The Book of Habakkuk - Dan Murphy - 9/01/2024

[Music] Earth us beond heaven [Music] in [Music] please be seated we go good evening good to see everyone tonight a beautiful day today uh certainly not quite as warm as we've had and we're thankful for the sunshine and the good rain we had last night maybe not the football team but uh we did have a good good rain we needed anyway we're glad you're here if you're visiting with us we're thankful you're here thank you for coming our way those who are joining us online we're grateful to have you as well we appreciate if you have any questions be glad to visit with you afterwards anyone online you may uh contact me at the office or at my home let's look at the book of habach book of habc it's a book that was chosen for me to do a sermon tonight and so uh it's a good study I think we've got a lot of good application for us on how it on what it means to us we're going to read most of it maybe not all of it I should have let Brennan read this whole book all three chapters but that would have been a little much would but let's start with verse one it said the burden which the prophet habach saw well his name appears twice in the book both in this verse and the chapter 3 and verse one we also uh look at this man we don't know much about him outside of this book uh there are things traditionally that are written about him but I'm not here to maybe share that in in a sermon maybe in a class but it's uh things that have traditionally been written some what what is this name habach mean well you know you study it a little bit some say it's not really a Hebrew name and uh so they're they work on the origin trying to figure out what it means some say it means Embrace and Luther went as far to say it was him embrac embracing embracing the people of God and comforting them and so that's how uh Luther Kind of interpreted his name Embrace but others said that this is a root that talks about no pun intended a guarden plant so anyway there's a little bit of uh I guess study to be done on what his name actually actually means but he is called a prophet as others have been called a prophet and we also know in Chapter 2 and verse two that the Lord answered me so the Lord is he certainly is being spoken to directly by the Lord as we'll notice in this book as well as uh God told him write down uh this Vision that I give you and so just like all the other prophets God is in communication with his mouthpiece with this Prophet this speaker of the people people of God uh also it starts out a burden uh burden meaning Oracle or the Hebrew Bible calls it a pronouncement that is to come uh sometimes uh the beginning of the prophets will start the word of the Lord came to me Others May talk about what a vision that God had given them and they saw it and so he this is what he saw the Oracle that he saw from God what he was to reveal about the people of God to God the possible some believe that he is possibly a levite he was of the Southern Kingdom a prophet of the Southern Kingdom but some believe he could have been a levite one because of the way the third chapter was written the word CA is used four times as well as he talks about the musical notes there at the very end of the book and so some believe that that may make him a a levite as well as a prophet and this is written very much like a lament much like the Psalms and you've been studying that in Wednesday's class if you want more detail you can talk to Shelby because she just finished or at least studied this past Wednesday on that very very topic lament the people that preached during this time was Jeremiah zephan IAH and hula those were the three prophets that were contemporary to habach his message is an interesting message it's not like most of the prophets but this one he is complaining to God on behalf of the people that makes it an unusual book from the prophets instead of God talking about this is what I'm going to do because of the sins of my people that's the way a lot of the prophetic books both the large and the Minor Prophets uh and so this makes it unique in that sense he has been called by some as the troubled prophet he has been called the complaining prophet he has been called the voice of the crowd because he's speaking on behalf of those that he is among he has also been called the honest doubter as well now when was this book written well anytime time you talk about a book being written you'll see a variation but this was probably written between 612 and 606 BC some may put it down around 600 BC but most likely it was before 605 because that was when the they took control really of Jerusalem even though they had a ruler in place a Jewish ruler but they had taken their first captives then and after 605 of course Babylon had uh conquered Palestine by that time and so some figure well since this is talking about Babylon coming it could not be before uh these these periods of time 605 and of course the whole city fell in six in 586 the um Jeremiah 22 some believe that this would fit about the time that jeho Kim was ruling there in Jerusalem and so you can read that his name is mentioned there in verse 18 jeho Kim so that's just some some study there you can kind of look at some other notes as well but what are the themes what are some thoughts that are probably going to come from this book that stand out first of all one thought that come that comes to mind when you study the book of habc and that is I don't understand how God's works how God works and that was the complaint that the people or that