Do Not Be Overcome by Evil

January 21, 2024 · Romans

Series · Romans · Week 82 of 85

Scripture referenced 12 passages

The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.

Romans 12 main passage of the sermon, chapter of exhortation in Romans

1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.
2 Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.
4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function,
5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6 Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;
7 or service, let us give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching;
8 or he who exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.
10 In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another;
11 not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer;
13 contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.
19 Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”
20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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Romans 8:28

all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose

28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.

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Galatians 6:9

let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart

9 Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up.

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Acts 15:39

the sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over taking John Mark on the second missionary journey

39 Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away to Cyprus,

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1 Corinthians 12

Paul covers spiritual gifts at great length, parallel to Romans 12

1 Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant.

2 You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.

3 Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.

6 There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all.

7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.

8 For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;

9 to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit;

10 and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages.

11 But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.

12 For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.

13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body.

16 If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body.

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?

18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired.

19 If they were all one member, where would the body be?

20 But now they are many members, but one body.

21 The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.”

22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

23 Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety;

24 whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part,

25 that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

26 When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

28 God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.

29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers?

30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret?

31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.

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1 Peter 4

Peter covers spiritual gifts

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin;

2 that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

3 For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries.

4 They think it is strange that you don’t run with them into the same excess of riot, blaspheming:

5 who will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

6 For to this end the Good News was preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed as men in the flesh, but live as to God in the spirit.

7 But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.

8 And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.

9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

10 As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.

11 If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

12 Beloved, don’t be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you.

13 But because you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy.

14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.

15 For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men’s matters.

16 But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter.

17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don’t obey the Good News of God?

18 “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?”

19 Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.

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Ephesians 4

Paul covers spiritual gifts again, possibly a sketch for Romans

1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,

2 with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love;

3 being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling;

5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all.

7 But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

8 Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”

9 Now this, “He ascended”, what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.

11 He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;

12 for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

14 that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;

15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ;

16 from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,

18 being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts;

19 who having become callous gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But you did not learn Christ that way;

21 if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:

22 that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit;

23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

24 and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

25 Therefore putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another.

26 “Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,

27 and don’t give place to the devil.

28 Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, producing with his hands something that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.

29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

30 Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice.

32 And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

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2 Corinthians 9:7

God loves a cheerful, hilarious giver

7 Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.

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Genesis 12

God calls Abraham, promising to bless those he blesses and curse those he curses

1 Now Yahweh said to Abram, “Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you.

2 I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treates you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”

4 So Abram went, as Yahweh had told him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

5 Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother’s son, all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they went to go into the land of Canaan. They entered into the land of Canaan.

6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time, Canaanites were in the land.

7 Yahweh appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” He built an altar there to Yahweh, who had appeared to him.

8 He left from there to go to the mountain on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to Yahweh and called on Yahweh’s name.

9 Abram traveled, still going on toward the South.

10 There was a famine in the land. Abram went down into Egypt to live as a foreigner there, for the famine was severe in the land.

11 When he had come near to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to look at.

12 It will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me, but they will save you alive.

13 Please say that you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you.”

14 When Abram had come into Egypt, Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.

15 The princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.

16 He dealt well with Abram for her sake. He had sheep, cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.

17 Yahweh afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.

18 Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this that you have done to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she was your wife?

19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now therefore, see your wife, take her, and go your way.”

20 Pharaoh commanded men concerning him, and they escorted him away with his wife and all that he had.

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Deuteronomy 32:35

vengeance is mine and I will repay, cited as source of the quote in Romans 12

35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense, at the time when their foot slides; for the day of their calamity is at hand. Their doom rushes at them.”

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Proverbs 25:21-22

if your enemy is hungry feed him, heaping burning coals on his head

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink:

22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you.

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Isaiah

burning coal brought to cleanse Isaiah's lips when he confessed being a man of unclean lips

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Recap

The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.

Pastor Ray opened by holding two situations side by side: Paul's warning against growing weary in doing good, and the sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark that ended their partnership. The sermon then worked through Romans 12 as a framework for figuring out which situation you are actually in, and how to keep serving faithfully either way.

What was said

The "therefore" that opens Romans 12 carries the full weight of everything Paul wrote before it. Chapters one through eleven establish that every person stands guilty before God, that God made a way for the unrighteous to be called righteous, and that nothing can separate us from his love. The exhortations of chapter 12 only make sense standing on that foundation. Because God has shown mercy rather than giving us what we deserve, the whole chapter is grounded there.

The first two verses set the direction for everything that follows. Presenting your body as a living sacrifice is the daily, walking-around version of worship, not just what happens on Sunday morning. The negative command, do not be conformed to this world, and the positive one, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, work together. Pastor Ray connected the renewing of the mind to a "set aside prayer" from the 12-step world: asking God to help you set aside what you think you know about yourself, about others, and about God, so that you can receive what is actually true. The goal of that transformation is being able to see what God's will is, described in the passage as that which is good, acceptable, and perfect, where "perfect" carries the sense of maturity for where you are right now, not a standard no one can reach.

