"When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces! But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God’s justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John."
Good Morning my beloved,
We welcome you to worship today in the name of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It's a tremendous privilege to have you here with us today. We ask that you would continue to join us in praying for our persecuted church family, that their faith would endure, as they continue to witness to their persecutors. Christians are the most hated and the most persecuted people in the world, most of them are persecuted by Islam. There has been a massive increase of violence against Christians in 2024, with 317 million Christians worldwide facing very high or extreme levels of persecution. In 2023, there were thirteen Christians a day murdered for their faith. Also, I humbly ask that you would please pray that God's Word and this ministry would reach those that need it most, wherever they may be.
If you have recently received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please write or text to let us know. We'd love to hear from you.
When it comes to sin, God's perspective is very different than ours. God hates sin, all sin, and the penalty for sin is death. Fortunately for us, on the heels of that Truth, because of God's amazing grace, He is graciously willing to forgive anyone who will acknowledge their sin, and admit their need for a Savior, repent and willing to turn away from their sin, opening to truly believe His promises to cleanse them from all unrighteousness and grant eternal life. Tragically, many who claim to know Christ, willfully continue to enjoy sin with no desire to change, there's no grieving over sin, indicating they are not truly a part of the bride of Christ. If you have been born again, the direction of your life is now toward God, not sin, meaning though you will occasionally sin, you cannot habitually and persistently sin, because indifference to sin is incompatible with the Christian's new life. Christ will not be Savior of a life where He is not Lord. Therefore, I believe it should be the goal of every Christian's life, the focus of every Christian's thoughts to pursue the holiness that is required of us by God's Word.
1 Peter 1:14-16, "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." The New Testament clearly teaches that if somebody is truly saved, Jesus appeared in order to give Himself for us, to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:13-15) Anybody who preaches a Gospel that says salvation is only a change in your status and not a change in the pattern of your life is preaching the devil’s message, which is a false Gospel. It's truly amazing what the power of the Holy Spirit can do to help those who are saved, willing and eager to live by God’s holy and perfect standards.
Unfortunately, most Christians do not seem to recognize the significance of John's life and ministry, he was not merely the last Old Testament prophet who prepared the hearts of the people; he was a true testament to the resilience and determination of the human spirit, he was God's chosen voice to cry out in the wilderness, a pivotal figure in God's compelling plan of redemption, pre-ordained to faithfully proclaim the impending arrival of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the long awaited Messiah, Who would fulfill the prophetic words of Isaiah about the promised Savior, the promised King, Who would fulfill His promises made to Abraham and David. He was announcing the promised Redeemer, Who would bring about salvation for God's chosen people and for the world.
Yet, many of those who identify as Christians are literally accepting, condoning and even celebrating every conceivable sin Scripture condemns in on the rise, in the name of love and tolerance. Romans 1:32, tells us, "Although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." We’re not being loving if we simply condone somebody's sin to keep from offending them, telling them the Truth about their sin and it's consequences, calling them to repentance is the most loving thing that we can do for someone we love and care for. If there isn’t any evidence that there’s any new life, we have responsibility before God to lovingly confront their spiritual condition, whatever their claim and profession may be.
In Galatians 5, Paul writes "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
Let's face it, we're not very effective at defending the Truth, especially against those who attack it from the inside of the church, a task that requires an exceptional level of discernment, a skill that appears to be in short supply in modern Christianity, thanks to false teachers who propagate misleading interpretations of core doctrines, so they can create confusion, highlighting the need for more robust, God-centered, Spirit driven preaching in the church today. We shouldn’t be surprised, Christ forewarned us all of this was going to happen in Matthew 7:15-16, "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?" And, in 1 John 4, John warns us, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
Let's pray
Heavenly Father,
Father, we are so grateful for the privilege of being a part of the true Church, the remarkable privilege of being able to freely read and study Your Word. Lord, we pray that You would equip us to be staunch defenders of the faith, and not defectors, that we would be committed to nurturing and mentoring a new generation of disciples, who will also defend Your Truth without fear, so that the future of Your Word would have an even greater impact in the world than it does in this present age. Father, thank You for our Savior. May we be unwavering in our commitment to love Him, to honor and serve Him, in a world that presents us with a myriad distractions. Lord, our mission couldn't be any clearer, "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." May it all be for Your glory and for Christ's sake.
It is in His precious Name we humbly ask and pray these things,
Amen
Today's Message: What Did You Go Out Into The Wilderness To See?
There are many who preach and teach to the Bible, but the most effective preacher/teachers don’t mind putting their life on the line for what they believe. Jesus Christ is the greatest preacher, the greatest teacher who ever lived, if anybody could push peoples buttons simply by telling the Truth, it was Jesus, and the religious establishment, the people of Israel hated Him for it, so they murdered Him. It's one thing for the Truth to be hated outside the church, where secular views often clash with God's Word. It's something entirely different for God's Word to be resented, despised, even hated among those who profess to know and love God.
