Good News by Raymond Sloan June 25, 2023 ยท Cornerstone Apostolic Church (Chattanooga, TN) Kind: sermon Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25, Romans 5:19-21 Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/raymond-sloan--good-news Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page. Free to copy and share with attribution. ------------------------------------------------------------ would you pray with me everyone Lord today we one more time come to you in faith trusting your word trusting your presence your power Spirit Lord that's working in this house we have sung songs today we have prayed brought our needs to you we have vocalized those needs today Lord by faith we stand trusting that you have heard God you have received Lord the praise and the worship unto you with Clean Hands Lord we lift them to you God I make myself available once again to you God I need you take calls from the altar Lord and touch lips of clay today let us hear the word let us Lord God commit the word in the name of Jesus let your glory Lord rest upon this congregation speak to us o God be that open voice in this generation Lord I pray in Jesus name in Jesus name before you sit down would you give the Lord Praise everybody every voice come on every voice bless the name of the Lord I love you I love you I love you Lord I trust in you today thank you savior thank you Lord thank you singers musicians thank you all to everybody that has a part at CA seed from Water Center routers coffee maker uppers chair put her outer and put her upper and all of the things that you're involved with thank you all so much it takes us as a family right working together you you may be seated if you feel like it's needed I bring honor and glory to to the Lord today and I honor and thank all of you for being here if you're online with us we're glad you've joined with us in a time and history when things were in a state of confusion the world was in the midst of discontentment and upheavals in a particular part of History we can see the plans of humanity unfolding daily there were in the world's system of governments at that time a very unstable and unyielding movement in all of the wrong directions so many schools of thought entertainments of thought were in everyday activities in all of humanity in the days the birth of Jesus the Christ let's take a look today a deeper look today into that particular time frame which y'all go with me there for just a moment there were several different types of thought at that particular time the zealots is one of the group they were very troubled lot the zealots were always pushing their ideas and demands upon the world around them and they were on one political spectrum and then they go to the other political Spectrum they had one economic plan and then their extreme idea would trash that and they bring it to a different level these zealots they were called they were loud they were driven to make the splash wherever they were found and they were pushy and very confrontational the world at the particular time of the birth of Christ we know that these guys they would have held much of the world's new system they would have held the microphone they would have been the ones pushing in fact you can read in your new testament that there were zealots that were part of the lot that Jesus chose zealots there was another group at the particular time of the birth of Christ called Sadducees they were influencers in the days of Jesus now these guys stay with me they were not so religious if you will but they they held on to the old school of thought they they had a court system they called the Sanhedrin and at that particular time They Carried a lot of political power of the day they determined a lot of the direction of the ebb and the flow of the religious of that day they had influences they they anybody that threatened the old God's law they were the ones that would hold them accountable the group was very interesting and very interested in maintaining their position in society they were driven by the possibilities of things that would change and and they were hopeful that although they were not so religious but they could have some influence on the world around them they they wanted their Chief concern to be to make sure that they had the most influence the promises of the the future are not so important as the present position they held of course all of us also know another group called the Pharisees Pharisees were the idealist of the day y'all hang on to Pastor mom we're headed somewhere they considered the Old Law to be the Principal they believed it they believed it to be important most of the scribes of the day were in this particular group those were the ones that wrote down what happened and what transpired at that time they they wrote laws they knew the world system they understood the policies and procedures of that law they were committed they were very thoughtful when it came to religious thought these men were the old school but they wanted things to remain because they could better control them the last group I want to mention in today's message if you will in history was the a census followers these guys were the hippies of the day free thought free life live as you want to they didn't have a lot of power they didn't have a lot of political or economic fronts but it was a group of people who did have a strong influence in the other sects of people at that particular time now I stand here today and I have painted for you a picture of another time in another place two thousand plus years ago you would have seen things a very different way than you and I see them today in 2023. the world was smaller of course you can go into some of the historical maps that were drawn at that time very small just a few places that had land a lot of water around that they couldn't understand but the world was a very difficult Place travel