All right, go back to Matthew
2 with me. If we continue our study through
the Gospel of Matthew. There is no such thing as Christmas,
so this is not a Christmas message, although it may be a first preaching
from this in April. So be it. This will be a running
commentary of these verses. We obviously don't have time
to deal with each one of them. But I want you to notice a central
theme running through these verses. There is something to be seen
throughout these verses, which is the subject and the title
of this message. That is, the troubles associated
with being in Christ's company. The troubles associated with
being in the company of Christ. That's what this is all about,
the troubles surrounding the Lord Jesus Christ and those who
were with him. Christ said thirty years later,
after he was born, thirty years later, he said, and I have never
heard this quoted on public radio or TV or anywhere, and probably
never will, except by a true grace preacher. But Christ said,
think not that I am come to bring peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but
a sword, he said. I doubt that there are very many
people know that's in the Bible, but that's what the Lord Jesus
Christ said. I did not come to send peace, but a sword. And we're going to see the troubles
that are associated with those. Follow with that's the way it
was from his birth to his death and still today. One is either
for Christ or against. One is either with Christ or
without one is either in Christ found in Christ or will be found
outside of him. One either loves him and loved
by him or hates him. There is no indifference. There
cannot be. All right, look at verse 1. Now,
keep that in mind. That's what this is all about.
Verse 1 says, When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in
the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the
east to Jerusalem. from the east where they were
from we do not know Syria Iraq India somewhere in the east China
perhaps those nations or those civilizations whatever they were
called the Persian they were in existence back then that's
not important where they came from because wisdom is not geographical. Wisdom is from above. If these
men were wise, they got it from God. That's what Scripture said. Wisdom comes from above. And the oldest book in God's
Word, the book of Job, chapter 28, verse 28, says this. Now listen. The fear of the Lord,
and the word Lord is Jehovah. That's the God of Israel. There
is but one. the fear of Jehovah. That is
wisdom. Job twenty eight point the fear
of the Lord that is wisdom so these men if they were why they
feared Jehovah. He had put in them the fear of
the law. And so what that causes is man
to seek Christ every time Whoever fears the God of Israel will
seek his Christ where they will find peace where they will find. Refuge from the overflowing scourge
of God's wrath that's coming through. And they were wise so
they were seeking the Christ the king and he or she is wise
who fears God. And how you know that they fear
God is they follow and speak the Christ and worship him. That's
how you know a wise man or woman. They seek and follow and worship
the Christ. That's why these men were called
wise. Well, how did they come to search for the Christ? Verse
two, they said, where is he that is born king of the Jews? They didn't say we are going
to crown him king or we want to let him be king. No, he's
born king. They say where is he that is
born of the king of the Jews for we have seen his star in
the east and are come to worship him. All who are given wisdom by God
from above will see his thought. That is they will see his law
they will see how that everything points to the crime that everything
in creation. The heavens declare his glory,
the firmament showeth his handiwork, everything points to the Christ. And this star must surely speak of the Holy Spirit, who
guides all men and women that belong to the Lord to Christ. That's the job of the Holy Spirit,
to point them to the Christ, to worship him. They didn't worship
the star. So many people would have, wouldn't
they? Wise men don't worship things or people but the first
three. It says when Herod the king had
heard these things of this king. He was troubled. He thought he
was king. We saw that Sunday morning didn't
we? He thought he was king. You see that small K there? Herod
the small king. And verse two says the king,
capital K, of the Jew. He's the king of kings. The king
of kings and the king's heart, small K, the king's heart is
in the hands of this king, the king of kings. And like the rivers
of water, he turneth it whithersoever he will. Now that's sovereignty.
But Herod was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. Everyone
was troubled. And that's the fact of the matter.
All man's troubles are centered around the Lord Jesus Christ,
who he is, and our relationship with him. You know that? That's man's trouble. The source
of all of man's trouble is right here. Listen to Acts chapter
17. I want you to listen. If you
want to turn, you can. But Acts 17, verse 31, says this. Paul is preaching at Athens.
And he says, God hath appointed a day in which he will judge
the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained.
