All right, welcome to the Sunday evening service at Liberty Baptist Church. If you can, let's stand. We're going to sing in the service of the King. I am happy in the service of the King. I am happy, oh so happy. I am peace and joy that nothing else can bring. In the service of the King I am happy In the service of the King I am happy, oh so happy Through the sunshine and the shadow I can see In the service of the King In the service of the King Every talent I will bring I'm happy, oh so happy All that I possess to Him I gladly bring In the service of the King In the service of the King It is such a blessing tonight to see Brother Stevens. He's over there. He had that surgery. And again, I can't even imagine that surgery. I've been trying to put off the hip and knee surgery for years, but he had an inch and a half cut off of one leg, and then all of it screwed and bolted. Now, when he gets well, he'll be like the bionic man, bionic man. None of the kids knew who that was. I said something about that to the younger folks, and they had no idea who I was talking about. But I think it was, what was it, Lee Majors, I think it was the guy. Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch, but, but. It's kind of like Alf the other day. Someone said something about Alf, and I thought, that's a long time ago, too. Just makes us old people. By the way, that was back when all TV was fairly clean and there wasn't any issues with it, and they weren't worried about all the political stuff today. They just had shows, but again, good to see you tonight. Don't forget to continue to pray for Preacher and Cindy. They're both, I know he's sick. He's been sick since Tuesday when we had the funeral. He did the funeral and then went home, and he's been sick since then, but keep him in prayer. And again, just because brother Stevens is here. Just don't forget to keep praying for him He's still got a lot of recovery to do miss Milliken as well the rehab that she still has to do in the physical therapy But again, good to see you. Let's pray and we'll continue on father. Thank you for your blessings father We thank you for the message for her this morning and the visitors we had we thank you for for Robert being here tonight We pray the Lord you bless him as well Lord. Thank you for bringing brother Stevens back We've been missing him and and mom as well in Jesus name. Amen. You may be seated All right, Under His Wings. Still I can trust Him, I know He will keep me He has redeemed me and I am His child Under His wings, under His wings Who from His love can set me free? my soul shall abide, safely abide for ever. Under his wings, a refuge in sorrow, how the heart yearningly turns to his breath. ♪ There's no balm for my healing ♪ ♪ There I can comfort him, there I am blessed ♪ ♪ Under his wings, under his wings ♪ ♪ Earth from his love can sever ♪ ♪ Under his wings my soul shall abide ♪ ♪ Under his wings, oh, what precious enjoyment ♪ ♪ There will I hide till life's trials are over ♪ ♪ Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me ♪ ♪ Resting in Jesus, I'm safe evermore ♪ my soul shall abide, safely abide forever. It's always a privilege to have folks visiting with us here for the first time, the first time in a long time. If you just slip your hand up, and then we have a young man here. And we have Brother Stevens, but we're not going to recognize him. Brother Stevens, tell us who that young lady is sitting next to you. Many of you met her, I believe you was here a while back, but it's good to see her. She's been helping take care of the young lad and keep him out of trouble while his wife's been working. Robert, was it a bus flyer that was on your door or one of our church tracks? Good. So the bus route, Brother Peugeot said the bus route knocked some doors yesterday and left, put some flyers out. And we got a call this morning, the young couple that sat back here with the baby this morning, they had two kids in children's shirts. The five of them called, and I usually answer the phone if I'm in the office. I went in to get the teen sign-in sheet, and the phone was ringing, so I answered it, and they said, We want to come to church, can we get a ride?" And I went, Brother Peugeot just came in to do something, to ask me a question, and I said, where are you from? And he told us the Rosemont Apartments, and he said, tell them I'll be there in 15 minutes, but they had got a flyer as well, and wanted to ride, or someone had And Jaquan, the young lad that just got saved a short time ago, went visiting with the folks on the bus ride yesterday and helped pass out some flyers and things. So again, it was a blessing. So we had some folks this morning from visitation yesterday, and we have Robert tonight. So that is a blessing. Always a blessing to see results. By the way, if you don't see results, you still pass out the flyers and pass out tracts, because that's what you're supposed to do. But it's always a blessing to have someone show up at church because of that. So Robert, if you'll just fill out that green card, put that in the offer, and we'd appreciate the rest of it. Keep it as a gift from Liberty Baptist Church, and we appreciate you being here tonight. Now, always on the prayer list. Now, if you'll