was a great challenge Customs cultures the tone that small areas of influence would have they would they would have an effect on simple places because they couldn't travel in and out as far yet in the idea of cities and villages with their different mindsets it was a far-fetched way of seeing things that's very different than the way we see things today I today I'm spending a few moments simply directing your attention to that time and that space of time because I feel like that we can learn some things about what they did then that is directly proportionate to what we do now the generation that we are investigating today there would have been many groups and many schools of thought we agree there would have been many ideas that would have stemmed from confusion and misunderstandings and it drove wedges between the groups of people conflict chaos they would set a tone for explosions in the political world finances economic instability would have driven much into the markets into the turmoil at that time I know that we can study about modern systems of government and see the currencies and trades and see how that nations would connect to other nations but in the day I'm speaking of things were very distinctly different suffice it to say the complexities of the system then is a little different than the complexities of our system today you and I we're very fortunate today that we have access to history anybody like history anybody anybody snub your nose at history I I enjoy history man I like to read about mistakes failures exciting things great things about what happened with groups before us some of us probably have heard there used to have what was called books this paper it kind of be in the middle and you you have you have to unfold it it's energy you know this was a book now this is a anyway a book now we have What's called the information super highway it's at your fingertips on your phone on your iPad on your computer in your brain on your goggles wherever you want it today on your watch even in this particular day we have the ability to read and to understand that in order to have a better future you better make sure you understand the past and then establish things and put things into place that will help you not to repeat the same mistakes that you've already made another time in another place for sure we live today but friend of mine you listen to the preacher for just a moment in the setup of people and Humanity we are still much the same simple translation People Are People dress a different way speak another language do a different thing folk are folk no matter the time it's not important what happened in their particular time set a certain precedence that you and I can read and study about today there are distinct differences yes there are exact differences exactly but the fact of the matter is much stays the same why because humans are humans elbow your neighbor and say you're alive you're a human so with the ideas of the past in mind I just gave you several different examples of different thoughts schools of thoughts that were written about with the understanding of how people moved about and how people understood knowing the possibilities out there I want to bring your attention today to something that happened so very important in that particular day and time a suffice it to say it's going to make a difference in everything from that day forward Matthew chapter 1 verse 18. now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together she was found with child in the Holy Ghost then Joseph her husband being a just man not willing to make her a public example was minded to put her away privately but while he thought on these things behold the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream saying Joseph thou son of David fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost verse 21 and she shall bring forth the son Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying Behold a virgin shall be with child shall bring forth a son they shall call his name Emmanuel which being interpreted is god with us then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had Biden him and took unto him his wife and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son and they called his name everybody say it they called his name everybody say it come on say the name speak the name what's the name now I know this is history and I recognize that in Christmas time in December for whatever reason we'll all put on our our bathrobes and our towels on our head and we'll play this out but allow me just a moment today if you will in the month of June to help somebody to understand something in these summer months even now I know that celebrating Christmas is one of those great Celestial things that you and I both agree is a great time for all of us but there's an important thing being set into motion here and I feel compelled today to help us to see it in the writings of Matthew we see that Joseph was not privy to what was going on he didn't like what was unfolding and what fingers were pointing at him and pointing at the one that he was to marry he didn't want to make a spectacle of the one he was to marry so in his mind he took the ideas of that day and he began to formulate a plan so that he could put her away and not embarrass her nor himself nor or the heritage in which would be laid in front of him but what he did was with all of these economic and political and religious groups pointing a finger looking at him he put himself in a predicament but he decided I will do this because I have a plan that I put together it took an Angelic intervention to come to this guy Joseph and tell him don't be afraid of what's unfolding here but this is of the Holy Ghost and what's going to happen here is going to change all of the future and all of the past Joseph then had to wrap his mind in all of the controversy of what happened