Wednesday Night Bible Study
by Billy McCool
First Apostolic Church of Knoxville (Knoxville, TN)
Kind: Bible study
Scripture: Ephesians 4:3, Ephesians 4:13, Isaiah 1:18, Ephesians 4:1-6, Colossians 2:8-23, John 2:19, John 14:1-9, John 14:26-30, John 14:16-18, Ephesians 4:7-10, Colossians 3:1-3, Acts 2:38, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:1-6, Isaiah 28:11, Acts 2:4, Acts 1:8

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/billy-mccool--wednesday-night-bible-study-35
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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Praise the Lord everyone. We greet you tonight in that wonderful name of the Lord Jesus Christ. that high and holy name that is above every name. Aren't you glad you know that name tonight? Praise the Lord. What a joy it is to be back in the house of the Lord with the family of God. And uh I'm telling you, um we had such a great service over the weekend. I I don't I've never been in a sweeter uh more meaningful service in my life. It seems I say this about everything that happens, but seems like everything and every weekend and every sermon we hear is just great. I remember Johnny James talking about the best sermon he ever heard was the last one. and the last service seems like it's always the best. And it's good to see you folks here tonight. And this is Bible study night. And um uh it is it's very important. I hope we can understand the importance and appreciate the study of the word of God. For we need the Bible said to study to show yourself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. It's great to know this great great truth. and Sister Mul and I had an exciting experience the other day. We like to watch the Bill Gaither homecoming programs and the singing the different ones and and the other night we was watching and brother brother Barber was on that program and she sister Mccl and I you'd think there's nobody else on that Bill Gaither could go left as far as we the one we was interested in was our brother in our church and we we there's something about our church family that is so dear and so precious. And wherever we are around town, we have folks to stop us. And at this beautiful wedding that we had this past week, it was just absolutely so so beautiful and so well done. and a lady came up to us and and reminded us that she was from West Tennessee and and she knew us or knew about us from way back way back when and began to call names and we began to put names together and there's just something there's just something dear about it and what a what a day it's going to be when the The trumpet of God sounds, and the dead in Christ rise first, and then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. It's it's going to be a great great time. Um, we are studying common questions concerning apostolic doctrine. And we have done a lot of uh leading up to this by pointing out the fact that Peter said that I'm going to I'll not be negligent to uh put you in memory of these things though you already knew them. And uh Jude said, "When I uh started to write concerning the common salvation, I found it needful to uh to admonish you to earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. And I gave you several examples where we were instructed to uh uh know what we believe and warned against false prophets and and false teachers that that would lead you astray. There was a young man in the Navy in World War II and had the misfortune of being aboard two different ships that was sunk by enemy uh artillery. But in each case he was saved by a life vest that he was required to wear. And it was a sign to him to wear all the time they were at sea. And he had worn it for a long time. And uh in as much as what he had been through when he was uh discharged, they uh gave him that life vest that had saved his life on two different occasions. And when he got home, he was telling his mother about this because his mother worked in a factory where they made life vest and um he told his mother about what that life vest had done. He said, "There's one thing I don't understand." Said, "Back here there is a tag on it that's got a serial number." And said, "For heaven's sake, why they want to have a serial number on this?" Said, uh you you're going to have it good or bad. I'm going to have it. I don't know why they put a serial number on it. And he asked his mother, "You worked at the factory? Maybe you can tell me." She said, "Yes, son. The reason for that, we who work in the factory are given a number and our number is in that serial number." and and we can know we can go back and find out who made that particular life this and if it was not correctly made they'll have to give an account for it and that's why that serial number is in she said I'll show you give me your life vest and I'll I'll show you that and she got that life vest down and began to read it and the serial number revealed that she's the one that had made that vest that has saved his life twice. Let me tell you something. There's a serial number assigned to we preachers and we're going to give an account to God what we preach. The Bible said that the watchman on the wall when he sees the enemy coming, he is to sound the alarm, a trumpet that calls the the army to come together and defend the city. And when he sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm. And the Bible said that the blood will not be required at his hands, but said if the enemy comes and he don't sound the alarm, he will be required to pay a price because the city's blood will be required at his hands. So what I'm saying to you, we are a worshshiping church and we make no apologies for that. And we we en enjoyed the many facets of this church. There are so many things that this church does from baby dedications that were so beautiful. Mother's Day and baptisms and everything that we do is is the benefit of someone. But the important thing is that we're warned to be ready to meet God and to obey what the word of God says for us to do. A and in the preface of uh my book, Common Questions Concerning Apostolic Doctrine, I'd like to read it to you again. Uh when I when I wrote this book many years ago um the Lord touched my heart and I wanted it to understood