0:08
I do not have a naturally deep voice, but the cold has helped me out a little so that I can talk about the day of the
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Um, I am going to read I'm going to pick up I think our discussion last week was very good. Uh, I hope it was helpful. I'm going to pick up just after that even though I think this thought carries through. We're going to pick up in 4:16 and again read down through the first uh
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several verses of chapter 5 for our context this morning and we'll see how far we get. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. I'm going to begin in verse 16.
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For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain
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will be caught up together with them in the clouds and meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. Now as to the times in the
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epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying peace and safety, then destruction will
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come upon them suddenly, like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness that the day would overtake you like a thief. For you are all sons of light and
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sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness. So then, let us not sleep as others do. But let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get
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drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us
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for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us. So that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and
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build up one another just as you also are doing.
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You've heard me talk about the day of the Lord before when we were in Amos. Um, and I think this is actually an extension of that idea because the day of the Lord has that sort of dual aspect
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for both Christ's advent and his second coming. I mentioned last week in closing that I had already been looking around and thinking about this and sort of searching for other helps and uh I I
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have to say largely looking outside I found uh none but looking inside of course I I was able to find help um honestly Chuck's sermon at the very end
2:51
of his section that he just finished in Romans speaking on these things he made reference to this section in Thessalonians I don't know that I'm going to say very much different from there. But I hope to say it here in the
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context of of first Thessalonians where we are. Um, and this idea of imminence, this idea that this this is a thing that can happen effectively at any moment.
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Um, we talked about this a little bit among ourselves. I think Justin, it was you who mentioned on a on a Wednesday night the idea that that this um living in imminence is is remarkably difficult.
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it it's kind of exhausting in a way to try to hold a mental or physical state of at any moment this could be interrupted in this way or that that the Lord could return. And so this attitude
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of imminence, it is difficult. But what is that attitude and and how do we engage with it is what I want to dig into here together as a as a group.
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And what is Paul and Sylvanas and Timothy's view of the matter? And I say their view of the matter because as I pointed out before, Paul is very careful here for the most part to say we when he
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is writing this letter. Um, and I think that's key for us. I would also agree with what Chuck pointed out in his sermon that this is not primarily an individual endeavor to live in
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imminence, but it is something that we do together as a body that the church as a whole should be distinguished by this um idea or this attitude amongst
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themselves. Uh Paul even says here early on in the letter, as we talked about, again, I've pointed it out many times, but we'll do it once more here at the end of chapter 1. He says um the report
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that he has about them, the kind of reception they had uh that that he and the other missionaries had among them, how they turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God and to wait
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for his son from heaven whom he raised from the dead. That is Jesus who rescues us from the wrath to come. Again, he speaks of the idea of um being
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excited to be united with them in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming at the end of chapter 2. So, he's clearly got in mind this and he's also speaking to the Thessalonians in this
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way that the Thessalonians, the group of them, the church that he's addressing there had some version of this attitude, some amount of this attitude among
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Um, I think frankly that Paul looks on this as we've talked about as part and parcel of his larger worldview. And this is the thing I'm trying to draw out. I had previously entitled my study
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the law of liberty. And you might wonder, what does the L the day of the Lord have to do with the law of liberty? And frankly, I think that it flows straight out of this because this is the overarching thing that I'm trying to draw out of these sections. Part of why
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we are looking at these books together. Although I don't know how many books I'm going to be able to put together in the next six weeks, but we'll see. Um Paul has a worldview. These who are
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ministering to the Thessalonians together have a worldview of the people of God pulling together for his glory.
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And I think that this is uh part and parcel of it. It's it's deeply related to it because you can read it here in Paul. And I don't think this is the only place that you can see it in
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Paul or frankly the apostles as a whole. The excitement for the second coming of the Lord is to see that glory revealed to see that work completed. This is the thing that we're working for. This is
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the the effort to which we are striving. And so to see the day of the Lord is to see the completion of that work. It is to see the inauguration not the inauguration but the consummation rather
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of the kingdom of God. It is to see that banner finally visibly revealed.
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Well, I I do like your point there and and we can discuss that is the idea of excitement versus anxiety. Uh, I think that's a good way to to anticipate that.
