difficulty
that it wasn't something that was a little difficult
and obviously it made us nervous
we had to step out in faith but God has provided
but what I'm getting at is that
we're never going to get to the place in life
where we're ready to make true sacrifices for God
to do what it takes to really serve God with our lives
if we're not willing to even be inconvenienced for God
and you'd look at Abram's life up to this point in Genesis 12
and say wow what a great sacrifice
but it's nothing in comparison to what God would later ask him to do
and while it is a sacrifice in a sense really
in terms of a spectrum of what we see in Abram's life
leaving all that's familiar and sacrificing your only begotten son
you know this is just an inconvenience
look there in Hebrews chapter 11
of course there's a great hall of faith here
we read about all the things that people were willing to do
and the great ways that they were used in God
this great hall of faith
but if you look at verse 13 it says these all died in faith
not having received the promises
but having seen them afar off
and were persuaded of them and braced them
and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth
and no doubt Abram would be included in that number
I know he's mentioned here in this passage
for time's sake we're just going to narrow it in these verses
but he was one that counted himself a stranger and a pilgrim on the earth
and he'd say well why would someone be so willing to be so inconvenienced
why would somebody be so willing just to turn life on its head
why would somebody be so willing to make such great sacrifices
like an Abram or an Abraham
why would they do that
because it's something that I've been trying to express here several times
you know in the last several sermons
is that they were able to do what
see things afar off
and this is really what we have to learn to do in the Christian life
you know so I just don't know if I can be a convenience for God
I just don't know if I can make a sacrifice
well the problem might be if you're struggling in this area
is that you're short-sighted
that you can't see beyond the flesh
that you can't see beyond this present world
and that we really need to adopt this mindset of being strangers
that we need to really do adopt this mindset of being pilgrims on the earth
and be as those here in verse 14 would say such things
say such things they declare plainly that they what?
that they seek a country
you know we're not seeking a physical country today
you and I aren't trying to go settle in some new land
and have God prosper us there
the country that we're seeking is a heavenly one
the country that we're seeking is the one that's in glory
now that's the country that we need to seek
and if we're willing to make that journey
and we understand that that's our destination
we'll be willing to suffer whatever inconveniences
and whatever sacrifices have to be made along the way
and I loved of course the the wording here
they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth
you know the Word of God is so well written
it's so beautiful it's so powerful
he says there for they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country
and truly if they had been mindful of the country from whence they came out
they might have had opportunity to return to have returned
I mean a very beautiful passage and a very inspiring passage
but what we have to remember about this
these were actual people this was their mindset
and this is how they're described in the scripture
and it's very beautiful but what we have to understand
is that such you know romanticism
you know such an ideal comes at a cost
you know these people weren't described this way just because
you know they were just you know God picked them randomly
these were people that were willing to make sacrifices
they were willing to be inconvenienced
that's why they're described in such a way that
that's why they're described in such a great way
look at verse 32 it says
and what shall I say more
for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of Barak
and of Samson and of Jephthi and of David also
and Samuel and the prophets who through faith subdued kingdoms
wrought righteousness obtained promises
stopped the mouths of lions quenched the violence of fire
escaped the edge of the sword out of weakness were made strong
waxed valiant in fight turned to flight the armies of the aliens
wow
women received their dead raised to life again
others were tortured not accepting deliverance
that they might obtain a better resurrection
others had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings
yea moreover of bonds and imprisonments
they were stoned they were sawn asunder
were tempted were slain with the sword
and wandered about in sheepskins and goats
sins being destitute afflicted tormented
of whom the world was not worthy
they wandered in deserts
we might be able to write with that a little bit more
and in mountains and the dens and caves of the earth
I mean all these what a beautiful description of these people
what a great honor would be to have been described in such a way
even if you're not mentioned
even though you're named there's no time to mention all these great saints
there's no time to mention all the multitudes of people
that were described in such a way
yet it does say of whom the world was not worthy
and we would love to be described in such a way
but what I'm here to tell you is that it doesn't come without a cost
these people had to give up something
they had to be willing to make a sacrifice
and you'll never be able to willing to make that sacrifice
if you at the very least you can't be inconvenienced
you know Abraham we see in his life
is somebody that was brought to a place of sacrifice
the first time God appears to Abram
and speaks to him and even times after that
he doesn't say hey you're going to sacrifice your son
that's he didn't start there
he said let's get you out of away from your kindred
let's get you away from all that's familiar
let's get you into the land of promise
