Hi, I'm Darrell Bailey. Service
for Christ as we get into our Sunday morning message, Nobody
Wants This, out of the Song of Solomon, chapter 2, verses 1
through 17. I'm going to be highlighting
just chapter 15 here this morning as we look at the wonderful Word
of God. Thank you for tuning us in as
we talk about Nobody Wants This. You know, it's a setting painted
in the Song of Solomon, chapter two, verse 15. And it's a beautiful
warning. The little foxes, they're not
storms or droughts or grand catastrophes. They're the small, subtle, almost
invisible threats that spoil the vine before we even realize
that the damage is done. In our own lives, these little
foxes come in many forms, a hidden resentment, a whispered temptation,
a seemingly harmless compromise. But individually, they're easy
to ignore. But together, they pose a danger
far greater than their size would even suggest. No one wants this. No one sets out to ruin the vines
of their life, their marriage, or their faith. And yet, by overlooking
these tiny trespassers, we allow them to fester until our lives
are a shadow of what they could be. Today, as we confront the
little foxes of our own hearts, May we discover the courage to
guard the vineyard God has given each and every one of us, nurturing
the tender fruit that he's planted, protecting it from the silent
thieves that threaten to spoil the harvest. And so, the vine
symbolize something valuable in all of our lives, such as
our relationship, our faith, our personal growth, and the
tender grapes are a good result that we all want to see. When
we read this in the coming scriptures, it is those small issues that
we always ignore or we leave them unresolved that can cause
so much damage in all of our lives that run for so long. Think about your life. If it's
often not the huge obvious problems that destroy things, It's the
small daily habits or choices that we seem to overlook every
day. It's that little bit of bitterness,
that procrastination of neglecting that time spent with God. These little foxes can quietly
sneak into our lives and spoil the good things God is doing
for each and every one of us. And so an example, in a marriage
or in a friendship, small misunderstandings or unspoken frustrations, if
they're left unchecked, can grow into deeper, bigger issues that
harm our relationship. And so those small habits of
skipping our prayer time, skipping our Bible reading, that may not
seem like just a big deal at first, but over time, it can
weaken our connection with God. And so, as we get into the message
this morning, when we look at all of the Song of Solomon, verses
1 through 17, we look and as all these 17 verses, we're only
going to be reading verse 15. And so, But right here at the last, until
the daybreak, the shadows flee away, turn my beloved and be
there like a row or a young heart upon the mountains of Bithyr.
Bithyr is a scraggy place in Palestine. It's on the ledge
of the mountains. And so when we look at what Solomon
is saying here, As an outline, he's talking about the beloved
beauty and nature in verses 1 and 2. The Shulamite woman identifies
herself as a rose of Sharon and a lily of the valleys, and the
beloved shepherd compares her beauty to a lily among thorns. Remember, we're only going to
be reading verse 5, but I'm going to highlight the rest of it.
The expressions of love and longing in verses 3 through 6, the Shulamite
describes her desire for the shepherd and how his love brings
her comfort. the imagery of a fruitful garden
and the intimacy of their relationship. Then we look at the plea that's until ready, the call
to arise and come away because the beauty of spring is celebrated,
symbolizing new life and new love in verses 7-13. Then in
verses 14-15, the beloved's arrival, the Shulamite, expresses longing for her beloved,
likening him to a dove in the clefts of the rock. The reference
to the little foxes that spoil the vines emphasizes the importance
of protecting their love. Amen. And lastly, the assurance
of that love in verses 16 and 17, the affirmation of mutual
belonging, The Shulamite claims her beloved is hers and she is
his. And the imagery of the shepherd
feeding his flock during the cool evening signifying a care
and protection. And so that brings us up to our
scripture of verse 15 that I'm going to be focusing on. Take
us to the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines for our
vines have tender grapes. And so as we look at this, We
open up with a time of prayer and ask you as we get into the
Song of Solomon. about nobody wants this. Father,
we come before you with hearts recognizing that you're the Lord
of all creation and from the tiniest details to the grandest
design just as you called your people in the Old Testament to
live set-apart holy lives free from the little foxes that spoil
the vine we acknowledge that we too are called to God guard
our hearts in this present age. Lord, we know that sin, even
in its smallest forms, can creep into our lives and slowly lead
us away from your perfect will. And so, we ask for your spirit
to search us, examine us, and reveal to us the areas where
we have allowed compromise to take root. Strengthen us to resist
the temptation, to be vigilant, Lord, in our walk with you and
to remain faithful even in the smallest matters. And Lord, let
it be a mirror, your word that reflects your holiness and a
lamp that guides our steps as we let the lessons from the ancient
scriptures come alive to us in this wonderful scripture that
points us to Christ. and that Lord that he is our
hope and our salvation and the one that cleanses us from every
sin. Lord, thank you so much for the
Song of Solomon and what it means to all of our hearts in Jesus'
marvelous mighty name. Amen. All right. As we start, as we look at our message, nobody
wants this. But you know what? God does.
