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[silence] Sing a song full of the hope that the present can bring us, Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till we can bring it home.

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Slowly the road returns, In other times we've come. And in the days when all our foes have gone, Here with us can we be,

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On our weary feet, Unto our place, Of which our fathers sighed. We have come,

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All the way from the trees and the water, We have come, Trading of life through the blood of the slaughtered. Out from the gloomy past,

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Till now we stand and glad, And over me our old bright star is cast. God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who hath brought us now far on the way,

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Thou who hath by Thy might, Played us in youth, our life; He was forever in the path, we pray. Blest are we,

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Strayed from the places our God where we may be. Bless our hearts, Drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee. Shadowed beneath thy love,

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May we forever stand True to our God, True to our nate, ♪ May we praise Him now ♪

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- May we bow our heads. We bless your name, O God, for the privilege of gathering together to worship you this day.

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When we give attention to our fathers and celebrate the liberation struggle in which we have been engaged through the years, We thank you for the leadership of your spirit,

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for the presence of your power. Guide us this day in our worship, that we may truly worship you in spirit and in truth. In Jesus' name, amen.

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(calm music) (gentle music) [piano] Blessed be the Lord, God the Lord, God the Lord, God of Israel,

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who only doeth one just thing. Blessed be the Lord, God the Lord, God the Lord, God of Israel, who only doeth one just thing. Blessed be the Lord, blessed be the Lord,

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Blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, Come into the country of peace. Blessed be His Holy Name,

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Blessed be His Holy Name, Let the whole world be filled with His glory Forever and evermore. [MUSIC]

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[MUSIC] Blessed be His holy name, Let the whole world be filled with His glory. I'll never, I'll never, no. This is my friend,

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This is my friend, This is my prayer. Amen! Amen.

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Let's all say Amen. Our responsive reading is number 597 in the back of the hymnal, Father's Instructions. Our leader is Deacon H. L.C. Yancy.

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Let us stand. Ὁ ὑμᾶς ὑμεῖς. Ὁ ὑμᾶς ὑμεῖς. I am thy God.

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Flesh and our faith, Who walk with the Word of the Lord In their hearts. Be silent for the Lord speaketh to his children.

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Hear, ye children, the instructions of a father, and attend to no understanding. I hear you, O God, but I say ye not my Lord. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thy heart be my words, be thy hand my spirit.

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Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee where they are to, and I bear thee my practice. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straightened, and when thou runneth, thou shalt not stumble. They shall not go into destruction, neither shall they go into evil, for they shall be glorified.

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Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not into the way of evil men. Avoid it, and ask not for it, turn from it, and pass away. For they slept not, except they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they can break the witness and break my heart.

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I will keep thy word in my heart, Ye he down in my heart. But the path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

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We will believe the darkness, we will not be fooled by the sun. My son attend thy words, incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let my heart be thy eyes, be thou my witness, my heart.

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For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Be thou my heart, thou my witness, I will not be disquiet. Put away from thee a fraught mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. That is my heart, and that is the strength for me.

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Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to my name, but to the left, for you are good to me. My word is the lamp unto my feet, And the light unto my pathway of faith.

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[piano] [piano] It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord, Standing in the need of prayer. Like a brother, like a sister, but it's me, oh Lord, standing in the lead, I pray.

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Not to preach, not to give, but by His feet, O Lord. Standing in the need of prayer. Not to preach, not to give, but by His feet, O Lord. Standing in the need of prayer.

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It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord. Standing in the need of prayer. It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord. Standing in the need of prayer.

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Not to follow, not to bind, but by His feet, O Lord. Standing in the need of prayer. Now a father, now a mother, what is me, O Lord? Standing in the need of prayer.

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It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord. Standing in the need of prayer. It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord. Standing in the need of prayer.

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Not a stranger, not a neighbor, what is me, O Lord? Standing in the need of prayer. Not a stranger, not a neighbor, what is me, O Lord? Standing in the need of prayer.