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now. Not yet. I think the two concepts are very closely tied together.
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Yeah. Maybe. So, uh, yeah, the other thing I think about with this is, um, I mentioned it earlier in one of the other lessons, but I think it actually relates here, which is, uh,
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I think our view has been warped somewhat by even as as much as we strive to stick to the biblical message, inevitably the culture around us and the
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Christian culture around us has warped our worldview because you have those sort of left behind things. you have these ideas of the tribulations etc etc where those are going to be really stressful and additionally we talked
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about um this idea that I think pervades many people's thinking which is facing that judgment with some kind of anxiety right that we um I can't remember who it
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was who had written I quoted him in that week two or three weeks ago uh the guy saying you know we were always sort of talked about the lord's return with anxiety of like this thing that's going
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to happen to you rather than being excited to join in it with Christ to to see that and to be excited with it.
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I've got plans. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's that's an excellent point. Um, and so I guess this is where I'm coming from with it is the the idea that um, I mean, honestly though, let's back
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up a little bit because in the section in in 9 through or 11 or 12 that we just talked about, Paul sort of addresses that in some ways of don't be too ambitious with these things. Live a
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quiet life and provide for one another because the Lord is returning. There is an aspect, I'll put it this way, maybe I get myself in trouble, but I'm
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going to put it this way anyway. Um, Paul is addressing the entire body of the Thessalonians here. The idea that they should work quietly in anticipation of these things. Why? Because you all
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already have a job. You all already have been given the occupation to build the kingdom of God. all believers. It's not solely the
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elders or those who are teaching. Those are to equip the members of the body for the work of ministry, which is
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I mean, I have thoughts. I'm curious to know if any of you have thoughts. What is your job? Why are you here? It's not to hear me squeak. You think we all have the same job?
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I don't think we all have the same job, but I think that ministry has I think that ministry has a
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overarching categories in it. I guess I would say ministry has this idea of of establishing the kingdom of God. I'll put it that way. It it means a lot of things towards one goal. We've talked
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about the idea of holiness being a direction. But I think that the church as a whole is moving in a direction or it ought to be it is told to be. So
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ministry then the work of ministry might be a lot of things in that we've there's a lot of one anothers for example. Um there are also things that maybe don't necessarily fall under the one anothers
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that just practical things that have to get done. There is also witness to those outside. All of these things are part of that that the work of the teachers and the elders is to prepare you to be able
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to do those things. But all of it is towards one end towards God's glory. And frankly, I think if we go through here, and I I I'm probably going to do a summary lesson at
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some point trying to highlight the places in here where Paul clearly has this in mind first and foremost that everything he's doing is either in that direction or to remove an obstacle to get in that direction.
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I don't know if you've done any investigation this, but I wonder
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Will I be left behind? The whole idea noted for being lifted out of
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yet very anxious perception of the world generation to generation and I wonder how much of that I really
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pervasive esquetology of our Christian culture in our
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is less anxious because they haven't been as that would be an interesting thing to look into. I can't say that I have a
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good impression of it off the top of my head from my reading this week, but Jerry related to that.
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Yeah. Well, see see chapter 4 and also see second Thessalonians. Um well, I'll put it I'll use your phrase this life.
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I appreciate that very much because I think this relates to an idea that I've got here in my notes which is
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we are inheritors of the kingdom. Okay, we are told that we will inherit this kingdom of gods. That means the stuff we're doing right now is either building or taking care of his
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possession that we intend to inherit. Right? Taking care of one another. I plan to see you all later. Okay? I hope to see you all there. So, taking care of
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one another right now relates to what happens then. And taking care of the possession here. I don't know. I mean, I can read what is written for us, that the world will be wiped clean with fire
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and God will establish his new creation. I don't know exactly what format all of that takes, but I do know that the world and all in it is his. And so, taking care of even the physical needs, the
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physical plant, the day-to-day things that people need or that the building needs or what have you. I appreciate that point because that is investment in one another. That is investment in the
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Well, that's an excellent point. All of these things are in the sovereignty of God and and when he comes is entirely in his own purview. Um it's interesting you mentioned that because we had a I think a version of this discussion on a
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Wednesday night uh maybe it was the same Wednesday night u talking about the idea of uh when you wrestle with the frustration of the fact that you are not who you ought to be right that you
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haven't attained the holiness that you're desiring because the spirit is working within you that is also in God's providence and that he will be faithful to complete that work right he is the
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one working in us he's not going to leave that part undone either uh Aaron and then a I think it's important for the people
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our common works of what it says in revelation he says I heard a voice from heaven saying right blessed are the dead blessed indeed says the spirit that they may rest from their labors for their
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deeds follow them understand why in the world would we take care of this creation if we're inheriting a new
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these are the people of God follow them they are the substance of what will swallow up the dead the dead of the old creation done now
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done now yeah well thank you yeah that that's a a good point and I and I don't want to steal uh thunder from I where I think possibly Possibly Chuck is going on uh
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Thursday night moving into the kingdom of heaven or talking about the kingdom of heaven. But I think we ought to have this much more in view than we do.
