Wednesday Night Bible Study

praise the Lord everyone let's do it again praise the Lord everyone it is so good to see each one of you in the house of the Lord tonight I hope you're ready to study the word of the Lord we have a we have a great great Bible study tonight and I am thrilled to be be teaching it and I hope you are thrilled and excited to get into the word of the Lord and uh may I also add my word to that a pastor Mark McCool uh what a great camp meeting we had and I would like to pay the highest compliment to this church for the way you supported the camp meeting how you were here and worship and got with the service I've I've been receiving a word by telephone of folks far far away that attended the camp meeting by way of the internet and how much they enjoyed it had someone tell me they just shouted out loud and and got in the service and we thank the Lord for that so I appreciate a great church such as we have of First Apostolic church but we're getting into the word of the Lord tonight I'm going to have to rush along tonight because I've got to cover a lot of ground this is a a great great study our our topic and our title tonight is this disciplines of a disciple disciplines of a disciple I don't have that yet but you heard me anyway disciplines of a disciple and we're going to be talking about three different elements in this subject tonight that are disciplines of a disciple and that is giving praying and fasting giving praying and giving praying and fasting disciplines of a disciple now the a disciple is one who follows someone else uh they're even called Disciples in the modern world have fallen a great leader in their teachings and the things they espouse they're often called Disciples of such and such but the the main theme and the most commonly thought of as a disciple is one of the 12 that Jesus chose to follow him and then after that everyone who chooses to be a follower of Jesus becomes a disciple and that word discipline means I've got six different definitions from the and the the dictionary one is punishment well that's not what we're going to read That's not the uh the discipline we're going to deal with but often whether we like it or not when you violate certain disciplines you get punished uh what do you mean to or want to or not in life you can punish your body and you can polish it with the uh drugs or whatever and you'll suffer for that and then the next is instruction well we that's part of the the meaning of being a disciple and the discipline of a disciple is to be able to accept instruction the next is a field of study this is our field of study right here we've got our we've got a library right here now not only is this 66 books literally this is actually 66 books when you pick that up now in this modern era where with all the electronics I've got an iPad here and uh it has many versions of the Bible I prefer the King James of course and I'm that's not to say that uh King James was uh inspired of God but he was inspired to have it written but there are many other versions and as I said I prefer the King James but I don't object to reading in fact in my laptop I have a a whole list I think 20 something different versions of the Bible and I'd like to compare them some of those it just simply puts it into everyday language that's a little easier to understand now uh we we often when we testify or when we when we pray we often use words like thee and thou and thus and are Heavenly Father thou knowest that thy servant doesn't need thee I pray for us will thee thou that was the king's language that was not Jesus Jesus didn't speak English that was uh the the language that King James put to it and we just automatically adapt that to our thinking if anybody speaks in tongues and give a message they'll usually use that type of language thus saith the Lord yea and so forth well that's all right there's nothing wrong with that but though that's not actually Jesus language but it is the language of the King James version of the Bible but having said that uh it's a field of study disciplined training that corrects molds are perfects the mental faculties are moral character five control gain by enforcing obedience or order now that that we're not forced we do what we do uh freely just by reading it and uh another one is self-control and then six is a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity so given you a little uh a background a little explanation of what discipline is now a particular discipline of a disciple you and I are indeed Disciples of the Lord now our lesson is taken from The Book of Matthew the sixth chapter and it's a part of The Sermon on the Mount and one of the most famous uh sermons in the Bible as Jesus was teaching a great message that which is called the servant of the mount and this part is taken from Matthew 6 starting at verse 1. take heed now remember the three categories we're going to be teaching tonight the three categories is giving praying and fasting take heed that you know this is Jesus teaching and this is the way he started out in Matthew 6 and 1. to heed that you do not your arms before men to be seen of them otherwise you have no reward of your father which is in heaven now Jesus certainly did not begin to teach about don't give alms he just is doing of the things that the three elements are the the three categories we're going to be teaching tonight uh he he is not teaching against any one of the three but he is teaching the motives behind the three you can do any one of these three devotedly but you can do it in the