Matthew 26:30-35 "On the Way to the Garden"
The King's Cross | Matthew 26-27 • Sermon • Submitted
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Good Morning Calvary Chapel Lake City!
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If you don’t have a Bible...
Please continue to pray for the various families in our fellowship not here today, recovering from various illnesses.
Fellowship Lunch: Next Sunday is the 1st Sunday of the month...
Adult Night Out: Dinner and Escape Room in Fort Wayne: Sat, Feb 19… 5-8:30 ish.
Thank you David & Ty for organizing this event.
This will be a great time to fellowship with other people at the church… unless you’re claustrophobic.
I actually have done several Escape Rooms and it’s a lot of fun… especially watching all the personalities come out.
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If you’re new to Calvary Chapel…I’m Pastor Marc, welcome! Thanks for joining us today!
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Please turn in your Bibles to Matthew 26 as we continue our verse by verse journey through the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 26 is like a roller coaster ride… highs and lows… and some loops that make you feel dizzy.
The Jewish Religious Leaders plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him… certainly a low.
Mary of Bethany sacrificed a very expensive oil to anoint His body in worship of Him… a high point.
Judas Iscariot went to the chief priest to betray Him for 30 pieces of silver… another low.
The disciples obeyed Him to go into Jerusalem and prepare the Passover meal… another high.
And, this chapter continues in like fashion.
Interesting how these different groups respond to Jesus… not so different from today… some betray and plot against Him… while others worship and obey Him.
There’s nothing new under the sun.
So, the disciples and Jesus went into Jerusalem to an upper room. And, during the Passover meal, Jesus instituted a new covenant… telling the 11 that His body would be broken for them, and His blood shed for the remission of sins.
Accordingly, as often as they followed this new ordinance of Communion… they were to look back remember His sacrifice… by taking bread and the fruit of the vine… symbols of His broken body and shed blood.
But, they were also to look forward to the time He would return to establish His Millennial Kingdom… as He stated, “… I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
There is a coming day that He will return, and we are to look forward to that day… when we partake in communion.
So, look three directions when you take communion… look back remembering Jesus’ sacrifice… look forward in hope of His imminent return… and as 1 Cor 11 instructs… look inward and examine yourself to take communion in a worthy manner.
Look back, look forward, look inward.
Now, today… we pick up in V30… at the tail end of this Passover feast, as Jesus and the disciples leave the Upper Room, and have an interesting conversation as they exit the City of Jerusalem, and travel across the Kidron heading to the Garden of Gethsemane.
The title of our teaching today is “On the Way to the Garden.”
Let’s Pray!
Matthew 26:30 “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. [Luke adds “as He was accustomed”… this was a spot Jesus frequented when visiting Jerusalem making it easy for Judas to later find and betray Him].
Let’s pause here for a moment to talk about this hymn.
As discussed last week, during the Seder dinner… there were ordered events.
In V30, the hymn they sung was not how we think of hymns… they didn’t open their hymnal and sing “Jesus Paid It All” or “The Old Rugged Cross.”
Those were before their time.
They would have sung a Hallel Psalm…a praise psalm... which are specifically Psalms 113-118, with Psalm 118 specifically being the traditional Psalm sung at the end of the Passover Meal.
It’s a beautiful Psalm… that speaks about salvation that comes through Messiah… and an appropriate Psalm considering Jesus’ passion and cross is at hand.
Listen to a couple of these familiar verses from Psalm 118…
The first and last verses, V1 & V29, are the basis for a song we sings today:
Ps 118:1 “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
Ps 118:24 should sound familiar in song… “This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Consider how these apply to the events at hand.
Ps 118:22-23 are prophetic verses and later quoted by Jesus, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.”
Consider the significance of these verses… as the Religious Leaders, the builders, were in the midst of plotting to kill Jesus, the chief cornerstone.
When Jesus rode in Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey, the Jews quoted Ps 118:25-26, “Save now, I pray [Hosanna], O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
So, in V30, when you read “they sung a hymn.” They weren’t just singing a tune… there was depth that truly only Jesus fully grasped in this moment.
As they sing, they left the Upper Room in Jerusalem, and traveled across the Kidron Valley… heading towards the Mount of Olives… during this walk, Jesus again prepares the disciples’ hearts for what’s upcoming.
