A New and Living Way

This transcript was generated automatically. Its accuracy may vary

Short Summary
The discourse centers on the spiritual journey of consecration and discipleship, emphasizing the call to a “new and living way” inaugurated by Jesus Christ through His sacrifice. It highlights the transformation into a new creation, the need for sincere faith, perseverance, and mutual encouragement within the Christian community, drawing on scriptures to illustrate the challenges and assurances of walking this narrow path. The message culminates in a welcome to new members committing to this way, affirming the importance of holding fast to faith and pressing toward the goal of the upward call in Christ Jesus.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary of the Discourse: “A New and Living Way”

Theme Scripture:
– Philippians 3:13-14:
*”Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet. But one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”*
– This scripture sets the tone for the discourse—emphasizing continual spiritual growth, pressing forward in consecration and discipleship.

Introduction to the Concept of the New and Living Way:
– The discourse references Hebrews 10:19-25 as the foundational text, focusing on the “new and living way” inaugurated by Jesus Christ.
– Hebrews 10:19-21 highlights the confidence believers have to enter the holy place (God’s presence) by the blood of Jesus through “the veil that is his flesh.”
– This “new and living way” is unique and unprecedented, consecrated by Christ’s sacrifice, enabling believers to approach God directly.

Call and Privilege of the Christian Life:
– Believers are called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light, out of the world into His family, and transformed into new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17).
– This new creation is fundamentally different from the original creation (Mark 10:6) – it is a fresh, sanctified life empowered by Christ.
– Jesus is the Great High Priest (Hebrews 3:1-2), who sympathizes with human weakness (Hebrews 4:15-16), providing help and intercession for believers as they navigate their consecrated walk.

Walking the Walk of Consecration:
– Hebrews 10:22 urges believers to “draw near with a sincere heart and full assurance of faith,” highlighting sincerity, faith, and purity as key to living the Christian life.
– Drawing near may involve difficult experiences (Psalm 23:4), steadfast faith despite fear (Matthew 10:28), and separation from worldly influences (Revelation 18:4).
– The consecrated life requires self-sacrifice and commitment, echoing Philippians 3:13-14’s call to forget the past and press forward.

Full Assurance of Faith and Transformation:
– Romans 12:1-2 calls for presenting the body as a living sacrifice and not conforming to the world but being transformed by renewing the mind.
– Believers must seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33) and trust in His providence (Romans 8:31-32):
*”If God is for us, who can be against us?”*
– Faith provides strength to endure hardships and focus on the “prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Cleansing and Discipline:
– Believers’ hearts are sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22).
– God’s discipline (Hebrews 12:5-6) is part of this cleansing process — though difficult, it is necessary for growth and perseverance (James 1:2-4).
– Jesus is the righteous advocate (1 John 2:1-2), interceding for believers who sin and endure trials.

Holding Fast the Confession of Hope:
– Hebrews 10:23 encourages holding fast “without wavering” because God is faithful to His promises.
– This steadfastness is likened to an athlete’s discipline and self-control (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
– The Christian life demands unwavering loyalty to the confession of faith and a willingness to “die” to self and live for Christ (Philippians 1:21; Galatians 2:20).

The Voice of Faith and Courage:
– The discourse references the example of Stephen (Acts 7:51-60), who witnessed boldly with conviction and compassion even unto death.
– Believers are called to profess a voice of truth, faith, mercy, and consecration rather than tradition, superstition, or judgment.

Spiritual Growth and Character Development:
– From 2 Peter 1:5-9, the qualities of faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love are essential for fruitful Christian living.
– Forgetting the past and pressing toward the future call for continuous transformation.

Community and Encouragement:
– Hebrews 10:24-25 stresses the importance of stimulating one another to love and good works and not forsaking assembling together.
– The body of Christ is one, with many members (1 Corinthians 12:12-14), requiring unity, mutual support, and encouragement.
– John 15:12-14 commands love modeled on Christ’s sacrificial love.

