Transcript

In Enterprise, Alabama they have a very unusual monument. They have a monument to an insect, the boll weevil. Turns out that many years ago, the cotton crop was all but destroyed by this pest. Researchers were brought in to find out what could be done, and the researchers suggested that they grow peanuts instead. And it turned out that the peanut crop brought in much more money, was much better crop than the cotton ever was. So, out of appreciation to the boll weevil for starting in on the process of finding out that they needed to plant and and grow peanuts, they built this monument. Which, you know, I bet if you talk to the redeemed of that area, they’d tell you it wasn’t the boll weevil, it was the God of Providence that took care of their need. The God who is sovereign. They’d tell you, we’re convinced the Lord did all of that.

That’s something the apostle Paul knew, along with a couple of other truths that enabled him to face difficult days. Days of intense persecution and valleys and trials, but yet faced them with peace and contentment. Because he was convinced of three truths I want to share with you this morning. Look with me, if you will, over to Philippians chapter one as we continue our study straight through this New Testament book. If you’re visiting with us today, we just go straight through books of the Bible. We come today to Philippians chapter one, beginning in verse 12. And Paul finds himself in a Roman prison. And from that Roman prison he writes this epistle. That’s what the the word epistle is. It’s a letter. He writes this letter to the first church in Europe, the church at Philippi. We have it today as our book of Philippians, and I’ve entitled the message Joy in jail. Joy in jail.

Verse 12 [Philippians 1:12]. Let’s read the text. Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole Pretorian guard. And to everyone else, and that most of the brethren believing in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the Word of God without fear. Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also do it from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaimed Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice.

Now I told you, when we begin this book, we’re going to learn a lot about having peace through the storms of life. We’re going to learn a lot from this man, this dedicated Christian, the Apostle Paul, about how to face the difficulties and the trials and the challenges without losing your joy. Now, there are three things that I draw from the text, and actually other places also, but three things I believe must be understood. If you’re going to understand how does Paul maintain this kind of a spirit? Though locked in prison, and even in prison, there are those out there who are who are contaminate eating the gospel, preaching it in pretense, which means with some error in it, in order just to cause him grief. In order to make his chains gall him. Yet in the midst of all that, he’s fine. He’s content. He has peace. He has joy in jail.

How does he do it? Number one, if you’re going to be able to have joy in jail concerning the situations of your life, number one, you must be committed to life’s purpose. Paul was committed to life’s purpose. You see, the life without Jesus Christ has no true purpose. Underline true in that sentence — has no true purpose. The life without Christ is like a spinning top. It spins round and round and round. I mean, we go to work to pay the bills, to have some fulfillment and pleasure, to go back to work, to pay some more bills, to have some pleasure, to go back to work and pay the bills and have some more pleasure. And the cycle goes round and round, and round, and round. Can you imagine anything more empty than just having that as your life? The life without Christ has no true purpose. And you see, a top it’s big at the head and small at the base, and it can only stand as long as it’s spinning. And that’s the way the life is without Jesus Christ. As long as it’s spinning, it sort of holds together. But let it slow down and evaluate what’s really going on — why am I really here? And it falls apart. There’s no foundation if it’s not spinning round and round and round, so is the life without Jesus Christ. You may picture your life as a stack of dollar bills every day. You’re spending your life. Every day your life is passing by. Every day spending it. What are you getting in exchange for your life? Well, I’m going to work paying the bills. Surely there’s more. Surely there is — and there truly is.

Paul can show us Paul was committed to life’s true purpose. Now we can summarize it in a very broad way, in more abstract way, by saying the purpose of life is to glorify God. But I don’t want to talk about that. Let’s get down more to where the rubber meets the road. What is life’s true purpose? Twofold. Very simple. But I mean it all lays right here. And this two fold principle — number one, to become more like Jesus. Secondly, to help others, to become more like Jesus. And that brings God glory. That’s it. Matters not what your vocation or where you are. God’s true purpose for you is to grow, to become more and more like Christ, and also to use your area of influence or wherever you are in life, to help others become more like Christ. And that of course, gives him glory. Now what is the what else is there to give your life to? If you give your life for the things of the world, for money or material possessions or the pleasures of the world that doesn’t make any sense.

Listen to 1 Timothy 6:10. Listen to this verse: For the love of money — that’s not saying money in itself is bad, but the love of money, living for it as your purpose — and of course, that includes all that money can obtain and buy, possessions are pleasure, whatever. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many a pain. So in the New Testament, as as Paul is writing to his understudy Timothy, he says, living for the world and the possessions and the pleasures of the world will just cause you a lot of pain. That doesn’t make any sense. In Ecclesiastes 5:10, the Old Testament tells us the same: he who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity.