Verses three through eight grounded the volunteer recognition that had just happened in the service. Paul's point is that the body has many parts with different functions, and each person is to be doing what God actually gifted them to do rather than what someone else needs filled. The gifts listed, prophecy, service, teaching, giving, leadership, exhortation, and showing mercy, are each to be practiced in a way that matches the gift. Pastor Ray put it plainly: not everyone should be visiting people in the hospital, and not everyone should be preparing the meal. The congregation had just seen, in the long list of volunteers who stood up, how many different ways there are to serve.

The commands that follow in verses nine through thirteen describe what genuine love looks like in practice inside a community. Love must be free of hypocrisy. You can detest what is evil and cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another, give preference to one another in honor, stay fervent in spirit, keep praying, and practice hospitality. These are not isolated instructions but a picture of a community that is actively not conforming to the way the world runs.

The passage then turns outward, to how you treat people outside the community and people who are working against you. Bless those who persecute you. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Do not be haughty. Never repay evil for evil. The command to respect what is right in the sight of all people, Pastor Ray said, is less about finding universal agreement and more about honoring what is genuinely right no matter who is watching, without joining either side.

The closing verses, nineteen through twenty-one, carry the weight of the whole argument. Never take your own revenge, because every sin will either be justly condemned by God or mercifully forgiven, and leaving room for God's wrath is also leaving room for his mercy. Feeding a hungry enemy and giving a thirsty one something to drink is not a naive battle plan; drawing on Proverbs and the image of the burning coal in Isaiah, Pastor Ray argued that acting like Christ acts is itself convicting to the other person, and God is the one who will repay in either direction. The final command, do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good, is the active answer to the question the sermon started with. When you respond in kind to evil, evil has already won. When you respond with good, you are resisting it.

Doing a Bible study?

Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.

Pastor Ray opened with two situations from Scripture: Paul and Barnabas parting ways over John Mark, and Paul's call in Galatians 6 not to grow weary in doing good. When you have hit a point of sharp disagreement in doing kingdom work, how have you tried to discern whether to press on or to part ways?
Romans 12:1 calls us to present our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, which Pastor Ray described as a daily, ongoing act rather than a one-time decision. What does that look like in the ordinary routines of your week?

and 3 more questions in the guide

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Speaker 1About now. Can you hear me now? Alright. Would you stand with me? Are you enjoying the January thaw?

Speaker 2Yeah.

Speaker 1Yeah. I heard a newcomer forecast in early spring this morning. Afraid not. January thaw. That's what this is.

Everybody gets lured into it when they're first here. Why don't we sing Because He Lives, hymn number three fifty eight, and we will see what happens.

Speaker 2God sent his son. They called him Jesus. He came to love, heal, and forgive. Let him die. Do by my pardon, an empty grave is there to prove my savior lives because he lives.

I can face tomorrow because he lives. All And then one day, I'll cross that river. I'll fight life's final war I'll know he reigns because he lives. I can face tomorrow

Speaker 1Amen. How about we turn to hymn number three forty three, Amazing Grace. Chris Clark's favorite according to Connor.

Speaker 2As life endures. Through many dangers, toils, and snares, and grace will lead me home. And on the last, when we've been there ten thousand years bright shining as the sun we've known last days to sing God's grace than when we first begun Amen.

Speaker 1Y'all can have a seat. Have a few announcements this morning. Iwana is happening tomorrow night. So, gathering around 05:45 starting off right here in this room and then spreading out from here all over the church. Kid club, kids club, 05:45 to 07:30.

Pretty hard stop at the end, 07:30, but 05:45 to six is when they're starting up. Games and scripture and scripture memorization and all kinds of fun stuff. It's a good time, Awana. Copies of the proposed church constitution revisions are available in the church office, and I think there's some out on the front, in the foyer out there right now too. We made a few changes, clarifications in the constitution.

Some of it's like term length and that sort of thing. Some of it was fixing, internal kind of discrepancies. So if you would like a copy, you are welcome to it. And sometime in the next month or so, we'll be doing a vote to vote on those revisions. We did have a congregational meeting that's just a normal one.

We did that today between services and the budget, after discussion did pass, and Tim Williams is on the Board of Trustees, Berkla Johnston is an elder now. So that happened in between services today. Also, what happens between services is the connect hour down the hall in the fellowship hall, Addie Hair is in charge of that. That's her number. If you would like to be responsible for, fixing breakfast basically for a whole group of people So that these two services don't turn into two different churches.

We like to stay connected, and that's a good place to do it. Table fellowship is important. If you would volunteer, you can sign up. There are sign up sheets down the hall. Sisters Saved by Grace is a Bible study that is at six in the evenings on Thursday evenings.