that this was not a point for argumentation and it wasn't something for us to separate with but it was something that should bring us together. And this is what I wrote way back then. Bible truths are beautiful and should be presented in a Christlike manner. While Jesus and his apostles were unyielding in their doctrine, they were compassionate in their attitude. We are thus instructed in Ephesians 4:3, quote, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. And then in verse 13, it says, "Till we all come in the unity of the faith. Anything as lovely as Christian doctrine should not be marred by an uncchristian attitude." This writer does not pretend to have all the answers on this immense subject, nor is it his intention to speak unkindly of those who disagree. May doctrine not become a sword with which we wound, but let it be a cohesive commodity of Christianity which provokes us to study. quote, "Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature, the stature of the fullness of Christ." So my desire back then was and still is that we are able to present what we believe as the apostolic doctrine and that it be presented in a in a kind and and and uh acceptable manner that we don't upset by harsh words but we should be able the Lord said and I thought of this so much in Isaiah. Come, let us reason together, saith the Lord. Though your sin be as scarlet, they'll be white as snow. They'll be red like crimson. They'll be like wool. If our great God is willing to uh to discuss with us and reason with us, we ought to be able to reason with each other in a loving spirit. It's important that you and I really know what we believe and be able to explain it without a spirit of argumentation. It's bad. And when the when the Bible said study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, it it's a It's an embarrassing thing not to know how to explain what you believe. Um, many years ago, uh, the pastor of the church lived just across the street from a little, uh, neighborhood country store, and I'd run across there for some reason. It was it was one of those kind of stories they fell sat around with on the chairs out front and whittle with their knives and and spent time just talking to each other and they were talking and they got talking about if somebody was killed in the war would they be saved and as one fell he said you know what the Bible says the Bible says that a man can get religion between the saddle in the ground. And the other fellow said, "It sure does." Well, they they had a they had a scripture that they believed and and then the the other story that I heard that compares with it. The two fellas was talking Bible and one told the other one. He said, "Well, you don't know the Bible." He said, "I I bet you can't even say the Lord's Prayer." He said, "$10. I bet you I can. He said, "Let me see the $10." Said, "All right." He said, "Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." The fella handed him the $10. Said, "I didn't think you could do it." So, the little funny stories only amplifies what I'm trying to say. We first of all I thoroughly enjoy studying the word of God and understanding. Let me look at this scripture again that we started out in the preface in Ephesians 4 and started with with with verse three. And let me go to the very first verse. Brother, uh Derek, if I didn't give these scriptures to you before, but you're so quick with your uh machine you've got up there. This is Ephesians chapter 4, and I'm going to start at verse one. Paul's writing to the the church at Ephesus. I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called with all loneliness and meekness with long suffering forbearing one another in love. Now first of all notice the gentleness and the atmospheric uh climate that he sets in teaching. uh he calls himself the prisoner of the Lord Jesus and he said I beseech you I beg you I'm talking a as as consiliatory as I can walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you're called with all loneliness and meekness God help us to have that attitude loneliness and meekness with longsuffering forbearing one another in love now these words right here indicate the effort on our part of being lowly and meek and then longsuffering. Don't be too quick to to let your temper get away with you and get into a debate, an argument about something, but but listen and and try to understand what the word of God is saying to us. And then he said, "There is one body and one spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism." Now, if you listen to that carefully now, we're talking about common questions concerning the apostolic doctrine. He said there is one body and one spirit even as you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one p baptism, one God and father of all who is above all and through all and in you all. And then I would like for us to go to uh uh Colossians uh chapter 2. Brother Derek, you can follow in Colossians chapter 2 and we'll start at verse 8. All right. Paul is writing to the Colossian church. And notice he says, "Beware." Again, he sounds a warning that there's going to be opposition that you're going to face. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy. philosophy. That's some idea or some belief, some that somebody has got that's not necessarily scriptural. Let no man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men and the rudiments of the world and not after Christ. For in him, now we just read that there's one body. Remember that just now? We read that in Ephesians. There's there's one body, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. And now that he said, uh, for in him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily, and ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principalities and powers, and whom also you're circumcised, with the circumcision made without hands. Now remember Paul uh he came out of a denomination, a religion, the the Jewish religion that believe strongly in circumcision. And uh he was bringing in a new teaching that circumcision had nothing to do with your salvation. And even though he took Timothy and had circumcised Timothy or had him circumcised, so there would be no argument, it wouldn't be wrong to be