Baptist Church in this beautiful little town of our United States. My heart is filled with thanks and gratitude to our Lord Jesus Christ who made it possible for me to come back to this wonderful country, visiting different churches around the country, different states. Wherever I went, indeed I was well received and I was excited to see the way the Lord has been using this church in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ down through the centuries. And I am very thankful to God for the saints of God for their kindness, their hospitality being extended to me in different places. So this, right after the service, I will be ahead to Elder Roy Rhodes house and then I will fly back to Memphis and then fly back home on August 3rd. So I want to take this time to thank Elder Roy Rhodes who drove to airport and received me and bring me to this place and indeed I enjoyed being with him, driving with him in this heavy traffic. But Roy is a very good driver. It's a big traffic of course, but nothing is compared to Indian cities. It will be more heavy traffic than in Chicago. You could imagine how it would be. And also I want to express my hearty thanks to Elder Parker, my dear brother, for the kindness he has extended to me. It's always great joy and privilege to remember you all in my prayers and thank God that He made it possible to see you once again face to face in this country. And thank you for your prayers and everything. And also I want to express my hearty thanks to Elder Dave Forrest, his wife and children. And I can't explain how much wonderful time I had with him last time driving to the city of Chicago. and he is also a dear brother in Christ. I thank God for meeting him in this place. It's really exciting to see the way they are selling their vegetables. It is incredible. This cannot be happening in India. I praise God for the people here in this area like that. And also my special thanks goes to my dear brother Matt, this is Christina, and their wonderful children and thank God for bringing me back to their house and I enjoyed couple of times in staying with their beautiful house where children are also very friendly and thank you so much for all the warm hospitality extended to me, dear brother Matthew and sister Christina I will never forget you in my prayers, in my thoughts, and my hearty thanks goes to every one of you, even though I do not know your names, still I pray generally for the people in this church. Once again, thank God for the privilege of standing before you to preach His word this morning. Let us turn our Bible to official of Paul to Philippians chapter 3 verses 7 through 10. Book of Philippians chapter 3 verses 7 through 10. But what things were gained to me, those I counted lost for Christ? Yea, doubtless, I count all things but lost for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the laws of all things, and do count them, but done, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made confirmable unto his death. Let us close our eyes and look to the Lord that God will help us to understand the scripture. Let us pray. Our dear Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for the precious word given in our hands, in our native language, so that we can read and understand the scripture. 2 Timothy 3.16 says, all the scriptures are inspired by the Holy Spirit. So without thy spirit, we cannot understand properly. So I pray that the Holy Spirit will minister to our hearts and minds through this scripture and I pray that you will enlighten our understanding so that we will perceive the potential truth from this passage so that we will walk more closer to you day by day. And I thank you Lord for the opportunity of bringing this word. I pray that you will help me to preach in a right way and I pray that you will give me a good English on good expression so that everyone could follow my English this morning. I just totally commit myself in your mighty hand. Bless us together. We ask in Jesus' precious name. Amen. People in this world live with disappointments and hard troubles day to day life. Often times God's people are having difficulties, sometimes sickness, sometimes loss of their beloved ones, sometimes going through difficult crises, different situations. When Apostle Peter writes to the saints who scattered different parts of the country, different parts of the world in the first century, When he writes in 1 Peter 1.8, he mentions like this, being born again, 1.8, whom having not seen, ye love in whom, though now ye see him not, ye believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Whom he is writing for the sake of Christ, for the cause of gospel, the people who were suffering during the first century. So when he writes to them, you are believing, you rejoice with great unspeakable and full of glory. How could people could get such a joy, unspeakable joy, filled with glory? That could be done only through Christ Jesus. And when Apostle Paul writes to Philippians, he says, I count all things but lost for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. And then he goes on telling that he counts all things, count