{"id":1157,"date":"2019-09-08T15:03:53","date_gmt":"2019-09-08T22:03:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1157"},"modified":"2019-09-08T15:32:25","modified_gmt":"2019-09-08T22:32:25","slug":"let-him-speak-my-word-faithfully","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/08\/let-him-speak-my-word-faithfully\/","title":{"rendered":"Let Him Speak My Word&#8211; Faithfully!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"color:black;font: 10pt arial;\"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian>   <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeComplexScript>   <w:Compatibility>    <w:BreakWrappedTables\/>    <w:SnapToGridInCell\/>    <w:WrapTextWithPunct\/>    <w:UseAsianBreakRules\/>    <w:DontGrowAutofit\/>    <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark\/>    <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp\/>    <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables\/>    <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx\/>    <w:Word11KerningPairs\/>    <w:CachedColBalance\/>   <\/w:Compatibility>   <m:mathPr>    <m:mathFont m:val=\"Cambria Math\"\/>    <m:brkBin m:val=\"before\"\/>    <m:brkBinSub m:val=\"&#45;-\"\/>    <m:smallFrac m:val=\"off\"\/>    <m:dispDef\/>    <m:lMargin m:val=\"0\"\/>    <m:rMargin m:val=\"0\"\/>    <m:defJc m:val=\"centerGroup\"\/>    <m:wrapIndent m:val=\"1440\"\/>    <m:intLim m:val=\"subSup\"\/>    <m:naryLim m:val=\"undOvr\"\/>   <\/m:mathPr><\/w:WordDocument> <\/xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState=\"false\" DefUnhideWhenUsed=\"true\"   DefSemiHidden=\"true\" DefQFormat=\"false\" DefPriority=\"99\"   LatentStyleCount=\"267\">   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"0\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"Normal\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"9\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"heading 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"9\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"heading 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"9\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"heading 3\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"9\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"heading 4\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"9\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"heading 5\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"9\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"heading 6\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"9\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"heading 7\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"9\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"heading 8\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"9\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"heading 9\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"39\" Name=\"toc 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"39\" Name=\"toc 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"39\" Name=\"toc 3\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"39\" Name=\"toc 4\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"39\" Name=\"toc 5\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"39\" Name=\"toc 6\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"39\" Name=\"toc 7\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"39\" Name=\"toc 8\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"39\" Name=\"toc 9\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"35\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"caption\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"10\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"Title\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"1\" Name=\"Default Paragraph Font\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"11\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"Subtitle\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"22\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"Strong\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"20\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"Emphasis\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"59\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Table Grid\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Placeholder Text\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"1\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"No Spacing\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"60\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light Shading\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"61\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light List\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"62\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light Grid\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"63\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Shading 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"64\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Shading 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"65\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium List 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"66\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium List 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"67\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"68\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"69\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 3\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"70\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Dark List\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"71\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful Shading\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"72\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful List\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"73\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful Grid\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"60\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light Shading Accent 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"61\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light List Accent 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"62\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light Grid Accent 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"63\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Shading 1 Accent 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"64\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Shading 2 Accent 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"65\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium List 1 Accent 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Revision\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"34\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"List Paragraph\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"29\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"Quote\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"30\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"Intense Quote\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"66\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium List 2 Accent 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"67\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 1 Accent 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"68\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 2 Accent 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"69\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 3 Accent 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"70\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Dark List Accent 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"71\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful Shading Accent 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"72\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful List Accent 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"73\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful Grid Accent 1\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"60\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light Shading Accent 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"61\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light List Accent 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"62\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light Grid Accent 