As The Lord Has Spoken

[0:00] Thank you.

[0:30] Thank you.

[1:00] Thank you. We're going to come now to Exodus 39 and focus our attention on a few verses.

[1:37] And I just think the Lord has something to speak to us about tonight. So Exodus 39 and verse 42 and 43. So if you're able to stand, please do so as we honor the reading of God's word.

[1:51] Pray for me. I've been, I don't know if you were here last weekend, but I was dealing with some sinus stuff and I've been fighting it. Anybody with me like had some sinus issues lately? It's the worst. So I'm really praying that my voice will hold up, not just tonight, but for the whole weekend.

[2:06] So y'all pray for me. All right. Exodus chapter 39 and verse 42 and 43. Two verses. Short sermon. I was waiting for the laugh.

[2:17] So, all right. Verse 42 says, According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work. And Moses saw all the work and beheld they had done it as the Lord had commanded.

[2:36] So had they done it. And then Moses blessed them. This is God's word. Let's pray together. Father, thank you for this time tonight to be together. And we ask, Lord, that you would come and speak to us through your words.

[2:50] And that, Lord, we would cherish them, that we would love your word, that we would be a people of your word. And I pray that in Jesus' name and God's people said, amen.

[3:02] You can be seated. There were 16 messages on Naomi's old answering machine. There were a few from her friends, a few from her co-workers, but there were three specific messages that every time Naomi would listen to them, she would always be careful not to delete.

[3:24] Now, if you heard those messages, they wouldn't mean anything to you. One message was about the weather. The other message was about the delivery of a care package.

[3:35] And the third message was simply wishing her a Merry Christmas. But for Naomi, it wasn't just about the messages. It was about who those messages were from.

[3:50] That's because the voice that was recorded was the voice of her father. A father she'd lost to cancer several months before.

[4:05] Now, Naomi, like most everybody today, doesn't use a landline phone. Some of you have never even heard of an answering machine. She uses her cell phone like everybody else.

[4:17] But she kept that old answering machine and she kept those old messages. And if you ask her, Naomi, why don't you just get rid of that old thing?

[4:29] Why don't you just throw it away? She would say, no chance. That's how I hear the voice of my father.

[4:39] Now, my guess is there are many of you tonight that can relate to something like that. You may not have kept an old answering machine. But my guess is there are certain things that you have kept.

[4:53] And it's not because there's any particular value in and of themselves. But they represent someone or a relationship that you care about.

[5:05] For example, some of you, it's not an answering machine. It may be some old love letters that you have kept for a long time. And it's just a sheet of paper. But the words on that paper mean so much more to you.

[5:20] Maybe you keep a bunch of emails saved in a folder that you go back and read from time to time. Maybe it's old pictures that you've kept that represent a special memory or a special relationship in your life.

[5:35] You've heard me talk about so many times you're probably tired of hearing me talk about it. I keep all the old sermons that I have of my grandfather. You would read through them and you would be like, why don't you just throw that away?

[5:49] I can't even make sense. It looks like chicken scratch. Now I know where I got my handwriting from, right? But they're precious to me. They're valuable to me. Not because of the paper.

[6:01] It's because of the words that are from my grandfather. Why is it that we cherish things like this?

[6:11] Here's why. Notice it on the screen. It's not because they are words on a page. It's because they're words of someone you love. Amen?

[6:21] Does everybody understand that? It's not the paper. It's not the email. It's who those words are from. Listen to me.

[6:33] If that's true about phone messages, if that's true about emails and photographs, how much more the words of God?

[6:45] Faith family, this is more than... I mean, on one hand, this is just a book. This is just paper. These are just words on a page. But we all know this is so much more than that.

[6:59] Amen? These are the words of our Father. These are the very words of God. And when we realize that these are the very words of God, our response ought to be that of Job's.

[7:15] Notice here in Job chapter 23 verse 12. I have not departed from the commandment of his lips. Say this with me. I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

[7:33] Job recognizes these words are the very words of God. And I treasure them more than I do food. That is exactly what you and I see here in Exodus 39.

[7:47] And I want to show you. There's a repeated phrase that runs throughout Exodus 39. And if you read through it, I'm going to kind of put a seatbelt on because we're going to go through them quickly. And I want to show you the repetition and how this is the main theme that runs throughout this section.

[8:04] Notice, for example, this is chapter 39 verse 1. It talks about the blue and purple scarlet yarns. Now, we're not going to read every one of these. But it talks about ministering in the holy place.