with the problems that would come with everything that would unfold as the eyes shifted to them I believe today what Joseph heard was simply this in the midst of the chaos and confusion and all of the religious and all of the non-religious and all the ideas of the world Joseph you've got to grab a hold of a word and when you get that word you get it in your heart and you begin to pursue it and follow it and decide if God is making this to happen I will submit myself to it don't be afraid of the outcome don't be concerned with what folks say there's a law that's in place here there's interpretations of that law there's decisions to be made by the local Court there are powers at work here but I've come to tell you that once Joseph realized heaven was opening up its window and was filling the Earth with an anointed one that would literally be called Messiah salvation coming to Earth we see through history that at this point you and I are very very lucky today we're very fortunate right now we have What's called the Bible and you and I can go to the Bible and we can study the word of God we have commentaries we have all kinds of books that have been written we've got all kinds of information we can draw from but please allow Pastor for a moment here today to put a little bit of order to this I believe God is working in somebody's mind and heart right now why was it that the translators from the Greek possibly Aramaic even Hebrew why was it that those translators when they sat down with all of this information and they begin to organize and they begin to put it together and they begin to associate this one with that one and they begin to look at that one with this one and they begin to put in order to things why is it that when these four guys had an account of daily interaction with the one called Jesus what were they to do with this information now you've got one guy that's a tax collector you've got another guy that's a a lawyer doctor kind of fella you got one guy that's just all ooey gooey you got one guy that just loves people you've got these guys that are part of this family that Jesus called out of their positions and he told them I want you to be a follower and when you follow me I'm gonna put things in you that this world system does not understand I'm gonna allow things to be revealed to you that the world in which you're living right now it does and understand I'm out I'm gonna put things in you I'm going to speak things to you I'm going to show you some things that this world system does not understand when I look at that particular layout of the scripture unheard of or the topics that Matthew Mark Luke and John spoke of notice you'll not see anything about it in the Old Testament save a prophetic or utterances to the future but no way to understand it but in these four accounts something something was happening notice with me this when we come out of the Old Testament and we have prophetic word we have all the poet words we have all the prophet words we have all the things that happened in the Old Testament days everybody understand it's Old Testament something changed though why was it that when the translators picked up the descriptions picked up the writings of the synoptic accounts for different accounts of the same series of events why was it friend that in the midst of all of the phariseeutical law all the Sanhedrin court and what it did all of what the Sadducees did all of what those men of that day did why was it that when these writers pin the words of the man Jesus why was it that the translator simply said this has got to be labeled as the gospel no other word was called a gospel but yet Matthew saw it I've got to tell a good news story in the midst of the chaotic word in the midst of what the Pharisees the religious and those of that day we've got to call these books something what are we going to call them and you'll notice in your King James version it is The Gospel according to Matthew it is The Gospel According to Luke it is The Gospel According to mark it is The Gospel according to John no other book was labeled that why because when Jesus came on the scene all good news began to be deployed unto all the Earth I've come today on this Sunday in 2023 to tell somebody I still have good news to bring to you Jesus Christ the same yesterday today and forever the good news why did they use the term good news because in the midst of all the stuff going on question the controversy and all the conflict they decided man there's no other way we can describe these writings but good news Hold On To Me Hold On To Me I declare in this generation that there is a group of humanity hungry for a little good news come on we've got all kind of stuff going on in the news been talked about earlier today even that's terrible as a submarine is to implode upon itself why days and days and days of coverage when you've got people starving to death literally when you've got sin rampant in every corner when you've got stuff that's being produced and published and pushed into our children's heads come on I tried to buy I understand and I feel very sorry for all of that lost information and those families that had loss I do I prayed for them believe it or not Lord to help them today and be with them but I declare to you this right now when I also in the same newscast I see that somebody now is parading on the streets and they're yelling we are coming after your children we are coming after your children we are coming after your children you better know something friend of mine that is a thought and a doctrine that if they can get your children they're going to get you as well why because in this 2023 culture y'all hear the preacher today if the children are running our world they're going to get your children they're going to get you too don't think it's different don't think it's strange come on we've had past Generations that stood for who