Tag: sanctuary of praise

Categories
Bible Teaching

Lengthen Your Cords, Strengthen Your Stakes

Sanctuary of Praise (Culloden, WV)

Numbers 4:29-33, “(29) As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers; (30) From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. (31) And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof, (32) And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden. (33) This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.”

  • The sons of Merari were tasked with doing what we now have the privilege to do.
  • Merari = can mean “bitter, sad” –OR- “strong, fierce” (as in a bitter taste that has a strong flavor).

Isaiah 54:2-3, “(2) Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; (3) For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.”

  • “Curtains” are a canopy or cloth used in a tent. The boundaries of the church have been enlarged in order to accommodate the vast conversion of the Gentiles.[1]
  • Where once only Gentiles lived, now the Gospel of Christ has been carried, preached, and believed and millions of souls have been born again.[2]
  • Now, because of God’s grace, a spiritual seed, the seed of the church, inhabits those formerly desolate places, until the fulness of the Gentiles.[3]
  • The desolate cities here we empty of the knowledge of Christ and the Gospel of salvation. In fact, all divine and spiritual things have now been made accessible all who will believe in Christ, profess his name, and obey the Gospel.[4]

Isaiah 33:20, “Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.”

  • Zion refers to the Church: God dwells, inhabits, her.
  • Zion is a strong city, it is the perfection of beauty, and the joy of the whole earth (Ps. 50:2; Lam. 2:15).
  • It is here where the saints gather to worship their Lord.
  • Rev. 21:3, “…the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”
  • Every true believer is a “stake” or pillar in the church of God, which shall never be removed (Rev. 3:12) from the heart, hands and love of God.[5]
  • No born again Christian can be removed from the family of God. You can’t be “un-born again,” and so all the privileges and blessings of being part of the Body of Christ belong the believer.
  • The “cords,” which represent the everlasting love of God, will never be broken and so they are always firm and sure, secure and stable, eternal and unending.[6]
  • Jesus’ cords of love on one side and your cords of love on the other create a safe boundary, a bulwark of salvation, a wall of integrity.

Brass Pins/Stakes were used in the Tabernacle in the wilderness to secure the gold pillars of the Outer Court upright. 

These pins were driven in the ground at one end and fine twined linen was attached to the pins and to the top of the wooden pillars overlaid with gold to which sheets of fine linen were attached.

This created a type of fence and there was only one entrance into the outer court.

The Ark had one entrance, one gate to the sheepfold, and one way to the Father.

Jesus saith unto him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”[7]

The wood of the pillar represents Christ’s humanity.

The gold of the pillar represents Christ’s divinity.

Humanity wrapped in deity.

God manifest in the flesh.

Fine twined linen was drawn tightly and fastened with the pins.

They speak to us of the drawing power of God and His love for men and women:

“I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love…” (Hosea 11:4).

We also have a part in the drawing power of love in our relationship with Jesus: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”[8]

Without the cords, the pins and stakes would be useless.

It is God’s love that constrains us, that holds us together: “For the love of Christ constraineth [to hold together] us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

Unfortunately, there are times when we speak love, but do not demonstrate love, or as Jesus said, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”[9]

  • It seems that when our hearts harden, or become distant, we choose man’s rules, commands, and sacred cows over relationship.

Our text tells you to, “lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.”

STORY: I went camping one night when the wind began to blow and a strong storm blew in. Someone forgot to fasten the tent to the ground with the provided stakes.

A stake, a pin, will do you no good if left on the ground and not driven into the earth. 

The strength of the stake refers to it being secured into the ground, not whether it is steel, iron, or brass.

There are some stakes we need to secure firmly into the ground, and keep coming back to them in order to make sure they remain strengthened.

There are four pins of our faith that will keep us attached to the love of God, if we are vigilant in strengthening them regularly:[10]