wrong way system of cool had a lady to call her one time and she was angry at sister McCool for something and I don't remember what but she gave the system akula blessing in tongues now I don't mean the actual blessing she was telling her off in a supposed bed in tongues his sister McQueen said now you wait just a minute just stop what you're you're not going to talk to me like that inside that's not God talking to you and telling me that in tongues but she was all heated up and she was trying to speak in tongues by giving system a cooler scolding so you can do the right thing but you can do it with the wrong motive verse 2 therefore when thou doest thine arms do not sound a trumpet before thee as the Hypocrites do in the synagogue and in the streets that they may have Glory of men verily I send you they have the reward now I don't recall uh the um the the Pharisees literally and actually sending somebody out in the street blowing a trumpet but he's using this as an illustration of someone going way out of their way to let you know what they're doing I'm going to make sure that you see what I'm doing we get to that more about that later but when thou doest Psalms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth now again we're not talking about actuality uh the right and the left hand don't have a mind of their own anyway but he's he's uh isn't it beautiful the way Jesus illustrates things and characterize things to make us understand don't let the left in other words be so secretive about your arms that you're not saying yes I'll give you I'm gonna I'm gonna give this poor person ten dollars I'm going no so don't let the left hand know what's right you just do it and put it in and and be done with it and you'll get your reward from the Lord but those who who shouted out they get a reward by folks praising them uh but I'm just let them arms may be in secret and thy father seeth and secret himself shall reward me openly now in Mark the 12th chapter and starting in verse 41 and Jesus sat over against the treasury they had a treasury box and one uh one explanation said there was a it had an open mouth that was like a horn and that they put their money in that I guess so it wouldn't fall out it was wouldn't be a small hole but as a a a a funnel shape and he said Jesus said over against the treasury and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury and many that were Rich cast in much and there came a certain poor Widow and she threw in too much which make a farthing now I might was the smallest amount of money it's made of copper and and it it it it was just a a portion of what made up a penny it took several mites to make a penny but that's all the woman had and she put in the Bible said the poor Widow threw in two bites which was which makes it falling and he called unto him his disciples and said unto them verily I say unto you this poor widow have cast in more than all they which have cast into the treasury now if you and I I know you can understand what Jesus is saying here uh this poor woman has given more not he is not she has not given more an actual amount but another scripture said that they gave of their abundance and she gave of her living that's all she had and Jesus said she's given more than anybody else it's what you have left determines how much you have given and she she she she she had the tumor and she threw it in the Bible said now verse 44 of our lesson of Matthew 6 says for all they did cast in of their abundance but she of her want did cast in all that she had even all her living that's that's all she had she gave all she had now um in in the in the Bible David prayed and and uh he said God if you wanted sacrifice I would give it whatever but he said God desires a broken and a contrite spirit and I studied that out and I preached the message because of the times I believe in 1995 and I I did a run that and I got got help from the commentaries of course and came down that David laid aside after uh over two billion dollars worth in today's currency and gave to the house of the Lord but yet he said we're building God a footstool what a footstool we had I mean what a history but he said God wouldn't accept that and the thing God wants from me he said was a broken and a contrite spirit I don't have enough money he says I don't have enough gold I've laid aside two billion dollars worth of iron Gold Silver and all kind of precious stones and even lovers of David brought in uh wood from a a special woodlands and yet David didn't consider that worth anything because he said the thing that God wants from me is a broken spirit and a contrite spirit now stop and think just a minute David what what what would he say to a young man who's uh father's name 50 bill of David's lover and he said Son I committed adultery with your mother and I had your daddy sent off to war and I had him killed now what would it take to erase that hurt and that terrible scar in that young man's life nothing would do it the only thing that's going to suffice for David now is to have a broken Spirit a contrite spirit to be so sorry for what he had done now after David had done what he did God sent Nathan the prophet and said David I got something to tell you there's a man lived up the road he was he was very wealthy and he had many sheep many cattle and he said there was a poor man came to his or there was a traveler came to his house one night and he didn't take from his own flop I said there was a poor man lived down the road and he said that poor man had nothing but one you lamb that he had brought