Principles Pictured by the Tabernacle, Boards and Bars

[0:00] Okay, well, I want to thank the men today for singing.! Thank you men for coming last night and praying and spending some time on your knees in this! very place, praying for this place and for this church. And so enjoyed that and grateful! for you guys coming and being part of that. So if you have your Bible, let's open up to chapter 26 of Exodus. I'm trying to be thankful for the dad jokes. I'm trying. Exodus chapter 26.

[0:42] And we started this chapter last week because it's dealing with God instructing Moses in building the tabernacle and the structure of the tabernacle, the covering of the tabernacle, and how the whole things being put together. And so last Sunday, we began in 1 Corinthians 3 by likening this building to the church, to our church specifically. And it illustrates for us several important truths that apply to a local church. We began last Sunday with the first six, seven, first 11 verses of the chapter showing that the, there was an outer covering of this building. There were layers of curtains and those curtains needed to be coupled together and then they were connected with tashes, 50 tashes. And I showed you and kind of tried to illustrate that that, that shows us the importance of togetherness within a church. These were different groups. They were connected in fives and fives, but they were all brought together by those 50 golden representing divine things. And I went through a small list of what those might be. Also, we saw that there were skins on top of those two layers of curtains, two separate layers of skins, of ram skins dyed red, and then of badger skins on the top. And all of that showed us the importance of a covering. And just illustrated that by a few things that, first of all, there ought to be a covering of clothing when you come into the temple of God or the house of the Lord, as we call it. And that's a, there should be no distractions taking your mind and attention away from the Lord

[2:18] Jesus Christ. That's why we come here. Then there should be some other covering of authority, like we looked at some order that God places in authority. And if that's out of order, you can't expect God's glory to come and be inside of that tabernacle. There was a covering of humility that Peter talked about, each one of you being clothed with humility. And then the, probably the most important, the blood of Jesus Christ, just keeping this place sanctified and keeping our hearts pure before him and staying under that blood. Because if not for the blood of Jesus Christ or any of these coverings, it would just be flesh in here.

[2:51] That's all it would be. It would be everybody's opinions and everybody's thinking, and this is the way I want it to be. And this is who I like and who I don't like. And, and that would just create such a disunity.

[3:01] And that can't be. And so this illustrates already for us the importance of togetherness and of a covering. And today I want to stay in the passage, go a little further and show you two more things.

[3:13] And maybe, Lord willing, finish the chapter next Sunday with the last two, I think. We'll see. But today let's take a look at verse 15 and 16 to start. In Exodus 26, verse number 15, Now these are, these are boards that are going to make up the overall structure of the tabernacle itself.

[3:49] And if we continue, you'll see there's 20 boards on the south side. That's in verse number 18. And then there's 20 boards on the north side. And there's six with two on each side of that, making eight on the west side. So a total of 48 of these boards are erected here to be the overall structure. They are over two feet wide. So they're even wider probably than the, than the face of this pulpit here. They're about roughly 27 inches wide each board. And it said they're 10 cubits tall.

[4:22] That makes them 15 feet tall. Now that's quite a board. Typically in our construction world, we use two by fours, which is an inch and a half by eight feet long. An inch and a half, it's about three and a half inches wide. These are 27 inches wide. And these things are 15 feet tall.

[4:42] They're twice the height of a typical board and far greater in their width. These are some massive vertical planks that are erected for this tabernacle. Some people suggest that they're just panels, meaning they're, they're much thinner. And I don't know how thin they were because 15 feet is pretty big. And if it's a panel, 15 feet, that's really, if you tried to pick that up in the middle, just for instance, that would definitely have some, some wobble to it and some sway and, and floppy. It's not as strong and sturdy, the thinner. It's going to be overlaid in gold. I didn't read that part, but that comes down through this passage to overlay all of these boards in gold. And that could maybe strengthen it up a bit, but you can't have a flimsy floppy board and overlay that with gold and not expect it to crack and fall apart. So I'm going to suggest these are some pretty sturdy and thicker planks than many want to believe. They're afraid of the weight of it. And the Bible does describe them having covered wagons. So I don't have any problem to think that they just loaded these things up on wagons. And that was how they transported these big heavy panels or planks. Okay. So they're standing upright side by side, strong vertical pieces. And these are the boards we're reading about that are the strength of this tabernacle. This is the support. This is what holds it up and keeps it upright. All of those coverings would be laying on the ground if it weren't for these vertical pieces holding them up. And right away this morning, let's get into the first thought here.