And, I appreciate that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8)…
For still today… He prepares our hearts to be ready for the next chapter… the next season of our lives… as God is conforming us into the image of His Son.
Let’s read through VSS 31-35…and then we will discuss…
Matt 26:31-35 “Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” [And, at that point there was a Great heavenly sigh of relief that Peter would save the day… That is definitely NOT what scripture says.] 34 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.”
So, after the Passover feast and singing of Hallel Psalms…the joys of fellowship- a high point… Jesus now makes this sobering statement…
But, it was needed. They were approaching Gethsemane and the hour of His trials were about to begin.
I was thinking this week about a semi-comparable human experience that would elicit similar emotions to this time.
A time when you are laughing and enjoying the moment, but you know great difficulty is right around the corner.
Sometimes we call this “the calm before the storm.”
It feels like being weighed down… you’re laughing in the moment, but your heart is so heavy.
It’s like sharing memories and laughing with a family member who is close to their home-going.
Like a joyous family dinner, the night before you move to another state.
Like seeing your first born go to College. Well… that might not be so bad.
Certainly in this moment… Jesus was feeling mixed feelings… and it probably would have been easier to continue singing Hallel Psalms… but, Jesus takes these final moments to pour into His disciples.
First we read, V31 “Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written [Fulfilling Zech 13:7]: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’”
The word stumble in many bibles is rendered “fall away”;
This comes from the Gk word ‘skandalizō’ meaning… ‘stumble/ entrap/ offend.’
It’s root word... Gk. skandalŏn... is the root word for the English word “scandalous.”
Which is a great description of the disciples abandonment of the Lord.
In V56 of this chapter... we will read, “Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.”
And their actions certainly fulfilled Zech 13:7.
When Jesus tells the disciples these words in V31, I believe Jesus is not condemning them, but preparing them.
Almost as if He is saying, “Guys, you have no idea what’s ahead. It’s going to be hard… even traumatic… and it will rock you to the core. You will run for your lives in fear… when they take me.”
I see no condemnation from Jesus here… He’s just telling it like it is.
This is what’s going to happen to Me… and to you… and soon.
But, also consider… more globally… what happened when Israel struck her Shepherd… they were scattered… Israel as a nation struck Jesus around 30-33 A.D., and in 70 A.D. they were dispersed into other nations by the hands of Rome.
The surrounding context to Zech 13:7 is a significant passage about Israel. It looks beyond the cross to that future time just prior to Jesus’ second return and just after.
We referenced this passage several times through Matt 24-25.
Listen to these verses Zech 13:7-9 “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion,” Says the LORD of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones. [70 A.D.] 8 And it shall come to pass in all the land,” Says the LORD, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it: [During the tribulation] 9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’ ” [The Millennium]
There will always be a remnant of Israel that survives… no nation has been able to destroy them, and many have tried.
When Messiah returns, this 1/3 remnant will be restored to a proper covenant relationship with God.
Thinking about this Zech 13:7 reference… I encourage you… in your personal Bible study… when you see an Old Testament passage being referenced, don’t just look back to the specific OT verse, but read and understand the surrounding verses.
There is a lesson in the OT context that will bring a richness to your New Testament reading.
And, as we consider Jesus referencing Zech 13:7, no doubt He had His disciples scattering in mind, but He also was looking at the big picture… what was in store for Israel as a result of what they would do to Him… yet He will bring a remnant though the fire and restore them.
Amidst all the weight of the cross… Jesus looks out to the future… there is light in the darkness… God is in control.
Now… V32. This is one of those verses that is easy to read and scoot right past. “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
When Jesus said these words, they are not acknowledged by the disciples… seemingly overlooked or not understood by them.
But, V32 is rather profound… Jesus tells the disciples they are going to fail and flee, and reminds them that He will die … without using those words, but He does reference His resurrection.
“… after I have been raised…” Death would not be His end… over and over He has been telling His disciples three days later I will rise again. Hope.
And, Jesus tells them where He will go after He rises again… back to Galilee.
Not only is He going to Galilee, but He will “go before” them. He’s going to arrive in Galilee before they get there.
Jesus dies and is is raised in Jerusalem, spends about a week there then will meet the disciples in Galilee… Capernaum… their headquarters… their home.
Where Jesus invested the most amount of ministry time.
