Sermon Title: God’s Heart For The Church; Our Greatest Work.
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
For the Church to be true to her calling, her absolute and entire purpose must be to fulfill the Heart of God for her.
In His parable of the bags of gold, our Lord Jesus speaks to the overarching importance that - every Christian must know the heart of God intimately and strive utterly to please Him. (Ref: Matthew 25:14-30).
Like the servants who upon receiving the bags of gold, immediately “put his money to work and gained five bags more”, and the other who “gained two more” (Matthew 25:16, 25:17) and earned their Master’s congruous favor, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21, 25:23); our Lord Jesus teaches us that in no uncertain terms must our every purpose, enterprise and resolve – as His Church – be set absolutely, completely and relentlessly on winning our Master’s Heart.
To know God’s heart and to strive utterly to please Him is the sole reason for our corporate existence.
To be abhorrent in His sight is to know His heart, but fail to please Him.
Our Lord Jesus forewarns us in Matthew 25:24-29:
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.
29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
In this parable, his failure to act in the heart of the master earned for the servant a catastrophic rebuke that stripped him of everything, and condemned him to the second and final death - cast forever away from the Presence of God into “the lake of fire.” (Ref: Revelation 20:14).
Let’s be very clear.
This parable is not about providing Christians the mandate to go into business for God; or to double any worldly investments when we do.
The failure of the wicked servant that resulted in his condemnation to an eternal darkness reveals a far more austere and transcendent reality that we must embrace.
And this is especially evident when we consider Luke’s version (Ref: Luke 19:11-27) where “the servant who earned 10 minas was given authority of 10 cities” – in the clearest revelation that the good and faithful servant knows and serves the heart of the Master, and will receive the reward for acting according to God’s heart: which is, the immense blessing of sharing His happiness in being bestowed citizenship in His Eternal Kingdom.
The knowledge of God’s heart must result in a life devoted to entering His Kingdom through Christ’s finished work of atonement for our sins; living each day as Christ’s witness and in His Service by the Power of the Holy Spirit.
In the reality of His Gospel work in this present world, we – as His Church - must consequently realise that knowing God’s heart must be enfleshed in our corporate work of being fully aligned and radically engaged in the preaching of His Gospel and the revelation of His Love and Glory to the world.
What is God’s Heart for the Church?
The Bible reveals two precise instances that clearly reveals the Heart of God for His People.
2 Chronicles 7:1-3 - The Dedication of the Temple
7 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
2 The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it.
3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,
“He is good;
his love endures forever.”
The temple of God was built exactly in the divine specifications laid out; and now came time for the dedication.
Solomon prayed.
Fire came down from heaven and consumed all the offering and sacrifices.
The glory of God filled the temple.
Can you imagine this very scene – where the temple of God was filled with His presence and glory?
Can you imagine all the people kneeling down on the pavement “with their faces to the ground”, worshipping God and giving thanks to Him?
Now, can you imagine it happening to our church?
It is clear that this is the heart of God for His people.
The temple of God must be built for the sole purpose of invoking unqualified worship of the living God, and unreserved thanksgiving to Him.
The glory of God is clearly seen by His people; and they manifest His enduring goodness and love to the world around.
This is clearly the heart of God for His people.
And in another precise instance:
Acts 2:1-8 - The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Just like Solomon, they were all together in that one place – waiting and praying; when fire came down from heaven.
And not only did heavenly fire fill the place, it filled every disciple – with the very Presence of God that immersed and baptized them with the Power of the Holy Spirit for the sole purpose of fulfilling the heart of God for the Church: to preach and establish the Gospel through miraculous signs and wonders (Ref: Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8).
Like the people who “knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground” in worship and thanksgiving unto the living God, the Apostles witnessed the same, supernatural outcome after the Holy Spirit’s sermon spoken through the Apostle Peter:
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:36-41)
Can you imagine the place where the disciples were waiting and praying; when they were each filled with the Power of God?
