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[ Silence ] [Singing] Lord, I'm not here on your word. Lord, I'm not here on your word.

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If I die on the battlefield, Lord, I'm not here on your word. [MUSIC] ♪ When I guard my religion in time ♪

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♪ If I die on the battlefield ♪ ♪ When I guard my religion in time ♪ ♪ We'll raise the Christian banner ♪ ♪ The motto's new and old ♪

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♪ Repentance and salvation ♪ ♪ Are written there in gold ♪ ♪ I've enlisted and I'm in to fight ♪ ♪ Till every foe is put to fight ♪

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♪ Though I may fall, I'll bless his name ♪ ♪ I'll trust in God and rise again ♪ ♪ Let our God and our religion in time ♪ ♪ Let our God, our religion in time ♪

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♪ If I die on the battlefield ♪ ♪ Let our God, our religion in time ♪ ♪ Lord, I'm out here on your word ♪ Lord, I'm out here on your world If I die on the battlefield

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Lord, I'm out here on your meadow field. That's Lord, here. This is our time of prayer together and we worship the Lord in our praying. Let us now bow our heads, concentrate and focus on him at this time in our worship service.

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Heavenly Father, truly we are out here on your word. Father, it is your word that calls us to have life this morning, to have health and to have strength. By your word, dear Master, we were able to make it here one more time, here in this new

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year 1997. Some have come walking in. Father, some have come being rolled in. Master, some have come with aches and pains.

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Some have come with troubled minds. Some have come with sorrow on their heart. But Lord, we come. We come to this place and at this time, whatever it is, Master, that we have that is not pleasing

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in your sight, Lord, I pray right now that you would take it out. that you would cleanse us from all unrighteousness, so that we might come to you in spirit and in truth, not in any way, shape or form,

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but Master just coming real and letting you know that we're sorry. Sorry for those things that we have done that have not pleased you.

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Sorry for those things that we have left off and have not done. Master, we come asking your divine blessings.

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And most of all, we just come giving you thanks and just wanting to lift up the name Jesus, to praise you for all that you have done, for all that you're doing right now,

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and Lord, for all that you plan to do with us and through us in the future. We're grateful for this new year. We're grateful that you have given us another chance,

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and we have come one more time Heavenly Father, we ask that you would touch those that may be sick and afflicted right now. Touch those, dear Master, that may be under the shadow of bereavement.

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Lord, you know our hearts, that we may be one way on the outside, but Father, you look on the inside. And we thank you for that. And Lord, we just pray that you would just touch, that you would heal, Father, that you

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would bring peace, that you would bring joy and love, Father. Lord, we pray for those that may be behind prison walls. We pray for those that are outside the walls of this church who may not know you and the pardon of their own sin.

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Lord, we pray that you would move us by your spirit to go out and tell a world of a Savior who has come, who's come and has given his life for us and has taken it back and has now all power on heaven and earth to raise, to heal, no matter what the situation, we could bring it to Jesus and we thank you for that this morning. Father we pray for

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this church, we pray for our pastor, each and every member, each and every family that's represented here today. Father we ask that you would move in a mighty way, move upon Ebenezer that we might go forth in this year, do mighty and wonderful works for your kingdom's sake.

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Heavenly Father, we also look forward to a new and bright and glorious kingdom. A kingdom that is far beyond the skies, but a kingdom that has been set aside for those who believe and know that you are real and know that you live today. Father, we pray that we might see that kingdom

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and see you to see your face. And Lord, we'll be careful to give your name the thanks and to give you the praise for you have brought us over a mighty, mighty long way.

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Oh, heavenly Father, we just lifted up to you this morning. Let thy will be done and not ours. Let thy kingdom come.

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In the strong and perfect and wonderful name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, amen. (gentle piano music) ♪ Order my steps in your word, dear Lord ♪

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♪ Lead me, guide me every day ♪ ♪ Sing your anointing, Father, I pray ♪ ♪ Order my steps in your word, please ♪ ♪ Order my steps in your word ♪

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♪ Humbly I ask thee ♪ ♪ Teach me your will ♪ ♪ While you are working ♪ ♪ Help me be still ♪

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♪ Though Satan is busy ♪ ♪ God is real ♪ ♪ Order my steps in your word ♪ ♪ Please order my steps in your word ♪

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♪ Bridal my tongue ♪ ♪ Let my words edify ♪ ♪ Let the words from my mouth ♪ ♪ Be acceptable in thy sight ♪