[6:15] This illustrates for us the importance of standing. In verse number 15, it said the last two words, standing up. When I think of these boards, these strong 15 foot by over two feet wide boards, these strong boards, I think in the church of Bible Baptist church, I think of strong, stable Christian men. The strength that's going to hold this place together. Men who know what is right. Men who live what is right on purpose. Men who have fellowship with God in the word of God. Men that are not going to bow down to the world when the pressure gets on. Men who are not going to be carried about with every wind of doctrine. Men that aren't going to give in and cave under any weight of circumstance or pressure, but will stand fast in the faith. I think these boards today picture for us strong, stable Christian men. Men that'll take a stand for what is right in their own heart, in their own life, and in their own homes, and in their own, not just Sunday morning standing, but men that are strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Why does the church need strong men standing? Because no church will ever be stronger than the men that are present inside the church. No church will ever be stronger than the men that God puts in that church. God did not create the woman to lead the man.

[7:50] We saw that last week. God did not create the woman to lead the church. He created men to do that. It's men's duty and it's his responsibility. Church needs strong spiritual Christian women too, but the responsibility to take a stand falls on the men. Amen. It doesn't fall on the ladies. It's not up to the ladies to bear the weight and to carry the strain and to take the lead. Now ladies have a position and a role and we'll get to that Lord willing in a little bit. But today this is these boards, these strong large boards illustrate for us the importance of standing. More specifically of strong stable Christian men that aren't afraid to take a stand. When David the king, a strong king, a leader, a bloody man, a man that conquered not just Israel but the entire region for his kingdom through the, of course, through the strength of the Lord's leading. David was dying. David was passing on the kingdom to a son who had never fought a battle.

[8:56] A son who had grown up in luxury and grown up in peace in a wonderful household. He handed this kingdom over to Solomon and he said, I go the way of all the earth. I'm dying, son. And here's his charge.

[9:11] Be thou strong, therefore, and show thyself a man. That strength and the man that they go, they couple together, they go hand in hand. They belong together. This tabernacle here, these standing boards illustrates for us strong men standing side by side together in unity, bearing the weight, bearing the strain, carrying the load, leading the way, taking a stand. Now there's some things that men and that the church is supposed to stand for and there's some things that the church is to stand against. And I'm not going to give you the whole list but I'll give you a few just to illustrate the point. Let's turn in our Bibles to keep your place, of course, but let's go to Ephesians chapter 6. Ephesians chapter 6. The importance of standing. The boards were said to be standing up. In

[10:13] Ephesians chapter 6, this is a very familiar passage. Notice how often this word stand appears. We'll begin in verse number 10. Ephesians 6 and verse 10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breastplate of righteousness and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. There's a stand that's to be made against the wiles of the devil, against principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness and high places that would attack the church and attack the Christian and attack the home and attack the marriage.

[11:58] And this place, we're talking about this place, is in need of some strong men, some stable men that'll stand in their place and stand and resist. Resist the devil. Resist his wiles. Have the shield of faith up to quench those fiery darts of the wicked. But while you're here, flip over another page to Philippians chapter 1. We could go on with that for a minute, but there's much to stand against.

[12:27] But there's also some things to be standing together for. And so take a look at Philippians chapter 1. And in this passage, earlier in the passage, I'm going to start toward the end, but earlier in the middle of the chapter, he's talking about preaching Christ and one preaching Christ, another preaching Christ, and he's rejoicing because Christ is preached. And a little bit later, he gets here to verse 27.

[12:52] Philippians 1, 27. He says, Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ. What does that mean? Well, conversation means your manner of life, the way you live your life, your testimony, what people can see.

[13:07] Let your conversation be as it becometh. You know this word, like it's becoming of them. You might think, I don't know how to illustrate this, like think of an older woman that's wearing certain things. You say, oh, that is not very becoming of a woman your age. The idea is it doesn't represent well. Maybe you could say that's dressing in a certain way while we're on it. Dressing in a certain way that would be revealing is not one that is becoming of a Christian. It doesn't represent Jesus Christ. So here's what he says is, only let your conversation, your manner of life be as it becometh or represents the gospel of Christ. That whether I come and see you or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs that ye stand fast in one spirit with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel. And then there's adversaries in verse 28. Those are ones you're standing against.

