Rev Audi Miracle | The Glory of the Church

Good evening and praise the Lord, everyone. What an honor it is to be in the house of the Lord on a Wednesday afternoon, the last Wednesday of the year 2022. Could we, as the psalmist said in chapter 34, magnify the Lord together? Exalt his name. Come on, let's lift up our voice tonight. Let's lift our praise unto the King of all kings, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. He's the one sitting upon the throne. He's the one that looks upon us and knows us and the number the hair upon our head. We love you tonight, Father. Come on, lift your voice. Lift your praise unto the Lord tonight. What a mighty God that is in this sanctuary. What a mighty God that we serve on this last day of the year. We love you tonight, Father. We lift our praise. We lift our worship. We lift our hearts before your presence tonight to exalt you as the King of all kings and Lord of all lords, giving honor unto you tonight, praise and worship in Jesus' name. Amen. You may be seated tonight. Thank you all for being here. Thank you to each and every one for the work that you put in and the things that take place at First Apostolic Church in Maryville. What an honor it is for my family, for me, my family to be a part of your family. Amen. And we've been associated with this for Amen. many many started pastoring approximately 23 years that we called. And I talked to him earlier today and I apologized to him for I told him I said, "I probably didn't give you $5. I don't remember what I gave you. I didn't Have you any idea?" First first time pastoring, first evangelist we had. I may have not even bought his gas. I can't remember. I probably owe him money uh now for for his time in Arthur, Tennessee. But what a family you have that's leading this church. the Carpenter family, the Hammond family, the Erickson family. You are absolutely blessed to have this family moder- or pattern and model how to be a Christian and how to lead and how to worship and how to live for God. We are blessed as the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ to have them as our leaders. He is my bishop and I'm so thankful not only to have him as a leader, but to have him, his family as a friend. And we are all blessed because of them and I give them great honor tonight as well as you. I believe that we're a product of God, but I believe this church building is a product of you. I don't remember hearing of an angel coming down and building a sanctuary, but God left that up to individuals that had the heart to build. When David looked and he saw the tabernacle or the ark of the covenant rather in the in the tent, he said, "It's not right for me to live in a house and God to be in the tent." And he had a heart to build. The Bible says that he prepared with all his might to build the house of the Lord, the temple. And we understand that he did. But as I look around tonight, what a magnificent building this is. But I want you to know tonight, saint of God, this is simply a building, but you are the church. And you are what God is interested in. He can meet you in a tent. He can meet you in a house. He can meet you in your car. But what a building you all have built, so you can give yourself a hand. Give yourself honor tonight because of what the labor and the hard work that you have placed in this place tonight, your faithfulness in this sanctuary. I give you honor tonight, all the praise team. Could we give our praise team a hand tonight? We We've come to expect excellence every service from them. I understand that's a lot of pressure, a lot of a lot of pressure on them, but we expect and they always deliver. So I give honor to your praise team tonight. I'm not sure what time your normal dismissal time is. To put you at ease, I don't preach very long and I know long is Is that 30 minutes or an hour? I I don't like people giving me "I'll be there in a few minutes." No, give me a time. I I have no idea what a few is to you. So uh I will not hold you long. But if you would, turn with me in your Bible to your book the book of Isaiah, chapter 60. I do feel like I have a word from the Lord for this church tonight. I give honor to my wife, Sister Candace Miracle. She's been with me almost 33 years. Part of my family's here. My youngest daughter, Elaine, and her husband, Daniel, uh have come with us tonight. My older daughter is at our church taking care of business, him her and Wade, my son-in-law. But I give honor to them tonight. I love them greatly and the ministry that they're in. Isaiah chapter 60, verse 1. Arise, shine, for the light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people, but the Lord shall arise upon thee. His glory shall be seen upon thee. Verse 3. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about and see. All they gather themselves together, they come to thee. Thy sons shall come from far. Thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Verse 5. Then thou shalt see flow together, thine heart shall fear, be enlarged, because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee. The force of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. Would you pray with me tonight and ask the anointing of the Holy Ghost to speak to you as an individual tonight? He's going to speak corporately. Would you ask him to speak to you individually tonight? Father, we love you. God, it's an honor to be in your sanctuary, in your house tonight. We ask that the anointing of the Holy Ghost rest in this place, rest upon your people tonight. Speak unto us, Lord God. Grant us a word of wisdom and a word of knowledge and the discerning of spirit. Speak unto us, God, and allow us to be sensitive to the Holy Ghost tonight, that you would minister unto us as only you can do. Let the blessings of the of your spirit rest in this sanctuary. We love you and we honor you and ask this in Jesus' name. You may You may be seated tonight. I want to minister for a short time tonight on this topic, the glory of the church. We talk a lot about the glory of the Lord. The beauty and the glory of the Lord, I believe is without comprehension. That we cannot even comprehend what he is like. We read in the scriptures the descriptions, but we can't comprehend in the fullness. Moses asked, "Show me your glory." And I believe it's so easy for you and I to get caught up in the mundane of this life. We get caught up in the moment, in the day, in the hour. We get caught up in our joy. We get caught up in our sorrow. We get caught up in our victories. We get caught up in our defeats. We come to church and we see people that we saw last week and we get to know people and we know their life story and we know their situation, their circumstances, their problems, and their struggles in life. We pray for one another. We rejoice with one another. We cry with one another. Many sometimes get caught up in the negatives to the point that it almost becomes their identity. We see this in the Bible with people that we don't know their name. We only know their situation. The lady with the issue of blood, we see her situation, her circumstance, her problem, her struggle. We see different ones in life and we know them because of their condition. In Mark chapter 4, we read where the disciples were caught up in a storm and they said, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" And sometimes we get in that mindset and we wonder, is anyone even noticing? Does anyone even care of the situation I'm in? Does anyone even notice the condition that my heart is in, that my mind is in, that my struggle is? The negatives become can become overwhelming to us from time to time. We listen to the news of the day and we get caught up in the conversation starters of high prices, of the inflation, and we lose sight often of the glory of the church. If we could stop for a moment and not think about what's going on in the world today, the war in Europe or the struggles of the hour or the immigrants coming across the border, not thinking about what's going on, but for a moment just sit back and think about the glory not only of the Lord, but the glory of the church. That the presence of God has come into this sanctuary on a Wednesday afternoon, that we walked into the presence of an almighty. That we're not here alone. That we're not here in our situation or circumstance alone, but we're here in the presence of a mighty God, of the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. We're here tonight and the presence of the Lord has taken notice of you and your situation. It's easy to place emphasis on what we're lacking. Amen. Emphasis on what we're lacking. And if not careful, we will place so much emphasis on what we do not have that we fail to do what God has called us to do. What a model you have set before other churches. What a pattern you all have laid before other churches of what is possible. This is not here because of haphazard hoping. This is not here because somebody wished one day. This is here intentionally. Someone purposed to have this church in this location. So, if we can look at the fact that God is interested in what we're doing here on earth. And it's not only the Lord or the glory of the Lord, but I believe heaven looks down. I believe that heaven looks down and thinks, "Look at what Marvell is doing. Look at what FAC Marvell is accomplishing. Look at what my children." But it's not only children. Look at WHAT MY BRIDE, LOOK at what my wife is doing on earth. I don't think it's simply we look to the glory of the Lord, but sometimes we need to step back and look at the presence of the Lord is shining upon the church. Jesus wanted to feed the thousands. The multitude had come. He spoke to the disciples and said, "Let's feed them." The disciples were very quick to point out the cost, the amount that it would take to feed the thousands that were there. Then they pointed out what they did not have. I wonder, the last Wednesday night of this year, could we enter into the next year with a new frame of mind of saying all things are possible through Christ. That if he calls me to a task, that he will equip me, enable me, empower me, and anoint me for that task. My God's still paving with gold. He's not short on his promises. He's not slack on his promises. He's able to do exceedingly abundantly above anything we ask or think of him to do, but it takes the the anointing of faith, the anointed faith of a man to step out, a woman to step out and say, "God is going to accomplish this." As we look through the scriptures, we understand that God would speak to the nation of Israel in very troubled times. No doubt they were caught up in the moment. They were caught up in their troubles. They were caught up in their struggles and their battles. But God would speak things like, "I know the plans." The King James says, "I know the thoughts." We may be focused on our problem and shouting that before the presence of the Lord, but he he may be saying, "I know my plans for you. I know my thoughts that I think toward you." And he goes on to say, "You