What a time of worship it was this morning church.
You know I've been away the last two weeks, away last week with
family. The week before was New Day, my
first one back. What a time.
I'm sure if you want to find out all about it you could come and
ask me, but I suggest you go ask Grace and Savannah at the end
and see what they thought of the week.
But it was a brilliant time. But boy do I miss being in this
place on a Sunday when we worship together.
The Spirit just comes in a in a way unlike.
And it was so clear this morning that the Lord is moving and
getting ready for revival to come.
And he's staring and rather nicely.
It fits quite well. My title for today is The
Pursuit of Wisdom. But I've actually added to that
because as my mum commented in the week, I like to think quite
deeply. And so out of that comes the
meaning in life and the cool. I'm actually going to start
though, with last week where Ian spoke and Ian spoke about death
coming for us all. Maybe that's a sobering,
sobering reality and you've forgotten all about that, that
life is short. But I actually want to start
with the last verses that were in Ian's section.
Ecclesiastes 9 versus 11 to 12. Reasons I have seen something
else under the sun. The race is not to the swift or
the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise, or
wealth to the brilliant, or favour to the learned, but time
and chance will happen to them all.
Moreover, no one knows when that hour will come.
As fish are caught in a cruel net or birds are taken in a
snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall
unexpectedly upon them. See none of us know when our
time will come. This has been the whole message
throughout Ecclesiastes up until this point.
Obviously we've been going through it in this series and
the phrase that is repeated over and over again is life is
meaningless. That it will come to an end and
like a vapour, that's what the the word in Hebrew means.
It translates more towards vapour that life will disappear.
And this can be quite humbling. Leave us in a state of confusion
about what should we do with the world if it's all going to go.
Why does it? Why does it matter?
What is the point of life? But thankfully we have now got
to the point in Ecclesiastes where Solomon, the preacher
throughout Ecclesiastes is going to try and give us some help of
how to go through this and how to deal with it.
But before I really get going, I'm just going to pray.
Father, may you fall. May my words not be my own, but
be from you. Father, I pray for every ear in
this room, every heart. May it listen.
Lord, I pray that we turn to you and seek your face more.
May no one leave this room the same as they entered today.
And may this word sit on the heart longer than just a couple
of hours. Lord, may it be one that stays
for time. In your name we pray, Amen.
See this is a big question to answer.
Is the meaning of life. I mean, we're here for most of
us, sixty 7080 years. It's quite a long time, it feels
like sometimes, but we have to challenge this meaning of life.
So I'm going to dive straight into my verses.
I start in Ecclesiastes 9 chapter, verses 13 to 18.
I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly
impressed me. There was once a small city with
only a few people in it, and a powerful king came against it,
surrounded it, and built huge siege works against it.
Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved
the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor
man. So I said, wisdom is better than
strength. But the poor man's wisdom is
despised, and his words are no longer heeded.
The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the
shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of
war, but one Sinner destroys much good.
See at this point, Solomon has tried basically everything you
can think of in life to find meaning to to find value, to
find worth, but nothing has done it.
And So what we start to see now in the upcoming scriptures that
I'm going to dive through and that but starting right here is
one thing that can be rest and peace is wisdom.
And it, it, it's described quite weirdly.
See, in this example, we see a small city.
Maybe it's easy to picture Blackpool.
Maybe for others, the comparison to the seas could compare to
Gaza right now. And in this moment, we see a
powerful king has trapped and seized out the city and things
like dull, you know, using knowledge.
If the city seized, there's probably no water, no food, and
they're running out of supplies. It looks really dire.
But a poor, unknown man who had wisdom saved the entire city.
No strong man, maybe. You'd think you'd want a Goliath
in your army to go out and fight away this army.
But a poor, unknown, wise man saved the whole city.
Yet he's quickly forgotten. He wasn't seen as memorable.