Yet, even among those who identify as followers of God, there is discord and discontentment towards certain passages often leading to friction and divisive debates within the religious community as pastors struggle to reconcile current societal values with traditional Scriptural interpretations. Why is the Word of God so strongly opposed among those who profess to believe despite their professed faith, flaunting behaviors and attitudes that contradict the very the biblical principles they claim to uphold? Because they’re self-deceived, blinded by the god of this world, therefore they are enemies of Scripture, the enemies of God, whose thought process naturally aligns more closely with Satan's, who "does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him," rendering it impossible for them to understand and accept Truth when it is presented to them.
It is in this context that Jesus addressed the Jews in John 8:43-45, making a powerful assertion pointing to the reality that their actions and desires do not align with God's. "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me." Believe me, unless the Holy Spirit intercedes, you cannot teach the Word of God to unbelievers, they cannot comprehend it, they are spiritually dead in their trespasses and sin. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:1-2, "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience."
In Matthew 12:34, Jesus said "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." The depravity that exits in the heart, one's own sinfulness, is spoken through the words that proceed from the mouth. A new creation in Christ has a new tongue and given the power to control it. Salvation then, has a profound effect on your speech because it changes your heart from which your mouth speaks. However, you must continually submit to the power of the Spirit of God in order to live out the fullness of that new creation.
If you're going to profess to be a Christian, make sure that your speech reflects your new nature in Christ. Ungodly speech is not just a tongue issue, it’s an issue of the depravity of your heart from which pride that manifests itself. There are those who claim to be a Christian, but their life pattern gives every reason to question the legitimacy of any claim to salvation, because their tongue betrays them. If your heart is controlled more by pride than the Holy Spirit, it’s questionable whether or not you've ever been truly converted. Scripture teaches that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. If you are a Christian, humility is characteristic of your life. If the pattern of your speech is that of slander with malicious intent, speaking evil about a person, despising those with whom you disagree, you better take serious action because every sin is a sin of pride. Sin says, I know what God said, but God is unworthy of my obedience, I'm going to do what I want anyway. That's why sin is so serious, you have to see sin for what it is. If you are living your life that way, then your salvation is questionable.
In 1 Corinthians 2:14-15, Paul emphasizes the distinction between the natural man, who is governed by his own human instincts and intellect and the spiritual man, who is guided by the Spirit of God, possesses the ability to evaluate and understand all things from a spiritual perspective, when he writes, "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one." This distinction highlights the transformative power of spiritual enlightenment, that transcends beyond the limitations of human reasoning, wisdom and understanding.
Open your Bibles with me, if you would and turn them to the Gospel of Luke chapter 7, Luke 7:24-31. I would like to encourage you to follow along with me as I read the text to set it in our minds. Let's open up our hearts and listen for what the Spirit of God has to say to each of us today. Luke 7:24-31.
"When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces! But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God’s justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John."
Let's look at verse 24, "When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?" What were you looking for when you traveled out in into the wilderness of the barren desert to hear John preach? A reed shaken by the wind? No, you went out into the wilderness because you believed that there was a prophet there who was fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy. This is metaphoric, reeds grow along the Jordan River, not in the dessert, in fact, they still do in some places. A reed blowing in the wind symbolizes instability, a lack of direction, it is referring to somebody who is vacillating, with a tendency to conform to whatever the prevailing opinion is at the moment.
Jesus is making His argument by comparing John to the religious leaders who are often swayed by popular opinion, lacking any real conviction, courage, or boldness. John remained steadfast, he did not bend or sway his preaching to go along with the current trends, he held firmly to his beliefs, even challenging the religious authorities. He's pointing out they were drawn to John's unwavering faith, his bold conviction, calling people to repentance and pointing towards the coming Messiah. John was a beacon of truth in a time when it was desperately needed, he knew what was right and nobody could intimidate him!
I believe Jesus is challenging us to consider why we are drawn to certain preachers of authenticity, with strong convictions rather than those who have a tendency to conform their preaching to the current cultural trends, influenced by the relentless pressures of a sinful society. I submit to you it's because we are too seeking something authentic and genuine, Truth that resonates with our souls, in a world that all too often offers us shallow words of empty promises. We're living in a time where it is becoming increasingly important to find voices of integrity, people who exhibit honesty, substance and consistency, while rejecting superficiality and false pretense in both our relationships and teachers. I believe the types of relationships we seek with others is a direct reflection of our authenticity and genuineness, an indication of our reliability and trustworthiness, longing for a deeper connection rather than those who tells people what they want to hear. God calls us to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labor for the Lord is not in vain. It is in the challenges we face that we are given the opportunity to choose authenticity over conformity, to stand firm in our convictions, boldly proclaiming God's Truth, even when it's unpopular or succumbing to the pressure to bend the Truth, alter the message, seeking the approval of others. I strongly urge you to embrace the strength that can only come from knowing who we are in Christ.