And, Jesus doesn’t want His disciples to miss the instructions to go to Galilee… later in Matthew, twice more He repeats these instructions. Next He sent angels…
At the empty tomb, two angels will instruct the female disciples, Matthew 28:6-7 “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
I guess two angels were not enough, so Jesus reinforces the message to the women, Matt 28:10 “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
And, the disciples actually listened… Matt 28:16 “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.”
So, what’s the point? Is Jesus just giving directions? Google maps. Meet me at the mountain.
Why travel from Jerusalem to Galilee?… a 38 hour walk North… Just to head right back to Jerusalem a couple weeks later?
Jerusalem...where He will ascend, and then the Holy Spirit will come upon them.
Why go to Galilee? Do the disciples need exercise? Taking the scenic route? It doesn’t seem logical.
But, sometimes God will call you to do something that is in His will, but it may not seem logical.
A 38 hour walk one way. From Jerusalem to Galilee… another 38 hours back.
Let me ask you… if God calls you to do something that doesn’t make sense… at least not to you… can you walk by faith and not by sight?
The disciples did not know why they were going to Galilee, but Jesus had a plan… and they obeyed.
But, there was a purpose in going to Galilee.
I believe Galilee provided the perfect backdrop to settle the hearts of His disciples…
They experienced trauma and fled… His flock that was scattered… who hid… who feared what might become of them… and then Jesus is back… walking through walls… pierced hands and side… it was a lot to take in.
So, He came full circle with them… back to Galilee where they experienced many teachings… many miracles.
And, the place where they were first called. All the way back in Luke 5, Jesus told Peter, “…let down your nets for a catch.” And, after the great catch, He called Peter, James, and John.
And, now after the resurrection, Peter, James, John, and four other disciples are again fishing at the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus once again meets them where they are, and again instructed “Cast the net...” and again “… a multitude of fish.”
I believe they needed this experience to be re-centered.
There are times in our life when we experience tremendous difficulty, and we need to get re-centered on Jesus… we need to look back to the stones of remembrance of His faithfulness and re-encounter Him.
The disciples had been traumatized… they saw Jesus arrested, heard of his torture and crucifixion, and had been wrestling with the reality of His resurrection.
Getting away from the scene of the crime (Jerusalem), and going home to Galilee was what they needed.
Jesus knows His sheep… so He sends them back to Galilee… He meets them where they are… fishing.
And, as He does… in grace and love… He calls them back to Him… He re-centers them.
When you drift in life… going back to fishing… that old thing in your life you formerly let go of for the Lord, whatever tht may be…
Or, when you’ve experienced trauma, and you’re scared… you’re confused… you’re not sure if you can trust the Lord is real (like Thomas)…
Or, maybe you’ve run from Him (like all the disciples)… know… He will never leave you nor forsake you.
All of this is reminiscent of Jesus’ teaching… ‘I am the Good Shepherd’ John 10:4 states, “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; [just as Jesus went before the disciples to Galilee] and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”
When Peter was fishing… and recognized Jesus at the shore… he was so excited, that He jumped out of the boat and swam to Jesus.
Galilee was where Jesus would restore Peter after his denials.
Jesus also purposed Galilee as the place to give the Great Commission.
Some think this is where He appeared to the 500 witnesses, and to James.
Galilee was part of His plan for the disciples…
I don’t think V32 is insignificant.
Going to Galilee is repeated in three verses.
There were lessons and purposes for Galilee for the disciples.
And, there are rich applications for our lives today.
So, the question is…if the Good Shepherd is leading you , just as Jesus went before the disciples to Galilee… even if the walk is 38 hours, and doesn’t seem logical... will you obey and follow?
His sheep will follow Him… they know His voice.
Do you know His voice? Will you follow?
If the answer in your heart is, “No.” I must ask, have you drifted brother or sister?
The disciples had a traumatic experience and scattered. Peter denied Him. They went back to fishing… they drifted.
Sometimes in life… Christians drift from the Lord.
Thus, there is benefit in going back to Galilee… back to that place where you first met the Lord and were called.
Do you need to go back to that place… to get re-centered on Him?
At the end of the sermon today, I’m going to give you an opportunity to get re-centered on Him… to pray and in your heart re-commit your life to Jesus.
V32 seemed to be overlooked by the disciples at the time… and is overlooked by many commentators today. But, there is depth in this verse… don’t overlook it.