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♪ Take charge of my thoughts ♪ ♪ Both day and night ♪ ♪ Order my steps in your word ♪ ♪ Please order my steps in your word ♪

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♪ Order my steps in your word, dear Lord ♪ ♪ Lead me, guide me every day ♪ ♪ Send your anointing, Father, I pray ♪ ♪ Order my steps in your word ♪

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♪ Please order my steps in your word ♪ ♪ I want to walk worthy ♪ ♪ My calling ♪ ♪ My calling to follow you ♪

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♪ If you order my steps, Lord ♪ ♪ Lord ♪ ♪ I will do your blessing, will ♪ ♪ To your blessings ♪

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♪ The world is ever changing ♪ ♪ But you are still the same ♪ ♪ But you are still the same ♪ ♪ If you are mine ♪

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♪ I'll praise your name ♪ ♪ I want to walk ♪ ♪ Worthy ♪ ♪ If you hear my calling ♪

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♪ If you honor my steps, Lord ♪ ♪ I will do your blessing, will ♪ ♪ The world is ever changing ♪ ♪ But you are still the same ♪

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♪ You order my steps ♪ ♪ I'll praise your name ♪ ♪ Order my steps ♪ ♪ In your word ♪

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♪ In your word ♪ ♪ Order my tongue in your word ♪ ♪ Guide my feet ♪ ♪ In your word ♪

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♪ Wash my heart ♪ ♪ In your word ♪ ♪ Show me how to walk ♪ ♪ Show me how to walk ♪

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♪ In your word ♪ ♪ Show me how to talk, Lord ♪ ♪ Talk ♪ ♪ In your word ♪

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♪ When I need ♪ ♪ When I need you to speak ♪ ♪ Show me ♪ ♪ Show me how to speak ♪

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♪ In your word ♪ ♪ In your word ♪ ♪ Lord ♪ ♪ Please order my steps ♪

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♪ In your word ♪ ♪ Please ♪ ♪ Please order my steps in your word ♪ ♪ Please ♪

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♪ Please order my steps ♪ ♪ In your word ♪ ♪ In your word ♪ ♪ Order my talk ♪

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♪ In your word ♪ ♪ God, my feet ♪ ♪ In your word ♪ ♪ Wash my heart ♪

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♪ In your word ♪ ♪ Show me how to walk ♪ ♪ Show me how to walk ♪ ♪ In your word ♪

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♪ In your word ♪ ♪ Show me how to talk ♪ ♪ Show me how to talk ♪ ♪ In your word ♪

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♪ In your word ♪ ♪ When I need ♪ ♪ When I need to speak ♪ ♪ Show me ♪

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♪ Show me how to speak ♪ ♪ In your word ♪ ♪ In your words ♪ ♪ Please order my steps ♪

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♪ In your words ♪ ♪ Leave my steps ♪ ♪ In your words ♪ ♪ Please order my steps ♪

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♪ In your ♪ ♪ In your words ♪ (audience applauding) [ Music ]

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♪ Softly and tenderly ♪ ♪ Jesus is calling ♪ ♪ Calling for you ♪ ♪ And for me ♪

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♪ Oh, yes, he will be ♪ ♪ See on the portals ♪ ♪ He's waiting ♪ ♪ And watching ♪

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♪ Watching for you ♪ ♪ And for me ♪ ♪ Why should we tarry ♪ ♪ When Jesus ♪

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♪ Jesus is pleading ♪ ♪ Oh, he's pleading ♪ ♪ Pleading for you ♪ ♪ And for me ♪

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♪ Why should we linger ♪ ♪ When He naught is merciful ♪ ♪ Mercy's for you and for me ♪ ♪ Come home ♪

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♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ You who are weary ♪ ♪ Why don't you come, come home ♪

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♪ Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling ♪ ♪ Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling ♪ ♪ Jesus is calling thee ♪ ♪ Oh, sinner, why don't you come ♪

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♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Oh, for the wonderful ♪ ♪ Oh, love he has promised ♪ ♪ Promised for you and for me ♪

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♪ Oh, yes he has ♪ ♪ For we have sinned ♪ ♪ He has mercy ♪ ♪ And pardon ♪

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♪ Pardon ♪ ♪ For you ♪ ♪ And for me ♪ ♪ Come home ♪

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♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Come home ♪ ♪ You are weary ♪ ♪ Why don't you come, come home ♪

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♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling ♪ ♪ Earnestly ♪ ♪ Tenderly ♪

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♪ Jesus is ♪ ♪ Calling thee ♪ ♪ Oh, sinner ♪ ♪ Why don't you come ♪

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♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Dear home, where are you ♪

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♪ Why don't you come ♪ ♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling ♪ ♪ Earnestly ♪

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♪ Tenderly ♪ ♪ Jesus is ♪ ♪ Calling thee ♪ ♪ Oh sinner ♪

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♪ Why don't you come ♪ ♪ Come home ♪ (audience applauding) - Amen.

