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[no audio] Let all that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee. Let such as love Thy salvation say continually, "The Lord be magnified."

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[audience repeats] Let us pray. By the gift of this day, O gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for the opportunity to be gathered in the house of prayer

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and to mingle our voices together in joyful song. We bless your name. Have mercy upon us. Grant unto us your presence and your power in this service of worship.

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We ask in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen. (dramatic music)

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(dramatic orchestral music) [MUSIC PLAYING] (dramatic music) [ Music ]

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[MUSIC] [Music] [Music] [Music]

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[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music]

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Oh, lest I forget thy harmony, lest I forget thy love for me. ♪ Lead me to Calvary ♪ ♪ King of my life ♪ ♪ I bow thee down ♪

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♪ Lord, to glory be ♪ Lest I forget thy wondrous love, Bring me to Calvary. Oh, lest I forget,

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God save me! Lest I forget Thy harmony, Lest I forget Thy glory, Lead me to Calvary. Our scripture lesson, the book of the prophet Jeremiah, the 33rd chapter and the 14th through the 18th verses. "Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform that

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good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days and at that time will I cause the branch of righteousness righteousness to grow up unto David, and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely, and this

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is the name wherewith she shall be called, the Lord our righteousness. For thus saith the Lord, David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel, neither shall the priests, the Levites, want a man before me to offer burnt offerings and to kindle meat offerings and to do sacrifice continually. Thus

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endeth the reading of our scripture. In the fellowship of prayer as the people of God as his family here at Ebenezer, we have the privilege of communing with him, our Heavenly Father, who is our Heavenly Father. Now as we come, those who feel led to do so to the

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altar, may we come giving thanks to him. [MUSIC PLAYING] (gentle music) [MUSIC PLAYING]

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[MUSIC PLAYING] Let us pray. Gracious God, you've given us another day, another opportunity, another expression of your hope,

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another manifestation of your goodness, another revelation of your grace. So here we are to say thank you, oh God. Thank you that you have spared us,

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that we are yet alive to see each other's face. And as we stand here in your presence, we say, oh Lord, have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us and forgive us for those things

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that we have said that we ought not to have said. Have mercy upon us and forgive us for those things that we have done which we ought not to have done. Help us, O God, to be possessed with your love,

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that we may relate to one another in the spirit of compassion, that we may seek to understand, that we may sympathize, and that we may love one another as you have taught us to love. Be with us as we face the difficult situations of this life. Bless us here in Austin as we face the decisions of

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making significant changes in this community that will affect the lives of all of the people, help us to be calm, and help us, oh God, to try to go forth seeking to do justly, and to love mercy,

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and to walk humbly in your spirit. Bless all of us here at Ebenezer. Not only are those of us who are gathered here today, and you know us, you know what we stand in need of, you know the perplexing experiences that we face, you know the burdens that we bear.

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So we ask for your care, for your keeping, for your sustaining power. we would remember, O Lord, our nation. >> Yes. >> In our relationship with the nations of the world,

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we would remember those who are witnessing for you in distant places. And as we culminate our observance of Foreign Mission Week, Help us, O God, in our own way and in our own time to spread the word of your goodness and your grace.

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Dear Lord, have mercy upon us and bless us this day. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING]

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(coughing) [MUSIC PLAYING] (eerie music) [MUSIC PLAYING]

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

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(gentle music) (gentle 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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(soft piano music) [ Music ] >> Everlasting life, everlasting life, everlasting life is free. [MUSIC]

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Everlasting heart is free. Everlasting heart, everlasting heart, everlasting heart is free. [MUSIC]

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♪ Jesus gave it to me ♪ ♪ Everlasting life is free ♪ ♪ Sometimes life is so sweet ♪ ♪ Sometimes we must face defeat ♪

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♪ There's a way ♪ ♪ All of us try ♪ ♪ Anywhere you see everlasting life ♪ ♪ Everlasting life ♪

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♪ Everlasting life ♪ ♪ Everlasting life is free ♪ ♪ I'm so glad ♪ ♪ Jesus gave it to me ♪

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♪ Everlasting life is free ♪ ♪ I'm fine ♪ ♪ Till you are taken flight ♪ ♪ Do not worry, everything will be all right ♪

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♪ I will come ♪ ♪ For more than sin is free ♪ ♪ And heaven and hell are my city ♪ Everlasting life, everlasting life, everlasting life is free.