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"63\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Shading 1 Accent 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"64\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Shading 2 Accent 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"65\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium List 1 Accent 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"66\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium List 2 Accent 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"67\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 1 Accent 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"68\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 2 Accent 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"69\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 3 Accent 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"70\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Dark List Accent 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"71\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful Shading Accent 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"72\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful List Accent 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"73\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful Grid Accent 2\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"60\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light Shading Accent 3\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"61\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light List Accent 3\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"62\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light Grid Accent 3\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"63\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Shading 1 Accent 3\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"64\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Shading 2 Accent 3\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"65\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium List 1 Accent 3\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"66\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium List 2 Accent 3\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"67\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 1 Accent 3\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"68\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 2 Accent 3\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"69\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 3 Accent 3\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"70\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Dark List Accent 3\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"71\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful Shading Accent 3\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"72\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful List Accent 3\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"73\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful Grid Accent 3\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"60\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light Shading Accent 4\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"61\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light List Accent 4\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"62\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light Grid Accent 4\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"63\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Shading 1 Accent 4\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"64\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Shading 2 Accent 4\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"65\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium List 1 Accent 4\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"66\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium List 2 Accent 4\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"67\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 1 Accent 4\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"68\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 2 Accent 4\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"69\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 3 Accent 4\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"70\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Dark List Accent 4\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"71\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful Shading Accent 4\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"72\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful List Accent 4\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"73\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful Grid Accent 4\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"60\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light Shading Accent 5\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"61\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light List Accent 5\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"62\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light Grid Accent 5\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"63\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Shading 1 Accent 5\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"64\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Shading 2 Accent 5\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"65\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium List 1 Accent 5\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"66\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium List 2 Accent 5\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"67\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 1 Accent 5\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"68\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 2 Accent 5\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"69\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 3 Accent 5\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"70\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Dark List Accent 5\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"71\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful Shading Accent 5\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"72\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful List Accent 5\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"73\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful Grid Accent 5\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"60\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light Shading Accent 6\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"61\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light List Accent 6\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"62\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Light Grid Accent 6\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"63\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Shading 1 Accent 6\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"64\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Shading 2 Accent 6\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"65\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium List 1 Accent 6\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"66\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium List 2 Accent 6\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"67\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 1 Accent 6\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"68\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 2 Accent 6\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"69\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Medium Grid 3 Accent 6\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"70\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Dark List Accent 6\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"71\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful Shading Accent 6\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"72\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful List Accent 6\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"73\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" Name=\"Colorful Grid Accent 6\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"19\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"Subtle