Well, it's a privilege to have been able to spend a little time here at this part of the Palm, and I can truthfully say that the Lord in His graciousness has kept the best wine until the end, because it is and has been a refreshing experience for me, because since coming home on furlough, it is the most difficult in being separated from my wife and little family. I've had five weeks in the seven months that we've been in this country. And in the will of God, I follow on this afternoon to Baltimore, the very place where I got off the plane and the brother that met me and was so kind in trying to get me onto the air bus to get to Washington because I wanted to see my father-in-law and my relatives there. this brother met me, had a nice little visit with him, and waved him goodbye, and forty-eight hours later he took a heart attack in the city of Baltimore and was in the presence of the Lord. So I want to see his wife and family, but I don't think I'll get there, but I have a note this morning, and I hope to call them, then take the airbus on to Washington, and hope to spend a day or so with my father-in-law, and then go on to Bermuda where I'm going to be the weekend. Take the Pan Am on Tuesday and join my wife in New York and go on the same plane all the way over to Johannesburg. So you're meeting as men for prayer on Tuesday morning. The women are meeting on Tuesday afternoon. May we count on your prayer. Someone, I'm sure, out of this audience may remember that that's the day that we leave at five p.m. and we trust God's good hand. If Brother Willie wasn't such an understanding, Brother, I'm afraid that it would have been much more difficult for me, and I'd had to wave as far as seeing my folks down in Baltimore. But when I learned that Brother McKay was here, and then I learned that Brother Wilson was coming, I had no more fears then, because the way we look at it, and the way I look at it, is a servant of the Lord. There's so much to do in this poor old world that while I have a little bit of help and strength, I want to use the wisdom that God has given me, but I don't want to be sitting around. I want to be busy for God. And that's why during these past few years on the mission field, anytime I have a little bit of diversion, I'm at my desk trying to do a little bit of writing. And that's a tremendous task. trying to keep up with written ministry. And that's what we have in view. As we go back to Africa, we'd like to do a little more on that scale. And I'm so thankful to God for the Rhodesian press that has been so kindly to me. And in the will of God, they're going to help me with all the printing that I possibly can do in relation to the coming generation of Africans. So we would value your prayers to that end. coming weeks are very, very important, especially in relation to the conference in the Cape, the conference at Salisbury, but perhaps more so my interview with the President of Zambia and bringing before him various things and pertaining to our furlough and the teachers and then our own future plans, because most of you know I have a wife with only one lung and she's living on borrowed time. And you have to have a blood count every three months, which is absolutely necessary. And this blood count and blood pill we get in Rhodesia. So that's why I have to think seriously about the future and where God will place us. And we want to be guided of him because over twenty times I've made the trip from Lasaka to Bulawayo in relation to hell, just keeping alive. And my outlook as well as hers is to keep the positive always before us and never forget that God is in our lives and that God is far better than pills and physicians and all that this plural world can offer. But we need various help, but the marvelous thing about being a Christian is that man's extremity is God's opportunity. And we have discovered that in casting ourselves upon him and laying hold of him, he gives strength for the burdens of the day. So I enter into some of your feelings because there are some people maybe here this morning. You don't know very much about sorrow and heartache and suffering. But the most of us know a little, but some have it a little more than others. And that's why More and more as I go hither and yawn, my soul cries out for reality. And a lot of preaching and teaching today is missing because there isn't the corresponding personal appropriation. And I think it's just wonderful to go into a sixth home, into a place where there's a widow, or into various places where there's definite need. And God leads his dear children along a certain way. And as he's helped you, water always seeks its own level. You're able to help others. And what a privilege it is that has been to be in this part of the world. And as I come now to my final message, I would like to take up a model missionary. We have been looking at the manual of the missionary. We've been looking at the message. Something about a true missionary church. And now I'd like to conclude by having you look with me at a model missionary. It's not our blessed Lord. He was God's ideal missionary. But this is a man called the Apostle Paul. And we are reading in the book of the Acts, chapter twenty. And I do trust that God will underline these things upon your brain and upon your heart. because these are the things that we get from him and not out of the books of men. Acts chapter twenty, verse seventeen. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, ye know. From the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mine, and with many tears and trials which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews. And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, Behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there, except that the Holy Spirit witnesses in every city saying that bonds and afflictions await me. But none of these things move me. Neither count my life here unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Verse twenty-seven, for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Now away over in verse thirty-three. Verse thirty-three. I have coveted a no man's silver or gold or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities and to them that were with me. I have shown you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said it, it is more blessed to give than to receive. I'm sure God will bless the reading of his words. Now here are fine, smooth stones to bring down any giant, even if it's Goliath. along the pathway of faith. And as you look at these things that characterize God's model missionaries, I trust they'll be of help to all of us. This man, first of all, he thought himself nothing. Nothing moved him. He kept back nothing. He wanted nothing. And he lost nothing. And these are the five things that I would like to leave with you by the help of God. During my time on the mission field, since I first arrived in Lusaka in nineteen hundred and fifty-six, there have been great changes take place relative to the missionaries as well as Christian missions in many lands. Lots of times I have heard a missionary referred to as a mercenary. Those were the men, the free land fighters who joined certain splinter groups and helped out. And many, many times we have been termed mercenaries. I always think of the little girl when she saw me coming up the road. She ran to her mom and she said, Oh, mother, here comes that misery from northern Rhodesia. And of course, even children mixed up their terms and it's a good thing to have this word in proper focus. The word missionary never occurs in the New Testament, but we know where it comes from. You have the word missionary. apostolic in the Greek, the one who sent. But you have the word in the Latin, mithio, it means to send. And there's direct reference to this word missionary because a missionary is one who is sent. And that's why I used to be so provoked when I lived in the Middle East and I used to walk the streets of Palestine. And then sometimes when I'd be in my car, I would pick up a fellow along the way. You know, there's lots of people. I'll be going the same way this afternoon. You know what that way is? The OPD route. other people's gas. Well, we find ourselves in that situation again and again, and I'm traveling along, and I pick up this one and that one, because it was almost a law out in Palestine. People are poor, they haven't many cars, and if you're traveling the highway, try and help someone. So I'd pick up a man, and he would begin to chat with me, and it's, oh, you are a note three. And I'd look at him, and I'd say, I'm no note three, I'm a me, she, she, You know, very, very seldom in my days in Palestine was I ever called Amish-e-e. You see, the word notely is a Nazarene, and it's a defiling term. It's a very, very poor term, such as we would call men in South Africa or in America in the Negro race. We refer to them with a certain name. And when I lived in Palestine, they would invariably call me Anusri. And I say, I'm not a Nazarene. I am Amici-E. I am a Christian. And that's why when you go up and down the land of Palestine today and the Jews are in control, wherever they have put up some sign in relation to archaeology, they always put B, C, E. And you say to the guide, what a nurse is that? And he'll say, that's before the Christian era. Why do they put B, C, D? Because they don't want to mention the name of Christ. That's why I've known what it is to stand in the marketplace and be among the people and have one of the Orthodox Jews sit right in my face until a sickle ran down. And I know what it is to have my own child come running in and telling me that the boy across the way says, His father told us that Adam Gisham, that is Adam Rainey, he deals in literature that's unclean. Why? Because I am the New Testament. I believe in the New Testament. And you live and learn something of the contempt that Christ is held in the heart and mind of many Jews. And that's why I love to use this term. I love to use the term Jesus. Oh, how sweet the name. I love to use the term Christ. And I love to use the term Lord. Because I prayed over and meditated over it. Because as Jesus, I trust Him with my soul. All that I have, I trust Him. As Christ. I obey him because he's God-sent one, the official one who's destined to reign and rule. And as Lord, I bow before him and I surrender all that I am as a man. And whether I look upon him as the prophet, Jesus, who stepped into the world, the priest who has gone into the presence of God, or whether I think of him as the king of kings and Lord of lords, he will have my best. How can I do less than give him my best after all he's done for me? And I counted a great privilege just to be a Christian because I know what the term