I Beseech Thee (Cd Quality) — Leonard Ravenhill

Father we thank you tonight for a heart to praise our God. Once we listen to the tinsel and jangles of this world. But we thank you Lord you as a Swami says you lifted us up from a horrible pit. You set us up on a rock and you tuned us up because you put a praise in our mouths unto our God.

We remember the last Stanza almost of the last psalm that says let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Then we remember over in the book of the revelation. Thousands of years afterwards in that fifth chapter John says that everything on earth and under the earth in the sea and in the air.

Everything is going to raise a hallelujah chorus. Beyond all the hallelujah choruses put together. They've been sung ever since Handel wrote it. Lord we sing so often our hymn then in a doble as sweet as song I'll sing thy power to save when these Paulists being stammering tongues shout victory or the grave.

We thank you today that in something like a thousand tongues. The Word of God has been translated. We pray for the translators at least another thousand languages to go. Well, there are some people in jungles in Africa tonight.

There are some people being butchered in Afghanistan there are some people bowing to gods of wood and stone in China and other countries and there to be part of the bride and therefore the church needs to get busy and Declare this glorious message of redemption.

That he is able to save to the utmost. If a man is carnal a man is cannibal it makes no difference. We bless you that the blood of Jesus Christ God's Son can cleanse from all sin. We thank you for that hand that was nailed to the cross.

That arm is long enough to reach us and strong enough to lift us and powerful enough to keep us against the world the flesh the devil. Against temptation against discouragement against all the threatenings of men and of demons.

We thank you for this uttermost salvation. It's a fountain full and free pure exhaustless ever flowing wondrous grace. It reaches me. Lord God, we pray that somehow you'll detach us from our inadequacies from our imperfections from our indifference.

But I think of a much less hymns that Charles Wesley wrote. I think two of the hymns saw the great hymns of the Salvation Army so full of dynamic faith and expectation. I Recall now Lord a hymn of Wesley's.

I want to pray for myself and for all of us tonight. Enlarge in flame and fill my heart with boundless charity divine so shall I all my strength exert and love them with the zeal like thine and turn them to a pardoning God and quench their brands in Jesus blood.

But Lord, we want to come to that place where we can honestly say As that dear lady before Wesley wrote nothing on earth. Do I desire no fame of men? No positions. No possessions. No territory. Nothing on earth.

Do I desire? Jesus Christ not being first in my life, but all that is in my life. Not only in the Bible. But in my life to be the first and the last the Alpha the Omega the beginning and the end the center and the circumference.

Lord, let me be able to sing with Wesley again thou O Christ art all I want and more than all in thee I find Lord we recognize tonight in our feeble faith. There's no way we can put any strain on you.

There's no problem too big for you. There's no situation too difficult. And Lord we bless you again for your holy word. Amen. We thank you for the holy men of God and some of them live in a hell of a world.

Some of them went into the lion's den others faced trials persecutions hardships beyond our comprehension and Yet holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Whether it was the king of Israel moved by the Holy Ghost.

Whether it was a man who climbed a sycamore tree was moved by the Holy Ghost. But I thank you tonight for men with scholarship that you use. I thank you for men without scholarship. I thank you for the men you're raising up in Africa and England and other countries.

Lord God give them their apostles. We've had our light in this country. We've shunned it. We've pushed it on one side. God give them a chance and In mercy give us a chance. Lord we sing rapturously about your coming.

But Lord, I wonder how many of us tonight have so lived today. That if you came ten minutes from now, we'd not be ashamed that you're appearing. We've lived in close fellowship with you today driving or walking or sitting or standing or cooking whatever we've done.

There's been that deep inner communion. We bless you for this. What a fellowship what a joy divine leaning on the everlasting arms. That's where we want to be. Come is. I just want to make some comments tonight on the One of the greatest chapters in the Bible though.

Romans 12 and the Mercies of God

Every but every chapter is big as far as I'm concerned the epistle of Paul to the Romans in chapter 12. My dear wife and I were in a place a while ago and the lady asked me about some teaching I done on Hebrews.

I said I love I love to teach on Hebrews. She said we don't teach that in our church. I said why? She said well, it was written to Jews. It was written to Hebrews. I said you don't read Romans do especially.

I said It's written to Romans. You don't read Ephesians do that's the Ephesians. You don't read all the epistles surely not the first line. That's what I can. That was written 2 ,000 years ago. You know, this book is so wonderful.