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It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord. ♪ It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord, ♪ ♪ Standing in the outpray. ♪ ♪ It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord, ♪

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♪ Standing in the outpray. ♪ ♪ It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord, ♪ ♪ Standing in the outpray. ♪ ♪ It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord, ♪

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♪ Standing in the outpray. ♪ This is the children's hour. All children in the congregation from the kindergarten level through the fifth grade are asked to come forward at this time. Train up a child the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Jesus said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, forbid them not, for such is

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the kingdom of heaven." He also said to his disciples that except you become as a little child, you shall in no case enter the kingdom of heaven. When I was a child, I thought as a child, I understood as a child.

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[music] Good morning. How are you this morning? Do you know what day this is? What special day this is today?

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Father's Day. Father's Day. And what other day is this? You know? Any other day besides that? The June the 19th. Does that mean anything to you?

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Nothing at all. Other than that. All right. All right. Well, when I was a boy, you're about the age of any one of you here, long ago. 19 June, 1919,

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was the day we celebrated. We called it Juneteenth. Can you say that word? Juneteenth? Yes. And we celebrated that day.

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We had times when we would go to the park and we would have barbecue and chicken and all the goodies you know that you have to eat.

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And the polypop we called it. We had a big celebration on what we called the 19th of June,

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or the Juneteenth. For that was the time when our forefathers, many years ago, now more than a hundred years ago, were set free. They were slaves, and we came to this country as slaves. And when we were free, the word, those who were working out on the plantations did not get the word until late.

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They had circulated the word that the war was over, and in different sections of the country they got the word at different times. So down here in Texas, they got the word around the 19th of June. That's why we celebrate that as a time when we were set free in this country, no longer slaves, and we celebrate that. So today, while we remember our fathers, we also remember the struggle for freedom that we have been engaged in in this country.

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Now I want you to remember, repeat after me, see we'll just let this alone for a while, I repeat after me this particular word. Let everything he has made give praise to him. Now some of you out in here, let's try that once more.

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Let everything he has made give praise to him. Now that is really what we have here in this word In the book of Psalms 148 and 5, let everything he has made,

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that mean everything God has made, give praise to him. Now we see these beautiful flowers that are here. Now, none of us can make a flower. God has made these flowers and they are beautiful.

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And here they have been grown and they have been cut and they have been brought into this church so that we have them here today to give beauty as together we seek to praise God.

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That is what the writer here says, not only the flowers, but everything that God has made, everything in nature, the stars give glory to God. It means that we with our lives,

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Just as that is true of the stars, it's true of the flower, it's true of us, that we should give praise to God. Now, this is God's handiwork. None of us can do that. I remember a song that we sang years and years ago. Oh, who can make a flower? No, I know I can't, can you?

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♪ Oh, who can make a flower ♪ ♪ No one but God is true ♪ So he wants you to be that kind of person that will blossom, that will be beautiful,

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and that will give your life in praise to him in the work that you do at home, at school, at play, and everywhere. God bless you.

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[Muzik] [Music] (gentle music) (gentle music)

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

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(gentle music) [piano] Move me, move me, Move me to do thy will. Move me, move me, Move me to do thy will.

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Move me, move me, move me to do Thy will. Move me, move me, move me to do Thy will. I want the Lord move me, so I can do His will. My empty cup the Lord will fill, I know He can, I know He will.

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Move me, move me, move me to do Thy will. Move me, move me, move me to do Thy will. I want the Lord to move me, so I can do His will. My empty cup the Lord will fill, I know He can, I know He will. Move me, move me, move me to do Thy will.

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Move me, Jesus. Move me Jesus, move me Jesus, move me to do thy will. Move me Jesus, moove me Jesus Move me, Jesus, move me to do Thy will.

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Amen. We worship the Lord now in the dedication of our gifts. Let every one of you give according to how the Lord has prospered you. [applause]

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Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase, so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses burst out with new wine. Persons who are worshipping with us, who are not members of this church, if you have not signed a visitor's card, would you raise your hand?

