into the Word of God. First Thessalonians chapter 5 and our text will be verses 19 through 28

to the end of the chapter and the letter and I'll have you turn there if you're not there already

and once you do if you're able I'll ask you to stand you can follow along as I read if not

where you're seated is fine.

The Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Thessalonica, by the Holy Spirit, says verse 19, do not quench the

spirit. Do not verse 20 treat prophecies with contempt but test them all hold on to what is good

reject every kind of evil or as some of your translations render it, even the appearance of evil.

May God Himself, verse 23, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.

May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He always puts that in. Verse 24, the one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

Brothers and sisters, pray for us.

Greet all God's people with a holy kiss.

I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters, which is what they would do. The grace, verse 28, of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Let's pray if you would join with me.

Oh Lord, thank you so much for your word.

Thank you for this portion that we have before us this morning.

Lord, there's so much here that I believe you would desire to show to us and minister to us.

But unless the Holy Spirit gets and keeps our attention then our minds are

going to wander we're going to be distracted and we're going to miss that which you have for

us so Lord would you as only you can get our attention hold our attention by the Holy Spirit as you speak

into our lives in and through your word Lord thank you in Jesus name amen amen you can

be seated thank you So I want to talk with you today about why it is that we as believers live defeated Christian lives needlessly and even unnecessarily. And I say it like that for a reason.

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