They eat a good meal together. They look at scripture together. They're particularly looking at creation right now, and they have prayer time afterwards. That's a great group. There is a large group of ladies that was gonna use the fellowship hall and decided there are too many of them.

So now they're using the sanctuary right here, January 17 through February 21, 10AM to noon, the JH Women's Bible Study. Deborah Buckingham is usually the one that's presenting, and they have, Charlene, think, is the one on the piano. And it's a good time. That's a good time. So that is right here in this room, ten to noon, ladies, community Bible study.

Menfolk. Menfolk snowmobile retreat. This is up at the old faithful Christian Ranch. It's in Island Park or a couple miles outside of Island Park, February 23 through the twenty fifth. It's a $100 for adults, 75 for kids.

Richard Largie has taken it on, so if you want details. It's not just snowmobiles. Some of y'all have your own. Some people will be renting them. Some folks take their cross country skis.

Some people take their crossword puzzle. If I go, that will be the hardest thing I do while I'm there. But, that's the men's snowmobile retreat, February 23 through the twenty fifth. That's coming fast. There's a membership class that usually happens on the third Sunday, but we moved it to the fourth because of our congregational meeting.

It'll be in my office next week at 10:00. Now, this is part of the sermon today, but Carl was looking for how to express this next thing, volunteer appreciation. So I want for you, if you would, if you would, I'm gonna read off of a list. If you have ever helped in this way at all, please, would you stand? Okay?

So how many of y'all have ever helped out in the nursery? Would you stand? Stand up if you've ever helped out in the nursery. How many of you have ever helped out in children's church, whether it be Sunday school or something? Alright.

Keep on standing. Keep on standing. Don't sit down. How many of you have helped out by being an Awana volunteer? Awana volunteers.

Yep. There you go. How about vacation Bible school? Alright. If you have, stand up, Connor, if you have, man.

How about middle school and high school youth group? High school a middle school and high school Sunday school. About adult Sunday school. I see some. Anybody involved in adult Sunday school?

I know better than that. Y'all are just first, be in the Bible writers. You know, we have that chapter scripture coming out every morning. And so first, be in the Bible writers, you've done that. Connect hour.

You've made a meal for the connect hour at some point since you've been here. Made a Monday night meal at some point since you've been here. Small group leaders or hosts. You've ever led or hosted a small group meeting at your house, even if all you did was provide the space? Alright.

How about you all remember First BBQ? The first BBQ that we had all summer long. How many of you all participated in first BBQ? How about kitchen ministry? I know that there are several that come in and do things like washing the dish rags and bringing them in, taking care of business, making sure that it happens.

Kitchen ministry, otherwise, cleaning up, doing the dishes, small group leaders and host, women's Bible study groups, cause that's a reciprocal thing. You don't just have to be the leader. Have you been involved in one of them? I know you have. Alright.

Men's alliance. Tech team. He's up there right now. Property and grounds. If you've ever attended a church workday and helped out on the property and grounds, we have others.

Tim Dalton's in charge of property and grounds right now on the board of trustees. If you've ever served on the board of trustees at all, if you've ever served on the board of elders at all, if you've ever been a part of the worship team, including choir. Anybody? There we go. Nope.

Not the last one. Security team. Now I'll make a special caveat for the security team because they don't like people knowing that they're the security team. So they hover and they are they go around. They get here really early on Sunday morning.

They check all of the rooms and all the closets, and they make sure that this is a safe place. And they are sheepdogs. They're looking around. So I'm thankful for them, but I won't call them out. Bereavement services.

This week, y'all, I can't even go into it, but the bereavement ministry of this church is very, very, very helpful for this community. So if you've ever helped out by bringing in something for a funeral, Greeters, communion setters. I know there are communion setters. She's setting down right now. But, there are folks who have done that.

Ushers. And then a special thanks. Do you all know Francis Ferry? Yes. The chances are that the chair that you're sitting in was put there by Francis Solomon.

He is steady all the time working. And then Kimberly does our custodial work. But thank you. I to to And that. Do to to is like that that just disappeared, And is like that where we're we're members of one body, and not all of them have the same purpose.

You do not want me preparing the meal. I promise. And folks in the hospital may not want you visiting them. I promise. We'll get to that in the service.

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We're many parts of one body. We all belong to one another. He goes over it in first Corinthians 12, but I love, Romans 12, and that's what we'll study today. I think we stand up and sing two more songs.

Yes. Let's do that. Would you all stand with me? We're gonna sing a couple of songs. Rock of Ages.

What a beautiful song. Sing the harmonies if you know them.

Speaker 2Rock of ages, clap for me. Let me hide myself in thee. Let the water and the blood from thy wounded side which flowed be of sin, the double pure. Save from wrath and make me pure. Could my tears forever flow?

Could my zeal no longer know? These for sin could not atone. Thou must save and thou alone in my hand. Price I bring simply to the cross I cling while I draw this fleeting breath. When my night shall close in death.

