Do Not Worry About What Is Up Ahead

Deuteronomy 1.19-46
v.22

When Jesus said, "Do not worry about tomorrow," He meant it literally. Do not worry about the next day. For us, "Do not worry about Monday." He also meant it in reference to our tomorrows- in essence the future.

This is not a message against planning. The wise plan and are prepared.
This is a message about going ahead of God and not looking to Him for direction.
It is not a message which despises using our brain.
It is a message about completely trusting the LORD for tomorrow, for our tomorrows.

Proverbs 3.5-6

The reasoning of the spies sounded good but it wasn't sound. It left God out of the planning.
He deserves to be at the center. It is the wisest thing to put Him at the center. Life becomes balanced when Christ is at the center and all things revolve around Him. If something or someone or some love gets that place you are out of balance.

Worrying is placing your problems at the center.
It can take on different forms:
*It can be fretting in our hearts and minds.
*It can be trying to figure out how God is going to work.
*It can be taking all sorts of action to find out what is ahead.

1. Sending Our Thoughts Ahead. -v.22a
Let us send men ahead.
Look at v.21 They had God's Word.
Look at vs. 32-33 They had a visible proof of His Presence.
v.33 He went ahead of them They ended up getting ahead of Him. See how bad this was. They put themselves in God's place. They became the leaders of their own thinking and figuring out how they could take on the enemy.

I Corinthians 10.11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the Fulfillment of the Ages has come.

Sending our thoughts ahead we can imagine horrible scenarios.

v.39 And the little ones that you said would be taken captive... they will enter the land!
This thinking ahead leaves God out.
With God's Word, God's Presence and God's Record of His Faithfulness in the past v.30 they still projected, without reliance on God.

To not believe God's Word is to make Him out to be a liar.
To not acknowledge His Presence is to trample the Son of God underfoot (Hebrews 10.29a)
To not allow the Past Faithfulness of God to encourage and help us face the future is to insult the Spirit of Grace. (Hebrews 10.29b)

Do not take thought about tomorrow. Matthew 6.34

Another thing we need to watch out for as we seek to obey Jesus' instructions concerning not worrying about tomorrow is:

2. Spying Out Rather Than Listening to God. -v.22b
Let us send men ahead to spy out the land for us....
This was not God's idea, neither is there any record of them seeking the LORD about it.
Once again this sounded good but it was not sound. Like the erroneous teaching today that God wants everyone rich. Sounds good- eliminate poverty, everyone has a piece of the pie, etc. But it is not sound teaching. Jesus said, "The poor you will always have with you."

Look at what this action begot. vs.26-28

Here is an example of human policy over Divine Wisdom. God will take care of enemies. This was true under the Old Covenant for Israel and is true under the New and Eternal Covenant for Christ's Church.

Don't be anxious about anything Philippians 4.6 Anxiety leads to poor decisions- decisions based on anxious worrisome thoughts and not on God's Word. Never make a major decision in time of distress- Fenelon.

Finally... Watch out for:

3. Setting Your Mind On Your Own Understanding. -v.22c
Let us send men ahead to spy out the land for us and bring back a report about the route we are to take and the towns we will come to.

The way we take- the route
What is up ahead- the towns we will come to.

v.32 is the solution Proverbs 3.5-6 is the way to live.

For some of us Jesus' words, "Do not worry about tomorrow" seem impossible. Before you beat yourself up remember a whole generation (600,000 plus men) failed in this area. Jesus taught us to pray for forgiveness for our debts, trespasses and sins in the LORD's Prayer. If you fall short you have an Advocate with the Father.

For those of us who are strong in the faith, let us bear with the weak, encourage the timid and be merciful to those who doubt. God help us as we make our way to Heaven. Let's see to it that no one misses the grace of God.

Alive Forevermore!

Revelation 1.9-18

We are told in John 20.1 that the event of Jesus' Resurrection took place on the first day of the week. Let's read that stirring account John 20.1-20.