[8:15] And they made the holy garments for Aaron. Now, say this with me. As the Lord had commanded Moses. Now, look at the next verse. This is in verse 5.

[8:26] It talks about the skillfully woven band. And again, this is more of the details of the tabernacle. But how does the last phrase end? As the Lord had commanded Moses.

[8:38] You see it show up again in verse 7. Again, talking about the building of the tabernacle. As the Lord had commanded Moses. Again, in verse 21.

[8:49] It talks about, again, the details of the tabernacle. The woven band. The breastplates. And all of this was made. How? As the Lord had commanded Moses.

[9:01] Are you noticing the theme? We're not done. Here we go. Verse 26. It talks about as the Lord had commanded Moses. Again, in verse 29.

[9:12] It talks about the sash of twine linen. And blue and purple scarlet yarns. And all this was embroidered. How? As the Lord had commanded Moses.

[9:23] Are you noticing the theme? Still not done. Here we go. Verse 31. It talks about more details of the tabernacle. And all of this was done according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses.

[9:36] And it keeps going. Look at the verses that we read to start the sermon. According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses. So the people of Israel had done all the work.

[9:48] And Moses saw all the work. And beheld all that they had done. As the Lord had commanded. You notice the theme. You don't have to be a Bible scholar to get what the theme is of Exodus 39.

[10:02] Because over and over again. It emphasizes that they did all of this as the Lord had spoken. As the Lord had commanded.

[10:14] Now let me kind of set the context so you understand exactly what's going on. Back in Exodus 25 through 27. We talked about. I know you remember that sermon.

[10:25] It was powerful. It was so impactful. And memorable. You could recall it in a moment. And when we talked about it. It was all the different details of the tabernacle. That God was instructing Moses to put together.

[10:39] The outer court. The inner court. The basin of water. The golden lamp stand. The mercy seat. In fact if you remember. I took you on a little virtual tour. If you remember that sermon.

[10:49] Where we went inside the tabernacle. And looked at all the different details. That was in the outer court. And inner court. And even the holy of holies. This was God.

[11:01] Making his home. With his people. And these chapters. God gave Moses specific details. As to how he wanted the tabernacle.

[11:12] To be constructed. But guess what happened. Rather than actually building the tabernacle. The tabernacle got delayed. And it got delayed. Because of the whole golden calf incident.

[11:24] That we talked about for several weeks. And then you've got Moses. And his pleading for the presence of God. And wanting to see the glory of God. And so what happens now.

[11:35] In Exodus 35. Is that they pick up where we left off. In the instructions of building the tabernacle. And now they actually start to build.

[11:47] What God had told them to build. So if you want to think about Exodus 35 through 39. It's essentially the completion. Of what God has already instructed them to do.

[11:59] Everybody with me say yes. So for example. Exodus 37 1 through 9. Is just a fulfillment of Exodus 25 10 through 20. Exodus 37 10 through 16.

[12:11] Is a fulfillment of chapter 25 23 through 29. Exodus 37 17 through 24. Is a fulfillment of Exodus 25 31 through 39.

[12:23] So I had to make a decision. Do I preach the exact same sermon I did then? Because it's the same content. It's the same detail. And in fact in many ways.

[12:33] It's almost a verbatim. In chapter 35 through 39. What was already given in chapter 25 through 27. So what I want to do.

[12:45] Is rather than go back through all that content I've already talked about. I want to focus more specifically on this theme. That runs throughout Exodus 39.

[12:56] That they did all of these things. Are you listening? As the Lord had spoken. And this is the big idea that I take from the text.

[13:07] And it's the big idea that I have for us this evening. It's this. Here's the big idea. Is that Moses made sure. The people of God. Were committed to the word of God.

[13:20] Everybody see that? Moses made sure. Hey every single detail. That we're doing in building this tabernacle. We're doing as the Lord has spoken.

[13:31] As the Lord has commanded. That is Moses wanted to make sure. The people of God. Were committed to. The word of God. And listen to me tonight.

[13:43] Listen. You and I. Are not building a tabernacle. But you and I. Are a part. By God's power. Of building a kingdom.

[13:54] We are a part. By God's power. Of building a church. Jesus said. I will build. My church. Amen. And the gates of hell.

[14:05] Will not prevail against it. And guess what. We get to be a part of that. And I'm offering to you tonight. The same point of Exodus 39. Which. If we're going to be a part.