Emphasis\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"21\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"Intense Emphasis\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"31\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"Subtle Reference\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"32\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"Intense Reference\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"33\" SemiHidden=\"false\"    UnhideWhenUsed=\"false\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"Book Title\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"37\" Name=\"Bibliography\"\/>   <w:LsdException Locked=\"false\" Priority=\"39\" QFormat=\"true\" Name=\"TOC Heading\"\/>  <\/w:LatentStyles> <\/xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> \n\n<style>  \/* Style Definitions *\/  table.MsoNormalTable \t{mso-style-name:\"Table Normal\"; \tmso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; \tmso-tstyle-colband-size:0; \tmso-style-noshow:yes; \tmso-style-priority:99; \tmso-style-qformat:yes; \tmso-style-parent:\"\"; \tmso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; \tmso-para-margin:0in; \tmso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; \tmso-pagination:widow-orphan; \tfont-size:11.0pt; \tfont-family:\"Calibri\",\"sans-serif\"; \tmso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1157-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Pentecost-13-09-08-19.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Pentecost-13-09-08-19.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Pentecost-13-09-08-19.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">September 8, 2019<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Jeremiah 23:23-29<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Let Him Speak My Word\u2014 Faithfully!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">&#8220;Am I only a God nearby,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> declares the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;and not a God far away?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?\u201d<\/i> declares the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;Do not I fill heaven and earth?\u201d<\/i> declares the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">. <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They say, &#8216;I had a dream!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I had a dream!\u2019<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their fathers forgot my name through Baal worship.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For what has straw to do with grain?\u201d<\/i> declares the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;Is not my word like fire,\u201d<\/i> declares the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">When I was in college the very first thing on my agenda when I came home for summer break was to find a summer job.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I had to work as quickly as I could and as long as I could in order to be able to afford my next year of college.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>One summer I was hired as a paraprofessional for the State of Minnesota.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I was working in the testing department.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>My boss\u2019 goal for the summer was to review and update the exams that people had to take if they wanted to work for the State.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It was actually much more interesting than I had originally thought it would be.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>On my very first assignment I sat down with a department head and we reviewed the exam that people took in order to get a job in his department.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He told me what parts of the exam were working well and which parts needed to be revised in order to get more qualified candidates.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>After I had it all worked out I went up to someone in our department and asked her if she would type it up for me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I had seen her typing many times and thought that this was how the system worked.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Without even looking up from what she was typing she said, \u201cNo.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When I asked her why she said, \u201cThat is not in my job description.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Confused I went to my boss, told him what happened and asked him, \u201cWhat is a job description?\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He chuckled and explained to me that she was hired to do a very specific list of things and typing something up for me was not on that list.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then he took me down to the Secretary Pool and showed me how to get things typed up.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That was my first encounter with a \u201cJob Description.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Have you ever had a job description?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Most of you probably have!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I learned that it is actually quite nice to know exactly what your job does entail as well as what it does not entail.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Over the course of the years I had many jobs that helped me pay my way through school.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Each one had their own job description.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But have you ever wondered what a pastor\u2019s \u201cjob description\u201d includes?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It is amazing how many different answers you can get to that question!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Believe it or not, some people think that a pastor\u2019s \u201cjob description\u201d is to increase the membership of a congregation and insure that the budget is met.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Some people think that a pastor\u2019s \u201cjob description\u201d is to basically do whatever the members do not want to do.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">When I was at the Seminary our professors emphasized over and over again that the number one main \u201cjob\u201d a pastor has each and every week is to prepare and present the Sunday morning sermon.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I quickly learned that this is not as easy as some people might think!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For way too long every time I handed in a draft sermon when I got it back from my professor he had written the question \u201cWhere\u2019s your text?\u201d in big red letters in the margin.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Finally I took one of my sermons up to him and asked what I was doing wrong.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Was I including false doctrine in my sermons?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He looked at me and asked if that was what he had written in the margin.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I said no.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span>Then he asked, \u201cWhat do I keep writing in the margins?\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I said, \u201cWhere\u2019s your text?\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then he explained to me that what I wrote in my sermon was indeed Scripturally true, but it did not come from that particular text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He handed my draft sermon back to me and said, \u201cMr. Lockman, just preach the text I give you!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I still hear him speaking those words every single time I write a sermon!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The sermon text that we have before us today, my friends, focuses our attention on what I believe is the core responsibility of a pastor\u2019s \u201cjob description.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Today then let\u2019s listen very closely as the Lord Himself reminds both you and me of what He expects from those who speak in His Name.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When it comes to preachers, the God of heaven has one overriding requirement.