Practical Application and Consecration Questions:
– The discourse concludes with three solemn questions for new consecrates (Alice and Andre):
1. Do you acknowledge that you are a sinner unable to reconcile with God by your own actions?
2. Do you accept Jesus as your personal Savior, recognizing redemption comes only through His ransom sacrifice?
3. Do you renounce your own will and fully consecrate your life to God’s will, following Jesus even unto death?
– Upon affirmation, the right hand of fellowship is offered.

Encouragement Scriptures for Alice and Andre:
– Isaiah 40:28-31: Assurance of God’s strength and renewal for those who wait on Him.
– Romans 8:31-37: Confidence that nothing can separate believers from the love of Christ, highlighting God’s faithfulness and victory through Jesus.

Closing Blessing:
– The discourse ends with an exhortation to walk the narrow way with faith, courage, and mutual support, confident in God’s promises and empowered by Christ’s priesthood.

—

Key Bible Verses Cited:

– Philippians 3:13-14
– Hebrews 10:19-25
– Romans 5:8, 10
– 2 Corinthians 5:17
– Mark 10:6
– Romans 5:11
– Hebrews 3:1-2
– Hebrews 10:22
– Revelation 18:4
– Psalm 23:4
– Matthew 10:28
– Romans 12:1-2
– Matthew 6:33
– Romans 8:31-32
– Hebrews 12:5-6
– James 1:2-4
– 1 John 2:1-2
– Hebrews 4:15-16
– Hebrews 10:23
– 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
– Philippians 1:21
– Galatians 2:20
– Acts 7:51-60
– 2 Peter 1:5-9
– Hebrews 10:24-25
– 1 Corinthians 12:12-14
– John 15:12-14
– Isaiah 40:28-31
– Romans 8:31-37

—

Summary Conclusion:
This discourse invites new consecrates and all believers to embrace the “new and living way” made possible through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice—an unprecedented spiritual path marked by transformation, faith, discipline, and community. It stresses pressing forward with purpose, holding fast to faith, drawing near to God sincerely, and supporting one another as members of the body of Christ. The journey is challenging but assured by God’s faithfulness, Jesus’ intercession, and the hope of the upward call.

Transcript

A new and living way.

We’ll get to that scripture in a moment. We’re going to use, even though that’s from Hebrews, we’re going to use a scripture from Philippians 3 as our basic theme. Brethren, I do not. Philippians 3, 13, 14. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet.

But one thing I do. Forgetting what lies behind, reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Brethren, we are gathered here today in this hour of convention to pause and to consider the privilege of our calling, our collective calling. We have been called out of God’s out of darkness into God’s marvelous light. We’ve been called out of the world in into God’s family to be his sons and his daughters. We have been called to honor our Lord Jesus by walking in his sacred footsteps one small step at a time. We’ve been called out of conformity to the world and our past into the transformation of living as members of the body of Christ.

For this next session, we’ll be focusing on Brother Andre and Sister Alice. We are going to be talking together. You can listen, but this is our conversation.

They have decided to symbolize their consecrations to this new and living way. So as we begin to take this apart, we’re going to use Hebrews chapter 10, verses 19 through 25 for our main thoughts. We’re going to go through it piece by piece and just put together what the apostle is teaching us about this new and living way. These verses introduce that phrase to us. So we begin.

We’re going to be looking at Hebrews 10, 19, 21, and this is the opportunity of our call. Hebrews 10, 19, 21. Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he inaugurated for us through the veil that is his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let’s break this down piece by piece. We want to get through several verses here.

So we’re going to just put the pieces in place. Therefore, brethren, why is he saying therefore? Therefore means something was spoken before that applies now. Since Jesus had fulfilled the law, had offered Himself as the perfect one time, atonement, sacrifice for all men, he opened up this path of life that had never before existed. Since we have confidence to enter this holy place by the blood of Jesus, so we’ve got that basic therefore.

And since we have confidence to enter this holy place by the blood of Jesus in Romans 5, 8, 10. It tells us, but God demonstrates His own love toward us, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more than having now been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through him. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more having been reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. So it says in Hebrews that we have confidence to enter this holy place by the blood of Jesus.