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The work that we do here, the things that we're we're doing, the effort that we put into one another is not wasted. It is investment in that kingdom that
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has already begun. That kingdom that has already started. And Chuck pointed out in that sermon, of course, that we're living in an in between time, okay? We don't fully see it realized, but it has
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started. It was inaugurated when Christ rose from the dead. His kingdom has begun, and we are to work diligently in it. Abe, you had your hand up.
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not the same kind. We're not under stress in life. Yeah.
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That's why looking for the day of the Lord is so important.
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It's a reasonable point that there is differences in the kinds of stress. So Paul writing to the Thessalonians, he is speaking here. Of course they they they he is addressing to the Thessalonians some kind of anxiety, right? He's he's
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clearly writing to them saying, "Okay, you you don't need me to tell you that it's coming like a thief in the night, but you are worried about things. You're worried about those who have already died." Again, we're not told the extent
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of their persecution. Um, and this has come up in some of the commentators I've read. You know, the idea, you know, Chuck mentioned in in his the idea that a lot of people have this like, oh, the
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the tribulation won't happen to those believers. I'm not entirely convinced that there will not be believers who are dying in the end of days. I think it's very likely. It's happening right now.
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We're in the end of the ages. We're told we're still in this in between time, but there are those who are dying for the name of Christ. Um that is a different kind of
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uh relationship to it perhaps than we typically have. I agree with you there because I'm not usually worried about people trying to kill me for the name of Christ. But it does not it does not
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create a another class of those who are pulling together for the name of Christ. I guess is where I'm
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is less meaningful to us or that we have to somehow enter into their particular sufferings in order to and benefit from the message. the message. And and I I would also say I appreciate your point from the standpoint of of
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there is a very great danger for us who are not faced with those things of of deadly sloth deadly sloth that that we don't take it seriously because it's not in our face that way.
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think. True. We have to think about why is he writing it to the Thessalonians, but he's also writing to the Thessalonians. The Thessalonians, we've talked about this a few times, is distinguished from places like Corenth, for example,
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because in almost all of these things, he basically says, "You don't even need me to tell you, but I'm going to tell you." Right? He keeps saying, "You don't need me to tell you about these things, but also keep encouraging one another.
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You don't need me to tell you about brotherly love, but keep loving one another. You don't need me to tell you about the times in the epox, but you are aware that it is coming. So, he's encouraging what is good behavior in
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them. But I think Aaron is right that it's not spelled out for us exactly what's happening to the Thessalonians. However, I don't want to get completely lost on that point because there is a
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how do I put this? I I appreciate Abigail's point very much. There are there are different circumstances or places addressed in each specific passage of scripture. People are addressed in different ways. There are
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realities of our context in which we live. And I and I appreciate your point. I am not really worried that somebody's going to kill me for being a Christian. I never have been. Perhaps the day comes
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when that happens, but I doubt it happens in my lifetime. Maybe. I don't know. So it doesn't differentiate though that my effort and my labor put in is to
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the glory of God. Whatever that ends up being. I always get these phrases backwards, so forgive me, but you know, Paul is the one who says um to to die as Christ to or no, to die as gain, to live
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as Christ. I always get them backwards. Um you know, he he basically says either way to to to James' point, either way, it's in God's providence. So there there is an encouragement and and he says
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early on again in chapter one the context of that was you all are being imitators in being persecuted and you're eagerly anticipating God's return from heaven. Yes. And then here in this
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chapter he's distressed that they're distressed about those who have already died. He's saying we're all going to be there. It's all coming together. All of this is in God's hands. You had your hand up quite a while ago and I missed you. I'm sorry.