them but dung, that I may win Christ. And then he goes on writing, he wants to know the power of resurrection, on the fellowship of sufferings. Paul wants to know the fellowship of sufferings. It was a wonderful sermon preached by Elder Roy Road about knowing God in the city of Memphis last week. I enjoyed and blessed very much Brother Roy Road with that message. And these days often times I'm thinking on this particular scripture and the Lord has blessed me in revealing different things from the Scripture. When I was in Bible Seminary several years ago, often times students used to use the Bible as just a textbook to study for the lessons. And sometimes we students used to get accumulate the knowledge of Scripture for the examination sake, or sometimes just to study because of students. So one can know a greater deal about God without much knowledge of Christ, knowledge of Him. And one can know a great deal about Godliness without much knowledge of God. It may be possible. On this morning, I would like to focus your attention on the characteristics of the people, those who know God, or what are the characteristics of the people who know God in hearts. Let us turn our Bible to Daniel, chapter 11, verse 32. Daniel 11, 32. and such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries, but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits. But the people that do know their God shall be strong. How can a people who know God can be strong? When we read the book of Daniel, we come across the characters of four great men of God. Their lives reveals us these things. In what context this scripture was written? See, those days, according to verse 21, in contrast to the wild person, In contrast to the people who live worldly life, in contrast to the people who are assimilating with the worldly culture, the men of God will be strong for Him. Daniel and his companions, who know their God, were very strong for Him. So I want to share four characteristics. of the people who know their God. Number one, those who know God will have a great energy for God. If we read Daniel chapter 1 verse 8, but Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with a portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank, therefore he requested of the prince of Enoch that he might not defile himself. We know King Nebuchadnezzar captured the southern kingdom, kingdom of Judah during the reign of King Jehoiachin. He deported a large number of people from Judah to Babylonia. By that time, young people who have smart knowledge and intelligence and also people who have skilled, they were also carried away to Babylon. So the king Nebuchadnezzar ordered the prince of Enoch to separate the young people who are from a princely, kingsly descendants, who are very smart, who are intelligent, who have a very skilled to serve in the king's court and also ordered them to feed them with the kingly meat and the wine so that they will be physically strong enough. When physically man is strong enough, mentally he will work hard. So with that intention he ordered. But Daniel did not want to take the meat and the wine of the things which the king is giving. He purposed in his heart to not defile his heart. He not defile himself. What a wonderful thing it is. He wanted to make a difference in that country. He wanted to make a difference among the people who live with worldly life. Today we live in the world where there is lot of wickedness all over the world. The world is running after pleasure. The world is running after worldly things. The world is running after many things which will give a pleasure to the minds and the flesh and the life, something like that. Very few people want to know God. So among them, the God's people always will love to live a life which will bring glory and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ. And Daniel and his companions requested him to give only vegetable and pulses. But the prince of Enoch was a bit afraid. If he does like that, the Nebuchadnezzar king would have cut off his head. He was afraid. But what was the response of Daniel? He said, just you tested for 10 days. After 10 days, you can make decision. So for 10 days he has given only the pulses. and the ordinary vegetables. After that, these four men's face were fair and fatter than other people who had a king's meat and wine. And then secondly, these people of God are Daniel and Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, they had a prior life. When we read chapter 6, 10, when King Darius Ordered a degree that people on this air people on this country all should make supplications prayer of supplications to only to King and not to any God those who prior to any God for one month and They will be casted into the lion's den even after knowing this Daniel did not stop praying This did not prevent him from doing a fasting prayer. And he just kept his windows open and he prayed. He did not worry about all these things. So he had a prayer life. And if we read chapter 9, Daniel had a prayer life for intercessory prayer. He prayed for his people. He prayed that the Lord will show his mercy upon his people. So