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[organ music] Hark! Hark! Let us pray. Eternal God, Father of us all, we pray that you would possess our hearts, our lives, as we worship you in the dedication of our gifts, that we may not possessed by our possessions, we pray, but that we may be possessed by your spirit,

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and that we may give freely of ourselves and substance to the honor of your name, we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [tunel] [tunel]

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[tunel] [tunel] [tunel] [tunel]

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[tunel] [tunel] [tunel] [Muzik]

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[Muzik] [музыка] [Muzik] [Muzik]

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[Muzik] [Muzik] [instrumental] Our Father's holy name,

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We will be true to thee, we'll care. Our Father's name, it brings us near, Where still in heart and conscience free, How sweet would be that children's name,

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If they are here, who'll die for thee? Faith of our fathers, holy faith, We will be true to thee, good God. Faith of our fathers, we will love,

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Of faith and hope, we'll all strive, I'm preaching to our song of song, By yonder edge, a virtual sign, Make of our fathers' holy name,

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We will be true to thee, faithful friend. [applause] We come at this particular point in our service to commission the Reverend Gary McNeil, who among us as a ministerial intern during his seminary work at Yale University.

00:32:29.120 - 00:33:05.060

In May he was graduated from Yale and will be serving this summer as a mission core worker a la aspectos de la Comisión de la Misión de la Convención de los Baptistas del Sur con la Comisión de la Junta de los Baptistas en Washington, D.C. El objetivo de la Comisión de la Junta de los Baptistas es que el testigo baptista

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pueda ser hecho en Washington, particularly as it has to do with all legislation involving matters of church and state. And he will be working in that office during what we think of as lobbying, I choose to use the word witnessing, by Jesus Christ in that particular area.

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I'm going to ask that Reverend McNeil that you will stand here as we begin this particular commissioning service. We are assembled in the name of Jesus Christ to set apart the Reverend Gary McNeil for the work of mission corps service under the auspices of the Home Mission Board of the

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Southern Baptist Convention with the Baptist Joint Committee. The Reverend McNeil has presented himself for this work. He has accepted this challenge after due examination and prayer. And we invite you at this time to join with us in this commissioning service.

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this word that is recorded in the book of Joshua, the first chapter, the sixth and seventh verses. Be strong and of a good courage, for unto you this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance, the land which I swear unto their fathers to give them.

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Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee. not from it, to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

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The grace of God that has been at work among us, the grace that has been at work in the the life of the Reverend McNeil and manifested in the life of this church to share in the work of setting him apart to witness for God in this particular way. We exhort you, Reverend McNeil, to consider the sacredness of the task to which you are

00:36:31.180 - 00:37:05.000

giving yourself and to manifest that sincerity of purpose, that integrity and holiness of life and humble dependence upon God that you may fulfill your responsibilities, remembering that our Lord Jesus Christ said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

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Hear also that the Apostle Paul has said, I charge you in the presence of God and of Jesus Christ to witness, to be urgent in season and out of season, Convince, rebuke, and exhort.

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Be unfailing in patience and in teaching. Continue steadfastly in prayer. Give attention to reading. And do your best to present yourself to God

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as one approved, a workman, who has no need to be ashamed. doing that which is in harmony with his will. Here also the counsel of the apostle Peter

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to tend the people of God and to be faithful and to be eager in caring for that over which God has given you charge. So, I say to you, in the presence of this congregation,

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do you affirm your determination to give yourself to this task of serving as a mission co-worker for the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention with the Baptist Joint Committee in Washington, D.C.,

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in fulfilling this ministry as a channel of the grace of God. - I will endeavor to do so with God's help. - Do you, the members of this congregation, acknowledge and affirm the gifts and abilities

00:39:03.640 - 00:39:33.680

of Gary Magneil to fulfill a specified ministry? And are you willing to participate in sharing in sharing in the responsibilities covenant to work through our mission board together giving all honor and support due unto the Lord in helping to carry out this ministry.

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If you are so willing, will you signify by standing? In keeping with the biblical practice of setting apart servants of God for particular work, For this particular purpose, we come to set apart the Reverend Gary Magneel in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of believers that are assembled here.