It's fresh every day. It's even better than the manna that came from heaven because that decayed if you didn't it but this never decays. But we need to read it every day now, let me tell you again, I'm reading from a Living living Bible King James Version when our David was here a few months ago.

It'll be back next month. I think hopefully and He said one night remember there are ten versions five are wise and five are foolish. Okay, you can laugh at the wedding tomorrow, it's all right. You Know most of our congregation here some nice things Friday night and they laugh on Mondays and people don't understand that.

Okay. Thank you. Hebrews 12. No Hebrews. I mean Romans. You're getting me tied up now. Romans 12 and verse 1. I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God. Paul uses this wonderful word. I beseech you at least three times and always in this epistle.

I beseech you therefore. If you go back to the let me see what the fifth chapter fifth chapter and verse 1. He says therefore being justified. What's the therefore then because of all that's happened in chapters 1 2 3 and 4.

But he's talking here about being justified by faith. What does he say we have if we're justified by faith we quit fighting against God. We have peace with God that's justification. We have the peace of God that's sanctification.

The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost is justification. But the love of God made perfect is sanctification. You see the trouble with the church today. She's stuck. Deeply stuck as far as I'm concerned in not declaring the whole counsel of God.

Judgment for Sinners, Believers, and Preachers

I Believe I'm trying to write a book. I've been on it 20 years. I'm getting nearer. I have no option, but anyhow I Want to write on three things that the judgment for the sinner the judgment of the believer and the judgment of the preachers.

I Believe millions of preachers will be charged at the judgment seat of Christ with criminal negligence. Not preaching the whole counsel of God because it's offensive. Maybe I reminded you last week, and if I did I have to tell you again some of you aren't here.

Remember Paul battle-scarred. I'm sure he limped. He'd been battered with stones. He'd been whipped 195 times. That would kill most of us and yet with all that he has He's still triumphing. It doesn't get under the weather.

He triumphs continuously. He knew not only the peace with God, but the peace of God that passeth all understanding. He knew something that we don't seem to know any very much about anymore the peace of God which passeth all understanding and all misunderstanding.

No, we get all confused. Somehow God becomes very hazy when you're under pressure. When everything breaks down round about us. But listen he says here. I beseech you. I entreat you. You can change that a dozen ways.

But it's got vitality, and it's got vigor in it. I beseech you. It's not just saying you know what it would be nice if you really embrace the mercies of God and Were gracious enough to give your body a living sight.

It doesn't say that I said I urge you. You know we say so often only one life will soon be passed. Only what's done for God will last. That's not what the point wrote. The point said only one life will soon be passed.

Only what's done for God will last. And when I am dying. How glad I shall be if the lamp of my life has been burned out for thee. It's only once round for any of us. You know when you go to judgment, I go to judgment.

It's not it's not judgment by jury. It's judgment by deity. It's not somebody with ability some with infallibility. And you know once you slip over the edge of time into eternity whether you're on the road or the broad road or a narrow Road there's no u-turn on the road.

For the sin of it straight to the awesome White throne so terrible that even the earth flees away from the face of him on the throne. Is it in the sixth chapter of Revelation where it says the rich men the potentates of the world the industrialists the bankers the wealthiest?

Men the brainiest men the greatest military men. When they see his face. What do they cry. Rocks and hills fallen us you see there are times when God will not answer prayer. He won't answer that prayer.

But they see you see the man in the street or you if you're unsaved is your option tonight. To accept the blood of the Lamb or tomorrow receive the wrath of the Lamb. There's been no anger till you see the anger of God.

We don't talk on that. It's all love sloppy love stuff today, but the Word of God talks about the goodness. And what? Severity of God. When did it go last to a full gospel businessmen's breakfast and hear about the severity of God?

Or hear a message on the second death. That's all pie in the sky and yet when you die. You know to be a true soldier of Jesus Christ. Take character. There's no character around anymore. Where is where's fidelity?

Where is honesty? Where is integrity? It isn't there if you read the first chapter of Romans boy. It makes a shambles of all our Stated living. It corresponds with a it corresponds with the first chapter.

Presenting the Body as a Living Sacrifice

There in Isaiah, it shows human corruption in its totality. Thank you, but let me get to this chapter. I'll be we'll be here till tomorrow night. I Beseech you. I entreat you. I urge you. You know when we were children in England we used to see these old-fashioned pictures of a a young man kneeling in front of a an older man.

