Principle & The Principles of Grace

All right, as I am often, I do when I start, I go back and review a little bit. Actually, Jeremy, do you need a lesson 13? Sorry about that. We're going to go back real quick and just go over a couple of the things. First of all, I know we're beating this into you, but it helps to be repeated. If you're like me, I need it a hundred times. So what is the definition of grace that we've been working with? It should be just on your tip of your tongue, just like that. Everybody shouting it out. Somebody. I'm married and I've never been to death. Glory to God. Fantastic. Grace is the unmerited and unlimited blessings from God, based on what? The totally adequate work of Christ.

You know, there were a couple of quotes as I was going through The Hungry Heart. I don't know if you guys have that or whatever. The Hungry Heart that Miles put together. A bunch of different writers, and on kind of a daily basis, reading it. And a couple of them, as I was going through, I saw some that As we're going through grace and what it is, one of them was, and I thought this was very apropos for what we're going through with grace.

This was, the law demands love God. So the law demands love God. Grace declares God so loved the world. I think that was a great contrast between law. Law, love God. It's going to force you to do it. But under grace, you look at it from here, He's pouring out His love to you. You're not, you know, love Him under the law.

I thought that was good. The other one was, the believer is placed before the Father according to the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ and is, according to the Father's eye and heart, as is beloved, nothing less. When this goes back to a lot of our identification, our co-crucifixion, our putting to death the old man, and now a new creature in Christ, and what is that life? That life is in Christ. So when God sees you, He sees you in Christ. You're a new creature in Christ. So is this one, you know, according to the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ and according to the Father's eye and heart, as His beloved, there's nothing less.

He looks at us the same way. I brought that one out because when you think about what grace is, what is grace? The unmerited, unlimited blessings. How can He do that to me? He sees me in Christ. He sees His Son. Does the Father not love His Son with unlimited love? He sees us the same way. So when we get into grace, logical, the engineer that I am, two and two together, if He loves us as much as His Son, it goes without saying, He wants to pour out all of His blessings, unmerited, unlimited blessings to us. Because we're in Christ, He sees us in Christ. Now, we have to receive that grace, we have to understand it and live in that grace, but He's just pouring it out.

And why? Because He loves us as His Son. How do we live under grace? Is it by a set of rules? Is it by a set of laws? Is it by a really cool new program that everyone is doing and there's a best-selling book that you can buy that shows you the way? Is that the way?

Principles. Principles. Two different things. Principles and commandments. Specific commandments in the New Testament. There are some things that we have that in the New Testament that says, don't do this. There are several commands. I don't know, Mike, you had something, I think it listed them out, how many there were or something. There's a ton of them for us. They're logical commands. If you are in Christ, you will do this.

But does that cover everything? Do we get a new set of laws every week from the Lord? That now we have TVs. We have high-def TVs and we have cable and we have internet. Do we get a new set of principles each week? A new set of commands that covers everything? This week it is, we're going to the Avalanche game tonight. Thou shalt not do that. Do we get a new set of rules today? No. There are specific commands in there that we have, but then there's also, which is really cool, is principles.

Mike and I have talked a little bit about this, and anybody who teaches. Teachers get ten times as much as you guys. I hate to say that, I hate to say that, but we get as much. When we study this, I am amazed when I look at how God has set up grace, the principle of grace, and how we function in it.

We have specific commands, but it doesn't cover everything. So we're under principles. So one, it's imperative that we know what those principles are. A lot of people have traditions that become principles, but they're not in the scripture. So we have to know what those principles are.

But it's really cool, and a lot of what the lesson is today and next week is freedom and liberty, what that means. And as I've studied this more and more, I'm just more enamored with the Lord. I'm more excited about the Lord and what I have in the Lord through grace. It is so cool that we don't have the book that says, today, here are the 15 rules, bingo, measure up. We don't have that. And we have so much more freedom than when we're in bondage and sin.

It is un... I might go back to the word that I pounded you guys all the time, rest. If you had a whole bunch of rules, it's effort. It's your effort. It's trying to measure up. When you're under principle, you have amazing freedom, amazing liberty, amazing rest. And the more I study this, the more I just get excited about these things. It is really cool that it's not do's and don'ts only. There are commandments. But principles, and when you understand that, it is so liberating.