From that holy place where the glory of God came to rest upon every disciple, the Gospel was preached and established in the miraculous Power of the Holy Spirit – and on that day, three thousand were convicted, baptized and became disciples of Jesus Christ.
There can be no doubt.
The revelation of His Power and Glory in His temple and through us - is the heart of God for the church.
For us, that “one place”; that place of equivalence to the temple that Solomon built unto God – is the building which we corporately deem as God’s house and where we corporately gather in the Name of our Lord Jesus – to worship, to fellowship; for discipleship in mutual love and service; and in Spirit-empowered ministry and missions.
Victoria Chinese Pentecostal Church, that “one place” for us is at 2215 Dowler Place - the place that God has consecrated for His Glory sake.
We – as the church of Jesus Christ – must build His Temple, our spiritual home here on earth, in determined preparation and anticipation that His Glory and Power would fill both His temple and our very lives.
To know and fulfill the heart of our Master: is to wholly set our hearts and lives to corporately and resolutely build His Temple; that we may each and all put God and His Work on Kingdom in-breaking front and centre in our lives once again.
In the reality of Christ’s parable and these two historical accounts covered today, the heart of God becomes so clear to us:
Church, let us begin to get excited in the Power and Glory of God that will be revealed in our obedience to be filled with His Power and our desire to witness His Glory fall upon His Temple.
Let us build the Temple of God!
I invite you to ENVISION with me that right here at our Church Building at 2215 Dowler Place:
- Souls being given over to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ;
- The sick healed, the lame walking again, the blind seeing again, the dead brought back to life;
- Pastors and missionaries receiving their calls to the Lord’s work and harvest fields;
- The multitudes receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit and breaking out in tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance.
Don’t just conceptualize or theorize these visions; let the Holy Spirit fill your minds and hearts to actually see the faces of the people who will receive the supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit through us!
God desires to use us in His glory and power!
Pray with me! Believe with me! This is God’s Heart and His will for our church.
Mark my words.
Building the temple of God together, would be the greatest, most meaningful, most fulfilling, most eternal work that you could ever be a part of – not only as a Christian – but as a human being.
The work of building the temple of God - through a life filled with the Power of the Holy Spirit and filled with the deepest desire to witness the glory of God in His temple - is the greatest work any human being can every undertake; and that divine opportunity is right before us today.
Which returns us to the prophetic word of God for our church in this season of revival ahead:
“2021 will be a year of passionate revitalisation for the Church both spiritually and physically; the year that we will receive a fresh power and anointing from God to radically bring His Glory and inbreak His Kingdom upon this land through signs and wonders; the year we will rebuild our corporate altar before the Lord and recommit to a greater and more glorious season of making disciples of all nations by the Power of the Holy Spirit!”
Church, let us set our hearts and lives to realise God’s heart for our church.
Let us participate in the greatest work that any human being can ever undertake – to build the temple, and be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to witness the glory of God in His temple.
For after all, Christ will return and settle accounts with us. (Reference: Matthew 25:19)
He has entrusted us with the bags of physical gold - the land and building at 2215 Dowler Place.
He has blessed us with the bags of spiritual gold - a spiritual heritage of deeply faithful and obedient servants; our brothers and sisters in Christ who came before us.
When He returns, are we confident of giving Him the report that would earn us the words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’?
Or will we be stripped of everything and cast away into the eternal darkness?
Church, we know the Heart of our God. We know better. Let us act to fulfill His Heart and His Heart alone.
With His Spirit’s Power, let us build His Temple; let us anticipate His Power and Glory filling His Temple; and let us look forward to His Revival of the land.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your revelation of our Calling to be the People of God, and the Church of Jesus Christ.
Fill me with Your Power! That I may be found willing and worthy of giving of my time, effort and finances to the building of Your Temple.
Thank You for the intimate revelation Your Heart, O God.
Grant me strength and wisdom to strive utterly to please You.
I believe that You have consecrated the land and building at 2215 Dowler Place, our spiritual home here on earth – Your Temple.