help me with this, Gladys did this this morning. She marked off a couple names on the prayer list, because I have no idea who most of these folks are that's on the prayer list. Hadn't been here for the Porter hadn't been here in probably I don't know 10 or 15 years. I didn't see him a long time So he was here Wednesday night. We had him preach for us on Wednesday night as far as stuff going on this week Our normal service was tonight at 6 you made it to the right place Wednesday night We have our regular prayer and Bible study at 730 and then Thursday night We have we're out knocking doors and so winning and making doing visitation on Thursday night at 645 normally we don't have anything on Friday night, but every once in a while this Friday night is We have the Teen Valentine's Banquet. It starts at six o'clock, goes to nine o'clock, and teenagers, if you plan on going, please sign up on the back table. If some of you church folks can help us, I already told the two sisters and the brother that rides and comes all the time on the bus that we would help cover them for the Valentine's Banquet. If you can help, that's great. If not, I will cover it, but we wanted them to come to the banquet. We also have a couple other folks that sometimes struggle financially, and I just told the kids, you come. If you can't afford it, tell me, and we'll figure it out. But again, the tickets are $12, so for those of you paying for your own children, you can give the ladies in the office $12. It will not cover the banquet. I already spent $300 just on one of those things again. Glow sticks because we're doing this called let your light so shine and the theme is glow So I bought you say can you really buy that many glow sticks? I did I bought $300 worth of glow sticks. So I have all kinds of glow. I got glow hats I got glow sticks. I got glow bracelets and I got the stuff the girls can stick in the hair that glows I've got all kinds of glow stuff. So to decorate the kids for that night. So that's Friday 6 to 9 o'clock Cost of $12 per teen Brother Ross will be speaking for us at the banquet, then he'll be with us on Sunday, and he'll preach Sunday school Sunday morning, he'll preach Sunday morning service here next Sunday, and he'll preach the Sunday night message next Sunday as well. And then two weeks after that, we'll have Brother Gomez, that is the 23rd of February, That's the next two big events on the church calendar and brother Gomez will be here not for Sunday school But the Sunday morning service and the Sunday night message and again if you've been here and heard brother Gomez He used to pastor up in Illinois was there for many many years has a big Bible College up there I think it's Elgin, Illinois as I believe it's the right place But again, he was with us last year for a couple Sundays and he'll be with us on the 23rd as well then don't forget on Saturday we have bus visitation and so winning at 9 at 1045 and and everybody's welcome to come either work on the bus route or go sowinning and again it is a blessing we've had some some visitors on the bus route the last few weeks and that is a blessing as well and don't forget to pray for all the folks that we have that are sick. All right if you can let's stand we're going to sing yield not to temptation. Our strength. Let's pray. Dear Precious Heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you so much. You're so good to us, Lord. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to come back to your house, Lord. I ask you, Lord, to bless this offering. Bless the gift and the giver, Lord, and help meet the needs of our church, and bless the people that are here tonight, Lord, and the ones who are listening on the internet. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. you All right, we're going to sing, Oh, Worship the King. Oh, worship the king, all glorious above, and gratefully sing his wonderful love. Deep thunder clouds pour. It's in my Father's world And to my listening ears Our nature sings a new music of the Spirit This is my father's world. I rest in my thoughts. Of rocks and trees and skies and seas. You see a wonder's world. This is my father's world. ♪ A person can lose peace ♪ ♪ The warning light can only come ♪ ♪ If we're good makers, praise us ♪ ♪ This is my Father's world ♪ ♪ He shines and all that's fair ♪ ♪ In the rustic grass I hear Him cry ♪ He speaks to me everywhere ♪ This is my Father's word ♪ No death He ne'er forgave me ♪ Although the rock seems oh so strong ♪ God is the ruler yet ♪ This is my Father's world ♪ The battle is not over ♪ Jesus to thy children satisfy ♪ And earth and heaven be full It's one of my favorite songs. I like that one. It is my father's word. Grab your old King James Bible. Robert, do you have a Bible? I've got, I'll get you one. I'll round you one up in just a second. So Kurt, I'll be back. I'm not leaving to go out and take a smoke. I'm going to go get a Bible. Actually, I have one right up here. Not a smoke, a Bible. So grab your King James Bible and follow along and pay attention. Open up your Bibles to the book of Galatians This morning Brother Taylor preached this morning's message. I don't expect you to remember exactly what it was, but it was Find Your Passion. fill your need, fill