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[ Silence ] [ Music ] There's a sweet, sweet spirit in this place. And I know that it's the spirit of the Lord.

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♪ There are sweet expressions ♪ ♪ On each face ♪ ♪ And I know that it's the presence of the Lord ♪ ♪ Sweet Holy Spirit ♪

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♪ Sweet heavenly dove ♪ ♪ Stay right here with us ♪ ♪ Filling us with your love ♪ ♪ And for these blessings ♪

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♪ We live God's new day ♪ ♪ Without a doubt we know ♪ ♪ That we have been revived ♪ ♪ And we shall be ♪

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♪ Reborn ♪ ♪ Sweet Holy Spirit ♪ ♪ Sweet heavenly Lord ♪ ♪ Stay right here with us ♪

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♪ Filling us with your love ♪ ♪ And for this blessing ♪ ♪ We lift our hearts in praise ♪ ♪ Without a doubt we know ♪

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♪ That we are meant to be loved ♪ ♪ When we shall be slaves ♪ - Amen. Let me lift up the 5th chapter of Luke, the 4th and 5th verses.

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When he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a drought." Upon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing. Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

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The subject is just one word, nevertheless. Nevertheless. Nevertheless means in spite of. It means, anyhow, doing what you have to do, notwithstanding the circumstances.

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Nevertheless means regardless of the consequences, no matter what may be the situation, nevertheless means being prepared to accept the outcome. no matter who's for it or who's against it, nevertheless. And I want to suggest that if we would follow Jesus,

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we must have nevertheless theology. Would you look at someone and repeat that after me? If we would follow Jesus, we must have, nevertheless, theology. The crowds are following Jesus in the event that surrounds our text.

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He is under tremendous pressure. Heavy demands are made on his time and energies. Numerous checks are written on his spiritual bank account. But Jesus approaches the situation with a nevertheless attitude.

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He stands by the Sea of Galilee. He's in the vicinity where fishermen hang out. Crowds gather because they are hungry for the Word of God. Jesus is engaged in teaching.

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He has no classroom such as we have today, no books. He's just driven by nevertheless. The determination to teach anyhow. To make known to others

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the truth of God, nevertheless. So he enters one of the ships and tells Simon to pull out from the land. The ship is too close to the seashore.

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Now we're not likely to have a large catch of fish when we are close to the seashore. The waters are shallow and big fish do not dwell in shallow waters. Jesus sees the empty ships nearby without fishermen. The lake has fish in it,

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but the fishermen are not on duty. Nevertheless, the master has one of the ships employed in his service. He decides to use it in connection with his teaching ministry.

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The scripture says that he taught the people out of the ship. He has no Christian education facilities, I said, such as we have today, but nevertheless he teaches the people. has been described as Mark Hopkins at one end of the log and a student on the other.

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According to reports in the media this past week, American students are behind other students in the world in math and general rating. teaching is determined by nevertheless, not necessarily by financial budgets, we've tried that, but by the quality of dialogue that occurs between teacher and pupil.

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Jesus taught the people out of the ship. Here they are by the seaside. Sometimes he teaches by the seaside, sometimes he teaches by the countryside,

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but whatever and wherever Jesus is, he is able to teach nevertheless. This particular scene is introduced with fishermen washing their nets.

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The fishing is over. They are now washing their nets, their ships are empty, and Jesus uses one of the ships to teach

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when he has completed the class session, he says to Simon, "Launch out into the deep "and let down your nets for a big catch."

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Now nothing is more discouraging than to expend your best energies and experience no success. The ship is at the seashore, empty, but Jesus has plans. He has a mission for the ship and the fishermen. It is a mission dependent on obedience to his word.

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out into the deep, he says to Peter. Get away from the seashore, launch out into the deep. Now some fish, I said, must be caught in deep waters. We must be willing to adventure. We must be willing to take risks. We must be willing to launch out into the deep. We do not need ships for shallow waters. We can wade in shallow

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waters. We do not need ships for that purpose, but we need ships if we are to launch out into the deep. In the spiritual life we are to adventure with Jesus Christ and in adventuring with him we must be prepared to launch out into the deep. Ezekiel in his vision, his temple vision, he sees the waters coming

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from the temple in Jerusalem flowing. The temple is a symbol of the dwelling place of God and he sees these waters coming from the temple and when he sees this he says he measured the waters and at first the waters were just ankle-deep, just ankle-deep and some people have religion that's just ankle-deep.

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Just ankle-deep and then he says he measured again and the waters were knee-deep. some of us have knee-deep religion. And then he says he measured again and the waters were up to his waist. Some of us have waters of religion that's just waist deep. Then he measured again and he said and the waters were enough to swim

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in. So they were deep waters and some have deep water religion, water that enables them to swim. Jesus commands Simon to launch out into the deep and And Simon's response is, "Master, we have toiled all the night and caught nothing. We've been in those waters.

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We've been where you're telling us to go. We have been there before." You hear people say, "Been there, done that." You know, that's what they're saying.

