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["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] ["Pomp and Circumstance"] You're with us. We have a wonderful service lined up for you today. Let's go ahead and begin the service with a word of prayer, and let's bow our heads together. Heavenly Father, Lord, we do love you. We thank you for allowing us to gather together today. Lord, we pray that you'd bless this service, and Lord, we pray that you'd bless this year. Help us, Lord, to be able to draw close to you and draw an eye to you, and Lord, we pray that you'd bless the singing, the preaching, the fellowship, everything that's done today, that it would bring honor and glory to your name. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. Amen. Turn to song number eight, uh, 24. Song number 24. Now, the first song was kind of mellow, right? But we're gonna have to wake you guys up with this song. And can it be that I should gain song number 24? You guys can't sing this one out without some love in your hearts this morning. Sing it out on the first. And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? And God, oh, we sing it out. Amazing love, how can it be that, oh, my God, shows us through. Amen. Great singing. Amen. Beautiful singing. And let's go ahead and take our bulletins. We'll look at some announcements real quickly. If you do not have a bulletin, raise your hand. And one of our ushers can get one for you. If you need a bulletin this morning, just put your hand up and we will get one for you. The verse this week, a couple of verses, Philippians 3, 13, and 14. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do for getting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. And that's a good verse there, of course, especially in the new year. If you open up your bulletin, you'll see our service time, Sunday morning service, 10.30 AM. And we are glad that you, of course, are with us on Sunday morning on the Lord's Day for church. We do invite you to be back tonight at 6 PM for the evening service. The evening service is different than the morning service, different songs that are sung, different sermon that's preached. Just one more opportunity to be in God's house with God's people under the preaching of the word of God. And then, of course, we have our Wednesday evening Bible study. We call the Sunday evening service the most exciting service of the week. And we call the Wednesday evening service the most encouraging service of the week. And we hope you'll join us for all of those services this week. If you look at our soul-winning times, our main soul-winning time is on Saturday mornings at 10 AM. And yesterday, I began a series of lessons that I'm going to be teaching on Saturday mornings in regards to soul-winning over the next several weeks. So I want to encourage you to be here for our big soul-winning rally. We had 100 soul-winners out yesterday, and praise the Lord for that. And we'd like for you to be a part of that. We also have additional soul-winning times if you're not able to make it on Saturday on Thursdays and Sundays at 2 PM. And of course, all of those are available. There's an opportunity this afternoon if you'd like. If you look at the announcements and upcoming events, we've got a lot of announcements to get through. But we want you to be aware of these things. First of all, for all the young people, for the teenagers, we have a teen activity coming up on Friday, January 24. That's the last Friday of the month. It's at 6 PM. It's a laser tag activity. And the address is there for you. And of course, this is for 13 to 19-year-olds that aren't married. 13 and 19-year-olds that aren't married for the teen activity. And you can sign up on your communication card. The cost for the laser tag is covered for all the teens. No younger siblings are included. But we do include one parent. If one parent would like to play, then that's fine. Dinner will be provided. So make sure you, teenagers, we do need to know if you're coming because we've got to get the reservation in. So make sure you sign up on your communication card on the back of the card. There's a place for you to do that. Also, this Friday, January 10 at 6 PM, we have our audio video ministry training. And we've already had several people sign up for this. But if you are interested in volunteering in the audio video ministry and you'd like to learn more about that, then you can sign up on your communication card. And there's training for that this Friday, January 10 at 6 PM. And then this Saturday is our Spanish service. So we just got a lot going on. But that is at 5 PM on Saturday. And of course, this is open to all of our Spanish speakers. If you're a Spanish speaker, you'd like to come to Spanish service, you're welcome to come. Also, if you know Spanish speakers and you want to invite them to church, this is a service to invite them to. And if you just want to learn Spanish, then you're welcome to come to the service. Or if you just like being part of a Spanish potluck, that's also a big draw, then you can come. You're like, I don't care about learning Spanish, but I would like to eat some tamales or whatever. Then you can come. We will have a potluck after the service, Spanish-themed potluck. So if you can, please bring a dish to share. And then also, for our Spanish speakers, and specifically our Spanish-speaking soul winners, if you would like to help us pass out some Spanish invitations this Saturday at 10 AM, then on your communication card, there's a place for you to let us know. On the Saturday before the Spanish service, we're going to give a few Spanish invitations to all of our soul winners, just in case you come across a Spanish speaker. But then we've got some areas that are more Spanish population. And if you are able to give the gospel in Spanish and you'd like to help with that, please let us know on your communication card so that we can get you situated with that. Also, we have a wedding coming up for Brother Adam Ritchie and Miss Emily Gessler on Saturday, January 18, at 2.30 PM. And if you plan to attend and you've not yet RSVPed, please do that on the communication card and let them know so that they can have a plan for that. Choir practice begins today at 5 PM for the adult choir. So they're going to start practicing for I Love My Church Sunday. And again, there's just a lot of things going on. But we just want you to be aware of these things if they pertain to you. Also, of course, we're in January now. So we're getting back into the school year. The Christmas break is done. So the homeschool group PE class resumes this Thursday, January 9. And that is at 10 AM. So homeschool moms, make sure you make a note of that if you're part of our homeschool group, that there is PE this Thursday, January 9. There's other things there, of course, for you to look at. If you look at the back of the bulletin, birthdays and anniversaries for the month of January. This week, we have Yasely Dios's birthday on January 6. Brother Alex Rosales has a birthday on January 7. Brother Keith Rosenberg has a birthday on January 9. Yvette Rosenberg has a birthday on January 10. And Miss Anna Mendoza has a birthday on January 10 as well. Praise Report, Money Matters, all of those things are there for you to look at. And then just one more quick auxiliary announcement, if you wouldn't mind. Also this Friday, Brother Jose Cruz, who's helped us a lot with the landscaping around here, he is going to be bringing his equipment to do a cleanup. Now that all the leaves have fallen, we want to do a good cleanup of the field and the property. And we could use some men that can help with that, men or teen boys. That's on Friday, January 10 at 8 AM. But if you are available and you're able to help, please speak to me or Brother Oliver, Deacon Oliver, and let us know that you're able to help with that. We would appreciate your help, of course, with that if that's something you're able to help with. And then also, I've got some baptism certificates to hand out. So let me go ahead and read these real quickly. These are for two sisters. Certificate of baptism, this certificate is awarded