VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS: Ignoring Instructions

This Sermon, Brethren

Is Like No Other You'll Hear

And 
I Desire For Us All To Pay Close Attention:

Follow Almighty God's Commandments Always

And

To The Letter

And

Live Humbly In Godly Fear!

That's Nothing New!

I've Heard That All My Life!

In That Case, Big Mike

Since You Have Life-Long Experience

Come On Up Here With Me

And 
We'll Run An Experiment

For A Visual Aid To Bless Everybody!

Big Mike, Do You Like Garlic!?!

Of Course! Who Doesn't!?!

As A Matter Of Fact

I Take Two Garlic Capsules Every Day Without Fail!

Did You Take Your Capsules Today!?!

As You Well Know, Pastor Mac

Because I Told You When You Picked Me Up

I Was Running Late

And I Put Them In My Pocket For Later When We Eat!

I Have A Glass Of Water On The Lectern!

Would You Take Your Garlic Capsules 
Right Now ... In Our Presence!?!

No!

Would You Care To Tell Us 
Why You Won't Take The Garlic Capsules!?!

I Won't Take Them Now

Because The Instructions Clearly State:

Take With Food To Avoid Upset Stomach!

Sounds Reasonable!

Do You Always Follow Instructions!?!

By God's Grace, I Valiantly Try To Do So!?!

That's Fantastic, Isn't It, Brethren!?!

AMEN!!!

May I Encourage You To Not Follow 

The Instructions Aka The Rules

Aka The Commandments 
For Taking Your Garlic Capsules!?!

No!

What If I, Your Beloved Pastor

And 
Trusted, Lifelong, Friend

Your Brother By Faith

By Blood

And

By Affection

Were To Tell You That

I Also Take Garlic Capsules!?! 

I'd Say, Smart Man!

What If I Say I Take Garlic Capsules

On An Empty Stomach

And 
With No Ill-Effects!?!

I'd Say Good For You! 

I'd Say Prove It!

This Is Very Good, Brethren!

We Have Two Opinions:

The World And The Church

The Believer And The Doubter

The Right And The Wrong 

The Good And The Bad

Covering The Sinner And The Saint!

Big Mike, As We Discussed Prior

And 
To Open The Eyes Of The People Of God Today

How About We Both Take Our Daily Garlic Capsules

Just To See What Will Happen

To Those Who Dare To Ignore Instructions

Reject Rules

And

Defy Commandments!

Are You Game!?!

Against My Better Judgment

But All For A Good Cause

And Because It Won't Kill Me

I'm In The Game!

Brethren, 

Observe Carefully!

Big Mike, Do I Have Garlic Capsules In My Hand!?!

They Sure Smell Like My Garlic Capsules

That I Have In My Hand!

Very Good!

The Clock On The Wall Says It's 11:45 p.m.

Let's Give This Experiment Fifteen Minutes To Play Out!

Anybody Have Any Crackers ... Just In Case!?!

Lacey Macy Always Has Crackers!

I Sure Do!

Then We're Set!

Bottoms Up, Big Mike!

Likewise, Pastor Mac!

Not Even Five Minutes Later ... 

Lord Jesus, Help Me!

You Alright There, Big Mike!?!

No, Pastor Mac!

My Skin Is Going Clammy

And It Feels Like Someone 

Is Ripping Through My Stomach With A Hacksaw

And My Whole Body Feels ... Feels 
Feels Like It Is Electrified ... On Alert!

Aren't You Feeling Anything!?!

Not At All!

I Don't Understand Why Not! 

You Must Have A Cast-Iron Stomach!

Not Really!

I Had A Sandwich During The Five Minute Break!

But You Said You Take Yours On An Empty Stomach!

I Most Certainly Did Not!

The Congregation Gasped!

But, But ...!

... I Said: What If I Say ...!

Uhhhh, Uhhhhh, Ooooo, Mama! 

... You Alright, Big Brother!