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We have not been derelict in duty, Master. We have toiled all the night and caught nothing. Our best efforts have not been rewarded. In fact, we have failed.

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Our best efforts have been rewarded with failure. Fishermen with no fish. Sometimes, you know, we do all the things that are necessary, we think, and we don't get the desired results. Nothing. No fish. Dirty nets, empty ships, after a night of fruitless toil. Nothing to show for their labor. Now, some have toiled all through the night and have nothing to show for their efforts.

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They witnessed the dawn of a new day with failure written across the horizon. Master, we have toiled all the night and caught nothing, nothing. Our best efforts, nothing. Nothingness at the seashore, but launched out into the deep is the word from the Master. In other words, adventure from non-being to being. Launch out into

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the deep. And Peter responds using this word, he said, "We've talked all the night, but Nevertheless, at your word we were let down the net. In other words, because you say so Lord, trusting in your word our efforts have failed. Our knowledge has not led us to the success that we desired. We've trusted in ourselves, we've

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trusted in our skills, but we are failures. We've caught nothing. Sometimes when you just trust in yourself and then one of the problems with the men on the Titanic, they had built an unsinkable ship, unsinkable, and they They were so sure that nothing would happen that they didn't pay attention even when they got signs that something was happening

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They trusted in themselves But he says yeah We've taught all night. You know the thing that I'd like for us to remember Is that failure is not

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Final No matter no matter how many times you may fail Oh when we try and fail and I try, keep on trying, just keep on trying because failure is not final. It's not over, launch out, go out again, it's not over,

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it's not over, it's not over, we have a saying it's not over till the fat lady things. But it's not over until Jesus says so. It's not over. Launch out into the deep. And Peter responds to this command by saying, "Nevertheless, nevertheless." We've drawn up the net. We're here washing our nets. We're prepared to go

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home but nevertheless and life may be expressed in just this one word nevertheless. Oh I've seen situations where the only thing that just held it together was nevertheless, nevertheless. I had an uncle who was an alcoholic and And he was in our home and he was never very responsible.

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He would work hard all the week and then he would get his paycheck and go and get something to drink and lose his paycheck every week. And I often wondered why my mother just put up with that.

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But it was nevertheless. Nevertheless. And I've seen many parents who've had children who've gone astray and they just keep on, keep on,

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keep on keeping on. Nevertheless, nevertheless. It's that nevertheless that drives us when all around us says no.

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That's this nevertheless says go, nevertheless. Moses is told to go and face Pharaoh, and Moses said, "Well, I'm not gifted with speech." But you go, "Well, who must I tell them sent me?"

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He said, "Well, tell them that I sent you." "Well, who are you?" "Well, I am that I am." "Well, Pharaoh has this and Pharaoh has that, but!"

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Nevertheless, Moses goes and stands before Pharaoh. Pharaoh. Job loses his wealth, he loses his health, and his friends are very few who gather there during that crisis, and in the midst of it all his wife says, "Why don't you curse God and die?" And Job says, "Well nevertheless, though he

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slay me yet will I trust him nevertheless nevertheless Peter and John are told not to speak anymore in his name but they continue they are put in jail they're beaten but they go on because of nevertheless you know nevertheless meets every barrier no matter how high the barrier may be or

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how low nevertheless is able to overcome nevertheless confronts every obstacle no matter how difficult nevertheless entertains or encounters rather any enemy and no matter how powerful the enemy may be Jesus Christ left his heavenly home came to this sin-cursed earth riding on nevertheless. When

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Lazarus died Jesus said to his disciples I'm glad for your sakes that I was not there but nevertheless let us go to him and our Lord faces the journey to Jerusalem with his face set steadfastly toward that city it was nevertheless that drove him on. Oh he was misunderstood he was falsely accused he

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He was unjustly condemned. He met with all of the resistance that they could provide, and he faced it with nevertheless. So whether you're rich or whether you're poor,

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go on with nevertheless. Whether you're learned or whether you're unlearned, go on with nevertheless. Whatever God says, whatever he directs us to do, that we are to do. Respond with

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nevertheless. I don't know what life may bring, but I just want to be in that train of disciples that respond to his word no matter how bitter the pill is, to say nevertheless Lord. Just as Jesus said not as I will but as thou will in the garden of prayer he goes on saying nevertheless. Oh they put him on a cross

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they pierced him in the side they buried him in the tomb but he faced it all with nevertheless, nevertheless. And they buried him and they said this is the end. But early, early on Sunday morning he got up and said nevertheless all power is in my hand. Thanks be to God that we can go on with

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nevertheless. Eyes may be getting dim, steps may be getting slow, but we can go nevertheless. Thanks be to God. That though the going is rough and the road there is unpleasant, we can go on in the name of Jesus Christ nevertheless. And the wonderful thing about this text is that on this side of the miracle there

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emptiness, but when they go on through that nevertheless, they have the biggest catch of their lives. So the most wonderful things God may do for us is when we are willing to embrace nevertheless and say, "Lord, I don't see the way. I don't know how you're going to provide for me, but I know you're able

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nevertheless so here I am take me and use me so that's the that's the message of the cross if you would follow Jesus to accept the cross take up your cross he says and follow me and the wonderful thing brothers and sisters is there is room at the cross that's room for everyone who makes that pledge that I I

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I will embrace this nevertheless to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. If you're here without a church home and you're making a decision, you feel led by the Spirit of God to make a decision right now to become a part of the family of God at Ebenezer, we invite you just to stand where you are, stand right where you are.