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I wonder we're actually thinking about all this perhaps the way God does.
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church often times there is physical persecution of God. of God. It's not
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of our brothers and sisters in Nigeria and Ethiopia. and Ethiopia. Well done and faithful servant and many churched you never
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that's the one there we think we can we just do we sit around and we talk about this I'm not asking for persecution but if we want to talk about I agree
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different words is going to be different, but I would say our case is worse than theirs. I I would agree with you there. That that was the thing that was occurring to me. Not to make light of of dying.
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It's a serious thing. We talked about it at great length last week. It's not the work of ministry that it's not what we specifically are being prepared for. And I and I share that
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concern that what has distinguished our context for a long time now is fatal ease. Um that that we are we are fat, happy,
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and and lazy effectively. James, you had your hand up.
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That's an excellent reminder. Yes, very much so. That that this was written also for our instruction. Thank you. Yes, that's correct. Jenny, you had your hand
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So, thank you because this is this is where I want to go as we we move on to the next section of of the class. I want to leave these last several minutes for this to to rephrase what Jenny said. Um,
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basically, if the world doesn't hate you, are you his follower? Okay. So she was saying basically if you are awake, if you are aware, if you are spiritually
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uh aiming for holiness the way we are intended to aim for holiness, you ought to be at friction with those who are opposed to it. Okay? You ought to be experiencing some some kind of
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resistance. And if you're just plowing on through the waters with no resistance at all, it's probably not a good sign. Here's the thing that occurred to me and and I'm happy to take comments about it.
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Um the the people of Israel are a parable, are they not? Or a a lesson for us. I'll put it that way. We have had a
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spiritual exodus in which Christ led many souls out and they are still being led out. But I would hazard this and I'm I'm happy to hear feedback on it. I frankly think we have come into what is
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our dominion. I don't mean that in the new earth we will be standing here. I don't think Greenville is going to be here. I don't know. Okay. But we will be on the earth again. The warping that has
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happened. People think we're going to go to heaven and we're going to sit around on clouds and play harps and it's going to be terrible because I have no musical ability and you all are going to hate it. All right. So, that's not what's going to happen. We will be on the
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earth. We will be on the new earth in the kingdom that is established by God. That kingdom is his dominion. we ought to now be establishing its borders. When
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you look at the uh the the efforts of Israel going into the promised land, it's a real mixed bag. And there are times that they are fighting hard and
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there are times where they go, "Ah, this was far enough towards that border. We're just going to settle here instead of pushing on." And it is not until David's day that they actually reach the prophesied borders of their kingdom, is
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it? So, we anticipate the coming of the greater David to fully establish his kingdom. I'm not suggesting that we will be able to do this. And yet, Israel was not excused for not making the effort to
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fulfill that promise to them, were they? And and again, this is where I Sorry, I'm starting to shout getting wound up.
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The God promised to Israel the promised land and the borders of it. And yet Israel was to go in and exert themselves in faith to take it, were they not? Both of
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those things are true. God has promised his kingdom, and we are expected to exert our effort in establishing it. establishing it. Establish God's kingdom.
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We are to be working on that. Now, I don't mean in a theocratic sense. I mean in the sense that Paul is stating here of working quietly with our hands, of providing for one another, of being diligent in the word, of aiming for
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holiness. That is what is establishing the borders of the kingdom, not being a theonomist and and setting up a a a set of rules based on the Mosaic law to to govern Greenville by. That's not at all
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what I mean. What I mean is yes, we are supposed to be working on the kingdom of heaven right now by doing the things that Paul is exhorting us to.
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one or the other. It's not the church, but yes, it is the church.
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everybody gets the church establishing the kingdom. the kingdom. That's not what we're saying, right? We're saying that if we don't have a kingdom, then we have no place in it.