the need and fulfill your purpose was really good. And whenever something like this happens, I really say, you know what? Maybe the Lord's trying to tell us something as a church. Maybe he's trying to tell us something as a generation, or maybe he's just trying to tell me something. And so Galatians 5, verse 13, it says this, for brethren, ye have been called unto liberty. Only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. So, as I said, this morning's message, you know, about finding a passion, you know, you find that passion about something, you know, and then you feel that need somewhere. And it's talking about, you know, Your local church. You know, you get a passion about something here at Liberty Baptist Church. Maybe it may be the bus ministry. Maybe it may be about visiting a nursing home. Maybe about street preaching. Maybe it may be about a Sunday school class that you're leading. But find something. And then, fill the need. You know, a lot of people like to point out something and say, you know what we need around here? But they're not willing to fill the need. You know? And then, fulfill your purpose. And the truth is, that passion that you have, and that need that's needed, that's there, that might be your purpose. is that's what God's got for you. I mean, Esther, it was said of her, God had you here, what? For such a time as this. There was a need. There was something that I believe that people were pretty passionate about, living, the Jews wanted to live. They were gonna be executed because nasty old Haman wanted to take out one man by the name of Mordecai and he sought to destroy them all. to get to the one. And guess what? She fulfilled her purpose. So thank the Lord for it. But let's pray. Heavenly Father, I want to thank you so much for your goodness, grace, and your mercy, Lord. I pray that you'd fill me with thy spirit, Lord, and thy power anoint us, Lord. Be here with us in a real and special way. Meet with us, Father. We love you. Thank you. Bless our preacher, Lord. Look after him and heal him and raise him up, Father. I pray that you'd please look after my mother and her family, Lord. I pray that you'd comfort their hearts during this loss, and others, Lord, who have had losses, Lord. I pray that you'd please be with them in a real and special way. In Jesus Christ's name we pray, amen. Now, if you're here this morning and you're not saved, or you're not born again, or you don't know 100% sure that you're on your way to heaven, let me tell you this, you need to get this settled. You can listen to this message and you can end up saying, you know what, I need to find a place of service. It doesn't matter how much you serve, if you have not been born again, if there's never been that time in your life where you have personally put your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and that saving work that He did. You won't serve your way into heaven. You're not working your way into heaven. So please, get that settled. But this message tonight is on waiting. Waiting upon the Lord. Serving. Now, I like acronyms. This morning's message, I like the fact that they were all started with F. Find a passion. I was like, OK. But when he said, fulfill the need, I was like, oh, well, that's good. I can remember this. That third one's probably going to be F. And sure enough, fulfill your purpose. I was like, OK, this is a lot easier to remember. Well, guess what? Tonight's message is an acronym. Wait. Wait. Well, the first one. The first one is wait. Why? Why? Why should we wait? Why? Because he's worthy. He's worthy of us waiting. I worked in the restaurant business. In many years, I started out as a busboy. I'm not talking fast food, McDonald's. I'm not talking about Jack in the Box, Taco Bell. I really didn't consider the food industry as such, because it didn't seem like you really interacted with people. But downtown, on the Riverwalk, you have tourist after tourist. And people are visiting this city. And they're like, well, what's Texas like? What's San Antonio like? Everybody talks about the Riverwalk. We're going to see the Alamo, of course. Every time I talk to somebody that's just passing through, have you seen the Alamo? Have you been to the Riverwalk? I'm still selling it and peddling it, you know what I mean? And I don't even work on the river anymore. As working on the river in a food service, it was a nice, fine Italian restaurant, but it was fast-paced. And as a busboy, starting from the low part there, I was, you know, actually I think probably the lowest, we would call them the dishwasher. They usually worked in the dish pit, and that's usually what it became, a big pit that they had to work their way out of to get out of. But as a busboy, I'd have to pick up dirty plates. You know, I didn't get to take out the food and place it before the customer. I didn't get to take the orders. I didn't really do a whole lot of greeting and meeting and getting to know people and, you know, just the big smiling face. I was the grunt that would run out there, clean the table up real quick, dump it all in a bus tub, carry that bus tub back, and I'd sit there and I'd wait for another dirty table. I mean I would wait for people to get up because the faster I could