Our scripture reading this morning is taken from Psalms 115 verses 1 through 18. But before I read that scripture, I just wanted to mention one thing about the lesson that John brought before us from Don Fortner's book this morning on the importance of Trinity. And I'm guilty, like John said, to just maybe not giving the Holy Spirit as much credit as God himself or Jesus himself. But that one scripture in John 6, 63 was, where it says the spirit quickeneth, it's the spirit that gives life. So that, you know, it's the spirit we pray would give us eyes and ears to hear and see, you know, God's glory through his scripture too.

It's the spirit that's quickeneth, giving us life. And the ETH at the end of that, that's taken out of all the newfangled editions and Don Fortner always pointed that out. how important it was to remember that that means it's past, present, and future. So the Spirit gave us life before the foundation of the world. He's given us life now, and he gives us life when we die. And that's important to understand. He's got the power of God. So we need the Spirit to open our eyes and understand the Psalms here, which gives all the glory to God, the Spirit, and the Son, because they are one.

Psalm 115, verses 1 through 18. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy and for thy truth's sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens. He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not. Eyes have they, but they see not. They have ears, but they hear not. Noses have they, but they smell not. They have hands, but they handle not. Feet have they, but they walk not. Neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are liked unto them. So is everyone that trusted in them. O Israel, trust thou in the Lord. He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord. He is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord. He is their help and their shield. The Lord hath been mindful to us. He will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel. He will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great. The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children. You are blessed of the Lord, which made heaven and earth. The heaven, even the heavens are the Lord's. but the earth hath he given to the children of men. The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence, but we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord.

And may the Holy Spirit grant us understanding. Thank you, brother. I don't remember what verse that was, but I do remember the statement. John 6, 63. There you go. See, a younger man can remember much better.

Good morning, everyone. Good morning. Turn in your Bibles, if you would, to the 17th chapter of Acts and Mark. Take one of those offering papers, if you would. Hebrews chapter 1. We're going to set the table for our subject this morning with a few verses. And what a better song! You know, nothing surprises me anymore about these things. From the moment the Lord had me begin to be involved with this congregation, we would have our men's meetings, in the back back there on Sunday mornings, and we'd have our Bible studies, a devotional. Pastor Gene would come and bring a message, and it never failed. It never amazed me that it would be one right into the next. It's just wonderful. It's wonderful how the Lord brings things to you. You know Kathy Tick? She picks the songs. She asks me, are those okay? Will that work out for you? And you know, we have a saying. Well, that's fine with me. That's all I really check on. But she goes through it. She looks at the different songs. And she'll read things about it. And the Lord will guide her mind.

Look what she chose for our opening hymn this morning. What a wonderful song in 176, Lead Me to Calvary. The first stanza we, king of my life, we call upon who is the king of my life. And I've heard from many of you, he's the king of your life. He's made himself, although he's always been king, there's never a time when he was not the king of all things, of all that is. But now, instead of John being the king, I see him, king of my life, I crown thee now. Thine shall the glory be. Look where the glory goes. It goes to Him. It doesn't start off with, well, I gave myself to Jesus when I was 17 years, or whatever time. I gave myself to the Lord. I came down. I prayed. It doesn't start off like that, does it? No. It says, thine shall the glory be. Lest I forget thy thorn-crowned brow."

Do you think the Lord led the writer of this song to think about that very thing? Is it possible they, too, struggled with that memory thing like this old man before you does? Lead me to what? Where do we cry? Lead me to where you say, it is finished. What a great hymn. What a great hymn. I'm thankful that the Lord leads her to pick out our hymns and how it goes right along with our message. She didn't know what I was going to preach.

Before we look at our text in Acts chapter 17, I want to begin and set the table here. We're talking about leading us to Calvary. Lead us to where the Lord Jesus died for our sins. Lead us to Him who is our Redeemer. Lead us to the One who is obedient even unto death.

In Hebrew chapter 1, we read in the very first three verses these words, God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners, different ways. And we know that when he speaks of that, it was all kinds of different ways. God would give signs and wonders in those days of the Old Testament, or he would just speak to the hearts. And people would know who it was that was speaking to him. At one point, he turned to a man and spoke to him through the mouth of a donkey. So that's what it's talking about here. In diverse manners, he spoke in times vast unto the fathers by the prophets.

