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[silence] [audience murmurs] The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. [silence]

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We bow our heads for the morning prayer. Dear Heavenly Father and the Creator of this earth, We thank you for another day that we can gather together to learn about you, to learn about your son and his actions, and to learn how we can best live out our Christian lives for

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the following week. We thank you for the ability and the place that we can gather today in your worship. We ask that the message of the preacher carry with us throughout this week. We ask you to guide us in our hearts, in our minds, and in our souls.

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Help us to reach out to those who have not heard your word. Reach out to those who have heard and have yet not seen. Reach out to those, wherever they may be, to hear your amazing gospel. Now be with us today.

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We ask these things in your name. Amen. [ Music ] [MUSIC]

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[Choral singing] [Music] [Music] ♪ Hey, today we're dancing like a ball ♪

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♪ And I am sad to hear you by the ball ♪ ♪ And all the roses that she's prescribed ♪ ♪ And I am sad to hear you by the ball ♪ ♪ Please, you should call the workers to me ♪

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♪ I pray you, they'll try you soon ♪ ♪ I go to the airport ♪ ♪ One day each time ♪ ♪ This year is more ♪

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[Music] ♪ He's gone away ♪ ♪ He's gone the world away ♪ ♪ I won't look at the grave ♪

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I trust in God, I trust in Him, My sweetest grace shall be. Beauty can lie in such a grave, ♪ Eternal life ♪

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♪ At last no end ♪ ♪ Eternal life ♪ ♪ Eternal joy ♪ ♪ Is ♪

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♪ My ♪ [church bells] Now we hear from the Word of God, Psalms 23. The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.

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He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

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Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.

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Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Now is our time of prayer together. We invite you to come to the altar.

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That as God's family here at Ebenezer, we may talk with the Heavenly Father. I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus, I cannot bear these burdens alone. [Music] What a friend we have in Jesus.

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All our sins and griefs, the bad. What a privilege to carry everything, everything, everything to God in prayer. So let us pray. Gracious God, Father of us all, in whom we live, move, and have being,

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by whose grace we come to this hour. We give you humble thanks for the gift of this day. We praise your name that you have permitted us to see the sunlight of a new morning, a new expression of your grace.

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We would ask that you would help us to rejoice and be glad in it. We are your people, and we ask for your sense of direction. As we have experienced a change in the direction which our nation is to go, the leadership, we recognize that you are the Lord of history.

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So we pray that you would help us to follow your direction and to be guided by your spirit. We pray especially for those who are sick among us. Some of them are in hospitals and some are in homes. And who even now walk through the dark valley of the shadow of death.

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that you would comfort them. Pray that you would help us to understand that you are always with us in the midst of every condition and every circumstance. We pray, O God, for the nations of this world, especially do we remember those who are serving as missionaries and ministers on foreign fields.

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And especially do we pray for the manifestation of your spirit as we here seek to engage in bold mission thrust. Help us to speak boldly in your name. Help us to reach out and to be concerned about social injustices, to be concerned about the

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less fortunate, to be concerned about those who are not rightly related to you. Help us to be instruments in your hand. O Lord, have mercy upon us and help us be co-laborers with you toward the coming of the day when your kingdom shall come in its fullness.

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We ask these blessings in Jesus' name. Amen. [Music] (dramatic music)

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[Music] (dramatic music) (dramatic music) (dramatic music)

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[Music] (dramatic music) [Music] All the way from heaven down he came.

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All the way from heaven down he came. All the way from heaven down to save a wretch like me. All the way from heaven down, all the way from heaven down, all the way from heaven down, to save a wretch like me. To save a wretch like me.

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Amazing grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found. Once blind, but now I see.

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All the way from heaven down. All the way from heaven down All the way from heaven down To save a wretch like me

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Through many days Just toils and snares I have already come, 'twas grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home. All the way from heaven down to save a wretch like me.

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[Bugle plays "Taps"] [Applause] We worship the Lord in our giving. This is Loyalty Month and you have been asked to

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make a substantial contribution beyond what you normally give in order that we might catch up the slack in our budget, and as much as this is the last month in our church budget year.

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You will notice the report of the budget, the update which is listed on the back page of your bulletin near the bottom, which indicates that we are some $3,000 behind where we should be, at least we were last Sunday.

