Turn to the book of Hebrews. I will begin in chapter 3. I
have a very lengthy text this morning Hebrews chapter 3 I am going
to read all of 3 & 4 Hebrews chapter 3 verse 1 wherefore
holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the
apostle and high priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, who
was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful
in all his house. For this man, that is Jesus,
for this man was counted more worthy counted worthy of more
glory than Moses, and as much as he who hath built the house
hath more honor than the house. For every house is built by some
man, but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was
faithful in all his house as a servant for a testimony of
those things which were to be spoken after. But Christ, as
the son over his house, whose house are we, if we hold fast
the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost
saith, Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts,
as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness,
when your fathers tempted me, proved me and saw my works forty
years. Wherefore, I was grieved with
that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart,
and they have not known my ways. So I swear in my wrath, they
shall not enter into my rest. Take heed, brethren, lest there
be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from
the living God. But exhort one another daily,
while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through
the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of
Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto
the end. While it is said today, if ye
will hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard
did provoke, howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved
forty years? Was it not with them that had
sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom
swear ye that they should not enter into his rest? But to them
that believed not. So we see that they could not
enter in because of unbelief. Let us therefore fear, lest the
promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should
seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached,
as well as unto them. But the word preached did not
profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard
it. For we which have believed do
enter into rest, as he said, as I have sworn in my wrath,
if they shall enter into my rest, although the works were finished
from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place
of the seventh day on this wise, and God did rest the seventh
day from all his works. And in this place again, if they
shall enter into my rest, seeing therefore it remaineth that some
must enter therein, and day to whom it was first preached entered
not in because of unbelief, again he limiteth a certain day, saying
in David, Today, after so long a time, as it is said, Today,
if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus,
or that is more better, Joshua, For if Jesus had given them rest,
then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There
remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that
is entered into his rest has also ceased from his own works
as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter
into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of
unbelief. For the word of God is quick
powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even
to the defiding asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints
and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of
the heart. Neither is there any creature
that is not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and
opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do, seeing then
that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities,
but was in all points tempted, like as we are, yet without sin. Let us, therefore, come boldly
unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find
grace to help in time of need. That was a lot of reading. These inspired words in these
two chapters introduce the subject of rest. Does everybody agree
with that? Both of these chapters speak
of rest. Rest is introduced in the book
of Hebrews here. But, before rest is defined,
and I do it this way because Paul, I believe he wrote this,
but that really doesn't matter. The reason I say this is because
this is the way Paul wrote it. Paul wrote it under the inspiration
of the Spirit of God. Therefore it is given as God
in His sovereign wisdom seen fit. So think about it. Rest
is introduced. But before rest is defined, the
one factor that excludes some from rest is exposed. Right? That's the title of my
message this morning. Unbelief. exposed. What does he say? Read it again.
Chapter 3 verse 11. This is where it is first mentioned.
Rest is first mentioned and what we have is verse 11. But notice
the context of which the Spirit of God moved Paul to mention
this rest. So I swear in my wrath they shall
not enter into my rest. Now first of all, that is God.
Yes, sir. Make no mistake about it. That
is who God is. Look, so I swear in my wrath,
they shall not enter into my rest. Take heed, brethren. What brethren? Just Jews? This
is a book to the Hebrews. No, he's talking to the holy
brethren. Yes, sir. To those Jews who are partakers
of the heavenly calling. That's the Jews he was writing
to. But let me tell you, this word is valid to everyone that
professes faith in Christ Jesus. Take heed, brethren, lest there
be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from
the living God. Now, I realize it probably is
true that many preachers, when they preach against unbelief,
are talking about everybody else. Paul is talking about us. That's who he's writing to, these
believing Jews. Right? And it's a valid word
to every believer, everyone who professes faith in Christ this
very day. These words are valid. The first mention of rest is
not to define its glories. but to expose the one single
factor that excludes some people from that rest. Right? Here is unbelief exposed. God willing, I will give you
seven things wherein in this context, in this text, that God
exposes unbelief for what it truly is. Now, if I had come
up with a book like this, I probably would have picked out something
different than just unbelief. You notice the way I said that?
