Alright, turn to Matthew 19. I will begin reading
in verse 16. Note those words. And behold,
one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good things shall
I do that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, While
I callest thou me good, there is none good but one, that is
God. But if thou wilt enter into life,
keep the commandments. He saith unto him, that is this
person who came to Christ, Jesus said, thou shalt do no murder,
thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt
not bear false witness, honor thy father and thy mother, and
thou shalt love thy neighbors thyself. The young man saith
unto him, all these things have I kept for my youth up, what
lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, if thou
wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow
Me. But when the young man heard
that saying, when the young man heard that saying, he went away
sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto His disciples,
Verily, I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter
into the kingdom of heaven. And again, I say unto you, it
is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for
a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And I believe
he meant exactly what he said. Yes, sir. I don't believe he's
talking about that eye of the needle. They said it was called
the gate that camels had to bow down to when they went in. Bow
down when they went under. No, he's talking about it's easier
for the camel to go through the eye of a needle, a sewing needle. than for a rich man to enter
into the kingdom of God. And when his disciples heard
it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them. Can you
see it? He started looking right in their
eyes. Jesus beheld them and said unto them, with men, this is
impossible. You know those words. With men,
this is impossible. But with God, all things are
possible. Of course, then Peter said, Well,
what about us? We've left houses, family, lands, you know, what's
in it for us? And you read on, you read on
and read the rest of the account. Now, as most of you may already
know, This Matthew is one of what people call the Synoptic
Gospels. That is, Matthew, Mark, and Luke
often deal with the exact same accounts. John often deals with other things.
He deals with a few of the same accounts, but Matthew, Mark,
and Luke are very similar. Now, if you'll go back, and I'll
make references to these others in Mark chapter 10 and verses
17 and on to the end. Luke chapter 18, verse 18 on
to the end of the chapter, you'll see this same account. Now let me say this. These three
accounts differ. But they all still say the exact
same thing. Go back and read it sometime.
Now the skeptics look at that, that is this synoptic equation.
and say, but look at these differences. Somebody don't have it exactly
right. No, they all three had it exactly right. And there is
no disagreement amongst the three. Just one adds more information
than another, or another leaves out certain information that
the other has. But they all exactly agree. And
what did our Lord even say? Now the skeptics say, how can
this be inspired right? Look at that. But remember, these
men were not dictaphones as they wrote down these inspired words.
They were not just dictaphones. They were there to write down
every exact word that Jesus Christ said on every exact occasion. But I do know this. Our Lord
Jesus Christ prayed and said, Father, I thank Thee that Thou
hast hid these things from the wise and the prudent. And you
know how He hid it? By laying it right out in plain
sight. And yet by doing it the way He
did it, the skeptics become confounded and confused and cry out, God
is not true. But the believer that God Almighty
has touched with life reads these words and sees within them the
absolute truth of God. We're not looking to find an
error because we've been convinced there are no errors. We're seeking
the truth of God as it is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I read Matthew because most of
what I will give you will come from Matthew, but not all of
it. Some will come from Mark, some from Luke. But as a way
of introduction, some of the truth conveyed here that is in
this account of what men call the rich young ruler. And you
got to read all three to get that. You got to read all three
to realize he was rich, he was young, and he was a ruler. It
wasn't that some of them didn't really understand or were wrong,
Joe. It's just some of them stressed
certain points about this rich young ruler. When you read all
three, you find out he was a rich young ruler. But some truth conveyed
here. Not all people are ready for
salvation. That's what just conveys. This man went away what? Sorrowful. Now first, sorrowful. Not hateful. Not angry, but sorrowful. Not all people are ready for
salvation. It is true, today is the day of salvation. And
if ye will, here, harden not your hearts. One reason today is the day of
salvation is because we don't have the guarantee of tomorrow.
We don't have that guarantee. But nevertheless, not all people
are ready for salvation. Secondly, there are obstacles
to salvation which must be dealt with and crushed. You hear me? That's what we find in this account.