When I rise to worlds unknown and behold beyond thy throne rock of ages left for me. Let me hide myself

Speaker 1in thee. Amen. Y'all don't know what a blessing it is to hear that harmony coming back. Do we have another song, Nick? Okay.

Then we're not gonna do another one. Great. Y'all can have a seat. I'll invite the ushers to come forward. Some sneaky person that watched the first service said it went long and they just took a song out.

Operatory prayer is what we've always called this. When I first got here, it said, the worship of giving. And I said, can we change that to through? It's worship through giving instead of worshiping the giving. God almighty, you're amazing.

I am inspired after the congregational meeting today to just look at have a chance to look back at the budget and see all the different ways that you have blessed this community and this big blue celestial ball that's here hanging in space. Lord, to the very uttermost parts, you have connected your people. It's amazing. I love the way that you do what you do. Lord, I pray that you would inspire us and fill us, that we long to do your will, oh Lord, and that you would show us exactly how to do it.

Your will done in your way. Lord, won't lock your supply. We ask that you'd bless everything that goes in the plates, but also every one of the meditations of our heart, every breath that we breathe in and out from the time we wake up in the morning, that we would breathe it out in praise to you. In Jesus' name, I ask for your blessing to not stop with us, but it would continue for the exact purpose that you intended. In Jesus' name, amen.

Thank you, Lisa. This morning where are we going, Nick? Run run them again. Run them again. No.

Sorry. Two slides for tithes and offerings. Sorry. Two situations. If you got the church email this week and you looked over, what's Ray preaching about this week?

And you saw these two situations from Galatians six and Acts 15, you might well have been confused at what in the world is he gonna talk about on Sunday. I wanna start off with these and then move to Romans 12. That's where we're headed. Romans 12, the chapter of exhortation in Romans. But Galatians six nine says, and it's speaking of a group of people that are called together for a purpose.

Paul is writing to the Galatians and saying, let us, all of us who know Jesus, let us not grow weary while doing good. It's not always easy, and I know it's hard when you're trying to do the work of the living God by his spirit. Let us not grow weary while doing good. For in due season, we shall reap if we do not lose heart. That is one situation.

And then Acts fifteen thirty nine is in the context. It is between the first and the second missionary journey that we know as Paul's missionary journeys. On the first journey, Barnabas and John Mark had gone with him. And at some point, Mark, John Mark, abandoned them. He left them.

And he just couldn't go on, and so he quit. And when it was time to go, Paul and Barnabas were talking and said, let's go do a tour of all those churches and start some other ones. Hang out. Know a bit more about what's been going on with them. If they need our help, if they need any direction, let's go back and do this tour of churches, encouraging them and planting as we go.

But Barnabas said, let's take John Mark. And Paul goes, uh-uh, I ain't taking John Mark. He quit on us the first time. I'm not about taking the abandon us. He's a deserter.

No. And Acts fifteen thirty nine says, then the contention or disagreement became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas, son of encouragement, Barnabas, took Mark, and he sailed to Cyprus. Now, that's the last we hear about Barnabas' missionary journey. He took the one that Paul didn't want to take, and Paul took Silas, and in like four or five verses picks up Luke and picks up other folks along the way.

But there was a split, and they were doing good. And you know what? Towards the end of Paul's time in life, while he's riding in prison, he says, have John Mark bring me my coat. It's cold in here, and I know that he is useful for service. So it's not to say either one of them was wrong.

Barnabas was right in what he wanted to do, and Paul was right in what he wanted to do. Sounds kind of pig headed, honestly, to me. But that split was something that was a sharp disagreement where it was time to part ways. Now which the sermon of today is which is it? If you're working and you are attempting anything for the kingdom of God, which is it?

Which is it? Have I hit a point of saying, our disagreement is too sharp, and I cannot go on. God bless them. I'm going a different way. Or, you know what?

If we don't give up, we're gonna reap the harvest that we all came here for in the first place. So how is it that we discern God's will and the way forward? I'm gonna take a scriptural approach to just say in Romans 12 is a good answer to that question. I think prayerfully, you discerning and praying about it is wonderful. But Romans twelve's principles lived out will help tremendously in figuring it out.

It actually says that it'll help. So before we get to Romans 12 well, let's get to it. Romans 12 says, therefore. It starts off therefore. So what's that therefore therefore?

That that is there pointing back to absolutely everything Paul has written up to this point. Now you think this sermon's gonna be long? No. I'm just kidding. If I had to start at Romans one one and go all the way to the end of chapter 11 to get here, it really is that.

The therefore is because Paul has made for a church he had never visited, for a church he did not plant. He has laid out the way that God made a way when there was no way. He makes it clear from chapter one that people tend to suppress the truth even though they know it. Even religious folk, chapter two, are guilty. Chapter three, we are all guilty.

We fall short of the glory of God. We stand condemned. But God, chapter four, chapter five, he has made a way that we can be called righteous before God. Though we were unrighteous, we can be children of God and called righteous before him. And since that's the case, all the way up through chapter eight.