It was impossible to enter this holy place without the blood of Jesus. Not only has the way been opened because of the ransom and the sin offering that brother John had just spoken to us about earlier, but we have been given permission. We have been invited in to something that was off limits. It’s hard to fathom. That’s what this call is.

And then he says in verse 20 in Hebrews 10, by a new and living way which he inaugurated. The word tif actually means consecrated, which he consecrated, which he sanctified for us through the veil that is his flesh. This new and living way, brethren, is literally a new and literally a living way. Brother Andre and sister Alice, that’s what you’re invited to. Something that never existed before.

2nd Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, again there’s another therefore. Therefore going back to what was said before because of our non conformity to our old ways. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away.

Behold, new things have come. Literally, a new creature, a new creation. Something that had not been before. New. It means freshness, Creature or creation means a new original formation.

A new original formation is fundamentally different than the original creation. You know, In Mark chapter 10, verse 6, it says, but from the beginning of creation, God made the male and female. The word for creation there is the same word as becoming a new creation. It’s the same word, and what this means, Alice and Andre, is that you’ve been called to something beyond what was created in the days of creation.

Something that did not exist ever before, and by the plan of God and the blood of Jesus, it has been opened up and you’ve been invited to be a part of that new original creation. Verse 21 in Hebrews 10, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God. Just pause there.

We’re all pretty broken people, aren’t we? I mean, face it, and to be given this incredible opportunity, this incredible open door, we need a lot of help, and we understand God’s spirit coming and dwelling within us. But we have this great High Priest, who helps us to manage through our brokenness.

Romans 5:11, and not only this, but we also exalt in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation, through whom we have been reconciled. So no matter how broken we are, we’ve already been reconciled. When our Heavenly Father looks down upon us in this consecrated walk, what does he see? Does he see your brokenness, or does he see that new creation?

He sees the new creation. He’s invited you, he’s called you, and you are now in a position where he sees you differently than he sees the rest of the world. Our great High Priest is in Hebrews, chapter 3, verses 1 and 2. Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus the apostle and high priest of our confession. He was faithful to him who appointed him, as Moses was also in all of his house.

So since we have Jesus, life, sacrifice, death and resurrection, since they have provided us a standing before God that was previously impossible, that previously did not exist, that enables us to walk in a living way under our High Priest, Jesus, whose priesthood supersedes all others, and so we need to learn to walk the walk, and that’s really what this session is about. Walking the Walk of Consecration. What do we do?

How do we walk the walk? Hebrews 10:22. Let us draw near with a sincere heart and full assurance of faith. Having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Again, let’s break this down a little bit.

Let’s understand. Drawing near with a sincere heart. That’s the first piece. To walk the walk, we have to take steps. We have to draw near with the sincerity of our heart.

A consecrated life is built upon a conviction to follow only that which brings us towards discipleship, nothing else. Sometimes those steps require us to walk away. Revelation 18:4. Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins. Sister Alice and Brother Andre, you’ve had the experience of coming out of her.

And brethren, for those of you who don’t know their story, ask them, because it’s a wonderful testimony to God, patiently working and drawing over time so that they would have the courage and the fortitude to leave other things behind for this new and living way. Sometimes our drawing near requires us to walk through experiences. Psalm 23:4. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff that comfort me. Sometimes this drawing near is walking through difficult, harsh trials.

Sometimes our Drawing near requires us to walk simply in great faith. Matthew 10:28 do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul, but rather fear him who’s able to destroy both soul and body. In Gehenna, sometimes we have to just be able to stand firm no matter what. So our drawing near has several elements. Alice and Andre this is what your life now begins to look like, and you know this.

Our drawing near with a sincere heart is a statement of purpose for our lives. It’s us expressing our recognition of God’s plans and gifts through Jesus and our willingness to comply in self sacrifice. Our willingness to comply in self sacrifice Abbreviating our theme text Philippians 3:13 14 forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. Press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus, Andre and Alice, welcome to this new and living way. Let’s go a little further with our Hebrew Scripture.