Verse 25, "But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces!" The Greek word for soft is "malakos," often used to describe individuals who are effeminate, morally weak, engaging in indulgent lifestyle or behavior lacking in expected traditional masculine virtues. John was certainly not soft, effeminate, morally weak, or seeking an indulgent lifestyle. In fact, he wore clothes made out of camel's hair with a belt and a pair of sandals. He took the Nazarite vow, lived a life of abstinence, in the wilderness and ate locusts and wild honey.
What we see in the world around us is often a façade that can deceive the eyes, a mere illusion of an outward godly appearance that conceals all the uncleanness of life of hypocrisy that is not authentically aligned with God’s divine purpose. In Matthew 23:27-28, Jesus said it this way, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."
Jesus is reminding us that the kingdom of God is not found in palaces nor is treasure found in the wealth or possessions we accumulate. It is found in the hearts of those who hunger for Truth, and thirst for righteousness, in the unconditional love we share, the selfless acts of kindness we extend to those in need when we come alongside them in their struggles, and the humble service we offer to one another. Let us not be a people known for our superficial relationships, abundant in wealth and influence but for the profound love and compassion we share by reaching out to those in need, and the hope we offer to the world, where genuine relationships are often overshadowed by the pursuit of success, made manifest through the grace, mercy and forgiveness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 26, "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet." John was anything but politically correct, he was certainly no coward, there was no vacillating in his preaching to appease the masses, he was fiery preacher, confrontive, full of intense warnings of hellfire and damnation, he ruffled more than a few feathers of the Jewish religious leaders by openly criticizing them, calling a "brood of vipers," and telling them if you're going to genuinely repent then bring forth fruit that is fit for repentance. Repentance is more than just a repeated apology; it is a transformative process that involves sincere commitment change and a willingness to turn away from sinful behavior. Sadly, there are people who come to church, they hear the Truth and believe, they've gone through baptism, still they've never fully committed their lives to Christ and obey the Truth. That's how wretched the heart of man is. Of course, only the Holy Spirit has the power to transform us from the inside out.
John's boldness was further exemplified in his encounter with Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. He went head to head with Herod, unhesitatingly condemning him for his unlawful marriage to Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip regardless of the personal risks involved. It was his fearless confrontation of Herod's sinful relationship and uncompromising message damnation that eventually got him thrown into prison and ultimately beheaded and delivered on a plate. Although he was a man of unwavering conviction, who called people to repentance, turning away from their sin to be ready for the Messiah to come or they're going to perish in the fire of God's judgment, all characteristic of a prophet, he was more than a prophet. How could he be more than a prophet?
Look at verse 27, "This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way before You.’" Jesus reminds them of Malachi 3:1, which says, "Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the Lord of hosts." There were many other prophets, who were the announcers of critical news, but John was the only prophet prophesied to come, the fulfillment of Isaiah 40. They were looking for Elijah, because in Malachi 4:5, God said, "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord." But, it wasn't actually Elijah, it was John who came with the same spirit and power of Elijah. That's why when the priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, in John 1:19-23, "Who are you? came to John and asked "Are you Elijah?," he confessed "I am not. I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said."
John's greatness was connected to his privilege of announcing the arrival of Messiah, in fact, he even saw His arrival, that makes him unique. Just as John was called to preach a message to prepared the hearts of the people for the coming of Christ, as God's messengers today, we too are called to proclaim a message of repentance, telling them the Truth about sin and it's consequences, to prepare the hearts of people for His glorious imminent return. I believe it is time to clear those paths, make the way straight, the Bible is very, very clear about how everything’s going to end, and it has a perfect track record for accuracy. For example, Daniel said at the time of the end there's going to be an increase in knowledge, just look at all the unbelievable scientific advancements with artificial intelligence, robots and self driving vehicles not to mention the absolutely incredible strides modern medicine has made in the last several decades. Another interesting sign of the times, is the weather. Jesus predicted there would be an increase in earthquakes; and as far as we know, while the overall number of earthquakes remain about the same, there are more devastating earthquakes now with a magnitude 6 or higher, than there have ever been. The Bible clearly predicts exactly what's going to happen, but it never predicts exactly when it's going to happen, that's why Jesus tells us we must be ready at all times, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect. Besides, if Jesus doesn’t return to earth than God's a liar and we know God cannot lie. The character of God is at stake, so I can tell you with absolute certainty, God will do exactly what He said He would do. Scripture demands it.