I Feel Like I'm Dying!

Lord, Help Me ... The Pain! 

Sister Lacey, Bring Those Crackers Now, Please!

Here You Go, Big Mike!

Chew, Brother! Chew!

After The Conclusion Of The Experiment ... 

Brethren, 

As You All Observed 

Temptation To Sin Can Even Come

From A Silken Cord Of Affection 
Aka The Hand Of Blood Brethren!

As You Also Observed

Nuanced Speech And Outright Lies

Cause Us To Yield Common Sense

And

To Disobey

And 
To Fall Into Satan's Traps!

You Also Observed That Rules, Instructions 

From Manufacturers, From Parents
Our Teachers, Our Civil Rules

The Commandments From Our God Holy

Are Not Put In Place To Make Us Miserable

To Deny Us Pleasure

To Lord It Over Us!

They Are There For Safety 
Comfort And Protection!

Big Mike, My Beloved Brother, 

Thank You For Participating: 
Sorry For You Pain, Your Trauma!

Is There Anything You'd Like To Say To Us!?!

First, Pastor Mac, Lil' Brother

In The Hour Of My Distress 

I Seriously Wanted To Hurt You Profoundly!

You Lied To Me!

I Apologize For Not Disclosing The Whole Plan!

Brethren, 

I Know The Rules!

I Was Fully Informed Of The Risks And The Rewards!

I Also Knew, In Advance

The Penalty For Disobedience!

I Paid The Price!
Foolishness Is Not Common Sense In Any Language!

Let Me Tell You

Almost Instantly Upon Taking My

Not The ... My Garlic Capsules

I Felt When They Hit My Empty Stomach!

I Felt ... The Change

And I Then Felt 
When They Fully Bloomed In My Stomach!

The Pain, The Upset
The Trauma To My Innards
Was, Is, Unbelievable ... Pastor Mac ...!

... I Understand! 

I'll Take It From Here! 

Brethren, 

Let This Be A Lesson To Us All! 

This Is What Sin Does! 

Temptation Is What Satan Proffers! 

This Is What Disobedience Works In Our Hearts! 

Do Not Play Games With Your Soul! 

Big Mike Is Going To Feel Pretty Poorly For A While!
He Is Going To Know ... Fully
The Cost Of His Disobedience!

Silken Cords Tie Us Up Tighter
Tighter Than A Ship's Anchor Rope
Because
They Are Smoother, Nearer, Softer
And
We Like, Love, Admire, Appreciate
That To Which They Are Attached!

Silken Cords ... Unchecked
Will Cut Us Off From Freedom
From Good Health
And
They Can Kill!

What We Have Witnessed Today Is Minor
In Comparison To What Sin Does To Us!
We Know When We Have Sinned!
We Feel When We Have Sinned!
We Suffer As A Result Of Our Sin
And
The After-Effects Of Our Sin
Are Of Long Duration
Even When We Confess And Repent
Of Our Known Sin!
Repentance Does Not Mean No Punishment!

The Sin Of Presumption
- Which This Was -
Can Lead To Deadly Outcomes
So Do Not Be Presumptuous!

Listen To This Closing Word

And

Know That We Cannot Hide From Our Maker:

It Takes An Enormous Amount Of 
Pride And Presumption ... Both Sins

For Mortal Beings To Believe That 
They Can Hide Anything That They Think
That They Did Or Are Doing 
From The Creator Of Us All! 

Who Makes It Knows It ...

Very Foolish Is The Builder Of The House That 

He Does Not Know How To Breach 
If He Is Locked Out! 

The Custom Watch-Maker Intimately Knows 
The Workings Of His Creations: 

Why Would The Creator God 
Know Less About Us, His Creatures!?! 

Do Not Be Presumptuous

Believing That You Are An Island

A Nation Unto Yourself

Impervious To Self-Destruction! 