they were children came and when I talk about this often because it's my own story I was told you know I don't want to be be present but be silent be there but don't be heard give space for the adults and respect authority in your life oh well that's a rare teaching sometimes anymore come on people are kids are taught now that they they have the word and they have the final say and I've never understood a parent arguing with a child never understood a grandparent getting beat up by a child I'm standing here today to tell you that is a direct reflection of the culture in which we're in and if we're ever going to have Revival and a move of God it's going to be when we go to the word of the Lord and we decide you know what there was a reason there was a reason that Matthew Mark Luke and John talks about the birth of Christ they did but the birth of Christ did not set the Precedence listen to me he waited till he was 12 years old to be heard in the temple he wasn't this big in the temple but he was at an age of accountability standing there and they looked at him scratched their head never had we heard anything you know what that's an indication for that's an indication for the authority and how Jesus understood it he submitted himself to his mom and dad his mom and dad LED and guided him until that particular Point anybody got a reference in your King James version of how old Jesus was when he started ministry what happened 18 years we don't have an account of I'll tell you what he was doing yes ma'am yes sir no ma'am no yes sir no no sir yes sir I agree I'm submitted to it I'm doing it I'm connecting he was building relationships and he was doing it the right way hear me that's why when he walked up to Matthew he was able to say Matthew come with me and Matthew straightway took off walking after him it wasn't a rare account where Jesus just kind of showed up in front of him but Matthew already knew who he was listen they walked in the same one and told you the world was very small at that time when he came to John or when he came to one of these other guys he had already built a relationship with him therefore when it was his time he said come on I got something for you to do in full straight way they didn't question it they didn't wonder about it they didn't drop they just simply got up and went why because he understood I got a short time and what's about to happen in the next three years is going to be so quick you're not going to understand it you're not going to comprehend it even Jesus stood at his first miracle at a wedding and said my time has not yet come and this mother simply looks at him and says what whatever this guy tells you to do you do it Jesus is standing here going mom sitting to play they're sitting the time but oh Lord help me under the authority of what mother had just released him to do he spoke picked that up put that over there take it to that one and when they walked up to the guy and they handed him the wine he said wow you brought the good stuff last why because they under he understood Jesus understood Authority he understood his position and he knew that if things were going to be done correctly I'll have to do it according to the law allow me 2023 and all the confusion and all the stuff that our world is going through men are having the hardest part of finding their place in society why because they're constantly questioned they're constantly put into a position to where they can't understand nor comprehend and you've got ladies that are stepping up because men haven't and there's this conflict and God never never wanted that intended that but because of our world that's where we are it's the same thing that happened in the Bible days come on they had a whole Temple there to the Goddess Diana do your homework figure it out they would lit they would they would take their babies to Molech and throw them on the Altar and burn their babies I've come to tell somebody in this 2023 environment that the Lord God has good news for us today it ain't over until it's over the letter to the Romans was written this way in 5-19 but as by one man's Disobedience many were made Sinners so by The Obedience of one shall many be made righteous moreover the law entered that the offense might abound but where sin abounded Grace did much more abound verse 21 that as Sin reigned unto death even so my grace Reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ Our Lord sin came into this world by one man's offense and Disobedience to the command of God but I declare to you that one man brought salvation into this Earth and that's the good news that we need to be sharing with somebody in our world now come on you don't have enough psychological degrees you don't have enough counseling degrees you don't have enough this or that or the other to make somebody make their mind up about who they're going to be but if you'll just simply bring them to Jesus Jesus has a way of sharing things with them enlightening them on their road to Salvation and come on it's a step-by-step daily walk once you've repented your sins once you've been baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of those sins and you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost now the evidence being you spoke with tongues because there was something in you that was working and demonstrated itself come on friends that is your beginning walk to say I will believe in the whole word of God I will look to the whole counsel of God I'm not going to turn to the right nor to the left my life's going to be a mess yes it is my problems are going to still be yes they are but I believe in the good news that Jesus came to change me and to save me good news so in translation why was it so important that they used the Gospels of Jesus Christ the good news I'll ask it this way today to you in the good news that was presented to you maybe a long time ago maybe a short time