<TITLE>05. Par 16-21</TITLE>L-16 Now, in the Tabernacle, Brother Arganbright, I usually just take my time. So if you get hungry around supper, why, you can slip out. I feel so tired this morning I had to just say something another to keep myself boasted up a little bit till I... the Spirit of the Lord comes on me.
So let's bow our heads now and pray before we read the Word. How many requests for other things that you have that maybe you wasn't prayed for, just let it be known as you lift your hands. Now, let's--let's stand this morning as we pray. That'll give you a change of posture and will maybe help a little. And then after prayer I want you to remain standing just a few minutes till I read the Word. I think that's great to stand reverently while we read the Word of God.

L-18 Our heavenly Father, we come just as humble as we know how to come, with emptied hearts of all desires of the world or its pleasures. And as our brother has quoted or stated to us, "Joy, the joy of the Lord is our strength." And we come with joyful hearts, that we have this privilege of coming into Your Presence to ask any petition that we would desire. And the joy comes when we look in the Word, and are promised if we would believe It, it would be given to us. What could thrill a human heart that beats, any more than to know that the immortal eternal God gave such a promise?
Now, forgive us, Lord. And if we have sinned or did anything that was displeasing to You, that before we ask these things... For we know that it's written, "If our hearts condemn us not, we have our petition." But now, forgive us of all that we have done. Look upon us, Lord, with mercy and with pity. Look what a pitiful bunch we are, Lord, little mortals, creeping around here on earth, and just dragging along through this sinful place. But down deep in our heart we know that there's Someone coming someday that's going to lift us from this place to a better place, and we rejoice in this.
And I pray, God, for every request. You knowed what was behind them hands that lifted. Grant it to them, Lord. I pray for myself, for strength this morning, for--for voice to help and to preach the Gospel. And we would ask that You'd bless us so together in this what we are celebrating, the Christmas season. Lord, may we find the real Spirit of Christmas, and may It abide with us forever. For we ask this in Jesus' Name and for His sake. Amen.

L-21 Now, if you'll just stand just a moment, I want to read this morning from the Book of Micah for one place; and for another, out of Hebrews, the 12th chapter of Hebrews for the--to gather a little context to what I'd like to speak on this morning for our Christmas message: Hebrews 12:25, it is. I kinda had to hurry this morning when I got up, and I didn't have everything just at the place where I wanted to be--have, wanted to have, rather. I begin with the 2nd verse of Micah 1.
Hear,... ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from His holy temple.
For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the... places of the earth.
And the mountains shall be molded under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, and as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.
And in Hebrews the 12th chapter and the 25th verse, we read this:
See that you refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped... For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, how much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Now, Lord God, add Thy blessings to the reading of Thy Word, and give to us each today the--the thing that You would have us to know, that we might leave here and feel that we have been in Your Presence, and can go forth with a--a new look and with a better understanding, and with a more determination than we had when we come in this building, for we ask it in Jesus' Name. Amen. (May be seated.)


<A HREF="P6">Next Page</A>