Chapter eight gets up to chap to saying, we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. We know that God is able to day by day conform us more and more into the image of his son. There's not heights nor depths or anything else that's gonna keep us from the love of God. That's the end of chapter eight. Nine, ten, and 11 kinda deal with the Jewish question of, they had the law, are they still under the laws?

Nine, ten, 11 do that. But everything that comes before Romans 12 is the groundwork, the theological framework upon which these exhortations stand. So last week, I told you there are imperatives there are indicatives imperatives. Indicatives are this is the way that it is, and because of this, there are imperatives. Do this.

Last week, it was reciprocal commands. There are a bunch of reciprocal commands in chapter 12. That's why I'm picking up here today. But it starts off the first two verses are absolutely genius, and it would be a great prayer every morning. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, he's already saying, I'm urging you.

I'm stirring you up. I'm trying to get you to see things in God's way. I urge you, all of my brothers and sisters in Christ, by the mercies of God. How many of y'all how many of y'all are getting what you deserve? Mercies of God.

We do not get the punishment that we deserve. And so chapter one, two, three says, we all are guilty. We stand in need of punishment, but God. So by the mercies of God is where he's grounding this whole chapter. Since God has blessed you instead of cursing you, since God has given you an abundant life by the mercies of God, what you are to do is to be presenting your bodies individually.

It's collectively the whole thing is I urge all of y'all brothers and sisters individually to be presenting your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice. Now, in the Greek world and in the Gnostic world slightly after this, there was a thinking that the body was evil and the spirit was pure, and there's no distinction here with Paul. He's saying your bodies are mind, body, spirit, spirit, and soul. By the mercies of God, be taking this walking around person. Be taking this body and be constantly presenting it as a living and holy sacrifice.

Most of the commentators that I've read see that Paul, a Pharisee, a Jew that knows the law and has known it for a long time, and he knows the ritual sacrifice stuff of the Old Testament, is making a comparison here. And it's an unusual one because in the Old Testament, the sacrifice really didn't know anything about it. He didn't know it was perfect or not perfect. He didn't know how clean it was. But just one day, they showed up and said, Yep, this is the one, quiet and clean, picked up, set aside maybe, cared for.

But then that animal's life was taken. He's making sort of an allusion to that, but he's saying, you be getting up daily, accepting the mercies of God. And in that, you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, which is acceptable to God, and that's your spiritual service of worship. This is the way that you show God. Actually, worship right there is a different word.

Usually, it kind of fits between service and worship. So this is your spiritual way that you can serve God is recognizing, though I was not holy, he made me holy. That's his mercy. Because he has made me holy, he has filled me with the spirit. I am able to walk forward and serve him.

And that is my act of worship as much as using my words. And do not be conformed to this world. Negative aspect and then a positive aspect right behind it. Do not be conformed to this world. Don't just do things the way the world does them.

If the church does things just the way that the world does them, there will be no difference in us and the world. If you personally answer every question the same way that anybody would just by using your own logic or your own understanding of the law and the rules, if you just act like that, there's you're conforming to just the way everybody does everything. When I say this right now, I think of love your enemy. Pray for the ones who persecute you. That's not what the world does, is it?

What the world does you remember this the scene from the untouchables, Sean Connery, untouchables? He goes, he brings a knife. You bring a gun. That's the world. Right?

That's the way it is. He brings a knife. You bring a gun. He brings a gun. You bring a Tommy gun.

He puts one of yours in the hospital. You put one of his in the morgue. You know? That's the that's the way. That's the way of the world.

It says do not conform to the world. Don't do things the way that the world turn the cheek turn the other cheek is the Christ like way. Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. That is a middle passive.

So it could be be transforming yourself by the renewing of your mind. And I think that's perfectly valid. But it's also passive, meaning that God is the one who is at work in you, and he is the one that is transforming you. Allow him, by not conforming to the world, allow him to be transforming you. Put your trust in him instead of your own intellect.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Renewing your mind. The last thing that I hit last week was something that a friend of mine, who is a twelve step guy, had handed off to me the week before. So it's the set aside prayer. The set aside prayer is part of the 12 step.

And it says, Lord, help me to set aside all that I think I know about myself, all that I think I know about this other person or the other people, and all that I think I know about you. Lord, I'm asking you to help me set aside everything that I think that I've been wrong about in the past. What I want from you is the actual truth. And I see this as the biblical underpinning for that. Not to be conformed to the world, just persisting in our own opinion, but transformed by the renewing of our mind, looking for the actual truth of God, so that, in order that, you may prove what the will of God is.

There is a will of God. In a couple of different places in scripture, it says what it is. One of them says, this is God's will concerning you in Christ Jesus that you abstain from sexual immorality and that you are grateful. In another place, says, this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus, that you are grateful. So gratitude is a big part of it.