Begging for the hand of his daughter, you know. He'd call. Make an appointment with the father say his name is Robert Brown. He writes a letter. Mr. Robert Brown. I'd like a day an evening. I want to come and talk with you.

I Think your daughter is just the ideal person for me. I want to marry her and so he goes on. Well, we don't do that anymore. Well, he gets an appointment when he goes in he's all shaky doesn't know what the old man will say.

Because anybody knows there's never been a man on earth. Worthy of your daughter. We know that. Never will be. So he goes in and there he is trembling and nervous before the fellow. They don't do that today.

He says to the girl Peggy what's your dad's name Robert? So he gets on the face. Hey Bob, is that you I? Like this cute little girl of yours. Oh. She's sweet. I think she's wonderful. I'm coming around tomorrow night.

I'm gonna tell you I want to marry her. By the way, does she have any money? But anyhow, you know, we do it so easy. No, he entreats he begs. I must have this girl. I Had a smart thing recently where a woman said I've been talking to my daughter.

She said you don't like this boy. I'm courting. Mother mother I can't live without him. She said that's not the problem. She said what is it? Can you live with him? The trouble is you don't find out. After you know what it is.

Love is blind. Marriage is an eye-opener, but often it's too late, you know. If I ask you are you single you'd say yes. But you know really if you enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, you're married to him.

You've as much right to be loyal and pure to Christ as a man has to his wife or a wife to a husband. I beseech you by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice. We say that so often don't we you hear people say present your body a living sacrifice.

But listen what it says holy acceptable unto God. You see we don't all pay the same price to come to Christ. He paid the same price for all of us the other night. I because I wake up in the night and go in my office, you know, because.

Nobody comes to mess it, you know with the 17 visitors of the house yesterday. I Cookies but the eat all Martha's cookies. 17 visitors from all over the world famous personalities and whatnot there they came.

Son is nodding his head because he was one of the world famous personalities. But isn't it you know what I thought of. I thought in one. With very rare exceptions God will pardon anyone but he never asks pardon of anyone.

He'll be your counselor and your guide, but he won't take advice and very often our praying isn't much more than giving God advice. And he doesn't even hear it. Present your body a living sacrifice in the Old Testament.

It was a sacrifice that was killed. You know, I'd love to read the Apostle. Paul didn't want because he's a hundred percent behind what he says. One of my cliches in the open air when I used to do so much open air preaching was this a Man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument.

You can't say to Paul. That's too tough. He says I've done it. That's unreasonable. I've done it. Ask what you like sacrifice suffering hardship. Weariness painfulness the whole gamut. Oh I'll answer to the Lord for saying this.

I'll answer the Lord for everything I say it's not a fact, you know what? I think the devil gave all hell a day off when Paul died. He won't do that when you die. I'm sure but anyhow. He said there'll never be another crazy man like this this man.

Preaching to him was not a profession. It was an obsession. This one thing I do. You know, we sing that hymn out there Indian Brothers love. I lay in dust life's glory dead and you know what if you really lay in dust life's glory dead.

You don't go around saying, you know, if I'd really gone on with the Lord, I've been so wealthy now I'd have been the head of a corporation. I'd have done this. Listen get dead and don't take flowers to your grave.

If you're dead, let the flowers die. Don't kill your neighbors while you're talking about being dead. But this man says present your body a living sacrifice. You talk about going the second mile man, dear he goes a hundred and twenty second miles.

Why did once he say later? Autobiographically, he said I died daily. How can you die daily if you died once? He died to self once. He died to sin once but he died to opportunities. He died to privileges.

He died to advantages. He had them all. He's a colossal intellect is of the tribe of Benjamin the seed of Abraham a Pharisee of the Pharisee. His father was a Pharisee. Remember when he was talking to a big rich powerful Roman soldier and the Roman soldier said With great great price obtained I this freedom.

And this little squirt of a Jew there with a hunchback. Says I was free born and he staggered. You say where he was born. He was born in Tarsus the oldest city in the world. The historic city of the world.

Tarsus where he was born. He went to the intellectual city of the world in the 60 is it 16th of Acts Athens. He went to the religious capital of the world Jerusalem. He goes to most of the capitals of the world.

But he ends up in the Roman capital of the world the hardest capital in Rome. You see this man is so smart. He won't give the devil a bit of credit. I Think the demon said you know what? We got the Apostle Paul in prison boy.