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We're not we're not in the army. We're not we're not advancing. Um that's a culpable. It's not a good one. Yes, that that is exactly what I mean. And and and I hope I'm not misunderstood
35:56
by this because I'll be honest, I get really riled up by the fact that anytime there's a suggestion that we're supposed to be at work, you go, "Ah, God's working." Yeah. Through us.
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Okay. Through us. And so if we are sitting on our butts, we are now an obstacle to the work that he's doing. Not that he is not able to do his work.
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He is able to establish all things. But he has told us in his word again and again and again that he's doing these things through us. Okay? So we like Paul
36:32
again. Think back please. What did we look at in one and two of Thessalonians? the amount of stuff that Paul says. I did all of these things so that nothing would be in the way of me sharing the
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ministry of the word with you. I accepted help from other churches. I worked day and night. I never begrudged anyone the time to share the gospel with them. Everything that Paul was doing and
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had in mind was to advance the glory of God according to the work that he had been given. So should it be with us. And that's what I mean is it's not that
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my efforts are going to establish the kingdom. My efforts are pathetic in the face of God's power. And yet I am not excused by going, "Well, God will God's going to take care." This is the thing.
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Maybe this is what Justin meant when he said, "This is hard." James is right. All of these things are in the providence of God and in his power. Yes. and
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we are expected to be at work in God's providence and in the things that he has promised both at the same time. Abigail,
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Is that second Peter 36 or something? 11. Okay.
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Um I think Jerry was exactly right in the in his summation there of we have the one anothers given to us in scripture. Yes, the one another, take care of one another. We are we are members of the kingdom just like Israel
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is meant to be a nation. We are meant to look out for one another. The work of the diiacinate, caring for the ministry of the church, meeting the physical
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needs so that the elders are able to teach. Those are things that lead towards that. even pra I mean just back up a few verses where Paul says make it your ambition to live quietly and to do
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these things that you can provide for one another and need no outside help. That is a command in scripture of work for us to do that is in this line
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because when we rely on the world outside for help we are not advancing the kingdom. When we are standing as a united people, united together around
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Christ, that is what he has asked us to show to the world.
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what to do. Just tell me what to do. I get that. Uh we've talked about this. Actually, Aaron and I have had a version of this conversation about a dozen times as he's been working through the law. And the law as wisdom. The law as wisdom
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is a contra to my mindset of like, oh great, I have a do and do not. That's all I needed was thou shalt and thou shalt not. um the the song that you made mention of a
40:26
couple of times, Erin, the idea of uh new law that we want a a new law handed down to just tell me what I should do and what I shouldn't do. And frankly, I think that's why many churches are in the state they're in because they want
40:37
somebody to stand up and say just do this, don't do that. When what Paul, I frankly think, is calling us to do is to be awake and alert for everything that
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you can do to move that kingdom forward. awake and alert with your eyes open, paying attention. Abigail, you had your hand up then there. Oh, sorry, Mom. I'm sorry I left you off there.
41:26
Yeah, that that's an excellent point and I actually appreciate uh it was a few weeks ago now uh Gabrielle pointed out the the analogy in her own household when her children are are looking at one another going, "Well, you're not doing your job. You're not doing your job." uh
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it's not a very peaceful household, but when they're looking at one another or looking around at the house going, "Oh, here's something I can do. Here's a way I can help. Here's a way I can contribute." That leads to a lot better
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outcome. Um Erin, you had your hand up and then I'll get to John Luke quickly again.
