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Good evening to everyone. And those joining us online, we pray that... Or we hope that you will feel when you leave tonight that you have spent your time well with us because we're gonna be worshiping God, and we're gonna be singing to each other in songs, hymns, and spiritual songs. And this being the first Wednesday night of the month, we will have our prayer song service. About once a year, when I do this, I try to have a prayer service, if you will.

So we'll be having quite a few prayers tonight as well as some songs, and I'll be reading some... Reading from God's word about prayer. And... So that's what we'll be doing this evening. If you would turn to number 73, sweet hour of prayer, it'll be the first song.

Number 73 in the large songbook. All the songs this evening will be from a large hymnal. Number 62, did you think to pray? Number six two. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything, give thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Would you go to... We'll go to our father in heaven at this time.

Our holy God in heaven, we thank you, father, for being our God and for being a God who cares about your children. We thank you, father, for this avenue of prayer that you have given us and commanded us to come to you in your wisdom knowing that we need you. We depend on you for everything. And even though you know everything that we need, you know all of our needs, you understand that we need you, and we need to come to you. And we're thankful that you've allowed us to be your children, that you care for us, that you sent Jesus to this world to be a sacrifice for our sins so that we could have this avenue of prayer and come holy before you as we try to live righteous lives.

We realize, father, that prayer should be a very big part of our lives and pray often without ceasing, daily, many times, and keep you in the forefront of our minds as we go through our days. And prayer helps us do that, that we can talk with you. When temptation comes, we can we can seek help from you to make us strong that we would not give in. As we sing songs, praise, and edification to each other this night and worship you, we pray that all we do will be in accordance with your will and that we will be edified and leave this place stronger. And remember you as we pray and as we meditate upon you as we go through our daily lives.

We ask that you forgive us when we fail you and help us to always strive to do better each day. It's through your son, we pray. Amen. Matthew 7 starting in verse 7. The scripture says, ask and it will be given to you.

Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives and he who seeks finds. To him who knocks, it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who when his son asks for a loaf will give him a stone?

Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If then you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask of him? Matthew 21:22. And all things you ask in prayer, believing you will receive. Mark 11:24.

Therefore, say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted to you. At this time, I will endure and we'll we'll sing a song... We'll pray... We'll lead us in a song, God is good. Number 47 in your large hymnal.

God is so good. Let's pray. Dear God, we thank you for your grace and your mercy. You have blessed us with grace that we could never earn ourselves. Help us to live each day with that thought in our minds and to show others that same grace when we have been wronged.

We thank you for these physical blessings that we enjoy, especially in this country. Help us to share these blessings with others who are in need when we see the opportunity. Help us to be like your servant, Job, who had everything taken from him and was still faithful to you, dear god. Help us to keep you as our top priority in our lives no matter what happens. We love you, and we thank you, God.

It's in your son's name I pray. Amen. Hebrews 4 starting in verse 14. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Number 79, the garden of prayer. Number 79. Leaders in prayer. Will you pray with him?

Our father and our god, we're come to you tonight. We're thankful for the place of comfort, place that we can gather Christians of like faith and like mind with a desire, a sincere desire to worship you and to honor you as our God and to be thankful to be called your children. We're thankful for the work of this local church here. Thankful for each and every member that serves and does their part, and we're thankful for the spread of the gospel that's... That was put forth to each and every member at some point in time for the ability to obey, to recognize and obey that gospel, to be put...

Be... To become part of the kingdom. Father, we're thankful for the unity that we have here, the peace, and the love, and we pray that that would always abound. We would do those things that are righteous according to your word, and we'd follow those things therein be... Continue to be called your children's.

We pray not only for this congregation, but as we help and encourage those other congregations that are around this country and around this world. Some face a different struggle than we face here, and we pray for the strength for those individuals. Those people that teach, preach, and teach, and the elders that serve both here and there, we pray that you would strengthen them for the work of your church. We pray that as the temptations and the trials arise, that you would make a way of escape so that we could all serve you to the best of our ability. Father, we not only pray for the ones that serve and lead today, but also for future generations to come.

If you would raise up people that are devoted to you, they would honor you by sincerely desiring to lead and to participate and to lead others into worship. Continue this gospel that's to be spread to those around us, both near and far. We pray, father, that as we do this, we... We'd look to you for strength and for guidance, and that we would do this as an honor to you. And we would continue the work that's begun in the fathers and sisters that that taught us.

We pray that we would extend that same courtesy to the ones that would be searching for truth, that we would be teachers, and that we would be examples so that they could learn the truth from us. Father, forgive us of leaving things undone, and we pray that we would earnestly strive to be more and more like you as we try to fulfill your commandments in your word. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 2 Thessalonians 3 starting in verse 1.

Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified just as it did also with you, and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men. For not all have faith, but the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ. This time, Dave Duran will lead us in a song.

Number 83 in the Lord's Handle in the hour of trial. Pray. Our most gracious and kind father, our father, we come before you tonight so grateful that we can be here and we can come together and to sing praises to you, that we can come together and come to you with with prayer. We're so thankful for your love for us and all that you have blessed us with. Our father, we thank you for this great nation, for the opportunities that we have in this country that we live in.

Our father, we pray that we will take advantage of the opportunities that we have, the liberties that we have, the opportunity that we can come together and worship without fear. We can gather together each Sunday, Wednesday night. We can gather together in each other's homes. We can discuss those things of spiritual matters. We can come together and sing and pray.

We're so grateful for these opportunities that we have that so many places around the world don't have the opportunities that that we have. We pray it will not take take this for granted. Our father, we pray that you will be with those in our armed forces, to be with our law enforcement. Pray it should be with them and you'll be with their families. Father, we thank you for the heart that they have.

We have many in our number that have these jobs. We're grateful for them, the heart of service that they have, the heart they have to protect this country and the freedoms that we enjoy, to care for the citizens of this of this country. Our father, we are nearing a new election cycle. We pray that you will be with our leaders. We pray that leaders will be elected that will make those decisions that keep us a free country that will continue to have these liberties.

Pray that they will lead in a way that will move this country closer to you. Our father, we thank you for your love for us. And, father, we pray that our hope is always in you, that it's not in man or country, that we know that you are faithful to us, that this life here, if we didn't have the freedoms that we have now, that our hope is always in you. This life is short, and we pray that you'll be with us, and pray that you'll always give us strength and courage to submit to you in all things. We ask you to continue to be with us throughout this service and pray.

Amen. James 5 starting in verse 13. It is not... Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray.

Is anyone cheerful? He has to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.

And if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. This time, Kyle Raven will lead us in a song. Let's sing number 69, What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

Number 69. Our father, which are in heaven, hallowed be your name. Father, we continue our prayer service with you at this time. And as Jesus walked on this Earth, there were multitudes that came to him that needed to be healed of diseases, of infections, of sicknesses, and God were told that he healed them all. And, we pray at this time for the ones that we have, the brothers and sisters that we have, and others that need our prayers to be...

Have your healing hand upon them. Father, we wanna pray a special prayer for Connie Young. She was to see a cardiologist today. We need to continue to pray that she gets good reports from her doctor's business, father. We pray especially for Sherman Pope at this time that you'll continue to strengthen him and will he be able to go home in a short period of time, father.

We thank you for all the blessings of the answered prayers that's been given for him, and hopefully, he'll be healed back to as much needed and wanted help. Father, we wanna pray a special prayer for brother Kenneth McDonald. He has cancer and he... As you know these things, dear Lord, we pray that he's caught up in the early phases and that the things that'll be done will catch it and return him back to his much needed and wanted help. By the way, also pray for Berna Sharp, sister Sheila Dixon's sister, and we pray that she will improve her...

From her fall and be back to her normal health. Pray for Lena White, the grand... Grandmother Preston Nichols. She appreciates the prayers that we've been sending to her. So thankful for that.

Father, we pray for our brother Lynn Trapp, that he recovers from his hand surgery quick and will be back with us soon. Father, special prayer goes out to the bonds. Our brother Jim and our sister Darlene, they're... Especially brother Jim needs our dire prayer badly. He's not doing well, and, father, we need to lift him up.

The more prayers to you, the better, father. These things we do pray in Jesus' name, but we pray that your will be done and not ours. We're thankful for the life that Jesus lived, the example he set for us and being obedient to the death on the cross. And it is in his name that we pray. Amen.

Philippians 4 starting in verse 6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if there anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things, the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Practice these things, and the god of peace will be with you.

This time, Wade Penn will lead us in a song. Our next song this evening will be number 77, our large songbook, I Must Tell Jesus. I definitely bother we. Thank you for the comforting message of this hymn, We Must Tell Jesus, which reminds us that we do not have to carry our cares and burdens alone. Your word tells us in first Peter, casting all your care upon him for he cares for you.

Lord, help us to bring every worry, every sorrow, every fear, and every need to you, trusting in your love and care. Lord, make us willing and faithful servants of yours. We pray for humble arts, willing hands, and compassionate spirits so that we may serve others and be a blessing to wherever you place us. We especially pray for those who have lost loved ones in recent times. Comfort them in their grief, strengthen them in their weakness, and remind them that you are near to the brokenhearted.