It says, let us draw near with a sincere heart, with full assurance of faith. Let’s look at the full assurance of faith. How convicted are we regarding the power of what we are called to in Romans 12:1 and two verses that are probably quoted in every baptismal discourse. It helps us to understand the conviction necessary. Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, Just pause there for a moment.

The apostle is about to ask something very, very, very great of those to whom he is writing, that is us, and he says, I urge you, because God is so merciful and because you have received that mercy, that reconciliation, I urge you by the mercies of God, to present your bo a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. This is the new American Standard Version and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is that which is good and acceptable and perfect. So full assurance of faith is not just standing, it’s moving forward in offering. Your body’s is a living sacrifice.

That is what you’re called to. Having this full assurance of faith revives us when we go through doubt and through difficulty.

One of my favorite verses is Matthew 6:33 but seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Just a side note, that particular verse in my own consecrated walk has carried me through many times when I didn’t know how to get done everything that needed to be done, and I would say that verse out loud while in my office under the deadline of the next Christian questions episode that needed to be written and having work to do, and incidentally I’m self employed so when I work on Bible things nobody yells at me but being able to sitting there and saying I have to balance these things, and I would say out loud to the Lord, I quote this verse and say, lord, I’m going to work on your work first and I pray that you will help me to catch up with everything and every time there was a deliverance Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and he will take care of the rest when our priorities are straight.

Alison Andre Life is challenging and it’s unpredictable. Staying on the narrow way assures us of his providence. Romans 8:31 32 what shall we then say to these things?

This is one of those simple statements. The next statement is one of those simple scriptural statements that you look at and it’s almost too simple. You have to just pause and think. If God is for us, who can be against us? I mean pause and consider.

What else could there possibly be in all of creation that we would have to be afraid of if God is for us? That’s the simple profound promise here. He who did not spare his own son, but delivered him over for us all, how will he not also with him freely give us all things? And I will add all things that we need to be able to make our calling and election sure. Our full assurance of faith focuses us on what our life is to become and is a foundation for us to build upon this full assurance of faith.

Your life journeys have brought you to an assurance of faith that you can say, that’s the foundation. Let me build what Jesus would have me build so I can literally walk in his footsteps. Back to our theme Scripture, Philippians 3, 13, 14 forgetting what lies behind, reaching forward to what lies ahead.

Pause there. Forget means to put it behind you. It’s no longer in front of you, it’s behind you. Reaching forward implies I have made an intentional decision to what lies ahead. Then it says, press.

Push hard. Don’t be compromised. Push hard toward the goal. For the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. That’s our lives.

That’s your walk. Welcome to this new and living way.

Next part of the verse says, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water, let’s pause and consider these thoughts for a few minutes. To walk in the purity of God’s spirit is to live in a cleansed way, both from the inside and the Outside. There’s a lot that can be said about this cleansing. We’re just going to be brief here. Hebrews 12, 5, 6.

Have you forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons? My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him. For those whom the Lord loves, He disciplines, and he scourges every son whom he receives. That sounds hard, and it is, and it’s 100% necessary to keep us on the narrow way.

This cleansing might require the hard scrubbing needed to remove the nasty stains of what our human lives are in their broken state, and again, Alison, Andre, you have gone through a lot of that already in terms of recognizing where you were and deciding to not be there anymore. Stay the course as you move forward. This cleansing does not remove our faults and trials so close. It doesn’t remove them, it focuses them.

Our faults and trials are now focused on this transformation. James 1, 2, 4. Consider it all joy, brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Trials and difficulties, in the case of many brethren, become more pronounced as you have made a consecration.

And that’s a good thing, because our trials and difficulties are here for the purpose of helping us understand what striving towards. Striving forward toward that crystallized character needs and what needs to be left behind. That’s. That’s the challenge. So trials and testings can be devastating, brethren.

But take heart, because when you have them, put them in the hands of our advocate first. John 2:1, 2. My little children, I’m writing these things to you so you may not sin, and if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. Pause there for a second.