ago it may have been just yesterday you heard of Jesus it could be your entire life you were born and bred into this I don't know I will tell you this the spirit of the Lord is new every day his faithfulness Never Dies his righteousness remains his word is perfect sin came because somebody disobeyed but Jesus came and took care of all of that I stand here today and I simply reach for you to let you know in the day that I spoke of where Jesus was born brother John would you please come there were so many schools of thought so many ways ideas things that people could wrap their mind around and they could draw influence from and they could begin to to discover come on if you foreign foreign the Devil is a Lie all the things that you've been through in your life all the thought processes that you could have you listen to me your own righteousness will not get you to heaven but it's the good news you can Desire with all your heart to do right but until you do right it doesn't matter come on we got a world that we live in that's so confused right now it doesn't know if it's male female dog cat horse or elephant it doesn't know if it's red yellow black or white green purple are all in between it doesn't know certainly there has to be truth I tell you the good news is this Jesus Christ came and his birth into this world was established by an Angelic Force what Joseph understood at that time was simply one thing this does not match what I've been taught what I've been shown or what things have happened my father has every right to be angry her father and mother have every right to be upset but angels change things and what Mary had to come to grips with was this Mary you found favor oh okay Mary listen you're going to have a child I all know the story right you heard it you've heard it how could I have a child I've not known any man Holy Ghost is going to move and work in you do anybody here understand what has to happen for the supernatural connect with the natural to put those seed and that embryo and all that stuff together does that even begin to make sense to anyone here come on we live in a world today they're confused they're not sure how things are done or what things are up or down I'm not criticizing it's just the society that we're living in but in the midst of all of that God said I'm not deterred I'm not thwarted I'm not pushed aside but this is my plan Mary you're going to birth a son Joseph but why who's who am I was supposed to marry this lady now you're not pregnant and and I don't even know what to do with that and the angel comes and says don't be afraid of this God what do you mean don't be afraid I have no choice because culture Society the way things are done by law I have the right to kill her that was the law Joseph in that particular moment as the word begins to move in him I'll not turn her away I'll not do I'm whoa I'm going to follow what you're saying spirit although it's never happened and I don't know the road and the path how I'm going to get there I'm going to believe you for what you're saying spirit you and I know it to be this the rest of the story is unfolded that the rest of the story comes we stand here today and we clap hallelujah look we believe we're gee we're people of the name of Jesus and I'm not so sure that we fully comprehend what that means good news is this the Gospel of Jesus Christ still works if you're here today and your life is a big mess and it's all rolled up into sin and garbage and junk confusion lost I want you to know that at an altar you can bow your knee you can repent of your sins ask God to forgive you you can turn around you can start right now in a new life ask God to forgive you come on we've got water here today we can baptize you immerse you in water in the name of Jesus Christ so those sins can be remitted once that happens friend of mine something inside of you spiritually awakens and the spirit of God come to you and he'll fill you you'll you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost why because it is a promise the good news in 2023 for all of your family your co-workers your people you know people you don't know our world and all of its lost confusion if somebody could simply stand with good news hear me parade of people listen to me job place oh come on family know what I'm talking hear what I'm saying to you that there was a man that came he died on a cross for you and for me he loved you enough to give his life for you I've come to tell you the good news of Jesus Christ is exactly what this world needs today if you've ever received the gift of the Holy Ghost I wish you'd jump to your feet right now and begin to declare the good news has unfolded and opened up itself in your life come on lift your voice Lift Your Hands to Heaven begin to declare Lord God I'm trusting you I am believing you I am worshiping you today you've done the work in my life come on sin abounded that's right but where sin abounds Grace abounds and the mercy then the working of God he can relate to those who are hungry he can give to those who are thirsty are you glad for good news today come on lift your voice Lord I'm thankful for the good news oh God I'm thankful for the good news Lord that's unfolded in my life I'm thankful Jesus for the good news Lord that's work in my life come on I need it today if you're here and you want to pray this altar is open I invite you to come come on you can fall in love with the master today you can get to know Jesus today come on come on maybe it's been a while since you felt that joy that God filled you at that time come on this altar is open for you as well it's prayer time in the house of the Lord would you come come on it's prayer time in the house of the Lord would you come Jesus I love you yes I'm gonna Trust You Lord I'm gonna believe in you Jesus I'm gonna honor you Lord all the good news of Who You Are the good news of who you are Jesus oh