We'll keep it a mouth shut for a while. So he writes a letter while he's in prison. He says smuggle this out send it to my friends. What does he say Paul? The prisoner of Caesar. No. Have I got the wrong version?

What did he say? Prisoner of Jesus Christ. What are you doing in here? He said Jesus put me here. Oh, I thought he liberated you. The only time I'm free is when I'm bound in the will of Jesus Christ. My freedom is thy grand control again.

It's the it's the train on the railroad track. It can go a hundred miles an hour. I went one in Japan. I thought he's gonna take off and go airborne. Speeding down the road. I was so busy watching somebody picked my pocket.

I hate the Japanese ever since but anyhow. But that really happened and they even took my Bible with ten years of notes in it. You know, the trouble is that people can read Hebrew and Greek. They can't even read my writing.

Isn't that awful? But Paul says I die daily. I have advantages. I Forget them all and he doesn't go mourning every day. He rejoices every day for the liberty that he has in Jesus Christ. He presented his intellect his body his soul his spirit his mind his faculty his wills.

There wasn't one frantic millionth part of 1 of Paul left. You see this awesome epistle. He says here I beseech you therefore the therefore says all these things. That's been referred to actually the doctrinal part I believe ends in the end of the 11th chapter with a doxology.

Listen to him. He says all the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are his judgments and His ways past finding out who knows the mind of the Lord. In verse 33 he says The wisdom and knowledge of God.

How Unsearchable are his judgments. How unfathomable is his mind his ways are past finding out. Friend you'll never find out what God's trying to do in your life. Again, you've got I can't explain God, but I can experience him.

I Get as baffled as anybody sometimes about certain things, but then we rest in the Lord. And a little thing came on my desk, I don't about three o 'clock four o 'clock a couple of mornings ago. The wind was right and a tiny insect it wasn't as big as a pinhead.

The tiniest little thing I've ever seen. I Thought well, what are you coming at this hour for no music to play to you? It wasn't as big as a pinhead and you know suddenly the little thing started trekking across my book.

I thought boy, what mechanism is in it? Look at my glass. I can't even see the legs on it, but it was going. And that was made by God as I say that wonderful last part of Psalm 100. Everything that hath breath if you get under the weather if the stock market goes down if everything goes down forget it.

Read that fifth chapter. Some of your Bibles are worn out at Romans 8 28, I guess. Everything there's trouble. Oh dear it. You're there. Well remember Mary. Romans 8 28 says all things were together for good.

Is that all Paul wrote? He says stick your chin up in there glory in tribulation in necessities in reproaches. Everything that other people run away from Lord. Don't let this come to me says I it's all grist to my mill.

I Triumph over everything. That reminds me of the great old preacher when we were in England there at Westminster Chapel. We're around the corner from Westminster Abbey. No across from the corner the Westminster Central Hall the Methodist Hall and the preacher there was dr. Dinsdale young he was a fantastic man like most Methodists, but anyhow.

It's about six foot two a great bald head with two big puffs of white hair at each side. You know, I think they copied him for Mickey Mouse's hat. He's a fantastic preacher. I remember he opened a book one day and he began to read put that I don't know what he was reading.

He had the book up to his nose. Big stentorian voice three thousand people listening. He says bless the Lord. Oh my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name. So I shouted hallelujah and everybody went, you know.

Poor lunatic in the gallery. Then he said all that is within me. Now listen if you've got indwelling sin in your heart you shouldn't have it sin indwelling sin can't glorify God. That's a proof. You can have a pure heart all that is within me.

Bless his holy name. Well, forgive us all iniquities and heal us all diseases. Anyhow that dear old man walked with God for about 60 years. He had a pretty lengthy illness. But the doctor said he won't last 24 hours and there he was in bed when the big old canopy bed.

You know, they have in England. I don't know why they have a wooden roof. It's not gonna rain, but anyhow. And then they packed him up with pillars. And they said it's getting nearer. It's getting nearer the dear old man leaned back on his elbow and He pointed to the skies and he just said this I triumph still and fell back dead.

What was he gonna quote? From Francis Henry. Light's hymn abide with me fast falls the even tide the darkness deepens. Lord with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee although change does not abide with me.

Then he said he just said I triumph still looking with the radiance on his face and passed into eternity you see. This man had such an experience of God. 195 lashes couldn't whip it out of him. A Day in the night in the Mediterranean the night in the day in the deep couldn't wash it out of him.