So, what are the basic principles? I think Mike covered this last week, and I just want to go over this again. What are the basic principles for believers to determine if a behavior is okay for us? There are four things Mike brought out. Number one, and that's probably, I think, the key. Does it master you? Does it master you? Can you give it up? Can you live without it? If God takes it away, do you crumble into a heap? Does it mask you?

Number one. Another one. You guys are right in the line. You guys are perfect. Mike, you did a great job. I know. Remember what we talked about when we... We haven't talked about it. Anyway, yeah, does it cause a stumble? Now, what is the... Now, the big question is, what is the difference between a stumble and a fence? That's a key issue because typically you'll get the stumbling push to everything. I'm drinking coffee. Does that cause you to stumble? to cause the other person to sin. Exactly. Stumbling is bringing somebody back. Your action brings somebody back into a sinful behavior.

And this goes back into the meat of the temple. In the old days of the early church, the meat was given at the temple. And he went there and ate. Well, at the temple where the temple prostitutes and how he got close to God was you use the temple prostitutes. So by eating the meat of the temple with a new believer, he's going, hey, I'm going to go back and get that steak at the temple. Oh, and by the way, I remember those good old days. I'm going to go right back to it. So that was what Paul brings out about eating the meat of idols and how you cause to stumble.

Now, what is an offense? Excellent answer. It's your problem. An old brother used to tell me, and I've held this since he told me this, you choose to be offended. There's nothing you can do to me to offend me unless I choose to be offended. Just remember that when you're offended. You chose that. Slap me. You can tell me I'm whatever. You can take my daughter. You can do whatever. Don't get nervous.

She's looking very nervous. I would not want that. I would choose to be offended at that point. But anything you do, when you are offended, it's your choice. So remember that when you're offended. It's you. So, I've always held that, you know, that when I'm... That's me. Whatever they did, I chose to be offended.

Yeah. All this is relating to the body of Christ. Yeah. Not about unbelievers. Well, offense can be either. I mean, but in the body of believers, yes. Applying that within the body is the critical aspect. But even if they're a non-believer and they do something to you, you are still the one who chooses to be offended. Which is, like I said, just something to look at when you get offended. Look in the mirror. That's the one who's offended.

The other two things about the principles we live by. Principles for believers to determine if a behavior is okay for us. Two more. Loving? Yeah, that's actually one of the principles. That was kind of a corollary with one, yeah. Hinder the gospel? Yeah.

Actually, both of what you said kind of go to the two last points, which was does it edify? Does it build up in love? And does it glorify God? You know, if I'm hindering the gospel or I'm doing something contrary to scripture, does that glorify God? No. So the four things, does a Mass for you cause someone to stumble? Does it edify or glorify God? All right, quick review, sorry, a little longer. Let's get into lesson 13 now. This is kind of, you know, we've gone a lot of the principles now, or the kind of the basics of grace. We're now kind of the shoe leather part of it.

How does it work? I mean, how do you, when we say, you know, live under the principle of grace, live under grace, what does that mean? So we're kind of getting a lot of the things, kind of more of the how-to's, not how-to's, but what does that look like? Okay, first one, are there specific things in scripture that detail human rights? And after I wrote that, I said maybe the better term would be, are there areas where God gives human authority?

Am I going to have to do the mic chicken routine? Yes, I think we're forcing that. How many think God gives humans authority? Raise your hand. How many think he does not? How many? Boy, there are chickens. Now I can already do this. There are chickens out there. What do you think? He does or doesn't? Why? Bruce, name one. He allows people to be placed over others to be in the garden. Yes, and OK, get a couple of people. George, you want to read?

Can you read Romans 13, 1 through 3? Yeah, 1 through 1 and 2, excuse me. Bruce, can you do Ephesians 5, 22 through 24? And Jeremy, can you do Ephesians 6, 1? Yeah, 13, 1, and 2. So what does that say? Huh? It says that there's authorities. There are authorities. There's governments. So God has given authority. He's Portioned off part of his authority and given it to governments Okay Bruce 522 through 24 The husband is head of the way is also the Christ is head of the church and he is the Savior of the body and Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands and heirlooms.