up in his bosom he loved like his own sister and said that rich man took that poor man's lamb and slew it for his for The Traveler and David being a Shepherd he became very angry and I imagined the in the neck veins swelled out his face turned red and he said the men that did that shall surely die and Nathan said Thou Art the man Thou Art the man me yes when you committed adultery with another man's wife and had that man put to death well you see Jesus is talking about what we need to do we can't buy we can't pay enough money I don't care much of God but the one thing you can do Peter put it like this when they said first of all Peter said let the whole house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom you've crucified both Lord and Christ now you have crucified both Lord and Christ you have crucified the Lord in Christ you've done and they said oh my God we what can we do what can we do what shall we do they said Peter said he didn't say give him a river of oil and didn't say give him silver and gold and make sacrifices he said 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 for the promises to you and to your children and all that are far off even as many as the Lord our gods are called aren't you glad the price is not a two million dollars or a billion dollars aren't you glad that God accepts it all right and uh we've talked about giving now let's talk about praying now there's there's some folks who pray and there's some folks talk about praying uh I don't know if I should tell us something I used to travel with a man many many well when you've been preaching 75 years everything was many years ago just about but Bobby and I were just a little boys and all we knew to do was pray and and shout and do what we could we thought was pleasing the Lord but when we'd be sitting in the preachers living with pastor and he heard the preacher coming he shut his eyes like he was praying he wanted that Pastor to think he was he was praying all the time but nothing wrong with praying I remember brother LP Upton made a statement that that I believe I'll ever forget he said a praying man will not pray to be seen but a praying man will be seen praying we do not pray to be seen or to be heard by man but you're going to be caught praying sometime another old Daniel serving the Living God well here upon this Earth of trial and he prayed to God every morning noon and night now they threatened him to throw him in the lies then if he kept praying he didn't hide to pray he didn't pray to be seen but he opened his window to Jerusalem and he prayed three times a day and it got him thrown into dead of lions and of course you know the rest of the story of how God delivered him now let's talk about praying just a little bit and with thy prayers Thou shalt not be as the Hypocrites are for they loved to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets that they may be seen of men verily I say unto you they have their reward but thou when thou prayers enter into thy closet and when thou is shut thy door pray to thy father which is in secret and thy father which is in secret shall reward thee openly now let me pause there just a moment is Jesus giving a specific command that every time you pray you have to find a closet and go in and shut the door no it's just like the trumpet he's giving an exaggerated example of what not to do and what to do he said you don't pray to be seen or heard of man but said enter into your closet and shut the door and then praying your father was here's in secret is going to reward you openly but when you pray use not vain repetitions as the Heathen do for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking um I I I've heard preachers on the radio uh start praying and they'll pray in prayer and pray and pray and pray and pray well I think if you're going to pray go pray before you start getting them paying time you're paying for the radio time use that time to preach the word go ahead and pray go ahead and pray but it's not how much and how many people's names you call and how many items you're calling and I gotta categorize everything I got to pray for my wife's people my people massage people there are people in this and no he said there's it's not your repetition that counts and we need to talk to the Lord like we talked to one another and you don't just just just repeat repeat oh Lord might be saying to us like my wife says to me sometimes I said I said well I know you said it but I'm hard of hearing she said you're not as hard to hear it is you are hard to comprehend and listen I said you you don't have a big hearing problem as you do a listening problem uh I saw a little a plaque the other day I should have bought it it said I'm a I can multitask I can I can listen I can hear and I can forget all at the same time and that's that's my that's my multitasking I guess but what what I'm trying to say now is the Lord understands well let me get to this we'll get to the slave but when you pray use not vain repetitions as the Heathen do for they think that they should be heard for their much speaking be not therefore like unto them for your father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him foreign did you understand that it's not how many times you asked him I asked if he said he knows what you're asking what you need before you even ask him now sometimes I'll be going through the house and she'll say what did you say I said honey I wasn't talking to you I was praying sometimes I'll ask her what did you say she thought I was just praying I was just praying now