to Daisy O2 in recognition of her baptism on the 29th day of December of the year 2024. And of course, we've got pictures here for Daisy to remember the day of her baptism. And then we also have this certificate for her sister, Zuri O2. And the same, they are baptism, and of course, they both have the verses. Therefore, we are buried with them by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we should walk in newness of life. And we've got some nice pictures there, of course, for both of them. And let's go ahead and give them a round of applause. All right, well, let's go ahead, and we're going to sing the chorus of the week as we prepare to receive the offering this morning. We've been singing along already, so let's go ahead. This is the kind of song you want to sing with passion, sing it out on the first. Once I was cloned in the ranks of my sin. Wretched and worn, lost and lonely within, love will watch us. Passion, the King of all kings, in pity and lie, would we honor his grace. Oh, yes, oh, yes, I'm a child of the King. If all your life now falls within my being, and I'm prevented, you would not be seen. Praise God, praise God, God of hosts. We're going to sing it out on the second. But this time, let's sing it like you're the child of the King, all right? Let's go ahead and sing it out with some power. On the second. Now I'm a child in the heavenly Lord. I'm only one with three feet tall. And I know that God is my help. All I need is love, and someday I'll see the angel of God. Oh, yes, oh, yes, I'm a child of the King. If all your life now falls within my being, oh, yes, oh, yes, I'm a child of the King. Praise God, praise God, I'm a child of the King. Amen. Good singing. Before the guys come up to help us with the offering, just some quick reminders that we, of course, are a family integrated church. Children and infants are always walking in the service. We do not separate children from their parents for any reason. However, we do have mother-baby rooms and daddy rooms available for your convenience. All the rooms have monitor set up or window set up so you can watch the service. They've got speaker set up so you can hear the service. So if you have a child that's being distracted during the service, we would encourage you to please use those rooms if you need some privacy or if they're being a distraction. If you're not sure where the rooms are at, you can look at the back of the bulletin, and you'll see a layout of our church building. It'll show you where the mother-baby rooms are, where the daddy room is. Also, if you need to be baptized, you can let us know on your communication card, and we'll follow up with you in regards to that. And if you wouldn't mind making sure your cell phones are off or on silent, and if you wouldn't mind, we'd like you to just look at your phone right now and make sure it's on silent or vibrate. And if you think, no, it's on silent, yours is the phone that's gonna go off. So please check it. We're actually back in our rooted and grounded sermon series and we're recording these sermons for our discipleship, our online discipleship course. If you could help us with that, we would really appreciate you just taking a moment and making sure it's actually off. And then of course, if you've got children that are being a distraction, we've got the mother-baby rooms available for you as well. We'll go ahead and have the guys come up and help us with the offering at this time. Let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer. Heavenly Father, Lord, we do love you and we thank you for allowing us to gather together today. Lord, we pray that you bless the offering, the gift and the giver. We ask that you would speak to us through your word. Lord, we thank you for meeting our financial needs and we pray that you continue to do so. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. ["Praise the Lord, All Ye Faithful"] You You You You You You You You We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I suckered thee. Behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. Giving no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed. But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumult, in labors, in watchings, in fastings, by pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by the power of the Lord. By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true, as unknown and yet well known, as dying and, behold, we live, as chastened and not killed, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing, as the poor yet making many rich. as poor, yet making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. O ye Corinthians, our mouth is opened unto you, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straightened in us, but ye are straightened in your own bowels. Now for a recompense in the same, I speak as unto my children, but ye also enlarged. Be ye not unequally yoked together with the unbelievers, for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness, and what communion hath light with darkness, and what conquered hath Christ with beautiful, or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel, and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols, for ye are the temple of the living God. As God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, sayeth the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, sayeth the Lord Almighty. Let's pray. Father God, thank you for this day and for this church. Please bless pastor and the message. Please let it bring glory and honor to you. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen. Amen. All right, we're there in 2 Corinthians chapter number six, and today we are going to be learning about the biblical teaching on the subject of separation, and 2 Corinthians chapter 6. The last part of the chapter there deals with this idea of separation. In fact, if you look down at verse number 14, 2 Corinthians chapter 6, in verse number 14, the Bible says, be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness, and what communion hath light with darkness, and what concord, the word concord that means agreement or harmony, hath Christ with Belial, or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel, and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? And of course, the apostle Paul here is writing to the church at Corinth, and he's asking these series of questions, but he's making a point, and he's comparing and contrasting these things. He says, what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness, what communion, and the word communion is another word that means fellowship or being in community together, what communion hath light with darkness, what concord hath Christ with Belial, Belial is the devil, what part hath he that believeth with an infidel, what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? And what he's saying is this, that the things that belong to God do not need to be mixed and should maintain a separation from the things that belong to the world and the things that belong to the devil. He says light should not mix with darkness, righteousness should not mix with unrighteousness, Christ should not be mixed with Belial. Believers and infidels are not necessarily needing to have communion together. The temple of God and idols do not need to be mixed. Now he's making this point to make a broader point, and the idea is this, that what belongs to God should be separate from what belongs to the world, what belongs to the devil, and with that thought he says there at the end of verse 16 that we belong to God. Notice in verse 16, and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God. As God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. The point that he's making in verses 14 and 15 and the beginning of verse 16 is that what belongs to God should be separate from what belongs to the world of the devil, and then the application is this, we belong to God and therefore we should be separate from the things that belong to the world and to the devil. That's why he says for ye are the temple of the living God. In verse 17 he says this, wherefore, and the word wherefore means