So, what does that say? It's not about responsibility of the husband. Well, but yeah, I mean, I hadn't even gotten to that one. I hadn't even gotten to that one. What is this one? What does this say? It's the authority of the wives in the marriage. Right, and wives in submission to husbands. See, that's a short one. The one you get then is about husbands. It's a page-long one. I just went for this one because it's short and sweet and submissive, but you're absolutely right.

The husbands have a page of requirements. But what does this say about authority? God has given some of the authority in the family to the husbands over wives. There's an authority there. Submissive, be submissive. There's a whole lot of requirements with that. But we'll also see with those authorities and what that means. We'll detail about when authorities and what they mean and what sphere they have and what that means.

Jeremy, Ephesians 6.1.

Okay, what does that say? Yeah, God says, children obey your parents. Children obey your parents. So he's carved off a little bit of authority to parents. We'll get into this more a little bit today and more in lesson 14, is where those lines of authority are, what the spheres of them are, and when you cross over ones, when you mix them, when you do things, that's not in God's order. And a lot of times we do that. that these authorities jump, you try and have your authority over another. And that's not what God said.

Okay, Mike, I want you to read 1 Timothy 5.17. You'll love this one. You know this one. You may not know it.

First Timothy 5.17. Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. That's my collection plate. So what does that say? Church. What? Authority in the church. Authority in the church. Elders, what does it say? So there is some authority given to elders.

I didn't want to put that thing on Mike, but who rule well. I don't know if there's one who ruled poorly, if there's a sub-category to that, but I don't... I like Hebrews 13, 17 better. So beg them to have the rule over you and submit to them. And here's the reason why. When they watch on behalf of their souls and they shall give account. Hebrews 13, yeah. If you didn't hear that, that is one where, you know, when you're an elder and you want to become an elder, you start reading verses like that. Tell you what, you know I have gray hair? Because you are going to be held accountable for the sheep that you shepherd.

So, you know, and it says rule well. You know, when you're an elder, you don't take it lightly. You are put in a position by God, not by man, but by God, to rule well over a congregation. He shaved off some authority and delegated it to an elder. And when you read the requirements of an elder, I told Mike when he was doing it, you've got to be crazy. All the things that would an elder want, the requirements of it, but then things like this.

You'll be held accountable. It's tough. Yeah, Bruce. Is that involved in your brain hair? No, that's a result of, you know, when you were an elder, I was an elder at another church for many years. You have a love for the sheep. If you don't, you'll never survive as an elder. One, you shouldn't be an elder unless you have a love for the sheep. Sheep being the congregation. If you don't have that, you'll never survive.

And as the verses that Mike read, you're accountable. And when you look at teachers, that's another one, as I stand up here and teach, there are some requirements on teaching that will keep you up at night sometimes. That's why we spend a lot of time in the Word, a lot of time praying about this, because it's a responsibility. But again, getting to the point is, we've established that God has given humans authority. Not all. He's just given shaved off portions to humans to have authority. So there is that. Now, number two. What happens when a human rule or authority orders something that is not in harmony with Scripture? Let me give you an example. If you have a husband that is an unloving bum that watches TV all day and leaves his socks and underwear all over the house, is this cause not to be under his God-given authority? What? Yes? No. No's? Right.

As a child, you have a parent that is mean and controlling. Can you disobey the parent under these circumstances? Is there a clause that says that? What about an elder who teaches from the scripture on something that you don't like? Do you have the right to ignore that teaching? Does it mean taught accurately? Accurately, yes.

It's from the Word. Stan? Doesn't it say obey your parents in the Word? Yeah, but that's how you're able to do it. Not on your own. But I think also they need to be responsible as well. Oh yes, that part of it is on them. As a parent, do not provoke your child to anger, do not provoke them to wrath. There are a whole bunch of requirements on us as parents that he's given us some guidelines. But the obeying part is on the children. That's how I say it, if you've got a mean old daddy. Don't look at me like that.

Does that give you cause to disobey? No. When can you disobey the authority that God has established? Under what circumstances? It goes against scripture. If Mike is teaching that you need Christ and Paul, you have to accept Paul into your heart, or whatever. Do you follow that? No, it's not scriptural.