Then it says in verse 2, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. This is the very one that the Lord speaks of over in John chapter 1. And we'll look at that in just a moment, but let's go on. Look at verse 3. Who being the brightness of his glory. Folks, this is the majesty of God manifest in the flesh. The very one that we looked at a couple of weeks back that prayed, as my father hath loved me, so I love you. Remember that two weeks back? Oh, the very brightness of His glory and the express image of His person and upholding all things by the word of His power when He had by Himself purged. Oh, I love that. You know I love that word. Purged. Jesus Christ. Notice who it is that the writer here in Hebrews is writing of. He's writing of Christ. He's preaching about Christ. And I want to bring that out to you today. There are those who have said, all I do is flop around on top of the pond. You've heard me say this before. And then afterwards, after I preached and said that, I've had many of you come up and say, just keep flopping around on the pond. That's the focus. That's what I come to hear, you say. That's what I want to hear. I'm a sinner who gets up every day with the sin of this flesh plaguing me.

I never tire. It never gets old. We were talking, Lee and I, one of the things Lee told me when I first began to bring devotionals was, there's no such thing as plagiarism in scriptures. Everything that man, Brother Don Fortner, could write or say has already been said or written about the Lord Jesus. In fact, that's what this is all about. Everything is about him. It's a handbook.

So when we look into scriptures, and this is plain as can be, this is just as plain as the nose on my face. And I know it's big enough for everybody to see. But it's just as plain as can be. We're talking about Christ, who is God Almighty in the flesh, who came and laid down His life, the very one who is the express image of God Almighty, laid down His life by one offering. It says in Hebrews chapter 10, by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Oh, that's the message. That's the message we come to hear. We come to hear about our Savior.

Now, turn over to John chapter 1. We saw Christ right there, just as plain as can be. Look over here at John chapter 1. I want to show you another one. Look at verse 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. Do you know there are three that bear record on the earth? God the Father, God the Word, God the Holy Spirit. That just jumps out at me that that's Christ again, doesn't it to you? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

If there's any doubt in your mind about that, look over verse 14 before we read verse 2. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory. The glory is the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Now go on, that same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men, and the light shineth in darkness, and darkness comprehended it not.

I can recall when Gene Harmon I don't know whether it was right there at the beginning when he preached from those words, but I remember when I heard him preach those words, one of the things that struck me the most was, absolutely, I had no desire to see the light of God in my previous life. It wasn't until I came and heard the truth of God's Word that I began to look to the light that I began to see the light in His Word. Before that, the light was in the world, but I wanted nothing but darkness. I comprehended the light, not at all.

Look over at one more place, if you would. We see Christ so clearly there in those verses. Look at Luke, chapter 24. That's just to the left, one or two pages. Luke 24. Look what the Lord says here in verse 27 of Luke 24. And beginning at Moses, now we're talking about the Old Testament. And all the prophets, He, the Lord Jesus. If you look at verse 25 and 26, you see how He crossed the path of two men. Two men that were His disciples that were on their way to, they were on the road to Emmaus. And the Lord, He said to them, O fools and slow of heart! He had heard them speaking about the things that had happened. He said, O fools and slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken? You've been studying the Old Testament with me and you don't believe any of it? Ought not Christ to have suffered? Oh, how many times had the Lord told them, I shall go to Jerusalem and die and be risen the third day. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?

And then He said this to them in the beginning of the Moses, all the prophets, He expounded, He taught, He preached, He brought this message unto them, all the scriptures, the things concerning Himself. Look over in verses 44 through 47. and he said unto them, these are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you. Remember this is after died and been laid in the tomb and had risen from the dead. He says, these are the words which I have spoken unto you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law and of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms concerning me.

And then we read in verse 45, then opened he their understanding. We can't understand God's Word unless He does a work in us. We were talking about that's the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one who comes to us, gives us life as we saw in our study today, quickens us. We're quickened by the Spirit of God. Given life to see the truths of His Word as they are preached from His pulpits. Then opened He. Notice where the glory goes. Notice who it is that gets all the glory, as I was just bringing out there in that psalm. He opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures. And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it is behoved, Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name.

And I've shared this with you. One that I love dearly, who has been in this church several times, has said to my face, I have never heard anyone from this pulpit preach repentance. I ask the question. Just recently, what does repentance mean to you? To turn completely. Not just part way, not a little bit this way, but to turn completely 180 degrees from one thing to another. I said that's exactly right. Let me ask you something. When I preach from the pulpit, turn from yourself. Turn away from looking to yourself for any righteousness. Turn away from that pleases God. And look to the One whom He said, this is My beloved Son. When I do that, is that not repentance? Yeah. And then they went on to accuse me of some other things. So, it didn't matter. That's what this is talking about right here. Turning from the One who was King of your life before to the One who is King of everything.

and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem." Oh, here we see Christ all over these written pages. Turn from you to Christ. Turn from sin to Christ. Turn from what you think is righteousness, which is nothing more than filthy rags, and turn to the righteous one, the obedience of one.