If I had been writing this, or if others had been writing this,
if our society in general had been writing this, we probably
would have picked out something like maybe child molestation,
right? Or maybe adultery and stepping
out on a spouse. Certainly something like that
ought to exclude a person from this rest, right? But that's
not what the apostle writes. Is it? Now, am I saying that
those things do not exclude? They do exclude. The Bible teaches
they exclude. Don't be deceived. God is not
mocked. And people who live in degradation
and sin and rebellion are excluded from God's kingdom. The Bible
teaches that. But that's not what is being
dealt with here. All of those things certainly
manifest a degree, and maybe a great degree, of unbelief,
right? All of those immoral, let me
put it that way, that's what people understand, all of those
immoral ways of life, they manifest unbelief, but they in and of
themselves are not unbelief. First of all, here's the first
of the seven things. Unbelief It's simple enough. Unbelief excludes from entrance
into rest. Chapter 4 verse 6, seeing therefore
it remaineth that some must enter. They must. Why? Because God Almighty
finished this thing before the foundation of the world. God,
the God who promised eternal life and cannot lie, will give
it to somebody. seeing therefore it remaineth
that some must enter therein." Therein to what? Rest in verse
5. You see it? Enter therein. And they to whom it was first
preached entered not in because of what? Unbelief. Then in verse 11, let us, talking
even to believers, let us labor therefore to enter into that
rest, lest any man fall after the same example of what? Unbelief. So unbelief excludes from entrance
into this rest. I didn't have to interpret anything.
You see that right here in this text, right? That's what it teaches. Unbelief is heart-heartedness
and provocation toward God. Unbelief is not merely a neutral
state in a lack of belief. It's not just they don't believe
so therefore they're in a neutral state. That's not unbelief. no matter what we may try to
make it ourselves to appease our own consciences. It has nothing
to do with the neutral state. No one in this world is in a
neutral state. That's right. They might think
they are, but they are not. And I'm not even going into that
other than look at this. Unbelief is heart heartedness
and it is to provoke God. Chapter 3, verse 7, wherefore,
as the Holy Ghost saith, this is not a new thing. He is here
quoting from the Old Testament. Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost
saith today, if ye will, hear his voice." Somebody says, I'm
willing. Okay, I'm not here to argue about
the will this morning. I'm willing. But he said, if
you will hear his voice. What? Harden not your hearts. As in the prophet. Like those
people did back there. Exactly. that are a prime example
of this unbelief. Harden not your hearts as in
the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness.
When your fathers tempted me, and this is a negative thing,
proved me and saw my works forty years, wherefore I was grieved
with that generation. You see, unbelief is an insult
to God. because it is hard-heartedness
and it provokes God. This is not my opinion. This is the teaching of scripture. You see unbelief beginning to
be exposed here? It's not just God said, oh, now
let me pick out something to exclude somebody. And I think
unbelief sounds like a good one. Do you see what I'm getting at
here? Unbelief is so heinous because unbelief is hardness
of heart toward the very Creator that gives us all life and breath
to enjoy. Unbelief provokes the very God
of heaven and calls God a liar. unbelief does. Your unbelief
does. Any man or woman's unbelief does. But you're a preacher of the
Gospel. Any unbelief I have is hardness of heart and a provocation
of God Almighty. Well, a believer can't have unbelief.
Oh, he does. You remember the one fellow.
God showed him mercy. God in Christ showed him mercy.
But yet he cried out in honesty, Lord I believe. Help thou my
unbelief. You see unbelief exposed here.
Here's number three. Unbelief warrants. Now listen. This is the heinous character
of unbelief. Unbelief warrants the excluding
wrath of God. Verse 11 of chapter 3 again. So I swear in my wrath. What? Because of this unbelief they
had. So I swear in my wrath they shall not enter into my rest. That's God saying this. I know
God is presented in this day and age as the old man upstairs
that loves everybody and is just doing his best to bring everyone
into rest. It is not true. God has sworn against unbelief. But it's not merely a theory.