If you find yourself walking in deep mud and you find yourself deep deep snow here, I guess, You find yourself, and you're mired down in your situation, and you just want to cry out. Cry out to God, but also be grateful that he's trusted you to be put in that situation. Don't be conformed to this world. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. And I've read a lot of commentaries.

And some people make a big distinction. I don't think that there's a difference really between the good, acceptable, and perfect. God has his will. If you are resistant conformity to the world, allowing him to transform you, and for the best you can do, transforming yourself with the truths of scripture that you know, you will begin to see what God's will is. Is it stick around and stay because we want to reap the harvest?

Or is it separate here and they'll perhaps have twice as much going on? That which is good, God's will is good, acceptable, pleasing, and perfect. And perfect, we might think, Well, I'm never going be perfect. Perfect is about maturity. So an acorn is perfect.

An acorn that starts to sprout out is perfect. That first leaf is perfect. The sapling is perfect. The oak tree that comes from it is perfect. Perfect here is for where we are now.

This is what we ought to be doing. So that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Four, through the gay grace that was given to me. Now think about Paul writing this to a church he's never been to before. He had a reputation as Saul, the one who persecuted the church, the one who persecuted the followers of the way, who would drag them back to court.

And Paul recognizes that the grace that was given to him, he says to everyone among us, not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think. He's saying to look at yourself soberly and recognize who it is that you are and who it is that God is turning you into. Don't be so high minded. It covers that a lot in the rest of the passage. But if you think about who wrote this and the reputation that he had for persecuting the church, and then when Jesus knocks him off of his high horse and blinds him and he says, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Did he say the followers of the way?

Mm-mm. He said, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? Now Jesus had been crucified, buried, resurrected, and ascended. And this vision that he got, Jesus himself is calling the church the body of Christ. This is the continuing body of Christ.

Through the grace that was given to me when Jesus knocked me down on that road, I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think so as to have sound judgment soberly. Don't overestimate who you are and how you are. Be honest with yourself. Think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each of you a measure of faith. It is analogous faith.

He will allow you to see what Jesus looks like, and he will allow you to see what you look like. And he will shape you more and more into the image of Christ as you turn to him in humility. Think as you have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many parts in one body, and all the body's parts do not have the same function, so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually, we are parts of one another. Carl missed this morning because he was sick, and he was out of there.

Well, Ryan jumped into his place. Ryan loves singing harmonies and playing a mandolin, but he played the guitar to fill Carl's face this morning because he could. But he said, it feels better when Carl's in his right place. You know? We can help.

We can bear one another's burdens. We can lean into situations. We who are many are one body in Christ. We look out for one another, individually parts of one another. Whatever it is that God has gifted you to do is what you ought to be doing.

Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace that has been given to us, charismata, is a grace gifting. And in first Corinthians 12, Paul covers this at great length. Peter covers it in chapter four of first Peter. Paul covers it again in Ephesians four, and I think that Ephesians was a sketch for Romans. He was sending the letter to people he did know as practice for sending the letter to people he didn't know.

However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace that has been given to us, each of us is to use them properly. If the gift is prophecy, then we need to do it analogous with our faith. Now, prophecy at this time and definitely in the Old Testament was speaking forth what God would do. And in our case, it's speaking forth what God has done or what God has said. So if prophecy is your gift, then you need to do it in proportion to your faith or analogous to the faith.

If the gift is service, and what a day for that to be after the volunteer recognition, and we see so many that have served in so many ways. If service is your deal, then be expressing your service in an act of serving. Or, for the one who teaches, be expressing what it is that God has gifted you to do by actually applying your trade of teaching. The one who gives, by all means, give with generosity. I'm reminded of the second Corinthians nine seven, I think it is, that says that God loves a hilarious giver.

Hilarious. That's the word, hilarion. He loves a cheerful giver. The one who gives, let him do so with generosity. The one who's in leadership, let him work with diligence.

I told a story of a guy that I know back home that owned a fence company, a fencing company, not fencing like with swords, but fencing like putting fences around the house. And he had a Nextel phone that was a, it just sounds like it's a walkie talkie. You're right nearby. You know? And he would go to the beach.

This guy's a leader. He's the owner. He he can do that if he wants to. But he would go to the beach, and he'd be sitting by the pool or sitting on the beach, and he'd go, hey. I'm gonna come by just a minute and drop off such and such.

Now he had no intention of dropping by. He's four and a half hours away. He's just not diligent, this dude, at all. You know? But he wanted him to think that he was a leader, and he's diligently looking out for him.

No. Paul is saying if you're in leadership, if you find yourself in leadership, be diligent about fulfilling the role of the office, not just being in the office. For the one who shows mercy, may they do it with cheerfulness. I say sometimes not everybody needs to visit folks in the hospital. You know what I mean?

Well, yeah, it kinda stinks that you're in the hospital. Halftime doctor don't even know what they're talking about anyway. That's terrible. Please don't go to the hospital. Maybe your gift is generosity.