let me make these promises to you
let me assure you of these things
let you learn about who I am
let me show myself to you
and what I'm capable of
you know that's something that Abram learned throughout his life
that God is able to protect and guide and bless
and then he's brought to the place of sacrifice
keep something in Hebrews chapter 11
go over to Genesis 22
it says in verse 1 of Genesis chapter 22
and it came to pass after these things
that God did tempt Abraham
and said unto him Abraham and he said behold here I am
and he said take now thy son
thine only son whom thou lovest
and get thee into the land of Moriah
and offer him there for a burnt offering
upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of
period
you know I don't know that that's all that God said
I don't know if there's more details to this conversation
but at the very least that's what we're being shown
that's what's being expressed here
and it seems to me like God's not really explaining why
I mean sure we have the convenience of being able to look back
and read this and say well what a beautiful picture of Christ
and truly it is
but imagine being Abraham
and being told go sacrifice your son on the Mount Moriah
and I'll tell you why later
and yet it says in verse 3
Abraham rose up early in the morning
and saddled his ass and took two of his young men with him
and Isaac his son
and claved the wood for the burnt offering
and rose up and went to the place of God which God had told him
and said okay I'll do it
and just like that Abraham is willing to just sacrifice his son
willing to just obey God
say wow what a great example of faith and truly it was
but what got him there
it's the fact that God had asked him to make other sacrifices
it's the fact that Abraham
you know Abraham was willing to be in convenience for God
he had already made other sacrifices
you know physically
he had already made other sacrifices geographically
he had already been in convenience
he had already been able to be led to this place of sacrifice
and that's something we really need to keep in mind in our own lives
that when God does things in our lives
when God starts to move and work in our own lives
and we wonder why did God do this
why did God allow this to come into my life
it might be that he's setting you up
that he's conditioning you
that he's getting you to the place where he can actually use you in a great way
to where you're willing to make an even greater sacrifice
and to you when that greater sacrifice comes
it'll be a lot easier
you know I don't like using myself as an example
but you know that sacrifice
that inconvenience that we made of moving to Tempe
you know 2,000 plus miles
that I described earlier
it made it a lot easier to just pull up stakes
and move down to Tucson a year ago
it's like we got this
been there done that
look that's the same way it's going to be in our lives
I'm just using as an example
when God does things in our lives
when we find ourselves being asked to make this sacrifice
and be inconvenienced here and be inconvenienced there
and we don't fully understand why
maybe God is trying to bring us to a place
where one day he'll want to use us in a great way
and to make us a blessing to other people
and require of us a sacrifice that maybe right now
you wouldn't be willing to make
allow yourself to be inconvenienced
we know the story here it says in verse 4
then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes
and saw the place afar off
and Abraham said unto his young men
abide here with the ass
and I in the lab will go yonder in worship
and come again to you
and Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering
and laid it upon Isaac his son
and he took the fire in his hand and a knife
and they both went up together
and Isaac spake unto his father and said my father
and he said him I am my son
and he said behold the fire in the wood
but where is the lamb for a burnt offering
and I love his response he says
Abraham said my son God will provide himself a lamb
and of course we understand that that's a reference to Christ
and we know that that's a great picture of Christ
for a burnt offering so they went both of them together
whether Abraham understood exactly what he was expressing there
I'm not entirely sure we know a ram showed up later
so we know this lamb that he's referring to
is not the animal the ram that was caught in the thicket later in the chapter
but notice Abraham didn't turn around say well I'm just doing I'm told
I don't know where that I don't know where you know
you're the sacrifice and I'm just doing it because I have to
this is a very spiritual response on Abraham's part
put yourself in that position
I mean I don't know that I'd be willing to do this
God appeared to me and said hey you need to offer up
I mean I've got one son
you know I have other children but even then I would say well I don't know
and if I did I don't know that I'd be able to have such a good attitude about it
getting up early in the morning
that means he fell asleep
how do you fall asleep with news like that on your mind
knowing what you're going to do the next day
and then journey three miles and having plenty of time to contemplate about what's going to happen
time to sit there and brood and get angry and say well it made sense at the beginning
but now that I've had time to think about it I just don't know that asking me to make such a sacrifice
to be given in such a way is really the best thing for our family
but notice when he gets there while he's still going up
when he's laid the wood upon him
and has a knife on his side and knows where they're going and what they're going to do
he has this beautiful response
doesn't get distraught and bent out of shape and just say take it up with God
you ask him why don't you ask God why don't you ask the Lord
apparently he knows what's going on
no he says God will do it
God will provide himself a lamb son we're just going to go do what God asked us to do
and maybe today the reason why God isn't asking so much of us in our personal lives