John chapter 5, verse 39, we read these words. Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. Search the scriptures, and you will see that the only life is the life in Jesus Christ. There's repentance. But it says right after that, and you will not, you will not look for me. In fact, let me just, let me just, I'm not reading that right. Let me turn back over there and read that correctly. I'm sorry. There you go. That's my memory.

39. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me that ye might have life."

Have you ever listened to a speaker? Have you ever sat down and listened to somebody? People call me or send me a text all the time. Hey, listen to this message. There's a guy on the radio preaching this. Tune in to this guy. Have you ever listened to somebody like that? Or read something from a book somewhere? You know, this looks like a good book to read, I'll read that. And thought to yourself, is this guy preaching the gospel? Is there gospel in this manager's writings? It sounds right.

We were at the funeral of our dear brother Lynn Miller. Some of you may remember him. him and his wife Debbie. Lynn had passed, and his wife, for whatever reasons, and it doesn't matter, she decided that she was going to have her services down the street at that big goat barn down here by the freeway. And so, you know, out of respect for Lynn and his family, several of us members went down there. And we all sat there and listened. It was interesting how we all came out afterwards saying this very thing. You know, something just wasn't right. Something was missing.

And Gene brought this up because most of the time it's not something wrong with what they're saying. Charles Stanley, he was a good preacher if you only look at men's works. If you only look at your godliness, if you only look at what you think you should be doing for obeying God, and you're all about what you are before God. If that's all you want, then Charles Stanley was a great preacher. But he didn't preach the gospel. I never heard him. I used to tune into him a lot. And then I got to thinking, you know, there's something missing. He's not preaching the gospel. Gene was right. It wasn't what this guy was saying down here. It's what he wasn't saying. Something's wrong. Something just doesn't feel right. I'm empty. I didn't hear anything of the payment for my sins. I didn't hear anything about something that would give me peace with this flesh that I have to dwell in every day of the week. There was nothing in the message that gave me any hope.

Isn't that what happens when you preach about man? When you stand before people and tell them how they ought to be walking before God, they walk out thinking, I can't do that! There's no hope in that. There's only hope in one thing, and that's our Lord. That's why He tells us to preach about Him. That's why He gives us instruction to look to His Word and seek after Him. That's what gives us our hope. The hope of glory. Jesus Christ in me. If He's not in me, I have no hope.

I was given some literature. I read the literature. The terror of hell. Sinners in the hands of an angry God. Oh, and an explanation of Matthew 24, the end times. The terrors of hell, and I wrote some notes, let me share this with you. On page one, no, the first point was in page number four, the people of God deter from sin out of love, not fear. I don't love sin, I don't want to be a sinful person, but I deter from sin because of my love for God. Not because of anything in me, not because of any fear that's within me, but because of my love for the one who died and gave himself for me.

Secondly, on page number six, sin is not just what we do. This book tries to portray Well, our deeds are our sin, and that's true, but it's more than that. Folks, sin is from the top of our head to the bottom of our feet. The more we see the depth of our sin within ourselves, the greater His grace is seen in our hearts.

Thirdly, page number 21, throughout this chapter, One can be scared into seeking God. Tell me where that is in Scriptures. There is no place in Scriptures where God scared one of His people into looking to Him. That's what we just, in Romans 11, there are none that seek us. And then lastly, I wrote this, I said there is no Gospel in these books No gospel at all. It's all about man's works. Where is the hope? Where is Christ?

Look over at John chapter 3 verse 14. We talk about the Lord who gives us instructions on so many things. But the instructions that He gives us for salvation, for peace, for hope, for consolation to those of us who are sinners. Look at verse 14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. Is that not the gospel? Is that not what a poor sinner needs? Do we not need salvation? I'm bitten. The poison is in my blood. It reaches out to every point of my body. Every drop of this flesh is plagued by my sin. And I have no hope. in myself. Is there anything, anyone that I can look to? I need a Savior.