See the end of those verses? Ecclesiastes 9 verse 17 says the
quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of
a ruler of fools. See, often what we find is
wisdom is quite quiet. It's not a shouting loud obvious
word. A couple of years ago during the
lockdown, there was a really popular game that I used to play
with my friends called Among Us. See, in this game, if you're not
familiar, you get dropped onto a ship with a team and they're
called the cremates, but there is one or two impostors who are
there to kill the crew mates, and the crew mates job is to
figure out who the impostors are before they've killed the whole
shit. Now the game is great fun, but
often what would happen is you can see something and you know
it's true and it could be wise. And so you a meeting gets called
and you go to say this and all of a sudden somebody with a bit
of misinformation shouts. They're really loud.
They're saying you did it and you know you're not the killer
because you've seen something else.
But often the loud person and the fastest to speak, the
loudest to speak was the one listened to.
But this isn't always where wisdom come from.
Now I want to clear up at this point.
Wisdom can also sometimes be loud.
Wisdom is sometimes obvious. If you go to Blackpool Zoo later
today, do not jump in the lines enclosure.
That is a really obvious thing and that's very wise not to do.
But often we see that wisdom is quiet and it brings safety and
and a lack of trouble. I've just remembered I forgot to
put my timer on. I'm going to do that now just.
But we continue to see that wisdom is what saves strife and
trouble. And this is what Solomon is
really getting at at this point, is that life is meaningless.
So to cope with life being meaningless, we should enact
wisdom. See in the next chapter
Ecclesiastes 10 verses 3 to 4. We read Even as fools walk along
the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they
are. If a ruler's anger rises against
you, do not leave your post. Calmness can lay great offences
to rest. See, in being wise and waiting
in confrontation and taking time to think through what you say,
it can often save a whole argument.
We see this biblically in One Samuel chapter 25, where Nabal
is being chased by King David and King David goes to to go and
kill Nabal, but Nabal's wife Abigail calms David down.
Abigail sets off, takes some gifts, and goes and sees David.
And in talking and a bit of wisdom and calm, David's anger
against Nabal is laid to rest. And David is so grateful for
Abigail's calmness and wisdom in the situation.
To make it personal. Gus continued to teach me about
this. And while I was at New Day, I
got a pretty good example. See, it was getting towards the
back end of the week. We came into the big top and we
had one or two people in our group coming down a little later
on. So we'd save them some space.
And all of a sudden, another youth leader comes up to comes
up to us, and she says you need to move so all my youth can sit
down together. And I thought, oh, this is
interesting. Now she at this point was like,
you can't save space. You can't have people come sit
down. So Lizzie at this point merely
pointed out that there were many other groups with big tarpaulin
sheets down saving space. But the youth leader wasn't
having it. She wanted her youth group to
sit together at the front, which I can understand, but her tone
and her attitude was quite harsh.
And in my moment I found myself wanting to say jog on mate, like
this is our space, we got here first.
What do you mean move up? But the Lord had been working
and He brought this first to mind actually.
And I was reminded that calmness seizes situations and calms them
down and that also I am not perfect, that throughout the
week, even while serving, I'm not perfect.
Particularly towards the back end of the week, leaders can get
tired and can get Aggie. And so I stepped in and with
grace, I said, we'll move up a little bit.
And all of a sudden that was the last of the problem.
It it died down and we moved up a bit.
They fit in, we fit in. Everybody was happy.
We continue to see wisdom coming through in Ecclesiastes 10.
It's compiled if the axis door and it's edge unsharpened.
More strength is needed, but skill will bring success.
See in wisdom, before you go and axe down a tree, sharpen it
first. Because otherwise if you take a
dull blade and you try and chop down a tree, you're going to
require more strength. So the wise thing to do is spend
a few minutes beforehand sharpening your blade before you
go and do it. Ecclesiastes 10/12 works with
the last example. Words from the mouth are the
wise, like gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.
I'm aware at this point, but I'm rapidly jumping between
Scriptures and Ecclesiastes. I've got a rather large and
weird cut of Ecclesiastes to talk from today, so I don't have
time to read it all. So I want to urge you go and
read it. Check everything that I say
today from here as being true. Just because I've got a mic by
my mouth doesn't mean that I'm automatically correct.