is because God already knows something about us
that we're not willing to give what God wants to ask
maybe if we're living in our lives and saying well it just doesn't seem like God ever asks us
and look I'm not saying God's going to come any one of us and ask us to offer up his son literally upon him
who knows but you know it may be the reason why God doesn't ask great things from us
is because God already knows you won't give it up
you're not going to allow me to use you in such a great way
because you can't even be inconvenienced
this is God you know maybe that's what God thinks about us sometimes
when he looks down and says boy you know I'd love to bless you in your life
and I'd love to use you in a great way but you know you can't even obey the Bible
you can't even do the things that I've written in my word
you can't even be inconvenienced that much
maybe that's why God doesn't use us the way we would like to be used
maybe that's why God doesn't bless us the way we'd like to be blessed
because we're not like faithful Abraham
who's obedient to the point where he'll willingly sacrifice whatever is asked of him
you know but maybe God's trying to get us there
maybe all these little inconveniences
maybe all these little sacrifices
these things you can't explain
all these things that just seem like such a pain to you
that just might be the very thing that God is using to work in your life
to get you to a place where you can do something great for God
maybe we are in a position to sacrifice
but are we prepared to do so if you look there in verse 9
and they came to the place which God had told them of
and Abraham built an altar and laid the wood in order
and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar
upon the wood and Abraham stretched forth his hand
and took the knife to slay his son and an angel of the Lord called out of heaven
and said Abraham, Abraham and he said here am I
and he said lay not thine hand upon the lad
neither do anything unto him
for now I know that thou fearest God
seeing thou has not withheld thy son
thine only son from me
God knew exactly what he was asking from Abraham
God understood exactly what he was asking for
exactly the gravity, the seriousness of that sacrifice
he said thy son, thine only son
so why should anyone be willing to be inconvenienced
why should anyone be willing to just inconvenience themselves for God's sake
because it might lead you to a place where God can actually use you to do great works for him
where you'd be willing to make a great sacrifice for God
and to be used in a great world
why would anyone want to make a great sacrifice for God
because just as being inconvenienced is a precursor
or precedes being willing to make a great sacrifice
sacrifice precedes a great blessing
after this we see that Abraham's blessed
if you would go over to Genesis chapter 25 if I don't have you there already
just the same way that being inconvenienced precedes being willing to make a sacrifice
being willing to make a sacrifice precedes a great blessing in your life
you know God wants to bless us
but sometimes that blessing has to come at a cost
and maybe the reason we're not being blessed is because
God knows you're just not willing to play ball
sacrifice precedes blessing
notice already Abraham had received his son
notice also that Abraham received that which he had forsaken
now what was it that he was asked to forsake
get thee out of thy country and from thy father's house
and from thy kindred unto a land that I will show thee and I will make thee a great nation
he was asked to leave all those things but notice at the end of his life
after he's been inconvenienced
after he's been proven and willing to make whatever sacrifice asked of him
even his only begotten son even after that
then he's blessed and he receives those things which he has forsaken earlier
Genesis 25 verse 7 and these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived
in hundred threescore and fifteen years
seventy-five hundred and seventy-five
so we find him in Haran after he's already left the land of the Chaldees
at seventy-five years old
and now he's living at hundred and threescore in fifteen years
he gets all this blessed life after that
after he's been willing to make that sacrifice
after he's been willing to forsake all those things
verse 8 notice how it describes Abraham
the Bible doesn't always describe people's death in such a great way
some people in the Bible their death is described and it's not pretty
and they die slow painful deaths
their death is described horrifically
but it says of Abraham in verse 8
then Abraham after having lived so much longer
after the sacrifice he's willing to make
then Abraham what gave up the ghost and died in a good old age
you know I hope that I have a long lifespan
as long as it's accompanied with a good health span too
I mean what's a good is a long life if by the end of it you're just falling apart
at that point it's like you know let's just go let's just get it over with
let's get that new body right
but Abraham gave up the ghost and died in what in a good old age
an old man and full of years and was gathered unto his people
you know Abraham at the end of his life and if you would go back to Matthew 19
by the time he got to the end of his life
by after he was willing to be inconvenienced
after he was willing to make sacrifices
after he was willing to be obedient
even to the place where he's willing to sacrifice his own son
without even being told why he needed to do it
when he was willing to give up anything and everything for God
and after he had even done so
and had left everything else really left family left all that's familiar
at the end of his life he'd already received he received all those things back again
he got to go on and see his son Mary
he got to see his grandchildren he got to settle in a land he got to become familiar with another land
and he got to have the fellowship of God and be called the friend of God by the end of his life
but what got him there?