habach brought to God is that God you know what about this and what about that are you really doing anything here and so it was really about what how God works how he does things and um a second thing is the justice of God God is a just God job 37 and verse 23 Psalms 89 and verse 14 Deuteronomy 32 and verse4 are just a few verses that talk about God being just you could look through Psalms 119 and various Psalms that talking about a god he's going to do what's right he's going to do what's fair and he's going to demand that of his people as well as of the whole world and so there is this question is God just in what he's doing and there two questions that we're going to deal with tonight but it is the question to ask is God really just in the way that he's operating and then faith faith is another main them and I appreciate Calvin leading these songs for us tonight on faith which fits with this book it's trusting that God is handling the situation I may not know all of what God is doing sometimes he may reveal that to us a lot of times he does not and so we are just simply having to have faith have trust that God is doing what he is uh supposed to do and and that also if you read the Psalms you'll see that word weight w AI T is used quite a bit in the Book of Psalms David had to wait for years before his enemy Saul was removed by God now you know we like things pretty quickly but you know here's another book where he was told you just wait God's going to work it out but you just got to wait and so Faith that's where faith comes in and if You' like to highlight or if you want to put a scripture in your phone or on your computer to look at which we'll read tonight chapter 2 and verse 4 and that is the just shall live by faith and this is quoted by Paul in Romans 1 and verse1 17 it's quoted in Galatians 3 and: 11 and Hebrews chap 10 and verse 38 and so it is used by the Holy Spirit In other books in our new testament to emphasize this fact is those who want to do what's right those who want to follow God the just shall live by faith you'll just simply trust God he'll work it out he'll do the right thing and His blessings will come down let's look at the first section here the first give me a click there I don't know why this one doesn't maybe I need to hold it longer but let's read these verses here verses 2 through 4 this is habach complaint on behalf the people toward God in verses 2 through 4 oh Lord how long shall I cry and you not hear I even cry out the word violence and you will not save why do you show me iniquity and cause me to see trouble you for plundering and violence are before me there is strife and contention arises therefore because of this the law is powerless Justice never goes forth and wicked surround the righteous therefore perverse judgment proceeds and so this is what he has to question with God there's some ways we could reward this question God why are you allowing evil to continue have you ever watched the news and wondered God why why don't you do something about this CU we're we feel like well there's nothing I could do on the other side of the world God why can't you just take care of that matter because we're are powerless over here and terrible things are happening to people around the globe and then he asked the question how long how many prayers am I going to have to say before you're going to answer me before you're going to do something about the violence and the misuse of justice and all the terrible things that are happening in our world that we have to you're making me look at this I have to look at this as a prophet and then we could ask the question how how can God justify if he's just how can he justify letting it go on and so there's the question once again of is this just to do this the way God is doing it he uses that word violence twice in verses uh verse three and he also uses the word you make me to see iniquity and trouble he said there is is plundering that is raiding somebody's home and taking everything they have or taking anything that's of Great Value uh there is continual Strife among the people and contention B basically it it is just people doing what they want if the wicked want to take from the righteous they can and so it creates a great Strife among the people and a great contention and judgment Justice is being perverted or as the Hebrew Bible said it is deformed it's not of it's not Justice at all and so the righteous are suffering the law has no effect because of what is going on and the wicked are growing they seem to be growing as he says they surround the righteous let's go on and see how God answers this question in verses 5- 11 he says look look among the Nations and watch be utterly astounded I will work a work in your days which you will not believe though it be told you for I indeed am raising up the calans a bitter and Hasty nation which marches through the breath of the earth who possess Dwelling Places that are not theirs they are terrible and Dreadful and their judgment and their dignity proceeds from themselves their horses are swifter than leopards they're more Fierce than evening wolves their Chargers charge ahead their Calvary comes from afar they fly like evil e Eagles that hasten to eat they all come for violence their faces are set like the East Wind they gather captives like sand they scoff at Kings princes are scorned by them they deride every stronghold they Heap up earn mounds and seize it then in their then their in his mind it changes he transgresses he commits offense ascribing his power to his God