  • Dogma = One God
    • Gen. 1:1, “In the beginning God created…” God here is the transliterated form of Elohim, which means “plenitude of might,” or more simply, “one God whose characteristics are many.”Dogma = “a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as unquestionably true.”[11] The source of the pin of our dogma is God’s Word.Deut. 6:4, “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD.”In Colossians 2:9 we are told that in Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead (all the characteristics of God) bodily, and we (the Church) are complete in Him (Jesus).Paul did say that the Godhead was a mystery, but then he went on to explain what the mystery was, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”[12]
    • Only Jesus Christ fulfilled those six points. Therefore, Jesus Christ of the New Testament is Jehovah of the Old Testament
  • Duty = Love (to God and to one another)
    • Jesus & People
      • “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”[13]“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”[14]
      • A pin and a cord
  • Discipline = Study of Scriptures
    • John 5:39, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
    • 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “(16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect [complete], throughly furnished unto all good works.
      • Doctrine  = What is right
      • Reproof = What is not right
      • Correction  = How to get right
      • Instruction = How to stay right
  • Method = Union (Balance) of the Spirit and the Word
    • John 1:17, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”2 Corinthians 3:2-6, “(2) Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:  (3)  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.  (4)  And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:  (5)  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;  (6)  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
    • Philippians 4:5, “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”
    • Modesty, Humility, Gentle, Patient = Balance

A word of warning:

“(19) Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.  (20)  My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.”[15]

Instability in the Church, in our lives, occurs when we do not strengthen our stakes and lengthen our cords by drawing closer to God.

James 4:7-8, “(7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  (8)  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

Psalms 73:28, “But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.”

Psalms 145:18, “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.”

He’s as close as the mention of His name. Jesus. Jesus.

Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes

[1] Albert Barnes

[2] F. B. Meyer

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] John Gill

[6] Ibid.

[7] John 14:6

[8] James 4:8a

[9] Matthew 5:8-9

[10] Source: Dr. Joe Nelson. (n.d.) Four Fundamentals of Faith Necessary for New Testament Living. Parkersburg Bible College.

[11] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/dogma

[12] 1 Timothy 3:16

[13] Matthew 22:36-40 

[14] John 13:34-35 

[15] Jeremiah 10:19-20

Categories
Bible Preaching

Rejected, But Accepted

Text: John 1:10-13, “(10)  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (11)  He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (12)  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13)  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Jesus always looks for those whom the world sees as rejects.

He knows what rejection feels like and He knows how it feels to be seen by others as a reject.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.[1]

“…touched with the feeling of our infirmities…” – Jesus understands all your weaknesses, all your hurts, for he faced all the stuff you have faced, everything, especially rejection.

“He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”

It was prophesied that he would be rejected:

(3) He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  (4)  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  (5)  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.[2]

Rejected, but Accepted

Because Jesus can sympathize with the rejects, the untouchables, the marginalized

He is drawn to people who recognize their need for Him – no matter how aware they are of Him.

There is a magnetic pull…a vacuum if you will…that Jesus is compelled to fill.

Jesus specializes in reaching for people many would not cross the street to talk with.

Men and women that society has deemed somehow unacceptable.

They have been called godless, useless, prodigals, wastrels, discards…trash.

Certainly, there were people when Jesus walked this earth in shoe leather and there are people now considered by the majority to be “rejects.”

Remember the moments when Jesus took time to come to the rejected:

  • Zacchaeus – “Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.”[3]
    • Other Jews did not like Zacchaeus, a Jew, because he chose to work for the Romans, and as a publican he was treated as a traitor to his people.
    • When the people saw that Jesus was going into Zacchaeus’s home, “they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner” (Luke 19:7).
    • Zacchaeus had risen to the top of the ranks of swindling tax collectors, he abused his authority by getting rich off the hard-earned money of others, and they rejected him.
    • The people rejected him, but Jesus accepted him.
  • Mary Magdalene – tormented by seven evil spirits, she was rejected by the people of her coastal hometown on the Sea of Galilee, but Jesus accepted her.[4]
  • The Cleansing of the Ten Lepers – unclean and standing far away from Jesus and His followers, but “they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” [5]
    • They were rejected by people and the Law of Moses, but Jesus accepted them.
  • The man of Gadara – He was so full of unclean spirits that they called themselves “Legion” (possibly 2,000)
    • The people there rejected him, but Jesus accepted him
  • Thief on the Cross – ultimate form of rejection is when society demands your death – capital punishment.
    • The legal system rejected this thief, but Jesus accepted him.
  • Woman of Samaria – came to the well in the heat of the day. Rejected by the women of the city and perhaps the shame of her past caused her to reject herself, but Jesus accepted her.

Like so many truths found in Scripture, often the one most in need of spiritual rejuvenation, Holy Ghost regeneration, and Bible salvation is unaware of just how far they’ve fallen from grace.

Worthless, without value, insignificant – these are words sometimes used to “put people in their place,” by people who have forgotten the place where Jesus found them.