We especially remember our widows and widowers. Surround them with your presence, provide for their needs, give them strength for each day, and let them know that they are never forgotten or alone. Lord, when our burdens are heavy, remind us to tell you everything. Help us to trust you with our cares knowing that you care deeply for us. This is our prayer in Jesus' name.

Amen. Good evening. If you will, please turn your Bibles to Philippians 2. Philippians 2. If you've been baptized, do you remember why you did it?

Do you remember what you were thinking or feeling? And maybe if you're honest, you've wondered since then, did I really understand what I was doing or did I do it for the right reasons? And if you've never been baptized, maybe you've wondered, why should I? What does it really mean? And those are really important questions.

So tonight, I want us to think about what Jesus gave up for us and how his sacrifice should motivate us not only to be baptized, but to live a life in a submission to his word. So Philippians 2 starting in verse 6. Says though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but he emptied himself by taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Paul shows Jesus sacrificing himself way before we actually see Jesus nailed on the cross.

He shows us that the sacrifice began when Jesus willingly gave up glory in heaven, took on the form of a servant, and humbled himself to become a man. We don't fully understand what heaven is like, so we can't comprehend everything Jesus gave up when he came to Earth. But from this passage alone, we see the son of God with all power and authority, the great I am, the alpha, and the omega, leaving heaven for earth, all glory to humility, being served to become a servant, leaving perfect fellowship with God to suffering and separation, and leaving life for death. I want you to think about that. Try to comprehend what Jesus had in heaven.

He was in the presence of God. He had glory. He had everything. And he was leaving... He was willing to leave all of that to be flogged, to be despised and rejected, to be spit on, to have the very people he created put a crown of thorns on his head and beat him.

The very people he came to save were the ones who rejected him. And then he was led to the cross where he bore the weight of our sins and where nails were driven through his hands and feet. All of that was done for people like us, for sinners like us. We see in Isaiah 52:14 that his appearance was so marred beyond human semblance that his form beyond that of children of mankind. This is Jesus.

The same Jesus who was in heaven. The same Jesus who created you and me, now his appearance is so badly beaten and disfigured that he hardly looks human. And the question is why? How does it make any sense that he would leave all of that? And then we read Isaiah 53:5.

It says, he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. Upon him was a chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds, we are healed. He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities, He was suffering because of our rebellion.

And then look a few verses down at Isaiah 53:10. It says, yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him. God was pleased with the purpose of this sacrifice because through the suffering and death of Jesus, God made a way for sinful men to be brought back to him. God loved us enough to give his son, and Jesus loved us enough to give himself. So now I wanna ask, what does Jesus ask us in return?

Turn to Romans 6. Romans 6, I'll be starting in verse 3. Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father, we too might walk in newness of life. Paul emphasizes the importance of baptism and how it directly reflects Jesus' sacrifice.

And that's why baptism is so much more than simply being immersed in water. Baptism represents the death of the old person. Jesus died. We die through our old life. Jesus was buried.

We are buried in baptism. Jesus was raised, and we rise to walk in the new life. And that's where this applies to every single person in this room. If you've already been baptized, maybe tonight you needed this reminder, a reminder that baptism wasn't something you just did one day. It was the beginning of a new life.

We are called to continue walking in the newness of life and surrender our desires to God's will. We are called to give up all earthly desires and strive to follow our God whatever the cost. And if you have not been baptized, maybe you're still asking yourself those questions. Why should I? What does it really mean?

And am I ready? Well, can I suggest something tonight? We aren't supposed to know everything before we make the decision to follow Christ. None of us will ever know everything. But we need to recognize that we are sinners.

And we need to recognize what Jesus had had done for us, and we need to be willing to surrender our old life and submit ourselves to him. Because baptism isn't about claiming that we have everything figured out. It's about recognizing that Jesus is worth giving our lives to. So when you look at what Jesus gave up to... For you, is giving up your old life really too much to ask?

Jesus gave his life for us, and now he asked us to give him ours. And through baptism, we die to the old life. We are buried with him, and we rise to walk in newness of life. So I wanna go back to the question asked at the beginning. If you've been baptized, do you remember why you did it?

If you haven't been baptized, why should you be? Tonight, I want us to look at the cross. Look at what Jesus gave up, and then we can ask ourselves, what am I willing to give up for him? I wanna thank you for your good attention tonight. If you wish to be baptized, please don't hesitate to come forward.

Or if you have sinned and you need to confess, please come forward as we stand and sing.