Unbelief is in unbelieving people. They, not it, shall not enter
my rest. Hear it? So I swear in my wrath,
they shall. They, the people. You see it? God is not trying to save everybody. And anybody who teaches that
God is not teaching the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They are not teaching the God
of our Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ. They are not teaching
the person and work of Jesus Christ. They are preaching a
false God. A God they've imagined with their
own evil unbelief. See, man, rather than bowing
before God in faith, man says, I'm still going to have what
God has. And I won't do it in unbelief.
I'll just make God like I want Him to be. Then I can enter into
that rest as I please. And God swore, no you won't. That's what this teaches. Unbelief warrants. It's right. God's wrath is not a sad byproduct
of who God is. God's wrath is holy, just, and
honorable. It says, Romans 9 says, God is
pleased to show His wrath. It's not like God says, I've
got to do this now. Matter of fact, even when God
Almighty corrects His children, He doesn't do it like we do ours.
Look at chapter 12 of this very book. You see, we want to paint
God with our own brush. God is not painted with a brush.
God is who He is. Unbelief warrants the excluding
wrath of God. Verse 16, For some, when they
had heard, did provoke. But with whom? We're going to
that because He doesn't even deal with the not all. But with
whom was He grieved forty years? Was it not with them that had
sinned? Sinned in what way? Unbelief. Verse 19, see it? And
what happened? He told them in the old, your
carcasses, that's the way God spoke to them. This Jewish nation
that he pronounced all these great blessings for. Right? Your carcasses shall rot in the
wilderness. That's what God said. You get
angry at me because I say that? I'm trying to expose unbelief. Unbelief is a danger to our souls
not your soul our soul my soul your soul I'm not preaching down
to you Number four unbelief is heart
error and spiritual disdain for God's ways chapter 3 verse 10
wherefore was I aggrieved with that generation and said they
do always air in their heart. Unbelief never does anything
right. No matter how good it looks.
No matter how humane it may be. No matter how giving it may be. Unbelief is always what? An error. And unbelief is absolute ignorance. Though it could be filled with
thousands of facts. and they have not known my ways. He's talking about me here in
my unbelief. He's talking about you here in
your unbelief. He's not putting down, this writer
here in Hebrews is not putting down people out there. He's writing
to who? Holy brethren. Right he's not trying to worry. He's not worried about all that
out yonder. He talked about all them in here
Those of us who've made professions of faith, right? That's who he's
talking to that's who he's talking about let us fear Not boy. Let them fear. They're gonna
go to hell. They don't get right with God and Unbelief is heart error and spiritual
disdain for God's ways. But now, let's see unbelief at
its core. That's a pretty bleak picture
already, is it not? Those first four things are pretty
bleak. They're bleak to me. It frightens
me. It concerns me. You know why? Because I see in me unbelief. Now if you don't see in you unbelief,
what I've got to say this morning will make no difference to you
whatsoever. But if you see even the inkling
of what? Just unbelief in you. This is
what God says about you. You see it? Number five. Here is the heinousness of unbelief
at its core. I know that, as Joe said, this
is not one of those great resurrection or Easter Day sermons, is it? I know that. Here is the heinous
nature of unbelief. Here is unbelief at its core. Unbelief is disdain for Christ. Look at it. What's the first
thing he starts? Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers
of the heavenly calling, consider, think about this, set your heart
and minds on, no, wait a minute, him, a person, the apostle and
high priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. And it goes all
the way down through verse six, talking about who? Christ Jesus,
and he's even superior to Moses. So forget Moses in that respect.
In that respect, forget Moses. You look to Moses, you believe
on him all day long, you'll perish. You'll perish. No matter what
faith you can muster in Moses, won't do you any good. Christ
told some people that. He trusted in Moses. But if you
really believe what Moses wrote, you'd believe me. Because Moses
wrote of who? Me, Christ said. It's disdain
for Christ. Chapter 3, verse 12, Take heed,
brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of what?