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

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There are sweet expressions on each face, And I know that it's the presence of the Lord. ♪ Sway, Holy Spirit ♪ ♪ Sway, lovely God ♪

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♪ Stay right here with us ♪ ♪ Fill us with your love ♪ ♪ And for these first days ♪ ♪ We lift our hearts in praise ♪

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♪ With not a doubt we know ♪ ♪ That we have been revived ♪ ♪ And we shall be displaced ♪ ♪ Sweet Holy Spirit ♪

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♪ Sweet heavenly love ♪ ♪ Stay right here with us ♪ ♪ Fill us with your love ♪ ♪ At morning's first light ♪

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♪ We lift our hearts in praise ♪ ♪ Without a doubt we know ♪ have been revived, and we shall be displaced. KENNETH: Let us pray. Grant, O God, that your Word may be

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proclaimed and heard this day. In Jesus' name, amen. Hear this Hear this word recorded in Ecclesiastes, the third chapter and the first verse. To everything, there is a season and a time to every person under the heaven. Ephesians 3 and 6, "Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of

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the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel." And then Timothy 4 and 2, rather, "Preach the word. Be instant in season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering in doctrine." The subject, "The Gospel in All Seasons." The Gospel in All Seasons. Every year has its

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seasons, spring, summer, autumn, winter. 1997 is a new year with its own cycle of seasons. What will make this year different? be the new opportunities presented to us and the new activities in which we engage, the

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new attitudes we entertain, and the new resolutions we make. We have greeted one another already with the traditional words, "Happy New Year." 1997 brings with it hope and promise. We wish the best for ourselves and others in health, happiness, success, and prosperity.

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Prognosticators announced that a good year is ahead for the city of Austin, for the state of Texas, and for the nation. Our population is growing, the economy is sound, unemployment is down. Astronauts are given tests to see if they are prepared to endure changing atmospheric

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conditions. And I suggest that we examine ourselves to discern whether or not we are prepared for all the seasons of the new year. We need to be prepared for changing climatic conditions.

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Sir Thomas More, a 15th century statesman, scholar, and author, is called a man for all seasons. He was successful, he was popular, he was prosperous, but he refused to honor the king as head of the church.

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He refused to condone the divorce and remarriage of King Henry VIII. So in the course of time, he was arrested, tried, imprisoned, and beheaded.

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He endured it all with dignity, grace, a great degree of compassion and a spirit of forgiveness. He rightly deserves to be called a man for all seasons. As travelers prepared for all needs, we need the gospel in all seasons of

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of human existence, spring, summer, autumn, and winter. We need the gospel in all seasons of our growth and development, infancy, childhood, youth, adulthood.

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We need to be equipped to travel in all kinds of ways. travel in all kinds of weather. We begin our journey by considering the weather forecast regardless of whether we are walking, running, riding, flying, or sailing. Paul in writing to the Ephesians addresses Gentiles, persons who were once strangers to the covenant and

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looked upon as second-class citizens, he speaks of Gentiles as fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of God's promise in Christ by the gospel. The Apostle's introduction to his letter consists of a prayer. And it's a good thing to begin every journey with prayer, seeking divine direction, the

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presence and protection of the Lord. together in prayer in this particular place. As the new year was ushered in, we were on our knees in prayer. As pilgrims on our way from the city of destruction to eternal

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eternal city. We need communion with the one who is our eternal contemporary on the journey. The journey is based on God's purpose for our lives. And we are to discern the divine design and follow it. The preacher says in the book of

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Ecclesiastes, "For everything there is a season." So let us begin with spring. Robert Browning pours out his buoyant optimism in Pippa sings, or Pippa passes. He says, "The spring, and days at morn, mornings at seven, the hillside

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do pearl, the larks on the wing, the snails on the thorn, God is in His heaven, all's right with the world. That's spring. Our ancestors would say, "Spring is when the blood is running warm spring is when you have the chance, the opportunities.