You can look at this. This particular title came to
me when I was watching a movie on Netflix called Nobody Wants
This in 2024. It was an illustration to set
the tone and the connection because Kristen Bell plays an outspoken
agnostic woman who has little interest in religion or faith
and her life and beliefs take a sudden turn when she unexpectedly
develops a relationship with an unconventional rabbi played
by Adam Brody. The show centers around their
unlikely connection and the challenges they face as they navigate two
very different worldviews. Can you imagine this? Nobody
wants this. Neither of them was looking for
this relationship and nobody wanted it. However, the relationship
begins to transform their lives in surprising and profound ways,
teaching them both lessons about love, acceptance, and even faith. Now, the story from Nobody Wants
This illustrates how people often reject or avoid things that they
don't understand or want to deal with. Just as the agnostic woman
that was a podcaster for sexual things, love, in the show initially
wants nothing to do with a rabbi or even faith. Many of us tend
to avoid spiritual truths and responsibilities or even God's
calling because they feel inconvenient or they don't fit with our plans.
But in the Song of Solomon, chapter 2, verse 15, we see a similar
principle with the little foxes that spoil the vine. These foxes
represent the small sins, the compromises, the spiritual distractions
that we'd rather ignore or avoid dealing with, and nobody wants
to confront them. And so, much like the woman in
the series doesn't want a relationship with a rabbi, we often don't
want to deal with the things that can hinder our spiritual
growth. But God wants to deal with them. And he sees the importance
of addressing these issues because he knows that they affect our
relationship with him and our ability to live a fruitful life.
And so. neither the agnostic woman nor
the rabbi as they were not expecting anything to happen when they
started seeing each other. It turns out to be exactly what
they need for the personal growth and change because in a similar
way, nobody naturally wants to deal with the foxes of life,
the small sins, the bad habits, or the spiritual compromises
that creep into all of our lives. and they're the things that we
push aside and deny because they're uncomfortable to face. And so
just like the relationship in this series that eventually brings
transformation to each one, God wants to address those uncomfortable
areas in our lives and to address them so that they can prevent
us from growing in Him. And so in today's society, We
all are like this agnostic woman, running from or avoiding the
very things that God wants to use to bring us closer to him.
God is asking us to confront these little foxes, whether it's
the lingering bitterness or unresolved conflict or some hidden sin that's
in our lives. Even though nobody wants to deal
with these things, God does. And he knows that when we address
them, it leads to healing, growth and a deeper relationship with
him. And so as we look at this message and we reflect upon the
title and what happens, it reminds me about a man by the name of
Jerry. who loved telling jokes. And
you know what, Jerry always managed to find humor in even the unusual
situations. But one day when he was asked
how he kept such a positive attitude, Jerry told the story of how that
he had once been mugged. And after the mugger demanded
his wallet and stabbed him in the side, Jerry found himself
on the operating table, surrounded by nurses and doctors. And when
asked if he was allergic to anything, Jerry smiled and replied, yes,
bullets. And so Jerry survived the ordeal
and made everyone in the operating room laugh. But when he later
recounted the story, he said, life is 10% what happens to me. and 90% how I react to it. You see, life often throws us
things that we don't want, much like in the movie, Nobody Wants
This. Sometimes we're handed situations
where we'd rather run the other way. But God wants us to stay. God wants us to grow and even
laugh through these times. And so even though this might
seem like an unusual message, it's a message that I'm trying
to reach the younger generation through these things of being
able to get the word of God out even through movies that people
can watch. Now, nobody wants this. And so
take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines for
our vines have tender grapes. When we look at this, nobody
wants this. One of the first things that
we see is that we can embracing what we don't want, but we need. You see, in verse 15, He said,
take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines,
for our vines have tender grapes. You know, by looking at the challenge
that we rather avoid but need for growth, verse 15 uses the
image of the little foxes. And they're often issues, they're
habits that we prefer not to address. And so the connection
is that embracing what we don't want, but truly need, is foundational
to our growth. God calls us to face these little
foxes because ignoring them prevents us from maturing. And just as
vines need tending to, to produce a fruitful harvest, our faith
requires ongoing, intentional care to flourish. You can just