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I'm so glad Jesus gave it to me. ♪ Everlasting life is free ♪ ♪ Everlasting life ♪ ♪ Everlasting life ♪

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♪ Everlasting life is free ♪ ♪ I'm so glad ♪ ♪ Jesus gave it to me ♪ ♪ And the last goodbye ♪

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♪ Is free ♪ - Sisters and brothers, I do not have any announcements or visitors cards, but thanks be to God for the blessed privilege

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of worshiping with you this beautiful Sunday morning. - Last Sunday, we gave opportunity to those who would sign the petition for taxing authority for Austin Community College

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for the county. We're seeking to have it countywide because all of the people use the college, not only just those in Austin, but those who live in the county. And it will mean only a small

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addition to one's tax to make this possible. So Brother... [Pause] Hayes, Brother Roland Hayes has that petition.

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And Brother Hayes, will you stand? Now, how many of you signed it last Sunday? All right. How many of you did not, weren't here so you didn't get to sign it? So, if you will, how much money is that, Brother Hayes?

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my mind doesn't recall those figures this morning on the that we're asking it is not very much and It will enable us to build a new campus and to extend that service to every person All right Yes, you may pass those out for those who will the petition states all of the things that I'm not going to take time to

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announce here this morning Now if you will come forward now for our worship and giving following the singing of the next hymn, we're going to sing "Revive Us Again" but I want to say maybe just a few words about about our desegregation situation in Austin.

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We are going to have a meeting on tomorrow night at Austin High. And at that time, you will have an opportunity to make whatever public expressions that you'd like

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to make regarding the desegregation plan. I think many people [cough] organizing

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anti-busing and so on groups in the city. I've had a number of calls from white ministers and the like who who are stating that they are going to be with the anti-busing group and I was in a black meeting the other night all black and they were stating that they didn't want to have busing so one of the things is sure is

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is that if the order is carried out, we will have busing in some form. The order doesn't say anything about busing. It does say that we must have the elimination of the one-race schools in East Austin. And that will have to be done unless there is some negotiated agreement

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between the intervenors and the school board. So, On Monday night, you will have an opportunity to have input. The plan is in the paper. On Tuesday night, Tuesday morning, we will meet again with the interveners Tuesday morning at 930.

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So the plan that you see in the paper may be altered. That is just as it is now. The settlement has not been reached and there may be considerable changes in those plans before

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we have a settlement. So that is sort of the beginning and what will be the the final plan remains to be seen. Let's turn to hymn number 18. I So if you all just put those down for a moment, I announced that a little too early.

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Hymn number 18, "Revive Us Again." [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC]

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♪ For the Son of the Father ♪ ♪ For the only begotten Son ♪ ♪ Hallelujah and glory ♪ ♪ Hallelujah on high ♪

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♪ Hallelujah and glory ♪ ♪ Be by the Son yet ♪ ♪ We praise thee O God ♪ ♪ O come, O come, all ye faithful, come and join us ♪

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♪ In the new york city ♪ ♪ For the new york city is here to stay ♪ ♪ For the new york city is here to stay ♪ ♪ For the new york city is here to stay ♪

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♪ Praise to the Lamb that was slain ♪ ♪ The Lord of our sins and the life of His name ♪ ♪ Hallelujah and glory ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, amen ♪

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♪ Hallelujah and glory ♪ ♪ Revive us again ♪ ♪ Revive us again ♪ ♪ May He help in thy life ♪

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♪ May His soul be redeemed ♪ ♪ Now and at the hour of our death ♪ ♪ Hallelujah by the glory ♪ ♪ Hallelujah by the glory ♪

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♪ Hallelujah by the glory ♪ [choir singing] Amen. [choir singing]