she wasn't in the closet with the door closed but she was going around maybe with a vacuum cleaner or or dust and rag or whatever she was doing but she was praying all at the same time did you know you can pray and work to you can pray and drive the car and you can you can pray you and this is what Jesus is trying to tell us we need a relationship with the Lord that we can talk to him I know I say y'all just as loud as I can well I hope I'm not I hope I don't tread on Van Nuys tonight we preachers and I'm included are bad about we like folks to respond to us loud let's shout hallelujah louder what did I do when I came to the pulpit today uh everybody happy to say Amen say it again you didn't say it loud enough well this is what it's talking about so it's not how loud you say it he hears what you say he knows what you think and notice and after this manner therefore pray ye now this is a we call it the Lord's Prayer but it's a model for our prayer Our Father which are in heaven Hallowed be thy name a person will give in recognition that our heavenly father is in heaven but also he can be on earth through Jesus I said no now no man at the centered up to heaven savior came down from heaven but even the son of man which is in heaven that meant he was in heaven and on Earth too thy kingdom come thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven um thy kingdom come thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven as I because I I study all week and and uh sister maku has to put up with it sometimes and I'll I'll ask her this and tell her this or that and I run this by her and she said that's the way my daddy always prayed I remember Paul Cook he would always pray and say father if it be thy will do this or this or this if we're sometimes we think that we if we demand of God I'm going to command this thing I'm going to have it no you better say if it's thy will there's things that you may pray for that you really don't want God to answer my my most stupid prayer I ever prayed I've told you a lot of times but for that one person that might actually be here that hadn't heard it uh I went to Sister McCool's sister's house before he was married and and I wanted to show her off to everybody I just thought she was the prettiest thing I ever ever saw in my life hadn't got over it either and still think that but um there was a was working on the church in Johnson City and some preachers had come to help us and um uh Shirley was fixing dinner for everybody at the mom and Shirley's house and I wanted her to be there and I wanted to show her off in front of these preachers well she was a country girl and they have ethics and rules she didn't want to look like she was chasing after a preacher and and she she wouldn't consent to come and I insisted and she said honey I'm not going to do that I come over there and and those preachers and and well I thought she was being stubborn I didn't realize that she was just being sensible and being a lady and I should have been thankful for it but I I wasn't not at that time and but I left that house so broken hearted and I felt so I went to the tent was that was worse than under a tent while I was building a basement building and I went down to the Altar and I got down on my knees just as sincere as I could be and I said Lord you know and I love my Ministry more than anything in this world and while I wouldn't I won't don't want anything to handle my God would you please take this love out of my heart for that girl Lord help me help me to be able to forget her aren't you glad God don't answer every prayer you pray that's when I went and got in the car I didn't even stay for the dinner myself I had a Revival scheduled and met in Arkansas and I took off to Arkansas and and there were time the wheels went over I was felt like I knew I was doing something very foolish and got on the other side of Nashville and before the interstates and there's a Long Hill going out of Nashville and and I thought well maybe if I'll uh turn on the radio I'll hear something that'll cheer me up because I the further I got away the worse I felt and the song I sung to her the first night on the Irwin Highway was if you should ever stray 10 million miles away to a secret either way I'll find you for this moment that I live is a happy golden thrill and my cup of Love is filled I found you surely God it is heaven who I loved you from the start and uh I'll leave the rest of that and I'll punish you with the rest of that but as I started up that hill I turn the radio and Stuart Hamlin came on saying and if you should ever stray and so help me I think God did that I I think I think he had the dish y'all can put that on and when he started singing that I started crying like a whip baby tears started running down my face dropping over my chin and it it just it tore me up because I realized that what I was doing and what I'd what I had done was a foolish thing but yet I prayed my will was one thing I didn't say if it'd be your will but God showed me that he knew better for my life and God knows better for your life and when you pray for something you better say if it be thy will thy kingdom come thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven give us this their daily bread bring it now give us this day or deliver bread don't pray for riches ask for the necessities of thy will be done give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and notice verse 13. and lead us not into temptation but Deliver Us from Evil for that is the kingdom of the power and the glory for every amen