There are obstacles to salvation which must be dealt with and
crushed. And when I talk about salvation
here, I'm talking about conversion. And our Lord said, except you
be converted. What's going to happen? You'll perish. And thirdly,
Christ competes with nothing in salvation. Christ competes
with nothing in salvation. Let's try to explain that even
further. I am reminded of what Don Fortner
said about that straight and narrow way, that tight, narrow
way, and it has to be found. It has to be found. Why? Because it's tucked away in the
sovereign purpose of God. The one thing Don said about
that straight and narrow way, you have to enter in by yourself. You can't take in anything else
or anyone else with you. I like that. I like that. So remember those three things.
Not all are ready for salvation. Obstacles to salvation must be
dealt with and crushed And Christ competes with nothing in salvation.
These things are absolute truths. They're absolute. Now let's engage
in some of this account in light of these three things. There
are two different perspectives here. You have the rich ruler's
state. You have his perspective. Or
at least, maybe not his perspective, that may not be the best word,
but we see the rich young ruler set before us in who he is. And who he thinks he is. And
who he really is. And then we have Christ's response.
Right? What I want to do, I started
out by looking, I was going to look at his, the rich young ruler
state, and then look at Christ's response, but yet I realized,
as I read over it, I thought this is going to be nothing more
than just some lesson. I want it to be just a lesson.
I want to view these two things together because as we see the
rich young ruler state manifest, we always see Christ's response
to what's taking place. So I figure that's the best way
to approach this. But let me say before I do, we will not
find a happy ending. in this account
with Christ's encounter with the rich young ruler. He went
away sorrowful. And we know nothing else from
the context. We know nothing else about that
man after this took place. Now do we? Now I also know that
one of the writers said our Lord loved him. So I have great hope. Great. But yet I'm not going to preach
on that because that's not in the context. But there is one
good note here. Here's the good note, let me
find it again. With men this, what's the this? Salvation. With
men this is what? Really hard to do. Is that what
he says? I mean, it's almost impossible. No? What did our Lord say? With
men, salvation is impossible. But with God, all things are
possible. Now, when you take that in its
true context, it's not all things are possible with God if... The
only if in the equation is God. Right? Because with men, salvation
is impossible. With God, salvation is possible. The only equation to salvation
being possible is what? God. You see that? Either God can or cannot save. Right? I know there are those who love
the word possibility because that's the whole of their gospel.
But that's not what Christ is talking about here. So let's look at four thoughts
here concerning this rich young ruler's state and Christ's response.
First of all, sincere desire. This is my statement. Sincere
desire. Now let's look at that. Turn
to Mark now. Mark chapter 10. You bear with
me because I want to turn and read some of these. Mark chapter
10 verse 17. And when he was gone forth, that
is Christ. Now Mark lets us know that he actually left the place
that he was at before. Matthew, you might read it and
think, well, he's at the same place. Matthew doesn't say that.
He just doesn't tell you he left. You see what I'm saying? I'm
trying to help out the context of all three together. Verse
17 of Mark 10, And when he was gone forth into the way, there
came one running, running, and kneeling to him. I got no reason
to believe this rich young ruler wasn't sincere. Do you? None whatsoever. I don't think
he was coming here, as many did on occasion, to try to trick
our Lord, or to trip Him up. Do you? Nothing is in the content. And when everything is said and
done, and he goes away, he goes away how? Angry! Ready to kill
Christ. Some did that, didn't they? But
this rich young ruler didn't did he? He went away what? Sorrowful. Sorrowful. Sincere desire. I believe it's
here. No. I know it's here. Sincere
desire can be totally, totally misplaced. Look back now at Matthew
19 and verse 16. And behold, one came. And he
came running and he kneeled down. We know that. Matthew doesn't
say it, but Mark lets us know that, right? You see it? And
behold, one came, and he came running, and he kneeled down,
and he said unto him, Good Master, what good things, no, what good
thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? You see the two
problems there? He's thinking of just one thing.