Who's that? The Lord Jesus Christ. All men
and women, all people will be judged either standing beside
Christ, whether or not they measure up to the fullness of his stature,
and none do. All who want to be judged on
their merits will be judged standing beside the perfect man, the holy
man, and they will fall way short. But God's people are found in
Christ, hidden in him, and Christ was judged for them. There is
therefore now no condemnation to those that are beside him,
no, in Christ Jesus. And all men and women all young
people their troubles stem from the. You know Christ you don't. And there is no peace. There
will be no rest there will be no lasting peace or rest or comfort
or joy for any human being who does not know God's son and worship. Certainly no return. But trouble. Because men and women are in
trouble with God, saying, I'm not interested in your son. He
came here, he lived, he died, but I don't give a flip. And
they're in trouble with God. But not if you love God's son.
You're not in any trouble with God. As a matter of fact, smile. God loves you. If you love God's
son. As we say we are for or against
and with or without verse four says back in our tech verse four. Says he answered and said. When
he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people
together. He demanded of them where Christ should be born here
that is. Together the scribes and priests. Have a little counsel and he
demanded. where Christ while. Little. Kings like this little tyrants
are. Prone to. Go on tirades and this
is what he did he demanded he was troubled at the thought of
some king usurping his so-called authority and so he got his little. Entourage around him and demanded
and this fell by this game. He demanded where Christ might
be. That's not where the king, that's
not how the king of kings will be revealed to anybody by making
demands of him. Nobody will find anything at
the hands of him by making demands of him. And this is what human
beings do. They get in trouble and then
they start making demands on God. Don't they? They get in trouble
and then they start, God, aren't you going to do something? Show
me something. Do something. You don't make
demands of God. He'll not reveal himself to anybody
that makes demands of him. We find him by seeking him, by
searching for him, by asking for him, humbly, broken and contrite. To that man, he said, will I
look. He that is broken and of a contrite spirit and trembleth
at my word. So he made his demand. Where
is it? Verses 5 through 8. Let's read these verses. And
they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written
by the prophet, And thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not
the least among the princes of Judah, for out of thee shall
come a governor that shall rule my people Israel. And then Herod,
when he had privately called the wise men, inquired of them
diligently, What time or when did this star appear? And he
sent them, these wise men, to Bethlehem and said, Go and search
diligently for the young child, and when ye have found him, bring
me word again, that I may come and worship him also. The Lord said, and I just quote
it, Seeking me, ye shall find me. When you search for me with
all your heart, no one will find the Christ through
another. Children will not find the Christ
through their parents. It's not a blood John one thirteen. Out of the will of the flesh
a little man born of God. No one will find Christ through
their to another. Children will not find the Christ
through their parents, husbands through wives, wives through
husbands, parents through children. It won't be done. This thing
is not passed down. God deals with individuals and
they must Personally, he sent these scribes and priests. He
sent these scribes and priests to look for the Christ. I mean,
he told them to tell him about the Christ, but they didn't go
looking for him, did they? You would have thought, surely,
that these scribes and priests would have gone looking for the
Christ had they heard that he was born and he was from Bethlehem. You'd have thought a whole crowd
of scribes and priests would be at Bethlehem, wouldn't you?
Surely all of Jerusalem would have gathered at Bethlehem. They
all say they're looking for the right. Who did. Who did go looking for
the right. Well the scripture says not many
wise not many mighty not many noble are called. Those looking for the right.
Those are called. They were some shepherds Some
simple, common shepherds sitting on the hillside, and a multitude
of heavenly hosts appeared to them, and said, Under you is
born this day, under you. And, boy, they came. A little
flock, but they flocked to him. Not many wise, not many mighty,
not many... God has hid these things from
the wise and the prudent, and revealed them unto me. Shepherds
on the hillside, they saw, they came. They were. Then say not any wise man. Just
not men. So the call came looking for
him and not these self-professed religion of scribes and Pharisees. Priest verse nine and ten when
they heard the king they departed. And lo the star that is these
wise men. When they heard the king, they
departed, and, lo, the star which they saw in the east went before
them, until it came and stood over where the young child was.
And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great
joy." The wise men left Herod and his
little court of scribes and priests, and they went looking for the
Christ. They had to leave the Jerusalem and go where outside
the camp. Christ is not found in the midst
of all this mess of professing religion and the high and the
mighty and so forth. Hebrews thirteen says this, let
us go therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach. These men when they left Herod.
and went in search of the Christ. Herod said, they're mocking me.