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[choir singing] Let us pray. Bless us, O Lord, as we give. that we may first of all give ourselves and then submit our substance so that all that we are,

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all that we possess, and all that we hope to be may be expressed in our relationship to thee. In Jesus name we ask it, amen. We are happy to have back today Sister Jones who has undergone surgery, Sister BD Jones, and she's back with us in the choir, and our director of the gospel chorus, Sister Lewis, who has had a bout with pneumonia, and I was

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afraid, Sister Lewis, that's why I didn't come. So we're glad that God has brought you back safely both of these dear sisters and we have them present to share with us in our worship services. Brother Van E. Scales Sr. died Friday. He is the brother of Brother Norman Scales and the funeral is pending in San

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Antonio. Brother Van E. Scales Sr. who is the brother of Norman W. Scales died in San Antonio and the funeral is pending. Sister Juanita Wilson and Dr. Delores Hilliger, Hilger, Hillier, co-chairing a breakfast at Green Pastures on Saturday, December the 15th at 930 in the morning. They and the members of the

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Business and Professional Women's Club invite you to the breakfast and to hear and honor one of the members of Ebenezer Baptist Church Mrs. Agnes B. Rota who is the guest speaker. That's next Saturday, this coming Saturday it is now at 930 at Green Pastures. Breakfast.

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[Silence] [Bell tolls] At this time Sister Bula Agnes Curry-Jones sings, "I've Heard of a City Called Heaven." [ Laughter ]

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[ Pause ] [ Music ] I am a poor pilgrim of sorrow. I'm tossed in this wide world alone.

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No hope have I for tomorrow. I've started to make heaven my home. Sometimes I'm a fast and driven lord. Sometimes I don't know where to roam.

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I've heard of a city called heaven. I'm trying to make it my home. My mother has reached that pure glory, but my father is still walking in sin.

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My brothers and my sisters won't own me, just 'cause I'm trying to get in. Sometimes I'm tossed and driven, Lord. Sometimes I don't know where to roam.

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I've heard of a city called heaven. I'm trying to make it my home. Sometimes I'm tossed and driven, Lord. Sometimes I don't know where to run.

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But I've heard of a city called heaven. I'm trying to make it my home. Thank you, Sister Curry, for that beautiful selection. I'd like to invite your prayerful attention to our text, which is recorded in Jeremiah,

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the 33rd chapter, in the 14th through the 16th verses. Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, where I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

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In those days and at that time, I will cause a righteous branch to spring forth for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days, Judah will be saved

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and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called. The Lord is our righteousness. A city where justice dwells.

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A city where justice dwells. The hue and cry for justice may be heard all over this world. Justice is concerned with what is right. involves the knowledge of the right and the doing of the right. Justice is a part

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of the moral fiber interwoven in the universe. There is something in all of us that cries out for the right. We say and we hear it said, "I want my rights. I do not want my rights violated." Each of us want what is due us. Justice is that process by which every person receives his due. We cry for justice but there is

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so much injustice in the world. People are mistreated, there is oppression and and exploitation. Men, women, and children are defrauded of their God-given rights. In many cases, we do not deal fairly with one another. This is the way of life. There was an experiment which was given to the children that

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were enrolled in a class, the Ecumenical Institute in Evingston and the Chicago area, in which the teacher would give to the children that would be gathered cookies. All of them would be given cookies but one that they

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might experience something of what the world is like. Seems that many times when there are certain benefits to be passed out someone gets left out. This is the way life is. Our cities are plagued by corruption, bribery in the courts, and injustice seems to run rampant. Like Abraham of old who asked God to spare

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the city of Sodom saying, "Will thou destroy the righteous with the wicked?" The patriarch went on to plead with God to spare the city if 50 righteous persons could be found. And then the number was reduced to 45, then 40, 30, 20, and finally 10. If only 10 righteous persons could be found, would the Lord

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spare the city. And then Abraham asked a question, will not the great judge of all the earth do right? And the question which Abraham asked is still with us. We agonize in our attempts to make sure that the righteous are not destroyed with the wicked. And we ask the question, not so much will not the great judge of