Unbelief in departing from the living God, but exhort one another
daily. Do you see that? While it's called
today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceit and the fullness
of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ if we hold." Do you
see it? If we hold the beginning of our
confidence steadfast unto the end. You see, this thing of people
get in and out and in and out is not what the scripture teaches.
It teaches this. Once you get in, you remain in
to the end or you're not in it at all. It's not about do you
believe a man can be saved and lost. The question is this. Once a man is saved, he'll be
saved all the way to the end or he's not saved at all. Christ
said it, they that endure to the end, not they that are enduring
at the end. It's not, I'll get in it and
get out and get in it and get out and just hopefully I'll be
in it when the time, when the end comes. If you ever get out
of it, you ain't in it. You don't jump back in it, look
at chapter six and see what it says. Now, it's disdain for Christ. That's unbelief at its core.
God said, here is the record of my son. Unbelief said, God,
you're a liar. 1 John chapter 5. That's not
my opinion. That's not what I'm saying. That's
not me trying to get you to follow me. I don't care whether you
follow me or not. I don't care whether you like
me or not. I do care. But that's not the point. God
says, if you don't believe the record he gave his son, you call
him a liar. Now you can take that up with
him. I dare you. I dare you. Somebody says, you're
a smart ethical, you ain't seen none of it yet. No, I'm a man
who fears God. I know that unbelief is an insult
to God, even my own, not just yours. It excludes from entrance. It's
hard-heartedness. It provokes God. It warrants
God's excluding wrath. It is heart error and it's spiritual
disdain for God's ways. It's disdain for Christ. It's
disdain for the gospel. Chapter 3, verse 7, Wherefore
as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear His voice. How are you going to hear His
voice? the Word of God, and specifically
as proclaimed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Look at what it
says, chapter 4. Let us therefore fear, lest the
promise be left us of entering into his rest. Any of you should
seem to come short of it, for unto us was the gospel preached. What? As well as unto them. Do you see it? They had the gospel
preached. Moses wasn't preaching law to
them. He gave them the law, but he wasn't preaching law. He was
preaching Christ. Remember that rock that followed
them around from which they got water? The New Testament says
this. Paul says, that rock was Christ. I don't know, Mason, how that
took place. But he was made flesh. Back then, Mac, he was made a
rock. That's what it says. It doesn't
say that rock pictured Christ. It doesn't say that rock typified
Christ. That rock was Christ. So important was this, that when
God told Moses, strike that rock. Remember, water came out of it,
right? But he said, now you just go speak to the rock. But what
did Moses do? He went and hit it again. And let me tell you,
Jesus Christ is never bruised twice. Never. He offered one sacrifice for
sin forever. And that either does it for a
man, or he has no hope. It's disdain. Unbelief is disdain. Chapter
3, verse 7. Hear. Verse 15 and 16 of 3. Hear. Heard. Do you see it? They heard the gospel. preached,
but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed
with faith. Therefore, I know it ain't something
you and I can come up with. It has to be mixed with faith.
The gospel preached don't even create faith. It has to be mixed
with faith. Where does faith come from? Faith
comes as a free gift of God. I'm shut up under God's mercy.
And why do you think he ends up with going to the throne of
grace? To find what? Merit. To find mercy. Mercy. Who needs mercy? Somebody that's
messed up. Somebody that's fouled up needs
mercy. If you've done what's right,
you don't need mercy. You need your reward. Lay it
here God. But I would not suggest you go
before God and tell God to lay it here and give me what I've
earned. Exactly. You're right. Run to the throne
of grace for what? Mercy and divine grace to help
in time of need. Amen. You see, disdain for Christ,
yea, even disdain for His gospel is to insult God. Now listen
to me. Because God has so ordained it
that way. Job, it pleased God by the foolishness
of preaching to save them that believe. God Almighty sends you
a preacher. If you hear the word preached,
if you do not believe what that man is preaching, it is unbelief. It is to provoke God. It is disdain for Christ. It is disdain for God's message. That applies to me as well. You see, the prime example of
this unbelief was given in Israel. Remember, they come up to the
land. God says, go in and possess it. They sent spies in. 12 of them,
wasn't it? I think it was 12, wasn't it?