Let's Us Be Ever Wise Unto Soul Salvation

And

With Contrite Hearts

Sorrowing Over Our Personal Sin
And
Desiring To Get Right With Our God

Humble Ourselves 

And

In The Time Appointed
The Lord Will Raise Us Up For Our Best Good 
And

For His Great Glory! 
When The Lord Says: 

"Don't Do It!

Thou Shalt Not ...!

Remember ...!

Keep ...!

Believe ...!

Don't Doubt ...!

Have Faith ...!

Trust ...!"

He Means It
Because
To Do Otherwise
Will Surely Cause Us Pain, Sorrow And Regret!

Please Do All To Walk In The Light Of Life

And

Do What's Right In The Eternal God's Sight! 

Let Us Endeavor ... By Willing Obedience

His Loving Heart

Always To Delight! 

AMEN!!! 

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: The Great Motivators!

The Conference Is In Session

And

The Great Motivators Themselves Are There:

 Fear Is There For The Clan Of Live Evil

And

Perfect Love Is There For The Clan Of The Good Shepherd

He To Whom His People Are Dear!

You Should Know That That Conference

Is 
Attended For Two Reasons:

One To Rescue
And

One To Destroy 

And

All The Attendees Employ 
The Methods Of Their Respective Leaders

And

Do It For Love And With Joy!

The Clan Of Live Evil

Live To Do Evil

To Be Vile

And

To Cause Unimaginable Pain!

To Instill Fear In Others

Is 
Their Reason For Being

And

Every Day They Swear That

No One That They Put Their Claws Into

Will Be Getting Away!

Vain Words Is What I Call Them

Because

Perfect Love Always Casts Out Fear

Who Dares To Try To Steal Man's Hope

Leaving Him Naked

And

Without Any Way In His Life

With Things To Cope!

Perfect Love

Is
Born Of The Shepherd Of Rest

The Savior Of Man

The Son Of Almighty God Begotten

The Redeemer

Who From Satan's Temptations 

Gave No Quarter

And

In Fear

From Him Did Not Run!

The Good Shepherd

The Savior

The Redeemer 

The Forever Friend

Loves Sacrificially

And

Leaves No Loose Ends

For One To Trip Over

Or To Become Entangled

Or To Become Frayed

Causing One To Be A Castaway!

He, Being Ever Obedient 

Doing What Does His Father Please

Engenders In His People's Heart

The Comfort That Brings To The Human Spirit 

- From The Sweet Spirit Of Truth -

What Gives Ease And Relief, And Release!

By Contrast
Fear Brings Up The Past

Denies The Present
And

Rejects The Future!

Fear Undermines

Redefines
And

Maliciously Crosses Solid Yellow Lines! 

Fear Contradicts

Castigates
And

Thoroughly Humiliates!

Fear Wonders

Worries

Wanders
And

Vindictively Wastes!

Fear Does Not Know How Perfect Loves Tastes

Until The Soul ... Thoroughly Oppressed
And
Expressing Need Of Salvation
Opens Up Their Heart
And

Perfect Love ... Naked

Unashamed

Unafraid

Unerringly Extends That Gentle Hand
Providing Sure Healing

Compliments Of The Son Of God

Compliments The Soon-Returning To Earth

Son Of Man!

Perfect Love Heals Hurts!

He Soothes Sorrows!
He Makes Human Hearts Glad!

He Gives Help For Today 

And

Graciously Provides Hope For Tomorrow!

Perfect Love Gives Energy Like The Shining Sun!

He Gives Calm Like The Glow Of A Harvest Moon!

He Gives Continual Sparks Of Joy Like The Twinkling Star

And

From His Hand Of Help

One Is Never, Ever, Far!

You Hurt!?! 

He Hurts!

You Cry!?!

He Cries!

You Lie!?!

He Doesn't 

Because

His Heart Is Pure

And

Against Every Known, Practiced
Promulgated, Putrid, Sin 
He Is The Cure

And

That Is Why The Clan Of Evil Hates Him!