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all the earth do right, but the question of our time is what is right? Many people do not know what the word morality really means when it comes to the application of it in their lives, or what immorality means, because for them there are no rules. Everything is permitted. There are no norms. Right is whatever I want it to be, they say. This

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is a kind of new morality which many have adopted as their code of ethics. And we speak of the relativity of all ethics and deny the existence of absolutes. Eternal verities are excluded and all ethics are determined by the situation, situation ethics. And this has led to the creation of an idolatry system in which the

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sacred is profaned, the innocent are mistreated, human personality is mutilated, the just are afflicted, the poor are neglected, and the weak are exploited. Where may justice be found? And sometimes it seems that justice has been extricated from our midst, injustice reigns. But Jeremiah is a prophet who was sent to proclaim the word of the Lord in his day.

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He was sent to declare God's judgment to his generation. He says to them that the Lord is going to tear down and build up. He says to Judah that a foreign nation is going to be used by God to punish you for your sins, but justice will be done.

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And oftentimes God has a strange way of administering justice. is always administered, but it is not administered in anger, it is not administered in hate. The judgment of the Lord is sure and righteous. The judgment of the Lord is administered with love. justice and love are interwoven. You see, justice is that side of love which affirms the independent right of both the object and subject within the love relationship. Sometimes we, as parents, may

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be so much in love with our children that we do not exercise the kind of restraint and the kind of guidance that would cause them to do right. But justice which is administered in love involves discipline and it acknowledges and and preserves freedom. Justice has to do with acknowledging and preserving the

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unique character of the beloved, that we love the person and because we do love that person we recognize that the person has a unique character, that there are certain peculiarities and we acknowledge those unique features of the individual and we do that because we love the person. And so the Prophet Jeremiah here

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not only points out that the sins of the present will be punished, he not only announces divine judgment, but he looks to the future and he declares that even though justice will be administered and though punishment will come to the nation, that there will come a fall from the north and you will be punished for your evil doing.

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He looks beyond that day of punishment. He looks beyond that day when Jerusalem as they know it will be destroyed. He looks beyond the day when the Temple will be burned and when there will be ruins there in Jerusalem.

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He looks beyond that day when Jerusalem will be in waste to a time when there will be a new Jerusalem. He looks to the future and he says that days are coming when righteousness will prevail. And as we today look toward the future, as we in this season of Advent look toward the

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coming of Christmas, as we look toward the coming of that great day, that great event in human history, we remember the prophetic words of the prophet that days are coming, days are coming when there will be a new Jerusalem. As we look at our own city, we may compare it to the days of Jeremiah.

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And as we look about, we may see many practices that are unjust, and we see a great deal of room for improvement. And this has been true for many years. It was true in Amos' day, for the prophet Amos declares, "Let justice roll down like

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waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. Let justice be done, let justice prevail. And the prophet Isaiah also expresses it as he looks into the future, he looks forward to a time when everything will be right. He says the crooked will be made straight, the rough places plain, every mountain and hill will be made low. But Jeremiah tells

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us that there is a new order, a new day, a new covenant, a new people, a new city, a a new Jerusalem. And the city is given a new name, the Lord is our righteousness. It's a city where justice dwells. It's a city where the inhabitants acknowledge that the Lord is our righteousness. The Lord is our righteousness. That's what we

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work for. That's what the community of God waits for. That's what the community of God dedicates its energies toward it, reaching that city. That city which is a new expression of God's spirit and God's way, which represents the fulfillment of his will. That's a far cry from where we are today, it was a far cry from where the people dwelt in

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Jeremiah's time. For here in our world we talk about kind of justice in which might makes right. As one person puts it, if you've got what it takes you can sort equalized the situation and he referred to the gun as being the equalizer that equalizes things. Each is given a sword when the duel is on. One man has his, the

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other has another, and may the best man win. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a a tooth. That's the old order. But no, there is a new order coming. That time is the announcement of a new city in which the Lord is our righteousness. The philosopher says justice is the rule of the stronger, but the prophet says

