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[Silence] I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart. I will show forth all thy marvelous works. [Audience] I will praise thee with my whole heart.

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Dear Lord, we have come to this place to praise your name. We thank you for every expression of your mercy and we pray that you would be with us, that each one of us gathered here may be a channel of your grace, receiving that light, that love, that hope and strength that will help us to do what you want us to do.

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We ask this in Jesus' name, amen. - Let's see, Ellie. 270. (piano music)

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(upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music)

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(upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (dramatic music)

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(dramatic music) (dramatic music) (dramatic music) (dramatic music)

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(dramatic music) [Music] ♪ Last night I felt like a lonely Jesus ♪ ♪ All in one ♪

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♪ The Lord I want ♪ ♪ God bless me ♪ ♪ All I've sought is Jesus ♪ ♪ No other Christ ♪

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♪ The power of the Lord ♪ ♪ Jesus, the most powerful ♪ ♪ Most strong of all ♪ ♪ He will drive down the valiant ♪

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♪ For there's no other upgrader ♪ ♪ Like the Lord and Jesus ♪ ♪ No, not one ♪ ♪ No, not one ♪

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♪ No friend like him ♪ ♪ Is so high and holy ♪ ♪ No, not one ♪ ♪ No, not one ♪

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♪ I ain't no friend ♪ ♪ Yes, on me I know Him ♪ ♪ Lord of love ♪ ♪ Jesus knows all about our struggles ♪

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♪ He will find the danger zone ♪ ♪ There's no ♪ ♪ There's no truth in the word of Jesus ♪ ♪ No, not one ♪

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♪ No, not one ♪ ♪ There's not a God ♪ ♪ That is not near us ♪ ♪ Lord, I want no other ♪

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♪ Lord, that is so dark ♪ ♪ How can you love ♪ ♪ Lord, I want no other ♪ ♪ Jesus knows all about my heart ♪

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♪ The heart of Stuckhurst ♪ ♪ He will find you there ♪ ♪ The Son of Man ♪ ♪ Has come to pray ♪

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♪ Like the Lord Jesus ♪ ♪ No not at one ♪ ♪ No, not at all ♪ - And all the people gathered themselves together

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as one man into the street that was before the water gate. And they spoke unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.

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And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation, both of men and women, and all who could hear with understanding upon the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it, facing the street that was before the water gate,

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from the morning until midday before the men and the women and those who could understand. The ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose.

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Beside him stood Marathi Thaya and Shima and Anaya and Uriah and Hilkiah and Mastaya on the right hand and on his left hand Pidaya and Michell and Makaija and Hashem and Heshabunna and Zechariah and Meshalam and Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was above all the people and when he opened

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it all the people stood up and Ezra blessed the Lord the great God and all the people answered amen amen lifting up their hands and they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground also Jeshua and Benai and Cherubia and Jamin and Aqabut and Shabbathiah and Hodea and Mestiah and

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Kalita and Azariah and Joseph and Hanan and Peliah and the Levites called the people to understand the law and the people stood in their place so they read in the book of the law of God distinctly and gave the sense and caused him to understand the reading and Nehemiah who is of Tyreshith and Ezra the priest the

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scribe and the Levites who taught the people said unto all the people this day is holy unto the Lord your God more not now we for all the people wept when they heard the words of the law and he said unto them go your way eat the fat and drink the sweet and send potions unto them for whom nothing is prepared for

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this day is holy unto the Lord neither be ye grieved for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Thus endeth the reading of our scripture. May we come now as we pray together to the altar of prayer. I need thee every hour, every hour I need thee. Oh bless me now my Savior I come to

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the what a privilege it is to talk with God. Each one of us in our own special way can enter into our secret closet and talk with him.

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Let us pray. Lord, we thank you for the gift of this day. Another expression of your grace, another chance to worship you, another privilege for us to stand before your presence and to say thank you.