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as we extend the invitation, we invite you to make that commitment to Jesus Christ. [MUSIC] ♪ The shelter in which we can hide ♪ ♪ And it's grace so free ♪

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♪ Is sufficient for me ♪ ♪ And deep is the fountain ♪ ♪ As wide as the sea ♪ There's room at the cross for you.

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There's room at the cross for you. Though millions have come, there's still room for one. ♪ Yes, as room and a glove for you ♪ ♪ The hand of my Savior is strong ♪

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♪ And the love of my Savior is long ♪ ♪ Through sunshine or rain ♪ ♪ Through water or in vain ♪ ♪ The blood of your Calvary ♪

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♪ To cleanse every stain ♪ ♪ There's room at the cross for you ♪ There's room at the cross for you. No guilt in your sad heart.

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There's still room for love. There's still room at the cross for you. Stay with me. There's room at the cross for you.

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There's room at the cross for you. Though millions have come, there's still room for more. ♪ Yes, it's you ♪ ♪ And the cross ♪

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♪ For you ♪ - Let's all say amen. - Amen. - Hey, let's listen to the report

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by our church clerk, Brother Terry Steele. - Thank you, Dr. Griffin. We have coming to unite with us this afternoon, Star Jones, she's five years old.

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- All right, would you stand, Star? She comes to accept Christ and she wants to be baptized as an expression of that faith all who are in favor of accepting That would you say aye? Opposed no, it's carried. All right

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This is the most important decision that you can make in life We will we trust that you'll be ready to be baptized on the first Sunday. God bless you and keep you Amen Also coming is Damian Jackson Damian's 10. All right, Damian, would you stand Damian also comes to accept Jesus Christ?

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It's accounted for baptism all who are in favor of accepting him. Would you say aye? Oh, no, it's carried And so we want to welcome you and trust that you too will be ready on the first Sunday when we baptize May God bless you and strengthen you because this is the most important decision that you may make in this life

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Let's all say amen Glad that these two have come. It's always good to see people make decisions for Jesus Christ and Particularly when they have a whole life before them The young God bless you and keep you we prepare now to observe

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the Lord's Meal Sometimes we call it the supper because it was instituted at the supper time But Jesus said whenever you observe it

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It is a memorial it is a love feast and we Observe this meal as Disciples of Jesus Christ

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Paul says before Communing at this table. Let a person examine himself or herself self less one eats and drinks damnation so this is a table prepared for all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as

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as Lord and Savior is free to commune at his table. table. you bow your heads as we pray together. Unto you, O God, we lift up our hearts in grateful praise for your mighty acts in creation.

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We praise you for your mighty acts in our redemption. we ask your blessings upon us as we celebrate the death and the burial as well as the life of your son, Jesus Christ. We thank you for our encounter with him

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and for the journey in which we are engaged. And as we pause to celebrate this meal, meal, grant that we shall have fellowship with one another as well as with you. Bless the bread and bless the cup and bless us as we go forth to represent you

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in the world. We ask in Jesus' name, amen. (murmuring) [ Music ] For those who too have just been baptized would you stand?

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I want to give to you the right hand of fellowship giving you all the rights and privileges as Full members of this church. May God bless you and keep you as we seek to live according to his will you may be seated Jesus took the bread Blessed it break it and gave to his disciples administering in his name. I give you this bread representing his

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Broken body take and divide it among yourselves Likewise also he took the cup and gave to his disciples administering in his name. I give you this cup Representing his shed blood drink ye all of it [ Music ]

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[MUSIC PLAYING] ♪ My Savior, please, ♪ ♪ I'll give myself ♪ ♪ And all ♪

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♪ For He is ♪ ♪ God and Savior ♪ ♪ For self-love ♪ ♪ And all ♪

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- You can go ahead, Alma. To the back, all the way. ♪ Where I first saw the light ♪ ♪ And the burdens of my heart ♪

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♪ Rolled away ♪ ♪ In the lair I lay ♪ ♪ I received my sight ♪ ♪ And now I am happy all the way ♪

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♪ Oh, there's a fountain at the cross ♪ ♪ Where I first saw the light ♪ ♪ And the burden of my heart ♪ ♪ Oh, there ♪

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♪ In the fair broad day ♪ ♪ I received my sight ♪ ♪ And now I am happy ♪ ♪ Oh, there ♪

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[Music] [Music] [BLANK_AUDIO]