There's got to be just one thing. Right? And what good thing shall I do? Right? So sincere desire can
be totally misplaced. But yet, as we will see, our
Lord then told him one thing you lack. Now do this. Did he not? So sincere desire
can be totally misplaced. But what was our Lord's first
response to him? Look again, Matthew 19, verse
17. And he said unto him that as
Christ said to the rich young ruler when he said, what good
thing, good master, what good thing shall I do that I may have
eternal life? And he said unto him, why callest
thou me good? He don't even deal with that
first of all, does he? Does he? Why callest thou me
good? There is none good but one that
is God. Religion, blinded eyes read this
and think, well, Christ here is just trying to prove to the
rich young ruler that he wasn't good. No, he was not. No, he was not. Because he first
came, the rich young ruler did, and said, good master. The first thing our Lord, the
first response our Lord gave to this man was of Himself. You're calling me good, but you
have no idea what you're saying. You're calling me good, but you
have no idea what that means. You're calling me good, but you
have no idea who I really am. Our Lord's first response to
this rich young ruler's sincere plea was, you don't understand
who I am. You see that? Do you see that? The ruler, this rich young ruler,
had no perception of Christ. Of Christ! And especially of
the Lord Christ. Christ the Lord. I believe he
was sincere. But his sincere desire was totally
misplaced. The first thing he should have
asked is, who are you, Lord? Good Master, who are you? But
his problem was he thought eternal life was all wrapped up in himself. Right? That's the first thing. Now here's the second thing.
Number two. God, even when we don't, God
knows the error of our sense of self-worth. Even when we don't, God knows
the error of our sense of self-worth. Look at Matthew 19, verse 18
again. And He saith unto him, Which? Now our Lord, when He said, What
good thing shall I do to inherit eternal life? First of all, Christ
said, Why do you call me good? There's nothing good with God.
But, if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Do you see that? Is that the way we preach? No,
we preach Christ, don't we? Why? Because we know better.
But Christ is dealing with this man where he really is, even
though this young man don't know it. God knows the error of our
self-worth even when we don't. And He said unto him, See, he's
still looking for that one thing he can do to have eternal life. But yet, our Lord Jesus Christ
knew the error of this young man's self-worth. Now, what was the ruler's state? You know what it was? Obfuscation. That's what he meant when he
said, which? Well, which one? Which one? I don't believe it
was insincere. He just said, well, okay, Lord,
fine, but which one? Do you see it? Now think of the
smoke screen here. The cloud that's put forth. Okay,
Lord, keep the commandments. Well, which one? Tell me which
one to keep. But let me tell you this, our
Lord is never deterred by our deception. In other words, we
can't deceive Him and bring Him into the plane or the realm of
our own deception. Another one of the writers said,
you know the commandments. And he gave them these commandments.
He said, Jesus said, thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not
commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false
witness, honor thy father and thy mother, and thou shalt love
thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him,
all these things have I kept from my youth up. Do you see
it? What? Lack? yet. Now think of it. Think of it. We cannot confound
God even when we're totally confused about the matter. This young
man is totally confused in his mind. Isn't he? Okay, now wait a minute. Lord,
I've done all of them, but he still wasn't just one thing to
do. You see what I'm saying? And the Lord said, well, here,
do these five or six. Well, I've done all that. See
how confused he is? But Christ was never deterred
because God Almighty cannot be confounded. That God knows the
error of our thoughts about self-worth, our opinions about ourself. Self-worth
is never enough before Christ's delight. Because even when Christ
said, here's these, keep these. He said, Lord, I said not Lord,
I'm sorry. All these things have I kept
from my youth up, what lack I yet? This rich young ruler still knew
within himself, what I've done ain't enough. Right? He understood
that. Now, not everybody understands
that. Right? Not everybody understands
that. But even this rich young ruler's
understanding of that didn't have him prepared for salvation.
Because what happens? He ends up going away what? Sorrowful. Sorrowful. Self-worth is never
enough before Christ's delight. It might be enough before a false
Christ. It might be enough before some humanistic legalism. Not before God's law, but humanistic
legalism where you lower the standard of God's law down to
some human level where you can kind of say, I've been there,
I'm doing that, I'm alright. But before Christ's delight,
self-worth is never enough. You're still going to always
be crying out, what lack I yet? You see that? Number three. Partial perception is no guarantee
of spiritual enlightenment. This rich young ruler perceived
a lot of things. Several things, I should at least
say. Think of it. The rich young ruler knew he
needed eternal life, but he didn't have it. Right? He knew he needed it. He had
to have believed in God, Joe. You know? It don't say it, but
he was a Jew, because usually when our Lord dealt with someone
who was not Jewish, the Scripture tells us they weren't Jewish.