clean that table the faster that we could get somebody sat and then the waiter could do their job and and make money for the restaurant now the cooks they're just slinging and slinging and slinging and slinging and slinging and slinging and their job is to actually get the orders right and get the food prepared right and get it out there but the waiter The person that waits on the person, they are the face of this restaurant and this establishment. I mean, listen, you go out there and you're just like, oh, they don't look like they got any money. They're probably not gonna leave me a tip. You know what? I can't believe I have to wait on them. I only felt that way one time when I became a waiter, and that was because it was my father-in-law. I was like, oh no, I can't serve him. Somebody else take that for me. Nobody would take it for me. Nobody would take that table. They were like, no, we're slammed, we're busy. And I was like, oh please, please, you don't understand. The last run-in I had with that guy was not good. But praise the Lord, it went very well. I'm married to his daughter, and we had a very good relationship, all the way on to when he went to meet the Lord. Just before dementia set in, I'll never forget going to visit him in the home that they had taken him to. And the minute he saw me, I pushed the button of the door to go in, And the minute he saw me, he was sitting in this wheelchair, and he threw his arms open like this. And I was like, wow, that's good. But as a waiter, going from a busboy, I eventually became a waiter. And I watched waiters and waitresses, and I'd see how they failed. And many of them would sit there and say, oh, you know what, Kurt? I didn't make much money tonight. Here's a little bit of money, because they'd have to do a tip, pull, and share. Here's a little bit of money for all your service and stuff. And I'd be like, man, I worked hard. I mean, I made sure you had clean dishes. I made sure you had clean glasses. I made sure you had clean silverware. I really worked hard. And this is what I got? Wow, something's going wrong. Because I know you had a quick turn. You had a lot of people. And when I saw those people get up, they were happy. They were excited. I don't understand this. So when I became a waiter, I realized that I was being cheated. They were cheating us busboys and that all got changed because I opened my mouth and said I Don't want them to come to us anymore. I want them to go to the office and turn in those tips you know, I want them to do that and so they did but But when I became a waiter, I realized how important it was to do I mean an exceptional job and You have one meal with this couple, with this family, with this person. You have one meal with them. And guess what? They're gonna spend money on this. It's not a free meal. If it was a free meal, it'd be different. You're giving them something for free and they complain? They didn't like this, they didn't like that? Oh, come on. You know what? I've never had a free meal sitting in front of me and then been like, oh, this isn't cooked right. Oh, wait, honey, I'm so sorry. Nevermind. Okay, nevermind. Yeah, that's an accident. Yeah, I guess I have had a lot of free meals. But let me tell you something. I realize that it is so important And it's not about, hey, look, they got money. They look like they've got wealth. You know what? They're worthy. They are worthy for my best service. Is not Jesus Christ? Is he not worthy? He is worthy. Revelations 4.11 says, thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou has created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Why is he worthy? Revelations 5.9b, for thou was slain and has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation. Worthy is the Lamb. that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. He is worthy. Why should you wait? Because He's worthy. Why should you wait? Because it's His will. That's what He wants us to do. He tells us in Galatians, He said, serve one another. That's his will. I don't know what God's will is for my life. Go serve somebody. Well, I want something important to do. That's not important. Listen to me. When you have to look after somebody that can't look after themselves, I'm pretty sure it's important. I'm pretty sure that's a big deal. Mothers, that's a big deal. Looking after a little child, they can't feed themselves. Oh, tell me, let me tell you, they cannot clothe themselves. My kids constantly, I'm like, put some coat, put a jacket on. You're going to get sick. And then I'm going to get sick. And then the church gets sick. You know how it goes. It goes through everybody. serving one another. It's God's will that we do this. So, since my children, I can chew them out at home and get upset with them when they do it wrong. Lillian and Levi, come up here. Quickly, quickly. Now, when we go somewhere, These children, we pretty much tell them what they're getting. They don't really have a whole lot of choice. Have a seat, young lady. There you go. Slide this forward for you. There you go, bud. See that? That attitude? Here, you can do it yourself. Now, what I would do is I'd make sure that if the man wanted to seat his wife, I backed off. I'd let them do that. If they didn't, and