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Spring is when you are alive with a reasonable portion of health and strength. The gospel, the good news of God, comes to us in spring. When the grass is green, flowers are blooming, birds are singing, spring with its sunshine. Spring is when

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spring, oh how wonderful. Spring bears the gospel, the babe of Bethlehem. The gospel comes in the form of an infant in a cradle. The gospel comes to us in spring. The gospel comes in in new beginnings, new opportunities, new ventures. The

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gospel comes in spring. What is God's Word in the springtime of our lives? It is this, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." What is the gospel in the spring? The gospel is in beginning, God. What is the gospel in springtime? Seek ye

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first the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness. That's good news in spring. Gospel also comes in summer. God has a word word for his people. Summer, the warmer part of the year, summer, the time when the heat from the sun becomes almost unbearable. Summer, times when plants wither away. Good news of

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God comes to us in summer. The testimony of history is that even when the furnace of life is as hot as possible, as was the case when the fiery furnace was heated seven times hotter, to full capacity, God is there.

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He's with us in the summer. He has a word for us that will enable us to hold hands and comfort one another. He has word that enables us to sing songs of praise in the heat of summer.

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Summer is a symbol for success. Summer, summer of success. Summertime, when the living is easy, summer. But you know some people can't stand summer?

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Can't stand the summer of success. We've all been hearing a great deal about the Dallas Cowboys. They had a great deal of success, but now Michael Irvin and Eric Williams

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are bringing disgrace, they say, upon the team because people expect these winning football players to be models. Models.

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Some people say, well, no, they don't need to be models. all they have to be able to do is play the game, win the games. Others are, the crowd, the cry becomes louder and louder.

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They should be models. Thomas Landry, Tom Landry, the former coach, was saying that one of the problems is that these fellows grow up in the ghetto, he said,

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where they've had little or nothing. And all of a sudden, they find themselves with contracts with the 10 or 14 million dollars, and they can't stand it. Can't stay in summer.

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A lot of people can't stay in summer. The summer of success. When things are going well. Some think they don't even need God in the summertime.

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You know, don't need Him. Summer. But the gospel come in the summer. Now, when we are in the midst of our success and God has smiled upon us with the things

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of this world, God comes with his good word for us in summer, and then there is a good word for us in autumn, when the leaves fade and the surrounding scenery is colored. There's nothing so beautiful as to see New England in autumn, but all of those colored leaves, some

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of awesome beauty. Oh, the experience of autumn, autumn, when God seems to have taken the paint and the brush to beautify nature in a special way, autumn. This golden harvest, autumn, when the sower goes forth to reap. God has a favorite, a

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special word for His people in autumn when the leaves fade, when our hair turns gray, when our eyes grow dim, and our steps are slower. God has a word for us in the autumn season. It is word, "I have been young and now am old. Yet have I not seen the

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forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." A word for autumn. Well, some of us have had spring and we've experienced that word in the springtime of our lives. Some of us have had a summer of success and we have experienced that word in summer. And some

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some are in the autumn here today and you know that God never forsakes you. He'll be with us. But not only does God have a word in summer, not only does he have a word in spring, not only does he have a word in autumn, but our God has a word

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in winter. Winter has its hazards. Many times you say, "If I can just make it through the winter." So difficult. I remember the coldest, I guess, winter that I thought we had since I've been here these 27 years. Most of the churches were

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shut out but I was determined. So we got up and we made it over several of the hills and we got with the last hill and the car began to slide into the curb and left me with a flat. So then I got out still determined to make it to Ebenezer We were able to flag a ride on over here and then we got out right in front there

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and the car was on the hill there in front of the parking lot and as my wife got out she slipped down and then the car started coming back right over where she had fallen and I was trying to hold the car and and the ice is still still slipping. It frightens me now to think of it. But that's the way winter is. We had

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seven people at church I think when I got there that morning. We had Sunday school and all. We're seven people. Winter. Winter has its hazards. It has its dangers. It has those icy days. It has its sleet. It has its snow. It has its howling winds. That's winter. No No wonder Paul said to young Timothy,

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said, "Now come to me, I want you to come on, son, "but get here before winter." Come before winter because winter is a hard season. But the Lord God Almighty has a word for us in winter.

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When winter comes, he says, "Let not your heart be troubled." It's winter. You believe in God, believe also in me.