To Escape Them

He Is The Only Door!

Every Day Is A Conference!

Every Day Provides Another Opportunity Of Escape!

The Clan Of Evil Cares Not For Those Whom They Overcome:

They're More Interested That Prince Shiloh
The Good Shepherd

Should Not Have A Victory!

No! Not One! 
His Presence Relieves Them Of Their Fun!

Brethren,

The Good Shepherd Gives Good Gifts To Men!
The Gifts Are Free
And
On His Strong Arm
We May All With Assurance Depend
So Do Not Be A Merchandising Snob
And
Deny That Anything Gotten For Free Is A Waste
Because
This Is One Freeness That
All Mankind Should Seek To Apprehend
To Take
To Taste!
It Cost Jesus Christ His Blood!

We All Have Personal Choices To Make
And
The Choice Between Perfect Love
And
Fear
Must Be By Self Made!

Fear Will Tie You Up In Gordian Knots
But
The Sword Of Perfect Love
Will Free You
With One Clean And Clear Chop!

Be Wise

Unto Your Own Soul's Salvation

And

Give Satan

And

His Decimating Fear

The Grace Of Almighty God Blot!

Life ... And Faith In The Lord Jesus Christ!

It Is Better To Bow In Love

Than To Bow For Discipline!

These Words Say And Mean Everything:

Life Is Life 

And 

Life Is Lived
Whether You Are In Joy, Want, Sorrow Or In Pain

So Do Not Curse The Lord! 

Do Not Be The Soul Profane!

Death
Is
The Known And Appointed End Of
This Mortal Life!

The Known-Dead Know
No Joy
No Sorrow
No Pain
No Saying
No Being
No Doing
No Love
No Hatred!

From The Second Death
- Which Is Eternal Separation From Almighty God -
There Is No Returning!
No Resurrection!
Ever!

There Is No Eternity Lived In Everlasting Misery! 

Man Desires Life
But
Does Man Make The Crucial Decision!?!

Does Desire Comport With Decision
Or
Does Desire And Reality
Become Involved In The Life-Altering Collision!?!

It Is Time, Brethren
To Wheel And Come Again!

Life Happens ...

So, You're Disappointed!
Will You Now Forget The Lord's Daily Goodnesses
And
Neglect To Wait
To Reflect
To Trust Truth
And
To Reason That He Is Almighty
He Knows Everything
He Sees Everything

He Is In Everything
And
He Feels Every Single, Solitary, Thing That
You Feel!

Will You Fail To Understand That
If No ... Or Wait
Is 

His Response To Your Request
Then 

It Is Because He Knows Best
He Loves You Best

And
He Does What Is Best For You
His Well-Beloved Child
In This Time Of Your Life!?!

Faith Does Not Permit Doubt ...

Wolves Prey!
Sheep Pray!

Believers Walk By Faith!
Non-Believers Live With Doubt!

The Faithful Live In Godly Fear!
The Doubting Live In Fear Without God!

Path of Faith:
Forsaking All I Trust Him
The Eternal, Holy, Faithful
Blessing, Giving, True God!

Path of Doubt:
Confusion
Doubt
Disbelief

Rebellion 
I Do Not Trust Him Whom I Cannot See
With My Carnal, Lying, Eyesight!

The Book Of Remembrance Of One's Lived Life
- By Self Having Been Unwisely Performed 
And 
By The Holy God 
Left Unedited, Unabridged, Unpolished
And
Plainly, Rawly, Written -
Will Be
Closed
Sealed
All Sin Retained On Your Personal Account
And
You, Unrepentant
Will Be Consumed 
- Burned To Nothingness -
At The Appointed Time 

In The Lake Of Fire
Unless ... Unless ... Unless

One Chooses To Step Back In Time
See The Detritus Of The Life ... Lived
And
Do The In-Depth Survey
Seeing The Real Need For The Savior
And
Confessing And Repenting To The Father God
In The Name Of Jesus Christ His Only Begotten Son
With The Help Of The Holy Spirit Of Truth

While It is Still Today!