So go and speak to the Lord, spend time in your secret place
and ensure this is true. See again, we see this
gracefulness about wisdom. And as I read through these
scriptures, I was touched and moved by wisdom.
See, as we read before a king seizes a city, the foolish aloud
and walked poorly, and there's chaos in every action and
situation. Yet the thing that shines
through every time is wisdom. But it's not loud, it's not
strong. It cuts through with a serenity,
with a beauty unlike anything. See, as I walk through my life,
I'm sure I've had conversations with many of you and you tend to
call me a bit young. And I I recognise that I'm
younger than a lot of people in the room, but I find myself
asking the Lord as I walk through my life.
Lord, give me more wisdom. I have a heart to pastor sheep
and see people looked after. And so for me, I desire more
wisdom, more knowledge of the Lord.
And this is biblical as well. We see it in Two Chronicles 1
See, God meets with Solomon and he says to Solomon, and bearing
in mind, Solomon is the voice that we've heard through our
Ecclesiastes. And he says, Solomon, ask of me
anything you want and I'll I'll give it to you.
I wonder at this point what I'd pick if God asked me.
I'll give you anything you want. What would I pick?
I I don't know, and maybe you don't know either, but in this
moment, Solomon asks for wisdom and knowledge to lead God's
people, and God grants it. See, this should really start to
show the value that comes with wisdom.
See being offered anything as any amount Solomon picks wisdom
that should show how valuable it is.
And Solomon even describes it really beautifully in Proverbs 3
and he's he describes wisdom as she is more precious than
Ruby's. Nothing you desire can compare
with her. And it's not just in Solomon and
in the in two Chronicles where we see wisdom being applied.
We see it in Hosea, but for the opposite reasons.
We read that God's people are destroyed for a lack of
knowledge. Because you have rejected
knowledge, I also, God says, reject you as my priest.
Because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore
your children. This is serious.
Wisdom and knowledge are serious.
We so often can brush them off and think that's not an
important topic. But there's a weight to this.
And this ultimately is what Ecclesiastes is getting at is
what is the meaning of life and how do we walk life well?
So at this point, let's have a discussion about what is wisdom.
See, if you look in the Dictionary of Cambridge or
Roxford, it'll describe wisdom as having or showing experience,
knowledge, and good judgement. But in many ways, this doesn't
actually get us where we need to be.
See what is experienced knowledge and a good judgement
to me might be different to what is for skip or for you or to the
person that sat next to you. See, it's subjective.
So what we need to do at this point is root ourselves into
biblical scripture and anchor ourselves.
And so the best place that I can define wisdom is in Proverbs,
the book before Ecclesiastes, and it's also written by
Solomon. I referenced it before, but I'm
actually going to read an extended part of Proverbs 3.
So maybe you want to turn to Proverbs 3 now if you want to
follow along, it will come up on the screen, but it will be quite
small. I'm going to read through
Proverbs 3. But as I read this, I want you
to really listen and hear what is being said, what Solomon is
saying, because ultimately this lines up as a checklist for
living a life with wisdom. Proverbs 3 says My son, do not
forget my teaching but keep my commands in your heart, for they
will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and
prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never
leave you. Bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favour and a good name.
Insight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your
heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways.
Submit to Him and He will make your pastrate.
Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your
bones. Honour the Lord with your wealth
with the first fruit of all your crops.
Then your barns will be filled to overflow in, and your vats
will be brim over with new wine. My son, do not despise the
Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the
Lord discipline those he loves as a father, the Son he
delights. Blessed are those who find
wisdom, those who gain understanding.
For she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns
than gold. She's more precious than rubies.
Nothing you desire can compare with her long life is in her
right hand. In her left hand that are riches
and honour. Her ways are pleasant ways, and
all her paths are peace. She's a tree of life to those
who take hold of her. Those who hold her fast will be
blessed. By wisdom of the Lord delayed
the earth's foundations. By understanding He set the
heavens in place. By His knowledge the watery
depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the drew.
My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight.
Preserve sound judgement and discretion.
There will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.
Then you will go on your way in safety.
Your foot will not stumble when you lie down.