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You brought us through another week. You permit us to make a new beginning. We are grateful. So we come to you now not in the boldness of our goodness.

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We know we haven't done what you told us to do and we've left undone so many things. We faltered, we failed, we know that. we come so not in the boldness of our goodness, we come in the humility of our weakness, asking that you would forgive us. That you would shower upon us once

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more your love and compassion. That you would somehow give us strength for the weaknesses that we possess, that you would give us light for the darkness that is before us. Lord have mercy upon us. Each one of us, this very special blessing that you know we need, would you grant it? Bless us as we seek to sing

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your praises, as we seek to declare your word and give us receptive hearts that we may go from this place having received that which is necessary to run the race that you've set before us. Lord bless not only this church but we pray for your churches everywhere, for those who carry on in your name, and then we

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would remember those who are outside the arc of safety. We pray that somehow our witness and the witness of others may constrain them to come from darkness into light. Bless our nation, bless the nations of the world, and we pray that you would help us to work with you and to hasten the day when there shall be

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be peace upon earth as it is in heaven. Grant this prayer, O God, for we ask it in Jesus' name, Amen. [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING]

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(soft music) (gentle music) (soft music) (soft music)

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(soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music)

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(soft piano music) (gentle piano music) (gentle piano music) (gentle piano music)

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(soft piano music) (soft piano music) (soft piano music) (soft piano music)

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(bells ringing) (soft piano music) [ Music ] ♪ Children of God, children of God ♪

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♪ We are marching to Zion ♪ ♪ Children of God, children of God ♪ ♪ We are marching to Zion ♪ ♪ Yes, children of God, children of God ♪

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♪ We are marching to Zion ♪ ♪ Step by step, by step ♪ ♪ All the way ♪ In my walk, you can see me striving.

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In my walk, you can see me striving. In my walk, you can see me growing step by step by step all the way. In my toe, in my toe, you can hear me pray.

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In my toe, in my toe, you can hear me pray. In my toe, in my toe, you can hear me pray. Step by step, by step, all the way. In my prayer, you can hear me crying.

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In my prayer, you can hear me crying. In my prayer, you can hear me crying. Step by step, I'll step all the way. Christians pray that we keep on marching.

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Christians pray that we keep on marching. Christians pray that we keep on marching, step by step by step all the way. Children of God, we are marching to Zion.

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Children of God, we are marching to Zion. Children of God, we are marching to Zion. ♪ Step by step, by step ♪ ♪ All the way ♪

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(gentle piano music) [ Music ] >> Good morning. I ask you to please read your bulletin

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for this morning's announcements. I do have the names of two visitors. As I call your name, would you please stand and remain standing until words

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of welcome have been extended to you. Mrs. Mildred Carlton of 8414 Wildcat Drive, El Cerrito, California. Forgive me if I didn't say that correctly. But she's the sister of Mrs. Eunice Easley.

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Bonzo Talbert of 4904 Blueberry Trail, Austin, Texas. Thank you. We're very happy that you decided to join us this morning. We hope that you'll feel inclined to stay and visit our Sunday schools in BTU.

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We ask that anytime you're in the Austin area or anytime you're inclined to come back and visit with us. Thank you. I have a letter from Senator Lloyd Doggett, which indicates that we are approaching the time when the census will be taken. And this census project will make available certain temporary jobs

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that will last from a few weeks to a few months. And that there are two types of jobs. One is clerical, paying three dollars and fifty-five cents an hour to four dollars per hour. Then there's the other of field operations paying from four dollars to four dollars and fifty cents an hour.

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So if you are interested or you know of persons who may be interested have them contact Senator Lloyd Doggett's office. Last evening the pastor united in marriage Cheryl Blankenship and Julius Woods.