[14:16] Of building the church of God. And building the kingdom of God. We must. Be committed. To the words. Of God. That just like Moses.

[14:27] Made sure. The people of God. Were committed. To the word of God. We. Must. Do. The same. Now. Why is that? Three things.

[14:37] About the word of God. And so. You kind of know. My main point. My main point is. The people of God. Must be committed. To the word of God. That is what. Exodus 39. That's the theme. That runs throughout.

[14:48] Now. I want to answer the question. Why is that? Why must. Faith family church. Be a church. That's committed. To the word. Of God. Look at 2nd Timothy chapter 3.

[15:00] These are. Very familiar verses. And it's where we're going to camp. The rest of the night. 2nd Timothy 3 15. Says. And how. From childhood. You've been acquainted.

[15:10] With the sacred writings. That is the scriptures. Which are able to make you. Wise for salvation. Through faith in Jesus Christ. Christ. And all scripture is what?

[15:20] Say it. Breathed. Out. By God. These are the very words of God. They're profitable for teaching. Reproof. Correction.

[15:32] And for training. In righteousness. In other words. We are committed to these words. We love these words. Amen. We cherish these words.

[15:45] Because these are the words of our father. These are the words of God. And first of all. The word of God. Is what brings salvation.

[15:55] The word of God. Is what brings salvation. The phrase there. In 2nd Timothy 3. Says. For salvation. Through faith. In Jesus Christ. That is.

[16:06] The word of God. Is what brings us life. It's what brings us. Eternal life. It's how you came to faith. If you're here tonight. And all of you are.

[16:16] By the way. If you're here tonight. And you're a follower of Jesus. You became a follower of Jesus. Because you heard the word of God.

[16:27] In some way. And you believed it. It may have been that you heard a sermon. You may have picked up a Bible. And just started reading it. You may have been witnessed to. By a friend.

[16:38] And whatever the case may be. In some way. You encountered the words of God. And you believed it. And that's what made you a Christian.

[16:50] And the scripture speaks about how. There is no salvation. Apart from the words of God. Look for example.

[17:01] In 1st Peter chapter 1. Verse 23. I feel the preacher rising up in me. Here he goes. Since you have been what? Born again. That is. You became a Christian.

[17:12] You became a Christ follower. You received spiritual life. Not of perishable seed. But of imperishable. Through the living.

[17:23] And abiding. Word. Of God. How did you become born again? Through the. Word. Of God. Look for example. In Romans chapter 10.

[17:34] Verse 14. How then will they call on him. In whom they have not believed. How will they believe in him. In whom they have not heard. How are they to hear. Without someone preaching.

[17:45] How are they to preach. Unless they are sent. As it is written. How beautiful are the feet. Of those who preach the good news. And then look at verse 17. So. Faith.

[17:57] Comes how. From hearing. Hearing. And hearing. Through the. Word. Of. Christ. There is no salvation. Apart.

[18:08] From the words. Of God. One more. Jesus said this. In John chapter 5. Verse 24. Truly. Truly. I say to you. Whoever. Hears. Hears.

[18:20] My. Word. And. Believes. Of him who sent me. Has eternal life. Does not come into judgment. But has passed. Oh my.

[18:30] From death. To. Life. How did. You pass. From death to life. You passed. From death to life. Because in some way. In some form.

[18:42] You heard the words. Of Christ. And you. Believed. That is why. We must. Be like Moses. In Exodus 39. And make sure.

[18:52] That the people of God. Are committed. To the word of God. That we do. What we do. As. The Lord. Has spoken. Amen. It means.

[19:04] That coming into. A right relationship. With God. Happens through. The hearing. Of his word. Everything you know. About Jesus. Sin. And eternal life. You know.

[19:15] Through what God. Has revealed. In his word. And it's why. It's very important. That we not. Alter the word. Of God. At all. Moses. Throughout.

[19:25] Exodus 39. We did it. As the Lord. Had commanded. We did it. As the Lord. Had commanded. If he said. Purple. We used purple. If he said. Blue. We used blue. Because we wanted.

[19:36] To follow. His words. Exactly. We are not. To tinker with. Or mess with. God's word. God's word. Because when you do.

[19:46] You mess up. The truth. You mess up. The message. Some of you probably remember. The story of the woman. Who texted her husband. From a jewelry store. And said. Honey. I found the perfect set.

[19:57] Of diamond earrings. They're only $10,000. The husband. Enraged. At such a suggestion. Texted her back. No.