because of this reason or because of these arguments that I've made, he says wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you. And here we see a very clear command that we are to come out from among them, the Bible says, and be ye separate. This is not the only place in scripture where we learn this, the Bible talks a lot about this, but this is a very clear place where we are commanded to practice biblical separation. Now when we talk about biblical separation what does that mean? Well the word separate simply means to keep apart, to divide apart, to force apart. The Bible teaches that we as Christians need to be ye separate, live separated lives and I want to begin by just saying this, most churches in our day and age ignore the teaching of biblical separation. In fact most churches not only do they ignore it, they rebel against it and today you've got a lot of churches where it sure feels like Christ and Belial have been mixed together, where light and darkness have been mixed together and therefore most churches don't want to talk about these things. Most churches ignore the biblical teaching of separation and not only that but I would say this that most Christians are ignorant of the biblical teaching of separation and most Christians if you were to walk up to them and talk to them and ask them what does the Bible teach about separation they might not even know what that means or even understand it and what I'd like to do this morning is teach you and help you understand this idea of separation. I'd like to give you three thoughts with regards to separation and maybe you can jot these down on the back of your course a week. Of course there's a place for you to jot some things down. You're there in 2 Corinthians chapter 6. I'd like you to go backwards with me into the book of John. John chapter number 17. You're there in 2 Corinthians. You're going to go past 1 Corinthians if you're going backwards, past the book of Romans, past the book of Acts into John. John chapter 17 and let me give you three thoughts as quickly as we can this morning with regards to separation. Number one let's talk about the principles of separation. The principles of separation. What does this mean when we're talking about biblical separation? When it comes to separation there are two sides to separation, two aspects to separation and both must be clearly seen. The first is this and I think it's the most obvious and it's what most people think about when they think of because though most churches today are what we might call liberal churches or fund center churches and they're very what we would call worldly. There are some conservative churches out there. There are more traditional churches out there that do practice separation and when we think of those types of churches this is usually what we think about and this is an aspect of separation. This is one side of separation and it is this that we are to be separated. When we're talking about biblical separation what we're talking about is that we are to be separated from the world. We are to come out from among them and be ye separate say it the Lord. So if you want to understand separation you need to understand the most basic aspect is that we are to be separated from the world. Now Jesus taught about this and he talked about this in his famous high priestly prayer in John 17 and what he mentions here in his prayer is this that we are not of the world. In John 17 and verse 9 we find Jesus praying of course this is he's praying right before he goes to the cross and notice what he says in verse 9. The Bible says this I pray for them this is Jesus speaking he says I pray for them aren't you thankful that Jesus prayed for you and I he says I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them which thou has given me for they are thine. I pray not notice what he says verse 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world. So I want you to notice when we're talking about separation wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate say it the Lord. We're not talking about a physical separation. Jesus said I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. When we're talking about separation we're talking about being separate from the world but we're not talking about being physically separated from the world we're not talking about going out and buying some field somewhere and setting up a commune or going to Guyana or something and setting up a place for us to get away from the world. Jesus said I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but when we're talking about separation we're talking about he says that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. The idea is to keep us from the evil from the sin from the wickedness of the world not to be physically separated from the world. So listen when we're talking about separation we're not talking about becoming Amish and going out away from society and being away from them that would go against what the Bible teaches number one because Jesus said I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but Jesus also commanded us to go ye therefore into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. So we can't be physically away from people that we're trying to reach. The doctrine of separation is that we're to be separate from the world and what we need to understand is this that we are not of the world though we are in the world. Notice it again verse 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them of the world but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Notice verse 16 they are not of the world even as I am not of the world and what Jesus is teaching here is this that we are not of the world. If you are saved if you are a believer if you've accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior and you've called upon him in faith for salvation then you are now a child of God you are a son of the king a daughter of the king your citizenship and your residency is somewhere else and what the Bible teaches is that we're not of this world. In fact the terminology used in scripture with regards to us is that we are strangers and pilgrims. You're there in John I'd like you to go with me to the book of Romans Romans chapter number 12 John Acts Romans while you turn there let me read to you from Hebrews chapter 11 you go to Romans and I'll read to you from Hebrews chapter 11 Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 13 says these all died in faith not having received the promises but having seen them afar off and were persuaded of them and embraced them and confessed I want you to hear these words and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. The word stranger there in our King James Bible it's not used in the same way that you and I would use it today. You and I would say that some someone's a stranger and we're talking about someone we don't know or maybe someone strange and we're talking about someone that's odd. The word here in our King James Bible stranger means foreigner means you're a foreigner from this land this is not your homeland. The word pilgrim is in reference to a traveler a sojourner someone who's just traveling through and the Bible says that we need to confess and we need to understand that we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth. The song says this world is not my home I'm just a passing through my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue the angels beckon me from heaven's open door and I can't feel at home in this world anymore. The problem with many Christians is that we feel just a little too at home in this world and we need to remember that this world is not our home we are not of the world yes we are in the world but we are not of the world. Therefore because we are not of the world the Bible teaches that we should not be conformed to this world. Are you there in Romans 12? I'd like you to look down at verse number one. These are well-known verses I know you know them but let's look at them together. Romans chapter 12 and verse number one the Bible says this I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. Notice verse number two