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Winner. Winner. In the world you shall have tribulations, but be of good cheer.

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I have overcome the world. That's a word for winner. Winner. Cycle of seasons.

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Those that the cycle of seasons, I would say would be a revelation of the faithfulness of God. Because the seasons come and go. You can depend on spring and summer and autumn and winter.

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You can depend on 'em. That's an expression, that's a revelation of the faithfulness of God because the Lord God Almighty established the seasons.

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You can depend on 'em. This is God's promise. While the earth remains, seed time and harvest and cold and heat and summer and winter

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and day and night shall not cease. Yes, yes, seasons come and go. God remains, God is faithful. Spring comes, goes, and comes again.

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So we begin with spring and then I like to think of life, someone said that God must have created the world in spring. Garden of Eden, everything was in order, everything was perfect,

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and everything was pleasant, satisfying. They said, "That's spring, spring, spring." Yes, spring, but there is another spring. This spring down here has a certain designated period,

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but there is another spring where you go from spring to summer to autumn, and then winter and then spring again, eternal spring. Spring that never ends, eternal spring.

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So some of us prefer a certain season. Birds fly south in the winter. Some vacation in Florida to avoid cold winters. But Paul is talking about God's promise

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of good news to his people in all seasons. Be sure, be sure that as you face this year, 1997, as all of us face it, it has in it some spring. It has in it some summer.

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And it has in it some autumn, and oh yes, it has in it some winter for every one of us. And the important thing is to be able to be close to God in all of the seasons, all of the seasons.

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You know, Paul, as he writes the letter, knows about this. He talks about the promise of the gospel. The Gentiles, he's had his spring, he grew up in Tarsus

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and the well is still there where Paul lived and no doubt he made trips to the well as a lad. He had his spring, then he had his summer. He had his summer, he was a student at the university

00:45:29.260 - 00:45:46.640

and sat at the feet of Gamaliel And then he has his autumn, as he's growing old now, and his body suffers from infirmities. And then we see him a little later, he has his winter,

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because he's in a cold, dark, dingy prison cell. And there he says, "I have fought a good fight. "I've kept the faith." He's ready for winter.

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and ready for winter. And it's a good thing, my brothers and sisters, to be able to celebrate the goodness of God in all seasons.

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No matter what may be the particular season that you're in, be able to celebrate. No matter what it may cost you, be able to celebrate.

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Good thing, be able to celebrate. You know, some people can celebrate circumstances they can say thanks be to God and and you wonder how they can do it but it's a good thing to be able to celebrate I I noticed in the the game

00:46:42.000 - 00:47:07.520

with the Florida Gators in the Florida State the players were making touchdowns for the Florida Gators they were making one touchdown seemingly after another doing so well and that what they would do is to run into the stands up into the stands and the spectators would embrace them and all of that and then they would

00:47:07.520 - 00:47:28.400

be penalized for celebration. But they didn't mind the penalty for the celebration because the victory and the joy of having a touchdown was so great that they just kept on celebrating. and get another touchdown, celebrate again. Well, that's the way it is with us.

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We have our seasons, oh yes, all of us have our seasons, but we can celebrate the goodness of God in all of the seasons. Say thanks, thanks be to God,

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who is with us in the spring of our infancy. Thanks be to God who is with us in our summer, in the sunlight of our success. Thanks be to God who is with us in our autumn

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when the radical changes appear in our appearance. Thanks be to God who's with us in winter when the going is rough and when the weather is cold. And I thank God.

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Paul says to the Gentiles, say, we are, He says to them, "You are fellow air." >> Yes, fellow air. >> Fellow air, did you hear that?

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Fellow air, that means you inherited. You don't make the weather, you inherited. You don't know what the weather's gonna be next week, you inherited.

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Sometimes they say there's a cold spell on the way, there's some coldness. You just inherited and prepare for whatever the weather may bring.

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And God has given us a word, his gospel, that we can rejoice, we can celebrate, no matter what he brings. I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year,

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give me light that I may tread safely unto the unknown. He said to me, put your hand

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in the hand of God and that will be to you better than light and safer than a known way. Put your hand in God's hand

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and have, oh yes, a closer walk with God, a calm and heavenly frame, who give a light to shine upon the road that leads us to the Lamb. Put your hand in the hand of God.

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And that's enough. Seasons will come, but that'll be enough. You can walk through the spring, you can walk through the summer,

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you can walk through the autumn, and yes, you can walk through the winter. Put your hand in the hand of God. It's a good thing to make a new beginning here today.