You will not be afraid when you lie down.
Your sleep will be sweet. Have No Fear of sudden disaster
or the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at
your side and will keep your foot from being snared.
Now that may be long, but it is a wonderful description with
some very practical points of what it is to be wise to live
with wisdom in mind. See, we can see checkpoints.
Do not leave God's teaching. Walk in love and faithfulness.
It says bind them around your neck and write them on your
heart. Trust in God with all your
heart, mind and understanding. Fear God and shun evil.
See, these are very basic steps if you want to practically live
this out in your day-to-day life, this biblical wisdom, you
should get familiar with this scripture and use it to check
back. How am I doing?
Am I walking in love and faithfulness?
Am I keeping in line with God's teachings?
Am I keeping in line with His laws?
See, when you do this, what you'll start to notice is you
start to become more Christ like.
You'll start to live like Jesus. And if you still haven't grasped
it yet, that's OK. But the pursuit of wisdom is the
pursuit of Jesus because wisdom and Jesus are the same.
And there's a very famous parable that tells us it's
Matthew 7 verses 24 to 27. Therefore everyone who hears
these words of mine and puts them into practise is like a
wise man who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and
beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its
foundations on the rock. But everyone who hears these
words of mine and does not put them into practise is like a
foolish man who built his house on the sand.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and
beat against that house and it fell with a great crash.
See, to be wise, to live in wisdom, is to do as Jesus has
called, to build your life upon the rock, to build your life on
Jesus. See, at this point I want to
clarify as well, you are not guaranteed as a Christian to
live without struggle, to live without trial.
In fact, this parable guarantees that we will see both.
What is the same for both men who build on the rock and who
builds on the sand is that rain came, winds blew, streams rose,
but what was different was their foundations and where they were
rooted in. And it if we flashback all the
way to to last week Ecclesiastes 911 or 12, one or the two says
time and chance happened to them all.
You can't guarantee anything in this life.
This is what has been got at. So we are called to anchor
ourselves into the rock, into Jesus.
And there's a specific reason for that.
See, when we anchor into the rock, the life here that is
meaningless. All of a sudden we start to hold
less tightly to as we fix our eyes on Jesus.
And This is why it's so important to fix our eyes on
Jesus. Hebrews 12 verses one to three
says. Therefore, since we are
surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,
and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of the
faith. For the joy set before him, He
endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right
hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such
opposition from sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose
heart. See, even in the midst of trial
and heartache, we can go on and keep pushing when our eyes are
fixed on Jesus, when we're built on the rock, because he's first
endured. See, that's what is so powerful
about the cross. Not only does He take away our
sin, our shame, our guilt, our mistakes, it's also the example
for us to keep on pushing through and to keep our eyes
fixed on him. And that is ultimately what
Ecclesiastes is calling for us to do at the start of this
verse. It says let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.
It's so easy while we walk in this world to grasp onto things
that we see and to to stay stuck and worry about them.
But we read in Matthew, start to build up.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where Moss
and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where Moss
and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in
and steal. For where your treasure is,
there your heart will also be. All of a sudden.
If we start walking out in biblical wisdom, being built on
the rock with our eyes fixed on Jesus, things that entangle and
go wrong in this life won't won't start to matter as much.
When stress comes, we won't worry.
When that job promotion doesn't come for you, it'll be OK
because you trust in God's plan. When that that month you're
tight on finances and you don't know how you're going to get by,
you stay vision, your eyes are fixed on Jesus and it starts to
fold and see. As we keep our eyes on Jesus,
what starts to happen is we become more like him.
We're moulded and sanctified into His image, and we start to
walk better. Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being
renewed day by day. For our light and momentary
troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs
them all. So we fix our eyes not on what
is seen, but what on what is unseen, since what is seen is
temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Paul says it. We're all wasting away, our
bodies are decaying, we're all heading towards death.
That much is inevitable. As Ian said, death is coming.
But if we fix our eyes on Jesus, all of a sudden our priorities
are matters. They will change, not us, our
priorities. If it feels like the verses are
saying similar things, good. Because this is what the
instruction to the early church was.