[14:04] But what you're standing for is the faith of the gospel and you're standing for the right testimony in front of this world showing them that my life represents the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[14:17] some strong men that'll stand for the gospel, that'll stand for the truth, that'll stand for righteousness, that'll stand for representing the Lord Jesus Christ. And in order to do that, there must be some strong Christian men in this place. This church is not supposed to be led by the ladies, and it cannot be strong if it's led by the ladies. And that's not a thing against the ladies. I hope you know that full well. What that is, is God's order and design, and he knows why and he knows what is right. And if you kick against that, you're kicking against his system. And there's something good about that. There's something real good about that, ladies. This means you don't have to bear that.

[15:08] It's not on you, but you do have a place and a role. And that's something for you to seek after and embrace and say, I can please God by doing this. And I'll get to that, but I'm just saying that now because it's coming up. Don't want you to like rise up inside and try to fight against this because God calls for men to be leaders. And these strong 15-foot boards standing side by side to me represent strong, stable men. So then let me ask you guys, if you're here today, are you a strong man?

[15:44] Are you a strong, stable Christian man? Are you strong in your faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ? Not coming to church, but are you strong in your faithfulness to Christ outside of church?

[15:56] Are you a strong man? Are you strong in your commitment and submission to Christ? Are you strong in your humility? Are you strong in understanding what the will of the Lord is?

[16:11] Or are you like those ones warned in Ephesians that are carried about with every wind of doctrine and confused and there's somebody that's lying in wait to deceive you?

[16:22] Is that who you are? Are you a double-minded man that's unstable in all his ways? You're in for a little while and then you're out for a lot.

[16:34] Back and forth. Bible Baptist Church needs strong, stable Christian men standing. And that's what this passage illustrates for us. Come back to Exodus chapter 26.

[16:46] I want to dig in a little more into something else that's illustrated here. When those boards were standing, they weren't just standing alone.

[17:02] They didn't just stand by themselves either, but they were braced. And there's some things I'm going to pass over for the moment to get to... There's some braces put up for them.

[17:13] Look at verse 26. Verse 26 says, See that there, for the boards.

[17:26] The bars are for the boards. And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle. And five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle for the two sides westward.

[17:38] And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from one end to end. And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold and make their rings of gold for places for the bars. And thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.

[17:50] And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof, which was showed thee in the mount. So the boards are not complete standing side by side, 20 here, 20 there, and the eight there.

[18:03] But rather they need the bars. And they need it all to look one overlaid in gold. The bars are there to help the individual boards to stay standing straight up.

[18:17] To keep them from bowing over or from bending in some way. These are strong heavy boards. They are. But the strength of that board is of no value to this tabernacle if it's bent over.

[18:29] Or if it's warped in some way and perverted. Verse 15 said they're to be standing up. And you could look at this line, this perfect line of 20 boards.

[18:42] And they're all thick and strong and standing 15 feet tall. And you could say, man, they're strong boards. And you could presume that they're just all strength in that together. But what you wouldn't know is where the weakest point is in all of these boards.

[18:57] You wouldn't know that by looking at it. You wouldn't know that until something happens. Like you have a home and the roof is in place. And the walls are in place. And things are fine.

[19:08] The ceiling's intact until something happens. And then something's sagging over here. What happened? Well, one of those boards wasn't as strong as the other boards besides.

[19:20] Something happened to where too much strain or too much weight or too much pressure or whatever the case happened, a crack forms. Something buckles. Eventually, it becomes evident which one is the weakest when the load is too much for it.

[19:36] And so there's bars that are slipped between rings that fit across behind these vertical planks. And those bars are there to brace the boards.

[19:51] And this to me illustrates something very important within a local church. It illustrates the importance of helping. First, it's the importance of standing. But then those horizontal bars show the importance of helping.

[20:05] And you could look at the men in this church and think there's some strong Christian men in this church. They're faithful. They're dependable. They love the Lord. They love the Word of God. And you can trust them. But you may not be able to tell looking at them on the outside where the weak point is.

[20:20] And it's not my desire to point out who's the strongest, who's the weakest. That's not where we're going with this at all. But you're not able to tell until the strain gets too much. Because like we said earlier, the looks can be deceiving.