They threatened him they couldn't threaten it out of him. It wasn't just pretty poetry like we sang tonight on Christ a solid rock. I stand. He was there every storm that could break on a person broke on him.

What did he care. You see that's why he says to young Timothy the marvelous things that he said. Remember again you fellows that aspire to preach. I Think of this every day of my life. Paul says to this young man.

Preaching the Word in Season and Out of Season

Listen. Number one preach the word. Dear Lord, we're preaching everything, but the word these days. We're preaching about abortion and we should preach it. But people say well look look at Finney how much he preached against slavery.

Is he remembered for fighting slavery. Sure. He's not. He's remembered for whipping the devil is remembering for emptying hell in some parts. This precious man of God had such vision and God wants you and I to have that preach the word be instant in season out of season.

Then what does he say? Study not just read the word not just memorize it. Study. To show thyself approved to the deacons. No, I must have a bad version here. What did he say? Study to show thyself approved to the church members.

To the district superintendent. To your headquarters. One of the best known men in the world called me a couple of hours ago from Springfield. I thought he was asking advice, but anyhow he didn't ask too much.

But I don't have to show myself approved to you or anybody else. I have to preach the word in season and out of season. Reprove if need be. There's not much of that done anymore. Let people become hostile.

There's nothing makes me more happy than when people go out to meeting mad. I used to think they had to go out glad. But now either I want no God either sad or mad. The glad doesn't matter. You know if we really were in the presence of a holy God every time we go to the sanctuary.

And I mean this with all my heart. I believe we go out of every meeting with tears running down our eyes. I have the tears of joy that we've been illuminated and emancipated. Delivered from bondage. Delivered from the coats.

Delivered from all satanic oppression. I wrote sweet after tears for a world again that is doomed and damned. Every tick of the clock the church is slipping. I Wrote a few letters this week, and I put right across the back SH the big dash.

Quiet, please. The church is sleeping. Maybe you'd like to make me a rubber stamp for that. People say the church is dead. She can't be dead. There's a remnant within a remnant. She's not dead, but she's sleeping.

But when a person is Sleeping their powers are suspended as though they were dead anyhow. They can't hear. They can't see. And they can be robbed. You can do anything with them, but this one is alert the whole moment.

Living every moment of his life not just gliding on. He has intention. He has purpose. This one thing I do. He was consumed. You see that's what God wants. He doesn't want you to just be a disciple. Yeah, oh, you know Jesus wants to be a partner in your business.

Forget it. He doesn't. They don't get a hell of beans about your business, but he wants partnership. He doesn't he wants ownership. If he has partnership you'll dictate some policy. If he's owner you'll have to ask what you do with your own money.

Take my silver and my gold. How often we sing it here. But as he done it I said there's only yesterday a bunch of these smart men that came. I think no Christians are very careful how they spend their money not very careful how they spend their time.

If you lose your money you can get it back. Well once time has gone. It's gone. John Wesley was standing with some men on the hillside. I Don't know what they were after but a man suddenly drew the at bows and arrows.

We don't use those now. We're civilized. We just barbecue cities. Those terrible Indians used to shoot arrows. Now the white men are geniuses. We can wipe 1 ,000 years of civilization out in five minutes.

John Wesley saw this arrow going in the air, and he said to a man who shot that he said the man behind the bush. And he saw the arrow go up to the ark, and then it began to drop and he said to the man I'm that arrow.

Mr.. Wesley. What do you mean? He said I'm that arrow. I Go so high in life. I lose momentum, and I drop into eternity. Is there a book on that he said yes, there is. Well get me that book. It's true that Wesley at one period said he was a man of one book.

Well, I would be like him. He'd read about 10 ,000 after that point. We should have sung the hymn tonight. I thought about that forget afterwards. That lovely hymn we've we've learned and we don't sing too well.

We will get used to it and can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood. Remember this was written by a scholar a gentleman a man who knew his Hebrew knew his Greek. At the best family in England after the royal family.

Not John Wesley, but Charles Wesley. And can it be that I should gain is an interest in the Savior's blood. Died he for me who caused his pain. Is that that ever get hold of you. Died he for me who caused his pain for me.

You him to death pursued. Amazing love. How the second standard says what does it say? Oh, I'm getting the. I get the line now and Oh, thank you long my imprisoned spirit. Listen this one has no drug culture.