they began to seat themselves, I would always at least extend my hand. Like, hey, I don't mind grabbing the seat, I don't mind pushing it in, but I would extend the hand. Because I wanted them to know that I was, hey, You're worthy of this. You've come to eat. I'm your waiter. I am going to wait upon you. It's the company's will that I make sure that you have a good meal, that you enjoy yourself while you're here. Everything right now is about what kind of reviews. You leave a bad review. You leave a bad, what is it? Yelp? Yelp. Yelp. Well, guess what? I made sure, hey, you're worthy of this. I've had people that, listen, when I saw them, I don't think they really did this more than once a year. I could visually see that, you know what? This is probably the only time they go out. They don't look like they can afford it necessarily. I've had them complain, get upset about every single little thing that they can find. And usually it was him, you know, the man, this fella can't be satisfied. But you know what I understood? He was really just trying to justify the fact that he's probably not gonna leave me a tip. He's probably gonna just barely be able to cover the meal. But that's when I said to myself, hey, that doesn't matter. You're going to get the best service I can possibly get. I've had people get up and run off and not pay the bill. If you'll just pay the bill, I'm happy. You know what I mean? So I don't have to try to pay it out of my pocket. And I would go out of my way to try to please this gentleman. Because all of a sudden, you know what? This man is trying to find something wrong. And that's what a lot of people, when they come to a church sometimes, they're looking for something wrong. I knew it was like this. I knew it. People aren't friendly. I knew that, uh-uh, go out of your way. Go out of your way. I like Brother Block when he said one time, you know what? I want them to have to leave this church stepping over me. Because I'm gonna try to make sure I do everything I can to try to keep somebody in. And I've stood there. Well, this is exactly what I was doing. I was weeping and he's sitting there trying to convince a man to stay. And I'm sitting there thinking, wow, my heart's broken, just to think somebody I love and care about, they're about to leave the church. It's God's will. He's worthy. Also, not only is He worthy, it's the way we were taught. When I became a waiter, I didn't just become a waiter, I didn't become just one of the servers, I then became a trainer, where I trained somebody how to do this. I told them, this is what you do. Follow me. I don't want you to really speak unless you're spoken to. I will introduce you. I will tell them why there's a fella standing there following me around or why there's a young lady following me around like a shadow. I just want you to shadow me. I may ask you to do something. If I ask you to do something, just do what I ask. And I'd train them. And I'd tell them, this is how you do this. And they'd follow my lead. and I'd show him the way. Let me tell you something, when he talked today, and he, I mean, I just got all excited when he said, let this mind be in you. I was like, woo, yes, that's exactly right. Let this mind be in you, and it was talking about Jesus, who thought it not robbery to be equal with God. You know, hey, and what did he do? He took upon him the form of what? A servant, exactly. Why not royalty? Why not saying, no, you're here to serve me? No, he didn't do that. He said, you know what? I'm here to serve. I'm here to do a job. And I'm here to accomplish my father's will. And this is the way to do it. You sacrifice your time. and he put forth the time while he was here on earth and he just ministered to people, ministered and ministered and ministered and ministered. That's the way to do it. How do we wait? Well, why do we wait? He's worthy. It's his will and it's his way. Secondly, A. Remember, it's an acronym. Wait. A is anticipate. Attention. You know what? You anticipate the customer, the person you're waiting upon. You anticipate their needs. Seriously. You sit there and go, okay, you just sat them. I just sat them. And then, guess what? I bet they want something to drink. So I then, now I have some different things. Well, you know what? She wants something to drink too, right? I would always make sure I gave her drink first, and then I gave his drink. And then, whenever it came time to give them something more to drink, I already knew it. You know why? Because I was over here, and I was anticipating, OK, that cup has gotten pretty low. It's time to go get some more over there. And I'd go, would you like something more to drink? You know, and I'd ask them. I wouldn't just snatch their cup from them. Now if they were in a conversation, you know what? I'd be very careful not to interrupt. He could be proposing. You know, not dropping to one knee. I don't want to mess this up. I don't know why they're out here, what their special occasion is. You know, but I'd always be mindful and I'd anticipate what their next need was. If they had already placed their order, I would sit there and say to myself, you know what, this order for some reason is taking long. I'm gonna go visit them so they don't start