John had received The Revelation of Jesus Christ (v.1) on the LORD's Day (v.10)
He is describing Jesus in these verses in His Resurrected Glorified Body/ Christ words to John (vs.17-18) are full of assurance and blessing. Each time Jesus spoke of Life and Death and Life about Himself or His followers He spoke with grace, blessing. peace, hope and heaven. He spoke of eternity.

In His Own words, "Don't be afraid. I am the first and the last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever!"

1. Jesus said, "I am the Resurrection and the Life." John 11.25
He spoke these words at at the home of Mary and Martha while their brother Lazarus lay in the tomb. He speak these words to us today, we who have laid loved ones who were His friends in the grave. He speaks these words to us about our own death if He does not come back before our days are over.

Christ brings hope to His followers when they are in the lowest places in their lives. In Grief, heartache, sorrow and even depression Christ is there! C.S. Lewis wrote, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our consciences but shouts in our pain."

Jesus raised the dead while He was here on earth so that those who followed Him would believe. Lazarus was one of those He raised. One day God will bring with Jesus all those who have died in Him. This promise is for His disciples today and through the ages: I Thessalonians 4.14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

There are a lot of people I am looking forward to seeing when Jesus comes again. What a Blessed Hope we have because Jesus rose from the grave!
He is the Life. Eternal Life is both quantitative (everlasting/no end) and qualitative Revelation 21.4 No more death, mourning, crying or pain

I am alive forever and ever.

2. Jesus said that On the third day He would be raised to Life. Matthew 20.19
He always spoke of His Resurrection when He spoke about His death. The cross was always tied in to eternal life and defeating death.
We should always speak of life when we speak of the death of someone who loved the LORD.
I love D.L. Moody's words, "One day you are going to read in the paper that Dwight L. Moody had died. Don't you believe it! For on that day I shall be more alive than I have ever been!"
Alive= Life
Forever= without end

Here on earth we expect to experience death, mourning, crying and pain
When we are on the other side these things will be done away with.
The New Jerusalem is a city without a cemetery- the only one!

Jonah - Matthew 12.39-40

I am alive forever and ever

3. The reactions to this news among His followers all ended in joy.
We already spoke of Peter and John and Mary Magdalene John 20.8-9, 10-18
There were the two on the Road to Emmaus Luke 24.13-35
There was the other Mary Matthew 28.1-10
There was Thomas John 20.19-29
There is you and I today v.29

I am alive forever and ever

Coming Into Jerusalem

Matthew 20.29-21.11

Reading the Gospels you find a major portion of each one devoted to Jesus' final week in Jerusalem. Reading through the Gospels you see Jesus' Words concerning what we call Holy Week, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. He spoke about His Passion to His disciples about His sufferings, death and Resurrection. In fact He always tied in His death on the cross to the His Resurrection.

We read in Luke 9.51 As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. This was long before the final week. He had Jerusalem and His death there in view when He created the heavens and the earth. We are to told in Revelation 13.8 that He was the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. God sent His Son to die on the cross for the sins of the whole world. This is part of the account with Nicodemus in John 3. Jesus told him (vs.14-15) Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert. so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.

With full knowledge of this Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday nearly 2,000 years ago. He rode in knowing it was His final days on the earth. He knew the cheers of the crowd shouting, "Hosanna" would be "crucify Him" of another crowd on before the week ended. He knew this Passover would be transformed into the LORD's Supper, which we take, proclaiming the LORD's death until He comes.

Notice some things about Jesus as He came into Jerusalem on this day.

1. Jesus answered to the Title, LORD, Son of David". 20.29-34

*That is Who He Is.
Matthew 1.1 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David.
21.9
Mark 12.35-37
*His Hour had come John 2.4, 12.20-28
He repeatedly told people whom He had healed not to tell anyone Who had done this. He knew that this would bring about conflict too early. Now the gathering storm was about to burst. He had spoken of His hour not yet coming previously. This is why He came John 12.27

So Jesus answered the call of Blind Bartimaeus while still in Jericho but
*He was headed to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast v.29

Coming to Jerusalem...