If you're teaching that, you don't have to obey that. What about if I teach that you have to tie it? And see, that's incumbent upon us about whether it's scriptural or not. I can say, sure it is, I can show you. Yeah, and I guess at that point you make the decision, you scripturally go after it. But, I'm to obey you, you know? And if I can prove scripturally it's not. And then also, you know with that, there's a whole process of this, you know, if I do that, I can't just carte blanche say, either disobey or obey.

There's procedures that are, I don't want to say procedures, but ways that you approach an elder or an individual. Individually, with a couple, more than to the elders, as a group, congregation. There's some laid out processes how you do it. So it's not just Mike and I tithe. There are ways to see whether it's scriptural or not. And if it keeps coming back that it is scriptural, you obey. Go ahead.

What I had in mind was the Christian cuss word, dispensationalism, that specifically in our class, is designed to show that we live under an operating system of grace and that there is no case for the laws of Moses and any of the Jewish system to be brought into Christianity. We live in a Christian environment today in which covenant theology which does bring in the Hoseaic law into the Christian environment.

I think maybe you and I understand that law isn't to be brought in, but if we're teaching law, and I as a student, or you as a student are listening to it, then you have the right, I think, you have the freedom to say that's not correct doctrine for me. But you have to, that's what I was saying, I went to the process of it, I can't, because there's going to be something like, you know, our identification truths, and you say, go pound sand. I mean, you scripturally have to go through a process of saying why that is not scriptural, and then making that decision of being under that authority or not. So in order for me to submit myself absolutely under the authority of a teaching elder, do I have to agree with him doctrinally on every point?

No, I don't think so. You know, I think you can live... The way is that you're still under his authority. You're not... You know, we can agree to disagree. That's kind of a weird statement, but that's very true. But I'm okay to be under your authority still. I don't agree with that, and it's incumbent upon me not to go out and divide the group. You agree with me, don't you? You agree with me, because there's things of gossip, slander, all sorts of other things. But we can disagree. And it's okay. I'm still under your authority. But I'm not doing other things that would be corollary to that.

Yeah, Jeremy. doesn't each authority have certain parameters for that authority? For instance, the elders authority isn't cross-border. I can tell you, I don't know what you're talking about, but I can tell you anything. It's different for a parent, and it's different for the husband. Not everyone always operates within that parameters.

But from the, the submissive person's viewpoint. Do you just recognize those parameters? Or do you say, I'm going to submit to the authority as long as it doesn't violate God's authority? How is our response in regards to the premise of authority? Lesson 14. We'll get into those spheres of authority, and that's exactly right. And we'll get into that. I don't want to get too ahead, but it's like, I'm a parent. Okay? Children obey their parents. So I'm a parent. Tristan, Kaylee, you obey me. Does that make sense? Well, I'm a parent. They're children. Oh, they're not mine.

So we'll get into those parameters and those areas. When God gives authority, there are specific parameters, spheres of authority, limits to that authority, a whole bunch of things. I'm a husband. Debbie, you're a wife. You crazy? No, there are parameters, spheres, all that we'll get into on the next one. Yes, sir? I just had a thought. Would you say that the authority that God, as you say, cars off to different husbands, elders, parents, they all still fit under the parameters of the four principles, don't they?

They do. They don't. None of these authorities will contradict God's character, scripture, principles, None of them will do that. If they do, is that a valid authority? A valid application of that authority? That was the whole thing. If it contradicts scripture, does that authority still apply?

This was given, some of this was given under the reign of Nero, which has a terrible, terrible control environment. However, when, and they would live under that of any of the authority, which was terrible. But if they were asked to deny Christ, they would refuse and die. That's exactly, we'll get to that a little bit.

That's exactly right. When was this written? Good old Nero. You guys spend a week writing up all the positive aspects of Nero for me, okay? He was a great guy. Great guy. Watch him burn. Nero was horrid. This was written about him. Be in subjection to authority? Government? Nero? Did it say? Except for Nero. He's a real pain. Everybody but him. Was there a corollary there?

And what he said, I think it's important to realize that. If you're told to do something against scripture, there are going to be consequences, and you need to be willing to accept that. In today's society, there's almost this idea that, well, you're staying on principles, so there you have carte blanche, but if you're staying on the principles, nobody can touch you. But we need to realize, if I'm supposed to submit to the hero, and he says, deny Christ, and I don't, there's going to be consequences, and I need to be willing to accept those.