Folks, I do not seek to hear about how good I can be. I know that in this flesh dwelleth no good thing. Isn't that what Paul tells us over in Romans 7 verse 18? He says, for I know that in me, Paul, speaking of himself, that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing, for to will is present with me, but to how to perform that which is good I find not. In this flesh I carry the mark of the beast." Oh, 666, the mark of the beast. You know what that is? That's coming up short of 777, perfection. No matter how hard I try, I'm going to come up short. Which means no matter how hard I try, I'm still going to need a Savior. Anything I do in this flesh will be short of His perfection. God requires that, you know. He requires perfection.

The gospel preacher speaks of the only perfect one that ever walked this earth, and that is Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. He is the good news. Consider this example that we have been given over in Luke chapter 4, and then we'll go to our text and Acts. Look over at Luke chapter 4. Beginning at verse 16, we read these words, "...and he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and his custom was..." This is speaking of the Lord Himself. You realize that that's telling us there is that this was the custom of the Lord Jesus. He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and He stood up for a read. This is something he did all the time. It was something he got up and probably did once a day. It was something that he did over and over and over again. It's like coming to the table of remembrance. It has become a custom for us. It's an ordinance that God put together for us to remember who it is. That's a custom. We do it every first Sunday and every third Sunday of the month, don't we?

He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up for to read, and there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel. Christ preached Himself. Now if you would turn over to Acts chapter 17. Christ preached Himself in fulfilling the words of Moses. And all the prophets. Everything in God's Word points to Him and God's messengers do the same.

Look here at verse 2 of Acts chapter 17. And Paul, as his manner was. Did you catch that? That's the same thing. It was Paul's manner. It's my manner. It was Gene Harmon's manner. to stand before his people whenever, on a Friday or a Wednesday or a Sunday morning, whenever they had services, and do what? Preach the gospel!

As the matter was, he went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, opening and alleging that that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead, and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. That's my title. As His manner was. I want you to understand why God's ministers, those who preach the gospel, you know, I'm going to guarantee you something. If it be the Lord's will for us to have services here next Saturday and Sunday, Norm Wells is going to stand before you and do something. He's going to preach the gospel.

Those of you who have never heard Norm Wells preach, he preaches the same thing as Gabe Stoner. Those who have never heard Norm Wells preach, he preaches the same thing as Henry Mann, Don Fortner, Gene Harmon for 38 years. He preaches Christ. He's going to come before you and he's going to point you to your Savior. He's going to hold up the serpent on the pole and say, look to Christ for your salvation.

as his manner was. He preached the gospel. Philip, remember Philip, the story of Philip? There was an Ethiopian eunuch, he had a whole number and he was on his chariot, and they were out in the desert. They had left Jerusalem to go back to their homeland. And he'd gotten out into the desert. I don't know if he was still moving or stopped or what, but at some point he was reading God's Word, the Word of Isaiah. And Philip came to him. He was sent by God to go unto this man and join him on his chariot. And Philip joined him on the chariot, and the man was reading from Isaiah, and he turned to Philip, and he said, who's this talking about? Is he talking about another man, or about the one to come? And Philip did what? He preached Christ. He didn't join that man on his chariot and say, well, you know, you need to stop being a sinner. We kind of know that, don't we? We kind of already know that, don't we? Did we not come into this world knowing that we should not do wrong? How do you think we know that we're sinners? Because we know what wrong is.

Philip preached Christ. Gospel is what God uses to save His people. Turn over to Romans chapter 10. Go to the right one book to Romans chapter 10. And let me show you where it points this out to us in Romans 10 beginning at verse 11. Our Lord says this in chapter 10. He says, For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich unto them that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Isn't that what Scripture tells us right there?

Oh, I'm telling you, that sign, every time I look at that, I'm going to have to repaint that sign, brother. I'm going to have to highlight it a little bit. It's starting to fade a little out there. I want it to stand out again. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, but how then? I put a word in there, it's not there. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? How are you going to believe? How are you going to call on the one that you believe? And how shall they believe in him in whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

Turn over to Titus, if you would. Titus is a small little one-page chapter book right before Hebrews. Turn over to Titus. If you get to Hebrews, you've gone just a bit too far. It's right there between, actually it's just before Philemon. Look at chapter 1, verse 3. But hath in due times. Let's go back to verse 1. Paul, a servant of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie, promised before the world began, but have in due times manifested His Word through preaching which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God my Savior."