will pray and I will listen. You will seek and I will and find me when you seek me with your whole heart." You want a change in life? You get closer to God. You want things to be different in this upcoming year? Then you get closer to God and let him rework the thought and the thinking and let his plan become your plan, his thought become your thought, and move in the Holy Ghost as God leads you in that direction. Moses was able to experience things that most men will never experience on earth. From the burning bush to the speaking voice, parting of waters, manna falling from heaven. He was able to experience some things in God that most men will not experience. He was so close to God that his face began to glow. But at the same time, he also cried out to God, "Show me your glory." As close as Moses was and what all he had experienced was still not enough for him, because he had a desire to get a little bit closer, to hear a little bit more, to experience some something that he'd never experienced. I believe that if we come to the presence of the Lord, Brother Sullivan opened with it. He said, "If we diligently seek him, he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." You want deliverance? Seek the Lord. You want the Holy Ghost? Seek the Lord. You want peace of mind? Seek the Lord. Pursue after him and let him minister to you as only he can do. Job had a revelation of the God that he served. But if we turn that, we understand that God had a revelation of Job. God said, "Have you considered my servant Job?" Saints of God, when Job was going through the torments of his life, he steps back on what he knows. I know my redeemer I know my redeemer lives. I know my redeemer. I'm going through troubles and struggles. I'm going through battles and heartaches. I'm weeping and hurting and suffering, but I know my redeemer lives. Please, don't forget in your struggle and trouble what you once knew in your victories. The forerunner of Christ, he saw the dove come down, which was a sign of God that this was the anointed. This is the Messiah. He was the one that said, "Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." He knew who Jesus was. He knew who Jesus was. But if you'll remember when he went to prison and he was in that cell, he sent his disciples and he said, "Are you the one or should we look for another?" I want to step back on what Job said, "I know." I don't want to guess. I don't want to hope, but I want to know. And we get to know God by prayer. We get to know God by Wednesday night study. We get to know God by experience in him. We get to know God through life experiences. The Apostle Paul seemed to have this revelation of God. My advice to anyone that wants to hang out with someone, don't do it with Paul. Amen. Well, I'd like to be with him. I don't think so. Silas tried it. Amen. But Paul had a revelation. Think about this. Paul had a revelation. And that revelation carried him through beatings, stoning, shipwreck, snake bite, imprisonment. He had a revelation. He had a revelation. He had an understanding. This is not worth me quitting church. This is not worth me giving up on God. My God has not given up on me. I'm not going to give up on him. Yes, I've been beaten. Yes, I've been in prison. Yes, I've been whipped. Yes, I've been stoned. Yes, I'm going through struggle, but I'm not giving up on my God. Why? Because he had a revelation. As Job said, "I know my redeemer lives." The Apostle Paul had a revelation of the God he was serving. Notice in 2 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 17. 2 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 17. Moses asked to see the glory. Paul's revelation took him deeper than Moses saying, "Show me your glory." Now, the Lord is that spirit. Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Verse 18, but we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord Notice the latter part of this. Aren't you thankful that Paul prayed? Aren't you thankful that he fasted? That he sought the Lord? Because he he went through all the struggle to get the revelation, then he jots it down, says, "Here you go." We're the recipient. We're the recipient. Notice this. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed. Is he talking about you? Is he talking about me? Are changed into the same image from glory to glory. Even as by the spirit of the Lord. So, as we look at this tonight, we're not saying, "Show me your glory." We're asking God, "Allow me to reflect that glory that you've given me through the baptism of the Holy Ghost." That anointing has been placed not only on us. We don't have the comforter with us. We have that comforter in us. We have that glory that should shine. He said, "You are the light of the world. You are the salt of the earth." We need to experience the anointing in such a way that when we walk into a place, we don't walk in defeated. We don't walk in hoping something will happen. The Apostle Paul said, "I am an ambassador." Now, if that came with somebody that sat in the palace every day and drove the the the best race horse or camel that they had, it'd be hard to relate. But he said, "I'm the ambassador. I beseech you in Christ's stead as right as if God was here or Jesus was here." But this is coming from the individual that were beaten. This was coming from the individual that was shipwrecked. This is coming from the individual that struggled in life. But he never struggled in spirit. He never struggled with revelation. He never counted this earth as his home. Amen. He