The sinner who has never come to Jesus before KNOWS she is lost, but the religious soul who has trusted in man’s tradition, in the trappings of religiosity, in the intellect of their own mind, and not in the power of the Holy Spirt – he has no idea just how lost he really is.

The fall of the haughty, arrogant and prideful is rarely overnight, but little-by-little.

Luke 18:9-14 highlights this truth:

(9) And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  (10)  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  (11)  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  (12)  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  (13)  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  (14)  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Paul wrote to the Church at Ephesus reminding them, and us today, that we are blessed “…with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4)  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

He goes on to tell us, the Rejected, But Accepted: “…We have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (14)  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.[6]

A permanent change is coming to us.

We who were once rejected are about to be eternally accepted:

(50) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (51)  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52)  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53)  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54)  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  

  • The saying that is written (Isaiah 25:8), “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.”

(55)  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (56)  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (57)  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  

  • We who were one time rejects are accepted in the beloved Lord Jesus Christ.

(58)  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

  • So, don’t stop serving Jesus, keep reaching for fellow rejects, and loving each other the way Jesus showed us to love one another.

Do you feel broken, marginalized, rejected?

Have you ever felt that way?

Your acceptance is as simple as believing and obeying the very words of Jesus:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

[1] Hebrews 4:15

[2] Isaiah 53:3-5

[3] Luke 19:5

[4] Luke 8:2

[5] Luke 17:11-19

[6] (10/26/2025, Sanctuary of Praise, Culloden, WV, Pastor David Gentry)

Categories
Bible Preaching

Light Dawned

Luke 2:8-14, “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Matthew 4:16 in the King James Version (KJV) reads: “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up”.

I’ve always liked the NEB’s translation of Matthew 4:16: “…Light dawned on the dwellers in the land of death’s dark shadow.”

John 9:1-7, “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.”

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid” (Mt. 5:14).

The problem with false (artificial) light:[1]

  • Too much radiation from strong artificial light sources can cause the formation of toxic levels of harmful chemicals
  • Long-term UV exposure can lead to the development of carcinomas
  • Can also cause problems for people with chronic actinic dermatitis, the UV or blue component of artificial light aggravates the associated skin lesions.
  • In sufferers of lupus erythematosus, it can worsen the disease
  • It also “disrupts human circadian rhythms, suppressing melatonin, which leads to sleep problems, mood disorders (depression/anxiety), and increased risks for chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.”[2]

Satan can distort himself to appear as an angel of light: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”[3]

Some indeed preach Christ: “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; and many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: the one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.”[4]

Some present another Jesus: “Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”[5]

We preach Jesus: “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”[6]

The Lamb is the light: “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Rev. 21:23).

Jesus is the true Light: “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”[7]

Jesus is Light & the Father is Light: “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”[8]

The Light brings us together = fellowship

Philippians 2:14-15, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

Micah 7:8, “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.”

Habakkuk 3:2-4 (KJV), “(2) O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.  (3)  God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.  (4)  And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.”

Habakkuk 3:2-4 (CEV), “I know your reputation, LORD, and I am amazed at what you have done. Please turn from your anger and be merciful; do for us what you did for our ancestors. You are the same Holy God who came from Teman and Paran to help us. The brightness of your glory covered the heavens, and your praises were heard everywhere on earth. Your glory shone like the sun, and light flashed from your hands, hiding your mighty power.”

John 12:44-47, “Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.”

John 8:12, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

Is. 9:2, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”

Matthew 4:16 (NEB), “…Light dawned on the dwellers in the land of death’s dark shadow.”

“Hail, the heavenly Prince of Peace,

Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings,

Risen with healing in his wings.”

-Charles Wesley[9]

[1] https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/opinions_layman/artificial-light/en/index.htm | https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/human-health/ | https://www.news-medical.net/amp/health/Health-Effects-of-Artificial-Light.aspx

[2] https://youtu.be/pFcwGkAPgQk?si=_Z3QVU_Ekbjd6JZi

[3] 2 Cor. 11:13-15

[4] Php. 1:12-17

[5] 2 Cor. 11:1-4

[6] 2 Cor. 4:3-6

[7] John 1:4-5, 9-14,

[8] 1 John 1:5-7

[9] Stanza from Charles Wesley’s poem “For Christmas Day.” https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45461/for-christmas-day. Accessed: 12/18/2025.

<Preached at Sanctuary of Praise (Culloden, WV) for Pastor David Gentry during their Annual Christmas Candlelight Service on 12/17/2025>