And they were marked men from that day forward. Their lives
were on the line. Why? Because they left religion
and went following the Christ. And thus it will be with every
single person who leaves this world's religion and goes in
search of the Christ. They'll be a marked person from
that day forward. But it didn't matter to them.
But they seen his star, and they rejoiced with great joy. Like
Peter and the disciples. I love the story of Peter and
his disciples when they stood before that Sanhedrin, and they
were beaten, beaten, not lightly, until they were a bloody mess.
Now, the men, the Pharisees and so forth, they were trying and
told them, don't you preach anymore. Don't you keep preaching this
anymore. And they said, whether it be right to obey you or God,
you tell us. They said, we can't help but
speak to things we've seen and heard. And they beat them. And it says they went home, their backs all bloodied. And
they were crying, they were rejoicing. It says they went home rejoicing
that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And so did these wise men. Those
are wise men who seek that approbation or approval that comes from above
and not of men. Those are wise men and women
who could care less what this world thinks about them, especially
religion. and could only care for what
God and God were. Look at verses eleven and twelve
and when they were coming to the house. The Holy Spirit led
them right to where Christ was, where Christ was in the house,
and he'll do it every time. He'll lead his people. Where
two or three are gathered in my name, that's where the Holy
Spirit will lead his people every time, the house of God. And they
saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and fell down and
worshiped him. They didn't worship Mary, did
they? It doesn't seem like they said
anything to Mary, but they worshiped the child. And when they had
opened their treasures they presented unto him gifts, gold and frankincense
and myrrh, a very costly gift. What had happened was they found
a greater treasure than what they came with. They found the
pearl of great price and nothing was too great a sacrifice for
him. And so it will be all of those
who find this pearl. It says they found him or they
came to where he was. The fact of the matter was they
were drawn by him. This little baby, helpless baby
in the arms of his mother. Oh, no, he's not. He never was
helpless. He is not now, never will be
helpless. Somehow or another, that child
was controlling this whole situation. Jeremiah 31 says, I'll draw them
with cords, the cords of a man. And these wise men were being
drawn by that Christ child. Drawn by him and to him, like
moths to a light. And upon finding that great treasure,
they cast their all before him. And it says, read on, it says,
being warned of God, verse 12, in a dream that they should not
return to Herod, they departed in their own country another
way. When they were warned of God, you're going to be hated.
You're going to think, They were going to try to kill you. And
so they departed another way. They didn't go back the way they
came. They went a new and a living way. So it is with everyone who
finds the Christ. Verses 13 and 14. And when they
were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph
in a dream, saying, Arise, take the young child and his mother,
and flee into Egypt. Be thou there until I bring thee
word for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When
he arose he took the young child and his mother by night and departed
into Egypt. This is what we're saying. Everyone
that is with Christ or for Christ are warned by the angel of the
Lord to lay hold of Christ and flee. Take hold of your family
and flee. From what? The wrath to come.
Not the wrath of man, but the wrath of God, which preachers
aren't talking about. They're crying, peace, peace,
world order, unity, ecumenicalism, and so forth. Christ said sword,
fire, division, didn't He? God is not in love with this
world that only spares this world for
the elect's sake. And when the last elect is born
in this world, he's done with it. Scripture says he's going
to fold it up like a vesture and cast it aside. God is not
in love with this world. And we would be wise not to be
either. The Scripture says, Love not
the world, nor the things of this world. Any man love the
world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all is in
the world, lest of the flesh, lest of the eyes, lest of the
pride of life is not of the Father. And he's going to pass away. And so we would be wise, men
as heads of our house, we would be wise to lay fast hold of the
Christ and grab hold of our families and flee. Take our families and
flee. And if they won't go, you flee. Like the pilgrim in Bunyan's
Pilgrim Progress, when all of his neighbors and family were
mocking him because of his religion. His wife was pleading with him,
don't go. His children were pleading with him. What did he do? He
says he put his fingers in his ears while he was running toward
the celestial city saying, life, life, eternal life. I'm not listening
to anybody. I've got to have life. He headed
toward that wicked gate as fast as he could go, away from the
city of destruction to the celestial city. That's a wise person. And if
they'll go with you, grab ahold of them and take them. And we do not do our children
an injustice when we bring them here. We do them the greatest
justice we can as parents. And son, you're coming with me.