The Path Of Faith Leads To Life Everlasting! 

The Path Of Doubt Leads To Eternal Death!

Forgiveness By The Father

Because Of

Jesus Christ The Son

Is

The Eraser

In The Life Of Sinful Man

And

Is Activated Only Upon The Request

Of

The Confessing, Repentant, Soul

By The Exercise

Of

Its Personal, Daily, Gift Of Faith Given

Compliments Of The Only Holy God!

**--**--**--**--**--**

Confess Yours Faults To One Another

And

Confess Your Sins To The Living God ... Alone!

Jesus Christ Always Saves!!

I Am Redeemed!

Even In The Midst Of Trials
The Peace Of God
- The Peace Of The Living God -
Makes Even Sorrow A Song!

Well, You May Ask
How Can I Sing
When Hope And My Heart Are Shattered!?!

When Faith Is Trembling!?!

When Courage Is Wandering!?!

I Sing, Dear Friend
Because
To The Cross Of Christ, I Cling
Knowing
That When He Comes Again
With Him ... To Heaven
He Will Be Carrying Me Along!

So, In Child-Like Trust, I Sing A Zion Song!

I Will Not Look Down
At The Shards Of Disappointment!
I Will Not Look In
And 

Dwell On Those Things That Were My Shame!

I Shall Look Up To My King ... Lifted Up
High
In His Glory
And
I Shall Plod On ... In Faith

- Mustard Seed Faith -
Nothing Wavering
Reading The Living Word
Watching
Waiting
Working Out My Own Soul's Salvation
As Told
In The Good News
The Gospel Story!

Happy In Jesus!
Repentant Over Sin!
Glad Over Forgiveness
In Truth Now Walking
Blessed
Abiding
Confiding
Grateful
Free
I Choose To Trust And Obey
And
Hope For Coming Glory
Having Stepped Away From Living 

The Base Life Of The Willful Wicked
And
The Presumptuous Ungodly!

I Sing
Because 

Jesus Christ Saves ... Me!
I Love
Because 

Jesus Christ Loves ... Me!
I Bend Now So As Not To Be Crushed Later
And
I Worship
Because
Jesus Christ The Righteous

Is 

My Judge

My Lord, God, King

My Provider

My Sustainer

My Hope

My Help

And
My Only Savior

And

With His Shed Blood, Innocent

I Am Redeemed!

Gratitude Is A Grace!

Happiness Does Not Come From More
AND
Sorrow Does Not Come With Less!
Happiness Is Found In Jesus Christ The Lord
AND
This Is A Realization
That The Human Soul Must Confess!

More Is A Load
That Greedy Men Carry!
Sorrow Is A Load
That The Longing Soul Carries
AND
Both May Be Removed
IF
We Will ALL To The Lord
AND
Get Out From Under
The Canopy Of The Fraud!

PRAYER:

Lord God Almighty

Thou Holy One True

I Am Thankful For My Little Bit

For It Comes From You!

Let Me Not Envy

The Man That Has Much

For That Man's Much

Often Makes His Heart Clutch

With Worry

With Sorrow

With Necessity Not Needed

Because

He, Being His Own God

Has Not Your Eternal Word Heeded!

I Thank You, Lord

For Shelter

For Food

For Clothing

For Rest

And

I Surely Do Thank You For Christ Jesus

In Whose Heart I Am Blessed!

Grant Me The Grace

That Gratitude Brings

So That In The Great Day Coming

I Will My Benefactor's Praises

With All The Blessed Saints

Joyfully

Gratefully Sing!
I Love You, Lord
And
In Jesus Christ's Holy Name, I Plead!

AMEN.

**--**--**--**--**

Man Has Real Eyes That See
But
True EyeSight
Comes From
Knowing
The Holy God!