and so God uh is replying to this question God are you going to do anything is it why are you not listening well God is saying he's not ignorant of the situation God is reminding them I'm not ignoring the situation and God is also also saying I am not indifferent from this situation he said I I want you to be watching I I want you to be alert with what's about to happen and you you're going to be utterly astounded you're not even going to believe what I'm about to do what's already in the process he said you're going to look out there and from among the people one of the Nations is going to come of course it's going to be the C alans he said I will work God is working God says I work when in your days you're you're going to see this happen I am raising up the calans and he describes them Swift as leopards Fierce as wolves they fly as Eagles and they're going to sees The Dwelling Places of the people and they're going to take people captive so many people it's like sand the common practice it was a common practice by God to use another Nation to come and punish and evil his his nation and other nations that were evil I would encourage you to take a good look especially at the book of Isaiah now Jeremiah as well but I think if you look at Isaiah starting in chapter 10 you will see he talks about the Assyrians that he was going to use to punish his people and they were going to take uh the city of of uh of the north and all that roundabout and what you'll find out is there's a caption in that chapter where he talks about you know he did this and he didn't even know I was using him he didn't even know that he was accomplishing my purpose he said he was like an axe in my hand and I yielded him whatever way I wanted and he's talking about the king or the leader of the Assyrians that was going to punish the North and so God has done this and then you go on in Chapter 13 and Beyond and you'll find out that when God sent these people in to punish his people for their sins he's going to punish all of these other nations and he lists under them in the chapter the specific sins that they were being punished for God chose to do it that way now we may Wonder well you know I don't know about that because that's going to bring up another question here in a minute but it was a common practice even though the Babylonians as he says here they had a sinful mind and they gave credit to their gods not to God above if you go to the Book of Daniel you'll see in the chapter 4 you'll see that one of the reasons God took Nebuchadnezzar and made him act like a wild beast in the field and he just kind of was crazy for a long period of time he said you have given credit for the up for the Conquering of your kingdom you said I I have done this and he kept reminding he said I'm going to teach you a lesson Nebuchadnezzar I'm going to show you it is God that rules in the kingdoms of men and it's God that raises up and it's God that takes down and so God is very active and he had to learn that there in chapter 4 and I would encourage you to read that but let's move on to the second question here hit hit me again guys section number two habach second complaint now now okay God is going to do something he's going to take the Pagan Babylonians and punish the people of God with a pagan Army question number two is that just is that the right thing to do God uh you know how can a he he talks about God being holy he talks about God being Everlasting and he talks about God you know you you've got eyes that are so pure you cannot even look upon evil how can you mess with these pagan people that don't even believe in God who don't live like godly people and yet you're going to punish your Covenant people Those whom you have a covenant with and have promised through Abraham and Isaac and Jacob you're going to take care of so this brings up this second question okay God you're doing something but I don't think this is just I don't know how you can say your eyes are pure when you're taking Pagan Nations to punish your people and so that was the next complaint the next question we might say how does God answer that well he answers this he starts in chapter two we'll catch chapter two here and notice what he says in the first couple verses or couple verse two and three the Lord answered me and said this this is how he answered this how can you use the Babylonians to punish your people and other people he said you you you write the vision make it plain on a tablet he will he may run who reads it for the vision is yet for an appointed time but at the end of it of at the end it will speak it will not lie those who tar wait for it because it will surely come and it will not t God was basically saying what I've just told you is going to happen it is going to happen and it's going to happen as he already said in your day you're going to see it and so write it down on a clay tablet write it down because it God is going to accomplish this very thing well here's what he says in verse four behold the proud that is the Babylonians in general his soul is not upright in him and I think he's talking about the whole nation not just the leader or the commander but the just shall live by faith what we see here as one of the greatest Old Testament statements that have been made righteous live by faith in God they're just trusting God and the way this verse is used over in the New Testament is that what you find out is the Jews were trus in their own righteousness they were trusting in their own Works lawke keeping basically and and so he deals with