And if by God's grace he restrains you from the evil of this world
and constrains you to come to Christ, praise his holy name. Honey, let's go to Christ. If you're not coming, I won't
touch you. That's what Christ said. Be that
love of father or mother, husband or wife, son or daughter, more
than me is not worthy of me. It cannot be my disciple. Yea,
his own life also cannot be my disciple. That's what Jesus Christ
said. There are troubles associated
with being in the company of the Lord Jesus Christ. Your troubles with God are over. Over. And all the troubles that
you have are spent by God. But bless God, your troubles, the troubles with this world
have just begun. They'll hate you, Christ said,
they'll think they're doing God a service, they're killing you,
they'll mock you, they'll... But God, like Stephen, when they
stone you, God will stand up, like Stephen, to receive his
own goodness. So all men cast you down. God
stands up. Take hold of your families
and flee. Look at verse 15. It says that
he was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet Hosea, saying,
Out of Egypt have I called my son. I want you to turn to this,
Hosea 11, and prepare to get a blessing. Hosea chapter 11
is where this passage is found. Daniel, Hosea. Right after the
book of Daniel is Hosea in chapter 11. This was a prophecy of Christ,
it said. This happened. Joseph took Mary
and the child into Egypt by order of God Almighty, by purpose of
God Almighty. They fled out of fear. Now, here's a comforting thing.
Christ was with them, and yet they were still afraid. That
gives me some comfort, some hope. We're flesh. I mean, Christ was
literally. Nothing could possibly happen
to them, could it? Nothing. Hell or high water couldn't
touch these people. The Christ came. He has to live
33 years and die on a cross. He can't perish at the hands
of Herod as a child. No, sir. Scripture says that. Yet they were still afraid. And
so are we. And Christ said, fear not. Well,
that gives me some comfort. And they fled. But it was all
on purpose. It was all according to God's
purpose. Everything fulfills God's purpose. The lot is cast
into the lap. We think we're going where we
want to. We think we're doing what we want to do. But the whole
disposing thereof is of the Lord. The steps, especially of a good
man, are ordered by the Lord. Jacob, look at Jacob's wanderings,
huh? Jacob, oh, he fell out here, he fell out there, he turned
to the right, turned to the left, did this, fell, got back up,
it was all ordered by God. Well, here in Hosea 11, this
was a prophecy of Christ, for they are they which testify of
him. But, or and, I should say, as he is, so are we in this world. And look at this in reference
to Christ and his people. Christ was in this world and
not of it. We live in Egypt, but we're not of it. Right? We
live in Egypt. The world, Egypt has always been
a type of the world in general. The modern world. And we live
in it, but we're not of it. Just as Christ was in Egypt,
wasn't he? But he was not of it. And he
was called out of it. Out of it. God sent him to it
and called him out of it. Are you with me? God sent his
own son into the world and went to Egypt. But he didn't stay
there. He called him out of it. We're in the world, but not of
it. We look like it, but we're not
of it. Look at Hosea 11, 1 through 4. When Israel was a child, then
I loved him. Jacob have I loved. When he was
a child. Before he was born. He saw the
hate. And I called my son out of Egypt,
out of Egypt. Who is Israel? That's all of
God's people, the sons of Jacob. That's you, that's me. Sons of
Jacob, that's you. Israel, spiritual Israel. He
is not a Jew which is one outwardly, but inwardly. I loved him. And I called my son out of Egypt. This is a prophecy of the Christ
because it says that he had to go to Egypt. Had to come into
this world because we are of this world. He had to come in,
made like unto his brethren, but had to call us out. We call
that, read on. As they called them, so they
went from them. They sacrificed unto Balaam,
burned incense to graven images. In other words, they were a bunch
of idolaters just like the rest of the world. But God loved them, for that great love
wherewith he loved them, even when they were dead and trespassing
sin. Quicken them! How does he quicken his people?
The word is quick. God calls him by his grace. And
I taught Ephraim. Ephraim is another name for Israel.
Read on. Verse 3, I taught Ephraim also,
taking them by the arms. Did you ever take your children
by the arms when they were kids? When they weren't exactly listening
to you? Or starting to turn away from
you? Did you ever? Oh, did my dad ever. Listen to me. That's an effectual
call is taken about the arm. What's that? What's that? Turning
up. And we'll not turn until we're
turned by God. That's what the psalmist said.