thinking, what's taking so long? Why is it so? If I go and I address them and I talk with them, find out if they have need of anything else. If I say, hey, is there anything else I can do? While you wait, you know, hey, your order will be right out. Or I may know some inside information and say, okay, they're killing the cow right now. You want it well done, so we're going to have to not only kill it, we're going to have to dry age it, and then after we've aged it, then we're going to slug the whole shebang. I'd always say things like that, like, hey, what are they doing back there? Are they still chasing the chicken? I just ordered chicken. Every once in a while, I'd give waiters a hard time just goofing off and laughing, joking, and things like that, because I did it. I did it, and I'd hear it back and forth. But I'd anticipate, I'd pay attention, if all of a sudden I place that plate down in front of them and they're doing this, what are they looking for? Utensils! So I would already know, I'd pay attention, I'd anticipate the fact, you know what, they're going to need, they're going to need silverware, they're going to need things, you know. And I'd have that out there already for them. Or I'd get it to them immediately to the table so they knew that when our plate, our food comes, we'll have something. Nobody wants to be sitting there eating food, and all of a sudden, or breaking the bread, dipping the butter, and you've got food on your face, and there ain't no napkin anywhere in sight. Could we get some? If they have to ask for napkins, I was not being attentive. I was not anticipating a need. I was not paying attention. I don't know how many times I've sat there and my cup was completely bare empty. And I'm thinking, wow, I could begin to choke. I could begin to start, a cracker went down wrong, you know, and I need a drink. And guess what? My waiter's nowhere in sight. I am their responsibility. Are they my responsibility? I am supposed to be paying attention. I'm supposed to be anticipating any need that they have. If they're cold, uncomfortable, I would actually change the thermostat. You know, guys, don't touch the thermostat. I would touch the thermostat. I'd be like, oh, my table is sitting right under. I would sometimes say, hey, if it's too cold, would you like us to move you right over to another table? Oh, there's too much light coming through? Here, let me adjust these so it's not shining in your face, blinding you as you try to eat. I wanted them to be comfortable. I wanted to make sure that they understood that, listen to me, it's my job. to make sure you enjoy this. You know what? Let's pay attention to the ministry. You know, there are needs, and you know what? We ain't paying attention. You know what? There sometimes are needs, and we're not anticipating it. You know what? When we have a special speaker, you know what Brother Block tries to make sure that they have? Anybody know? Water. You know that not all of them want water. Not all of them need water. Not all of them ask for water. But you know what, we anticipate that if they get a little bit dry in the mouth, that they're gonna be able to go, I got me a water. Somebody anticipated I might need it. Brother Deacon, he used to be here for many years. This is one of the cups. This is one of the cups. He would take this cup out of the cupboard. He would take it, he would wash it, dry it, and then he would fill it with water. And then he would bring it up here, and he would set it right there for preacher. Not once did I ever see preacher drink from it. I didn't. And then after the service, he would go get that cup. He would go, dump it out, wash it, and put it away. That's what he did. Because the preacher needed a drink, he had it. He anticipated, and he was paying attention, and I was paying attention. I was like, wow, preacher doesn't drink it. Brother Deacon, don't you realize preacher doesn't like water? No, that wasn't the case. He just didn't need it at the moment. It'd be nice to anticipate a need and fill it before it's ever needed. You know, whenever you go reach for that tool, and all of a sudden, the boy's there with it and hands it to you, and you're like, oh, good. I didn't have to ask for it. It's right there. It'd be nice if we had Christians like that. Oh, hey, there you are, Steven. Nice. I need this. Could you go take care of this? Did it. What do you mean you did it? Well, it's something that we need and I've been paying attention that this is something that we do. And I anticipated that you would probably ask again. You know, Brother Block, he would turn on the baptistry and turn, now don't get me wrong, I've forgotten it several times, but he would turn on the baptistry and come up here and turn on the baptistry. Finally, I said, you know what? I can turn on the baptistry. That's not, I could do that. You don't have to drive all the way up here. I'm already up here, let me turn it on. And I'd turn it on. He didn't officially give me the job. I didn't, the deacon board did not meet and give me the job to turn on the baptistry. I just saw that there was a need. So I anticipated and I started turning it on. So Stephen, when you're up here cleaning, if the baptistry isn't running, please turn it on, because