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Cheryl is the granddaughter of Sister Batts and they were united in marriage at her home on yesterday evening and we wish for them

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much joy and happiness for the future. Let us now worship the Lord in our gifts, dedication of our gifts. Our worship

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is expressed in what we share of ourselves and our substance. Let us pray now. Unto you, O God, we open ourselves and as we look to you, the giver of every gift,

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bless us now as we share of self and substance to the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (dramatic music)

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(dramatic music) (dramatic music) (dramatic music) (dramatic music)

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(dramatic music) (dramatic music) [ Music ] See this afternoon is a special day in our church. It is a day for

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ushers. It is their annual day. It is a day that all of us should support and so we ask you to come back this afternoon. You notice in the bulletin that at three o'clock the Reverend J.H. Penn and the

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members of his congregation will be with us. to share with us in that day. Let's make it a great day and our attendance and in our support of it in every way come back today at three o'clock for the annual Usher's Day.

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[MUSIC PLAYING] (organ music) (organ music) - Our annual meeting will be held

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Wednesday of this week we've been announcing it for several weeks now and the time will be Wednesday here at the church at 730 for our annual meeting on our reports and recommendations so you're encouraged to be here. Let's turn now to hymn number 181 34 the congregational hymn of break thou the

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The bread of life. [MUSIC PLAYING] Got to stand. [MUSIC PLAYING]

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[MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] ♪ To the Lord again ♪ ♪ Bring the bread of life ♪

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♪ And hold to it ♪ ♪ As the Lord's grace ♪ ♪ That saves those of sin ♪ ♪ Our Bospheric King ♪

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♪ God's sacred Lord ♪ ♪ Christ in Christ alone ♪ ♪ Only ♪ I'll be here waiting for you ♪

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♪ I'll be strong enough to carry you home ♪ ♪ To the stormy sea ♪ ♪ I'll be strong enough to carry you home ♪ ♪ You're the girl that I need ♪

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♪ You're the one that saves my life ♪ ♪ I want you to find peace in my life ♪ Last man to take our seats. (piano music)

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♪ If there is love, love to me ♪ ♪ Then he may touch my heart ♪ ♪ And heal me of sin ♪ ♪ Show me the truth myself ♪

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[music] The book of Nehemiah, the eighth chapter, the first and the third verses, are the words of our text. And they told Ezra the scribe

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to bring the book, and he read from it. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

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And Luke the fourth chapter and the 17th and 20th verses are these words, "And Jesus stood up to read and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and read, and he closed the book and gave it to the attendant. The book of books is the subject, the book of books. An important conversation was once held between

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Humpty Dumpty and Alice, as recorded in Alice Through the Looking Glass, Humpty Dumpty is saying, "The king has promised me with his very own mouth to send all of his horses and all of his men," interrupts Alice. "Now I declare that's too bad," Humpty Dumpty cried, breaking into a sudden passion. "You've been listening at doors, behind trees, and down chimneys.

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You couldn't have known that. I haven't indeed, Alice said gently. It's in a book. It's in a book.

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That in large measure is behind why we are here today, because of what is said about human nature and human destiny and humanity's relationship to the Lord that is written in a book. The Jewish people are called people of a book.

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They honor and revere the Holy Scriptures. The Christian community is known as the people of the book, the Holy Bible. And our churches are remembered for the fact that we have the open Bible. The Book of Books, the book that stands out as unique, special, above every other book,

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and how strange, how wonderful it is that history has bequeathed to us this Book of books, which is a record of the human divine encounter, an account of the divine revelation through the centuries. Our text says, "And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book read from it. It is a period when exiles return to Jerusalem, battered walls are

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rebuilt, the demolished temple is reconstructed, worship is revived. It's a certain kind of life that is instituted for the exiles as well as for those who have remained in Jerusalem through these years. An exile is one who is away from where he or she ought to be. And in a certain way each one of us is an exile.

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We're not where we ought to be. We are exiles. And sometimes in a family there are those who go away. They go away from home and they're never heard from again. They go away. They have no relationship to the home base.