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emerge from our growing knowledge of the word. Whatever it may be, it will emerge from the teaching. Well, that that's an excellent point and and I have appreciated and I've shared this with a number of folks. I've appreciated many
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times the fact that I am sometimes aware of an issue or a thing that's happening in the church and then surprise surprise the passage that just providentially we got to in the sermon or in the teaching
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addresses it directly. All of these things are in God's line. And and to what I was saying to Abe there, I sympathize because it's not comfortable. It's not it's not easy. We have to be
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alert and exert ourselves. And the idea of liberty, I think, actually scares quite a few professing Christians. The idea that I have to be paying attention and I can't simply count on somebody to
43:13
tell me what I was supposed to do. That means a lot of work. John Luke, you had your hand up. I think it's part of my job to say to my grandfather that I'm very
43:24
thankful for what he's done. I think part of my work
43:50
Yeah. No, that's an excellent point and and I and I wanted to make that point here. um the section we're talking about in Thessalonians is bracketed on either side by encourage one another with these things. encouragement in the in the
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anticipation of the Lord. And and I appreciate your comment there because frankly Abe that is part of the answer. Being steadfast in encouraging one
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another is a major part of the answer. And also there's a sense in which being able to be martyed for the kingdom is kind of uh
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well actually there were places in history where it was literally glamorous. they would go out and try to get martyed. Most of what we're being called to do for the work of the kingdom
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does is not flashy. It doesn't look cool. It looks like a lot of patience and long effort, steadfastness. Jonathan
45:19
Yeah. Well, thank you. Yeah, those things are there and and we have to be somewhat flexible in how we are applying for the the good of the body. Check.
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Yes. Uh I appreciate that. And there are forms of suffering that are not necessarily direct conflict. Um, like you said, I seeing seeing Christ's name drug through the mud should cause us grief. Absolutely. Um, I'm going to take
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James's comment and then close with one one passage here.
46:49
Yes, it is. It it is broad and and I appreciate you bringing that up because that is the context in which we're in. He's he's given them some rules to live by. But again, I'm going to make this point compared to the law given to
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Israel. The actual things enumerated for us a very small and open-ended list. Okay? Because what he's calling us to
47:10
here in this passage is to be awake and alert. And I'm going to close with Mark chapter 13. I mentioned a few weeks ago um trying to remember and I'm still going to credit bunion because I haven't
47:20
found the specific one. I was looking at the places where the parables usually are and I didn't find it but then I was reading this passage and I went ah I found it. Okay so Mark chapter 13 u I
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believe it was Bunan who was elaborating on this. So we start here of course in in the beginning of chapter 13 the disciples are asking him about the buildings and he says these will be torn
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down. Um down. Um I'm going to jump down to here uh where they say uh well tell us when uh chap uh verse 4 of chapter 13
47:53
tell us when these things will be and what will be the sign and when these things are going to be fulfilled. And Jesus began to say to them see to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in my name saying I am he and will
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mislead many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars do not be frightened. Those things must take place but it is not yet the end. For nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in
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various places. There will also be famines and these things are merely the beginning of birth panges. And this relates to what uh Paul says here in 1 Thessalonians uh five, what is it three?
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Uh while they are saying peace and safety, destruction will come upon them like the labor pains upon a woman with child and they will not escape. Uh Leon Morris pointed out sometimes labor pains
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are used here specifically for the pain, but he said the the better connection here is one a woman who is expecting to give birth is going to give birth. It is
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inevitable and two it's often very sudden. Okay, so the inevitability and the suddeness of the birth. But then come over here. Sorry, I know we're slightly beyond time, but um
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uh yeah, I'm going to pick up in verse 33 of Well, actually, no, I'm going to pick up in verse 32 of Mark 13.
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Jesus famously saying, "But of that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Take heed. Keep on the
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alert, for you do not know when the appointed time will come. It is like a man who went away on a journey upon leaving his house and put his slaves in charge, assigning each one to his task.
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And he also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on alert. Therefore, be on the alert, for you do not know when the master of the house is returning, whether in the evening or at midnight or
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when the rooster crows or in the morning, in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say to you all, I say be on alert.
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Okay, sum it up here. That is also what Paul is saying in chapter 5 there. Be awake. Be alert. And by the way, if you counted those, that was all of the watches.
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That's the whole day and night to be alert. You can't do that alone. We have to do it together. Okay. So, let us be those distinguished by light. And it's time to
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close in word of prayer. Our father, we do thank you for the word that you have given us. We thank you that you have not left us alone in the dark, but have called us into a family
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in the light to walk together as children of light. And so we ask Lord that you would please shed that light abroad in our hearts. illuminate for us those things that we need to be rid of
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the sins that still wrestle with us, but also encourage us in the recognition that you are at work in us and are leading us on. That your work will not be unfinished or undone and out of all
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those given into your hand, you will lose none. Father, we thank you for all of this and we look forward to glorifying you together as a family this morning. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