Brother Peugeot forgot. Listen, anticipate the needs, pay attention to the details attention to the details. Sometimes we take the ministry so flippantly, and we don't pay attention to the details. Can I tell you something? I'm so glad when the steak gets down in front of me, but I don't like my steaks well done. And if it's dry and well done, they didn't pay attention when I told them medium rare. One time they paid attention at, what is it called, Sirloin Stockade. And I told them, I said, I want it rare. I want it swimming in its blood. I want it chewing grass while it's on the plate. Never order that way ever again. That was like, wow, it really is swimming in this juice. It's like, well, that is just too rare for me. Try ordering prime rib rare. Oh, wow, that looks like it's just not even done. It doesn't even hit the flame. But pay attention to the details. Pay attention to the details in your service. Be attentive. You know what? I had somebody one time, they brought me a drink. They took it off their plate like this. They set it down in front of me. I was like... And I looked at it and I thought, well, I don't want to be a complainer, but how do I get out of this? Oh, I don't like lemon with my water. So I thought, oh good, I'll get a new water, a whole new water, because there's lemon in this one. They came out with one, no lemon. I was like, I can't believe he did it a second time. This is ridiculous. A second time? I was like, OK, I guess I don't get a water, because I'm not drinking this. Why? Because his filthy hands, or maybe his hands are clean. We're all over the top, and that's where I put my lips. So I'm not, I'm sorry, you know, did I say, hey, you know what? Could you go stick your finger in the soup? I'd like to taste it and bring it here so I can taste it off of your finger. No, I don't want to be drinking the thing like that, please. I pay attention. I always paid attention when I serve. If I ever brought you a water, you'll see how low my hand is on that thing. Because I don't want you to think that my hands have been near the top. I don't even hold it up here. I make sure I'm as low as I possibly can get on it. You know why? Because I'm paying attention. There you are. If you ask for silverware, this is the way you get silverware from me. I'll have it wrapped in a napkin. Because you can then take that silverware, throw away the napkin, and you have your utensil. I pay attention. I was very attentive on how I served. That was just the way I thought, well, you know what? This is how I'd like to be served. And wait a second, aren't we supposed to do unto others as we would have them do unto us? So I would sit there and make sure that they had that. If they dropped a fork, I never went. It's good. Are you kidding me? No way. I made sure that they saw me. I would take that, I'd pick it up immediately, and I'd take it, and I'd drop it in a bus tub. I wouldn't take it to the back. Because guess what? I always think, you're probably bringing me the same fork. So I'd make sure they saw, it's gone. That fork is going to the dish pit. And I'm getting you a new one. And I'm bringing it out here to you. I really didn't like it when all of a sudden my drink came out and it had a straw in it. Because that means they must have touched my straw somehow. And then people, somebody showed me one time you hold on to the straw, the paper, and you just yank the other part off and then you drop it in there and it's got the little white cap on it still. And I thought like, oh, yeah, I'm just going to make sure they have a straw that I lay down on the ground. Because the truth is, not everybody wants a straw. I don't think you look tough drinking out of a straw, man. Yeah. No, I'm just kidding. It's true though. I just don't think anybody looks tough drinking out of a straw. Yeah. Huh? You want some of this? No, anyways. So then I pay attention. Let's pay attention. Let's be attentive about the ministry. Why? Because He's worthy. It's His will. It's His way. Let's pay attention. You know what? Brother Block likes pistachios, sunflower seeds, beef jerky, Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, butterscotch, cookie chips, Bing cherries. Does anybody know what Bing cherries are? Huh? Yeah, he likes Bing cherries. I heard him say it one time. He was talking to somebody, him and Ms. Block were talking, and I was like, pull out, Bing cherries. So when I come across Bing cherries, I'm gonna give Brother Block some Bing cherries. Pistachios, got him so many pistachios, he got sick of pistachios, now they make him sick. I did quit on the duck pepper, I said, that's it, I'm not giving him that poison ever again. Mrs. Block liked those pickled chips, those fried pickled chips. She liked Italian ice, grape juice, Concord and white grape. Listen, I was paying attention. I wanted to serve people, you know. And so I'd pay attention sometimes when I'd hear something. They'd be talking to somebody else. And yeah, I'm snooping. I'm listening in. But all of a sudden, they said they like something. And I'd be like, oh, now if they're lying and then guess what? They're lying to them and they're going to get it and they better eat it and enjoy it. No, I'm just... Preacher, he likes sausage