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That requirement is:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Let Him Speak My Word\u2014 Faithfully!<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The prophet Jeremiah was given a very difficult ministry to carry out.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Both the kings of Judah as well as the priests of Judah had led God\u2019s people into idolatry, immorality, injustice and violence.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because of the wickedness of God\u2019s people the Lord sent His servant Jeremiah to proclaim a very strong message of Law.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Open rebellion against the God of heaven <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">always<\/b> brings consequences.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And for the people of Judah the consequences of their sin would include the destruction of the beloved city of Jerusalem, the destruction of the magnificent Temple built by wise King Solomon, PLUS seventy years of captivity in Babylon.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As you can imagine the message which God gave to Jeremiah to proclaim to God\u2019s rebellious people did not go over very well.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In fact, many of the men who claimed to be prophets of the Lord convinced the people that Jeremiah was at best confused and most likely crazy.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Instead of calling on God\u2019s people to repent of their sins these so-called prophets were leading God\u2019s people even deeper into sin!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Jeremiah 23:13-14)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Instead of warning God\u2019s people of the consequences of their sins these so-called prophets were trying to convince God\u2019s people that Jeremiah\u2019s message of destruction and captivity was a bunch of hogwash!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cYou will have peace\u201d<\/i> these false prophets maintained, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cno harm will come to you.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/i>(See Jeremiah 23:17)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Today these same men would probably adopt the saying:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t worry!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Be happy!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">In light of the false message that these false prophets were bringing to God\u2019s people the Lord proclaims His strong message of Law.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at the opening verses of our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201c\u2019Am I only a God nearby\u2019 declares the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">, \u2018and not a God far away?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?\u2019 declares the L<\/span><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u2018Do I not fill heaven and earth?\u2019 declares the L<\/span><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u2018I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They say, \u201cI had a dream!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I had a dream!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds?\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Basically, what the Lord is emphasizing here is that He is both omnipresent as well as omniscient.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You can\u2019t hide from God because He is everywhere.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You certainly can\u2019t keep a secret from God because He can see into your heart as well as read your mind.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And so when a so-called prophet or a so-called preacher proclaims to God\u2019s people <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cI had a dream!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I had a dream!\u201d<\/i> and then proceeds to tell God\u2019s people a lie, or proceeds to tell God\u2019s people the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cdelusions of their own minds\u201d<\/i> and try to pass it off as God\u2019s Truth\u2014 well, God knows!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God will hold those so-called prophets and those so-called preachers accountable for every last lying word they proclaim!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Matthew 12:36; Hebrews 13:17; James 3:2)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Likewise God expects that His people will be so well acquainted with His written revealed Word (see Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 6:4-8) that when a false prophet or a false teacher proclaims something that either contradicts God\u2019s Word or goes beyond what God Himself has revealed that the voice of that false prophet sounds \u201cstrange\u201d to them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See John 10:1-5)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Some 120 years before Jeremiah came on the scene the Lord had sent His servant Isaiah to proclaim to God\u2019s people the very same message He sent Jeremiah to proclaim.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Therefore, if God\u2019s people truly wanted to know who was speaking God\u2019s Truth\u2014 Jeremiah or those other prophets\u2014 all they had to do was to take out the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and compare!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See for example Isaiah chapters 13-14 and 21-22)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">That brings us then to what I consider to be the key verse of our text for today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verse 28.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Lord says, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cLet the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The #1 requirement of a prophet or a preacher or anyone who claims to be speaking in God\u2019s name is:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">faithfulness<\/i><\/b>!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See also I Corinthians 4:2)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>A <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">faithful<\/b> preacher is <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not<\/b> one whose goal is to entertain the people so that they keep coming back week after week after week\u2014 with their offerings, of course.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>A <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">faithful<\/b> preacher is <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not<\/b> one who softens God\u2019s Law and never confronts you with your sins so that you always \u201cfeel happy\u201d and never \u201cfeel uncomfortable\u201d in church.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>A <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">faithful<\/b> preacher <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">is<\/b> one who like Jeremiah, like Isaiah, like John the Baptist tells you what you <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">need<\/b> to hear even if it is not what your <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201citching ears\u201d<\/i> <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">want<\/b> to hear.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See 2 Timothy 4:3)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>A <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">faithful<\/b> preacher <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">is<\/b> one who uses the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201chammer\u201d<\/i> and the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cfire\u201d<\/i> of God\u2019s Law to shatter the self-righteousness of your old sinful nature and burn up any hopes you may have of earning or working your own way into heaven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>A <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">faithful<\/b> preacher does all of this all so that he can point you to the cross of Jesus Christ (Pointing to the cross) and say:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Trust!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Trust in what your God has done to save you!