let yourself go if you want to, but we need to embrace embracing
what we don't want but need. And so by embracing these necessary
but uncomfortable tasks, we prevent small issues from snowballing
into major setbacks and cultivate a life that reflects God's character. And so There was a famous story
about a dam in the Netherlands that kept the sea from flooding
the land. One day, a small hole appeared
in that dam, and no one noticed it. It was so tiny, not even
worth fixing immediately. Over time, though, that water
kept seeping through, and before long, the hole became a crack. Soon after, the dam broke, unleashing
a catastrophic flood, and it destroyed the homes, the fields,
and the towns. What started as a small, seemingly
insignificant problem led to disaster. You know, in life,
small compromises can feel harmless. An offhand lie, a slip of integrity,
or a neglect of personal prayer time These are the little foxes
that spoil the vines in our spiritual lives. And though these lapses
may seem minor, insignificant, they have the potential to cause
far-reaching damage. And so, where distractions and
pressures are overwhelming, we must be vigilant in guarding
our hearts from the seemingly small sins that can grow into
life-altering problems. And so, are there small compromises
that you've been making that could seem to lead to larger
issues. How can you stop these little
foxes from spoiling the tender grapes of your spiritual growth?
And so, when we look at embracing what we don't want but need,
we look and we see, first of all, that there are small problems
that lead to big consequences. And so, we'd rather avoid, but
the small things left unchecked can ruin the entire vine. James
chapter 4 verse 17 says, therefore to him that knoweth to do good
and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Max LaColla once said, God
never said that the journey would be easy, but he did say that
the arrival would be worthwhile, unquote. And so, James 4 17, directly ties into
the idea of highlighting that when we know the right thing
to do but choose to ignore it, even in small matters, we fall
into sin. And this verse reinforces the
ignoring of small things is still disobedient to God and ultimately
leads to bigger consequences, just like ignoring the little
foxes that can lead to overrunning the ruined vineyards. And so,
we need to pay attention to those little things in our lives, reminding
us that small issues, whether compromises, sin, or unchecked
habits, are never truly insignificant. They're seeds that can take root
and eventually bear the unwanted fruit of sin and conflict and
spiritual decay. And so, small problems lead to
big consequences. But also, avoidance breeds trouble. You know what? Just as no one
wants to deal with the foxes, no one wants to face their faults
either. And so yet God calls us to address
even the smallest issues. The wisdom of Proverbs 6, 6 says,
go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise.
And so when we look and realize that Proverbs 6, 6 speaks to
the wisdom of diligence, earning us to consider the ant as an
example of being steady and proactive in effort. It challenges us toward
avoidance and complacency to take responsibility and exercise
foresight. Just as the ant prepares and
tackles its task without delay, we too are called to face our
faults and take active steps to manage our lives responsibly,
amen. So we see small problems lead
to big consequences. Avoidance breeds trouble, but
also God wants our growth through challenge. And so God doesn't
want us to send trials because He enjoys our discomfort. He
allows them so that we can grow in our faith and reliance on
Him. Solomon was really learning some
lessons from the Shulamite and from his love affair. Paul said
in Romans chapter 5 verses 3 and 4, and not only so, but we glory
in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience,
and patience experience and experience a hope. You know what? Paul was
revealing that tribulations are a path to patience, character,
and ultimately hope, but just as small problems prompt us to
address flaws that we might otherwise ignore. Trials drive us to rely
on God. and develop endurance and strengthen
our hope. Avoidance and denial may feel
comfortable, but it's only through facing challenges that we experience
real growth. And this is God's desire, not
our comfort, but our character. And so, In 1986, the Space Shuttle
Challenger exploded shortly after takeoff. I was in Jacksonville,
Florida at Jerry Vine's passenger's conference at the time. It killed
all seven astronauts aboard. The investigations revealed that
the disaster was caused by the failure of an O-ring, a small
rubber part that sealed joints in the rocket boosters. Due to
colder temperatures, the O-ring didn't expand properly. allowing
hot gas to leak out and trigger the explosion. Engineers had
known about the potential issues with the O-rings, but underestimated
the severity of the problem. You see, the little foxes of
the Song of Solomon, chapter 2, verse 15, represents those
small neglected areas of all of our lives that if they're
left unchecked, they can lead to spiritual disasters. In our