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And then there are those who stay around home but have no real relationship to home. They're just there as far as their physical presence are concerned. And then there are those who go away as far as distance is concerned, but home is uttermost in their minds and in their hearts.

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There were those who were far away from home. They were in Babylon, a great distance from Jerusalem, but they prayed with their faces turn toward Jerusalem and they longed for the time when they would return to Jerusalem. And then there were those who just stayed in Jerusalem all of those years and did nothing

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about the needs of Jerusalem. They did nothing about the wall that had been battered down by the conquering armies of Nebuchadnezzar. did nothing about the ruined condition of the temple. They neglected all of

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these things and these things were but signs of the concern which they had for God for in neglecting these it is also true that they neglected the true worship of God. So here is an incident which has to do with the return. We have our destinations, we have a particular mark that we seek to reach and we often

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fall short of it. We find that what we do is marred and we try to build again and again. The walls must be rebuilt. The temple must be remodeled. These have to do with structure, with externals. Structure is important. We need form. We need a mold. The die could not be cast without structure. We need structure for our system. But there is a need not only for structure,

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but for substance to inhabit that structure. It's important to build up Zion's walls. It's wonderful to have a beautiful temple, but more important is the question of what goes on inside that temple. The little boy was standing outside the church and he saw people coming and going, and he asked one person, "Mister, what goes on in there?" And so this question may well be asked

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of our worship by those who are outside, "What goes on in there?" That's a serious and challenging question, a question concerned with each of us who frequent the worship services, what goes on in there. And sometimes when we really consider what is going on, there is a conscious recognition

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of the need for religious reform, for religious revival. Ezra recognized that. and Nehemiah recognized that they needed to go farther than just rebuilding the walls and reconstructing the temple, that there was a need to be concerned about what was

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going on in there. And so here are the people who were left in Jerusalem as well as those who returned. Those who were left in Jerusalem were broken in heart. They had neglected God's house and God's worship. And in neglecting God's house and God's worship, they had also neglected the book. That book which is a revelation of God's dealings with man, that record of

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that revelation, the book of books. That book that has a preeminent place in the worship of God, the Bible. They had neglected the Bible. Oh, I might say that they are not alone in that. For many people today, the Bible is a forgotten book. For some, it's a lost book. It is in the home but it is neglected, left there to accumulate dust, not used, not opened, not read.

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Ezra is told to bring the book and to read from it. So the Bible is read in the presence of the congregation. been concerned about why Johnny can't read. There is even a more significant question about Johnny and that is that once Johnny learns to read, what does he

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read? Books are read by probably not more than 25% of the population. Think of it. One out of every four read books. Magazines are read at least twice as extensively as books. Newspapers reach perhaps 90% of our population.

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But only one half of the adult public has sufficient reading skill to read and understand books that are published for adults. And oh, how important it is to read. For how can we understand unless somehow we read? We become informed.

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It is said that reading makes a ready person. In order for people to know the record of the divine revelation, it must be read. For reading enables us to commune with persons across the centuries. Through reading, we can walk with kings.

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Through reading, we can talk with poets and philosophers. reading we can have fellowship with the godly prophets. So the Book of Books is read in the presence of the people. There is another experience in the life of God's people where they had gone on and on and the nation was somehow prospering as far as their international connections were

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concern as far as economics may be concerned, the nation was prospering, but they had somehow in the midst of all of their prosperity, they had forgotten about the book of books. And one day when the priest was in the temple going through the things, he found the book. And when he found and he began to read it, he says, "Ah, this is the Word."

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And somehow when the Word was read and it is brought to the attention of the king, he assembles all of the people and has them to listen to the Word.