I take it that he was a Jew, but I don't know that absolutely.
But again, partial perception is no guarantee of spiritual
enlightenment, because the rich young ruler knew he needed eternal
life. He knew he didn't have it. And
even when the Lord told him what to do to get it, he said, I've
done all that, but what is there still to do? You see it? The rich young ruler came to
the right person. Huh? Didn't he? Did he go to
a false Jesus? No. Now thousands upon thousands
flee to a false Jesus and there is no salvation there. You mark
that down. But just because you come physically
or emotionally to the right one still don't mean you're ready. Even if you're sincere. Even
if you perceive some things. Right? Is that not what this
teaches? Think of it. The rich young ruler
knew his commandment keeping wasn't enough. What lack I yet? He didn't say, well, thank you,
Jesus, I've done those. I'm going back home, I appreciate
that. Did he? Did all of a sudden he have a
sigh of relief? I'm keeping the golden rule.
Even that would have been more according to his liking. That's
one thing. The golden rule. Right? No, he still said, what? Lack I yet. Partial perception is no guarantee
of spiritual enlightenment. This rich young ruler was not
saved at this time. We could argue all day long as
to whether he was later, but right now, he's not saved. He
knows he's not saved. Christ knows he's not saved.
And even after Christ talks to him, he goes away sorrowful. Right? The rich ruler. The young ruler did not truly
perceive himself from Scripture. Did he? He did not truly perceive
himself from Scripture. He knew these commandments. Our
Lord said, Thou knowest the commandments. One of the other writers says
that. You know them. I'm persuaded our Lord meant He knew all ten
of them of what we call the Ten Commandments and probably many
others. But one thing He didn't know was the first part of the
Bible where His daddy Adam fell. And then when it comes along
and Job says, that's more a part of the Scriptures, can an unclean
bring forth something that's clean? Can't be done. He didn't know the Old Testament
Scripture, Psalms 51 and verse 5, where I was shapen in iniquity. And in sin did my mother conceive
me. Right there in Psalms 51 and
5. David was teaching the same thing
the Apostle Paul taught in Romans chapter 5 verse 19 where we were
made sinners. Wherefore, as by one man's disobedience
many were made sinners. I was shapen in iniquity. What's
that? He ain't talking about this. And in sin did my mother
conceive me. We're not just born in sin. were
what? Conceived in sin. But he was
already shapen in iniquity. Why? Because he was made a sinner
when Adam fell in the garden. And then Solomon comes along
in Ecclesiastes 7 and 20 and I've just picked out just a few
and says there's not a just man upon the face of the earth that
doeth good and sinneth not. But he didn't seem to remember
those things. He knew he kept all these commandments from his
youth up, but he didn't remember those things? Maybe he wasn't
even aware of them. I don't know. The problem is
still, as I said, partial perception is no guarantee of spiritual
enlightenment. There's no guarantee of it. Preacher, when are you going
to get to something good? Can't get there. You can't get there
yet. Number four. Here's the fourth
thing. Christ knew the true heart of
the problem. Christ knew the true heart of
the problem. Even though the rich young ruler didn't and couldn't
get it. He still hasn't got it yet. When
Christ said, keep the commandments, his conscience should have cried
out, But he says, I have. But what
lack I yet? I mean, come on now! Come on now. But Christ knew
the true heart of the problem. And Christ dealt with him on
his level, but not in his realm. Now you hear what I'm saying? Now look at it. Mark now, chapter
10 again. The first part, look, then Jesus
beholding him, just like He did the disciples after. Remember,
He looked right at Boldy. I can see Him looking right at
him. And I can see that rich young ruler looking right at
him. You know, good master, what good thing shall I do that I
can have eternal life? And they're looking at one another.
Jesus beholding him, loved him, and said unto him, One thing
thou lackest. You see it? Okay, there is one
thing you lack. Right? Who said that? Christ
did. Now Christ is not trying to bring
it down to his level. Because when Christ gives him
his one thing to do, look at what it is. One thing thou lackest,
go thy way. Wait a minute, there's one. Sell
whatsoever thou hast. Now wait a minute. I can see
him now. Listen. Wait a minute. Go your way. That's one. Okay.