That struggle and these times will come, but if we stay fixed
with our eyes on Jesus that they'll pass by.
See, This is why this series of Ecclesiastes is so important.
It reminds us that life is temporary.
It is so important for us to be reminded that one day all of
this will be gone. Everything that you do, your
work, your everything will fade away.
But it is a reminder that therefore, if we fix our eyes on
Jesus and start building for him, it won't fade and our value
will be placed in eternal glory. We'll start building up heavenly
treasures. Paul says it outwardly, wasting
away, and we'll face troubles, but they're achieving in US
eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Church. Last time I spoke, I asked you
about a question about death, and I'm going to do it again.
When you die, what will be said about you?
We had this weird thing in the week.
It's birthdays around about now in our family and to celebrate.
And a tradition that was introduced from our American
side of the family was that after singing Happy Birthday,
you go round the table and you say something that you admire
and like about the person whose birthday it is.
Because they realise that often far too late, we don't say those
things, that it's often too late.
But in the same way, that was a reminder that one day this will
all be gone. That one day you won't be here
and people will only be able to say what you've built and talk
about you in the past. And so the question is, church,
what are you building for? What are your eyes fixed on?
Where are your materials going to?
Where's your time and energy going to?
Because not only will we pass away, but Matthew 24 even tells
us that heaven and earth will pass away too.
And if we learn that heaven and earth will pass away, then how
much more will what we do? So all of a sudden, that game
that you want to get, that time you want to spend scrolling
social media, it's worthless. Do you know church?
A time is coming where Lionel Messi will not be remembered.
A time is coming where Donald Trump will not be remembered.
There's a time coming where the person on your left and your
right will not be remembered. You will not be remembered.
IA time is coming where I will not be remembered.
My name will be gone and it all have faded.
So what are you building for? Some of my favourite pieces of
scripture reference this Acts 2024.
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me.
My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the
Lord Jesus has given to me, the task of testifying to the good
news of God's grace. Philippians 3 verses 8 to 10
says. What is more, I consider
everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing
Christ Jesus my Lord, for who's sake I have lost all things.
I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ and be found in
Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the
law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the
righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
I want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of His
resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like
Him in His death. I edited my slides at the start,
the title slide, it changed. Then it said the meaning of
life. I added the meaning of life, the
meaning of life. Church, why we are all here is
to serve His Kingdom, to build for His Kingdom and that is what
wisdom is. Wisdom is to focus on Jesus.
That is the wise thing to do in every situation.
Now we can break wisdom down into different events, different
times where wisdom has specific points and specific
applications. But I assure you, overall, if
your eyes are fixed on Jesus and that is your wisdom choice, then
you're safe. Paul says it for to me, to live
is Christ and to die is game. If I'm going to go on living in
the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me.
Yet what shall I choose? I do not know.
I'm torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with
Christ. Which is better?
By far. Paul shows it potentially as
clear as it possibly can be. As a Christian, we should desire
to be in heaven with Jesus that one day.
That is where our eyes should be fixed.
That is the ultimate purpose because even Paul said it, it is
better by far to go and be with Jesus.
But just after these verses Paul says, but you need me, so I'm
going to stay and I'm going to serve.
See, it's this fruitful labour part, while this life here is
meaningless, He knows the Lord still has work and still has
things for him to do. So in the midst of the
meaningless, he will serve Jesus fruitfully.
This means that we need to be ready like worship charge this
morning us to do, to go out and see.
Sol says to see this town changed.
The things that grip this town right now in drugs, alcohol,
sex, betting, gambling, they will all fall in Jesus name.
But we have to be willing to go out and win it and we can't do
that by power or by might, but only by His spirit.
One of my favourite worship songs at the moment has a bridge
and I think it it's fitting. If the highest place I reach is
at your feet then I've done it all.
If the best thing that I've seen is your glory, then I've seen it
all. Your love has changed my life.
I'm forever satisfied. God, you are my everything.
If one word is the only thing you speak, then I've heard it
all. If I feel your heart and never
see your hand, I've still had it all.