that in the book of Galatians Chapter 2 and verse 16 it's quoted in chapter 3 and verse 11 but he's dealing with those who still believe you've got to keep the law in order to be saved and yet God is trying to teach them no it's by faith in Christ Romans says that it's by the righteousness of God that we a that we receive when we receive Christ when we become Christians all of our sins are taken away not by lawke keeping but by the death of Jesus on the cross and so he reminded them the Gentile Gentiles get this they understand it is by faith that they're saved but he's still working with these Jews who want to say no it's through keeping the law and so here in this this case the righteous the faithful God is going to eventually return a remnant of his people the Babylonians in the in in the end are going to fall they're going to be destroyed why because of their pride because of their sins that we're going to read of here in just a moment in Chapter 2 and verse three notice he says just wait he says wait here in verse three and so waiting until God's appointed time waiting for God to fulfill this and what's going to happen Justice will be done now is it the way that man would figure that out no because Isaiah 55 tells us that the way God sees things and the way that man sees things totally different totally different man's way is not God's way never has been never will be but Justice will be done how God is going to punish his people and all other nations by sending the Babylonians into them they will be punished for their sins 70 years in captivity then God will bring back a remnant of those who have faith who trust him and his plan will continue on but also God is going to do justice to those Babylonians who were pagans who who were worshippers of God he's going to in turn they're going to fall they're going to get what they receive and so Justice will be done on that Nation so Justice will be done God is going to punish and God's plan God's plan will be worked out I want you to look at chapter 2 verses 6-19 there are the five woses here now I'm not going to read all of these vers verses but I'll encourage you to read verses 6-9 but he he talks about in verse one vers chapter 2 veres 6-8 the first woe there given in the latter part of verse 6 is it's basically their greed their Greed for Conquest they just had to have more and more and that meant the taking of lives of more people that meant more violence and so they were going to be pun punished for that second of all the second woe in verses 9- 11 talks about their pride their pride and it goes back to Daniel chapter 4 the the commander Nebuchadnezzar said you know this is my kingdom I have built it this is mine and so his pride was in himself and so they built this Empire at the expense of the lives of other people Godless gain they were basically on a killing spree just so they could build a name among the Babylonians and in the Third Woe Is in chapter 2 verse 11 uh 12 and 13 that horrible unjust Acts were committed heartless cruelty was done their abuse of individuals uh during the Takeover of their land and then the fourth woe that is given that God gives on the nation of Babylon babyon is in verses 15-1 17 where um they were stripping the people not only of their possessions but of their dignity humiliate and shame many times these captives would be stripped down and they would be walked naked off into captivity part that's part of it that's part of what uh they're being they're being punished for for doing that and then the fifth woe is their worship and praise of their gods pagan gods verses 18 and 19 he calls them worthless they were made of metal they were made of wood and yet this is another woe God is going to punish them so you got five of god-given five god-given reasons of why God is just in punishing the Babylonians for what they had done to all people not just his people now let's move on to the next one not that far okay habach Prayer song this is the whole chapter chapter 3 veres 1 through 19 and we're going to read this it says here this is a prayer of habach the Prophet oh Lord I've heard your speech and I was afraid oh Lord revive your work in the midst of the years in the midst of the years make it known in Wrath remember mercy God came from T the Holy One from Mount Peron his glory covered the heavens the Earth was full of his praise His brightness was like a light he had Rays flashing from his hand there his power was hidden before for him was pestilence and fever before his feet he stood and he measured the Earth he looked and he startled the Nations the Everlasting mountains were scattered the Perpetual Hills bowed his ways are Everlasting I saw the tents of cusan in Affliction the curtains of the land of of Midian trembled oh Lord you have displeased or displeased another translation divided the rivers was your anger against the rivers was your wrath against the sea that you rode on your horses your Chariots of Salvation your bow was made quite ready oath was sworn over your arrows you divided the Earth with rivers the mountains saw you and trembled and overflowing of The Waters passed by the Deep uttered its voice it lifted up its hands in high the Sun and the Moon and the Sun still Stood Still and their habitation at the light of your arrows they went at The Shining of your glittering spear you marched through the land in indignation you trampled the nations in Anger you went forth for the Salvation of your people for salvation with your anointed you struck the head from the house of the wicked