Yeah. And I don't have, okay, now you're free, nobody can touch you, because he's standing on principles. Yeah. No, it all goes back to, you know, being authority that doesn't contradict scripture. You know, if it contradicts scripture, that authority does not apply. But you said is right.

You're subject to the consequences of that. I like the military application because In the military, the authority keeps going up the line. In our case, you know, the ultimate authority is the Word of God and God himself. And he's the one that gives certain authority under certain circumstances to people and they abuse that authority. You can go up to the next level. For us, really, going to God, going to the Word, it could be an intermediate process of going to the elders, but our ultimate authority is God and His Word. That's the final one. That's the final judge of an authority. There's a great example of that in Acts 527-29. I'll read it. We just went through this on our Tuesday study. And this was just that very thing.

When the apostles were before the Sanhedrin, Acts 527-29. When they had brought them, they stood before the council, which was the Sanhedrin, this is the high council, this is the ruling authority, brought before them. The high priest questioned them, saying, We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. The authority said, don't teach.

This was an authority given by God. God didn't say, oops, missed that one. It was given by God. But what was the response? Peter and the apostles answered, we must obey God rather than men. That's the principle on authority right there. Do you obey God or the authority that is going contrary to that?

They did it. We must obey God. No question. God's Word. Again, the whole thing is you have to know what God says. That means getting into the Word and understanding what goes on. What He has for us. What He has. Looking at the epistles. Looking at all those. That's the structure. How we are to live. That's where you look. That's where you decide whether it's in accordance with scripture, in accordance with God or not. And it is a contrary. That authority that you're under is a contrary to God. But you have to know.

What does Christian freedom mean? I always do the thing. Whenever I give a definition, I always go to Webster just for grins and giggles. Webster's definition of freedom is the quality or state of being free, independence, exemption or release, a political right. As a Christian, are you free? Yes? How many think yes? Oh, that's refreshing. Who have we got back there? Ingrid, do you want to read one?

Galatians 5.1. 5.1?

Galatians 5.1. That was a good one too, but 5.1.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Alright, so what does that say in the New King James Version? Stand fast therefore in what? The liberty by which Christ has made us free. And do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. The New American Standard has it, it was for freedom that Christ has set us free. Therefore, standing firm and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.

So, are we free? What does scripture say? We're free! We're free, but we're going to look at a lot of different things, what that freedom is and what that liberty is. In actuality, the New King James has it liberty and free. When you look at it in the Greek, the Greek word for liberty and free are the same word. That's why I read the New American Standard too, it was for freedom that Christ set us free.

It's the same word. Craig's not around, so he won't blister me for my Greek pronunciation of this. Eleuthera. And it's the same word for both liberty and free in the King James, or freedom and free set us free in the New American Standard. So it's the same word, liberty or freedom. They're the same one, freedom. I guess one thing I want to ask. Does it mean this freedom? Amen. Lots of yeses up here for freedom. Does that mean you can do as you please?

I'm free. Yes, Stan. I'm on the Denver Bronco team. My condolences in advance. No. I'm free to do everything that's in that environment underneath my shanahan. If I play on the Kansas City game, I'm under a different environment under a different coach. So when I'm a Christian, I'm in the environment of Christ. Yeah, and that's right. Can you do us a please? Keep him happy. That's an interesting one. Your behavior is what makes God happy?

No. Good. That's the whole identification and there are no metrics now. The old man's dead, we don't have to. We have measured up as new creatures in Christ. So it's not what we do. We have the freedom to operate within the operating system of grace.

Thank you, that's awesome. In real estate, we refer to ourselves as a time of need and we all have limited time and area. Oh, interesting. Mike's ears just perked up. Another sale. Jeremy, you have something? I'll just use the word environment. I think we talk about operating system. I think environment is another good word to help us. It's not that we're, you know, just totally out there, we're moving from one environment with certain, that as we rule by certain things, we're in a different environment now. I mean, there's still things that govern, if you can use that word, but it's a different environment in which we're now in, a different operating system that we've been using. Yeah, and we'll get to some other things related to that.