the Bible says and be not conformed to this world be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewed of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. If you want to understand the principles of separation or the philosophy of separation you want to understand what separation is. Separation is this that we are to be separate from the world not physically but we are to separate ourselves in a way where the evil and the sin and the wickedness of the world does not stain us or taint us and we are to be we are to be separate we are to not be of the world and we are to not be conformed to this world. The word conform means to be similar to or to be patterned after if you think of a pattern maybe if a lady is going to do some sort of a sewing project she might have a pattern that she uses to cut the material and the pattern is there so that it would be similar so that it would be conformed to the shape that's needed and here God tells us that we are not to be conformed to this world and look I want to ask you this question and I want you to think about this in your mind in your life how conformed are you to this world how much do you look like act like think like the world because the problem that I see today is that we've got way too many Christians even in our independent fundamental Baptist conservative type churches we've got way too many Christians who think it is appropriate to just be like the world conform to the world and the same things that we say against the liberal big evangelical charismatic contemporary churches and we say well they look like the world act like the world they have the world's music and they just add Jesus to it but yet I look at conservative Christians and I think well your life does the exact same thing I mean you look just like the world you act like the world you use the same words the world uses you listen to the same music the world listens to you watch the same shows the world watches you're doing everything the world does except that you're a Christian hey let me say something to you yes you can be a Christian and live like the world and live like the devil salvation is believed on the Lord Jesus Christ but what God wants is for us to not be conformed to this world we are to be separated from the world you say why because we're not of the world we're not of this world and therefore we are not to be conformed to this world now that's one aspect of separation and when Christians do think about separation I think that's a part of separation they think of that we are to be separate from the world but let me say this there's a second part to separation which I think we don't often think of and it is this that it's not just enough to be separate from the world if that was enough then we would just go become Amish we would go become Mennonites we would go find a field somewhere in the middle of nowhere and build some houses and live there the Bible says that the purpose of separation the purpose of wherefore come out from among them and be separate say the Lord is yes part of it is to be separate from the world but there's another aspect to it there's another side to this equation that I think we need to remember and it is this that we are not simply to be separate from the world we are to be separated unto God the other side of separation the balance of separation is not just try to get away from the world it is to get away from the world and draw close to God now I'd like you to go with me real quickly actually don't go anywhere you stay there in Romans in fact do me a favor put a ribbon or a bookmark or something there because we're going to leave it and we're going to come back to it and I want you to get to it quickly but let me read to you from Titus chapter 2 you stay in Romans but I'll read to you from Titus chapter 2 and verse 14 the Bible says this Titus 2 14 who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity notice these words and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works you know God saved you and you and I should be thankful for the salvation of God that he saved us and that he's keeping us from going to hell but you know the Bible says that God saved you for a reason who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people a peculiar people the word purify means to make pure the word peculiar means that they are different they are unique he wants to purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good work so we are to be separated from the world yes that's one side of it but we are to be separated unto God in fact the purpose of separating from the world is to be separate unto God that's the principle of separation the philosophy of separation I want you to understand that but then secondly this morning let me say this I want you to not only understand the principle of separation but I want you to understand the practice of separation well how does this actually work what is it that we actually need to do in order to be separate well in 1st John chapter 2 you don't have to turn there I'll just read this for you you're there in Romans 12 we're going to come back to Romans 12 here in a minute let me just read to you from 1st John chapter 2 the Bible says this love not the world neither the things that are in the world if any man love the world the love of the father is not in him you got to consider those words the Bible clearly says here if any man love the world the love of the father is not in him you cannot have the love of the father in you and also have the love of the world so for that reason God says love not the world neither the things that are in the world if any man love the world the love of the father is not in him verse 16 for all that is in the world I want you to hear what I'm reading to you 1st John 2 16 for all that is in the world not some that is in the world not most of what's in the world the Bible says for all that is in the world the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life and by the way that's all that is in the world that's all the world has to offer the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life the Bible says is not of the Father but is of the world. If you and I are going to be Christians who practice separation, then we need to first of all reject the things of the world. We need to love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. Not only do we need to reject the things of the world, are you there in Romans 12? Look down to verse number two again. We must reject the things of this world, but alongside with that we must renew the thinking of our minds. In Romans chapter 12 and verse 2 the Bible says this, And be not conformed to this world, that's separation, that's the rejection of the things of this world, but here's the renewal, and be ye transformed, and be ye transformed, look at these words, by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. See the truth is this, that you and I, though now that we're saved, our citizenship is in heaven, now that we're saved, we're a child of God, we're a son of God, a daughter of God, we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth, the truth is this, that you and I have lived on this earth, we've lived in this society our entire lives, and this society has brainwashed us into thinking certain ways. We think certain ways, we accept certain things as normal, we accept certain things as, well that's just how it's done, that's just the way that everybody lives their life, and I'm here to tell you that if you and I are going to be Christians that practice separation, then we're going to have to reject the things of the world. You're gonna have to learn to say, hey I realize that there's some things the world says are normal and good and acceptable, but the Bible says something different, and I need to renew my mind, I need to renew the thinking of our minds. We need to renew the thinking of our minds, we transform by the renewing of your mind. Sometimes people will come to a church like this, and they'll begin to learn some of these things with regards to separation, and they'll start learning about things that they should get out of their lives, and things