a willingness to be inconvenienced a willingness to make sacrifice
you know and a similar promise is made to us
you know if we're willing to make sacrifices in our lives
if we're willing to make to be inconvenienced in our life
you know we also will be blessed in such a way
look at Matthew 19 verse 27
then Peter said then answered Peter and said unto him
behold we have forsaken all and followed thee
and this isn't Peter just you know
puffing himself up or talking about how spiritual it is
he's just stating you know this is a statement of fact
you showed up Jesus and said you know leave the nets behind
leave the boats behind and follow me and I'll make you a fisherman
and that's what we did
we've forsaken all we have families
we had a livelihood we've come to be your disciples
we've come to be your apostles we've come to take part in your ministry
we've been inconvenienced we've made sacrifices
we've forsaken all and followed thee
what shall we have there for?
I don't think that's a selfish question
I don't think that's an unspiritual line of inquiry
I think that's you know a very reasonable question
you know I didn't get into this
Peter's not saying well you know you promised us all these things
at the very beginning so what's it going to be it's time to pay up
that's not what he's saying
he's saying look when you called us there was no we
to this point in your ministry we still don't know everything we're going to get
they were ready to drop everything like that
and that's why God used the apostles in such a great way
but there's nothing wrong at the same time with asking
what also shall we receive I mean
we look at Abraham and we look at the way his life ended
you know all things considered it ended pretty good
I mean I would like to have my life summed up in that same way
you live to a good old age
and was received unto his people
you know Peter here is asking a very reasonable question
what should we have there for
but notice when he's asking it
not it's not well if we forsake all
and if I follow thee what shall I have
no it's we have forsaken past tense
we have followed past tense
we've already made the sacrifices
we've already are being inconvenienced
what shall we have there for
and Jesus said unto them verily I say unto you
that ye which have followed me in the regeneration of the son of man
shall sit in the throne of his glory and ye shall sweat upon twelve thrones
judging the twelve tribes of Israel
probably not the answer he was expecting
oh you want to know what you're gonna get Peter
you're gonna judge the one of the tribes of Israel
each one of you I'm gonna set you on a throne
and let you judge the tribes of Israel
yeah but I left a fishing boat
you don't understand how much those nets cost me
do you know what my annual gross income was as a fisherman
I had a pretty good livelihood
you know I was known in my community
I mean he probably heard that was like anything else you want
anything else you need Lord anything else I can just give up freely to you
good night you're gonna make me a judge over one of the tribes of Israel
anything else you want
but notice this is something he asked after he'd already made those sacrifices
this wasn't him bartering with God
this is out of curiosity
so yeah that's great for the apostles
of course Peter's gonna get that but notice Jesus goes on and says in verse 29
read that
and that's anyone and everyone that's willing to give up these things
to make sacrifices to be inconvenienced for the Lord
shall receive in hundredfold and shall inherit everlasting life
you know if God didn't give me another blessing
if God didn't give me a single thing from here on out
if God never once again blessed me in any way shape or form for the rest of my life
I still have everlasting life
I'm still bound for heaven I'm still saved
you know that alone should just cause us to say
whatever you want God
whatever sacrifice whatever inconvenience has to be made to serve you
whatever why because I have everlasting life
but the goodness of God is this is that
not only do we receive everlasting life but in this life also we receive in hundredfold
you know I'm one of three children
I'm the only son sandwiched between you know two females
maybe that'll explain some things about me I don't know
you know I left some sisters I left some uncles
I left some people to come out here and serve in the local church
you know just soul wedding and just being a good church
and obviously it's not as as a hard break as it was back in the days of Peter and the apostles and Abraham
where it's like we can't just hop on a plane and fly out there
we can't just get in a car and drive back in a matter of days
back then a lot of times when you said goodbye to family that was it
it's like hey we're moving well it's been nice knowing you
that was it
you say well you could send a Christmas card no
there was nothing that was it
you know but even then even so the little sacrifice of having to leave
you know the land of my nativity
you know I could sit here and say I've received in hundredfold
I've got brothers in Christ
I had no brothers
you know I had some sisters but now I have sisters in Christ
you know I was somebody's son but now I have my own children
you know I didn't have as many friends and now I've got more wife because I was inconvenienced
and look I'm not trying to lift myself with some great you know like I'm worthy of Hebrews 11 now
but I'm just using it as an example because and many other people could say this