circumcised. But he did this to keep down the argument and the accusation that he wasn't uh qualified in the Jewish religion. But now then he said, "And you're complete in him which is the head of all principality and power, in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hand." Now there's a circumcision that's not done uh in humanly and with the man's instrument but he said in whom you're circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. Well, how do we do this? How are you circumcised with a circumcision that's not made with hands? Now that circumcision was the cutting away of the foreskin which was indicative of the flesh that was being cast aside. That's why they believed so strongly in circumcision. This was a symbol and act that was very important to them in the Jewish religion. But now then he says that's not that's not important. He said, "You're circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands." Now that he said, "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." Now, of course, now it says that with him, we are buried with him in baptism. wherein also we're risen with him through the faith operation of God who hath raised him from the dead. Now, uh, Brother Derek, if you could put on the screen St. John 2:19, I believe it is St. John 2:19. Uh, and and Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again." this spake he of the temple of his body. Now they thought he was talking about the earthly temple, but he wasn't talking about that temple. He said, "Destroy this temple and in three days I'll raise it again and this be of the temple of his body." But here he says, "Whom God will raise from the dead." In the Bible, we see it interchangeably used time and again. The father will do. Jesus said, "I and my father are one. I'm in the father and the father's in me." And as a matter of fact, my father, many years ago, my aunt was a a strong trinitarian in in her belief, and she was trying to convince my father of uh the the trinity belief. and she went to the 14th chapter of of St. John and she started reading and let me let me turn to that u St. John chapter 14 and we'll go to verse one. Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me." Now my aunt was reading this to my dad and she said, "I want you to notice this day. Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me." And of course, she's there's Jesus talking about you believe believe in the Father, believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And whether I go, you know, and the way you know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whether thou goest. And how can we know the way? Jesus said unto him, And I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. Now, my aunt Billy, she was uh she was reading this and this was really proving her point. Jesus said, "If you had known me, you should have known my father also." Do you see their day? See what Jesus is saying? And and she kept reading, "If you had known me, you should have known my father also. And from henceforth ye know him and have seen him." Whoa. Dad said, "Read that again. Henceforth you know him and have seen him. Phil Philip saith him, the Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so a long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philillip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father, and how sayest thou then, show us the Father. Oh my. Uh, and about that time, my dad said, that's enough. said, "You've already convinced me that Jesus is the father and and the father and the son that they are they're one." Well, now what about the Holy Ghost? Let's go down uh to verse 26. Jesus is talking. He said, "But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance. Whatsoever I have commanded you. Peace I give you. My peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." You've heard how I said unto you, I go away and come again unto you. If you love me, you will rejoice because I said I go to my father. My father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass that what has come to pass you might believe. Hereafter I walk no more with you. For the prince of this world hath nothing in me, but the world may know that I love the father, the father and me. Now Jesus in this in this same chapter he's instructing them that the comforter is going to come. I'll pray the father and he may abide with you forever even the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive for I see them not neither knoweth him. I will not leave. Now I'm reading verse 18 now. I'll read 17 again. And the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because It seeth him not. The world don't see the the spirit of truth because he d neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. Now, what have we just discovered in these scriptures? We've discovered that Jesus said, "When you've seen me, you've seen the father." When Philip said, "Show us the father and it suffice of us." And Jesus said, "Philip, have I been so long time with you and you don't know me? He that has seen me hath seen the father. So we discover that Jesus is in the father and the father is in Jesus. And now then if you want to know about the holy ghost. Jesus said the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him. But you know and that's talking about the holy spirit now. But you know, for he dwelleth, wait, even the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him, but you know him, who we were talking about, the Holy Ghost. But you know him, for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you. Does that sound like Jesus is the Holy Ghost? Now notice the next line. I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. Now he said, I I told you that I was going away and you was grieved. But he said it is expedient for you that I go away. For if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you. But if I go away, send him to you. So we see that this is why we just read a while ago that the fullness of the godhead bodily dwells in Jesus. So this is something we discovered. God is a spirit. The Bible said and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. And when you come to know that this great God that we understand that no man has seen at any time