10 or 12, 12. Two of them brought back a good report. Of course,
10 said, we can't do this. To be giant, these are big men.
I understand the feeling, don't you? I work in a place, and I'm
this tall, and I have to deal with some guys, they're that
tall, and their arms are bigger than my legs. I understand that. Huh? I'm not standing above these
people. God says, go in and conquer.
And Timothy 5 says, we can't. So the people says, we will not
go. This is actually what he's talking about in this passage.
They said, we will not go. We can't do this, God. And God
said, all right, you're going to die. Every one of you said
you can't do this. Your carcasses are going to rot
in the wilderness over the next 40 years. And what did they say?
Well, that don't sound good. Lord, we will go up. Go back
and read it. That's unbelief. Everything God
says, unbelief, wants to go contrary to what God says. When God says
go, it says I can't. When God says well you're not
going to go, well I can now Lord. I'll do it now Lord. No, you
do it His way or it ain't done at all. That's just the way it
is. That's the prime example of unbelief.
God said you're going to rot and rot They did. Didn't they? Unbelief equals this. Whatever
God says is not enough. There's got to be a different
way. And that's why God said they've
not known my ways. Now, here's number seven. Here's the last
one. And take heed. Listen. I want to give you something
here. Here's unbelief exposed. Here's unbelief at its core.
Unbelief works when it should rest, and it's slothful when
it should labor. Read it. Verse 10 of chapter
4. Unbelief works when it should
rest, and it's slothful when it should labor. For he, verse
10 of 4, for he that is entered into his rest, and God willing
we'll look at the rest itself, maybe starting next week, but
right now we've got to expose unbelief, because if you've got
unbelief dominating your life, you've got unbelief dominating
your life, you will not enter this rest. I don't care who you
are or what you profess. For he that is entered into his
rest hath also ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Why did God cease working and rest on the seventh day? Not
because God was tired. but because God was done. Rest
says the work is done. And those who understand that,
those who've been given that revelation, Joe, those who've
been given life by God, the gospel's been preached to them, and by
the power of the Spirit of God, they believe God concerning Christ,
they know He did the work. Now all I've got to do is They cease from their own works. Let us labor, therefore, to enter
into that rest. What? Preacher, you contradicted
yourself. No, that's what God says. Is
that what he says, or is that not what he says? Listen to what
I said. Unbelief works when it should
rest, and it's slothful when it should labor. Rest and labor don't seem to
fit, does it? An enigma to unbelief. Unbelief
can't get it. Can't grasp it. It can't rest
while it labors. Think about it. Unbelief loves
action but not attention. Unbelief loves action. Yeah,
but not attention chapter 2 verse 1 Therefore we ought to give
the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard The labor is labor of attention
listen to God yeah While you quit work You see it It ain't
a contradiction. It's an enigma, yes, but it ain't
a contradiction. Unbelief loves action, but not
attention. Number two, unbelief loves activity,
but not a contrite attitude. Look at it. Why should we labor,
therefore, to enter into that rest? Lest any man fall after
the same example of unbelief, because the word of God will
expose everything about me. Not about you all, but about
me. Do you see it? For the Word of
God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and
the joints and the mora, and is the discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature
that does not manifest, and now the Word is personalized in His
sight. So therefore, believing this
Word means I'm believing who? The Word. Him. You see it? And then what then? Look, neither
is there any creature that is not manifested in sight, but
all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom
we have to do, seeing that we have a person like that then.