what was his prayer? He fasted, and he had a burden in his heart about his people. He said, Lord, we have sinned against thee. We have transgressed thy commandments. We have walked according to our own way. So he was pleading for the mercy for his people. He was interceding for his people. So Daniel had three things in his heart. First, he wanted to They live a life which will bring glory and honor to God, so He purposed in His life to live a holy life and to live, to not defile Himself. Secondly, He had a regular prayer life. He had three times per day, and then He prayed for His people. Prayer life is very important in the lives of God's children. The more we pray, the more we get closer to God. In the world, we have friends. When two friends get together, what do we do? We talk and talk over and over and again. And hours together, we want to sit and talk. The more we talk, the more we get to know each other, the more we spend time with each other, our friendship will grow more and more. The same way, The more we spend time with God, the more we talk to God, the more we intercede to God, the more we will walk closer to Him. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself had a prayer life. Jesus Christ prayed early in the morning. And on another occasion, we read Jesus was prayed all over the night. Just before His crucifixion, Jesus took His disciples to a garden Gethsemane. and asked his disciples to watch and pray for one hour, but everybody got sleep. Then Jesus prayed with agony. If our Master and Lord Jesus Christ had a prayer life, how much more we should have a prayer life? Once I was reading about the first president of America, George Washington. It was very interesting. He was a great man of God who had a prayer life. On one occasion, While he was at war against the Red Indians, one of the Red Indians he shot at against George Washington, he was fatally wounded. People thought he would have died, but he sustained with injury. After some time, he was alright. Another occasion, the leader of Red Indian was so surprised to see George Washington without any other problem. So he asked, how could you live even after such an injury and we thought you would have already died. Then he said, it is not by might or not by any other thing, it is only because of my old age mother who has been praying for me 2000 miles away from this place. God is the God of answering prayers. God answers prayers not only 2,000 miles, even after 10,000 miles. When you pray for us, the Lord is using us and we are experiencing the prayers of God's people over this country in our practical ministry. I will tell you how the Lord has been blessing and how the Lord answered prayers. So the people who know God will be very energetic for God. They will read the scriptures, spend time with the Lord, and they will talk about God, and they will grow in the knowledge of God more and more. Secondly, those who know God will have great thoughts about God, or great thoughts of God. What is the great thoughts of God? God is the ruler of the history. God is the ruler of the nation. God is the one who controls everything. So their thoughts will be there in their minds. Sovereignty in the acts of judgment, sovereignty in the acts of mercy towards individuals and nations, according to His own good pleasure. So when we read Daniel chapter 2, 21, Here Daniel was interpreting the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar. Again Daniel chapter 4, Daniel was interpreting the dream of Nebuchadnezzar. He had two dreams. He was perplexed in his mind. He could not understand. He could not sleep. He did not know what to do, how to understand. Then Daniel was called upon to interpret the dream. He interpreted his dream, but The main thing Daniel focused to the King Nebuchadnezzar was God is the ruler of the nation. That we read in Daniel 2.21. And he changed the times and the seasons, he removed kings and set up kings. He gave wisdom unto the wise and knowledge to them that know understanding. What a wonderful thing it is. So God is the one who appoints the ruler. That's why Jesus said we have to obey to our governments, to our authorities. We have to pay our tax, we have to obey the rules and regulations, we have to follow even traffic rules. Many times people in India do not follow the traffic rules while driving. Often times I am reminded, oh I must follow the rule of the nation. Sometimes people pass left side, sometimes pass right side, wherever there is a space they will ride. So God, Jesus Christ himself commanded, because God is the one who appoints kings and the rulers. Then in chapter 2, 47, the king answered to Daniel and said of a truth It is that your God is the God of God and a Lord of Kings. Your God is the God of Gods and a God of Kings. What a wonderful thought it is. And then again, Daniel was teaching to the kings in chapter 4, 25, second part of the scripture. till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and give it to whomsoever he will." So until King Nebuchadnezzar understood that God is the ruler of the kingdom of the nation, he was humiliated. He became an animal like that. And