that they should do different, and they begin to change their life, and people will start around them, maybe a co-worker or a friend or a family member, they'll start accusing them and saying, are you in a cult? Are you in a cult? And that's a sermon for another day. And they'll say, I think they're brainwashing you. Listen to me, your brain needs to be washed. Your brain needs to be renewed. It's been poisoned by the society we live in. Now in this sermon, I'm not gonna go through every little thing that we need to reject and renew. That would be way too long of a sermon. The purpose of this sermon is just to lay a foundation for this idea of separation, because over the next several weeks, and I hope you'll join us as we continue these lessons, over the next several weeks we're going to look at some specific things that the Bible teaches about separation. In fact, we're gonna learn what the Bible teaches about clothing and dress standards. You know that God cares about the way you look? God cares about the way you dress, and in fact, you know the Bible tells us everything about everything, everything that we need to know about life and godliness, and God has given us some principles with regards to how we should dress and how we should look in our exterior, and we're going to learn those, and that's part of living a separated life. We're gonna learn about, over the next several weeks, about biblical music standards. You know that God cares about what kind of music you listen to? You know that God cares about the kind of music that you allow into your ears that influences your mind and influences your heart, and the Bible speaks about these things. We're gonna learn about some biblical music standards. We're gonna learn specifically about what the Bible teaches about alcohol, and what God says about alcohol, and how you and I ought to think about alcohol, and whether it should be something that we have in our life. We're gonna learn about what the Bible teaches about fornication, and I'm saying these things to say to you that as you come, and I hope you will come over the next several weeks, and as we learn about what the Bible teaches about biblical dress standards, and what the Bible teaches about alcohol and fornication, and what the Bible teaches about music, I want you to remember that the way we go into this teaching is we must reject what we've learned from the world. There's gonna be some things, look, the world's gonna tell you fornication is fine. Drunkenness is fine. A man dressing like a woman, and a woman dressing like a man, that's fine. We're going to have to reject the things of this world. Love not the world, neither things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him, for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world. We're gonna have to reject some of those things, and we're gonna have to renew some of our thinking. We're gonna have to decide to not be conformed to this 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. So we're learning about and understanding separation. We want to understand the principles of separation. What are the principles of separation? Look, I want you to know this, because I don't want to be the pastor of a conservative Baptist church, and I'm proud to be the pastor of a conservative Baptist church, an independent Baptist church, a fundamentalist church. I'm not ashamed of all that. I'm not ashamed of being a Baptist. I'm not ashamed of the King James Bible. I'm not ashamed of anything we believe, but you know what I don't want to pastor? I don't want to pastor a church filled with a bunch of Pharisees who think that separation and distance from the world equals godliness. Let us always remember that the purpose for separation is yes, one aspect is to separate away from the world, but the purpose is to separate unto God. No matter how high your standards are or how high you think your standards are, sometimes people don't have very high standards than they think they do, and you know it's foolishness to play the comparison game, but sometimes I think it's funny because people who want to play the comparison game and think to myself, I'm looking at my list and I'm looking at your list and I'm not very impressed, but what we need to remember is that the purpose of separation is not to show how great we are. Look how separate I am. If you're practicing separation but never getting close to God, never drawing nigh to God, never having a soft heart towards the things of God, never having revival in your heart, revival in your heart for the lost souls, revival in your heart for the word of God and for prayer, there's no spirituality there. You're no better than an Amish. I mean other than the fact that the Amish are actually trusting their works to go to heaven and they're gonna die and go to hell because they're not trusting in Jesus, we need to understand that the practice of separation is that we reject the world and we renew our mind. We reject the things of the world and we renew our minds, and for many of you, you've been part of a church like this and you know some of these things and God bless you, it's good for you over the next several weeks. You know it's good for you to be reminded that alcohol is not good. It's good for you to be reminded about some of these things, but for some of you, and our church of course is growing and we've got many new people coming to our church, some of these things might be new to you and you need to understand that the purpose of separation is to reject the things of the world and to renew our minds, renew our thinking. So we must reject the things of the world and we must renew our thinking. Now if you're there in Romans, I'd like you to make your way back to 2 Corinthians chapter 6, Romans, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Corinthians. We're talking about separation. We talked about the principle of separation from the world unto God, the practice of separation. The practice of separation is this, that in order to live a separated life, we must reject the things of the world and we must renew the thinking of our minds. But thirdly, this morning I'd like to highlight for you the purpose of separation. And we've already talked about this a little bit but let me deal with it a little more in depth. The purpose of separation. What is the point of all this? What is the point of living a life that's separate from the world? Come out from among them and be separate from the Lord. Why do it? Well number one, we do it to develop a good relationship with God. In 2 Corinthians chapter 6 and verse 16, I want you to see these verses again. In what agreement have the temple of God with idols? For ye, for ye are the temple of the living God. Ye are the temple of the living God. Paul would also say no ye not. He said don't you know, don't you understand that ye are not your own but ye are bought with a price? He says you are the temple of the living God and he says this, as God has said I will dwell in them. Now doesn't that sound good? Don't you want the God and if you're saved do you have the God that dwells in you? That ought to be a sobering fact. You understand that when you got saved, when I got saved, the Holy Spirit came to live in our temples, in our bodies. We were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise and because your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, the things you do with your body and in your body can grieve the Holy Spirit. You can't have a good relationship with God while you're grieving the Holy Spirit and quenching the Holy Spirit that lives inside of you. So you got to ask yourself when you walk into a place and it's dark and it smells like booze and people are gambling or people are dancing and people are doing, you know you gotta ask yourself does the Holy Spirit feel comfortable here? Is this somewhere? Am I grieving the Holy Spirit? You say why would I live a separated life? Why would I even decide? Hey there's some places I shouldn't go because I'm a Christian. There's some atmospheres I shouldn't be in because I'm a Christian. Why would I, I realize that's crazy for some of you. You think that's