2. He Wept Over the City. Luke 19.37-44
He is weeping over cities in America today which are destroying themselves.
He is weeping over cities around the world where people are in darkness. Jonah 4.11
Bob Pierce's prayer, "Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God."

Jerusalem,
the center of worship, where Solomon built the temple.
the capital of Israel.
the place where the nations could come to worship (Court of the Gentiles)
the place where the Nation of Israel in its infancy was saved- Abraham and Isaac on Moriah

*They missed their day, their opportunity
Don't miss it- follow the LORD this day! Obey Him fully.

*It would have brought them peace.
Jerusalem destroyed 17 times, conquered 40.
Peace was within their grasp and they missed it.
Christ welcomed into a heart, a broken home, even His Church where He knocks to re-enter would bring peace within. If He is rejected hope is lost. Peace is eluded.
Jerusalem is now doomed to destruction, the consequence of shutting Christ out.

Finally as He comes into Jerusalem...

3. The Crowds Shouted "Hosanna" As He Rode in on a Donkey. 21.1-11
Psalm 118
vs.10-11
Jerusalem asked. The Galileans answered.
The whole city was affected, shaken, quaking, trembling agitated.
The disciples did what He said. His disciples do. -v.6
Many looked at Him as a temporary deliverer, one who would overthrow the Roman occupation and restore the kingdom to Israel. But His kingdom is not of this world. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and deliver people from the kingdom of darkness into His glorious light.

Now He makes intercession for the transgressors and His Church Isaiah 53.12

This is why He came into Jerusalem in Palm Sunday.

Following Jesus All The Way

Numbers 32.1-5

We are at the end of the wanderings of Israel in the Desert for 40 years. The parents of this entire generation are all gone. The new generation is now ready to go and possess the land. However there is a problem.

The problem is was not an economic or social one. It was not a governmental one. It was, at its root, a deeply spiritual problem. Many problems are. our nation faces a myriad of problems today but at the root of many of these is spiritual failure. The breaking of God's law, rebellion against His authority, ignoring what His Word says brings consequences to every strata of life.

1. Selfishness, Greed and Worldly Wisdom Must Be Put To Death If We Are Going To Follow Jesus. - v.1

Colossians 3.5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature.
Those who are rich have a special set of problems and temptations.
On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus met Bartimaeus in Jericho. He was a blind beggar. He cried out to Jesus and Jesus healed him and immediately Bartimaeus became part of the Palm Sunday Processional.

A little while prior to this a rich, young ruler came to Jesus seeking eternal life. After a brief conversation with the LORD he went away sorrowful because he had great riches. Jesus said to the disciples, "I tell you the truth; it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19.23 A blind beggar receives his sight and he leaves Jericho and follows Jesus. A rich, young ruler receives direction he asked for and he walks away because of his great wealth. Bartimaeus has his name written down in heaven and we know him and the unnamed young rich ruler has his name known on earth but not in heaven. Who is richer?

The Reubenites and the Gadites were allowing their very large herds and flocks to prevent them from entering the land God promised them.

There was and is a subtle danger after a great victory vs.4; 31.48-49
Pride came in and they began to lean on their own understanding. One of the things you see in Proverbs is this humility for the hearer/reader to submit to God's way against all reasoning and temptation, to look deeper into decisions and think about their consequences. Wealth can be so deceiving.
That is what happened to these tribes- They let down their guard and they had a lapse in judgment.

The Reubenites and the Gadites
were looking out for themselves, initially unconcerned about their fellow countrymen which were also family.
They completely disobeyed the LORD by not going into Canaan.
Israel's place was inside the Promised Land, not on its borders outside.

2. As We Follow Jesus We Need To Continue All The Way. -v.5

Do not make us cross the Jordan.