The Apostle Paul had great wisdom. He was committed to the true purpose in life, to grow as a Christian, to become more like Christ, and then influence others, to become more like Christ. So to the Apostle Paul, it mattered not what his situation or his circumstances in life. If his situation or his circumstance could make him more like Christ, or was an arena where he could help others become more like Christ, he was content. His purpose was still there. He’d lost nothing. I used to make the statement, and I believe it still holds true for my own life. Put me in a cardboard box in a ditch. If there’s one other person there that needs to be saved, or grow as a Christian, I’ve got a purpose. Who can take that away? You see, my friend, insecurity is putting your confidence or your trust in something that can be taken away from you? If you put it in money, it can be taken away. If you put it in fame or popularity, well, that can flee like a vapor. If you put it in somebody else, they will disappoint you. If you put it in a certain job or career, that may vanish. My friend, security in life is having as your true purpose something that cannot be taken away and living for Christ cannot be taken away. Though they slay me, I’ll just go to praise him and that’s my purpose any way to bring him glory? Wow, how the Apostle Paul had this thing anchored down.

And this is not just for preachers like Paul, or your pastor. It is for everyone. I thought of a brother, J.D. Bernie, who had the joy in children’s church just this last week to sit down with a little Michael Skaggs and let Michael Skaggs just trust Christ as Lord and Savior. And I thought about J.D., how God’s allowed him to be a successful business man for so many years and and well-respected in the community as a good man. But I thank God that by his grace, J.D. knows that life’s purpose is much more than that. Much more than that. For if the business goes tomorrow and pray that it doesn’t. But if it did, he still got a reason to live. There’s another little boy in children’s church that might need to know Jesus. And though I’m the finest businessman of the wealthiest man, or whatever it may be, when I get to heaven and I sit at the feet of Christ, only what I did for him will count. Only what I did for him will last.

In the frigid waters off of Greenland’s coast, there are countless icebergs, and they tell us it’s not unusual to see the small icebergs floating in one direction and those large, gigantic icebergs going in another direction. The reason they tell us is that the small icebergs do not go very deep in the water, and they’re driven by the shifting winds that blow. But the large icebergs are down deep into the water, and they’re carried along by the consistent and deep ocean currents. I believe that’s what God is telling us here. Sure, you’ve got to get a good job. Sure, you ought to work hard. Sure, you ought to get ahead. Sure, you want to make a good living? Sure, you ought to try to have a nice home or a fine car. That in and of itself is not evil, but deeper than that, and more foundational than that, God says he wants you to be carried along by the consistent motivational current of the Holy Spirit of God that says, live for Christ. Live for Christ. My friend, if that is not your foundation, when the storm comes, you will fall apart. You won’t have joy in jail.

Paul had that. What wisdom he had. He was committed to life’s purpose. But secondly, I want us notice here together the second thing that was true in Paul’s life that gave him this peace and contentment, no matter what was going on around him, was that he was confident of the Lord’s providence. Confident of the Lord’s providence. He knew that God was in control. What do we mean by providence? Simply that God is sovereign. That he is absolutely controlling everything and orchestrating it together for his divine purposes. That there are no coincidences on planet Earth. I mean, God causes some things to happen, and God allows some things to happen, but things just don’t happen. God is sovereign. So Paul knew wherever I am, I may not can figure it out now. I may not see it just yet, but at least when I get to heaven, I’ll understand what all he was doing and what he was accomplishing. He was convinced he was confident of God’s providence. Friend, when you face a storm, the only way you’re going to make it with any joy and contentment and peace is if you know, that you know, that you know the God that you serve is absolutely provident and providentially involved in your circumstance. And my friend, listen to me, if he is not a God that is big enough to be that — I don’t want to serve him, or worship him. I don’t want a God that can’t keep up with the situations and the circumstances of my life. Amen. I mean, my goodness, that makes him just a little above man — but he is absolutely sovereign.

Now, there’s a two fold aspect to his providence that I think we need to understand. Number one, God is controlling all events that concern me for my good. God is controlling all the events of my life that concern me for my good. Everything that happens — now, the Bible does not promise that everything that happens to you is good in and of itself. But the Bible says he works it all together for your good. And like the Apostle Paul, if we’re going to get through the the vicious persecutions and storms and trials and difficulties and heartaches of life with contentment and peace. If we’re going to have joy in our jail, we better be confident of the Lord’s providence. That we know, that we know all things that happen to us are working together for our good.