laying bare from the foundation to the neck you thrust through with his own arrows the head of his villagers they came out like a whirlwind to scatter me their rejoicing was like feasting on the poor in secret you walk through the sea with your horses you you through the Heap of Great Waters well stop right there he's we see here in verse one of chapter 3 his prayer here he has a plea he was afraid after he heard what God was going to do and that God was getting ready to take Vengeance not only them but later the calans he said I was afraid God is plan is just once again unbelievable utterly uh awesome and he was fearful but what he pleaded with God in this song prayer was God revive your work don't don't forget about your people don't forget about the Covenant that you made starting with Abraham on through the generations and so make sure God that you revive your work what you've started finish and have mercy in your wrath yeah the invasion is going to come but you know what Have Mercy have mercy on us and uh when this punishment comes he he praises what God has done in the past that's very common in the Psalms by the way is that God he talks about what God has done in the past and therefore it encourages people in the present he's going to act on our behalf as well and so they rejoice and they're encouraged by a God who is active he's been active in the past for his people he'll be active for us as well and so he talks about a God who came he came now remember the first question back in chapter 1 verse 2 and 3 God when are you going to do something God it's about time you answer our prayers we've been praying so long he looks back and said you know God came once and he acted on behalf of his people and here's the picture of God as a warrior there it was very common even among the Canaanites and the pagan people people of that area to have their storm gods they had their Warriors that were would come in the storm they would bring rain to make the lands fertile again and yet they would bring fear upon the people with their destructive Powers theophany which is a a word that means God has appeared he has appeared in our world in a very real sense and he has made a mark on us what is what is seen here God's greatness is seen we see him riding on a thunderstorm as his Chariot we see his arrows that are being shot in every direction we see that he reigns upon the earth and the mountains and they Quake everybody Quakes before God chapter 3 and verse three he sends a plague as a punishment m to the people chapter 3 and verse 5 which by the way is just one element of what God typically punishes people with usually there is a sword that means people are going to die there's going to be a famine and there's going to be a plague and he only mentions the plague here but that's God's part of God's Divine judgment to judge and then notice from that chapter one when are you going to act God look at all of the action words that are used by the Holy Spirit speaking to Hagi in verses 3- six he covered flashing followed measured looked shook scattered in verses 8 and N he rode his bow was ready he divided the rivers on the earth in verses 12- 15 he marched he trampled he went forth he struck the the heads of the wicked and he thrust them through with the arrows and you God Walk Through The Sea these are all action verbs Now Is God dead no he's not dead you may think he's dead sometimes but God was acting God has acted on behalf of his people why did he come chapter 3 and verse 13 for the Salvation of his people for those that are his anointed and that's the way God acts he will act on behalf of his people but once again we have to trust God to figure out how he's going to do it when he's going to do it and the way he's going to do it what was the response to God's great power and the salvation of his people well in chapter 3: 10 and 11 you see the response of the creation to God's greatness the mountains trembl the waters overflowed the Deep lifted High the Sun and the Moon stood Stood Still at God's greatness what was the response here of this prophet he said in verse 16 when I heard my body trembled my lips quivered at my voice rotness endered my bones I trembled in myself he will invade them with his troops though the tree fig tree it may not blossom there may not be any fruit on the vines the labor of the olive May Fail the field May yield no fruit the flock may be cut off from the fold there may be no herd in the Stalls yet I will rejoice in the Lord and I will have my joy in the god of my salvation the Lord God is my strength he will make my feet like a deer's feet he will make me to walk on the high hills rejoicing and strength what are some lessons that we learn let's go through these these lessons first of all God is working when it appears that he is not there are times in your life God are you doing anything are you paying attention to me I've prayed and prayed and prayed this prayer and I've yet to see an answer to it so we may Wonder like hagy is God are you going to do something about this second of all we must trust God no matter what the circumstances are God's people were in some pretty bad circumstances he talks about that in chapter one verses 2-4 surrounded by wickedness violence to see uh all of the plundering all the Terrible Things They were doing Justice was not being served third thing we learned that evil individuals or nations will reap what they sow they will it may be during their lifetime that they God will punish them but then there's going to be that final punishment called