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justice is of God. Justice is rooted and grounded in the heart of God and the word of the Prophet is addressed to those who dwell in the New Jerusalem. And what is the New Jerusalem? Jerusalem is the city of peace. All of us would like to have peace. We'd like to have peace in our world. We'd like to

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peace with the nations. We'd like to have peace in Iran today as far as the Iranian situation is concerned. We'd like to have peace and we have the United Nations and here is an organization of nations that is dedicated to having peace in our world. Peace, yes, but so often we try to have peace without being

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rightly related to the one who is the Prince of Peace. Jerusalem, the city of peace, and yet the Jerusalem of Jeremiah's time is a Jerusalem where people go up and worship at the temple and yet there is discord, there is the rich who exploit the poor, there is no peace there, but Jeremiah looks and says, "Yes, that's true now, but the day comes, the day comes, behold, days are coming when there will be a new situation and the new Jerusalem will have a new name the Lord our righteousness." So you see peace is

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the fruit of righteousness. It is the fruit of righteousness. So often we try to have peace without righteousness. Someone thinks well I know what's right but I just didn't do it because I wanted to get along. I wanted to have peace or I didn't say anything. I knew what I should have said. I knew what I should have done, but I just didn't do it for peace sake.

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Well, we cannot have peace without righteousness. You remember back a number of years ago when Ethiopia was being overrun by Italy, the time of Mussolini and Halle Selassie made a speech in the League of Nations because the world sort of looked on and watched it happen and he made this significant statement that if you try to have peace without justice you will have

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neither peace nor justice. That in order to be at peace with yourself you have to do right. In order to be at peace with others, righteousness has to prevail. In order to be at peace with God, there must be righteousness and and righteousness is being rooted and grounded in God. A city where justice dwells is a city

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where righteousness prevails in the hearts and in the lives of the people. Yes, that's our struggle today as we journey toward that city,

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that city that we call the New Jerusalem, that city called Heaven, where there is a new order of things and where there's a new relationship to people,

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where we overcome the separation that existed. Judah is divided from Israel. God has made a promise to his people, but somehow the kingdoms are divided,

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and that promise still is true. The prophet says, "Yes, God's made the promise. "He made the promise to Israel, "He made the promise to Judah,

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"and the promise is still true. "Behold, days are coming "when God will get His people together, "and it will come because God rules in history."

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There is the arrogance that is manifested in the here and now. Nations may speak of their arrogance and their power, but days are coming when the rule of God will be fully expressed in human history.

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Days are coming when justice will dwell and the new Jerusalem will be established on Earth because God rules in the hearts of his people. And that's why we are to pray for thine is the kingdom the power and

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the glory because the kingdom that the Prophet saw

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Kingdom that Jeremiah describes is the kingdom that first comes in the hearts of people who love God Yes It's coming behold days are coming And you know why Jeremiah could say that what who is it that brings a new day?

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While we slept last night God was bringing a new day That there's nothing we did but somehow we we cooperate with God And and we are in tune with him to live in that day

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And and to work in that day and and to look for the coming of that day That's what it means to be the people of God Behold days are coming. We cannot hold it back anymore Then we can hold back the dawn

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behold days are coming that the Lord our righteousness that the righteousness of God will prevail upon the earth and that we might truly have expressed indeed as we pray for in our hearts the coming of the kingdom,

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for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory. As we extend the invitation to accept Jesus Christ, as we extend the invitation to those who would be workers together with him,

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looking for the coming of that day, The invitation to get right with God, to be in tune with his spirit, to do that right now, is to get in readiness for that day. And so as the choir sings "Get Right with God and Do It Now," we ask you to give yourself to God, to that spirit of righteousness, to that one who knocks on the door of every heart,

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who asks us to live in conformity to his will, that we might have a new order, a new state of being, a new Jerusalem. As we sing now, we ask you to come. (gentle music)

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[ Music ] Get right with God, I do believe now Get right with God, and He will show you how Blood on the cross, praise Jesus