Listen to Romans 8:28, and we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, and to those who are called according to his purpose. And then I want to jump down to Romans 8:31. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? See, God is absolute providential in everything that’s happening to you, and God loves you and he’s for you. You cannot see the end product yet, any more than my two little girls can explain all the reasons behind what I’m doing. I have a little savings account. I’m trying to put money back for them to go to school. They couldn’t understand that at this point, but one day they’ll understand it and appreciate it. Amen. My friend. There’s a lot of things you can’t understand right now. Just as those little girls may not get that money at this point, and they may feel like, well, I’d rather have it now. So there are things in your life that are not working out right now, the way you think they ought to work out. But one day you’ll be so glad God did it His way. God is working it all out together for your good.

I want you to claim that in your heart. I want you to leave here. Don’t you leave here with some sort of Mickey Mouse God, you can put a little box on your shelf because you’ve got him all figured out. You leave here submitted to the God of creation, the God of the universe, who is orchestrating every tiny event of all the universe together for your good. Whether you can understand it or not. That’s the God we serve. That’s the God we know. That’s the God of Scripture. That’s the God that is worthy of all of our lives surrendered to him. Well, look at verse 18. Paul shows us he was confident of the Lord’s providence when he tells us here: What then, only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth… Paul says, now that I’m locked up in prison, there are some of my rivals out there, some people who hate me. And he’s got to be talking about the Judaizers because Paul had so defeated the Judaizers in the East, and now they’ve got a chance. You see, of where Paul would go, he’d do the work. God would use him to start the churches. Then that the rascals would come in. The Bible calls them creeps. They crept in unaware of, Jude says. Then they would come in and start saying, “oh, now what Paul said is good, but we know the real way. You’ve got to add the Law of Moses and with the grace of Jesus Christ, then that’s the real truth”. And so these Judaizers. So, man, we finally got a chance. Oh, Paul’s locked up. And man, we’ll gall him. We’ll go to the churches and preach our doctrines.

And Paul says, that’s all right. Got to take care of it. God’s God’s sovereign. God knows I’m locked up. God knows I can’t be out there defending the truth. So if that’s the way God wants it, at least they’re preaching something about Jesus. And hallelujah, at least Jesus is being proclaimed. Man, that’s why I look at it, isn’t it? You think God’s work depends upon Jeff Noblit or Billy Graham or you or anybody else? Absolutely not. I just want to be used and available as he wants me to be, where he wants me to be. And if I can’t address something or deal with something and it looks like, boy, somebody needs to deal with that, that’s going down the tube over there. Well, hallelujah. If God wanted it dealt with, he’d have somebody dealing with it. Paul had joy and peace because he was confident God was provident and in control. What then, only that in every way. Verse 18, whether in pretense are in truth, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice.

Now, first of all, we said under God’s providence that every event, God’s controlling, every event concerning us for our good. Now the second aspect under God’s providence is God is controlling all events that concern me for his glory. All all the events that I face in my life and in my circumstances. God, the sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God of the universe is orchestrated and controlling every part of it, not only for my good — we’ve talked about that — but for his glory. For his glory.

Now notice in verses 14 through 17 of our text, Paul talks about how God’s working it all together and working it all out. Look at verse 14. Well, let’s just start back up in verse 12. Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out. Literally, you could translate that phrase, have fallen out rather. In other words, it just I got the circumstances, but it’s fallen out to where what it’s worked out for the greater progress of the gospel. He said, man, you’d think the key prophet and preacher and apostle of the the New Testament church being locked in prison would hurt the cause of the gospel of Christ. Paul says, absolutely not. Me being locked up has helped the progress of the gospel. Notice verse 13, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole Pretorian guard and to everyone else.

Now notice, first of all, Paul says, listen, though, I’m locked up here. I’m locked up in association with the Pretorian guard. Now, not that the Pretorian guard was locked up with him, but possibly the prison was was where these men were stationed and stayed. Now, the Pretorian guard was a notorious and very popular group of handpicked soldiers. They were very influential. They became so popular that even the governors had to deal with these guys and negotiate with them about how they govern. So, Paul says, hey, this is great. I’m locked up to these guys from time to time, and I’m around them all the time, and I’m getting to lead them to Jesus. Isn’t that great? Some of the most influential men in Rome. I’m leading them to Christ. They thought that, that imprisoning me would hurt the cause of Christ. It’s helping the cause of Christ. And not only the pretorian guard. He says, man, it’s become well known to everyone. In other words, he’s saying this. It’s become known everywhere that Jesus is worth proclaiming, living for, and standing for, even if it means going to jail. And as my testimony covers the land, that it’s worth going to prison to stay faithful to Jesus, it’s giving more people the boldness to live for Jesus.