[20:08] Price. Too high. The problem is. He forgot the comma. And what she read. Was. No price. Too high. That's right. There's no price. Too high.

[20:18] For me. See. Just that little comma. Was all that was off. And the whole message. Changed. Right. How much more.

[20:28] The word of God. We are. We are not. To mess with. God's word. We are to do. As God. Has. Spoken. Back in the. I'm a church. History buff.

[20:39] And. I'm. At least. Toying with the idea. That my next teaching class. Will be on church history. We'll see. But if you go back. To the council of Nicaea. The council of Nicaea. There was a.

[20:50] A big debate. Between two guys. One by the name of Athanasius. The other by the name of Arius. And Arius. Was arguing for. Homo Eusius.

[21:00] Homo Eusius. Was. Jesus. Is. Of. Similar. Substance. To the father. And. Athanasius. Was. Arguing for. Homo Eusius. That is.

[21:11] He's of the. Same. Substance. Listen. The only difference. Between those two words. Is an I. And yet. One is heresy.

[21:22] And other. Is the true. Teaching. Of the word of God. That Jesus. Is. Of the same. Substance. Of. The father.

[21:33] Do you see. You. You. You. You. You. Can't even. Mess. With. A. Word. You. Can't even. Mess. With. A. Comma. We. Are. Too. As. Moses. Did. Do. As.

[21:44] The. Lord. Has. Spoken. Because. If. We. Mess. With. The. Word. Of. God. We. Are. Messing. With. Where. Salvation. Comes. From. And.

[21:54] All. God's. People. Said. Amen. It's. Not. Just. Because. Of. The. Word. Of. God. And. It's. Bringing. Us. To. Salvation. But. Look. At. Second. Timothy. Three. Sixteen. Again. That. All. Scripture. Is.

[22:05] Breathed. Out. By. God. These. Are. God's. Word. So. The. Second. Point. Is. That. We. Must. Like. Moses. Be. Committed. To. What. God. Has. Spoken. Because.

[22:15] It. Reveals. Who. God. Is. I've. Said. This. So. Many. Times. Here. At. Faith. Family. You. Don't. Get. To. Determine. Who. God. Is. You. Don't. Get. To.

[22:25] Say. Well. I. These.

[23:07] This. Verse. Will. Prove. You. Wrong. I. Think. God. Has. A. Spiritual. Gift. Of. Sarcasm. I. Think. He. Invented. It. Right. Here. It. Is. The. Lord. Said. To. Moses. Cut. For. Yourself.

[23:17] Two. Tablets. Of. Stone. Like. The. First. And. I. Will. What. I. Will. Write. On. The. Tablet. What. Words. I'm. Going. To. Write.

[23:28] Down. Words. I'm. Going. To. Give. You. My. Words. That. Were. On. The. First. Tablet. Which. You. Broke. I. God. Just. Had. To. Remind. Moses. Of. That. I. Think. That's. Hilarious.

[23:38] Oh. Where. Were. The. First. Tablets. Oh. That's. Right. You. Broke. Those. So. Take. Out. Some. New. Tablets. And. Write. Down. My. Words. Faith. Family.

[23:49] We. We. Really. Ought. To. Be. In. All. Of. A. God. That. Is. So. Gracious. To. Speak. Who. Is. Willing. To. Give. Us. Words. Who. Is. Willing. To.

[23:59] Give. Us. His. Very. Word. Notice. This. On. The. Screen. Since. We. Could. Never. Understand. God. God. Made. Himself. Understandable.

[24:10] To. Us. That. Is. A. Gift. Of. Grace. That. Is. A. Gift. Of. Grace. That. God. Has. Spoken. This. Is. Why. Our. Belief. In. The. Word.

[24:20] Of. God. Is. Revealed. Not. By. Our. Doctrinal. Statement. It. Revealed. By. Our. Personal. Hunger. Let. Say. That. Again. And. I. Want. You. To. Listen. Up.

[24:30] To. You.

[24:41] Can't. Say. I. Believe. These. Are. God's. Words. But. You. Know. I'm. Just. Not. Much. Of. A. Reader. You. Know. I. Just. I. Just. Really.

[24:51] Have. A. Hard. Time. Reading. Things. And. I. Don't. Like. To. Study. Like. I. Was. Never. Really. Good. At. School. And. I. Bet. You. If. Had. A. Major. Assignment. Coming. Up. At. Work.