Is there any freedom outside of Christ? Is there any freedom outside of Christ? There is no freedom. In fact, some of the verses we'll get to, if you're outside of Christ, what does it say? Bondage. Bondage to sin. Is there freedom there in the bondage? Nope. I think we live in a society where we're bombarded with freedom being autonomous, which means that we're self-directed, that we decide that we can do whatever we want I think physical freedom has nothing to do with autonomy because we are created to be self-directed.

You guys are so good. You're getting ahead of all the things I'm doing. This is good. The great thing about in Genesis when Lucifer or Satan tempted Eve, that's exactly where he went at it. You can be autonomous. You can do what you want. Look out there. You look out there. Look at all this. You can have it all. You can do whatever you want. It's how you try to attack it. Stan, you had something else?

I want to go back to what you said about actions. And I understand where you're coming from. But ultimately, it's either our thoughts or our actions. Because that's who we are. Our mind directs our body to perform certain actions. the original thought begins in the mind. Fundamentally, the two things that we project forward in our environment is our thoughts and our actions. Is God happier when your thoughts and things are directed? Does he smile on you a little bit more because you're doing something for the Lord?

Teaching, you're helping a little old lady across the street. I don't know. Does he smile on you a little bit more because of that? Well, he loves me as I am. That's the whole thing. It doesn't matter what you do. It's because of who I am within that environment. Right. The thing that I'm getting at is it doesn't matter. He's pouring out grace that's unlimited, unmerited. It doesn't matter what you do.

What happens when you step outside of that and you're manifesting the old man? What do you do? You lose fellowship. That's what you lose. He's there. He's pouring out his grace, his mercy, his everything. You're just not looking at it right now. He doesn't do anything based on your action to smile a little bit more. He's a little happier at it because you were walking in the Spirit today. What you have now, though, is the fellowship. When you're walking by the Spirit, you're in the fellowship. And He's pouring out His grace to you. So I just want to get to the point that it's not what you do that predicates His love or His pouring out of things.

In James chapter 2, Verse 18, James says, For someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works. The point being that the believer's standing and faith before God is invisible to the enemy. And so we don't have to demonstrate to God that we're faithful. He already understands the position of Christ.

Confusion comes when we try to say, well, in order for me to be justified before God, I've got to demonstrate that justification before men. No, I don't. But a man can look at another man and say, I can see your faith only by your works. I can't see it just because you say it. Because it's inside. Because this relationship has to be established first, and that's invisible to men before this can take place. Right. Yeah, no, absolutely good point. So these works are because of... It's because of who you are. Right, it's because of who you are. That's who you are in Christ. When you're identified with Him, it's our conformity, our maturity. As we become who we are in Christ, it's just manifested. You know, that's who I am in Christ.

As Mike says, you're a dog, you don't need to tell a dog how to bark. He barks, because he's a dog. As I become more Christ-like, that's who I am. That's what's manifested out. So it's not, you know, I'm trying. It's just who I am in Christ. Yeah, if you're walking. Another couple of ones before we have the three seconds left. I just want to get through.

This freedom that we have, does it mean we're not obligated to service? Use our gifts. Empowered by the Holy Spirit. So, we're free. We don't have to do a thing. Is that what it says? Freedom? Christian freedom? What about Does it mean that there is no authority over us? That's an easy one. I'm free. Okay. Well, we got through three of them. Yes. Yes. We'll finish out and expand on a lot more of this on the spirit.

A lot of the things you guys touched on, it's great. It's fantastic. You're already ahead of where I'm going to and where, you know, you guys are picking it up. It's really, really, amazing when you start thinking about the principles and how we live and the freedom that we have versus what we thought we had before. This freedom. While we were in bondage, now we are free. Free to serve, free to do a whole bunch of different things. Alright, let's close.

Heavenly Father, we thank you. Thank you again just for this time. We thank you for just delving into your Word. We thank you as we explore your grace. It is like just touching our toes, wading out into an ocean that never ends. We thank you just for your unlimited, unmerited blessings to us. As we come to understand that more and more, we are just drawn to you. You woo us with your grace.

So Father, we just pray as we go out this week, just draw us to you through your grace and give us more understanding. Grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. So Father, we just commit this day and this upcoming week to you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.