again in the same chapter 5, While Daniel was revealing the writing of the hand of Belshazzar, he pointed out the same thing in 5.21, second part. Till he knew that the Most High God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointed over it whomsoever he will. So in many places, King Darius He himself confessed this truth in chapter 6, 25 to 27. If you read these three scriptures, he says in 26, I make a degree that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before God of Daniel, for he is the living God and steadfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end." His dominion is even unto the end. And these are the thoughts filled with the minds and hearts of Daniel and his friends. I want to illustrate one more thing here. In the year 2003, Our state governments may pass a law which is anti-conversion law. According to this law, anyone who wants to get convert into any religion, prior permission has to be obtained from local magistrate by registering their names, their ages, their address, etc. The preacher who is going to, who wants to baptize converts, will have to register with local magistrate. Those who failing to follow this rule will be imprisoned for 3 years with $4000 fine. When this law was passed, God's people in India or God's people in Tamil Nadu state were very much troubled. And we I called all our preachers and deacons for fasting and praying. After the prayer, I said, OK, what shall we do with this? Then our preacher said, let us keep on preaching the word, because God is the ruler of the nation. We believe the sovereignty of God. So let us preach the gospel. Whatever it may come, let it come. We are ready to face Even we are ready to imprison for the sake of gospel. So what made our people, what made us to have, because of the truth, the sovereignty of God. Then God's people like you have prayed fervently for us. I'm sure you have also prayed for that. God answered that prayer. What happened, last year we had central government election. So the political party, the ruling party who passed this law also contested in this central government election. Usually in this election, this particular party will have at least 20 seats or 15 seats, something like that in the past elections. But this year, Fatally, they were defeated, they were washed out, not even winning one seat. What happened? Just after this election, this government declared in newspaper that we are repealing the anti-conversion law. What a wonderful thing it is. So it explicitly shows, man is not the ruler of the nation, God is the one. And God is in control of everything. Their thoughts fill the minds of the people who know their God. So when we view God in right perspective, when we see God in right perspective, that makes us a comfort, that we can rest on God. Thirdly, those who know God show great boldness for God. Daniel and his friends were counted the cost and measured the risk. They were well aware of the outcome of the action when they disobeyed to the king's decree. Unless God intervened, of course, God did intervene. What will happen? See, here they are convinced that the stand was right and their loyalty to God required them to take it. That's why they were very strong. Even they were defying the authority. And they were very bold for testifying God. When we read Acts 5.29, Peter and the apostles were brought before the council of Sanhedrin. And they were warned, did we not warn you to not preach the gospel? What was the response of Peter? It is important to obey to God rather than man. So he was very bold for God and he was willing to face even persecution. The same way when we read Book of Acts chapter 20, 24. This is a beautiful scripture often I love and even I brought before our preachers in the preachers meeting. Acts chapter 20, 24. But none of these things move me, neither count I myself dear unto myself so that I might finish my course with joy on the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." What a wonderful thing it is. Apostle Paul, at the end of his third evangelistic journey, he was informed about what will happen if he takes journey to Jerusalem. He was about to take journey to Jerusalem. He discerned and in his heart, and even Holy Spirit revealed what are the things are going to be happened in Jerusalem. The prophets predicted about the impending perils of Paul in Jerusalem. So, perhaps aware of all these afflictions, he could have thought, OK, I have fulfilled three evangelistic journey, I have preached the Gospel in Asia Minor and many other places, Okay, let me retire and let me take rest. But he did not feel like that. He was more energetic. He wanted more. He wanted to preach the gospel. And he was willing to risk his life. He was willing to face the persecutions. This will be the spirit of all the people who know God. In India, being a Christian, following Christ caused many things. I want to tell about a sister named Nesabakiam and also another two sisters in our church. Nesabakiam was one of the early converts during 2000 when Elder Zach and Herb was with us. They baptized this lady. Ever since she got baptized and joined the