This was synonymous with (14.3) "Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?"
They came to the edge of God's Will but failed to enter. They were just outside.
They gave arguments to excuse their compromise. Such arguments can sound very convincing. (vs.16-19)

I have been a pastor for more than 32 years now. I have heard people come up with some pretty convincing arguments when compromising. It is convincing until you read God's Word. Then those arguments are foolish. I suppose I have had heard nearly an argument for each one of the ten commandments. It is so sad.

The tribes of Reuben and Gad and now the half tribe of Mannesah were making a decision based on material gain rather than on God's will. The China Inland Mission and many of the faith mission movements would never have been launched if the decision was based in finances or resources at hand. How many visions have been swallowed up by worldly wisdom.

We find the long term consequence of their choice and compromise.
I Chronicles 5.18-26 War
II Kings 15.29 Capture
Mark 5.1-17 Gadarenes

Unbelief, complacency, indifference to God's Word are things we must not allow to come and find a place in our hearts.

3. In Response To What Christ Did And Said, Follow Him. Matthew 16.24-27
Romans 12.1-2

Be devoted to the whole Kingdom of God.
Have a character expressing itself in obedience to God's Will.
Do not settle for anything less than being in the center of God's perfect will.
Honor Him by giving yourself (past, present and future) to Him.

Hebrews 10.35-36 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

You need to persevere

so that when you have done the will of God you will receive what He has promised.

The Sacrifice of the Lamb of God

Numbers 28.26-25, 29.7-11

The LORD desires to be at the center of our lives. This truth reverberates in God's Word from Genesis to Revelation, We see it this morning in Numbers.

*The day (Daily morning and Evening Sacrifices)
*The Week (With its Sabbath Days- the only time measurement not tied to astronomy)
*The Monthly Offerings
*The Feasts of Spring and Fall (During the Growing Season)
This system put together perfectly by a perfect God assured that the whole year and every day of it was filled with the worship of the LORD and a recognition of the deep need of Him in the life of every Israelite.

Christ is the fulfillment of the feasts. In Matthew 5.17 Jesus said that He had come to fulfill the law. This word "fulfill" has several meanings. It meant to cause to abound, to complete, to carry it out to its end, fill up to the brim. Each feast and offering had a common thread: Lambs, males a year old without any defect were offered to God in them.

When Jesus came to place at the Jordan River where John, the Baptist was ministering, John said, "Look the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1.29)
When the Apostle John received the Revelation of Jesus Christ, one of the elders in heaven said to him, "See, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David has triumphed (5.5) John wrote, "Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne." (5.6)

We read this morning about the Passover Feast and the Day of Atonement. In Christ's death both of the Old Testament rites were fulfilled. The feasts and holy days were like buds on a flower that blossomed as Christ fulfilled them. Wrapped around their growing season from beginning to end and involving their livestock, these special commemorative times in Israel had great meaning. The Israelites were shepherds and farmers. The sacrifices and offerings came from their work, a portion given to God. In Christ we understand Who/What they pointed to.

1. The LORD's Passover vs.16-25
This was the first of the feasts. It began the agricultural year.
This feast commemorated the LORD's passing over the houses of the Israelites when He struck down the first born of the Egyptians as recorded in Exodus.

This feast reminds us how Israel walked out of slavery by the Egyptians. God did the work. They were redeemed by placing the blood of the lamb on the door posts, after slaughtering it for the Passover meal.

I Corinthians 5.7 Christ, Our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed.
He died to take away the sin of the world. Deliverance from the bondage of it.
We ought to be giving thanks to Him continually for our salvation which was made possible through Jesus' death on the cross during the Passover which we now call Holy Week.

Genesis 22.8 God Himself will provide the lamb/ God will provide Himself the Lamb.

The Lamb of God, our Passover Lamb, died so our sins could be forgiven and rose again so we could live with Him eternally.

2. Christ's Atoning Sacrifice 29.7-11
Passover took place in the spring, The Day of Atonement in the fall.

The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, is about reconciliation between God and human beings. On this day only the High Priest officiated. It was a solemn, sad day. A day of fasting and being sorry for sins.