Verse 28, "I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." That's quite a statement, Jesus is saying in all of human history there has never been anyone greater than John the Baptist. Yet, in spite of John's greatness, "he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." Jesus is illustrating an even a greater spiritual truth, what it takes to be truly great in the kingdom of God, humility. In Matthew 18:4, Jesus said "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." True greatness is not about what we achieve but about how we love and serve others. And, in Matthew 20:25-28, Jesus reminds us "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Though John was quite familiar with the Old Testament, he was humble enough to acknowledge he didn't have all the answers, that he didn't know everything there is to know. More importantly, he will willing to seek clarity and understanding from the One Who did. If you can't acknowledge your own weakness, you cannot grow, because pride inhibits growth in every aspect of life, and spiritual growth is no exception. A valuable lesson our culture would do well to learn, in a day and age where everyone thinks he is an expert about everything. By the way, while some people may be more knowledgeable than others, I don't believe there are no real experts, only those who imagine themselves to be. Only God is omniscient, therefore, I can say with certainty He knows everything there is to know, from the beginning to the end, because He alone has full knowledge.
Verse 29, "When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God’s justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John." Tax collectors were hated, often viewed with such disdain, they had a category of their own, they not only represented Rome, but an entire system that exploited the vulnerable people of Israel. But John the Baptist had a tremendous impact on people, they were repenting of their sins, and turning toward to God. The Kingdom was moving ahead under the influence of John, in fact, some were so convinced they were violently and aggressively attempting to take the kingdom by force, hoping to collect their eternal inheritance. Nothing in Christ's teaching ever implied that it was easy to enter into His Kingdom.
Verse 30, "But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John." The Pharisees and the lawyers were among the upper class people in Jewish society, they too were in a category of their own, they were highly regarded teachers and knowledgeable in Jewish religious practices. The lawyers dedicated their lives to the interpretation of the law, that's what makes lawyers so successful, not unlike lawyers. These people whose profession was knowledge of the law, and all the tradition that was added, were so self-righteous, they rejected God’s purpose for them.
What was God's purpose for them? That they would repent and participate in the baptism conducted by John the Baptist, in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Their refusal to embrace God's divine plan for them significant, demonstrating a resistance to change and a reluctance to acknowledge they were sinners and their need for a Savior. If a person refuses to acknowledge Jesus as their Savior, their only hope to be made right before God, it's because of the evil of the human heart. These self-professed religious experts imagined themselves to be so spiritually superior to everybody else, they refused to part of a group that included tax collectors and prostitutes, further justifying their decision to reject Jesus, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!
Tragically, many of the same people who were baptized by John and shouted "Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!" when He entered Jerusalem in His Triumphal Entry, were eventually caught up by the damning influence of these self-righteous, Christ-rejecting religious leaders were later all found screaming, "Crucify Him, crucify Him, crucify Him." A superficial relationship with Christ is so sad, isn't it, just like Jesus said in the parable of the soils in Matthew 13, the affiliation with the wrong teachers and deceitfulness of Satan can come along and destroy the seed that has been planted and springs up with joy, and before you know it, it's gone. That's why Scripture consistently warns against false teachers, and false doctrine, the influence is so powerful to the undiscerning. I cannot stress to all of you enough how important it is to know your Bible. It's a privilege that many take for granted. It isn't any wonder why the church today has become powerless, they're operating independently, separate from Christ, the pews are filled with people who deceive themselves with a false sense of security, while they indulge themselves in the same sinful lifestyles they did before coming to Christ, making it impossible for them to be genuinely saved. Scripture is clear, all of the church going, note taking, Bible quoting, good deed doing and money tithing in the world won't get you into heaven. Only those who genuinely repent and turn away from their sin, and surrender their life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ will enter God's kingdom. Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter."
The world, under the influence of Satan, is set against Christ, so the more you live for Christ, the more likely you are to get a reaction. If you want to be popular the world, just compromise with the world, be tolerant of everything the Bible condemns, but be aware, there's going to a price to pay. Matthew 10:33-34, But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." The world hasn't changed, it's still just as corrupt as it's ever been, the problem is the professed people of God have dramatically lowered His standard of righteousness, you can literally do anything and be considered a Christian. The church has bought into the Satan’s damning lies. If you want to get into heaven than you're going to live a righteous life, the Beatitude life that God asks you to live as a true Christian. And, you cannot do that apart from a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. When people attempt to come to Christ on their own terms, they're asking for something that is impossible, and the result will be devastating. Matthew 7:23, "And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
That brings us to verse 31, "To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like?" Want to know what they are like, come back next week and we'll find out, as I share with you what Jesus says. All of the events we are witnessing unfold before us today are foretold in the Scriptures, and are a clear indication of the truthfulness of God's Word, it is my prayer that many receiving this message will heed this warning, that they will be filled with humility, gratitude and burning desire to become citizens of God's eternal Kingdom. God graciously forgives all who earnestly repent, confess Christ as the Lord of their life and turn away from sin.
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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