the Judgment day and God will serve up Justice the fourth lesson is that Yahweh will keep his word whatever he says will happen you can mark it down write it on a tablet write it on anything you want to write up because God keeps his word he is faithful in all things a fifth lesson is we rejoice in the Lord no matter what the circumstances or if they're the worst of times which he described here but Paul wrote from a jail cell in Philippians 4 and verse4 rejoice in the lord always and again I say rejoice you know it's easy to rejoice in God it's easy to rejoice and be a Christian when everything is going well but can you rejoice in the Lord when everything is at the bottom and that's what habach said I will do if there's nothing left if I have nothing I will rejoice in my God who is my savior as well as is my strength and give me the strength to walk like a deer on the side of a mountain stability I will be stable and number six is that it's okay to complain to God we don't want to complain about God you know it is a challenge because we are humans we lack understanding as these people did and sometimes as humans we're frustrated with the the situation we find in our own nation in our families in the church at different time different places it's okay to talk to God about it it's okay to get upset it's okay to say God why when are you going to answer God God's big enough he handled it he handled it and answered people of God through the prophet habach and the last lesson is the Lord serves using vessels of Mercy and vessels of Wrath and read Romans chapter n God said Israel is My Chosen she is a vessel of mercy and then he talked about Jacob and Esau I love Jacob but not Esau well how could God do that well he explained that as in the writing Pharaoh on the other hand was a vessel of Wrath why because he had a hard heart he didn't have an open heart like Lydia did in the book of Acts he had a hard heart and God just used him as a vessel of Wrath because that's the Jo that's the way he wanted to go so to understand that if I want to be used as a vessel of God then I need to have the heart that's right with God if I want God to use me as a vessel of Mercy then I've got to be right with God so he'll use me that way but if I want to be stubborn if I don't want to listen to God if I want to do things my way then God will use you as a vessel of Wrath and you can just mess mess things up and then you can come back and say well you know God you were right just understand God does work but we have a choice in the matter of what kind of vessel we want to be used as on God's behalf if anyone here would like to respond we encourage you to do so by coming to Christ he died for you on the cross he loves you dearly and what he wants you to do is become his child he wants you in heaven forever with him when life is no more what a wonderful blessing what good news it's all made possible through Christ taking our place on the cross do you believe that are you willing to turn to that Christ are you willing to live for him are you willing tonight to be buried with him in baptism that you can wash your sins away and you rise up to walk a new life as a Christian as a Christian if you need prayer if you need encouragement you come now as we stand and as we sing [Music] of L [Music] are you [Music] by theor are you was in the blood of the [Music] Lamb theing of [Music] in the blood of the L [Music] will [Music] Ling blood of the Lamb your are are you [Music] glory of the L your G [Music] please be seated this is an opportunity for those who did not get to partake this morning to have an opportunity to do that I'm going to be reading from Genesis 3 starting in verse 1-6 now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals uh the Lord God had made he said to the woman did God really say You must not eat from the tree in the garden the woman said to the serpent we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden but God did say you must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden and you must not touch it or you will die you will not surely die the serpent said to the woman for God knows that when you eat your eyes will be open and you will be like God knowing good and evil when the woman saw that the fruit was of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye and also desirable for gaining wisdom she took some and ate it she also gave some to her husband husband who was with her and he ate it this was When sin entered the world Romans 5:12 tells us that sin brings upon death and we have all sinned it was Jesus who conquered that death and who conquered uh sin and he has given us the opportunity to be with him one day in heaven let's do now as it says on the table in front of us do this in remembrance of him brother Kenny our heavenly father we are thankful to have this opportunity to be able to bring back to our mind refresh the idea that Jesus has gone to the cross for us father we're just so thankful for your Plan of Salvation we realize that uh it it hurts our heart when we consider why it had to be done as such but we are thankful for the Salvation that is offered to us we just pray that you be with each one of is partaking here this evening of this emblem which represents the body of Jesus come to our minds on the way that he lived the way that he died the way that he treated others the way that he respected you and may we emulate him in all that we do be with each as they partake at this time and may be done in a pleasing way to you it's in Jesus name I pray amen if