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u201cLet the one who has my word speak it faithfully.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Therein lies the responsibility that God has given to both me as well as to you, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When I stand in front of you, God\u2019s people, whether that is here in church or in Bible class or wherever that might be God Himself holds me responsible for teaching you His Truth\u2014 faithfully.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When you, God\u2019s people, sit in front of me, whether it is here in church or in Bible class or wherever that might be, God Himself holds you responsible for comparing what I teach with what God reveals in His Word.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Acts 17:11)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If I contradict Scripture or if I go beyond what God says in the Bible then God wants you to call it to my attention by pointing me back to Scripture.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If I refuse to preach God\u2019s Word faithfully then God wants you to avoid me and find someone who is teaching His word faithfully.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But if I am teaching God\u2019s Word faithfully then the Lord expects that you will be here in His house listening to His Word as often as you can.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u201cLet the one who has my word speak it faithfully.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Therein also lies the reason why the Lord does not want us to join the ecumenical movement that has swept across modern-day Christendom like wildfire.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The ecumenical movement says that it doesn\u2019t make any difference if you join together with the Catholic Church or the Baptist church or the Methodist church or the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America because basically they all teach the same thing.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cNot so!\u201d declares the Lord.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since the Gospel of Jesus Christ can be found in the Roman Catholic Church and since one of the ways in which God the Holy Spirit creates and strengthens the gift of saving faith in the hearts of sinners is through His powerful Word, there will be Catholics in heaven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And yet, when a Roman Catholic priest says that you cannot be saved purely by grace through faith alone but you need to add good works to that faith, when a Roman Catholic priest says that you have to do certain acts of penance in order to make up for your sins and if you don\u2019t make up for all of your sins before you die you will need to suffer in Purgatory before you are allowed into heaven, that is <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not <\/b>speaking God\u2019s Word faithfully!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since the Gospel of Jesus Christ can be found in the Baptist church and since one of the ways in which the Holy Spirit creates and strengthens the gift of saving faith in the hearts of sinners is through His powerful Word, there will be Baptists in heaven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>At the same time, when a Baptist preacher maintains that you have to \u201cmake your decision to accept Jesus as your Savior\u201d and <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">then<\/b> He will enter into your heart, when a Baptist preachers teaches that that the <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">only<\/b> valid form of baptism is baptism by immersion and so if you have not been immersed you are not a baptized child of God, when a Baptist preacher says that the bread and the wine of the Lord\u2019s holy Supper merely \u201crepresents\u201d Jesus\u2019 body and blood, that is <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not<\/b> speaking God\u2019s Word faithfully.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since the Gospel of Jesus Christ can be found in the Methodist and since one of the ways in which God the Holy Spirit creates and strengthens the gift of saving faith in the hearts of sinners is through His powerful Word there will be Methodists in heaven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And yet, when a Methodist pastor tells me, \u201cWe don\u2019t claim to have a lock on the truth, for God\u2019s truth is always being revealed to us,\u201d that is <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not<\/b> speaking God\u2019s Word faithfully.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since the Gospel of Jesus Christ can be found in the ELCA (the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) and since one of the ways in which God the Holy Spirit creates and strengthens the gift of saving faith in the hearts of sinners is through His powerful Word, there will be members of the ELCA in heaven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And yet, when an ELCA pastor can preach his entire Easter sermon without even mentioning the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (true story!), when an ELCA pastor looks me in the eye and says that if her congregation actually knew how liberal she is they would have a problem with it, that is <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not<\/b> speaking God\u2019s Word faithfully!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u201cLet the one who has my word speak it faithfully.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The reason this truth is so vitally important to remember my friends, is actually quite simple.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I cannot save you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I am not nearly smart enough to save you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I am not nearly strong enough to save you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I don\u2019t have the right to say, \u201cAh, sure.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You can go live in God\u2019s house forever.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>At the same time you cannot save yourself.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You are nowhere near smart enough to save yourself.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You are nowhere near strong enough to save yourself.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You don\u2019t have the right to say, \u201cWell, if I <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">do <\/b>this and I <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">don\u2019t<\/b> do that then God <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">has <\/b>to let me into His heaven because at least I did the best I could.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Only God has the wisdom and the power and the right to save us from our sins and to give us the freedom to live in His heavenly home.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That glorious message\u2014 the message of our eternal salvation\u2014 can only be found in <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">one<\/b> place\u2014 God\u2019s holy revealed Word!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">So while I hope that you do indeed enjoy coming to church here in our congregation, and while I hope that you find the hymns uplifting and inspiring, and while I hope that you leave this building as a joyful and confident saved child of God, more than anything else I pray that you come this church because you have the very same expectation that the good Lord Himself expresses here in our text:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cLet the one who has my word speak it faithfully\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Pentecost-13-09-08-19.mp3\">Pentecost-13-09-08-19.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 8, 2019 Jeremiah 23:23-29 Let Him Speak My Word\u2014 Faithfully! &nbsp; &#8220;Am I only a God nearby,\u201d declares the LORD, &#8220;and not a God far away?&nbsp; Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?\u201d declares the LORD.&nbsp; &#8220;Do not I fill heaven and earth?\u201d declares the LORD. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1157","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1157"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1157\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}