This one has no hideous crime records. This man is not a drunken. He's an impeccable gentleman. He's a scholar. He's accepted with the society. But he says long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature's night.

Thine I defused the quickening ray. I woke the dungeon flame with like my chains fell off. My heart was free. I rose went forth and followed thee. No condemnation now. I dread Jesus and all in him is mine.

You know five minutes inside of heaven every one of us will be in tears. People say oh, I'm going to heaven. There's no tears. Well the book I have here in Revelation says there are tears. He wipes away tears from our eyes.

What tears. Tears of regret. Tears about failure. Tears about when God said do this we didn't do it. They're gonna be tears in heaven. Sure there are. We're gonna be embarrassed to death as we say when we get there.

When God shows me the possibilities of grace that I could have had if I'd really walked as close to him as I should I'm gonna be embarrassed. You know, there's gonna be super super millionaires in heaven not dollar millionaires.

Paul talks about forgetting all the stuff. He says but be sure about the true riches. Oh, you know, it'll cost me If I became a Christian. Yes, sure. I do. What we cost you nothing. What does Paul say?

All these things that you and I treasure. We label them as precious and. And whatever adjectives you want to say about them. What do you say about them? He says all these little things that look so big.

They're weighing up. They're really preparing for us a place in glory an eternal waiting our life's affliction bitches, but for a moment. It's a moment. How do you explain eternity. Suppose your little boys ask you when you go home?

How do you explain eternity? One of the old Greeks said eternity is a block of granite a mile that way a mile that way a mile that way and a sparrow comes on the corner of that block of granite and wipes his beak and Flies away and come back comes back after 10 ,000 years.

And by the time is worn that solid block of granite away, that will be one moment in eternity. That's not enough. There's no way to comprehend it. Then you wind up. I mentioned last week again. You know if somebody criticizes the church I listen to it because I'm part of it, but when Jesus criticizes the church.

The Laodicean Church and the Judgment of Believers

He's right. Sometimes they're not. They're blind with prejudice and so forth. Jesus says of the last stretch of the church the Laodicean Church. She's rich and increasing goods now is need of nothing and knows not.

She's wretched and naked and poor and blind. We're blind. I'm having to arouse myself Lord God today. Don't let me blind to eternity. Don't let me blind to the condition of lost millions. Don't let me be blind to the judgment.

Some of you that are super Christians go ahead, and I'm not scornful. Would you like to step on the dais for your reward right after the Apostle Paul? Huh, oh, I'm mr. Amiel in Revelation 20 it says the books are open.

Yes. It doesn't say anything about books being open for the believer. Doesn't it was it st. Malachi. A book of remembrance. God's book is not a book like this. I'd say it's chapters. It's a role actually what about the chapter on praying?

This good brother's been interested for years in and what he called it praying patient of Portland. They're gonna publish his Diary I think in three volumes. These men who pray praying patient of Portland.

He went to bed. The floor was like this no rug. And when he prayed he prayed like this going forward so that he wore big caps on his knees like a camel. But he wore grooves at the side of his bed about six inches long with his knees with his intercession.

And I'm gonna be judged for my prayer life right after that man. I've got a new definitive study of Jonathan Edwards of course. I don't eat at the wrong place or the right place. I open it and the heading says this man prayed and studied his Bible 13 hours every day.

He didn't have the most quietness because it 13 children, too. But you see it's this one thing. I do it's not something. I go to church Sunday when I get Blessed. And what. Because you're an exhibitionist.

You do that in a secret place. Do you dance for joy in the presence of God. Oh David danced. He didn't dance before a congregation. He danced before God. Do you get lost in wonder love and praise until you're speechless.

You can't even pray in tongues. There's something craving in there. It's like Paul says in Romans chapter 8 again. He talks about groanings, which cannot be uttered. There's no vocabulary. String all the vocabularies of the world together.

They're no good. God doesn't just listen to my words. You listen to my heartbeat. I was thinking again of a statement that was made by Spurgeon many years ago. He said God doesn't measure. It doesn't measure prayers by their length.

It doesn't measure prayers. He said he weighs them. He weighs them. What depth have they? Why are they created? As I say prayer is preoccupation with my needs either private needs or my national needs or the church's need.

Prayer is preoccupation with my needs. Praise is Preoccupation with my blessings. Worship is preoccupation with God. My goal is God himself not joy not peace not even blessing. I like the old hymn that says I have praised my maker while I breath and Should my eyes be closed in death.