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So we ask that every person would make the tithe his or her minimum contribution. If you're already a tither, we ask that you would give a little more at this time. This is also the time when we have our United Negro College Fund campaign. There's a telethon on this evening,

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stationed KTBC, and we would like to have a substantial contribution for that purpose from our church. I'm going to make a personal contribution,

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but then we ought to have an institutional contribution, and I hope that you will do some of both, that we might be well represented this year as we have in times past. So let each one of us give according to how

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the Lord has blessed us. Let us pray. Gracious God, we recognize that we are yours and all that we have is but a trust from you. Grant that we may give in the way that you have blessed us and that we may give first of all ourselves to you as a thank offering and to render

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the substance which you have entrusted to us to your honor and to your glory. Bless us now in this time of sharing together. In Jesus' name, amen. I'm going to ask that the ushers will come back for the United Fund contribution

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following this offering for the church, current expense of the church. (ominous music) (dramatic music)

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(suspenseful music) (ominous music) (ominous music) (eerie music)

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[ Music ] Good morning. I'd like to have your attention for the announcements. I'd like to call your attention to the insert that's in your bulletin. You're asked to please bring canned foods, staple foods of all kinds to the church between

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November 16th and November 23rd. You already see that this is called the Food for Families Drive and anything that you bring, especially along the staple or our canned foods line will be highly appreciated. Please give attention to all other announcements that are on

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the bulletin. This ends our announcement period. I shall now call the name of the visitor for whom I have a card and when I call your name will you please stand for words of welcome. The person is Mrs. Eula Hicks of Waco, Texas,

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a member of the Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church. Are there other persons present for whom we do not have cards? Will you stand also? Is there any other visitor present? Mrs. Hicks, we are certainly happy to have you join us

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in our early morning service. It's said that if you meet God in the morning, he'll be with you all through the day. And certainly since we've met him early this morning, there's a longer time for him to be with us.

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And we certainly appreciate your joining us today. (footsteps) (door opening)

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[BLANK_AUDIO] [Crickets chirping] [Crickets chirping] [silence]

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[static] I have an additional announcement. pertains to all of us on November 10th, that's tomorrow night, from 6 to 830 at the University Baptist Church, the Christian Life Commission is

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going to be giving a legislative briefing on issues affecting Baptists in the upcoming state legislature. And some of these, in a newsletter that I got concerned, what can we in Texas do about the problems of drunk driving,

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pornography, drug abuse, can something be done to better protect elderly persons from physical abuse, and will efforts be made to raise the drinking age in Texas? These are just some of the issues that will be coming up in the legislature

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which the Christian Life Commission which is kind of the social action arm of the Southern Baptist Convention has been involved in say 10 or 12 years. The Missionary Baptist General Convention in Texas

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in Wichita Falls earlier this fall passed a resolution supporting the Missionary Baptist I also sponsor a lobbyist and work with the Christian Life Commission. So this is a chance for a black and white Baptist to work together on Baptist issues.

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And so it's very important that some of us try to attend this meeting tomorrow at 6 to 830. There is a luncheon. It starts at 6.

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It's a barbecue dinner, which costs $3. And then afterwards what it will be is that we'll be explaining some of the issues that will be coming up and how you can best participate. participation includes maybe visiting your representative or state senator,

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getting your family or some of your neighbors to write letters or phone calls, and other various ways in which to influence our legislators. So I'll be at the back at the end of the service and if any of you would like to attend I would encourage it and contact me after the service. Thank you very much.

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Let's all turn to hymn number 386 as we stand. 386 loyalty to Christ [Music] ♪ Oh, the hill and plain ♪

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♪ Where comes the single strain ♪ ♪ Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to pride ♪ ♪ 'Tis when she calls the Lord ♪ ♪ And heals the wounds of love ♪

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♪ Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to pride ♪ ♪ Oh, the victory, oh, the victory ♪ ♪ Brought the people of New York ♪ ♪ Here in New Berlin is the land ♪

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♪ Where the soldiers stand ♪ ♪ Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to the land ♪ ♪ We'll see the sun ♪ ♪ And lose the earth ♪

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♪ Glory be, glory be ♪ ♪ Glory be to God ♪ ♪ Glory be to God ♪ ♪ Glory be to God ♪

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♪ Glory be, glory be ♪ ♪ Glory be to God ♪ ♪ Oh, what a victory ♪ ♪ Oh, to victory cry the angels and the stars ♪

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♪ Hail, oh, the days of yesteryear ♪ ♪ The glory days, glory days, glory days of yesteryear ♪ ♪ The crown of gold and glory ♪ ♪ Of the giant song ♪