I don't know. For the one who exhorts, I skipped over. In the work of exhortation, exhortation is urging people to do that which is good. If that's your gift, and there are a few of you in here that it is. I I see there's one brother in the first service that he's like, hey, man.

You know what you'd be good at? And he's not just trying to convince somebody. He he actually sees what the gift is and said, think you ought to try your hand at that. It's really good. Exhortation is important.

Exhortation, giving, leadership, showing mercy, he caps that right here by saying this. Now God has equipped you to love. Love must be free of hypocrisy. If somebody's trying to slam a square peg into a round hole and make them do, Tuesday night visitation comes to my mind. When I was little, Tuesday night visitation.

Begrudgingly, I'm good. I could be watching so and so on TV. I could be fixing the car. I could be doing anything. But now I gotta go to Tuesday night visitation.

And then you get to the door, hey. Hey. We're from First Baptist Church. That is hypocritical as it could possibly be. Right?

Love must be free of hypocrisy. Don't let it sneak in that you just put on that face. Detest. That's a command from Scripture? Yes.

Detest that which is evil. Sometimes you're going to be working in an environment, and you see something even in the mission field, even under church, church administration or whatever, any time that you're working, you might hit up against something and you see that the world's way is sneaking into the situation and you see it and you recognize that. This says you can detest what is evil, but you cling to what is good. If you're honoring one another and we'll get to that next verse. Be devoted to one another.

If you're devoted to one another in brotherly love, and you're working out the Christian message, and you're working out the Christian service, and you see something that's sneaking its way in, give preference to one another in honor comes from saying, I need to speak up. I think that by allowing this in, we're actually conforming to the world. And if they will give honor to that, it'll right the ship. That helps. Not lagging behind in diligence.

Don't slough off. Be fervent in spirit. Be serving the Lord. Be rejoicing in hope. And every time you see hope in the New Testament, elpis, the Greek word means that which is absolutely certain which has not yet come to pass in our time.

Rejoicing in future hope, persevering in the midst of tribulation, devoted to prayer. Don't ever lose contact with God. Keep on communicating with him, and contributing to the needs of the other saints by practicing hospitality. Having opened doors. Having open hearts to one another.

We can get through difficult situations. Bless those who persecute you. If you feel that there is a group of people against you, be blessing them. That is not the way the world works, is it? He's saying don't conform to the way the world works.

Christ came into the world to save those who would kill him. Does that make sense? If you're following Jesus, bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. If you go all the way back to Genesis 12, when God calls Abraham and says, Abraham, I am going to bless you.

And what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna bless everybody that you bless, and I'm gonna curse everybody that you curse. Think about how heavy that is. Excuse me. Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.

Do not put them down. Bless them. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. This week, in the life of this church, or at least in the office and in the full time folk here, we had a week of weeping with those who weep. It was a difficult people week this week.

But what a blessing it is to be able to be on the other end of that call when people are in need. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. This sounds like Philippians two. Be of the same mind toward one another.

This is one of those reciprocal commands. Be unified with one another. Don't be haughty in your mind, but be willing to associate with the lowly. If you recognize a real striation where it's this one's on the top and this one's on the bottom, and there isn't a feeling of mutual respect, mutual humility, that's a problem. That is the way the world works.

There are VIPs, and there are those untouchables. But that's not the way Christianity works. We've been called out of everything and into this family of God. Be of the same mind that was in Christ Jesus. Don't be haughty in mind.

Be willing to associate with the least of these, the lowly, and do not be wise in your own estimation. Never repay evil for evil to anyone. There will be those who will do evil to you. That's going to happen. But you don't have to be guilty of repaying them the same evil.

Respect what is right in the sight of all people. Okay. Now, this one in English, I looked it up in Greek. I looked it up in various translations too. But respect what is right in the sight of all people.

Can you all think of anything in our day and time? Is there anything that's right in the sight of all people? No. Ain't that crazy? That's not exactly what this means.

But I just want you to say, you're not gonna find universal agreement on hardly anything. The only thing I thought of was, a couple years ago, the senate voted to end daylight savings time, and it was a 100 to zero. Can you imagine? The United States senate voted, and it was a 100 to zero. And you know what?

Couldn't make it through the house. So you're not gonna find something that's right in the sight of all people. What this is saying is respect what is right and no matter who's watching. Does that make sense? Respect what is right.

If you see that you're in a position of peacemaker, and you see they have made a good point, and you see they also have made a good point, that is respecting what is right in the sight of all. It's not pandering to one side or the other, or joining either team. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. There's an implication here. The implication is it might not be on you.

They might have already decided, I ain't taking John Mark. I don't care what you think. I'm leaving. If it's possible and this is Paul that wrote it. He's the guy who said that.

Right? If it's possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. That's beautiful. And it's comforting to know. I said this in the first service.