I John 2.1b-2 Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but the sins of the whole world.
Colossians 1.21-22
Hebrews 9.1-14
The Day of Atonement
A renewal, a restoration- bringing back into harmony God and man.
Then every 50th year there was the year of Jubilee. Each Israelite would get to live through at least one of these. It was on the Day of Atonement that the trumpet would sound proclaiming liberty to all Israelites who were in bondage to slavery and a return of property belonging to their ancestors. The Day of Atonement was a day of return and recommitment.

Christ's sacrifice of Himself brought deliverance from the devil's dominion, sets us free and takes back ground Satan stole. Satan is the prince of this world, who stands condemned. Jesus Christ is the King of kings and the LORD of lords Who will reign forever.

What a debt of love I owe. Here LORD I give myself away, tis all that I can do.
3. Our Response Romans 12.1-2
In view of God's mercies, offer your bodies as living sacrifices

Christ offered Himself up as the Lamb of God. He fulfilled the law, the Old Covenant.
Isaiah 53.6 The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He redeemed us by his own body.
Acts 20.28 the church of God which He bought with His own blood.
Ephesians 5.25 Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.

We are to offer ourselves up for Him, fully and completely. His blood purifies us from all sin. His Spirit gives us power to live for Him and to be His witnesses.

Share the Lamb! (Exodus 12.4)

A Shepherd's Heart

Numbers 27.12-23

Moses had quite a journey in his life. Rescued from death as a baby, brought up in Pharaoh's palace until he was 40, then as a fugitive he tended his father-in-law, Jethro's sheep for the next 40 years. During this time the LORD worked on him, making him a leader of men.

One of the things God looked for in those who would lead His people is that they had a heart of a shepherd.

Moses had one.
David did as well. Psalm 78.70-72
Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd." John 10.11
All the leaders of Christ's Church are to have Shepherd's hearts I Peter 5.1-4

After the leading of the nation for 40 years, 40 long years across the wilderness, Moses was not permitted to enter into the Promised Land because of a sin (vs. 13-14) that he and Aaron had committed.

Amazingly Moses didn't offer any rebuttal of protest to God's decision. After being given the news his concern went immediately to Israel and their need for a man to shepherd them.

We get a rare look into the heart of a true shepherd here in vs.15-17 If he can't go in his heart is there for those who are going into the Promised Land. What makes a shepherd's heart?

1. Submission to the will of God Whatever It Is. Hebrews 5.7

Moses accepted God's Will. Before the LORD, a man with a shepherd's heart has a deep desire to please His Master and His God.

Of course Christ is our supreme example.
John 10.11, 14-15 The good shepherd lays down His Life for the sheep. He rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, knowing that on Friday He would be crucified. He knew it was God's will. He is the Master of love.
His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane Luke 22.42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will but Yours be done."

We see this in Jesus' death, David's desire to build the temple and Moses entering the land.
Interesting also, isn't it how God's rewards in these lives were wonderful after they submitted to the will of their Father in Heaven?
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12.2

Part of a Shepherd's Heart is not only submission to the will of God but because the shepherd is a reflection of God Himself there is:

2. A Deep Interest In and Love For the People of God. Ezekiel 34.7-16

Moses was concerned that the nation would be sheep without a shepherd. He had the heart of Christ Jesus here. Matthew 9.36 When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Moses had this concern.

Sheep without a shepherd are helpless and hopeless- all their basic needs go unmet and they eventually die one way or the other. A true shepherd has a heart of concern for their well being. He carries them on His heart. Remember the breastplate of the High Priest?

Moses' greatest concern was for the people of God and not Himself.

Isaiah speaking about the ministry of Jesus writes:
40.11 He tends His Flock like a Shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His Arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those who have young.
Psalm 80.1 Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, You Who lead Joseph like a flock.
The LORD God is our Shepherd. David praised Him for many wonderful things in Psalm 23.
It is the heart of God being described in this Psalm and is this verse in Isaiah. He is carrying you close to His Heart this morning.