fast-paced world today, we often dismiss minor issues thinking
that we'll address them later. Hey, let's put them on the back
burner. Whether it's a strained relationship, a spiritual discipline
that we've let slip, or a temptation that we allow to linger, these
small issues can have disastrous consequences if they're ignored. God calls us to pay attention
to every aspect of our spiritual lives, even the seemingly insignificant
details, because he cares deeply about our whole being. And so
when we look and realize that nobody wants this, we see not
only that we see from it embracing what we don't want but need,
but secondly, when we resist what God sends. I'm glad that
he tells us in verse 6 of the Song of Solomon chapter 1, look
not upon me because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon
me. My mother's children were angry
with me. They made me the keeper of the
vineyards, but my own vineyard have I not kept. And so Solomon
laments that others demand Demands kept her so busy tending to the
external vineyards that she neglected her own vineyards. And it illustrates
how resistance to God's priorities and choosing instead to focus
on what we or others find urgent, it leads to spiritual neglect
and missed growth. When we avoid dealing with issues
God puts before us, we risk over-investing in external matters, leaving
our own vineyard and our inner life and our faith and our character
unattended. And so just as the Song of Solomon
was stretched too thin to care for her own vineyard, resisting
God's direction can leave us spiritually weary, distracted,
and unfruitful. And so, when we do this, as when
we resist what God sends, then We find out, first of all, that
focusing on others instead of ourselves, we often care for
others but neglect our spiritual needs. Like the speaker in this
verse, we look after other vineyards but forget our own. Matthew 7,
verse 3 says, And why beholdest thou the smoke that is in thy
brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thy own
eye? You know what? Sometimes, a common human tendency
to prioritize the needs of others while neglecting our own spiritual
health, we resonate deeply with Matthew 7, verse 3, that challenges
us to examine our own faults before critiquing those of others. And so, when we care for others,
it can often stem from a genuine desire to help and support them.
However, this noble intention can lead to an imbalance where
we become so preoccupied with addressing the needs of others
that we overlook our own spiritual condition. Just as the speaker
in the Song of Solomon, chapter 1, verse 6, laments, My own vineyard
have I not kept. we too can become keepers of
others vineyards and while our own spiritual lives remain unattended. And so focusing on others instead
of ourselves, but we see also missing the mark of God's intent.
Because when we do this, we begin to realize that each and every
one of us, as we go through life today, we miss that mark of God's
intent for each and every one of us. And so when this happens,
all of a sudden, God gives us tasks that we don't always want
because They align us with his greater plan, but we often resist
or ignore his will. Paul said, and be not conformed
to this world, but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind.
You know what? A ship was docked for maintenance,
and while the exterior seemed perfect, the engineers discovered
that the ship's steel hull was corroding from the inside. The
salt water, over years of exposure, had seeped in through unseen
cracks, weakening the ship's structural integrity. And from
the outside, everything appeared fine. But internally, the ship
was on the verge of collapse. And so, each and every one of
us, when we look and we realize that The little foxes are like
that hidden corrosion. They may go unnoticed for a time,
but they slowly eat away at our integrity, our faith, and our
spiritual health. In today's world, many people
present a facade of success, happiness, and spiritual strength
while they're hiding their internal struggles. God doesn't just want
the appearance of faithfulness. He wants to heal and protect
us from the inside out. And we must allow God to inspect
our lives. regularly addressing areas of
vulnerability and weakness before they cause lasting damage. And so I'm glad that the concept
of missing the mark of God's intent speaks to our tendency
to resist or overlook the task and the challenges that God places
before us, even when those assignments are integral to his greater plan. And so Paul was talking about
in Romans chapter 12, verse 2, that be and be not conformed
to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
It emphasizes the need for a mindset that is aligned with God's will
rather than the influences of the world that is around us,
saved man. And so every one of us are missing
the mark of God's intent. That's a reminder that our reluctance
to engage with God's task can hinder our growth and alignment
with his plan. Amen. C.S. Lewis wrote one time,
God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but
shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse
a deaf world, unquote. And so as we look at focusing
on others instead of ourselves, missing the mark of God's intent.