verse 14 for if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly father will also forgive you but if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your father forgive your do you do you realize that and I've heard people make uh uh Brash statements and so and so did so and so and I'll never forgive them or this or that and the other and and some may not say it but they're still holding things against somebody but Jesus himself said this but if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your father forgive your trespasses now your forgiveness is contingent upon dependent upon if you forgive folks for what they do to you if you don't no need to pray for forgiveness or at the next category is fasting moreover when you fast be not as the hypocrite of a sad countless for they disfigure their faces and that they may appear unto men to fast verily I say unto you they have their reward but thou when thou fastest unoeth thy head and wash thy face that thou appeared not unto men to fast but unto the Father which is in secret and my father would see it in secret we will reward thee openly um the bridge was uh trying to get folks to fast and as who will Fast dad three days this week no matter who will fast one day now who will pass one meal well the latest on Fast breakfast I don't eat breakfast anyway and that may be the way that we that we fast sometimes but the main thing Jesus is saying he's not speaking against fasting but he's not he's teaching us not to try and look they don't do like the Pharisees they they had a sad hungry look you know uh I'm fasting today I'm fasting today um there was a young young preacher that uh I knew well and there was another uh evangelist that was there at that church preaching and uh he came down the steps and this other young preacher uh just to him I said praise the Lord Brothers he said don't bother me I'm in the spirit I'm I'm talking to the lord well he he wanted to make that young man know he well what he did he nullified everything that that he was trying to to do he made his point to the young preacher don't talk to me now because I'm in the spirit and I'm talking to what Jesus is saying is don't try to go around acting sanctimonious and try to make everything everybody think that you're super spiritual and you're some great and holy person just be who you are he made you a human being and human beings eat and sleep and dream and and get sick and get well we're all in the flesh and we're going to be in this flesh until the Lord gives us a new body Give the Lord a hand clap there was a little story in our lesson that I I felt uh I don't usually read these things to the congregation but I thought this was worthy of reading it said a biblecational pastor that's somebody that's got more than one vocation a bivalocational person was working for a small local Health Clinic since he was in the remote area good paying jobs were scarce the pastor felt blessed to have a job that could support his family and allowed him to that allowed him the flexibility to still Pastor his church however despite enjoying the work and being well paid the pastor had one major problem his supervisor at the clinic was not overly kind and that's saying it kindly the supervisor frequently overburdened her employees by passing off her own work to them and she had no problem harshly berating her subordinates publicly now this is a true story incidentally her language was foul and her demeanor was arrogant many workers complained to human resources and upper management but their efforts were in vain the Pastor believed that prayer changes things so he took this matter to the Lord in prayer months passed and his supervisor had not changed in fact she had gotten worse the pastor committed to prayer even more yet still nothing seemed to change after nearly a year the health care company offered to send several employees to a training seminar in another state for one week the topic of the conference was working with difficult people quote unquote intrigued the pastor volunteered to go however after a week at the conference the pastor was discouraged he had taken exhaustive notes but felt as though nothing could help his situation on the last day of the conference he approached the main speaker and relayed his situation quote I don't know what to do end quote he bemoaned I've tried everything the conference speaker offered an unexpected suggestion have you tried buying her a gift and writing her a nice card the pastor was shocked why would I do that he asked incredulously the speaker replied it sounds like she's stressed she works in a remote area as the only one within 100 miles who can do her job perhaps if you work hard to treat her kindly she will realize the error of her ways and treat you all differently the next week the pastor convinced the entire office to chip in and buy their supervisor or card a bouquet of flowers and a gift certificate to her favorite restaurant well then a month the entire office noticed a drastic change in the supervisor she spoke softer and was more patient and sensitive to her employees needs in the end the pastor was right that prayer did change things but before God changed the supervisor's heart God had to change the pastors own heart and that got my attention sometimes we pray for God to do something two or four or by about somebody else when I'm the one that needs the changing myself I may be the one that needs to take a a little notice many Believers in the book of Acts solar possessions and gave gifts to the church to benefit the entire church