that they've given up things in their life that they've severed relationships
that they've taken stands that they've upheld standards
that they've given up things that they've walked away from even maybe good things
that everybody else would just naturally gravitate towards and want in life
they've given up those things and they could say I've received in hundredfold more
I have more deeper and meaningful relationships now than I did then
I've received in hundredfold and even if I didn't have any of those things
I still have everlasting life
the promise to Peter is that he would receive these things
I'll just read to you go back to Hebrews 11 in a parallel passage of Luke chapter 18
then Peter said lo we have left all
you're going to Hebrews 11
Hebrews 11 we have left all and followed thee
and he said unto them verily I say unto you there is no man
no man
everyone that hath forsaken there is no man that hath left house
or parents or brethren or wife or children for the kingdom of God's sake
who shall not receive manifold more in this present time
and into the world to come life everlasting
those are great blessings that God wants to give us
if we're willing to be inconvenienced
you know most people understand what sacrifice is
you know we're learning about lessons from leaders
and we were talking about Abraham this morning
and say well you know Abraham is a great example of sacrifice
I don't think I need to turn to the dictionary
and explain to you what a sacrifice is
everyone pretty much understands what it means to make a sacrifice in life
to give up something that's dear to you
to give up something that's going to cost you something
it's going to inconvenience you
it's going to maybe even bring damage or hurt you
it's going to set you back
that's a sacrifice
giving up something that you really want or need to have
for the sake of another
we all get that
we all understand what a sacrifice is
the problem is that so many of us are so willing to make it
so many of us are so unwilling to go ahead and make a sacrifice for God
so many are so unwilling even to be inconvenienced
let alone make a sacrifice
Hebrews chapter 11 look at verse 17
by faith Abraham when he was tried
offered up Isaac and that he would
and he that had received the promise offered up his only begotten son
of whom it is said
that an Isaac shall thy seed be called
accounting that God was able to raise him up from the dead
from whence also he received him in a figure
it says he offered up his only begotten son
that was something that he did willingly
you know so many people understand what a sacrifice is
Abraham certainly understood
it's just that so many people are unwilling to do it
he said Abraham when he was tried offered up Isaac
he said I'll make that sacrifice
you see what's the difference between somebody
just understanding what a sacrifice is
and actually being somebody who like Abraham
is willing to offer up that sacrifice
what makes the difference
how does a person go from
just knowing what a sacrifice is
to actually being one who's making a sacrifice
and I'll go back to what I said earlier
it's faith
it's being able to see that you're a stranger to a pilgrim
it's seeking that heavenly country
that's what it says here
by faith it says
Abraham was when he was tried offered up Isaac
that's what makes the difference
faith
you'll be willing to make those differences
or excuse me make those sacrifices
when you really have the faith to believe
that there really is
a blessing to receive from God
that there really is a spiritual inheritance waiting for you
that you truly will be rewarded for your works
in this present world and in the world to come
it's faith that makes a difference
faith is the difference between the two
it says in Colossians 3 I'll just read to you
and whatsoever you do do it heartily as to the Lord
and not unto men
knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance
he said knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the inheritance
there in Hebrews chapter 11
I know we're gonna shift gears when it comes to leaders real quick
but you know Moses is a leader that we could talk so much about
so he's gonna get a little mention here at the end
we'll tie it in here with
Abram
it says in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 24
by faith Moses when he was come to years
refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God
than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season
so again
you know Moses again
in the same way
as Abraham was able to
make a sacrifice
was by faith
in the same way
it was by faith for Moses
it was by faith for Abraham
that's what made the difference from being somebody who's just
willing to make a sacrifice
or willing to understand what a sacrifice is
and actually being willing to make that sacrifice
it's faith
that makes a difference
that's what you see with Abraham
that's what you see with Moses
the problem with us
and human nature is that we're more likely to hold on to what we have
rather than to give something up
even if we're promised something better
say hey if you give that up
I'll give you something better
well I've already got this
I don't know if I really believe you
you know you give a kid a little piece of candy
and say you know I've got another one behind my back
I've got a Snickers bar back here
and if you give me that little butterscotch
I'm going to give you that
I'll give you the Snickers bar
they're going to go
do you really have a Snickers bar behind his back?