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♪ Lion King, Lion King, Lion King is born ♪ ♪ Lion King, Lion King, Lion King is born ♪ ♪ Lion King, Lion King, Lion King is born ♪ ♪ Glory to victory, glory to victory ♪

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♪ Lion King, Lion King, Lion King is born ♪ [Music] ♪ Royalty, royalty, it's royalty tonight ♪ ♪ Spring will be here ♪

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♪ And Jesus will be there ♪ ♪ Royalty, royalty, it's royalty tonight ♪ ♪ It's customary to play ♪ ♪ It's customary ♪

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♪ Royalty, royalty, it's royalty tonight ♪ ♪ For the victory, for the victory, we're proud to defend the yellow flag. ♪ ♪ We'll hold the rest of land, the southwest land, ♪ ♪ We're loyal to you, loyal to you, loyal to you, ♪

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Hear this word which is recorded in Psalm 23 and 5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. subject of the message, "Pre-arranged Dinner Reservations." "Pre-arranged Dinner Reservations."

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"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." When a family decides to have a special celebration, often contact is made with a popular restaurant. First, reservations are arranged. When the party says, arrives, someone says to the maitre d',

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I have dinner reservations for a party of two or three or five or whatever the number may be. There is a smile and the party is immediately ushered to a table, which is properly arranged The order is given

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The food is served The atmosphere is delightful There is deep satisfaction when all these things occur in the proper sequence There is something special about having prearranged dinner reservations.

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The party is expected. Preparations are made. There is no anxiety about whether one will be served or not. One does not have to guess about whether there is enough room, because all of these things

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have been taken care of in the prearranged dinner reservations. In this particular verse, the psalmist turns our attention to a banquet scene, a celebration, a festive occasion, a time of joy. The table is set, the place is beautifully decorated, the food is prepared, all things

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are ready. Come to the feast. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. The sheep who follow the shepherd have a banquet prepared.

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For life is designed to be a festive occasion. We are to live our lives. We are to enjoy living our life. Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly.

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abundantly. The first thing which we notice here in the words thou preparest the table before me in the presence of mine enemies is the fact that attention is focused on the shepherd as host.

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The shepherd provides for the sheep green pastures, still waters, healing of infirmities, leadership on the journey, even in the walk through the dark and lonesome valley of the shadow of death. But the shepherd provides even more.

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The shepherd provides a banquet for the sheep, a prepared table. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. The sheep is led by the shepherd to table land, which is an elevated and generally level region of considerable extent.

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It is land which is above the surrounding region. It is higher ground. The shepherd goes before the sheep and surveys the situation and arranges a banquet for the sheep in this table land.

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Now there are poisonous plants growing there in this table land, plants that are beautiful to the eye and yet harmful and destructive to the sheep. In a particular grazing section in Africa, a shepherd reports that there were certain plants that had such beautiful blossoms and yet they were poisonous that just a

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little of the plant mixed with the grass would cause the sheep to die when eaten. A few leaves would spell certain death and so in order to avoid this the shepherd goes before the sheep, ascends to the lofty heights, and removes the poisonous plants from the table land, and in so doing, prepares a table in the

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presence of the enemy. The meal is prepared, the dinner reservations are prearranged. That is the only way the sheep survives on higher ground. The dinner reservations are prearranged. The shepherd has walked this way before us. He has climbed the highest mountain. He has served and suffered for the welfare

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of the sheep. The sheep are in his care. And we do well when we sing with a prayer in our hearts, "Lord lift me up and let me stand by faith on heaven's table lad, a higher plane than I have found, Lord plant my feet on higher ground." The shepherd prearranges the table by clearing out the water holes,

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purifying the springs and the drinking places. He removes the accumulated debris of leaves and twigs that may be there, and the stones and the soil which may have fallen into the water. He repairs small dams that he has made to hold water.

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He opens the springs that are overgrown with grass and brush and weeds, and this is all All included in the words, he prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. You see, the shepherd gets everything ready for the sheep. Preparations are made.

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Everything is arranged for each of us to live our life to the full. The shepherd makes the necessary arrangements, prearranged dinner reservations. The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and in that garden he caused to grow

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everything that was good. The trees of the garden with everything that was nourishing, everything that was strengthening, everything that was helpful,

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everything that was needed for the welfare of the sheep. It was already arranged, and then after that was done, God made man out of the dust of the ground, and placed him in that garden.

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One of the most glorious manifestations of the greatness and goodness of God is in the fact that he prepares a table for us

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in the presence of our enemies. He provides sustenance for his sheep. He makes it possible for us to survive under adverse circumstances. Now let us consider the place where the banquet is prepared.