We also see that God calls us to responsibility. We are responsible
not only for others, but also for nurturing our relationship
with God. First Peter 5.2 says, feed the
flock of God, which is among you, taking the oversight thereof,
not by constraint, but willingly. Now, you know what? The scripture,
feed the flock of God, which is among you, taking the oversight
thereof, not by constraint but willingly, it incapacitates us. the essence of our responsibility
toward the community of faith and reflects God's expectation
for us to actively engage in our own spiritual journey. When
we explore the connection, we see that our relationship with
God serves as the foundation for our ability to effectively
care for others. We too are entrusted with the
spiritual and the emotional well-being of those around us. And so the
nurturing is rooted in our own growth, and understanding of
God's love and grace and truth, amen. And so God calls us to
responsibility, emphasizing that our duties toward others stem
from our relationship with God. As we actively nurture our own
faith, we become better equipped to feed and to care for those
around us, fulfilling our roles as stewards of God's flock with
willing hearts and also with joyful spirits. You know what? A wonderful relationship that
ultimately enriches both our personal faith and journey and
the community that we serve. And so Corrie Ten Boom said one
time, the blood of Jesus never cleansed an excuse, unquote. And so all of us, There are sins
that we've all been excusing, believing they're too small to
affect our relationship with God. But how can you bring these
before God in repentance and ask for his help in overcoming
them? When we look at Nobody Wants
This, even though that this was a Netflix and it was a movie
about love and between an unusual agnostic woman that was a podcaster
about sexuality and a rabbi that was wanting to make head rabbi
in the synagogue, that you would never believe anything like this.
You look at it and you see that it has a story that speaks and
teaches to all of us because embracing what we don't want
but need, when we resist what God sends and God's plan in unwonted
places because in Song of Solomon chapter 8 verse 6 he says set
me as a seal upon thy heart as a seal upon thy arm for love
is strong as death jealousy is cruel as the grave and the coals
thereof are coals of fire which hath a most vehement flame. You know what Here is the request
to be set as a seal upon thy heart. And it illustrates a very
deep binding commitment that is unbreakable even in life's
most difficult places of the Song of Solomon, chapter 8, verse
6. It highlights the intense, enduring nature of our love,
a love that remains steadfast through trials as enduring as
death itself. This love that is fierce and
that's consuming like coals of fire symbolizes God's commitment
to us, which often reveals itself most powerfully in the spaces
that we wouldn't choose for ourselves. God's plan in unwanted places
reminds us that God's transformative work often unfolds in the spaces
of discomfort. or challenges those unwanted
places in our lives just as love and commitment can only deepen
through trials. Listen to me. Our faith matures
as we lean on God in the places that we'd rather avoid. The intense
refining flame of God's love is not cruel, but it is instead
purifying. strengthen us in ways that we
may not fully understand until we journey through that experience. And so when we look at this,
we see God's plan in unwonted places. That first of all, that
it tells us God's love drives his will. You see, love's Lord
is relentless. And it's sometimes that love
that brings us to places that we wouldn't choose for ourselves.
In John chapter 15, verse 13, greater love hath no man than
this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. And you
know what? The ultimate expression of love
underscores that God's will is driven not by a desire to test
us, nor to punish us, but by a sacrificial love that pursues
our ultimate good. His love, even when it takes
us to places that we wouldn't even choose, is designed to shape,
to protect, and to ultimately bring us closer to him. I'm glad
that each and every one of us is that every part of God's will,
especially the parts that we might resist, is motivated by
a love that desires our best. And by trusting in the depth
of his love, we can approach both the little foxes and the
bigger trials as opportunities to understand and embrace his
love more fully through these experiences. We learn to surrender
and align with his will, growing in faith and understanding of
a love so strong it laid down its life for every one of us.