So we see very clearly our Lord saves His people, calls His chosen people, the Spirit of God making it effectual in their hearts, opens, gives life to those who were once dead and transplanted into sin through The preaching of the gospel. The gospel is what the Spirit uses to reveal who Christ is. When we read through the scriptures about this One who is God manifest in the flesh, this One who had a body prepared for the eternal Son of God, who was born of a virgin, does that not point us to who He is?

This One who shed His blood, and that's the second thing preaching does. It teaches us, it brings out what God has done for us. He laid down His life. He shed His own blood. I mentioned this Friday night. Men have tried to express to me what that means. Stop! Don't even bother. It doesn't matter what it means, or how. that He was. That when He went to that cross and died, He died for my sins. Isn't that what preaching of the gospel does? It brings out what the Lord has done for us? Doesn't that give us the hope and the peace that we need to go on through this life, Mike? I know it does for you, brother. I've worked with you. Oh, I love this man how he talks to the Lord even when he's working.

Preaching the gospel is what the Spirit uses to reveal where my Lord is right now. Death could not hold Him. Isn't that what we read in Acts chapter 1? Did He not throughout all of His ministry while He walked this earth speak of His death? He said in scriptures, God help me to quote this properly, I lay down my life and I raise it up again. Folks, that's God in the flesh. That's the one who not only gave himself forth but sits on his throne right now. God accepted, God the Father accepted the justice that he laid upon his son was good enough It was good enough that He saved His people completely. To the uttermost is what the Scripture tells us. Perfected forever, them that are sanctified.

Oh, what a wonderful gospel, a wonderful message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Is practical godliness important? Absolutely! I never want to pass it by. But that's not salvation. Salvation is looking to the One who saved you. Salvation is looking to the One who did everything perfectly in our stead. We've come together to search God's Word for instructions on our Friday night service and again at 10 o'clock on Sunday mornings. Yet if practical godliness is left to itself and alone without the gospel, then all it is is man's works. There is no satisfaction in my walk with God. Satisfaction with God is only in my substitute, Christ the Lord. Listen to these words. Matthew 17 verse 5, while he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud which said, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him.

Turn over to 1 Corinthians chapter 1 and we'll bring this to a... actually we'll come to the table. 1 Corinthians chapter 1. Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote this, he said in verse 17, That's not the most important part. There are some ministers that I've talked to who have never had a baptismal service. They're not ashamed of that. That's not what they were sent here to do. Somebody wants me to baptize them in the waters of baptism, I'll be happy to do it and bring a baptismal service. But that's not what God sent me to do. He sent me to preach about my Savior.

Now this is so important, not with wisdom of words, meaning not with wisdom of my words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. This is from Isaiah 29 verse 14. And will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Did you know our Lord inspired one of his writers to write this? Actually, I think it's the Lord Jesus that says it himself. He says, yeah, he did. He says, I thank thee, Father. and prudent and revealed them unto babes. What are babes? Babes are those who don't know nothing.

For it is written, I will destroy, this is verse 19, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will bring nothing to the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is described? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. What is my manner? What is my custom? It's to preach about my Savior. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

Verse 22, for the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews, a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks, foolishness, but unto them, which are called both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. Folks, this is our all in all. This is everything! Verse 25, Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that how not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. But God hath chosen the foolishness of the world to confound the wise, and that God hath chosen the weakness of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And based things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, the things which are not, to bring to naught things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence."

That's where practical godliness will lead you. I brought this out on Friday night, so I want to bring this before some of you who don't get a chance to join us, you realize that when Jacob was taught the truth by God Almighty Himself, who taught his sons? We know Joseph learned, didn't we? We know Joseph believed God and put all his faith in Christ. What about the other brothers? There were 12. something began to fall away. And I brought this out again Friday night.

Over in the book of Jude, we read where men were ordained of old to creep into the church and turn the Word of God into lasciviousness. Well, that's what happened. That's what happened to Israel. And over all the time between Jacob and the days that the Lord Jesus walked this earth, The truth was perverted over and over and over again by this one, by that one, by that one, until finally the entire nation was gone.

Where should our guard be? Our guard should be on the Word of God being preached, Christ in Him crucified. That's where it should be. That no flesh should glory in His presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made into his wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, that according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

My heart is for you. It truly is. I love God's people, and I don't flesh, to the things of man's flesh that could cause us to rise up against our Lord as those who rose up against Him throughout all the time of Israel.

I know it's going to happen. I know I can't stop it. But I can do what the Lord tells me to do and that is preach Christ over and over over again. I know that God's people will