Before we read this, I'll make
a couple of announcements. Lord willing, Wednesday night
we'll partake of the Lord's table together. It's been a little
while. is a great blessing to me because
somebody requested this. And that's the first time that's
ever happened. I've never actually had anybody ask me if we could
partake of the Lord's Table. And that was a great blessing
that they did. And we intended to do it two
weeks ago, but several things have happened since then. But
the Lord willing, we'll partake of Wednesday night. And it is
a very special time, a very special time together for God's people
to a memorial, a communion, commune together around the body and
the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. And we'll look at, Lord willing,
we'll look at Passover, Christ our Passover. I hope you'll come. If you haven't partaken in a
while, you need to. We need to. And also, before
we read, I want to do something that we've needed to do for some
time. Scripture says, render honor
to whom honor is due. And the Lord did just that. He did what He
told us to do. Remember when He honored John
the Baptist before everyone? Remember He honored him and commended
him before the people In the past, we have tried to do this. We've expressed our love and
appreciation for various ones who have done so many things. And nobody wants recognition.
No one wants that. No one feels deserving of it,
beginning with me. But it's a good thing. The Lord tells us to do this. In the past, when we, especially
when the finances were a little better, around Christmas time
or whatever, we tried to tell folks like the Parks and give
them a token of our love and appreciation for all the work
they do in the tape rooms. A thankless task and many hours
spent. We thank you, we do. Sherry playing
the piano, those in the past who have done the treasurer's
stand, Henry and Dan and others, you know, we've recognized. But what they've done, servants
to this church, and like the Lord acknowledged his servants,
we need to do that also. And finances are a little better
right now, and I thank the Lord for that. There's a financial
report on the bulletin board downstairs. You'll be amazed
at how the Lord has answered our prayers. And someone we need to acknowledge,
though, that a man I greatly love and admire, as does everyone
in here. A man such an example to me and
to everyone in here. A leader of this church, and
yet a faithful follower. faithful supporter of me. A man that I look up to and esteem
better than myself. A man who is so willing to preach
whenever called upon to do so. And so able. Always a blessing
when he does. And I wish we could do more.
and do it more often. But as a small token of this
congregation's love and appreciation for all you do, Gabe, we love
you and thank the Lord for you. Thank you for preaching to us,
teaching our children. leading the singing, being a
servant to this church. Thank you. It's long overdue. Okay. All that agree, say Amen. That sounded pretty hearty. The
ayes have it. Malachi chapter 3. And there is so much we can read
in conjunction with this. I urge you to read the book of
Malachi for yourself. Read it prayerfully. Ask the
Lord to open it to your understanding. Read it carefully. We've touched on much of this.
Someday we'll go line upon line through it. But let's read Malachi
3, the first four verses, and then
we'll turn over to Mark's Gospel, Chapter 1. Malachi 3. Behold, I will send my messenger,
and he shall prepare the way before me. And the Lord, whom
ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant,
whom ye delight in. Behold, he shall come, saith
the Lord of Hosts, but who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire,
like fuller's soap, and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier
of silver." He shall purify the sons of Levi, purge them as gold
and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in
righteousness." Now Mark's Gospel chapter 1, which is the fulfillment
of that, Gospel of Mark verse 1, chapter 1, says the beginning,
the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Son of God, as
it is written in the Prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before
thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice
of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
make his paths John did baptize in the wilderness and preach
the baptism of repentance for unto the remission of sin. And
there went out unto him all the land of Judea and they of Jerusalem,
and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing
their sin. John was clothed with camel's
hair and with a girdle of skin about his loins, and he did eat
locusts and wild honey and preached saints. there cometh one mightier
than I after me, the lachet of whose shoes I am not worthy to
stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with
water, but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." And it
came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee. and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out
of the water, John saw the heavens open and the Holy Spirit like
a dove descending upon him, Jesus Christ. And there came a voice
from heaven saying, Thou art my beloved Son in whom I am well
pleased.