As we work towards revitalising the interior of Your Temple; we believe that Your Spirit is at work reviving the interior of our hearts.
Grant us the courage, faith, strength and resolve to build Your Temple, O God.
May I be the good and faithful servant who knows and serves Your heart; in the deepest assurance that I will receive the reward for acting according to Your heart: which is, the immense blessing of sharing in Your happiness, being bestowed citizenship in Your Eternal Kingdom.
May my life be devoted to entering Your Kingdom through Christ’s finished work of atonement for our sins; living each day as Christ’s witness and in Your Service by the Power of the Holy Spirit.
I pray that we would, as a church, be fully aligned and radically engaged in the preaching of His Gospel and the revelation of His Love and Glory to the world.
Holy Spirit, let this work begin in me!
Baptize me in Your Fire and Power that I may fulfill the Heart of God as part of Christ’s body – and empower us, Your church, to preach and establish Your Gospel through miraculous signs and wonders. (Ref: Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8)
Fill my heart with the utmost desire to witness Your Glory fill Your Temple here at 2215 Dowler Place; and fill my mind with visions of Your Miraculous Works – convicting the hardened and unbelieving to give their lives to Jesus, healing the sick, delivering the oppressed, restoring the multitudes to Your Kingdom Truth, and in answering Your glorious calling for Your chosen servants to enter Christian ministry and mission.
Thank You for revealing Your heart for Your Church; and for giving us the Power to fulfill our task of preaching and establishing Your Gospel through the building of Your Temple.
I acknowledge that this is the greatest work that I would ever accomplish as a human being; and I thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your Call upon my life to be yoked with You in this eternal, Kingdom work.
Lord, may my life intimately know, and utterly fulfill, Your Heart.
Grant that we – as Your church - may fully set our hearts and lives to corporately and resolutely build Your Temple; that we may each put You and the work of inbreaking the Kingdom front and centre in our lives.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
For the Church to be true to her calling, her absolute and entire purpose must be to fulfill the Heart of God for her.
In His parable of the bags of gold, our Lord Jesus speaks to the overarching importance that - every Christian must know the heart of God intimately and strive utterly to please Him. (Ref: Matthew 25:14-30).
Like the servants who upon receiving the bags of gold, immediately “put his money to work and gained five bags more”, and the other who “gained two more” (Matthew 25:16, 25:17) and earned their Master’s congruous favor, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21, 25:23); our Lord Jesus teaches us that in no uncertain terms must our every purpose, enterprise and resolve – as His Church – be set absolutely, completely and relentlessly on winning our Master’s Heart.
To know God’s heart and to strive utterly to please Him is the sole reason for our corporate existence.
To be abhorrent in His sight is to know His heart, but fail to please Him.
Our Lord Jesus forewarns us in Matthew 25:24-29:
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.
29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
In this parable, his failure to act in the heart of the master earned for the servant a catastrophic rebuke that stripped him of everything, and condemned him to the second and final death - cast forever away from the Presence of God into “the lake of fire.” (Ref: Revelation 20:14).
Let’s be very clear.
This parable is not about providing Christians the mandate to go into business for God; or to double any worldly investments when we do.
The failure of the wicked servant that resulted in his condemnation to an eternal darkness reveals a far more austere and transcendent reality that we must embrace.
And this is especially evident when we consider Luke’s version (Ref: Luke 19:11-27) where “the servant who earned 10 minas was given authority of 10 cities” – in the clearest revelation that the good and faithful servant knows and serves the heart of the Master, and will receive the reward for acting according to God’s heart: which is, the immense blessing of sharing His happiness in being bestowed citizenship in His Eternal Kingdom.
The knowledge of God’s heart must result in a life devoted to entering His Kingdom through Christ’s finished work of atonement for our sins; living each day as Christ’s witness and in His Service by the Power of the Holy Spirit.