means. And as I said yesterday around Park of the Palms, and I use Park of the Palms as reference to a place, not a people. That word has fallen among seeds. and has been robbed of all its beauty and glory. Think of it in terms of Jacksonville, Florida, New York, or the world. How few people know what it really means, the terminology, a Christian. And sometimes people don't read the Bible, but they read you and they read me. And we are to be God's living letters dwelling among men. Because the Word of God in my life is to become incarnate. The Word is to become flesh. The word of God in my life is to become articulate. I must give it out. I cannot help but teach and preach the things that I see and heard. And the word of God must be perpetuated. So I must give it out by means of life, by means of leaflets, by means of labor. I must sow the seed beside all waters. I must know the Word of God in my heart. I must store it up in my head. I must show it in my life, and I must show it wherever I go, because it has seen its light. But the average person today, they think of a missionary. The classic picture is a Polaroid picture, a man in a sun helmet. And other people have such a poor... view of a missionary that they think a missionary equals foreign mission. And then other people think that the missionary is just a dud. He couldn't fit into his own society so he goes out to a foreign society where it might be a little easier and where life might not have the pressure and the pace. And of course all missionaries are not ideal. Of course all missionaries have their faults. and their failures. But the marvelous thing about it is that God sends you and God sends me. And the great thing is realizing that right here I can be a sentient for God. And as I come to a chapter like this, one of the first things that the Spirit of God teaches me in relation to this man, he sought himself nothing. And that's why he says here, serving the Lord, with all humility of mind, and with many tears and trials which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews. And here you have a picture of a man not as the peacock, but as the dove. Most of us are characterized by me, myself, and I. There is such a thing as the pride of faith and race. It's only natural that we have thoughts and great thoughts, perhaps of ourselves. But it's only as you learn to walk with God and go on with God and read the Bible, you begin to realize how great God is and how small we are. And yet in the marvelous ways of God, He picks up you as a mother. He picks up you as a father, the grandfather, grandmother. he picks up you as an ordinary person and he invests you with his power and he puts his hand upon you and he says so send I you and I believe it gives color and tone and character to everything we do when we get to the place where we realize that we are linked with the living and the true God and that on this earth we can be the bearer of his name and fame wheresoever we go. And here is a picture, humility of mine. I like men like Abraham. When he came into the presence of God, he said, I'm just the masses. When Moses had a face-to-face meeting with the living and the true God, he said, you know, I just couldn't begin to speak when it comes to such a vast multitude. Jeremiah was such a man. He said, well, I'm only a child. The Apostle Paul said, I'm the least of all the things. I'm the chief of sinners. And these men, they evaluated themselves. And I'm for positive thinking. There are too many people that live and consider themselves inferior about this, that, and the other things. And they're always turning their thoughts and hearts and minds into the negatives. And they go through life, the thing I fear is come to pass upon me, or it's fallen unto me. And if you think that way, you think defeat, you will be defeated. You think discouraged, you'll be discouraged. But if you think thoughts of God, and you get your mind occupied with Christ, and you live in fellowship with Christ, you'll be saying to yourself, again and again, I'm weak, but he's strong. I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Wait on the Lord, and he shall strengthen my heart. If God be for me, who can be against me? And you begin to meditate and turn these things over in your brain, get them into your heart, and you'll find yourself rising up because the Lord knoweth them that are his. And he says, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them. And he knows all about your three-score and ten. He knows all about your path. your condition and he never lays upon any of his dear children a greater load than they can bear and fear paul had the right evaluation of himself and that's why when i come to a place like this why here's the man that's always up here introducing us wouldn't you like to hear his voice once in a while and especially some who come from other places and it's not just the missionaries And it's not just those who are coming in to preach. And lots of times I've found that in the ordinary few and those who sit, they could teach us many a thing. But many of them don't have the opportunity. But God has his ways of bringing things to pass. And that's why there's no company in all God's universe like men and women who have walked with the Lord over a period of time. And you can sit down and have a little time with them. The Lord takes knowledge of those that