Go my way. I'm leaving. I've got eternal
life. Now you see. Now look. One thing. One thing. Get that. One thing thou lackest. Go your way. But he didn't stop
with one thing. Now look. Just hang on for a moment. Don't
get your skivvies all up in a wad yet. Go thy way, sell whatsoever
thou hast. There's two. And give it to the
poor. He didn't even say sell it all
and take the cash and come with me. Right? That's what preachers
want men to do today. Sell everything you've got, bring
it on over to the church now. We're doing great work for the
Lord. One thing you lack. Go your way, there's one. Sell
whatsoever you've got, that's two. Give it to the poor, that's
three. And thou shalt have treasure in heaven. But he didn't even
stop there. and come, there's four, and take
up your cross, there's five, and follow me, there's six. What's
going on here? Can you see the confusion? Aren't
you a little bit confused yourself? I thought Christ said, Christ
said one thing. Oh, but don't you realize that's
exactly what He's just told him to do? One thing. Put me first. And nothing else. You see it? That's the one thing.
Put me first and nothing else. There's the one thing to do. But I thought you believed in
free, sovereign grace. You don't do nothing. Oh, you ain't really perceived
the gospel I'm preaching to you. No, because I believe in free
sovereign grace. I believe that God Almighty works
in His people both to will, He doesn't will for them. He works
in His people both to will, well I'm willing, but I ain't going
to do that. Both to will and to do. He don't do for them. They do
the doing. but only because they're willing,
but they're only willing because He worked in them both to will
and to do of His good pleasure. So there is a doing. Is there
not? Christ knew the true heart of
the problem. The one obstacle for this rich
young ruler was his riches. Look at it. And all three of
them say the same thing, though it's worded slightly different.
One of them, you know, they add a couple of things. But look,
verse 22 of Mark 10. We'll just stay right there.
And he was sad at that saying and went away grieved. Do you
see it? For he had great, great possessions. Great possessions. That was this person's individual
obstacle. And all of us by nature has individual
obstacles. They may vary, but they are still
obstacles nonetheless. And my obstacle was just as much
an obstacle to me as this rich young ruler's great possessions
were an obstacle to him. Just as much. Well, if he just
hadn't been quite as rich, If it had just been poor, if it
had been poor, Christ would have had no need to tell him everything
he got. Put me first. Now would he? But even a poor man has things
that he holds on to by nature and adores and loves more than
Christ. More than Christ. I got to have
this. You don't got to have anything.
But I've worked all my life. I'm going to have this now. Maybe
you will. Maybe you won't. God may snatch
it from you. The one obstacle for this rich
young ruler was what? His riches. The one thing he
could not do. Put Christ and His Gospel first.
Yeah, look at it. Mark 10. I look at it. Verse
21. Take up your cross and follow Me. Right? In other words, not
just sell everything you've got, but you deny yourself. That's
what taking up your cross is. In other words, take sides with
God against yourself. Take up your cross and do what?
Follow Me. Christ wasn't asking for His
money. He was calling for His commitment. Hear Me! He wasn't just saying, I want
you to believe that I'm Jesus, that I'm going to die for your
sins. I'll be buried and rise again the third day. I'm going
to ascend back to heaven. And if you'll just accept that,
I'll save you. No, he says, you put me first
before your possessions and before yourself. You come follow me. And notice he didn't even promise
him eternal life in the process. He said, here's just the one
thing you lack. Put me first. first. Is that not it? If you've got eyes to see, you
can see that. If you've been there, you know that. So the
one obstacle for him was his riches. The one thing he couldn't
do was put Christ and His Gospel first. Look, verse 29, Peter,
verse 28, Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left
all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said,
Now he's talking to them now, but it's still the same context.