Look what he says in verse 14. And that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the Word of God without fear. There are probably a lot of guys that God had called to preach, but they were sort of timid. They were intimidated because in this day you could be badly persecuted for naming the name of Christ. But when they saw that Paul would go to prison for Christ, and that Paul could keep his joy in prison, then it didn’t matter anymore. They said, well, Hallelujah, if God can do it for Paul, God can do it for us. And they went forth lost their timmidness through their fear to the wind, and went forward proclaiming and preaching Jesus. Paul says, I want you know God’s working in it all out for his glory? He’s worked it all out for his glory.

Look at verse 15. Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from goodwill. He said, yeah, there’s some rascals out there. Folks, they’ve always been out there. I mean, in Paul’s day we had people proclaiming the name of Jesus and their doctrine so wacked up and wacky and weird and shallow non-biblical. And we’ve got it today. Turn on your television, take your pick. But still, you know, a lot of people get saved through that. The man that handed me the bulletin right here in front of this door, Jamie Thompson, was committed his life to Christ, watching one of the wackiest guys in the world on TV. — but he shared Jesus. Isn’t that good. I think that’s good. Paul says, hey, that’s good. Sure, I don’t rejoice in the false doctrine they’re putting with it, but they’re getting Jesus out and God knows what he’s doing.

Verse 16, the latter do it out of love. In other words, the one who are doing it for good will, they love me and they love the cause of Christ. I can sort of picture, let’s say I was locked up in Muscle Shoals for preaching Christ. I guarantee you, some of you would stand for Jesus stronger than you’ve ever stood before. You would. You’d say, if it’s worth, Brother Jeff going to jail if he’s willing to go to jail to stay true to Jesus, then I want to stand for Jesus. There’s something about your leader suffering for Christ sake, that I bring out the best in the rest. That’s what he’s saying. The latter do it out of love. They love me and they love the gospel. They love Christ. Knowing that I’m appointed for the defense of the gospel. Verse 17, the former… That’s the rascals, for crying, proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress and my imprisonment. He said. There’s some out there that that are teaching things about Christ, contrary to what I know to be true about Christ, but they’re just trying to gall me and my chain. But it doesn’t work. I’m rejoicing all the more. I am convinced. I am confident of God’s providence. I am convinced of God’s providence.

God has graciously allowed me to block out some very painful events from my childhood and early years and friends at the time when I walked through some things and don’t feel sorry for me. Jesus been all I need. I mean no more pity party for me, I found Jesus, but as I look back now, I would… It was a horrific period, but now I wouldn’t trade it for anything because those events caused me to lean on and trust God in ways I never would have, had I not walked through them. And have made me a better father and a better husband, and a much better pastor than I would have been otherwise. Folks, I want to tell you, I’m convinced of the providence of God. I’m convinced of it.

In Exodus 4:11, God spoke and said, who has made man’s mouth? You see, Moses was saying, Lord, I don’t know how to speak God. I stutter, I can’t talk. Good God, I wouldn’t be a good leader. Spokesman for your people. I can’t speak well. And God responds back. Said, well, who made man’s mouth anyway? Who makes him dumb? or deaf? or seeing, or blind? is it not I, the Lord? Tie that one on. There goes the whole abortion industry right there. Well you see, this little child is going to be deformed? God says, who made it that way? Is it not I, the Lord? In other words, I’ve got a sovereign purpose. You may not understand till you get to heaven, but don’t play God. Don’t play God. Let me be the God of this thing. God is absolutely sovereign.

In Proverbs 16:4, the Bible says, the Lord has made everything for its… And I don’t think that’s the best translation, not its own purpose. But God has made everything for His own purpose, even the wicked for the day of destruction. God says, I’ve even caused or allowed the wicked that I can destroy them one day, and I’ll get the glory. Tie that one on. Think about that one for a while. My friend, God is absolutely sovereign. He is absolutely, absolutely providential. And everything that happens on planet Earth.