counted this earth as a mission field. Once we make this earth our home, then we live by the same conditions and standards of the world. But if we will look at this, I'm only passing through. I'm an ambassador here representing the King of kings. I'm here to represent heaven on earth. I'm here not to reflect the image of the world. I'm here to reflect the image of God from glory to glory. So, we see this as God has infused in us the power of the Holy Ghost. I like that scripture where those boys were going to exercise that demon. They said, "I adjure thee. We adjure thee in the same in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches." You remember what the demon said? "Jesus we know, and Paul we know." Can we take that identity on? Amen. That when you walk down the road, the people might not know you, but every demon in hell knows you. Because you're walking in the same anointing. You're walking in the same power. You're walking in representing the same name. You're representing the heavens. You're representing the king. You're representing the Lord. Why? Because he's infused in you that power of the Holy Ghost. And we represent We are not only representing FAC. We're representing the King of kings. We're representing the Lord of FAC. We're representing heaven as we walk down the road. That does not mean we escape struggles. Does not mean we escape test. Because that's part of life. What I'm asking tonight is for us to step away from the struggle for a moment and know God in fullness of his love and his power. He takes great pleasure. Saints of God, he takes great pleasure in showing mercy. David showed us that we need to be able to step away from the pressure, step away from the worry, step away from the stress, and refocus or allow the presence of God to refresh us. There's a story in the Bible. David and his men, the followers that he was with, left their families at a place called Ziklag. David had two wives. They left their home. They left their family. They left their wives there. Him and his men. When they came back, the enemy, the Amalekites, had come in. They'd stolen all their possessions. They burnt their tents, their houses, and they'd taken their wives and children. In 1 Samuel chapter 30 verse 6, we read, but before you get to verse 6, let me just quote verse 4 because it says, "David and all that were with him lift up their voices and wept until they had no more power to weep. These are trained men of war, but yet they're crying and they're weeping before the Lord to the point they have no more power to weep. They're hurting, they're struggling. Notice what happens in verse six. Because I believe this would be an encouragement for me and for you going into a brand new year that we don't know what we do not know. What trial or test we're going to face. David was greatly distressed. For the people spake of stoning him. Because the soul of all the people was grieved. Every man for his sons and for his daughters. But notice what David did because he had to separate himself from the stress. He had to separate himself from the struggle for a moment. That's not always easy to do. If you'll remember when the Apostle Paul was in a storm called Euroclydon. And that was when different storms came together and it was breaking the ship apart. At one point he said all hope was lost. In other words, we were every one of us, we're going to die. But the Bible records that Paul separated himself for a while and prayed and sought after the presence of the Lord and in his separation from the struggle and the voices around him, he heard the voice say, "If you will stay on board, everyone that stays in the ship will be saved." So we find David, he separates himself for a moment from the men that were speaking of stoning him. They had wept until they had no more power to weep. And the Bible says in chapter 30 verse six of first Samuel, but David encouraged himself. David encouraged himself in the Lord God. Let me ask you tonight, are you able to encourage yourself? When you can't get someone else on the phone, when you can't get your best friend that prays with you, when you can't get to your pastor, can you separate yourself for a moment from the pressure and the struggle and say, "God, I've got to hear you today for myself. God, I got to know you for a moment myself. I got to hear your voice speak to me. I got to hear you speak into my life today." If God is going to use you, and he already is using you all greatly, but if he's going to use you and use you in great things, two things need to take place. One, you've got to learn how to trust God. David was anointed. David was already called and chosen. Can I tell you tonight, God had the situation in control with David's family. They were safe in the care of God. They were in the presence of the enemy that had stolen them and taken them. God had his hand on his family. David, that's already taken care of. What I'm looking at is how are you going to react to this situation? Are you going to trust me, separate yourself for a moment and encourage yourself in me and ask my direction? And whenever he asked the direction of the Lord, the Lord said, "Go get your things back." But it wasn't until David encouraged himself and prayed that he got direction from the Lord. Who are you asking your advice from? Amen. Who are you getting your advice from? My encouragement to you tonight, first and foremost, go to the Lord. You better find you somebody after you pray like you've never prayed before. You better find somebody that's filled with the Holy Ghost and is trustworthy to give you advice to get you where you need to go. The second thing that needs to happen is God needs to trust you. He's going to use you greatly. It's not one-sided. God, I have great faith. God needs to trust you. And we see this in David. David's getting to be getting ready to be anointed king of the nation of Israel. But God is trying him. God is testing him. God is putting him through some classes that if he fails, he may have to repeat, but he's going to go through them until God knows I can trust you. Isaiah chapter 60 verse one through five. We open with the scripture. Give me a couple more moments. Isaiah chapter 60 verses one through five. This is the New Living Translation. He said, "Arise, Jerusalem. Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light. Mighty kings will come to see your radiance. Look and see, for everyone, verse four, look and see, for everyone is coming home. Your sons are coming from distant lands. Your little daughters will be carried home. Your eyes will shine. Your heart will be will thrill with joy. For merchants from around the world will come to you. They will bring you the wealth of many lands." Notice, if you go back one chapter, you're seeing the backslidden nation of Israel. If you go back to chapter 59 of the book of Isaiah, you're seeing the backslidden nation of Israel. You're seeing the anger of God. You're seeing destruction. Isaiah separated himself for a moment. And God spoke to him not only about the condition they were in at the moment, the season they were in for a moment, but as he spoke to Jeremiah and said, "I know my thoughts I have toward you." He now gives David or gives Isaiah understanding of what the future is going to be. "Arise. Let your light shine for all to see, for the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you." If you go from chapter 60, the glory of the church, if your Bible labels your chapters, it's labeled glory of the church. If you move from there, you go to chapter 61. Notice verse one of chapter 61 of the book of Isaiah. "The spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord had anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek. He had sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the of the prison to them that are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Saint, we've got to step back for a moment and understand the fact he's speaking to people that are struggling. He's speaking to people that are hurting. He's He's He's speaking to people that don't see a bright future. But as the prophet is speaking into their future, something of the Lord, we need to step back for a moment and not listen to CNN today, but listen to the glory of the Lord and listen to the voice of God as he speaks of our future. We're not governed by this world. We obey the law of the land, but we're not governed of this world. We are ambassadors sent here from God. "To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all that mourn. Verse three, to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." Church, we are the blessed. Amen. We are the blessed. According to scripture, we are the anointed. We are the empowered. Amen. We are the church of the living God. And if we'll step back for a moment and just accept the fact that God has taken notice of his body, of his church in this last day, we're not anemic, we're not forsaken, we're not forgotten, but we are the anointed and we are the empowered. And I believe God is wanting to do a great work in the last day. And as I look around FAC Marvell, as I look at the extension of this church around the world, as I look at the extension of this church around the world, I know God is using you. God is using this ministry for a great work in this last hour. He needs every one of you to stay on board. He needs every one of you to stay committed. He needs every one of you to stay aligned with the pastoral vision. The world is always got its voice. The world is always going to shout. The world is always going to display. But it's up to me to keep my eyes focused on what God has called us to do. Ephesians chapter 1 verse 22. Ephesians chapter 1 verse 22, God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. Verse 23. And the church is his body. This building as beautiful and magnificent as it is. This is a model church. We stand back and say, "Wow." But this building is not the church. You are. You're the church. You're what God's taking interest in. You're what God is focused on. For the benefit of the church and the church verse 23 is his body. It is made full and complete. It is made full and complete by Christ who fills all things everywhere with himself. God has empowered you, empowered me. He said, "Occupy till I come." And the presence of the Lord is coming back. The anointing of the Holy Ghost is here today. And as I look at the extension of this church because this church is not only reaching Blount County. How blessed is Blount County to have FAC? How blessed is Maryville to have FAC? How blessed is all the small communities around this church to have this church representing the presence of the Almighty? Blessed this community, this county, this city is blessed. I live 70 Our church is 77 miles from this church. But the solo and people that don't even claim to be apostolic talk to me about this church. Sometimes I think talk to me about our church. They talk up You use Google, you type in FAC. I can tell you all roads lead to Maryville. It's a great work. And