[20:32] It can all look strong and appear strong until one gives in. Until one buckles under some strain. The Bible says in Galatians 6, If a man think himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

[20:49] Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. And the point again is not to determine who's the strongest man in the church or who's the weakest among us.

[21:00] But no, it's rather to say, the Bible says that none of us liveth unto himself. And help is needed. Help is needed. Help is important. I don't want any man to be the weakest or the strongest man to give in and to bow down and to fall.

[21:16] I want to see all the men standing straight up. I want to see this church strong. I don't want to see the church getting weakened by anyone bending over and giving in. That just puts more load on the rest.

[21:29] More strain on the rest. So then, help is needed. God decided help is necessary. God's design for his church was to have some help.

[21:42] Some bars. Some horizontal. They're not the ones standing up. They're horizontally supporting the structure. Now, we'll get back to that. But let's take a look into some passages.

[21:53] You can lose Exodus for now. And go to Acts chapter 27. I want to show you some Bible and illustrations of the importance of help. Acts 27.

[22:13] In this chapter, we've got a ship that is making a voyage into some troubling waters and to a storm. And it's a tempestuous wind in verse 14.

[22:26] In verse 15, the ship was caught. We could not bear up into the wind. We let her drive. It was, things were getting out of control. But in verse number 17, they're trying to get a boat.

[22:41] Verse 16, there's a boat, which is like a, it's the boat. Well, I'll show you where it's at. Verse 30, it says that the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship when they had let down the boat into the sea.

[22:55] And so there, it's like a life raft of sorts. But it's a boat that's coming behind a larger ship. And now, with this, this wind and this thing, this boat's going to get beat around or sunk. And it's going to be a problem.

[23:06] It could probably be crashing into the ship itself. So they try to bring the boat up, get it controlled. So in verse 16, we see they had much work to come by the boat. Verse 17, which when they had taken up, they used helps undergirding the ship.

[23:24] What does that mean? Well, it's probably some kind of chains that are, the point is they're trying to stabilize this ship from getting wrecked and tossed while they're attempting to do something with the boat and get that into its position.

[23:36] The point here I'm making is that the helps that he mentions in verse 17, they are not the structure and strength of the boat.

[23:47] They are supporting the boat. They are assisting the ship, rather, to keep it stable in these rough waters. It says they're undergirding the ship, keeping it stable in a violent sea.

[24:01] That's what the helps do. Now, isn't that interesting? It says that they used helps. Now, flip over to 1 Corinthians chapter 12.

[24:13] 1 Corinthians chapter 12. And let's talk about the local church a little bit. 1 Corinthians 12.

[24:26] And there is something that God has gifted each local church. Verse 28.

[24:39] God hath set some in the church. First, apostles. Secondarily, prophets. Thirdly, teachers. After that, miracles and gifts of healing. Helps.

[24:50] H-E-L-P-S. A gift of God to a church is a gift of helps. That's not the office of a bishop. Of a deacon or apostle or prophet.

[25:03] It's just helps. Doesn't sound beautiful, does it? Doesn't sound very bold and dramatic. Doesn't sound like as much attention is going to be drawn to that.

[25:15] Helps. It sounds lowly. It does. It helps. Helps not the strength. Helps are the support.

[25:27] Now look at 2 Corinthians. Just to your right, a few pages. 2 Corinthians chapter 1. 2 Corinthians chapter 1.

[25:38] And now here is a instance where help was needed. Because pressure was on. And somebody needed help.

[25:49] 2 Corinthians 1. And I'll start in verse number 8. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia.

[26:02] That we were pressed out of measure. Above strength. Can you picture the walls? These strong standing planks that are getting a load put on them.

[26:15] They're getting pressed above measure. Above strength. In so much that we despaired even of life. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves.

[26:27] That we should not trust in ourselves. But in God which raiseth the dead. Who delivered us from so great a death. And doth deliver. In whom we trust that he will yet deliver us. And then here's the help. Ye also helping together by prayer for us.

[26:43] That for the gift bestowed upon us. By the means of many persons. Thanks may be given by many on our behalf. He asks them to help them. Not to be their support.

[26:54] Or rather not to be the strength. To hold up. But rather to be the support. To keep them vertical. When the pressure's on. Growing up back in the east coast.