Now, thinking about the awesomeness of this, the great Charles Haddon Spurgeon said this, and I want you to hear it. “He that has gone to prepare a place for us by his presence, has prepared the way to that place for us by his providence”. And he has, and he has. My friend, when all the dust settles at the end of the age, then we will see with the eyes of his understanding. Then it will be clear to us that every molecule of all matter was correlated in the master plan to give him the glory. Every part of it. Great Spurgeon said, “concerning all the majesty of this thing, the work is stupendous, but it is done with ease, because the worker is infinite”.

Man, I can’t understand that. Paul says, I am here and I have joy in the jail. Why? Well, first of all, I’m committed to life’s purpose, my purpose in life. I’m a great tent maker, but that’s not my purpose anymore. I still make great tents, but my real purpose is to become more like Jesus. And then help others become more like Jesus. And they got me locked up with fellas in here that need to know Jesus and become more like Jesus. So I still got my purpose. I say, if your life’s anchored in that, no bag can take that away. So Paul says, first of all, I have joy in jail because I’m committed to life’s true purpose. Secondly, I can have joy in jail because I am confident of the Lord’s providence. He’s doing something. I can’t see it all. Well, Paul could say a lot of it already. That wasn’t the way it was every time, but it was in this case. Sometimes when you go through a difficult thing, he lets you see exactly what he’s trying to accomplish. Sometimes he does not.

Paul says, I’m committed to life’s purpose and that gives me joy in jail. I am confident of the Lord’s providence that gives me joy in jail. And then thirdly, he says, I am consumed with the Lord’s preeminence. Consumed with the Lord’s Prayer. And he said, I see Jesus as the only one, and the only thing that matters. Jesus.

Now I want you to turn with me quickly over to Colossians 1. That’s one book over Colossians 1:15, look at verse 15. Notice the attitude of the Apostle Paul about the person of Jesus Christ and all. We could say so much more, but look at what he says, and he, Jesus, is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. Now look at that. Everything. Everything on earth, everything in heaven, everything visible, everything invisible, whether it be a throne, a ruler or authority. Look at the last part of verse 16. All things have been created by him and for him. You know what that means. He has all the preeminence. In other words, he is it. Not, not not that he’s it and were sort of it. No, He’s it. And not that he’s it. And somebody else is kind of it. No. Just he’s it. He — all things are for him and for his glory. Look at verse 17. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church. And he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he Himself might come to have first place in everything.

I like the King James word it says in that he might have the preeminence. Paul was consumed. I mean, wrapped up in everything. That Christ was the preeminent one. He used to have all the honor, all the glory, and all the attention. John the Baptist understood this also, as John the Baptist said, I must decrease, but he must increase. Jesus said, if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me. Folks, Jesus is our focus. Jesus is our king. Jesus is our hero. Jesus is our all in all.

Remember the story of Martha and Mary. You remember them at the house there Martha is in the kitchen cooking, cooking, cooking, cooking. Mary was at the feet of Jesus, worshiping and adoring him. Adrian Rogers calls it meat loaf Martha and meditating Mary. And Martha says, Jesus, Jesus, tell Martha to get in the kitchen and help me with this food. And in so many words — I’m paraphrasing — Jesus says, Oh, Martha, you’re just busy with all the stuff. Mary’s chosen what’s really important? You see, Martha was occupied for Jesus. Mary was occupied with Jesus. He is to have all the preeminence. And we have to be extremely cautious in an active, growing church that we do not get caught in the the rut and the trap of being occupied for Jesus. But we need to be occupied with Jesus. You know how you can test that? Pretty good test. Not saying it’s infallible, pretty good test. In all your busy work of the church, do you claim that is more important than your quiet time? Do you think all that you do is important, but you quiet them down here on on priority number 4 or 5, 8, whatever. No, friend. It ought to be number 1. My time with Jesus is most important. That will… listen to me. Are you listening? That will be the first thing to go. Do you ever noticed that. You can do all kind of busy work for Jesus? If you if he if Satan can just give you to give up your time with Jesus, he’s thrilled. Satan loves busy church work. He loves busy, active, committed religious work. But he hates it when you get with Jesus, my friend, when you’re walking with Jesus, let the storm rage. Sure, there’s pain. Sure, there’s disappointment. Sure, there’s tears. That’s all part of it. But on the inside, there’s still joy. There’s still joy. You know why? Because you were doing all those things for Jesus, because first you were living with Jesus. And so if all the stuff you’re doing for him, he in his providence takes away, that’s okay. You won’t do it his way anyway. You understand? That’s all right. I do something else. I’ll dig ditches for Jesus now. I’ll do something different. If my busy work for Jesus is gone, you say.