It just doesn’t say just Jesus Christ. It’s Jesus Christ the righteous. That’s the guarantee of his being at the right hand, of the power of God. He is the righteous one. He himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

So when we have a difficulty, we have our advocate who will speak for us, speak with us, stand with us before our Heavenly Father. Use his presence in your life. We need to rejoice in what we’ve been given through our Lord Jesus as we approach God. One further scripture along those lines. Hebrews 4, 15, 16.

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things, just as we are, and yet without sin. Therefore, because he understands temptation, he understands difficulty, he understands pain, he understands suffering, he understands disappointment, he understands rejection. Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Alice and Andre, we are privileged, you are privileged, to be cleansed through Jesus and to stand before God as his children.

Back to our theme Scripture. Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. Press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus. Alice and Andre, welcome to this new and living way.

Let’s continue with Hebrews 10:23. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. For he who has promised is faithful. He who has promised is faithful. So when God makes a promise, it’s simply a prophecy of what’s to unfold later, because it’s going to happen.

Hold fast the confession of our hope. Hold fast. The unwavering dedication and discipline of professional athletes teaches us much about our lives and about the way we need to hold fast to this conflict. Confession of our hope we’re going to look at 1st Corinthians 9:24 to 25. Do you not know that the purpose.

I’m sorry. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

Everyone who competes in the games exercises self control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath. But we an imperishable as we follow Christ. To exercise self control is to hold fast to the confession of our faith. We have confessed our faith.

The Lord God has seen fit to call us out of the billions of people in this world. Sister Alice and brother Andre, he’s called you.

He wants you to be one of those few who are. Based on brother Mark’s discourse, I really appreciated the thought of we are essentially first generation of God’s redeemed world. We are the first. We don’t have to go through all the generations to get back to Abraham. We are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

That’s what he has called you to, and it requires you as a result to take that mentality of an athlete and to be self controlled in all things. Every athlete has to sell out to their coach, has to sell out to their system and has to sell out to their training. Philippians 4:12 13 says the apostle Paul, expressing his own experience. He says, I know how to get along with humble means.

I also know how to live in prosperity and in any and every circumstance. I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, of both having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. He was a disciple. Our discipleship will cost us our very lives.

Philippians 1:21 says, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain, because this is about eternity. So how do we die for Jesus? The answer is we live for Him. That’s how we die for him. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it’s no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh.

I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me in and gave Himself up for me, who gave Himself up for you specifically to be part of his family. Unwavering loyalty to our confession to follow Christ provides a standard for every single day of our lives. Again, our theme Scripture Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. Press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Alison Andre welcome to this new and living way. We have to hold fast to this confession of our faith by professing that hope. We have to profess what we confess. An athlete’s voice expresses their focus and dedication. First Corinthians 9:26 27 Therefore I run in such a way as is not without aim.

I box in such a way as not beating the air, but I discipline my body to make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. I am living the life of discipline. I am preaching to others, and I am not for a moment taking for granted what I have already been given. But I am continually striving to work harder. A quick example of the voice of dedication let’s look at our dear brother Stephen.

He was witnessing before they killed him. We’re just going to drop in just a moment. Listen to the clarity of his voice in so many different ways. We’re going to give you two examples. First, his voice was one of very clear conviction.

He was unafraid. Acts 7:51 53 talking to those who were getting angrier and angrier with him, he he said, you men who are stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, always resisting the Holy Spirit, you are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One whose betrayers and murderers. You have now become you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you did not keep it.

He was firm, he was clear, but he was also profoundly compassionate. Acts 7:58, 60 and when they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him, and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul, and they went on stoning Stephen and called on and as Stephen called on the Lord, he said, lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice.

He cried out with a loud voice, lord, do not hold this sin against them, and having said this, he fell asleep. He stood strong for principles of righteousness and truth with this great compassion toward their blindness. Alice and Andre Our voice, our profession, is to be the voice of truth, not the voice of tradition. It’s to be the voice of reason, not the voice of superstition.