Then in V33, Peter speaks up again… He did so well being quiet during the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24-25), but here… he really puts his foot in his mouth.
Starting here in V33, the Holy Spirit saw fit to inspire all four gospel writers to record this account of Peter’s denial being predicted by Jesus.
That means this is a significant account.
I don’t think the Holy Spirit records Peter’s failings to embarrass him for all eternity… rather these accounts are rich with lessons for us.
At times we all act a bit like Peter.
I love Peter. I can't wait to meet him. I love his boldness to speak up and take action… he’s the only one to briefly walk on water… he’s the one who responded to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
And, Jesus called him blessed.
And, other times Peter really got it wrong, as we will see in a moment.
But, what I love the most about Peter, and where I identify with Peter best… is the radical transformation that happened to him before and after Acts 2… before and after the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
After Galilee, the disciples returned to Jerusalem, and we read in Acts 1:4-5 “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
A few verses later Jesus further describes the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power [Gk. dunamis- miraculous power] when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
This power was purposed for them to be effective witnesses to the world.
And indeed in Acts 2:1-4 we read, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
And, what happened immediately after this? Who was the first person to preach about Jesus… where 3000 Jews come forward to be saved? It was Peter.
Before and after the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Peter was a different man. Radically changed by God’s Holy Spirit coming upon him to overflow His Holy Spirit into the lives of others.
In grace, God did that for me as well.
The Gospels are very real about Peter’s failures in the flesh…
And, the Book of Acts is very real about Peter’s triumphs in the Spirit.
The Book of Acts is the next book we are going to study, so if you’re a big Peter fan… just hang in there.
The first half of Acts is a testimony of Peter’s missionary work… a testimony of transformative power of the Holy Spirit.
But, today we are in the Gospel of Matthew… and Peter has not yet received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and in V33 he speaks contrary to Jesus, and is in error.
Peter’s words in V33 are not as bad as when Jesus predicted His death are resurrection in Matt 16 when Peter said, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”… and Jesus responded, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
That was really bad… Peter echoed words that could have come from Satan himself.
“You don’t need to die to save mankind.” “You don’t need to go to the cross.”
Jesus didn’t need that temptation. He knew the cross was in His future and was the Father’s will… the shedding of His blood for the remission of sins… the only way to redeem mankind.
And this caused Jesus distress. In Luke 12:50, Jesus said, “But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!”
Instead of “distressed” some Bible’s state:
“I am under a heavy burden...”
or “… how it consumes me...”
Jesus was under a heavy burden, and He had been carrying it for some time.
I stand amazed by Jesus’ grace and strength under this pressure. Weighed down, and still pouring into others.
Peter’s words in Matthew 16 were too close to words satan would say, and Jesus rebuked him, and now in Matt 26, there is also something satanic in Peter’s response… a heart of pride.
And, Satan desired Peter. Luke 22:31-32 records, “And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, [Jesus knew Peter would fail and return] strengthen your brethren.”
I think we first saw pride in Peter at the Passover meal… Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” One by one the disciples said to Jesus, “Lord, is it I?”
But, John recorded Peter saying, “Lord, who is it?”
Seems like self-examination (Lord, is it I?) vs. others-examination (Lord, who is ti?).
Smells of pride.
Now in V31, Jesus said… “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night...”
Peter responds, V33… “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”
Oh really? Who knows better, you or God?
Jesus replies, V34, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
Peter retorts, V35, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”
Have you ever argued with God? it’s foolish.
Jesus is speaking the words of truth… foretelling the future… what actually will happen…
And, line by line,Peter disagrees with Jesus.
Last week we looked in depth at how pride was a root cause in the fall of Satan. We looked at the five “I wills” of satan in Isa 14.
And, God’s reply in Ezk 28. God pinpointed pride as a root of Satan's fall. Ezk 28:17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty.”
And, Peter’s responses to Jesus here in Matthew 26 are prideful.
“I will never be made to stumble.”
“I will not deny You!”
This is a slippery slope. When God tells you one thing, either by His still small voice… or by His word… or by a word of knowledge or a word of wisdom from another believer… however He determines to speak truth in your life.
When you reply contrary to God’s word, this is a red flag. You may be on a slippery slope to a fall.
And, we know Peter’s story… he will fall. Indeed he will deny Jesus three times… and it would crush Peter.
