“Protestation”

    Call to Worship:          Psalm 31:1 “In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.”
     
    Songs:   My Soul Magnifies The Lord -Chris Tomlin   
    I Will Bless the Lord  -Steve Green  
      Let the Praises Ring  - Travis Cottrell 
     How Great Is Our God / How Great Thou Art - CeCe Winans
     
    Scripture: Deuteronomy 28:1-14
     
    Song: Soul On Fire -Third Day       
     
    Sermon:  “Protestation”
     
    Closing Song:   Holy Spirit Rain Down  -  Hillsong
     
    Benediction: -Psalm 31:23 “Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. 24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” Deuteronomy 26:15 “Look down from heaven, your holy dwelling place, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
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    Sermon:        “Protestation”
                First of all let me be clear that today’s sermon Protestation, a formal and solemn declaration of objection is not refereeing to Protestantism. Protestantism can be defined as adherence to the forms of Christian doctrine that are generally regarded as Protestant rather than Catholic or Eastern Orthodox.” This is not what we are talking about today. We are not talking about the teachings of a man and their followers. Yes they protested but did not return to the gospel but created a whole new branch of the same and the schisms just kept being generated. It seems that the reformation justified church splits. Quickly you ended up with Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anabaptistism, Anglicanism, and Presbyterianism just to name a few and from there the sky is the limit. What you will notice is the emphasis on man’s teachings. Once you add the ism, it is over. An “ism” is a distinctive doctrine, cause, or theory. One person said, “We can see that the majority of these denominations were established on the basis of new ideas of men and those who would follow them.” There is no point protesting something if in the end it is going to be worse than it was when you were protesting. There also must be a solution. The reason it got worse is that they never fully returned to God’s word. They opposed the teachings of men but did not embrace the teachings of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is as 2 Kings 17:34 tells us “To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the Lord nor adhere to the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands that the Lord gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel. 35 When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them. 36 But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. 37 You must always be careful to keep the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. 38 Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. 39 Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.” 40 They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. 41 Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did.”
                The condition of the church lies desolate because we followed man and not Jesus and His word. The likes of Calvin and Hobbes, Knox, Wesley, Luther and the list goes on and on and now include many who “do church” like Warren, Hybels, Olsteen just to name a few. People follow them like gods but will they ever learn to follow the one way, the one truth and the one life in Jesus. We must return to Gods’ word not a teaching about it, doctrines and church growth ideas. The idea was to return to the way not to invent new ways. We must return to being led by the Holy Spirit and not man. Yes Christianity is divisive and will cause derision between those who follow the gospel and those who do not but it is not supposed to create other gospels but remain as the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our job is not to create new ones but to follow wholeheartedly the gospel Jesus gave us.
                It is obvious by now that you and I are protesting the current condition of the church. The fact that you are still here means you either agree or have nowhere else to go. There have always been protests. Someone is always unhappy with their present situation from taxes to leaders to pipelines and land ownership. One person said, “From the price of chicken to human rights, people have been making their voices heard at demonstrations across the globe.” Sometimes when you hear people protesting you might think, what is it they think they can do or offer that is better than what presently is being offered. What do they think they can do that is better than what they are protesting against? In many cases protests can gain momentum with people joining the cause without even knowing what they are protesting. Some just protest to protest while others want the publicity and some are truly fighting for change. Many protests are successful yet some just fade away until the next time.
                The protest we are involved with is different. No we are not marching or holding signs in front of a building nor do we need to. The truth is we don’t have people lining up to be part of this protest but the good news is all we have to do is follow the truth and God himself will hear our protest and he will let all know the truth. John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” We don’t even need to worry about the results. David said 1 Samuel 17:47 “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.” As long as we seek the truth our protest will heard. 1 Kings 8:35 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 36 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.” God will guide us in the right way.
                Our protest is basically saying what we see in the church today is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have been deceived into believing the empty way of life handed down to us by our fathers is the truth. As I said previously the school I attended still worships the idols of their founders. Obviously that is the not the way. So the question I have for you today is; do you believe the church is not operating in the power of the Holy Spirit and that we desperately need to be clothed with power once again. What are going to do about it? The good news is we don’t have to come up with a new way. We don’t have to be powerful, intelligent in our own strength we just have to humble ourselves. The problem is that we have been raised with a form of godliness but deny the power. We have been raised to be content to live in the darkness. All we have to do is return to God’s word and do what He has commanded us to do. He will take care of the rest.
                Do you really want to spend another day in captivity with satan ruling the land? Do you not want God’s kingdom to come near? This means that you would actually have to believe 2 Thessalonians 2:4 “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” You will have to believe that we are in a fight for our very lives and that people are dying daily not knowing the truth. The deceiver has brought massive tribulation against the earth. We are in great tribulation. Revelation 12:9 “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” 2 John 1:7 “I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.” You see most have welcomed a false gospel into their homes yet they do not know or want to know.” By teaching another gospel who deny Christ.
                This protest is like standing in the street wearing a placard that says the end is near. Most will walk on by while others will scoff. 2 Peter 3:3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 “They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” Think about Noah. 36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Luke 17:26 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. Hebrews 11:7 “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.” 2 Peter 2:1 “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. 12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish. 13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. 17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”
                So our protest concerning the desolation of the church maybe is going by unnoticed by man but not by God. 2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” God is looking for us to obey him wholeheartedly. We are to obey Him, not the church governance (rules regulations), not the doctrines and theology. Why because as Jesus  Mark 7:6 “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.”
                Our protestation is simple. “A strong declaration or affirmation.” We will no longer walk in the ways of man. We will return to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We will wait to be clothed with power from high. We will stand firm until God turns His face to shine on us once again and when he does we will persevere until He returns to take us home. Matthew 10:22 “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Luke 21:19 “Stand firm, and you will win life.” As Peter said 2 Peter 3:11 “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brethren stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Psalm 33:11 “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”