God is using this work. Your extension is far greater than Blount County and Maryville. You're doing works all around the world. But the enemy would like to get you as an individual to focus on your own situation, your own circumstance, and your own problem and not see the glory of the church. Not see the glory that is shining from FAC Maryville, shining through the ministry of Bishop Carpenter and Pastor Erickson and his family, Pastor Hammond and his family, Pastor Nolan and his He's wanting you to focus on situations to get your eyes off the goal. Two scriptures I want to share with you in closing. Second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17. The Bible reminds us that old things are passed away and He says, the Apostle Paul said in Second Corinthians 5 verse 17, "This means that everyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone. A new life has begun." We're ready for a new year. Let's focus on the glory of the church and less on situations and problems of the world. Would you stand with me tonight? I want to finish with Romans chapter 12 and verse two. Romans chapter 12 verse two. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world. One of the ladies from our church touched base with me today and asked me for direction for prayer, for guidance. She said a family has contacted me. They've got a 10-year-old young lady that's cutting herself. She said, "I need directions before I go and pray for this individual." This world is giving people no hope. This world is offering people an escape through addiction. Escape through many different outlets that does not lead to liberty as the spirit of the Lord but leads deeper into a problem that they're going to have to deal with again tomorrow. The Apostle said, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world. But let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you which is good. God's will for you is good, pleasing, and perfect. Tonight you've come in here on the last Wednesday night of this year. It's a busy holiday week. Many people traveling, people doing many different things, but you've come in here. Could I give you a charge for the upcoming year? Pray this year out. Worship this year out. And say, "God, will you help me control my thinking? That when I'm going down that road of negativity and I'm going down that road and I know where it's going to take me, God, would you help me pump the brake a little bit and stop for a moment and begin to think on your blessings and begin to worship you and begin to praise you and begin to get into the spirit and begin to allow your anointing to refresh me." I don't know what your protocol is on Wednesday night. But if we could, could we just lift our hand? Maybe maybe pray for a neighbor. Maybe lift up your voice in this sanctuary tonight. Maybe lift up your voice in this place tonight and cry out unto the Lord. Maybe pray loud enough that you can hear yourself pray. Could you lift your voice? Could you lift your prayer? Could you lift your heart before the presence of the Lord? God wants to anoint you. God wants to bless you. God wants to heal you. God wants to deliver you. God wants to get set you free. Come on, lift your voice. Lift your praise before we close this out, before we exit the building one more time in the last Wednesday night of the year. Just lift up a praise unto a mighty God. Lift up a praise to a mighty God. What a king that we serve. What a Lord that has made himself available to you. What a God that has given himself to the church. Father, we worship you tonight and we lift our voice. God, we give honor unto you and exalt you above all other. You are the king of all kings and the help in time of trouble. You're our strength when we're weak. You're our healer when we're sick. You're our redeemer when we're lost. You're everything we need. God, you're everything we need. Let your fullness of power rest on this congregation as you use them mightily, Lord God. As they have linked themself, tied themself with the leadership of this church. God, I pray your hand be on this congregation. The world needs this congregation to be strong. The world needs this congregation to be strong. God, lead this church. Lead this church to new heights. Lead this church to new depths in you, Lord God, where they hear your voice as they've never before. They lead the organization. They lead the world. I pray you to lead them, Lord God. Could you pray for your bishop tonight? Could you pray for your pastor tonight? Could you lift up the Carpenter family? Could you lift up the Erickson family, the Hammond family? Could you lift up your ministry team that is here tonight? Could you lift them up tonight with prayer? We need God to speak. We need God to minister. We need God to open our eyes. Let us see the glory. Let us see what heaven sees when you look down upon the church. Let us see what you see, Lord God. We're not anemic. We're not forsaken. We're not forgotten. We're empowered by your throne, by your presence, by your spirit. We love you tonight, Father. We love you tonight, Father. We give you praise. We give you honor and glory. Thank you for your presence here tonight on a Wednesday afternoon. Thank you for the work that you're doing not only in Maryville, but around the world. This church doesn't escape the eyes of the world. I know that's a lot of pressure from time to time. But, you all are doing a tremendous job. Keep up the good work because we need you. We need every one of you all to be strong. We love you tonight