And so God's love drives his will. And then we see the unwanted
situations, the unseen grace. Because the things that we least
desire often reveal the greatest grace from God sometimes. His
flame, it purifies us, it strengthens us. Isaiah chapter 43 verse 2
says, When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee,
and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee. You know what? when those unwanted situations,
those unseen graces that speaks to how God's grace is often the
most powerful in the situations that we least desire. These challenging
moments reveal aspects of God's grace that we wouldn't otherwise
experience. God promises, when thou passest
through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow thee. You see, it assures us, Isaiah
does, that even in the depths of our trials, God's presence
and strength are there to sustain us and use these moments to refine
and to grow us. And so I'm glad that each and
every one of us As his love is vividly shown in Christ, it meets
us in these moments, guiding us through and strengthen us
with the grace that we might have missed otherwise. Unwonted
situations are not just trials, they're avenues for encountering
God's unseen grace that draws us closer to him and refines
our faith. You know what? Charles Spurgeon
said one time, holiness is not the way to Christ, Christ is
the way to holiness. And so it serves as a reminder
that no matter how hard that we try to fix these little foxes
in our own strength, true holiness comes only from God. It is through
Christ that we find the power to overcome even the smallest
temptations and sin that seem to plague our lives. And so God's
love drives his will. Unwielded situations, unseen
grace. And so the end is always better
with God because God's divine plan, though not always what
we want, leads to eternal good and glory. In Romans 8 28, very,
very familiar scripture. And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God to them who are called
according to his purpose. And so I'm glad that every one
of us The promise that every aspect of our lives, including
trials and tribulations, is woven together by God into a tapestry
of good for those who are committed to him. And so when we look and
realize that what we perceive as setbacks or unwanted circumstances
can be the very means by which God brings about his greater
good. And it mirrors the journey of
faith when we see throughout scripture where God uses even
the most challenging situations to fulfill his purposes and to
reveal his glory. And so I'm glad that the end
is always better with God. That even when we're faced with
a difficult, unwanted situations, God is at work. crafting our
story for his glory and our ultimate good. It reassures us that through
faith in his plan, we can endure challenges with hope, knowing
that what awaits us at the end is far greater than we can ever
imagine. A promise fulfilled, not just
in this life, but in eternal, eternally. And so there's an
old illustration about how if you place a frog in a pot of
boiling water, it will immediately jump out. However, if you place
it in lukewarm water and slowly heat the pot, the frog will stay
in the water until it's too late. The gradual increase in temperature
goes unnoticed until it's fatal. In our spiritual lives, small
sins and unchecked habits can slowly build up without us realizing
the damage that we're causing. These little foxes that sneak
in unnoticed, slowly eroding our relationship with God until
we find ourselves distant from him. In today's culture of constant
distractions, We can easily fall into the trap of allowing small
things to chip away at our devotion to Christ. But God wants to protect
us from those slow creeping dangers. And so God cares about the details
of our lives. And I'm glad that especially
the small unnoticed areas that can undermine our spiritual growth.
such as the Song of Solomon, chapter 2, verse 15, that is
a call to be vigilant and proactive in addressing the little foxes
that spoil the fruit of our relationship with him. And so, sometimes life
hands us situations that no one would ever choose, like the movie
Nobody Wants This. We find ourselves facing foxes
in our vineyards, situations that we want to run from, but
God has a purpose even in what we don't want. And whether it's
challenging, challenges that we're avoiding, responsibilities
that we're neglecting, or trials that we're resisting, God is
working to grow us and reveal his love. Let us remember that
his ways are higher than our ways. and his love is stronger
than any trial that we face. Amen. And so I'm glad as we get
ready to go our separate ways. We may not have invited these
little foxes in, but each of us holds the responsibility to
guard our own vineyard. And we're reminded now of what's
at stake, that these tender grapes of life are meant for more than
just mere survival. They are here to flourish, to
offer us joy and beauty, But flourishing doesn't come by chance.
It comes by vigilance. It comes by care. It comes by
a steady commitment to root out what does not belong. Amen. And so I hope and pray. that
each and every one of you, when we begin to look at the things
of life today, amen, and what God is doing, that each of us
have that responsibility. Nobody wants this, amen. And
so God uses trials to refine our character and increase our
faith. And so I'm glad that by trusting in God's purpose and
recognizing that he works all things for our good, amen, we
must intentionally spend time in prayer, reading the Bible,
fellowshipping, with others, amen, and other believers. And so I'm glad that each and
every one of us, as we get ready to go our separate ways, God
can help you in those little areas and insignificant places
that you have not paid attention to, to make sure that you get
fully mature in all the areas of your life. Let's close out.
Father, Lord, we know You and Lord, we ask God for those of
us who do not know you. Lord, I pray that you'll come
into their heart in life. Lord, as you speak to our hearts,
Lord, I pray God that we trust that your plans are for our good.
Lord, help us to identify and uproot the little foxes in our
lives. Give us the wisdom to see the small compromises that
we've made and the strength to overcome them through your grace.
Let our hearts remain tender to your spirit so that we may
grow in the holiness and bear fruit for your kingdom in the
mighty name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank you
for tuning us in. May God bless you.