It’s to be a voice of faith and mercy, not a voice of self will and judgment. It’s to be the profession of courage, conviction and consecration. That’s your life. That’s what you have dedicated yourselves to.

Going to second Peter 1, verses 5 through 9. You know these verses very well. We’ve been studying these in our Thursday night study for a very long time. For this reason also, applying all diligence in your faith supply moral excellence and your moral excellence knowledge, and in your knowledge, self control.

And your self control, perseverance. In your perseverance, godliness. In your godliness, brotherly kindness and your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

Our confession and our profession create this need for our transformation. Forget what lies behind. Reach forward to what lies ahead. Press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call. Christ Jesus.

Welcome to this new and living way. Hebrews 10:24. Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good works. This is a little bit about collaboration, and again, side note, when Christian questions started 27 and a half years ago, we had to pick a theme.

Scripture. This was it. Let us consider how to provoke one another using the King James Version. To love and good works. That was the theme of the witness effort that by God’s grace, by his grace and privilege was used to find you.

But the message here is to collaborate, to co labor. A team of athletes must be of a mind to work, they must be willing to pick each other up. They must be utterly committed to one another. We must be joined to those who are also seeking Christ. 1st Corinthians 12:12 14 even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members are of one body, though there are many, they are one body.

So also is Christ. For by one spirit we are baptized into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks, whether slave or free, we are all made to drink of one spirit. The body is not one member, but many, and yet it’s one body.

Brethren, that’s our task. That’s your task. Be part of the brotherhood.

Let’s move forward a little bit. I’m going to have to skip a few scriptures here. Let’s go to Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. The message for you is to be in each other’s presence, not just the two of you, but to be in the presence of the brotherhood wherever and whenever you can. John 15:12 14 this is my commandment that you love one another just as I have loved you.

Greater love has no one than this than one laid down his life for his friends, and you are my friends if you do what I command you. How deeply do we comprehend? That example is Jesus. Conviction, my conviction.

How deeply Colossians 2:19 hold fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God we are fully supplied through our head, which is Christ Jesus. Andre and Alice, pass on what you’ve been given. Our final scripture. Colossians 3:12 16 so as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, forgiving each other. Whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord forgave you, so you should be forgiving beyond all these things.

Put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Back to our theme Scripture. Forget what lies behind, reach forward to what lies ahead.

Press toward the goal for the prize of the upper call of God in Christ Jesus.

Sister Alice and Brother Andre, welcome to this new and living way.

At this point, I’d like to ask Alice and Andre to stand, and we have three questions for you, and just a simple nod or a yes will work. The first question for Alice and Andre. Do you realize that you are a sinner and as such are not able to be reconciled with God by any of your own actions?

Second question. Do you accept Jesus as your own personal Savior, Realizing that redemption from sin.

Only comes through his ransom sacrifice?

And third, to your here and now, based on your answers to the two previous questions, renounce your own will and profess a full, unreserved consecration of your life to serving only the will of God and becoming a disciple of Jesus even unto death.

Brethren, based on the answers to those questions, I’m going to come down and offer you the right hand of fellowship on behalf of your brethren who are here witnessing this, and then I’m going to read you each a scripture. I’ll come back to the podium to read the scripture, but let me come back. Go down.

Brother Andre, as you walk in this narrow way, meditate on Isaiah 40, verses 28 to 31. I’ll give you copies of these later. Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not grow faint or grow weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and young men will fall exhausted.

But they who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. Lord bless you, sister Alice.

You, as you walk this narrow way, meditate on Romans 8, 31, 37. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered him over for all of us. How will he not also with him freely give us all things?

Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns Christ? Jesus is he who died? Yes.

Rather, who was raised? Who is at the right hand of God? Who also intercedes for us? Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness or peril or sword?

Just as it is written, for your sakes we are being put to death. All day long we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered. That in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer. Through him who loved us, we bring you these Scriptures. With love and prayers from your fellow soldiers in Christ.

May the Lord add His blessing.

Click Here for the PDF transcript.