                Jesus said remain in me. John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Paul said Colossians 1:21 “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” It is very clear that we must continue or as in our case start over by following the true gospel so that we can once again be clothed with power so that once again we can go and do as Jesus did under His authority and continue as he told Paul to Acts 26:18 “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” We desperately need our eyes opened to our present captivity.
                The church has been greatly deceived into thinking that our captivity is all we can expect. As we have heard there is no power available to us in our day. That was just to start the church, that's just how it is! That’s just ludicrous. So when you bought your car they threw in a full tank of gas but once it ran out that car was useless. No the idea is to fill it up again as needed. That false teaching is not what the bible states. Last time we met I shared with you a couple of false teachers yet many flock to hear their words. You could add MacArthur and Swindoll. They are false teachers and because of the lofty position they have false prophets as they change the word of God to suit themselves and the doctrines they have chosen to follow. Through faulty teaching, the church has confused their own captivity with how it supposed to be. They have come to believe there is no power for us like the early church. This is just the way it is. They are selling you a car that can’t run. Mark 7:13 “Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” Yes Paul talked in Romans 8 about present sufferings. He also said 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” He then said 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Here in lies the problem; he is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Those who do not want to hear the gospel are persecuting him. When you go back to the beginning of the chapter he said. Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.”
                Our captivity is the same as when Israel was taken to Babylon. We are not being persecuted for our faith but our enemies because of a lack of faith and obedience have taken us captive. 1 Chronicles 9:1 “All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. They were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. 2 Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants.” There was the reason and the solution. The remnant was saved. We are not supposed to be in captivity. We desperately need to pray and expect God to hear us and free us. In our protestation the only solution and there is a solution is to walk and obey the word of God once again. Yes we will speak to anyone who will listen but for most, they see themselves as secure. 2 Peter 3:17 “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.” The church has not headed the warning and we lie desolate and deceived. The reason is that God’s word has been set aside just as it was in the Old Testament for the ways of men.
                As I have been pondering this message, I have thought about this particular verse for some time. I believe this verse is the key to our protest. 1 kings 8:22 “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven 23 and said: “Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 24 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today. 25 “Now Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done.’ 26 And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David my father come true.” We are pleading with God to keep his covenant with David as we return to Him. Paul also said in 1 Corinthians 15:1 “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.” Our protestation began because we have believed in vain and have not held firmly to the gospel and have been led astray by false gospels.  David had said to him 1 Kings 2:1 “When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go 4 and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.” 2 Samuel 7:25 “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight.” 1 Samuel 17:47 “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” When God moves the enemy will be defeated no matter what the odds, no matter the size of the vast army or its walls.
                Those who are ignorant of the ways of God have raised us. Most have followed false teachings. Judges 2:10 “After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. 12 They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They aroused the Lord’s anger 13 because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. 14 In his anger against Israel the Lord gave them into the hands of raiders who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. 15 Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.” Unfortunately for us the deception is so great the church is not in distress because they think their captivity is how it is supposed to be. They just keep going in the same direction expecting God o bless them for their stubbornness.
                If we would turn from our wicked ways, the kingdom would come near. Why? Because the word of God says so. It doesn’t matter if your name is Schuller or MacArthur, if you teach another gospel you are leading the church astray. If you are following in the way of any of these men as I have said before, turn and run. Peter said save yourself from this corrupt generation. If you want to see the blessings we read about in our scripture reading, believe what you read. God said it and does not change. Malachi 3:6 “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.” Our protestation is a return to the Lord. This is our formal and solemn declaration of objection. We will return! The cost is great, the gate is narrow but the reward is eternal. Don’t let your eyes focus on this world but on what God will do through you in this world. He said wait to be clothed and sent. If we do, we will go to the ends of the earth and like the disciples Mark 16:20 “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” God will do the same for us.
                We have registered a complaint before God because he said he would hear us. The truth of the matter is that our protest is before God. This protest acknowledges our desperation concerning the desolate church. Psalm 142:1 “I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. 2 I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble. 3 When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me. 4 Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. 5 I cry to you, LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6 Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. 7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.” If we return, God will return to us and if we truly repent the kingdom of heaven will come near. So our protest has a solution. We have let God know and now we wait for His response. Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Elijah was told, 1 Kings 18:1 “After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” (the famine was severe) 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.” We are living in a time of great famine, a famine of hearing the word of the Lord.
                We declare that never again will we live by man’s word. Never again will we live by our reason and experience nor will we put our tradition before God’s word. We will stand strong on God’s word and declare He is the Lord and there is no other. Psalm 118:1 “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the LORD say: “His love endures forever.” 5 When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place. 6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. 8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. 10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down. 11 They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down. 12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them down. 13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. 14 The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. 15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things! 16 The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!” 17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done. 18 The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death. 19 Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. 21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. 22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. 25 LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. 27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
               So today know that the Lord has heard your cry. Our protestation will not go unnoticed by the Lord. Psalm 6:8 “Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. 9 The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer. 10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish; they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.” Psalm 27:3 “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”