walk with Him and commune with Him. And a book of remembrance is written concerning these things. There's far too little of this among the people of God. And we need to communicate one with the other. But you can't communicate with people who think they know it all. You can't get anywhere with people who think they're in a class a little different. And that's why among the things of God I know what it is to deal and dwell among the people with a razor brain, the Jews. And I know what it is to live and dwell among a people that's far different from the Jews, the black. And I never expect very much from them. And yet I've been amazed at what I've learned from a black man. And I've been amazed at what I've learned in the midst of a poor family. They could teach A fluent American, many a wonderful lesson when it comes to confidence and dependence upon the living God. Someone was running down one of our brothers who is here this morning because the only, it's not cars, cars are not the only things that run people down. People run each other down with their own lips. And to me it's wrong. And when this brother, they were referring to him, I said, listen, have you ever visited any of his family? He said, no. Well, I said, I haven't either, but I know them in three different parts of the world. And they're all going on for God. Wonderful testimony. What about your family? That shut them up. God put a zipper on his lip and it just went like that. And sometimes out of the most ordinary, humble home, God takes the child. are children and he uses them to his glory in a way just as great as missionary enterprise in lands abroad and when we all get to heaven the Lord will evaluate things in a perfect way because he is the true appraiser not you not I and the first thing that I've in is my mind and if there's one thing of God has helped me Missionary work and the work of Jesus Christ appeals to my intellect. Because if God be God, like C.T. Studd said, then no sacrifice that I can make is too great. Why? Because he's God. And as I follow the teachings of the Bible, I discover that the greatest personality that ever graced our planet He was Christ the son of God, and God had only one son, and he made him a missionary. And this man thought himself nothing. And if we want to be used of God and be a blessing under God, then let's remember nothing. In my hand I bring simply to the cross, I pray. And that's why when we get around the cross, And we muse and meditate upon the cross. We're all reduced to a common level. And there's no such thing as one over against the other. But the Lord takes us all. And to some, he will give praise and honor and glory. Because there are degrees when we get to heaven. But here on the earth, we are poor sinners for whom Christ died. And I like this man. He had tears. Then he went through trial, and what life escaped these things. And sometimes it takes a strong man or woman to shed tears over the airing, to care for the perishing. Have you ever wept over conditions in the assemblies? Have you ever had your heart moved so that it hurt because of the dreadful things that go on even in the name of Jesus Christ? The politics among preachers and the way that they carry on. And they would think that everything centers in some around us. And God is such a wonderful God that He teaches us as we go along that nobody's indispensable. And if you learn that, you learn a lot. Because you have your work, you have your time, I have mine. But we sit together and we work together. And a sheep of God's pasture. He leads his dear sheep along. And I found them, there's nothing like the flock of God. We're not to fleece them. We're to feed them. And yet, the sheep nature is such that they share with their wool. And that's the way God worked. This man, he knew what it was to weep. He knew what it was to be set behind and before. But I like what he says. I can't back nothing. He didn't keep back the teaching of the Word of God. And he wasn't afraid. He didn't cater to any of us. You see, a lot of our fellows today are our men in the Lord's works. They go into a church. or a chapel, almost like a church, but they go into a chapel. And there's one man, and he says, well, I'll look after things. And if you fall out with him, then you fall out with everybody, because he's a paid man. And it's a very difficult situation for a young man to get into, or an older man. And if there's one thing the devil would like to do is put a muzzle on the mouth. of his servant. But what we need in our generation is a prophet. A prophet speaks for God. He's not worrying about this one or that one, or keeping up and being popular, because God will get him where he wants him. And it may be down in the desert as gazing, or it may be in a very out-of-the-way place. But God will bring his man to where he wants him, regardless of what men may try to do. And this man he kept back nothing when it came to the truth of God, that which was profitable, that which was helpful. Why? Because he was a man that was saturated with the Word of God and he read it daily. He knew what it was to be sustained by the Word of God. He knew what it was to be quickened and invigorated by the Word of God. He knew what it was to be cut by the Word of God. He knew what it was to be comforted by the Word of God. He knew what it was to have his soul through by the Word of God. And