come on that's right pray church praying open your mouth lift your voice to the Lord thank you what I need today is good news what I need today is the gospel working in my life working in my life working in my life come on pray come on you don't know how to pray open your mouth talk to the Lord like he like you would know him like he's your friend come on Jesus I believe in you Jesus I love you Jesus I honor you today Lord I submit myself to you I so sorry Lord for the mistakes and the sins and the things that I've done please wash me Lord cleanse my heart today Jesus make me brand new Lord today come on you need the Lord working in your life right now oh come on good news the good news is Jesus came Hallelujah I Love You Lord come on with your praise would you call on the name of the Lord today I love you Jesus I bless you Lord I bless you Lord foreign us ES if you get past the Gospels you get past the good news that Jesus comes anybody recognize in that new testament what's written there's a whole series of letters written to churches listen carefully and in those letters that Paul or that Peter or anybody would have written in that letter the purpose was to help and to encourage church that was believing and following the good news okay but you would never have letters if it was not for the good news aren't you thankful the plan of God is not just starting through the process and then we have at the end of what you and I call our Holy Bible a book called The revelation what is the revelation what it's for the Revelation now he says it whether in the spirit I'm not sure but this is what I saw begins to talk about things that are so far out there I'll ask it this way today before we pray once again still believe in a place called heaven anybody come on Wave it wave it hard come on I believe in a place called heaven I believe in a place called heaven I hasn't seen it yet ear hasn't heard but I believe in that come on If Heaven is on your mind I want you right now to thank the Lord for the possibility the promise and what God is doing in the journey to get you to Heaven Come On Come On lift your voice I thank you Lord I love you Jesus I Believe In You Jesus I thank you Lord for your word for the promises the place that you've gone to prepare for us I thank you for that Jesus Hallelujah to your name Hallelujah to your name Jesus I love you blessed be the name of Jesus holy God holy holy Lord I Thank you today for our time together I thank you Lord for the spirit working today in our midst we thank you for the good news of your plan how it all come together I thank you Lord you're not leaving us but you're preparing a place you're preparing it in US Lord and you're preparing it in heaven today Lord I ask you to speak into the hearts and lives of men and women and children that desire Lord to know truth in the word and to follow it help us oh God to love you with sincerity let us get sidetracked by the thoughts and the intents Lord of of our world system Even in our age but God help us to stay connected to who you are the reality of what you've done in our lives thank you for the cross thank you for the Bloodshed thank you Jesus for baptism in your name thank you for the in feeling of your spirit into our lives thank you for the confirmation Lord knowing that we truly have received your spirit Lord with the evidence of tongues and I thank you Lord to the end of time to allow us to be a generation of followers and worshipers that seek after you and hunger for you the good news Lord Still Remains the good news is still the same you came you lived you died you Rose again that's the good news and everything in between Lord is the plan that you have for us Lord let this week be a blessed week help our steps to be ordered Lord as you lead and guide us daily let us be sensitive to the Moon the working lord of the Holy Ghost In Our Lives Hallelujah to the name of Jesus Hallelujah Hallelujah to the name of Jesus to the name of Jesus your work Lord is still working it's still working Hallelujah to your name You Are Holy you are week Jesus have mercy on us in the name of Jesus the name of Jesus the name of Jesus Hallelujah thank you oh great God oh what a story the good news of Jesus one more time could you just slip your hand up and love the Lord that all right just lift lift your hand to the Lord and love him I submit to you Lord I love you Jesus I Believe In You Jesus I I trust in you saved my soul says yes Jesus come on somebody who wants to pray right now somebody needs the good news to unfold in their lives come on in the name of Jesus Hallelujah to your name I glorify your name I love your name Jesus Oh What A Savior What A Savior Great Is Your Name Jesus so thankful you came today oh come on pray somebody's still praying come on when somebody help Rob pray back there come on in the name of Jesus come on man hell pray right now in the name of Jesus come on in the name of Jesus come on in the name of Jesus come on somebody hungry today good news is unfolding right now the good news is unfolding right now Jesus come on that's right in Jesus name oh that's right come on good news is unfolding right now come on anybody else hungry for more of God thirsty for more of you come on in the name of Jesus in the name of Jesus Jesus Christ come all Deliverance in the name of Jesus come on the good news of Jesus unfolding in the hearts and lives of men and women I love you Lord I trust in you Jesus I Feel Like Loving Him Today lift your hand to him come on holy is the Lord Worthy is the name Jesus Jesus I love you Lord yes Jesus holy Jesus word of God do you work in our lives Jesus oh that's right come on are you glad for the working today the spirit of God all that tribe I love all he's going to keep praying they're gonna keep praying I love y'all thank you for coming today go with God don't forget all the announcements stay and pray stay and pray thank you