crazy. You've got to reject the world and renew your mind. But you gotta remember this that ye are the temple of the living God as God has said I will dwell in them and while you are grieving the Holy Spirit you cannot have a good relationship with the Holy Spirit. So what's the purpose of separation? To develop a good relationship with God. He says I will dwell in them. Notice last part of verse 16 and walk in them. Doesn't that sound good? And I will be their God and they shall be my people. That is a context in which he says wherefore. Is it for that reason? For what reason? Because ye are the temple of the living God. Because I will dwell in them God says and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people. He says for that reason wherefore come out from among them and be separate saith the Lord. Look at it. And touch not the unclean thing. That's separation. You say but why? Why not touch that unclean thing? Here's why and I will receive you. See the purpose of separation is this. To develop a good relationship with God. Now you may or may not care about that. I hope you care about that. I hope you care about walking with God and having a good relationship with God and pleasing God. He's your Heavenly Father. Go with me if you would to the book of James. James chapter number four. If you go backwards from Revelation from the last book of the Bible you've got Jude third second and first John second and first Peter James. James chapter number four. James chapter four Revelation Jude third second and first John second first Peter James. Do you understand that God is a holy God? And for this reason God said be holy as I am holy. He is a holy God and we cannot have a good relationship with God while we are living in sin while we are looking like sin while we are acting like sin while we are talking like sin. You say then why live a separated life? Because it's the only way. Listen to me. It's the only way that you can have a close relationship with God. There are some Christians that have never even experienced what it feels like to be near to God. In James chapter four and verse four I want you to see these words. James chapter four and verse four the Bible says ye adulterers and adulteresses know ye not that friendship of the world look at this is enmity with God. The word enmity means hostility animosity to be at odds with. Look God says God says I expect loyalty. God says you want to be a friend with the world you're not gonna be a friend of the world and be a friend with me. One of the greatest men in the Bible Abraham we're told that he was the friend of God. You know what that tells me is that he was not the friend of the world because James says know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God. Whosoever therefore will be friend of the world is look at the words the enemy of God. What enemy means the foe the adversary the opponent and look you and I need to just decide do you want to be friends with the world or do you want to be friends with God. I don't know about you but I'd I'd much rather be friends with God any day. If God be for us who can be against us and here we're told look here's what God is telling you God is telling you while you are in communion with while you are in fellowship with while you are in in partnership with the world you cannot be in communion with God. You cannot be in partnership with God. You cannot be in fellowship with God. So for that reason we must separate from the world a physical separation no no we must separate and make sure that we are not participating and we are not thinking like the world we must reject the thinking and the actions of the world and we must renew our minds. Why? To develop a good relationship with God. That's why. And you'll never you'll never have a close walk with God. Some of you are maybe taking our reading challenge right now and you're reading the Word of God and you're and I'm thankful for it and I'm thankful that maybe you're reading more than you've ever read before and praise God for it but some of you read the Bible and you say well I'm gonna do it because I said I'm gonna do it and praise God for that and I'm gonna finish the challenge but you read it and it's dead to you you read it and you don't get anything out of it you read it and it's not it's not alive to you and the reason for it is because you're so numb because you're so filled with the things of this world you're just numb to that which is spiritual and you don't even understand you don't even comprehend the things for some people you open up the Word of God and it's just not something we say it's really true it really is quick and alive it really does speak to your heart I mean I've been reading of course my wife and I have been reading and and and there have been things that we're talking about and I'm saying man I've read this so many times I've never noticed this this spoke to me in a different way why because it's not a dead book it's a live book it's a spiritual book but you need the Holy Spirit of God inside of you to not be quenched to not be grieved so why do we live separated lives to develop a good relationship with God but there's a second reason I'd like you to see it you're there in James go back to 1st Peter chapter 2 just the next book over 1st Peter chapter 2 we're talking about the purpose of separation what is it to develop a good relationship with God but let me say this the purpose of separation is also to display a good testimony before men to display a good testimony before men 1st Peter chapter 2 and verse 9 the Bible says this but ye are a chosen generation a royal priesthood and holy nation a peculiar again that means unusual uncommon not average a peculiar people 1st Peter 2 9 but ye are a chosen generation a royal priesthood and a holy nation a peculiar people why why are we these things that ye should show forth is that word show there in your King James Bible is spelled s-h-e-w it's just an older way of spelling the word we spell it the way we spell it today would be s-h-o-w the word show means to display that you should show forth the praises of him who have called you out of darkness into his marvelous light which in times past were not a people but now are the people of God which had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy dearly beloved I beseech you these words sound familiar to you as strangers and pilgrims remember that John 17 16 they are not of the world as strangers as foreigners as pilgrims just travelers just sojourners look you understand that in this life as a Christian I'm just traveling through this world this is not my final home this is not my final destination and and some of you are so rooted in the things of this world you start being mindful of heavenly things we're just on a journey here our life is but a vapor it appears for a little time and then vanish of the way dearly beloved I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims he says I'm saying to you I'm beseeching the word beseech means up I'm begging you I'm pleading with you I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims he says abstain from fleshly lust that's separation which war against the soul having your conversation honest among the Gentiles see separation is this abstain abstain from fleshly lust that's the rejecting of the world but then also have your conversation honest among Gentiles that's your testimony abstain from fleshly lust why to develop a good relationship with God having your conversation honest among Gentiles why to display a good testimony before men the word conversation means lifestyle having your conversation your lifestyle honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as evildoers they may by your good works which they shall behold which they shall see glorify God in the day of visitation see the purpose of separation is to develop a good relationship with God yes but it's also to display a good to testimony before men because you understand that worldly Christians make God look bad you know that's true you know the war here's the thing the world's not impressed with how separate you are they just think it's weird but the minute