because I've already got this butterscotch
and I would really like a Snickers bar
I mean they're bigger
I mean maybe you really like butterscotch
I mean I do but
Snickers bar come on
right?
the problem is we're like that little kid's like nah just hang on to this
they have done experiments where they put kids in a room
and they like set a donut in front of them or something
and say if you don't eat this donut for five minutes
we'll come back and give you like two donuts
and like half the kids just can't wait
they just eat the donut
it's something I know that's not an exact citation of the experiment
okay but it's something to that effect
you'll set something in front of them that they really want
and say if you just hold out and wait
you'll get you something even better
what's the difference between those two groups of children?
it's faith
saying well I believe that person
I don't have any other reason
I know I just met this guy who walked out
he came in the room set this down I don't know
but it's faith
he's just trust just saying well I'm willing to believe that
you know Moses here was willing to just suffer afflictions
and forsake all the good things that he had in Egypt
in the world since
he for what? forsook the pleasures of sin for a season
he forsook the pleasure of the world
he forsook the pleasures of sin for a season
he was willing to forsake all that by faith
because he believed that God had something better for him
you know and Moses
and Abraham were willing to make these sacrifices
not just because they understood what they were
but because they believed God
and that's what we need to do
go to 1 Peter chapter 1
1 Peter chapter number 1
the problem is that we just
we can't see it sometimes
so why serve God in this life?
you know I'd serve God if it wasn't so inconvenient
I'd make more sacrifices for the Lord
if it just didn't cost me so much
yeah well who wouldn't?
but then again
you know then it wouldn't be a sacrifice would it?
because that's what a sacrifice is
and we all understand that
the difference is
do we really believe
what we say we believe
do we really see him who is invisible
do we really have like Moses
respect under the recompense of the reward
can we really see that spiritual inheritance
that's awaiting us so far off
and say I'd give up anything for that
like Peter
I mean he was able to see the Lord
and say well I'll just give up anything
why? because he could see it
and that's what we have to learn to do
to see him who is invisible
and that's when I think we'll go from a place of
not being willing to be in convenience
not being willing to make those sacrifices
when we can get that spiritual mindset
we can truly begin to see these things
spiritually that's when we'll go from a person
who just understands
what a sacrifice is
to actually being a person who's willing
to forsake anything and everything
anything that God would want
1 Peter chapter 1 verse 3
blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
which according to his abundant mercy
hath begotten us again to a lively hope
by the resurrection from the dead
notice what he's begotten us unto folks
to an inheritance incorruptible
and undefiled and that fadeth not away
reserved in heaven for you
that's where it is folks
it's there it's reserved in heaven
the reward is there
obviously there's blessings in this life
God helps us in this life
we receive many full blessings in this life
God helps us but that ultimate thing
that ultimate blessing
the one that's going to compel us
more than anything to be willing
to make those sacrifices
is reserved in heaven
it's a heavenly reward
and this is something that I know I preach
and something I just keep stressing over and over
but this is the one thing I think
it's important for folks to be willing
to make the changes to make the sacrifices
to inconvenience themselves
if they could just get a hold of this
one truth they would start to begin
to make those sacrifices
that there is an inheritance reserved
in heaven for you
it's real
there really is that new body
there really is that recompense of reward
reserved in heaven for each
and every one of us
we have to learn to see it
it goes on and says in verse 4
to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled
and that faith is not a way reserved in heaven for you
who are kept by the power of God
through faith unto salvation
ready to be revealed in this last time
wherein ye greatly rejoice
though now for a season if need be
you're in heaviness through manifold temptations
that the trial of your faith being much more precious
than that of gold that perisheth
though it be tried with fire
might be found unto praise and to honor and glory
at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ
notice verse 8
whom having not seen ye love
why were these people willing to have their faith tried
why were they willing to go through heaviness
and manifold temptations
because they could see and love him who is invisible
they could see and love the Lord in heaven
they understood that their