[27:05] During the winter time sometimes. Sometimes. We'd get some heavy snows. Just it was rare to get a real heavy snow. But sometimes we'd get a heavy snow. And that snow would lay on top of the roofs of some of the buildings.

[27:18] And it happens every year. Further north. Get up off in New York. Off of some of that lake effect snow. They just get feet upon feet. But sometimes the wetter the snow.

[27:28] It's just heavier than it is. And it puts a strain and a weight upon certain buildings. And inevitably it happens. It's often things like barns. That just weren't.

[27:39] They're just kind of getting worn and dilapidated. That they couldn't handle it. Another year. Another winter. And the warmth. And then the cold. And all of that over time. Just wears it down. But you'll see a barn roof.

[27:50] You'll drive down. You'll just see the barn roof collapsed on one side. And there's snow on the left side. And the right side is just a big open hole. Because it couldn't handle the strain. They were pressed out of measure.

[28:02] There weren't any supports for that. Now we're looking now at the tabernacle. And we're seeing that that tabernacle has these vertical standing strong portions of its structure. But yet it needs the bars.

[28:15] God determined it needs the bars to support those strong structures. Paul identified in his writings some certain believers that he called helpers in Christ.

[28:28] Those are helpers. They're not holding up the tabernacle. They're not bearing the weight. They're not the main structure. But they have an important role in keeping that structure standing in its place.

[28:40] The role of support. It's the role or the importance of helping. I want you to go now to 3 John. All the way to the back of your Bible. 3 John. A tiny, tiny little epistle.

[28:54] First, second, then third. Find 3 John. I want to show you how important it is to be a helper.

[29:06] But also kind of invoke this thought that you can not only be a helper, but you could also be a hindrance. And you don't want to be a hindrance in the work of God.

[29:18] I don't know if you remember this. Last week we read in 1 Corinthians 3 that if any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy. So don't be a hindrance. But watch this in this chapter.

[29:29] 3 John. 3 John. And I'll start in verse 5.

[30:03] There's a good guy in Demetrius.

[31:04] But there's a bad guy. An evil man in Deutrophes. We're supposed to be fellow helpers to the truth. We're supposed to be assisting and bringing again on their journey those that are working the work of God.

[31:18] And this man won't even allow it. This man resists them. He won't receive them. But if you do, he kicks you out of the church and says, no, I'm the boss here. It's my way. He's not a help to the truth.

[31:32] He's rather a hindrance. In verse 10, he's prating against us. Against us. Not receiving. Forbidding. You could be a helper.

[31:44] Or you could be a hinderer. And this tabernacle I'm showing you is illustrating the importance in the local church of helping. Now, to return to that analogy. If we have strong Christian men that are the boards.

[32:00] That are the strength. That make up the structure. Then maybe we could say that the women are the bars. Maybe we could say that they're the horizontal support.

[32:13] And they're the helpers. Do you know that the very first time that in the Bible that the concept of a woman comes out? Before she's ever called woman or Eve.

[32:24] She's called an help. Two times in Genesis chapter 2, God says, I'll make him an help. It's not good that the man should be alone.

[32:35] It's not good that the board should be standing alone. I'm going to make him an help. Meet for him. So ladies, are you a help to this church?

[32:48] I didn't ask you if you're the strongest support of this or the strength of this church. The structure of this church. I don't need you to be that. I need you to be a support. Do you give assistance in any way to the work of the ministry here?

[33:03] Or are you a hindrance? You say, well, how would I be a hindrance? I'll give you away. Just a thought. It's not aimed at anybody. It's just throwing us out there. I can tell you how you can be a hindrance to this work.

[33:14] Because God wants strong, stable Christian men in this church. He wants them to be strong in their faithfulness. In their activity. In their engagement. But one that should be supporting their husband standing strong in that church.

[33:27] What could be one, a hindrance to that could be one that says, I don't want to go this week. I want to go here instead. I don't want you to be part of that one. I want this. Come with me. Do this with me.

[33:37] And could hold back their husband from standing in his place. Carrying the weight. God's design is for the men to stand.

[33:49] His design is for the woman to help. To support. Every work of God experiences opposition in some facet. May the opposition be the strong winds that blow in the wilderness.

[34:03] Or the heavy rains that fall from the storms. But may they never be from those that come from the inside. May the opposition not come from within. But may it come from without.