that's the way he gave us. And where he went to minister, lots of times in the ministry. It's fitted the very situation. And I don't have to listen to anybody or this, that, or the other thing. If a man is being led of God and taught of God, he will be in certain situations. And as he's ministering the Word of God, the need will be met. And if the Word of God doesn't meet it, all the preachers in Florida will never meet. It's not you or me that does it. It's the effectiveness of the Word of God that comes home to the heart in conviction. And it's the Word of God that came. One of my finest friends in missionary life is the old cook or the cook that used to be at Lila Lai. And she used to get through her business and she'd go and sit. One day I was ministering on Isaiah fifty-three and I was bringing the Word of God before those people, those young people. And she's drinking it in. And she's been saved for years. But God got a hold of that woman in such a way that it revolutionized her whole life. And today she can't see anything else but spending the rest of her life as best she can doing what God wants her to do. She's just gone back from South America because now she's got one son there. and i believe if we got a vision of the cross and we got down to brass tacks and came face to face with living reality only one life will soon be passed only what's done for christ will last then everything begins to fade and we're not afraid of what this one says or that one and we'll speak out of our heart wherever we go and we'll just testify of the gospel of the grace of god we will tell people that we've got everything And the best is yet to be that we are enriched in Christ. We have been blessed with Christ. And as you walk through the Bible or as you go into the New Testament, it doesn't matter where you go. You'll find something that will sustain you and feed you for that particular time, for that particular day, for that particular problem. And people will look at you in wonder. Why? Because you've been with Jesus and learned of Him. and you don't care what they think you're not worried about what they say you just go around grammar in your own way because you've learned out of experience that you're doing business with the eternal and that can go on all through your life because there's a way that no vulture no foul of this earth knows when it comes to spiritual things And I have not seen here, has not heard. Neither has it entered into the heart of any man. The things that God has prepared for them that love them. But God has revealed them to us by his Spirit. That's a beautiful thing. Because even in this life we can discover the secret. And that secret is found in a person. His name is Jesus Christ our Lord. Then the next thing. None of these things move me. Because on the pathway of faith. Sometimes God allows things to come. Look what this man is. went through shipwreck, beating, stoning, persecuting. He says even all men left him. There were all kinds of preachers in his day. And he said, the only one I've got left is young Timothy. Because he's with me as one who serves as a son with a father. And that's a beautiful relationship. There are lots of preachers. And then As he wrote to young Timothy, you find he links men together, if I believe in Hermogenes and various ones like Janus and John Brees. Why? Because they all illustrate things that are happening today. Some go away because of defections. Then there's others that go away because of intimidation. And then there's others because of persecution. And then there's others that get, the world has such an attraction. They desert. And then you have Janice and Janice and they just try to put things over. And yet they're false, imitation. And you have all these characters brought out in Timothy. And that's what Paul writes to Timothy. And he says, the only thing that's going to keep you in such a godless day, in the rise of demonism, in the rise of all these things, men shall be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. And children are going to be disobedient to parents. and the love of man is going to wax cold and things are going to get worse and worse. Now he says, Timothy, I leave you four anchors. Grab hold of these anchors. Hang on to them. And God will see you through to the end. And if you want to read about those four anchors, study Paul's last message to the congregation and especially a servant of the Lord. And that's why in the midst of all the perilous times and the grievous times that we live in, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. And God gives us the fourfold panacea for such a time as this, that we might be furnished and equipped, and that we might fulfill God's will, and that we might carry on that which He's given us to do. And as you read books like that, why it's just like a thrilling... document that God has given from his heart to your heart. And he says, Go out and do it. And he says, Always remember, I'll never break my word with you. That which you commit to me, I'll keep till the day dawns and the shadows flee away. Have you anything better? Have you got any greater incentive than motive to serve? I haven't. And where can you find a man like the Apostle Paul? And until the day he dropped in his tracks, He never wavered. Why? Because he had an infallible book. And he knew it was indestructible. And he knew