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We ask that all of us at this time will bow our heads and ask God's blessings as we set part, this is servant for the work which is to serve as a mission core worker. O gracious God, our Father, we bless your name that we have the privilege of being workers together with you toward the coming of your kingdom in its fullness.

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We thank you for the task that you have committed unto us, to witness even in the midst of the high places of government, and for this work which we have, and the dedication which is expressed by this your servant, the Reverend Gary McNeil, to serve as a witness in Washington, the laws that govern our country are made.

00:41:21.320 - 00:41:45.640

Grant that that witness shall be in keeping with your spirit and with your will, and that your spirit will undergird him, and that together as your people here at Ebenezer and people throughout the denomination will be a supporting arm. We ask this through the strong and perfect name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Amen. [inaudible] We're going to ask that he would say a word to us now concerning the work to which he will be giving himself. Well, before I talk about the work just a minute, I do want to say thank you.

00:42:06.640 - 00:42:21.640

It's great to be back in Austin. I noticed some of y'all, when we were all asked to stand while I go for Father's Day, that everyone's been asking me, has been asking me and I wanted to know how many of you were waiting to see if I was a father after a two-year stint of marriage.

00:42:21.640 - 00:42:37.840

I think there was some curiosity, but I'm just a husband and not a father yet. But one of these days. The Baptist Joint Committee is made up of nine different Baptist groups in the United States.

00:42:37.840 - 00:42:57.720

The Southern Baptist, the two National Baptist organizations, the Progressive Baptist, the American Baptist, some group that I'd never heard of before called the Seventh Day Baptist, and a couple of other ones. And what they're really there for in Washington is that they're under a mandate and a call

00:42:57.720 - 00:43:20.880

to witness from the various denominations to speak out and to testify and to do research on issues of church and state. Some of these issues in the more recent past have been matters such as the whole question that you've seen arise from certain factions in this country for a constitutional amendment

00:43:20.880 - 00:43:37.900

for school prayer. The Baptist Joint Committee has been on record for a long time in opposition to this as an infringement on the separation of church and state. Another issue that has surfaced recently from the same people who are pushing the constitutional

00:43:37.900 - 00:44:04.280

amendment for the prayer is the tax tuition credits and tax tuition exemptions for schools, for the state to basically support religious schools. Once again, the Baptists have taken a strong stance in saying that we oppose this measure. Sometimes I think these measures are like 18th cousins. You think you get rid of them when they come to visit, and then

00:44:04.280 - 00:44:22.900

and the next week they're there again. So these things never really die, they keep coming on up and up. The reason why I think the Baptist Joint Committee is so important is because for too long I think Baptists, they claim themselves to be one together, and yet many times we're very

00:44:22.900 - 00:44:38.500

divided. I like that word "joint." I guess it's not the kind of joint that we sometimes preachers kind of get up and talk about across the river or something. Maybe that's my East Texas upbringing. But it does

00:44:38.500 - 00:44:59.740

put us together. There is a board, Reverend Griffin serves on the board of the Baptist Joint Committee from various of the denominations, various Baptist groups. So it does represent a wide spectrum. And I think it's in a way, kind of the way that Paul sometime played the Macedonians off the Corinthians, that we got to make sure that the Southern Baptists

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keep the Northern Baptist honest and the National Baptist keep all the other ones honest. So I want to say thank you for letting me be a part of this church two years ago. More importantly to be here today and be commissioned from the Ebenezer. I consider it an honor, an honor to be here on Father's Day, a double honor to be here

00:45:23.880 - 00:45:59.020

on Juneteenth, and a real honor to be a part of the church. And I thank you very much and may God bless every one of you. Amen. So dear brother, you have no obligation whatever to your old sinful nature to do what I beg you to do.

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For if you keep on following it, you are lost and will perish. But if though through the power of the Holy Spirit you crush it and it evils thee, you shall live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are son of God. And so we should not be like cringing, fearful slaves, but we should behave like God for your own children.

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Adopt in this person of his family and call to him, "Father, Father," for his Holy Spirit speak to us deep in our heart and tell us that we really are God's children. Amen. [silence]