and egg tacos. Miss Nichols likes chocolate and cashews. And then Preacher likes peanuts in the shell. Miss Nichols told me that, she says, but I'm the one who shells them for him. I said, well, amen. Good. Y'all work together. You know, that's a good thing. You know, tilapia and shrimp broccoli casserole, sausage and egg McMuffin, trail mixes. He likes his steak well done. As he told me one time, and I'm eating my, I told Brother Block to go get us, or I didn't tell him, go get a steak. He asked me, did you want one of the steaks? I'm gonna go get me one. I said, yeah, sure. I'll take it, you know, medium rare. As I'm cutting into my steak, Preacher says, I always wonder about them verses where it says not to eat the meat with the blood in it. I'm like. Not to contradict you, Preacher, not to be mean whatsoever, but it tastes good. I like it this way. That's just me. Pay attention. He likes his water with no ice. I actually saw the waitress bring a glass of water with ice and I went, he said no ice, ma'am. I mean, it was clear. I think he said it twice. Pay attention, anticipate. Jesus told them, hey, go and make ready. Well, when somebody's gonna come down to eat, what do you do? You make things ready. We tell our little girl, get the plates, get the forks, because we're trying to tell her, get the things ready and prepared for the table. Make it ready so when they come to sit down, they can eat. You know, I never say, honey, what do you expect me to do, eat it with my hands? No. No, I usually get up and go get a fork or I beg my kids, could you please go grab me a fork real quick? Today the kids told me, you didn't say the magic word though. So I said the magic word, that's one swat. No, just kidding. No, no. Please, thank you. Listen, I, W-A-I, immediately. Let's do it immediately. Intentionally. Let's be intentional about how we do things. Remember when I told you that the way I would take that glass? I was intentional about that. I didn't want them to think that I was, you know, being gross or trying to be, you know, in any way disrespectful. I wanted to make sure that they understood that this was important, how I did things. When I'd go to take their plate, I'd make sure I got in. Sometimes, if they were having a conversation over here and it was empty, I'd take it, I'd remove it, I'd get it away from them so they didn't have to deal with it. I'd get it out of their way so they understood, hey, I'm just getting this stuff out of your way. Those waiters that leave everything on the table so that you feel like everything's crowded and you're like, man, we gotta move all this stuff away. They're gonna clean that table, I mean, that quick the minute you get up, but they're trying to say, look, you got a lot of stuff piled out in front of you, please leave, we gotta make some money here. That's not, no. Be intentional. Intentional about the ministry. You know what? Those three men that showed up to David and David said, man, would I like some water from that well. They were paying attention. And guess what? They were very intentional. They had to be. They were about to break through the Philistine army to get it. They were like, well, let's go ask and see if we can order some water from, can we get some Avion, please? No, they were very intentional. They bust through and break through. They got that water and they came back. David, here it is, the water from the well. And he was like, I can't drink this. Oh, there's ice in it. Oh, sorry, we weren't paying attention. No. He's like, man, this is like, you've hazard your lives. And he poured it out. That was incredible. And they were mighty men. How many people, how many Christians are going to pay attention, be attentive, and be intentional about the ministry that God's going to say, oh yeah. Yep. Their Sunday school class, they're very intentional about their Sunday school class. Their bus route, how they conduct themselves in church, they're very intentional about meeting visitors. I mean, I like it when those, hey, we see each other a lot, and I'm thankful that you're here, of course, but I gotta go say hi to the new visitor. I gotta go say hello. The young person that got saved, I need to go tell them, hey, awesome, it's incredible, I'm so happy for you. Let's be very intentional. Let's do it immediately. Why stand you here gazing? Don't hesitate, be intentional about serving. And then lastly, time. It's over. That's it. I'm out of time. They're going to leave. And I'm out of time. I can't show them any more service. Can't serve any more to them. Can't help them anymore. When they leave. everything that I did, all that took place. It was just in that little bit of time that we have with them. Think about that on a Sunday morning. Think about for your Sunday school class. Think about in the short period of time that we have here on this earth. Why? Because he's worthy. It's his will. It's his way. Let's pay attention. Let's anticipate the needs. Let's be intentional. Let's do things immediately. There's a need, let's do it. Get it done. Because we're out of time. Everybody close your eyes, bow your head, nobody looking around. Go sit down. If you're here this evening and you do not know for sure you're on your way to heaven, like I said,