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The place. One always is concerned about atmosphere when you are eating. What kind of place are we in here? says in the presence of

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My enemies that's the atmosphere Surrounded by wild ferocious beasts That a bit on violence and destruction of the sheep The shepherd provides a table

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He protects the sheep And not only does he provide protection, but he prepares a banquet in the presence of my enemies. In the midst of the most difficult,

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dangerous circumstances, the shepherd makes the sheep to rejoice. He causes me to enjoy life, even in the presence of my enemies.

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Now one cannot think of enemies preparing a banquet for us. The enemy wants us to be destroyed. They want us to suffer. The enemy would first of all like to cut off

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the food supply. That's the way we react. Russia did not have the kind of grain crop that was expected and Russia is considered as our enemy.

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And we had more grain than we needed, but we said, no, we will not give grain to Russia because Russia is the enemy. And so we have the grain embargo

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as far as Russia is concerned. That's the human way. That's the human way as far as the enemy is concerned. We don't think of preparing a banquet for the enemy,

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But here is one that prepares a banquet for the sheep in the presence of the enemy Well, here's a lesson for us You see enemies are a blessing for us What do you say enemies are a blessing? Yes enemies are a blessing. I

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I remember a political official several years ago who was retiring from public office And he was sort of giving his farewell speech And he said I want to thank you people He said I want to thank all of you who have been so nice to me. I want to thank you

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He said I want to thank all of you who've been nasty to me I Want to thank you for not being any nastier than you were Well, there ought to be gratitude for the enemy because the enemy helps us. If we are to develop, if we are to grow in grace, if we are to grow in

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the way that God wants us to grow, somehow we must recognize that there are certain blessings that are made possible by the enemy. Some of the best things in life

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Come to us only in the presence of our enemies And so the shepherd demonstrates his presence and his power in a miraculous way By preparing a table for us in the presence of our enemies You can really recognize the goodness, the greatness

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and the power of God when you have something that you are up against that's tremendous and you don't really see how you're going to make it and all of these forces are against you and in the presence of it God comes and and he provides for you in such a miraculous way you never would have discovered how

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good and great and powerful God is if you hadn't had that experience. And so the enemies make it possible for you to discover something about the goodness and greatness of God that you would not have discovered apart from that presence of the enemy. And that's what God does. He prepares for his sheep a table in the

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presence of one's enemies. I used to hear older people say that you know whatever God has for you nobody can take it from you. And if you're really with God, if you're really working with God, whatever He has arranged for you, no one can take it. If you work with God, if you put your hand in His hand, if you follow the leadership of your of his spirit you don't really have to worry about the

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enemy because he prepares. Notice the host who is the host here? God prepares. Notice where he does it. You know we'd like to prepare something for someone without any ripple in the road nothing to worry about but God. God provides for his sheep everything that they need in the presence of the enemies and you see

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what that really is saying brothers and sisters it not only that he is able to provide it but it's saying that in the presence of one's enemies that the Lord makes his sheep a banquet. We like to just say we have a banquet among our friends. That's what sometimes people don't understand about the Christian way

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because we don't want to have any problems. We'd like to say that we don't have any enemies, but that's not the kind of life we live. But what God is saying that if you follow me, if you are my servant, I'll prepare, or he does prepare, a table in the presence of our enemies. That you can rejoice and be glad in the presence of your enemies.

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We like to think about the enemy keeping us awake at night. We like to think about the enemy having us disturbed and anxious about whether or not we're going to make it. But that's not the relationship that one has when one is with God because He prepares a table and the presence of iron. So the enemy becomes a blessing.

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That's what Jesus is talking about when he says that when men revile you, speak all manner of evil against you falsely, Rejoice! Rejoice! Be glad! Be exceedingly glad, because that's a blessing for you.

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Be exceedingly glad, because so persecuted they, the prophets that were before you. You're walking in a noble tradition. In fact, you're walking in the steps of the master. In fact, that is a blessing that God provides. It's a banquet, it's a festivication, it's a feast. God prepares. You can feast on him, even in the presence

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of the enemy. That's a banquet. So the sheep don't have to worry about a thing. Be not anxious, be not disturbed, would e'er be tired.

