Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray? In the name of Christ our Savior, did you serve for loving favor as a seal today? Oh, I pray and rest the weary. Prayer will change the night to day. So when life seems dark and dreary, don't forget to pray. When you met with great temptation, did you think to pray? By His dying love and merit, did you claim the Holy Spirit as your guide to stay? So have prayer and rest the weary. Prayer will change the night to day. So when life seems dark and dreary, don't forget to pray. When your heart was filled with anger, Did you think to pray? Did you plead for grace and pardon? That you might forgive another who had crossed your way? Oh, how prayin' rests the weary, Changed in the moonlight today. So when life seems dark and dreary, Don't forget to pray. Where sore trials come upon you, did you think to pray? When your soul was found in sorrow, Bama, Philly, did you borrow? At the gates of day, Oh, how praying rests a weary. Prayer will change the night to day. So when life seems dark and dreary, don't forget to pray. Brother Bobby, would you lead us in prayer, please? Father, as we assemble your name to worship today. We thank you for each one that's come this way. Father, we trust that you visit with us in a great way. Lord, when we leave, we want to leave with joy in our hearts, saying it's been good that we've come to your house. Father, we know we have others that I would like to be with us today, but due to sickness and hindrance, Lord, they are not able. We lift those in prayer, trusting, Lord, that you would be with those and give great strength and comfort. Now, Father, we pray, bless every song, every prayer as we bring before you. And especially, Lord, we pray for this unworthy servant. We seek Christ to preach your word. Father, we do thank you for all the things you have done for us and doing for us. Lord, with great expectation that you and your faithfulness that you will continue to bless us from time to time. In Jesus' name, we do pray. for your sake. Amen. Amen. I know that these kids will have a song here and Beverly has a song and I don't know who wants to be first, but I've got a. He wants to say something. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. OK. I want to say welcome to each one of you. We have of good numbers of visitors, I tell you. Ain't no way I can recognize you by name. But I can say welcome to each one of you. And we are so thankful. Now, I know some of our people is over in the fellowship hall. And they are making preparations for after a while, after we out for service, and we will be going over for a meal. And we hope each of you will stay and be with us in that. And we are so happy to have each one of you. As you remember, and I do, very clearly, Last year, mentioning some of us from the church has been called home. And again, this happened again this year. But that's their gain and our loss. And I mean our loss. We miss them very much. So we want to remember them as we come as a moral service for those of our loved ones, friends that's been called on. Of course, when we begin to think about time, of course, the younger people, as I was, thought time was very slow. But I can assure you, and I'm sure we have some here, Time moves real fast. But that's all right. We've got something to look forward to as God's people. Some of you have driven quite a few miles to be here. And I will say we really appreciate each one that's come to be this way. divide our song service up with some specials this morning. And we are so thankful that we... Well, looky here. I forgot about putting the mic on. That's one thing that we are doing that since we've had some people to move and have shut-ins, we have been on the internet streaming the service and recording also on sermon audio. So if any of you wants to listen and see the service, all you got to do is to go on sermon audio and put in Union Grove Baptist Church and you'd be able to see or put my name in, Bobby Amos, and also you'd be able to see the service. And that's something that we don't know how many is watching, how many is enjoying or whatever the service is doing for them. But it's not just for the believers that's not able to be here, but we are trusting it will be a means for the gospel to go out, that souls could be saved. I don't know. We don't see very many people that comes now that don't know the Lord. The people that comes wants to come to worship and enjoy the blessings of the Lord. And we hope to reach others that's not coming to the Lord's house. All right. Well, I'm going to try to quit and get some more singing in. Beverly, are you ready to sing? And then, brother, after this service, after this song, we'd have another class number. And then Sister Sarah, we are blessed to have her here to play for us now and to sing. And we just rejoice. It's been so good to us. And the voice I hear Falling on my ear The sound of God Discloses And he walks With me and he talks With me and he tells me I am his own And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever. He speaks and the sound of his voice is so sweet. The birds hush their singing and the melody he gave to me. within my heart is ringing and he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other as ever. and the joy we share as we tarry there. None other has ever known. Thank y'all. I love to see y'all singing along with me. Thank you. I enjoyed that. I guess this last act. Let's turn to number 23. Number 23 in this blue book. It's quite a long song, it's five verses, but I'm bad to sing them all, so let's just sing all five verses, and then we're looking forward to these kids singing here. I am resolved no longer to linger charmed by the world's delight. Things that are higher, things that are nobler, these have the Lord my sight. I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free greatest, highest, I will come to Thee. I am resolved to go to the Savior, leaving my sin and trial. He is the true one, He is the just one, He has the Word from life. I will hasten to him, hasten so glad and free. Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to thee. I am resolved to follow the Savior, faithful and true. Keep what He sayeth, do what He willeth, He is the living way. I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free. Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee. I am resolved to enter the kingdom, leaving the paths of sin. Jesus may oppose me, foes may beset me, he will I enter in. I will hasten to him, hasten so glad Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to thee. I am resolved, and who will go with me? Come, Prince, without delay. Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit, heavenly way. I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free. Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee. We didn't have a large bass audience there that had some bass on it that should have been there. Is kids next? Want to get Sarah? I don't know if he was lying. I didn't mind enough to sing. OK, I'll see you in a second. Y'all not singing today? OK. OK. Some glad morning we shall see Jesus in the air. Coming after you and me, joy is ours to share. What rejoicing there will be when the saints shall rise. Headed for that jubilee, yonder in the sky. Oh, what singing! Oh, what shouting! On that happy morning when we all shall rise! Oh, what glory! Hallelujah! When we meet our blessed Savior in the skies. Seems that now I almost see all the sated dead, rising for that jubilee that is just ahead. In the twinkling of an eye, changed with them to be, All the living saints supply to that jubilee. Oh, what singing! Oh, what shouting! On that happy morning when we all shall rise. Oh, what glory! Hallelujah, when we meet our blessed Savior in the skies. When with all that heavenly host we begin to sing, singing in the Holy Ghost how the heavens will ring. Millions there will join the song, with them we shall be. Praising Christ through ages long, heaven's jubilee. Oh, what singing! What a day of shouting! On that happy morning when we all shall rise. What a day of glory! Hallelujah, when we meet our blessed Savior in the skies. What a day of glory when we meet our Savior in the skies. Thank you, Sister Sarah Bethany. I don't remember Bethany has attended with us about every Memorial Day because she's got a great interest. I know she has grandparents buried here because I got the privilege to be a part of her grandmother's funeral. and we appreciate them being with us today. I have, and might still be better if I had a visiting preacher to preach, but had one last Sunday, blessed us, and I said, well, maybe since I've just had one, maybe the church may think I don't want to preach anymore. Well, I don't mind preaching if the Lord's in it. But I tell you, it's uphill when the Lord's not in it. I'm going to begin with the first verse in the Bible concerning God creating. Just going to read this one verse, and then we're going to go to the book of Gospel according to John. 14th chapter. In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. If I had a subject besides just heaven, I want us to think about heaven a prepared place for a prepared people. God prepared it. And the Lord Jesus, before he ascended back to the right hand of the Father after accomplishing eternal salvation for we, his people, He told the disciples, as they was hearing his words, that he would soon be leaving. And I know if you ever attended very many funerals, in which I'm sure we all have, this text is read many times to bring comfort to the family and assurance of what Jesus said. John 14 one, let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. For in my father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I wouldn't have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And whither I go, you know, and the way you know. Thomas said unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the way? Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me. If ye have known me, ye should have known my Father also. For from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip said unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffith us. Jesus said unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast not thou known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. And how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you. I speak not of myself, but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, or else believe me for the very work's sake." through the 11th verse of this 14th chapter of the gospel according to John. I like to read another couple of verses found in Matthew's account of the gospel. Chapter eight and verse 11 and 12. And I say unto you, the Lord speaking, that many shall come from the east and from the west and set down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast into outer darkness, where there shall be welling nation of thieves." Of course, we could take both texts and probably spend quite a bit of time. But I'd like for us to begin with this Matthew text, 8th chapter and 11th and 12th verse, especially now the 11th verse. We notice that he said, and many shall come. I'm thankful that God's got many people, and they're going to come from different directions. And John, writing the Revelation 7-9, he said, After this I beheld in low a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues stood before the throne and before the lamb clothed with white robes and palms in their hand. So we see John had this vision of a great multitude that was beyond even number because of those people. And then we can just read on. One that I like is kind of the climax we find when God's people is around the throne of God in the 19th chapter of Revelation. And he said, and after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven saying, hallelujah, salvation and glory and honor and power unto the Lord our God, for true and righteous are his judgments. For he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornification, and had avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. Her smoke rose up forever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshiped God and sat on the throne saying, Amen, Hallelujah. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were a voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of many thundering, saying, Alleluia. For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. I tell you when you read scriptures like this, it kind of makes me homesick. Because these things is going to be a reality to us someday. That is to the Lord's people. Then notice Not only a great multitude, but he said, shall come from the east and the west, all different directions. Now Luke's account of this in the 13th chapter of the gospel according to Luke, verse 29, he adds north and south also. And they shall come from the east and from the west and from the north and from the south, and shall set down in the kingdom of God." And then notice what they should be doing. Shall set down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Now, I know that that raises questions and we don't have all the information about heaven, but we have enough to know some things about it. And knowing it's a prepared place for prepared people. And sometimes a question is asked, will we know one another? Well, notice this text. It said these ones that come from all different directions, from the east, from the west, from the north, from the south, and shall set down in the kingdom of heaven. And then they should set down with one that we read about from the scriptures, with Abraham and with Isaac. and with Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Isn't that a marvelous thing? Think about, we as God's people will be able to communicate and to sit with these patriarchs that lived many, many years ago and seeing how God used them. Of course, we all probably are familiar at the close of that 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians, that love chapter that we often read. Now notice what the Apostle Paul by the Spirit said to us. For now we see through a glass darkly. All right, he said, now it's some things that we just can't really see all of these things are happening. They dart to us. But then notice what he continued to say. But then, face to face, now I know in part But then shall I know even as also I am known. Oh, isn't that wonderful information? To know even as the Lord knows us. What a blessed thing. Over in 1 John 3, 2, we have some great information. By the Spirit of God, John recorded, Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doesn't yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Oh, think about what we will have. We have some descriptions of God's people. We can just keep reading and finding scriptures. And I assure you that I found more than I know that I could cover in this period of time. But I chose some of these to share with us that we might understand. that we've got some great things waiting for us as God's people. You remember our son came to Jesus, tempting him many times. We find in the 20th chapter of Luke, verse 27, then came to him certain of the Sadducees, See, there was a group, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, that Jesus had to deal with during his personal ministry. And, of course, these Sadducees, they didn't believe in the resurrection. And I can assure you I'm not a Sadducee. I believe one day those graves out there is going to open. And the way I think about it, which denied that there's any resurrection. And they asked him, thinking they could trick him, you know, and find fault. And he said, now, we have Moses' law that he received. And he wrote to us that if any man's brother die and have a wife and die without children, that his brother should take his wife and raise up seed unto his brother. That was the question in the comment that this Sadducee made. And we go ahead and read on down that there was seven marriages and to this same woman and she died also this person said. And their question is, therefore in the resurrection, whose wife then is she? For she had been wife to seven. Well, no problem with Jesus. No questions could be asked that he could not answer and could help us today. And he started to answering by saying, the children of this world, that's where he was at this time, as we are still here in this world, they marry and are given in marriage. but they which shall be accounted worthy to attain that world and the resurrection of the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage. Neither can they die anymore, for they are equal unto the angels and are the children of God. being the children of the resurrection. So he said, now listen, it's gonna be different there. It won't be marriage as we know it today, even though we could, as we've seen in this previous scripture, we could say if they was believers that no trouble in knowing them, but not as husband and wives. But as he went ahead, there and described that they would be equal to the angels and the children of God. No angels has marriage. They just servants of the Lord and do the work that God bids them to do. But he said, the children of God, we will be children and children of the resurrection. Oh, I think about that. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses were at the bush when he called him Lord, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He said, even Moses, when he was there at that bush, that was burning but wasn't consumed when God was calling to the service to go and deliver the children of Israel out of bondage. And he referred back to the words that the Lord God said. He's not a God of the dead, but of the living. For all live unto him. Oh, isn't that a thing to think about? that he's the God of the living. I heard one brother one time say, wouldn't you, if I was to pass from this life and you go by and view my body, don't say that he's dead because I'll be alive more than I've ever been. That body, it just was going back to the mother's earth in which it came. But to be absent from the body, The apostle wrote to us that is to be present with the Lord. Oh, how wonderful that it is. And then a few more things here I'd like to share with you about some of the things we face in this life that won't be there. We have several and we just going to probably reference to some. One that John said as he was receiving all of these things from the book of Revelation, that there be no more sea. See, he was on an isle that's called Patmos, separated from his people. And that separation, he wasn't having fellowship with them. He wasn't able to preach to them and minister to them. But he said, when that time comes, there will be no more sea. Then he said, there'll be no more sorrow. Now we know what sorrow is, because we are living in a world that has a curse upon it. We know all about it. But all dear saints think about it. No more sorrow. when we are in the presence of the Lord. No crying. No, I know many of us weep over many things and the loss of many loved ones in different times, different things, and might even cry over our lost children or our lost friends and loved ones, but the scripture said there will be no more crying. And then there's also in these verses in Revelation 21, says there'll be no more pain. Now some is suffering today that's very painful. Some maybe we can't even relate to the pain they are going through. but there will be no more pain in heaven among God's people. Then he said there'll be no more curse over in the 22nd chapter. You know it's a curse upon this world. You don't believe it, just try to grow a garden. Try to keep things looking like we would like for it to look, the curse. Of course, we know it exceeds just the grass and the weeds and the brars, but all of the things that was cursed because of sin. Then, imagine no night. And I know many times I've had people tell me that at night seem like their pain is worse than it is during the daytime. And they long for the daylight to come. And we know night is a night that Satan really tries to do lots of his work. And we hear, we see, and we experience lots of things goes on in the night. But there'll be no more night because the scripture tells us the Son, the Son of God will give the light. No need of the moon, no need of the sun any longer because the radiance of our Lord will give us light. No more night. And then another one there in Revelation 21 forward that I want to go back to No death. Oh, won't that be wonderful. No more death. Even in the Old Testament, we have some great scriptures that we need to think about. The prophet Isaiah in the 25th chapter and the 8th verse is a verse that probably some of us has overlooked in times past. I don't know when I used it, I had a checkmark by it, and sometimes in the past. But listen, as the prophet was telling what is in the future, and he will swallow up death in victory. Prophecy of our Lord coming. And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from all the earth, for the Lord hath spoken it. I mean, when you can get scripture saying This is the Lord, of course, if you have your Bibles, and of course, I'm going very fast, and I don't know if you can keep up, but anyhow, all capital letters, Jehovah. Jehovah, Lord, had said, these things will happen. And I'm thankful to report to it, when Jehovah came to this earth, they have happened. They have taken place. In that 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians, down at the 26th verse, says, the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. We will put up with it until it's destroyed. And that's, of course, That's all right for us, we as believers anyway, because this is a means in which the Lord carries us home to be with Him. But in that 15th chapter, I must read you some of these things. And this is another scripture, probably you hear at the graveside when you bury your dead. I like to always read it and make mention of the promises we have from the word of God. The apostle was able to write to the church at Corinth and tell them that I'm going to show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. There's got to be a change and there will be Not all of us will face death. The Lord gonna come and find some of us here. And of course, wouldn't it be wonderful if it could happen even at this moment, except we think about our loved ones that's not yet saved. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, At the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Oh, that could happen. That's going to happen. Whether it's in our lifetime, I can't say. Nobody knows. But we do know that it's going to happen. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where's thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But listen to this. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, the victory is in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brother, Listen closely. Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. For as much as you know, your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Oh, what a great promise. We must conclude here shortly. But I want us to notice some things here in this 12th verse of Matthew 8. But the children of the kingdom, and I believe he's talking about the natural kingdom, whether it was considered as the Jews or the world as it is today, notice After all of the things that the 11th verse tells us about sitting with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the glorious things we can expect, here's another side of it. And you might not realize this, and I just touched a few of the scriptures concerning the place the Lord has prepared for us, but it's more scripture about hell than it is about heaven. The Lord talked about it more. Even here, notice, but the children of the kingdom shall be cast into darkness, and there shall be weeping. Nation of teeth. Matthew 13, let's look at a few verses there in that chapter. The 42nd verse reads this way, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father. Great difference, isn't it? Who hath an ear to hear, let him hear. So shall it be at the end of the world, the angels shall come forth. This is the 49th verse, dropping on down. The angels shall come forth and serve the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Jesus said unto them, have you understood all these things? That's a good question, isn't it? When we read scriptures like I've been reading to you, and especially this latter part, Jesus asked his disciples that question. Have you understood all these things? Well, thank the Lord they had an answer. They say unto him, yea, Lord. And I'm thankful we can say yes, Lord, also, because he's our Lord. He's the one that paid that sin debt that we could have eternal life. Oh, think about the glories of heaven, our Lord was there from eternity. But he come to this world to make a way for us. Was that not what he said to Thomas and the other disciples that we read to you? As Jesus said, Thomas, You know not where thy goeth. How can you know the way? Or Thomas asked that question. But Jesus went ahead and told him how the way was. And he went ahead and said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. And no man cometh to me except through the Father. Oh, I'm thankful. And then he went ahead and of course we see how that he and the Father are in one another as we have read to you. And I'm thankful that he's the way. Now I know we live in a day that people think just anything and everything will do. But dear friends, salvation is only in the Lord. If we're going to occupy that place that's been prepared for us, we must come by the way of the Lord. Often we say, by the way of the cross, because that's where the sacrifice was made for our sins. Oh, without that payment, without that taking care of our sins. And I'm so thankful that our Lord said it's finished. I'm taking care of it. And when he gave up the ghost and commended his spirit back to the Father, there he passed. But I'm there to tell you something good. After three days and three nights, he came victorious over death. And he's alive forevermore. And then after 40 days, he told his disciples, I'm leaving you. And he did. But as he Gravity had to give up, and as the fate left the earth and ascended up into heaven, there was some messengers that should help us. They said, why gaze ye up into heaven? I guess we'd all still be looking up if we was there. You know, some of us remember when we could hear a plane, maybe the first thing we've ever heard. We'd gaze and gaze till it goes out of sight. And the disciples, they was gazing as Jesus ascended up. But that messenger had good news. He said this same Jesus, which has ascended, is going to come in like manner. He's coming again. Are we ready? Are we prepared for that place that's called heaven? Yes, it's a prepared place. We've seen it from the scriptures. But are we prepared to meet Him? Are we prepared when death shall come? We're going to have our closing prayer. I don't know, I trust every one of us that's in this four walls this morning, well it's soon gonna be evening, is ready to meet the Lord. But if we hadn't come by the way of the cross, if we hadn't come resting in that finished work that Jesus paid when he shed that precious blood, and then accepting and believing that he's alive forevermore. And we can look to him by faith and the rest in his finished work. I trust you would call on the Lord while we have this closing prayer. I'm thankful. I know that Jesus can save to the utmost. We don't have to be in any certain place or any certain time. It's when we come to the place as the Holy Spirit begins to trouble us that we are not where we should be. We are not prepared for that prepared place, that this would be a time you would look to him. And Father, we pray to this end I believe every word that your holy word writes. Lord, I may not be able to understand all things. Some things I still look through the glass darkly. But Lord, I am thankful that you revealed yourself to us when we was just a boy. that I was lost and I needed a savior. Lord, I remember calling upon you. Lord, I don't know how others looked to you and trusted you, because we know it's by faith. But Lord, I remember troubling and trying to find peace. And I remember Maybe saying words something similar to this. Lord, if I go down, I'm going down trusting you. Oh, thank God for that peace and that joy that filled my heart. Lord, I'm thankful that it's a reality still today, even though that's been many, many years ago. No, God, I trust. that every one of us here is prepared for this prepared place that you created in the beginning. And your son has given us more insight before he left this earth. And Lord, I know it's waiting for us. and all the things that's got to take place, whether it's death or whether it's the resurrection, Lord, we still wait. Our blessed hope is in thee, in thee alone. So, Lord, we wait these times and trust he, the Holy Spirit, would regenerate and make new hearts this morning. And we would praise you. We will rejoice. And Lord, I know your script word says that even there will be rejoicing in the presence of the angels in heaven when this thing takes place in any soul. And I'm so thankful for that. So Lord, thank you for each one that's present. May you continue to bless us as we fellowship together. And Lord, we pray if there's anyone that has made things right with you, may they be bold enough to share it with us. And we would give you praise for in Jesus' name we do pray. Amen. You're dismissed.