a Christian does something it says something and and and participates in something that they should not have we're not excusing it but the moment they do then they're all they're like I knew it you're all a bunch of hypocrites and then they're right we are all everyone's a hypocrite any anyone who's ever said you're a hypocrite is a hypocrite for saying that I'm not gonna go to that church because there's hypocrites there well good luck don't go to Costco don't go to the dentist don't go to work there's hypocrites everywhere look we understand that but the minute that a Christian does something wrong then it's just like well look this is what they're like why should we live separated lives to develop a good relationship with God but to display a good testimony before men go back to James real quickly if you go backwards into James James chapter 4 verse 8 look the purpose of separation is to draw nigh to God be he holy for I am holy James 4 8 draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you but notice this in the context of saying draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you he says you can't just draw nigh to God you don't just get to draw nigh to God you don't just get to say while living in fornication while living in drunkenness while living like the world while living like the devil while just having cuss words fly out of my mouth while just listening to worldly music I'm gonna get close to God no it doesn't work that way he says draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you you say I like that okay but then in the context he says this cleanse your hands you sinners and purify your hearts you double-minded because God is not your neighbor God is not your buddy God is not just some guy you go spend time with he is a holy God and if you're gonna draw nigh to him you better cleanse your hands you sinners and purify your heart you double-minded this is illustrated for us in the Old Testament if you remember when Moses approached the burning bush or when the captain of the host appeared to Joshua and they were standing in the presence of the Lord God Almighty what were they told to do they were take they were told to take your shoes off from off your feet for where you're standing as holy ground it wasn't holy ground because the land was holy it was holy ground because the holy God was there if you and I are gonna draw nigh to God we need to cleanse our hands cleanse your hands you sinners and purify your hearts you double-minded go with me if you would real quickly to the book of Luke Luke chapter 18 and towards the beginning of the New Testament you've got Matthew Mark Luke Luke chapter 18 we've been talking about this idea of separation we began with the concept of the principles of separation what are they where to be separated from the world that's one side of separation why because we're not of the world and we should not be conformed to this world and we are to be separated unto God that is the purpose of separation I don't care how strict you are I don't care how short your hair is or how long your skirt is those are all good things the purpose is not to live up to some rule book the purpose is to love God and to draw nigh to God and by the way let me say this when you love God and you draw nigh to God you're not gonna need a whole lot of rules because you're not gonna want to do things that are displeasing to your Heavenly Father so we draw we we separate from the world we separate unto God and we talked about the practice of separation how do we actually do this we need to reject the things of this world love not the world neither the things that are in this world and we need to renew the thinking of our minds be transformed by the renewal of your mind and we talked about the purpose of separation to develop a good relationship with God and to display a good testimony before men I remember years ago I was working with a man who was saved and we're talking about Christianity I was asking about his salvation and he ended up actually being saved and he began to say to me and he said I notice you're different you there's just something different about you just the way you act the way you dress and whatever I knew you're a Christian and and he asked me this question I thought it was interesting he said he said what do you think about Christian hip-hop and I thought oh brother you know here we go now I began to you know kind of preach this sermon to him you know like well you know the Bible says that we're supposed to be separate from the world I'm trying to do my best explain this to him and he's like no no I can tell you're against it he said I'm against it too and I thought okay that's interesting it's just something I was on his heart he won't talk about we began to tell me how he used to go to this one of these churches that was real worldly I mean you walk in and the lights are off it feels like a nightclub and you know they've got the lasers and the smoke machines and and before he was saved he was really into rap music and hip-hop music and he just kind of had that whole you know persona going and just that thug look going and whatever and he had this lowrider car and whatever and when he got saved he was really happy because his pastor told him like hey you can just stop listening to the worldly hip-hop and just start listening to Christian hip-hop and so he did for a while and you know he whatever was just into it and he told me he told me the story I just thought it was interesting I'm not really sure why he told me the story he told me about how he got really burdened about the people in his neighborhood and his community and he was going to them and going to his whole friends and things trying to get them saved and they just they weren't really receiving it and he's trying to explain to them like look your life can be different you can be saved and you can start living differently or whatever and after one of those conversations that just didn't go very well he was driving and he's driving in this lowrider gangster type vehicle and he's blasting his Christian hip-hop music and he comes to a red light and right next to him comes one of his old friends and his lowrider dressed the same way looking the same way playing worldly hip-hop music and he looked over at him and he looked over at himself he looked over him and he looked over himself and he said I just realized there's not much of a difference here I'm here to tell you but if you and I are going to be a testimony for God in this world they're gonna have to be able to see a difference you're gonna have to be a difference if you're gonna draw an eye to God and if you're gonna draw an eye to others you understand that those are the two the great commandments of this world are to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and to love thy neighbor as thyself that can only be done in the Christian life through the practice of separation so we see the purpose of separation what is it to draw an eye to God the purpose of separation is to draw nigh to God by being holy but let me just say this and I've already mentioned it but I want to just deal with it again the purpose of separation is not to look down on people by being holier than now the purpose of separation is to draw nigh to God is to display a good testimony before men by living holy it is not to look down on people by being holier than now Luke chapter 18 in verse number 9 once you see these this parable Jesus dealt with this Luke 18 verse 9 the Bible says and he spake this parable unto certain which now here's the stated purpose for the parable Jesus tells us there's two reasons why Luke tells us there's two reasons why Jesus taught this parable he spake this and he spake this parable unto certain which number one trusted in themselves that they were righteous and number two and despised others so this parable is going to deal with these two things people who trust in themselves and people who despise others here's the parable Luke 18 verse 10 two men went up into the temple to pray the one of Pharisee and the other Republican the Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself God I thank thee