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Get right with God, get right, get right with God Get right with God, I do it now Get right with God, He will show you how Down at the cross, where He shed His blood

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Get right with God, yeah, get right with God [MUSIC] ♪ Yeah, every day will fade ♪ ♪ I see your smile ♪

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♪ But I'm bleeding out ♪ ♪ You swiped my heart ♪ ♪ You came right in front of my door ♪ ♪ You came right in front of my door ♪

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♪ I do it now ♪ ♪ Get right with God ♪ ♪ He will show you how ♪ ♪ Down at the cross ♪

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♪ Where He's standing now ♪ ♪ Get right with God ♪ ♪ Get right, get right with God ♪ ♪ Get right with God ♪

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♪ I'm doing now ♪ Get it right with God, I believe I'll show you how Down at the cross, where He carried the crown Get it right with God

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Get it right, get it right [Chorus of Amen] Amen. [Chorus of Amen]

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We are going to begin here. We'll just start right here since he's still writing. If you'll just tell us your name and please, ma'am, sister. I'm Texanna Davis-Huff.

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Sister Texanna Davis Huff who comes to unite with our church. Brother Owens you have a prayer for her. Just tell us what church do you come from? First Baptist Church of Heffner Lane.

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First Baptist Church of Heffner Lane. All right. Sister Huff comes to unite with our church on the basis of her Christian experience and we'd like at this time to present her as she has so applied all who are in favor of accepting

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here on the basis of a Christian experience would you say aye? Aye. Opposed no it's carried. Sister Huff we're happy to have you and we want to give to you the right hand of fellowship giving you all the rights and privileges as a full member of this church may God bless you and keep you as together we seek to work out his

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salvation in our lives. Thank you. You may be seated. We also have the son and daughter or sister Huff, would you please stand please? Lavinia or Louis? Angela Huff. And this is Louis. All coming from First Baptist. All coming from First Baptist. All right. All who are in favor of accepting

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Angela, would you say aye? - Aye. - Opposed, no, it's carried. And all who are in favor of accepting Lewis,

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would you say aye? - Aye. - All right. And we have Brother Lewis Huff, Sr.

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All right, Brother Lewis Huff, Sr., all who are in favor of accepting him, would you say aye? - Aye.

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- Opposed, no, and it's carried. I want to give to you, Angela, the right hand of fellowship, giving you all the rights and privileges

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as a full member of this church. May God bless you and keep you as we seek to work out our soul's salvation in him. God bless you.

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And Lewis, you're the right hand of fellowship, giving you all the rights and privileges as a full member of this church. And to you, Brother Huff, the right hand of fellowship

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with all of the rights and privileges as a full member of this church. May God bless you and keep you. You may be seated.

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We also have Sister Vita Minero, who has been a former member of this church, and she's now returned to us. - Who is that?

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- Sister Vida Mae Miller, who has been a founding member of this church, been living in San Francisco, she's back home to reunite with us.

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- Right. - That's right. All right, Sister Vida Mae Miller Wright, so we're gonna get this right.

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Who, all who are in favor of accepting her, would you say aye? - Aye. - All right, Sister Wright,

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we're glad to welcome you back home, and to have you right back here where you belong as a member of this fellowship and we give you a right hand of fellowship

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with all the rights and privileges. May God bless you and keep you. Let's all say amen. Amen.

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This is wonderful and we are well pleased that God has added to our church each one of these. You know this past week we celebrated Farm Mission Week And I think, Sister Colman, what was the total?

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$600, is that right? 612. Now, some of you weren't here, so we wanna ask that as we leave,

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you didn't get in on it, and I know you don't wanna be left out of the foreign mission work. So, if you will get some of these envelopes, Sister Colman,

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and you give 'em to Brother Van Dyke, And is that Grassy by the Cliff Van Dyke back there? That's good. Just stand right there at the door.

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And if you haven't given your contribution, you missed all four of the nights that we had, give yours because this is going to go to our foreign mission work,

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the Light of Moon offering and our foreign mission board. We're going to divide that offering between the two since we are members of both. [BLANK_AUDIO]