church, her husband is an alcoholic man and he did not like see her wife going to church. He said, you cannot be a Christian. Don't go to church. She said, no, I found the true God. I have been blessed by reading the scripture. I got saved. I want to go to church. She was beaten by her husband many times for the sake of going to church. On one occasion, he kicked her on her abdomen on Sunday morning. She had fallen down and cried, and even that incident did not stop her. The climax happened a couple of months ago. When I was in Australia, I received a phone call from our office secretary, Brother Nelson, saying, Sister Naisabakiam is going through terrible suffering in her health. She had a problem in her uterus, so it has to be removed, and she had a problem of appendix, so big surgery has to be done. His husband is not at all interested in helping her anything, because she is a Christian. And he said to her, you became a Christian, the God whom you are serving will help you. Don't talk all these things to me. He did not care about it, then he walked away. She was suffering like anything. On hearing this, I told him over phone to admit her in hospital and make all the arrangements to be done for the surgery. By the mercy of God, I got some donations to pay her bills. So on my return, her surgery was done and she was in the hospital for more than two weeks. At the end of the two weeks, Her husband came and saw him and shed tears. So he said, please forgive me, I have persecuted like anything. And the God whom served you has helped you to get surgery. God softened his heart. So this woman stands firm for Christ and she is witnessing Christ in the midst of afflictions, sufferings. But God did not let her down. God provided her needs. Now God is softening the heart of her own husband. You can also remember this family in your prayers. Secondly, another woman, her name is Sarah. She lives in another community. She attends the church where I am pastoring. The same way, when she got converted, her own husband did not like to see her as a Christian. She said, This is not our God. We have our own Gods. You have joined with the religion of western people. Then she said, no, you are talking all these things out of ignorance. I found the true God. God has showed mercy upon me and please let me go to church. Many times the same way she was persecuted by her own husband. Finally, he came to an extent saying, so far you did not listen to me. You want to go on your own way. So, if you still want to follow Jesus, you forget your husband, you leave the house, I am no more your husband, you are no more my wife. She said, I would rather leaving the family, leaving you, but I would not give up the faith in God. Finally she left the family, living in the same community in a separate house, for the sake of gospel, for the sake of Christ. By the mercy of God, after some time, the Lord drawn to her own daughter and son-in-law. Both are around her, they are living separately. You see, what makes people to be bold, because even though they are uneducated, they knew God, That made them to be bold to stand for God. Finally, those who know God will have a great contentment in God. Great contentment in the sense, whatever it may happen, there will be a peace prevailing in the heart. There is no peace like the peace of those whose minds are possessed with the full assurance that they have known God and God has known them. Romans 5, 1 says, being justified by faith, we have peace with God. And when we read Romans chapter 8, wonderful chapter, I love this chapter very much. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirits. When we walk with God, when we walk in Spirit, whatever it comes, it won't bother us. Then if we go on reading this chapter, chapter 828, it's the climax of this scripture, it says, All things work together for good to those who love God and God according to His purpose. All things work together for good, not everyone. particularly those who love God. To them only all things work together for good. What a marvelous thing. And chapter 8, end of the chapter says, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake We are killed all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor high, nor deep, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God. which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. What a wonderful scripture it is. Nothing will separate death or life. There is a preacher, his name is David Thangavelu. He is about 58 years old. He is passing a church. As a diabetic, two of his kidneys failed recently. He is living only with dialysis. He needs surgery or he will die. I don't know what will happen. Please remember this brother in your prayers, Elder David. Just before I get into States, I was invited to preach in their church. Before the preaching I asked David, would you like to say anything to congregation? Then he stood up and he was testifying his past life and in the course of his talk he said, I do not understand people who come to see me are crying, shedding tears for me. I am not worried of my death. If the Lord extends my life, I will serve some