So if I just get a taste, a drop of your heart, and I don't even
see your provision and your faithfulness in this life, I've
still had everything I need. No treasure of this life could
ever satisfy God. You are my everything.
See, the only thing that will bring meaning and worth and the
only thing that wisdom can suggest that makes this life
bearable is Jesus and keeping your eyes fixed on Him.
So at this moment I want to give an opportunity to respond to
those for who maybe have never accepted Jesus into your heart
as Lord and Saviour. Maybe you have realised today as
we've been talking that oh wow, everything that I'm doing is
going to go. I'm my treasure, I'm building
treasures on earth and not in heaven, and I want to give my
life to Jesus. So I'm going to lead in prayer.
If it's you, follow along. You can pray what I say in your
own head, but please then tell somebody afterwards.
We want to share in this joy. Lord Jesus, I'm sorry for my sin
and my mistakes. Lord, I, I admit that I've done
wrong. Lord, I'm sorry for building up
earthly treasure. Father, I, I need you and your
love. Thank you that you died for me.
Jesus, I accept your sacrifice for me on the cross, and I turn
and fix my eyes on you. But Lord, I need your help.
Help me fix my eyes on you in Jesus name, Amen.
But we're not finished there. We've got a challenge church for
for us as Christians. Now, if you've just prayed that
prayer, that includes you too. But where can we, like Paul, go
and serve wholeheartedly and fruitfully?
If I am to go on living in this body, this will mean fruitful
labour for me. I think I I want to say that
maybe the word labour scares you.
Maybe it makes you think about hard work.
But that's not what Paul found. Paul was so excited to go and be
with Jesus, but he was so excited to serve and see the
law's plans come on this earth. What ground can you go and sow
into church? Where is God calling you to and
what is he calling for you to give up?
See, we're going to spend a minute in a minute praying.
And I believe the Lord's going to speak and reveal to everybody
what he wants from you. See, maybe it's a sacrifice.
Maybe it's time for you to stop building for earthy treasure and
start building for heavenly treasure.
Even if you've accepted Jesus before, maybe this is the moment
where the Holy Spirit is going to show you that thing that
needs to lay down. Maybe it's your finances.
Maybe it's what you're spending your money into.
Mum shared a couple of weeks ago that we Mum and Dad had a
decision to make between Sky TV and sponsoring a child in Africa
and they decided that Sky TV could go.
Is that for you? Maybe that's what the Lord is
calling you to with your finances.
Maybe it's your time. See, sometimes we forget that
time and effort can be invested into the Kingdom as well.
Maybe you spent hours a day SAT watching the news, scrolling
social media, looking for that next story.
Maybe this is the Lord calling you to spend time in your secret
place and with Him, growing in knowledge of Him.
Maybe there's a specific person that the Lord is putting on your
heart right now. And the Lord is saying, I want
to use you to reach them. You know, God doesn't need us to
save, but what a blessing it is to be involved in his plans and
his ways. So I'm going to pray.
And as I pray, I want you to just sit open hearted.
In fact, everybody who's able to put your hands out, put your
hands out and open, because do you know this is a sign that
matches heart posture and shows a readiness to receive and
expect him. And I'm going to pray and just
sit and listen to the Lord and ask Lord, how do you want to use
me? What do you want me to do?
How can I execute biblical wisdom so that I start building
for heavenly treasure? Lord Jesus, I thank you for the
way you spoke today and spoken through this meeting.
Lord, I thank you for the worship and this word.
Lord, we call upon you. Father, will you convict us and
show us of how we can live better lives for you, how we can
go out impacting this world for you.
Jesus, may you reveal to us areas that we can give over,
things that we can let go of to serve You better.
Lord, it doesn't mean that those things are wrong, but how can we
better serve you? Lord, help us keep our eyes
fixed as we go on eternity and on you.
Lord, help us let the sin and the things of this world that so
easily entangles fall away so that we may run our race with
eyes fully fixed on heaven and on you.
Yeah, Jesus, come and show us in your mighty power and grace.
We thank you for your death and resurrection from that cross.
So we get to go out and serve for you.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.