but yet Jesus said when you've seen me you've seen the father this great God we definitely do believe in three manifestations of God but we do not believe in three persons in the godhead and the reason we don't believe that Jesus said that that the Bible said that all the fullness, the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Now, all of God, there's no place that you can go God is everywhere. The the uh atheist was chatting a little girl that been to Sunday school and and he said, "I'll I'll I'll give you a nickel if you'll tell me where God is." She said, "I'll give you a nickel if you'll tell me where he ate." Well, the reason for that, he is everywhere. There's no place that you could be. David said, "If I take the wings of the morning and fly to the depths of the sea, thou art there. If I make my bed in hell, thou art there." You can't find the place where God is not. But you don't see the man Christ Jesus because that is the the fullness of the Godhead bodily was in that man Jesus. God the Almighty wrapped himself in human flesh and became a man so that he could die on an old rugged cross to pay the sin debt for you and me. And and we read that a little little bit ago and I I'd like to I'd like to get back to that Ephesians because it's very it's very important to see what he what he did. Let me go back to to Ephesians the fourth chapter. I I hope you're still you're still standing with me now. I therefore the privilege of the Lord Jesus Christ beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherew with your call with all holiness. Let me skip down because we'll read that. But to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive and give gifts to men. Now he that ascended, what is he that also that descended first? In the lower parts of the earth, he that descended is the same that ascended. And now then I want to go to to uh back to Colossians uh Colossians the 2 chapter starting at verse 8. That's where he warned them. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of man, after the rudiments of the world, not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily, and ye are complete in him which is the head of all principality and power, in whom also you're circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of sins of the flesh. for the circumcision by the circumcision of Christ, buried with him in baptism, wherein also you risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, whoath raised him from the dead. And you being dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses. Now, notice what he's done for us. He's forgiven us all trespasses. And then this is so fabulous, this next few lines. Now listen carefully. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphant over them in it. Now, the ordinances that were against us now at that at that time before the new grace dispensation, if you picked up a stick to start a fire on the Sabbath day, you could be stoned to death. You could only walk so far on the Sabbath day or you would be breaking the law and could be put to death. uh once a year they you had you brought your sacrifice and the priests would offer it as a sacrifice and blood splattered everywhere. Now all of these things they were bound to do. Now their sacrifices that they gave was only good for one year and only pushed their sins ahead one one year. But now then Jesus has come and he said blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his cross. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly triumphant over them. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or inspect of a holy day, or the new moon, or of the Sabbath days, which are a shadow of things to come. But the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward and a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind. Now that's important for us to understand. Let no man begal you with uh of your reward in a voluntary humility. There are those that that will give a a an impression that they've seen things and God's revealed things and they've seen a vision, they've had a dream and and they can tell you all kind. Let me tell you something. You don't need to listen to anybody. Any dream or any vision that is not backed up by the word of God is false. And don't you believe it. The word is what is our yard stick for our belief. and a voluntary humility. A pretend that I saw a vision. A pretend that I had a vision. I pretend that thus said the Lord, "Yay, and though." Don't pay attention to that voluntary act of humility and holiness and godliness. But you better have the word of God to tell what you're saying. Not holding. Okay. Let no man begal you of your reward and voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the head from which all the body by the joints and bands, having nourishment, ministered and knit together, increased with the increase of God. Wherefore, if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why? As though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances. Touch not, taste not, handle not, which are to perish with the using. Now, I've had folks say, "Can you show me the word whiskey in the Bible? Can you this, this?" Well, now this covers something. Touch not, taste not, handle not, which are to perish with. I think what the real meaning of this is anything that you do that's going to destroy your health is wrong. It's going to cause you to perish. There's there's folks that that's got habits that's leading them to an early grave. And you now it's not it's not a an old ordinance of the the Bible. It's something that you live with every day. Which things have indeed a show of wisdom and will in will worship and humility and neglecting of the body, not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh. If then ye be risen with Christ, seeking seek those things which are above, of which Christ siteth on the right hand of God, set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ and God, when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Well, we got got started on something and and and couldn't quit. Let me go back. We went through the apostolic doctrine, what it means, and what are the basic beliefs and what do I have to do to be saved? And the same question was asked in the second chapter of Acts. Men and brethren, what shall we do? That's a simple downto-earth question. Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sin, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Water baptism must I be baptized? Well, that answer to that question is found in Acts 10:48. Um while Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell with all that heard the word. And they the circumcisions which believe were astonished because upon the Gentiles was poured out also the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard the speak with tongues and magnify God. Then answered Peter, can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as me? and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Uh this past Sunday morning, I listened on TV to a well-known uh wellrespected preacher and he was going to tell when you got the Holy Ghost. And uh of all things he read the 19th chapter in the 19th chapter of Acts and that's the one uh scripture that he should have left alone to go to prove that you got the Holy Ghost immediately when you uh made a decision. You accepted the Lord and you that's when you you just get the whole thing right then. Well, in Acts 19 it said, "While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coast came to Ephesus, finding certain disciples and said unto them, "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" Now, is that strong enough to indicate that you can be a believer, but still yet don't have the Holy Ghost? He said, "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" And they said we're not so much deterred whether be Holy Ghost. He said, "Unto what then were you baptized?" Well, does it matter? Well, it evidently matters because he said, "Unto what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Unto John's baptism." Then said Paul John then he said uh John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on him which had come after him which was on Christ Jesus. And when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And Paul laid his hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues and prophesied. And the number was about 12, the Bible said. All right. I've I've I've gone back and and I had underlined the what I was wanting to get into uh the baptism of the Holy Ghost, which we just did. But I want to go a little bit a little bit further uh in uh uh tongues. What about tongues? Um tongues is of great interest to almost every denomination. Its uh popularity has given way to greater acceptance and in some cases harsh criticism. It is believed by some to be demon inspired and divisive, but to others it's believed to be a lovely prayer language which can be exercised at will. Tongues, to say the least, is greatly misunderstood. We find prophecy concerning tongues in Isaiah 28:11. For with stammering lips and another tongue shall he speak to his people. God chose man's untameable member to use as the instrument by which to manifest the initial sign of his infilling to use as the instrument by which to manifest the initial sign of his infilling the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:4 gives this account. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance. Uh while Acts 8:17 records they received the Holy Ghost without making mention of whether or not they spoke with tongues, Acts 10:44- 46 presents the strong affirmation of evidential tongues speaking. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on them that heard the word. And we just quoted and they of the circumcision believe were astonished as many as came with Peter because it on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost for they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. So all the evidence is if you if you start from the the first chapter of Luke, first chapter of Acts and chapter after chapter we gave that uh Acts 1 and8 you'll receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you. Jesus said don't leave Jerusalem till you endure with power from on high. Acts two 120 in the upper room received the Holy Ghost spoke in tongues. Even Mary, the mother of Jesus, was one of those. And then in Acts 8, Philip went down to Samaria and preached. They re they were baptized and the apostles at Jerusalem went down and laid hands on them that they'd get the Holy Ghost. Acts 10, we just read that. Acts 19, we just read that. So, what I am affirming tonight, I'm going a little fast because it may seem a little bit redundant, but what I want you to understand, we need to know, understand, and love this great truth. that we read to you the other night because they received not a love of the truth that the Lord would send them strong delusion that they believe a lie that they all may be damned. So we want not only want to know the truth, we want to love it and we want to be able to share it with great love and compassion. Would you stand to your feet with us right now? Don't forget the announcements. This coming weekend is going to be a fantastic weekend. Now, in 19 56, Sister Mccull and I hadn't been married too long, but I was in revival in Little Rock, Arkansas. And I went to the Sunday school room one night to pray way in the night. And as I was praying, the Lord laid on my heart to come to Knoxville, Tennessee, and start a church and a Christian school. Well, that's been a long time ago. That's been uh 68 years ago. And and now we've seen the fruition of this what God had laid on my heart. And we've already graduated, I think 45 or 46 uh classes. Now, everyone be here because this is the fruit of your labor. These children that have gone through Apostolic Christian School and are graduating going out to the world. This is the fruit of your labor. And let's all be here that we see this done. Of course, brother Smith is a fantastic preacher. You will be blessed. Father, we thank you tonight for the word of the Lord. We thank you for the great apostolic message. Father, we may we ever be able to teach it and preach it in love and compassion. And would you open the hearts of men and women that don't know it that they'll listen and understand and obey the word of the Lord? Dismiss us from this place, but not from your sight. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.