And I'll be turned if you don't turn me. I won't be turned. Lots
want to hang around Sodom. In spite of all he saw that was
going on around him, in spite of all the dire warnings of God.
In spite of the clear warnings from God, he still wanted to
stay there. What did God do? How did God
get him out of there? It says Lot lingered and they
laid hold of him and pulled him out. People argue against irresistible
grace. They say, you mean God forces
us? Pretty much. Yeah, that's it. That's pretty
much it. That's pretty much it. That was
me, anyway. And look at this. I grabbed them.
He said, I took them by the arm. They knew not that I healed them.
Look at, here it is, verse four. I drew them with cords of a man,
with bands of love. They say, Sovereign Grace, you
make, man, you make us out to be puppets. Sounds like we got cords on us,
doesn't it? And I kind of like it that way. The eagle stand beside me and
walk every step with me. Pretty proud of that. And people
are pretty impressed with me when I walk around town with
no leash on. But, buddy, there are times when the traffic's
heavy. I love that old dog. He's not
worth much, but he's mine. And there are times, no matter
how well trained he is, I snap that Michelin star and I hold
her tight. I still tell her to heel, but
I ain't trusting him to heel. I got to hold her. That's it. And no one's going to harm me. Long as I got a cord. He says
he's got a cord he's on. Now I'll be God's puppet, thank
you. Won't you? He cuts cords. I'll fall every
time. Fall every time. So when people say that from
now on, don't argue with them, say that's right. That's right. Look at this, though. He says,
I'll take the yoke off their jaws. I'll take the yoke off them.
I don't have a muzzle around my dog and I lay meat on him. He's well for you. Don't you
like that? Aren't you glad you turned? Okay,
go back to the text, back to the text. Now remember, this
lesson is about the great trouble that surrounds the Christ and
his people, his followers. Look at verses 16 through 18. Then Herod, and he saw that he
was mocked of the wise men. And you know, that's what, that's
what the world These wise men didn't mock him. They didn't
say anything to him. But the truth is a mockery of
false religion. And this is the conclusion that
everyone always comes up with when you talk about the true
and living God and the true Christ. They say, you say we're not saved?
If what you're saying is so, I'm not saved. We worship two
different gods. And again, I advise you, don't
argue with them. Tell them that's right. We do
worship two different gods. But you don't have to say anything
to them. The truth makes a mockery of this. This stuff is a mockery
of God, His Word, God's power, God's love, God's glory. It impugns
His wisdom. This stuff out there in the world
today, talking about God's general love, Christ dying for everybody,
saving nobody effectually, that mocks God. That mocks His Word. Every word in this book points
to the sovereign, effectual, saving power of God Almighty,
not some if, maybe, chance, lucky salvation. That's a mockery of
God's Word and God Himself. Yeah, let's mock modern day.
It's time we started mocking them, isn't it? These men didn't say a word,
but what they did was a mockery of that. You mean you're not
going to join up with us? You some little rogue group out there?
That's a cult. No, it's not. It's followers
of the true Christ. That's what they said of Noah,
wasn't it? That's what they said of that
little band of Israelites. You're right and everybody's
wrong? Yes! It's time to quit being afraid
to say that. Let God be true and every man
a liar, Scripture says. And He is and they are, us included,
unless we agree with God. I just saw that they were he
was mocked of the wise man and was exceeding wrong. I like old
Barnard used to say when men hear the truth when they're confronted
with a god of the Bible they'll either get mad sad or glad. I'd rather people see people
sad and mad that people get mad at least they heard something It's bad when they don't hear
the difference. We must not be proclaiming God as he is, because
everybody in the scriptures has either gotten mad, or sad, or
broken, or real glad. Well, they were mocked, or he
was mocked, that the wise man was exceedingly wroth and sent
forth. Now look at this. This is incredible, isn't it?
This is incredible. What happened next? He slew every baby from two years
old under. And we're talking about trouble
surrounding the Christ those who follow the Christ. We can't
enter into this is like a fairy tale. This happened. Think of
that Hannah. Laura Grace how old is she? Right
around two or older now? Three? slow them off. Kill them off. Why? For Christ's sake. Was God in that? Of course he was. It wouldn't
have happened if he wasn't. This fulfilled scripture, didn't
it? This was according to God's purpose. Everything is. Even
something as horrible as this. Now this was just horrific for
the family that we can't we cannot sit in here and read it again. These people. Children. What are. Price. Now do you wreck what do you
reckon happen at one. I'm very good every person for
whom Christ died. Every single person for whom
Christ died is saying and I tell you this. Every person who died
for Christ. Yes sir God is not unjust. Oh no shall not the judge of
the earth do right. They died for Christ's sake. And whoever
gives his life for my sake, Christ said, will receive a hundredfold. It was horrible for the family.