Truly I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house,
or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children,
or lands. See it? for my sake and the gospels. That comes first or you don't
have eternal life. And again I say this because
I'm so fearful of myself. I'm not being mean to you. I
say this to you because I care for your soul. Even in this little
small group. It's hard sometimes to preach
to the same small little old group all the time. But I'm saying to anyone here,
either Christ is preeminent, I'm talking about in your experience,
He is preeminent, but either He's preeminent in your experience,
or you don't have eternal life. Eternal life is manifest in those
where nothing equals having Christ. That's where eternal life is
manifest. It's manifest in those where nothing equals having Christ. Christ is what I must have above
all else. And God Almighty give me the
grace to throw it all away. Look at it. What does it say?
Let me read it now. Verse 5 of this Old For A Closer
Walk. The dearest idol I have known. What e'er that idol be, help
me to tear it. Now maybe you're really doctrinally
correct now. You say, well, I want God to tear my idols away. God's
not going to tear your idols away any more than He's going
to believe for you. Any more than He's going to repent for
you. Any more than He's going to walk for you. But He does
work in you both the will and the do. It was good pleasure.
Help me to tear it, tear it from its throne and worship only Thee. Now if God makes me get rid of
it, then I'll get rid of it too. You see what I'm saying? John
says flee from idolatry. Doesn't he? Run from it. And
look at what else John says. Turn to 1 John. Chapter 5. 1 John 5, verses 11 and 12. And
this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life. Now
let me tell you, He has to give it. He hadn't given this rich
young ruler eternal life. Had He? But look! And this is
the record that God hath given to us eternal life. And this
life is in His Son. Well, so the rich young ruler
was just okay, just going away sorrowful and things like that.
Now look, he that hath the Son hath. He that hath the Son hath
life. He that hath not the Son of God
hath not life. In other words, you will begin
to at least begin to let go of everything else and reach out
for Jesus Christ. Remember what Paul told even
Timothy. A young preacher, already been saved, Joe, lay hold on
eternal life. How do you do that? By laying
hold of Christ. By seeking Him. By bowing to Him. By saying,
Lord, nothing else matters but You. I mean, my wife released
an agreement on this. The place where I live, the community
I live in, the house I live in, it's a hell hole. It's a hell
hole. I know God gave it to me. I'm
thankful for it. I hope you understand what I'm
saying. But if I lose it tomorrow, it don't matter. If it burns
down tomorrow, I just hope my dog don't die when he does. And if he does, what can I do
about that? And I mean this as God is my
witness. Nothing else in this world matters
but Christ. Well, you're proud. No, I'm not
proud. I've been humbled. But I've worked so hard, preacher,
all my life. I need this. Then go for it. Reach out for it instead. Go
ahead. Oh, help me to tear it, tear
it from its throne and worship only Thee. And what was Christ's
summary to all this? Well, Lord, the disciples said,
who then can be saved? And Christ said, with men, it's
impossible. You can't do that. I can't do
that. Don't have the personal power
or commitment or will or ability to do it. But when He works in
you, both to will and to do, bless God, what will you do?
That very thing. And whether He makes you sell
it or not, it will mean nothing to you when compared to Him. When compared to Him, it will
mean nothing. The title of my message is Salvation
is Impossible with Men. And that's kind of where it leaves
it. But with God, you don't have
to put that on the title, but with God, all things are possible. Three things and I'll close.
Has God prepared me for salvation? Has He? Did He really? Secondly, has God and is God
crushing my obstacles? You see how He crushed this man's
obstacles? Every hope the young man had,
what did Christ do? Crushed it before his very eyes.
And then still let him go, wait a minute, wait, wait, don't go
away, wait! Is that what Christ did? No. Because every one of our obstacles
must be crushed, even if it means at first we go away sorrowful. So has God prepared me for salvation?
Has God and is God crushing? And it's a constant thing. You
don't just happen once and everything's okay. The idols are going to
rise up all the time. And God's going to have to crush
them before our eyes. And that's usually when we start
trying to tear them down. That's what it takes. But thirdly, if
anything, if anything yet competes with Christ in me, then O God,
enable me to tear it from its throne and worship Christ alone. Father, not only teach us these things,
not just in some doctrinal sense, Lord, but may they be the experience
of our hearts, minds, and souls. Knowing God that only by Your
free sovereign grace, as our brother Job preached to us, according
to the working of your mighty power. Lord, work this work in
us for Christ's sake. Amen.