look at these words that I am NOT as other men that I am NOT as other men are look if your big spiritual application I mean your big spiritual like let me tell you the the victory I've had in life is that I'm better than other people you already don't understand Christianity you might want to read the Sermon on the Mount the first he stood and prayed thus with himself God I thank thee that I am NOT as other men are extortioners unjust adulterers or even as I mean there's another man there two men went up into the temple to pray and he's talking about these people and they're bad people extortioners unjust adulterers and then he just even the other men or even as this publican I fast twice in the week I give tithes of all that I possess notice verse 13 and the publican standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven smoke upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner I tell you look I didn't say this Jesus said this I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other for everyone that exalted themselves shall be abased and he that humbled themselves to be exalted I understand that there's an application here for salvation he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous but there's also an application here about despising others and look if you think that because the way you dress and the way you live your life and the things you don't do and the things you do do if you think that that somehow makes you better than other people you don't get it the truth of the matter is the closer you and I get to God the more wicked we realize we are every person that ever got close to God in the Bible every person that got close to God in the Old Testament or that realized that Jesus was God in the New Testament the the the appropriate response was falling on their knees in humility and the more separate you get from the world if you do it right the closer you get to God the more you realize man I've got a lot to work on if your separation is producing this proud prop I'm thankful I'm not like those people you're not doing it right because if you're doing it right if you're doing it right yes you're separating from the world you're drawing close to God but you know what that drawing close to God does it produces mercy in your heart it produces forgiveness in your heart it reduces love in your heart doesn't cause you to look down on others causes you to love others so the purpose of separation yes is to draw night to God by being holy let me be clear it's not to look down on others by being holier than now I think it's funny sometimes people over the years go to Matthew chapter 5 if you would Matthew chapter 5 over the years we've had people show up to this church and you know they just show up a mess I mean their lives are a wreck my wife and I help them and love them and then they get a few things situated in life and then all of a sudden like they're you know they're a better Christian than me and my wife are they're better parents than me and my wife are I'm not saying that made my wife are great Christians are great parents or whatever but sometimes I look at these people think myself you're better than you used to be but you're still not that great and it is this pride that says oh I've got some things straights so look look how great I am don't despise others don't despise others because people who get close to God realize we've all got a lot to work on let me end with these verses Matthew chapter 5 and verse 14 why practice separation why practice separation here's why he are the light of the world a city that is head on a hill cannot be hid neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick and it give it the light unto all that are in the house you know that you are the light of the world and the reason that Jesus lit you up was that you might bring light into this world and for that reason he says in verse 16 let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven the thing about Christianity is this that we are a light that light is sparked inside of you but you and I live in this earthen vessel I think of I think of the fact that in the days before electricity they would have these canisters where a light a candle inside of it but inside of a container a glass container where they would carry it and the thing about that container is that if it's dirty doesn't matter how much the light is illuminating inside if it's dirty the light won't get out you say why are you gonna preach about how we dress and and how the exterior who cares about that well God cares about it number one but we got to clean up that exterior we had to clean up that container we had clean up that glass so we can be better than other people no so the light of the glorious gospel of Christ could shine through us and you and I won't get the glory for that if we do it right you and I won't get the glory for that but our father will so he says let your light so shine before men and they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven I hope you'll join us over the next several weeks as we take this journey into separation and we learn exactly what it is that God not everything but we'll learn some good things about how God expects us to live separated lives not for your glory not for my glory but for his glory that's why our heads and have a word of prayer Heavenly Father Lord we do love you and we thank you we thank you for salvation that is not dependent on anything we do is not based on anything that we do in our lives the Lord help us to remember that after salvation you desire discipleship you desire sanctification you desire for us to draw close to you and that's going to require separation help us to understand what separation is from the world unto God to draw night of God through holiness not to look down on others through being holier than thou Lord I pray you'd help us I pray you'd help us to have maintained good spirits and good hearts and to the best of our abilities to live separated lives that we might experience a close walk with you in the matchless name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray amen well God bless you I want to thank you for being here this morning this first Sunday of the year and we're gonna have brother RJ come up and lead us in a final song but just let me give you just a few reminders if you wouldn't mind first of all for the teenagers don't forget that there's a teen activity on Friday January 24th and if you're planning on coming or you know talk to your parents and sign up on that communication card as soon as possible we'd appreciate your help with that also this week we've got the audio video ministry training on Friday if you're interested with that we could sure you use your help with that if that's something you are familiar with you'd like to help with and you can sign up on your communication card you can do it now if you miss the offering you can give it to me or to brother Oliver or brother Shaw also this Saturday is our Spanish service just want to remind you about that especially you Spanish soul winners if you want to help us with passing out invitations to the Spanish community please talk to me or brother Oliver and then of course want to invite you to be back tonight 6 p.m. for the evening service and we call it the most exciting service of the week and it's gonna be a great time tonight tonight I'm gonna be preaching a sermon entitled striking the right balance in the Christian life and I want to encourage you to be here because so many of us are imbalanced and we need to learn to live a balanced Christian life and I want to encourage you to be here tonight as we look at that and then of course I want to encourage you to invite someone next week be back with us next week as we are continue to study the Word of God together bring somebody with you there's anything that we can do for you please let us know why brother RJ come up and lead us in a final song is the last to me singing before we dismiss if anyone here has questions about salvation baptism or church membership pastor will be at the door and I'd love to talk to you there wrecking someone who can do that as well you