[25:01] You. Devote. Yourself. To. Learning. That. Trade. I. Just. Don't. Have. A. Lot. Of. Time. To. Spend. In. God's. Word. I. Bet. If. Your. Best. Friend. Was. Coming. Into. Town. You. Rearrange.

[25:12] Your. Schedule. You. See. What. I. Mean. Your. Belief. In. The. Word. Of. God. Has. Nothing. Few.

[25:30] Weeks. Talking. About. Pursuing. His. Presence. And. Wanting. To. Behold. His. Glory. Friends. You're. Not. Going. To. See. More. Of. God.

[25:40] Than. What. Is. Given. In. His. Word. And. So. We. Ought. To. Hunger. And. Cherish. And. Treasure. As. The. Scripture. Says. The.

[25:51] Very. Words. Of. God. To. Devote. Ourselves. To. Knowing. God. Through. His. Words. Peter. Puts. It. This. Way. In. First. Peter. Chapter 2. Verse 1. Put away all malice.

[26:02] And. Deceit. And. Hypocrisy. And. Envy. And. All. Slander. And. Like. New. Born. Infants. Long. For. The. Pure. Spiritual. Milk.

[26:13] That. By. It. You. May. Grow. Up. Into. Salvation. If. Indeed. You. Have. Tasted. That. The. Lord. Is. Good. Peter. Here. Is. Not.

[26:23] Using. Milk. The. Way. Paul. Uses. It. So. Don't. Misunderstand. Those. Two. Things. Paul. Will. Use. Milk. To. Talk. About. Immature. Like. You're. Like. A. Baby.

[26:34] That. Still. Needs. Milk. You. Still. Have. An. Immaturity. That. You. Need. To. Grow. Out. Of. That's. That's. Not. Peter's. Metaphor. Peter's. Using. Milk. To. Describe. The.

[26:44] Thing. Newborn. Babies. Crave. In fact. Here's. What. Newborn. Babies. Look. Like. When. They. Crave. Right. I mean. They. Let. You. Know. About. It. It's.

[26:55] Not. Like. You know. I'm. Kind. Of. Hungry. You know. Mom. If. If. Could. Get. Around. To. It. Or. Maybe. This.

[27:10] I. I. Long. For. It. Peter's. Using. Milk. To. Describe. That. Kind. Of. Metaphor. That. Our. Kind. Of. Longing. And. Hungering. For. The. Pure. Spiritual.

[27:21] Milk. Of. God's. Word. Is. That. Of. A. Newborn. Baby. That. We. Crave. It. That. It's. Not. You know. Well. If. Get. Around. To. It. I. Want. Like.

[27:39] Moses. In. Exodus. 39. And. We. Are. Committed. To. What. God. Has. Spoken. One. Of. My.

[27:49] Favorite. Scenes. In. The. Chronicles. Of. Narnia. Is. When. Lucy. And. Aslan. Reunite. They. They. Been. Separated. And. They. They. Come. Back. Together. And.

[28:00] You. Remember. This. Lucy. Embraces. Him. And. Then. She. Steps. Back. And. She. Goes. You're. Bigger. And. Aslan. Says. No.

[28:10] Child. You're. Just. Older. And. She. Says. You. You. Mean. It's. Not. Because. You're. Bigger. And. Aslan. Says. I'm. Not.

[28:21] Bigger. It's. Just. Every. Year. You. Grow. You. Will. Find. Me. Bigger. Oh.

[28:33] That. Would. Be. Said. Of. Us. That. As. We. Grow. Individually. And. Together. As. A. Faith. Family. That. We. Will.

[28:45] Find. God. Bigger. So. I. Pray. That. We. Would.

[28:55] Take. Heed. Of. Moses. Words. And. Be. The. Kind. Of. People. Just. As. They. Were. Committed. To. What. The. Lord. Was. Had. Spoken. In. Building. The. Tabernacle. That. You. And. I.

[29:06] As. We. Function. As. A. Church. Will. Be. Committed. To. What. God. Has. Spoken. Why? Because. Salvation. Depends. On. It. And. Understanding. God. More. Depends. On.