In the reality of His Gospel work in this present world, we – as His Church - must consequently realise that knowing God’s heart must be enfleshed in our corporate work of being fully aligned and radically engaged in the preaching of His Gospel and the revelation of His Love and Glory to the world.
What is God’s Heart for the Church?
The Bible reveals two precise instances that clearly reveals the Heart of God for His People.
2 Chronicles 7:1-3 - The Dedication of the Temple
7 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
2 The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it.
3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,
“He is good;
his love endures forever.”
The temple of God was built exactly in the divine specifications laid out; and now came time for the dedication.
Solomon prayed.
Fire came down from heaven and consumed all the offering and sacrifices.
The glory of God filled the temple.
Can you imagine this very scene – where the temple of God was filled with His presence and glory?
Can you imagine all the people kneeling down on the pavement “with their faces to the ground”, worshipping God and giving thanks to Him?
Now, can you imagine it happening to our church?
It is clear that this is the heart of God for His people.
The temple of God must be built for the sole purpose of invoking unqualified worship of the living God, and unreserved thanksgiving to Him.
The glory of God is clearly seen by His people; and they manifest His enduring goodness and love to the world around.
This is clearly the heart of God for His people.
And in another precise instance:
Acts 2:1-8 - The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Just like Solomon, they were all together in that one place – waiting and praying; when fire came down from heaven.
And not only did heavenly fire fill the place, it filled every disciple – with the very Presence of God that immersed and baptized them with the Power of the Holy Spirit for the sole purpose of fulfilling the heart of God for the Church: to preach and establish the Gospel through miraculous signs and wonders (Ref: Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8).
Like the people who “knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground” in worship and thanksgiving unto the living God, the Apostles witnessed the same, supernatural outcome after the Holy Spirit’s sermon spoken through the Apostle Peter:
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:36-41)
Can you imagine the place where the disciples were waiting and praying; when they were each filled with the Power of God?
From that holy place where the glory of God came to rest upon every disciple, the Gospel was preached and established in the miraculous Power of the Holy Spirit – and on that day, three thousand were convicted, baptized and became disciples of Jesus Christ.
There can be no doubt.
The revelation of His Power and Glory in His temple and through us - is the heart of God for the church.
For us, that “one place”; that place of equivalence to the temple that Solomon built unto God – is the building which we corporately deem as God’s house and where we corporately gather in the Name of our Lord Jesus – to worship, to fellowship; for discipleship in mutual love and service; and in Spirit-empowered ministry and missions.
Victoria Chinese Pentecostal Church, that “one place” for us is at 2215 Dowler Place - the place that God has consecrated for His Glory sake.
We – as the church of Jesus Christ – must build His Temple, our spiritual home here on earth, in determined preparation and anticipation that His Glory and Power would fill both His temple and our very lives.
To know and fulfill the heart of our Master: is to wholly set our hearts and lives to corporately and resolutely build His Temple; that we may each and all put God and His Work on Kingdom in-breaking front and centre in our lives once again.
In the reality of Christ’s parable and these two historical accounts covered today, the heart of God becomes so clear to us:
- We must each be part of the work of building the Temple of God;
- We must each be filled with the Power of the Holy Spirit;
- We must each deeply desire to witness the Glory of God in His Temple.
Church, let us begin to get excited in the Power and Glory of God that will be revealed in our obedience to be filled with His Power and our desire to witness His Glory fall upon His Temple.
Let us build the Temple of God!
I invite you to ENVISION with me that right here at our Church Building at 2215 Dowler Place:
- Souls being given over to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ;
- The sick healed, the lame walking again, the blind seeing again, the dead brought back to life;
- Pastors and missionaries receiving their calls to the Lord’s work and harvest fields;
- The multitudes receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit and breaking out in tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance.
Don’t just conceptualize or theorize these visions; let the Holy Spirit fill your minds and hearts to actually see the faces of the people who will receive the supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit through us!
God desires to use us in His glory and power!
Pray with me! Believe with me! This is God’s Heart and His will for our church.