Look at it. Verse 16, and I've got to move
on because of time. Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of what? Reward? Grace is unmerited, undeserved,
unearned favor. This is a contrite being bold
at the same time. Bold in who? Me? Bold in myself? Bold in my works? No, Isaiah
the prophet said that my righteousnesses are as filthy rags in God's sight.
I'm bold in Him, Jesus Christ, and I approach that throne of
grace for what? I always need mercy, not reward
for any merit in me, because they ain't none. That may not
be correct English, but it is doctrinally sound. I have no
merit before God, other than Jesus Christ Himself. Therefore
let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that
we may obtain what mercy why because God's truth That is centered
around his son Exposes the reality that I am It divides even what? the soul Spirit the joints and
the marrow God's Word will expose me for what I really am A few
years ago I had a life-changing event. And I actually had this
stupid thought, well now I'm going to be exposed to what I
really am. You all already knew. Didn't
you? If you didn't, you were looking
at something else. Huh? There's nothing in me. I'm nothing but a clay pot. And
you know what people years ago used to do with clay pots? At
night they put them under their bed. And you know what they did
in them clay pots. I'm a clay pot. I'm not telling
you to look at me. I'm not telling you to believe
me. I'm saying run to Christ. Flee to Him. And when you do,
never stop fleeing to Him. Keep fleeing unto Him, unto the
end. And what? You are a partaker
of Christ. Unbelief, here's the third thing
on number seven. Unbelief persists in self-confidence,
but it disdains persistent confidence in Christ. You see the difference? Listen again. Unbelief persists
in self-confidence, but it disdains persistent confidence in Christ. Yet this passage says be persistently
confident in Christ. Does it not? And you see, these
two chapters are kind of tough. The writer just kind of like
bounces around. Have you ever read this and thought
it's kind of hard to go verse by verse? That's one reason why
I did not attempt to go with this verse by verse. It could
be very confusing. Why? Because it's exposing the
most confusing thing in this world. Unbelief. You'll never
understand unbelief to where you say, alright, now I've got
a grip on it. That's why that man said, Lord I believe, help
thou. You help my unbelief. Do you
see it? Not Lord help me to deal with
my unbelief. Lord you deal with my unbelief.
And you know what? First of all, legally, judicially,
he did. When he died at Calvary, he dealt
with every elect individual's unbelief itself. That's unbelief exposed, folks. You want rest? Do you? That's my question. Do you want
rest? Do I want rest? Then acknowledge
unbelief for what it is. Because you'll never truly rest
until you do. If you keep trying to convince
yourself that somehow your unbelief ain't really quite that bad now,
well God save me, you've still got unbelief. You've got to still
keep constantly acknowledging the unbelief for what it is.
Disdain for God and absolute personal corruption. That's what
it is. That's the kind of people that
God doesn't just say, I'll let you in a rest. That's the kind
of people God is bringing into the rest. Because why? The works were finished from
the foundation of the world. Therefore, when it comes to works,
I don't have to do any. But I still labor. Labor how? Remember, in attention. In contrition. And in what? Persistent confidence
in Christ. You know what? It's hard to do
that. That's a battle. Because unbelief, every time
you look to Christ, unbelief will raise up its little head
and say, but look at yourself too. Don't it? And then you become miserable
and you start to do this and do that. Then you've got to realize,
Mason, take my hands off of it. The works are done. Now labor. Do you get that? Do you get that? Listen, it's a battle to agree
with God against myself. It's a labor. You know that?
It's a battle. When God says, even when you've
done that which is your duty to do, you are to call yourself
an unprofitable servant. That's what He taught us. But
I love to say, but God, I did this. Right? God says, don't I take any credit
for it. None whatsoever! That's a labor. But it ain't works. He doesn't
save you because of that. That's a manifestation that the
Word of God has come and invaded your heart, mind, soul, even
your joints and marrow. You want rest? Stop working for
rest and believe Him who is rest. give attention to his gospel.
Come boldly in contrition for mercy and to find grace to help
in time of need and hold confident in Christ steadfastly to the
end. Amen. Let's eat.