[29:16] It. One. Last. One. And. I'm. Done. I.전. would you be a short sermon. Look back at 2 Timothy 3. All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching and reproof and correction and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be, say it, may be complete, equipped for every good work. The last idea is that the scripture is the foundation of our transformation. It's how we grow up. It's how we mature. We're corrected and reproved and trained in righteousness. That is, the word of God works in us to grow us and change us. Listen, faith family, transformation or sanctification is not when you master the word of God. It's when the word of God masters you. Let me say that again. You have become a mature Christian, not when you've mastered the word of God, but when the word of God has mastered you. It's not when you get a PhD in theology. It's when God continues to conform you into the image of

[30:27] Jesus. And that's what the word of God does. It equips and it reproofs and it rebukes and it trains us in the things that we need to grow in. Look at how Paul puts it to the church at Thessalonica, 1 Thessalonians 2, 13. And we thank God constantly for this, that when you received the what? When you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as the word of men, but for what it really is, it really is the word of God. Watch, which is at work in you, believers. You heard the word, you believed that these words were the words of God, and that word became alive in you, working in you, doing things to you, changing you, transforming you, making you conformed into the image of Christ.

[31:37] This is why we must, like Exodus 39, be committed to what the Lord has spoken, because salvation depends on it, the revelation of God depends on it, and our transformation depends on it. I pray that we would be the kind of people that would, like, we can't wait to get together to say, God, what are you going to say to us now through your word? You hold me accountable to always preach this word. We're not going to get in up here and do TED talks, okay? Here's five secrets to train your pet and how to whatever.

[32:12] Like, we're not doing that here. What we're doing here is what Moses did in Exodus 39. What has the Lord said? What has the Lord spoken? Because our transformation depends on it. Another church history reference, one of my favorite, favorite preachers in church history is a man by the name of George Whitefield. I would love to have heard that man preach. He preached in the 1700s, and this is one account that took place when someone described going to one of the gatherings where Whitefield preached and what the Word of God did in his life. Quote, and by the way, I wonder if this describes your Saturday night. About eight or nine in the morning, forget that part, okay? About eight or nine in the morning, there came a message that said, Mr. Whitefield is preaching in Middletown at 10.

[33:10] I was in the field working. I dropped my tool. I ran home. I made my wife get ready to go hear Mr. Whitefield in Middletown, and I ran to my horse with all my might, fearing that I'd be late.

[33:21] I headed out with my wife as fast as I thought my horse could bear, and once I got to high ground, I noticed a cloud, a fog rising, which I first thought was coming from the great river, but I soon discovered it was a cloud of dust made by the running of horses. When I got to the meeting, there were a multitude of probably three to four thousand people assembled. I looked to the great river and noticed boats bringing more. The banks looked black with men and horses, and when I saw Mr. Whitefield come upon the scaffold, he looked almost angelic. He preached before the people and with an authority as of from God. And my hearing him preach gave me a heart wound. My old foundation was broken, and I saw that my righteousness could not save me. That's what the Word of God does. Week after week after week, it causes us to leave our old foundations and see that our righteousness will not save us.

[34:35] The Word of God transforms us because there is something about hearing the message of a crucified Christ that will pierce our hearts. It transforms us. It changes us. It does a work in us, and that is why, Faith Family, I declare, and I continue to declare at Faith Family what Paul said in Romans 1, we are not ashamed of the gospel. And do you know why we are not ashamed of the gospel? For it is the, say it, power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. We will be like Moses in Exodus 39 by God's grace and declare to you what God has spoken. That the people of God will be committed to the Word of God.

[35:44] And that just as Moses was committing to building a tabernacle as the Lord has spoken, that we will be committed to seeing Christ build his church through what God has spoken.

[35:56] And when everybody out there tells us, you know, the Bible really isn't relevant anymore, when we're tempted to do better things with our time together than focus on the Bible, when others tell us that this is outdated, you know, kind of like an old answering machine, that our response will be the same as Naomi's. No chance. This is how I hear.

[36:26] The voice of my Father. And all God's people said, Amen. Let's pray. So Lord, that is my prayer, certainly as a preacher. And I trust that is our prayer as a church.

[36:43] That just as Moses in Exodus 39 made sure that the people of God were committed to the Word of God. That every single thing was as God had spoken.

[36:59] You know, that same truth applies today for your church. You have not commissioned us to do our own thing. You have not commissioned us to preach our own message.

[37:11] You have not commissioned us to entertain and make everybody feel good. You have commissioned us to declare a word. To preach the God-breathed words.

[37:27] And Lord, I pray that we would cherish it. That we would love it. That we would long to know you more through it. And that even tonight, through this message, you would have rekindled in us a passion and a desire for the words of our Father.

[37:48] And we pray it in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen.

[38:08] Thank you.