more years for Him. If I die, I will be with Christ. So to me, life or death makes no difference. This is what Nebuchadnezzar order, make and decree. to worship the golden image and when Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego did not obey to his degree, three of them were called before the king. He asked, did you not obey to my command? He was ready to say, O King Nebuchadnezzar, let it be known to you, the God whom you are serving will be able to deliver us from you, from your hand. But, even if he does not deliver, we are not in the position to bow down before the golden image you have set before us. So what made these people to say this? They knew. They knew that makes no difference for them life or death. The same way, every one of God's people will have the same thoughts. we may be discouraged on seeing things in our day-to-day life. Sometimes when things go wrong, when things go out of control, we may be discouraged. Sometimes when our prayers are not answered, we might have prayed several times, several months, even years together, still God did not answer. Sometimes we may get fainted. No! If our prayers are not answered, God will have a plan and purpose in that. Years ago, there was a girl named Amy Carmichael in the country of Scotland. She believed what we believe. She believed on the sovereignty of God in her latter days. Maybe you may be familiar with Amy Carmichael. Are you? So when she was about 10 years old, she used to attend Bible class every Sunday. On one particular Sunday, the teacher was teaching about the prayer life. One of her teachings was, if we ask God anything in His name without any doubt, God will answer our prayers. Moreover she mentioned, even if we have, even the mustard seed size of faith, if we command that this mountain to remove and fall in the ocean, it will happen. So she quoted all different scriptures and encouraged these young minds to pray to God without doubt. Amy Carmichael as a small girl, Her desire was, her concern was about her eyes. You know, some people in England and Scotland, their eyes are blue. Have you noticed? But this little Amy Carmichael's eye was like a brown like Indian's eyes. So this made her very much concerned. Perhaps her small friends would have teased by saying that you are different than all others. That made her very much concerned. After hearing this teaching in the Sunday class, she wanted to pray to God on that night. She believed God 100%. She does not have any doubt in her heart. On that night she prayed, Lord, this is what you have said. This is what I was taught by my teacher. So tonight I pray with full of faith my eyes should be changed as a blue. I don't want to have my eyes anymore like a brown. I want to look like my parents. I want to look like my brothers and sisters in the community. She did not have any doubts. Confidently she slept on that night. Early in the morning she jumped up from the bed, rushed towards the mirror and wanted to see her face. What do you think? Do you think the eyes changed or not? It did not change. It was the same. And she was very much discouraged. She could not understand. Did my faith is not strong? Or did God is not loving me? Why God did not answer my prayer? She could not understand. She was waiting to talk to her teacher on next Sunday. The next Sunday came, and particular time she said, My dear teacher, this is what you have taught last Sunday. I have prayed to God diligently without any doubt, but God did not answer my prayer. She said, oh dear, if God does not answer your prayer, He will have a plan and purpose in it. She again quoted Romans 8.28, all things work together for good to do according to the purpose. So don't be fainted, don't be worried. After 30 years, the Lord brought the young Amy Carmichael to India. She came down to southern India where I live. and moved to a small village called Donavur. There she started orphanage, school and also hospitals by which served God in a mighty way. And she learned the local language. She assimilated herself with Indian culture. And she used to wear dress like Indian women are dressing. She used to walk barefoot, meeting the women in the villages, talking about God, preach the gospel. God used her as a mighty weapon in that community. Still, that work is going on. I have visited that place. After that, she was so happy, how God is using her. Before going to bed, she was in prayer. God reminded the prayers he prayed 30 years ago. Then she said, Lord, thank you, Lord, that you did not answer my prayer. Sometimes, in our infinite, in our finite human understanding, it may be hard to know why God has not answered my prayer. Why God did not do this for me? Dear friends, this might happen. Do not be worried. Do not be fainted. Do not be discouraged. You are in the hands of God. God has a plan and purpose on each one of the individuals. Jeremiah 29 verse 11 I think. Let us turn to Jeremiah 29 verse 11. Yes. For I know the thoughts that think toward you, say the Lord. Thoughts of peace, not of evil to give you an expected end. Please note down that words. For I know the thoughts that I think towards you. God has a thoughts on you. God has a plan and purpose on you. It is a good plan. It is not the plan of evil. It is not the plan to harm you. It is a plan to give you the peace to the expected end. God is a God of faithful. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my word shall not pass away. God is God of faithful. God is God of mercy. Certainly, he will bring the good end to you. God loves you. God loves us. Everything is in his hands. But in this world, While we are facing discouragements and troubles, God sends his angels to protect. When Daniel was casted out in the lion's den, when Sadrach, Meshach, Abednego was casted into the fire, fiery furnace, heated up seven times, God sent the guardian angels to protect them. So they were prevented from such a dangerous situation. That is what Psalm 34, 7 says. The angel of the Lord encampeth around to those who are in trouble and delivereth from all their trouble. Matthew chapter 18, 10 says. Don't despise these little ones. Their angels are serving. That means each one of God's people have their own guardian angels. They are serving us, they are guarding us, they are guarding our ways. So the comprehensiveness of our contentment is another measure whether we really know God. So if we have this comprehensive knowledge of God, that will make us to be strong in God. So that is what Apostle Paul was writing. To him, he was a man, he was not ordinary man, Apostle Paul. He was elevated in a highest position in a Jewish society. He was a Jew, he was a Parishy, he had a highly theological education under the Gamaliel, and he was one of the members of Sanhedrin, it's like a Parliament, and with his position and power he was persecuting the early Christians, But after God converted, after following Jesus Christ, he said, I count all things just like a dung for the sake of knowing God. So knowing God is the greatest thing in this world than anything else. Again he was telling, I want to know the power of resurrection and I want to have fellowship in his suffering. So it is when we go through the sufferings, it is, it will help us to glorify God even in that midst. I am sure you have read Six Things to Remember in the Time of Crisis, written by Elder Lazar Bradley. If not, please read that book. I have translated this book and printed and handed over to many people, particularly to the people who were affected by tsunami. That helped very much. So when we know God, that will give us confidence and rest. We can rest in the sovereignty of God. We can find peace in the sovereignty of God in midst of all these troubles. That's why Daniel 11.32 said, but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits. So we have seen four characteristics. of people who know God. Number one, the people who know God will have a great thoughts of God. Secondly, the people who know God will be very strong and energetic towards God. Thirdly, those who know God will show great boldness for God. Finally, those who know God will have great contentment in God in all circumstances in the life. May God bless these scriptures. Let us bow down our head and thank the Lord for his word. Let us pray. Our dear Heavenly Father, once again we thank you and praise you for your wonderful word of God. Thank you Lord for the wonderful opportunity to come and gather in your house to have this meditation. Just we have meditated upon the servants of God who knew you in their heart. So help us to have the same understanding, the same view of God. You are our God, you are our master, you are keeping us in your hand. Everything is under your rule and your control. So help us to be energetic Christians and help us to be people who understand you very well. Help us to be boldness for you and help us to be in a contentment in all our circumstances in our life. Thank you Lord for this wonderful church of Mount Zion Primitive Baptist Church in this place. Thank you Lord for the way that they have been powerfully serving you in this community. I pray that you will continue to bless this church and bless everyone of the congregation in this church. I pray for God's people, perhaps this morning some of them may have troubles in their hearts, some of them may have disappointments in their hearts and some of them may, their prayers might not have been answered. I pray that you will give them assurance and courage and confidence and peace in their heart that you are loving them. and they are in your hands and everything is under your control. Thank you Lord for the great thoughts you have for us and I pray that you will bless thy people in this place. I praise you and thank you Lord for the ministry of these three preachers. Thank you Lord for their energetic spirit in their ministry. Thank you Lord for the zeal to work for you. Thank you Lord for the blessings of the knowledge they have to serve you. I pray that you will continue to use them as a powerful instrument to preach the word for your glory and extension of the kingdom in this town. I pray that you will continue to bless them and watch over them. Just I commit these things in your mighty hand. Ask in Jesus precious name. Amen.