that as far as he was concerned, it was irrevocable. So he went on, on, on. And he finished his course with joy. Because nothing, nothing moved him. I remember once a couple came our neighbors away over in England. They were unbelievers. and I had just arrived and I had to go and get this little child because they didn't want them to know their mother had passed on. And I finally got over and I had to go to the morgue instead of going to a funeral or instead of going to a bedside I had to go to a morgue and I had to make the identification because before I got on the plane at Greensboro, North Carolina and standing all alone after I came out of a little telephone box. There was a man there. He's now in heaven. He's a policeman. And he came over to strengthen my hand in God. He was like an angel. And I said, it's too late. She's gone. But I'll get the first plane out of New York. And I'll get over to England. And I got over to England and went through all the paraphernalia, death. And then I had to get on a bus. And I finally managed to get home. And the first thing I wanted to do was get my two children. And I put one on that knee and one on this knee. And I said, boy, you're only children. Mother has gone to heaven. And God will help us. Now I just want to pray with you. Will all of us or some of us know what it is to go away on a vacation then you have to start all over again and some of us know what it is to go through death some of us know to go different places it's not easy whether it's a vacation or whether it's a bereavement or a long sickness but there comes times when the devil would whisper especially as he could order what's the use he always attacks the feeble at the hindermost part amalek did it the devil still does And I like what this and none of these things move me. Why? Because my life is with Christ and God. And as far as this man was concerned, he never turned back. He never looked back. And in times like these, turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of this passing pour over. will go strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. Take heart! Go on! Rise up! And prove your faith in these two unbelievers. They were standing after I'd been speaking to my two little kids because I was living in an unbeliever's home because my parents, my father-in-law, mother-in-law were not Christians. And my mother-in-law made a vow that she would never let God get her. And that's why she was wanted to be clean. And seven years later, she was clean. And I had to go through that. And I used to say, Lord, you know all about it. The only reason why you stepped into this home was for this dear girl. And at the funeral, the man that helped me out was Mr. Howley. Because I phoned here, there, trying to get someone to help me. Mr. Howley came all the way over. And two weeks or three weeks ago, I wrote him a letter. I didn't know that you had lost the leg with cancer, the editor of the witness. And I said, remember that day was so bleak and barren and cold. You came and you helped me. And you gave me a text. Now, Lord, what wait I for? My expectation is from me. Well, now I found out that he had lost the leg with cancer. And he's an able man and a good writer. I sat down and wrote him a letter from here, Senator Ritz. And I gave him the same text. And he wrote me a beautiful letter that was here to part of the poem when I arrived. And you see how God does things for these two unbelievers. I said, is there anything wrong? Because I was holding my two children. They said, no, we just wanted to see how you took it. They had no idea what was going on in the soul of this man. But as far as I was concerned, Jesus Christ was the same. God is the same. The Bible is the same. The Holy Spirit is the same. And that's why I've taken as my text for nineteen seventy-two. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. And then he says, I have coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel. What it for if I see someone with a nice hat, thank God. And if I see someone kind of fixed up, someone says, oh, you've got a bright tire and something like this. Well, I'm going to a bright place and I have a bright future. Why shouldn't I be a little colorful? And if you go among the Africans, they're ridiculous at times if they get anything. But if you can brighten yourself up, brighten yourself up. But always remember, paint was made for fences, not faces. But when it comes to our lives, as far as I'm concerned, A merry heart doeth good. It's like medicine. Try it. Count your many blessings, name them, ton by ton, and it'll surprise you what the Lord has done. Too often we're all way over there on gloomy Boulevard instead of being in Sunshine Square. And here's God's message. I have coveted no measure. It doesn't worry me what this person's got or that person's got. God bless them and help them. Some, it seems... better than others. If you go to the mission field, I used to think Shiboon was the only mission field in all Africa. I was growing up as a boy. And now I've lived a little longer on the earth, and there are some places that's all I hear of, just one particular mission station. And God has dear, dear children in all parts of the country who try and honor him, but they're forgotten, they're not known. Some of the choices people I've ever met are people that are off the beaten trail. and