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For the Eternal Shepherd provides a table for his sheep in the presence of the enemies. The dinner reservations are prearranged. Elijah

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spoken for God courageously. His life is in danger. God sends him during a time of famine to the Brook Sheriff. There he has water

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When there's a great drought in the land There are ravens feed him morning and evening And when that runs out

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He has other Reservations for him He sends them to a widow It's already arranged

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She's already preparing the food and he walks in and he tells her to make the first cake for him And she obeys and they are fed for many days The Shepherd sustenance is provided in the midst of danger and difficulty God takes care of us Not only does he take care of us, but he

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He strengthens us The Shepherd's sustenance is provided in that there is the certainty of his presence, certainty of his provisions, the certainty of his protection

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for the eternal friend is there in the midst of malicious forces, in the midst of all of the hostilities that we face.

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The loving shepherd takes care of his sheep in the most adverse circumstances.

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So don't think of your life as being something which you could just barely make it. Think of your life as a banquet that God has provided that he wants you to enjoy.

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And let no circumstance, let no condition, no enemy, no matter how powerful in this world, keep you from enjoying your life. Taking from you that peace of mind, taking from you that commitment to the shepherd, taking from you that loving relationship of the one who has promised to provide for you

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no matter whatever happens, let nothing take that away from you. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence

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of mine enemies. The table is prepared. The fatted calf is killed, and the servants are summoned to the banquet hall,

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and the eternal shepherd says, "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for this is my child." This is my child. This is one that I have redeemed.

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Rejoice and be glad. Feast. Enjoy your life, live your life. The table is prepared.

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So not only does it mean that we have the host who loves us, the eternal shepherd, and that he has the power to prepare the table in the presence of our enemies as far as the the place is concerned. But lastly, to think about yourself, for me to think about myself as being the guest of God. We are God's guests in his world. He's the honored host, and we

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We are his guests. And what a wonderful privilege it is to be the guest of God. He's prepared that meal. And the strange and mysterious thing about it is the kind of menu that he serves.

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Jesus Christ himself is the food that we are to partake of. He is the food. How can you rejoice in the presence of the enemy? How can you be glad when people are talking about you, doing everything to keep you back?

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How can you be glad when you are up against the enemy? Well, when you are feasting on Jesus Christ. Accept you eat of my body and drink of my blood. we have in us the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Except we have in us the faith in Jesus Christ.

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Except we have in us the hope that is ours in Jesus Christ, the living hope. Except we have in us that love which is Jesus Christ. He enables us to live in the spirit of Jesus He enables us to rejoice and be glad. Thanks be to God for the prepared table.

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It's already arranged. There's a welcome table already arranged. Our forefathers would sing that one of these days and I'm going to sit at the welcome table Welcome table

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There's not something in the far off by and by But it's right here It's right here in the struggle to live from day to day It's right here in the battles that we fight

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It's right here in the burdens that we bear that we can bear them we can fight And we can rejoice. That's the mystery of our history, that he prepares a table for us in the presence of the enemies. The dinner reservations are already arranged. Table is set. Food is ready. All things are ready. Come to the feast. As we sing now the hymn of invitation, we invite you to come. It's the invitation

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to accept the eternal shepherd. It's the invitation to accept the one who provides for us even in desert places, who gives us bread even in a starving land, who makes us to rejoice in the most adverse circumstances. Guide me O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land, I am weak but thou art mighty.

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(snoring) (soft music) ♪ Now drive me over ♪ ♪ Raise me over ♪

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♪ You can do this every day ♪ [Music] ♪ I will only live when I'm gone ♪ ♪ May the man ♪

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♪ Leave me till I'm gone ♪ ♪ No more ♪ ♪ May the man ♪ ♪ Leave me till I'm gone ♪

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[Music] [Music] ♪ Now my days are passing ♪ ♪ With the rain falling slow ♪

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♪ Yet I'm happy for the years ♪ ♪ We've been on the journey through ♪ [choir singing] Let us pray.

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Almighty God, our Father, we thank you that you are our eternal shepherd, that we are the sheep of your pasture, and that you lead us into green pastures and beside still waters, and into paths of righteousness for your name's sake, and and that you're with us even when we walk through the dark valley of the shadow of death,

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that we can say yes to you. And then we thank you that you prepare a banquet for us, that we can rejoice and be glad because you have a table, that you have prearranged dinner reservations for all of your children,

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that the table is prepared in the presence of our enemies, so no matter what happens, how adverse the circumstances, that we can rejoice, that we can live our lives, that we can be happy even in the midst of the struggles.

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Grace, mercy, and peace be with you from God our Father and Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. [Music]

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[ Silence ]