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And so the Word is once again heard. Sometimes in the midst of all of our hustle and bustle, we push aside the book. We push aside that Word which is addressed

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every one of us and there is a word there for all of us. A word for every condition and every circumstance. God has a word that he has left there a record for us to read. So Ezra reads from the book. Centuries later there is another incident where a young man stands up in the synagogue in the midst of the worship service and that Aaron brought to him the book and he takes

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the book and he opens it and he reads saying the Spirit of the Lord is upon me for he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted to preach deliverance to the captives, recovering of sight to them that are blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

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and he closed the book and sat down, said to them, "Today is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." It was the book of books from which he read, and he was somehow relating that book to his life, and every one of us is to relate the book of books to life. Ethiopian eunuch is in his chariot and as he rides he is reading a passage from the book of books and Philip goes and as he gets in

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the chariot with the Ethiopian and he watches where he is reading and he asks him if do you understand what you're reading and he says well how can I understand unless I have someone to teach me. Paul says to Timothy now when you come be sure and bring my books. This is the book that God has left for us so often it's it's

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neglected. It's not something just to read to get some merit points and sometimes it may degenerate to that when we have our six points or our eight point record system and we say well have you read the Bible and some say well I'll read so I can get my merit points. No not for that but to somehow recognize that this book has to be read in order that we might know the road on

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which we are to travel. It's a map. It's the only way we can really know where we are going and to be without it is to be out trying to travel without a map, really knowing where one is going. Read it. Read it. Read it in order to be wise, in order to know, in order to know who you are, in order to really understand yourself and to understand who God made you to be. Read it!

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in order to know yourself, be wise in understanding oneself, in understanding one's relationship to other people, and in understanding one's relationship to the eternal reality. Read it. Not only necessary to read it, but the book must be interpreted rightly. That's really what the Ethiopian eunuch stood in need

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of, interpretation. We can go to the Bible and we can twist it and distort it in such a manner that we can find scripture passages to say almost whatever we want to say. And the common saying is that even the devil quotes scripture. So the important thing is how is it interpreted. Study. To show thyself approved unto God

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workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. A great deal depends upon interpretation. Someone looks at a glass half-filled, one person looks at it and says well the glass is half-empty. Another looks at the same glass and says it's half-full. It's all in the way one looks at it and how

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one interprets it. Jesus says you've heard what men have said of old. You know what they've said and how they have interpreted this book, but I have come that you might really know what it means. I have come not to destroy it, no not even to change the dotting of an I or the crossing of the T, no not to change it but to really interpret it in a way that you will understand it because I will give meaning to those words. You've heard

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it said of old but I say unto you, look at my life, look at my example, and you will know how to fulfill the words of this book. So when you read it, it will give you a new understanding of life and how to apply what you read to your situation. Well yes, read it, be informed, to be wise, to know, interpret it rightly in the second place, but in the third place believe it.

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All of us have seen people who have read the Bible and who can really quote it, but they don't believe it. They can tell you where it's found, scripture and verse. They can really quote it, but it doesn't mean very much to them. Sometimes I think that that may be one of the problems with many of us who dwell in what we call the Bible Belt, because if we really believe the Bible, some of the problems that we have,

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we would live in such a way that those problems would be solved if we really believe that book of books. And so there is what Brunner calls bibliolatry. People become worshipers of the book, worshipers of the page, the printed page, and much debate and much dialogue is carried on about what's on that page, but somehow we

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don't get what's on the page into our lives. That's what we were singing about beginning of this sermon, "Beyond the sacred page." Beyond the sacred page we seek the living word, the book of books and somehow beyond the sacred page is the living Lord, the living word, one who is alive, gives us his spirit in which to do

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that which he calls upon us to do, believe it, and to believe it is to enter into a living, abiding relationship with the author of that book. One young lady said, "Well, she had met, she had read a book, the authors, she did not know, and she really didn't understand the book and didn't care for the book very much.

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Sometimes later she met the author of that book, and she fell in love with him. And when she fell in love with the author, she went and read the book again. And she fell in love with the book because she knew the author. So those who would push the book aside, who would somehow neglect it and not read it and

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not interpret it and not believe it, need only to meet the author and to fall in love with the author. And when one falls in love with the author, one falls in love with the book, the record of his dealings with his people.