Acts 2 and 45 acts 4 32-37 church leaders also received a special offering for famine relief in Judea now this they they tried in the early days but they soon found out that there was cheaters among them when they sold their possessions and Barnabas was one of those that sold what he had and gave it to the church but there was ananias and Sapphira that sold their property and they just brought part of the money and laid it at Peter's feet and God showed Peter what they had done and and said that you haven't lied to me but you've lied to God he asked him to say is this all you sold that property yes well if they were not commanded to do this this they did on their own and they cheated and they both were slain they both were killed that day because they lied about the situation now in the Old Testament when they conquered Jericho they were not to take any gold or silver or goodly garments and you remember Aiken he took goodly garments and took money and and hid it in his tent and God brought it to light and he was slain but I I think one thing to be learned about this is uh uh folks are not always fair with what they do and and don't make a don't make a a promise if you're not going to to keep it now in the giving in First Corinthians 9 13 and 14 it says do you not know that they was Minister about holy things live of the things of the temple and they would wait at the altar are partakers with the altar even so at the lower ordained that they which preached the gospel should live of the Gospel even to be very difficult for a man to spend eight hours a day on a hard-working job and then still be able to present Bible studies and messages and visit and counsel and do the things that he has to do and a church our size takes more than one person and he's he's saying that if you preach the gospel you shall live with the gospel First Timothy 5 17-18 says let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor especially they who labor in the word and Doctrine for the scripture saith Thou shalt not muzzle the ox and treadeth out the corn and the laborer is worthy of his reward second Corinthians 9 6 and 7 but this I say he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly and he was so bountifully shall reap also bountifully every man according as the purpose of in his heart so let him give not grudgingly or of necessity for God loves a cheerful Giver well there's Apple scripture that tells us about giving to the work of the Lord and the subject of praying Jesus assumed that they already prayed because he said but thou win thou prayest entering he didn't say if you pray but he said when you pray he knew they were going to pray he didn't deal with telling them to pray but he was dealing with them having the right attitude of praying it would be foolish to think that you could have a happy and successful marriage if a husband and a wife never spoke to each other well you're not going to have a happy and a successful Christian Life if you don't talk to Jesus if you don't tell him you love him and you don't have to scream it it's all right if you do but you don't have to yell it you could say I love you Jesus I love you Jesus the last thing I tell my wife at night and the last thing I hear in my ears is I love you I don't want her to go to sleep without hearing me say I love you and I don't want to go to sleep but I hear her say that well the New Testament Believers frequently gathered to pray especially for Urgent needs such as Peter's release from prison in the 12th chapter of Acts Peter was in in prison and they were they all began to pray for his release God sent an angel in there and loose the chains from off his hands and told him to get up and go with him and Peter got up and he didn't even realize when he got to the Iron Gate the Bible said the gate opened of his own accord and he walked out and he was in the street before he really knew could accept what was taking place that he he was out of jail well he went to that he went to they was having a prayer meeting and not now they were not in the closet praying there was a crowd there praying together now what I'm pulling out is Jesus was not saying that every time you pray you got to go into a closet because I can show you Time After Time where they gathered together in in prayer meeting but he was teaching about having the right motive so when when Peter got to where they were praying and knocked on the door and the damsel came to the door and when she saw Peter it frightened her she thought she had seen a ghost or a spirit and she just shut the door in his face and went back in and tried to tell them that Peter was at the door and they didn't believe her and I I've laughed about that that must have been something to be whole when she's tried to tell them that Peter was at the door and said don't get down help us pray for Peter's release well he was at the door but they wouldn't let him in uh Peter didn't have as much trouble getting out of jail as they did getting in that prayer meeting we need to be sure that we're ready to let him and let him in and let him answer our prayers so there were many that gathered together in praying in prayer meetings in the New Testament and first Thessalonians 5 let me read a few verses because we're entering we're getting close to the end first Thessalonians chapter 5 starting in verse 17 pray without ceasing now does that mean I go around praying every minute of the day no it means that I don't stop praying for whatever I need I don't stop eating but I don't eat yeah 24 hours a day I eat when I'm hungry