More than any other domesticated animal, sheep and their relationship with the shepherd is vital for their well being.

3. Christlikeness is seen in the true Shepherds of God's Flock. Philippians 1.7

I Peter 5.1-4 Jesus is the Chief Shepherd
willing to serve- eager to serve
not greedy for money
not lording it over those entrusted to you
being examples tot he flock

Hebrews 13.20-21

Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Just As Moses Lifted Up The Snake In The Desert

Numbers 21.4-9
John 3.1-18, 12.23-33

Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. He was with a secret disciple, Joseph of Arimethea at Jesus's death. (John 19.38-39). Jesus had a conversation with him about being born again. Nicodemus' lack of understanding led Jesus to share a familiar account with Israel's Teacher from their history, one that he would have taught himself.

Paul told the Corinthian Church in his first letter to them that when he was with them he determined to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

There are analogies to be made to this event in the desert and to our LORD's death on the cross. We ought to think about the cross often. We took the LORD's Supper this morning to remind us of His death. We need to do this to keep the cross before us. We proclaim the LORD's death until He comes by doing this.

Notice with me this morning...

1. All Have Been Bitten By the Serpent of Sin. Romans 3.23
Numbers 21.7 We have sinned.

A complaining heart makes life hard. Paul wrote to the Philippians, "Do everything without complaining..." (Philippians 2.14) It can lead you astray. We ought to be saying, "Hasn't the LORD been good to us?" We ought to be the most thankful people on earth. Stay away from complaining.

The LORD had given them victory over the Canaanite King of Arad. -v.1

They grew impatient on the way to the Promised Land.

After victory, after God blesses, after answers to prayer, be careful that you don't grow impatient with the journey when it settles back down.

Ingratitude is a sin that usually leads to other sins- v.5
All sin is against God.- v.5a

Jesus Christ died for the whole world because of the love of the Father and the whole world was guilty before Him.
Galatians 3.22 The Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin.
I John 2.2 [Jesus Christ] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

2. Jesus Christ Was Lifted Up From The Earth On The Cross. Matthew 27.32-44

The remedy from the snake bites was in looking to the bronze serpent on the pole.
The remedy from the venom of sin is in looking to Jesus Christ, Who died on the cross.

In Silver Springs, Florida, Ross Allen, in the past century, began the Reptile Institute. Among other things it was known for its rattlesnake milking. The venom of the rattlesnake is used to produce antivenin, which is the substance that saves a person from death when they are bitten by one of these deadly serpents.

The remedy is in the poison. Christ is the remedy for sin.
He became a sin offering for us. Romans 8.3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His Own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. He condemned sin. He carried our sins, took them upon Himself. The remedy for sin in Numbers and the New Testament is from God.

When He died on the cross, He was lifted up from the earth. It was a conspicuous position. Both the serpent and Christ were outside the tabernacle tent area. The remedy was not found with the priests or regular sacrifices.

Then God exalted Him Philippians 2.8-11
raised Him to the Supreme Majesty, Highest power and rank- beyond measure.

3. Christ Jesus Draws People To Himself. Luke 23.39-43
He began to do this immediately at His Death Matthew 27.54
He has done it for 2,000 years. Acts 1.1 all that Jesus began to do and to teach.
The church amazes me. Henry Ford said it: He took the church's existence as the only proof for the argument that God existed that he needed: "No organization could be run so poorly and yet survive." Wherever I have gone in the world, be it the Middle East, the Far East, Africa or the Caribbean the church stands strong.

He is drawing people today. In our country with the tragedies of the death and destruction the tornadoes brought this week, Samaritan's Purse and our own denomination along with many other groups are there already helping bring healing. In Iran today a pastor of a church in Southern California is making low level contact with the Iranian Government to seek the release of that young pastor condemned to die for simply preaching the gospel.

Let's cooperate with His Spirit. The Father through the Spirit draws people to Himself by His Son.

Isaiah 45.22 Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth;

for I am God, and there is no other.