And Paul was concerned with the Lord’s preeminence in his life. Knowing him, fellowshipping with him, being with him, knowing him. It’s not a principle, not a plan, not a program that we hold as preeminent. Not a seminar, not a study, not a sharing time. It is a person and his name is Jesus. A, He is the Alpha and the omega. B, He is the bread of heaven. C, He is the Christ. D, He is the deliverer. E, He is excellent. F, He is faithful and true. G, He is God. H, He is holy. I, He is invincible. J, He is Jesus. K, He is King of kings. L, He is Lord of lords. M, He is the Jews’ Messiah. N, He’s the name that is above every name. O, He is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. P, He is the Prince of Peace. Q, He is quality. R, He is the Redeemer. S, He is the Savior. T, He is timeless. U, He is the unconquerable warrior. V, He is the victor. W, He’s the Word of God and the water of life. X, He’s the Xanadu of God, which means the place of contentment and peace. Y, He is Yahweh and Z, He is Zion’s king. He is to have the preeminence.

Now, folks, there are no shortcuts to journeying in this pilgrimage with true peace, true contentment, and true joy. If you, like Paul, are committed to life’s purpose, to know Christ better and to help others, to know him better. If you are convinced of God’s providence and you’ll walk every day knowing that everything happens because he caused it, our allowed it. And it’s for your good and for his glory, ultimately. And then you are concerned with his preeminence. I don’t care what happens to you. Let him lock you in jail. You’ll still have joy in the jail. Let’s pray together.

Father, we thank you so much for this example from the life of this great, great Christian, Paul and Lord, would you free us from that lie that says, well, that’s Paul, this is us, that’s Bible, this is the real world, Lord, that is foolish and rebellious to have that attitude. Now, I want to ask everyone here that’s a Christian. I want you to reconfirm the reality of these three truths. I want you personally and individually right where you are, this morning, to reconfirm these truths in your heart. Now listen, if God’s called you to be a factory worker, you be the best factory worker you can be. You got to be the best daddy, the best mom got to be hugs and kisses and loving and providing. If you’re a lawyer or a teacher or a doctor or whatever, you be the best you can be for the glory of God. But I want you to commit in your heart of hearts — God, that’s not my true purpose. How do you say that in your heart? God, my occupation is not my true purpose. My true purpose. Lord, I dedicate this morning — would you say it to him — in your heart? My true purpose I dedicate this morning is to grow in you and then help others to grow, to become more like you.

And now, secondly, Lord, we also want to live convinced of your providence. And Lord, we claim by faith right now that every event of our lives is orchestrated created by your mighty sovereign and loving hand. We believe it, we claim it, and we praise you. Now would you do that right now? God, we praise you and we thank you for all the events and the circumstances of our lives right now, today, because it is orchestrated by our sovereign God of Heaven. And lastly, Lord, we want to be a people consummed with your preeminence. We don’t want to be busy. We don’t want to be hard workers. We don’t want to be going through the motions. We don’t want to be executing the programs. And Lord, you’ve allowed us to be organized in ways that most churches I know of never get started in. But God, we confess, that’s good, but that’s not the main thing. Lord, we don’t want to be busy for you. We want to be busy with you, and we commit ourselves afresh God. To be with you. And then as an overflow of that work — for you. Heads are bowed, eyes are closed. I want you to stand this morning. Everyone standing. Everyone pray. This is our time of invitation.

And here’s what you can do this morning. You have the invitation. If you don’t know that you’re saved. If you’re not convinced that if you died right now, you’d go to heaven. I want you to come and be saved. Come and just say, Brother Jeff, I need to be saved today. We’ll get somebody to talk with you about that. Some of you need to come and join this church by letter today. You’ve been praying about it. God’s been speaking to your heart and you just need to come say, Brother Jeff, I don’t have all the answers yet, but I, I believe God wants us to be a part of this family. I want you to come settle that today. Others may need to come because you have been saved. You need to come for baptism and church membership. I want you to come after I pray the choir is going to sing. I want you to continue in prayer and I want some to come now. Lord, would you help people to do what they ought to do this morning, come forward doing what you’ve called them to do. Becoming a part of this family, to the glory of God. In Jesus name we pray. Heads are bowed, eyes are closed. Choir’s singing now. You come. What’d you come? Step out and come right now.