Mark my words.
Building the temple of God together, would be the greatest, most meaningful, most fulfilling, most eternal work that you could ever be a part of – not only as a Christian – but as a human being.
The work of building the temple of God - through a life filled with the Power of the Holy Spirit and filled with the deepest desire to witness the glory of God in His temple - is the greatest work any human being can every undertake; and that divine opportunity is right before us today.
Which returns us to the prophetic word of God for our church in this season of revival ahead:
“2021 will be a year of passionate revitalisation for the Church both spiritually and physically; the year that we will receive a fresh power and anointing from God to radically bring His Glory and inbreak His Kingdom upon this land through signs and wonders; the year we will rebuild our corporate altar before the Lord and recommit to a greater and more glorious season of making disciples of all nations by the Power of the Holy Spirit!”
Church, let us set our hearts and lives to realise God’s heart for our church.
Let us participate in the greatest work that any human being can ever undertake – to build the temple, and be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to witness the glory of God in His temple.
For after all, Christ will return and settle accounts with us. (Reference: Matthew 25:19)
He has entrusted us with the bags of physical gold - the land and building at 2215 Dowler Place.
He has blessed us with the bags of spiritual gold - a spiritual heritage of deeply faithful and obedient servants; our brothers and sisters in Christ who came before us.
When He returns, are we confident of giving Him the report that would earn us the words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’?
Or will we be stripped of everything and cast away into the eternal darkness?
Church, we know the Heart of our God. We know better. Let us act to fulfill His Heart and His Heart alone.
With His Spirit’s Power, let us build His Temple; let us anticipate His Power and Glory filling His Temple; and let us look forward to His Revival of the land.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your revelation of our Calling to be the People of God, and the Church of Jesus Christ.
Fill me with Your Power! That I may be found willing and worthy of giving of my time, effort and finances to the building of Your Temple.
Thank You for the intimate revelation Your Heart, O God.
Grant me strength and wisdom to strive utterly to please You.
I believe that You have consecrated the land and building at 2215 Dowler Place, our spiritual home here on earth – Your Temple.
As we work towards revitalising the interior of Your Temple; we believe that Your Spirit is at work reviving the interior of our hearts.
Grant us the courage, faith, strength and resolve to build Your Temple, O God.
May I be the good and faithful servant who knows and serves Your heart; in the deepest assurance that I will receive the reward for acting according to Your heart: which is, the immense blessing of sharing in Your happiness, being bestowed citizenship in Your Eternal Kingdom.
May my life be devoted to entering Your Kingdom through Christ’s finished work of atonement for our sins; living each day as Christ’s witness and in Your Service by the Power of the Holy Spirit.
I pray that we would, as a church, be fully aligned and radically engaged in the preaching of His Gospel and the revelation of His Love and Glory to the world.
Holy Spirit, let this work begin in me!
Baptize me in Your Fire and Power that I may fulfill the Heart of God as part of Christ’s body – and empower us, Your church, to preach and establish Your Gospel through miraculous signs and wonders. (Ref: Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8)
Fill my heart with the utmost desire to witness Your Glory fill Your Temple here at 2215 Dowler Place; and fill my mind with visions of Your Miraculous Works – convicting the hardened and unbelieving to give their lives to Jesus, healing the sick, delivering the oppressed, restoring the multitudes to Your Kingdom Truth, and in answering Your glorious calling for Your chosen servants to enter Christian ministry and mission.
Thank You for revealing Your heart for Your Church; and for giving us the Power to fulfill our task of preaching and establishing Your Gospel through the building of Your Temple.
I acknowledge that this is the greatest work that I would ever accomplish as a human being; and I thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your Call upon my life to be yoked with You in this eternal, Kingdom work.
Lord, may my life intimately know, and utterly fulfill, Your Heart.
Grant that we – as Your church - may fully set our hearts and lives to corporately and resolutely build Your Temple; that we may each put You and the work of inbreaking the Kingdom front and centre in our lives.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.