they're not in some big mission station. And I see this, that, and the other thing. And the true missionary wants to keep his expenses at a certain minimum. He wants to live in a certain type of home, and he wants to have a certain type of car. These things are absolutely necessary. But as far as life in general is concerned, he's not worrying about this one, that one, because what will it probably gain the whole world? and you'll lose your own soul. And we begin to live when we discover that that which we lose, we really gave. For he that loses his life for my sake shall what? Find it. And it's when we bid farewell to the way of the world and its wealth and all that it has to offer us. And we put ourselves at the disposal of our blessed Lord. Our hand into his hand. He'll lead us in a way that's not finding out. He will press down upon us that good measure which run us over. And God will prove himself to any man or woman. He's no man's debtor. He's faithful. But he often allows his child to go through trial and tears and utter dependence. Why? To teach him. that the God of Elijah still uses ravens. And it's a wonderful thing to live in dependence upon God. Sometimes as missionaries, we just don't know what about the future. And we just can't say, well, I'm going to be there because I was in the midst of everything in the death case. And you have to make a rush. And this happens in life. So how nice it is, at the beginning, stay with God, go through the day with God, lie down at night with God, and realize that in everything he's over all. He overshadows. He undertakes. Because the steps of a good man or a good woman are ordered by the Lord. In all thy ways, acknowledge him. He'll direct thy path. And if some of you have come down here, how do you know it may be? God's way of giving you to see something pertaining to the future or to come down here and to be revived and re-renewed and put back and put to practical use what you've learned at His feet and it'll do you far more good in meetings like this than all a sight that this state has to offer because to hear the voice of God and to attend to the voice of God there is no other way to be happy to be joyful, to be fruitful, than to trust and obey. And how does it end? Well, he lost nothing. Here it says he wanted nothing, but I like it. He lost nothing. It is more blessed to give than to receive. And God gave the darling of his heart. He gave us all. But there's coming a day when he's going to see the travel of his soul. He's going to see the redeemed of all ages, some from every kindred, strong tyrant. They'll be there. And the hallelujah chorus will rise in Christendom unto him that loved us and loosed us from our sins and will worship him. Will it be worth it? Will it be worth it? Yes, because I'll be there. You'll be there. And what you do for him down here at this earth, even to a cup of cold water, it'll never be forgotten. Why? Because God is not unrighteous to forget that you minister to them. And you've tried to do your little business. And that's why, before blessed begins, it's not very easy sometimes being a preacher. missionaries were a long, lots of times on the receiving end. I wanted to be a business man. My father wanted to make me a business man. And I'd have got along. But God turned everything around. But what I have, give I thee. And I gave it to the Lord Jesus Christ. And like he took the five loaves and the two fishes, And he expanded it. He extended it. He blessed it. And so God is able to take what you've got. A needle, Dorcas. Some ointment, Mary. A raw motive. All of these people had something, but they were used of God. So can you. So can I. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let's not be weary and well-doers. For in due season we shall reach, if we think not. Shall we sing in closing, Savior thy dying love, thou gavest me? nor should I ought withhold dear Lord from thee. In love my soul would bow, my heart fulfilled it bow. Some offering, bring thee now something for thee. Let's sing verses three and four. Give me a faithful heart. Verse three of three, five, five. Give me a faithful heart, likeness to thee. That is departing then. but may seem some works of love begun, some deed of kindness done, some water caught and worn, something for thee of that I am an act like him some of these. In Christendom, the Lord foresees. And with thy face I see, by rest of soul shall be, through all eternity. Something for thee. O God our Father, may the meditation of our heart, the words of our lips be acceptable. What has been of thee may it be remembered. What has been of self may it be forgotten. But oh, that thou art right. Upon our brain and upon our heart. The reality of this little time that we're here in the valley. And grant our Father that we might know what it is to live, to honor our Lord Jesus Christ and to do what we can in this the day of his rejection. We thank thee that between the cross and the crown, There is communion and we enjoy it with thee day by day. But help us we pray thee to be steadfast. Help us we pray thee to be faithful. Help us we pray thee to be dedicated. And out of love and gratitude to thee, blessed Lord, may we live to glorify thy name, whether our days be long or few. We commend this now to thee in the word of thy grace. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thank you. Thank you.