and I continue to eat I don't pray 24 hours a day but I'm ready to pray as ready as I am to eat and everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you which not the spirit despise not prophesying prove all things hold fast that which is good abstain from all appearance of evil um I want to deal with that just a little bit um abstain from the appearance of evil what's that got to do with praying uh it um it I can't say it words mean trouble man I'm looking for a softer word maybe I should say it it concerns me when a preacher tells you everybody lay hands on somebody I'm not sure that's the best idea to tell a congregation to do because you tell and they can find yourself I lay hands on them now we've had that happen here and we'll we'll have it happen again but uh you may have somebody that comes and lays hands on you you can smell the nicotine on the breath or the body even spell alcohol in the breath or or the you may spill onions on her breather but I'm a little concerned about uh folks laying hands on one another hearing that and the other and sometimes it it's done uh to indicate that one is a little more spiritual than that one now I'm not speaking against if God lays on on somebody's heart and that horse battle somebody come to the Altar and pray nobody goes running nobody go out and pray for him and and and and and there's a time too late to lay hands on them but I'm talking about um indiscriminately uh just everybody laying hands on one another and also I have seen preachers uh lands on folks and shake them so hard and feeling like that the the harder you could shake them more apt you are to get the answer the prayer answered well I think if he he touched them now the Bible said uh if any sick of money would have been called for the Elders of the church and let them anoint them with all and praying over them and lay their hands on and the prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord shall raise them up well that there's there's Bible for the elders let hands on him but please don't don't get Disturbed over what I said all right I've seen from the appearance of evil um shout Rejoice run whatever you feel like doing to worship God but make sure that that it's done decently and in order and the Very God of Peace sanctify you holy I pray God your Holy Spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Faithful Is He that calls you who also will do it Brethren pray for us James 4 and 3 said you ask and receive not because you ask a myth you ask foolishly you ask something that's totally out of the will of God in other words that you may consume it upon your own lust and then I'm gonna zero in on this last prayer here and that's the nevertheless prayer listen to this one Luke 22 40 22 42 Jesus was praying saying father if thou be willing remove this cup from me nevertheless not my will but thine be done I think we all need to be conscious of that prayer Lord do this or that but nevertheless Lord I want you to provide me with this car with this house or this or this or this and there in anything we pray Jesus himself prayed and said uh if thou be willing to remove this cup from me nevertheless not my will but thy will be done perhaps the most difficult of all disciplines are the practices of Silence where we get along with God free from distractions to meditate on his word first Thessalonians 4 9. but as testing brotherly love you need nothing I write and do now the Bible said study to be quiet did you know that study and said study to be quiet and do your own business all in the same verse study to be quiet and do your own business now you know what that means that means don't be running your mouth all the time and keep your nose out of other people's business don't be too nosy about everything the Bible says he that passeth by and made with strife belonging not to him is as a man to taketh a dog by the ears now you know what's going to happen if you grab a dog by the ears you're going to get bit if the Bible has a term for that busy bodies if you go around and and you start you know you know so much about everybody's business and and you and you tell others about it tell others about well studied to be quiet and that sometimes takes some real endeavors to to be you want to speak you you just feel like you're gonna now I don't know about you I don't recall regretting very many times that I I regretted not saying something but I can remember times I wish I hadn't said what I did say wish I just let that unsaid so study to be quiet and do your own business don't meddle in other people's business and then let me say this in closing Hebrews 13 and 1 it says simple let brotherly love continue sometimes love is not hard to start we just love each other we don't know anybody's faults we don't and but he he said let Brotherly Love continue he even goes as far as to say is if we don't love our brothers whom we've seen how can we say we love God whom we have not seen we're just stand your feet with us please first Thessalonians 4 and 11 and that you study to be quiet and do your own business and to work with your own hands as we commanded you our father and our God we thank you for the word of the Lord we thank you for your people and their love for the word of God and Lord may we continue to love it and and believe it and study it and listen to it and let it mold Our Lives I pray God your dismiss us from this place but not from your presence bring us back at our next appointed time in Jesus name we pray amen and amen shake hands and be friendly you're dismissed in Jesus name