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As we are on the edge of the year, first Sunday, to make a new start. Maybe someone has listened this morning who's not rightly related to Christ and the church.

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We extend now an invitation. Because there's some seasons, you've got to pass through. And to be linked up with God is to be ready for all seasons.

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So we invite you to come. The door is open. The invitation is extended. We invite you to come. Unite with the family of God by letter, by Christian experience, by restoration. Or for a closer walk with God. (gentle music)

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We invite you to come this morning. Accept Jesus Christ as Lord of your life. Unite with the family of God here at Ebenezer. ♪ Oh, come ♪

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♪ The walk with God ♪ ♪ The home and the home ♪ ♪ If rain ♪ ♪ Or ice to shine ♪

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♪ Above the road ♪ ♪ That leads me to the land ♪ ♪ Where is the land ♪ ♪ Sadness I knew ♪

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♪ When first I saw the Lord ♪ ♪ The Lord is with you ♪ ♪ Where is the soul ♪ ♪ Refreshing you ♪

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♪ For Jesus and his Word ♪ ♪ What peaceful hours ♪ ♪ I say in joy ♪ ♪ How sweet the memory still ♪

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♪ But they have left ♪ ♪ And make it more ♪ ♪ The world ♪ ♪ Can ever ♪

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♪ Feel ♪ ♪ Return, O world ♪ ♪ Return, return ♪ ♪ Sweet messenger of rest ♪

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♪ Our ranger sits ♪ ♪ And with him o'er ♪ ♪ And to him bow ♪ Amen. How wonderful it is to have the blessed assurance that God is with us.

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We ask now that our church clerk, Brother Terry Steele, will come and read the names. of the roll call of those 11 persons who have passed on during this period. - Thank you, Pastor.

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1996 deceased members were Marvin Lewis Sr., Rosella Dean, Algerine M. Craig, Lelma Miller.

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Willie L. Morris. Otis L. Hargis. Clarence Odie Williams Jr. Vivian

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Doc Overton. Helen Bernice Hammond. James Henry Lee Jr. and Leroy Edison Smith. I have heard of a land on the faraway strand. It is a beautiful home of

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the soul, built by Jesus on high. There we never shall die. It is a land where we never grow old. In that beautiful home where we'll never more roam, we shall be in the sweet by and by. Happy praise to the King through eternity sing to the land where we never shall die. When our

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done, and the life crown is worn, and our troubles and trials are o'er, all our sorrows will end, and our voices will blend with the loved ones who've gone on before. Never grow old. grow old. Never grow old in a land where we never grow old.

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Never grow old, never grow old in a land where we never grow old. Oh, gracious God, our Father, we thank you for the gift of life. And we thank you for the servants that you removed from our midst during the past year. We thank you that you permitted them to be with us and we shared with them

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that blessed fellowship and our work for your kingdom. And we pray, oh God, that you will strengthen our faith, comfort us by the hope that someday, somewhere, we shall all be together again in a world without end, in a place where we'll never grow.

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We ask this in Jesus' name, amen. about church is that it embraces the past, the present, and the future. And as we worship here, there are those who constitute that great cloud of witnesses who look upon us and bid us run

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on the race which they have finished. As we come to the We come to the table of the Lord. We come to that center of our Christian faith, that which unites us, Jesus Christ.

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He unites us in the past, the present, and the future. And this is a memorial. Jesus says it often as you do it, you do it in remembrance of me. Paul says, "Before eating and drinking, first let one

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examine himself or herself." So this is the Lord's table prepared for everyone who claims Jesus Christ as Lord of your life. It's the table that He sets before us. It is the food that we need for the journey. It is the food that provides us with

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the strength that we need. Let us bow our heads and ask God's blessings upon this bread and this cup. To commune at your table, table that you have prepared for your people, for those who enter into covenant relationship with you, who promise to be your people and honor you as their God.

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prepared table for us no matter what the seasons may be, even in the presence of our enemies, all the adversities of human existence, spring, summer, autumn, winter, table is prepared. So blessed we pray thee this bread representing the

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broken body of our Lord and the cup representing his shed blood. Grant that each one of us will dedicate ourselves to goodness and truth and mercy, that we may be channels of your grace, and that we may seek to live together as brothers and sisters

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in that beloved community. We ask in the strong and perfect name of our Lord, amen. [BLANK_AUDIO]