[34:18] We've already seen that it can come from within. Right there in 3 John. Wives, are you a help to your husband? Are you a support for him to stand for Jesus Christ?

[34:31] I think when you're looking for a husband. Ladies. Young ladies. Old ladies. Whoever. You ought to look for a man that wants to stand for God. Find a man that wants to stand up for Christ.

[34:43] And then say, I can support that man. But if he's not willing to stand for Christ. Good luck. Good luck. You're going to have a hard time doing it yourself. And the testimonies are everywhere.

[34:59] The boards need the bars. God designed that way. That was his building. He said, this is the way it's going to work. This is the way I want it to be set up.

[35:11] That shows me we all have a role and a function in his church. Therefore, each of us has to be obedient to that role. In submission to that role. And in that order.

[35:21] Why? So that God can get the glory. So that God can come into that place. And be glorified in it. And not see a bunch of cracks. And not see a bunch of weaknesses.

[35:32] And bowing down and falling over. Dilapidated. What's those shows? Those shows are everywhere. About fixing up this fixer uppers. Or this old house. Or all that stuff.

[35:43] There's so much of that out there. It should not be the case in here. Where the spirit of God lives. God wants to shine forth from his sanctuary.

[35:57] Let it not be the glory of men. Nor the glory of women. But may be the glory of God. That shines forth from his sanctuary. Last week we see the importance of togetherness.

[36:08] And a covering. Today the importance of standing. And of helping. There's more to come. I believe there's more in this. We've skipped over a few things.

[36:19] And if I can remember. I'm going to show you a little video next week. Of a 3D animation of the tabernacle. What a good chance of what it may look like. It'll help you visualize all of this stuff.

[36:29] I wasn't going to show it to you last week. But I thought I'll just wait. And let the Lord help you imagine it along the way. And then we'll put something in front of you. But there's some important lessons. Some valuable truths.

[36:41] Illustrated from that tabernacle. God said make me a sanctuary. Then he told him how to do it. So we're going to have to follow the pattern. We can't get out of the pattern.

[36:52] Ladies you have a place. Men you have a job and a duty. If you're not doing it. You better get right with God on that. Because you're not matching the pattern. You're not matching the pattern.

[37:04] It's your job to submit. It's your job to obey that pattern. So I think you get the ideas today. There's more to come. We'll get to that Lord willing in another week. And continuing to see how this tabernacle illustrates truths for this local church.

[37:18] And may God grow this church. May God be pleased with this church. May he look on it and see things in order. See people in their place. See their togetherness and unity and love. And see a covering of humility.

[37:32] And of righteousness. And his son's blood. And just say. Yeah I'm pleased to dwell among them. Yeah I'm pleased to dwell there in Sylmar. That's my kind of place. That's the goal.

[37:43] Bring the glory of God into this place. Let him stir us up. Let him change us. And do something with us. That people can't miss. Because we're different.

[37:54] By the working of God. But we're going to have to fall in line to the pattern. Amen. Father this morning we ask that you'll take these thoughts. And that you'll instill them within each member. And show us our need to comply.

[38:06] Wherever we're maybe rebellious. Wherever there's pride. Wherever there's stubbornness. Lord get it out of us. May a spirit of humility come within us. And help us to fall into our place.

[38:18] Help the men to take serious their duty to stand. To stand against unrighteousness. To take a stand for truth and for doctrine. And against the wiles of the devil.

[38:31] Help the ladies here not to feel that weight. And not to feel like they have to do something more than they do. But let the men lead the way. And so God please put that in the hearts of men here.

[38:42] To love you. And to treat each other with compassion and humility. And be firm in the knowledge of your will. We pray for the ladies of this church that you've brought here.

[38:52] Help them as well. To know their place and their role. And to embrace it. And to enjoy it. And to rejoice in it. And to spend their time supporting. And praying.

[39:03] And uplifting. And helping. And may God your spirit dwell amongst us. And strengthen us. And lift us up. And carry us forward until the day that you come to get us.

[39:15] Lord we just want to please you. That's just the end of all of this. We want to please you. And so wherever we're not. Please reveal that to us. And give us a spirit of humility to fix it. And I want to say thank you once again for the Lord Jesus Christ.

[39:28] And it's in his name we pray. Amen.