that their inheritance was reserved there for them
not here on this earth
whom having not seen ye love
in whom though now ye see him not yet believing
ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory
why is it some of us just go through the Christian life
with no joy
the Christian life is just some drudgery
that we have to drag ourselves through
we never get anything out of our Bible reading
we never get anything out of the preaching the Word of God
if we do any soul winning it's just to get the preacher off our back
you know we go along with our roles in marriage
we go along with our roles in our homes
we kind of just do the thing God says to do
just because well you know it's because I have to
that's a joyless life
and look that's not the life that God has intended
for any one of his children to live this joyless
you know hopeless life
but why is it some do
why is it there's some people that live their whole Christian life
and they can't say that they rejoice with joy unspeakable
and full of glory
why is it some people can look at God's creation and just say
meh
why is it some people read God's Word and just never move by it
because they haven't learned to see
they can't see him which is a far off
and if you can't see him there if you can't understand that with your mind's eye
you're never going to love him
and if you can't learn to love God by faith
that everything he asks for even the smallest little inconvenience
that God would ask of you
oh I guess if I have to
that's going to be our attitude
oh well if I have to I guess if that's what God says and I'll do it
well maybe that's why God's never going to ask us
to go up a mountain
and have our child carry up the wood that we're going to burn him with
because he knows that we'll just turn around and have some smart answer
we'll just be bitter by the time we got there
we won't ever have a spiritual reply like Abraham did
we wouldn't even be willing to do it
go to one last place, Romans chapter 12
excuse me Romans chapter 12
look we're in the same boat folks as the apostles
we're in the same boat as Moses
we're in the same boat as Abraham
we're in the same boat as all those great saints of old that aren't mentioned by name
in Hebrews chapter 11
that we're all seeking a heavenly country
we're all destined to that same promised land
we're all going to end up in the same place
we're all in the same boat
and if you want to live a life of joy
if you want to live a life of happiness
if you want to live a Christian life that actually results in something
then you have to start to behave like these people did
you actually have to be willing to do what they did
and make the sacrifices
and that's what the Bible tells us over and over again
and we'll close in a very familiar passage here
it says in Romans chapter 12 verse 1
I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God
that you present your bodies a living sacrifice
and so many, today, so many of us we just, we don't even want to do that
we don't want to present our bodies a living sacrifice
we don't want to give up our time in prayer
we don't want to give up our time in Bible reading
we don't want to present our bodies
we want to put whatever we want into it
we don't want to be told we can't drink or smoke pot or look at porn
we don't want to be told we can't do any of those things
we want to just do whatever we want with our body
we want to go to fornicate and sleep around
we want to do all this and the Bible says look you need to make a sacrifice out of that body
And if we can't even do those basic things, where's the joy gonna be? It's not gonna be there.
We can't even do that. Oh, yeah, but I'd do great things for God. No, you won't.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, you present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Well, God just seems to ask so much, you know, that church down there just, they just want so much out of me.
You know what, I don't remember ever telling you to take your child up Mount Lemmon and sacrifice them.
I don't remember ever telling you to, you know, leave everything behind, change your occupation, and come follow me.
And I would never do that, because I'm not God in either circumstance.
You know, and all God is asking us today is to just look back on these people who did make those sacrifices,
who are willing to be inconvenienced to such a high degree, to just look back and just look at them as an example.
He's not asking to ask us the same things, literally.
All he's asking is just behave like them, and present your body a living sacrifice, and be inconvenienced to serve God a little bit.
Would you?
And I'll have an inheritance waiting for you in heaven, and I'll bless you for having done so.
All we need to do is wrap our minds around that and see that.
Verse 2, and be not conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
You know, God blesses the faithful, doesn't he?
If there's one thing we can learn out of the life of Abraham, is that God blesses the faithful.
