Please turn with me to the book of Romans, chapter 11, verses 1 through 10.

Romans 11 versus 1 through 10.

I ask then, has God rejected his people by no means for I myself am an Israelite

a descendant of Abraham a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.

Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?

He says, Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left and they seek my life.

But what was God's reply to Him?

I have kept for myself 7,000 men who have not bowed the knee to ball.

So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works. Otherwise

grace would no longer be grace. What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking.

The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened.

As it is written,

God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear down to this

very day.

And David says, let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them.

Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see and bend their backs forever.

The Lord does strange things to services, to make us serious and ready for the word. For example, standing in that line of

people to join this church this Sunday was to be Tom Strayon and Tom died on Thursday night just fell over of a heart attack.

So don't take for granted that you're here this morning.

You're here by divine appointment

and God has a work to do in your life because you're here.

And I'm glad you're here and I pray that every part of this service will

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