After Peter’s third denial, in Luke 22:60-62, we read, “But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” [Matthew records, Peter “began to curse and swear, saying “I do not know the Man!”] Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. [oh that loving and gentle, yet convicting look of the Lord]. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.”
Peter’s pride led to a fall. He spoke contrary to Jesus’ words… then denied Jesus… He sat at the enemies fire… he was cursing and swearing… … and he wept bitterly. He was devastated.
Ps 1:1 states, “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful…”
There is a loose parallel between Ps 1 and Peter’s night in the high priest’s courtyard… where Jesus stood for His first trial… where Peter denied Jesus.
When Peter entered the high priest’s courtyard… He walked in the counsel of the ungodly.
When those who arrested Jesus kindled a fire Luke 22:54 records, “Peter sat among them.”… He stood in the path of sinners.
When Peter conversed with the servant girl and the men who accused him of being a disciple… he denied Jesus… even through cursing and swearing… taking oaths of innocence… sitting in the seat of the scornful… mockers.. scoffers.
So, what do you think? Did Peter set out with malice in his heart that he would deny Jesus?
I don’t think so. I believe Peter believed to his core that he would not stumble, and was ready to give his life… to die with Jesus before denying Him.
Peter will cut off Malchus’ ear while staring down a crowd of hundreds of soldiers… Peter will enter the court of the high priest during Jesus’ first trial… only he and John were bold enough to do so.
So, what happened?
Next week, we will look at Jesus’ prayer in the garden and He asks Peter, James, and John to watch and pray with Him… but, they sleep.
“Watch” by def means “to be awake; to stay on the alert.”
And in V41, Jesus said these words, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
I believe that’s what happened. Peter was acting in the flesh… tempted by pride… and his weak flesh failed him.
We need to learn from this. Peter likely had good intentions, but his flesh was weak.
All of us do so much better when we hear God’s word… and don’t speak contrary to it, as Peter did.
We have victory when we have a humble heart of self-examination, “Lord, is it I?” versus “Lord, who is it?”
We do better when we watch and pray… versus falling into a slumber.
As do those around us…
At the end of V35, we read the words “And so said all the disciples.”
Now it’s not just Peter speaking contrary to Jesus… now all the disciples are going against God’s word.
Jesus said, You’re all going to stumble… to fall away because of Me this night… it was even prophesied in scripture.
Nope… Not I… I’ll die with You before I deny you.
The flesh loves the flesh, and is influenced by the flesh.
You can be a good influence, or a corrupting influence to others.
Peter acted in the flesh… and was a negative influence to the disciples.
Be careful friends.
When someone begins to act in the flesh… and they start to influence others… all involved head down a bad road.
We just saw this in Matthew 26, when Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus with the expensive oil of Spikenard.
Judas Iscariot protested, “Why this waste? We could have sold this… and given to the poor?”
Mark records some of the other disciples were indignant as well.
They were influenced by Judas’ flesh.
These negative examples are recorded in scripture so we know what not to do. The disciples made mistakes, that we don’t have to.
When the church was birthed in the Book of Acts, it’s strength came from it’s connection to God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and to one another.
I see that here at Calvary Chapel Lake City.
We are submitted and committed to God and one another. Walking by faith… waiting on the Lord… being a good influence.
Heb 10:24 states, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works…”
We will never be perfect, but we serve a perfect God, and as we sit at His feet… we are being conformed into the image of His Son.
So, take the lessons of today, and apply them to your life.
If you have drifted, it’s time to go back to Galilee… think back on those stones of remembrance… get re-centered on Jesus.
And, listen to God… don’t speak contrary to Him. He is always right. We can learn from the mistakes of those who have gone before us.
We have a loving God, who has given us His word. Apply it to your heart and life and share your testimony of God’s faithfulness with someone this week.
Let’s Pray!
If you’re here today, and you know that you are saved, but you have drifted from the Lord…
Or perhaps life has just got you spiritually off kilter and you want to re-center… re-focus your life on Jesus… would you raise your hand?
I’d like to pray for you.
Raising your hand is a simple acknowledgement to the Lord, that you desire more of Him… and less of whatever has been distracting your spiritual walk.
Would you take a simple step to start that journey back to Jesus today, and raise your hand?
Praise God if no hands are raised.
Pray if even one hand is raised.