Do you know that you're holding something against somebody? Do you know in your heart of hearts that you've got something that you're holding against somebody that is keeping you from being at peace with them? I'd urge you, I'd exhort you to let that go. Also, I want to know if y'all got something against me, I'd love to know. And as much as it's possible, as far as it depends on me, I want to be at peace with all of not just y'all, this is very important, but with everybody, with everybody.

So if somebody's got something that I know I've got something against them, I need to go to them. If I know that they've got something against me, I also need to go to them. Insomuch as it is possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all. And then we'll close out with 19 through 21, and it says, never take your own revenge. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God.

Every sin that has ever been committed will either be justly condemned by God or mercifully forgiven. And if we're blessing the person, what we want is that it would be mercifully forgiven. Okay? Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God. For it is written, vengeance is mine, and I will repay.

He's almighty God, and he's all knowing God. Nothing escapes his notice, and nothing will escape his wrath or his mercy, one or the other. Justly condemned or mercilessly forgiven. Vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the Lord.

That's from Deuteronomy thirty two thirty five. Vengeance is mine and retribution, revenge. In due time, their foot will slip. By the way, Jonathan Edwards in his Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. That's the text for sinners in the hands of an angry God.

Isn't that crazy? Vengeance is mine, and I will repay. In due time, their foot will slip. For the day of their disaster is near, and the impending things are hurrying towards them. Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.

But if your enemy is hungry, feed him. Wait a second. That sounds like a terrible battle plan. He's your enemy. Feed him.

If he's thirsty, you give him to drink. That is putting into practice the concept of blessing and not cursing. If your enemy's hungry, feed him. If he's thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.

That sounds more like warfare right there, burning coals on someone's head. This is from Proverbs, actually. Proverbs twenty five twenty one and twenty two say, if your enemy's hungry, give him food to eat. If he's thirsty, give him water to drink. For you will heap burning coals on his head.

Okay. Sounded Old Testament. Every commentator that I read though said that the concept of the burning coal was much like the burning coal in Isaiah, where he brought a burning coal and cleansed his lips. Cleansed him because he said, I'm a man of unclean lips. When confronted with the holiness of God, Isaiah admitted his own shortfall.

When confronted with the holiness of Jesus, Peter admitted his own shortfall. If we will act like Christ acts, if we will act like the spirit directs, it will be convicting the mind of the other person. And the Lord will reward you, Proverbs goes on to say. Actually, it kinda says that in Romans up there, vengeance is mine. I will repay.

If you learn any Spanish today I've got two words for you. I like this one. It comes up a lot in Spanish. I didn't know it when I moved to Mexico, but I heard it all the time. This is Dios recompensar.

Dios recompensar means God will repay. Now you can say it like when somebody does something nice to you, hands off a tool, lets you borrow something, they're kind to you, they give you a pat on the back, and you just think, Man, they didn't have to drop off that sweet confection on my desk. That was so sweet. You can say, God will repay. But if they kick you while you're down, you can also say, Right?

It comes up a lot in Spanish, but God will repay. That's a good thought to have in mind whether good or evil. If we are to be blessing and not cursing, God is the one who will repay. Do not be overcome by evil. That's a passive construction.

It's saying by just having it be a passive construction, that evil is around us all the time. Evil exists. We have an enemy. We have the world, the flesh, and the devil that are against us. It says, do not be overcome by evil.

You know how you're overcome by evil? When you start acting out in evil ways. You respond in like kind, knife, gun, bigger gun. That's one upmanship. That's not this.

Do not be overcome by evil is followed up by the positive and active, but overcome evil with good. God almighty, I pray that we have a chance this week to recognize what is happening around us. I pray that you'd give us eyes to see good and evil. I pray that you'd give us eyes to see it the way you see it. I pray that we would put behind us the things that we think we know about ourselves that are not true and good, what we think we know about the other side that are not true and good.

I pray, Lord, that you'd allow us to be able to set that aside and look to you and see things the way that they are in truth. I pray, Lord, like this last verse here, that we would not be overcome with evil, but we'd be actively resisting it by doing good in the very face of evil. In Jesus' name, I pray that you would take absolute sway. Amen. Would you stand with me?

I think Lisa's here, we're gonna sing whatever she starts playing. There it is, God be with you. Is it God be with you till you meet again? Is that what it is? Oh, the old Jim Breed song.

That's good.

Speaker 2God be with you till we meet again. By his counsel guide uphold you With his sheep, securely fold you. God be with you till we meet again. God be with you till we meet again. Meet his wings protecting, he guide you.

Daily manna still provide you. God be with you till we meet again.

Speaker 1Beautiful. Thank you. I pray that the Lord will bless and keep you and make his face to shine upon you and give you a peace that passes your understanding and confuses everyone around you So that they would be drawn into the very kingdom of almighty God. Amen. Amen.

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Blessing Your Enemies Conflict Resolution Doing Good Without Giving Up God'S Will Serving The Church Spiritual Gifts

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