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Believe it. Rely on a view if you want to travel safely. Here is the map that points the way. Believe it.

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Rely upon it. Trust it. is the map that points the way. Believe it, rely upon it, trust it. Then lastly, practice it. Practice it. Won't mean very much unless we practice it. "Happy are ye if you do these things."

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Practice it. The doing of the word, knowing and doing, whatsoever he says, do it. So it is like that event which is described in the book of Revelation where John says that it was given to him the scroll. He saw the scroll and like that experience that was mentioned by the Prophet Ezekiel was given to him to

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eat, to digest. He ate it and it was bitter. Yes, there are many things in the Bible that are rather difficult. Some of it's rather bitter. But a lot of the things that help us a bidder. I was a boy my mother would give me castor oil and then as I grew a little older she gave me what the old people called black draught that was the

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way she called it. It was pretty rough on you and sometimes she gave me three I didn't like it, but she said it'll do you good. And so I took it, believing what she said, that it would do me good.

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And so that's the way it is with God, what he has said to us, what he's outlined for us. Ezra stood up in the pulpit and read it, and the people heard it, and they believed it,

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and that's what God wants us to do. He has a message for us. Whatever your condition is, are you weak? Heavy laden, are you cumbered with a load of care?

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God has a message for us in his book. God has a message for us. He says to us that they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings of eagles.

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They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. God has a message for us in his book. Are you broken hearted?

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Has life been cruel to you? Are you sad? God has a message. Let not your heart be troubled.

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Ye believe in me, believe also in God. God has a message for us. There is not a condition or a circumstance that he does not have a message. And that's why it's the book of books.

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Other books come and go. It's this book one month that's the book of the month. It's another book that's another month that's the book of the month. But for this book, it is the book of every month.

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It remains the same. God's Word. God's Word for us to read. God's Word for us to interpret. God's Word for us to believe. God's Word for us to practice. Eat it, digest it, live it. As we sing now, can live the message that God has for us, that which for such a long time had

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been an abstraction for people became a concrete reality, when that message is translated into life as Jesus comes. So as he comes he gives us that strength, that hope, that love. As we sing hymn number 136 we ask you now to accept the invitation which God extends to us, the blessing that he gives to us, that

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message which he has which is a message of salvation, a message of hope, a message of life. We invite you to come now. [MUSIC] [MUSIC]

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I'm a message from the Lord, how do you know? You are a message, I'm a hymn for you. It's recorded in His Word, how do you know? Jesus said, "I know it's true."

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Look at Him, and know Him. ♪ Left to Jesus, now I'm lame ♪ ♪ This recording ain't his word, hallelujah ♪ ♪ All is holy that you know I'm lame ♪

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♪ Jesus told me in his word, hallelujah ♪ ♪ I am glad to hear this thing he said ♪ I believe in His word, hallelujah I'm a witness, Lord, He made me whole I can live, I'm not afraid I'm living to Jesus' sound

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♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ It's recording the sound of the Gloria ♪ ♪ In His holy name, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Jesus saved us, the King of glory ♪

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♪ In the glory of the Son of Man ♪ ♪ He will tell you all you need ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Even He will give you peace ♪

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♪ Look to Him ♪ ♪ Look to Him ♪ ♪ Look to Him ♪ ♪ Look to Jesus ♪

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♪ Oh, again ♪ ♪ It's recorded in His Word ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ [music]

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Gracious God our Father we thank you that you have recorded in your word that promise. That promise which receives fulfillment in Jesus Christ, grant that we may look and live and be used as your instruments so that people everywhere may look to you and live.

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Now unto him who is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless before his glorious presence with exceeding joy. To the only wise God, our Father, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, now and forevermore.

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Amen. [ Silence ]