you would whenever the men come close if you would just raise your hand high so they may see you for was there anyone that we overlooked will you continue to pray with me our dear most loving and righteous heavenly father as we continue to partake of the blood that was shed upon calvary's cross we just pray that we keep our minds focused upon you we pray for forgiveness Lord we have failed so many times we thank you and we love you it's your son's name we pray amen stepping apart from the Lord's Supper this being a convenient time we'll now talk about the giving we'll be looking at third John starting in verses 5 going through verse 8 dear friends you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers even though you are they are strangers to you they have told told the church about your love you will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God it was for the sake of the name that they went out receiving no help from the pagans we ought therefore to show Hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth this was a letter from John to GA saying that they were teaching truth and doing good for others our hope is that by this giving we will do good for others as well and those that we support to do God's work we are going to hope that one day God will say something similar to us saying something about the Rolling Hills Church you helped so many you showed love in that Hospitality God is so good to us let us pray our dear most loving and righteous Heavenly Father we thank you for this opportunity we have to be able to lay by just the some that we have that you gave us so richly we just pray that it goes forth throughout your world that it may bring others closer to you we pray for our elders who will distribute in a way that will be most pleasing under your sight to win many souls for you Lord we just thank you for all the many blessings we have we love you to your son's name we pray amen just want to go over the announcements that uh weren't on the uh sheet uh this morning and so uh you all can make note of these uh want to continue to remember um Rick Poe his family this is a nudy the this is the nephew of Judy Tipton uh he died suddenly on um the the 29th of this past month prayers for the family are appreciated I think he just had one sister and and it's been pretty hard on her so let's let's keep uh this family in in your prayers also continue to remember Tommy cocherel uh he's still at the VA hospital and rehabilitation center on leown road uh he and Dolores would appreciate your continued prayers for him also also we U I had three three or four more uh tonight I'd like to mention uh a friend of uh Doug Mansfield Ivan Clemens is really in need of prayers not feeling well at all so let's let's remember remember him in our prayers uh Etta U has Markham has had a change in uh medicine and not not feeling well she requested prayers and she also requested prayers for uh her sister Charlene's daughter Crystal at this time uh few things to remember uh the teacher appreciation dinner lunching uh that will be next Sunday after morning worship uh and all teachers are invited uh there is a sign up sheet in the back please sign up if you plan to come and put down uh how many people are coming with you but that's on the bulletin board in the back uh want to continue to remember that uh this is the Mendy collection uh day today so if you haven't done that you might might remember to do it uh tonight after Services when we dismiss uh the ice cream Fellowship is over at Canan so everyone that can come and enjoy a few few minutes together and uh enjoy one another's company one want to continue to um see what else I had uh remember the college kit program I think the sign up is on the bulletin board also for that uh and it needs to be signed up by next week also on the the 8th and I think that's all I all I had are there anything is there anything yes r yeah Ronnie would like for you to sign up as early as you can uh um tonight preferably I'm sure but uh he would like for you to sign up as soon as you could so he could make preparation for for uh for the meal and and that kind of thing so uh remember the the teacher appreciation Lads the leaders begins next that was another thing that I was going to mention forgot but it begins next week also so um the they will be begin to study the the Book of Genesis so uh they'll begin begin next week so let's keep that in our minds also anything else yes s okay ladies class will start a new study in 2 Samuel uh next W this coming Wednesday this coming Wednesday Cindy said she'd like to see some some more people in so uh let's remember that anything else let's bow in prayer Our Father in Heaven we're again thankful for those that are struggling uh for those that we prayed for in the past that have been struggling with sickness and we pray that you'll continue to be with them and pray that they'll uh continue to do better we're thankful for uh those that continue to improve in the hospitals we continue to remember Tommy and pray that you'll be with him pray that he'll continue to do better we continue to pray for those rulers that rule over us and we pray that they do so in a way that's pleasing to you that they'll look to you for guidance and for strength we continue to pray for those it's lost loved ones we pray that you'll Comfort them and strengthen them in their time of loss continue to go with us now through this night pray that we'll always look to you that we'll strive to do your will in all things in Christ's name we pray amen for