Abraham was faithful.
God said move, he moved. God said move again, he moved again.
And I'm not focusing on any mistakes in this series, but you know Abraham made some mistakes in his life.
God forgave him, had mercy, still blessed him.
He was faithful.
God blesses him. We saw that in the latter end of his life.
God blesses the faithful. He ended his life in a good old age, full of years.
But you know what? God tests the faithful too.
I mean, how can you be faithful? How can you say you're faithful if you're never tested?
How can we say that we're making a living sacrifice if we're not willing to give these things up?
Even things that are sinful.
You know, God blesses the faithful, but the faithful are tested.
And in life, if all you're willing to do is make small sacrifices,
just little ones, just little inconveniences, well you know what? Small sacrifice, small reward.
You know, it's like that great example that I got Friday night when we were roasting marshmallows by the fire.
I caught a lot of heat, no pun intended,
for not being one of those people that just sticks the marshmallow directly in flame and just instantly burns it
to a crisp and then pulls it out, you know, and leaves half an uncooked marshmallow on a stick.
You know who you are.
You know, I'm one of these guys, and it took me time to get here.
I didn't appreciate it as a child. You know, once I got a little older, it tastes more refined.
You know, I'm one of those people that likes to slowly, you know, keep the distance from the coals to get that nice
golden hue on the outside, get the gooey center in the marshmallow, get the whole thing.
Right, I know Miss Joanna knows what I'm talking about because she came around on this on this doctrine of
mollos, you know, do the slow cook, don't burn. She took it to the next level.
She did the cook, you know, get the gooey center and then burn it.
You say that sounds good. Yeah, but you know what? There's risk involved in that.
Because when that center gets gooey, it can just slip right off the stick, right? You burn it, the center's cold,
you know it's not going anywhere.
But you know what? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I know it's a very carnal illustration to close with,
but it's applicable. It's the same way in our Christian life.
You know, if we're not gonna hold ourselves closer to the fire, so to speak, and take time and be patient,
you know, don't expect to be that warm, gooey Christian either. You know, if we want things in the Christian life,
we have to be willing to sacrifice.
You know, and if all we're willing to do in the Christian life is just be
inconvenienced a little bit or maybe make a little sacrifice here and there, you know what? Then small reward.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
But you know what? The example in Scripture that we see is that God blesses the faithful immensely.
God blesses the faithful to the degree which they are allowing themselves to be tested.
Abraham was called the friend of God. Abraham at the end of his years
died, I believe, a very happy man and had received many blessings along the way. I mean, he was barren.
It didn't look like he was gonna have a son at all. God still gave it to him.
What a blessing. But also, notice, he was willing to what? Make the sacrifice. Let's go ahead and pray.
Lord, again, thank you for this great example in Abraham, a man
who is an example us to this day, Lord, of
being blessed and being willing to sacrifice and to leave everything, Lord. And Lord, I pray, and I know, Lord, that you don't ask
anywhere near as much of us today.
Although you might, Lord, we never know what you'll be in tomorrow.
Lord, I pray you'd help us to understand that if we're not willing to be faithful in the little things, if we're not willing to
make sacrifices and be inconvenienced in small ways, Lord, we'll never do truly great things for you.
I pray you'd help us to be willing, people who are willing to follow you,
to forsake all if needed, and Lord, to be faithful to you and to your work,
Lord, so that you can bless our lives and Lord, so that you can use us in a great and mighty way.
We ask in Christ's name. Amen. All right, we'll go ahead and sing one more song before we go.
We go on Christmas, love Jesus, sing his praise, we earn his praise.
Make the nations bright and blessed, we'll be there for us to praise.
When we all fix your hand, what a day of rejoicing that will be.
When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory.
While we walk the building, that plain glass will unloose red the sky,
but the traveling days are over, not a shadow of a sign.
When we all fix your hand, what a day of rejoicing that will be.
When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory.
Let us now be truly thankful, just each Saturday and every day.
Just one glimpse of heaven for real, we'll look towards the life we've made.
When we all fix your hand, what a day of rejoicing that will be.
When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory.
Our words to love cries we for us to give, we will behold.
To love we'll be gates we'll open, we'll shine through the streets of war.
When we all fix your hand, what a day of rejoicing that will be.
When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory.
Thanks, everyone.
Thank you.