And it says here that it was spoken by a Jeremiah the prophet,
Jeremiah and Ramah. That's another word for Israel. There was voice heard, lamentation
weeping. Oh, we've never heard it like
it happened. Lamentation. Weeping great morning. Weeping for her children. And
they would not be comforted. Because they were not. No more.
And how very many. Turn with me in closing to Hebrews
11. Hebrews 11. How very, very many. From the
beginning of time. This is the way it's been. From
the beginning of time. Everyone. With God. hated by the world and pursued
by the world. And we either die at the hands
of. Or at least will be hated by. And it doesn't it hasn't
changed now the world is no we've started saying that song is a
world of friend to God now worse than. Hebrews eleven how very
many are the afflictions and persecutions of the people of
God his children his children. And they have been slain by the
millions. Hebrews 11 verses 24 and following says Moses when
he was come the years refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's
daughter chose rather to suffer affliction. See that the people
of God will suffer affliction. Not pie in the sky. But affliction. Then to enjoy the pleasures of
sin for a season. He esteemed. Why is that? How
is that? Because he esteemed, by the grace of God, he esteemed
the reproach of Christ. He would rather be with a bunch
of outcasts who loved Christ and followed Christ than with
a whole world that didn't. And have all the treasures of
Egypt. He had respect, look at this, under the recompense of
the reward. And you men that read with me
there in Jeremiah 31 tonight? If you read the last verse with
me, did you pay close attention? God says the end is good. Did you read that with me? Anybody
notice that? The last verse we read, 17, says the end is good. All this trouble, right after
weeping and lamentation and mourning, God said, but the end is real
good. You see, God's people, there'll
be no more weeping, no more tears, forever for them. but the opposite. They have laughing and happiness
and so forth temporarily while we have to weeping and do it
for a night. How long. Eternal. when the son of righteousness
is at it, eternal death, no more tears, no more sorrow. The former
shall not be remembered, nor come to mind. He said, Behold,
I create all things new, rejoicing in that which I created. Jerusalem,
a rejoicing, our people a joy. Temporary troubles, eternal glory. I might have went on to say about
those who were tortured first thirty five first thirty six
those who had cruel markings and scourging and bonds and pristone
saw the thunder and the world was not worthy. And God takes. And so back in
our text it says that Herod, after he was dead, an angel of
the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and warned him again.
Take the young child and his mother, go into the land of Israel. He went back to Israel with that
child. Why? He went there briefly. He went there briefly with that
child. And then God told him, leave again. Why did he go back?
Why? He had to be circumcised. There's a man named Simeon in
the temple waiting on him. He has to take the child. He
must need to go through Samaria. He must need to go through Jerusalem
just for a little while, for a few days. There's a man waiting
on him. And he's going to reveal himself to that man and he's
going to leave and go to Nazareth. Why? Because the scripture said
so. He'll be called a Nazarene. Everything. Ordered by God according to God's
purpose and it all points to the crime. It's all started with
a star point to the crime and wise man. Followed him and wise
man took no heed to the king or anybody that called himself
why he wasn't going for the crime and they left that and went outside
the camp and followed crime bearing his report and they were marked
man from that day forward and so is everyone who follows the
crime. So be it. May the Lord give us courage
and the grace to follow him in spite of the trouble. Stand with me. Our God and our Father, thank
you for your word. Without it, we'd be in darkness.
Your word is a lamp to our feet, a light unto our path. We thank
you for it. Thank you for the word which speaks of Christ,
the light of the world. In him is life, eternal life. Lord, send your Holy Spirit to
point us, continue to point us to him, lead us to him. Lord,
we ask for courage. We do. We do not want to be ashamed
of our Lord, but rather bear his reproach, esteeming his reproach
and afflictions with his people greater than all the treasures
of this world. We ask these things in Christ's name. Amen. You're
dismissed.